Carrying the Cool Cats South

One of my friends asked if we brought the cold weather with us.  Well we brought two cool cats named Pepper and Blanche and I guess the cool weather came along too.   It was 50 degrees here this morning, which seems colder than the same temp would in Virginia -- I don't know why.

We learned a couple of things about traveling with two cats.  First, they did much better when we let them out of their carrier in the car.  I did have to be mindful to keep them away from the driver's feet but they were much happier being loose.   Second, getting a good night's sleep with two kitties doesn't happen (We stay in pet-friendly motels).  We considered putting them in the bathroom but knew they'd yowl about that.  So, they got on and off the bed, ate, ran around and did some meowing.  Oh, well, one night didn't kill us.

Our house was clean and straight, thanks to the work of my sister-in-law, Kay Angelil.  She and George even put clean sheets on the bed for us!  What a wonderful welcome.

This week was busy with getting Comcast set up so we could have internet and TV.  Ed went through a lot of hassle with two trips to Comcast.  Finally, a technician came and got everything working properly.  Now Ed's happy with his beloved High Definition for his football games. 

We are making an effort to get involved in Savanna Club activities this year.  Ed went to the Fishing Club meeting and I went to the Garden Club this week.  We also attended a presentation by the "tappettes" last evening called "Autumn in New York".  It was very entertaining and SUCH a deal for only $5. 

Stay tuned for more adventures with the Angelils!

Bullseyes Everywhere

I've been out of the hospital for 2 weeks and am doing better, although not quite up to par.

The Lyme disease had covered my back with big splotches of red rash that I didn't know were there and thankfully, didn't itch.  My doctor told me something I didn't know -- almost every splotch was a bullseye!  (This isn't evident in the one photo that Ed took) I asked if that meant there was a tick in each of those places.  He said no that this was an indication I'd had Lyme disease for about 4-6 weeks and this is how the bacteria manifests itself. 

He said the blood test clearly diagnosed Lyme disease.  In most cases, if they catch it this early, the antibiotics knock it and hopefully, this will be the end of it.  He was pleased at how quickly the rash disappeared.  Some people aren't diagnosed for years so it becomes a chronic problem.

My large intestine is still slightly "iffy" in spite of all the prunes, Kale, high fiber cereal, and yogurt, so he's giving me something to try to keep things moving.  My weight is lower than it's been in years but my tummy (better described as a pot belly, errgggh) is still there.  Let's hope this new med will rectify that annoying situation. 

My legs have been affected  Yes, I still have "jello" knees so he's sending me for some therapy. 

I discovered that if I don't hold to a railing when going up stairs, I can NOT step up with my right leg and when I get into a car, I find myself lifting the right leg in.  That's VERY scary!!!  I will be a willing therapy patient, that's for sure.

The Elite Greet, Meet, and Eat

Last evening our cousins, Mary Margaret and Hunter Hollar gave a dinner party in our honor.   It was so much fun to just talk the evening away, eat some good food, and be with some of our favorite people.  

(Click on each photo for a larger view) 

Linda Heatwole, Mike Frank, Mary Margaret Hollar and Deane Geier

Thelma Hollar and Deb Frank

Mike Frank, Mary Margaret Hollar, Jim Bowman, Hunter Hollar, Beth Foerster, Linda Heatwole

Thelma Hollar, Maggie Gridley, Deane Geier

Deb Frank, Ed Angelil

Dick Heatwole, Clarence Geier

 Ed and Mary May Angelil

Thank you Margaret and Hunter for a wonderful evening!

Foxy Loxy & More on Bluebird Hill

 
Caution:  Weak stomached people might not want to see a couple of photos at the bottom of this post.

Living in the country brings all sorts of adventures and unexpected nature shows.

Yesterday morning we looked out the laundry room window and there was a big red fox under the tree.  Pouncing and hunting...it appeared he was eating a few mice or other small creatures.  He then calmly walked down the driveway.  I couldn't get over how bushy his tail was and the fact that he was out in the open in broad daylight!

Click on photo for a larger view.

 I'm pretty sure it was Foxy-Loxy from the Chicken Little "The Sky is Falling" fable!

One problem around here is groundhogs.  They dig holes that cause cows to break their legs, they dig holes under the foundation of your house AND they eat your garden -- always choosing the best vegetables and most expensive flowers.  My cousin says he thought groundhogs served no purpose until he decided they were created for target practice.

We've been seeing this huge groundhog and five babies throughout the summer.  Ed shot two small ones.  Last week he saw one out the front door and it went under the front porch.  For some reason, he got his rifle and went around the end of the garage.  Sure enough, the groundhog emerged from under the deck.  That's VERY bad because it means they've dug a tunnel under the garage or house!  Anyway, his Savage 22 Magnum did the job and the groundhog suffered not a second.

He put the carcass down in the field in towards the road.  It took several days but the vultures (a.k.a. buzzards) found it.  It's fascinating to watch how they take turns eating.  Seeing them that close makes us realize how huge and how ugly they are.  But they do serve a purpose to help scavenge and clean up dead animals from the environment.

Nature's garbage service. 

 

 

 p.s.  The giant groundhog is still out there somewhere!

Cat Trees by Ed & Robert

Ed's been a busy bee in his woodworking shop this summer.  The cattery where we bought Blanche had cat trees that intrigued Ed.  We took pictures of several of them.

Cousin Bill May let him cut some little sumac trees from his woods.....the idea being that the cats could use the bark for scratching.  Neither Pepper nor Blanche does that but the tree bark gives a unique look to the cat tree.  

Mary's nephew, Levi, said,  "Oh, look, a jungle gym for the cats!"  Blanche likes the top perch and Pepper sleeps on the 2nd one.

I was invited down to the shop last evening to see the latest creation.  This one will be disassembled and taken to our house in Florida. 

We had planned to paint it when we get there.  I took one look at it and suggested that the wood looks nice and we might decide not to paint it.

Finishing touches.

 Congrats, Ed and Robert Forester on a job well done!

 We'd like to bring the cats down, especially to see them discover the ramps that go to the next level.  However, we fear they'd start exploring the shop and we'd never see them again!

Jello Knees

So far the doctors are right in that I'm more comfortable at home.  I actually slept through the night instead of waking up at 4 a.m. in pain.  My goal today was to take a shower and wash my hair, which I was pleased to be able to accomplish.  I'm trying my best to take as little for pain as possible -- I just don't think it's good for a person's body.  The best part is that there was less of that intense, piercing pain today.

Ed is very strict and is not about to serve me meals in bed.  He does serve me meals but I must do my part and get to the table.  That's good because it can sometimes be easy to let myself fall into the Poor-Little-Me category.

All day I've had this strange sensation that my knees were like jello, as if they would buckle backwards instead of staying straight or forwards.  Our neighbors, Faith and Jonathan Histand, brought some food and stayed for a short visit.  When they left, I stepped onto the porch to show them something.  

When I came back inside -- it happened -- the jello knees went the wrong way and I sat flat onto the floor.  Ed was able to help me up and I wasn't hurt.  Needless to say, I'm not making walking a high priority for now.  What a strange sensation!

Home, Sweet Bed 'O Mine

I came home last evening after 13 nights in the hospital ..... walked in, laid down on the flat, soft, comfortable bed (Mind you, this means no plastic over the pillow under the thin pillow case, no plastic mattress or lumpy pad, no side panels with a "Call Nurse" button that keeps going off, even if you barely touch it) and just started crying.  Ed asked what in the world was the matter and I responded that it just felt soooo good to be home.

The doctors explained that this does not mean I'm well -- by any means.  It will probably take a few weeks for my bowel to settle and function.  In the meantime, I'll be more comfortable at home in my own bed -- and how! 

I work up with that all-too-familiar feeling that a Mack truck has mowed me down and squashed me -- especially my legs, the area between my shoulder blades and the bottom row of front ribs ache.  Neither flexeril (muscle relaxant) nor Tylenol help much at all;  but when one knows that's a normal part of Lyme disease, it's not as scary.


The doctor thinks the Lyme's Disease and the bowel "on strike" are related issues, after all.   

These symptoms are like my current fibromyalgia diagnosis and the mononucleosis pain that I had in college.  My mantra these days is, "This too shall.....or at least get better."

Different resort next time....

Last night was night 11 in this Rockingham Memorial Hospital.......for my next vacation I plan to choose a different resort!    I've lost 14 pounds since I've been here -- the least I've weighed in years but this method isn't recommended.

Progress is slow but my large intestine does seem to be showing some progress.  I have advanced to a full liquid diet -- which means cream soup and pudding -- yee-haw!  Am not complaining - after 5 days with nothing except IVs, pudding tastes good.   Hope to get home soon but am not pushing -- I'll go when they say I'm ready, no need to risk a relapse.

The Lyme's Disease has been confirmed and has cleared up nicely.  I did learn it's caused by a deer tick, not a dog tick.  Also, recovery is like mono recovery - progress, but with bouts of unexpected fatigue for quite a long time. 

Apparently the Lyme's Disease and the bowel "on strike" are two different issues.

p.s.  Please keep holding email for now.  Or you can write or call Ed for updates.  Thanks for all your cards, etc. 

Still in the Horse-pital

I was admitted last Thursday evening and am STILL here!  A doctor who met with us last evening said that if this were a teaching hospital, he'd have a line of students to meet me and hear about my strange case.  Ed says they could use it as a storyline for House, the medical show on TV.

I started with a 102 fever for about 5 days two weeks ago, then temp started going up in the evenings.  I had some wild, strange rash which they thought was Lyme's disease but now are not sure.  Those tests were sent to a state board to be evaluated and results aren't back yet.  They put me on an antibiotic for that and the rash is almost gone.

My fever has come down the last day or so but not much change in my condition has taken place.  Basically, my large intestine has become paralyzed.  I've had daily X-rays, tests, etc.    I've had nothing to eat for 5 days, various enemas, etc. but there is still no "action."  My pain level has been very high for several days, as has my blood pressure.  They changed my pain med yesterday and that has helped some.

(I can't believe I'm telling this to the world.  Some days I have felt too bad to talk, which is why the internet is helpful and I've decided to tell all here.)  

My nurses have been really special and caring, as have all the lab people, etc.  There have certainly been a lot of doctors and they have coordinated with each other.  People have been so kind with cards, flowers and calls to Ed.    Hope to be back to the "land of the living" soon.

It's amazing how long a day can be with no meals to look forward to.  On the bright side, I've lost 9 pounds in 4 days!

More Miserable

I'm here in the hospital in Harrisonburg, Virginia and might be here a several days until they figure out what's wrong with me.  Ed brought me to ER Thursday evening and they kept me, much to my surprise.  My abdominal X-ray and CAT scans are normal and my kidneys are OK.   Dr. Overby said it might take a bit of time to track down what's causing me to have a fever for 10 days.

The pain in my right leg, upper abdominal area and middle back is off the charts.  I can have a pain shot every 2 hours but I fear that the dilaudid is "wearing out" on my body already.  Dr. O. said that my fibro is probably intensifying my pain but that's not what is wrong here.  So far they've ruled out the flu (did you know they have a test for that?), a kidney infection and a couple of other things.

I declare that Dr. Overby is thinking up every test known to medicine -- even a TB test.  Now's a time when I'm blessed to have the best doctor in the county.

This is a brand-spank-new hospital -- just opened in June of this year.  I'm getting a tour from the inside out.....would prefer it the other way around.  The hospital has free wi-fi but allows no Facebook ....gasp... how will I live?

Short email personal notes are welcome but please understand I feel too bad to respond for now.  Still hurtin' for certain and feeling like a stuck pig -- about 20 sticks so far, which doesn't work well with my needle phobia.  I'm not going to have any blood left!

Hope to bring happy news and a diagnosis the next time round.  Thank you for your prayers and positive thoughts.

Under the Weather

I haven't had the flu in years -- this time IT has ME!  My temp has gone up to about 101-102 each evening for the last four days.  I called my doctor on Friday and he's pretty sure it's a viral infection.  If it's not better by Monday, I'm to go the ER.  Reading online indicates that you pretty much let the flu run its course.

I would venture  to guess that I will be making that trek tomorrow.  Look on the bright side -- I'll get to see our new hospital.   I feel rotten and, of course, one always feels the worst in the evening.  

Miserable me, MaryMay

Bits of Beauty in the Valley

There's something so special about driving in this gorgeous Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.  I never get tired of it and every hill you top has a new view of surprises.  Yes, town is 8 miles away but that means 8 miles worth of wonderful views, plus there are several different routes to get there. 

This graveyard is at the edge of our family's farm.  There are some graves there from the 1700's!

There was a church on this site (you can see the remaining steps) that was vacant since before my childhood.  It was dismantled and moved to another location, where I hope it is being used. 

Our neighbors always have this lovely flower garden in front of their healthy vegetable garden.  Horses are always graceful and pleasant to my eye.

Even the farmhouses are charming.

Our humble home.  We've stuck to the plan to have landscaping near the house and treat the rest of the 2 acres as a field.  We only mow a few times each summer instead of the weekly mowing that a lawn requires.  Of course, with the drought this summer, we wouldn't have had to mow that often.  I have been planting flowers on the bank by the road and have added flowers among the shrubs near the house.

What a feeling of "roots" to be able to see the home (among the trees and is now rented out) where I grew up (my father was born in that house, too) from our house.  I can also see the location of the house where my Granddaddy May and his father grew up.

I even find beauty in a hornets' nest in our field!  We have three and I was ready to get rid of them -- pronto!  Ed researched and found out they're good, especially at eating spiders so we're steering clear of that area for this year.

Seeing deer is always a thrill.  Last week, cousin Jim Bowman saw two large does grazing among a herd of cows.  Smart deer!

Seeing beauty in one's surroundings gives each day a special joy.  Hope you will recognize and enjoy the bits of beauty in your world today!

Bodacious Blanche is Baffled

Hi, my name is Blanche Deveroux (a Cornish Rex) and I was named after the flirty character on the TV show, The Golden Girls.  I pretty much live up to my name and "my people" say I'm bouncy, bubbly, blissful and a blue-eyed blessing to them. 

Actually, sometimes I feel like sitting in the corner and crying because my fellow cat, Pepper, will simply NOT be my friend.  I've tried everything -- I gently head-butt her, lick her head, and even fall down on my back in front of her as I try to get her attention and show my humility. 

She just hisses, growls, and bats at me.  I've been in the household for FOUR 4 months.....it seems Pepper would get the hint that I'm not leaving and would at least be civil to me.

At one point I thought I was making progress because Pepper didn't run away -- but she wouldn't let me inside the blanket with her.  Another day, I REALLY thought things were better but that was short-lived.

One cool morning, Mom was surprised to find us both in the cubicle.  See how humble I am?

 
Pepper started licking me and I thought,  "Oh, boy, progress!"  Then two seconds later she started biting my ear and hissing.

Sigh......oh well, my new mom and dad are really nice and I know that they're my friends and are always available to pet me.  Dad is the one I hang out with the most because he sits still and reads a lot during the day.  Mom is always outside doing her thing with her flowers.

We wake up together and read the paper online.  

 Dad's such a pushover - just schmooze a little and he's my friend forever!

I can't complain all that much because I have good people but I still have high hopes that one of these days Pepper will be my friend, too.  
 
I'll just continue to find my way through each day and hope I'll have a better report next time.

A mystery to me:  They have these wonderful and lovely big white water fountains... but always seem to be closing the tops on them.  I wonder why?

A mystery to Mom:  Mom wonders why she finds little paw prints on her toilet seat if she forgets to put the lid down?

Cheri, My Sweet Helper

The weeds got ahead of me during my 3 weeks of other activities (a week in Texas, a week with Ed's son and family, and a week with my brother and family).  I was rather overwhelmed and came up with a great solution.  

I hired someone to help me weed!  This "weeder" isn't just anyone.  This is someone special who became my friend and I looked forward to our weeding/planting sessions.  

Cheri, is 12 years going on 40 (meaning she's wise beyond her years), and she's the daughter of the family who rents Mother's farm.  She's very outgoing, knowledgeable, and natural.

She's quite a worker and was a joy to be with.

Her brother, Grant, mows our field several times each summer.
(Ed has stuck to his guns to have landscaping and mulch near the house and to treat the rest of the 2 acres as a field, NOT a lawn.)

Too bad that school will be taking away my Cheri!  Mmnn, I wonder how her Saturdays are looking?

I really, really like Cheri's mom, Christie, a gal who loves flowers as much as I do.  I've said for a while that Christi's my adopted daughter.  So, I guess that means that Cheri is now my adopted granddaughter and she loves flowers, too!

Lazy Sunday - Last Day of Stever's Visit

As Sean says,  "This morning everybody was so lazy.  They got up at ten o'clock!"  We ate at Ed's favorite -- Golden Corral.  

The bacon-filled breakfast was followed by a trip to the James Madison University's arboretum.  We had a nice walk through a beautiful forest.

Sean has been such a good trooper.  He played for days with a magnetic building set that I had and read with me as much as I could get him to.  His reading vocabulary probably doubled this week.  This is his robot.

He was quite take with Blanche. 

He thought it quite amusing that the cats don't like the air conditioning in the house so they spend a lot of time outside in the litter box area in the hot garage.  You might like to be in a warmer spot too if you were a Cornish Rex without much hair!

Here's the pet door going out of the utility room  (my invention).

Here's the "cat house" cage that Ed built so they can get to the litter box but not into the garage.

We went to Bravo's for some Italian food and to the famous Kline's Frozen Custard bar.  We were all pleased that Sean got to see three deer in the field across from our house as we arrived home.

Veggie Garden Fun

We went to visit our neighbors just down the hill to see their chickens yesterday.  Glen and Laura are such gracious and friendly hosts.  They raise chickens for Tyson that are used for the meat.  There were 23,000+ chickens in each of their two houses.  

But, the exciting part was yet to come......a tour of the vegetable garden.  Sean got to pick some blackberries and eat them.  He saw beans, cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes and more growing.  

He was thrilled with Laura dug some potatoes and he got to bring them home.  We're going to eat them for supper tonight.

Who would have thought that what I had envisioned as a ten minute visit to look at chickens would turn into such an educational experience for Sean?  A child's enthusiasm is contagious and I think it gave all our hearts a lift!

Chicken Egg Farm

by Sean Angelil (age 6)

We went to a chicken egg farm.  When we got there we saw very, very long chicken houses.

There were 9,000 chickens and 900 roosters in the house.

Ms. Mary's cousin (Stashia Kline) showed us this cart with more than 2,000 eggs that she got that day.

She showed us the little contraption that brings out the eggs.  When the eggs come out on the moving belt, she puts the good ones into flat boxes.

Some eggs were not good to sell.  Some were funny, some were little, some were round and some were brown.  

She gave me some of the funny eggs.  

 My favorite one was the soft egg that was like rubber.

Sometimes chickens die so they put them in a thing that looks like a barbecue to burn them. 

Everybody liked the chicken egg farm and we ate the eggs that Ms. Mary's cousin gave us.