Our Veterinarian and Staff Are the BEST!

Dr. Todd Smith, DVM

 Several days fter I got Bell's Palsy and after one of Angel's Vet Visits, Our Veterinarian, Dr. Todd Smith, called to talk to me about Angel - he wanted to know how she was doing.  He's always so caring.  We talked about her a bit and then I asked what he thought about Angel possibly sensing that I was getting sick and thereby stressing about that...causing the stress related Colitis.  He was surprised to hear that I got Bell's Palsy again - especially when I told him it was on BOTH sides of my face (called bi-lateral).  He agreed that she may have sensed something going on with me and then reacted by being stressed and doing the things she did and then got sick.  He said some dogs are very sensitive and in-tune to
their owners.  (Our Benny was like that too.)

Then a couple of days later, there is an envelope addressed to me, with no return address.  Hmmmmmm...I always wonder about envelopes without return addresses...LOL!!  I opened it up to find the cutest card - and if you guessed it was from the Vet's Office and Staff, you're right!  Signed by the Gang!!

Staying in bed, with the covers pulled up sounds like a good thing!  I'm so tired...all the time!

I don't know why Krystal wrote what she did above right corner at the bottom.  I know that the staff probably sends out hundreds of cards and I'd bet that alot of them are "I'm sorry for the loss of your Pet" Cards and she didn't read what this card was for! 

These are some special people - The Doctors & Staff of Temperance Animal Hospital!  They take the best care of our Pups every time they see them and it's so nice to know that they care about the humans in the Pups' Family too!!  Thanks TAH!!

I can't say that I'm feeling better.  This BP is just hammering at me...and tomorrow will be two weeks since I got it.  Still no movement on the left side.  Minimal movement on the right side...and pain that is driving me crazy.  As alot of you know, I haven't taken any prescription meds or over the counter meds in 2 1/2 years.  Well, the past 2 days, I just HAD TO, no ifs ands or buts about it, take one Aleve (naproxen sodium) each day.  The oils I take in capsules and the oils I use on my face, neck and ear were only working partially.  The nerve pain gets ridiculously piercing sometimes and I just couldn't handle it another minute!  And, this time with bilateral BP, the pain is on BOTH sides!!  My left lower jaw is particularly painful.  Thanks for your continued prayers.  I'll continue to post as I can - visit when I can read - and leave a comment when I'm able.  Just know that I'm thinking about all of you!

Angel - Still Not 100%...but On The Way

SweetieGirl Angel is getting her BioMat treatment this morning - tail wagging the entire time (15 minutes she spent on it).  When she's finished (and she decides when she's finished) on the BioMat, she jumps down and goes on about her day.  Throughout the day, any of my 3 Pups can jump up on the BioMat (covered with a flannel sheet and waterproof pad underneath and get a treatment.  All I have to do is turn on the Mat.  I just want to thank all
of you who have sent emails and commented on my blog posts about Angel, Our Pup and me.We appreciate the prayers.  We've both had a rough week and are hoping the week ahead will be better.

On Friday, hubby took Angel to the Vet, to be seen.  She got a shot and some meds she needs to take, to get rid of the diarrhea (colitis, most likely stress related) that she's been suffering with.  It's gotten better...the diarrhea stopped on Friday night...and now we're waiting.  Saturday she went back to the Vet and ended up with more meds and an additional shot, special food and subcutaneous fluids.  That's where they lift the skin at the back of her shoulders, insert a needle and put fluids in.  So, there was this water filled furry pad of skin that felt very cool to the touch.  They didn't want her to get dehydrated.  She continues to want "up" on my massage table with the BioMat for her treatments.  She just loves them.

Hopefully, this week, she'll get back to totally being herself - tonight was the first night in a week that she was interested in playing with her toys and she had them all over the office and living room!  Yeah!  She had a good time with all of her toys!

Mugs

Visit Marie's Etsy Shop Here

I was poking around in the Throwing Shop and when I saw a beautifully designed coffee/tea Mugs, I was hooked.  Most of the designs are made when they're ordered, but the day I was shopping, this pretty and LARGE {28oz) MUG was sitting there, waiting for me.  It was made and ready to ship.  Don't you just LOVE the shape, color and the thumb rest on top of the handle?  I snapped it up in a second!!

{All photos of the Mug are Marie's Photos}

Marie Kennedy, Owner
The Throwing Shop

This is Marie.  She is a full time Potter and has the cutest Pottery Studio in her backyard.

Handmade Ceramic Coffee Mug

This is a big mug, need a Large morning cup of tea or coffee? This mug is made with a white stoneware clay and thrown on the wheel. The unique and beautiful cascade of colors are created when dipped in the yellow with a hint of olive green glazes.

Approximate size: 4 3/4" high x 4" wide Holds 18+oz 
Each mug comes wrapped with a clay tag similar to what is shown in the last photo.

This piece is lead free, dishwasher, and microwave safe.

Today, I had a McDonald's Iced Coffe (plain) - Medium sized, with ice and poured it in and enjoyed my new mug for the first time.  Beautiful!!  Now, I'm envisioning my Chocolate Caramel Macchiato Coffee that I brew in my Tassimo Brewing System on cooler days.

Here are the other photos of the MUG from Marie!!  

Visit Marie's Etsy Shop Here

Visit Marie's Etsy Shop Here

Visit Marie's Etsy Shop Here

Visit Marie's Etsy Shop Here

{I watermarked all of the photos for Marie, because they all were in the Listing for My Mug and were the absolute BEST photos of it!}

I am delighted with my Mug...and it's quick and safe arrival.  I've already been checking out Marie's Etsy Shop for other Mugs to add to our collection!  Maybe even as gifts!!

Please stop in and check out all of the other beautiful items Marie has in her Throwing Shop!

Thanks for visiting me today!  Have a wonderful weekend.

***I was in no way, paid to do this blog post - I did it because I am thoroughly happy with my Large Mug and my Tassimo Brewing System***

New Bedroom Furniture

I've always wanted a Sleigh Bed, it just has so comforting - because you're really cradled in it...but never really had the room.  But, this time, I did have the room - a nice large bedroom...with two windows  - and I did get my Sleigh Bed!   Besides the Bed, I bought the Dresser (no Mirror, I prefer a large piece of artwork to a mirror) - taller than most and not quite as deep as the last one...and two Night Stands - very good size...taller than most and nice
and wide...with two wonderful drawers.  Since I've been trained in furniture design, I always look for the best construction at a price I can afford.  I love the swirl of the Headboard and the partitions in both the head and footboard.  It's called The Cameron...and it was all in stock, ready for delivery.

The pictures are from the Website, since my camera is out of commission....so, please watch the video.

 The Cameron

Are You Happy?

I know why I am here and my only real focused goal is to live each day to the fullest and to try and honor God and be an encouragement to others. What the future holds is firmly in God's hands, and I am very happy about that!  -Ken Hensley

A wonderful Quote!  Now...are you ready to sing along with this Video?  I love this song...the lyrics and the way the singer dances around, smiling, while he's singing this song!  Sing Along...

"Happy"

[Verse 1:]
It might seem crazy what I'm about to say
Sunshine she's here, you can take a break
I'm a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don't care baby by the way

{Uh}

[Chorus:]
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do


[Verse 2:]
Here come bad news talking this and that, yeah,
Well, give me all you got, and don't hold it back, yeah,
Well, I should probably warn you I'll be just fine, yeah,
No offense to you, don't waste your time
Here's why

[Chorus]

{Hey
Go
Uh}

[Bridge:]
(Happy)
Bring me down
Can't nothing
Bring me down
My level's too high
Bring me down
Can't nothing
Bring me down
I said (let me tell you now)
Bring me down
Can't nothing
Bring me down
My level's too high
Bring me down
Can't nothing
Bring me down
I said

[Chorus x2]

{Hey
Go
Uh}

(Happy) [repeats]
Bring me down... can't nothing...
Bring me down... my level's too high...
Bring me down... can't nothing...
Bring me down, I said (let me tell you now)

[Chorus x2]

{Hey
C'mon}

A Birthday...

Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You...Happy Birthday dear...Today is Angel's 1st Birthday!  She's been here with us since the end of December...over 6 months already.   It's hard to believe it's been that long...but yesterday marked 7 months that Benny's been gone.  Angel has certainly been a treasure.  And those eyelashes!  My goodness...those have become her trademark!  After Angel was groomed the end of June - with pretty pink bows in her hair.  She is always such a good girl for our Groomer.  She puts her head down when the water turns on in the bath, because she
knows it will be spraying water on her head and face.  Smart girl.  After her bath, she loves running like crazy all over the house and then rolling around on towel on the floor. She lays on her back (the way I taught her) to have her belly shaved.  She holds so still when I trim her pretty eyelashes - they are so long and so dark...just gorgeous.

Here she is after her grooming session in May.  So pretty...I love the Bows!

No post is complete without pictures of the other PuppyKids.  Here is Rosie, with her pretty pink and white feather flowers in her hair after she got groomed.  She looks like she's dreaming about something.  Maybe about some chicken!! 

And here's Jasper...Mr. Dapper in his Ascot.  Whenever I point a camera at him, he either slumps over and lays in a heap or lifts his right paw - just like he did in this picture.

I can't imagine life without these 3...they're so much fun and comfort.

Pups Welcome You at the Gate

The Pups have been Anxiously Awaiting your Return...Angel is standing and Rosie (left) and Jasper (right) on all fours - hope you'll come back and see them often...or just stay!  They love visitors - especially visitors who will play with them, give belly rubs or bring chicken treats with them!  They watch at the gate for trucks bringing mommy "goodies"...the mail lady...Dave with the loud truck and the other Dave with the boat.  They let us know when
someone is approaching...whether they know them or not.  But, they're learning when to STOP barking.  They'll even let you smell their favorite flowers in the garden.  They'll be at the Gate watching for you!

So far, there are a few more hydranges on the Endless Summer plants...but alot less than last year.  We trimmed them back quite a bit last fall and that trimming removed some of the buds for this year.  But we'll have plenty of Blooms - they'll just be a little later than normal. 

Alot of the Garden 2012 has changed.  I never did get any photos of our 2013 Garden...with all the storms we had {that made all the hydrangeas fall over, looked bedraggled} and a couple of vacations we took...time just slipped away and pictures wouldn't have looked good.  But, if you haven't seen it, here is our 2012 Garden!

We removed the grass in the center, after the dogs got a bad case of Fleas, which we found in the grass.  This was always a wet and damp area...and alot of the time, the dogs didn't even want to go anywhere near the grass...especially if it had just been raining.

So spring, of 2013...out came the grass and in went the rest of the pavers.  The Pups much prefer doing their potty on the pavers.  No more wet feet!

All of the Pink and the Burgundy Roses died over the 2013 Winter...making way for the 2014 herbs and peppers I planted.

A Special Story About Benny

This picture of Benny reminded me of a cute Story about him.  Just after this photo was taken, I groomed Benny for summer, removing most of his heavy coat.  It's a shame I never took a photo of him AFTER this grooming, because he had the cutest up-side-down heart on his butt.  The point was at his tail and the 2 scoops of the heart were at his butt line, making him look like he was wearing "daisy dukes"!  So many people would comment on it...making us all laugh.  A photo of that heart and "daisy dukes" would have been priceless, now that he's gone.  Benny was so precious to everyone he met. 

This is the area in which we eventually added the last Hydrangea this year.

Our first Garden, in 2007 had all these undulating lines around the concrete patio and stairs/porch.  It was filled with a variety of perennials, making it look like an English Garden.  Unfortunately most of my photos were lost last year, when my computer went crazy on me.

Luckily, I had this collage in a post on my old Blog and kept it in another file.  You'll see Butterfly plants, Cosmos, Hollyhocks, Dusty Miller, Coneflowers, Lilies, Roses and a multitude of other plants.  I planted 3 of all of the varieties in the garden near the porch...with Hollyhocks and Dusty Miller along the garage.  It was beautiful.  Gradually we added other areas of patio pavers and the Wall Garden, enclosing the courtyard.  Thanks for visiting our Garden again.

2014 - Outside the Walls

Thanks for returning today to see more of my Garden.  If you missed the first Garden post, you can read it Here.  Look close at the photo above - and you'll see a couple of Pups watching you approach the Gate.  They're friendly, so don't worry.  I have an Aspen Tree and underneath, Day Lilies.  The Wall Garden is filled with Hydrangeas - Invincibelle, Endless Summer and Annabelle.  There are herbs and veggies in the wall garden this year.  By the Garage are Blue Mammoth Hostas...and they get huge.  They measure about 4 feet in diameter and get to be about 3 feet high.  The walls are made of concrete blocks.

These are my Day Lilies - Apricot in color

Blue Mammoth Hostas get to be 5' round and 3' tall at maturity.  Mine measure exactly that right now...this is their 4th year...twice transplanted, too!  This section is about 15 feet long along the sidewalk and 5 feet wide, and have 4 Hostas planted in it.

The Pups are still waiting to see you up close.  Let's move a wee bit closer now...

These pretty Invincibelle Hydrangeas were planted in late July, 2013 and are now 4 feet tall and have the prettiest pink 3" - 3 1/2" flowers on them.  They'll grow to 6 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide.  There are 3 plants there.

Well, here they are...Angel's up and barking her welcome at you!!  The other two, Jasper and Rosie are wondering what they should be doing.  LOL!

Jasper's moved off to the right, behind the wall...Rosie's smelling and Angel is still waiting to kiss you!

Rosie really is a little shy, so don't mind her back-side

Oh no...Mommy says you'll have to come back tomorrow to come on in!!  See you then!