This is the life

Ah, yes...

So here it is: my birthday, time to add up all the responses to my Souvenirs and a Celebration post, and make a donation to the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation and its Women's Cancer Network. The grand total is... 105 comments! THANK YOU! Thank you! I began by wanting to give as much as I could afford, and when I decided to invite you to participate, I had no idea that I would receive so much in return. Your beautiful stories have been such a joy to read. I'm inspired by all of you, and by all the love and life that your words contain.

This has been, for me, a month spent marveling, pondering, and feeling. Cancer is part of my story, and it always will be, but it's a good distance behind me. I still feel the need to carry a little bag of preparedness with me, though, like a first-aid kit. It's packed with the skills cancer gave me, and some spare determination, along with a portion of the wisdom I've gained so far. But this baggage, unlike what I've been lugging around until now, is light. It's there just in case, to reassure me in those moments when I want to glance back over my shoulder. 

The road under my feet feels safe, and I'm ready to navigate this new year, and the next, and the next. Whatever is in store, I'm here, and I'm smiling. And I thank you all.

Now for the goodies -- yarn, and beautiful pictures of my landscape --

Two skeins of Sundara Yarns DK Silky Cashmere in "Spring Fresh": 

Louise, who commented on 4/5 at 4:34am
(please email me with your address, Louise!)

A skein of Sundara Yarns Fingering Silky Merino in "Marina over Icicles":

Elizabeth, who commented on 4/21 at 5:35pm
(please email me with your address, Elizabeth!)

Two skeins of Spirit Trail Fiberworks Ananke in "Calypso":

Bailey P., who commented on 4/5 at 3:19pm
(please email me with your address, Bailey!)

A skein of Spirit Trail Fiberworks Orihime in "Shoreline":

Ellen, who commented on 4/7 at 6:30pm

A skein of Spirit Trail Fiberworks Sunna in "Garnet":

Luann!, who commented on 4/6 at 1:37pm

A copy of Jake Rajs' book Beyond the Dunes:

Reya! who commented on 4/4 at 6:12pm

I've contacted Ellen, Luann, and Reya -- Reya! -- and I hope Louise, Elizabeth, and BaileyP will see this and get in touch so I can send them their beautiful yarn.

Now that the anniversary has come and gone, and the party is winding down, I think I'll relax, do a little knitting, and keep enjoying this life. Thank you again for making it a wonderful month, a wonderful year, and a happy birthday!

Bounty to share

 

I had an email from my friend Jennifer Heverly, who is the genius behind Spirit Trail Fiberworks. She's been following my celebration giveaway and reading all the wonderful comments, and she asked if she could contribute some yarn to the prizes I mentioned the other day. Seriously, how could I say anything but yes and thank you? So here they are -- three of Jen's beautiful new yarn bases, and her description of each:

Left: "Two 147-yard skeins of Ananke in 'Calypso', 100% Bombyx silk, DK weight. The color is really more of a rich, light turquoise blue. I figured two skeins would be enough for a  scarf or shawlette, or a fancy hat or mitts..."

Center: "One 430-yard skein of Orihime in 'Shoreline' (this is a brand new yarn, 430 yds per 100g, 80% merino and 20% cashmere). A couple of sample knitters used this for lace and said it was wonderful. The color actually has some bright spring green in it that somehow didn't get into the photo."

Right: "One 350-yard skein of Sunna in 'Garnet' (one of my new favorite colors). It's 75% Superwash merino, 15% cashmere, and 10% Bombyx silk, sort of a heavy fingering weight." I used Sunna for a pair of Hedgerow mitts, and I can vouch for it -- it's just beautiful.

Jen will be at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival this weekend, May 1st and 2nd. Please visit her booth in the Main Building (A30) if you'd like to snuffle and swoon over a lot of incredible fiber and yarn. And please give her a great big hug from me!

I'll be closing the comments on my Souvenirs and a Celebration post tomorrow, Wednesday, at 7:00pm EDT. Then I'm going to have a little drawing using the nifty random number generator that's part of an app in my phone, and I'll post the winners here.

If you'd like to read some lovely stories, and leave a little story of your own, please take a look. I hope to be able to respond to everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts and celebrations -- but in the mean time, I hope you all know how much your words mean to me and to everyone who has read them. Many thanks to Margene (of the perfect heart), Chris (of the cats who make Annabelle smile), and Sydney (of the ferrets whose antics rival those of Chris' cats), for sharing my post on their blogs. My world has gotten so much bigger this month!

Sur-prizes

It's tulip magnolia time...

Even on a hazy day, they're opening...

Today their branches were the perfect place to pose some of the prizes for my Gynecologic Cancer Foundation fundraiser and giveaway...

First are two skeins of Sundara Yarns DK Silky Cashmere (160 yds each, 55% silk & 45% cashmere) in "Spring Fresh," a color Sundara chose for me. This is one of her newer yarns, and it's just beautiful. It would make a soft and warm cowl or scarf.

Next is a skein of Sundara Yarns Fingering Silky Merino (500 yds, 50% silk & 50% merino) in "Marina over Icicles," a yarn that Sundara sent as a little extra prize (Thank you, Sundara!). I'm knitting Anne Hanson's Boxleaf Triangle shawl with FSM, and I have a "collection" in my stash -- I think it's my favorite (after Sock, of course).

And last, though not posed in a tree, is Beyond the Dunes by Jake Rajs. I want to share this book because it captures the beauty of the many landscapes and the extraordinary light that surround and inspire me. To the rest of the world this place is known as "The Hamptons," but to those who live here it's just home, on the East End of Long Island.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on my April 4 post by 7:00pm EDT on Wednesday, April 28 (my birthday!). I'll draw three names at random and contact the winners by email.

I hope you'll add yours to the (yay!) 64 responses so far, and that you'll pass the word. With every new comment, I'm revising my idea of what I will be able to give -- upward. I've never been a "cause" person, but this one, of course, means the world to me. 

Dr. Pearl, Nurse Sylvia, my friends & family, and all of you, aren't charitable foundations, so one way to spread my gratitude around is to make the biggest donation I can to an organization that does so much for me and for all women. I hope you'll join in my fun!

::-::-::

In the not-work part of my life, I've been spinning like a crazy fool ever since I received some very special fiber from Jen at Spirit Trail Fiberworks. It's Bluefaced Leicester blended with silk, cashmere, and merino. There will be pictures eventually, but at the moment I'm in too deep to want to stop to take one. For now, take a look at the fifth picture down in this blog post. Now you see what I mean, don't you? And excuse me as I publish this and get back to spinning while the light is still good!

Random numbers

1. Corn muffins with fresh raspberries are a good way to start a Sunday. I keep trying new things in my corn muffins. The pumpkin seed experiment wasn't too successful, but the raspberry one was.

2. The breakfast that included the corn and raspberry muffin was delicious. I have more muffins, for more breakfasts, or whenever the mood strikes.

3. Am I the only person who thinks that a nice stack of towels just out of the dryer is a happy sight? I can't be.

4. Targhee from A Verb for Keeping Warm is also a happy sight. I've spun two ounces of a medium-fine singles -- half of what I have -- and I hope to spin the second batch this week so I can ply them. My plied sample is so bouncy, it's like a rubber band. I'm getting better at spinning on the Reeves, but I'm sure there a few thick and thin spots in the yarn. I don't mind, because I love what I'm doing. 

5. Right after I took that picture I turned around to go into the house and dropped the bobbin. It bounced down the long flight of stairs, and all I could do was watch. It's cracked across the whole end. If it had been an Ashford bobbin I'd think, "Oh well, I have about a dozen of them." But this is one of four. I can have it repaired, but I'm also going to be smart and order a few more. They have to be specially made, because of course, Rick Reeves doesn't make wheels any more.

6. I'm still hoping for more comments on my April 4th contest post. Right now there are 58 wonderful responses. The prize yarn should be here in a day or two, and I'll post photos on Wednesday. I've also picked out a beautiful book to give to a random non-knitter. 

More comments = a larger donation to the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation = a small step toward better information and more research on women's cancers. 

7. The wisteria leaves have begun to grow. Finally! I say the same thing every year, I'm sure. And the oak trees are doing that pollen thing again. I'm actually hoping for a day or two of rain so that some of it might get washed away!

A little more spinning

I washed my Busy Bee scarf this morning, and I felt very brave. I've never even considered washing handspun in the machine, but this was Superwash Blueface Leicester, so I went ahead and did it. I like the results! It's so soft and has a nice halo, and it kept its shape just like socks do. I wouldn't have chanced it if the scarf were delicate, but this is a sturdy 2x2 rib.

I love it! I think it will go into a box of potential gifts. You never know when a handspun, handknit scarf might be just the ticket. 

One of my other accomplishments for the day is this little skein of yarn that I began spinning on Wednesday. It's Wensleydale wool in a color called "Blue Sky Indigo" from A Verb for Keeping Warm. I had two ounces, so my plied skein is just about 100 yards. I'll figure out what to do with such a small amount after it's set and washed. In the mean time, I had a happy time playing with the fiber and my Reeves wheel.

I'm waiting for my order of Targhee top in "The Shore," also from A Verb for Keeping Warm. April is Targhee month in the KBOW Woolalong, and since I seem to be in a spinning mode, I'll go with it. It should arrive tomorrow, so on Wednesday, after I get back from renewing my driver's license, I'm going to spin the rest of the day away. That's the plan, at least!

::-::

Before long, there'll be yarn to post about -- prizes for the end-of-the-month drawing for comments to my Souvenirs and a Celebration post. I have some lovelies to show you! If you haven't commented yet, please do. My donation to GCF grows with every one! 

Your comments have been so thoughtful, and they keep me thinking, too. There are all kinds of celebrations, both sweet and bitter. Bitter and sweet make life, I think. We don't get one without the other.

We are going

As I write, there are forty-four comments on my Sunday post. The stories  -- some sweet, some sad -- are all full of heart and love and life. They remind me that we are all on the same road, more or less. All these small messages -- I can't believe how many -- are so powerful. Thank you! My little idea to make a donation to GCF is growing every day, and all I can say is Wow!

These photos are of the Euonymus Pieris japonica (thanks Kris! I should have asked you first!) at Judy's house. I took them on Sunday as I was getting out of the car, even before I went into the house. The big bush just reached out and pulled me across the driveway, into its shade. I love the flowers' waxy pinkness, and their light, sweet scent. I could hear bumblebees buzzing around as I got in closer.

Dana Jennings has written another beautiful article in the New York Times, about life after cancer, and he got me thinking about what lies beyond the anniversaries. The everyday "miracles in a minor key" are what he looks for. And he says "I love who and what I love more deeply than ever." Amen to that!

So -- I hope you'll leave a comment on the Souvenirs and a celebration post, if you haven't yet. I'd love to hear about your anniversaries, or even your "miracles in a minor key." For every comment on the post by April 28th I'll make a donation to the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, and I'll also be drawing names at random for some beautiful yarn (wait until you see!) and a book or two.


Here are the words to the song in my last post, the ones I sing as I travel through the day (or as I wash the windows, which is what I did today!):

Woyaya by Sol Amarfio and Osibisa
We are going, heaven knows where we are going,
We'll know we're there.
We will get there, heaven knows how we will get there,
We know we will.
It will be hard we know
And the road will be muddy and rough,
But we'll get there, heaven knows how we will get there,
We know we will.
We are going, heaven knows where we are going,
We'll know we're there.

My soundtrack

"Woyaya" from Art Garfunkel's 1973 album "Angel Clare."  

 (It's not about the video; it's about the song, which I've loved since, oh, about 1973.)

~:~:~

Help me celebrate my anniversary by commenting on yesterday's post!

Souvenirs and a celebration

It’s been a year, one whole year since my last chemotherapy treatment. Since any treatment for endometrial cancer. A year since my goal was to make it through the day a step at a time. One year of No Cancer!

This first anniversary weaves itself in and out of my days. I remember what a struggle it was to do anything, from getting out of bed, to doing my job, to knitting. I smile when I think about all the love and care that came from my family and friends, and of all those people I don’t know in real life, too, like some of you. I can still taste saline and heparin and taxol if I think about it. 

I can’t help but stop and think about what I was doing, where I was, how I felt at this moment, or on that day a year ago, or a year and a half. And I think about it this way: I’m proud of myself. I worked hard. I tried to be honest. I hope I became wiser. I wanted to find myself here right now, recovering and happy, and I did.

There are remnants and reminders of the journey -- souvenirs, as a dear friend put it. A little blurred vision, still tender lungs, a slightly less efficient heart, swelling in my legs, numbness in my toes. Souvenirs, including the one inch scar where my port was, which reminds me every day that I set my whole body and mind on reaching the land of No Cancer. I accept them, because I arrived.

But now it's time to celebrate! On Thursday I shared the evening with some of the women who spent so many hours with me while I had chemo. I loved seeing all of them together, around a table piled with delicious food. We toasted me, we toasted Dr. Pearl. If you know me you'll think I spent the evening in tears, but I didn't. We laughed and I smiled, and it was the best way to celebrate the year!

I want to make my anniversary last, so I have an idea. We all have anniversaries -- days or moments we remember, that we look to to help us mark time. Leave a comment, and tell me about an anniversary that you celebrate, big or small. I want to know what makes it special and memorable. 

For every comment on this post between now and my birthday on April 28th, I'll make a donation to the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation. It's a wonderful organization that supports research and promotes public awareness of gynecologic cancers, and it's been invaluable to me since my diagnosis. Its Women's Cancer Network was the first website I visited that helped me make sense of what was happening to me. With your help, I want to do more for them.

There's more, because I want to spread my happiness around a little. At the end of the month I'll do the random number thing and somebody will win a prize! If the winner is a knitter, there will be yarn. If not, there will be a book.

So what do you say -- want to play along? I hope so!