I get by with a little help...

 my friends....

Wednesday was multiple errands day. Jason the Geologist showed up Tuesday afternoon with his fluff balls Piper and Felix. While Rich napped, I took the fluff balls, Charlie, and Jason for a walk down to the creek.

Jason immediately started to look for cool rocks and started giving me a lesson on geology and held up different rocks that he named. 

He has a Masters in Geology . He did teach for a while until politics of Governor Walker introduced Act 10 which removed significant rights for state and local government employees in 2011 by removing their ability for collective bargaining. Jason is an activist and protested at the capitol. 

He seriously believes in people's rights and has gone to bat for veteran's rights and other rights. 

Jason was chatting on and on when I walked up to him and told him to be quiet. He blinked, he looked at me and then I said:

Shut UP!

Stop Talking

 Shut your eyes...

Hear the Quiet!

.....and

he did just that...

I watched my friend who 

suffers from anxiety

suddenly sigh with his eyes closed.

We stood for a bit and then just before we turned back to go up the hill, we were serenaded by Barred Owls calling in the valley. Their calls echoed through the hillsides.

You'd think with 3 dogs in the house it would be chaos. However, it wasn't. 

Jason cooked supper [a vegetarian supper] and cleaned it up too. Rich chose to eat pizza. We chatted a bit and it was time for bed.

I was able to run several errands on Wednesday without worrying about Rich being alone. He didn't have to transfer to the bed from his wheelchair without someone close by. His abilities are better than the first few days home from the hospital. 

Jason's photo of my foot, Charlie, and Piper who was snuggling me on the couch.

 Wednesday afternoon while Rich napped we took another walk with the dogs to burn off their energies.

We had mud puppy tumbleweed dogs who were thoroughly happy. Felix and Piper both wore jackets so we could see them clearly in the areas that were colored just like them.

The weather was beautiful and we spent another quiet afternoon with Rich. Chatting until he needed another nap. 

I had a second meal of Kale chips [yum] and a vegetarian bratwurst. I can say without harming anyone's feelings, that I'd go for the real deal from the grill any day. Something about that juicy and slightly burnt brat makes my mouth water a bit more.

Thursday was the Home Health Aide visit. Rich enjoyed seeing Allie. She really knows how to make an old fart smile as she gives him a bath in his wheel chair.

I finally received the updated reports through MyChart on Rich's ER visit and his stay in the hospital along with his blood tests.

I'll probably update that on The Long Road later.  I can say this. Hospice was really the only choice and the best choice.

Jason's photo of Felix on the porch,
Charlie on Jason's lap, 
and Piper in out there blending
in with the brown grass.

I can't say enough about my good friends and neighbors. 

When getting the oil changed...and

tires rotated feels like a wonderful outing.

I like the place I go to for service on our Subaru. They are pretty nice even if it is a dealership. They have a doggy play yard, a kids' room with toys and a nice waiting area for those who decide to sit and wait for their Subarus to be serviced. There is a shuttle that will take you places in LaCrosse and pick you up if you wish.

I prefer to take Charlie on nice days were he can enjoy the doggy park and sniff out every other dog smell. He enjoys visiting with the staff who go overboard to welcome him. Other times, if the vehicle is going to take a long time, I walk half a mile to the Riverside Park in LaCrosse and enjoy the views along the Mississippi River. 
I love to walk through the International Friendship Garden and enjoy all of the wonderful plants they have growing there along with the little waterfalls and ponds. The Riverside Park is free as well as the gardens.

The drive into LaCrosse was horrible on Wednesday. I ran into a sleet storm which pelted the 'Ru and covered the road in melting ice. Three miles later I got into a huge downpour that ponded on the roads. I took my usual route into LaCrosse and found that the 4 lane road was now 2 lanes with half of the road dug up down to the sewer lines. Highway 35 through LaCrosse was getting a face lift in sections at a time. The pot holes in the construction area would shake your teeth and eyeballs out of your head.

While waiting I looked out the window at my dream Subaru and pretended the new shiny one was mine. I didn't bother going to look at it because I figured a salesperson would be right next to me in an instant. 
I took out a book and proceeded to get lost in a 'who dunnit' novel. When I finished the book, I stuck it in my backpack. The sun had come out and was shining with a promise of things to come.

The service person found me and let me know that the oil change/tire rotation was done and let me know that I needed new rear brakes. I knew that was coming and asked if we could just make another appointment next week for that.

When I left, I decided to take another way home to avoid all the downtown traffic and construction with car eating potholes.
I took  Highway 33 that went on top of the ridge by Grand Dad's bluff [mental note--stop next week to see it again!]. 33 serpentines along the top of the ridge with grand views of the LaCrosse  County Coulees. 

I listened to music and enjoyed the drive. The clouds were scuttling along the sky and promising more rain, but I was content. 
I felt I was able to breath in deep and chill.

Yes, even going for an oil change and tire rotation somehow feels like a mini vacation from home. I plead guilty to that. 

Setting goals and boundaries

Sometimes just a change in pace and setting up goals are what could be needed for changing a person's outlook. My outlook.

Tai Chi is another tool to use. Rich and I did it together for a while to assist with his depression and PTSD. He felt relaxed and in a better place after we did a 30 minute lesson together. It was put on by the VA mental health folks in Madison. We had received a video to practice with at home. It fell by the wayside of course.

However, I transferred the mindfulness relaxation exercise to my computer files so I could bring it up later. 
I'd forgotten all about it until another blogger mentioned Tai Chi.

I was not brought up to be open to things like Yoga/Pilates/Tai Chi. Hard work was our exercise and tension release.

Now I'm a bit more open to other ideas. Why not? After 3 days of Beginner's Yoga and giving myself a mindfulness break, I am feeling quite chilled out.

I set boundaries for us too. My hikes will be on Thursdays weather permitting. I messaged my hiking pal with that info too. I'm not going to constantly rearrange my hike times for his schedule. [This was a helpful tip from my son]

I felt stuck in a rut like a little gerbil on a caged wheel. Perhaps these things will help. I don't feel so stuck right now. Not much has changed other than an attitude adjustment and of course making some goals.

Morning view from the porch

Evening view to the west

Today's events include a hike at KVR. I'll be doing a quiet relaxing hike with Charlie while exploring a new trail. Well, a new trail to us.

Below: Long lens across the field to my neighbor's lower yard. I guess these does want to play soccer!

Quiet Weekend

 

There is the Wild Man in the skid steer.

I mentioned that I wanted to pull some multiflora rose bushes with the 4 wheeler, or chop them down and maybe then pull them out afterwards.

Rich thought he'd just grub them out with the skid steer. Oh and boy he did. He made a mess and tore things up like mad. But I just smiled because he felt good enough to operate his skid steer for a bit. 
He wanted to get down into the trees and muck around, but his fuel ran low so...whew. He had to go park it.

I'm so glad we don't own a bulldozer.

Sunday morning, my temp thingy on my smarty pants phone said it was 47 degrees out. I grabbed a heavy sweatshirt and Charlie and we headed out to watch the sun come up over the Merry Meadow. Brrrr. How did I think PJ pants and a sweatshirt with chore boots were going to be warm?

But the colors in the sky were interesting so I walked back towards the meadow.

It was worth it...

I heard some thumping that was strange and a bit weird sounding. I couldn't think of anything in the woods that would cause that. And to my surprise I counted 6 Tom Turkeys beating the hell out of each other.

They were literally running at each other and bumping chests then grabbing for each other's throats.

And...they were not uttering a sound. No gobbles, nothing. Just running at each other and wham!

This is one of those times I wished I owned a seriously Big Assed Lens. You know one of those telephoto lens that could take me right up to the Tom Turkey's faces. Alas.
I'd love to own one but probably wouldn't carry it on just a morning walk. This was my 14mm-150mm Olympus lens. It did a fair job with the low light. I took about a dozen shots and this one was the better of them.

One Tom in the left side was strutting after his battle, two are locked in a death grip and a loser is ducking under the line fence.

The fence? It has been that way for 30 years, this portion belongs to my neighbor to maintain. Yeah, it will stay that way for another 30 years. There is a hot wire to keep my critters off it.

I spent Sunday afternoon sitting on the porch with Rich and Charlie. We enjoyed the warm temps, no bugs, and sunshine. 

The veggie garden is a mess and I have to start working on that. I need to plan out some flowers for the east side of the house. My mental list of To Do's is long. 

I registered with the Wisconsin Vaccination Site and already received an appointment. 

Here's to the mini happy dance.

This guy is on one of the trees over by my shady rock place. I'm hoping to transfer some fern plants when they come up along with some other natural plants that grow in the woods. 

At least for now, the tiny Buckthorn trees are gone and I have a quiet spot for some afternoon reading if I want to get a stone's throw from the house yet feel like I am in a private place.

Quiet time

I'm trying to carve out a bit more time for walking Charlie and Sven together.

It was a nice quiet walk with Charlie and Sven playing on the trails. Charlie would stop and listen to a chipmunk in the woods. Sven would stand by him and browse on berry briers or some other leafy bush and then they'd trot off together.

It appears to the casual observer that these two are pals and have a very close bond.
I know Dixie was very fond of Charlie but Sven seems totally attached to his dog pal. He cries when they are separated, yet if I tie them up in the yard where they can be near each other. They will actually lay down so that they are touching each other to nap in the sunlight.

Sven is like a rather large dog that is even better mannered than most dogs on the trail. He doesn't eat deer poop, he doesn't roll in stinky things, and he comes instantly when I whistle or call him.

He still has some of his light colored 'baby' coat left. I imagine as his winter coat grows in it will fall out. I like the funky colors it gives him right now.

Charlie still wears his little beeper collar on hikes. He rarely gets separated from Sven when we all go together. But it is nice to know I can 'ring' his bell if he gets into the thick underbrush and I can't find him.

We walked to the back of the property and I had some fluorescent spray paint I wanted to spray on the line fence. That is my next project is to fix the back fence. It is an old barbed wire fence, some of the posts can be reset and some of the wire may still be usable. I'm always up for a project.
I used the green paint to mark areas.
Sven decided to try and taste the paint on the posts. Silly goat. He has fluorescent paint on his nose now.

When I sat on a log to let my two companions walk around in the area, they both came and tried to get my attention. So much for sitting and mulling things over!

I walked down the hill back towards the creek. I'd told Rich I'd only be gone for an hour so I couldn't go exploring. Sven and Charlie trotted on deer trails and I could hear their bells. The bells are a stroke of genius. I can hear what they are doing all of the time without watching them.

I noted that there were a lot of maple leaves down with colors on them and some of the ironwood trees had leaves that were turning. Some of the black berry bushes had a tint of red in them.

Fall is coming.
Lucky me!
In one week, I've arranged for my winter hay, arranged for trees to be taken down... and while in town I even ran into another neighbor who said he'd come out with his chainsaw and truck to take firewood and help.

I found some very pretty white mushrooms at the creek bottom.

Well, let's say that getting down on your knees and scooting low is not always the thing to do with a Hiking Goat along.
Mr. Hiking Goat decides that he will practice Goat Yoga with you and that your back makes a perfect place to put his hooves while he nibbles on your hair and ears to .. let you know how much he cares about you.

I gave up taking macro shots and we just continued to walk slowly towards home.

When back on the big trail, Sven and Charlie played chase.



One thing I can say for certain. They wear each other out playing.
And that was the purpose of the walk, to give them some time to play and exercise.

I took a video with my phone but ... well for whatever reason, it won't download.
Suffice to say that it shows Sven and Charlie racing up together and back on the trail with their little collar bells merrily jingling away.

And that was my quiet time. Peaceful and full of smiles.

Mother Nature's July 4th Show

I think just a few shots should explain it all.

Our day was hot, humid, and quiet. I took Charlie to visit the Nursing home and then most of the day was spent avoiding the heat. I sat on the porch and read a book with Charlie overseeing the yard.

Just before sunset and amazing storm front came through.

Mother Nature was prepping for a real show.

Later on my porch....I watched her Fireworks or Sky Show.

And that was our not so exciting 4th of July.

Charlie figured out he could have a new perch in which to watch over his domain....

I'd set his rug on the bench when I washed the porch...

Charlie Charlie ... The Chicken

I thought I'd go visit my MIL in the nursing home early Sunday. I gave Charlie a bath and took him along.

I brought puzzle books and a card. I tucked Charlie under my arm as I made my way down the hallways. I was stopped my nearly everyone. Housekeeping, nurses, staff, and residents who wanted to see the 'puppy'. Charlie wagged his tail and loved all the petting.

We finally made it to MIL's room and Charlie greeted her with happy wags as she reached down to pet him. He eventually made it to her lap and laid down.

As MIL complained about the terrible beds, the boredom, and how 'nothing' was happening, her hands kept stroking Charlie's coat.
I've also learned with Alzheimer's that you just go with the flow. She told me repeats of the past few events and I listened. No matter that we'd had this conversation before. Her time line and my time line of events are different and that is okay, we still had a very nice visit.
She told me she was going home the next time she saw a doctor. She wanted to go home and sit in her chair and not be bothered and she wanted very strong pain pills.
I reminded her that he kidneys were so frail that they couldn't handle strong pain pills. She made a face and then I decided I should keep my mouth shut and let the pros handle it.

All the time, she just unconsciously pet Charlie and soon Charlie's eyes were droopy. The only time he looked concerned is when he could hear someone coming down the hallway.

When the visit was over I let Charlie walk down the hall on his leash. He is so low to the ground and has such a funny gate. However, he walked as if he owned the place.
Some housekeeping gals asked if the could pet him. Charlie walked up and sat by their feet while they rubbed his ears and talked to him. His tail swished and he sat still.
At the nurse's station, the gals came out and had to see Charlie. Then the residents in wheelchairs saw him and the crowd began to merge in on us. Charlie walked from one resident to another and sat at their feet if they put their hand down or spoke to him.

One lady insisted he was a Chicken. Well why not? Let Charlie be a Chicken. Ever person smiled. Frail shaking hands gently touched Charlie and Charlie just sat quietly.

How old is he? Asked a nurse.
Just over a year.

Please bring him back again.

We got through the group of residents and started down the hall. Charlie peered into each room to see if there was someone in it. I was told that Charlie could visit if they asked him in.
Funny that he'd pause for a bit at each resident's door and watch them, then move slowly on to the next.

Last stop was outside the lunchroom. More workers came out and all wanted to say hi. Charlie sat and seemed to relish the attention. He didn't wiggle, he didn't whine, he didn't bark. He just was like Charlie Zen.

I've concluded that Charlie has an old soul and really can tell things about people. When he meets most folks he is bubbly and excited but calms down quickly.

He seemed to know that all these folks wanted was to touch him and he seemed content and quiet.
On the ride home, he curled up in his car seat and slept.

Charlie, Chuckie, Charlie, Chicken, Puppy, Doggy, ... whatever name he goes by...he is really something special.

Someone said that Morris must have brought him into our lives.
I wonder....

Silent Hike

I looked down at the laundry basket that needed folding. I glanced at it again as I walked by it.  I then reached out and poked it.
It didn't poke back.
It obviously did not need my immediate attention.
Morris curled up on the couch with his freshly washed blanket that I'd taken out of the dryer. It was still warm.
He looked at me and stuck his nose under the blanket.

He didn't need my attention either.
Rich laid down for his afternoon nap.

Well now, the animals were fed and watered. However there was one critter that seemed to warrant attention.
I had two hours or so before chores. Everyone was going to be napping.

I donned a coat and grabbed a bottle of water. On the way out the porch I grabbed Dixie's red rope and my walking stick that had been made by my photo pal.

Dixie wagged her whole body. I wonder if some day she may just wag herself into pieces. She walked along side of me and waited for me to open the electric gates.
We headed out. Hike time.
The sky was blue and it was probably almost 20 degrees out.

Most of the time while hiking with a dog I only see their rear ends. Same with Dixie. I get the waving tail and her backside.

I wandered down to the creek and we followed it to the snow mobile trail. I shrugged and decided to head up the trail out of the valley and across the corn field on the ridge that divided the woods.

Soon we dipped back into the forest and the steep back valley. Dixie stopped and stood like a statue. Her tail even went still. I stopped also.
I've learned to pay attention to those with better senses than I. Dixie is one of those, her nose is extremely powerful. She can spot wildlife long before I would even be able to see it.

Then on the ridge above us came 3 deer, 4 deer, 3 deer, and then 2 more. They pranced and trotted in a long line.
Dixie didn't move when I whispered "No."

We headed further down into the valley. Both of us silent. I could hear some crows in the distance somewhere and the wind sigh and rattle the oak leaves that were still clinging to branches above us.
I headed down the steep incline towards the west end of the valley. I negotiated the hill, using saplings as hand railings. Each step was carefully placed and I made sure it wouldn't slip before putting forward the next foot.

Dixie brushed past me twice. She would go ahead and then come back. Her feet padded silently.
I looked down. There it was the Lost Valley, The Back Valley, The Hidden Valley. I could hear the stream running over rocks.
I squatted and slid down a short distance.
I was there.

The wide stream.
The stream where I can sit and watch trout flit back and forth.
It didn't take me long to spot them. Dixie trotted alongside the water and I saw their ripples.
I stood still and watched them swim up stream past me.

Nice.
I clucked to Dixie, not a loud noise but the sort of little noise you make to ask your equine to step up or pay attention.
Dixie turned around and came to me. She sat and waited for me to put my hand on her head.
That long tail of hers swished the snow.

Walking through the valley requires a bit of crisscrossing the stream. The stick was helpful in stabilizing me as I picked out rocks to make my crossings.
My hiking boots are supposed to be water proof. But perhaps soaking them 2 miles from home wouldn't be a good idea.

Dixie walked on the edge of the stream until an ice shelf broke and she plunged into a deep section. It was only hock high on her, but she avoided walking so close again.

Towards the east end of the valley Dixie found two partially eaten deer carcasses.They were buried deep in the snow and ice, too deep to tell if they were killed by coyotes or leftovers from hunting season.

I kept going until I found a good spot to cross again and head back up the steep hill.
Dixie wasn't convinced I'd picked a good place and I had to pat my leg.

Again, I just reached down and touched her on the head. She looked up at me and then scrambled up the hillside following some of the many tracks that were all over.

As we neared the field again on the ridge top, I realized that I really hadn't spoken a word since we began our hike. Normally I keep up a rambling dialogue with Dixie so that she will pay attention to me.
Obviously we'd gotten to the point in our partnership that we just were good with each other's company.

We trucked across the ridge top and followed the snowmobile trail until we could duck back into our woods and down to Awesome Creek.

I wanted to take a photo of the creek with the pretty reflections in it.
Dixie photo-bombed it.
And I think it turned out much better that way.

Dixie led the way. Just as Morris always does.
She waited for me at the electric gate.

And then our hike ended.

Good Morning.

With all the horrid news that we are seeing today and this past week, I thought I'd offer something a bit more positive.

Farm Life is pretty quiet and peaceful.

Sunday morning I drove to Jersey Valley to watch the sunrise. I really thought I'd messed up because the sky was absolutely brilliant with unimaginable reds as I drove to one of my favorite spots to watch a sunrise.

I kicked myself a few times thinking I should have stayed at home and simply watched it from the ridge.

However.
Somehow, Jersey Valley didn't really disappoint.

While there I heard an strange noise, it sounded as if a truck was rolling down the steep hill dropping gravel.

However it was a flock of black birds that swirled above the lake and landed somewhere on the north side.

~~~

Morris is doing pretty well. He absolutely adores the Kidney Diet food he is getting and seems ravenous. He still has very slow mornings, but is lively and annoying for most of the afternoon and evening. He is eating better and feeling better. He is staying stable at this time.

Most mornings he just mopes around and doesn't do much or seem to have interest in things. However he still likes to go for walks and enjoyed seeing the kids at the bus stop last Friday. He did tire, but I did give him a lift too.

He has become somewhat of a 'lap' dog with a cling-on attitude. I am okay with that also.

~~
Rich is doing better also. Last week we got the okay from the neurologist. Rich can start driving with limitations. He is really good about being a compliant patient.
Yesterday he drove to the river and went fishing. He handed me the keys later and said he was tired. Could I drive?
We still are doing things as a team. Need to run to the hardware store? We go together.