31 Days with ME: Christmas Wreaths and Chemo Ed

 I think I'm going to stop typing "It's Day....whatever"...I think we can all look at the calender and see it's October 11th, it's the 11th day in my series. :) It just seems a little redundant...But I will still welcome you and thank you for being here...now that is worth typing.

I've been working in my studio a little this week, mainly packing away what little fall I have left and getting Christmas out....and doing a lot cleaning in there, designing can be, no, it is messy work. I completed a few wreaths for Christmas that are now available in my Shop.

 This first wreath is featuring some of the prettiest ribbon I've ever found. Kind of a linen background with velvety red and green stripes, I love it so.

 

 Wreath with Striped Ribbon

 A small one, with plaid.

 Small wreath with Plaid

 This is one of my most favorite I've ever done, Justin tells me I say that nearly every time, but really, I might be making myself one of these. I used burlap ribbon and rusty jingle bells and the special part is the metal ribbon, it really sets it off. This is a big one too at about 30". Au Naturel.

 Pine on Birch with Burlap

Another little baby one. I really like doing Christmas on grapevine wreaths, although I do all pine wreaths too....but the grapevine just looks so natural with pine added. And one word people: burlap. An all-season ribbon if you ask me.

Small Wreath with Burlap 

***

I had my Chemo Ed class yesterday, for the second time. I guess when they change the regimen, you have it again. This new drug has similar side effects as the other drugs from before (fatigue, vomiting, nausea, risk of infection etc.), but in addition, this one is hard on my kidneys and liver...but I will be having labs each week to keep an eye on that. So that's it, another 6 months of this chemo and maybe the tumors will go away this time. They also slipped in a 'sit down' with a social worker on me too, she had a series of questions pertaining to depression and how I'm 'dealing' mentally with my situation...I wasn't prepared for that and ended up balling like a two year old, not an ugly cry, just some tears that I really can't help but shed when asked a direct question, like: "Do you think about death or have thoughts about suicide?". Pass the tissues please. Of course I think about death and that other S word who wouldn't??? But no, I don't lay in bed and thinking about those things, but I'd be lying if I said they didn't cross my mind. Most of the time I don't even know what I'm thinking or what I'm doing...usually why is my big question....not the "Why Me God?" question, why not me? More of the why did I just buy that pair of shoes? I've got cancer. Why do I keep my booth space? I've got cancer. Why did I make those wreaths above? I've got cancer. I've got cancer. I've got cancer. I know! I know! But I've got to do something, anything. I'm not going down without a fight.

via the silver pen