Keeping Abreast of Ellen

How does YOUR garden grow? Mine grows with Rachel Gill! Rachel was my youngest's preschool photographer. I met her 9 years ago, and after seeing her wonderful photography, decided to hire her for some candids and portraits of all of my kids, then 3, 7 and 9. The result was so much more than a beautiful collection of photos; we created memories of a fun-filled late afternoon jaunt through some fields to get to a barn, as we tried in vain to get Imogen to laugh. Rachel suggested I dance cartwheels behind her as she snapped away and it worked like a charm -  the resulting photos are some of the best I've ever seen of my kids, or any kids for that matter! She really is a gifted photographer.  I  later learned that Rachel's photography business was not her primary talent; she was in fact a gardener by trade, and a very passionate proponent and educator on sustainability and on growing your own food. When she said she was a fellow nature lover I knew I had found a kindred ...

Yesterday's treatment marks twelve under my belt in as many months; 24 injections in total, administered two at a time, in unison, by two nurses. What the actual Hello Kitty? Did a year of mBC treatments really just fly by? Some of you have asked me to describe what these treatments are like compared to the active treatment (chemo/surgery/radiation) I endured during my first go with this disease. To this I say, you cannot compare the two. They are two distinct courses of action based on two very different diagnoses. But the common denominators have been to prolong my life and maintain my quality of life by managing both my cancer and treatment-induced symptoms and side effects. To this end, they have both times been extraordinarily successful. So what does my monthly treatment entail exactly? Well, it's no more exciting than a routine vaccination I'm afraid, except it involves a return to the Cancer Centre (which I honestly don't mind doing, oddly). Perhaps less desira...

Today on World Cancer Day I am trying out a video message in hopes of sending a more personal message your way. Enjoy, my friends, and stay connected. Ellen

Well hello there, 2025, so wonderful to make your acquaintance! I look forward to experiencing all that you may bring my way and more 😀. But first... While this week's buzz is heavy on the, "out with the old, in with the new," I unapologetically feel that my 2024 needs its proper adieu, so I am going to make space and honour her departure. I hope you will join me as I hop aboard my little metaphorical riverboat for a brief but meaningful séjour down the farewell 2024 riviera. Then we can move on to the champagne-bottle-smashing inauguration of 2025`s brand new cruise ship, complete with shiny shuffleboard decks (not just for old people!), infinity swimming pools (do you have to keep swimming in them forevermore?) and multiplex cinemas (how DOES one watch more than one film at a time....impressive!). I am making all of this stuff up btw, I have never even set foot on a cruise ship. Blame my Epi Friends, they have forever schooled me on the multiple reasons to limit cruise...