The Year Ends

~Charlie~ 

Our week may be a short one, but it has been busy trying to get everything done so a couple days off can be enjoyed. Monday began with an issue in getting Gus's medication refilled when his "regular" vet was ill and out of the office.  The vet that was working that day didn't feel "comfortable" refilling them.  I didn't understand what the issue was, especially because it is an antibiotic that Gus has been taking for about 6 months now. I was told Gus would have to wait until today (Wednesday) to get the medication. Because I called on Friday (the 26th) when he ran out, not being able to get the refill until Wednesday meant Gus would be off the antibiotic for six days--Too long in my opinion because I feel that we walk a bit of a tight-rope with Gus and his health. I tried to explain all of that to the girls at the front desk, who are "new girls" to the practice, don't know me, or Gus, but none of what I said made a difference. They were simply following the "doctors orders" (as they should have). Me however, I was feeling a whole list of things in trying to explain why I *needed* to have the medication for Gus. Fortunately the holistic vet that sees Gus was able to prescribe the refill for him, and I'm extremely grateful to Dr. E for that. I've since spoken to Gus's "regular" vet about the mix-up, and we have both made adjustments in how Gus's medications will be refilled in the future to avoid this problem again.

~Gus~

Onward to Tuesday we went and it was all about Beau's visit to the dermatologist that went pretty well.

~Beau waiting to see the Dermatologist~

Today, Wednesday is about Cissy.  To keep this short, and get you back to celebrating the New Year, I'll update you on them in my next post.

~Cissy in early December~

Until then, thank you for being here!  Your comments of support, kindness and friendship as you have shared the ups and downs of our lives here at Golden Pines this year continues to mean so much to me, and keeps me going.  I hope your 2015 will be one of good health, harmony and abundance-And maybe fun adventures too!

Post Christmas Weekend

The five day weekend has come to a close. The weekend had everything.

~Gus~

A chuckle at things like this birth announcement sign in front of the church on our road.  I think it was meant as a joke--What do you think?   

We enjoyed a really nice dinner and evening with our friends and their family.  When we got home, we were met by a very happy and exuberant Todd outside of his crate. I really thought I'd locked the door when I put him in. 

Todd of course won't tell me if I actually did or not.

The mild weather allowed us to spend plenty outside with the dogs.  

~Josh~

But now it's time to go back to work.  

Which I think is okay with the dogs.  I think they're missing getting their naps.  

~A tired Cricket~

I hope your post Christmas weekend has been an enjoyable one too!!

Christmas Day

Our rain finally came to an end, and the sun came out for Christmas day.   

~Todd on Christmas Eve~

Just as we planned, it was a quiet and uneventful day spent at home. No chaos. We have decided that this Christmas may go down as one of our favorites.  

~Gus~

No, it wasn’t a white Christmas, but it was the right Christmas without a doubt for a lot of reasons. One was because we unexpectedly became the recipients of several generous and random acts of kindness that showed the true meaning and spirit of Christmas.

During our day yesterday there were calls, texts and e-mails with family and friends who could not be with us that punctuated our day. Even though we cannot be with everyone we felt connected to them and hope that they felt the same way, too.  .

~I even heard from Cricket's family on Christmas Eve~

With the warm weather we spent some extended time outside with the dogs.

Of course, once Sunny sees the camera, it doesn't matter what the weather is, he wants to go back inside. 

Our day ended enjoying dinner, and afterwards watching our favorite Christmas movies. It made things all that much more peaceful. 

~Ms. Yellow enjoying her day~

I hope that everyone was able to catch up with or spend time with the people who mean the most to you.

Christmas Eve at Golden Pines

It's Christmas Eve, and I have 5 days off work.  This means that I will be obeying the signs on the trucks that I see practically every day on my way into the office.   

The weather today is warm and rainy.  It looks and feels more like it should be spring-break instead of Christmas Eve.

Our day began with two of our traditions.  One is a newer one that began three years ago when a good friend who also takes in the senior Goldens told me about one of hers.  Each year she makes an ornament for her tree that has the names of the dogs (and cats) that are with her that year at Christmas.  I loved the idea and to my ornaments I also add the losses from the year on the back.  A bittersweet moment.  But truly one that brings humbling gratitude.    

 Our Christmas day will be a quiet one at home. The next two days will be spent in the homes of our friends.

Whatever your plans are for this evening and Christmas Day if you are traveling to enjoy the company of good friends and family, or spending it simply at home, “May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door, and happiness be guided to your home by the candle of Christmas.”

A Short Day and Long Night

A brilliant sunrise started the weekend when I was off first thing to the vet with Beau and Buddy for rechecks.

Buddy is much, much less itchy these days and no longer has to wear the 'cone of shame.' His skin still needs to heal a bit more, but his new coat that is growing in is soft and healthy.  

Beau had a recheck of his ears and there is some improvement, but both are still infected. He'll continue on a steroid at least until he sees the dermatologist on the 30th.

With a lot of last minute things to tend to for the holidays Saturday was a busy day.  But we weren't too busy that we couldn't meet some friends who are in town for the holidays to visit family. It was an unplanned get together, and we met at a nearby winery. I'm glad we made the time, it was an enjoyable visit with them while we listened to a jazz band.

It's the winter solstice, and the sun has now set on the shortest day of the year and the longest night has begun. Sheba is ready for the shorter days that take us closer to Christmas.

And Todd is ready for the longer nights to recharge his batteries.

Are you ready for the week ahead?  

A Christmas Rhyme

It's a very busy week before Christmas

And the dogs are being good at our house.

While Ms. Yellow spends hours relaxing on the back of the couch.     

Sheba is comfy on the forbidden chair...  

  And Charlie is sure St. Nicholas is out there ... somewhere .... 

I'm in the home stretch with my baking done and all but one package mailed.  My cards are nearly all written and mailed. The only thing I don't have is a lot of time to read blogs and catch up on your news.  I hope to be able to do that this weekend.  I hope you all are well, and as always, thank-you for stopping by my blog today, your kind words and friendship!  

~The lovely little Cricket~

The Taste-Tester

Our week ended with my office having our Christmas party at my personal favorite restaurant. It was a delicious meal, and a lot of fun!  I work with a great group of people, even if they aren't all animal lovers.

Gus's week ended with a visit to his regular vet for a check up and to refill all of his medications and supplies. For several reasons, this past week wasn't a particular good week for him.  Gus has lost about 5 pounds that he didn't have to lose in the six months that he's been with us. He's noticeably thin and both of his vets and I feel that it's a combination of two things -- One is loss of muscle, and the other is because he has a mass in his abdomen that we think is not allowing him to absorb needed nutrients from his food. Despite knowing that, it's still  troubling to see his ribs even though he's fed twice as much as the other dogs.

~Gus stalking the lovely Ms. Yellow~

The trip to the vet is getting to be too much for Gus. I'm able to move him easy enough with the harness.  But everything from the slippery floors in the office, his having to stand, walk, falling along with the jostling around, getting in and out of my van, really takes a toll on him.  This time it left Gus almost totally immobile the next day. Thankfully after a good day of rest, he's rebounded and he is up and around.

Today Gus was feeling up to stalking the cat.  He even stayed with me in the kitchen while I did some baking, and was my hopeful taste-tester.

I think it made up for the vet visit.  I know it did for me.               

The Rule Breaker

~Sunrise~

The week has found its rhythm as I've done some Christmas shopping and am working on getting our Christmas cards addressed and mailed.  Our boy Beau who is not one of the main characters at our house took center stage this week. I know I don't write about him often, and it's just because there's not much to tell.  Beau keeps to himself, and sleeps most of the time on a dog bed that he's claimed as his own. I think this is partly due to pain he has because of his chronic ear infections that we can't seem to clear up, no matter what is done, both at home and by the vet.  I've made an appointment at a dermatologist for the end of the month in hopes that perhaps they have a trick or two up their sleeves that will resolve them once and for all.

Beau did return to the ophthalmologist a couple of days ago.  

~Watching people before our appointment~ 

The eye lift he had in September was a total failure and a waste of money.  The only solution to the entropian is surgery. But because of his age, (about 14), the Ophthalmologist does not recommend it.  There is good news however, the two medications are providing relief for his eyes, and they are no longer red and irritated. So we've decided to manage it with the use of medications.

~Waiting for the Opthalmologist~

After Beau's appointment with the ophthalmologist it was back to work for me in the afternoon. To save time, I took him with  me. You may recall how the non-dog-loving-doctor I work for is very understanding and lets me bring the dogs into the office, providing that a few rules are followed. One is that they stay quietly in our break-room. I was with a patient when I heard a "woof."  Then silence.  A few minutes later, another "woof."  It wasn't a distressed woof, more like a "hello?" Then there was another. I thought I'd explained the rules to Beau, but apparently he didn't care. Who knew that Beau was such a rebel?     

-The break-room at my office-

Unfairness and Injustice

The week passed at breakneck speed with work and vet appointments that I'll update you about later.  Computer problems arrived on Wednesday evening (thank-you Carl!) and he seems to have gotten it all sorted out for me since he was the one that caused it. (Below, another appearance of our resident Barred Owl yesterday.  I was only able to snap 2 photos before my camera battery died.)

My day off on Thursday that was supposed to be a relatively uneventful one, turned out to anything but that. It ended with my making a cinnamon creme coffee cake for a co-workers birthday that I baked in a pan that was too small.  The result was a smoke filled house that the Golden's didn't seem too worried about, despite the smoke alarms going off more than once.  I think they were hoping for a bite of whatever it was that was burning at the bottom of the oven.  (recipe here)

Todd however, refused to come back inside until the smoke cleared. I decided it was because he knew better than to come running back into what he thought was a burning house.  He's smart that way.  

The week ended with another visit from the holistic vet to see Gus. As I mentioned last week, Gus really enjoys the extra attention and the treatments.

The other dogs however, as you can hear below in the video, vocally protest to what they see as an injustice of being put into the office while Dr.E is here. Cissy echoes in agreement to the unfairness of it all!