Been a little quiet lately, I know.
Partly this is to do with the protracted deathwatch for Robbie. He’s 14 and hasn’t been in good health for a long time. His “doggie Alzheimers” gives him anxiety attacks that increasingly override his pharmacopia of meds. He’s got bad legs that look like they shouldn’t hold him up (but somehow do). Now add a hacking cough of mystery origin. But he’s still happy, hungry, and eager to go for walks. Never mind that he spends more time sniffing and peeing than actually walking.
So hard to know what to do or when to do it. Meantime, I’m giving him plenty of extra attention and I’m grateful for furrydoc, from whose clinic I adopted him in 2002. She has lovingly cared for him since he was a cocky young bully and will soon come to the house to give a now-sweet old dog a peaceful farewell.
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I’ve also been working on the “Mo Inspiration” table, which is benefiting from paints and other goodies MamaLiberty sent. Expect to have pix of the finished piece later this week.
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In spare moments I’m reading Jackie Clay’s Autumn of the Loons, second in her series of westerns featuring Jess Hazzard.
Autumn is a better, more confident novel than Summer of the Eagles. In this volume, Jess returns from a hunting trip to find his beloved wife Julie raped and beaten and their four-year-old son Keith kidnapped. Jess heads out on a relentless pursuit of a villain who has suddenly emerged from Julie’s past.
If you recall Jess’ character from the first book, you’ll know the meaning of “relentless.”
Well done, Jackie. And more to come.
The above book links are Amazon Associates links. You may instead prefer to buy directly from the publisher.
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Speaking of Amazon Associates links, July Amazon sales have been pathetic! About 1/4 of a typical month. Yikes! May kinda sucked, too. Can’t complain too much, though, as June was above-average. But really, if you need stuff from Amazon and you’re going to buy it anyhow, might as well enter here. Thanks!
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Update on my efforts to destroy the Evil Wasp Civilization. As a couple of people suggested, I was attempting some live-and-let live with the stragglers who survived my first attempt to obliterate the wasps’ nest on the front of my house.
Then Saturday when I was just passing by on the way to walk the dogs, one of the rogues dive-bombed me. Got me on the hand and the chin. That night I donned my spacesuit and hit them again with wasp killer. Sunday afternoon I was able to knock the main part of the nest off the wall with a long pole. A few hardy holdouts were still inside. Tough little critters.
Ironically, the only stings from this adventure were the ones I got while minding my own business. While I was in the act of attempting to wipe out the wasps and all their works, they were utterly uninterested in my existence.
I am sorry to hear about Robbie’s deterioration; it’s not unexpected, but so sad. The best thing you can do is give him what part of his “bucket list” he can tolerate, and be there for him. He’s had a good life with you.
Thanks, Pat. Yep, Robbie’s had a good life and he’s brightened mine. He even seems happier and more at ease now that he’s old and doesn’t seem to have anything to prove.
I just wish the dying didn’t take so long. I was surprised he made it through last year. Now … who knows?
I sympathize with your anticipation of Robbie’s loss. Each furbaby who leaves us takes a chunk of our hearts and it’s especially hard to know when it’s time to resort to the greatiest loving kindness we can do for them.
And, speaking of wasps, here’s a plan that can’t possibly go wrong..go wrong..go wrong……
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/in-texas-a-french-killer-is-hired-to-do-job-americans-couldn%e2%80%99t/ar-AAcTI1C
So sorry about Robbie, you will know when. Looking forward to seeing the table.
Just FYI Y’all, carburetor cleaner spray drops wasps dead right now. They will literally fall out of the air if you hit them while flying, and don’t get a chance to fly away if you spray them on the nest.
So glad you are enjoying your goodies, Claire. 🙂 And so sad about Robbie. I’ve been through that so many times, and it never gets any easier.
As for the French wasps and the tall cane… seems to me there really would not be any problems with the cane if it were not for the government efforts to control everything. I can’t imagine why some enterprising person wouldn’t figure out a way to find a good use for the stuff otherwise. Sounds like a wonderful new source material for paper, maybe even cloth. I’ve been trying various “bamboo” products and like them very much. Why kill it if you can use it?
In regard to Robbie, my philosophy is “as long as they’re happy and not in too much pain.” My favorite solution with cats was when they fell asleep and didn’t wake up. But I guess with dogs we’re rarely so lucky.
In regard to wasps, I must channel Zelda’s attitude toward mice: No live-and-let-live. Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
“In regard to Robbie, my philosophy is ‘as long as they’re happy and not in too much pain.'”
Good philosophy. I’ve tried to go by “do they still want to eat and go for walks?” And becoming incontinent from old age is another sign it’s time to go. Robbie is still good on all three counts. I’ve never dealt with a dog suffering cognitive dysfunction before, though. This is new and the mere effort (and expense) of keeping him in a non-freaked out state is trying.
When he’s not freaked out though, he’s his very contented old self. Then I feel guilty even thinking about putting him down.
You should see him walking, though. His poor old back legs cross each other and tremble and it’s a wonder he can locomote without falling on his butt.
Cane! It must go! It hides Mexicans! Yes, I agree this project might not bode well.
I’ve been trying to control another form of cane (knotweed) for three summers now. Exercise in futility. If someone could find a use for it as ML suggests, I’d be thrilled. Barring that, I’m nearly ready to try nukes. But NOT wasps!
Japanese knotweed? It has a place on the medicinal herbs market. I’d have to look up exactly what it’s good for, but I think it was recommended for infections of the brain, spine, and nervous system.
Seriously, Ellendra? Then I invite any herbalist to come rid me of the pesky stuff!
Actually, the county’s invasive species guy told me I have three kinds of knotweed, but I can’t remember the names of them all. Pretty sure one was Japanese.
Darling Robbie “Mr. Licks” Bullyboy. Please give him a loving pat and hug from me.
Better hang on to at least some knotweed, Claire.
From Eyewitness Handbook of Herbs, by Lesley Bremness (an English authority on herbs): Japanese Knotweed—Uses: “In China,….they activate blood circulation, clear toxins, and aid tissue regeneration. A root decoction is given for hepatitis, irregular menstruation, jaundice, and *tinnitus* (my emphasis), and is used as a wash for arthritis. The roots or leaves are applied to burns, boils, and snake bites.” The author also remarks: “Compounds have been found in this plant that are active against stomach ulcer.”
That’s the only knotweed listed in that or other herb books I’ve got. Maybe other types are considered weeds and of no use at all, or are totally toxic.
I’ve never dealt with a dog suffering cognitive dysfunction before, though. This is new and the mere effort (and expense) of keeping him in a non-freaked out state is trying.
Yeah. You remember [Magnus] from when you were still in the desert. When his rare seizures finally developed into real mental breakdown and confusion including (I can’t prove but still believe) occasional total blindness, we went past the ‘as long as he’s happy’ test overnight. There was a big strong dog, once leader of his pack, and he was crying in fear in his own yard because he didn’t know where he was. Only the sound of a known voice could calm him. Comes the time, no amount of sentiment will change things.
No matter how dearly we loved him, it was time.
Pat — Well, I’ll be. As it turns out, I’ll be keeping some knotweed by default because basically the stuff can’t be gotten rid of (especially when your beekeeping neighbor thinks it’s a GOOD thing). Now, I’ll just hope I can distinguish the Japanese kind from the rest.
Joel — Oh yeah, I’d forgotten about Magnus. Probably the most magnificent and most truly noble dog I’ve ever known. And I remember how pitiful he was, standing in his own yard, having no idea where he was or where to turn. OMG. The effects of a brain tumor. Robbie, OTOH, is just losing his marbles in the regular way.
Let Robbie die before he reaches any such point. He’s occasionally getting close to that, but not there yet.
Beth — Yes, your “Mr. Licks”! He’s still as sweet (and stubborn) as ever. The energy for licking has decreased, but his heart is still in the same place.
I try to use your Amazon link when I order. I enter Amazon by it, but there seems to be no way for me to know I’m getting it done. Am I missing something? Shouldn’t there be a way to know I’m linking through your affiliate link similar to Amazon showing if customers choose to add a donation to a 501? cb
CB — Unfortunately Amazon doesn’t provide any way for either you or me to know if linkage is successful. I agree that’s a flaw in the system. Sometimes when people buy a biggish item, they’ll tell me about it so I can watch for it to come through — and it virtually always does. So don’t worry. Just keep using those links with many thanks from me.
Also, to anybody who cares — remember that it’s not only the size of a purchase but the number of items purchased overall during a month that determines the commission. So quite possibly something as small as a $.99 Kindle book could tip the scales to push me into the next highest commission category. Every purchase makes a difference.
Do the items that come free with Prime count as “items purchased”? And if so, do they count as the non-prime price or as $0.00?
Ellendra — Do you mean things like free movie streaming and music? Those don’t count as purchases. Signing up for Prime membership itself can earn a “bounty” (not a commission), but only if I use a special link (which I’ve tried and nobody ever uses).
But. Since Prime members are well-known to be the biggest Amazon shoppers, we Associates benefit in the long run.
And outside of Prime, should you (for example) download a Kindle book that’s temporarily at $0.00, it counts toward the overall monthly purchase tally even though it has no commission.