Posts from the ‘Pets’ category

Longest Day

This first full day of summer, the longest day – it has been a long day for me but even longer for my folks. My folks live in South Fork, CO. The entire town was evacuated this morning in front of the West Fork Complex fire.

It was a scary day yesterday (Thursday) as the smoke from the fire was thick, sometimes red and full of ash and burnt pine needles. My folks started organizing to leave late afternoon and kept at it through the night so when the order was given they were ready to go with their three dogs and cat. They were able to load some keepsakes, various supplies, a good amount of food, clothes and medications. After checking into a motel, a good friend that lives on a ranch called and offered accomodation so they are in a good and safe spot that is comfortable for all. I am relieved and grateful that they are where they are. The fire conditions in Colorado are fearsome – deadly dry, hot and windy and this fire blew up and appears to be making its own weather so is burning hotter, moving faster and not “sleeping at night” like a “normal” fire**.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of the firefighters and responders that put themselves in harm’s way to protect what they can.

On the good news front, Bob, Bear and I are all well and I had a good work week – YEA!

Bob has finished a round of the latest medication and although the photo below might look funny, it is an incredibly good sign – this is the first he’s been able to groom normally. He’s been doing some – the easy stuff, but this was a full out, full body bath – HOO-RAH!!! He is only slightly wobbly, a little bit of head shaking but no “sloshing” that I can hear and he is now hearing me. We are switching to a different med combo next week just to be on the safe side as the particular bugs he had have a reputation for developing resistance and we do NOT want any back sliding.

From all of us to all of you, a happy Friday and Summer Solstice and thank you to all who sent emails of concern for my folks.

**Wildfires typically drop down as temperatures fall and relative humidities rise overnight, i.e. they “sleep”/smolder.

Those boys

Sunshine, on my face!

Shade, blue sky and cool, green grass.

I am feelin’ better!

Srsly, Dude…you need to keep the ears clean. You won’t believe what happens when ears go south!!

We’ve gotta stick together bro’.

Beans on toast

Beans on toast…from my British cozy mysteries, “Beans on toast” is comfort food from a “tin” (can in American-speak): brown bread toasted and buttered with canned baked beans…not a thing wrong with that!

I think I might be the only one of my family that LOVES beans. My Papa might have, but I think they didn’t love him!

Beans and me – we do fine!

My beans on toast.

My own ciabatta.

My own baked beans.

My own cilantro-jalapeno-spring onion vinaigrette.

A dollop of sour cream and a leaf of cilanto: beans on toast!

The bean mix is Rancho Gordo’s: Brown Tepary, White Cassoulet and Christmas Lima beans.

The sauce is a very slight modification to Homesick Texan’s Barbequed Black eyed peas recipe: White Balsamic in place of the Worcestershire, the addition of smoked paprika.

The cilantro-jalapeno-spring onion vinaigrette that I am currently drizzling on almost everything!

May I have an AMEN?!!!

Simple fare. Elevated a bit. Good stuff.

Other news.

Mr. Bob.

We had a Friday ear check and are trying an injectable drug over the weekend with some research/consult, etc. to happen on Monday and then a decision on the next step.

The very good news is that Bob continues to eat and drink VERY well – with normal output from the intake! He is wanting to be with Bear and I normally. Both ear drums are intact. BUT…left ear continues to be the nemesis. RATS.

We’ll see what Monday conversations turn up.

Meanwhile, we enjoy life…

Mr. Bear…mouse and vole hunting – under gray and cool skies.

Happy hunting Bear!

Growing stuff

The herbies!! – all looking good.

Even the parsley which I cut back to the nubbins.

The cilantro, though – this is my prize! Not only is the starter plant doing well, but the seeds I planted alongside have sprouted.

Baby cilantro!

I thought I’d messed up the seeds as the sprouts did not appear per the seed packet schedule, but several days ago, THERE THEY WERE!!

My hope is that I can grow-harvest-grow at least through the summer.

Garden buddy 1 = Bear

Garden buddy 2 = Bob

A basil bonus: pineapple, banana, coconut, basil and ice blitzed in the Vita-mix with a splash of tequila = adult slushie.

Growing stuff.

The continuing saga of Bob’s ears

The last we left our story, Bob had undergone an ear roto rooter kind of procedure and the resulting gunk was sent off to the lab to see if something could be grown that would help target a new medication.

Something(s) did grow and it was two odd/rare/hard to kill bacteria but we have an ear drop weapon picked up today and have commenced on another round of attack.

Meanwhile, the first drug was one that was effective against one of the bugs, hence Bob’s feeling better, being less wobbly and progressing to being my snuggle buddy once more AND using his litter box vs the pile of litter sand. Yea.

Not only that, but as Mr. Bob is feeling up to getting on the bed, he has also been feeling up to giving Bear a bit of the ole stink eye…just on general principle.

Onward.

Together

It was almost a year and a half before I felt comfortable with Bob and Bear together. I made peace with the fact that it might never happen and I was doubly unsure whether it would ever be comfortable out of the house.

That Bear, Bob and I can be all together outside…with the split screen allowing all of us to go in and out as we please…to just relax in this beautiful, quiet place together – I am so pleased that we are able to do that.