DEMO DIVA

Back in the garden and surrendering to mother nature who has decided to challenge me. Today my blood counts are dropping and at the same time it's 96 degrees outside putting my body under additional duress. Will be spending a lot of time meditating in a cool bath tub today and drinking water spiked with fresh lemon and mangosteen juice from Trader Joe's.
My garden has sprouted job's tears which helped me support myself as an artist for many years on Kauai. I made and sold hundreds of pieces of jewelry fashioned from these marvelous seed beads. I have planted them in the garden the last three years from seeds and have had wonderful full stalks but no seeds. I've used various methods of propagation, starting them indoors in early spring which didn't produce seeds and then planting them directly in the ground, lot's of green leaves but still no seeds. This year I planted nothing and even though they produced no seed over the last three years I have beautiful wild job's tears that the menehunes planted for me. Any suggestions for making the seeds bloom would be much appreciated. Making artwork and crafts from things I grow myself is an ultimate high for me. Watching a plant grow and then transforming it into a decorative or useful item is ecstasy for me. I became fascinated with gourds when I was studying hula and had to make my own ipu drum out of a dried gourd. The Hawaiians grew enormous gourds and had amazing drums. When I tried to grow them in Hawaii I couldn't even get a plant started. I have a long fence to utilize and I've finally found a formula to discourage the nasty squash beetles that have ruined the vines. I mix water, canola oil, Chinese long hot peppers, garlic cloves, dish soap and a drop of peppermint extract let it steep overnight and then douse the plants on a dry day ! yeah I think I've managed to outwit the little buggers ! The other Hawaiian plant that is thriving is Kahili ginger. I bought a plant in a bag at the ABC store in Waikiki in April 2008 when I was visiting my boys. I potted it and have nurtured it in a sunny basement window since then. When I knew I wouldn't be able to care for in indoors I put it outside and I think I'm going to get some flowers from it which will fill my space with the most intoxicating scent in the world. The pictures are of the creations from last year's gourd harvest. I've dried and prepped a third one and it is definitely a planter but I'm waiting for it to inspire me. It's leaning towards Hawaiian style !

Today is my last day at HUP and I finish my fourth round of Chemo. I can't wait to finish this whole process. Even though I'm tolerating it pretty well there is no question that it takes a heavy toll on all body systems. Can't wait to get back to the kitchen and garden. I have one last round to go in a month then CURED ! I'm hoping to be finished with treatment forever. Planning going being back to work by Christmas. I wonder how my life will be when this is over. Will it shadow all my new relationships and color how I judge and am judged ? To start with my physical appearance will change at least for now. The most radical change is my hair, I'm letting it grow in white and so far it feels right. It seems to have stopped falling out and is nice and soft and fuzzy. Give me some feedback folks since I'm on the fence about this. I'll post some photos so you an give me some input.

My doctor has decided that a transplant is not the best treatment option for me at this time. I will be going in for another round of chemo tomorrow and will be in hospital until Tuesday or Wednesday. Then four weeks in recovery and a final round of Chemo another four weeks recovery and done ! I'm counting myself among the 30% who are cured with chemo alone and plan to be back to work by Christmas. I have been in complete remission now since the first round of chemo and my Doc was very impressed that I'm working for an hour or more in the garden in the morning and then doing 90 minutes of yoga, dance and body shaping in the afternoon. Feeling very well now and not looking forward to another hospital stay, but it gets easier as I get stronger and closer to the end of treatment. Don't know if I'll have cell coverage at the hospital it depends on which room they put me in. I'll post the number when I get there.

The bugs are eating my garden, stunting my cucumbers and watermelons. I think next year I'll plant fewer things and be a bit less crowded. The tomatoes are doing well and I think I'll have a nice assortment of gourds in spite of the wretched squash beetles.I took pictures of the plants that the fairies planted which grew wild in the garden. I do believe in fairies even if there are in the form of bees and butterflies and hummingbirds. I have five wild tomato plants, one swan gourd vine and corn. Come see me at HUP and bring treats !

Today I played in the magic garden for almost two hours early in the morning, Then this afternoon I walked to the mailbox in 95 degree heat ! It's a six block walk and it felt great to be outside and feeling good. Tomorrow I'm going to start driving myself places and Saturday I'm having two girlfriends over for dinner. Can't wait to cook for them with all the lovely things I have to share from the garden. I have a yellow Hungarian pepper plant and it's a revelation. It's a hot pepper like they use for goulashes and other spicy dishes, but it's mellower than a jalapeno and it's really nice with vegetable stews and curries. The photos are cucumber, watermelon, guords, and a giant sunflower. I bought the seeds for the sunflower three years ago when I was visiting family in Austin. I was saving the seeds from last year in my freezer to plant this year. Sadly when I was in the hospital and had someone clean the refrigerator they threw out my seeds. So much to my great surprise this one flower came grew out of a seed a bird left or from the compost, now I'll have lots of seeds for next year !!

Okay so I'm out of the hospital after an unplanned and unexpected stay. Trying hard to believe that Cancer does not control my life, but it does. I got sick from the chemo while at home and this is a first. Had blood counts drop and fever go up and general not feeling good happen. Six days in hospital with transfusions and IV antibiotics . I had my laptop and a huge room but no cell phone coverage and no view. I also was so unprepared I had no clothes or toiletries or most important FOOD ! Thanks Sally, John, Barb and Kurt for the emergency provisions. I won't bore you with the bad hospital food stories, I will say that one night they served green meat, literally. I mostly just looked at it and had some protein bars, cheese and rice cakes , chicken Marsala from TJ's and yogurt.
Now that I'm home I'm eating as much as is pick able from the garden. Lots of fresh basil , some tomatoes, peppers,cucumbers, string beans and squash blossoms, since that's about all I'm getting from my zucchini. I have a wild squash plant which is taking over and it appears to be some type of swan guord, looks ornamental which is cool. The garden became jungle like while I was gone so I'm making some feeble attempts to train it. I'm not quite up to eloquence so this posting is just an update to let you know I appreciate all the support particularly cards, e-mail and facebook messages. Phone calls not so much since I never know how well I'll feel. Write me a comment.
See you soon XOXO Nancy Photo is me in a dance studio 1979