Posts from the ‘Me and the House’ category

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.

Isaiah 40: on wings like eagles.

I write this Wednesday evening. We are close to finishing week 1 post TPLO surgery. Bear is doing very well! Mostly, he moves with caution. He waits for me to get the Gingerlead on and also “helps” when I lift him in and out of the Jeep by lifting his legs. He gives me lots of kisses when he’s in…Thanks for the lift! Thanks for taking me! I love you!

If he has any pain or discomfort he is not showing it although he is still on some pain medication. I am so grateful this first week has gone well.

I’m adjusting to a different routine and struggling a bit. It always takes me some time to change gears, drop some things that just do not need doing and stick to the absolute priorities. Walks are not really a break for me at the moment as it is physically and mentally demanding to support Bear as well as keep my footing in what is now ice and slush. A few new muscles are making themselves known :)!

This morning, I sat at the kitchen table with my first cup of coffee and just enjoyed the light, the snow, the smell of a pot of beans simmering…

Bear sleeping peacefully. Bob is around the corner on his bed.

After a bit, I listened to today’s Pray as you go. The reading was Isaiah 40. It is a favorite of mine. The subtitle in my NIV Bible is “Comfort for God’s people”. This chapter describes God’s majesty and his goodness and a directive to trust and draw strength from Him.

40:28-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary
they will walk and not be faint.

Amen :) !

Hearing those words, sitting quietly, letting go of worry and fear and tiredness and knowing I have all of the strength and time that I need.

Today’s work day went well. Not quite a full day but close and all got done that had to get done.

Along the line of resting…much as I liked the comfort of sleeping near Bear, particulary those first nights, I knew I had to get back to my own bed. Bob was trying to sleep with Bear. Bear was not 100% with that program and so would move. I would wake up. Etc. And I was hovering over Bear a bit. I know the best I can do for all of us is to keep calm and peaceful in my mind.

I bought a tool to help all of us… (I am SO grateful for Amazon Prime!)

A baby monitor :) !! BTW, this is a very inexpensive one and it was plug and play and works great. And I am not the only one using it for pets per the Amazon reviews. One person wanted to try it to keep an eye on their chickens.

Anyway, it keeps an eye on Bear and I can both see and hear from the bedroom so I’m not jumping up to check on him.

I have the camera set to get a view of the room. It has infrared for nighttime. I am so pleased with the darn thing.

The first night, I waited until I woke about 2:45 and moved to my bed with Bob for a half-night trial. All good. Last night, I went to bed in my bed for a full night. All good. I think we all had a more restful night. Bear was asleep every time I woke. If his eyes are open the infrared makes them glow white. Before I fell asleep, I heard a bit of clanging – he was getting a drink of water and the camera/monitor picked up the water dish bumping the frame it sits in. I watched on the monitor as he got his drink and went back to his bed.

Ultimately, a lot of peace of mind for me and slightly more normal for all of us. Bear wants to go to the chairs he normally sleeps in but that is two steps up to get in them, so we are waiting at least another week – we’ll see how the 2 week post-op checkup goes.

This is one reason the sunroom was the recuperative room of choice: it is the one room in the house that allows Bear to see outside from the floor.

But then…he later chose one of the few spots with no rug. Funny boy!

Week 2 – onward…on wings like eagles!

The Beardog recuperative suite

We are living very en famille for a bit. The idea is to keep Bear’s activity to a minimum for the first week and maybe two. The easiest way to do that is to decrease the accessible space and remove all furniture. I know…the bed…my bed so far and no, I am not sure how long it will remain mine.

We’ve been out for the necessaries this morning…in an inch of new snow with more forecast – Rats! But all went well with no slipping or sliding.

The black thing with handles that Bear is lying on is a Gingerlead. It allows me to provide partial to full support for Bear’s back end while keeping control AND maintaining a solid and comfortable upright position myself. I definitely do not want to stumble into or onto Bear! The sling is padded, lined with a cushy soft corduroy and has a padded handle for the person also. I highly recommend. Bear and I practiced with it off and on before the surgery so it was not a strange thing. He was a bit out of it yesterday when we left the clinic but this morning when I got it to help him up, he wagged his tail and immediately sat.

He is a bit more Bear this morning but I think it will be a quiet day here in the Beardog recuperative suite.

Sweet trade

I have GREAT neighbors.

My neighbors have been featured on this blog more than once :)! There was the first ever trade we did: the fencing around my yard in exchange for removal of the garden and fencing and grading of the the side yard. There are the numerous times that they have appeared on their backhoe to plow my driveway.

The plowing…we worked out a trade whereby I share a meal or bread or some treat now and again. I love to cook – they don’t “love” cooking and especially during the week and very especially in the winter, it is late when they both get home. I jokingly started calling it “Meals on Wheels” as I usually deliver via Jeep. It is fairly steep little incline between my house and theirs…and through the woods – so Jeepin’ over is less hazardous and a much better chance of food arriving intact.

The last food share was pumpkin pie. We were yacking about food and the holiday and family and family recipes and Mike mentioned that his mother made kolaches for them. He and Nancy had not been able to find a written recipe and none of Mike’s brothers or sisters had it either.

Yack…yack…yack. We talked about Bear and his surgery and how I was going to do things. I asked for their advice for a platform step I planned to build so that Bear could get to his sleeping chair. As we were talking, they suddenly said…”No reason for you to buy lumber, we have plenty of leftover and could make the step easily in our shop”.

Another trade was born: kolaches for a doggy step.

I googled and binged and read and googled some more. Kolaches are of Czech origin and it appears that families have their own variations. The photos of the size and shapes were extremely varied. BUT!!! – a number of hits revealed that West, Texas is home to kolaches so well loved that people go way out of their way to go to West and buy large amounts of kolaches to take with them.

AND, Lisa Fain’s Homesick Texan Blog (a favorite food blog) had a recipe: Kolaches … yippie – ki – yo – ki – yay!!

This is my second go at kolaches and I have more thoughts for the next round…not so flat, larger “pocket” and more posypka: the flour-sugar-butter-cinnamon topping that makes for a sweet crunch when you bite into one.

The dough is perfect. Well, I like it. Never having had a real kolache, I don’t know if it is right or not, but the dough is a pleasure to work with and results in a soft, sweet bun kind of thing. It is not flaky like a danish, but it is “airier” than a dinner roll. And although the recipe suggests eating them warm, I found that they taste best (to me!) the next day and they also freeze well.

They can be filled with anything. Per my reading, traditionally they are filled with a kind of fruit puree. But there are also savory fillings and Lisa notes that you can wrap the dough around sausage, cheese and jalapeno.

So much fun. Part of my enjoyment of being in the kitchen is trying new things. I love reading about traditional foods and although “kolache” was familiar as in I remembered seeing the name…I had no idea of the origin.

Mike’s mother is of Irish origin and lived in New Orleans so a mystery as to why they were a specialty of hers. And this recipe is not like hers…some resemblance but some difference – but that is as it should be…”Mom’s” should be best :)!

Meanwhile…Mike and Nancy made the doggy step.

It was delivered yesterday: Deals on wheels :). It is a brilliant design! I intended to build a square frame of 2 x 8’s and attach plywood to the top. I know now that that would have been monstrously heavy and hard to move around.

Their idea was a top…which I covered with one of my cheap-o carpets…

On top of an X of 2 x 8’s.

Not bad!! It is stable – I walked all around the edges and it stays put. I even jumped on it on the edges. Solid. And yet, I can easily take the top and move everything. Perfect.

Kolaches and the fun of the research and experimenting. A step for Bear. Sweet trade!