Nature

It is nearly the summer solstice, which means the longest day of the year, and we slip ever so slowly toward fall. It is sometimes difficult for me to figure out the months of a season… When I was young… Fall started when school started, winter was some where between spring and fall, (I would associate it with snow and cold, but I grew up in California, where winter was signaled by a few frosts). Spring came around Easter… and summer started when school let out. If we were to follow the solstice or equinox dates, then we will have just finished spring and summer will start now…with fall actually starting well after the leaves are off the trees, and winter begins, when we are looking for signs that spring is certainly close…

Mostly winged creatures. I have been unable to identify the first 2 butterflies… I don’t recall what the under sides looks like so that makes finding distinguishable marks more difficult.

This little guy… is a Common Blue, also known as a Summer Azure. When the wings are open, the top side is a beautiful blue gray color.

and a field of wild daisies.

More later-Beth

Good News!

Axel did not have to have another surgery. In the 2 weeks we waited for another surgery to repair the ear, it healed. His hematoma was drained again, and then his ear was taped down. It seems this time the healing did much better. To cement the healing, he is going to remain taped for another 2 weeks at which time he will be rechecked and we will decide if he can finally be free of the cone and tape.

There is some bad news though. The blood test shows that while he does not appear to have Cushing's or Addison's Disease, (what we thought he might have),  he is showing early signs of kidney failure, which is really very early signs of Renal failure. None of is levels came back as extremely high (what would be considered outside of the normal range, but on the high end of normal), and we are catching it early… it means that he will have to go on a prescription diet (‘kidney diet’). One company that makes it, has corn starch in it-, and while they claim, it is not corn… IT IS IF YOUR DOG IS ALLERGIC TO CORN!!! and that is the one we will have to go with, because the other company  has ‘ground corn’ as the one of the 1st 5 ingredients…too much real corn!!!

Of course as soon as I mentioned the weather (last post)…. it changed. It was grey, humid and cloudy all last week. The occasional peeks of sun were short and watery at best -but that is good, otherwise we would have had stronger thunder storms. One thing we did NOT need by Thursday was any more rain. And this week, (the last week before the official celestial start of summer) is going to feel like SUMMER. Very hot and HUMID! One of the thunderheads.

You know its hot when the robins are panting…. It wasn’t talking, it was just sitting on the fence.

More later. Beth

Whats Up?

Has it really been a more than a month since I last posted? Just goes to show I really live a rather boring life…

The weather has finally turned to more summer than spring… And so far the weather has been spectacular!!! Not too hot and humid, but I’m sure those days are coming! I have not been outside with a camera in several months… I am going to have to fix that soon!

The kids and DGS packed up and moved to a warmer climate in May. They did not like the long cold and very brutal winter here.  We hope they like Texas better, and so far I think they do… This was taken the day before they left- DGS turned 3 earlier in the month.

I have been working on a quilt, but I am not ready to reveal the whole thing. But here is a picture to tease… you.

I have sent it to the Longarmer for quilting. I just didn’t want wrestle it through the sewing machine to quilt it myself.

I have had a house guest… also quilty! She was in the area for another obligation and came early and stayed a bit late to visit.  Hi Kelly.

She also brought gifts!!! Always nice.

The other bit of time consumption and keeping me close to home, has been Axel the Monster Dog. He has once again spent too much time and money at the vet. This time for a hematoma (similar to a blood blister) on his left ear. We drained it twice and each time it came back so finally a surgical fix. He had the stitches out on a Monday and by Thursday was back because it didn’t stick! So, it was drained again and more surgery again next week.  He will have some blood tests done too, as we think he has an underlying disease that is causing the ear (and him), to not heal as well as is expected. The poor guy has been living in a cone with one ear taped down, for nearly 8 weeks and he has a month more time in it after the surgery. In the meantime he acquired and ear infection… the medication for that -ear drops- is $65 for a 15 ml bottle, (1 Tablespoon!!!).

Doesn’t he just look so sad?

I am busy working on some thread painting… objects. They are fun… I had forgotten how much dimension thread can add; to commercial fabrics!!!  Here are a couple of pictures… Nothing too revealing, since they are not yet done…

 

The flower basket is more traditional and the elephant… will have much in the way of embellishment and sparkle. I will show and share -more later!

Beth