Re-posting from my blog for the paper

Blogs > View from the Valley

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Serene springtime scene in Seymour

Legion Pool ~  May 29, 2013

It's such a beautiful park, and it's just off busy Route 67 in Seymour.

Labels: Legion Pool, Seymour, spring

Civil War monument offers chance to reflect on nation's past

DERBY - Since it's Memorial Day weekend I thought I'd post a photo of a war memorial monument that has graced the Green facing Elizabeth Street for more than 125 years.

The monument is flanked by four 11-foot long cannons. 

You can read more here about the history of the monument. It features a bronze statue of a Civil War soldier atop a granite pedestal.


Full disclosure: I drove down Elizabeth Street Saturday after covering a ceremony at the Storm Engine Company firehouse to dedicate a park on O'Sullivan's Island in memory of the one and only Edward J. Cotter, Jr.

Since it was raining pretty steadily I rolled down the window and snapped photos from the driver's seat.

The front of the monument faces Elizabeth Street.

I plan to take better photos of the monument someday when it's not raining! 

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ from my tourist days

I found this photo in the archives - it's from April, 2005 when I was on a school trip with our daughter.
I took it a short time after we had arrived in London from Paris.

Such good memories!

See lots more photos from around the world at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Good thing I took this photo when I did, on May 1. Since then the geranium blooms have disappeared; sadly the weather got cold again. I do hope they'll return.

I used this pic in a post yesterday, but I think I spy some shadows here.

Join in the fun and see shadowy pix from all over the world at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

 

It's true there's gno place like gnome!

Our daughter knows me well.

These gnomes were my Mother's Day gift from her.

Who says I don't welcome visitors?   ;-)

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ spring!

In honor of our wedding anniversary and Mother's Day this weekend, I'm posting two of my favorite folks today.
Shadowy figures, aren't they?

We were at Ralph's sister's house last Saturday to celebrate her granddaughter's First Holy Communion.
It was a nice day with family and the weather was perfect.  

Lilacs bloomin' in our yard.

The weather was perfect for most of yesterday as well.
I spy some shadows in this photo I took yesterday morning.
Today is dreary and rainy. Hoping for sunshine tomorrow. ;-)

Cheerful tulips in the sun. Happy May!

And as I mentioned on Facebook yesterday, I don't even remember planting these Easter tulips last year. But I'm glad I did.

Ah, sunny mornings that create shadows in our yard.

I'm happy to be back posting shadow shots after two months.

Join in the fun and see more photos of shadows from across the globe at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.
 

* I wish all a Happy Shadow Shot Sunday and a Happy Mother's Day! * 

Sharing a story today about exercise and all things good

I've been neglecting my blog for way too long.
Instead I've been keeping up a blog - View from the Valley - for my job with the paper.

But I thought I'd share a story today ~ It was a fun class and I hope to go back.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Derby hospital teaches fitness through fun

Instructor Maureen Helgren blows bubbles at the beginning of Friday’s Healthy Steps class at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby. Patricia Villers/Register

By Patricia Villers
pvillers@nhregister.com / Twitter: @nhrvalley


DERBY— The only requirement to be part of a females-only exercise class at Griffin Hospital is a willingness to have fun.

At least that’s what it felt like Friday morning when I stepped into the conference room at the hospital’s Center for Cancer Care.

Instructor Maureen Helgren was busy blowing up beach balls and chatting as women walked in for the once a week Healthy Steps class.

I was one of 10 women who took part in the program that featured slow and almost meditative exercises. It was not what I had imagined.
We followed Helgren as she moved in a way that reminded me of my aerobics classes from decades past, only slower.

The atmosphere was relaxing and pressure free.

I was urged to go by two women in a strength-training class I attend Tuesday nights as part of a survivorship program launched late last year at Griffin Hospital.

The class is led by Dan Root, a personal trainer who specializes in working with cancer survivors. I daresay I enjoy going to it for exercise and a bit of socializing.

Helgren is an associate professor of physical therapy at Quinnipiac University and chairman of the physical therapy department. She said she has been leading the class for four years.

After she inflated the beach balls Helgren started by blowing bubbles, and having us do the same. The activity was not only fun but relaxing. In the background James Taylor was singing “Up on the Roof.”
That was one of several songs Helgren played for us as we went through a variety of slow stretches and routines.

“Grace is not needed in this class,” she said. “Everything we do is really slow on purpose.”

Helgren said the slowness is “because it’s morning and also because going slow is better for our muscles.”

Helgren follows the Lebed method of exercise, which is defined on Griffn Hospital’s website as “a movement and dance program that integrates physical therapy and psychosocial support.”

“Beneficial for women who have been diagnosed with cancer or a chronic illness. Particularly helpful for women during the post-op recovery phase after having breast cancer surgery,” the website states.

Surprisingly, some of the women I spoke with said they don’t have cancer but were there to enjoy the exercise with a friend who has had breast cancer.

Seymour resident Mary Jezierny, who has not had breast cancer, said, “When Mo (Helgren) was away we did it ourselves. We took turns being the leader.”

Now that’s dedication.

Shelton resident Terri Biasi called the class “our Friday let-it-all-out” time.

She added, “It’s a nice group. We share and support each other.” 

Labels: Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, Derby, exercise, fitness, Quinnipiac University, survivors

The whatchamacallit bloomed!

I snapped this photo yesterday by our driveway.
It's sunny here in "southern" Connecticut but it's still chilly. 

The sunshine is most welcome. Happy Spring!

Hi, tulips

Sunny but cold 

I forgot to bring the tulips inside last night. Happy they survived!

Somebody doesn't like it when I leave the house to take his "big brother" to catch the bus. 
I get that look when I return.

Hi, hyacinths

It's cold out, but at least it's April. I hold out hope for nice weather on the way. 

What are you looking forward to doing outdoors when it gets warmer?

I'm ready to start a flower garden. That's my goal.

I used to have a pretty good one, but the past few years not so much.

I took these photos this morning. It's so nice to see spring blooms again.

I think these are hyacinths, but photos of hyacinths show spiky leaves. These aren't spiky, so now I'm not sure.

I must check this out.

Happy Easter

We had Chinese food last night and daughter Allegra got an unusual "fortune" in her fortune cookie.

It was just one word: Hallelujah!

How appropriate on Easter weekend, don't you think?

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ starring Shadow

Hmm...now what should I do?

This is our friends' cat, Shadow, enjoying some sunshine Tuesday afternoon. 

He escaped out the front door and I happened to have my camera with me.

Join the fun each weekend and see lots more shadowy photos at Shadow Shot Sunday 2. 

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ cat in sun

Linus was posing for me early this morning, and he didn't even know it.  =^..^=


Shadows surround us! Join the fun and see lots of shadows from across the globe by visiting Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ mystery man

Ralph (Airhead 55) at the computer.

And now ... just what you've all been waiting for - a portrait of Ralph from earlier this week.
He's wearing his wheelchair-friendly Snuggy to keep warm in our drafty house.

The laptop screen died, so he had to buy a monitor.


Join the fun and see shadows from around the world at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Stopping by to say ...

Just a dusting of sn*w overnight. Best Valentine's Day gift ever. ♥
  
Now I'm re-posting my Facebook statuses. Getting lazy here. ;-)

Marking an anniversary today

Being consumed with all this blizzard stuff for the past four days I almost forgot that today is my two-year anniversary of being a breast cancer survivor.

Yay, is all I have to say.

I kept a journal during all my treatments...good thing I did because now 2011 is mostly a big blur.
So much happened - biopsy, two surgeries, chemo, radiation, follow-up appointments, and more. Being a patient is truly a full-time job.

I  joined a support group, made new friends and participated in three 5K walks to raise funds.

I've written about my experiences for the newspaper, and now I'm part of a survivorship program at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby.
The program includes exercise, nutrition advice, physical therapy, workshops, and health-care professionals who show that they care.

It is a whole different world than the one in which I lived before my cancer was discovered.

I have every card and note that people sent me, as well as photos of all of the flowers and gifts I received.

And the food! So many wonderful people brought us home-cooked meals and other goodies. Everything was most appreciated.

So here's to another two years..or three..or maybe even 20. That would be grand!
     

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ Blizzard-rific

So...we got a bit of snow here in Connecticut. Been busy today and almost didn't play Shadow Shots but Ralph encouraged me to do so.

 

Looking out the back window, photo is crooked on purpose...

This is the patio. Lots of drifts. Those aren't footsteps, but rather ice drops on the window screen.

And then the men in trucks arrived! We were all so happy to see a plow, yet we cannot get out of our driveway despite the heroic efforts of our two children.

It's pretty out there today but I'm just about ready for spring.

It's fun seeking shadows..and the more you see, the more you see.

Check out lots more shadowy pix from around the world at Shadow Shot Sunday 2. 

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ winter sunshine

I happened to see these shadows the other morning by our front door.

'Twas just a dusting of white stuff.  ;-)


It's fun seeking and finding shadows. Join in the fun each weekend at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ Brrr

I used this photo I snapped yesterday morning as a 'mystery photo' for the View from the Valley blog I handle for the New Haven Register. A reader guessed it right away!

The chilly scene is a reservoir in Derby, Ct.

The photo has some shadows in it, so I thought I'd use it again here, since I haven't taken many photos this week!

Join in the fun each week and see shadows from across the globe at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Ruby Tuesday ~ art

As I wondered what I could use for a Ruby Tuesday post it dawned on me that the walls of the Valley Arts Council's Gallery@37 are red. 

Perfecto!

Ralph and I are members and supporters of the arts council and have had some of our photos displayed there.

Here are three of my favorite pieces from the October show, "Magic and Mysticism: The Art of Believing":

This is "Serenity" by Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo.

This painting, "Looking Glass,' was created by Valley Arts Council Vice President Steve DiRienzo.

  

Arts council member Len Grayeck painted "Secrets" for the show. 


See lots more photos featuring the color red at Ruby Tuesday 2.

P.S. I write a blog, Brush Strokes, for the Valley Arts Council. Please check it out.  ;-)

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ cherubic

Since the Christmas season is winding down - tomorrow is the "Twelfth Day of Christmas" - I thought I'd use ornament photos to mark the occasion. I was having fun experimenting!  

 
Join the fun ~ see lots of shadowy photos from across the globe at Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

Ruby Tuesday ~ Season of giving

I recently wrote a story about our local Salvation Army's Christmas distribution of food and gifts to the needy.

These figurines garbed in old-fashioned Salvation Army uniforms that were on a table in the sanctuary caught my eye while I was there.
I imagine they're singing Christmas carols and ringing the bell to get folks to put a donation in the red Christmas kettle.

~

One of my New Year's resolutions is to participate in Ruby Tuesday as I once did! So here I am. 

Join in the fun and find photos featuring a little or a lot of the color red at RubyTuesday2.  

I wish a Happy and Healthy 2013 to all my blog friends! 

Birthday was a snow day, but that's OK

It's always good to warm up before you blow out your candles. Cameron caught me in mid-warmup.

We almost did a do-over, but it is what it is.

Cameron and Ralph made us a delicious birthday dinner. We appreciate all their planning and hard work!

On birthdays and new beginnings

Since today is my birthday (shared with beautiful daughter Allegra) I thought I'd re-post what I posted on my newspaper blog.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

A new year ahead brings hope for us all

As 2012 comes to a close and I celebrate another birthday in a few short days I'm really not feeling nostalgic about the passage of time.

On the contrary. I'm looking forward to 2013 and a new start.

Soon I'll be marking my second anniversary as a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with the disease in February 2011.


The past two years have been an educational experience, to say the least.
From hearing my doctor give me the news of my diagnosis on Feb. 11, to two surgeries, to chemotherapy and radiation treatments, to losing my hair, I've learned a lot.

One thing I learned is that keeping oneself healthy is a full-time job. Appointments abound!  

I've also learned to appreciate the little things in life more than ever before.

Soon after I was diagnosed I joined a support group.
I'm part of the Circle of Friends, which is based at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby. The ladies certainly live up to the group's name. They are friendly! I've never been in a support group before. New members are always welcome. 

I consider myself a private person but a year ago I wrote a revealing (for me) story about the American Cancer Society's "Look Good...Feel Better" session I attended at Griffin Hospital.

And I've participated in three fund-raising walks - two sponsored by Griffin and one coordinated this October by a dedicated Naugatuck mother of four whose own mother is a cancer survivor. The walks benefited the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital.

This year I formed a team. It was a lot of fun.

I'm looking forward to getting an even bigger team together next October. New members are always welcome. {grin}

This fall Griffin Hospital launched a survivorship program and I've been taking advantage of what the program offers. Last week I was one of only three patients who took part in a helpful workshop run by licensed clinical social worker Donna Hayes.

My takeaway from that session was I need to make time for moi, something with which many women seem to have trouble.
Women of a certain generation (myself included) have been raised to take care of everyone, which leaves little time or energy for much else.

Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, getting physical rehab, socializing, participating in fund-raising activities, and writing about all of the above. It's all a part of kicking cancer to the curb.


If you have gone through a bout with cancer as millions of us have you know whereof I speak.

 
And so...what about those New Year's Resolutions?

I haven't made a list yet, but mostly likely I'll jot a few resolutions down on a piece of paper.

And what about you?

Labels: 5K walk/run, breast cancer, Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, New Year, support group, survivors