Heartworm Disease in Dogs.

    When I adopted Frasier and had him thoroughly check out by my vet, it was discovered he had a good case of heartworm, which, if untreated, will eventually kill the dog.  The worms suffocate the heart and lungs, etc.  The treatment is expensive (about $700.) but necessary.  And.. there is a three to five month – Keep the dog calm and quiet – period of time because the dying worms start traveling through their bloodstream and you don’t want them getting caught up in the heart, lungs, etc… causing paralysis or death.   Ugh. THAT.. was no easy feat with Frasier.

   So, Ben had a skin tag thing on his leg and I brought him to the vet to have it checked and removed earlier this week. While there he had his yearly heartworm and Lyme test.  I got the call the next day – both came back positive.  WHAT?   I do give my dogs heartworm pills, but not during the winter months because mosquitos don’t live here in those seasons.  Down south the problem is much more prevalent. This is where Frasier came from.   SO… how did BEN get it?…. I freaked a little.  Had all four dogs brought back and tested .. all are negative.  After a second heartworm test in house on Ben, it was decided the first one was a false positive, especially since he has no evidence of heartworm disease.  I’m glad he doesn’t have heartworm, kind of alarming that the first came back positive, falsely.  He’s on Doxycycline for the Lyme disease, which is far too common in humans and animals in New England.

 Lesson here – always ask for a second test with heartworm if you get a postive test result, because they can be inaccurate and the treatment is rough on the dog and costly.   Also, don’t skimp on the monthly treatment… although here in the north where the winters are cold, it’s OK according to my vet to skip the very cold winter months.  Not doing so puts you at risk for a costly and difficult treatment for your dog.

The one about LOVE on so many levels

   An update – The story of the couple I posted yesterday is heartbreaking and also inspiring, in that so many people are rallying to their side to help them navigate the difficult months ahead.  The volunteer fire company folks are building ramps at the house and already, in just two days time, $50,000. has been raised to help with the huge medical bills they will encounter.  I hope to give you an update that includes a picture of Amanda holding her baby in her arms.

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   My  funny  Frasier has been enjoying our walks, which are most often along a body of water.  He loves wading around and sitting or laying in it to cool off, often with soot or silt stuck to his curly fur as we head back home.  I’ve learned to keep towels in the car.

 
 
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My sister and brother-in-law with my niece, 
who just graduated from HS and is off to college in the fall
 –  Congratulations, S! 
 

 
Hard to believe our youngest children are all grown up!
 
*sigh*
 
Wasn’t this just yesterday?

 
 
 
 
We’re working on a four day horse show this weekend.
K had to work today so Max has a day off at the showgrounds.
We went for an all black look yesterday…
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 It’s true that all that glitters, sparkles and spangles, dangles and dances in the light is the “IN” thing in the show pen… but if you ask me, this simple look with a $28. Banana Republic blouse is just as cool and it seems to be coming back in style at the smaller shows.  We’ll help it along 🙂
 
KMax had a great first day at the show with wins in Western Pleasure and Horsemanship. Tomorrow we do it again.

 
You know…It’s not the wins or losses,  and we are familiar with both.  These two and their camaraderie  are the thing that gets me teary. The old horse that taught the injured girl to work hard toward her new goals, to trust and to be kind and to be patient, to believe in herself again.    It’s a beautiful thing, this.  Better than any number of blue ribbons.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Goin to the Dogs

    Heeeeeey, Moooom…..you lied to me.  That’s the grooming truck!.. you said we were going for a walk.  ( -drool commences – not kidding,  see towel?  )

This lady is a great friend of mine.  We met through Dog Days Adoption Events.  She was the volunteer I went searching around with in the neighborhood where  Frasier was dumped by his original adopter.   A fearless and tireless defender of animals and volunteer for shelter dogs, she’s on her way out west this weekend to care for dogs and horses at an animal sanctuary…  

Lillian has a mobile dog grooming business and you couldn’t ask for a kinder approach. She has mega patience with neurotic Frasier, who seems to believe the clippers want to pull his toenails out.  If you live in the shoreline area and like the idea of a mobile dog groomer for your dogs grooming needs, her rates are very reasonable and the service is so convenient.  She can be reached at 203-481-3994.

 
 

Willards Island Nature Trail

    In my never ending  and quite possibly futile quest to get back to my pre middle age weight, I have kicked up the walking distance and speed and frequency now that the weather is cooperating.  Frasier is often my companion on these jaunts. I have found that I’m more likely to stick with it if I have a dog with me,  change up the location and don’t worry so much about  things like… 

 how.many.calories.did.I.burn….how.far.did.I.go…. what.speed.did.I.manage

  When I try getting too technical and give myself yet another chore by having to keep track,  I lose interest real fast. That includes using all those fabulous apps that are just one more thing.   So I’m just winging it, and I find I’m having more success at staying the course as long as I don’t plot that course too rigidly.

 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Silt Soaks are all the rage, you know.
 
 
 
 
Apparently.
 

 
According to Frasier.. you get yourself all situated with a good long stretch.
Then you just relax in that position for, like, five minutes or so.
Long enough for plenty of silt to settle in your fur.
Then you get out, shake off and splatter whoever is within a five yard radius
so that they benefit from the silt soak too.. and you allow the remaining
two pounds of silt to dry on your fur as you meander back to the car,
where you proceed to rub the rest of said silt into the upholstery.
Make sure mom is not prepared with, oh, say.. a towel or three.
It’s just more fun this way.
 
 

 
 

 
 

 It’s a new day, all –  we’re headed to a four day horse show in the rain.  But we’re gonna make it a good one.  You know I’ll be back with pictures… have a great weekend!

Follow Frasier

 
 

 
 

 
This exotic looking flower was all by itself
in the middle of the woods.

By the stream there are several beautiful wild flowers in bloom…


 
 

 
 
 
In this picture below, there is an owl!
We’ve seen him two nights in a row now,
he must live here in the woods behind the farm.
 
Can’t spot him?
 
 
 
 
 
Let me crop and blow up the image……
 
 

 
 
The woodpeckers favorite _restaurant _ below

 On our way back out of the woods, lets stop in the equipment barn
and I’ll introduce you to Big Red..a real old work horse here at This Old House.
He’s babied, I can tell you that.
This weekend he was hauling mulch,
you’d never know it.

 
and THIS thing below.. is the Cupola we saw at the Thrift store not long ago.
The Mr. is fixing it up so that it can sit on top of the barn
it’s currently stored in.  There were quite a few bullet or bee bee holes in it
along with some rust…
 
I could stand inside of it easily.
 


 
 
 

 
The bugs are biting, so lets follow Frasier down to the house…

 

 
Have I told you lately how much I love my dogs?
 
..and this one in particular, I think because his journey was not always
an easy one through green fields and trickling streams with a welcoming place to
come home to. 

 


Make it a habit….

   In your daily life, no matter how hectic – because there is always an available excuse- stop and look around you, there’s always something to marvel at. I’ve been making an effort to turn my thoughts toward the positives, to live as fully in appreciation and gratitude as I can.  I know it’s easier for some than others, and it’s true the amount of things to be grateful for is not evenly distributed among us, let alone properly appreciated by those who have in abundance.  But regardless of life circumstances, we always have the ability to find and embrace the good.  In doing so, I believe we  nourish our soul, a vital ingredient for a content life.  And oh, if only everyone could feel content.

What do I feel gratitude for today?

This dog, discarded by someone else, who is my loyal companion. We understand each other with barely
a word spoken.  Unconditional love, nothing like it.   

 Gardening… nourishing to body and soul.  The seeds are planted!  Now, to watch them grow.

A woods walk in early Spring..

exploring the stream beds, clear cool water running through….

That Waterlogue App!!… I’m addicted!

Driving home from dinner the other night, I made the Mr. stop so we could admire how very still the water was along the shore.  The sun was setting and everything was sooo.. .quiet.  It’s not often that the water appears so serene, no wind coming in off the water, no chop.

  We can choose –  focus on all the negative crap constantly on the radar around us,  or look for the good.  Both views are always right there in some form or another.  Which one do you usually hone in on?  And which view will you choose to embrace? ….

Make it a habit.. look for the good.  Your entire being will thank you.

Getting it out of the house

 As I sit here typing, the snow flurries float past my windows and shortly I shall be pulling up the bootstraps and putting on the layers to trudge up the hill to the barn.  While I adore my horses and chickens, these are the days when I say… “why am I doing this, again?”   *sigh*

 I got the rest of WINTER out of my house.  I don’t need to see it INSIDE as well as outside.  This here is the stretch of New England Grey days that could drag a spirit down if you let it be so.  I bring out the hearts right about now every year.  

 My Christmas Cactus is a little confused… but I like the result.

…and who doesn’t love crocus in bloom when snow still rests on the lawn. 
(thank you Raven)
Last years Hydrangea dried beautifully… all I did was snip the blooms in early fall before they
withered, and stuck the stems in these vessels… They’ve held up very well. 
My winter mantle and side board table are now something a little more cheery, 
a reminder of the gardens that will bloom again. 
Bailey’s favorite spot – winter sun on the hearth…

 Amazing, how well they dry and hold up. 

I love the old plow horse shoes we find now and then on the farm..
some are buried in the old stone walls, some were used as fence rail holders.
If I were sew-handy I would make a skirt to attach under this side table. 
Any recommendations? 
Maybe I can tack a curtain along the underneath?  Hmmm…
Many dog day afternoons lately, too cold to stay out for very long,
too lazy to do the bundling up required to go for those nice long walks.

Off to the barn and coop – 
It’s a new day, all! – you know the drill…
SALLY in Florida.. had the correct ending to my  post yesterday..
It’s a Beautiful Thing!
She’ll be getting a few fun gifts in the mail shortly. 

The Village assembles again…

But first…

My barometer head has been telling me
with this lovely headache for two days now
that we will be getting a good storm. 
We took the dogs for a walk around the property last night
while temps were still comfortable.
I love these dogs, I do. 
Breaks my heart in a million pieces to know that there are so many who suffer
cruelty, neglect, starvation, ignorance. 
Frasier on the left here knew that life for a while.
We will never know his full story… but he was filthy and covered in matted hair
when he was found in a kill shelter. 
The SHELTER didn’t even clean him up. 
Life is good for Frasier now, thanks to many people who step up for these dogs.
But so many others fall through the cracks.  
Last week Dog Days was called with an SOS… an elderly woman down south is about to 
undergo heart surgery.  Although she is poor, she has been feeding 20 strays
on her property in rural SC for about five years now.  She can no longer
take on the task and there is no local animal control or shelter willing to help her
place the dogs.   So, Dog Days is stepping in.  We need to raise money to do this..
as vetting and transport and fostering of 20 dogs is going to be a monumental task.
A go-fund-me account has been set up and in just one day we have raised a few hundred
dollars to aid this woman and the stray dogs. 
Many of my blog friends are just trying to make ends meet and this call for donations
is not for you.  Every one of you has a heart of gold. 
I put this out there anyway, because you never know who is reading, who believes in the cause,
 is able to make a donation comfortably.  No post is wasted in my opinion. 
Even $5. gets us closer to taking in those dogs and doing what her community cannot
do for her.  HELP.  CARE.  SUPPORT.
 CLick Here  if you are interested in making a donation, no matter how small.
Put “SC dogs”  in your comment with your donation –
 ALL proceeds go to the dogs. Every Single Penny.
Now back to that storm…
You know what they say about red sky at night.. sailors delight..
red sky in the morning.. sailors warning.
True, that.