dyeing time

Not what you think. I did spell "dyeing" correctly, as in to change the appearance of something by adding a coloured substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied. In this case, natural dyes to various yarns and fabrics (both protein and cellulose).

Since this is the first summer in four years that I won't be ill from medication, the idea was to celebrate by engaging in a number of textile and fibre art pursuits. This seems an appropriate thing to do given that more than one chemo drug cause neurological or topical problems that rendered my hands all but useless for a given period of time. At one point, I couldn't pick up my toothbrush let alone a sewing needle.

I'm especially excited about having enrolled in a short textile arts program at Capilano University. No, this isn't the two-year program I've long dreamed of doing, but a three-week course . Eleanor Hannan is the instructor, and I couldn't be more pleased. Not only do I like Eleanor's work (think of painting with a sewing machine) but one of her pieces hangs on my bedroom wall. The program takes place over three Tues mornings and three Thurs mornings and covers a wide range of techniques. Not sure what all we'll be doing, but will report the results of my efforts provided nothing goes up in flame in the process.

In the meantime, some patient friends from my local weaving/spinning guild are kindly giving me a bit of a refresher in natural dyeing. Penny, Lynda and I had a great time tossing all manner of coloured water and pulp (for making paper) around Anne's house last week.

Alkanet dye bath just after  BFL locks, wool yarn, and cotton and linen fabric were added.

Osage orange dye bath following addition of BFL locks, wool yarn, cotton yarn, and linen fabric.

Drying out are (left to right): cotton in fustic, a snow-white linen jacket over dyed with cutch, mohair dyed with lichen and rusty nails, wool yarn in fustic, wool yarn in cutch, wool yarn in (oops, can't remember the dye for this one) , and various skeins of wool, mohair, and cotton as well as a linen napkin dyed with lac. All fibre had been scoured and mordanted prior to dyeing. Alum was used to mordant everything, but myrobalan was also applied to the cellulose fibre.

Another shot of the yarns at the right of the above photo.

Other things were dyed with madder, logwood, alkanet, and osage orange but weren't photographed - guess we all got caught up in the process. The next day, Penny and I also did a small batch of brazilwood.

Will post more photos as future projects are undertaken.

Sleep

Seem to need regular afternoon naps again even after 10 or more hours of unbroken rest each night. Suspect my body is simply trying to recover from all the abuse it has endured in recent months. Even so, when I otherwise feel so good, it seems a shame to spend so much of any given day in an unconscious state (you, in the back row. Don't insert any cheeky cheap shots here puleese!). It's not as if I can resist the urge. Once the notion of a nap takes hold, it is as if a strong but gentle hand forces my head onto the nearest pillow.

Please don't let this information put off any thoughts of phoning or stopping by. I'd love to hear from you or share a cuppa. If I need more sleep after enjoying your company, I can easily return to my pillow. Won't be doing anything terribly important in any case. As the great philosophers Lennon & McCartney once said, I'm only sleeping.
 
Hope I look at least half this adorable when I'm in La-la-land
http://www.myfunnypets.net/pics/sleeping-animals/

Perhaps I'll enter the Slumber Olympics some day. No doubt I'll get some stiff competition from others perfecting the pastime - like these folks.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/paws/awkward-cat-sleeping-positions


If I'd rather drift off to soothing music, I could do worse than chose this composition by Eric Whitacre:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9shXm0cIeEY

What ails me

Results back from the latest CT scan. And excellent news it is. The cancer continues to be contained, i.e. the scan showed no noticeable spread. Also, no sign of pneumonia. (Insert happy hand clap here - I have tried to heave a huge sigh of relief, but end up coughing each time an attempt is made.)

So it seems I have little more than a very bad spring cold. Slept almost as much over the past three days as I normally do after a stiff chemo cocktail. While I'm feeling much better today, the coughing continues along with the occasional sneeze. As a result, group gatherings continue to be avoided. My immune system remains very much compromised so it's easy to pick up anything and everything that is going about, and I don't want to spread what ails me to anyone else. When awake, I putter in the garden and help Phil as much as I can. By mid afternoon, I'm pooped and settle down for a 3-4 hour nap. Yes, excitement-filled days these are. On the other hand, I can't help but think that napping has helped me recover faster than if I simply soldiered on. As Momzy says, it's best to do what your body tells you.

Speaking of things viral, the Internet offered up the following advice re what ails me at present:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W728NGYhmmQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPXY8Xa8icw&feature=related

Lucky Charms Nothing To Sneeze At

Still awaiting CT scan results from Wednesday. Expect they'll take a while to be reviewed and written up prior to my receiving the results. Still, I can't help but wonder if the cancer has spread further into my lungs if not my trachea. Can't shake this awful cough. Sometimes it's so bad I choke. Yesterday brought the added effects of wheezing, especially when I lay down - which explains why I'm not sleeping very well. During the night I started sneezing as well. Yeah, okay, so it's likely just hay fever (I actually blame the uncontrolled spread of Scotch Broom) or a spring cold. But the wheezing and cough have me more than slightly concerned as those symptoms were often followed by a bad oncologist's report. No sense in wishing for bad and knocking on wood, but I know the bottom of the Lucky Charms box isn't all that far away.

Bye Bye Gem

Today I was to have had the last dose of gemcitabine (had the last gemcitabine/carboplatin cocktail last Tues). However, as seems to be the pattern with that drug, I couldn't have chemo today because I'm sick. Again. This time it is a nasty cough that is leaving a raw feeling in my throat. So no more chemo for me, at least until I see my oncologist on June 5. And then it will likely be something new. Again.

As for my general state of health since my last posting, I reluctantly report that the "collection of tears" that I noticed in my left eye is in fact a conjunctival cyst (looks like a clear bump on my left eyeball). Doesn't hurt, but it does feel a tad odd when I blink.

CT scan at St Mary's tomorrow. Will have a better idea about my situation after getting the results from that test.

Cycle of Change

Just returned from my latest chemo treatment - Day 1 of Cycle 6. My hemoglobin is back up to 130, and neutrophils are hovering around normal levels. Cancer markers are also holding steady. Have a CT scan on May 23, so will know for certain how things stand, but at this point all seems well. In the meantime, my energy level is much better than it has been for some time. Now, if only my medical team can figure out why I keep having issues with my left eye - yesterday afternoon a clear "bump" showed up on the white area of the eyeball  near the nose, likely nothing serious but it's very irritating. Have been advised to see my GP or opthamologist  if it doesn't disappear by Thurs.

Was a bit taken aback by news that this will likely be my last cycle on this cocktail, however. Yes, I will have the Day 8 treatment next Tues, unless my immune system or hemoglobin tanks again, but then that's it. Seems 6 cycles is normal for this regime. Sometimes it's extended to 8 cycles, but given my toxicity issues with the drug combo, it's doubtful I'll be getting the two "bonus" rounds unless next week's CT scan looks very, very good. An appointment is being made with my oncologist to see what the next step options will be. Must say, if nothing else, living with cancer is never boring. Something is always changing re treatment and potential treatment. And I never know from one day to the next how I'll be feeling. Guess you could say every day is something of a surprise at least in that regard.

Currently feel well enough to get at the gardening for the first time this year. Damn cats in need of litter box facilities and obese slugs with ample appetites can't have all the fun!

RIP Rex

Sad day here. I was cleaning the bowls of my roomies Rex and Murphy (two Siamese Fighting Fish) when one suddenly went belly-up. Literally. Mere seconds earlier Rex was happily swimming about without a care in the world. I fear I hurt him somehow when removing him temporarily from the bowl. Feel very bad about his passing as I so obviously caused it in some way. The event underscores the lesson I seem to be getting rather frequently the past while re the fragility of life. Being a Pisces, the loss of one fish seems all the more poignant as if acknowledging half of my life (at least) is now gone. But then I still have Murphy who is circling his bowl on my desk as I type - and a lively portion of my own life is yet to be lived. Suspect it is a good thing that I didn't get a dog after all. RIP Rex.