Posts from the ‘Pets’ category

Friday

I’m writing this on Saturday evening, but it is really all about Friday.

The Montana peaches from Farmer’s market… 2 weeks ago – I had been eating them, but there were 7 of them left…

11.9 ounces of pealed and diced peaches.

So, I converted my peach jam recipe for 11.9 ounces vs 2.5 pounds:

11.9 ounces is .2975 of 2.5 pounds so multiply the sugar and lemon juice by .2975.

I LOVE making small batches of jam, preserves or marmalade. It is quick, I don’t need a monster sized pot and since I am making for just me, perfect.

Meanwhile, dough rising for bread and ciabatta rolls.

The kitchen smelled heavenly!

While the peaches, sugar and lemon juice were simmering and the dough was rising, I sat in my kitchen chair, with Auggie on my lap and watched the sky lighten as the sun rose…

… beautiful!

And eventually there was jam and rolls and bread.

It was just after 8:00 a.m.

Later, after a good work day…

Auggie as the lion king…

… or owl ears…

…or done for the day!

Bear lounged on the front porch…

… until he, too, was done for the day.

Friday.

Friday afternoon

Another beautiful day! There was some smoke in the valley, but nothing like weeks previous and no smell of smoke. Overnight temps have been diving into the high 30’s (F) so the house is cool even though this afternoon got to 76F.

I finished my work day shortly after 5:00 p.m. – which included a long lunch for a run to town.

A good week: work and play, it was good!

Bear agrees!

The fuschia … they are still so beautiful!

And the woods is happy since it got a bit of a drink last weekend and more to come next week, per NOAA

The chairs are happy and they said to wish all a Happy Friday!

Turning the corner to Fall

Saturday evening, it felt like the smoke had lifted a bit and although we did not get the rain and wind at my house, it cooled.

Sunday started cloudy, but without smoke AND about 10 minutes of gentle rain.

Off and on it was sunny and breezy, then dark and blustery.

We took advantage of sunny and breezy moments…

Look! – some blue sky!!

During the dark and blustery times, we were inside and I cooked chicken, taco meat, turkey meatballs and various veg for this week’s meals.

Except for tomorrow which is forecast to hit 76F, the week’s highs are in the 60’s.

I really think we are turning the corner to Fall.

Mind and Body reboot

First: Auggie, Bear and I are all fine – YEA!!

But, I did spend Sunday afternoon at the ER (Emergency Room of the local hospital) … with blood pressure through the roof!

It came down with medication and has stayed down: body reboot.

YEA!

Despite a childhood climbing trees, skating, running, playing all manner of sports…I’ve not had the occasion of being an ER patient until this past weekend.

It was an enlightening experience.

Because I had very high blood pressure ( I went to a local Urgent Care facility first ) … as well as some chest pressure issues (seriously, I attributed them to sinus related issues from the smoke and dry air) – I was moved – at the speed of light- to a trauma room and hooked up to all manner of equipment. Blood was drawn.

And then…a man was admitted to the unit next to me…separated by a curtain…and before they had a chance to gown him, he had a combination seizure/heart attack. But they revived him. And administered all the things they do…and he had a second seizure/heart attack – but, they revived him.

As anyone can imagine, it was unnerving to have to listen and watch a bit … there was a window and reflection.

I was praying for the man, for his wife who was in the room, for me and for the care team…the entire ER staff was involved.

Incredibly, after each attack, the man was speaking coherently – asking for his wife. His wife was there and answered confidently: “I’m here, honey!”. Her poise and her staying – she thanked the ER crew for letting her stay – such courage! She’d moved to a corner out of their way. It was VERY obvious that it was important to both her husband and her that she be there.

Then, it was decided that he would be moved to a hospital approximately 15 miles away – a hospital that had a cardiac unit. I was both grateful and fearful. This man had had two serious events that took the entire ER staff to deal with – what if he had an event in transport. And it was obviously crucial that he had contact with his wife. She could not ride with him – she had friends who took her and an ER nurse went with the ambulance.

I somewhat witnessed the transport and heard details and later found out that he arrived at Kalispell Regional as did his wife. Beyond that I will likely not know. I continue to hold them in prayer.

Meanwhile, my own blood pressure slowly dropped, despite what was happening beyond the curtain.

And while a medication was a bit delayed, due to those happenings, after given, my blood pressure continued dropping and after four hours in the ER, I was cut loose with a prescription, direction to contact my primary care physician and the OK to drive myself home.

I slept VERY well that night and despite being in the house for longer than normal, so did Bear and Auggie.

And my blood pressure has been normal, since.

Body reboot via medication.

Mind reboot via … focus on good health trumps everything else ??? Don’t know, only know that at this time, I feel very well.

Yea!

Mind and body rebooted and on we go.

Green and growing things: Greek Oregano and Organic Basil.

Growth means life and here at my house…Bear, Auggie and I – we are alive and well!

It was a Monday

The last three days have been in the mid-upper 90’s and yesterday the smoke which had stayed high, dropped down to the valley floor and the smoky smell came with. The smoke is from fires in Washington State according to the news.

This morning started at 57F and I hoped that at least the smoke would keep it cooler but it topped out at 97F this afternoon. Blech! The smoky smell always makes me a bit anxious and more so this year with it so very, very dry. It is always hard to believe that there isn’t a fire close when the smell is so strong.

All of us are a bit cranky and also tired – I think the heat is tiring, zapping our energy just taking short walks. Bear asks to go out and he sometimes just stands on the sidewalk, pants a bit, turns around and comes back inside.

We are to get a cool front tonight and maybe even some rain and gradually cool down to normal (low-mid 80’s) over the next week. But even tomorrow’s forecast high of 88 will be an improvement of today’s 97.

I had a frustrating work day spending all day on something that should have taken me an hour or two.

And Auggie brought home a little snake. Thankfully it was dead. But snakes are not on the list of things that are ok to hunt. Gah!

It was a Monday.

And again with the hot

Good grief!!!

Yikes!!

The 76 inside is a bit deceiving…it is the entry temp. The rest of the house is 69-71F – quite comfy.

Zinnia and Sunflowers for this weeks cut flowers.

Some grape and heirloom tomatoes for this week’s veg.

I was up at 4:30 a.m. this Saturday morning and Bear and I headed to town at 6:45 a.m. We stopped for a walk along the river before hitting the grocery, then a breakfast drive-through, gas for the Jeep …and were at Farmer’s Market at 9:00 a.m. on the dot for the open to get this week’s veg and flowers.

Gorgeous zinnia…

Early sunflowers…

Then home by 10:00 a.m. to put all away.

By noon … again with the HOT.