I don’t know if Bob is a native Montanan, but he is certainly no wimpy cat about cold and snow!
He usually draws the line when the temp drops below 10F, but it hasn’t been that cold all Winter. He has been out for at least a short while every day.
Today, the temperature drifted around the freezing mark with occasional snow squalls and wind as a Winter storm started making itself known.
But the dryer was going … Monday is laundry day :) !
I’ve had his bed inside but with the dryer going, he insisted he wanted to be out there and when Bob insists, it takes a stronger person than I to resist…I put the bed under the dryer vent.
He also made a foray through the snow to the garage…
… around it and the woodpile and back again.
And then warmed up in the sauna-like air from the dryer.
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.
I had, what I consider to be, idyllic childhood Christmas Days.
For a time, as a young adult…I tried to recapture those.
But, now, as a middle-aged …almost SENIOR adult (how did that happen???), I have found that I absolutely love some of my own traditions along with the memories.
The current traditions have their foundation in the idyllic traditions of my childhood. It is the best of both times!
Yes, my childhood Christmas mornings were about the magic…the gifts, the full stocking…but they were also about a wonderful sweet roll and a scrumptious breakfast.
My sweet this year is kolache dough filled with almond paste (homemade which took about 3 minutes), given the “Christmas Bagel” treatment along with a marachino cherry for color.
I LOVE the sweet kolache dough. It has the flavor of a flaky pastry without the flakes. It worked wonderfully in this Christmas sweet and it is a versatile dough that freezes well.
Color me happy with my 2012 Christmas Sweet!
I made green chile gravy two days ago.
I made red chile gravy yesterday.
I made corn tortillas yesterday.
This morning I made stacked cheese and onion enchiladas with Christmas (red and green) chile gravy.
Southwest tradition would put a fried egg on top of the enchilada stack but I am a poached egg girl so poached it was.
My own refried black beans and sprouted brown rice…slightly off Mex-TexMex, but good!
The day was beautiful for all reasons: the celebration of the birth of the Messiah, a day of good celebratory food, a day shared with Bear and Bob…and sunshine and snow and beauty.
My preferred Christmas Day tradition is to snowshoe through the woods, but the snow was a bit light and Bear is recovering.
Still.
Bear and I hopped in the Jeep and headed down the road. We had a good walk just a bit north, drove through town and returned home…
The Road Home on Christmas Day 2012.
The sun, blue sky, Christmas Day…the front porch called.
But not to Bear :) !
Bob was my front porch buddy.
An eye was kept on Bear via the “baby” monitor.
Photos were taken via wireless remote. …so much fun with gadgets…a part of Christmas Day!!
24F but it felt warmer.
A dear friend gave me a beautiful calendar. The illustrations are Monet-like impressionist style watercolors and the quotes fit me and my life perfectly. I perused the pages this afternoon as I enjoyed a blue cheese-rosemary lavash treat…afternoon delight!
I hope all who venture here have also had a day filled with faith, love and tradition and good food.
Happy, Happy Christmas Day to all.
The video below…I took several snippets of Bear and I walking so that I could look at how things are progressing with his leg. I am happy! It is a little hard to compare the surgery leg to the non-surgery leg as the surgery leg was shaved… But compared to how the surgery knee was bowed out and now it is in alignment…I am happy. It is early days but I think all is going very well.
Despite all my photos of Bear in bed…he is not always sleeping. He maintains the Beardog watch from time to time.
It is Christmas weekend! Christmas weekend is like Birthday month…indulgences galore for the duration!
Huckleberry Kolaches thawed while I made green chile gravy to be used for my Christmas morning breakfast. And a caramel latte kept me company while I stirred.
After we were all fed, Bear and I headed to town to pick up just a few things I wanted and to have a walk along the way.
Today, we walked on a road that leads to a wildlife area. The road runs from the highway to a spot on the north shore of Flathead Lake. There is a spot to put the Jeep out of the way, about halfway. It is not a walk we typically do during the week so a special weekend diversion of unusual smells and sights.
It was above freezing, the sun was trying to come out…therefore mist and fog.
The walk, the Jeep ride, the shopping…
It wears a beardog out!
Bob was napping also and rather objected to me turning on a light…
I didn’t go for a nap, but a bowl of soup sounded good before I started on some afternoon projects. You can’t see the meatloaf, but there are cubes of meatloaf in this soup. This soup is a kind of Italian Wedding soup using leftover meatloaf cubes in place of meatballs. The broth was some leftover pesto and chicken broth. Orzo for the pasta and carrots and leeks for the vegetables. Refrigerator (all leftover stuff in the refrigerator) Italian Wedding Soup!
One afternoon project was a fennel-leek-broccoli gratin. The first step was parboiling the veg and as I strained the veg, the broth smelled so good and looked so pretty…I froze it for use in soup some day.
The gratin was a success. Fennel, leeks, broccoli, cashew cream, gruyere, an egg and breadcrumbs with parmesan on top.
Done for the day and indulging in a read of the Mountain Trader…Bear near and Bob in the sunroom.
End of week 2 post TPLO surgery for Bear and all is very well!
We did the 2 week follow-up by phone as it was just a check of the incision: clear, no bruising and no swelling and confirmation that he is using the leg for some weight bearing – which he is!
Additionally, I am not to support Bear with the Gingerlead, just be there with support if he slips.
All in all, the load is considerably lighter. We continue on with gradually longer walks every 2 weeks as long as no set backs and the next check up is at 8 weeks, the end of January.
Bear has been looking forlornly through the gate into the living room at his chairs. Now at 2 weeks and with him stronger, I decided to allow him to use the platform for access to his chairs. I got all carpet situated and cushy throws on the chairs…
Bear looked in shortly after I opened the room but didn’t enter.
