A Really Pink Saturday....

So...yesterday morning Hubby went to work at his usual 2.30. He only works 5 minutes or so away so likes to have a coffee before he starts switching machine blades at 3am. I poured myself a coffee and went back to bed with a book as normal. An hour later I heard the front door opening.. and hubby shouted "Its only me..stay there and I will see you in a minute". I was worried that he wasnt feeling well..or perhaps his injured finger was so infected he couldnt work. A few minutes later he came into the bedroom carrying a plate... and he was talking to my daughter.. who is 5000 miles away in the Uk.. on camera on the mobile phone. On the plate were two cupcakes...one pink ..one blue. 

He said..."this is from your daughter and son in law... the first gifts of many".. and handed me a card. I opened it ...and burst into tears. For a few minutes I was so choked up.. I honestly couldnt speak. Then Hubby handed me three little hats... 

If you havent guessed already...Its the day Ive been waiting for. My new grand baby is a GIRL!! And I couldnt be happier. Now I have one of each. Miss C told me her scan wasnt until next week. They cooked up this plan between them to surprise me...and it worked perfectly. They filmed my reaction too... Buggers, They could at least have given me a chance to do my hair.... or should I say hairs

I couldnt resist and went out as soon as the shops opened and bought a couple of things. But a bigger shopping spree is planned to buy all things pink and frilly. I will be sending quite a big parcel to the UK.

Im a very happy Nana.  And Baby Girl.... I will be right there to welcome you into the world

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Linking with Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound

Fall Decorating

 Fall has arrived at our house.

 This is only the second year I have decorated for this season.

 Although I love the colours...

 Back in the UK we didn't really acknowledge it...

 especially as we didn't have Thanksgiving.

 So I had to start from scratch...

 and just added lots of autumn chrysanthemums..

 autumn leaves...

Pumpkins and sunflowers...

and those huge pine cones we found on our trip.

We even have a new wreath for the front door.

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

My ''Wounded Soldier'' and Chocolate Chip Cookies

My meeting with Dr Phan yesterday went well. As I expected.. the blood tests and x rays were just fine. My breathing is almost back to normal so it was bronchial and not pneumonia. He has decided that I will go for blood tests and see him every two months to begin with... making sure that the cancer dosnt come back. He isnt going to give me scans as often as he first said. He says that at 46 (really Dr...Im 55 in a couple of weeks but I will take the compliment) it would be too much radiation and be a tie that may worry me. He has also decided that my portho cath should stay in (no reason given mind you).. so I will have to go and have it flushed every 6 weeks. Sigh..enough with needles already.. So.. thats it. Everything with me is great. 

Hubby on the other hand is my "wounded soldier". He messaged me yesterday to show me the piece of metal that had gone completely through his finger and into the next one. Did he complain? Apart from a bit of cursing ( he didnt say but Im sure he did)... he pulled it out. poured brake cleaner over it...bound it and carried on. His work mate thought him crazy...but he's my hero. I could hardly look last night as he poured hydrogen peroxide over the wound and white stuff bubbled out. Im no doctor but Im sure thats not right. But still hes gone to work today.. swollen finger... but no complaints.

To make him feel better I made him a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Its the first thing I have baked since my cancer treatment started. Its not what I was going to bake but I know they are his favourites. I had one but he took the rest to work today.

Its so good that life is getting back to normal.. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter.
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar.
3/4 cup sugar.
2 large eggs.
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
1 (12-ounce) bag semisweet chocolate chips, or chunks.
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour.
3/4 teaspoon baking soda.

1 teaspoon fine salt

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Whisk together flour, basking soda and salt in a bowl and set aside
• Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. 
• Beat in the eggs one at a time 
• Stir in the vanilla. 
• Stir in flour mixture
• Add chocolate chips
• Using a small ice cream scoop drop onto ungreased pans.
• Bake for about 10 -12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned
• Enjoy!

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Halloween Hearts

 Its so good to have the feeling back in my fingers..

 I have been such a busy bee...

 making hearts for my Etsy shop..

 Its so good to have my mojo back

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Hair Raising!!

Im feeling so much better and getting back into the swing of things. Yesterday I had my chest x ray and blood tests ready to see Dr Phan tomorrow.. but quite honestly I dont think his fears of pneumonia will be realized as Im breathing almost to full capacity.

Today Im pondering something... a bit of vanity creeping in. As you can see from my pics my hair is growing back quite fast. Its fluffy.. a bit grey...still patchy.... and sticking straight up!! I always spent a lot of time doing my hair... If my hair wasnt right...then I wasnt right. When I was a little girl... my hair didnt really start growing til I was in my terrible twos. Until then I just had a strip of hair down the middle..which my family affectionately called my 'Mohican" I didnt have my first hair cut til I was 4 or 5.. and the family used to say my hair was growing inwards!! I was so jealous of my cousins lovely long thick blond locks...sigh! Fortunately.. I dont think Im having that problem in this regrowth... even tho its a bit thin at the sides.

Anyway..I digress. The question Im asking myself is.. My hair is looking quite tatty and uneven, The hair on top is sticking straight up. Should I should trim it or just leave it? Will cutting it encourage quicker growth? Will it eventually start lying flat? What would be best?

I was hoping that it would grow back naturally blond...with a slight curl. I dont think thats happening. Ahh well.... there's always "Nice and Easy".. lol

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Meal Plan Monday

During my cancer journey I lost motivation for many things..and I procrastinated a lot. But now I'm feeling so much better and I'm trying to get my life back on track and organizing is a big part of that. Its been a very long time since I did any menu planning. so its about time I started. I'm cooking more and I'm even going to do some baking this week. Its been months since I made cookies. So here's this weeks offering

Weekly Plan - 25th September 2017
 
Monday             Salisbury Steak, Baby Potatoes, Broccoli in Cheese Sauce

Tuesday             Chicken Tacos

Wednesday        Pork Chops, Mashed potatoes and corn

Thursday           Chicken, Potatoes Au Gratin, Broccoli

Friday                Pollock Tenders with a Sweet Chili Sauce, Rice, Salad

Saturday            Mac and Cheese with Ham and Broccoli

Sunday               Eating Out

Fun at the Fair

Im so happy I was well enough to attend the LA County Fair...

We cut it fine as its the last few days...but still lots to see

Chickens..

a gorgeous baby calf ...who MrD fell in love with...

Goats...including baby goats...who I fell in love with..

Donkeys and Ponies..

and Pigs..

I loved every single animal...

There was plenty to eat..at lots of different stalls..

and although I love bacon... we gave this one a miss...

and lots of displays...including one for old washboards...

go figure!

I met a very handsome strong man...

And I got myself a new job!!.

Who knew I would look so good in yellow!!

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Catching Up..

Its been a few days... so I thought I had better check in with you all. Im feeling a lot better... breathing easier.. although I still cant quite fill my lungs to capacity. But still.. MrD and I have decided to risk it and tomorrow afternoon we are going to spend a few hours at the LA County Fair. It will be lots of walking but Im so glad Im not going to miss it

Its been quite a full week so here's a few snippets..

Monday I actually made it to the dentist... the first time since I have been in the US. I was a bit worried as during the chemo I had lots of mouth problems...and only being able to use a soft toothbrush I thought there may be lots of cavities. But... no fillings for me!.In fact she was very pleased with my teeth..and all that was needed was a good scraping of the plaque build up. Going back in a couple of weeks for her to finish the job

Coincidentally... Monday was also National Cheeseburger Day.. so on the way home we stopped at Black Angus and treated ourselves.. Very Big ...and very tasty...but it was straight back to healthy eating on Tuesday..

I had a lovely surprise in the mail... a photo of my grandson... and he drew me a picture too. Im not sure what it is... but he's a child genius so he may be a future Picasso. It sure did make me smile and its now taking 'Pride of Place' on my fridge

I have managed to get out for a couple of walks...not too far.. but its wonderful to to be outside. Autumn/Fall has finally come to California and its lovely to see the season change even if its only with the occasional tree . It still dosnt feel like autumn...with blue skies.. palm trees and its 85 degrees. I've started to decorate our home with pumpkins.. sunflowers and pine cones

I've also got my stitching bug back. I have full feeling back in my fingers..its just my eyesight thats a bit rubbish now... black on black is so hard. I have made some Halloween ones for my Etsy shop. 

So thats it.. its been a good week.. and Im getting myself back on track.. And thats so cool!

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Sunday Thought ~ Jeremiah 30:17

Amen!!

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x