What’s New

This morning I woke up to lightening quietly illuminating the sky. Carol loves lightening and thunderstorms. She sits in front of her large bedroom window, which offers a much larger view of the sky than any window in my house, and takes it all in. It reminds her of the storms back in Iowa. I used to like lightening storms, but not anymore. So many fires are caused by lightening strikes. It is a natural part of the ecosystem in a coniferous forest, which is, of course were I live.

It rained a little. The air is fresh and crisp. The ground hasn’t yet taken on that look of spring, but it’s getting there. Finally!

Sorting, sifting, still..I came upon this photo of my dad in a letter he’d sent. If you look closely in the upper left hand corner, you will see Frosty Morning in Nebraska. In the lower left hand corner, there’s a small amount of blue which was the window trim around the bay window in the kitchen. Like Carol enjoying Nature’s view out her window, many hours were - and still are - wiled away in front of that bay window. Frosty Morning in Nebraska was done looking out that window.

Coming up, this summer, on my 55th birthday, I got a chukle out of the back of the photo..

My dad died the following year after a five year battle with cancer. The kitchen (and the entire farmhouse) has been redone by my sister Lori and her husband Ron. Rick built the new kitchen cabinets. The bay window remains. Here’s me and Kelly wiling away more hours in front of that same window.

Sifting…still…through memorabilia, photos and ephemera. While I’m enjoying my class, it really has taken up a lot of my time. Stacy, our instructor, said it would, so I was forewarned. I am determined to stay on top of assignments and complete the course!

My mentor was Mr. Ferguson. He was one of the last Dog Men, managed a successful Pug kennel in my hometown. That kennel was located at 13 Valley View Heights. I thought that was the coolest address! It sat on top of a hill on the then-outskirts of town. He, himself, bred German Shorthair Pointers. Click on the following to read the entire article…

Yesterday, Rick and I spent the afternoon with Chris and Herman. She’s doing great! For some time she’s been meaning to share the following clipped from a magazine. I love this kennel!

To see the above photos in a larger format…

Yesterday, while Julie was showing dogs in Milwaukee, Eli and I took a trip to the barn.  A long-time client of mine, LA, invited me to bring Eli to see her vet, Dr. Debra Mayo. One of LA’s Newfoundlands, Bow, battles allergies year-round. He is kept relatively comfortable with injections, now and again, from Dr. Mayo. LA exhibits and breeds Arabian horses. Dr. Mayo was coming to LA’s barn Friday to ultrasound Wild Lily, checking to see if she was pregnant. She could give Eli a ‘cocktail’ then.

Eli’s year-round itching began to intensify the beginning of April. This year the results came fast. He developed a large hot spot under his chin, where the tags from his collar hang. His ears were swollen, inflamed. He was miserable…as miserable as a big-hearted, happy-go-lucky dog can be. I applied topical hydro-cortisone cream, which provided immediate relief. His ears calmed down. The hot spot disappeared. The scratching continued. He looks like an old moth-eaten sweater.

Wanting to provide some relief for Eli, I took LA up on her offer Tuesday to ask Dr. Mayo to bring a ‘cocktail’ for Eli on Friday. I almost decided against going during the next couple of days. Eli’s scratching has subsided a bit. I really, really wanted a day at home, a day where I didn’t have to be anywhere, go anywhere. I’m not fond of big-gun drugs, which the cocktail was most certain to be made of.

Early Thursday morning, lying in bed in that mid-way state between wakefulness and sleep, the subject floated in my mind. Dr. Mayo is a vet, a vet that has a large horse clientele. LA has invited me to her barn before, but I’ve never gone. I’d like to meet some of the horses I’ve heard about over the years. I’d like to see Bow and Arrow on their turf. This vet might be Old School. This vet may practice the Art of Diagnosis. It wouldn’t hurt to establish a relationship with another Old School vet. They’re becoming fewer and farther between. What did I have to lose but time? 

I loaded up Eli - almost as big as horse - and drove to LA’s barn. Click here if you’re interested in the specifics of Eli’s treatment. I liked Dr. Mayo. Years ago she worked with Doug, my new vet. Their philosophies are similar. She commented that a teacher in vet school told her to remember that veterinary medicine is based on Science and that there’s an Art to Diagnosis. Yes! Yes!

Over the years, I have transitioned from believing in only western medicine to incorporating complimentary and alternative methods for myself and the dogs under my care. I know from personal experience the benefits of massage therapy and chiropractic adjustment. Our bodies - human and canine - are programmed to heal. Jason, my chiropractor, shared his opinion about drugs. It made sense to me, so I’m sharing it with you. Drugs are beneficial if they help the body return to normal.

In addition to the cocktail - indeed consisting of a short-acting steroid and a long-acting steroid - Dr. Mayo prescribed an antihistamine to be used as needed, down the road. I like her. I’m certain I’ll use her again. I like having two - TWO!! - vets I’m comfortable with. Wow! A year ago I felt desperate about being able to afford and provide appropriate care for my dogs. Now I have two vets!!

After mom died in 1997, my sisters put me in charge of the family photos. These, along with ‘memories in bits and pieces’ were organized and filed ten years ago. Yesterday doing homework for the Library of Memories class, knee deep in memorabilia, ephemera, photos and personal memories, I came upon the following card in the dad folder.

Inside the card..

My dad was nine years old in 1942. That is not his handwriting. I wondered about the significance of the card. Why was it saved? Who sent it? I shared the card and my questions with our friends Kevin and Melissa as we feasted on Chinese take-out. They suggested it was an art project with assistance from a teacher. That would explain the handwriting. Palmer method, for sure. A light bulb went on! Could dad have drawn the picture? Quickly I retrieved two wood burnings by dad…

It’s a barn and farm implements with mountains and pine trees in the background. The scan isn’t great, but look at the style. Look at the trees. Look at the snow on the trees. Look at the snow on the ground.

Here’s a piece he titled…

This was done looking out the bay window in the kitchen of the farm house, the house where my sister Lori now lives. Notice the two cats sleeping in the window. Look at the trees, cottonwoods instead of pines. Look at the snow on the ground.

Katy, Kevin and Melissa’s daughter is also an artist. She’s been asked to illustrate a book. There was no question in their minds that the three pieces were done by the same person. And that a talented nine-year old could easily draw with skill.

What do you think? 

It’s here. Springtime in the Rockies. Snow. Taken this morning…  

Sometime I’m glad for snow on a Sunday morning. When I awoke, the snow was gently falling, setting a perfect mood for the day. Cozy. Calm. Stillness. Mother Nature’s way of telling me to take a break.

Chris went home from the hospital on Wednesday. Yesterday she took a four block walk! I asked her if we should go out dancing tonight… This photo was taken several years ago, at her daughter’s wedding in Mexico. She was undergoing chemotherapy at the time. Here’s to Chris!

A quick weekend update before digging out so Carol can take Suzanne to work. Her Jeep is in the garage. Again. Sleek Sue and I will follow a bit later. Zena and Wyatt are scheduled to have some baby teeth removed. Wouldn’t ya know, it started snowing last night. It’s too dark to tell if it’s still snowing this morning.

And on Sunday morning she was ready to eat! The physical therapist had been by before we arrived and had Chris standing up on a stool by the bed. Everything seems to be working correctly, confirmed by a few tests Dr. Duke did while we were there. Chris is in good spirits, has all her wits about her and will be moved out of ICU this morning.

Besides the smile, note the carpenter’s level hanging off that rack. Her surgery was done using some kind of Stealth Guided Computer Assisted Navigation system…the latest technology. But the machine tracking her blood pressure isn’t working correctly. Not sure how the level is suppose to fix that, but I couldn’t resist getting a photo!

The other day Kathy asked me why is Chris my hero. She’s my hero because she has accepted her situation, from the beginning, with grace and dignity. She doesn’t whine about it; she simply looks at what must be done to buy more time, as long as it’s quality time. “I’m buying myself some more time.” Her positive outlook has surely helped her defy the odds. The survival rate for IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer) is 30% is the first year. Chris has passed the five year mark. Yesterday, the occupational therapist asked her about her long-term goal. To play a round of golf, was the reply. You can bet she’ll be doing that later this spring. Or this summer.

Kathy also wondered what has touched me the most. My family, I suppose. Saturday afternoon, Rick and Nate picked me up from Clothes Day - would that be Clothes Quarter Day? - and I joined the rest of the family at the hospital. After surgery, Dr. Duke entered the waiting room, took a look and commented on how many of us there were (seven). “That’s the way we roll!” my niece Emilie replied.

Doing a bit of homework for the Library of Memories I’m taking, before heading down the hill to see Chris and the rest of the family, I came upon this. Thought I’d share…

Today’s the day. Chris - my sister-in-law, not the Chris that has commented on this blog - at this very moment, is undergoing the long preparation for her surgery today. It really is the only option she has. The other is to simply live with the tumor, letting it grow and take over her brain. :::sigh::: Needless to say, things have been a little….unsettled….scattered.

I’ve immersed myself in a series of books which I discovered about two weeks ago. Audio books are one of my pleasures in life. Usually I reserve the books, but once in a while I peruse the shelves, which is exactly how I found The New Year’s Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini. In a review of one her books, the Library Journal says, “Chiaverini has pieced together a beautiful story…. Women - daughters, sisters and mothers - will enjoy.” I’ve just started my 4th, The Quilter’s Legacy. She develops her characters so that you care about each and every one of them, although it may take some time to understand and appreciate the personality traits of some of the more colorful characters. Woven throughout each book is information on quilting. The diversion, the characters, the concept, Elm Creek Quilters is just what my soul needs right now!

Inspired, I pulled out the pieces of a quilt I made ten years ago in a class titled Colorado Sampler Quilt. I told Rick I want to attend Elm Creek Quilt Camp for a week and get it finished. I learned when you make a quilt, you start with a palette of colors. I selected my favorite colors, black and red, along with white and gray for contrast. Mine was definitely the most contemporary in our class. The instructor, especially with several of the blocks, was always curious what I’d come up with. 

 Hayride served as our signature block. Of course, mine included a Lhasa Apso along with my favorite yoga pose, Warrior 2.

Rail Fence

Foundation Piece - Pine Tree
This one was the hardest, because the representation is fairly real. What else could I do but a night sky!

Covered Wagon

Road to Colorado

Cabin Pattern..In the Elm Creek Quilters’ series I learned that, traditionally, the door is red or yellow. Red sybolizes the hearth. I can’t remember what yellow symbolizes. Quilts, hanging on a clothesline, were used as signals along the Underground Railroad. This pattern - or some version of it - with a black door, indicated a safe haven for slaves.

Cripple Creek and Purple Mountain Majesties

 Wild Goose Chase

Bear Paw and Colorado Star

Maybe you’re wondering where I’ve been all weekend. Maybe not… Thursday, my sister-in-law Chris was diagnosed with another brain tumor. She will be undergoing brain surgery March 15. (Ginny and Tammy - let’s still alter clothes - it will be a long day and I have a feeling a trip - even a brief trip - over to Ginny’s sewing room will provide a little sanity for my own brain.) Julie had forwarded the following last week. I think it’s appropriate, even if I can’t get the graphics to wave and flicker.

  
Hello, Pretty Lady! THIS IS A TOAST  … TO US … FOR THE MEN WHO HAVE US, THE LOSERS WHO HAD US, AND THE LUCKY PEOPLE WHO WILL MEET US!! 

Keep this circulating. Even if its to one more person. 
 

In memory of anyone you know that has been struck down by cancer.  

A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle. Please Keep This Candle Going!