Autumn mornings.

Morning has always been my favourite time of day.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those "up at 5am and ready to greet the sun" types (not that there is anything wrong with them).
But... to me, there is something wonderful about waking up before everyone else, making a cup of tea (coffee) and staring out the window at the streets below.

This dirty window, paint peeling off the frame, is my only connection to the world outside. A couple a great maple trees in the front yard, swaying in the breeze. The colours are just beginning to change and there are dabs of sienna, wine, and mustard painting a pale green pallet. The rain last night has left puddles at the side of the road, which children wade through on their way to school.

How wonderful are autumn mornings?!

How wonderful is autumn period.

It makes me so grateful to be here. To be able to witness the ordinary everyday events that no one really stops to think about.

To be able to sit on a patio on the last of this years warm days, with the sun on my face, reading a book that is anything but extraordinary.

To be able to put in headphone and walk along the shore, watching the waves crashing on the beach.

To be able to fall asleep with the window open, listening to the crickets singing outside my window, with a crisp cool breeze gently passing over my face.

I am so blessed.
The culmination of wondrous feelings and thoughts lead me to something that I have been intending on including in my blog for quite some time. I am blessed to have come across two wonderful charities, the first being Cottage Dreams and the second being the Kelly Shires Foundation.

The people at Cottage Dreams (http://www.cottagedreams.org/) help those who have battled cancer in an innovative new way.
The organization doesn't give money to cancer research, like most other charities. Instead it donates cottages to those who have recently completed treatments, so they (and their families) can get away from the everyday reminders of what they have been through, and begin to heal.
This is how it works, people who own cottages can donate a week (or more) of time, and receive a tax receipt for the market value of a one week "rental". Individuals who have documentation of their completed treatments are then placed at one of the cottages. It's that simple.

Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Foundation (http://www.kellyshiresfoundation.org/), on the other hand, offers financial assistance to those who are struggling with unforeseen expenses. Although I am blessed to live in Canada, where I have health care, it doesn't cover all medical expenses, or expenses associated with cancer.
For example, a small part of my prosthetic breast was paid for... about $190 of the $400+. As for transportation, I had to drive about 2.5 hours everyday for 5 weeks to London for my radiation. This is the closest facility to me... pretty expensive, as I'm sure you can imagine.
Prescriptions are not paid for, and when 10 days worth of neupogen costs approximately $3000, you can see how expenses pile up (I had to take it for 5 of my 6 chemotherapy rounds - 5 x $3000 = $15,000).

Here is a list of a few other expenses that the foundation provides assistance with-
*wigs ($300+ per)
*prosthetics ($400+)
*transportation to treatments (cost depends on how far away you live)
*lodging expenses (cost depends on treatment duration)
*hospital parking cost (cost depends on treatment duration)
*counseling
*food
*household bills while under treatment
*rent

I'm not ashamed to say that I applied for financial assistance, as I was unable to work during my treatments. Had it not been for the Kelly Shires foundation, I don't know what I would have done.

Anyway, these are two very important charities that are worth donating to, if you are looking to make some charitable donations (and help yourself out come income tax time).

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this ;)
Time for me to bake some dang pumpkin pie and drink some cider.
xo