Green Acres is the place to be .....

Can someone please remind me why i wanted to do this moving lark so soon after finishing my radiation treatments
I am doing ok though - tired ok make that exhausted each day and a little sore from moving boxes etc but it is lovely being here at the farm.
Still LOTS to unpack and get organised but we will get there !!
So do I look like a farmers wife yet ? HAHA

To see more photos of our new home please visit my webshots albums

http://community.webshots.com/user/wendyp1

then click on folder called Our New Home June 2008.

Can't wait to get my craft room organised and be able to create again.

Some Exciting News To Share

Firstly I have now finished all my radiation treatments !!
Hopefully the side effects should start to go away in about 2-3 weeks time.
And I have some wonderful news to share which is giving me something to focus on and become excited about - WE ARE MOVING !!!!! We will be moving on 28 May !!!
My husband grew up on a farm and has always loved the rural life - something i never wanted to try until now - since my health hiccup I have been looking at lots of things in a totally different way !!! So we are moving - to a farm that we will be renting - it is 11 acres of land to do with whatever we want (have animals, grow veges etc etc). Also includes a three bedroom house, seperate sheds (2) and a big barn !!! - the barn or one of the sheds or the inside games room are all potential areas where I can have my craft business again. The property is around 2 hours north from where we are living right now. So lots to do between now and the 28th May and hopefully some time to do some craft work as well !!

Light At The End of The Tunnel

Little update on me - next week will be my last FULL WEEK of radiation treatment for my breast cancer - then Monday the following week and then I AM DONE !!!!!
Right now I am sooooooo exhausted, and have developed some other "normal" symptons of having radiation like an annoying cough, rash and soreness. Also because of my low immune system right now I am getting a cold ; (
Still a long road ahead to get back to "normal" but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and its burning bright, urging me forward to finish this journey I started way back in November last year when I was diagnosed.
And overall I am remaining as positive as I can !!!

Balloons Over Waikato

Check out my photo album (Balloons over Waikato) with more photos i took last week of the amazing hot air balloons that were at Hamilton. Some of the ladies and i from the Cancer Lodge went down by Hamilton lake at around 6am one morning to watch all the balloons taking off - what a fantastic sight it was !!!

http://community.webshots.com/user/wendyp1

Checking in

Sunday morning here - just checking in to say hi.
Rainy day here so will be resting inside most of the day.
Week 2 of my radiation treatments are done. 3 or possibly 3 1/2 weeks of treatments to go.
Am feeling sore and tired and developing a bit of a dry cough (all "normal" side effects) but just trying to take one day at a time; resting when i can - although i hate not been able to do all that i would like to do
Spent most of yesterday over at the Craft Show at the Hamilton Gardens - was tiring but great to catch up with lots of people I know and seeing all the things for sale and all the wonderful samples of things has inspired me for future creativity.
The weekends go way too fast - almost before they seem to start, its time to pack up again and head back over to the Lodge for another week.
But all this will pass eventually.
Everyones thoughts, prayers and support mean the world to me and comfort me greatly !!!

Playing with Fairies

Have had a lot of fun today making up 4 fairy themed cards using my craft robo and cuttlebug. The fairy images are from a dingbat font.

I am trying to keep busy and I do have a lot to get organised before my first treatment at the hospital next Tuesday (1st April). Will then be away from home and offline during the week for all of April while I stay at the Cancer Lodge over in Hamilton.

Inspired by You Tube Video Clip

Firstly Happy Easter to you all!

Its a lovely sunny and unseasonably hot autumn (fall) day here. Got my laundry out on the line and when looking through my emails this morning, someone had posted a link to a You Tube video clip for a background technique.

Usually I think to myself - yes that looks interesting I will try that "sometime" but more often than not I never get around to it - so NOTE TO SELF - from now on if you see something you want to try doing - if you can try it then and there - GOT FOR IT !! I had so much fun experimenting with colours and papers and well take a look at one of the cards I ended up making.

This is the link (thanks Libby)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=KPqNnDJ9n7c
An Irresistible Technique - dabber paints with distress inks

I am hoping my muse has decided to return to play !!!

Things Get Moving !!

Tuesday I had another appointment at the hospital - I got to see the dr for talking and signing consent forms and then got to go upstairs to the radiation simulator.
My first radiation treatment is on the Tuesday 1st April and I will be having 25 treatments - one a day - Monday to Friday till early May.
And the good news is I am able to stay at the Cancer Lodge which is in the hospital grounds at Hamilton and come home on the weekends.
So a busy week ahead getting things organised.
As always huge thank yous for everyones love, support and prayers - it means the world to me to know so many people care.

More Waiting ....

For those of you who visit my blog in the hope of seeing some of my artwork, PLEASE keep coming back - I hope to start creating again real soon.
My hospital appointment last week brought more frustration and "waiting" which I am not good at - this lady loves to feel "in control" of her life and since December when my breast cancer was diagnosed, control of my life is one thing I feel I have lost big time. The appointment turned into just a note taking exercise by the dr; talking about what they will do and when she had a look at the wounds she noticed that my body is rejecting some of the stitches (they are meant to stay inside my body and dissolve). As she is the oncology dr i got referred back over to the breast clinic after my appointment with her. So more on that below lol.
The oncology dr said that she wants to WAIT for another 2 weeks before my second planning appointment where they do the preliminary things before the radiation treatment will start. So I have to heal some more as I am still bruised and wounds not completely healed yet.
THEN radiation treatments probably wont start for another 2-3 weeks after that. Anyways after I had finished with her i went over to the breast clinic to get looked at by one of the surgeon drs over there and she took the stitches out that had broken through the skin. Ouch ouch kind of as most parts are numbish. Then we headed back home - didn't even feel like craft shopping on the way lol.
So once again waiting for things to happen ......
Some days are good, some days are "pity party" days but I am learning to take each day as it comes - and on those pity party days to work through all the emotions and not suppress them. I know one day very soon I will be able to look back on these past months and softly smile and know I conquered it all and have become stronger for the experience.
Until next time - huge thanks to everyone for their prayers, love and support - it means the world to me.

Another Step In The Journey

Sorry I have been "missing" - just been resting up and getting a little betterer each day.
Another 'step' in the 'journey' will take place next Thurs 6 March when I have my "planning appointment" for my radiation treatment.
Creating art hasn't really featured in my life lately - although I have made a few cards and ATCs in the last few days.
My dear husband brought me a new sewing machine for Valentines Day and its still sitting in its box waiting for me to have enough energy and find my muse and start creating some fabric related artworks too.
So watch this space !!

One World One Heart Winners

Firstly a huge thank you to Lisa http://oneworldevent.blogspot.com/ for organising this wonderful event !!!
And a huge thank you to everyone who came to visit my blog during the event.
Using the random generator site, here are the lucky winners of my ATCs
Angela
Joanne O
Ladybug
Jet1960
I have emailed you all privately and once I receive your mailing details will send the ATCs out to you all.
I hope everyone will return to visit here often.
Love and hugs to you all.

Breast Cancer Awareness ATCs

Made some Trading cards using one of the collage sheets i brought off ebay the other day.
This sheet is BC awareness themed and a Portion from the sale of this sheet goes to the American Cancer Society for the Fight against Breast Cancer.
http://stores.ebay.com/Lisas-Altered-Art

I have had a "not so good" past couple of days - but trying to work through the physical and emotional "stuffs" . This too shall pass! I get frustrated easily wanting to get back to "doing it all" - including housework would you believe !!! but in time i know will be back to being painfree. In the meantime I am trying to focus on the good and positive things in my life !!

Update On Me

Yesterday was my appointment at the hospital to learn the results from my surgery. Pathology report shows lymph nodes were clear and clear margins were found. So next step is to have radiation treatment - no date set for this yet. But good news is NO CHEMO at this stage.
So in the meantime plenty of REST and hopefully the pain and bruising will lessen each day. And hopefully soon I will be creating my art again.

Doodling is good for the soul

I have decided after an afternoon of doodling - that doodling is good for the soul. It's the first art I have attemped since my surgery.
Nothing like taking your mind off the pain by doodling some ATCs.

Its been a frustrating week - kind of 1 step forward, 2 steps back
And my appointment to get my results and ongoing treatment schedule came to nothing on Thursday as when I got to the clinic I was told that my results hadnt come back yet - so another appointment has been scheduled for this coming Tuesday morning.

So one day at a time and hopefully my muse has returned - albeit in small play times.