On 01.02.02, I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Too late for surgery, I had chemotherapy, which failed. In May the chemotherapy was changed and I was soon in remission which was celebrated and welcome and lasted nine years - until October 2011. There was progression in 2011 so more treatment was indicated and I am now back in partial remission. But I'm not only a cancer patient - I also enjoy my family, walk my dogs and am learning to draw and paint. Life is good!

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

On to week 2

All during 2008 each new week will begin on Tuesday. Each Tuesday represents a fresh start to work toward the goals I set for myself last month. Week 1 was a wonderful beginning. I walked 2-1/2 hours, read one short story and one novel. I lost two pounds, wrote one snail letter (plus eight notes to girls in Juvenile Hall), added seven pages to my sketchbook and made one collage.

But the most surprising part was that I found my way to the kitchen. I used to cook, I was the only cook for decades while we raised our children and maintained mostly traditional roles. And then the kids grew up and moved away, we were both working long hours, we both cooked. Then I got sick and soon after that my husband retired. He had time to cook, he wanted to cook, he was attending classes with master chefs at our local culinary institute while I was going to chemotherapy, opening a new office and wanting to study art. And then I forgot where the kitchen was since it was clearly out of bounds for me.

When I made my 2008 resolutions I decides to cook one meal a week, just one. So last week, Week One, I made my own chili and my own chicken noodle soup. Hearty and stewy, both were welcome in this week of rain, rain and more rain. Then I outdid myself and made Jell-o (I'm laughing now). I served it in parfait glasses, added bananas and a dollop of cream. It was something so unexpected in our home that my husband asked, "What's that?" And loved it!




Our community college watercolor class "for active seniors" resumed today. I learned a lot in the six months I participated, but now I'm even more committed. I haven't finished today's assignment yet but this evening, while watching CNN and the surprising New Hampshire primary returns, I used watercolor pencils to add this page of apples to my sketchbook.

5 comments:

  1. What a great start to your New Year!

    Btw, thanks for adding my blog to your links....much appreciated ~

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  2. I love the colors! Beautiful!!

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  3. Nicely done! I like the touches of yellow on the leaves.

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  4. Beautiful apples! The colors are wonderful and nicely shaded. Good enough to eat:)

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  5. Thank you so much, all of you! I'm starting to get the knack of drawing spheres and am enjoying the extra control of watercolor PENCILS. They tend to go where I expect them too! - Barbara

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