Jack had a ball running and digging in the sand at Cannon Beach last weekend. As much as he enjoyed running though, he still begged for a ride in Dad's arms as he got tired. 

As you can see from these photos, the camellias and magnolias have been beautiful this year. Do I appreciate everything more, or is it that I have the time, now that I am not working, to notice more? This has been such a glorious transition into spring,and it's only just begun! For the past 3 days, i have spent as much time as I can working in our gardens. I am delighted.

On Wednesday, I am scheduled for another chemo session, and then the following week will be my last. I am looking forward to be done with this phase.

Hope you are enjoying the beginning of spring.

Jack was a real trooper on his first real outing. He trotted and sniffed all over Elk Rock Garden at Bishop's Close. When I thought he might want a rest and ride in my arms, he wriggled out, like, "Do it my SELF!" The magnolias and other blooming plants were beautiful. Here are a few pix.

             Good Morning - I'm Jack. I'm 3 months old now. This is my dad, Ben. Doesn't he look happy holding me?

These are early bloomers in my garden. Mom says the cherry blossoms are down hill from Ainsworth School. I wouldn't know; they don't let me walk away from home yet. Soon we are driving to the Bishop's Close above River Road to see blooming magnolias and euphorbia. I bet Mom will post pictures of those later. She's a nut about flowers. They seem to make her happy, almost as happy as when she's playing with me.

Wasn't this a glorious weekend? The blossoming plum and cherry trees, the cheery daffodils, and the sweet daphne just make me want to sing along with the birds. And topping that, we have fallen in love with our puppy Jack. See for yourselves how charming he is! Ah, to be in love in the springtime.

As if adding a puppy to our love life weren't enough, we just learned from our son David that we will be grandparents by the end of October. This was truly a Hallmark day.

I had a great time in Seattle walking, reading, knitting, eating, shopping, and visiting with "cousins" Wendy and Susan. One day of luxury I spent in the Washington Athletic Club, taking a yoga class, getting a massage, eating, reading, and simply lounging. Ben spent most of his days and nights at the boat show, not as much fun. The show shut down Saturday night so we had all of Sunday to explore Seattle. We went to the Pike Place Market and to Pioneer Square where we took the underground tour and ate in the cafe of the Elliot Bay Bookstore. We agreed that riding the train was much better than driving between Portland and Seattle.
I started day one of the second cycle of chemo on Tuesday. All my blood work was normal, despite my plateaued low weight. Wednesday Ben and I drove to Gold Beach to visit Billy. Being so close to the California border, we decided to return to the redwoods in Jedediah Smith State Park out of Crescent City. The grove we hiked through this time had some amazingly huge trees. One fallen tree was about 12 feet thick, widening to a root base of over 20 feet wide. We found a place to scramble on to the tree and walk its trunk to the root base, taking us pretty high into the air.

I am standing at the root base on the ground (above left). Ben and I are standing on the same tree just above the root base (above right) and Billy is on the ground below us at the base.

I am standing behind one of many gnarly lumps at the base of another huge tree.

Today we have sun so Billy has surfed while we strolled the beach. Tomorrow, we will drive north to Bandon on our way back to Portland. We will be picking up Jack at the breeder's in Junction City. Our life is about to change yet again!

Here's Jack, at 6 weeks. Cute, huh? Ben and i are off to Seattle on the train. He and Zac are ready to go, so this will be short.

Medical update: I was able to get the chemo treatment yesterday, which pleased me. I feel well and seem to be able to continue with my usual activities. I am looking forward to lounging in the Seattle hotel and reconnecting with some former relatives.

Thanks for all your caring support.

Medical Update: I began chemotherapy a week ago and was to continue today, but because my blood counts were low, treatment is postponed until next week. I haven't gained any weight yet, but I also haven't lost any more weight. Thank you for everyone's advice on how to gain weight and stop diarrhea. I doubt there is any advice I have not yet heard so please spare me any more advice. I am in communication with five medical doctors, a chiropractor, a naturopath, a dietician, and the nursing staffs of all the above. So with my friends I would rather enjoy other topics of conversation and play. I had fun last night dancing with my Wild Rose Garland team. We are planning our first performance for May Day, beginning before dawn in the rose gardens at Washington Park and continuing possibly into the evening.

Today was such a beautiful day, amid several gray days. After yoga, I went on a refreshing walk in the sun around Council Crest Park and neighborhood. Hopefully, we will have more such days this week. Last weekend, Ben and I drove to Gig Harbor, stopping first in Tacoma to see the Chihuly glass art installed in the federal court house in old Union Station. You can see in the photos below the scale and beauty of Chihuly's art. Gig Harbor is a picturesque and friendly town built in the 1800s  up steep hillsides above an inlet off Puget Sound. Ben delivered engines to a dealer who lives in the area for display at the Seattle Boat Show, which we will attend next week. Ben took the photo of me at Point Defiance.

Hope you all are finding some sunshine to warm up your winter days. All around us are signs of spring. The budding shrubs and bulbs inspire hope. I find this anticipation of spring quite pleasurable. I don't mind the wait.