I spent the day doing my monthly IV chemo in Mount Vernon. It went well. Labs drawn, but the cancer results won’t be back until later in the week.

I was reflecting this morning about where I was three years ago. Cancer still active, stem cell transplant having failed. There wasn’t much to be optimistic about. I was measuring my days then, trying to make the most of the ones left. Because of going through two years of treatment failures, at that juncture, it was hard to imagine the next one would be different. But as they say, hope springs eternal.

This relfection has filled my heart with overwhelming gratefulness. Even though my labs are still pending, just this 18 month ride in remission has been a gift. While fatigued from the chemo and never without some sort of pain, I am otherwise almost normal for someone my age.

On the vlog front, I’ve uploaded a new episode of my series on cottage building and a new POST CHRISTIAN episode.

Cancer Cottage (healing hut)

I am still playing catch up with the cottage videos and will do one more retrograde video (story-telling with a few photos from my phone) and then get into “real time” videos. While the older episodes are little longer (to catch up) I hope my real time videos are limited to 10 minutes. I will list the entire series below. Making these videos gives me a creative outlet and a voice and as long as someone is watching, I will keep making them. As I said, the camera is my “Wilson” as in the movie Castaway. So, I am very grateful for your interest. Just like my carpentry skills have and continue to improve, my videography skills, so I expect, will do the same. You can just click on the title to go to the Youtube video.

Episodes:

1-Introduction

2-Water, water everywhere

3-Excavating, foundation, and underground plumbing

And the new episode posted today:

4-Adventures in Framing

POST CHRISTIAN: A Conversation

I have also uploaded my latest conversation vlog in my niche (only for those who have left Christianity or disillusioned with it) The Hermit at Loch Eyre POST CHRISTIAN channel.

For over thirty years my heart has been with those who have left the traditional church and Christian culture. My goal is not to bring them back into that culture, but finding and holding on to the historical Jesus of Nazareth, not throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Episodes:

1-An Introduction

2-Christian Culture Part I

3-Christian Culture Part II

4-Christian Culture Part III

5-Christian Culture Vs The Simple Essence Part I

And my new episode posted today:

6-Christian Culture Vs The Simple Essence Part II

I hope you have a fantastic holiday,

Mike, (aka the Hermit at Loch Eyre)