Carole's Turn

Howdy! I'm back, watching the news of impending Hurricane Ike and finishing off a nice glass of Chardonney. I spent the afternoon crafting with my friends at Carolyn's studio. While I finished beading a bracelet, Carolyn and Cathy worked on Photoshop, creating some great photos of Carolyn's new babies - her two Siamese kittens. Cathy is a master Photoshop artisan, and was teaching Carolyn how to use Photoshop. They came up with some gorgeous photos that Carolyn would like to use as note cards. Kittens are always cute, and the photos ended up looking like watercolored posters. Very creative. The kittens- Oliver and Roxanne, aka Ollie and Roxie - are adorable. They're about 3-4 months old and as cute as buttons. Sharon had to join us late, but wouldn't miss out on a chance for a 'Girlie-Girl Get-Together'. She has lots of irons in the fire right now, and we were just glad she was able to come at all!

I finished a Freeform Peyote Bracelet this afternoon. I took liberties with it to put right some errors I had made, but the final bracelet is very colorful and pretty. I have named it 'Mardi Gras Hangover,' inspired by the wild mix of colors and various beads. I thought of what I imagine as the day after Mardi Gras, when the streets are awash in strands of multi-colored beads. You need to keep a sense of humor, you know.

On a more serious note, I have apparently eradicated my own bout with breast cancer, at least for now, but my older sister Carole is now battling an agressive kidney/urethral cancer, and will be starting chemotherapy on Tuesday of next week. She's had surgery to remove a kidney and the urether, as well as some scrapings on her bladder. This is the third cancer she has experienced. She's had lung cancer, then a year later breast cancer - both about 20 years ago - and now this. She has learned that with her chemo treatments, she will lose her hair, so I am sending her my wigs and more than 15 scarves that I used throughout my own bald experience.

Sigh ...

I'm very glad that I can help, but it's sad that our family is once again facing cancer. Our mother had breast cancer about 15+ years ago and only needed lumpectomy surgery to end her ordeal. Our younger sister Debbie lost her battle with breast cancer 5 years ago at age 50, only 20 months after her initial diagnosis. Carole had chemo for breast cancer, but that was many years ago, and things have changed a lot since then. She has confidence in her oncologist, which is key, and her daughter-in-law is going with her to her appointments to give her support and to translate medical jargon for her. Her husband and son are also being very supportive, along with her many friends and neighbors. Since she lives in Ohio and I'm here in Maryland, I'm glad her support system is close by and taking care of her.

PHOTO: Jim's fruit bowl, turned on his wood lathe. It's Box Elder wood and has gorgeous red markings throughout. It's 12 inches in diameter. What a gorgeous addition to our kitchen. Lucky me!