cancel cancer

There's only one letter difference between 'cancer' and 'cancel', wouldn't it be great if we could just twist that 'r' into an 'l' and poof, magically, cancel out cancer?

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

happy

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.

If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

~ Dalai Lama

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

I want compassion, not pity; comfort, not advice. ~ Lori Hope in help me live: 20 things people with cancer want you to know

let's play!

Don't forget to play!  As adults we too often forget the importance of play.  While playing may not wash away the stresses, it will help make it more bearable.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

simple sawdust

Stand up! Stand out! Be different!

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

boo

Halloween is a holiday not to be overlooked.  For me, it signals the beginning of winter, the end of daylight savings time, the start of the holiday season, quickly followed by Thanksgiving then Christmas, the end of the year.  Where did this year go?

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

The ornament next an English Walnut shell that we kept from last winter - I'm not sure why - it still fits together perfectly. . .

recycling

Our minds are full of ideas of the way our lives should be, or will be.  After diagnosis, we have to dump all those thoughts out, pick through them, reevaluate, recycle.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

female dark-eyed junco

Regardless of the diagnosis. each and every day that we breathe we are living with - not dying of - cancer.  (Otherwise, we have been dying of life since the day we were born.) ~ unknown

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

While I was watching she found a worm - cool!

the juncos are back

If I have a pain that lasts for any length of time, I fear the cancer has come back.  Paranoid?  Yes, I am.  But, I think, in this situation, the paranoia is normal.  I had a diagnosis hit me from out of the blue, in fact, the last words I said to the doctor performing the test was, "Well, we know it's not cancer, or I'd already be dead."  I was 38 years old, it was not supposed to be cancer.  The next words he said to me were, "We found cancer."  I am much more in tune to my body nowadays.  Yes, I am paranoid.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

My photo has nothing to do with my words but I figure that's ok.  I'm excited the dark-eyed juncos are back, winter is coming!

fortune cookie says

Fortune cookie says: Your courage is like a kite; big wind raises it higher. ~ I just hope it doesn't get caught in a tree like this mylar balloon.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

playful

My size doesn't matter, I have the strength to take on things 10 times bigger than I am.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

I really should have taken my flash out with us I guess, oh well, I still like this one of her.  Sorry I'm overloading you on puppy for a little bit here, I'm assuming I'll find a home for her soon and her time here is limited so I'm soaking her up. :)

She jumps and runs and wants to play with everyone. That's her daddy's leg you can see on the right.

He ran like a little girl while she chased him wanting to play, she finally cornered him and he turned with fear in his eyes, lol.

Brodi's pretty cautious of his wee one, but he does play with her a little and she's starting to mimic his play. This photo was taken right before the first photo. A series of three.

dreary

I can't control the weather, but I hope I can be like this plant, sturdy and strong, holding on against the odds.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

a different view

Looking at something from a new angle can share the hidden parts you, knew were there but, couldn't imagine.  Often the important stuff is hard to get to, or covered up with fluff that distracts us.  But if we ignore the stem of the blossom, the flower will die.  A person's core, inner workings, are hidden deeper than that stem, but just as important.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

reflection

It's good to look at things from different angles, but don't forget to look a little closer. If you look deeper than the raindrop on a branch, you can see a reflection of the whole bush, its leaves a flaming red delight.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

It has rained all day. :( This is the photo before I cropped it. Then I cropped in to just the droplet and flipped it.

The red bush sits at the corner of our house - you can see the house on the right, flaming bush with fake spiderwebs wrapped on it (grandkids helped me with that), the nearly all bare trees (really love those 2 yellow leaves sticking towards us from the naked tree), and I was very surprised to see that the gazebo in the backyard can be seen.

cross eyes

What would you do if you weren't afraid? ~Spencer Johnson

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

turkey butt

Don't get mad at the turkeys who don't comprehend what you're going through, just walk away.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

supportive

Being a single bloom to a stem would be lonely, it feels so much better to be one of many blooms on the stem.  Supporting each other, cheering each other on, riding the wind together.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

memories

Chemo Brain is real.  Some people aren't affected by it all, while others suffer to varying degrees.  My brain still isn't the same.  Memories want to fly away on the breeze rather than plant themselves.  I get very frustrated, and embarrassed, by my forgetfulness.  I find myself avoiding people or situations, rather than having to confess that I don't remember this or that.  And my husband often says, "Don't you remember. . .?"  No, no I don't and I am more frustrated than anyone else by the situation.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

The American Cancer Society has an article that explains Chemo Brain if you're unfamiliar with it.

we found cancer

We "need" cancer because, by the very fact of its incurability, it makes all other diseases, however virulent, not cancer. ~ Gilbert Adair

October 18th will never be just another day for me.  That is the day that I heard the words, "We found cancer".  That is the day my life fell apart, and indeed, the day I began to rebuild it.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

boots

Some days you just want to hang it up, that's when you really need to keep going.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.

purple and yellow

Wildflowers grow in some of the worst conditions, splotches of color against dying grasses.  I am a wildflower, strong and joyful!

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here.