13

I'm not superstitious,
at least I think I am not.
Many people though think of Friday the thirteenth
and think it's bad luck.
But for me today was just a fine day
as good as any other day in the last few weeks.

Though I must say there was one particular
February Friday 13 that turned my world upside down :
28 years ago I went to our GP
because I felt a little lump in my right breast.
She sent me to the hospital right away.

I'm really LUCKY that I can say
"and the rest is history"

13 days later I had my operation
and sadly, after just a few weeks, chemo therapy too
BUT
I was lucky and am still here !

And I'm glad I can say that I had a perfect Friday 13 today !

But girls, please
don't forget to check your breasts every month !!!

nearly there . . .

Nearly there ???

Yes :
for me this means it's nearly October
which translates for me in
"Pinktober" 

Again I will try to make a Textile Jewel
each day of this month,
selling it to support the PINK  RIBBON Foundation
that raises money for research into new healing methods for breast cancer
and good aftercare for patients.

Too many women, and also men
are diagnosed with breast cancer every year
and the need for good cures has not come to an end.
One in seven women get the nasty message that rocks your world.
I know, I've been there,
although it's more than 26 years ago for me,
I still feel the urge to do something.

As a reminder : here is the last one of last year !

I hope that you will be with me this whole October
 

February over

Whether "winter" is also over,
we have yet to see
. . . . .


The tiny bit of icing sugar this morning
can hardly be called SNOW !
(and we had LOTS of sunshine later)

Snow and ice is more for these "critters"

Another FUN workshop online by Yaroslava Troynich
to make these cute seals

*
And, though we feed the birds
to keep them alive through the cold season,
when someone flies (flees) the wrong way
the windows prove to be a deadly barrier !

a male finch

*

Last Sunday I kind of celebrated 25 years survival breast cancer !
And daughter brought today some delicious pastries
(from Rotterdam)  to celebrate it extra !

so lucky ... !

Reaching for the stars ...

why not ?

Twenty years ago this very day,

I had a major operation

after being diagnosed with breast cancer

on Friday the 13th

(no, I'm NOT superstitious, but I remember

that day very well, when my world came tumbling down)

It took me a while to get things back on track,

before I even trusted to reach for the stars.

It all worked out well

and I'm happy to be still here,

and I now know you have to reach for the stars

(at least try !)

Just busy, busy, busy

with more little paintings :

it is such FUN 

pink October

October means to me, among others :

breast cancer awareness

Every day, many people, 

women, (but also man !)

will have their nasty encounter with breast cancer.

In the "Western" world one out of ten women, 

(sometimes even one out of eight)

must start their fight against this disease,

and, because medical science continues to improve,

they have a good change to survive

!

though 

not everyone is that lucky

.....

So it's very important to do that check-up every month girls !

I'm wishing everyone who is in this situation

(or has a loved one that is)

lots of strength and all the best !

*

Don't forget there is still a giveaway that you can "winn" :

tomorrow

I will draw a winner !!!!!

october mandala

October is the "official" month

for breast cancer awareness.

(not that you can't be aware of that any other time ...)

So I drew this mandala for all the women (and a few men)

who have fought 

who are still fighting

and some who have eventually lost their fight

against 

breast cancer 

Life can be hard, but life is beautiful