Post Surgery

Last night we had a terrific storm roll through. Tons of rain, wind, lightning. Below are some recent garden photos.

 Several of you know that I have had many skin cancers. I have pale northern European skin. I don't tan and sometimes I burn. I have had basal cell and squamous skin cancers for many years which are rather easy to deal with, usually with some minor surgeries but occasionally with MOHS surgery.

Because of Covid I haven't gone to a dermatologist for almost two years. Huge mistake. 

I finally went to see Dr. Bryan Sofen here in Port Huron. Dr. Sofen found several skin cancers. He referred me to Beaumont Hospital In Royal Oak at Woodward and 13 Mile Rd. Very close to where I lived on 13 Mile for several decades. I was raised in Royal Oak and worked in Royal Oak. I guess I can't escape. 

Last week Kathy came to stay with me for three days. She took me forth and back to Beaumont in Royal Oak where Dr. Richard Keidan removed four lymph nodes and connecting vessels. My upper left arm and my left chest area near my armpit were cut open to accomplish the surgeries. The samples were sent out to be tested. This week I'll find out the results. 

Kathy returned home Friday. She brought up loads of comfort food to support me and to sustain my body and mind. I have an unremovable bandage on my upper left arm which must be kept dry - hard to do when you're attempting to take a shower of course. 

The four legged furry animals are confused but supportive. Dr. Keidan is a great cancer surgeon who also has an excellent medical office assistant, Jon Goss, with very good people skills. I've already met the infusion doctor, Dr. Stephen Barman. I'm in good hands medically and have a good empathetic support system.

Kathy tells me to keep my opinions to myself (in other words - don't interfere with the professionals by offering my ill informed opinions). I will try very hard to do that.

Alas, comfort food tends to put weight on one rather easily, especially when one watches television to pass the time. A sedentary life style and comfort food. Ha!

I'll call Jon Goss tomorrow to set up some appointments.

Garden Shots

 So, much of my adult life I've heard of "Cornelian Cherries", Corna mas. There's a huge one that has yellow flowers every spring near a lovely witch hazel in Royal Oak's Oakview Cemetery. Sadly for me, it sadly and inexplicably took me a long time to realize that Cornelian Cherries are a member of the dogwood family. Duh!~ When I moved here I planted three different horticultural varieties of the species. Although they are just now coming into their own and have all flowered for me here, they are not spectacular - yet. But they're coming along nicely.

I haven't been wandering in my garden much this summer; I've not been feeling well. I took a short tour this evening and found these fruits on two of the three. Yes, indeed, they do resemble cherries, don't they. They are quite unlike the seeds of other dogwoods. I don't know if they're edible, but they certainly look tempting.

Cornus mas - Cornelian Cherry

I have many different daylilies scattered around the yard and this year the dogs managed to keep the deer and rabbits away. My favorite one is the above plant that breeds true and I've scattered in several spots. It came from Jim Langhammer many years ago. He was a special gardening friend and I miss him lots. We spoke the same dialect. He called it Autumn Orange - like the moon above, perhaps. So I do too. He had no idea where he got his (he didn't like daylilies - called them ditch lilies) but it was the only one he allowed in his wonderful, interesting yard.

August 23, 2021

 Their eight month birthday.

Vinlands Birna

Hi Jaime

Hope all is well with you!

Here are some candid shots of Birna (with a cameo appearance by Timber!) along with her ‘graduation diploma’ from Basic Obedience. I am very proud of her-she was one of the younger members of the class and did great (of course!). We start ‘Intermediate’ in a few weeks.

Birna is doing great!! As you can see, she likes to hog Timber’s bed and likes to taunt Timber from under the sofa!! Timber seems to be ‘in charge’, despite all of Birna’s bravado. Birna loves to take long walks in the poconos…like Timber, a great (and smart!) companion!

We love Birna-she is affectionate, fun, always ‘happy’ and super smart!! She just wants to be with us (and with Timber). We love her and feel so lucky to have two wonderful Vinlands ‘puppies’!! Thank you!!

Will try and get some better  outdoor pics to send along soon!

All the best,

Sally and Daniel

Vinlands Kria

Kria is 8 months old today! She’s just coming to the end of her first heat cycle. She’s not really a fan of her fancy pants. We just graduated advanced obedience last week! She was the best in class! She's still in agility classes as well learning the foundations.

Michele 

Vinlands Tryggur

 

Pond Turtle

 I've a very small fish pond with goldfish, frogs, snakes, dragonflies, damselflies, and one very fat and happy snapping turtle which I've been unable to catch and release into my much larger nearby pond, Lake Huron.