:Wednesday morning..

This morning I woke up to lightening quietly illuminating the sky. Carol loves lightening and thunderstorms. She sits in front of her large bedroom window, which offers a much larger view of the sky than any window in my house, and takes it all in. It reminds her of the storms back in Iowa. I used to like lightening storms, but not anymore. So many fires are caused by lightening strikes. It is a natural part of the ecosystem in a coniferous forest, which is, of course were I live.

It rained a little. The air is fresh and crisp. The ground hasn’t yet taken on that look of spring, but it’s getting there. Finally!

Sorting, sifting, still..I came upon this photo of my dad in a letter he’d sent. If you look closely in the upper left hand corner, you will see Frosty Morning in Nebraska. In the lower left hand corner, there’s a small amount of blue which was the window trim around the bay window in the kitchen. Like Carol enjoying Nature’s view out her window, many hours were – and still are – wiled away in front of that bay window. Frosty Morning in Nebraska was done looking out that window.

Coming up, this summer, on my 55th birthday, I got a chukle out of the back of the photo..

My dad died the following year after a five year battle with cancer. The kitchen (and the entire farmhouse) has been redone by my sister Lori and her husband Ron. Rick built the new kitchen cabinets. The bay window remains. Here’s me and Kelly wiling away more hours in front of that same window.

:Old times…

Sifting…still…through memorabilia, photos and ephemera. While I’m enjoying my class, it really has taken up a lot of my time. Stacy, our instructor, said it would, so I was forewarned. I am determined to stay on top of assignments and complete the course!

My mentor was Mr. Ferguson. He was one of the last Dog Men, managed a successful Pug kennel in my hometown. That kennel was located at 13 Valley View Heights. I thought that was the coolest address! It sat on top of a hill on the then-outskirts of town. He, himself, bred German Shorthair Pointers. Click on the following to read the entire article…

Yesterday, Rick and I spent the afternoon with Chris and Herman. She’s doing great! For some time she’s been meaning to share the following clipped from a magazine. I love this kennel!

To see the above photos in a larger format…

:Eli and I visit the barn…

Yesterday, while Julie was showing dogs in Milwaukee, Eli and I took a trip to the barn.  A long-time client of mine, LA, invited me to bring Eli to see her vet, Dr. Debra Mayo. One of LA’s Newfoundlands, Bow, battles allergies year-round. He is kept relatively comfortable with injections, now and again, from Dr. Mayo. LA exhibits and breeds Arabian horses. Dr. Mayo was coming to LA’s barn Friday to ultrasound Wild Lily, checking to see if she was pregnant. She could give Eli a ‘cocktail’ then.

Eli’s year-round itching began to intensify the beginning of April. This year the results came fast. He developed a large hot spot under his chin, where the tags from his collar hang. His ears were swollen, inflamed. He was miserable…as miserable as a big-hearted, happy-go-lucky dog can be. I applied topical hydro-cortisone cream, which provided immediate relief. His ears calmed down. The hot spot disappeared. The scratching continued. He looks like an old moth-eaten sweater.

Wanting to provide some relief for Eli, I took LA up on her offer Tuesday to ask Dr. Mayo to bring a ‘cocktail’ for Eli on Friday. I almost decided against going during the next couple of days. Eli’s scratching has subsided a bit. I really, really wanted a day at home, a day where I didn’t have to be anywhere, go anywhere. I’m not fond of big-gun drugs, which the cocktail was most certain to be made of.

Early Thursday morning, lying in bed in that mid-way state between wakefulness and sleep, the subject floated in my mind. Dr. Mayo is a vet, a vet that has a large horse clientele. LA has invited me to her barn before, but I’ve never gone. I’d like to meet some of the horses I’ve heard about over the years. I’d like to see Bow and Arrow on their turf. This vet might be Old School. This vet may practice the Art of Diagnosis. It wouldn’t hurt to establish a relationship with another Old School vet. They’re becoming fewer and farther between. What did I have to lose but time? 

I loaded up Eli – almost as big as horse – and drove to LA’s barn. Click here if you’re interested in the specifics of Eli’s treatment. I liked Dr. Mayo. Years ago she worked with Doug, my new vet. Their philosophies are similar. She commented that a teacher in vet school told her to remember that veterinary medicine is based on Science and that there’s an Art to Diagnosis. Yes! Yes!

Over the years, I have transitioned from believing in only western medicine to incorporating complimentary and alternative methods for myself and the dogs under my care. I know from personal experience the benefits of massage therapy and chiropractic adjustment. Our bodies – human and canine – are programmed to heal. Jason, my chiropractor, shared his opinion about drugs. It made sense to me, so I’m sharing it with you. Drugs are beneficial if they help the body return to normal.

In addition to the cocktail – indeed consisting of a short-acting steroid and a long-acting steroid – Dr. Mayo prescribed an antihistamine to be used as needed, down the road. I like her. I’m certain I’ll use her again. I like having two – TWO!! – vets I’m comfortable with. Wow! A year ago I felt desperate about being able to afford and provide appropriate care for my dogs. Now I have two vets!!