Well, Rosie had a very bad day yesterday - she had a bout of diarrhea that woke her owners up around 4 yesterday morning - and the mess was spread all over her bed, the master bathroom,the walk-in closet, the master bedroom, the entrance to the stairs, and the stairs themselves. Her folks were exhausted from caring from her and doing their regular jobs; she awoke them, barking on the stair landing. They didn't finish getting her cleaned up, and cleaning as well as they could until it was 8:30 yesterday morning. I took her for a walk at my sister's as usual, and then went back yesterday afternoon so one of the owners could take a nap. I got her up and down the steps, and supported her to use the bathroom, but she couldn't stand on her own at all.
I went over this morning, expecting the worst - but she was very happy to see me, shaking with excitement, as she's done for the last year. Got her in the car, and over to my sister's back yard as usual. I supported her hindquarters most of the way across the yard, until I got near where we usually sit in the sun; then I let go of her rear support handle. I was amazed, and extremely happy, when she remained standing by herself for a few minutes, and then walked over to the spruce trees and began to "play safari." She poked and nosed under the low growing branches for about ten minutes, then walked back to me, gave a sigh, and laid down. The last time she did that was around Thanksgiving. I reported that when I took her home this morning, and we all watched, amazed again, as she walked out into the den, drank some water, and then wandered through the kitchen. I left while she was still standing - astounded by her resilience....
Apparently "45" stuck pretty much to his teleprompter last night when addressing our joint Congress. But I was greatly saddened by his use of the widow, and horrified by his following crass remark about how long the applause was. The man continues to prove he's an uncaring, unthinking idiot. Following his teleprompter, he actually spoke in complete sentences. My only question is: where is he going to get the money to do all of the things he's proposing? He wants to increase military spending by $54 billion per year. Hes says he'll get the money by stripping the State Department, Foreign Aid, and shutting down Environmental Protection Agency programs. Maybe, if he totally closed all of those departments and agencies, he could save that amount. Then there's his "great, great wall" along the Mexican border; that's supposed to cost $20 to 30 billion - where will that money come from? He's going to deregulate industry and banking, and give them a 30% tax cut.
Where will the revenue for all of his expenditures come from? He states he's going to rebuild the nation's infrastructure - with what? How is he going to pay for 15,000 more border guards? - And what about the Canadian border? Will we get more guards for the northern border as well? What about Alaska's border along Canada? Having lost more than 48% of our manufacturing capabilities over the past 30 years, along with almost 60% of those people trained to do those jobs, how is the circus peanut going to jump-start manufacturing inside the United States again?
I am just wondering how he's going to pull a miracle out of his.....
Showing posts with label Irish Setter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Irish Setter. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Monday, December 12, 2016
Nature With Rosie
Rosie and I had a "nature day" this past Friday. Just a quick reminder that Rosie is an elderly Irish Setter, who, at 14 + years, has out-lived her brother, her parents, and, as of last week, all four of her puppies. Rosie has problems walking these days - her hind legs have no feeling, thanks to a compressed spinal cord, but once she gets her feet under her, she can keep walking for miles. But - her left hind paw turns over as she walks, and she scrapes her toes raw, so we avoid walking her on asphalt and concrete surfaces these days.
Friday, it had gotten a little warmer after snowing, and the roads and sidewalks were snow-packed, so we walked to my sister's instead of driving. Her toes just slipped on the snow-pack, and didn't abrade, so we footed it. The amount of small wildlife we saw was amazing. Several bunnies were along the Garnet spur, and they all went dashing into burrows under a huge juniper bush. Rosie had to spend a lot of time investigating each and every path. When we turned onto Topaz, several squirrels chittered at us from one of Bernie's cottonwoods. As we approached the next home, we were greeted by an eight-point buck and six does. Rosie whined, but sat quietly and we watched them cross the street in front of us. We passed lots of small birds singing in the trees, and saw tracks of squirrels, a raccoon, and other dogs in the snow.
When we reached my sister's home, we went in by the Creek gate, and I took the leash off Rosie's harness. Her first item of business was following the trail of a single deer that had jumped the gate, and then gone diagonally across the back yard. The only areas clear of snow were right up against the line of firs trees along the irrigation ditch, so I set my chair up there. Rosie began playing "safari" - looking for lions and tigers and bears (oh, my!) under the drooping boughs, She spent about ten minutes doing her reconnaissance mission, and then felt it was safe enough to go wallow in a deep snow drift. After several back-scratching rolls and wiggles, she heaved a deep sigh, and came back beside me. She chose a sunny spot on the grass, and stretched out to absorb the sun's rays.
I sat in the chair and watched the sky, listened to birds, and thought about how nice my life is. (I was also hoping that it would stay this nice...) Looking at the sky, I noticed that the lowers clouds were racing from the west to the east, and I watched a jet's contrail get twisted into a double helix before it was totally blown away and apart. The higher, larger clouds were slowing moving to the northeast, and formed a darker backdrop for the lower, faster clouds.
I then noticed there were very few birds singing in the back yard, so I started scanning the boles of the firs. The fifth one I gazed at had a pair of great horned owls, a male and a larger female, near the top branches. On the other side of the yard, there was the usual gaggle of chickadees, sparrows, juncos, robins, and one rufous-sided towhee. Then a murder of crows flew over, followed by a few magpies... All in all, the normal sightings in the Githens Acres neighborhood.
Rosie and I walked back quietly - she was a little tired, and (I think) starting to get chilly. I kept on thinking about all of the creatures that I had been allowed to view. Got Rosie home, and she immediately curled up in her bed, so I threw her coverlet over her. Then I stepped back out the front door and had a squirrel greet me. Creatures in life are nice.
Friday, it had gotten a little warmer after snowing, and the roads and sidewalks were snow-packed, so we walked to my sister's instead of driving. Her toes just slipped on the snow-pack, and didn't abrade, so we footed it. The amount of small wildlife we saw was amazing. Several bunnies were along the Garnet spur, and they all went dashing into burrows under a huge juniper bush. Rosie had to spend a lot of time investigating each and every path. When we turned onto Topaz, several squirrels chittered at us from one of Bernie's cottonwoods. As we approached the next home, we were greeted by an eight-point buck and six does. Rosie whined, but sat quietly and we watched them cross the street in front of us. We passed lots of small birds singing in the trees, and saw tracks of squirrels, a raccoon, and other dogs in the snow.
When we reached my sister's home, we went in by the Creek gate, and I took the leash off Rosie's harness. Her first item of business was following the trail of a single deer that had jumped the gate, and then gone diagonally across the back yard. The only areas clear of snow were right up against the line of firs trees along the irrigation ditch, so I set my chair up there. Rosie began playing "safari" - looking for lions and tigers and bears (oh, my!) under the drooping boughs, She spent about ten minutes doing her reconnaissance mission, and then felt it was safe enough to go wallow in a deep snow drift. After several back-scratching rolls and wiggles, she heaved a deep sigh, and came back beside me. She chose a sunny spot on the grass, and stretched out to absorb the sun's rays.
I sat in the chair and watched the sky, listened to birds, and thought about how nice my life is. (I was also hoping that it would stay this nice...) Looking at the sky, I noticed that the lowers clouds were racing from the west to the east, and I watched a jet's contrail get twisted into a double helix before it was totally blown away and apart. The higher, larger clouds were slowing moving to the northeast, and formed a darker backdrop for the lower, faster clouds.
I then noticed there were very few birds singing in the back yard, so I started scanning the boles of the firs. The fifth one I gazed at had a pair of great horned owls, a male and a larger female, near the top branches. On the other side of the yard, there was the usual gaggle of chickadees, sparrows, juncos, robins, and one rufous-sided towhee. Then a murder of crows flew over, followed by a few magpies... All in all, the normal sightings in the Githens Acres neighborhood.
Rosie and I walked back quietly - she was a little tired, and (I think) starting to get chilly. I kept on thinking about all of the creatures that I had been allowed to view. Got Rosie home, and she immediately curled up in her bed, so I threw her coverlet over her. Then I stepped back out the front door and had a squirrel greet me. Creatures in life are nice.
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Poor Old Rosie!
I dearly love this dog. We lost her "brother" 4 years ago, and now her health is failing, also. She's considered a medium- to large-sized dog, being an Irish Setter, and she's now 14 and 1/2 years old. Her muzzle and face are almost - but not quite - white; her ears have streaks of blond; and the red of her coat is more orange than red these days... According to the veterinarians, and she sees four different vets, she no longer has any feeling in her hind legs. She powers her way up from lying and sitting using her shoulders and forelegs. If we get her hind legs under her, she can walk and trot normally. Since her hind legs don't cooperate very well, she rarely runs any more.
Her left hind foot turns inward, and then pivots out when she walks. Her right hind leg frequently collapses on her. The vets say she isn't in bad enough shape to put her into a wheelchair - yet. This past week, she's been dragging her left foot with the tops of her toes - her "furry knuckles" - tucked under, and has rubbed the fur and skin off. This morning we got a good, professional paw wrap from her vet, and, if we keep her off hard surfaces, she should be okay. The problem is there are wooden and stone steps at both the front and back doors - and when she starts downstairs, her hind legs collapse and she drags her feet. We have earthen ramps for her to use, but most of the time she chooses the steps.
Today, I drove her over to my sister's for our hour in the back yard. Had no problem getting Rosie into and out of the car, and she used the bathroom at my sister's (which I dutifully picked up) and enjoyed wandering around the grassy acre. I loaded her into the car to go home, and we drove there without incident. I had all the windows half-way open so Rosie could scent the wind as we rode. When we got to her house, I grabbed my bag, and then opened the back door for the Rose. I slipped my right arm in front of her hips to make sure she was standing square on all four feet in the garage. An intense odor greeted me. I thought she had farted when I pressed against her belly. I took her inside, gave the owner the car keys, and left. She caught me at the foot of the drive - Rosie had pooped all over the back seat of the car, apparently just as we pulled into the garage.
The owner had to meet with patients at her office in 30 minutes, so she and I both wiped up, and washed down the back seat of the car, so she could leave. We went back inside the house to wash our hands, and realized that Rosie had pooped again, while sitting down in the kitchen. I sent the owner on to her meeting, and Rosie and I took a shower; then I blew her dry with her hair dryer. Then I got to clean up the kitchen floor.
The owner was on time to see her patient, and tonight she and her husband called me and announced they'd be doubling my usual wages staying with her over the next few days. I told them that a raise wasn't necessary, because I consider Rosie a part of my family, and that we all need to accept the changes of growing old. I do love that Rosie!
Her left hind foot turns inward, and then pivots out when she walks. Her right hind leg frequently collapses on her. The vets say she isn't in bad enough shape to put her into a wheelchair - yet. This past week, she's been dragging her left foot with the tops of her toes - her "furry knuckles" - tucked under, and has rubbed the fur and skin off. This morning we got a good, professional paw wrap from her vet, and, if we keep her off hard surfaces, she should be okay. The problem is there are wooden and stone steps at both the front and back doors - and when she starts downstairs, her hind legs collapse and she drags her feet. We have earthen ramps for her to use, but most of the time she chooses the steps.
Today, I drove her over to my sister's for our hour in the back yard. Had no problem getting Rosie into and out of the car, and she used the bathroom at my sister's (which I dutifully picked up) and enjoyed wandering around the grassy acre. I loaded her into the car to go home, and we drove there without incident. I had all the windows half-way open so Rosie could scent the wind as we rode. When we got to her house, I grabbed my bag, and then opened the back door for the Rose. I slipped my right arm in front of her hips to make sure she was standing square on all four feet in the garage. An intense odor greeted me. I thought she had farted when I pressed against her belly. I took her inside, gave the owner the car keys, and left. She caught me at the foot of the drive - Rosie had pooped all over the back seat of the car, apparently just as we pulled into the garage.
The owner had to meet with patients at her office in 30 minutes, so she and I both wiped up, and washed down the back seat of the car, so she could leave. We went back inside the house to wash our hands, and realized that Rosie had pooped again, while sitting down in the kitchen. I sent the owner on to her meeting, and Rosie and I took a shower; then I blew her dry with her hair dryer. Then I got to clean up the kitchen floor.
The owner was on time to see her patient, and tonight she and her husband called me and announced they'd be doubling my usual wages staying with her over the next few days. I told them that a raise wasn't necessary, because I consider Rosie a part of my family, and that we all need to accept the changes of growing old. I do love that Rosie!
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Rosie and Critters
Hopefully I can get back into the habit of blogging every day... This past three-day weekend was very relaxing, and the cats let me sleep in on both Saturday and Sunday. Yesterday I walked one dog and stopped by my sister's house to drop off photos from my vacation, and we ended up sitting and chatting for more than 3 hours. It was wonderful. Today we have heavily overcast skies, but there is a slight bit of sunshine to the east. Bertrando is on top of his telephone pole, with a slice of apple, trying to pull in some warmth. The raven family hasn't visited the restaurant dumpster next door yet, which is pretty unusual for them. They are usually here eating and partying from sun up until 9 or so. Lovey is curled up in my bed, and Nedi is asleep in the living room cat tree.
I feel so much for Rosie and her family. Rosie is an Irish Setter, and is well over 14 years old now. She eats well, is very alert when not sleeping, and is doing well physically, except for her hind-end. Her vision and hearing are not what they were, but her nose misses nothing. The vet says she has no feeling at all in her right hind leg, and has only partial feeling in the left hind. Her hind legs have lost their muscle tone. She can get up from sitting or lying with a little effort. And she has no problem walking, trotting, or even making short runs on the ground or floors. Stairs and steps are her downfalls - literally. Her rear end collapses and she slides, with her back legs knocking her front legs out from under her. Then she looks extremely embarrassed and woeful, as only an older dog can... Rosie gets acupuncture every two weeks, as well as laser joint treatments. She has developed a thyroid problem, and takes one pill a day for it. And she's gotten very finicky as she age progresses. At the moment, her favorite edibles are meatballs from Lucky's Market... She'll do almost anything for a Lucky's meatball..... Rosie's young man just had his 21st birthday, and he was reluctant to go back to his senior year of college. We all are really hoping that she'll be here when he returns for winter break. She is such a good and loving dog. I dread the day she will cross the Rainbow Bridge.
I start taking care of Charlie, Tinkerbell, and 7 hens today. Charlie is part pug and gosh-only-knows what else... she is bouncy and full of energy. Tinkerbell is the very aloof cat; so aloof the housekeeper didn't know she was living in the house, and was very frightened by her appearance one day. And the hens are out in the rear third of the acre back yard. I just hope that Blanca will want to come inside the next few evenings!
I feel so much for Rosie and her family. Rosie is an Irish Setter, and is well over 14 years old now. She eats well, is very alert when not sleeping, and is doing well physically, except for her hind-end. Her vision and hearing are not what they were, but her nose misses nothing. The vet says she has no feeling at all in her right hind leg, and has only partial feeling in the left hind. Her hind legs have lost their muscle tone. She can get up from sitting or lying with a little effort. And she has no problem walking, trotting, or even making short runs on the ground or floors. Stairs and steps are her downfalls - literally. Her rear end collapses and she slides, with her back legs knocking her front legs out from under her. Then she looks extremely embarrassed and woeful, as only an older dog can... Rosie gets acupuncture every two weeks, as well as laser joint treatments. She has developed a thyroid problem, and takes one pill a day for it. And she's gotten very finicky as she age progresses. At the moment, her favorite edibles are meatballs from Lucky's Market... She'll do almost anything for a Lucky's meatball..... Rosie's young man just had his 21st birthday, and he was reluctant to go back to his senior year of college. We all are really hoping that she'll be here when he returns for winter break. She is such a good and loving dog. I dread the day she will cross the Rainbow Bridge.
I start taking care of Charlie, Tinkerbell, and 7 hens today. Charlie is part pug and gosh-only-knows what else... she is bouncy and full of energy. Tinkerbell is the very aloof cat; so aloof the housekeeper didn't know she was living in the house, and was very frightened by her appearance one day. And the hens are out in the rear third of the acre back yard. I just hope that Blanca will want to come inside the next few evenings!
Monday, December 9, 2013
Dogs in Snow
Don't worry - none of these dogs were out for more than 20 minutes - and then they were toweled and blown dry and warm..... I can guarantee it!
Saturday, December 1, 2012
My Usual Canine Companions
Rosie and her favorite blue bone
Remy in his "Help 'Em Up" harness
Boo
Mona, the Catahoula Leopard dog - She's wearing the cone because she was just spayed...
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