Archive for ‘April, 2013’

Simple Delight

Sunday was gray with a few sun breaks here and there.

Bear and I walked, took a Jeep ride and another walk, and we all enjoyed some time outside.

I was warming up the grill to cook burgers, sitting on the front porch with a cup of tea, enjoying the sounds of the woods and the company of Bear and Bob.

The gentle happiness of this simple, quiet time with Bear and Bob bubbled up inside me and especially as I thought about the early days with Bear when all was so new that he was not comfortable relaxing in the yard. And much less comfortable, relaxing with Bob!

The word that came to my mind as I sat was delight. I love things that delight. It is more than “happy”. It is joy from the heart that brings a smile and an inside laugh at the wonderful-ness.

Simple Delight.

A change in the weather

The forecast from NOAA late this morning indicates we are in for a bit of everything.

The verbage for this afternoon, evening and tomorrow states that in addition to the sunshine giving way to clouds, two cold fronts will whoosh through…emphasis on the whooshing as high winds are forecast.

On the way back from town this morning, I could see the change happening: Blue sky and sunshine to the east was starting to give way to dark clouds.

The clouds were smoothing out with the promised wind.

Spots of sunshine dotted the peaks of the peaks that border the southern end of the Flathead Valley. A bit of lake occasionally reflected bright from some sun.

Now, early evening, it is dark and windy. It is hours until sunset but the black clouds and gusty wind signal a change in the weather.

**********************
Earlier this week, I took some quick video of Bear walking in the woods to show Dr. Clark when we go for our 8 week xray this coming Friday. It is a short, no frills video with a snippet of Bob at the end. It is very jumpy. I took it with my phone, walking behind Bear…in the woods. Still, it shows Bear walking comfortably and normally at a good pace over uneven ground. It is hard to believe that here we are – end of week 7 and starting week 8. Hurrah! And Bob’s ear has not puffed up so hopefully we are done with the Yoda ear part. I expect it will take some time to fully eradicate the yeast infection, though.

BearAndBobWalking0424 from Liz Summers on Vimeo.

From the front porch

It was so beautiful this morning…quiet and 38F but it did not feel cold. There was a softness to the air that signaled another warm day.

After Bear and I had our property perimeter walk he laid down in front of the front porch to have his treat. I let Bob out with us and got myself a cup of coffee. It was a classic Spring morning with the birds singing, a soft breeze and blue sky. I took a little extra time to just sit quietly and enjoy.

I stopped working for the day about 5:30. Bear and I went out for our before supper stroll and then we repeated the morning routine:

Bear with a treat.

Bob with us.

From the front porch.

A better day

Bob’s ear is looking much better. The infection is a yeast infection and I can’t really tell how that is going except that he is not fussing with his ears so am guessing that is better. The hematoma – broken blood vessel under the skin – caused by him rubbing or scratching looks better. I’ve been able to keep the slit clean and open so it is draining and not filling. I don’t really think that drain was going to drain well. Bob and I are both happier with the current scenario. He doesn’t seem to mind the warm compress routine or the ointment.

There was frost on the rhubarb this morning…

…but the sun came out and it got to a very warm 61F this afternoon.

Bob is maybe looking grumpy because I moved his bed away from the dryer vent. Right now it is inside with a fresh washed cover. I got to thinking that maybe lying with his head under the dryer vent…warm, moist, air – the cause of the yeast? I don’t know but it doesn’t seem like a good idea to continue.

Oh, well…eat some grass and enjoy a nice day.

Bear and I enjoyed the side yard a bit later as it has stayed warm this evening with a wonderful breeze blowing all kinds of good smells his way.

Synchronized Sleeping

We had a Monday.

So, apparently it was not good that the slit they made to drain Bob’s hematoma healed incredibly fast.

He had Yoda ear again this morning.

I had several appointments in Whitefish and Monday is ALWAYS busy at the vet… I phoned to check options and in some strange bit of whatever, Dr. Clark himself answered the clinic phone. He suggested seeing if after application of a warm compress, could I coax open the slit, allow the drainage and then keep the slit open-ish so that all can heal from the inside out.

No go. That slit was healed tight shut.

Backup plan was to drop Bob off on my way to town, allow the clinic to treat him in-between things and pick him up on my way home. Although I hated the thought of the potential stress, we did it and according to all, Bob rested quietly before and after the procedure.

They installed a little drain in the slit. And an Elizabethan collar: the cone of shame. And then I managed to dislodge the drain myself with the warm compress trying to unplug a large blood clot from the drain.

Bad words were said.

I haven’t confessed to my deed but my plan is to keep the darn slit from slamming shut with the warm compress routine. The clinic will phone tomorrow to check on Bob and I will have to come clean.

Meanwhile, we are all a bit exhausted.

And, no…I have NOT washed windows yet.

Farmer’s Market

This weekend was to be the first Farmer’s Market. ( Bear and I go to Market)

Fortunately, I checked the online version of our local daily newspaper and saw that there were issues with the market this year… Rats! It will be resolved soon, I am sure.

Meanwhile…last Fall as my own CSA came to an end, “my farmer”, Julian, told us all that there would not be a CSA this year. At that time the farm intended to sell through several local Farmer’s markets. I was not unhappy as I had already decided that the CSA was a bit much for just me and that I would try buying via the local markets this year.

Last week, an email from Julian said that the farm had decided to sell to those of us CSA members who’d like…on a weekly basis…first choice of the week’s harvest, i.e. not a subscription, but here’s what we have and for how much and do you want any? All extra, they will sell at market.

I said “Hurrah!!! ” – This is perfect for me as I can buy and pick up down the road just what I want …and if I am able to hit the road as I’d like, I will not have spent money for food I’m not at home to receive.

I still plan to frequent the local Farmer’s markets as it is fun and fun to see what all is grown and/or made locally.

Yesterday, on what have should have been Kalispell Farmer’s Market’s first day…it was in the 50’s and felt very warm after a week of Winter-like temperatures.

But today…another whoosh of Winter…

Above is the property of Swallow Crest Farm…my farm…my farmer…on my road home…some green fields, the garden, the greenhouses and snow squalls over the mountains.