Downton Abbey Fans Unite on Premier Night!

Surreptitiously last weekend, bee-mate Deb Hoppe hoped to snag a few opening day tickets for the Downton Abbey movie showing on September 20th (next Friday). What popped up on her phone screen instead was the notion to buy tickets for the advanced screening that was held tonight (shown in various locations across the USA). Apparently, it was not widely advertised, so she quickly sent "the call out" for other bee-mates, AKA Downton Abbey aficionados, to join in on the fun. Four took her up on the offer of purchasing the advanced tickets, and we counted "down" the days (five or so) until tonight!

The movie was FABULOUS! It's basically the same outstanding cast with exquisite costumes, beautiful jewelry, elegant classical music, and dazzling crystal glasses and flutes (I couldn't get enough of the place settings and glassware) and enough intrigue and beauty to be totally absorbed in the entire film from the moment the lights dimmed to the rolling credits.

If you are a fan, I hope you will see the movie and the continuation of the Crawley Family at Downton Abbey, their servants who work for them in the English countryside, and the way the story weaved around the visit of the King and Queen of England to their home in 1927 (based on true events of that time period). And, I think the director and the producers left a couple of storylines/cliffhangers to maybe someday do another movie (fingers crossed).

By the way, bee-mate Karen Todd, vacationing in South Carolina this week, was also able to snag two advance tickets for tonight's showing as well (she took her husband and the viewing was at same time as us; 7:00pm).

BSoleille! The bright side of the premier night - The  Downton Abbey movie!

Terri

9/11/2019 - 18 Years to Heal?

No words to express the sorrow that unbelievably day. So, can we ever be totally healed? We know life goes on, and our collective hearts go out to the families of the loved ones lost that very sad day so many years ago...

September Sunsets are Going Gold...and More

It seems like the month of September is #GoingGold with super stunning sunsets each night so far. Could it be for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, perhaps? Not sure, but they have been "goldish" along with streaks of deep pinks and reds. All good stuff; just look up!

BSoleille!

Terri

Childhood Cancer that Spills into Late Effects into Adulthood

Due to Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I'd like to share some thoughts throughout September as I've already been doing, including our son's continued journey as a survivor and young adult.

I am/we are very thankful that the percentages of survivors and thrivers of a lot of childhood cancer diseases are on the rise, many of them hovering over 80%. That's the good news for many in the battle.

However, that great news of survivorship comes at a price of possibly developing Late Effects from all the treatment: chemotherapy, surgeries, radiation and bone marrow transplants. Some survivors are still heavily supported by medications and "ologists" (dermatologist, oncologist, hematologist, endocrinologist, nephrologist, opthamologist, oral and maxillofacial ologist, and many others).

So it's no surprise that our son Ryan continues to thrive, but knows he needs the support of said "ologists" to continue to be seen and stay healthy through these great years of young adulthood...and beyond. More gratefulness to the awesome doctors that have taken on his case, and other young adult survivors no matter their original diagnosis and disease. Secondary malignancies are common after a lot of chemo and radiation etc.

Today Ryan had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Robert Ord of the University of Maryland (oral and maxillofacial doc). It was a good visit, but I must admit, there's a wee bit of anxiety when Ryan's saddles into the chair to be examined. Dr. Ord mentioned that he's had over 5000 patients with mouth cancers, and Ryan is one of three (out of those 5000+ patients) that has had bilateral squamous cell carcinoma on his tongue. We couldn't be more appreciative and indebted to one of the best oral surgeons in the world in Dr. Ord performing those two surgeries (and one more to remove lymph nodes).

Interestingly, an Oral-Maxillofacial fellow first came into the exam room to "check" Ryan before Dr. Ord came in. His name was Paolo hailing from Italy. With a heavy Italian accent, he conveyed to us that he left Italy (with a wife and a five month old child still living there) to come to the United States to train under Dr. Ord for the next two years. I hope he learns the ropes from the best to give those good folks in Italy superb oral care in the years to come.

BSoleille!
Terri

Photos of Ryan and his follow-up care with Dr. Ord

Terri’s Totes

Last blurb about this weekend’s quilt retreat (awesome), and the fact that it wouldn’t have been a retreat for me without making at least one bag. I’m thankful I took enough "supplies" to make four fat quarter tote bags. I loved the fabrics chosen for some very cute gifts in the future. 

BSoleille!

Terri

Quilt Retreat Inspired

Not only am I inspired by my fellow "Quarter Bees" quilting and sewing expertise, the machines we all use to implement our ideas is very key to the productivity. Sew, when Letitia Mattu brought her Singer Featherweight machine this weekend, it inspired me to get mine out too. I didn’t bring it with me initially, but when a bee-mate Deb Hoppe needed to run home for a few things she needed, I asked very nicely if she wouldn’t mind swinging by my house to pick up my Featherweight machine and bring back to the retreat. Thankfully, she said yes and a family member was home to retrieve my machine and a few other items (thank you to "The Best Daughter"). It was a team effort for sure.

It’s been a few years since I last used it even after my friend Wendy Allen tuned it up for me to fire it up and sew with it. Unfortunately, it never happened until now though inspired to continue to learn it all over again and use it (I hope). Let me say that this machine is sew cute and I "need" to use it to chain piece an easy peasy quilt.

BSoleille! The bright side of renewing my Featherweight friendship!

Terri

Photo of Letitia and I with our machines, and two bee-mates that are prolific sewists, crocheters and quilters.

Terri

Deb Hoppe and Cappy Phillips 

#CelebratingOthers with Five -Time Cancer Survivor Brian Lowe

Brian Lowe is the nicest guy you will ever meet, and based on the story I am going to share, he doesn't have to be if he doesn't want to (but will anyways). You see, Brian is a five-time cancer survivor and has seen a thing to two (or five) no one would want to see. Yet, he continues to have a smile on his face, loves life and strives to find the good in everyone he meets each day.

My family and I met Brian and his family back in 2002 at a Special Love, Inc., family weekend. We weren't sure which weekend exactly, but both our families took advantage of the programs Special Love offered then (and now), and Brian happened to be one of the many 11 year old boys running around camp that weekend. It was years later when I figured out he's the son of Susan, and the sister of Christine!

While we talked about his cancer experience, Brian said that Special Love, hands down, was the pivotal camp/program, and the people associated with it, that helped him through his darkest hours. Now, that is truly something to be grateful for, right?

At 28 years old, Brian revealed to me that he was born in Germantown, Maryland, to Susan and Brian Lowe, Sr. He has one sister, Christine, now 25, who also participated in Special Love's family events and BRASS camp in her youth. Being involved in Special Love's programs was a family affair and Brian has even been recognized twice: Special Person of the Year in 2012 and Counselor of the Year in 2017. He loves to give back at any chance he gets to this beloved organization.

Brian further revealed that he had a normal childhood doing normal childhood activities when he noticed at age 10, after a basketball practice in May of 2001, that his left arm hurt and he was in an usual amount of pain. His Mom, Susan, who works at The NIH (National Institutes of Health) quickly scheduled a doctor appointment and an X-ray of his left arm that week. The diagnosis came back: osteosarcoma of his left arm in June of 2001. Before his limbs sparing surgery of said arm, Brian received six sessions of chemotherapy, then the surgery, and then six more sessions of chemotherapy. All treatment and surgery performed at NIH.

So what is "limb sparing" surgery? It is the removal of the cancerous bone and then that bone is replaced with a metal rod. Brian continued to battle and thrive until...

In 2002, with regularly scheduled follow up visits, Brian relapsed with Osteosarcoma in both lungs (two times on his left lung; and one time on his right lung) which, as one could imagine, continued to scare the "hell" out of everyone for far too long! This continued until until 2008/2009. And...to add insult to injury, Brian mentioned that he started falling unexpectedly and then was diagnosed with a "Peanut Brain Tumor" in 2008. Can you even imagine? Brian and his family persevered beyond measure in these very precarious days.

In addition to the above craziness, he nonchalantly told me that this new "fresh hell" included radiation, something he never had with his previous cancer diagnoses, along with another surgery to remove the tumor. But, this young man is one strong dude with a will of steel and an army of support that helped him battle through each and every diagnoses, surgery and treatment and any other hiccup that came his way through all these mounting years.

School, of course, was difficult with home/hospital teaching, and missing more school than attending at times during those difficult days, but Brian managed to graduate from Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, Maryland in 2010. His health was on the mend, and he was feeling much better than the previous 10 years, so he tried a few classes at his local community college following graduation in which he realized wasn't his cup of tea. He opted to get into the workforce instead and applied and was hired as a barista at his local Starbucks eight years ago.

Brian expressed to me his love of working at Starbucks, the support he receives from the management, and that his customers that have become his friends that keep him going and upbeat every day. Brian was even promoted to shift supervisor and exclaims that it's "crazy cool" to work at Starbucks!

Interestingly, at visitors night at Camp Fantastic in mid-August, I noticed that Brian had a "contraption" on the left side of his body. When I asked him then, and again for this interview, Brian revealed that his metal prosthesis snapped in half this spring. He's never had an adjustment since he was 10 or 11, and he's grown into a man with height and weight and the extra tension on the rod snapped in half! Yikes! Believe it or not, he said it was not painful until he tried to move it or lay down on that left side.

In May of 2019, the rod was replaced (lengthened to his current body proportion), but still needs to wear the gunslinger arm brace which is designed for his arm to be held up by the rest of his body, and until the doctor says he can start PT and remove the brace.

As I continued to shake my head and sigh over all Brian has been through in his battles of childhood cancer and beyond, I asked him how he continues to be so upbeat and loveable. Without missing a beat, Brian said that when a kid is diagnosed with cancer, they get a "shot" of reality very quickly, and that they figure out that "LIFE IS SUPER PRECIOUS!"

Brian went on further to state that "everyday is a blessing and to be enjoyed and not wasted." "Every second matters." And then this blue and green loving extrovert (his words) said that he loves and lives for his family and friends along with the deep friendships he maintains with each one; this really made my heart sing!

In addition to the love he has for those close to him, he also loves to talk to his customers at Starbucks, and people from all walks of life. He is willing to share his story, but knows everyone has a story, and is a willing listener to those who wish to share their story with him...preferably over a hot cup of coffee!

BSoleille! The bright side of #CelebratingOthers with Brian Lowe!

Terri

Photos credit; Brian Lowe

Brian and Ryan Tomoff

Andrew, Malcolm, Brian and Jarvis

Counselors/drum line at Camp Fantastic

Susan, Christine and Brian Lowe

Renewal Retreat at West River, Maryland

The month of September is somewhat of a “renewal” month with school starting once again and people getting organized. So I’m thankful to jump into Needleonfull T-shirt quilts while on retreat on the West River in Maryland. It’s all about the sewing and designing and taking in the beauty surrounding this camp, along with my sewing peeps! Never a dull moment with the zip of a rotary cutter to the hum of the sewing machine(s).

A ritual of mine is to make my bunk “bed ready” upon arrival. That way no matter how late we stay up and sew, we can plop into bed easily since it’s already made...with a pretty quilt to boot.

The sunset tonight was outstanding and I’m grateful to sneak a long pause and take a few pics. I cannot believe the brilliant hues for tonight’s sunset. Those pinks and oranges are out of this world!

BSoleille!

Terri

Possi Dinner on the Water in Edgewater, Maryland

Though missing two of our Possibillibee-mates due to their moves to Florida and Arizona (Mary and Carrie, respectively), and Deb Hoppe to her bowling league, we carried on our summer tradition with dinner on the creek near Cappy Phillips' house in Edgewater, Maryland. And even with some scattered sprinkles, we had a wonderful night in catching up with each other and a potluck dinner.

It seemed that we needed to get through some of the rain to see the awesome sunset that Cappy 'promised' us...and sure enough, it came through in spades. Cool cloud formations and those deep yellows and oranges for us to ooh and ahh over until it faded away.

BSoleille! 

Terri

Terri, Susie, Janet, Cappy and Shelley

Facing Childhood Cancer - Throwback from 2004

When our son, Ryan Tomoff, relapsed for the second time in the spring of 2004, a bone-marrow transplant was his "ace-in-the-whole" for battling and slaying the same leukemia that kept coming back. With so much chemo on board to get him into a solid remission, to even have the bone-marrow transplant, his blood counts were down to nothing (mostly on purpose) and that meant he couldn't fight any bug.

Wearing these "fashionable" gowns and gloves due to low, or pretty much non-existent ANC (absolute neutrophil count), was thought of as a layer of "protection" to possibly stave off any type of infection that could find its way to Ryan and wreak havoc.  We did not want, of course.

Depending on circumstances, sometimes whoever came into his room had to gown and glove for a visit, or even the nurse to perform her duties. This was each time they entered his room by the way. Sometimes, when Ryan left the room, he needed to be gowned and gloved, and this is what my photo today is of Ryan and his nurse taking a walk outside his room for a bit.

Notice his IV pole? It has three different drugs/blood products/flush and maybe an antibiotic going into his small body...at the same time! Yikes!

BSoleille! The bright side of Ryan taking a walk with his nurse and getting a breath of "fresh air."

Terri

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Yesterday, the first day of Childhood Cancer Awareness month, I did not post because we were out enjoying the day with our 5 time survivor, Ryan Tomoff! But, it is a sobering month honoring and making folks aware of those amazing kids and families in for the fight of their lives (or had fought as well!).

Truly, we are so grateful for each day, as we all should, despite whether our loved one has cancer or not, right? However, it's in the living and doing and being thankful for the small things in life that brings most of us joy. Life is hard, of course, but it's all about how we cope and get through the tough moments that makes those good days so sweet!

If you click on Ryan's FB post from yesterday here: https://www.facebook.com/rtomoff, the kick off September's Childhood Awareness Month, he eloquently states some of the sobering statistics along with a couple of photos from his battle.

My photos below are my kick-off of this month and shows the love that graced this young man from the beginning when he was diagnosed two years old until today.

BSoleille! The bright side of making each day count...

Terri

With Bob & MaryJean McCarthy at Long Beach (on Long Island)

Georgetown, July 2004, before his transplant at Duke with Olivia and our pups at the time, Lucky and Wally!

Play Ball...at Yankee Stadium

A quick drive up to The Bronx from Crofton, Maryland, gave way to sunny skies and paltry traffic to ease into the Big Apple (about 3.25 hours). Son Ryan, a huge Yankees fan, thought it would be a good idea to go to the game, providing good weather and the drive up. He got both wishes. We are seated and ready for the first pitch: Yankees vs. Oakland Athletics!

Looking forward to visiting the McCarthys on Long Island for the rest of the weekend!
Here’s wishing everyone a labor-free Labor Day Weekend! And for friends in Florida, who have to ride out Dorian, we are thinking of you.

BSoleille! P.S. I initially wrote this blogpost from my perch in the stadium (nosebleed section, but who's complaining?), and waiting for the game to start. I am finishing today's post by adding that the Yankees won in the 11th inning on a walk off home run (4-3). We don't get to see those that often (walk off home runs), so to see the win in that fashion was super fun for sure!

Terri

The Art of Esther Nisenthal Krinitz - Survivor of World War ll from Poland!

Today, a field trip with some of my quilt guild buddies, the Southern Comforters of Bowie, Maryland, directed by our Program Chair, Misty Cole, was to the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) in Baltimore, Maryland. Can I say it was phantasmagorical (FANTASTIC!!)? Thankfully, Misty got us into the exhibition before it will be taken down next month...and with our excellent docent, Margie Spirer, it was a win-win to go and see!

If local, this is a "must see" museum located very near the Baltimore Inner Harbor. It's America's official national museum and education center for intuitive and self-taught artistry. There is a lot of very cool art on multiple levels and buildings.

According to the "bookmark" Margie gave all of us, "Esther Nisenthal Krinitz was 15 when she defied Nazi orders, separating from her family as they and other Jews of their Polish village reported to a nearby train station. Making their way to a village where they were unknown, Esther and her younger sister survived the war by posing as Polish farm girls. They never saw their family again."

"Fifty years later, determined to show her daughters the family she had lost, Esther turned to needle and thread to create a series of 36 hauntingly beautiful, exquisitely detailed works of fabric collage and embroidery - a legacy born of love, loss, and the sheer force of memory." Note: At 9 or 10 years of age, before the war, Esther showed aptitude with fabric and sewing, and was working on her craft in her village in Poland making dresses).

Art and Remembrance, a non-profit organization founded by Esther's daughters, uses art and personal narrative to recognize individual courage and resilience, and to foster understanding and compassion for those who experience injustice.

The exhibit was profound, humbling and the details in each of the 36 works, simply exquisite. I am/we are grateful to have viewed Esther's work and given detailed explanations to each piece in the show.

BSoleille! The bright side of viewing Esther Nisenthal Krinitz works of art depicting her life prior to WWll and beyond.

Terri
Photo below is our gang with Margie Spirer with name badge: and L-R: Peggy Alexander; Ann B., Margie, Misty Cole, me, Wendy Allen, Susie Stevenson, Margy Hill and Deb Hoppe

Quilt B-I-N-G-O with UNBELIEVABLE Quilts on October 19th, 2019!

If local (DelMarVa), please mark your calendars "Quilt Bingo" for Saturday, October 19th, 2019 at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Route 3 in Bowie, Maryland. Tickets will be sold at the door for $20; with extras sold throughout the afternoon. Doors open at 12:30pm and games start at 2:00pm. It's the Southern Comforters Quilt Guild's Annual Bingo and our members have truly outdone themselves with their spectacular quilts donated to this year's effort. I am including a few sneak peek photos of a couple of quilts that could be yours if you come join us, play and win!

Don't you just wanna scream BINGO and go home and snuggle with a beautiful quilt? What can be better on a fall day?

More details below along with two quilts donated at our meeting tonight. It was just like "Christmas."

BSoleille! The below quilt was quilted by Frank Rucky!

Terri

Bingo Info

Quilt made by Joyce Steier

Skies, Flora and Fauna

Traveling with 'old' friends and family is truly quite awesome, but digging into the heels of what surrounds a place (skies, flora, fauna and wildlife) is, quite frankly, equaling exciting.

Sometimes it's a quick glance to see something cool (a bird or bee), or maybe it's something longer, like lingering on a beach watching the sun set. It's the "little things" that add up to make the day come alive for all of us. Without further adieu, I'd like to share some of those cool photos from the Indiana Dunes Trip that gave me pause...

BSoleille! The bright side of the "little things." No filters used on the below photos...

Terri

Can't Wait Until the Next BG Girls Weekend!

As our weekend drew to a swift close this afternoon, the memories shared over the past several days will hopefully last until our gang meets up once again. The last two days included more fun in the sun with a bike ride to Mt. Baldy and surrounding area in the National Park, kayaking in somewhat windy conditions yesterday (the two Laura's), to kayaking today in practically no winds and "on a sheet of glass" Laura H., Rosalie and me); along with the usual runs, bike rides and trips to hang out at the beach. I am thankful that the super nice weather lead to a stellar week of doing many activities outside (our favorite) for all us.

And, we all learned a new board game as well: Wingspan. Hp brought it and we were all very engaged in this new game over two nights when the sunset on our daylight activities.

A huge shout out of THANKS to Laura and Jay Hennessey for accommodating us for several days while we checked out her beautiful home and area of Beverly Shores, Indiana, the newest National Park in the US, and a lot of its environs.

BSoleille! The bright side of our beautiful friendships, one and all!

Terri

Below: Wingspan game with Hp Gruneisen and Jodie Smith

The Laura's after a 2 hour windy kayak ride...

Mt. Baldy Dune

Rosalie Franek

Bike ride through the marsh

Some much deserved R&R (Laura H and Hp Gruneisen)

Beach Time

Maryland City, Indiana Lighthouse

Our BG Girls!

Hosts: Jay and Laura Hennessey and Timber!

Chicago or Bust! And a Quick Bike Ride...

While looking at the Chicago skyline last night and admiring the view from Beverly Shores, one "gang" member wondered if a trip to Chicago could be in our "plans." We usually get together for R&R that encompasses running, biking, hiking, beach going (depending on area) and game playing, but typically not a big city jaunt. But why not?  So, we made a decision that we are "close" enough to go, and hatched our plan to head to the Windy City by train and spend a beautiful summer day tooling about Michigan Avenue (Miracle Mile), the bean and shops and sites along our path. It did not disappoint, and we enjoyed several hours on what the city has to offer, especially the views from Cindy's (top of the Chicago Athletic Club).

BSoleille!

Terri

Below: Beverly Shores train depot in on the National Register for historic "train" stations

Train ride into the city

Gotta get the obligatory "Bean" photo!

Cindy's top bar and view

Chasing the sunset

Evening bike ride to the beach/sunset