Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.
The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.
Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks),
and I have accepted the mantle.
The
rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent. Post some photos
under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Sorry I still
haven't succeeded in working out how to do a blog hop. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
I
usually run with a theme. I am still home though have had to make repeated visits to the hospital. Yay.
I saw the chemotherapist at the end of last week.
I have a rare and aggressive cancer. Stage 4. It has spread to my abdominal wall. At this stage chemotherapy is due to start the week after next. I have a meeting with the radiation team and rather a lot of other medical tests/procedures next week.
While at home I have been enjoying the birds and the garden. More is coming out each day though so far (despite the need) I have done no work in it.
Come revel in colour with me.
At the hospital.
In the garden.
I hope you find colour and joy in your week.
Una de les millors teràpies és gaudir dels ocells i d'aquest jardí tan bonic.
ReplyDeleteTot està en marxa i tu n'ets la prioritat.
Força i endavant!
sa lluna: Thank you. I am enjoying the birds and the garden. And the kindness that surrounds me.
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ReplyDeleteRe-doing my wordy comment! Sorry for the delete.
DeleteI am sorry to hear about your ongoing illness, Sue. Let's hope for the best. They can do amazing things these days with all the treatments. 🌹 You have someone rooting for you waaaay over here in America.
I am surprised by the spiritual nature of that sign. I haven't seen anything like that here, even in a Catholic or Christian run hospital where you might expect it.
Sandi: Thank you. Our hospital has recently been added to and a lot more focus has been given to indigenous art. I loved that sign - and took heart from it.
DeleteI am confused by the phraseology above - “Catholic OR Christian.” When did Catholicism cease to be part of Christianity?
DeleteColour surrounds you. May all colours bring you healing and hope.
ReplyDeletecontempladoraocidental: Thank you. Colour does indeed surround me.
DeleteLovely colours - thank you for sharing them!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis - cancer just SUCKS. A LOT. Wishing you strength, and please remember to be kind to yourself. You've given so much of your care and concern to others, and now it's time to accept care and concern from them. (I suspect that will be tough for you, but I hope you'll let yourself do it.)
Diane Henders: You are right. I find it much easier and more natural to give kindness than to accept it. A work in progress. Aren't the colours great? And more emerging each day.
DeleteLaura Eno - I hope you continue to find strength and beauty in your surroundings, finding peace in the abundance around you. You have given so much to many others, please accept the hope and love we bestow on you now.
ReplyDeleteYour hospital makes a great effort to lessen the sterile, clinical feeling so prevalent in my country.
Tend to yourself, first and foremost. Sending you positive thoughts and much love to get you through this time.
Laura Eno: I think that public are it an immense help and am glad to see/record it. I am tending to myself - but itch to get back to my volunteer work. And thank you dear friend.
DeleteI don't have enough words Sue. I am so sorry you are having to go through this. Sending lots of healing vibes your way my friend.
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Thank you so much.
DeleteHi EC - so good to see you in the circumstances ... I can only wish you an easy journey ... we need your outlook on life, on top of which you bring us colour. I appreciated the First Nations' information when I was in Canada, and I'm sure I'd feel the same if I'd come down under ... and I hope they 've done similar in SA ... these plaques can make us think ... cheers and lots of v gentle hugs - Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: An easy journey sounds lovely. I love that indigenous art/placques feature at the hospital and hope to see more. A step in the right direction.
DeleteMy garden is winding down! We're so dry.
ReplyDeleteAll the best for your healthcare journey.
Jenn Jiliks: Thank you. I do hope that you (and we) get some rain. And soon.
DeleteWow those are beautiful--the purple ones. I am crossing my fingers for you and holding faith in your care team.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: The purple daisies should not be flowering yet, but no one has told them that.
DeleteThis agnostic is praying for you. With all my heart.
ReplyDeleteThe peace of the night, dear Sue.
Sean Jeating: Thank you - so much. Sleep well.
DeleteYou are the third person this month that I've learned has Stage 4 cancer. The other two have responded well to treatment, and I can only hope for the same for one of my favorite people on the planet. Love and abundance should be coming your way from every corner of our universe.
ReplyDeleteDJan: What a lovely wish. I hope your own cancer journey is now over.
DeleteThank you my dear friend. It always feels healing to come here. My husband has been in the hospital all week and his dementia has progressed to the point where I cannot bring him home. He's going to care later today and it is the hardest day of my life. You know I don't talk about personal things of this nature on my blog. But I want you my real friend to to know. Carrying on with my blog is so important in my life! Expect to see me publish everyday as usual because it is not me. That makes the mix the Angels participate. Liberally please be well and take care of yourself. Aloha
ReplyDeleteCloudia: My heart goes out to you dear friend. I have sent you an email. Huge hugs.
DeleteWishing you well. My believing heart has and will continue to keep you in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteAnne in the kitchen: Thank you.
DeleteDear EC
ReplyDeleteYou have lots of us sending you good thoughts and wishes for your recovery. We're here wishing you well. Keep continuing to find joy and beauty around you - you are so good at that.
You are not alone.
Best wishes
Ellie
Ellie Foster: I do keep finding beauty and joy and am glad that there is so much about. I am so very grateful for the kindness of my friends in the blogosphere too.
DeleteA wonderful collection of floral portraits
ReplyDeleteroentare: And more coming out each day...
DeleteThe garden/flowers are looking good.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day.
lissa: Thank you. They give me pleasure
DeleteLove the pictures--- Hot, dry, early signs of Fall here. I guess it's all normal. Besides, our hot and dry isn't so bad compared to lots of places. I have fingers, eyes, and most everything else crossed in the hopes that all will be well for you. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteBill: Don't cross so many things your balance is affected - but thank you.
DeleteStage 4 sounds really bad, but there is still hope, medical marvels happen every day and you are in good hands.
ReplyDeleteWhat are those bulbs all crowded into one pot? Tulips? I love your garden. I've ignored mine all winter and things are still green out there but badly in need of watering, I just haven't felt the urge to get out there.
River: That is a pot full of hyacinths that are more advanced than the tulips. When they bloom I will bring them in for a bit - which you could not do because of the scent. I will have to watch the cats - they may have to go right out again.
DeleteI hope you feel the love and support from around the world, EC, as you take on this battle. Sending a hug across the globe!
ReplyDeleteMarie Smith: Thank you - I do feel it and am v grateful.
DeleteI love the colours of your world. You are always in my heart and prayers.
ReplyDeletemessymimi: Huge thanks to you too.
DeleteI’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts as you begin treatment.
ReplyDeleteStay strong.
Asep Haryono: Thank you. One step at a time.
DeleteYour garden pics always make me smile. And I do believe I saw some wattle the other day, which jogged some memories! When the rain eases enough to go for a walk I'll take a camera in a pocket and you in my heart.
ReplyDeletedinahmow: I am glad to hear you enjoy the garden. Wattle is starting to blaze in the city but our own has a way to go. I will send you photos. And huge thanks.
DeleteYou have a purple theme this week. It used to be my favourite colour and though i lean more toward pink now, I still love purple.
ReplyDeleteMuch love to you as you start on the treatment journey 💜
kylie: I think that the myriad shades of green are my favourite but I love it all and surround myself with it. Huge thanks to you too.
DeleteIn spite of no attendance, your garden goes on nicely, doing what plants do. Mentally, I am walking with you through your trials, and my brain knows it won't be easy. I've seen some quite good art in hospitals, and things to make visits for patients a bit more interesting and comfortable.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: Not an easy journey but on I have at least taken the first steps on... Thank you. And public art is a huge positive in my eyes. The radiation team are my appointment today.
DeleteThank you for the update re your health - thinking of you and saying prayers too. Good luck with your treatment.
ReplyDeleteLove your selections, all pretty and bright :)
Margaret D: Thank you.
DeleteNot the news we wanted to hear, Sue, but I am glad that you are finding joy in the wild exuberance of your garden. There seems to be a universal awakening to the wisdom of indigenous people. It is in most instances too little too late but I welcome it nonetheless. Much love from your friend in Canada - David
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Like you I welcome the recognition and spread of indigenous art. Thank you so much for your wishes.
DeleteHass aprovechado bien tu estancia en el hospital para hacer fotografías. Tendrías ganas de regresar a casa para seguir disfrutando las flores de tu jardín.
ReplyDeleteQue tengas una buena semana.
Miradas desdemi lente: Being home (mostly) is much, much better.
DeleteStage four is not the end. Chemo will be unpleasant but you can get through it and continue to enjoy your garden.
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: Not looking forward to the chemo or the radiation but so beit.
DeleteGood luck with your treatment. Thoughts prayers and lovely flowers for you.Your garden is lovely. I no longer have a garden... just a small balcony to grow herbs and a couple of small palms in pots. I love fresh flowers and my significant other who sadly is also very ill loves taking photographs of them. It gives him a lot of pleasure.
ReplyDeleterallentanda: Thank you. I hope your significant other finds as much pleasure in growing things as I do.
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ReplyDeletehttps://rallentanda.blogspot.com/2025/08/sunday-selections-839.html Here's mine. Enjoy !
ReplyDeleterallentanda: I will be over to check it out shortly.
DeleteSo many beautiful colors.
ReplyDeleteHena Tayeb: The world is full of beautiful colours.
DeleteI am hoping to hear good news in the future. I hope you can keep your spirits up during the treatments. The flowers are lovely as always.
ReplyDeleteMary Kirkland: Many thanks.
DeleteOh how I hate to hear this news. Chemo is so challenging, but so worth it when you come out on the other side of it cancer-free. Thank you for keeping us posted. So many of us thinking of you and wishing you all the best, including me!
ReplyDeleteRosey: Thank you.
DeleteI am sorry to hear of your diagnosis, Sue. But you are a strong person and an intelligent person, and although it can be a long hard road, you will survive. My dear friend, you are in my thoughts and prayers every day. I look forward to hearing that you are cancer free or in remission. I wish for you only bright and cheerful colors. Sending my love.
ReplyDeleteI am not anonymous and the above comment is from me, Glenda
ReplyDeleteGlenda Council Beall: I don't feel strong but will keep on keeping on. Thank you.
DeleteGreat shots, I love those flowers.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
Wisewebwoman: So do I.
DeleteStage 4 is serious. I hope chemo and radiation will cure you. I send you my love and support.
ReplyDeleteGigi Hawaii
DeleteGigi Hawaii: Time will tell.
DeleteNature and colours are healing to the soul. I hope your treatment will heal your body. My prayers will be with you.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte (MotherOwl): You are so right about nature and colour. Thank you.
DeleteYour flowers have brightened our day.
ReplyDeleteOur prayers are flowing your way.
Wally Jones: I hope you two are out of the clutches of the medicos now. And thank you too.
DeleteThank you for your health update.
ReplyDeleteYou are in my thoughts and prayers ... and you have so many blogland friends who are sending positive vibes and good wishes your way. May your treatment go well.
Thank you also for the colourful flowers that you've shared with us in this post.
All the best Jan
Lowcarb team member ~Jan: The flowers were/are lovely aren't they? Thank you and everyone else for your comprehensive wishes.
DeleteI'm sorry about your cancer. I wish you all the best. I know the treatments are tiring, etc. Luckily you have a garden and photos.
ReplyDeletePlease take my hug. Orvokki
Orvokki: Thank you - I will rest between treatments and have the birds and the garden to sustain me.
DeleteThinking of you
ReplyDeletersrue.blogspot.com
rsrue: Thank you.
DeleteLovely colors
ReplyDeletepeppylady (Dora): Aren't they?
DeleteIs anyone talking about your odds of coming out at the other end of this thing in one piece (BTW, Peggy's five-year survival prediction is 3%)? Tell me what kind of cancer you have, dear Sue, so I can study up on it. I'm also wondering how you're doing, emotionally speaking.
ReplyDeleteSnowbrush: They are being guarded but not recommending five year plans. I gather it depends a lot on how the chemo affects me. The cancer in question is Carsinosarcoma. I think Peggy's survival rate is lower than mine and my heart aches for you both.
DeleteSue, AI (and other sources) reports the following outlook for the common uterine variety: "Uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS), also known as malignant mixed müllerian tumor (MMMT), has a relatively poor prognosis compared to other endometrial cancers. Five-year survival rates for UCS range from 30-45% for early-stage disease to 0-10% for advanced stages.
DeleteHere are the results of a Science Direct study: "The study included 64 patients, 56 of them participated in the QoL questionnaires. The median progression-free survival was 13 months, and overall survival was 20 months. QoL was significantly lower in all functional domains at one year after treatment compared to members of the general population. The most affected functioning domains were physical, role, cognitive, and social functioning and symptoms like fatigue, pain, and lymphedema. Long-term QoL remained compromised, with global health and insomnia notably impaired even five years after treatment. Significant prognostic factors for better overall survival included lower FIGO stage, surgery, and chemotherapy."
This is a real pisser, Sue, and I'm truly too sorry for words. When I was a young man, I imagined that doctors knew of some way to give people disastrous news that made it not seem to bad, but my experience has been that, for the most part, they just come right out with it. I'm also aware that you're no stranger to bad health news.
Sue, when I told Peggy of your condition, she had me open your blog, and she and I read every post as far back as your diagnosis. She asked that I send you her good wishes, and she also said that I should not have shared such grim information with you. I told her that I asked myself beforehand if it was appropriate, and I concluded that, if I were you, I would want to read it. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean that you wanted to read it, but after reflecting upon the impression that I have built of you after many years of knowing you, I thought it appropriate that I share it. I now think that I should have asked you in advance the extent to which you want to know about what the various medical experts have to say.
DeleteSnowbrush: Thank Peggy for me. I would have preferred you communicated your findings by email rather than here but done is done. The jury seems to be out on whether I have stage 4, 4a or 4b cancer which will have some impact. One step at a time.
DeleteI will bear in mind what you've told me, and I'm very glad that I haven't created a breach in our relationship.
DeleteSnowbrush: Of course you haven't created a breach. Not so but far otherwise. First chemo treatment in a few hours.
DeleteThanks for the photos. I am sorry you have such an aggressive late stage cancer. I am still hoping not to have uterine or other female cancer. Hoping gor the best outcome for you.
ReplyDeletee: I so hope you will not join me on this journey.
DeleteSo sorry to hear about your illness. Many blessings to you, and may the Lord watch over you. I wish you all the best in your journey, and I know it will not be easy. My prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteRasmaSandra: Thank you.
DeleteNot good news for you, but chemo can work wonders, sometimes making you feel worse, but with a positive result. Fingers crossed, thinking of you and sending you loving healing positive vibes for recovery.
ReplyDeleteShammickite: I can't say I am looking forward to the chemotherapy but it sounds like the logical next step. Thank you and we will see.
DeleteThese flowers are stunning. I am sorry about the stage four. I wish I lived near you and if I did I would come over to help you with anything you needed. For sure. Or, we could just go out and take pictures too. Sending you love and huggs.
ReplyDeleteThe Happy Whisk: Thank you. How I wish I had a tardis...
DeleteEC, I am so sorry to hear this. Life can be brutal. I'm glad you're finding joy in color and your garden. How are your birds these days? It looks like my cone flowers have cousins across the water:) Please know that I'm thinking about you. May the winds carry energy, hope and peace to your doorstep.
ReplyDeleteSandra Cox: I continue to find beauty and joy - not least from the lovely comments people like you leave me. The birds are fine - and beautiful. Hugs.
DeleteI am sorry about your diagnosis - as someone said before, cancer sucks. I wish for you that the chemotherapy won't be too hard on you and that it will actually help. May your garden and the birds and also the roos continue to give you joy. A big hug from me to you - Carola
ReplyDeleteCarola Bartz: Many thanks.
DeleteYour colors are wonderful, Su!! In recent years I have met many people who have survived difficult cancers, the conclusion I drew about what made them survive is that they all told me that from the beginning they thought: I will live!! They had a positive attitude towards life and excessive optimism even though everything was against them, they tried not to let it get them down!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sending you positive energy,
a big hug!!
Katerinas Blog: Thank you. I don''t think that attitude is everything but it certainly doesn't hurt. And I continue to see the beauty and the joy and suspect I always will.
DeleteDear EC, Wishing you a weekend filled with serenity, birds eating out of your hand, plenty of cat purrs, and maybe a kang or two sighting:) Hugs
ReplyDeleteSandra Cox: I do like your comprehensive wishes. Thank you.
DeleteLee aka JCN: sending you a virtual hug. A few, actually.
ReplyDeleteLee aka JCN: Thank you. Hugs gratefully received.
DeleteI am quite sorry to read about your health issues and will be sending you all the good mojo I can muster. And hugs. Lots and lots of hugs.
ReplyDelete