Well, Shiner is finally home. Talk about a million dollar dog. He looks pretty worse for the wear. But bless his heart he gets around very well for just 3 legs. He's lost a lot of weight. He's acutally in a crate in our bedroom now. Fence for the other hounds is just about complete - they're still chained up. Long day - more tomorrow.

Yep, Shiner is a tripod now. We checked with the vet this am and he is doing well and should come home Mon. I don't even want to think about the bill. One more reason they are being fenced in. Can't afford any more accidents.
Dad knew if some solution didn't contain the dogs, that I was going to kill them or they would come up missing. Lady had been doing fine and then she had a change of heart. 4 chickens (including Elvis) were missing for most of the day. Gradually all crept out of the woods except a black one. Based on the amount of black feathers, I felt pretty sure she was mortally wounded. Scarlet has deformed feathers on her chest, but is doing well. Surprised the hell out of me. Based on her wound, I didn't give her much of a chance.
As soon as Dad's back calms down, he will build the dog fence. I'm looking forward to a little piece of mind.

Well, Shiner took a turn for the worse and developed an overwheming infection and he was already on the most potent antibiotics. They amputated his leg today. Dr Bradshaw said the leg was just full of necrotic tissue and based on what he found, amputation was definitely the best decision. It all goes well, he should come home Monday.
Since Lady killed one of the chickens and Happy did his best to try( Scarlet is clucking away), all dogs are tied and corralled. As soon as the rain clears, Dad will put an electric fence around the back yard. Roaming days are finally over.
Mom L is doing well. The nursing home is agreeing with her. We probably should have made the decison earlier. She's getting more exercise than she has gotten in years. She wheels of over the place. She is more interested in socializing than visiting with us.
It's rained most to the day. Thankfully - it was so needed.
Dad's back is really bothering him. He overdid it several days ago. He is taking it easy.

Shiner seems to be out to the woods, but will stay at the vet for the weekend at least. Scarlet is still clucking around, hopefully antibiotics will do there job. Karma caught up with Happy. He came home with his paw split. So he is now cleaned up, pressure dressing applied and loaded with oral antibiotics -- and oh yes, chained up.
Latest Mom L saga. Yesterday, when we visited, she was without glasses. Today she had glasses, just not hers. While we were sitting in her room, an aide came in with a pair of her shoes. It seems that yesterday, this aid discovered Mom on another hall and asleep in someone else's bed. Apparently, she does a lot of traveing in her wheelchair. No telling where she left her glasses and whose she's wearing.
While we were sitting there, she starting talking about her daughter. Dad said he didn't remember any sister. She said Oh yes, I adopted a daughter and raised her as my own. I said, Mom I believe you are thinking about your granddaughter H......... You had 2 boys. She looked very surprised and said that she had 2 or 3 daughters. I said, Mom I beliieve you are remembering your 3 granddaughters, you had 2 sons, no daughters. A mind is a terrible thing to lose. That's the most she's said in a week - ususally she just looks vacant, but she's hell on wheels and is at least getting some exercise as she tours the halls. Next thing you know they'll find her in bed with a man.
Mama's memory continues to fail her and her pain level seems to be increasing. More complaints in her mid to lower back. Today she was helping me shuck the corn and was having difficulty remembering to put the shucks in the trash and not back in the corn. I heard about 3 stories at least three times while we were shucking the corn.
I put 13 pints of corn in the freezer today - many thanks to dear neighbors who have a huge corn field. Dad and I looked cute picking it (he did good for a city boy). Broke in my $$$$$$$cowboy boots - they have rattlesnakes in their cornfield. One killed their Jack Russell terrier this year. Fortunately, we didn't see or hear a thing. Dad had his pistol and machete; I'd already asked him if he really thought he could hit a snake with a pistol and didn't we need a hoe. I was well armed with my Swiss Army Knife.

Answer to Mouse - As of last evening all chickens were accounted for. Blondie came back from woods and the wounded girl was alive and limping around. I scrounged around and found some Clavamox drops that I keep for cats, reconstituted it and figured she weighed between 2-3 pounds. Between Dad and I we got O.2cc down her beak. I haven't been out to the henhouse yet, but will update you as soon as possible. If she looks viable, I will continue to give her antibiotics twice daily. If it looks like she is on a downward spiral, I will not let her suffer further. I'm such a wimp, can't do the usual "wring the chicken neck" thing. I'll put her in a plastic bag and then put her in the freezer. That's the most humane way I can think of. That's was what cat breeders do with kittens who are fading/stuggling and won't make it.

Diego continues to be such a joy. We have started to give him sweet feed treat/supplement in the evening. As I walk out to the fence, I've been saying "where's my Deigo", he brays and runs full speed to the house, braying the whole way. So rotten. The neighbor who we bought him from is looking for an adult Jenny for us. Last Sunday he told us he thinks he has found a Jennie that has been bred. Hopefully that will come thru. If not we will probably get some goats, so he will have a friend until we can find a suitable mate.

Hopefully we will get some good news about Shiner today.

Mom L has figured out how to "walk" in her wheelchair and is apparently navigating up and down the halls. They keep her out of bed as much as possible and I guess she figured she could move around. When we went yesterday, she wasn't in her room, or up at nurses station. They were playing games in the large dining room. Today was "Do You Want to be a Millinaire". They were really doing a great job of putting on the show. Mom sat there and was enthralled - didn't even know/care that we were there. So knowing our place, we left.

Well, we had a fun Labor Day weekend. D&T came up. Monday we went to the "Bottoms" for prime rib.
Shiner's not doing well. His leg looked swollen and we took him back in. The vet kept him. He has an abscess. They've reopened him twice now and now there is old blood they may have to take out. The have him on another stronger antibiotics. We should know more tomorrow.

Mama accidentally let Happy our while the chickens were out. I just happened to go outside and all three dogs were at the chicken house. One of the yellow chickens was missing and a red one looks mortally wounded. Happy ripped her chest open. I dosed her up with Clavomox drops that I had on hand. The yellow one had escaped to the woods and has since returned. Happy is on very thin ice. I'm having evil thoughts of tying him in Diego's pasture and letting Diego stomp him to death or Dad said he was going to hide his bullets. I still have mine-- and the gun. Happy is now chained while the chickens are out. Lady has been hiding all day.

We are now getting 5-7 eggs a day. All the eggs are brown. Some lighter than others. The hens all seem to have a favorite nest and I've seen 2 hens in one nest before. We put golf balls in the other nests to trick them into laying in other nests. Elvis' status is safe for now. He is doing well by his hens. You should have seen him go after D&T's little dog -- I guess 3 dogs at one time were a bit much for him.

I hope to got the gem/gold mines soon. We'll plan it on one of your days off. I think its fun.

In answer to Louds question - Yep, we finally broke down and got a new couch. It's wonderful. A burgundy leather sectional that's like sitting in a glove. It has 6 sections and all but the center wedge are recliners.
We decided that while the Moms were at day care we would take turns as to what we would do that day. It's turned out to be really nice. We don't have to worry and we don't have to pick her up until 5:30. So it's Dad's turn to pick next time. To make it ever nicer, we pick Mama up and then go out to eat --- no cooking that day.
We may have had a major turn around with Happy Jack ( he's trying to creep into my good graces) He actually sat with us while we were supervising the chicken "free range". He only thought about lunging one time and responded to a "No". We didn't have to zap him.
Elvis may end up in the stew pot. While getting the hens back in the hen house, several of them protested and I picked them up and tossed them in the door. He didn't approve and flew at me feet first, he didn't have his spurs out. I kicked him away and poked him with the wide end of the rake. If he shows more aggressive behavior, he will find that he is not necessary for egg production.
Tomorrow we may try to get some apples - take a little trip to Hendersonville.

Today is one of the 2 Thursday's when Poppy and I have a date day - Mamma goes to day care every other Thursday. I wanted to check out the local gold mines. It seems NC is the first place in the US twhere gold was found. There are at least 3 with in 10 miles of our house. In addition to my own pleasure, I wanted to pursue them as a possible outing for my friends when they come in Oct. So very cool. I panned for gold and Poppy sluiced for emeralds. I got a few grains - it's tedious but fun., defintitley a technique involved. Poppy got a baggy full of emeralds - several have a lot of potential. I will definitiely go back.

Mom L was asleep when we went to visit. She was not interested in visiting. Couldn't even get her to eat a cookie. Same thing happened yesterday.

Two more hens have entered the laying game. They all lay in the same nest. So there were three eggs today, all different colors and different shapes.

Since I have figured out how to upload pictures (sort of), I'll include some of the Moms' birthday.

The Dowery
The first egg.

T making friends with Diego

T
The first pix is of T&M at Kid Senses. They love to play on the fire truck. 2nd pix is M feeding her doll that wets.






New addition to Gamma Dolittles is Diego the miniature donkey. T is checking things out before climbing down.

Well, it's been an eon since I posted. I'm hopeful that having wireless will make it easier. Dial up was a drag - literally.
Mom L was still in the dining room when we visited. She was visiting with a gentleman who is 102. His 82 year old daughter is in another local nursing home - his baby is 77. That's scary. His mind is clear as a bell. Mom is clueless.
Mama's knee is bothering her more. I guess that will be next on our agenda.
I finally downloaded some pix and will try to include here on a more regular basis.
Bathed Prissy, and all 4 house cats. Tweedle was a trip. We had to dig out the special bathe cage. She literally worked up her own lather. I've never seen such contortions.
Finally a cooler day - muggy, but 89 - bareable.
We were out supervising the chickens while they are learning to "free range" and I heard a very high screech, looked up and saw a hawk trying to dive for the chicken. We scared him off and put the chix up for the day. One more challenge.

Well, I surely haven't posted in a while. Have been busy trying to establish a routine for my New Years resolutions.
The past 2 weeks have been interesting. As most of you know, traveling with Mom L. is quite a CHORE and we have finally made a decision that we will need to leave her in a safe place while we travel. North Carolina has a government subsidized respite program for Alzheimer's patients. For those who qualify, the families can take them to the Respite Center for up to 30 days(overnite stays) a year. We took Mom L for a 2 day/nite trial visit. We are very impressed. She pulled one of her fainting spells and we were afraid she would be disqualified. They didn't bat eye. They have a physician in house. Interesting enough, he said they have discovered that manipulative behaviour is one of the last things to go. Oh Yes!! the best part - it's only $8 a day.

We also enrolled her in adult care care. Our goal is to take her at least every Thursday and more often if needed. Last week was her first week and she did great. She had lots of people to talk to and fuss over her. They will also bathe her - which I'm going to take advantage of. She almost fell on me the last time I tried to bathe her - I was uneasy the whole time.

One night last week, I just didn't feel like cooking, so we went to Fatz for supper. Mom L really showed her behind. She wouldn't eat anything thing. She was looking around to see who was paying attention to her and went thru her entire littany of manipulative behaviours. Headache, arrm pain, eye pain, back pain, nausea, dizzy, trying to faint, coughing, gagging, saying she has lost her voice. The only thing she missed was spitting out her food and that was because she didn't eat anything. Poppy and I were ready to "throw her from the train". We boxed up her supper, reheated the next day for her lunch and she thought it was wonderful and ate it all. Go figure!

Mouse came up last night and that is a real treat. She and Poppy are walking. Reese thinks she's gone to heaven - running every chance she gets.

I'm painting a good bit now. Taking a landscape paintng class. I'm attempting the view from our deck

Today I start packing. I guess I really need my long johns for Wisconsin cold. I'm really looking forward to my visit with Loud. We will have fun and hopefully accomplish some curtains.

Mouse and Poppy are back - that's all for now

Gamma's House

This may be a duplicate blog. I tried posting about Makeup and it never appeared on blog, but appeared in the edit section. I think dial-up may be a problem. Hopefully that is short lived. We are on the waiting list to get satelite in Dec.
MAKE UP
Applying makeup when you are 1/2 blind is a challenge in itself and when you reach a "certain age", it becomes more so. So when you take your glasses off, in order to apply eyeliner and mascara you need at least a 8x magnifying mirror. (Just have not figured out how to put on eyeliner while my glasses are on) But thats not even the fun part. I seem to have lipstick liner and eyeliner in just about the same shade and packaging - of course the lipliner is more vivid. Need I tell you that eyeliner is much easier to remove from lips than lip liner is from eyes.

Things are calm this morning. Poppy is meditating. I just put a cobbler in the oven. I'm going to help a neigbor make breakfast for their 2nd Annual RR friends breakfast. About 20 railroad afficionados gather for some sort of convention in this area. Pat offered to cook breakfast for them last year. So another neighbor and I help her cook. She hyped the cobbler thing - I can't count the number I've made tis year.

Gamma's House
MAKE UP
Applying makeup when you are 1/2 blind is a challenge in itself and when you reach a "certain age", it becomes more so. So when you take your glasses off, in order to apply eyeliner and mascara you need at least a 8x magnifying mirror. (Just have not figured out how to put on eyeliner while my glasses are on) But thats not even the fun part. I seem to have lipstick liner and eyeliner in just about the same shade and packaging - of course the lipliner is more vivid. Need I tell you that eyeliner is much easier to remove from lips than lip liner is from eyes.

Things are calm this morning. Poppy is meditating. I just put a cobbler in the oven. I'm going to help a neigbor make breakfast for their 2nd Annual RR friends breakfast. About 20 railroad afficionados gather for some sort of convention in this area. Pat offered to cook breakfast for them last year. So another neighbor and I help her cook. She hyped the cobbler thing - I can't count the number I've made tis year.

Well, it's been a while since I've posted. The summer was a whirlwind and we are finally catching a breath. The Mom's are doing OK, Mom L had a mini stroke last week, but seems to have recovered. It left her a little more disoriented. I catch her tryint to walk without her walker more often.

Poppy finally sold the horses. It was a sad day.
I'm sure you got the email that Hell has frozen over. Poppy decided to by a Scion. So far it is a dream and has lived up to all our expectatios. Super easy for the Mom's to get in and out of. Last tank got 30.9 miles to the gallon.

I'm taking oil painting classes in Tryon. Great artist/instructor. So good to be painting again. One of our neighbor friends gave us a bunch of red banana peppers. They were so pretty, I decided to do a still life. My intent is to post it on the blog tonight. Hope it comes thru. We are looking forward to the Holidays. Will be very busy as usual.

We had a very nice day. D&T were up for the weekend. Mama is still suffering from side effects of Aricept. Drug info says to expect this for a few weeks but should subside.

We have been definitely bummed out about Shay and she is in our prayers.

Poppy and D rearranged the round pen and the back yard. Lack of rain has diminished fresh grass for the horses so we turned the back yard into a pasture. The horses can now come up to the deck and visit. It's so cool. They discovered their reflections in the windows and thought they had visitors. They whinnied and kicked up their heels. It was hilarious. At first we thought it was the Jimmy Buffet coming from the speakers in the chimney - but then we realized they could see themselves and they were fascinated.

I finally put my grandmother Gotschall's potato salad in writing. I only make it for special occasions( because it's not diet friendly) - so, I never make a small amount. You will just have to calculate for smaller amount. I take this to pot lucks or large family gatherings. Well darn, I just realized, I downloaded the salad in Poppy's files. So it's late and I will sign off, transfer files and repost it tomorrow. Hopefully, by then I'll have the homemade peach ice cream written down. We made it today and it was awesome.
Luv,
Gamma

Well, it's been awhile since my last post. The laptop crashed and my arm and neck suffers terribly when I spend lengthy blocks of time on the desk top. The Moms have had their ups and downs. Poppy's mother had a trial of Aricept (Alzheimer drug to slow disease process). She had so much nausea and dizziness we were afraid she would fall. Dr. says there is another one to try - however, it will just have to wait til after some of our trips. Gamma's mother is now on the drug. She is having some nausea and dizziness ( supposedly that diminishes after 2 weeks), so I gave her some Meclizine.

Gamma is taking Physical Therapy for her neck and shoulder. Also started with a Tens unit - it really helps.

Mama made these cookies and they are easy and really good.

CHOCOLATE TOFFEE BARS Family Circle
Makes 24 bars
2 sticks butter at room temperature 1 cup sugar
1 egg yolk 1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour ½ teaspoon slat
1 package (6 ounces semisweet chocolate pieces
1 cup pecans
Heat oven to 350. Generously coat 13x9x2 baking pan with cooking spray.
Beat together butter, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla in medium size bowl until well blended. Mix in flour and salt. Press mixture into even layer in bottom of prepared baking pan. Bake 20 minutes or until top is golden brown. Remove to wire rack. Immediately sprinkle chocolate pieces over top. Let stand 5 minutes to melt. Spread chocolate with metal spatula smoothly over top. Sprinkle with pecans. Cool completely. Cut into bars. All of the puppies and the Mama dog that we fostered are in homes in New Hampshire. We have 2 more - collie mix and one that looks like a toy white wolf. It's pretty obvious she has been mistreated, but is coming around.

Gamma's House
It was so great having all the kids here and we sure hated to see all of you leave - very quiet without T&M. The crawfish boil was wonderful. Almost forgot how good they taste - We now know how long they will survive in a cooler.

Mamma's sister and husband arrived Monday to stay with the Moms. Poppy and I headed for Isle of Palms Tuesday for a much needed "getaway". Isle of Palms was perfect in that it was "at the beach" and just a 30 minute hop into downtown Charleston. Next time we'll stay longer. Crammed a lot of just riding around, taking in all the changes 40 years make. Went to the only tea plantation in the US. We were awestruck over the new Cooper River Bridge. Really a beautiful structure. The food was excellent. First night was The Boat House in Isle of Palms. Still very crowded at 8pm. Really good food. Wednesday night was at Magnolia's - again excellent food. Thursday night at 82 Queen, didn't do seafood - excellent again; gorgeous setting. Poppy was happy - did Jimmy Dengates for lunch and the Deviled Crabs were as good as he remembered. I love crab, but shy away from deviled crab because of too many fillers and not enough crab, but these were really good and I'd definitely order them again.

Got home yesterday. M&L left this morning. We're so grateful they stayed so we coould have some time away.

Poppy is excited about his upcoming fishing trip. We all head for Gordon and Bobbies Tuesday. The guys will go fishing in Florida and us girls will just hang out for a few days.