The Journey with the family,My friend the Monk and Me.

May 6 Sunday 

Southlake Hospital, Newmarket photo on Flickt by Snavy

John busy in the garden getting the awning up and the barbecue out ready for the season to look forward to. I must admit my mind was occupied with thought of the biopsy on Monday but I felt in good spirits. I even indulged and had a Gin and Tonic and tried to focus on the pleasant things in life.

May 7th  biopsy and bone density 

John had his brave face on as we parked the car and made our way to check in identity bracelet on and off we went directed to ultra sound room. The whole thing didn't take too long, they located the lump on the ultra Sound machine and a surgeon made 4 marks and then biopsy was done taking minute sample of tissue, done very gently and taking very little time. I was free and John happy to get back in the car. 

I must admit The Monk kept coming into my mind telling me to relax and breathe calmly, it took a bit of convincing but I managed it and felt I sort of helped the proceedings a little figuring if I was tensed up it would have made the experience worse for me and the folk who had to do the job! 

Arriving home with an ice pack in place and a little company from my Daughter Lisa while John went to a meeting. I even had a call from the hospital to make sure how I was feeling! 

May 16th the Results

The Biopsy confirmed breast Cancer and so at an interview with a nurse lots questions and answers to guide me through the process and my first meeting with the Surgeon. 

John and Lisa were with me  at the interview Lisa armed with a file full of information from my previous bout with cancer,which helped a lot with decision making. He explained options a total mastectomy or a lumpectomy,  I chose the latter being the lesser of two evils!

He put my mind at rest and I was comfortable knowing I was in good hands. the operation would be after a few visits for ultra sound on my abdomen and bone density scan.

We were told a pre op would be 30th May and operation 31st May everything seemed to be on fast track, which although nervous I was grateful too for me and the family.

Thinking  about what would be ahead I realized Ignorance is far from Bliss when it comes to your health.  I realized my Monk said we should control our mind and not the mind control you!
With that thought, I got down to work focusing on "now"  and not what was to come in the near future. that way I could enjoy my time with my family. I had lots of encouragement from them along with advice from my daughter Lisa, my mentor Nel (step daughter in law) who had gone through cancer a few years ago, twice as a matter of fact, a valuable pro, for she was able to answer many question and I was very grateful for her wise information and last but not least my Mate, John (Husband) taxi driver with no tips! 

All ready to cheer me up along the way through each stage. John was extremely complimentary with my new out look and managing to be positive! I was right Chuffed?
To be continued on the next Blog...

Babs

The World, The Monk, May and Me.

A Journey in May by Lisa 

Earlier this May I decided I wanted to buy a book, for summer reading I had not made up my mind on the subject to choose I know I like stories about life and people's experiences, We were in Chapters for ten minutes while waiting for John's son Paul to arrive at the bus station. I wandered over to Self Helpshelf which is very popular these days, I had a feeling somehow I was going in the right direction. I picked out "The Monk who Sold his Ferrari" by Robin Sharma, I didn't know how much this book would help me!


May for my birth family has a flaw in it, for some reason it seems to be an unlucky month. Grandfather wanted the month to go by as quickly as possible. As it turned out he died in that May, since then mother and father died on the 15th  As a result our remaining family is left with a certain amount of superstition we chose to ignore.


In early May I had an appointment for a check up which included a Mammogram no problem there I felt fit as a fiddle, no little voice in my ear this time, unless I hadn't listened!

My Doctor was 90 percent sure the tumor they found was cancer, and since then a biopsy confirmed that. 


I started on the weekend to read the Monk book it is a good read even if you don't believe in self help, lots of tips for us humans in this day and age to understand we can have a life and enjoy it free from our existing day to day worries by training your mind away from negativity and the race for having all the bells and whistles necessary to cope, 


I think how the speed of life has carried us far too quickly along a wrong path. I feel strongly enough that when your body becomes toxic we have to have courage to go through healing even if it is difficult and an anxious time for all, it's worth trying to make things better than do nothing! 


I have the same feeling too that is where our precious world is right now, toxic, ailing and needing some sort of loving care. Even our Governments can't get to grips with what is happening! We have one world it Needs Help it's a living thing after all! 


One thing I know we have choices, and the Monk was able to give some valuable information on the ability for humans to step back and do a reality check on not only our minds and our spirit but our bodies too. Our fragile world needs similar changes to get back to health. 


I know I have to reprogramme, concentrate and be consistent with keeping out negativity from my mind and work on life skills and the information I have been reading. Believe it or not it seems to be working a lot of effort to stay on track but little by little I can have hours of feeling grateful and have the opportunity to really work at being fully alive calm and enjoy hours of pleasure with family and friends and my passion for painting will keep me grounded. 
For me I thank family,friends and yes Oprah for showing me a good happy and meaningful time for the future whether short of long it's a good life people let's make the most of our selves and help this beautiful planet we live on! 
Will keep in touch as I progress.
Babs 

Pet Appreciation

"Professor: 8x10 oil on board

Spring has arrived early, well no snow since March more April Showers but our first Daffodils are out and the days are lighter.

Since my last post I have been painting quite a few dog rescues along with some Commissions which I found enjoyable. So much to learn about our furry friends. I have become quite passionate about animal rescue, through a couple of close friends I really had a wake up call about so much Cruelty and abuse that happens to so many creatures.

Pheobe in 2007

I must admit I have never been keen on "getting involved" but since Dudley has gone we realized how much we miss him, daily walks every day kept us fit and his company kept us going for ten years. Our decision was not to replace him, mainly because of our age. We now have a only one furry friend left Phoebe a black cat. She has suddenly become quite dominating and meows for her food and a bit of comfort sitting next to us in the evening for a while before she retires to her big fluffy pillow! She wasn't so keen on Dudley he was a big boy so she tended to keep a friendly distance.

Facebook in the meantime has introduced us to a different set of rules. Having a friend Erika in Ontario and Shirley in Texas, both who are definitely into Saving any dog or cat in their districts, both have accumulated quite a few pets over the years saving them from certain death. 
Erika last year became a foster Mum to a huge dog called The Professor,  he used to take her for long walks ! That started me on a quest I just had to paint him, he had a look about him that suited his name! luckily he was adopted to a lovely couple and has his for ever home.

Since then I have painted commissions and painted rescue dogs who are looking for a home. I have donated many paintings and have managed to donate to Auctions. 

"Huck" Still in adaption process

Only one thing that can really upset my apple cart there are so many beautiful dogs and cats needing homes I tend to yearn for a dog but, my intention is not to weaken and pursue painting these beings and hope to save one dog or cat at a time donating to as many Volunteer Organizations who' bless Em,'work very hard looking after the ones that aren't so lucky and keeping vet bills paid for the abused and suffering this includes Puppy Mills from many parts of Ontario.
       

Dudley

 ADOPT a dog you will never regret it!!

Dudley was a rescue and he was worth his weight in gold.
You can see some paintings on my blog ASA. Art saves Animals


Babs

The New Year Update

Well it has been a month since I last did the blog!

I want to report that we have been quite busy with our paintings, John mostly doing bigger canvases of the area Schomberg Main Street mainly. We figured our little village has jumped so quickly into a busy place. Main Street is now flooded with parked cars from shops and the tenants from the apartments.

Main Street East

Big Stores are now moving in and Main Street is changing rapidly. So before we have been taken over and become a big Town John thought it was worth painting as it was when we moved here 15 years ago. 

My brushes have been busy with small 8x10 & 8x8 boards painting many pictures of rescue dogs and pets of the area. This kept me busy before Christmas, some for gifts and some commissions.

A friend has been a foster care for Rescue places taking in dogs and training them with a hope they will find a 'Forever Home'. I have become quite passionate with the animals and now donate 20% of any paintings I sell. Just hope it will help with the cost no matter how small or large the donations become!

Lolly 

I had a surprise call yesterday and am now waiting for a lady who will be looking at my work with a view to commissioning 1 horse one pony and 2  cats!
I am excited and amazed that it has gained interest, people seem to like paintings of animals, "the eyes say it all" one person said.

I shall keep in touch letting you know now things are going. fingers crossed!


Babs

Life 's pleasures and where it can lead !

8x8 Oil on Board (Commission)

Over the years I have taken notice of what we do with our lives,  I have tended  to have had many creative pursuits which have given me pleasure and dropped them along the way. Over the last little while I have enjoyed oil painting and made small pictures that have given me pleasure and a few family members have a few paintings as small gifts.

I had managed to keep quite a few of them when an opportunity came up to give them to a charity for an auction to raise money for rescued animals. Although it didn't raise much it was ( $55) enough to help go towards the rest of the items sold which made a small donation for Animal rescue amounting to just over $2000 dollars.

It  gave me an idea to continue to enjoy  my pastime and give something back to Animal Rescue by selling pictures of  dogs and cats. I have been able to paint several dog portraits which actually gave the owners a kick to have a small portrait of their pets. Seeing that there is an interest And an opportunity I have started a new blog called Art saves Animals (ASA) and will be posting pictures of some of the pets so far. Hope it give you pleasure as much as me!

ART Saving Animals is here:

Babs

Painted creatures

Pumpkin

Reclining Cow

Flying Chicken

We have a family member who has a flair for Folk Art, creating things in wood such as the Flying chicken, Pumpkin and Reclining Cow.
He enjoys time in workshop using his creative abilities and giving pleasure to family members.
Jo, my sister, being one of them, just returned to UK with a painted pumpkin in her suitcase, the cow is out to sea at present and hoping to land before Christmas!   

The Three of Us!!!

We will take a walk down Church Street

On the 12th September we will be at the airport to meet my sister, Josephine, she is the youngest. Her first visit was about this time last year. Since emigrating in 1969 there were a lot of years we didn't communicate to that extent. Maybe the occasional phone call or letter just to keep in touch.

Then 2009 our father was Ill and  in hospital  so I took the trip home and stayed with Jo for 7 weeks dealing with hospitals and travelling on the tube almost everyday we caught up on our lives.

We realized during my stay that we had a lot in common and were able to understand that family is very important. We decided to keep in touch more often and arranged her first trip, staying for 4 weeks in 2010 Her stay with us was a quiet one on the whole, no big trips to the city and more or less keeping pretty close to home.

We all love fresh food

John (my husband) found having two sisters together wasn't as bad as he thought it might be!
All three of us are interested mainly in good food and art. As it turned out a good combination, we all took turns in cooking the main meal and starting a family club of sorts. John, over the years, had painted a few pieces, Jo had taken a course many years before and had painted miniatures in oils and did quite well I had always been interested in painting but had not gone very far with it. We had our barn set up as a studio with the canvases, oils and easels and for some reason we enjoyed the experience getting Jo interested in our hobby.

During the few short weeks we made a pledge to work on painting and setting up a blog so that we could keep in touch and show our work off to each other. This has progressed like wild fire. John getting down to painting the Main Street of our village, Jo taking up a course with her daughter in London  and me at the rear and doing 6x6 peanut paintings with Carol Marine and many other folk on her blog. This has encouraged me to keep striving towards better work sister Jo keeping me company on the challenges when she could.

Walking by the Coffee shop

Last weekend our local coffee shop 'the Grackle Coffee Company kindly gave us permission to show our work. We feel in one year we really have done well and excited about this upcoming visit.

And Jo's daughter's dog will be waiting for her return!

No doubt with lots of good food, a few glasses of wine, painting in the barn and a few visits for coffee with the local Artisans at our local Grackle Coffee shop. Just right for at this time of year for the three of us upstarts to enjoy the fall treats and family get together.
See you soon Sis !