Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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We saw a barn swallow!!! The advance party appears to be arriving now. We should see the regulars arrive within a week or so.
Alex came in with a grass burr, so we have to get the sedgeweed killer out. Unfortunately, we have to keep the cats inside until it dries, and can't spray it in windy conditions, so today's not a good day for spraying. We'll probably never get the grass burrs totally under control, but the fewer the better, so this spray is an important component of our yard care.
Solo was grazing by the house this morning, when I came out to use the remote to open the gate. He started to run, then realized it was me, and started toward me as though he was expecting a handout. But then he stopped - just couldn't bring himself to walk right up like Mama Doe sometimes does. That was fine, since I didn't have a handout.
Spot has spent the last few nights sleeping on my chest. I tried the bed on Friday night, but after only a few hours, had to go back to the recliner. While there, Spot laid between my feet (he so very rarely gets onto the bed, I was surprised to find him there when I woke up). As soon as I got comfy in the recliner, Spot stretched out on my chest, a pillow, and my stomach. He stayed on me most of each night. Then this morning, he climbed on me just because...
At one point yesterday, he was on my chest and arm, and laying partly on Alex, who was fast asleep on my lap. Yep, I'm da kitty pillow...
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." -- Mahatma Gandhi
Czarny, black cat
Rainbow Bridge: Spotacus, Alexander the Grrreat, and so very many more
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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Another glorious day in paradise. We have a barn swallow cleaning out one of the nests. Woo Hoo!!
Ruby throated hummingbirds were spotted on the coast on Sunday, so we have the feeder out now.
Definitely spring -- the neighbor just downhill is mowing like mad. Guess they don't like having wildflowers blooming in their acreage. We won't be mowing for a long, long time -- not until the wildflowers have dropped their seeds.
I slept in bed last night, at last. Spot laid between my feet for a short while, then moved back to his tree. He only hangs about that closely when I'm feeling bad, and now that I'm better, he's not quite so affectionate. Still a sweet guy.
Must haul the kitchen scraps out to the "compost" pile--not that a single scrap has ever been there long enough to compost.... Later, y'all.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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Been a bit misty today, with a thunderstorm forecast for later. I guess that could be why both cats have been spooked over pretty much everything all day. Right after noon, Spot joined me in the recliner and was stretched out all over me. The UPS truck drove up, he went on alert, and has been going from window to window, outside and back inside, on patrol ever since. He's either going to sleep really well tonight, or we're gonna have a big storm.
Saw two hummingbirds at the feeder so far. Must be the advance party, making sure we do have the feeder up.
Bought some creeping rosemary, the kind that drapes itself down rocks. We'll plant it among the rocks on one of our slopes, where it will do very nicely, and I'll have fresh rosemary for cooking year round. The deer are none too fond of it, so the plants should survive.
WLToo signed up for a local fitness center today; I'll get added when I get medical clearance to lift weights again. It will be a good reason to go into the village and interact with people, not to mention strengthen our bones and muscles. We might even start looking less like the Pillsbury doughboy by this fall.
We got a drum stool (used by trap drummers), so looking through the telescope won't involve stooping over so much. When it's not used for that, it will be a good stool for playing my hammered dulcimer.
Just heard a thud -- seems a starling smacked into the window. Gotta close the door so it can recover without becoming cat food. Later, y'all.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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Today was my first day without pain meds since the surgery. I slept a lot. The weather might have helped, too, being cloudy and humid. But Spot, Alex and I spent a good few hours sitting on the north porch, them sleeping and me reading, until a cold front arrived rather suddenly.
We had to turn the heater back on, and it's gonna be quite nippy the next couple of days. I expect both cats will argue over who sits in my lap.
The deer are still running about all nervous about something, but we honestly haven't seen or heard anything out of the ordinary. Guess it will remain a mystery to the humans.
Woke up to barn swallow conversation, and it should become quite lively in a few more days. I did miss them, even if they do make a mess on the porch -- well, that's what water hoses and pressure washers are for.
It's late, I'm still groggy, so time to turn in. Later, y'all.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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Last night I was alternately shivering, then sweating, and could not find a comfortable position. Decided I'd rather sweat than shiver and added a fleece blanket to my side. Shortly after that, I warmed up with Alex up against my back and Spot between my legs. Finally got some sleep. When I woke up, Spot was laying partly on my chest and partly by my side. What a sweet big guy. As long as I don't feel good, he's right there.
It's a cold, rainy day. We're happy to have the rain (ok, my sinuses are definitely not), but didn't like having to turn the heater back on.
No deer or bird sign: they're all hunkered down somewhere.
Time for a good fire, probably the last one for the season.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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I wore out very early last night and went to bed a couple hours early. Just as I was drifting off, Spot lay down with his head and front paws on my chest, the rest of him curled in the crook of my arm. I woke up with Alex there and Spot on his tree. Switching kitties...
Feeling much better today. We've spent most of it watching the rain and reveling in the thought that we might have a decent crop of wildflowers this year. Around the area, the bluebonnets are already blooming, our agaritas are about to burst into yellow blossoms, and one hummingbird is already nagging us about the state of the feeder--seems no matter how much we put in it, he/she thinks it needs more and stares in the window to get our attention.
We're part of the Texas hummingbird survey, so I've been trying to get a decent photo of this lone hummingbird, but nooooo, he/she is much too fast. Might need a better camera with a more substantive zoom lens.
Mama Doe and Spook just turned up at the south porch, so I tossed out a few banana peels. Spook got the big peel right out from under Mama's nose. They both like the sweets.
Spot has begun chatting to Alex, mostly greetings and "play with me" sounds. Alex isn't responding well, though, being Mr. Crankypants in his old age. He's been jumping up on stuff as a safe place, but yesterday Spot would chase him, then run past and jump up on what Alex was aiming for. It was funny to watch.
Kitty dinner time. Later, y'all.
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dogcomestoo
Massachusetts
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Joined: 08/19/2006
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It's great to hear that you're finally feeling better. Spot and Alex sound adorable, separately and together. I love reading about the natural beauty and critters you have surrounded yourself with.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Thanks, dogcomestoo. We do love it here.
Had all my plans totally upset very early Monday morning. We're all four in bed, two humans and two cats (Spot stretched almost the entire length of the foot; Alex was up against my knees). Suddenly, my heart starts pounding as if a full bass and tenor drumline were warming up, and at least two bass drums are trying to pound me in the back. When the snares joined in, I knew it was not good. Woke up WLToo and had him open the gate, while I called our EMT friends at the fire station just a half mile away.
Agreeing that my latest parody of Barry Manilow's "New York City Rhythm" is not the best ("Heartbeat's Out of Rhythm"), the EMTs give me a long ambulance ride to the nearest big city hospital with a cardiologist on duty. A little medication, many tests, and far too many blood draws later, I'm home today. My arms are so punctured that if one more blood draw had been necessary, I've no idea where they'd have found a vein.
Various parts of me look like "Attack of the Killer Octopus", and I'm still peeling adhesive off, even after a long scrubby shower. Those glue happy people even stuck the wrist band to me with museum putty!
Atrial fibrillation diagnosis, no trigger seen from all those tests. Got some pills for it, meet up with cardiologist again in a couple weeks. Not really serious, most likely triggered by the wine we drank Sunday evening. Take Maltaq and aspirin, add a vitamin, and eat low carb diet. OK, no sweat.
I expect a slimmer me by autumn...
Spot's already slimmed to his spring/summer/fall weight. Alex doesn't do the weight gain/loss game (I'm envious).
Flying insects are numerous now. Several like to dive bomb my armpit as I sit here and type -- moths and mosquito hawks mostly. Spot's on the hunt, though, and this deadly bugkiller intends to get his bugs, even if he has to knock over the light (I've caught it each time so far).
Wow, time flies when one is catching up on things. Time to take my meds already. Later, y'all.
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Dashonthedash
PA
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Joined: 06/03/2003
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That must have been quite a scare. Glad to hear it wasn't serious and you're recovering. Be sure to take your meds, listen to the doctors, stay away from the wine and get well soon.
Gary Shapiro
Shadow - 7-year-old Greyhound (aka Shadow Ninja)
Hannah - 4-year-old GSD rescue (aka the Canine Tornado)
Max, Dash (GSDs), Willow, Dot, Allan, Lily (Greyhounds), and Molly(GSD Mix), at the Bridge and in my heart forever
2011 G'town 280DS Class A
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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Thanks, Gary. Doing fine now, and like WLToo, I'll keep up with the meds by alarms on both computer and cell phone.
Today was go to town day. Stopped into Petsmart to get more cat food, and I saw a big cardboard scratcher that looked like something Spot could use. Alex' scratcher is too small for him. Brought it home and the very first thing Spot did was to claw it, sniff the catnip, then pee a little on it. Then he sniffed a little more and laid down on it. Talk about claiming something as his own...
Not that it stopped Alex. Just as soon as Spot got off it and wandered away, Mr. Passive Aggressive promptly went over and thoroughly sharpened his claws on it.
Just at dark, I gathered Alex from off the north porch loveseat, then went out the south porch door to see Spot run at something. I couldn't see what it was, but it sure didn't stay around with the big guy coming at it. He was in full watch cat mode, so I got a little scratched getting him back inside for the night.
We haven't seen the deer right around the house in a few days. Just this evening, Mama Doe strolled past the house, with all three fawns pacing her on the other side of the fence. She didn't stop, just walked on by. I don't think she approved of our rosemary plants...
While we were re-potting an aloe plant, the barn swallows sat on the wire above us and complained. Loudly. Tough, they'll just have to get used to us. So glad they're here, though, since we have lotzo bugs already.
Oh, well, break's over. Back to filling out a 133 page survey... Note to self: don't accept any more similar challenges. They don't make the text big enough for older eyes. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/rolleyes.gif "rolleyes")
Later, y'all.
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