Snow, cake & X Stitch

What a day we woke to snow, and the garden looked pretty for a while but it did not last long.

Chris decided to make his first cake using a cake mix. 

It was lovely carrot cake.

Plus I have worked on a new small x stitch.

This was a freebie I found called the Lacemaker’s Cottage.

I only have the final flower to work. 

Please ignore the personisations [mistakes]

Specsavers

I had a visit from Specsavers this morning, I never knew they did home visits and i was very impressed with their check up.

New glasses will be with me in three weeks.

Chris managed to find a frame for my latest Sampler.

Eliza M Stone 1881. The pattern comes with lots of information about Eliza and Tinsley Park School.

I love reading the stories behind the Samplers.

Day ONE of lung cancer treatment

Today I start my treatment, thank you all for your prayers, cards and kind words.

Another delay and a bouquet off flowers

Yesterday I went for an ECG at the hospital, this is always difficult for me as getting from the car to the wheelchair is not easy. 

I was about 40 minutes on  the table and i didn’t realise she only did a echo cardio gram. This has delayed the start of my treatment as i have to go back for an ECG that they should have done in the first place. I was due to start my new treatment tomorrow. Really fed up with the delay!

However out of the blue an old friend sent me flowers by post, that just arrived.

There is nothing i like better.

Nicely packaged

A beautiful arrangement from Diana and Trevor, thank you so much for cheering me up.

New Start and bouquet

On my birthday I received a beautiful surprise bouquet of flowers.

Thank you so much cousin Helen.

A fairly quiet weekend and I started a new red sampler 

Found a Lacemaker’s Cottage pattern and thought it would be something different.

Monday I have an ECG booked at the hospital and i think that is the last procedure before I can start my treatment.

77 today

Last night the family came to visit and we had KFC to celebrate my birthday.

It was a lovely evening and lots of reminiscing plus cake !

During the day I had visited another Consultant for some general advice.

The best news is I completed my

Eliza M Stone Red work.

I am so pleased with being able to sew this. The pattern was offered free with a donation to Breast Cancer.

I will have to see if Chris can find a frame for it.

It always amazes me how young the children were that made these samplers, and the stories behind them.

I have kitted up another x stitch project I hope to start today.

A new me

My friend Ann arranged for me to have a home hair cut with her hairdresser, and I cannot tell you how delighted I am with it.

Feels so good and i love the cut.

A gift from my sister

A parcel arrived yesterday from my sister, Debbie.

 

Diana’s Delight Clematis. I will ask my daughter in law to plant it next to tree in my front garden.

My early morning visit to the Hospital for a CT scan meant we were home by 9.30, but these early morning visits take it out of me.

In the afternoon Ann and Peter called around and brought us our first mincepies of the season. Yummy .

I sorted out and ordered most of the Christmas presents and tried to get everything in square boxes to make it easier for Chris to wrap. I also ordered Roy. Castle lung cancer Christmas cards. Every little will help their cancer campaign.

Work on Eliza

I managed to get the border done on my Cancer sampler yesterday.

I was pleased to get this far and now like a jigsaw I just need to fill the rest of the words and letters in.

With the last Tesco delivery we had a little treat a cream tea.

Yummy.

Late yesterday afternoon I was called in to the Hospital for another CT scan as they had a cancellation at 8.30 !! 

So i better get a move on. This will give me a base line for the new pill treatment.

I also had a visit from Palliative Care.

HOPE and the Oncologist

Yesterday I saw Dr Mahood the Oncologist specialist and he gave me HOPE of a bit brighter future. After some basic tests I will be given a pill I can take at home to improve my life. The treatment is called Osimertinib and Dr Mahood specialises in it. Unlike Chemo there are few side effects, and strangely because I have never smoked the lung cancer I have is more suitable for this drug. 

I came away with a big smile on my face. I thank you for all the prayers that I feel have made this possible.

Richard arrived in the evening with a wonderful Banana cake made by Eleanor, she is a superb cook.

Thank you so much Eleanor.

I also spent some time working on my Eliza M Stone x stitch

It’s growing nicely, I would like to get to the bottom.

Chris. Bought another Lego kit

Weighed 7.5 kg !



That should keep him busy for a while.

A small red sampler

A couple of weeks ago I completed a small red sampler that I found for free on the internet.

Yesterday I asked my ever patient husband if there might be frame for it lying around, and the next thing he had framed it for me. I could not be more delighted.

My first Redwork Sampler.

Busy busy busy

It has been one long round of phone calls around here plus a visit to the Oncologist which took me from home for four and half hours!

Dr Mak and Jo, from the lung team, were very thorough in explaining everything and I now have another appointment to see a different Oncologist on Monday.

When we arrived home I had another flowers by post arrive from friends in Cornwall which was a lovely surprise.

In the box.

The next day, so pretty thank you Joan and Ian.

Yesterday I was determined to complete a project bag that just needed its binding machining on.

With very shaky hands I managed it.

Front with see through front, not the best sewing!                                   Back a quilted panel.

I am loving my new stairlift and it gives me yet a little more independence.

The Stair Lift

The stair lift installer arrived about 9am, he was so efficient making sure it was suitable for me.

Our stairs are quite narrow and the door is near the last step. There was just enough room.

Me waiting in my chair while the work goes on.

It was brilliant to be able to get upto bed under my own steam.

I also managed to make four more letters on my Cancer Sampler.

I J T and U having not worked on it for about a week.

I have to be up early this morning to be at the Hospital to see the oncologist at 9am, why do all my appointments have to start so early!

I’m excited

Yesterday I ordered flowers by post for the first time ever. 

A little treat, 15 Peruvian Lilies, they came beautifully wrapped and I cannot wait for them to open.

The BIG excitement today is the stair lift will be fitted, I cannot wait.  It has become so difficult to get up and down stairs.

Tomorrow I see the oncologist and more decisions will have to be made.

Lemon Cake and Bread Pudding

Yesterday the family were back from a weeks holiday in Wales, it was so nice to see three of them, Abigail was at work.

Eleanor had made me a lemon drizzle cake, one of my favourite.

So moist and lemony, yum yum.

I think Richard said he made his Dad a Bread pudding

I’m surprised there is more than a crumb left, he cannot stop eating it.

I have done very little lately but watched every episode of Downton Abbey, and Colin Firth in Pride and Predudice.

The reduced Steroids make me feel strange and really hot until mid afternoon, which is a bit miserable.

Chris continues to be my rock and is loving and kind, helping when ever I call.

I am so pleased he has found a new hobby with his Lego and has just bought another kit.

50 years

50 years ago Chris and I met on the isle of Jersey and we married the following March. It has been the most wonderful time.

Yesterday was such a sad day as I was told there is little they can do for the Brain and lung cancer that I now have.

They have reduced the amount of Steroids to try and give me more mobility and the Cancer markers have been sent away for DNA [or something].

On Thursday there will be another Hospital meeting and then I will probably see an oncologist with the view to having some kind of treatment to reduce the swelling in my head. But there is no cure.

With the Lord’s help I will get through this. My faith is strong and I face the future whatever it might be. 

Please do not feel sorry for me .  Your prayers and friendship are always welcome.

The New to me chair

Richard arrived early to help Chris pick up the chair I had bought on Market Place, it turned out even better than we thought as it was top of the range and in great condition. Probable cost a couple of thousand pounds new, and I paid £110. It lifts and rises and at last I can get out of a chair with no help, plus it is very comfy.

The people selling it were clearing their property and asked if Chris wanted a TV, and gave it to him, I will have it in my Happy Room.

The chair came with what is called a ‘slipper box’ and you can see the free TV sitting on it in the back of photo/

Chris steam cleaned the chair and I am so happy with my bargain.

While Chris and Richard were gone Abigail [eldest granddaughter] stayed with me and it was so interesting hearing about all her plans and choices for University next year. Her first choice is Chichester and she wants to be a teacher specialising in Sport.

I prepared another project bag, but didn’t get very far as my feet were so swollen, but managed a little more of my Sampler cross stitch.

Watched 911 Stitcher Flosstube 77  on Black Samplers, 

Socks off the needles

Another pair of socks completed. I just love knitting socks.

These Regia I find wear so well, and just get a short wash in the washing machine.

I also worked on my Sampler, and it is growing.

Couple of mistakes but nothing too drastic so I am leaving them.

Looking forward to today as I managed to buy a Rise recliner HSL chair on Facebook Market Place for £110 [ they cost about £1500 new and it has hardly been used]. Richard and Chris will collect it while Abigail stays with me. 

Monday I have an appointment at the Clinic as they talk through the results of all my tests and I have to make some decisions. 

Sampler progress and the Rocket

I worked on my Cancer Sampler, and find I am so enjoying the change of fabric size to 28 linen.

Needles ready threaded for tomorrow.

A piece of goody 28 count linen mail arrived for my next project whatever that might be.

Found this small sampler for free on Stone Street Stitchworks.

Had to have it as I used to teach lacemaking.

Maybe I’ll use my new linen for it.

Chris started his Rocket, I don't think its as hard as some of his other Lego kits.

Steve, an occupational therapist, called to give me some advice on moving around the house, as I am finding it more and move difficult.

The swelling in my legs seems to be getting worse.

I appreciate the help.

.

The Rocket and the Cancer Sampler

A friend from Church sent me a message that a Lego Rocket Technic was for sale on Market Place and he thought Chris should have it.

The guy selling it was prepared to deliver the parcel so when it arrived I just asked Chris to collect  it at the door.

Something different for him to make.

 

It looks enormous, goodness knows where we put all these Lego, but I’m glad Chris has found a new hobby.

The cross stitch Cancer Sampler that I started on 32 count Zweigart in silk, I was finding too difficult to see.

I do not like to work with a magnifying glass so abandoned it and restarted with

28 count and still only used one strand over two threads. 

So much happier and made reasonable progress.

Doug and Dorothy called and brought me flowers and chocolates, which was so nice of them.

The wheelchair arrived.