Sleeping arrangements

I have wanted to get rid of the too big bed I have for some time. It is too big for the room and too high for Bear to be jumping up on, even when he is 100%.

I wanted to duplicate what I have in the motorhome which is a platform with mattress and foam topper. I sleep wonderfully on that.

I saw a sale on a plain platform bed and bought it without much thought. I put my too big set in the Mountain Trader but I didn’t have much hope…the size is not a popular size, but I thought I’d try and I put off worrying what and how I’d get rid of the set if it didn’t sell.

It sold by noon the day the paper came out to the 2nd caller and I’ve had no other calls. The buyers were not so concerned with size as they were with wanting the exact style: a BeautyRest Classic. Bottom line – we all got what we wanted. They picked up everything on Sunday and helped me bring in the motorhome mattress which I’m going to use on the platform until I buy another for the house.

The platform had not arrived yet so the mattress has been on the floor. It is no different for sleeping than on the platform but getting out of it is more of a challenge.

Monday, I received word that the platform had arrived and would be delivered today…so only 2 nights “on the floor”. I took down the gate to the bedroom when the big bed left and thought maybe Bear would join Bob and I but he did not.

This morning, though, he went in the bedroom and got on the bed. He tried to see out the window and then circled on the bed a number of times and looked again. It appeared that he couldn’t figure out what happened to the rest of the bed and why it was low and all was just a bit confusing.

He stayed for only a short while…it just was not right.

Bob didn’t care one way or another and stuck to his cat house/my light box.

The new bed…which is entirely covered by the comforters.

I like it!

A messy week

It was a messy week. The weather was messy. My schedule was messy. I had a day of spills on Wednesday including a cup of coffee that jumped out of my hand and I am STILL finding sticky coffee splashes in unexpected places.

But today, Saturday, after a messy start of freezing fog and snow flurries…

The sun came out!

Beautiful. Only 18F, but beautiful…especially in the warm sunroom.

I know. The number of herbs have dwindled…by more than half. And the rosemary and basil are not looking especially good. The parsley looks thin as I’ve been using a lot of it but I think that it and the chives may survive my gardening skills.

Just outside the sunroom…the herb graveyard. I have high hopes that the lavender, spearmint and peppermint will revive in the Spring as I put them out during a week when it was above freezing and told them to go dormant until June 1. We’ll see. I am not surprised, but I am a bit disappointed as the herbs gave the room a nice feeling. But I am not disappointed enough to go buy more and subject them to my not so green thumb. I WILL try again next year :) !!

Bear’s back end as he checks for critters…and a close up is coming in case you’d like to leave now…

I was watching Bear watch the game trail and noticed his legs. They are positioned the same and he is bearing his weight equally on both – hurrah!! No odd angle and the foot on his surgery leg is solid.

The walking conditions have deteriorated this past week and we’ve not been able to do the distances prescribed. But we are out and about and I call him in the house now and again to get him up and walking. All continues to progress well.

Project Management

The last 30 years of my working life has involved taking a project from concept to completion. I have worked on various sizes of projects both alone and as part of a team. I realized years ago that I had learned some concepts from project development that have stood me in good stead in other areas of my life.

A large and/or detailed project can seem overwhelming. The typical approach that both I and the current team utilize is to define the broad scope, divide the project up into modules and proceed. For me, that makes the project doable. I don’t worry too much about the WHOLE thing, but concentrate on one module at a time. It is not quite as clear cut as that, but that is the general idea and it is the part of project development that has helped me in my personal life.

When it became clear that Bear needed the TPLO surgery, I first added up all of the weeks of rehab – the time that our lives would be a bit upside down – AND, there was the possibility that the other leg would need the same surgery. (there still is that possibility but the surgeon was more optomistic after the pre-op exam under sedation so we are thinking positive!!)

That first false start – the surgery I thought was scheduled right away – it actually helped me get my head in a better place. Although I did not like Bear having to wait a month, it was a good month and it allowed us to enjoy some gorgeous weather outside together as well as giving me some thinking time to get the house in good order, supplies in and generally just prepare for the post-op. And I started thinking in small chunks of time vs the WHOLE ENTIRE rehab. The time broke down into surgery day, day 1 & 2 post-op, week 1 & 2 post-op, week 3-4, etc. I stopped looking ahead at a long period of time and concentrated on where we were.

And now, here we are 4.5 weeks post-op. Bear is moving easier and in a more normal way every day: Little things like getting up and lying down, backing up, turning in a circle. All are getting better. We are walking on a short leash now vs the belly support. Our outings are more relaxed and more fun for both of us and getting better each day.

Inside, as I put away the Christmas decorations, I got to thinking that moving one of the chairs back in the sunroom would be ok.

While it was nice to shake up the routine and I always find it interesting when I change where I sit and “Oh!” – that’s a nice view – I did on occasion miss my wing back chair for reading.

One thing led to another…

Bob’s room got a mini-makeover as well.

Bob was more worried about where his food dish was than the fact that he had his furniture back.

And while I was situating the furniture and finding pillows and fleece…can of worms!! I ended up going through every closet, every drawer and having a general whole house clear out, straighten up and re-organization.

I remembered there were some old green sheets in the motorhome. As soon as I got the pillow on the right end of the bed all comfy AND color-coordinated…Bear was happy.

I’m happy. I’m happy Bear is doing so well and I’m happy taking the rehab one day at a time.

We head toward the end of week 5 with a bit more normal back but enjoying each step of the way.

Big Sky

Bear and I returned to the wildfowl regeneration area early this afternoon. It is the perfect walking spot right now as it is level, the footing is good for both of us and there are lots of good smells to interest Bear. We are now walking on a short leash. Bear and I are both pretty happy about that and we continue with increasing walk distances as healing progresses. All continues good.

Thursday’s sun gave way to a full valley inversion yesterday with snow squalls in the afternoon and freezing fog overnight. I held off leaving for town this morning until things had warmed a bit.

Turning on to the lane – this lane is partially a rancher’s “driveway” as well as access to the public area – the sky seemed so dramatic and…no other words for it: Big Sky

Sunshine on a Winter’s Day

There is a sliver of lake visible – to the south – from the parking area of a walk spot that is part of a wildfowl regeneration area. (That is the official name, but it is also open for public hunting…)

The orange band is sun shining through a break in the inversion layer of stratus covering about half of the Flathead Valley.

Looking to the north – northeast, the edge of the inversion opens up to blue sky.

Sunshine to the east…

Sunshine on the on the road home.

Sunshine in my yard…on a Winter’s Day.