Get Back To The Basics + Learning to Unplug
After a 2 day rain storm at the end of last week, the weather has begun to warm up {yesterday was 78 degrees!} and I’ve been spending a lot of time outside.
The landscapers came last week and laid the seashell driveway and it looks AWESOME!! I’ll have to remember to take some photos so I can show you.
The puggle princess has been hanging outside more too, under the cabana and enjoying herself listening to the birds and people going by.
It’s been a great last couple of days.
In The Kitchen
Nothing exciting going on in the kitchen lately but I am planning on making a sticky toffee pudding today {the HH LOVES this dessert!}.
Kitchen Goals For This Year
- Master the pear frangipane tart from Standard Baking Company.
- Put my Weck jars to use.
- Use two bins of beans {working on it}
Rug Hooking
I’m supposed to be done dyeing wool for the spring/summer season but I can’t seem to stop.
I have a couple of big rugs I’m planning on hooking this summer and I wanted to test out some new dye recipes and so far I am loving the results. This red might just be my favorite so far.
Work continues on the giant whale rug.
Rug Hooking Goals For This Year
Finish drawing out all my patterns, making kits, dyeing wool by March 31st.- Release 10 new rug hooking patterns/kits. {3 down 7 to go}
- Hook 27 of the patterns from the “someday I’ll hook these” bin. {4 down 23 to go}
Go New Places – See New Things
We went somewhere new.
We met with the radiologist last week and found out the HH will have to have 33 {THIRTY THREE} radiation therapy appointments for his ear.
HOLY CANOLIES people. That is a lot of zaps. And a lot of trips to the Doctor’s Office. I am a firm believer that anytime you have to have a not so fun doctor’s appointment, you get to go for a treat afterwards.
So we went to Chick Fil A. 😉
His ear needs to heal first {from the surgery} and then they have to make some sort of squishy mold for his ear, and a cool plastic helmet for his head. It’s going to be an interesting summer, that’s for sure.
Travel Goals For This Year
- Travel someplace {internationally} that I’ve never been before.
- Travel somewhere in Maine {overnight} that I haven’t been before.
Places I’ve Been So Far This Year
- Boston {Birthday getaway}
- NYC
Walk And Stretch More
Lot’s of walking this week. Walking around town for exercise and walking back and forth to bring plants outside and then in again.
Yesterday I started hardening off the tomato and pepper plants. If all goes as planned, they should be ready to go into the ground on Memorial Day.
All the other plants are outside now so I can pack up the grow lights for the season.
Walking/Stretching Goals For This Year
- Get into some sort of stretching routine
- Fast walk a 5K, 10K, and
Half Marathon
Garden
The tulips in my cutting garden alongside the house and out in front of the fence are in bloom and gorgeous! The weather was so nice on Saturday that I even set up the trolley out front.
I put out 4 bouquets of tulips {$10 each} and a few rhubarb plants {$5 each}. All the tulips sold, but none of the rhubarb plants.
Maybe nobody wants rhubarb plants? Or maybe the plants were too small? I’m not sure. But I’ll try again. If I don’t get any takers I’ll just have to plant a ridiculously long row of rhubarb once the fence is in.
I keep checking the Van Engelen website to see if ordering is open yet but it’s not. It should be anytime now!!
Garden Goals For This Year
- Rework the driveway and garden areas {in progress}
- Go crazy and plant a ridiculous amount of flowers {working on it}
- Step out of my comfort zone and plant some flowers I’ve never planted before
Paint
I was able to paint the interior window frames in the front room and am hoping to get the new blue paint on the walls in the next day or two.
I’ve also been working on another round of wooden buoys for out front. It’s been slow going in the painting department, that’s for sure. Normally I’m all gung ho to paint… But this year, not so much.
All this sunshine we’ve been hanging though… I’m loving that.
Here’s hoping you have a fantastic week,
~Mavis
Painting Goals For This Year
- The Van Gogh wall
- The gallery wall down stairs
- The captains wall in the hall
- Trim and walls
Lynne says
Everything looks lovely. I want to see what a shell driveway looks like! Please consider getting the HH a bucket hat with a neck protector – most of those extend forward enough to cover the ears, and many are in that 50 SPF fabric. He works so hard outside and needs those ears protected. I hope his zaps go well.
Julie V says
Thirty-three treat runs while working toward better health is a great way to plan it. If your husband likes ice cream, he could try every flavor at the ice cream shop and still have room for restaurants, me thinks.
Christine says
The radiation will zap his energy. More than you would think. And for a few months after it’s done as his body works to clear it out. Not to be a downer, just so you guys are prepared. It blindsided me and I wish I’d known.
Jilly says
Same with my husband and his treatments for Prostate Cancer. Five days a week for eight weeks…the whole summer. After about week three he really started to get tired. Yard work for us became a bust. I don’t won’t to be a downer either, but Marvis, be prepared like Christine said. For us the hard part was not having a set time for his appointments. Monday may have been at 9am but Tuesday could be at 3pm. Never knew until after that day’s treatment what time his treatment for the next day’s time would be.
As a planner it drove me nuts until I slapped myself on the head and said, “Woman, you are not the one with cancer so chill out”. As he was at a level 10 with the cancer I am so grateful that six years later he is in remission and growing strawberries, apples, raspberries and grapes. It has been his ‘thing’ for some time now. As we live in Southern CA it is a year round treat.
Praying for HH. Maybe lots of naps with Lucy on the couch are in his future.
Em says
Blessings to you and your husband, both Jilly and Mavis.
Peg says
I discovered with my mom when she had two different rounds of radiation for two different bouts of breast cancer that setting up the actual treatment takes longer than the treatment itself. 100% agree with prior comments. He may also notice a permanent change in the texture of his skin. Ask for cream in advance in case he burns. I’m sorry he’s having to go through this. Health issues as we age are not fun!
Laurie Matzko says
I’m so sorry to hear about your husband. I hope his treatments go by quickly! Also as a fainter I can say that it sucks!
Where is your cabana from? I have a dog that would love that!
Mavis Butterfield says
Cool Cabana. We bought it for the beach a few years ago and love it.
Lesley says
Mavis, we are in a similar boat this summer: HH has been diagnosed with tongue cancer and will have surgery and 6 weeks of zaps, helmet and all. There are so many good parts about middle age but this hasn’t been one of them!
Molly says
I’m so sorry to hear about all of the trips you will be making to the cancer center. I’m hoping for the best for both of you. Chick Fil A is always something to look forward to. The Frozen Lemonade is my favorite thing on the menu. I always take my son there after his cancer check ups too.
Judy says
Mavis, I’ve been following you for years. I just wanted to let you know how much I look forward to your posts, especially your recipes! I agree that middle age has it’s really good parts. Retirement, free time, no money worries etc. But life still comes with struggles that we have to get through. My Mother had three primary Ca’s. One colon and three breast. I spent my career working with cancer patients. So in the back of my mind I have been somewhat prepared for that to happen. To myself or my husband. In the last ten years he has broken his rt hip, had a GI bleed that almost killed him with multi otgan failure, was bitten twice by rattle snakes here on our property, and had a severe knee injury. It went septic, he has had three knee surgeries and is scheduled for a total knee replacement in August. I’m 65 and have always been healthy and active. Almost three years ago I broke my neck, rt wrist and some ribs in my first car accident after 46 years of driving (the deer was fine). I have some paralysis but severe nerve pain. My husband is my 24/7 caregiver. One of our dogs is a 17 year old 6 lb blind toy poodle, with an extremely good appetite that must be hand fed. He is my constant companion. But we are just taking life’s challenges one day at a time. I’m having a not so good pain day right now with accompanying nausea. It’s almost 4 pm here and I’ve not been able to eat today yet. My husband is able to be outside planting cedars. I’m not able to be outside watching him. But I can still walk, with my cane or sometimes with my walker. I’m sorry this us so long. But I just wanted you and anyone else to know that it could be worse, and hopefully tomorrow will be better. Be thankful and find your joy. I appreciate you wish good health and happiness for you and your husband.
Take care.
Hello from Canada
Em says
Blessings to you and your husband, Judy. If it helps anyone, I have found that if I think of the color “blue” it helps me manage my pain. I’m not sure if it’ll work for anyone else but I’ll refund what you paid for this tip if it doesn’t help you. 😉
Seriously, I hope you all have relief from pain.
Blessings from Texas
Heather in Nevada says
Sorry to hear about your husband. I somehow missed your earlier post.