Wednesday, May 1, 2013

A Peaceful Wednesday


Just as the work week got started it has come to an end for both Carl and I. On a cold dreary night in February as Carl was recovering from his first surgery and I was feeling the need to get away, a friend and I arranged for us to "escape" to their cabin in Tennessee. I planned it without Carl knowing about it, and just hoped he'd be recovered enough to go. It looked pretty doubtful when he had the second surgery, had to have the home nurses etc., but its all worked out. Cissy will be staying with a good friend who just happens to be my mentor when it comes to senior dogs; she is the reason why I felt inspired to take them in--Cissy will love her!
It was Cissy's turn at the vet on Monday. Both the vet and I are really happy with how her skin has healed.  Cissy's thyroid appears to be stable for now and she has even lost about 10 pounds (4.5 kg).  But unfortunately she has an infection that is really hanging on, so she'll be returning to the vet next week for another test which will help to decide what the next round of medications should be. Cissy takes it all in stride and is even taking 'cat stalking lessons' from Todd.
Today I am getting ready for our trip and my first day of vacation has gotten off to a beautiful start as I watched the sun rise slowly behind the trees as fog filled the field. The dogs were sniffing and rolling in the wet grass and the sound of the rooster crowing from the farm across the road could be heard among the birds that were just starting to sing.  In that moment I could feel the peace in the air. It was all a reminder of why I love the country and my life at Golden Pines.
 I hope your day is a peaceful one too!!  


Saturday, April 27, 2013

Josh - His Place in the Pack

Off to the vet first thing this morning with Josh and Annie.  We found out after Annie came to us last year that she has some damage to her liver and kidneys from medication that she was being given. Thankfully with a supplement we were able to stabilize them.  But Annie's last blood work results showed some changes in her kidneys so she needed to have a couple of more tests done. One was to check her blood pressure.  A laid-back-and easy going 14 year old Golden Retriever with high blood pressure just doesn't seem possible, does it?  But  apparently it can be in dogs suffering from kidney issues and if it is left untreated, hypertension can contribute to the damage done by kidney failure.  Thankfully Annie's blood pressure was just fine.  
For Josh it was a yearly exam, and a required rabies vaccine.  He also has a pretty good ear infection so that needed tending to as well.  I don't write too much about Josh. He found his way to us in 2002 as 3-4 month old puppy that was found on the side of the road after he'd been hit by a car.  It took 5 orthopedic surgeries to both hips, pelvis and front leg and a very long recovery to get him back on all four feet again.
Josh's position in the pack has changed little over the years.  He's a relatively quiet and very easy going dog, that loves to chase the frisbee and stays in the background, allowing the others to shine. Within the pack I think that he is probably considered one of the lowest dogs, but I can't be sure.  When he comes to me for attention, most often he is nuzzled out of the way by one of the other dogs. When I try to get him to jump onto the bed he won't if Charlie or another dog is there first.  Josh patiently waits for his turn to be given his dinner and his treats.  I have watched him interact with the other dogs and he seems to have their respect and he (thankfully) is not being bullied or picked on, which the lowest dog can be. It all just reminds me how complex pack-dynamics can sometimes be, so I guess I should just give up trying to figure it out.  But what wasn't hard to figure out is that it was really nice to spend one-on-one time with him (and Annie) and I think he really enjoyed his outing as well, even if it meant having to have a sore ear and vaccine to get it.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Three Milestones

The week is off to its usual pace and slipping past.  It's nice to be able to come home and still have a little daylight left because it allows me to get some work done outside.  Last evening I enjoyed seeing the Barred Owls that take up residence in our woods each year.  I hear them often enough, but to actually see the pair together is rare.  My camera only captured the outline of one as the sun was setting.
This week we have had three little celebrations that went recognized here at home with the celebratory cookies for the dog, and a bakery treat for Carl and I.

The first one was the 22nd, where we celebrated the one year arrival of our girl Annie. I remember so vividly   the first day I met her.  It was a bittersweet day when her owner who was terminally ill with cancer said his good-byes to her, and I made a new friend.  Annie was welcomed into the pack, and has found her place here.  It is truly like she has always been here, a tribute to her spirit and the good life she has had.
~Annie~
The second milestone is Cissy.  Today she has been here exactly a month.  You all have followed her journey back to health and even though she still has a ways to go, your cheering her on has truly made a difference--Because I really thought (as did several others) that in those first days, that this little milestone was not going to be reached.
~Cissy~
The third is that Carl is finally going back to work today.  There is still plenty of healing left to occur, with a heel broken in 3 places and a fractured ankle, it's a slow process. But we hope that the worst of it is finally behind us.  Thank-you all for the good thoughts you've been sending for him as well.
~Charlie~
With both of us gone today, I am wondering what the dogs will do?
I say catch up on the 20 hour naps that they've missed...That's what Wendy (below) will be doing.
Enjoy your Wednesday!

Friday, April 19, 2013

Friends

The end of the week finally comes.  A long week of working every day, getting home by 7 PM and then starting my 'other job' of doing the things that Carl is unable to do. He is feeling really well and is finally done with the twice-daily IV antibiotics.  The hope is that he might be able to go back to work next week--Paws crossed!

Cissy continues to do well.  Her skin in some places is still red and itchy, (especially her feet) and other infections are still not quite cleared up, so she remains on medication and frequent baths with a prescription shampoo. She has a good appetite, but for whatever reason, she won't or can't eat out of a dog bowl and so I feed her from an old pie pan that works well for her.  I find Cissy's personality very sweet and endearing.  She hobbles around, has to be in the middle of what's going on, and with a bark that is a slightly hoarse, howling and rambling, she gives us her opinion about whatever may be happening!  She really loves attention and frequently surprises me by licking me when I least expect it.  We really enjoy having her as part of our household and I think we've become good friends.
To end my week this afternoon I had lunch with a couple that I consider long-time friends.  They are the very first friends I (we) made when Carl and I came to Virginia in 1995.  We've both moved twice since that time and even though we don't live too far from one another, life takes us in totally different directions, and we only are able to get together once every couple of months or so.  My friend personifies all the best qualities a friend could be and she is one of the few people with who I can truly “let down my hair.”  She has known me in good times and not so good times.  I know I can share my thoughts with her and she won’t criticize or judge me and I trust her completely.  I only hope I am as good of a friend to her as she is to me.

Afterwards we stood outside the restaurant and chatted a little more before we said good-bye and got back to our daily lives.  Just as with every time we get together, I find myself not wanting my time with her to end.  I've decided that spending time with a good friend is just like the cheesecake that I brought home to share with Carl--Why do all good things need to come to an end?  I guess it's a good thing that I bought two pieces!
Finally, my blogging friends, I'm sorry my visits to your blogs haven't been as frequent as I would like.  And because the rain this weekend will keep me from mowing the grass, I'll look forward to catching up with your news!

**My apology to Jo, and to anyone else I may have offended when originally in this post I referred to Cissy as 'being like an old lady.' It was not my intention, and I meant it only in the most endearing way. ~Kim~