A Change in Perspective

Funny how fast some things change when others seem so slow!  

       In a matter of a day, my perspective on the world changed from this:

Too this:

Ok, well not maybe all in one day, but pretty darn near!!  We thought when my dad bought this house, that we were just the last house before the 

cul-de-sac and that eventually there would only be a couple of homes there we would have to look at!  

Oh no....poof and just like that, cul-de-sac gone and turned into a through street.  And LOOK at the homes in the background next to the woods.  Now those weren't there yesterday I'm sure!!!  

So now I can no longer live in denial that I am living in the country.  I could always ignore all the homes next to me on the 'other' side of the house and pretend I was still in the country by only looking to the East!!!  Did I mention that I MISS my home in the country???   I MISS my home in the country!  But.....I have to stay here and take care of dad.  Just the way it is in life for me right now.  

And in about 6 weeks, dad and I will be heading to the house in Arizona for the winter.  And...oh yeah.....I just heard that they put in a new house out there on the empty lot RIGHT NEXT to ours!!  What is up with all this change and growth!!  I thought the economy was bad!  We only had a one year with our 'sort of' country view above here in Indiana.  But in Arizona, we had the empty lot for 7 years!!!  We could see out!!  We could see the top of a mountain in the distance, we could see sunsets!!  

Gheesh...how fast a perspective changes!!

Still Here!

I'm still here!  At least I think I am....some days I don't know if I'm coming or going.

My dad is doing well.  Mr. Fix-It had knee surgery to repair a tear and "significant" arthritis and is off work for several weeks.  It's not really taking care of two needy males that keeps me running, though that certainly is enough!!  It's this dog rescue chairmanship thingy!!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining.  I love doing this job but there are some days I literally can't get away from my computer and emails.  Emails about a dog in need, emails from potential adopters, emails, emails, emails!!

And...in the middle of all this, my foster dog, Bettie Page got adopted.  Oh yeah.....that's supposed to happen when you foster!!  I miss her but she got a fantastic home and it's not that far from me!  

There she is in her new home on her new bed acting like the princess she is!!

Part of rescue is making sure we have funds to help future incoming dogs.  So I've been incredibly busy running an online Rescue Raffle drawing.   For $10 you get 5 raffle tickets that could win you a custom hand-drawn 8x10 portrait of your pet by artist extraordinaire, Linda Zielinski.  She will do any dog, any breed.  Below is an example of her work.

This is of course, an English Cocker Spaniel but I'm telling you she is a phenomenal artist and can do any breed.

See what I mean!!!

And another!!!!   

If you are interested in entering our raffle go to:

http://www.ecsca.org/rescuehome.html  Raffle ends on July 31st and winner to be drawn on Aug 5th.  Proceeds benefit English Cocker Spaniel Rescue dogs!

Hope you are all having a great summer that is not too hot, not too cold and not too dry!

Karen

My New Foster Dog

Dad and I have been home from Arizona for almost three weeks.  It's been a whirlwind to be sure.  Getting him discharged from rehab and on a plane bound for Indiana that same day took a lot out of him....me too!   

He's doing better, though I don't know if we will get back to Arizona in the fall, all depends on how he does this summer.  

I've been so busy lining up help and physical therapy here at home.  Seems like there is someone in almost every day.  We've seen two of his docs but more to go! 

I said I wasn't going to foster a dog for a while, not till things smoothed out a bit.  But that all changed when I saw an English Cocker in Chicago, listed on Craigslist.  I should tell you I very much dislike seeing dogs advertised in that venue.  Especially when they are free to a good home or for sale at a ridiculously low price.  There are so many unscrupulous people out there that will pick up these dogs and use them for bait in the dog fighting world and there are those that scoop up these 'deals' and sell them at a higher cost, then buy drugs with the money.  

For those of you that don't know, I am the Rescue Chairman for the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America.  So....when I see my breed so close to home, being given away or in a shelter, of course I react.  The fact that I don't have a wealth of foster homes available for these furbabies is a huge problem for a National Rescue.  Consequently, when I contacted the poster about the dog, they were willing to give her up to Rescue and brought her down to me the very next day.  And voila...just like that, I found myself becoming a foster parent.

So here she is.....my newest foster.

This is Bettie Page and she is absolutely adorable!!  A woolly Cocker for sure!  

And here she is groomed and making herself at home on my bed!

Funny thing, I wondered who names a dog Bettie Page and why!?  Apparently Bettie Page, the woman...not the dog, was a rather known 'Pin up' gal from the fifties!!   So far, I haven't seen any resemblance between the two.  Probably a good thing!!

The Color of Arizona

Many folks think of Arizona as a brown, dull and lifeless desert.  I actually think of it as one of the most colorful States in the US.  Take for instance this photo of the Arizona State tree, the Palo Verde.

I just don't think anything is a colorful as one of these trees in full bloom against an incredibly blue Arizona sky.  And there are so many more things that bloom in the desert.  Blooming cactus are phenomenal this time of year also.  Sadly, I didn't get to take any more photos to share with my readers as I left Gold Canyon, Arizona pretty quickly this year.


You may have noticed I've not been writing regularly and some of you picked up on the fact that I was having issues with my dad.  Well after one week in the hospital and five weeks in rehab, I was finally able to get dad on a plane and fly him home to Indiana this past Thursday.  He was released from rehab on Thursday morning and we were back in Indiana by midnight that night.  


The flight was turbulent at least half the way home. It was a hard journey, physically exhausting for him, mentally wearing for me.    I just wanted to get him back home where family and his doctors are so that I could breathe a sigh of relief.  


But wow, I was not ready for the change!  Yes the grass and trees are green here but the weather.....yuck!  I am having to adjust to a difference in temperature of fifty degrees less.  And it's gloomy and rainy, VERY dull and colorless here.  And did I mention it's FREEZING here???  Oh well...it's FREEZING here!!!


So for now, I am breathing a sigh of relief.......through chattering teeth and mega loads of clothing layers!  Yay for me!

Finished!

Project finished.  There are some advantages to spending a lot of time sitting with dad while he is in rehab!

It is supposed to be sold but have not heard from the lady that custom ordered it in quite awhile.  Soooo....I just may have a new rug!

Happy Easter

Hope all my blogging friends had a wonderful, family-filled day with lots of yummy food and chocolate! 

I had Easter dinner with my dad at rehab and then a wonderful Easter supper at the home of friends.   Missing my family but grateful for good friends!

Hoping dad will be released from rehab sometime this coming week. 

Fingers crossed!

Friday Photo