Something new to view....

I've been working hard (and with much enthusiasm) on a new website. Just a few more days..... (this has been so much fun!)

Cabin fever has set in good and hard....

First I have to let you know the great new that the bone tumour removed from my leg in early February was benign, the news couldn't have been better! Now a rather long road to recovery, still a few months of not walking as the bone heals and the options for bone reconstruction are evaluated.

Which leads to the matter of cabin fever. Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely grateful for the results of the biopsy - but staying off my leg for a rather long time has its issues! It's been almost four weeks of sticking mostly to my bed, and cabin fever has set in something fierce (I think the 16 C degree temps outside today haven't helped at all, I would dearly like to be out photographing on a day like this).

I tend to be a very positive person and I'm trying to make the most of my time but the worst of this is the FOOD CRAVINGS! All of a sudden I'll think of something that I would love to eat, but it's just not accessible (normally when this would happen pre-surgery - I'd just make a run over to our local Longo's and get the required ingredients). And on top of it today, I keep thinking I can smell the desired food which makes me crave it even more! Would you believe taco salad and Nutella on toasted

So, when I'm finally given the go-ahead to walk again, you'll likely find me at the grocery store - or in the kitchen (making food to sustain me when I'm out shooting!)

The happy side of bedrest....

It's been a week since my surgery, and all is well! I still have at least three weeks left of not using my right leg - but there are definitely upsides to all this lounging around.

1) I don't have to cook. In fact, my family brings me lovely meals to eat here in bed (thank goodness I have less of an appetite right now, otherwise this lack of activity would soon show itself in all the wrong places!) And yeah for chocolate, it cures just about EVERYTHING!
2) Rediscovering how much I love to read.
3) I had no idea that using crutches would build up my upper body muscles so well. Bring on the sleeveless tops this summer!
4) I get to shower sitting down, how very relaxing.....
5) I'm learning lots of interesting things (check out http://www.ted.com)
6) I don't have to shovel snow (who am I kidding, my kind husband insists on doing it himself even when I can use both legs!)
7) My husband and daughter who are always good at getting me laughing, continue to be good at getting me laughing through all of this.

Thank you for all the notes wishing me a speedy recovery, I'm grateful for your kind wishes! The next time I post I'll know the biopsy results, keeping my fingers crossed......

Planning my Escapism

I wish it were for a vacation (somewhere far away from these frigid temps!) but alas no.... I'll be having surgery on my leg on Feb. 9th, and won't able to reply to emails or voicemails for at least a few days afterwards.

Sure it'll hurt, and nobody likes to spend time in the hospital but what I'm dreading most is how to occupy myself during a month of recovery with very limited movement permitted! I've always been terrible at sitting still, and am often multi-tasking. And the thought of not holding my camera for weeks makes me quite unhappy!

So, I can read. I can write. If I can find a way to manoever to the TV room, I catch up on some shows and movies. Maybe a few phonecalls each day with family and friends. Maybe altogether 3 or 4 hours a day?

As I think about the other 12 or so hours that need to be filled, I get a warm feeling as I think about what the internet can bring to me (and so happy that I invested in a laptop instead of a desktop computer). I'm going to:

- look up goofy YouTube videos (I'll need a laugh or two)
- read lots of blogs (most of them will be photography related, what can I say - it's an addiction!)
- do on-line tutorials (probably all Photoshop)
- Google obscure words just to see what comes up
- look up info on remote destinations and plan my dream vacation
- drive my husband and daughter totally nuts (in this tech age instead of ringing a bell - I'll Skype them whenever I need them!)
- communicate with the outside world on the aforementioned Skype, or Twitter, or Facebook or good old email
- think about all the things I am grateful for (and there are many!)

- and most importantly try not to be a total pain in the neck!

I'll look forward to seeing you again on the other side :-)

P.S. Please do share if you have a blog I can check out, if you've found some funny videos on-line, etc. Four weeks seems like an eternity stretching ahead of me!

Valentine's Promo - Deadline January 31st

Two blog posts in the same day....I must be feeling a bit guilty for neglecting this blog for weeks on end!

Gift Certificates for a photo session were very popular this past holiday season, I enjoyed designing cards specifically for each recipient. These also make a great Valentine's Day gift, and I've been creating a few templates to be further personalized.

And until January 31st, for every $200 worth of portrait services purchased on a Gift Certificate I'll add an extra $50 print credit for the recipient. The bonus will be reflected in the value of the Gift Certificate.

Can I design one for someone special in your life?

Time to shop for a side table?

My publisher in the US let me know this week that they released four of my images to a Canadian furniture store to be sold as framed art posters. Couldn't tell me who, so perhaps some sleuthing is in order? The thrill of seeing my images somewhere outside of my own home never diminishes!

Nothing to do (and everything to do) with Photography

Oops, I let quite a while pass since my last post -with good reason! I've been crazy busy with photo sessions (fall colours/holidays) and retouching, printing and delivering orders. Now I can finally get down to some holiday shopping/decorating/baking!

The title of my post refers to a very special anniversary today. It's been five years since I had my pacemaker implanted (for those of you who were wondering about that large scar just below my collarbone, now you know). What a difference a piece of metal has made in my life! After frequent trips to emergency, hospital stays, tests, treatments, drugs etc. I'm so grateful that the pacemaker has worked like a dream and I haven't had one visit to the ER since getting my device.

My good friends know that my spell of poor health led to a decision to leave the corporate world to do what I'd always dreamed of doing and the rewards have been amazing. True, the security of regular income & benefits are sorely missed at times but I was given the gifts of spending more time with my amazing daughter, meeting the wonderful man who was to become my husband and the opportunity to do what I love (and get paid for it!) Paragraph #1 above wouldn't have been possible without paragraph #2.

There are a few things I can't do that were possible before I fell ill with a cardiac infection years ago, but I'm extremely grateful for all the things I am able to do again! The energizer bunny marches on......