TGIF

And time to thank the MOTI, again, for your kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity. This unbelievable flower arrangement arrived Tuesday to brighten my week. And it has surely done that.

As you can see it is filled with botanicals that fairly shout “autumn is coming” - leaves of bronze and cordovan, coral and orange tinged roses and dahlias and purple Queen Ann’s lace. I’ve run out of words to describe their beautiful countenance and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

This week and next was/is filled with a lot of appointments and procedures that wear me out so they are especially appreciated. I also greatly appreciate all the lovely cards and notes you’ve sent to cheer me on. So please, carry on the conversation in these insane times.

And may God bless and keep you all.

The Last of the Greatest Generation’s Leaders Checks Out

Despite the fact that royalty is an anachronism, Elizabeth was a remarkable Queen for 70 years.

RIP Ma’am. Your work is done and it’s time to head home. Your son’s turn to try to save the world, and good luck with that you Green Weenie. “The Queen is dead, long live The King!” Or not, as the Good Lord sees fit.

Summer’s Last Hurrah

Embrace it and let it sustain you through the winter.

Of course workers aren’t what they used to be… 

Nor is Labor Day. It is now just a holiday that marks the end of summer and back-to-school with parades, picnics, barbecues and fireworks. Big Labor ‘representatives’ hauling down big salaries will still give big speeches tomorrow in support of their Democrat advocates while giving lip service to the working man. But they no longer represent their interests of employees, having managed to exploit the working man to their benefit as effectively as any robber baron ever could.

May you enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend.

A Post-Birthday Bonus Post

"I never see the dawn...that I don't say to myself perhaps...perhaps today." – John Dos Passos, Manhattan Transfer

Thank you, everyone. I am still sorting through all of yesterday’s posted birthday wishes and prayers as well as the stack of birthday cards and gifts that arrived via snail mail. I am overwhelmed but appreciative of such an outpouring of good will and wishes on the occasion of my 73rd anniversary of life.

I enjoyed a quiet, reflective day at home. An early morning physical therapy session left me a bit more drained than usual so I napped and opted to postpone a planned dinner outing in favor of a simpler repast of leftovers on the deck, as the threatened rain failed to make a showing. It was relaxing and comforting and a great way to wrap up a lovely day. Raj made me a confetti birthday cake which we enjoyed while noting that the days have indeed grown shorter and summer, as always, is a fleeting pleasure to be embraced and relished.

I awoke feeling much more energetic this morning. So perhaps we’ll go out for an early bird dinner celebration tonight.

Every sunset promises that everything will be alright when next we wake; every sunrise offers hope that is the case. 

Again, sincere thanks to all for brightening my day yesterday, it is both appreciated and treasured.

Got Blueberries?

Blueberries are in high season around here. And since my PT is helping with my mobility Raj and I went to the farmer’s market this week and got some (a lot) blueberries. So after blueberry pancakes and blueberry compote, what to do with the rest? How about this snacking cake, it’s delicious and quite easy: I made it myself (well ok, Raj gathered all the ingredients and did the cleanup; but almost myself).

Recipe link

You can use any type of berry or fruit. I’m partial to straight blueberries but you do you. Since peaches are also in high season I might try them this week.

Easy Mixed Berry Snacking Cake

Ingredients 

• Cooking spray or butter for the pan
• 2/3 cup mild olive oil or mild vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed (I used half light/half dark as my light was pale as White Privilege
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2/3 cups buttermilk or whole milk (I used whole)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup of your favorite fresh berries (halved if using larger berries such as strawberries) dried with a paper towel ( I used more berries – at least a cup and a half, maybe 2, in order to cover the entire top with them; baking might take a few minutes longer with the extra berries)
• 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar for sprinkling (I used  demerara sugar  which I happened to have  but I think a light sprinkling of brown or even white sugar would suffice)
• Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
• Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving optional

Directions 

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).

• Spray an 8-by-8-by-2-inch (20-by-20-by-5-cm) cake pan with non-stick cooking spray or coat with softened butter. Line with parchment paper. (I used a 9-by-9 and skipped the parchment)    

• In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, sugars, and vanilla. Add the egg, and then the yolk, whisking after each. Whisk in the buttermilk.

• Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt onto a sheet of parchment (a bowl works just fine), and using the parchment as a funnel, add the dry ingredients to the wet in three installments, folding with a flexible spatula after each, just to incorporate. Don't overmix.

• Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

• Sprinkle the top of the cake with the berries and then with the turbinado sugar.

• Transfer the cake to the oven and bake, rotating the pan after 20 minutes, until a tester inserted comes out with a few moist crumbs, 40 to 50 minutes. (With the extra berries I think mine took most of the 50 minutes)

• Let the cake cool to room temperature before dusting with confectioners’ sugar and serving right from the pan. Add a dollop of freshly whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired. The cake will keep wrapped in plastic wrap for three days on the counter - and some claim it gets better with age.

I didn’t bother with confectioner’s sugar, whipped cream or ice cream.  It really doesn’t need it but I’m sure they would all be good.

So get yourselves some berries. I am led to believe they are as good for you as they are good.

Also, from this time last year, I’m again you try something crazy like this Blueberry Corn (also in high season) Salad from Market Madness because it’s easy and quite delicious. Makes an interesting side dish. Recipe here.

I sincerely hope you all have a glorious week, filled with sunshine and fresh produce.

You Can Always Refill

Good Morning Mighty Warriors.

Once again I thank you for yesterday’s delivery of beautiful flowers, compliments of the MOTI.

This batch features the same gorgeous orange roses that were in the last arrangement. I think they may be the ‘Tahitian Sunset’ variety – or a close relative – featured in last week’s post. This time they’re teamed with orange and red zinnias to make a truly lovely Tahitian punch. The pictures don’t do the arrangement justice.

But trust me, they’re stunningly beautiful, as always.

On the health front: appointment with the oncologist last week. Cleared me to resume the chemo/immuno-therapies (yay and boo) so I had another infusion on Thursday and am still dragging a bit. He seemed pleased with the MRI (showed significant shrinkage of tumors) and scan results (no new suspicious spots) so treatment  continues as planned.

I’ve tried to retire my little-miss-‘the-glass-is-half-empty’ proclivity for something a bit more optimistic at the behest of Raj.

Why rely on your perhaps mistaken perception when objective reality serves you better? Besides, you can always refill the glass.

If not with water, then with air. It’s all good.

Thank you all, again, for the support and prayers; and may you have a wonderful week.

In The Infamous Words Of Rosana Rosana Dana, “It’s Always Something”

Last week didn’t start off on a  rosy note. I received a call from my oncologist’s office Monday morning telling me that I needed to go the emergency room, stat. They had found a pulmonary embolism in my lung on a routine  CT scan I’d had on Friday to evaluate the chemo/cancer progress. Not good, as I know many of you know from first hand experience. Scary and dangerous.   

Normally they would start a blood thinner immediately but due to my brain bleeds/tumors they needed a MRI before doing so. Even in the hospital system which operates their MRI machine 24/7 you have to wait for such things due to the high number of potential stroke victims presenting in the ER (I eventually got mine Tuesday at 2:30 am). I did get another scan to compare to Friday’s, and EKG as heart damage is common with this condition and an ultrasound of my legs. Each trip to radiology revealed more and more people lying on gurneys in the hall waiting for either an ER room or a hospital room admission.

Until the ultrasound results came back the docs and my oncology team were discussing alternate treatments as they thought blood thinners may prove to be too dangerous.  However the ultrasound indicated multiple DVTs in my legs so they admitted me and started a Heparin IV drip before the MRI results as the threat of additional blood clots breaking off and migrating to a much more dangerous area was a greater threat at the moment. I was admitted at 11:00 pm Monday, 12 hours after arriving at the ER, dripped until Wednesday evening at which time I was determined to have reached a “therapeutic” level of blood thinner. I was released and sent home with oral blood thinners which will be a permanent addition to my drug protocol. I was happy to relinquish my room to some poor soul still lying on a stretcher in a hallway somewhere .     

I was initially told that the clot could have caused heart damage due to the excess pressure it placed on the heart, but they seem to have determined that was not the case, thankfully. Once again, I owe a huge thank you to everyone here who has been soliciting the Good Lord on my behalf. I am truly grateful, thankful and blessed for your continuing prayers.

I will be meeting with my oncologist team this week, to review all test results and hopefully be cleared to resume my chemo therapy which was suspended due to the blood clot – although I’ll admit I don’t mind the respite.

So with last week’s sunset finally in the rearview mirror

although the atmosphere retains a degree of turbulence

      but the landscape is assuredly a bit rosier at the start of this new week.

(Rosa 'Tahitian Sunset')

That’s all the news from Lake Woebegone for now. I apologize for being out of the loop but at this point have neither the energy or desire to stay on top of all that is happening in the world at large. Thank you again for your loyal support, caring wishes and prayers.

Stay On the Road

…and follow the sun. Or is it the other way around?

Only the soulless would not wish to ramble down this road.