Results are good...

In a sense I can breathe more easily!  The results of my endometrial biopsy were good.  No cancer.  Doctor was very concerned and I was too.  I think worrying takes its toll on folks....

In another sense, I can't breathe more easily with this dang head cold.  Last night around midnight I tried to get comfortable enough to breathe and finally I took a big pillow and stuffed it under my head on top of my other pillow......ahhhhhh......breathing relief.  I slept well after that.  Antibiotics should begin to kick in soon too.

I feel a restful weekend coming on.........night all.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Oh, and God, please be with Elroy this night....he just may be with you very soon but I guess only you know the exact time.  Thanks.  Amen.

Is it a cold????...

Just not feeling normal today.  A bit of  nausea, low-grade fever, sore throat....another day in the life of ME!

I could sleep and sleep and sleep....

Ya, good idea.  I think I will.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Country Store...

It was a good sale today.  I wasn't involved like I usually am but I managed to sell some good baking and have great conversations with several folks.  Our Conference Superintendent, Jeff, was passing through P.A. too, so he stopped by and had lunch and visited with a few folks and the pastors.

One of our church women, whose daughter contributes to our sale each year by sewing many wonderful items, did so again this year....except this year, besides sewing various articles to put in the sale, also sewed every woman working at the sale, a beautiful bib apron...red and beige.  I'll show you some pics...

Tracy, Marg and Marian unknowingly model the new aprons.

The tables were full of delicious choices!

Ken, Linea, Sara, Janet, Supt. Jeff, Seth and Stacia 

gathered around the table for tea and a chat.

The Youth had their own table of great items, too!!!  

I bought some of Pastor Stacia's lovely hand-crafted cards:)

It was a good day but I had to come home and rest....

Country Store...

I've been resting up for tomorrow when the women of our church host the city at their Country Store.  Baking (and good baking too), crafts, and a luncheon (sandwiches, dessert and coffee).  It's always a great way to serve the community and to meet all the regular attenders who have been coming to this event for many years.

Hope we will see some of you there, too....from 10 AM to 2 PM.

People who attend say it's one of the best of it's kind in the whole city!  I think those people may be right:)

Artsy friends...

I have many good friends who would be in the category of what today is known as the "artsy-fartsy" group of folks.  Not sure where exactly that term originated but it's there nonetheless.

A couple of them, a mother and daughter, went on a trip to Italy together last year.  They took some fabulous pictures and got a real feel for the country.  They also paint.  So, when they returned from their trip they began painting some of the photos they had captured.  Not sure how the rest of the story went, but as far as I could gather, a lady asked them to put on an Italian art show in her coffee shop in the little town of Birch Hills, just south of Prince Albert.  They accepted....and a great amount of work began.

Friday night last, we ventured out with two good friends onto a rain-slicked highway and drove to our "Night of Italy".  Candles were lit, table cloths on the tables, Italian music serenaded us and gave us just a taste of what it would have been like to actually be there.  And most importantly, they were there to greet us as we entered the tiny shop...with their art interspersed along each wall.  Beautiful work.  Explosions of vibrant colors and detail of the mom's paintings while the daughter expressed subtle, full hues with a more abstract feel.  I loved all of them!!!!!  Such talent.  I was so proud of them too...using their gifts to make the world a little better place to be.

Here are some of their works....if they show up here....

I think that's all I can get up on here.  But you get an idea of the caliber of professionalism here.

And it was a truly warm and fun evening, with cakes, biscotti, punch and coffee and great friends to share in the excitement of the event.

Thanks so much, Alecia and Mary Jane!

Get enough...???

If you are queasy about female anatomical stuff and a tad sensitive about discussing these issues, this blog post is NOT for you!  Go have a cup of guava juice and some celery instead!


It's what I asked my doctor following today's procedure of snipping parts of my female inner-most parts of my being.....I didn't want to say uterus but I guess I will:)

Having an endomitrial biopsy is not the most fun thing in the world....but it's doable.  You just take deep breaths, do some counting exercises while trying not to scream out, scaring the poor little gal who is his assistant who has taken to a chair before collapsing on the floor. I apologized to her afterward for not being the epitome of bravery for her faint of heart senses but it was the best I could do.  After all, women have this done every day, right?  I need to work on bravery.

The doctor, by my calculations as to just how many times I had to hold my own head in a vice-grip and take deep breaths, did get enough tissue for the biopsy which will be whisked away for further scrutiny.

The big deal began last night when I took pills that would make this procedure more "accessible", shall we say.  One just wonders about the things they are prescribed, especially when one reads the little papers that come with the medication.  "May cause severe cramping."  "Used for abortion procedures."  You begin to get the picture when the long-forgotten menstrual cramps begin in earnest, keeping you awake long into the night...and even when you do fall asleep, you are dreaming of trees falling on your mid-section and you're unable to move...or something biting at your middle as you attempt to run away....you know, stuff like that.  So that's how the night went.  Then came the morning.  Oh my.  I didn't think it could get worse...but it did.  What the heck were these pills doing to me anyway.  All I can say is....well, I won't even say it.

When I walked into the examining room at 11 AM, he asked me how I was feeling.  So, I asked HIM if he had ever taken those pills he prescribed.....no, of course not.  He has no bloody idea what it feels like. (No pun intended)!

Through all of this, I do recall having this procedure done...oh, probably 15 years ago.  It was painful then, too.  But this time, the doctor had to make sure he got enough tissue.  Three snips and I'm down for the count.  For a few moments I really figured I was going to lose it, but looking at that poor nearly-fainting girl holding the tray of "utensils", I got my stiff British upper lip going and dug in for the long haul. 

Thinking about it now, 15 minutes of pain really is nothing compared with the pain some folks I know are enduring at this very moment.  So, I thank God for small mercies and people who upheld me in their thoughts and prayers during the day.

Now for pills to stop the cramping and everything that goes along with THAT....only four more days to go.  By Monday I should be feeling pippy.

So, that was my last 24 hours in a nutshell.  Managed to have brief stints of sleep this afternoon, without dreams of being beaten up and eaten alive.  All good.

Let's go and have a good sleep tonight.  That was enough fun for one day, in my estimation.

October mists....

When I saw the Weather Network this morning telling us there was fog on the river, I went out the door with Mr. Olympus on the ready.  I did casually mention this fact to husband so he wouldn't be too surprised when I yelled "STOP THE CAR!"

Driving by the boat launch area he pulled right in and down to the waters edge we went.  I jumped out and took a moment to enjoy a misty morning on the river....and snapped a few shots.  Oh my.  I wished I could have stayed until the sun came out but alas, work awaited me.

I think it was worth the diversion...IF they show up on this blog at all....:(

Picture #3 isn't coming out here.  Oh, maybe I'll put it up on the top....ya......