Texas Lady

I’ve been home now for several weeks; simply not posting.  I’ve been trying to keep up with home stuff and get back to some sense of normality.  I’ll be headed north again in a couple of weeks but hope to get at least some sewing done between now and then.  I have done enough to catch up but not get ahead.  I have fabric for six more blankets to donate so would like to get started on them.  Perhaps tomorrow…

Mom seems to be better and we’re not spending as much time down there with her, so we’ve been able to catch up at our house.  Of course, when you look close you often find more than you care to see.  Heeding the TV commercials, I called the insurance company to see if they could lower any of our rates.  Turns out they can save us a lot if we just fill out this paperwork and this paperwork and …… you get it.  Most, but not all, of that is completed.  Then in the mail comes a letter from the homeowners association saying our chimney needs to be painted.  Turns out our chimney needs more than paint; it needs a whole new chimney.  So hubby has torn it down and is in the process of replacing multiple parts.  Some had to be ordered so it will be time-consuming, too.  I hope it gets done before the insurance company inspector arrives or there’ll be some “splainin’ to do”.

Zsa Zsa has had the last of her heartworm treatments now and just went back for her two week follow-up.  Doc has okayed a little activity so the crate left the living room again.  Two more weeks and perhaps she’ll get to resume her puppy-fueled activity.  It’s hard to keep her from jumping straight up into the air in elated exuberance on any given occasion.  I sure wish I had her energy!  She’ll be two in June and we’re hoping by then she’ll be free to be the puppy she obviously is and leave the pain of heartworm treatment and spaying behind.  It’s hard to introduce pain to a puppy; life is hard enough without starting young.

Zsa Zsa at the veterinarian’s office.

Since I’m getting my living room back, I went shopping today to replace the automatic recliner that no longer works.  It goes up and up and up, then I crawl out over the arm.  Not optimum.  Not optimum at all.  R had to take it apart to get it to return to starting position.  This time I got a bigger (wider), more plush swivel rocker that also reclines albeit under my steam, not electricity (less to go out that way).  R will drive up to get it Monday if he can climb down from the rooftop long enough.  At least, that’s what he said.

It seemed that no one in the pack wanted Fancypants’ position of alpha.  However, Khandi is stepping up to the plate.  She is definitely throwing her weight around and no one is pushing back.  Mimi tried at first but Khandi let her know pretty quickly how things were going to be run at HER house.  R had them on the bed with him while he was changing shoes when Mimi started growling at Khandi for being too close to her human.  (I wasn’t there but I can see it in my mind) R said Khandi never uttered a sound; she just grabbed Mimi by the throat and shoved her against the headboard…and held her there until she stopped struggling.  R said there wasn’t a mark on Mimi but she walks a large circle around Khandi now so I guess the point was made.  In a pack as big as ours there has to be some friction at times but I think Khandi sometimes goes a little overboard, but then I’ve never been a canine alpha so perhaps that’s the way it gets done.  She never uses her teeth though sometimes she scares the little ones and they yelp (which breaks my heart), but she leaves no doubt who is boss.

Mimi, AKA Pinky

Khandi and Bandit accompanied R on a fishing trip after I got home from Austin.  I don’t know which of them enjoyed it more.  It was Khandi’s first time in the boat and in her life vest but she took to it like a trooper and had a ball.  Bandit always loves trips with his daddy so they added more happy memories.

Khandi and Bandit enjoying a night on the boat

They love it when R brings in a fish because they get to touch it.  They don’t hurt the fish; he gets to go back in the water to his family, but the dogs get so excited to touch them with feet and noses.  Bandit will watch when R casts in and wait patiently for him to bring in another fish.  Both of the dogs are really well-mannered when taken anywhere and it does them all a world of good to “get the hell out of Dodge” for a while.

My eyes are telling me to get my update over and go to bed so I think I’ll obey.  Gone…but not forgotten.

It’s been almost a year since I’ve updated; it’s hard to believe it’s taken me that long to have 2 thoughts to rub together.  I’m in Austin, Texas, in someone else’s home, with someone else’s dogs.  Don’t get ahead of me…it’s my son’s house and his dogs, and I’m just visiting.  I’m the grandma of the week.  My oldest grandson is in the hospital in Colorado having had brain surgery on March 15th.  His younger brother is in Texas still going to school.  Mom is in Colorado; Dad in Texas.  Cole (the younger) leaves for school after Dad has to leave for work and gets out of school before Dad gets home from work.  Therein lies the rub.  So, Mom’s mom (Granny) was here for ~10-12 days but her vacation ran out.  Then, I (Nana) came in for the last few days before Mom and Blake come home to Texas.  Get it?  I’m on vacation, in other words.  I’m in a huge house with my own suite which includes a walk-in closet and a full bath.  I couldn’t afford this if it was a hotel!  Of course, I will take photos but right now I’m resting while the housekeepers spiff up.  What a life!

Sophie and Buster, our grand-dogs

These are my housemates today.  The little one won’t put down the toy even to sleep.  Her name is Sophie.  The big boy on the right is Buster Brown.  We almost lost him last Fall; he was so sick!  He had an autoimmune condition and turned bright yellow.  He spent a couple of weeks in intensive care and had a 20% survival estimate.  But he pulled it out and this week I’ll get all his cuddles while Cole is in school.  Buster is an A1 cuddle-bunny.

At home I left hubby and 7 dogs, a sick mother and 55 gallons of tropical fish (that I hope he remembers to feed this week).  We are back up to 7 dogs again.  After we lost Fancypants we spent a few months broken-hearted.  Then, my mom fell and broke her hip and went into the hospital, then to rehab, then home for 3 weeks, then back in the hospital then to a different rehab, then back home again.  Busy four months.

The first of January ( I think it was New Year’s Day, in fact), the next door neighbors gave us their dog.  Their little girl was highly allergic so the 18 month old pup was relegated to the back yard for about a year.  It was about to freeze overnight so it was the best time for them to give her to us…they couldn’t bring her in and they couldn’t leave her out.  We had known we were going to get her because the little girl had been sick for a while; it was a matter of time until they could bear to part with “Zazzles” the Schnoodle (designer mix of Schnauzer and poodle).

Of course, the first thing with a new animal is straight to the vet where we found out that our Zsa Zsa (well, what would you do with Zazzles?????????)  needed to be spayed, microchipped, vaccinated and treated for heartworms.  To date all is complete except the second heartworm treatment which is scheduled for next week.  She’s doing great, is full of energy and happy as a clam.  Besides a new name she has been groomed twice to look like a Schnauzer (we haven’t tried the poodle cut yet).

Zsa Zsa’s first grooming

“Yes, Mom, I’m still working on doing the laundry but the children won’t mind!”

Which leaves Mom, still in a wheelchair and still unable to walk.

Mom and her dog, Pepper

See why I’m having such a good time in Austin?  LOL  The wildflowers are blooming everywhere (No, I have no pictures yet.  Someone has to drive, you know.). The pollen is outrageous.  My asthma is trying to kill me.  But vacation is vacation, ya’ll!

More another day and I’ll try to get bluebonnet photos.