Day 5...

Portal RV Resort
Moab, Utah
September, 15, 2014

Day 5 was the charm...that is Day 5 in the chemo treatment cycle. Overall, Joe has done great. He never even needed any of the three extra meds we got to help with nausea on Day 2 or 3. And on Day 4, he stopped the one medicine he was told he must take to stop nausea for the first 48 hours. Yesterday was Day 5...we made a trip to Grand Junction for a follow-up visit with the Cardiac/Thoracic surgeon. Dr. Lapkin was very pleased with the progress, took out the stitches and said he would like to see Joe in a year. A YEAR! That was just the best news ever! Joe felt better yesterday than he has in months. The other good news...no restrictions on activities and we are hoping to be hiking and jeeping very soon. His lungs and heart are both strong. He does have 5 more chemo treatments.
 Last Saturday morning I took a walk around Portal...all the pictures in todays post are from that walk. It was cool, the sky was so blue and I had a fun time exploring some areas here I have never seen. 

A view of the LaSal Mountains from Portal... 

Portal actually backs up to a watershed formed by the Colorado River. I will revisit this sign in the near future...I was wearing flip-flops and quickly decided that was not good for wandering further into "Portal Outback".


There were lots of dragonflies...Joe and I just watched an episode on Nat Geo about dragonflies. Did you know they were in existence 100 million years before dinosaurs?  According to National Geographic, they are so perfectly made with full body armor and extraordinary eyesight that the only change in their "design" has been in their size.

There are also two spring fed ponds...one for pups and the other for people. White butterflies were fluttering all about. It was hard to get any pictures of them...they were so fast!

Dragonfly wings glisten in the sunlight...

We had visitors late Saturday afternoon while we were sitting outside enjoying some fresh air...

 Three fawns and their mama stopped by for a bite in the meadow...our backyard. Well, mama didn't eat. She stood guard. She wasn't so sure about us.

We so enjoy watching the sunset on the red rocks...its beautiful to watch the sunrise on the red rocks too!

 I am slowly catching up on blogs. Reading about your adventures and making notes!

Well, that's all for now...until next time, take care and...

 happy trails!



Rosey Hips

Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
September 8, 2014

It's a seed pod...I have never grown roses nor been to a garden to see these colorful pods called rose hips. I found myself on the ground trying to figure out if the bush with the pink roses was the same bush these orange "berries" were on. After a small thorny skirmish, I discovered that they were in fact the same.


I have always enjoyed the roses here at Portal. Most gardeners prune the faded rose blossoms to encourage more flowers. But here, the spent flowers are left on the bush.

At the end of the season, these small, berry-sized, seed balls or fruit appear. The bushes are full of them.

Rose hips begin to form after successful pollination of flowers in spring or early summer.  

The internet is full of recipes for herbal teas, jams, and even soups made with these rosey hips that are high in vitamin C.

A quick update on Joe...

he came home last Friday. It sure is good to have him here too. And oh my, did we have some wagging puppy tails! We have settled into a routine of walking, reading and napping.

 
On Thursday, Sept. 11, we go back to Grand Junction to St. Mary's Regional Cancer Center for the first round of chemo.

Thank you all for your positive comments, and prayers. Our spirits are high and our hearts are full of trust and hope.  

An aster plant hidden among some tall ornamental grasses...

Well, until next time, take care...

and enjoy the day!