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!

Can You Hear Me Now?

 

I've been away from blogging for so long I don't think anyone can hear me anymore!  It's been such a crazy time for the past two or more months that I don't know if I'm coming or going! 

First....Mr. Fix It was here for a month and boy did that go fast.  I have so many great photos of mini-trips to share with you all if I can ever find time to blog!  Here is a sneek peak:

Prickly Pear cactus ice cream from Tortilla Flat!  Yummy!!!

Then just before Mr. Fix-it left, my brother flew in to stay for a month.

Kurt trying to nap with one of my day boarder dogs, Jessie.

Then......all you know what broke loose.  Dad was admitted to the hospital with another blood clot.  They don't want to put him on a blood thinner because he is a risk for falls and because he might not even remember to tell anyone if he did fall.   He was in ICU for about 5 days and he fell twice in the hospital but fortunately didn't hurt himself.  I don't know how he managed to escape hurting himself!!! 

In the middle of all this, Mr. Fix-It had to go home.  Sad.   But at least my brother was here to help.  Dad got so weak in the hospital that he had to go to a Rehab facility because he couldn't even walk.  He's been there almost two weeks now and has complained loudly about it nearly everyday.  To the point that I was so stressed, I almost gave up and brought him home last week.  But I didn't cave because he is getting stronger and can walk a very short way with a walker! 

They want him to stay for two more weeks but I think we will probably bring him home this weekend.  That way, Kurt can be here with me to help for a couple of days before he has to go back home.  Not much of a vacation for him but I am soooo grateful he was here!!

In the meantime....the desert is never boring.  We had a hail storm that made it look like the ground was covered with snow.

And believe me it was freezing!!

But just a few days later.......

Back in the 80's and cactus blooming! (oh and rattlesnakes out too!)

You just never know what life is going to send your way!  And with that....I'm off to see dad at rehab and find out what tribulations are brewing there today!!

Completely Speechless!

I am way behind in everything! 

It started about 3 or 4 weeks ago when my laptop died and I had to buy a new one.  It's taking forever to get used to the new one as I'm not the most technical person out there.  That or I don't take change well (don't tell anyone, but that may be the real reason!).

Then Mr. Fix-it came to visit two weeks ago after being apart for nearly 5 months.  Don't ask me how we make it work, we just do, though it is NOT easy.  Since he's been here we've been so busy carving out time to do things around the house, spend time together, as well as do some fun things.  I actually have some great adventures I want to share with my readers, like the Rodeo we went to yesterday and several hikes we've taken with several more planned before he leaves.  Mr. Fix-it actually is here for two more weeks as he is practicing for his retirement in March of 2014! 

I want to share the fact with you all that I am rarely at a loss for words.  I'm sure I've been speechless before sometime in my life, but to be honest, I don't remember it ever really happening!   Additionally, Mr. Fix-it has NEVER been able to surprise me.  I've always known what I'm getting for any holiday or any secret he has tried to keep, he's just not good at it!

It was such a relief when he arrived.  One...just to see him and, two....I really needed help.  It's very hard being the only one taking care of my dad and spending so much time at it and it gets lonely.  Mr. Fix-it's flight came in late in the day so we grabbed some dinner and headed to the 'ranch', catching up on everything we'd been up to for the last five months.  With the time difference, I expected him to hit the sack at least two hours before me but he stayed up and we continued talking.  At one point late in the evening I was standing in front of the bathroom mirror and he came up behind me and asked if I would scratch his back. 

 Being exhausted as I was, my first thought was.....you just flew 1800 miles and you want me to scratch your back!  Grumble, grumble, #@#!#..  Ok, I said to myself,  "Self stop feeling sorry for yourself just because you are wanting to receive attention, not give it.  He's been alone too for five months too!" 

Ahhhh....what a sly devil he was though!  He planned the reveal of his secret SOOO well, down to the last detail!  He stepped into the bathroom facing the mirror just so he could see my reaction as he took off his t-shirt.  I stepped behind him and raised my 'claws' to scratch and when I did, thought my jaw must have hit floor.  I was absolutely speechless...dumbfounded...in fact he said my face went white.  Blanched was really the word he used.  Blanched.  I don't think I've ever 'blanched' in my life, only read the word in historical romance novels!!  

So....what caused such a reaction you ask???

THIS!!!!

  I don't think my reaction was what he expected.  And I can't figure out how he managed to keep this secret for so long especially since it had to be done months before he came out or it wouldn't have been healed.  In his defense, he's talked about this wanting this tattoo for quite a few years but I never took it seriously AND......I thought if he was serious, I'd be able talk him out of it!! 

Ummm...yeah....that didn't get to happen! 

A Busy Week

This first full week back in Arizona has flown by.  Baby brother and his wife left last Sunday and I've been busy ever since settling in and unpacking.  

Of course, folks have figured out I'm back, maybe because of the vehicle in the driveway but whatever!  At any rate, I am back to grooming and boarding this week with a total of three groom jobs and one day boarder!  

Yes, I had to venture into the dog grooming shed where I knew that baby rattler could be hiding.  Thankfully, I've not seen hide nor skin of him since and that's fine with me.   Hoping it was too noisy around here for him and he has slithered on.  Trust me though.....I am VERY cautious and constantly looking around!  

I must say it is very, very nice to have my 'regulars' come back to see me and see them get so excited.  Well.....mostly excited.  Tigger hates grooming and he knew right where he was this morning when his hu'mom dropped him off!  Dogs DO remember things!  

 

This is Nellie.  She came to board for the day and was SOOOO excited to be here though she's looks pretty relaxed in this photo!  

When she came in the door she wiggled and groaned and carried on to get my attention.  Sure makes me feel good!

Anything but Uneventful!

Dad and I landed in Phoenix last Tuesday and things have been, crazy, unusual, scary, messy and stressful, ever since......almost from the time we took off!
 
I 'thought'  it was going well because when we left, Indianapolis was sunny, warm and the plane took off on time.  Clear skies till we got about half way to Phoenix.
 
The first sign of trouble was when dad decided he needed to go to the bathroom on the plane!  He never does that.  But guess what....it was my fault because I forgot to remind him before we boarded.  I knew this wasn't going to go well and it didn't.  After about 60 seconds or less in the bathroom he came out with the front of his pants wet down to the hem.  Can't say it was pleasant for the next two or three hours in a tightly packed and slightly warm plane!  (Before anyone suggests Depends, he already wears them.  However, with his diabetes and Parkinson's, he doesn't always know he has to go till it's almost too late.)

I missed another sign too......we always leave Indy with cold, and clouded over weather and arrive in warm, bright, sunny Phoenix.  I should have guessed something would be different this year, especially when we left beautiful weather behind.   Sure enough, about 200 miles from our destination, things got turbulent.  And we couldn't see the ground till we were nearly landed.  We had arrived in the middle of a dust storm!  Bad enough that any turbulence freaks me out but we circled and were buffeted round and round.  There was a young lady seated next to me who was five months pregnant and I glanced over at her to see her eyes squeezed shut and desperately fanning herself. It could have been worse, she didn't toss her cookies but, oh my, it was touch and go for awhile.  I felt so bad for her.  

My youngest brother and his wife had driven dad's vehicle out for us and they picked us up on time from the airport.   Life was now looking better....well....pretty good.  We arrived home to find the toilet in my bathroom not working.  How did that happen in only four months of being gone and it was fine when I left?  Not good when you have four people needing the bathroom and only one works.  My sister-in-law and I promptly headed for the nearest Wal-mart to buy groceries and a new TV for dad.  We were also pro-active and bought a new toilet flapper assembly so baby brother could fix it the next morning.  

Here is baby brother and SIL putting together a stand for the new TV.  Not sure he is paying as much attention to construction as his wife would like him to be!  

And there is the new TV and stand with, of course, a Western on!!  Have I mentioned, dad doesn't like to watch much else????

Baby brother managed to fix the toilet a few days later when SIL nagged him to do it.  It wasn't the flapper assembly, it was a corroded flange.  Then my utensils drawer in the kitchen fell apart when someone opened it.  Got that fixed and after that, the top of my curtain fell off the back door due to a broken plastic holder thingy.  But it's all good, these are small things and not worth sweating over.  

Unfortunately though, it got worse when baby brother went to take the trash out to the curb.  There it was, right underneath the trash receptacle.....an Arizona rattlesnake.  I've always been lucky and never found one in my yard though neighbors across the street have. 

 There it is in the center of the pictures kind of coiled up and really hard to see in the rocks. 

As if it knew, said snake decided to take off before the fire department could get here to take it away.  (See middle of photo)  It was a baby, only about 12"s long, but deadly.  They say the babies are the most dangerous as they don't know how to control their venom.  Really?  If any of them knew how to control their venom, nobody would get bit right??

I watched in horror as it slithered toward that pipe at the back of my shed assuming it was headed inside it.  Oh no.....nope, didn't happen.  Instead......it went directly for the wall and disappeared up under that lip at the bottom of the shed.  That's right, it went right up through the ledge into the wall inside my shed.  And that's where I groom dogs all winter!  

So now, the thing is in the wall of my grooming room.  The firemen got their after it disappeared and suggested we put out sticky glue traps like ones used for mice.   They didn't think we should silicone the ledge closed because that might force it to come out somewhere inside the shed!!!   Oh freakin great!!!


It's been five days now and no sign of the snake.  My monthly bug man came this morning and put down some 'Snake Away' pellets but where o where is the snake!  Someone else came and moved things inside the grooming room and pronounced it 'safe', however, I get really nervous everytime I go in there.  I have two grooming jobs this weekend so hoping for the best!

More soon!

Season's Change

Hard to believe that summer has passed and tomorrow dad and I will wing our way to Phoenix for the winter.  Another season has come and gone. 

 

Dad decided to spend some time on the deck and soak up some beautiful fall weather.  Today, the farmer ran beans in the field behind the house and I caught dad looking out across the newly combined acres and reminiscing.  Fall on the farm was always busy for dad and my brothers getting the harvest done but they loved farming. 

After supper I took a walk next to a nearby cornfield.  

The smells and sights of fall where overwhelming to me.  In a flood of memories I was reminded of other fall days.  Days when I couldn't wait to get home from school, saddle up my horse and take off across harvested fields.  Days when I collected brilliantly colored fall leaves and watched fuzzy black and brown caterpillars scurry on their way somewhere.  Days when I collected acorns by the edge of a field and watched as a dust bowl swirled around a combine eating away and collecting the bounty of the summer season just past.  

All too quickly, it was over.  Not just fall.....but that season of my life.   I wonder if dad was ruminating similar memories this afternoon as he observed the field behind our deck that is now devoid of bounty.  

Seasons change.

Time's A Flyin'!

In less than two weeks, dad and I will land in Phoenix for the winter season.  I do not know where the summer went.  We've been home for four months and it seems as if we've only been here for a few weeks.  

Tuesday night some of my family got together to see us before we leave.  We went to a really out of the way, but well known and historic eating establishment where my nephew works as a sous chef. 

 Located in the tiny rural burg of Perkinsville, IN, Bonge's has been around since 1934. Actually, it was built in 1837 as a Hardware store and became a Restaurant in '34!  

It's the tiniest eatery I think I've ever been too, with maybe only 12 tables.  Most nights, people are tailgating in the parking lot waiting to get a table.  Apparently, diners enjoy the parking lot party almost as much as the wonderful upscale food served inside.  Folks, this is NOT a hamburger joint!!  The menu can offer such delicacies as Quail, Salmon and Duck.

Here we are after an incredible meal prepared by my nephew Colin, seated on the left.  Next to him is my brother Kurt, my two beautiful nieces, Kaitlin and Elise, then dad.  Standing behind dad is my brother Kevin, me, my daughter Kathryn and my sister-in-law Genan.   Thank you Genan for putting this wonderful evening together!!

I can't believe it is almost time to head back to Arizona.  If only Indiana didn't have winters.    I'm already missing my wonderful family!

Remind Me Never

.....to go to the grocery on a Saturday morning.  I don't know what I was thinking, I truly had a brain fade by going as I knew better!!

You see, I have personal space issues.  I've written about it before here, http://through-the-barn-door.blogspot.com/search?q=personal+space


And I openly admit my idiosyncrasy regarding people in my personal space.   Most times I just deal with it but this trip to the grocery pushed me over my limit!  

It should have been my first clue as I headed into the store and the local senior citizen bus was parked at the door.  "No matter",  I thought, "I can handle it."  NOT!

I headed over to the pre-packaged lettuce and it was as if there was a fire sale going on there!  I mean, people were swarming like bees!!  "Calm, remain calm",  I said.  "You can do this".   As I patiently waited my turn at the back of the aisle, I waited beside one of those carts they bring all the produce out to re-stock shelves.  Of course, it was stacked higher than my head.  All was good until the cart moved and ran into me, nearly knocking me down!  WHAT! 
The stock boy peeped around to see what had impeded his process as I was staring at him with the most incredulous look ever!  He apologized profusely but still....!

From there I made my way to the deli which was also teaming with customers.  I was able to stand in the front next to a gentleman to wait my turn.  All was good there until a little old lady, no doubt from the senior citizen bus parked out front, wheeled up with her shopping cart behind me.  Now....I know this doesn't sound like much, but she blocked me in with her cart and with LITTLE room for me to move.  Why, why, why do you stroll up to a busy counter like that and try to force in your grocery cart?  If that wasn't enough, the front of her cart was so close to the behind of the man beside me that I thought she was trying to take him for a ride!  I must have glanced at her 4 or 5 times trying to let her politely know that she was in my personal space and it was starting to get to me, but amazingly, she just smiled.  Finally, I said to the man standing next to me who was almost finished with his order,  "Don't step back sir or your going to fall over the cart behind you".  I mean it was inches from his derriere!!  And still.....pushy senior citizen didn't get it, only laughed and wouldn't move her cart!!!  

That was it....my personal space alarm bells were going off all over the place.  I had to get out and quick before I had a melt down, however, I must have gotten behind every slow shopper in the place trying to get to the checkout.  They were EVERYWHERE!!!  

As if all that wasn't enough, a mother and child got in line to check out behind me and she was pushing one of those stupid carts that look like cars the kids can drive.  Well mom's I hate to tell you, but your driving perceptions must be off because those things are longer than regular carts and when you bump the person in front of you, you are tempting an explosion!  It was all I could do not to lose it.  

Ok, so please remind me the next time I think I can handle ANY shopping on a Saturday.................................................DON'T DO IT!!!!

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, NO it's......

a Jimmy Buffet concert!!!

Or.....it's a beach party?

One thing for sure, I've never seen anything like it.  I'm a country music fan and go to country concerts.  Never having been to a Jimmy Buffet concert I had no clue what to expect!

It was wall to wall people.....errrr, I mean parrotheads!  

I saw people (including guys!) in bikini tops, hula skirts, all kind of hats and tossing beach balls.  Fins to the left, fins to the right.

So how did I end up going to see Buffet when I'm a tried and true country gal?   Well I have a wonderful sister-in-law that got tickets and a VIP parking pass for Mr. Fix-it and me so we could get out of the house and do something different.  And...it didn't stop there, she even came and stayed with dad while we were gone! 

Awesome is all I can say!  Don't get me wrong, am still a country music fan, but I would definitely go to another Parrothead concert again.

Mr. Fix It Makes It

Mr. Fix It has a project!  

It started like this.

Then....the sawhorses appeared

 Then his granddaughter, Miss Lacie, found some great sand and pebbles in Mr. Fix It's work space.

Then.....I got roped into helping!

Mr. Fix It added some extra details for architectural detail.

And then....we ended up with this!!!

And a wonderful deck to sit on!

Mr. Fix It is just awesome!!!

College Bound!

My beautiful niece is College bound today but she took time to come over and visit with her grandpa and aunt today!  So thoughtful!!

Good luck Kaitlin!  Have fun and we love you!!!

The Denture Debacle

I shouldn't write this post.  I've told myself all afternoon not to do it but obviously I'm not listening.

I'm sorry to all my blogging friends who read this one!  Going to get that out of the way right now, first and up front!!


My dad is 83 and has quite a few physical/medical issues.  I live with him 24/7 so he doesn't have to go into a facility.  I have three younger brothers, two of whom do nothing to help me with dad. The third does what he can which I appreciate though I wish for more help.  Now....having said all that, it was my decision to take care of dad in his senior years.  He doesn't want to go to a home, nor do my brothers or I want him to go to one.  Again....I remind myself, this was my decision to do this for dad.  No one pushed me or held a gun to my head.  Still, there are some days I question the sanity of that decision and today happens to be one of those days.

Now, I also want to say, I don't write much about dad and my life with him because frankly, it's personal and not always a pretty picture.   I don't believe he would want me telling stories about his private life that would be embarrassing.  Old age has a way of demoralizing one's confidence and abilities enough as it is.  He doesn't need me sharing it with perfect strangers. 

Somehow though after this little incident I can't seem to stop myself.  I just need to tell someone, anyone.  That or....cry!!

You see, dad has needed new dentures for at least the last three or four years.  He has the money to get them but he refuses, getting downright mad at me for even suggesting it.  He doesn't like to spend a dime.  I don't even like taking him to the grocery, one because it's hard for him to walk, but two, he is always shocked at how expensive things are.  I end up buying just a few things on the list and go back latter for the rest when he is napping.   So obviously, dentures are out of the question as far as he is concerned.  

However, the last few years have been wearing roughly on me with his old dentures.  The top one falls out when he is eating or talking to people which embarrasses me greatly.  The noise he makes when eating is unbearable, food falls out of his mouth and he can't chew anything...there I've said it.  When you sit across the supper table from him sometimes it's all I can do to get through the meal.  Believe me I've tried to alleviate this pain!  I turn the television up really loudly but sometimes even that doesn't help.  I try to not look, I try to not get upset when he can't chew what I have fixed even though I can cut it with a fork.    GRRRRR!

So, I went behind his back and made an appointment for new ones and didn't tell him until right before it was time to go.  I know that was a bad thing to do but it made my discomfort so much easier.  And besides, even if I had told him well in advance he would have forgotten by the next day anyway and I would have to go through the whole experience the next time I told him!


We made it through all the impressions and finally the day came for the new teeth.  Mr. Fix-it had to take him to the dentist for me as I had a physical therapy appointment and of course there were no brothers around that could help.  When I got home I was so excited to see his pretty new teeth.  Not once did they come out during supper, and even though he was eating soft foods, nor were there any horrible noises.  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!


At least until the next morning.  I was going about my business getting dad's breakfast, coffee and meds when he came storming out of his room.  Not really storming, he can't move that fast, however, out he came proclaiming angrily,  "Well we've got to find that dentist"!   What!!  Why???   Apparently, he'd had to sleep in his uppers all night because he couldn't get them out.   Personally I don't see that as much of a problem.  I'm thrilled they are fitting tightly.

He then proceeds to slam a small capped plastic bottle filled with water and his lower denture on the kitchen table stating that it doesn't fit because he can't get them in.  With all the patience I can muster I remind him he wore them all day yesterday and how can they not fit today?  In fact, I assured him I had seen him take the lowers out and put them back in last night after supper to which he was sure he hadn't.   

When his shower aide arrived, he immediately tells her he spent two hours the night before trying to unsuccessfully get his upper plate out and that we had to leave right now to go to the dentist to get them fixed!!  (Of course, two hours was actually more like fifteen minutes!)  I explained to him that I would have to call first that we couldn't just walk in because they had other patients and he became indignant and couldn't understand why not.   Oh my gosh, I don't want to get old and lose my sense of logic.  

Finally we go to the dentist and as I am carrying the little plastic jar with his denture into the office, the cute little receptionist says,  "What's that your bringing me?"  Now...I thought that was an odd comment, she knew what we were coming in for and surely she would recognize the little container the Dr. must send home with all denture customers, right?  I proudly held it up displaying the non-conforming plate in the little container saying sardonically in a low voice,  "See, he's not wearing them!"   


Cute little receptionist lets out a giggle and says,  "Well I thought it looked like a urine sample!"   A urine sample?!?!?  Who would bring a urine sample to a dentist!!  Why would she think that, wouldn't she see these little bottles go in and out of the office all the time?

OMG!!!!

 And that's when it hit me!  

It IS a urine sample container!!  Omg I am mortified!!!  Since Mr. Fix-it was the one to take him to get his new dentures, I had wrongly assumed the container was sent home with him from the Dentist.  Well we all know what happens when we 'assume' something, right!  I had totally forgotten that a month ago dad was at the Dr.'s and a urine sample was needed but he couldn't do it and the nurse sent the bottle home with him.  To make matters worse, (so sorry for this information!!) he had tried at home but......couldn't hit the bottle!  Getting the sample was promptly forgotten....until this incident!  

When we left the office with his new dentures in his mouth but the old denture in the little container I told him this was his urine sample bottle to which he replied as seriously as he possibly could,  "Well about time we found a use for the thing."   

OMG, I wanted to cry!  Now that a few days have passed I am able to laugh about it with Mr. Fix-it............barely.

A Great Blog Post

I have several readers who raise chickens and love them like pets. 

I also follow a blog that I really enjoy.  It's written by Susan Branch and is just delightful. 

So, when Susan posted a story that involved chickens and the woman who loved them very much, I had to share it here.

http://www.susanbranch.com/nancy-luce

I don't have chickens though have had in the past.  I can't say that any of them were considered pets, I guess I didn't realize the potential a chicken had to be a pet!

This is a true story that I hope you will enjoy.  Oh....and I learned something too.   Bullying is not a new thing, it existed in the early 1800's!!


Have a great weekend,
Karen

Humpty Dumpty.....

had a great fall.....oh wait, that wasn't Humpty, that was me!  


I didn't fall off a wall.  No....it was more like rolling down a hill.  I've never been known as particularly graceful and I had anything but grace this past Saturday morning at the dog park.  


The day started out innocently enough.  Jump out of bed, get dad's coffee, test his sugar level, get his meds and insulin given, fix his breakfast and hurry up get Dottie out before my grooming job ( a large Standard Poodle) arrived.  I don't remember now what it was, but something got out of sequence and I had to bathe the Poodle before I could take Dottie to the park to do her thing.  I was in high gear.


Our dog park is kind of small, an afterthought actually.  The only place for it to go was at the end of the tennis court at the bottom of a small hill.  It is often wet there because it is low and the water stays.

If you look at the house in this picture you can get a sort of feel for the hill.  Not a big hill but an incline non-the-less.


Unfortunately I had on some rubber sole sandals with no tread and as I started my descent I slipped on the damp grass.  My right ankle rolled inward (hurts just typing that!!) and caused me to pitch forward.  That caused me to fall, well no, roll down the hill landing up against the chain link fence and dropping Dottie's lead in the process.  


There was a couple at the top who heard a rather unpleasant word come out of my mouth as I was falling and when my flubbery body came to a stop, they were kind enough to ask if I was ok or needed help.  I was able to grab Dottie's leash before she got away even though I was sitting there in pained shock.  However, I assured the kind people that I was ok, needed no help, just a little fall and off they went as I pulled myself up.  

Of course, I was totally embarrassed, mad at myself for not being careful, and determined to move on.  After all, I've had sprained ankles all my life so this should have been just another sprain.  I should have known the minute I tried to walk that all was not well in ankledom!


I managed to get Dottie inside the fence so she could do her thing while I tried to shake off the whole incident.  Of course, I text Mr Fix-it who is at home in Indiana and can't help me, but it was the first thing I could think to do.  The moral support was great and he suggested I ask the first person I see for help.


No problem there are always people out and about, walking, riding bikes, in golf carts.  So Dottie and I head up to the street toward home looking for someone to come along.  Do you think anyone came by on this beautiful warm and sunny Saturday????   NO!!  Not one person was out.  


The closer I got to home, which is about three blocks from the dog park, the sicker I was feeling.  At one point, poor Dottie waited in the shade at the end of her flexi-lead waiting for me to catch up!  By the time I made it home, I was feeling faint, sweating and thinking about throwing up.  

 

 Here, swelling has set in on my right ankle.

A trip to Urgent Care and an Xray confirmed that I had broken my Fibula.  I guess that is a bone on the side of my leg and is broken just above the ankle.  They put me in an air cast and sent me home on crutches with instructions to keep it elevated.  The break is clean so no need for surgery and casting thank goodness!

I go back to the Doctor tomorrow, Tuesday, to see how I am doing.  Am hoping I can at least get off these stupid crutches!  Ok all, remind me not to complain, it could have been much worse.  It's just that I am a caregiver not a caretaker!

Dottie goes for an Overnight

Hi everyone, Dottie here.   I don't think mom is going to be on here for a few days cuz she fell today and broke a bone above her ankle.  So I get to go stay with some other English Cocker friends at Barking Dog Ranch for a couple of days.  I do feel bad cuz it happened this morning when she took me to the dog park.  

Gotta go, my ride is here and I am all packed.  Hope mom won't miss me too much but I kissed her and told her it would be ok!

I'll be back soon and so will mom!

Watching Eagles Fly.......

......or rather.....hatch!  

I have had so much fun webcam watching the nest of an Eagle family in Decorah, Iowa.

http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles 


If you aren't watching them yourself, take a minute and peek in on them!  Last week, two eggs hatched and it is quite amazing to see the baby Eaglets, as well as mom and dad.  I don't think I have ever seen a Bald Eagle and certainly not this close!  


Warning....this is nature at it's finest, so you never know what you might see them eating!  But it is sooo worth it.