Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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Goodness! Didn't realize it's been three weeks since I posted, but things have been right lively around here.
The hummingbirds have been divebombing us as we sit on the porch, the seven barn swallow babies are within a day or two of flying, a doe had her fawn in our meadow last week, Mama Doe Lassie will drop hers within the next two weeks, the garden is planted, we have an algae bloom in the swimming pool, and Spot just peed all over me...
He's been doing so well. He learned to open the screen doors to go in and out, so he wasn't bothering us much for the "kitty on the wrong side of the door" routine. For some reason tonight, he came inside, and instead of letting us know he'd like to go back outside (it is storming), he climbed up on my chair, peed on me, then strolled away as if everything was just fine. So I cleaned my chair, sprayed it liberally with Wee Cleaner, took a shower, and threw him outside. We only let him back inside when the lightning got closer, and he's being somewhat subdued. I am NOT fooled...
Since it is getting somewhat fierce out there, I'll shut down. My little laptop has become far too important to lose what's on it.
Later, y'all.
"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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We finished sorting MIL's stuff. I have 3 boxes packed of her china, one to go, then two to four boxes of her crystal to go, and we'll ship it all to the nieces. Then I'll space our china and crystal out in the china cabinet.
Spot ate several of my lintel chips this afternoon. He really does taste almost everything. Alex sniffed one, though it was nasty, and laid down in my lap.
We got 2.12" rain from the storms last night and today. Won't have to refill the pool this week, but it won't put much of a dent in our drought.
Wow. More lightning. Gotta shut down again.
Later, y'all.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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It's cloudy, but no thunderstorms on the horizon, so it's safe to type a little longer...
A young barn swallow flew into the house last night. Nothing I did could get it to fly just a little lower, where it could have flown back outside. It wound up spending the night on our highest picture frame, far above where Spot desperately wanted it to be. As soon as the barn swallows outside started the morning gossip fest, this one began to frantically try and get out. But before I could get the door open, it flew just low enough for Spot to leap straight into the air, grab the bird, and scoot out the door. I went back to bed, so I don't know if the bird escaped Spot (it's happened before).
MDL came up to the porch a few minutes ago. She had the fawn just a few hours ago. So while she ate, I watched the meadow through binoculars, hoping to catch a glimpse. Golly, but this is one bold (and large) fawn. It was so young that it still wobbled walking, but was strolling through the grass, sniffing an occasional thistle or wildflower. It finally disappeared into the grass behind our grain wagon, where it's laying down. MDL realized I saw it, but was not at all concerned. She finished eating, strolled down under the trees, looked over at the fawn, then continued strolling. If past practice repeats, she'll bring the fawn up to the porch in less than a week.
So now the Druidenweise deer nursery is in full swing. We have two singles, a pair of twins, and several more preggers does staking out their patches in the meadow.
Meanwhile, the second set of 4 baby barn swallows should fly by next week, then we can start all over with the second batches.
Not so many hummingbirds this year; the drought is not helping.
On the human front, all the MIL's china is packed and ready to ship. The crystal is waiting on better quality shipping boxes, and on this human having the energy to pack and ship. The a-fib is back and nearly constant, so I'll shortly be having a compound ablation. This is the normal thru the vein catheter ablation, plus a laparoscopic entry through the abdomen to snake a tube up behind the heart, then the upper chamber heart muscle gets ablated. About a 3-day hospital stay, mostly because a drainage tube stays in a couple days. This time should fix the a-fib permanently.
Then I'll be back to energetic, might lose all the weight I gained (fluid buildup from the a-fib), and will definitely be able to increase my workout intensity.
Time to research the data so I can post the appeal on my mom's place. That appraisal is ridiculous, and so far out of norm that someone in that office needs a smart rap upside the head...![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/mad.gif "mad")
Later, y'all.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Well, now. MDL's fawn pranced right up to the porch this morning, all by itself. It stayed and stared at me for at least a minute, then trotted calmly back down the slope to the trees.
This is one brave fawn. I tried to get a photo, but it's not good enough to post. I expect there will be lots of opportunities with this one.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Well, it’s been a right lively time around the ol’ homestead. Got the MIL's china shipped to her great granddaughter. MIL is falling so much that she either needs intensive physical therapy and a temporary full-time nurse/watcher, or move into assisted living. WLToo is there, so I don't know exactly what's going on. He should be home tonight.
Our closest friends arrived from Germany on 30 May, and left yesterday. They’re now heading for the East Coast to visit family and receive household goods at their cabin deep in the Maine woods. At some point, they’ll be buying a fifth wheel and living in it here with us during the “not summer” seasons. She’s already planning our Alaskan trip for 2015.
Meanwhile, the livestock got positively rowdy. Yesterday, a doe with fawn was at the water trough, saw the cats sitting quietly on the porch, and charged them. She went after Spot as he ducked behind the glider, just missing striking him with her front hooves. Luckily, I was at the door and saw her on the porch. I yanked the door open, she got startled and fell down, then jumped up and acted like she was going to charge Spot again. So I became the biggest predator around, snarled, and started toward her with great menace. When I, Spot, and Alex all snarled, she decided to leave. Quickly. Her fawn had departed as soon as the door opened.
As I turned back to the door, Alex was coming toward me, but suddenly his back legs collapsed. I picked him up and he seemed to have some strength in them, but I took him to the vet to check him over thoroughly. His hindquarters have a little arthritis in the knees, but nothing else was wrong – we thought it was just the excitement that did it. However, his heart is skipping beats, so he’s now scheduled for an EKG and a heart scan on Monday. At age 18, I’m not surprised, but dang, he scared the bejabbers out of me. I’m so not ready to lose another heart kitty.
Spot was uninjured, but the stress and fear threw him back into bad behavior. He started clawing everything he’s not supposed to claw, peed on the pantry door instead of using his Litter Robot, and tried to attack Alex several times. On the up side, he stayed plastered against my back for over six hours last night, going outside to potty only when I asked him if he wanted to go. Then he crept slowly out the door, watching for any deer-like movement. Normally, his bladder is good for about five hours…
Gimpy and her twins came up this morning. She did not show any aggression toward the cats, but they both shot back into the house before she reached the corn bowl. I guess we should call her something besides Gimpy, since her leg strain has healed.
A while later, Spot decided to go out without me. Shortly after, I saw Mama Doe Lassie standing beside the lawn chairs on the porch. As I went out to make sure she had some corn, I saw her sniff at Spot, who was asleep on one of the chairs. He didn’t move, showed no fear toward her at all. I guess he can tell the difference amongst deer.
MDL ate part of the corn, then walked back across the pool deck. She has only recently started walking on the pool deck again. Last time we noticed her on the pool deck was when she had her twins and they were so thirsty that they were all licking the dew off the deck. That was when we bought the water trough.
I went outside to see why she was traipsing across the deck, and saw her licking the dew off the water hose. That’s strange; the water trough is full. Meanwhile, her fawn stayed right with her, listening to me talk and not showing much fear at all. Caution, yes. Fear, no. What a bold little thing it is.
Both cats are inside now. Spot is crammed into a small box on the coffee table. Alex is trying to lay on my computer, and being thwarted by my typing, is hunched into a small mound with his nose on my left hand.
On the birdie front, the barn swallows appear to be readying themselves for round two. No eggs yet, but I expect that fairly soon. The hummingbirds are draining the feeder every day. At least two of them will buzz the windows until I notice and replace the nectar, then hover close by until I hang it back up. Some days I don’t even have it on the hook before a hummer is feeding. I can see why; the thistles are no longer blooming and the agarita has yet to bloom.
I guess the various daisies proliferating in the meadow don’t give them much nectar, so we’re looking at other wildflowers and shrubs that will attract hummers and butterflies, not require us to fuss with them, and not get destroyed by the deer. We’re planting salvia regia (mountain sage) and Wedelia texana (Texas creeping-oxeye) this week, then covering them with wire until they’re completely settled, so the deer can’t yank ‘em out by the roots as they taste them.
One of the two buck herds has taken to sleeping in our meadow, which doesn’t make MDL real happy. The bucks are not aggressive toward the cats or us, and we’re part of MDL’s family, so since three of that herd were her babies, she tolerates them, more or less. Come late October, she’ll not let them anywhere near the house. Nothing like having a watch deer…
My a-fib will be corrected again in early July. Hopefully, that will be the end of it – twice is pretty much the norm for ablation. Then I’m pushing for WLToo to have catheter ablation, too, since his a-fib is constant and he’s taking far too many medications for me to be comfortable. The Parkinson’s meds he can’t stop, but with the ablation, he should be able to drop several meds.
I’m running out of things to say, not to mention my hand hurts (some tendon problem in my left thumb). So I’ll just say: Later, Y’all.
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kokosfriend
Nashville, TN
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Joined: 09/06/2004
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I really enjoy hearing about things that are happening. Glad everyone is doing OK. Tell Alex I understand arthritis and hang in there - keep moving.
Barb
Barb and the 4 chocolates
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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I've come to the conclusion that Spot is basically a special needs cat. Although he appears to be normal, any stress at all causes him to lose all discipline, and often to get a bladder infection.
Going to be real interesting, dealing with him in an RV when we all head to Alaska...
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Spot woke me up at 0500, scratching the side of the bed. Then he disappeared. Being naturally suspicious, I grabbed the black light and did pee patrol. Sure enough, he'd been using the hall bathroom as a pissoir. Sprayed Wee Cleaner all over the bright green lit areas, then closed that door. 1/3 of the house is closed to both cats now.
He did go outside, and stayed until WLToo fed them at the normal time. Then he climbed onto the bed and stood on my hip until I got up, whereupon he laid in the warm spot.
He stayed outside quite a while today, mostly under the porch sofa. Alex doesn't seem to be bothered at all anymore, but did spend the hottest hours in the house, as is his habit. This evening, Spot took over my chair (first time) and napped for a couple hours, then went back to his box. Except for peeing in the wrong place and still clawing stuff, he seems to be calming down. I do hope that means he won't have another bladder infection.
We have an interesting bird we call the "durka durka" bird. No idea what it looks like, as we only hear it call "chirp, chirpa, chirrrr durka durka chirrrr" from the trees down in the meadow. It's not something we hear daily, so I guess it's not a permanent resident. Would love to see it, though.
Bedtime. Later, y'all.
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Code2High
One hour past Nowhere, CA
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Joined: 12/21/2004
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Is Spot getting a probiotic supplement?
susan
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a wabbit, Fuzzy Wuzzy had a dandelion habit! RIP little Wuz... don't go far.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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WLToo's mother died suddenly last week, two months short of 90. Brain aneurysm. At least she did not die of anything she was afraid of.
Now we're dealing with her estate, which, of course, she did not sort out or organize. Just took a break from untangling jewelry so we can get it all appraised. Next week is the rosary and funeral mass, and the brothers have to clear out her rooms at the retirement village, while taking photos of what they are keeping for the estate appraisals, and of what they are not keeping for the donation deductions. We have so many lessons learned coming out of this already...
When we were called last Saturday that she had collapsed, we just barely got the cats into the animal hospital for boarding before they closed for the day. Dashed to Houston (insofar as driving four hours is "dashing") to find her DNR in her files and get to the hospital with it. Unfortunately, they had already exceeded her explicit instructions, so there was a 48-hour delay before they finally disconnected the machines. Lesson learned: if you have a DNR, carry it with you at all times.
WLToo has a copy of her will, but we have not been able to locate the original. We dug through all kinds of papers scattered all around, only to find out it wasn't even there. That will cause a mild hiccup in settling her estate. Lesson learned: Have more than one original of a will and keep it handy.
She told WLToo what to put in her obituary, and where she wanted the services held, but never mentioned the little things, like what she wanted buried with her. So I suggested the dress she'd worn for their 50th anniversary and renewal of vows. Couldn't find the specific jewelry she'd worn (she had jewelry scattered all over her rooms, so while searching, I consolidated everything into one box), so settled on a set of earrings we'd given her and a matching pendant, plus her wedding bands. Then, at the funeral home, the pendant had no chain, so we couldn't use that. They asked if she would have wanted a rosary. Duh. We had her purse with us, to give them various forms of ID and such, and the necklace she'd been wearing when she collapsed and a rosary were in it, so I handed both over. Lesson learned: Tell your loved ones what you want buried with you, and keep that stuff handy.
She'd told WLToo what kind of mass she wanted, but never mentioned special music. WLToo decided to leave it up to the nuns, at whose monastery the services will be held. Lesson learned: If you like certain songs and want them performed at the service, tell someone.
She had a pre-paid burial plan, but there are still extra costs, such as the obituary, opening/closing of plot, police escort, limo service, death certificates, etc. Good thing WLToo was co-signatory on her financial stuff, so that her estate could pay those costs. Lesson Learned: Get a pre-paid funeral/burial/cremation/whatever plan, and give someone you trust authority to pay extras from your estate.
Big Lesson Learned: WRITE. IT. DOWN. and KEEP. IT. READILY. AVAILABLE. TO. SURVIVORS!!!
Then we cleaned her refrigerator, secured anything we thought was high value or easily pilferable, and came back home. The cats were thrilled to come home and stuck to us like glue for a couple of days. We slept for 12 hours the first night, and are getting back to something like normal, until we go back to Houston next week.
I am not able to have my catheter ablation on Tuesday, as we go back on Wednesday, but I hope it will be re-scheduled fairly soon. Houston's humidity just pours liquid into my calves and ankles, and the a-fib doesn't help move it out. Soon as we got home Tuesday night, I went into the pool and stayed until they no longer felt so tight and heavy.
WLToo is very much looking forward to settling the estate, so that he need never go back again. Can't say I'm fond of the place, either.
Spot has taken to sleeping outside at night, even last night with all the noise. Fireworks going off until well after 0100. Some people really spend some money on fireworks -- I enjoy the show, but have no desire to join in. I'm happy to sit on the porch with a nice glass of something and swivel my head back and forth as the lake gets lit up.
I'm glad Spot's decided the porch is a good sleeping place, as he doesn't claw stuff or pee on it. I do wonder if he'll still be interested in staying outside when it gets cold, cold being a relative term in this part of the Hill Country. If he insists on it, we'll build him an insulated box and tuck it under his favorite porch chair -- he loves boxes. But I somehow think he'll prefer to spend the cold nights up against my back, and frankly, I like him there.
Code, there are probiotics in his food, and he gets Dasaquin every day. The test will be how he responds to next week's incarceration. He's doing ok right now, but two boardings in two weeks just might set him off again.
Alex' heart scan showed some thickening of the walls, so he's on one pill a day. It's super tiny (a quarter of a small pill, actually) and easy to toss in the back of his throat. He gets treats right after, so he's tolerating it just fine. Then Spot has to get treats, too, because his sense of fairness is so well developed... Other than that, Alex is just fine. We have Tramadol to apply to his ears as needed for the arthritis pain, but he's not shown any pain since coming home.
I'm looking for a non-prescription joint supplement that could help him. Any suggestions?
My sister, nephew and ex-BIL were here yesterday. Sister fed carrots to MDL and got real chummy with her. I cut up the watermelon remnants into deer bite sized pieces, and WLToo dropped them all near the water trough. Sister led MDL to the pile, but she doesn't care for watermelon. Another doe with her fawn chowed down. A couple hours later, there was no sign any watermelon had ever been there.
Well, time to get back to untangling jewelry. Later, y'all.
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