Pugs in a blanket

Just now.... On a chilly day.  Violet is all snug.

Pretty afternoon light today

~romeo's ears in front of chair

~daisy w/ opal in background

~violet

Daisy and other stuff

Spent six hours of my life at the DMV with fourth son getting him a photo ID.  He's not quite ready to take the driver's tests, and needs ID to go to third son's Basic Training graduation, hence the six hours. We got there this morning after they'd been open for 10 minutes, and about 40 folks were already in line ahead of us.  And afterward---yes, there was an afterward, we went to McDonald's which, thankfully, had no lines.  Thankful for small mercies.

Anyway.  In more important news, Daisy's surgery went well. Expensive.  The vet's rates have gone up, as I understand the healthcare nonsense has flowed over into veterinarian costs too. Ouch.  Glad she's fixed up, but the surgery, antibiotics, plus the prescription dog food we got was pricey.  But still.  It's for my Daisy and Violet, pugs extraordinaire.  All good.  Praying this food will put an end to the surgeries.  That would definitely be a plus.

On a Monday afternoon

• Called the vet to schedule Daisy's bladder stone surgery again.  We go in tomorrow morning. Prayers appreciated.  
• Waiting to hear from social worker about my mom's release.  I'm the go-to person for her to call.
• Taking Spring Break this week.
• Figuring next week will be toast with Mom back at her house.
• Full of negative thinking in regards to her discharge, and having a difficult time getting my head around it.
• But going to enjoy this week---freedom from care, so to speak.
• Tired of apologizing for how I feel about her going home, but with an experimental new situation, hard to think otherwise.
• Sure didn't see all of this coming.
• Deep breaths.
• Need to remember to lean on the Lord and not take this all on myself.  I do have a pretty swell support system in my husband and children.
• It's the unknowns that throw me, you know?
• Oh, and by the way, am in the midst of writing a blog about Mom going home.  Figured it would be good to have it all down in one place.  Other friends have done that, and I've benefited from their sharing.  Will share the link with you, if you like.  Say so in the comments and I'll email you the link. Not wanting to share it here...would like it to remain moderately anonymous.  Some raw emotions shared there, but it is a pretty raw situation.
• Well, anyway...take care.  Enjoy the warmth if you're being blessed with it.  Time to go outside. :) 

Change of plans...

Here it was, thinking Daisy's cough would stay at bay long enough for her to get the bladder surgery, but I was to be proved wrong.  She was better yesterday, and I had the passing notion to call the vet and cancel just in case, but didn't.  Got up today and she coughed up a storm.  Took her in anyway at 7:30am and the vet said her cough sounded pretty rough and he'd get her some medicine, and no, we'd have to hold off on the surgery.  I probably went over the top in apologizing, realizing he'd prepared his morning for her surgery, but Gary told me he's likely prepared anyway for emergencies. Still, I felt like a heel.  If there's one thing I hate is putting folks out.  Anyway, enough groveling----we came home with an antibiotic and some sort of steroid and she's sleeping now. Should do the trick.  And the funny thing, we can't take her back for 2 weeks, since that's the course of her antibiotic.

So...I have a breather, at least in terms of Daisy.

"Man proposes and God disposes." Wise words.

On the heel of "What's the chief end of man?"  Answer:  "To glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

I was always good about teaching our kids the Westminster Catechism when we were members at the Reformed Presbyterian church.  I loved the words and the memory work.  And on days like today when I thought I had the day all figured out, hour by hour, it's curious when plans go awry.  Almost refreshing somehow.  The day spills out ahead of me with no responsibilities except the ones staring me in the face here at home.

And being that I was a bit strung out after my running around yesterday afternoon, it's good to be stuck with nothing begging for attention.  I feel like I can breathe.  And I will. Starting now.

Week's beginning

As soon as we'd just about finished our schoolwork this afternoon, one of my brothers called (the one out of town) to touch base about my mom.  I'd shared with both of my brothers about Joseph graduating from Basic Training next month, and said we'd need someone to stay with Mom.  We talked about that and other mom-related stuff.  Good to be in touch, but doesn't really solve anything.  Gary listened to me share about our conversation this evening and just shook his head.  Unfortunately this brother is good at saying what you want to hear, but a bit lax in following through.

Not that I'm belly-aching.  I'm becoming resigned to certain things, so I guess that's a step in the right direction.

Now then---this week---Daisy the Pug has bladder stone surgery AGAIN tomorrow (Tuesday) early in the morning.  She had the same surgery two years ago, and Violet had it done in August of last year.  Dang.  I'll get her there at 7:30am, and the best part of the whole deal is the shot the vet gives her right away.  Rather than hearing her whine as we leave, she'll quickly be all calm and mildly sedated.  I could use some of that, let me tell you.  Also, this vet doesn't keep surgery patients overnight, so we'll be able to pick her back up after 2pm. Will clean the house like crazy between those hours, figuring it'll be spic and span by two. Nervous energy, you know.

With my mental state of impending over capacity (if that even makes any sense), will turn off my brain as best as possible until the weekend.  Then will nail down the details for our trip to Joseph's graduation.  It's sort of like how I can't do anything about any of it---life will roll along in its swift manner whether I interfere or not.

Which brings to mind something our priest mentioned in his sermon yesterday.  He said that folks often come for advice and prayer help and one of the first things he asks is if they're staying in God's Word.  Are they reading the Daily Office, the daily Psalms reading, praying regularly and staying in God's Face?  I thought it was wonderful that he said that.  I realize we long for the human angle, but when we really do stay focused on Him, then often amazing things happen.  Too often we become so side-tracked and only when life gets unbearable do we go hunting for the Lord.  I've learned the hard way that it seems He allows the tough times to get our attention.

Thankfully this isn't one of those times.

Domestic wildlife

~milk eating cracked corn

Just finished having tea with the chickens.  I had to laugh. When I sat down with my tea tray, before I even put the tray on the bench, Milk was there in my face wanting to eat my oatmeal.  She was so close.  I had to scoop some out for her, but it was too gooey, and got stuck on her beak. Not her favorite thing, by any means.

And, in a sense of celebration, Milk laid her first egg yesterday, about a month behind the other four.  I think she was so relieved afterward, I can imagine her saying to herself, "Man. Glad that's over with.  Have had a pain for days, and now I feel so much better.  On to other things." Not realizing she'll be back in the nesting box either today or tomorrow (most likely tomorrow), having another ache in her backside.

Which brings to mind us possibly having to buy eggs in the winter months.  A chicken's laying is directly affected by the amount of light they get on a daily basis.  With it being dark-ish here in January and February, it'll be interesting to see how many eggs we'll get.  Now we're averaging 3-4/day.  I was looking at brown eggs at the grocery store last night, pricing them (about $2.50-$3.50/dozen) and trying to decide what I'd buy if I had to buy.  I've sworn off white eggs, especially after all the reading I've done.  Sort of have become an egg snob. Don't like the idea of the little beggars being stuffed in boxes and fed to be quick layers.  And I refuse to buy extra-large eggs, no matter the color, after finding out that they're fed a different diet so as to get bigger eggs.  That's got to hurt. As I said, an egg snob.

Not trying to guilt any of you out of buying white, though. Consider this.  A chicken's brain is about the size of a man's fingernail.  Not sure they really mind being in close quarters. Feed 'em and they appear to be happy.  Just saying.  And if I'm going to be honest----a brown egg isn't any guarantee of a happy chicken.  I think we've been brainwashed into thinking a brown egg is organic and guilt-free.  Not so sure that's the case.  If an egg producer is going big time, then the conditions for the chickens have to be brought into focus. Might just eat fewer eggs come winter-time.  We'll adjust. Anyway, just the other day, we dropped an egg outside, right after Nora had laid it.  We had a moment of silence out of respect for her sitting diligently for 1/2 an hour and then sacrificing an egg to the ground.  It was a sad day.

Now onto other things.  It's a wonderful, overcast day.  Still deeply thankful for the work in Gary's shop. Groceries in the kitchen, and a spring in my step.  Feeling content and so blessed.  Wish I had the knack for feeling so fabulous when there's not work in the shop, but haven't achieved that level of faith, and not sure I ever will.  To know the bills are being/going to be paid is pretty darn fine.

Must go now.  Piglet has just announced that she's laid her morning egg.  She goes bok-bok-buhCAW and then the Pugs bark (in the house, no less), and then the big dogs howl.  An unnecessary chain reaction, but what can you do?

A picture is worth a thousand words...

~nora wanting to go on the road

~madelyn and daisy (l to r)

~front porch

Good news

You'll love this.  Regarding the man who didn't follow through on Monday when he said he'd call back about my truck, did in fact call Gary late yesterday afternoon.  Asked if my truck was still for sale, said he'd be here this afternoon with a tow truck, and he actually did buy it.  Hallelujah!  Exhale.  Also I'll add his excuse wasn't listed in my previous rant, his being he'd been working 16 hour days.  Accepted. :)

And Madelyn has now laid 2 eggs this week, one day apart.  Today's is regular large-egg sized and the first one was more of a medium.  Not sure why I'm telling you this, but we found it interesting.  And, if you wash them fresh, they aren't going to keep as well.  There's some sort of covering when they're new, pretty much makes them germ-free.  Also, they keep better unwashed and on the counter than in the fridge.  You know those photos of folks with bowls of fresh eggs out in the kitchen?  Perfectly acceptable, but hard to get my head around.

I am TIRED.  Praying the way I have is hard work, but sure has been a blessing to see God at work.  He's been so quiet, but we've been hanging in there.  Not out of the dark yet, but some vapor sales would come in handy just about now.

Silly, but as the tow truck was backing up in the driveway, I noticed my magnet on the bumper of the Suburban that said 'I love my Pug.'  Told the kids that I wished Gary would notice right then and pull it off. They quickly said, "But you don't have anything to put it on."  Huh.  Ride-less and laptop-less.  Darn.

In time.  All in good time.

Sunday evening

One reason I changed the background of this blog, was the simple fact that I just LOVE the foggy-looking backdrop. Looks all cool and restful.  And since I first did it over here, I noticed that every time the page pulled up, a feeling of comfort washed over me.  So----wanted it on this site as well. And since chickens are always a good thing, well, you know.

Feeling a sense of quiet tonight. Got some things figured out in my head, and think this week will be a mini-sabbatical sort of one.  The only thing hanging fire is to take fourth son to the dental school for a crown on Wednesday.  Yep.  We sort of live down there.  I should have my own parking space by now, don't you think?  But, hey, the savings of going there are so impressive.  And since this son is paying for all of his own work with his hard-earned money, it's all good.  I asked him the other day if he resented having to foot the bill and he said it made him proud.  He even teased about a girl at his job whose parents paid for her car insurance and college education.  I told him my parents did that for me, and he just shook his head.  He said he preferred to take care of it himself.  Way to go, Joshua.

So, just a few more precious weeks before school starts here.  No plans.  Some mental rest is in store, I believe, and much playtime needed.  Can I hear an Amen?

Thursday afternoon

Violet's home from her morning surgery, and all is well.  Two large bladder stones.  Yuck.  Daisy was all droopy while her sister was gone, but perked right up when we came back home with Violet.  We're all exhaling.  My goodness.  Loving things, either people or creatures takes it out of you, doesn't it?

Trying to focus on just today, not borrowing any baggage that has tomorrow's name on it.  A simple dinner of scrambled eggs and toast, I imagine.  The house is a minor disaster, but that's okay.  We'll just kick things out of the way on the floor, and move items off of flat surfaces as need arises.

Take care and enjoy your day.  Stay cool, 'cause it's a hot one here.  Typical August. :)

Oh, and also posting at A Quartet of Things.  Interesting how a focus on thankfulness can be of a comfort. I'm enjoying it.

And so it goes...

Might have rattled some cages yesterday with my list of nouns and adjectives to describe my mental state. But I figure most of you know what I'm talking about.  Just stating the obvious of what goes on in my thoughts when a major prayer session is in progress.

I've never been one of those women who has a restful, pleasant manner when it comes to prayer.  I tend to get rowdy---not loud, but busy in my head.  I tend to experience such an abundance of emotions, just wrestling with God and puzzling over His timing.

Still, nothing has happened in the material world, but my heart is peaceful, so I guess that's something.  There comes a time, for me, when I quit fighting and just let go of my worries.  Now, I don't guarantee I'll be so settled tomorrow, but maybe I will.  Hope so.  Well, honestly, I'll be preoccupied with Violet's surgery, so that's something.  Nervous?  Oh yeah.

In other news, Gary put my truck up for sale online, and he's had a couple of calls.  One a good old boy (the South is full of 'em) who just wanted to chat and another who appeared to be a scammer.  They're pretty obvious. Anyway, we wait for God's timing.  Folks say it's perfect, but sometimes that's hard to swallow.  I mean no disrespect, but I like my timing better. :)

Reminder:  Life isn't all about what we want.  It's not about the job, or the way I feel about things.  Not about paying bills or MONEY.  It's about God's plan for my life.  It's about how we're raising our kids.  And it's about eternal sorts of stuff.  Rinse and repeat.  Lock and load.  You know what I mean.

Pug updates

Well, a couple of curve balls later we find that both Violet and Daisy will have to have bladder stone surgery. Daisy last went through this January 2012, so her problem is minor now (but increasing), and Violet is toting around a pretty sizeable stone.  Dagnabbit.

We could've gone all day without this news, but it is what it is.

Seems some breeds just have this issue, toys being the worst hit.  And Dalmatians.  Not sure what's up with that.  And to think we were so careful with their diet, must be some genetics going on.  And also, the Pugs eat the same exact diet, but one is 5 lbs. heavier (that would be Daisy, my chubbalina).  Oh, and they have different stones than one another too.  I'm totally confused.

The lesson here is that you can do everything right, and still things don't follow the plan you expect.  I think we can call this a spiritual lesson.

Guess we'll have to overhaul their diet again....told Gary I wish someone could say to me, "Melissa, this is exactly what you should do to prevent bladder stones.  It works 100% of the time."  But there's not that fix. There just isn't.  No guarantees, which is what we want in this life.  Least I do.

And I'm so stressed.  Drove Gary's truck out today for errands (remember, my Suburban died a slow death) and since his was broken into a few months back and someone busted his steering column, you have to start it with a screwdriver.  I can do all that.  But at one point in our outing, I had to turn off the truck.  Sat there for a minute and couldn't for the life of me think of how to turn it back on.  Time to chill, I'm thinking.

Btw, Violet's scheduled for surgery on Thursday.  Daisy later.  Too much money to do them at once (which actually would be sweet, but is impractical now), but thankfully, we have sweet, generous kids who will help with both.

Now will go soak my head.

Irrational Pug frets

Silly me.  Thinking I could stay away from this blogging stuff in order to do listing stuff and not just plain old write.  Who am I kidding?  I like to put my thoughts down, work out things and share with my buds here. That's what settles my mind sometimes.

And feeling all wound up right now is testing my spirits.

Two of the boys and Gary will take the Pugs to the vet at 10:30am tomorrow. I've chickened out from going, and thankfully Gary is indulging me in this.  I'm worrying, and I realize it's 'over the top' but I can't seem to help it.  You know how you get unreasonable at times, know you're that way, and it'd take a strong dose of something to settle you down.  I need that something!

The kids keep saying, "They'll be fine.  Not a big deal, and if either of them needs surgery, we'll take care of it and everything will be alright."  I hear them, but my insides are wound up just the same.  Don't like it when the kids have to bear me up, when actually, it's supposed to be the other way around.  But really, everyone realizes that the Pugs are mine.  They all love them, but they really are my dogs.

I hate it when it happens that I'm being unreasonable, but am on this merry-go-round of emotions.  Less personal drama would probably be a good thing, eh?

I just want to exhale.  Figure I'll be able to do that around 11am or so tomorrow.

Looking forward to buying the altar flowers tomorrow afternoon.  We'll know what's up with the Pugs by then, and no matter what, all will be will. All matter of things will be well, thank you sweet Julian of Norwich.

Daisy imitating Lassie

Have spent a lazy day.  Oldest daughter made a tiny grocery store run for me, wanting me to stay put, and that was a treat.  Watched the second Jason Bourne movie during naptime (this makes five times I've seen it now), and made hamburgers and fries for dinner.  Gary's been at his shop making vapors (see vaporwoods for his work), so it's just been me and the kids.  Lots of chicken-watching.

A funny thing.

Daisy the pug has been a bit under the weather today with her cough re-surfacing, but she's okay....still, she's wanted lots of holding and cuddling.  I was sitting out back after dinner with the girls, watching chickens, and Daisy and Violet were out there with us. The least one took Madelyn the chicken to the far side of the yard to see if she could find her way back to the others. Usually they call out to one another, and always stay in a group.  We were just trying to entertain ourselves.  Lame, I know.  Anyway, Madelyn kept circling, not knowing which way to go, and finally, after listening to us yell at her, Daisy jumped down from my lap and rounded her back.  In addition to that, when we were ready to bring the chickens inside for the night, Daisy did the same thing, rounding them up and getting them to the back steps.

A pug doing the work of a sheepdog.  Pretty wild.

When the pugs were new

Some of you have been my blogging buddies for years, and remember my talk about getting baby pugs.  That happened back in 2007, just before Christmas.  Well, here's a photo Gary found over the weekend of me holding little Violet.  Compare it to her resting on my shoulder in the sidebar.  She and Daisy were only just over 5 weeks old when we got them (victims of a puppy mill in a neighboring state).  They had to be taken from their mother early in order to process the huge amount of dogs that were involved.  The woman who was guilty of raising the dogs in crowded and unkind conditions was given just one pet afterward, and it was our pugs' mother.  Just thought this photo was so adorable. We'd bundle the puppies in tea towels and hold them to our chests to keep them warm.  Best Christmas present ever. :)

'A Pug's Guide to Etiquette' by Gemma Correll

As a pug owner of over five years now to sisters Violet and Daisy, I can honestly say that this book by Gemma Correll is the most honest portrayal of pug life of any I've ever seen.  A Pug's Guide to Etiquette had all of us laughing as we'd read a few pages, point at our pugs and then laugh again.  Seems that all pugs are alike, and truly are the funniest breed of dog.  No other dog that we've ever owned has seemed more like a human in dog form.   Her drawings are wonderful, very simple and clean.  And the expressions on her pug faces are spot on.  I love this book.

Yes, our dogs lick the air, stand between/on our feet, shed endlessly, have feet that smell of popcorn---though we think ours smelled a bit like tortilla chips as well.  

Correll takes from real life by using her own pugs as inspiration.  And really, that's the only way to do it since I had no idea pugs were so adorable and addictive until we got ours.  Pug owners truly are kindred spirits.  Nobody else can really get it.

Thank you Gemma Correll for telling the world how glorious pug ownership is.  After this book gets out in public we might just experience a pug shortage.  

More of Gemma's work can be found at her website at GemmaCorrell, and on her Facebook page.

A Pug's Guide to Etiquette by Gemma Correll is published by Dog 'n' Bone at £9.99 and is available from www.cicobooks.com

(i received this book free to review from CICObooks)

Mid-week rambles

• sick
• sore, lumpy throat and a bit of a cough
• not pleased i caught what the kids have passed around
• figure i've just been worn out and my resistance let down
• in a way it's nice
• while the house is messy, it's a comfortable mess
• at least that's what i'm telling myself
• puttered around in the kitchen this morning
• no guilt about schoolwork since the kids were all laid up
• i think i get so preoccupied at teaching them that the enjoyment of it is sometimes nil
• figure if it's a worry then it's really not a concern, 'cause if i was a real slacker, i'd not worry in the first place
• that makes sense in my head
• was fretting over middle daughter last night
• her temperature rose, she was flushed and just seemed to wither
• she's better after a night's sleep, but has orders to stay in bed
• the least one is watching an old movie in the living room, with violet the pug in her lap
• daisy is here with me in bed
• don't tell gary
• she's a cozy little muffin
• if you look at the weather map, it'll fool you into thinking we're covered in sleet and soon-to-be snow
• the sun's actually out
• huh
• there's something a bit comforting about having a houseful of sick ones
• the energy level goes way down and that's a relief
• it's way too noisy here most times, and our youngest dog, romeo, who has no idea that he can have an inside barking voice, is VERY loud
• to him, everyone (including us) who comes to the door is a stranger
• i think his vision is impaired, really
• he'll study you when you come in the door, before he gets a good whiff of you
• will certainly rattle your cage
• must go now...will rest, then putter some more

Pug Zen

Got a little yin and yang going on here.

Thursday afternoon

Well, Violet the pug appears to be better today. And she ate for the first time in a couple of days.  Hand-fed. Spoiled rotten.  I tried to get her to eat out of her bowl and she gave me 'the look.'  The same look Gary gives me when he's not quite sure I understand what's going on.  So, I indulged her, feeding her ground beef mixed with rice.  With pugs having such short snouts and such wide tongues, the food they eat sort of wings off of their tongues, and flies up in the air.  So Daisy was right in her face, ready to clean up what Violet shot into the room. Not a tidy situation.  But she ate, and that's the main thing.

And it's a cozy day.  I hung out clothes, feeling optimistic that the mist wouldn't last all day.  It's supposed to be a bit sunny now, or at least partly cloudy.  It's not drizzly now, but a damp day.  That's okay.  I don't mind using the dryer, but until we get the bonk sound fixed, it's a bit annoying.  The drum goes round, and I can hear the regular rattle of something that's not the way it's supposed to be.   Maybe I can give Gary 'the look' and he'll be inspired to look into it.

Must go now.  It's my first day without a houseful of children in, I don't know, how long.  Just puttering along, doing lots of nothing, but would enjoy having something accomplished before everyone gets back home.  Today's my mom's 84th birthday, so she wanted to have the kids today.  I baked her a cake last night, and they were going to celebrate.

Take care. :)