Friends

These three really like hanging out together.

The Large and the Small

We're all friends here.

April Showers

Today the skies can't decide what to do. It was sunny when I awoke, sprinkling by the time I got outside. Then it hailed, hard and fast. Sun, rain, wind...

By the time I got to the top of the hill, the sun was in a bright blue patch in the center of the sky, surrounded by clouds of various colors.

Breakfast

Sometimes it's good to have breakfast in the bedroom, if not in bed.

Good Morning Spring!

Signs of Spring

Today was a lovely, peaceful day, in spite of the big clouds. Just look at all the leaves  on the trees!

There seems to be a transition zone in the clouds, from the middle of the upper picture. To the left is all fluffy clouds, to the right the layers, continuing in the lower picture.

But it is only partly cloudy, with an interesting shape in the space between the clouds.

Red currents and red elderberries. Beautiful early bloomers.

And Life Goes On...

Mom slept all through the night, and was bright and aware when I got her up for a late breakfast. She was shaky walking at first, but soon was doing better than she has for days. She ate and drank well - not surprising after a day of virtual fasting. Fortunately, she did not ask about Santi, or miss him. For once I am grateful for her memory loss.

These little strokes are interesting. Mom always seems to feel worse just before they happen, and much better afterward (after a long sleep). Last night she had the classic garbled language. This morning she is talking normally. She's in a good mood.

She is back in bed for an afternoon nap. I'll go out and bury our beloved friend Santi, and say our final goodbyes. Life goes on.

Ups and Downs, and Very Sad Happenings

After a few days of being more awake and aware, last night Mom had another little stroke after dinner. She had a hard time moving to the walker to go to bed, and had an uneasy night. She slept all day. I finally got her up about 5PM for dinner.

Again she was having trouble eating, and then obviously had another stroke. After a few minutes she became unconscious. Fortunately I had left her in the walker (which is also a chair) so I could easily get her back to the bedroom, but I still had to move her from that onto the bed.

Santi, the cockatoo, was very upset when she had the stroke, and was very much in the way as I was getting her into bed. I picked him up and put him outside the door, so I could get Mom settled in.

Mom regained consciousness after I got her into bed, but was not aware and I left her to sleep. When I opened the bedroom door, Santi was still on the floor, having his own seizure.

I swept him up in my arms, and felt him go limp. His heart beat for awhile, but he did not regain consciousness, did not come back into life.

This lovely cockatoo who has been my mothers constant companion for 44 years has died in my arms.

I bought a mostly featherless chic in a pet store in Sydney in 1970. I hand-fed him until he was feathered and eating on his own. He was my constant companion for a year, as I traveled around Australia, and after I settled for a while in Canberra. His friendship made up for the friends I couldn't seem to make in a country I considered my own. When I wanted to travel again, I sent him home to my parents. When I returned a year later, they had claimed him as their own.

Santi has been my mother's best friend, and seen her through the death of two partners. His big personality and steadfast love and devotion have filled the losses in her life.

This beautiful bundle of white feathers and huge energy, devoted friend and tremendous presence will be sorely missed. I can't believe his soul has left the body lying there, that I will never interact with him again. I'm so sorry that I made him leave Joy when he was so concerned about her, and left him alone. Forgive me, dear one. Fly far, pure soul.

Nutrients!

A pretty amazing thing has happened here. After reading an article on magnesium and how most US adults are low on it, I decided to start giving Mom magnesium citrate. Mom gets multiple vitamins that contain magnesium, but it is magnesium oxide, which the article said is not absorbed well. After the first day, Mom was more awake and aware during the days. That has improved daily - and we started with a very low dose. I'm taking it myself, and am feeling the same thing.

 We eat well, including most of the high-magnesium foods daily, and yet adding this well-absorbed form of the mineral has made a huge difference. Anyone taking care of their elderly parents may want to consider trying this. Do start small, as this is also a powerful laxative.

Berna Update

I finally figured out that I could back the quad up to my (huge) van, and roll Berna into the van. I managed to get a vet appointment for Saturday, so Bear got to snooze on a bed of straw in the back of the van overnight.

She checked out pretty well at the vets; her blood levels are all good, but she has a urinary infection. She was able to get out of the van on her own, and back in with just a little help from the vet tech and me. Oh, and it turns out she weighs 90 lbs. Good thing I didn't know that yesterday, or I might not have been able to get her out of the creek. I consider 80 lbs as my lifting limit (and that doesn't include lifting out of muddy creeks!).

When I got back from the vets I got a couple nice beds set up for her, but she refuses to get out of the van. She is now being served meals in her very own mobile home.

Berna's Adventure

Interesting morning. I woke up to unusual dog sounds - they'd escaped the yard. I wasn't too worried, the BC comes instantly when called, and Berna, the elderly Anatolian, wouldn't go far.

Berna wasn't back by the time I got dressed and out, but I still wasn't worried. I drove to the upper house, and around her favorite areas - no Berna. I drove out to the road, my biggest fear. No Berna. Then I went up the old railroad bed. A few years back Charlie the Pyr got himself stuck there.

As I drove in I saw a light blob in the ditch ahead. Berna had gone in, obviously not realizing how deep and cold the spring-fed ditch is. At least she chose a wider and less steep spot than Charlie had, but her old-dog hips were frozen up, and she was shaking with cold. 

It took some time to haul this 80 lb dog out of that muddy ditch, and then more time and ingenuity to get her up on the quad. She did realize I was helping her and didn't fight me, although she couldn't do much to help.

We made it back to the house, where we are still sitting in the sunshine, waiting for her to warm up and for me to figure out how I'm now going to get her off the quad.

I'm not good at selfies - I was trying to show my totally black, soaked lower legs, but you get the idea. After drying Berna the best I could I went in and changed clothes.

I think she's beginning to like her bed with a view. I'm so grateful it's a somewhat sunny, warm day.

Now, how does one get a big dog with bad hips off the back of a quad?

Lord of All He Sees

Pardon the blur, these were taken through a window streaked with rain.

Zander, overseeing his domain - while keeping his butt dry. It's difficult to get a picture of him doing this, because he almost instantly realizes I'm at the window, and turns to greet me. As you can see, he likes to keep his feet dry, too. He has no idea why we live here, where it rains so much; he doesn't mind being out in the rain, he would just rather not sit in the mud, thank you.

Sound and Fury

The air has taken on presence. It is loud, boisterous and pushy. It picks things up and throws them around, not caring who or what they hit. You can hear it coming, feel the force - and then it arrives, cold and fierce. What a day. What a night. Hello wind, hello winter.

Mat Upgrade

If he's going to spend time inside, he can have his therapeutic bed. From the day I brought him home from the shelter, Jesse has been a self-determined outside dog. Inside is OK as long as I'm there and a door is open, otherwise he wants out. This spending nights inside says to me his time is short. At this point, what Jesse wants, Jesse gets. Love the old dogs.

And yes, I do seem to be running an old age home.

A Mat Habit

The Mat - day 2

Jesse walked in the house, walked around a while, stood where the mat was yesterday and started yipping at me. "Excuse me, there is supposed to be a mat here."

So yes, there is a mat there today as well. I may never exercise again.

Cutting Grass

It's a simple plan. I have a horse I want to fatten up before winter, and unfenced wetlands filled with canary grass. Most days I drive up to the power lines, down to the wet area, and cut treats for the Arab. Then dogs get involved, and it becomes a magical play time.

It was a scorcher of a day, and even at 5PM it must have been 90F. Red, a visiting Border Collie, Lucy, my Border Collie, and Millie the Pyr joined me on the trek.

Red, checking that he's going the right way

Lucy and Millie burrowing into the area I was about to cut

Lucy tucked into a hollow

Millie can't quite get it right...

Perfect!

Red is having none of this resting idea. Here he is trying to leap tall buildings.

Lucy think's it's too hot for that nonsense.

Finally I stopped taking pictures, got the grass cut and loaded, and we headed home. All 3 dogs are in this picture.

Missed Opportunity

Never get the exercise mat out until you are ready to use it. Jesse is 15 years old, I'm not going to fight him for it.

Moon Magic

I was sitting at the computer when Jesse the Samoyed yipped a complaint. He's old, and needs help getting up. I walked outside, to be greeted by the lovely large moon.

I got Jesse up and on his way, and went for the camera. Who can resist taking photos when the moon comes calling?

Screen Door Art

Best screen door ever! This was for sale at the Great Pyrenees National show earlier this year. Hopefully Veryl remembers the artist/seller. I want one!

Life Changes

The single constant in life is change.

Last December my 90-year old memory-impaired mother moved in with me. She had been in an assisted-care facility, but wasn't getting enough care, and they had decided that Santi the cockatoo, her companion of 42 years, had to go.  Instead, they both left.

You can imagine this is a big change for me. After years of living on my own, I am now almost constantly with people, and  have many new responsibilities. Mom suffers from cluster strokes - very small strokes that don't incapacitate her but really beat her up inside - that are stealing her memory. She needs 24-hour care. Living with severe dementia is a challenge, and an incredible learning experience.

It is my hope that I have adjusted well enough that I can once again share my experiences through this blog. I need to take more pictures, as the camera helps me focus in on otherwise overlooked details. I need to write more, as this helps me focus on thoughts and ideas, and to see things more clearly.

Thank you for joining me on this new journey.