Walking isn’t for Sissies

We do so many things because we love them.  I heard a wonderful phrase a few weeks ago that the opposite of Fear is Love.  I like that.  Seems I am often afraid of things, some happen and many more do not.  This week had so many ups and downs to it.  Started off with breaking my toe falling up the stairs and being very frustrated with the inability to walk.  I need to walk for my physical health but even more importantly for my mental health.  Thanks to my good friend and walking partner, Jen, for the suggestion to cut off the toe of an old sneaker to see if I could walk with that.  It worked and I was back in business in no time.  Not going very fast mind you but I was out there once again.  Can’t get any shoes on except for the toeless sneaker and a Berkenstock.

 

 

Saying Goodbye to a Beloved Pet

Monday evening, as we were going to bed, I noticed that our Maine Coon cat Toby was having a great deal of trouble breathing.  In a frantic state I tried to find the phone number for our vet who was actually not on emergency that night.  After a scramble of texting with my local “she who knows everything” I had a phone number and a vet assistant called me back.  She said to come right in but neglected to tell me where.  We first went to the regular vet office only to find it shut up tight as could be but a young vet technician was actually leaving and she was able to help us find out who was on duty.  We eventually found the right vet and were taken in right away.  I have had many dealings with veterinarians over the 47 years that we have shared our lives with fur family members but never have I been treated so well and so inclusively.  We were right in the back in the treatment area, along with a beautiful dog who was waking up from anesthesia, while they treated Toby.  His chest was full of fluid.  The diagnosis was heart disease.  The vet removed a cup of fluid from his chest and said we could take him home and hope for the best.  Here is where the fear came in.  I was worried about him.  He was a little better Tuesday and Tuesday evening but at 5:00am on Wednesday I woke up knowing something wasn’t right and sure enough I found that he had died sometime during the night.  What I feared would be the outcome.  This was devastating for me as I have never had this happen in all those 47 years.  Usually I have had to make the difficult decision to end the life of a dog or cat who is suffering and I feel that as a responsible pet person I cannot let the pet suffer.  It is not an easy decision, ever, but at least I felt that it was the right thing to do.  This was different and I felt terrible.  Toby was a rescue cat who had gone to live with my daughter and granddaughter and then he came to us.  He was a beautiful, serene and graceful cat who fit in with our family without a hitch.  He accepted the dogs and the other cats in a way that indicated that he felt he had been with us forever.  He accepted us as his family – he loved Libby.  We buried him, with love, in a beautiful spot in amongst the day-lilies and the ferns where the pet cemetery is.  I am sad and in the past when I am sad about the death of a family pet I usually go out and rescue another to fill the void.  It just works for me.  However, I am working on giving myself and our family some time and adjusting to having only three fur members instead of five.  Time will tell but I am pretty sure if another beauty comes along and needs a home I won’t be afraid to say yes and open my heart to loving yet another fur baby.

 

Boat Rides and Sunsets

Wednesday night, after dinner, we took a boat cruise on our lake.  You cannot go out in the boat here without Buckingham and Miss Q.  They are almost apoplectic if we even think about going out without them.  They absolutely love it and this was no exception.  It’s almost impossible for us to get into the boat as they keep getting in the way.  Once in, they settle down and enjoy the ride.  This is our gorgeous sunset.  A beautiful ending to a difficult day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting even with the Stairs?

The weather has been glorious this week and since my somewhat success with the toeless sneaker I was able to get out and enjoy it.  The lake is beautiful in the sunshine and the trees are so lush and green now.  Gardens are doing well and really, summer is upon us.  Although, today it is 59 degrees and overcast and rather more fall like.  John continues to work on repairs to the porch and to build gardens and we are discussing the complete rebuild of the dangerous stairs that caused me to fall and break my toe.  It will be a major outdoor renovation that we cannot do ourselves.  You need big machinery for this project and neither of us has a license to operate one of those diggers but mind you, wouldn’t it be fun to do.

We spent an evening up on the hillside overlooking our lake and watched an absolutely spectacular sky while enjoying the company of good friends and delicious food.  It was a perfect way to end the week.  I was very content sitting up there on the hilltop enjoying the almost 360 degree view and listening to happy conversations.  Those are the special moments in a persons life that probably happen more than we know we just have to take the time to notice them.

 

A Gem of a Recipe from A Sweet Pea Chef

 

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Have a wonderful week everyone.  More adventures to come.  Hope you enjoy the recipe and let me know if you make it and how you liked it.