Zoey

Well we spent the morning getting xrays and tests. The good news is it isn't the cancer returning. She does have some hip and right knee inflammation and arthritis, but not terribly bad for her age. He thinks the fact that she insists on still going to the woods and jumping into the deep snow to do her duty has caused her arthritis to flare up and maybe she hurt a muscle. So that is good news.

She has got to lose weight. Right now she can't climb up on any beds and needs help getting up any steps. They put her on some pain meds and we are going to get some glucosamine supplements plus some fish oil. And let her rest. It is hard to keep her off her feet because every time we go into a different room she gets up and comes along. Limping the entire time. Poor old girl.

I had them trim her nails because it has been difficult for me to do with my wrists being so gimpy and they cut two of them too short so they were bleeding. They have never done that before. Poor pup. So anyway, it isn't as bad as I feared but it is difficult to watch her in so much pain. The pills are helping though. They gave her Ultram which is the same pain med they give humans. It is better tolerated then the Rimadyl.

Question. Why is pet medication so expensive? Almost more then human for some things. Sigh. But she is worth it. Thanks for the prayers.

Zoey

Last night I brought Zoey out and noticed she was limping. I thought because she is getting up there in years her arthritis may be bothering her also with this cold. Within a hour she was having trouble standing on her back legs. We can't tell if it is one leg or both, just that they don't seem to be working well. She is wagging her tail and nothing seems to hurt her when I examined her legs.

I got a sick feeling in mys stomach. We called our vet right away and since she isn't in any pain decided to wait until this morning to bring her in. She is standing again this morning but really favoring her back legs and can't jump up on the couch or bed. Rick slept on the floor with her last night because she would keep trying to get in bed and we didn't want her to injure herself further.

This morning we are going to the vet. I am so worried. I am worried about that cancer she had, I am worried that the worst leg is the one she had that growth on. But I am praying it is arthritis and they can give her a pill to fix her up.

So please, once again could you include an old much loved dog in your prayers today.

Down with Political Correctness

We are so worry we are going to offend someone. Every place of employment offers Cultural training. We vote in a blatant socialist because we want to prove to the world we are not racist. And we have been attacked twice in recent months by terrorists allowed to get away with it because we don't want to racially profile them. We search and question granny and let the person most likely to murder innocent children and decent people walk on by. Cowards who sneak bombs under their clothes. Well I think..... If it walks like a duck. If if talks and quacks and swims like a duck. Its a duck. Call it a duck. Treat it like a duck. Did we forget all we learned on Sept. 11th?

Snow Blowers

The other day when we went to dig out I decided it would be wise of me to learn how to start and use the snow blower. Rick's back is still out and from what I could see it looked like they pretty much ran along with you just trotting after them. It looked fun even and I suspected that because you never have to ask men twice to go out and shovel out the drives when you have one. Men and their machines.

So we go out and Rick starts telling me the drill. What the heck? They do this crap deliberately. I was expecting a key. Turn the key, release the brake and hang on. Simple right? Wrong.

First he says you have to turn this lever here. The you have to twist this knob to open the gas, then you have to pump this thing a ma jig and make sure this lever is set to this setting and then when it starts to run turn this level to this line and pump the thing a ma jig again and make sure you holding down this clutch thing and making sure the augers are both turning.

What! Are you joking? You have to do all that just to start the thing? Oh.... I forgot. You also have to pull on this cord like the lawn mower, ( which I also can't start) until it catches. And I am suppose to remember all this? I swear men do this on purpose. A woman would have a button she lightly pushed and the huge machine would spring into action. Men like the ritual of STARTING OF THE MACHINES.

Deciding I would never ever in a million years remember this I captured the drill on video and will make a print out list of instructions in the rare event I ever decide to actually use the thing.

So anyway he gets it started and shows me the levels to press to get the monster to leap forward and the augers to turn. Not too deep so you don't fling the rocks he hollers above the noise.

Now I am not the tallest person and have to admit to having sore wrists and a gimpy shoulder. I did one sweep. Its harder then it looks. My wrists and shoulder took a beating. I kept forgetting to turn the lever directing the snow. Rick looked pretty funny with his face covered. Didn't amuse him though.

So that's it. Anything happens to Rick I have to either move or hire someone. And I couldn't get the snow off the roof with the roof shovel either. The snow was too deep to get close to the house and I was too short to reach it plus have I mentioned my shoulder isn't getting better as fast as I want and both my wrists are killing me.

Being absolutely useless in helping him move the snow around around I did tackle the vehicles and cleared the windows. And I gave him moral support. Applauded his effort. Go baby go. Because I sure don't want to do it ever again.

My Crazy Fern

My asparagus fern sits on a plant stand in my bedroom near the window. It enjoys the filtered light and seems to thrive. A great accomplishment for me.

Last week I noticed it had sent out a feeler that had creeped through my blind. Since I sleep during the day I rarely open the blinds and hadn't noticed it had done that so I opened them to see what it was up to.

I was surprised to see it branching out against the glass, the cold frosty glass. And it seemed content. And I thought they were so fragile.


While I was taking the shot of it I heard a magical sound and just then a plow went through. Wow, 2 days and it finally made it. We can finally escape the house if we want. Just knowing that make you feel better..


Yesterday an ambulance went by before they had plowed. They made it to the top of this hill and around the corner before becoming trapped in the snow. I wondered about the condition of the patient they were traveling to get. I hope it wasn't very serious.

With our almost 2 feet of snow I couldn't help but notice that the only people out and about where those in those terrible gas eating SUV's and trucks. What would happen in this area of the woods if we were all forced to drive electric cars and little puddle jumpers. Nurses and Doctors wouldn't get to work. Ambulances wouldn't get to their patients. Firemen, policemen, city workers, all unable to get to work. The city would grind to a stop. People would die.

You didn't see any smart cars driving around. No electric cars in the area's that lost power. You saw big powerful trucks, 4 wheel drives, snow mobiles and one lone bicycle (nut). And mini van, all wheel drive mini vans.

Last night Rick grilled us a steak. To celebrate putting 2 foot of snow from our driveway to our yard so we could walk and get the vehicles out. And a path so Zoey could get to the woods for her nature calls. Poor thing. And a path to the pear tree where all the critters come to expect to find food. Apples, corn bread, seed and carrots.

Today..... today I may go to my son's and give them the rest of their gifts. Maybe go out to eat. Maybe take photos of the storm. And to whoever invented snowblowers I just want to say thank you thank you thank you..

Digging out

The snow is blocking the front door and my porch is buried under there somewhere.



They are thinking we have around 17.5 inches so far and where it has drifted there are some 20 inch piles. So pretty. There is not a car moving up here in the hills. Very quiet and pretty. A few snowmobiles have gone by but nothing else. No plows.

Rick and I are dressing in layers to tackle the job of moving the snow around. Thank goodness he brought the snow blower home finally. I have the roof shovel and am going to try and get some of the snow off the roof before we get any worse snow dams. One year the ice built up so thick it ruined my ceiling. I sure don't want that again. The drifts along side parts of the house are up to our windows and would come to my armpits. Zoey leaped out into one and disappeared briefly. I think she thought it would be firmer. Her face was pretty cute when she managed to climb out.

My cameras are ready for taking some shots. Snow shots are a challenge because of the glare but I will see how they turn out.

We are lucky to still have our power. Some states are out. Burrrrrr. And I have plenty to eat around here plus a couple of bottles of wine to take the cabin fever away. I talked to my sons and they had a great Christmas and loved the gifts. We are sad we couldn't get together but now will plan a NY eve dinner and get together. And talking to the grandkids last night it sounds like they had a lovely Christmas also. Rick loved the shirts I got him and looks very handsome in them and I got a digital photo frame which I have wanted since last year. Life is good.

Well, can't delay any longer. I am going to make up a batch of hot buttered run batter later as it will be perfect after a day of digging out from the storm. We have more snow expected so better make a dent in this. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.

Just got back in after getting the driveways dug out and it is snowing up a storm again.

Merry Christmas

I am so happy to have made it home I could just cry. I won't bore you with the details of how bad it is out, but will just say I haven't been driven in weather this bad for at least 30 years. I love my husband for picking me up. Terrifying. But after a looooonnnnnggggg stretch at work I am home, safe and sound and Rick and I celebrated a quiet holiday alone. We weren't able to get to my son's but my heart is glad just knowing everyone is home safe and not on the roads which are just terrible. Coming home today was the scariest thing I have done in a long time.

And I told my patients during the night that the best present I could have gotten this year was to be there with them doing what I could to make them feel better. And I mean it. What better gift is there then making an ill patient feel better and safe and secure in the middle of the this terrible weather. I hope and pray every had a wonderful Christmas. Next week when hopefully we get the 20 ft drifts shoveled away from our door we will spend a day with our son's. Just knowing they are safe is good enough for now. Peace and Joy to all.