Archive for ‘December, 2013’

Out for a walk

I have not been off the property in several days. Bear was looking longingly at the garage whenever we went out

So, today, off we went.

Out for a walk and to see what we could see down the road.

We made a quick trip to the dump with garbage and then to the empty subdivision where we often walk.

Yea for the Jeeper!

We rolled in through snow up to its hubcaps with nary a slip or slide.

The scenery was a bit “Currier and Ives” looking with a few blue patches letting the sun come through.

It was a beautiful day to go out for a walk.

One tough Auggie-cat!

Think you have a tough cat???

Hah!

A forecast of “little accumulation” came with 6 inches of snow early morning, 8 inches by mid-morning and a foot by early afternoon.

Temperatures rose to allow this: 15F

Positively balmy after last week.

What did Auggie think?

The pictures tell the story.

One tough Auggie-cat!

No he did not go up higher…and other trivia

Several emailed me with variations on the question “Did he go higher ?”/”Did you have to get him down?”

No.

BUT.

I have retrieved (rescued! ) him from some smaller trees…before the snow and cold.

By ladder..

He has since learned… I think/hope – how to come down and to not go further up than he is ok with coming down.

We’ll see.

My ladder goes to about 20 feet.

After that it will be calling the FD or renting a “cherry picker”. Auggie and I have discussed this. I hope he listened.

Onward.

So… that thing at the end of the pointy arrow???

An External Battery Charger: 10000mAh Pocket Friendly Portable Dual USB Port External Battery Charger/Power Pack

By luck and by Amazon’s lightning deal thing, I got one and I love it and I think everyone should have one. It is a wonderful EMERGENCY charger…you know, like if you were stuck in a blizzard, or an ice storm or something like that.

Look it up.

It is a good thing!

Fruit cake.

Do those words strike fear in your heart???

Hee.

I loved fruitcake as a child. I remember being allowed to have a slice a day with a cup of tea.

AND…I liked it!

I can’t remember if it was last Christmas-time or the year before, but I tried making a fruit cake.

The candied fruit was awful.

I threw it all away.

So.

Try this recipe: Homesick Texan’s Pecan Date Fruitcake

Wonderful.

A great fruit and nut cake.

Go higher!

Havin’ fun

Hard to tell in this late afternoon photo but we had another mostly sunny day and it went from -7 to 8F today!

I think Auggie feels the cold but he LOVES to be out with Bear so after our 2 afternoon walks, I let Auggie out with us while Bear had his after walk treats.

I think Bear enjoys him being out for the after-walk…they nose-touch and generally mosey about together.

I’ve not had a problem getting Auggie to come in. Bear’s feet seem to feel the cold and Bear is happy to come when I call – then I call Auggie and rattle the bag of feline greenies and Auggie comes running also.

I wish I’d measured Auggie: nose to tail when I first got him. I think he’s grown quite a lot…but it would be fun to know length and height. I only know weight and he is just under 10 pounds from a start of slightly over 3 1/2 pounds.

Growin’ up and havin’ fun!

*** After the lunchtime walk, we all took a brief Jeep ride. I’ve been taking Auggie for short rides to help him get used to going. Today was the first I took them both. All well. Auggie is still a bit vocal. Bear nosed the carrier several times which calmed Auggie so we’ll do joint trips now. Bob got much better about car trips after going in the motorhome so when it gets warmer, we’ll give that a try!

At home

Sunshine, cold (1F when this photo was taken), warm fire…

3:30 p.m.

Sun on an almost Winter afternoon: low southern arc.

Smoke from a woodstove fire.

Dear boys.

Lights on the little tree. (Auggie’s enthusiasm for the Christmas décor has waned. I decided to try the lights…I snuck them on and so far, so good!)

Another warm and happy night at home.

A year later

It was a year ago, yesterday, that Bear had his first TPLO surgery.

The sunroom was the recuperative suite.

And dear Bear recuperated…

…with the help and companionship of “Nurse” Bob.

Mr. Bob… I miss you every day, I dream of you often. I’m so happy you were part of my life and I think I can speak for Bear and say that he is happy that you were there for him post-op for both of his TPLO surgeries!

A year from TPLO1 and 9 months from TPLO2 – the Bear-boy is doing wonderfully. All muscle has been regained, he moves with a normal gait and appears to have no soreness. A perfect outcome.

*** T.P.L.O.