Par for the course

Once again, I find myself sewing my little fat fingers to the bone because I am behind schedule.


I want to make labels to go in the tied fleece blankets our women's group is making for a charity that helps young women facing unplanned pregnancies.  We have made several of these blankets - they are so cute - and I don't want our efforts to go unknown.  I asked the group about having labels to go in the things we have made, and they agree fully.


I ordered some labels that would go in clothing.  They are like small clothing labels, but these blankets are much larger.  I know quilters add a larger label to their things, so I designed a heart with "Tied with love by Celebration Lutheran Women."  I think we had 9 made the day we did them, and I am making 12 more.  I don't think I will get the 12 completed before Saturday, but I really need to get the labels done - so once again behind schedule.


Then I am counting on the four weeks of Easter celebrated in our (and a lot of other) church.  My Easter Bunny is going to stay on the wreath on the front door a while longer!  Especially since we will be in the wilderness next week (Tuesday to Tuesday).


On that note - I have always felt a little more secure about not finding rattlesnakes around the house.  When they put the house in, the foundation and retaining wall used a very coarse granite gravel around the house.  The guy who put it in said there could be nothing that would grow in that gravel.  Boy was he ever wrong!! Over the years, more and more plants have sprouted in that stuff.  


These current plants are growing like, well, weeds.  They are thick.  G cut all around the house, but they were so thick it would stop up the mower!  To get to my point, one of our hunters was there last week.  I imagine he was cutting around the house (we do that - G cut around his hunter's cabin last time).  He killed a rattler by the house.  It was CLOSE to the house.  So, I no longer relish the fact we have never killed one. Where there's one - there is more. 


I am sure it was attracted by the mice that I would imagine are trying to gain access to the house again.  So I will have to begin my battle with those things again.  I have been resting on my laurels that I have them under control, but spring has sprung, and I am sure that their "sap" is rising too.  They are feeling the demand to keep the population growing, and what better place than a nice house to raise their offspring.  Ugh!


One final thought.  All of you OLTL fans - you got some justification recently.  I saw today that "The Revolution" has been cancelled.  It wasn't too bad - but I only liked Tim Gunn really.  I'm sorry that Ty gave up his other show to be on this one.  


Anyway - they will be replacing it with Katie Courie's new talk show.  We are really slipping into the depths now.  I watched her on GMA last week while she was filling in for Robin.  If that's as good as she will be on this talk show - she won't be long for the air.  I think the reason she was on GMA was to get more coverage and interest for that show.  She better work on her interviewing skills.  They stink right now!


So I am off to medicate my sick dog, and then to sew labels!


Peace

Quick hello

Just wanted to drop by to say "hi".  Since I stupidly left the Easter baskets for three of the grandkidlets at the SSB, I decided I was going to make Easter bags for all six. Am I behind, yeah, you might say so since I haven't even loaded the design on the USB stick to load into the sewing machine.

We had family dinner here last night.  At 12:30 while G and I were at our neighborhood Mexican restaurant still eating lunch post church, Daughter calls.  She asked if we could go to the airport to pick up Chef Andy - who wasn't supposed to be in until 7.

Being the Queen of Procrastination (yep - still not downloading or sewing), my house needed to be picked up (actually, burned to the ground to start over would be more like it) and vacuumed.  Even though 5/6th of the grandkiddlets are walkers, they still play on the floor.  So...

Anyway - so we went to pick up Chef Andy.  He is really a chef!  He and SIL were scheduled to go to A&M today to check out problems they are having with one of the ovens that their company sold A&M.  As usual - even though the plane wasn't late, they weren't in any hurry with the luggage.  Since Andy was coming here from his Utah ski trip - he had his ski bag.  Surely glad we have that Highlander now.

Of course, since I was having Sunday dinner - that meant Chef was coming to dinner.  I had already planned the menu with one exception.  I was fixing Mexican Shepard's Pie.  Good enough.  So I threw a salad together, then got the hair-brained idea to make corn bread.

I use a mix.  It was old.  I also may have mixed it too early.  Anyway, the two batches were more like flat bread.  It was terrible. Not a good showing for the chef.

But the evening was successful.  We got the house "clean" - at least part of it.  I vacuumed, cooked, and burned the wowie out of my thumb on the handle of the 475 degree cast iron skillet with the doomed corn bread in it.  All was right with the world.

So now I HAVE to get up to sewing.  I only have about four projects to sew to go into those bags that haven't been uploaded yet.  Neither have the projects.  Ah, well!!

Oh - and I got a quick trip in to the vet.  Simone isn't acting normal.  Or perhaps she is acting normally for a 8+ year old Boxer.  I just wanted to be proactive.  We get the lab results back tomorrow, but everything from the visit in normal.  Just $250.  What's money, right??

Peace.

Ho-hum

Another hot, dry day.  That means staying in the house, which doesn't really bother me, but it is driving G insane.  That, in turn, is driving me insane.  He begins his tirade on global warming again and again.  He is so irritable about the whole thing.  He insists that he is  not staying here in the heat and dryness next summer.  That is really stupid.  I don't know where or what he is thinking about doing, but it is stupid.  Plain and simple.

Last night I had about enough of it, so I asked why he is getting so upset about it.  Really.  It doesn't make sense to rail and rant about something if you cannot really do something about it.  I have too many other things that I CAN do something about.

I agree that there is climate change.  It is obvious.  I try to explain that some possibly be a natural cycle in nature - which I really believe.  I also know humans are just about to put the final insult on our world.  But ranting and raving about it, threatening to spend thousands of dollars to live someplace else for several months to get away from the heat ...   It would really be funny if he follows through on that and ends up where heat follows - or gets into flooding conditions.  Stupid.

Enough of things that smack of politics.  I don't do that here.  I try to stay away from politics and religion.  Sometimes things sneak in, but that isn't what I focus on.  I get enough around here.

Simone is still restless at night.  That means she is banging and scraping furniture in the bedroom.  Either that or she is trying to get into her crate which is an impossibility.  I am trying to give her more and more time without the e-collar.  She is pretty good about not attacking her stitches, but I have to put it back on if there is a chance I might not be really watching her.

Last night, I decided that I would put the antibiotic ointment on the stitches.  She doesn't like to roll over - at least right now.  G gets upset with her, and the other night he said he wished I would do the ointment.  So I did last night.

I had her in the bedroom with me.  I got on the floor with her and made her roll over.  I was able to get a lot of ointment on her.  Then it came time for me to get up.  I realized I had made a crucial  mistake.  My ortho guy has told me not to kneel.  He fears titanium pressing on the floor with the thin little knee cap between.  Well, there I was.

After about 10 minutes my solution finally came to me.  Thank goodness we had the attic taken in several years ago when the kids were teens (to get them and their teenage messes out of the way).  I had made the mistake at that time to put the stairs in the closet space that was in the hallway - just outside the master bedroom door.  I had always  disliked that placement - after it was too late.  Last night I was delighted with that placement.  I scooted out the door and pulled myself up the steps until I could stand.

Yesterday afternoon I went to work on more of the baptismal blankets.  My machine HAD been working like a dream.  Note the operative word there - had.  I completed the shell which is so very stitch intensive.  I moved onto the date.  That's when all hell broke loose.  The thread formed a huge "bird's nest" on the back side, ripped the stabilizer, and stretched the blanket.  The machine and I fought for at least an hour.  I came back down to cool off.  I was about to pitch that machine out the window and say good riddance.  Anyway - after I went back, there were still some problems, but I completed the blanket.  It isn't perfect, but by that time there was way too much invested to just throw it away.  (I guess I need to serve you some cheese after that whine!)  I only have (ONLY???) five more to go, and then I am free for a while.

So this is the excitement in my life.  A grumpy husband, a sly dog, and terrible weather and fights with my sewing machine.  Sigh.

Peace.

Ch ch ch changes

We changed our minds about trekking off to the hinterlands this week.  There were several factors involved in this decision.  Not least among them was Simone and her "buddy."  I was having visions of her trying to get loaded into the truck, and then riding for five to six hours.  I had thought about leaving her part of the back seat up because G sometimes stops short and quickly, and she falls to the floor.  But then I thought of having the cat carrier on the other part of the seat, and the seat being up.  A vision of Simone trying to ride ON TOP of the cat carrier also came to mind.  Not a pretty sight!

We called the furniture store in Kerrville where we ordered new chairs for the dining table.  The ones we have I have always hated.  They are the most uncomfortable things ever manufactured on the face of the earth.  My dad made this table - using a sheet of plywood.  So it is 6x8.  He did a masterful job on it.  It was in the lake house, and while we just left a lot of the furniture there (a goodly portion had been destroyed either by the vandals directly, or by exposure to the elements with the windows that were broken out), I couldn't leave this table.

The chairs, however ...  My mother found them.  They are ladder back with rattan seats.  They are from Mexico, and were exactly what she wanted.  They have little knobs from the legs that are sticking up on the front of the seats that gouge into your thighs when you sit in them.  With our tile floor, G invariably will get up and push the chair back too quickly,  The back leg grabs in the grout line, and over the chair goes with a "whap."  So we went to buy new ones (I could have bought two tables to go with them for the same price.  (Shameful!)

We called yesterday.  The chairs are in, but cannot be delivered until the 22nd.  So putting all things together, we are staying here until next Tuesday.

Simone is still miserable.  I called the vet's office.  She has to wear this collar until the stitches come out.  Another reason to postpone the trip.  Those buggers can come out sooner.  So Monday is the target date.

She decided that 2:30 this morning was the time to get up.  I think her ear itched something fierce.  Of course between her bouncing off all the furniture like a pinball, and the thump, thump of her foot on the plastic collar, I was wide awake.  How many days again???

I am so lazy about downloading pictures from the camera.  I know it is easy, but it't not as easy as I want it.  I will do that later today.  I will have some pictures tomorrow - one of my poor baby, and some of the SSB in the more recent better times there.  When it was green instead of dirt red and burned vegetation yellow.

Peace.

Update

Simone is getting along fairly well.  She certainly is not used to the e collar.  She rams into objects (and us) on a regular basis.  I tried to give her a respite from it this morning, but she had to remain in my sight.  I know as soon as she would be out of my sight, she would begin the licking and gnawing on the stitches.

I took a picture before we removed the bandage.  I will upload it this week.

Even if I get it uploaded this week, I doubt that I will be able to post it until next week.  We are off, through the fires, to the SSB.  I say through the fires because unless we go WAY out of the way to drive through San Antonio, we have to go through the Bastrop area.  So - through the fires.  I think they are a little more contained than they were.  At least I hope.

The problem with being at the SSB (that stands for Sting, Sticks, or Bites - because that is what everything there does - it is rough land!), is that my dear phone - with its supposed internet capabilities - does not work well there.  AND I still have about a year on the contract.  Then I can go back to my old carrier.  You really do get what you pay for.  This was a tad cheaper, and the service is waaaaay worse.  Lesson learned.

If I cannot visit you all, have a safe and pleasant week.  We will be back here in Swampland (that is quickly becoming desert) next Tuesday.  I will visit you on Wednesday!

Peace

Changes

I was all set to write about how stupid I am.  You see, I thought I had an appointment with Dr Death (the oncologist) today.  Nope - it is the 27th.  How in the world I wrote today down in my calendar, I don't know.  I was wondering why they didn't call to remind me about the appointment yesterday.  Now I know.

No - my thoughts are far away from that situation.  We took Simone to the vet this morning for her teeth cleaning.  We both were apprehensive.  She is an old dog.  We have had her six years.  So anytime there is general anesthesia involved - there are risks.

G wanted to be sure someone was here by the phone all day.  So I went on my trip, and then he left for his errands.  About 30 minutes ago, the vet clinic called.  She is doing well with the anesthesia, BUT.  It is always the "but" that gets you.  The "but" is that the vet found two tumors on her belly.

Boxers are very prone to skin tumors.  I know that.  Our first baby, Taz, died of a throat tumor.  When we adopted Simone, we knew it was something that they can have.  The vet aspirated some cells, and they appear to be mast tumor cells.  These can be non cancerous, or - cancerous.  So I told her to remove the two.  Well, a few minutes ago I got another call.  There were two more.  One behind the knee, and the other in mammary tissue.

 I wanted these off.  I want to try to stop any spread.  I told them  to take them off all the while knowing there will be more and more.  Our next question was to send them to the lab or not.  We aren't.  If they are malignant, we could go to an oncologist.  I cannot see her surviving chemo.  I don't want to make her absolutely miserable.  I would rather try to make her comfortable for the last days of her life.

When you have pets, you know this will happen some day.  You will lose them.  As much as you want them to be with you forever, you know it won't happen.  When we adopted her, it was thought she was already 5-7 years old.  I don't think that was the truth.  She is old  now.  We think about her leaving us, but we don't verbalize it - until now.  It is facing us now.  Understanding the fact she will leave us doesn't make it one bit easier.

Peace.

And ...

In keeping with the apparent theme that is surfacing in my life - here we go again. What I Did Over the Labor Day Holiday.

Things were peaceful around the ol' homestead last weekend. Saturday was a Saturday - nothing special. We sat around watching the swimming pool fill - again. You see, we had a chemical imbalance our ex-pool man couldn't/wouldn't fix, and I was beginning to believe all pools were actually were the place that creatures lived in to attack unaware people. Seriously is was like pea soup this time. Well that happened last year, and we had to refill the pool - all 28,000 gallons. Would you believe we actually fired that guy. He couldn't.

But enough about the pool. Sunday was church and then dinner out to celebrate DIL's 30th birthday. We came home and everything was fine - until ... G and Simone went out so she could take care of business. When she came back in, she was doing the pre-vomit routine. She was heavily salivating which causes excessive licking. I was "girding my loins" to clean up vomit.

Then I had a great thought. This worked before, and by golly Dr Grandma K is going to do it again. I went to get her the car-sick pill, and 1/4 tablet tranquillizer. She came to me - we downed the pills and then wanted to put her heavy head with the drippy mouth on my bare knee. Yuckkk.

G called her and like the good dog she is (and still expecting her three cookies for doing her business) went to him. She laid down at his feet. All is still normal with the exception of her nausea - I thought.

She was going to get up, and acted like she was too weak or had no control of her hind end. I went to her and she wouldn't lift her head. Her eyes were mostly covered by that third membrane. I really thought she was dying - right there in front of me. We both thought - stoke.

G said for me to get dressed, and he moved the car to the street. Simone heard all this, and by the time I got back in the den - she was headed to the door. That amazed me.

We loaded her into the back seat of the truck, and G told me to drive. I really didn't want to. When we lost Taz about 8 years ago, this was the same with the exception of being late at night while Taz was on a Sunday afternoon. Visions of that summer day were with me.

I don't see well at night so I was fighting the tears that kept coming. I just didn't want to lose another boxer - on the way to the clinic.

Lets cut to the chase so to speak - when we saw the vet. Apparently the tranquillizer - which is usually ok hit her really hard. No kidding. The time lapse between dose and her checking out was about 10 minutes maximum. Because she was apparently very relaxed when she got it - it knocked her out.

I guess she associates being loopy on a tranquillizer with going to the SSB. She was ready and willing to go!

So you can tell - we paid $100 to bring a healthy, but drunk boxer home. If that is ever what it takes to keep my Simone going, I would pay it monthly if it came to it. I know we dodged a bullet. It is going to be real one of these days. She has to be 8 years old - at least. She has been with me through some really rough days. We have her still and I am so glad!

Peace be with you.

Crazy Boxer Lady

I was sitting around here not doing much when the telephone rang. I looked at the Caller ID, and it was my vet's office. Now, you have to understand they ALL know Simone and me - very well. One of the office folks told me that Dr J had found a Boxer, and they thought they would call me and ...

I pondered the situation for a bit, then told them I would be up there to see the dog, all the while wondering just how I would present this new little dog coming in behind me to live here. So I told them I would be up in a bit.

In an effort to deflect some of the fall-out of this situation, I called daughter to come with me. All along I really thought I would adopt the dog. My concerns were how G would react, and more how Simone would react.

The staff brought the dog up. She is a beautiful little fawn colored girl with a beautiful mask. We both fell in love with her. The crazy thing here is that Daughter ran into her Senior English teacher. They talked some, and Ms F remarked about what a good body structure she has - she conforms to Boxer bone structure.

The dog was abandoned near Dr J's parents. She picked her up, treated her for heart worms, spayed her and was nursing her back to health. She is just skin and bones.

So - grandchildren are happy with her, SIL, who was out of town at one of the food trade shows, likes her. They have gotten a crate down for her since in her excitement has her urinating inside!

It looks like this is a good match. All thanks to Simone making me the "Crazy Boxer Lady" who came to their mind to call first!

Peace be with you

Here I go!

I am so bad at this. I am going to try to add a picture of my beloved Simone's head. I just hate this because it could be something really bad - a mast tumor. If it is, hopefully we have caught it early. But regardless it's placement, and her age don't add up to much good. The vet and I talked about removal of the tumor - especially if cancerous mast - involves also removing about a half inch of surrounding skin. Another problem is that she has about six very small "bumps" around that main one. She would lose most of her scalp on her head.

I managed to get the picture! The oily patch is where the associated tumors are. You can see if you add the half inch around them, we are in a mess. The other treatments include radiation as a follow up. Well - we will perhaps know more on Monday or Tuesday.

I have managed to get a few more things done around here. The tree actually has half of the glass garland. I purchased the other half yesterday. I have some solar lights that I put around the mailbox yesterday. Today the yard men came. They are not exactly careful - so we will see. The lights burned about an hour last night. I'll bet they won't even come on tonight as their little strings were probably cut. Not a big loss I fear. That's why the lights were put way back in the container. I think they are headed for the trash can.

I am off to lunch, and then finally upstairs - with the embroidery machine. We'll see how long this lasts this time. I hope a while. I was surprised the bill was only $94 for the computer part.

A bit of this and a touch of that

Daughter and I did the little craft show here in the city. Every year there are more vendors, and the take is small. My cards were the hit this year. I think they would have sold last year, but I was getting out of the hospital the day that was rescheduled. Since it was after Christmas, I doubt they would have sold either.

We did not sell a single wreath. They are beautiful. In fact, we sold eight cards, a sleep mask and two girls coins purses. What a waste of five hours on a cold Sunday afternoon.

I went to a craft show on Saturday. That started my back hurting. Setting up yesterday almost killed me. My back was screaming. So much for me not having the injection next week. I am not as well as I thought.

I decided the only way for any relief was a hot bath. I cannot kneel. I have to kneel to get out of the tub. So I thought I would bring a pillow. After the water was out, I put in the pillow. It wasn't going to work well. So I managed to maneuver to get out. I wasn't going to be known as the old fat lady who had to be hauled out of the tub. Not in this little city! Not on your life. It wasn't a pretty picture, but I got out!

Best news of all is my machine is ready. It is earlier than I thought, even though it is too late for this craft show. I will make some things for the grandkids now. Such is life.

Simone may have cancer. It is something that boxers are prone to. She had a bit place on her head. The vet did a quick biopsy this morning. The cells didn't look cancerous, and she has one little place with the big one. They are mostly in a circle - with one outside the circle - a little way out. G met a boxer that lives on the corner who does have that cancer - a mast cell cancer. He is ten, and this is killing him. So we just have to wait and see.

Enough rambling. My hydrocodone dosn't have any effect on me, does it. I feel just the way I have been writing. Ohhh bad. I will try to be more with it tomorrow!

Peace be with you.

Here I sit with other things to do

I just can't seem to break the habit of sitting here at the computer every morning. I check my embroidery sites, read emails (from 4 sources), check Facebook, and then read blogs. Then sometimes I am inspired to write on the weekend - like today.

Tomorrow is the last craft show of the year. My embroidery machine is still in the shop - not unexpected. So that means I can do sewing projects to add to the merchandise, but that's it. So I am working on little lovies (you know, the things with different ribbons sticking out) that are in the shape of a cat. I had a program for embroidering one, but well...

Yesterday Lady Bug came to help. I had her cutting those blasted ribbons. That takes time. So she cut while I sewed. We completed 3 1/2 in an hour and a half. Not too shabby.

I want to go to one of the school's FFA craft show today. I think Daughter will go with me, and if not, I may not go. I really do not need to spend any more money this month!

I have been reading all you wonderful people who have decorated for Christmas. It makes me a little sad. All my stuff is still put away. I want to put up the tree this year, but I am worried about that cat who should be dipped in gold when he passes. I am afraid, and for good reason, the little critter will try to eat the thing. I surely don't need to pay for another exploratory surgery!

So I have wasted enough time. Simone is sitting here coughing because she has a bad case of reflux, so I am going to get her an antacid pill and sew more lovies!

Peace be with you.

Here and there

I have been thinking of writing an essay to the magazine that is printed by my religion. We get a monthly Lutheran, but I don 't know if they would even consider my essay. I am wondering just where my church has gone. I look for it, but I cannot find it.

I know the young people are not sticking with the ritualistic church as we have known. They are going to these huge non-denominational churches that are really not that at all. They have their feet firmly in the Baptist church, but they don't have that as a link because they don't embrace all the tenets of that religion.

So now the Lutherans are moving that way. Part of our service used to include one of the creeds - Apostles, etc. Not any more. There is no liturgy. The pastors don't wear the garb. They are there in just a shirt and pants. Some will still don the stole for communion. Communion used to be the main emphasis of the service. It was placed after the sermon. Not any more. The music is all new wave Christian. We have a new hymnal, but sometimes it is not used. But even there, so many of the old familiar and comforting hymns are gone. The new hymnal is full of new ones. I just don't know where my old church is. If there is a more "typical, old style" service - it is on Saturday night or the early service. So the main, highlighted service is the new one - that the young people still are not flocking to.

I find the new churches that are non-denominational are there to make you feel good. The music is supplied by a band with speakers that are booming. Communion is just a brief thought - hey - it's in the isle behind the first set of chairs - help yourself. The bread and wine has not been consecrated. It's still bread and wine. Meanwhile, the rock show continues with lights flashing, and the music booming through huge speakers. And the "message" which takes the place of the sermon doesn't give you a challenge, it doesn't inspire you to work to become better - it is "I'm ok - you're ok." Things are good. You are good.

Well enough of my bitching. That's exactly what I have been doing. It isn't the essay I would like to present to the magazine, but it is just my thoughts spilling out. And that's enough.

********************************************************************

This is same song, different verse. Yesterday, G watched Simone walk into a table outside. It has been there longer than she has been here! I thought nothing of it - until. Yep, later she came and put her head in my lap. It was later alright - 15 minutes before the vet's office closed. Her left eye was watering, red, and that third eyelid was halfway over the eye. So we went this morning. She scratched the cornea. Boxer problem with those beautiful, soulful bulging eyeballs.

So she got to go for a ride. We now have the ointment for that scratch. She is to go back next week to see how it is healing. Been there many times with a boxer. Not my first rodeo! Since she was already there, they worked her in for a bath and pedicure. And I am a lot lighter in the wallet.

I wonder if we could claim the vet clinic on our income tax????

************************************************************************

OH, and I went to pick up my sewing machine. The place that accepts USB was broken - again. The guy that repairs them said not to let it happen again. He doesn't know how many more will be covered. I wanted to unload on him. I certainly didn't try to break that d*** thing. How ridiculous. I really think I will not take it there for repair anymore. I think they really believe I am doing this because I don't know how to use the stupid thing.

If it breaks again, I may go somewhere else and trade it for a different brand of machine. He just set me off!!

I have babbled enough. I probably should just hit delete, but I'm going to let this out.

Peace be with you.

Getting ready for the SSB

I really ought to just let SIL and G go. The only reason not is that SIL won't be going until Saturday afternoon after Monkey Boy's T-ball game. He wanted to go two weeks ago, but Daughter insisted that it was MB's first game. I guess I just am not into the sports stuff. It was a long holiday, and the kids would have liked to go to the ranch. But ... What Momma says goes. After all, if Momma ain't happy, no one is happy!

I would like to stay here and work on Christmas items. The time is going quickly, and I have a lot to do! I found two sets, well actually there were more like six, of embroidery files. They were cats saying and dog sayings. The hitch was they were $15 a piece. After plunking down $2500 (yes you read correctly) for Shadow's surgery, I have to be quite judicious about what I am spending. Here it is Christmas, and I have to pinch those pennies. Would I do the heroic measure on a cat again - especially one that loves to gnaw on me, yes. He didn't ask to be here. He is my responsibility now. I really am going to try to get some pictures of him and his sexy hair cut this weekend. He looks like something the cat drug in. (Please don't throw bottles at me - I couldn't resist the pun)

Poor old Simone is not acting right. She has defecated and urinated twice in the entry hall this month. I don't know if she is getting senile or if G isn't paying close enough attention when they get up. I am the first to admit that I am not up at that ungodly time of day. Did that for 44 years. I am through. But she is just showing signs of things not being right. I don't know her age; I am guessing at 8 or 9. She is getting really old for a boxer. She is my silver boxer girl. So I will take her to the vet for another unknown amount of money. I can't stand to see her suffer if she is.

So I am off on my appointed rounds to prepare for the trek to the wilderness. There are a few things I need. Other places I have to stop - like my seemingly favorite stop - the vet. But Simone is almost out of her car-sick pills. We. Can't. Have. That. Makes for a miserable trip. See you Tuesday.

Wouldn't you know

Shadow has his staples removed. I didn't hear him scream nor the technicians! Poor little thing - he has his belly shaved, his neck shaved, and around one forearm. Quite moth eaten appearance. If he looked like this at the end of the month, he would be quite the Halloween cat!

So before I got him to the vet this morning (I was sleeping quite nicely) when G tells me that Simone lost her breakfast - right in the bedroom door. It has been quite a while since she was sick. I was hoping we had that problem a little under control. I guess we did because it has been so long. Boxers are subject to, among other things, gastrointestinal problems. Gee -- that sounds familiar - dog AND cat.

I cleaned that and headed for the vet, got that done, loaded up my sewing machine and headed for club meeting. I wasn't going to sew this time, but it is maintenance time on the machine. When I pulled up - there was no one available to bring my machine in. The thing weighs about 60 pounds. All the workers there were helping other customers, so I was at the very bottom of the list.

I went out and brought my machine to set down by where one of the guys was helping a little old woman (I better watch that - I am a big old woman!). I didn't want to just leave it at the door. Those machines run better than $5000. I turned and left.

I parked and came back in. I got my machine and moved to what could laughingly be called a line. One in line commented on the weight of the machine, the other said "he's helping me next!" Uh, yeah, ok. I wasn't attempting to break the line. I was going to be there for hours anyway since I was going to see what the club project was, and get my kit. I certainly didn't think I was giving that idea that I was breaking line!!

So, here I now sit. Dog is still sick. Cat is happy - probably will never let us know he was sick again. Upset a little old woman at the sewing machine store, and well stocked for an easy weekend at the SSB! Very little cooking for me. I have the early morning before I get up snacks for those who rise early. Who am I kidding - it's me and George. Each dinner is easy, easy, easy. So the main cooking I have to do is breakfast. OK. I like it that way.

I hope you have a glorious weekend with fantastic weather and fellowship.

Peace be with you.

Tid BIts

Well, for once we missed driving in the heavy rain on the way to the SSB. They got over 4 inches (we measured 4.38) on Thursday night. My brother in law and sister in law were in the midst of it all the way from Austin. I understand the driving got a little scary in places, and I know it must have been. Those places can be scary for several days after a rain. The town got 6 inches. Wow. And this is the semi-arid place. But the wild flowers are absolutely beautiful. That is one thing I have to say about Texas - our wild flowers in spring are really beautiful. A cold wet winter really did wonders.

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Before we left, I had to move some things in the attic because we were having insulation added. I hope it will control utility bills some. Of course, I tease G telling him if we caulked the windows that would help - a lot. But the part of the attic I was in isn't tall enough to allow standing - at least for what I had to do. So I got down, and finally sat. As soon as I was on my butt, I had a thought. How in this world was I going to get back on my feet. I really thought I would be there forever. There is nothing to grab onto to hoist myself up. I thought I was doomed, but I managed to get on my knees, a feat I thought was impossible. I had never put weight on the incision before like that. Well, obviously, it worked, and I am up

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I am definitely looking forward to tomorrow. I am set to get the second in the series of injections in my back. It has been screaming again. At least the pain isn't radiating down the leg to the feet any more. I hope by the time I get the third (and final) injection, the pain will be gone. I hope it is like the dragon. It is pushed back a little at a time, and then disappears.

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This morning the crew for the insulation showed up at 7:30. Yes that is a.m. I managed to corral Simone. She took her pill, ate her breakfast, and went out to do her little jobs. Then I put her back in the bedroom so she could retire to her crate. That is her usual place anyway. After a bit, and after calling and calling, there was a black streak heading to the utility room. That was Shadow. After they left, I went to look for him. I called and called. I left the door open. No cat. Now we are talking about less that 50 square feet there I think. I finally figured out he was behind the washer and dryer. So I moved the big tote of dry dog food, all the bottles of things I store on the floor, picked up all the leashes and collars that once belonged to Taz, Sam, and Katie, who are in doggie heaven. Basically cleaned the utility room to give that darn cat room to get his fat rear up and out! After a few minutes, he was in the breakfast room where I set up my work station, rubbing on my legs. Fat boy!

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Just before noon, SIL called. Lady Bug was home from school ill, and he needed to call on a client. Every time he does this, it is at meal time, and the child has not eaten. Now how can I not feed a hungry grandchild? So we made sandwiches after a bit.

I had collected wild flowers with the intention of pressing them to use for jewelry later. I got her to place some so I could put them in the microwave. I have a really neat little presser that uses the microwave (really?? since I just talked about that) to begin drying the flowers. When I was in college, one of my classes was a taxonomy class (where you find the scientific name of the plant). We had to choose a family of plants to press and mount to add to the collection the school had. I chose legumes, like clovers, etc This little thing is great. I can do in one minute what the old way took a week or more depending on the plant.

She did one "tray" then got hungry. So we ate, and she lost interest. Sounds normal.

So I am back, and all things are normal in this part of the world! I probably won't be here tomorrow. If it's like the last time, I will be sleeping it all off!

Peace be with you.

Same song

Yep, same song, verse fifth something. Simone is sick again. It started last Tuesday when I needed it the least. The guy was here for the generator, and he had to turn the power off. I witnessed her nausea in the den. I didn't know about it in the bedroom until, in the dark, well you fill in what happened. It wasn't pleasant.

She was better Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday I saw the signs and was able to get her a pill for nausea. That held off the severe nausea. Saturday she was OK, but Sunday not at all. Daughter did volunteer for dinner. I was relieved.

G decided that she needed to see the vet (yet again). So yesterday I made her an appointment with the more senior veterinarian. It is so funny to get to the office. All the assistants exclaim "Here's Simone!" They come around the desk and love on her. Word apparently spreads through the entire hospital. It is almost embarrassing. Of course, you have to remember that she goes there for baths too. She also has been boarded there two or three times.

The veterinarian came in. He is basically stumped. But I wanted G to be there to ask questions. The vet said there was no reason to spend the money to send her to A&M because she gets nauseated, then gets better. She is maintaining her weight, so there isn't that problem,

The course of treatment this time is a stronger anti-vomiting pill. She got that this morning. When she got up, it was the lickey-lickey stuff again. He also wants to try an antibiotic. Boxers are subject to, among the multitude of things, an overgrowth of bacteria in the gut. That can cause the nausea. Well, that is as good as any other probable cause.

This morning she has had her super-duper anti-nausea pill. I need to give her that anti-acid, and she wants to eat. Then we will try the outside break - on a leash to stop the grass (or anything else she can get her mouth on) eating.

Life is nothing but exciting around here. In addition to a sick dog, I will be fighting with the power company I had lined up to turn the power on at the house we want as an investment. They turned it on way before I asked, and didn't say anything when I would call to postpone the turn on. They had it on for less than a month, and they sent me a bill for aver $400. All I can figure is that that thermostat is set on deep freeze. I wouldn't know because I am not the owner yet, and I have to access to the house. Wish me luck.

Peace.

First day

The first day travel was smooth. We are here in some little Oklahoma town north (east?) of Ardmore. Nice place.

I am here thanks to my fancy dancy ATT air card. I have 30 days to determine if I like it or not. I am thinking seriously of canceling Comcast. Then I would use the air card only.

Tomorrow we will be heading to Kansas City. I knew the weather would be hot here, but it's not looking good. I am not looking forward to the rains in Minnesota. I hope the flooding stops tomorrow.

Simone has already ingratiated herself to Daughter. I think they didn't let her out soon enough, but she pooped and peed in the dining room. At least it is a hard surface and not carpet!! I miss my little girl so much. She seemed to be happy to be there however!

I told G I was going to use this card as normal to see if there is enough time on it, but I am cutting a bit short.

More tomorrow.

Peace

Now I remember . . .

We've not had a kitten around here in about 30 years. I think I'm too old! Like babies, you get too old for some things.

I know I kept all of Daughter's children when they were born. Of course, the time I kept them decreased with each grandchild. It wasn't too bad because I could send them home! Having a kitten is so much like having a baby around.

Shadow is nothing but a bundle of energy (I know - some of you are very aware of that). We have an unusual situation around here with him. He lives in a cat playhouse. It is about 5feet square and about 3 feet deep. That gives a lot of space for an 8 week kitten. The reason he is in there is Simone.

I had been worried about her accepting Shadow. Night before last might have been the real test. I took him out for a romp. He is totally wild when he gets out. He is older and thinks he is invincible! He was skittering around here, and I decided that it was time to put him back for the night. I bent down to pick him up, and he tried to run. I grabbed him, and he turned into teeth and claws. About that time I realized that Simone was just right there - all too interested. Needless to say, I had a few wounds to tend to.

Today, I decided to put one of the baby gates we still have around here to good use. I blocked Simone off in the hall (she was really asleep in her crate in my bedroom anyway), and let Shadow out. He ran and played for about 40 minutes, and then was ready to be picked up. Of course, Simone had realized something was up, and she wasn't a part of it.

Shadow is just so active. He ran and ran, skittered here and there playing with anything he could find. It made me worry since he is still rather little. I am amazed at his growth in just a week, but still.

I have to give him "exploration time," but at the same time I worry about him getting into something and getting hurt. Like a child, he has no sense. He just goes on impulse.

I think I will like it much better when he is an aloof adult cat! Kittens are cute. They do funny things. The saying was "the trouble with kittens is they grow into cats," and that was supposed to be bad. Now I can't wait!

Oh, and I almost forgot - the pool is almost filled again!
Peace.

Once again

Today, my focus is once again on Simone. She had been doing so very well. She obviously felt great.l She often acted like a puppy again - at least that's what I'm going to assume since we didn't have her when she was a puppy.

We had "Family Dinner" here last night. Son, Daughter in law, and Wiggle Worm got here right on time. Daughter called and said they would be a little late. That figures - they only live a mile away. Anyway, DIL sked how Simone was doing. I said great. Before too long, Simone began coughing.

I had made Margarita Shrimp and Wino venison on skewers. It is so much easier for me to do that sitting at the breakfast table because I just can't stand all that long. I MAY dropped some cilantro, but it was very little. Plus - we vacuumed after the major part of making the marinade and the stringing. But - regardless, she started coughing.

About the time the others arrived - Simone spewed. Fortunately she had not been fed. But it was bad enough. Nothing puts a damper on a gathering like a spewing boxer.

We have acres of tile down here. It is easier to keep than carpet - especially with the pool. When we replaced the carpet, I gave the edict that (1) you would dry off completely before entering the house - which the biggest kid around here (G) wouldn't do, and (2) there would be no eating in the den. Ha! So when I could, the carpet went and tile came in. I do have an area rug to mark the seating area. It is about 5x7. Where do you think the dog spews?? Of course, the area rug or a few steps further - in the hall.

This morning I was hell bent on giving her her anti-acid pills. She didn't want them. As soon as I got them down, she started her "licking the air" again. This was reminiscent of the last round we had. I just knew she would start the whole thing over again. But things settled down, and she got about 1/3 of her breakfast.

In pet news - we are going to adopt a kitten. Son found three that had been dumped in the area where he was working. He is a kitty-nut. He called Animal Control, and they got two. This one disappeared until the next day. He couldn't just leave her. His plan was to take her to a no kill shelter. They were completely full of kittens. So she came home.

When I was keeping his cats, because one was so bad about liking to watch objects commit suicide, and I was tired of my things getting broken,I bought a kitty play house. His cats went in there at night. Well, kitty is in that right now. They are taking her to be vetted today. If all goes well, she will be spayed and come to us. We only thought we were cat free.

But it's ok. I have been missing a kitty. I'm looking forward to her becoming a member of our family.

That should give Simone something else to get sick over!

Peace.

Happy news!

Simone does not have a tumor. Shre has some thickening in her duodenum. No one knows why. That may be the problem. It is still unknown. We are going to worm her and administer an antibiotic. We have a treatment plan in place after tat too. We'll see what happens. It is just such good news. We are all so relieved.

The a/c guy came. If we go with a really good unit/duct work, we are probably be looking at $20,000. We still haven't talked about what we want to do yet. That's a lot of money. As it is, I really believe we are pouring a lot of money down a rat hole because I'm sure our 35 year old vents are leaking air like a sieve, and the unit is just not an efficient one. Don't know what we are going to do.

Daughter in law asked if I would make a bib for Wiggle Worm's dedication. No problem. It is done - along with a burp cloth.

So has been my day. I hope yours was as good.

Peace.