Castle in the Clouds

December.  It's crazy how fast this month has gone by.  To think that Christmas is about a week and a half away is crazy!  There's still so much to do, like finish my final paper for class, complete my holiday shopping and making sugar cookies for Santa.  I figured since there's so much going on and I don't really have a lot of time to spare for the blog, I'd entertain you with some pictures.   Here's our first true snow of the season.  It didn't last for long, but there's still a spot or two in the yard that's more white than green.  It was pretty while it lasted... Then there's been the challenge of caring for our dog.  While he seems to be improving a little every day, he's still nowhere near himself yet.  He's still walking into walls, furniture, people and the other dog.  He spills more food than he eats if left to fend for himself, which we attempt only in an effort to see if he's made any improvements. ...

On Facebook I've posted a few comments about the outcome of the oral surgery our 3-year-old Yorkie underwent.  After a few days of perfectly normal behavior, he had what the veterinarian believes to have been a stroke caused by a dislodged blood clot that traveled to his brain.  He spent a week at the vet's being treated.  We were convinced that by day two of his coma, we'd have to put him to sleep.  Thank goodness he woke up when he did!   It's been a week and a half since the stroke.  We're happy to have him home now - mostly because we missed him, but also because of the accruing expense.  While he's not exactly himself yet, we're hopeful he'll fully recover if given enough time, love, and attention.  Every day there seems to be some small sign of improvement.   This video was taken a couple of days after he came home from the vet's office.  He's doing a little bit better now than he was in the vi...

The dog and I both had dentist appointments yesterday for teeth cleanings.  While my appointment turned up a crack in a couple of old cavities, one of which will require a crown (ouch!), I was at least able to walk out of my appointment without feeling miserable.  Not so for this little fella.. Cash's cleaning turned into a tooth-pulling frenzy.  He lost a total of fifteen (15!!) teeth yesterday.  The rot was so advanced in some of the teeth that an infection had spread throughout his little mouth and into his blood stream.  If we wouldn't have taken him in to the vet for this cleaning, we may have lost him.  According to the vet, the infection would have eventually worked its way to his heart and given him a heart attack. For the next five days he's on a liquid only diet of chicken noodle soup and water; he is not happy about this decision and is convinced he's starving to death.  There is a lot of whining and pacing back in forth in front o...

This is our Brittany. She's been with us since the summer of 1995.  We were vacationing "up north" the summer after our wedding and found a box full of puppies outside the local grocery store.  She was so tiny then.  And so shy.  And we just had to bring her home with us. Three years later, she could no longer count herself the baby of the family.  She had been overthrown by a dark-haired crying thing that she really didn't like.  It took a long time for her to quit pouting. Eventually she came to like and even love our first born, especially when he could start playing with her.  Of course, as the family dog, she also found herself enduring things like this... Of course, this doesn't happen all that much anymore.  She's too old to be used as a pillow.  It's obvious when she walks that things hurt.  I'm not sure how much longer we'll have her with us.  All I know is that my boys are going to be heartbroken whe...

It was a beautiful night for trick-or-treating. No rain, no snow. Instead, we had moderate temperatures and clear skies. A light jacket was enough to keep the chill off. Before walking around town, though, we made a detour to Grandma & Grandpa's house. For the first time I can remember, both boys let me paint their faces. I got quite a kick out of it despite the time limits I was given. Our last taste of Halloween came just last night, almost a week after the official holiday.  This time mom and dad dressed up, too! And the boys opted for the quick-and-easy costumes from years past instead of suffering through another face-washing ordeal.

You know, all things considered, work hasn't been bad.  In some ways, it's even been a blessing.  It's forced me to continue the business of everyday life.  Get out of bed, shower, get dressed, do my hair and makeup.  One foot in front of the other until I'm out the door and on my way.  It's provided routine and familiarity in a time of great sorrow and high anxiety. That being said, thank goodness it's Friday!  I'm looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow.  Sure, there's a certain house that I know needs cleaning and the laundry will NEVER be caught up, but I get to sleep in.  I may have overdue homework to finish and new assignments to begin, but that's okay because I get to sleep in!  Oh, how I love a few extra hours with my pillows and blankets. It's what makes Saturdays and Sundays so precious. Other plans this weekend include an After-Halloween party.  We declined invitations to several other festive gatherings this year because...

This year's solitary Halloween decoration. It was a miserable September and it's been an even worse October, which pretty much made it impossible for me to feel any desire when it came time to decorate my house for Halloween.  So much so, that we didn't even carve pumpkins this year.  I posted as much on Facebook this morning.  A couple of hours later, Ken showed up with this adorable flower arrangement at my office door.  I love it.  I'm looking forward to taking it home and putting it in the center of my kitchen table, a little belated Halloween spirit. Hopefully, I'll have pictures of a terrifying 10-year-old zombie and a brave gladiator to post either later tonight or early tomorrow.