Friday, November 15, 2024

November is flying by -



. . . . . . . .leaves are falling, nights are cooler, mornings often misty, 

and some  people are already putting up Christmas decorations.  

Not here though!


I really wasn't planning to write a post today so this may be brief. I was up early due to the downstairs smoke detector beeping - no fire thankfully but a dead battery. Why does this always happen at night - well early morning in this case? I was still snuggled in my recent change to cozy flannel sheets! As we didn't have an early appointment I thought I could have a little extra sleep/rest. Plans changed. We didn't have a replacement battery - dozens of other sizes but not the required one - so Bob left early for the nearby Target to pick up a pack of 9V.  We decided to also replace the battery in the upstairs detector as it would probably wake us up soon - you know, 'Murphy's Law' and all that!


I've treated myself to several new books recently. They all revolve around food and eating, holiday cooking, and international dishes. I love everything written by British food writer-author, Nigel Slater. I have other books by him and have been meaning to purchase 'Christmas Chronicles' for several years. Whilst pre-ordering his new book 'A Thousand Feasts' I added the other one and they showed up together - that was a wonderful day . . . . . . . now I just need time to read them, preferably curled up by the fire.

This book above was just published and is already a New York Times Best Seller! I had pre-ordered Betül's first ever book because I follow her truly amazing cooking videos on Instagram. Love her recipes and her story of growing up in Turkey. There are some great baking recipes.........and I need more time to try my hand at them. Everything she prepares is beautiful, and the way in which she cooks with older traditional utensils and cookware, wearing clothes from another era in her homeland, is something I've become addicted to and find extremely relaxing.


My Thanksgiving cactus is opening pink blooms and there are many. I've really been giving a lot of TLC to this plant all year. Carried it out to the front porch on warm, sunny days, shielded it from raging hot summer afternoons. Fed and watered, and then brought it in at night. These past 5-6 weeks I put it to bed it in the dark all night. The buds soon appeared at the tip of every leaf. Now they're rewarding me with lovely dangly flowers which hopefully will last a while.



The Cancer Center where Bob is receiving his chemotherapy is quite new. It's a very well designed building and the different waiting areas are laid out to make those of us who wait......and then wait some more, feel comfortable and cared for - just as they do for the patients. I recall our two rushed visits to the ER earlier this year. Just finding seat to wait those long waits until a hospital room was available was not easy. Having art to look at and enjoy wasn't part of the scene. . . . . . . . . watching people was often sad and upsetting. Life is all about health. Good health is the most important thing.

The wing where chemo infusions are given has a really pleasant waiting area with comfortable seating and some awesome art. Paintings are colorful and interesting, North Carolina makers and artisans have donated - or people have purchased their work and then donated it to the Cancer Center - really fun pieces.

I make sure Bob is comfortable in his space with his nurse, then move out to the waiting area so he can relax or take a nap! I actually think know he just chats about our travels all the time to the medical staff! Thankfully they seem to enjoy his company and stories. Their first question to me is always. . . . ."is it true you've been to Antarctica?"  

I take my knitting with me, sometimes a book and read a while. I admit I look at my phone too but my eyes often roam to this favorite item, a figurative clay piece by Lisa Joerling. I love it with the bird perched on her head so I aways sit where I can view it. Small, quiet, lovely things are important to get you through the difficult days.

Thanks for stopping by. I guess this wasn't brief after all!  I hope to be back here soon - I still need to do a least a little Christmas decorating to share in the coming weeks.



15 comments:

  1. Dearest Mary, how wonderful to see your post, and also to finally find you on Instagram. I absolutely love the Joerling head sculpture too - she is brilliant. Love her eyes and expression, not to mention the bird. How thoughtful they are to place such a piece in a place of long waiting. I always appreciate the art in doctor's rooms too. Your pretty cactus is doing very well, and much better than ours, which needs a good talking to. Guess we have not fed it lately. I see a nice big Christmas star on your gate - long may the reason for the season be celebrated. hugs xoxox

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  2. I enjoy reading your articles - but I can't find you on Instagram?

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  3. I couldn't agree more, Mary - health IS the most important thing, but when that is lacking, LOVE is just as important, as it can make up for a lot of things that don't work well in our lives, including our health. Of course you and Bob know that very well.
    The Nigel Slater books look great even just from the outside. I once saw a film about his life, which I found really interesting, although I still think he was a bit harsh towards his Dad's second wife (or am I mixing things up with someone else's bio pic?).
    Anyway, I am sure you'll enjoy those books greatly.
    Typical about the smoke detector, and a good idea to replace the battery in the other one as well.

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  4. Lovely to see you today Mary. I have been hoping that all was going well for Bob. I have a friend going through weekly chemo at the minute, and she too has calm and pleasant surroundings. Sending you a hug.

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  5. I love the 3 cookery books are left out on the small table and not shut away in a back room library that nobody will see. You will see the books regularly and should be inspired to explore cuisines you may not have experimented with before :)

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  6. How lovely to read this newsy post, Mary. I'm glad Bob's chemo treatments are going well. I love your words, "Small, quiet, lovely things are important to get you through the difficult days." So very true. I bought The Christmas Chronicles a few years ago and love pulling it out each year. It's sitting on the table beside my reading chair now. xoxo,

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  7. Dearest Mary and Bob,
    Such a wake up call is no fun when you're forced to leave the comfy warmth of the flannel bedding.
    Your Schlumbergera cactus looks magazine worthy!
    Wishing Bob all the very best for good healing.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  8. You know I love Nigel Slaters books. Enjoy them! Your Christmas cactus is gorgeous. Take care dear ones.

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  9. Mary you always seem to write so beautifully about your life and whatever is happening. It is very true that we had to adjust when someone needs care for their health. Life moves at this different pace and i am glad to read you have found moments to care for yourself too. Best wishes as you travel this journey together, Sending my love to you both and for your lovely Bob to soon be over the treatment. Eileenx

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  10. What you said is right. Small, quiet, lovely things are important to get you through the difficult days......... Like that cactus.

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  11. Mary, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I love to read them and don't comment often enough! Like you, I love Nigel Slater's writing and The Christmas Chronicles comes out every year around now. I just acquired his new one and look forward to reading it by the fire. Your cactus is stunning and I am rather envious...perhaps I need to look out for one of my own :-) With best wishes from Gloucestershire, England.

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  12. Hi Mary,
    How lovely that the hospital surrounds everyone with beautiful art ....... I'm sure it helps everyone involved. Nothing much like that in the NHS hospitals here but then they don't have the biggest budget !!!!! I bought Nigel Slaters ' The Christmas Chronicles " for my sister a few years ago and she absolutely loves it. She brings it out every year and reads it.She has then gone on to buy it for others. Nigel Slater writes so beautifully. I have heard a few slightly negative remarks about 'A Thousand Feasts ' { nothing terrible, just not quite as good as ' The Christmas Chronicles ' } I will look forward to hearing what you think. I am also looking forward to seeing your Christmas decorations ..... you always do it so beautifully. Hope you are looking after yourself and are feeling well. It must be both physically and mentally exhausting for you { and for Bob of course } Sending much love to you both . XXXX

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  13. Oh do I remember the long chemo infusions. My daughter always went with me. It's nice you have such a comfy waiting room. Hope your husband does well and is soon back to his old self.

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  14. Dear Mary, first my best wishes to your husband! And you, of course, too.
    I met Nigel Slater when he read from his books in Germany - and as I translated a huge cookbook (Leon) for the venerable publishing house "Dumont", I tried to convince him that I should translate some of his beautiful books. But he has contracts and his translators are good - so it didn't happen. Yet I buy all his books.

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