Wheeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's been one long, never-ending merry-go-round ride since Friday afternoon.

It started with a phone call from Bill as I was on the way home from work.  He wanted to tell me that he'd been in a car accident.  Talk about scaring me!  He wasn't hurt.  It was his work vehicle.  He stopped for a traffic in front of him which was stopped for a red light.  But apparently, the driver behind him didn't get the memo and he ran into Bill's work vehicle.  There was hardly any damage, but because it was his employer's vehicle it had to be called in to the police and a representative from his work had to come out.  Even though he felt fine, I told him to go get checked out and that was also the policy of his employer so they sent him to the clinic they use.  He had to wait a while.  A very long time, actually.  They said he was fine and he felt fine, so they released him to go on home.

Otter was at our house at the time, she was doing laundry and was still here when I got home.  She walked Maggie Moo with me, which delighted the somewhat silly & smelly beagle.  She stayed longer than she intended to, in case Bill turned out to be hurt and I had to go get him - she would have given me a ride to get his car and then I would have gotten him.  That turned out to be unnecessary.

Saturday was busy, we went to a local art show/sale/street fair in Tulsa.  Actually, two that were both happening at the same time.  It was a lot of fun, but it was very warm and crowded.  We didn't buy anything, unless you want to count the 2 Dr. Peppers we drank!  But it was a lot of fun and we enjoyed the day.  We were both pretty tired when we got home, however the aforementioned smelly beagle  needed a walk so I got her out the door for a short jaunt.  I took a nice, long nap after the walk and then got in the shower - and spent the rest of the afternoon parked on the couch with Billyboy watching the rest of the movies on the 100 Sci-Fi "classics" Otter gave him for Christmas - some of them were real "winners," too.  (Otter - he loved the gift and has had more fun watching them.)

Last night was the really wild part of the weekend.  We had a tornado watch in the late afternoon/evening and there were thunderstorms headed our way - but we didn't expect anything too bad.  At 11:30 p.m., I woke up because I heard something.  I didn't really know what it was, but it was not THE siren.  However, it was probably the LAST FEW SECONDS OF THE SIREN.  I turned the tv on and they were talking about my small town, but not right where we live.  The possible tornado had sprouted well east/northeast of us and was continuing on away from us.  We were in the middle of a really bad thunderstorm and still had quite a bit of it on the way, but nothing else bad was expected for us.  I considered texting Otter, but I didn't because a)  it was already on the other side of us/her, b) nothing else besides the thunderstorm was in our forecast and c) she has been known to sleep through the tornado sirens before and I didn't want to wake her up and disturb her in case she was still asleep.  I didn't check my cell phone for texts for her, but I should have.  When I got up this morning and turned it on, I had a text from her at 11:22 last night telling me that they were already in the basement, in case I was wondering.  I texted her back telling her why I didn't text her last night, and that they did the right thing.  She called me later, apparently not that many people actually went to the shelter - which is really dumb!  But it was the middle of the night and it is possible that not everyone heard it - the storm was L.O.U.D.

The storm did sprout something, but it might have "just" been high wind and not actually tornadic.  There is damage but it's all east/northeast of us. We got a lot of rain and very little sleep,  It was so hard to get up this morning.

But we had to get the garage finished up.  We started it a few weeks ago, then it was rainy then it was Mother's Day (and still rainy!) but today we had a dry day forecast.  Bill got the rest of the machines organized and took several out to the shed.  He took some misc. boxes out there as well and brought some boxes from the shed that have pachinko parts and they are on the shelves in the garage now.  I got my tree trimming tool and took care of a bunch of limblets on the three front trees and the tree on the side of the garage.  I got a little crochet done, sitting on the front porch while Bill was running machines back to the shed - that was a one-person job.

Then, the final fun event of the weekend was accomplished.  I bathed the beagle!  The beagle was not amused.  But she doesn't stink anymore.  She did smell like a wet dog for a while, but that is still better than she smelled before.  :)

May? Spring?

I'm not really sure about either one of those things.

The calendar says it's May 13.  But it's back to jackets the last couple of days.  At the moment, nearly 8:30 p.m., we are sitting on the couch.  With blankets!  (And a warm beagle on her pillow at my feet, also sharing the blanket with me.)  It's pouring at the moment, it started raining again this afternoon after a break in the rain for a couple of hours.

Maggie Moo is much better.  She was bouncy and happy this morning, she went outside for a necessary trip and then she came running inside and zoomed around for a few minutes.  About 6:15, it wasn't raining and she was bouncy, so I said "walk" and that was enough to get her attention.  I didn't get out the door fast enough for her, and she barked at me!  Probably because I was taking too long, she didn't think I should stop long enough to lock the door!  Shed actually "baroo'd" at me - twice!  Baroo is the term for the noise beagles are known for that isn't actually a bark, although they do bark sometimes.  She couldn't get out to the street fast enough.  Then she wanted to walk in the street and not beside the grass!  We had a short walk, it was fairly quick but it was enough to occupy her.  She was tired out from the walk, and I went ahead and gave her a pain pill but I only gave her half of the dose.  It was about time for her to go out for the day anyway, and she was excited about that.  Probably because she knows that means her treat can will be opened!  She was happy when Bill let her in this afternoon.  She was not quite 100%, but she was glad to see him and then me when I got home.

I wanted to take her for a walk but she didn't act like she wanted one.  However, she did want to take a ride with me and was more than willing to let me get her harness on and got in the car easily.  We went to a local pet store because I wanted to get her a different style harness and I needed to take her with me for that.  I got her one that is closer to the old-style harness that Mom used with her chihuauas, it's burnt orange.  I also got her a new leash, the one we've used with her for years was beginning to show it's wear and it needed to be replaced.  The new one is pink, it's decorated with words such as "Diva, Prima Donna and Princess" with pictures of things like crowns - in other words, it fits Maggie's personality to a T!  While we were there, she also met a cat - the resident cat who always greets every animal that comes in.  Maggie was happy to touch noses with the cat, the cat meowed at her and was her normal superior feline self and Maggie was happy.  The particular store hosts cat rescues, some of them have dogs but this one is kitties.  There were a few really young kittens in a couple of large cages on display, Maggie was fascinated with them.  They didn't seem to care that the nose sticking inside the bars was a dog and not a cat, they were cute.  I have no idea if she's ever been around cats, but I think she probably has.  She was a 2-year old dog when we got her, her previous owner was a lady who died of old age and was a friend of a person who ran a rescue group for dogs.  When she died, Maggie was given to the rescue friend to be re-homed.  I'm thinking that Mags had been around cats in her first home.  But since Frasier would kill any cat he could (downside of the coyote heritage), we never allowed either of the dogs near any cat if we could avoid it so we really had no idea how Maggie would react to a cat.  She seems to like them.  She was funny on the way home, she was very interested in looking out the front windshield at a work crew when we were stopped at a light.  Shortly after that, it started raining and Maggie was a little unsure at first, then she curled up and went to sleep.  She did not want to get out of the car at home, she had figured out by that point that it was raining and she does not like rain.  She ran from the car door to the front porch, I don't think she even got one raindrop on her fur but she had to shakeshakeshake before she even took one more step.

We had chili tonight, made with buffalo.  It makes it so good!  I sent a pound of buffalo and a dozen tamales home with Otter the other day.  I don't know if she's used either one of them yet, but J was very interested in anything made with buffalo.  She saw the doctor today and the stitches are gone!  She said that it itches a little still but that the doctor said it looks good.  She has to be careful for a few days and keep a bandaid on it at work.  But she does not need to go back.

OK, back to my blanket and my beagle now.

I still say it can't be any later than March!

Brick Layer

This is a brick:

This is Maggie Moo:

They are kind of the same thing, at the moment!

She is actually much better and the medication is working, but she was a brick last night.  She went to sleep on her pillow pretty early.  She didn't move at all, until shortly before we got out of bed.  I heard her collar tags jingling around 5:00 a.m., I was awake but not quite moving yet.  She was a little draggy still, but she was happier than she was before the vet visit.  She didn't want her antibiotic this morning, she kept spitting it back out at me.  I finally disguised it in a bite of bread and she took it then.  The pain pill was no problem, she likes the way it tasted but I gave her a bite of cheese anyway.  That was right before I put her out in the garage for the day and she was getting groggy quickly, but not as bad as after the shot.

Bill got home before I did so he let her in, then he went to mow the back yard.  She greeted me happily when I came in the door, then she sat down by the couch and waited for me to bring the groceries in.  After I got everything in, she was still sitting down by the couch but she was happy to see me.  She didn't act like she wanted a walk tonight, so I didn't attempt to take her on one.  If the weather isn't wet tomorrow, I'll see if she wants one when I get home.  She's much better but she's not quite back to normal yet.  At the moment, she is back on her pillow and is snoring loudly.

I sure miss my Frasier.

Mostly Musings on Maggie Moo's Manic Monday

I couldn't think of another word that started with the letter M and would go with my aliterive title.  Think I have enough M's?

I took the Magginator to the vet this afternoon and he thinks she does have a bladder infection.  While there, she also got her rear squished and her claws trimmed.  We are now on a 2-month schedule for the rear glands, 3 months is now too long to go between "rear alignments" for her.  The tech said she was just as impacted today (2 months) as she was the last time (3 months between squishings.)  The vet gave her a pretty thorough exam, he does not have any reason to suspect that there is anything other than a garden-variety bladder infection.  He gave her an antibiotic shot and a fairly strong pain shot.  He told me that she would start to feel the effects pretty quick, and she did.  She didn't want to get in the car to come home because they were walking another dog and she wanted to go say hi.  I took her over to the grassy area, she watered the grass and then she and the other dog got to greet each other - it was a huge, white bulldog mix and very friendly.  I think Maggie is lonely for another dog, but that's not something we can do anything about at this point.  Anyway, he also gave her pain pills - the same thing I turned into them 2 weeks ago so that they could donate them to someone who couldn't afford them, and antibiotic pills.  I start her on both of those in the morning, since she got injections of them tonight.

She managed to make it home before she got too droopy, she was happy to see Bill and was actually a little playful for the first time in a few days.  She'd been scratching a lot at her belly, no reason but probably because she was having some pain in the bladder area and she was trying to relieve it.  I got a damp washcloth and washed her face because her allergies make her eyes water, then she wanted a belly rub and I used the damp washcloth on her belly - which she absolutely loved!  She curled up on her pillow and I covered her with one of her blankets.  She went to sleep pretty much immediately, although she did rearrange herself a little later so that her head is uncovered.  She has been smiling in her sleep and snoring.  She's probably done for the day.  She's also almost due for her next set of normal shots - rabies shots, etc. around the end of the month but I didn't realize that until we were checking out.  The vet probably wouldn't have given it to her now anyway, she had a very slight fever and that can often nullify the rabies shot - or at least that was what I was told by a previous vet, but for various reasons we don't really trust much that particular vet told us.

Well, one big reason mostly.  A large, furry, red chow mix that was very ill but they told me was "just a little illness" and that he was fine - but he died two days later.  And we learned after that about the particular vet having a bunch of complaints and unhappy customers.

Maggie was funny, she was happy to get to the vet's front door but then she realized where she was and she tried to turn around and go back to the car.  She didn't want to get on the scale (26.6 pounds), but she was very happy to see the vet and the tech.  She went with them willingly, but I could hear them having to redirect her into the actual room to get her squishing done.  She was happy to come back to me, then she sprawled out in the floor with her nose to the bottom of the door and wagged her tail hard until they came back into the room we were in and then she was happy to see them.

I called the electric company today and told them that I was very unhappy with the work they did.  They started a claim for damages for me.  They will call me and send someone out to look, but I'm not sure when that will be.  We probably have more rain on the way mid- to end of the week, so I took a bunch of pictures this afternoon.  There are a lot of places where the dirt that was piled in the trench has now sunk into the trench, and it looks really bad around the concrete pad where the electrical box is.  I think they killed about 6 crepe myrtles and of course all the grass that they tore out to do the digging.  They also still have a shovel here and two large pieces of plywood.

That is the exciting Monday we've had, but since we know for sure that Maggie doesn't have anything B.A.D. like we were afraid of - not that we had a reason, but it's only been 2 weeks since we lost Frasier - it's a much calmer evening than it could have been.

Mother's Day 2015

Happy Mother's Day!

My day has been a lot of fun.  Otter and J came over for breakfast, we had Monkey Bread and assorted fresh fruit.  They stayed for a couple of hours and we had a nice visit.  Otter gave me kitchen towels, which I needed badly.

Bill gave me a set of craft blades, similar to X-Acto knives but they came from the store Otter works at.  It was also something I needed, I originally wanted another cactus but then I realized that I needed the craft blades so I changed my gift request to that.  I actually went and got that one myself, because I had to pick out the specific set I wanted.

Bill and I went to a couple of thrift stores today.  This is what I bought at the first one, it was a grab  bag (clear plastic bags, not a mystery bag) and it was $6.98.  For all of this:

It's on the couch with a blanket for background, but it was a very full bag.  The next picture is what I actually bought the bag for:

Yarn spools!  8 regular ones and one larger one.  And for what is a ridiculously low price, especially considering everything else that was in the bag.  I've seen these priced (and selling for) for upwards of $5.00 each, sometimes more since they have thread on them and the bigger one would probably sell for more than the entire bag.

The tag says it's a handmade purse, silk fabric maybe.  I'm not sure if it's a keeper for something craft related or it it's going to be sold or re-donated.  It's sort of evening bag size.  I didn't even see it in the bag when I bought it, it was in the middle of everything else but I grabbed the bag as soon as I saw the yarn spools.

These are small hats, hand crocheted obviously.  I'm not sure if they are for dolls such as an 18" doll, or if they might be dog hats.  Because also in the bag were three dog outfits.  (The hats are probably for dolls.)

The orange and pink/blue one are obviously hand crocheted.  The pink one is Martha Stewart brand, which I think is really funny.  I did try it on Maggie Moo so I could text a picture to Otter, but it's wool and I didn't even have to look at the tag to figure that out because I started reacting to it as soon as it came into contact with my skin.  The dog clothes are all in the donate pile.

The blue fabric has a tag from when it was purchased originally, I think it was somewhere around $4.00.  The cotton collar is probably not new, but I don't think it's been worn before.  It's very clean and still has that "stiff" feeling.  Not sure if it's etsy, donate, if Otter wants it, or what.

This might be hand-knitted or it might have been done on a knitting machine, but it is homemade and not professionally done.  It's a vest with a sash.  I thought it was an uncompleted cardigan style sweater but the sleeve openings are too big.  It might fit Otter, for a size comparison - I don't think it's anything she would want, but I might well put it on her and have her model it for an etsy picture if I decide to sell it.  The final yarn ends are still attached but they are tied off.  It has a button on the bottom.  It's clean and there is no smell that I can tell.

Froggy, got any idea what these are?  They are obviously holders for "tape" or ribbon of some type and I think they are sewing related.  Possibly etsy bound as well, but maybe not.

There were a few other things, a bag of small safety pins and some misc. stuff.

The next two pictures are from the 2nd thrift store.

2 square doilies which were marked 49 cents each but then they turned out to be half price so they were 25 cents each.  There is also a very long table-runner size doily, I think it was 79 cents.  It has a couple of spots I need to mend slightly and it also has a reddish stain but I think it will come out.  All three are bound for my doily curtain.  The reddish crochet thing is a hanging towel, it has a granny square front and a backing crochet piece.  Not sure if I'm going to copy the pattern or what, but it was somewhere around 70 cents or maybe less.

This is a clear ruler, used in sewing and also in things like crochet.  I'm not sure if it's an etsy item or if I'll keep it, as I frequently need something like this but I have a clear plastic ruler I use.

I keep talking about etsy, I think I'm finally going to start listing things in the store I set up a few years ago and then never used.  I have a few ideas for crochet pieces that are not scarves & hats, because the market is basically flooded with that sort of thing.

We also bought an old nut cracker that it mounted on a wooden board.  It was etsy bound at first, but now I'm thinking we may keep it.

After the 2nd thrift store, we decided to have lunch at Cici's pizza instead of cardboard pizza from wally.  We also went to a fabric store.

Speaking of flooding, we've had so much rain the last several days that there has been some street flooding in the area.  The ground is over-saturated.  We've had several instances of hard rains the last couple of days, yesterday afternoon (I got caught in it literally and got soaked) and this morning were very strong storms.  My back yard literally looked like a lake, the ground can not absorb any more water and it was beginning to stand - which is really saying a lot.  I've drained the potted plants a few times, Bill had to clean out one of the downspouts because it was clogged and the rain gutters overflowed.  The ground is so soft it's almost like walking in a swamp.  There is water standing in ditches and on the side of the road in places it never actually does, and we saw evidence of a few street areas that had obviously been under water at some point either yesterday or this morning.  Next week is supposed to be dry and warm, it's going to be very humid for a few days and then it will be mosquito season so I'm trying to get rid of any standing water I find.

I'm thinking that Maggie Moo might have another UTI or bladder infection.  She's "leaked" twice in the house in the last 3 days, I caught her at it in the hallway yesterday and she would not stop - even when I yelled at her.  I don't think she could really stop.  She's acting like she might not feel too good, she really acts like she did before when she had one.  She might also need to get her rear glands cleaned out, it's been 2 months since the last time and we did think that 2 months would be about right.  Or it could be both.  Either way, I'm calling the vet tomorrow to see if I can get her in there.  She's perky when I say the W or R words (Walk or Ride) but even when she actually gets to do either of those things (or both!), she's not acting like she's 100%.  I don't think she's moping around over Frasier not being here, she seemed to get over that and she acts like she doesn't feel too good.  She's finally sleeping on the pillow we bought to make her a bed out of, at least.

(I did give in the my asthma last Friday and stayed home.)

Time for ice cream now!

Talkies

(I may have used that title before, it seems like it.)

When Otter was very young, a few years after the diagnosis of asthma, we noticed something about her.  When she was dealing with a flare, she would frequently talk.  Like constantly!  Turns out, that when you aren't getting enough oxygen in your system your body will do what it takes to get it.  Including talking.  Because you need air to talk, and the air is oxygen.  She hasn't done what we call "the talking thing" in a long time, because she hasn't had a flare in what feels like forever.  Which we are very thankful for, by the way!  Anyway, there is a point to this.  I also do "the talking thing" when I'm starting a flare.

Guess what I've been doing today?

The Talking Thing!

I've been dealing with allergy tiredness today and it's been really bad this afternoon.  I don't have a lot of congestion, although my lungs are beginning to feel like I'm in the starting phase of a flare.  I've been outside more than normal for this time of year, but that can't really be helped.  Maggie Moo needs to be walked, she's a beagle and they are energetic little bratties.  Walks are good for her and they are also going to be good for me, I just wish that my across the street neighbor's magnolia tree would just die off!!!

It's probably not the only thing that is aggravating my allergies, but it's a pretty strong allergy and is probably the current worse issue.

Springtime!

Otter was over this afternoon.  She comes over about once a week to do laundry, and of course to see the aforementioned beaglebrat!  (She also just comes by to say hello sometimes.)  She accompanied me when Maggie got her trip around the neighborhood.  Talk about a happy dog!  She had a few hours of Otter's undivided attention, then she got a walk with Otter.

Otter's hand is doing well.  She saw the doctor yesterday for the 3-day follow up.  He said that he sees no signs of infection and that it looks like it's healing.  She goes back next Wednesday to get the stitches removed.  Until then, she is to continue the care procedures and she can now start leaving it uncovered if she's at home and not going to do anything that might aggravate it.  She said that it does still hurt, although not nearly as much.  The main thing she's noticed is that it is beginning to itch.  The doctor told her that's a good thing, since that means it's healing - which she already knew, by the way.

J graduates from college tomorrow!  He will have a Bachelor's Degree in English.  He's an honors graduate.  He has worked very hard to get to this point.  He took several classes at the community college that Otter went to - that's where they met, actually.  The community college told him very clearly that his credits would transfer.  But when he transferred to the university, it turned out that several classes would not transfer and he had to take them over again.  Which meant that he actually wound up graduating a year later than he originally would have.  But he's finally there.  J and his mother will pick Otter up tomorrow and they'll go to the ceremony.  He's been attending a local satellite location of the university, but the graduation ceremony is at the main campus which is in a not quite next door but still close by town.

Sunday is Mother's Day.  Otter and J are coming over for breakfast, I'm making my own breakfast but that is because I want to.  Monkey Bread!  Apparently, Otter has been telling J how good it is and she was going to make it for him, but she's willing to let me make it instead.  :)

But seriously, way to go J!

Updates? I Don't Know What to Call This Post.

So far, May looks to be following in April's trail in more than just the calendar!

Otter's hand is doing well, all things considered.  I took her some ice cream after work today - it's the accepted treat after a shot and she technically got more than one in her hand yesterday.  So, I think it counts!  I took her (and Roomie!) a carton of cookies & cream ice cream and I also grabbed a package of frozen french fries for them while I was in the store.  They were both overjoyed to get the treats, and Otter was also happy to discover the package of pepperoni slices that were in the bag, too.  She said her hand hurts quite a bit, which is to be expected at this point.  She's also got a fairly high pain threshhold, which is also part of the RedHead Curse so "quite a bit" for her is agony for a non-Red.  She's been trying to keep it propped up and not use it, but that is harder than it sounds.  She has been taking tylenol and following the care instructions they gave her yesterday at the walk-in clinic.  She had to day off from work as a regularly scheduled day off and also tomorrow.  She works Wednesday morning and will go get the stitches checked when she gets off work.  Then they will tell her how long she should have to keep the stitches in.  I'm really glad that they want to remove them in the office instead of telling her she can do it herself!  Like I said before, she's her Father's Daughter...

One more to beam up, Scotty!

We lost another one today.  Grace Lee Whitney, 1930 - 2015.  She will always be remembered fondly as Yeoman Janice Rand, first season & first 8 episodes of the brilliance that is Star Trek.

There are only 4 bridge crew members left now.  And a lot of the "background" actors are gone as well.  Plus quite a few of the writers, directors, etc. and of course the Great Bird of the Galaxy himself, Gene Roddenberry.

I had been thinking about getting an actual dog bed for Maggie Moo.  We had one briefly, but Frasier apparently thought he had to rid the universe of it's presence pretty quickly.  So we started using flannel blankets for them.  Maggie has always been fine with the blankets, but I thought she might like something softer.  I priced dog beds and decided to just get a pillow for her.  I bought one for $3.00 at BigLots today.  She's slept on pillows before, she was briefly using a laundry basket with a spare pillow that Otter had in her room and she also slept in Otter's bed for a while (until she did what she does and licked everything!)  So, I put the pillow down on top of the blankets this afternoon.  And she's done everything she can to not actually get on it!  I got her to sit on it once, but she didn't stay.  Bill thought maybe it smells different, which I also thought might be the case.  So we put it on the love seat - she's not allowed up there but she usually gets up on it pretty quickly after we go to bed.  We have an old blanket on the love seat just to protect it from BeagleBaby.  The pillow is now in the spot where she usually sleeps, we'll see if she sleeps on it tonight since it's on the love seat and we know she'll be up there at some point after the lights go out!  She got a walk this morning and then I took her on another one after I got home from work today.  Otter did ask me if I'm spoiling the beagle sufficiently, I have to say that I think I am. :)

My right knee is kind of sore.  It also has a small cut above the knee cap.  I walked into the baby gate at the end of the hall this morning.  I was taking a load of laundry out of the dryer and I forgot we moved the thing to the other side of the laundry room door.  And I ran right into the stupid gate!  Maggie is much quieter than Frasier was, she will sit at the baby gate and wait for us to get up but she isn't really much of a barker (except for now and that's because she's asleep and dreaming)  We've heard her jingling collar coming down the hall a couple of times, but she will sit or lie down and wait patiently until we get up or one of us goes to the kitchen to feed her.  We always seperated their food bowls in the kitchen, one on each side of the kitchen and the water dish was on Frasier's side but they both used it.  We moved the water dish down a little bit, and I tried to relocate her food bowl to that side as well.  She absolutely refused to go anywhere near her food bowl on that side of the kitchen - we spent a lot of time telling her to get out of his food bowl, now when we want her to eat on that side she finally decides to remember what we told her! :)  Goofy baby, but we love her anyway.

Before Otter's Adventures in BillLand yesterday, I did manage to get the peppers transplanted.  Otter has two jalepenos and a peppermint, we have two jalepenos and two bell peppers.  They are in large size pots on the deck, most are in clay pots but two of them are in plastic ones.  I watered them tonight, they look good.  It could be rainy Wednesday so I might move them up closer to the house so they have a little bit of cover - sometimes rain this time of year is very hard and I'd just as soon not lose them to hail force rain.  Otter will eventually get her plants, but they are fine where they are until she does.  She'll be over one day this week to do laundry (and play with the beagle!) and she might take them then, but I think she'll probably wait a little longer until her hand heals up some.

Then, she'd better quit trying to live up to Bill's reputation!

Footsteps

Otter is following in her father's footsteps.  Whether we want her to or not!

This is the palm of her left hand, fortunately.  She's right-handed.

About 1:00, just as Bill and I were starting to eat lunch I got a text from Otter:  "In case you were ever worried that I don't take after dad enough - I successfully sliced my hand open trying to cut a potato."  I told her to call me after getting that text.  She was attempting to cut into a raw potato so she could bake it and it was slightly damp.  Her left hand slipped - right into the ceramic knife she was using to slice!  This was a little over an hour after it had happened, and it was still bleeding enough that she wasn't sure but thought maybe it needed stitches.  She wanted Mom to look at it, she was at work at this point, so I went to her store to check on it.  Being a redhead, she bleeds like the rest of us do so the fact that there was still blood wasn't enough to say it did need them.  She didn't really want to take the gauze wrapping off it it but I had to see the cut so she took it off.  I thought it was deep and long enough, so she told the supervisor and he said that his wife works at a close walk-in clinic.  He called her and they weren't busy, so we went up there.  They took her back quickly (the nurse was a redhead and we compared notes on bleeding) - Otter wanted me to come back with her - and the doctor thought it needed stitching up.  The shots to numb it was pretty painful, but they generally are.  However, stitches would have hurt worse without the shots.  She knew what to expect, having been to the ER with her dad more than once when he got stitches!  The doctor kept telling her to look away, but she's not squeamish at all and she always has to look.  I rubbed her back while he was numbing it, she said that helped.  He took 4 stitches in it, but because it was with a clean, ceramic knife he doesn't think she needs a tetnus shot.  She has to go back on Wednesday to get it looked at, at that point they will decide if the stitches need to come out in 7 or 10 days.  They will take the stitches out, they are not the disolving kind.  I took her back to work, the doctor said she'd be able to work today.  I went to Walgreen's and got her some neosporin, gauze, vetwrap and tylenol.  She texted me about 5:30 and said the numbness was really starting to wear off.  I told her to take tylenol before it was completely gone.  She already had Monday and Tuesday off from work and she will be off early enough Wednesday to not have to miss any time when she gets the stitches looked at.

I'm pretty sure I have more grey hairs than I did when I woke up this morning!

Bill texted her later on: "Who'se yo daddy!"  She answered "YOU, OBVIOUSLY."

What can I say, she is very much her father's daughter. :)

Middles

I've discovered something.  Today, I went to several yard sales.  A couple of them were neighborhood wide.  Lots of houses having sales.  And almost all of them were one of two items:  baby clothes, young kid toys and supplies or medical equipment and things that an old person in bad health would need.

We are firmly in the middle!  We no longer have a kid at home, and we aren't in need of the medical supplies, either.

Guess we really are middle aged?  :)

The electric company is in my bad list now.  I took Tuesday afternoon from work and got home in time to meet them.  And waited.  And waited.  And waited some more.  And called the crew chief.  He eventually called me back and had the gall to act dumb with me.  Which usually is the final turn of the key to unlock *RHTW's cage.  He made a bunch of excuses, tried to pretend he'd never set the time up with me, claimed he couldn't call me back and then when I told him that I knew he had my number he then started making excuses about the number of calls he always had and that he couldn't be expected to call everybody back now, could he?  I let him have it.  Somehow, I don't think he still likes Redheads!  He told me that he could meet me at my house Wednesday morning.  I told him that I was not taking anymore work off for them.  Then he told me I could just leave my gate unlocked - at which time I reminded him that THEY were the specific reason we always keep the gates locked.  I told him that it would have to be on our schedule and that I would call him back "sometime."

Otter came over on Wednesday afternoon to do her laundry.  She called me just as I was about to leaver work and said that they'd shown up.  I told them to wait until I got there to let them in.  They didn't have the small backhoe from Monday, it was just a little too big to fit through the gate so they had to get busy with shovels but they got the trench covered up.  I'm not sure when they actually left, they didn't tell me.  I noticed that they were gone and waited about an hour before I locked the gate up again.  They left two pieces of plywood and a shovel.  I'll eventually call them and ask them if they are going to come get it, and also ask them when THEY are going to replace the two or three crepe myrtles that they killed.

We've been walking Maggie Moo more often lately.  We didn't walk the dogs much over the winter because of the weather, then Frasier was having obvious issues with the arthritis so we didn't get too many walks in once it became Spring.  Now that Frasier's crossed the rainbow bridge, Maggie Moo is obviously in need of more physical activity so we've been walking her again and more often than we would have been doing if he were still here.  I took her to a local walking part the other day, she really liked that.  Especially when a lazy squirrel walked across our path - she didn't want to chase it, but she was very interested in it.  One morning she was very bouncy and led me to the closet where the leash is kept.  It was still pretty early, so we had a short jaunt down the street and back.  Today, Bill and I took her for a walk around the neighborhood.  She's been very playful the last couple of days, she seems to be getting back to normal - normal nutso for her.  She has wanted to play tug again and is interested in chasing her tennis balls again.  She's no longer looking for Frasier, but she has looked towards the outer dog door flap a few times when she's been in the garage like maybe she's wondering if he's about to come in from the dog yard.  But she's doing ok.  I've taken her with me a few times lately when I've gone somewhere she can go.

At the moment, she curled up on her blankets.  She seems to take longer naps after walks for some reason!

*RHTW:  Just start running now.

A Three Hour Tour...

Name that tune!

OK, the point of this has nothing to do with the theme song to Gilligan's Island.  :)

Thursday when I got home, there was a hanger on the front door from the electric company.  We were dealing with Frasier and frankly, the electric company was the last thing I was concerned with at that point in time.  They said that they needed to get into my yard for something and I did call the number to arrange them to come out today when Otter could be here, but other than that I didn't have any interest in anything they needed.  They were supposed to be out here at 8:00 a.m. today.  They were needing to get to just a small part of my yard, to dig up an area and re-run some cable - or maybe run in new cable to either the next door neighbor or one of the neighbors behind us.  Or at least that is what it sounded like on the very bad connection I had when I called the number on the door hanger.  Because of a past issue with them leaving the gate open and Maggie getting out, we do not let anyone have access to our yard unless we are here at the time.  And they know it!

Otter got here about 7:00 this morning, she dozed on the couch until I woke her up at 7:30 to let her know I was leaving.  She called me about 8:10 or so to let me know that they were here and that she'd blocked Maggie Moo in.  Otter also mentioned that it took a while to convince him that yes, she is an adult and could let him in the yard!  I told her she should just get her driver's license and glue it to her forehead!  She called me back shortly after that to let me know that the (one and only) guy on the digger had come to the door to tell her that he'd cut the phone line accidentally.  He told her that he would call the phone company himself.  About 11:30, he was still digging and that's when I decided I'd better head on home.  I ran by Sonic to get lunch for Otter, and I was home just as the digger operator was walking back to his truck.  He said that he had called the phone company and told them that the homeowner was livid, so they'd better get out here on the double.  Which is funny, because most of the time I have to deal with the phone company I am livid! :)  I told him that, and why, and also that the joke about Redhead tempers (especially on Redhead Women) is not exactly a lie.

I asked him how many of my crepe myrtles they were going to have to replace and he said that he'd made sure to dig the trench well out of range of them.  He said he knew how mad his mama would be at her plants being destroyed, so he always tries to avoid them if it's at all possible.  He also said that they will lay strips of sod over any exposed dirt areas when they are through.

Otter hung around for a while so we could visit, and she could also spend a little more time with a certain beaglebrat.  She gave the dog a short walk to visit the grass in the front yard, then she headed home after that.  The telephone company crew showed up somewhere in that time frame, and so did about 3 other electric company employees.  I let Maggie out later on, she wasn't really sure about going out in the yard with all those people out there - which is unusual for her, but she's still obviously adjusting to being an Only Dog.  The 2nd time I got her out there, she was much more relaxed and did what she was supposed to do.  I talked to the crew at that point and they were working pretty steadily.  In fact, the only time that they weren't working was when they went on their lunch break.  When Bill got home, he went out to talk to them and they were pretty much done by that point - at least three of them were using shovels to cover the trench back up by hand.  It turns out that the man on the digger was actually the supervisor, and he was working along side the crew which is unusual.  They didn't quite get finished, there is one spot in the corner where they have to do something else involving cables and they will come out tomorrow.  I set up a specific time so that I can be here.

The three hour estimate lasted from 8:10 this morning until shortly before 5:00 this afternoon!

Does this look like a small spot in the corner of the yard to you?  It sure doesn't to me!

The pictures were all taken from inside the dining room and living room windows.

I did upload my pictures of Frasier from last Thursday, I took them when I got home about 3:15 before the vet visit.  I don't think I'm going to post them.  They are not bad, he looks happy in a couple of them but they are very hard for me to look at still.  In most of them, I can tell that he was not feeling 100%.  I may eventually change my mind, but not right now.  We're still adjusting ourselves and it's slowly getting better, but he was very much part of the family and it's been tough.

The hummingbirds are here!  Bill saw two of them this afternoon, one flew out of the trellis where the honeysuckle is and the other one was flying up into the tree at the same time.  It's rainy and cool, so I was kind of surprised that they were here already but I'm happy that they are.

This also makes us happy!  I took this a few days ago, there are even more buds and blooms now.  The scent is so strong, it's almost intoxicating.

Is it Still April?

April is a pretty bad month, too many bad things happen.  Not just to us, some are national or local tragedies but there are also family things.  Today in 2001 is when we lost Mom, we lost our puppy last week, there have been bad tornadic outbreaks in April in the past, Waco, Oklahoma City...

In other words, I Do Not Like April!

Maggie is still mopey but she is better.  I had to go to work Friday, so we had to leave her by herself.  I put her out in the garage like normal, but I gave her several milkbones instead of the usual one she gets in the morning.  She was very clingy and I spent a lot of time petting her before I had to leave.  She was ok when Bill got home, but he said she was quieter than normal and not playful like she usually is.  We took her for a short walk yesterday afternoon, I think she enjoyed it.  Now that the area behind us is all built up, there are no grassy areas so we now have to carry a plastic bag to pick up anything she may leave!  While on the walk, there was what can only be described as a swarm of little girls playing in the front yard of one house.  I'm not sure who was more excited, the dog or the girls!  Talk about a happy dog, I think every single one of them had to hug Maggie.  Which Maggie loved, by the way.  Yesterday morning, we woke up at 5:30 when Maggie was making whining noises at the baby gate that keeps her from coming into our room - we moved it down the hall from where it was because it was at the top end of the hallway.  We had to have it at the top end of the hall because Frasier would have spent all night standing at the block if it was close to our room in hopes of making enough noise to wake me up.  Maggie wasn't making a lot of noise, but it was about 30 minutes later than she is used to eating.  Bill got up and fed her and he stayed up.  I didn't get up for about another hour.  It was strange walking into the living room because Frasier would always greet me.

Today, I took Maggie with me when I went to buy something at Otter's store.  They allow dogs in the store as long as they don't make a mess.  Maggie had never been there before, the first part of the drive goes right by the vet's and she knows that particular direction.  She perked up once she realized we were not turning in!  She seemed to enjoy her shopping experience, especially when all the males who work there melted as soon as they saw her!  She was happy to see Otter for a few minutes.  I also went to my office, I wanted to take the trash cans out for pick up tomorrow and Maggie Moo went with me then too.  She was very interested in the spot in the back seat where Frasier usually sat when we took him anywhere.  She sniffed it quite a bit, then she went to the other side of the back seat and curled up looking sad.  After a minute, she came back up to the front seat where she usually sits and sat there for the rest of the trip.  She was happy to get home, I couldn't tell for sure but she might have looked for him when we came in the door.  I gave her a belly rub and petted her for a while, I saw the first puppy smile and got the first puppy purr that she's done in several days.  She's still pretty clingy but she is better.  Me too, although slowly.

We were pretty sure that the time was coming this time last week, but we weren't expecting it to be quite that soon.  But last Wednesday when Bill let them in when he got home, Frasier went into the living room and laid down.  And he didn't get back up, at all.  Not even for a treat.  I cooked some chicken breast and he wanted to, but it was obvious that he was having a lot of stiffness so I actually brought it to him in the living room and gave him his treat from my hand.  Otter had been over to do laundry and she was aware of it, she was part of the discussion we had.  I covered him with blanket and he seemed to like the warmth.  I had called the vet to order more anti-inflammatory medication and was going to pick it up Thursday after work.  Thursday morning, I was afraid that I would find him gone overnight so Bill actually was the one who checked on him first.  He was still with us, but he hadn't moved.  Maggie was curled up with him and she did not want to leave his side.  She did leave for food, but he didn't want to get up.  We got him to a standing position carefully and he was able to go outside, but he didn't want to eat.  I got him to eat a few bites from my hand and we pretty much knew at that point that it was time.  He wouldn't eat much, I soaked a few bites of bread in raw egg and he liked that.  Then I gave him another egg which he really seemed to enjoy.  He did not want his morning milk bone, but he ate a few of the smaller treats that Maggie usually gets.  He found a spot in the dog yard that he liked and he laid down.  He refused to get up, so I got him a pain pill and fed it to him in a bite of cheese.  He had gotten water when he first got up and he was able to relieve himself but he was pretty shaky.  Bill suggested I see about taking him for a walk when I got home, but we also decided to call the vet and make a late appointment to at least get him looked at but we knew what we were probably going to have to do.

It was not a good day at work on Thursday.  I left 30 minutes early and Otter got off about 15 minutes early.  When I got home, he was up and moving around but not well.  He was also acting for the first time like he was hurting.  I took both dogs out to the back yard and he wandered around for a few minutes, then he was ready to come in.  He gave Maggie a quick groom and then he sat down and stayed there.  Bill and Otter got here and we basically just spent the next 45 minutes petting him and talking to him.  I took several pictures of him but I haven't uploaded them yet.  Otter was able to get Maggie out without getting Frasier's attention.  He was happy to see his leash and we got him up, he was able to get to the door and out but it was obviously very difficult for him.  We had to lift him into the car and out of it when we got to the vet.  He had lost a little weight since the last time I took him in, a few weeks back.  The vet examined him and gave him several treats.  He said that we could try sterioids, but we would probably be looking at maybe 6 months (probably less) and that it might not work - he really didn't think it would work, actually.  He could also tell that the dog was hurting.  We spent about 30 or 40 minutes with him, just loving him.  And then we did what was the best thing for him, and let him go.  The vet uses an iv to anesthetize them before the final shot, so they are as pain-free and relaxed as possible.  So we feel ok about the process.

I had one of the worst headaches of my life Thursday night, it was not a migraine but it was on that level and I'm sure it was stress and grief.  I went to bed before 9:00 and I think I was awake for at least an hour.  I woke up at 2:00 a.m. Friday morning and was unable to go back to sleep.  Friday was hard but it was not as hard as Thursday because it was already done and I know without a doubt that we did everything we possibly could for him.  We know he had a good life with us, much better than he had with the rescue group that we got him from.  We know he was at least 13, but he could well have been a year or two older.  We wish that we'd been able to get him when he was younger, but we had 9 great years with him.  He was a great dog and there will never be another one like him.

We always had a carpet piece in the garage for the dogs to snooze on, but it eventually got grody and I threw it away.  I had an old bath mat which had been in the laundry room and I put it out there for them when we tossed the carpet piece.  Frasier had been spending more and more time on the mat and it was very dirty.  He was still in control of his bodily functions, but there were a few times when he maybe wasn't able to get up as quickly as he used to and it got dribbled on a few times.  Which made Maggie Moo think it was ok to leak there!  I tossed it out a few days before we realized it was time with Frasier and I hadn't had time to get anything to replace it yet but I took their blankets out there for them.  I bought a bath mat for the guest bathroom when I redecorated it after Otter moved out, but I never really liked it.  It's kind of like a covered foam piece and it seemed to get dirty just from the air!  I washed it this morning and put it out in the garage for Maggie.  It's soft and I think she'll like it.  I cleaned up the garage floor several days ago, before Frasier, and I got the spray cleaner out to take care of any spots that might have a smell to make the dogs go back there.  There were no more accidents after that and I'm hoping that it's enough.  I'll get another bath mat for the guest bathroom, hopefully I can find one that I actually like this time!

Otter will be over here in the morning, the electric company is doing something in the neighborhood and may need to get into our yard.  They are the specific reason that we do not allow anyone to work in the yard at all unless there is someone here.  The last time we did allow it, they let Maggie Moo out and we were really lucky that a neighbor happened to see her and got her before she wandered too far.

We went to Goldie's for lunch today and had hamburgers.  They have really good burgers.  We walked over to the store our booth is at and Bill got 3 pachinko machines to bring home.  He also downsized the booth to a smaller size.  We were going to rearrange the garage a bit, which it does need, but neither of us were in the mood to do that so it's been put off for a few days.  Bill mowed the yard this morning.  We've mostly been hanging around the house getting stuff done, except for the booth and lunch trip and when Maggie and I were out this morning.  We're going to be taking Maggie on more walks than we've been doing lately, the weather was an issue and then Frasier's arthritis issues kept us from walking them much.  This week the weather should be mostly good, and we're going to get back to a regular walk schedule.

Blah Friday

Today has been an exceptionally hard day.  I went to bed before 9:00 last night with one of the worst headaches I've ever had, stress related I'm sure.  I think I was awake for at least an hour before I managed to get to sleep.  I woke up at 2:00 and never could go back to bed, although I think I was starting to doze off right before the alarm went off at 5:00.

It's been a long day and a fairly horrible week.  I'm glad that they are both over.

I know we did the right thing yesterday, but it's still been tough.

I think I'm going to stay home tomorrow and play with the beagle.

Frasier

We let Frasier go today.

It was time.  He was hurting and it was only going to get worse.

He was without a doubt the best dog I have ever have and I will miss him for a very long time.

At Least Monday is Over

But it's not Friday yet.  Unfortunately.

Bill sanded the switc hplate down to the wood, the one I threw out and then rescued from the trash.  I painted it again, with the white basecoat and when the paint is dry I'll cover it with modge-podge glue and put the scrapbook paper on it that I found.  It's supposed to be small doily-ish patterns and I like it.  After the modge-podge is dry, then I'll apply a sheet of clear mylar.  Then the fun begins!  The part where I kept messing up.  Cutting the holes out and cutting it around the edges!  After all that's done, I'm going to hit the painted (but unpapered) sides with clear sealer and then they just have to dry.  Then I can actually put them on the wall.

I'm not as tired today, but I do still have Redhead Anemia issues.  Not as bad, it's just "there."

I'm also having more allergy issues this afternoon, but that generally happens after I pull weeds in the rock garden.  Literally, IN the rock garden for part of it.  And around the edges.  I found a frog in the rock garden.  Actually, I almost picked "him" up with a bunch of weeds!  Did you know that frogs can give dirty looks?  This one did, anyway!  :)  He was not a huge frog, but I think he was still fairly young.  He hopped away from me, to the other side of the rock garden and probably is happily hiding in the honeysuckle now.  He might be the one I've been hearing the last few nights.

I've also heard tree frogs lately.  Especially when it rains.  I haven't seen them yet this spring, but they are obviously here already.

No sign of hummingbirds yet, but I put out two feeders Sunday.  I thought I might have seen one zipping by but it was hard to tell.  It's still a little early though.  But sometimes they arrive early, and just because I haven't seen them does not mean that they aren't here yet.

Fraiser is a little creaky today.  He and Maggie Moo were happy to go out in the back yard with me.  While I was pulling weeds, Maggie Moo was sitting on her behind and staring at the ground.  After a minutes, she reached down and pulled a large beetle grub out of the dirt.  Then she ate it!  Frasier was walking around like he does, looking for spots to water.  But then I noticed he was laying down in a grassy spot and when I called him to come in, he didn't want to get up at first.  He seemed to be more than a little stiff, but he did get up and came inside.  Then he went out the dog doors and to their yard.  He laid down in his usual spot, and I took an anti-inflammatory to him.  He hasn't needed them lately, but it's been cool and damp which seems to affect him  I called the vet and ordered a refill.  I still had one pill left for him, but I also had some from Maggie Moo's bladder infection she had last fall and the vet said that I can use them.  They are still within a safe date, they are the same dose but were cut in half for her.  I was going to take the brush to Frasier while we were outside, but that will wait a day or two.  Mostly because of my allergies, I didn't want to stay outside any longer than I had to.  He love the brushing, and so does Maggie Moo but she's not long haired so it's just a fun experience for her.  At the moment, they are both in the living room and both of them are snoozing.  Frasier is probably snoozing because of the medication, but Maggie Moo is just napping because it's what beagles do best, after all!

Lately...

It's been insane around here lately.  I spent most of last week dealing with an allergy attack that left me with hardly any voice and I was home most of the last half of last week.

I painted and decorated a light switch cover and 4 outlet covers for my craft room.  Then I tossed them in the donate pile, bought more and started over.  And over again!  Last night, I gave up and tossed all of them but then I got them out of the trash and looked at them again.  3 of the outlet covers hadn't been finished up and were easy to complete, but one outlet and the switchplate will have to be re-done.  It's getting frustrating!  But I know better than to work on something that takes attention when I'm not feeling well, and I wasn't last week.

I am also dealing with a pretty good case of Redhead Anemia.  I love being a redhead, but there are times...

One good thing from last week:  Otter is now the owner of a silver 2002 Chevy Impala!  She got her insurance taken care of and we took the car off of our policy, she also went to the Tag Agency and we got the title switched to her name.  Because it was a family member transfer, she just had to pay a very small transfer fee and not the normal taxes, etc. that go along with titling a car.  We "gifted" her the part of our insurance policy that covered that car and she was able to take over payments on the policy without having to pay a month ahead or anything else.  We told her that we would wash the car, vacuum it out and also fill the tank when she officially got it but it's been raining pretty often so the washing and vacuuming will be done later on.  She'd put gas in it right before the transfer, so we told her we would fill it up the next time but Younger Boss wants to buy her a tank of gas to celebrate so he'll get the next fill-up and we'll get the one after that.  Either way, she's not complaining! :)

In other news, the dogs are still lazy.

168

20 Years

Neigh

I started trying to lose my voice yesterday.  I have had a little congestion and allergy symptoms for the last couple of days, but yesterday afternoon my voice got kind of wonky.  I also have had a sore throat, not horrible but still painful.  I woke up this morning with hardly any voice at all so I stayed home.  I'm not feeling 100% but my voice is a little better this evening.  Not a lot better, just better.

Otter came over this afternoon, she didn't have a lot of laundry but she wanted to get it done while she could.  Maggie Moo was overjoyed to see her, as usual.  Frasier was very affectionate towards her, he's a sweet-natured dog and loves Otter but he was much more interested in getting her attention today than he usually is.

Frasier was a little clingy this morning and I didn't think he was in pain, but I thought he was a little uncomfortable so I gave him an anti-inflammatory.  I've been giving them to him for the last couple of days again, he seems to need them when it's cold and/or rainy.  Which it's been the last few days.  They don't make him quite as sleepy and stoned as the pain pills seem to, but they do make him a little drowsy.  He spent the next few hours snoozing at my feet, I put a little bit of my afghan over him and he wiggled until he was underneath most of it - I think he likes the warmth over his arthritic hips.

I'll decide in the morning about work tomorrow.  My throat is getting more sore this evening but I did talk more than I intended to today, when Otter was over.  She had several things she needed to talk about and we had a pretty nice visit - when she could actually hear me, that is!  She and J are working on their cosplay and they have some really good ideas.

OK, back to my oj and maybe a snack.

After 22 Years...

You would think I would have learned by now.

As soon as I declare a season change, especially if it's changing from Winter to Spring, it gets cold again!  And wet, it's been raining since sometime last night and we turned the heater back on.

I'm not switching quilts again, however!

The benefit to the cooler weather is that all the wicked little stingy-ended bugs are staying on their nests and it's easier to spray them.  Bill killed three nests tonight, all on the house and all near doors.  Two were yellow jackets and one was a wasp.  Indications are that it's going to be a bad year for the evil things.

(This one is borderline on what I usually post as far as language goes, but the one non-family friendly word is actually slang and is not quite impolite enough to worry about it.  Besides, it pretty much all true!)

Two of my favorites, pitties and blues!  And Bruno has good taste, bluebonnets smell heavenly.  He's a pretty smart puppy, obviously.

This little goofball, on the other hand...  When I got home, she was out in the garage.  Behind the tall boxes that block them off from parts of the garage we don't want them in.  And she was stuck!  Stuck as in lost, because she couldn't figure out how to get out - by going back the way she came!  As in back around the end of the shelf and back up to the front of the garage where she'd pushed a box out of the way.  Goofy little thing, that's for sure.  Sweet but still a goofball!

Switched

It is officially Spring for us today.  I know it's been Spring for a few weeks now, but it's not official for us (me mostly) until this:

gets taken off the bed and replaced with this:

(I can't find an actual picture of the camo quilt on the bed, although I know I have at least one and have posted it before.)

The other picture choice for the camo quilt was this one:

Otter had on purple socks that day, otherwise she really would be invisible like the sign she's holding up says!

Otter came over yesterday for a short visit - she did laundry and we went to Hobby Lobby.  But she wasn't wearing camo so we could see her!  :)

Froggy, I didn't see your comment on the bluebonnet post until I signed in to post this.  Blogger is supposed to tell me when there is a comment, and sometimes it actually does.  Just not this time.

I really don't have a lot to talk about today, but Froggy will get on me if I don't post something. :)

Renewed

My TEXAN soul has been renewed.

(Taken this morning, April 8, 2015.  In my front yard).