Taking care of the neighbor's pets.

 This is Cat. I don't know Cat's name but he/she was not pleased to see me on Sunday night. Cat just hissed at me. 
But apparently I was in better graces with Cat this evening...when Cat figured out that I provided the food.

I've never seen a reddish brown cat with black highlights. It is the most beautiful cat I've ever seen.

15 seconds. I really just wanted the first 5 second of hissing. 

This is Tiyo. He came home with my neighbors from Africa. I guess they adopted him while they were in Africa with the Peace Corps.

He is the most interesting dog I've ever met.

He is aloof and not aloof at the same time. He likes to be petted, but seems very cautious about it. I had to put eye drops in his eyes and he was a champ about it.
When I took him for a walk Sunday night, he tip toed through the snow as if it were almost distasteful for him to walk in.
Everything he does seems methodical.

I think I'm in love with him!

Rupert is their other dog. A larger mixed black dog with lots of hair that reminds me of a setter. His attitude is LOVE ME! He shouts without words and seems to be the epitome of joy. He prances around in the snow and dashes about willy nilly. 

Yeah, I love Rupert too. He apparently loves Everyone even Hissy the Cat.

I had to give Rupert his Lyme Disease medications. I opened his mouth and stuck the pills on the back of his tongue. He swallowed the pills and still was pleased with me being there.

These dogs were so well behaved! They came when I called them. I carried a leash with me the other times I took them out, but they stayed close and didn't wander off. Off course it was pouring rain and nasty out so we didn't spend much time outside.

Tiyo was not impressed by the icy driveway and tried to avoid it while Rupert ran across and slid like a cartoon character.

The dogs let me give them their meds without any fuss what so ever. Just call me floored at how good these two were. 

Meanwhile....the ice Monday morning was terrible. Olive texted me to tell me how bad the gravel roads were. Rain on cold frozen gravel roads = instant ice.

The driveway from the bottom of the hill:

The hill doesn't look steep from here. I set my little camera on the ice and shot this. YakTraks were the theme for the day. My camera slid down the incline. Good thing it is a waterproof pocket camera.

The temperatures rose all day long up to 40 degrees with heavy rain. I spread grit, sand, and hay chaff on the driveway Saturday and Justin had township sand/salt mix that he spread on the hill also.

By chore time the salt and grit with the warm rain had done a pretty good job on the hill. 

By evening, our area was socked in by thick fog and 39 degrees. Plus more heavy rain. The township finally came through and dumped a lot of gravel our little backroad. Sure, I could get out by late afternoon, but who wants to drive when you can't see more than 50 feet?

I need to get out on Tuesday and get milk, groceries, take the other half to his doctor appointment. Wednesday we are to get 4 to 8 inches of snow. Hmmm.

I like snow, especially if I don't have to drive about in it!

I hope I get to look after Tiyo, Rupert, and Hissy Cat again in the future. I enjoyed time with them and they loved the attention.

soups

My first experiments in making soups were pretty terrible. I tried recipes and different kinds of stews and soups. 

Most turned out pretty blah over the years.

My MIL taught me how to make soup her way which was pretty unique. 
Her methods were generally what I'd call Left Over soups. Cook a roast? Save the leftovers with the juice and use it later as soup broth.

Leftover veggies? Toss them in a freezer bag and wait until you have more.

Eventually take the leftovers, add some diced tomatoes and maybe some creamy mushroom soup and cook it up.

Viola. Left Over Soup.

I made some incredible Garbage Soup last week. It was amazing. I combined the left overs from two previous left over soups of venison veggie soup and pot roast [frozen ]. I put it in the crock pot, stirred it and let it cook all day.
It was amazing.

My interpretation of a foodie photo
done in AI art in an
abstract way.

Rich had been asking for another round of potato soup. Creamy potato soup. I'd made some a while ago and needed to finish up the tiny purple potatoes I'd purchased in October from the Farmer's Market.

I had 3 large regular russets that I peeled and cut up along with diced purple potatoes. I followed the idea of the soup I'd made last time but thought that I'd use up the rest of the bacon that was open. I fried that and added it to the soup.

Rich thought carrots would be a welcome addition. I added carrots. Now I had a soup that was mostly yellow, with bright orange and purple in it.

I recalled that I had about a bowl of the old soup in the freezer.  I opened it up and grabbed what I thought was it and dumped it into the crockpot with the new ingredients. 

I headed out to do our chores and go care for the neighbor's two dogs. I took them for a long walk on their property and then feed them and the cat [she hates me! and hissed at me!]. The dogs got their meds and I headed back down the hill.

When I got back, the new stuff had melted into the soup and it looked pretty good. It smelled good too.

When I got done with all the evening chores, we decided to have the soup.

I served it up and while I was doing something at the sink, Rich commented, "Wow! This is really good!"

He is always kind regarding my cooking. He won't/can't cook for himself, so he remains on my good side.
He slurped away and kept making mmmmmmmmm sounds.

I made it to the table and took my first bite. It tasted a bit sweet. Not what I'd expected at all. But it was really quite delicious. The carrots and the purple potatoes really added color.

I took another bite and then stopped. What was I tasting? Then I took another bite. Apple.

I hadn't taken the old potato soup out of the freezer, I took an unlabeled container of homemade apple sauce and added it to the soup!

Wow. What a taste sensation!

Rich liked it so much he took a second full bowl of soup and ate it. I asked him if the soup tasted different to him.

He said it did, but it was just great. 

When I told him what I did, he laughed.

I'm pretty sure I won't ever do that again, but hubby was happy that we'd have enough potato/apple soup for lunch on Monday.

And yes, I usually label what I put in the freezer. Apparently I didn't when I took the extra homemade apple sauce and dumped it into a container this past fall. It was what didn't fit into canning jars.

Happy Accident this time. 

Next week I'll be cleaning out more leftovers. A turkey breast and some chicken to make another soup.

Then I can start adding leftovers again. This time...Labeled!

Black and White or colors

 

I used to say that Black and White photography was my favorite thing to do and in some ways it still is. But who doesn't love color? Bright beautiful colors?

The photo above was a fern leaf on a plant attached to a rock in the creek bottom. It stuck out from the rock and was surrounded by snow during that last rainy day we had.

In my way of looking at things, I thought it would make a nice black and white shot with the leaf isolated. Then I could admire the patterns of nature. An additional surprise was the drop of water that is hanging on the leaf frond at the top of the photo.

On the 8th of January we had some incredible fog and frost. I hiked through the woods to look for interesting shapes and patterns. Since the light was still quite dim and flat, it was hard to get anything interesting except shapes.

When I took these I noted that there was nearly no color at all in the tree trunks so I went with Black and White for the the shapes.

Some of the Ironwood aka Hornbean trees keep their leaves until spring and I just love the slight color contrast they give the dark forest.

Below is a small understory Hornbeam - Ironwood really provides a bit of interesting color to the backdrop of a large old twisted maple tree.

I came to the edge of the woods and looked up at Staghorn Sumacs that are so brilliant in the fall. 

I loved how entangled they looked in the frost with the forest behind them. Moody as all get out. To me it looks like a scientist's drawing of brain synapses. I don't know why I think of it that way.

It feels.
Entangled.

I moved on to my favorite Locust Tree and tried to find a clear shot of one of the branches without a background of brush and forest. I took one shot of the branches against the sky that was just okay.

The photo of the one below appealed to my mood much more in the final cut. The foreground itself was naturally black and white, the oaks in the far distance lent some color to the photo.

I think this one and the Sumac are my favorite for that day.

The very next morning, the frost was still around but the intense fog cleared and there was sunlight.

Here color ruled.
The pinkish orange sunrise colored the land and the frosted trees in the forest.

When I grow up...

 Maybe I'll be a landscape photographer. 

And go to cool places.
Literally.

Perhaps I'll even start photographing wildlife.

Or I can try to hide in places with my lens hoping to see exotic birds...

Or seek exotic creatures in ice caves....

Here kitty, kitty!
I like Wild Life. I mean life that is Wild. 
I mean....well, you know what I mean.

Sometimes, Wildlife even likes me!

Have a great weekend. 

I'm heading out to Explore some forests and bluffs tomorrow.

The Eye Surgeon visit

On Tuesday I took my hubby in to see the regular eye doctor. The tech and everyone took their time with him and were so laid back and chilled out. My hubby actually enjoyed meeting the doctor I use.

Wednesday was my appointment to meet the eye cataract surgeon and see if I qualify for the upscale lens replacement.

I checked in and immediately noticed a different atmosphere in the waiting room. I figured out pretty quickly that it was 'Meet the Surgeon Day' for eye surgeries.

I was about the only person there that didn't use a cane or have white hair. The hustle and bustle seemed much more intense than it was the day before.

Olive drove me there and dropped me off so she could go to the Wonderstate Coffee shop and do her remote work and enjoy a nice break from her basement office. Talk about things working out!

One lady called my name and took me to a room where she started to 'measure' my eyes. She explained a few things to me and seemed to push the regular surgery. I inquired about a special lens option, she noted that and whisked me to another room. 

I met a young man who was the Tech for the Surgeon. He tested my vision and went through my medical chart and then put some nasty stinging dilation drops in my eyes. He was nice and worked swiftly.

In about 10 minutes another young man walked in. He introduced himself as Steve and began to ask more questions. 

He...was the Surgeon. He went through my chart and asked about my 'good' eye and what I was hoping to get out of the cataract surgery. I responded by asking him if inter ocular lenses would improve my vision and possibly get me out of glasses. 

I'll stop here and explain that I was born with an eye issue. My right eye was nearly turned in all of the way. I had Strabismus surgery when I was in second grade. That made my eyes look fairly normal and I didn't get teased for having crooked eyes.

Having my eye turned in caused a condition called Amblyopia. For all the years I had a crooked eye, my brain stopped developing good vision in that eye.  I wore an eye patch on my glasses and did eye exercises -- PT for the eyes.

Dr. Steve explained that he could place an IOL [inter ocular lens] in the 'Good' eye and that would give me incredible distance vision, and I'd probably need just dime store cheaters for close up work.

I was all for that. 

There was a whirlwind of things after that and I was whisked to the surgical scheduler. She gave me 3 dates to go to LaCrosse. Crap. I'd need a driver fro the surgeries. The first date was to measure my left eye for a new lens to improve my vision. The next two were dates for the surgery.

I hadn't planned on going to LaCrosse at all. But with the 'new' high tech surgery, it had to be done at the larger facility. I almost said forget it...

I texted Olive with the surgical dates and asked her IF she'd be interested. I'd have to be in LaCrosse between 6-8AM on those days. Mind you, she has a toddler and she works remotely. Hubby is a stay at home dad and works part time.

As the scheduler and I looked at dates, the text back was: Absolutely! I can do that!

Wham bam, thank you ma'am. I was handed instructions and off I went.

Now. Here is my comparison for the two visits.

With the regular eye doctor: Calm, easy going, extra caring.

A pre surgical visit: Whirlwind. Almost like a production line in a factory.

Olive had picked me up a frothy Moca something or another coffee and I tried to explain what I was going to go through.

When I got home, I signed into MyChart and looked up the notes and details from the visit. I was able to re-read what the surgeon had said and it all made perfect sense. Being able to read the doctor's notes I think, is one of the best things ever invented.

I have what is considered Monocular Vision because of my issue as a kid. 

Of course, with one eye that the brain likes to ignore, making a miracle.... isn't feasible. 
I keep forgetting that I see the world in a different manner than those with two working eyes.

From early childhood on, I've learned to judge distances without depth perception. To me, the world is flat when I look out at it. 

I've gone nearly 67 years seeing the world this way and have gotten along fine. 

I'll be thrilled to see clearly again in any case. 

Manus Manum Lavat

This family of eagles with two juveniles and two baldies are still hanging out around our place. I guess I don't mind at all because they are such incredible looking birds.

I have to scan the trees each day before Charlie gets to go out and do his thing. 

Mica has improved immensely with her diaper padded/booted foot. She was trotting around in the farthest part of the pasture at feeding time last night. It doesn't seem to me that there is an abscess, but what exactly do I know? Perhaps she bruised her foot or something. All I know is that it makes me happy to see the old girl happy again.

I got Rich in for an eye appointment finally! He normally goes to the VA for his eye appointments, but getting anything done through their vision department is at best a bit difficult. I imagine it relates to staffing shortages. And who wants to drive 5 hours for an eye exam anyway? [Especially since I have limited distance vision now!]

Today is my consult with the cataract surgeon. While at the appointment yesterday for Rich I asked if they would be dilating my eyes at the consult/exam. The answer was yes. 

Oh. Crap.
When Olive came over to help me with Mica and do a quick walk before she went to pick up her son, she decided that she would drive me to the appointment. I was shocked but pleased at her offer.

I figured I'd have to sit in the waiting room for hours to get some eyesight back from being dilated.

I told her I wouldn't want to impose on her. She laughed. Of course just this week she announced that she was pregnant and I offered my services to help out with anything she might need. Someone to play with her 2 year old if she was tired, or whatever I could do.

She quipped, "Don't worry! There will be times I call on you to come keep an eye on Aiden while we go for baby scans!"

Yep, that sure sounds reasonable!

I got a text from my neighbors at the top of the hill. Would I feed and walk their dogs this weekend when they went out of town? They hated to impose...but they would compensate me.
I replied that there would be no compensation, I'd be thrilled to do it.

There is an old Latin saying that I learned in my first year of  High School Latin.

Manus Manum lavat.
"One hand washes the other."

It certainly works in rural areas with good neighbors.

I have to change her diaper...

Me: Oh Jeeze Louise...look at Mica, she is gimping on her hind leg!

Hubby: Go check it out.

I came back in and made the report after cleaning her feet and checking her legs.

She had a fairly deep crack in the heel area of her frog. She was trying to walk on her toe with that foot.

I felt the frog and the heel area...and noted that it was a bit warm and slightly swollen.

I copied these images from the internet and texted the farrier that comes out to our place. He good at what he does. I know he is one of the guys that the local vets call in for problems they need help with. IF I knew half of what this guy has forgotten I'd be a genius with horse anatomy.

He is also a traveling farrier. He did text back saying he was trying to get his son out to our place to look at her. His son has been working with his dad for over 10 years and now does his own work along with a full time job and he creates some incredible blacksmith work. 

I got a call later from Dan and we had a long conversation while he asked several questions. 

"Mica is the one with the string halt issue in her back legs right? So getting her to stand and soak her foot is not going to work." 

Stringhalt sample...Mica never did this while under saddle. String halt is considered an idiopathic condition and shows up at a walk. It is called equine reflex hypertonia. It is not painful, it is just there. Obviously there is more to it than just this, however as she ages it is more pronounced.

Mica, 25 yrs old, is retired after a long career of heeling, roping, and gymkhana along with trail riding. She can sit and spin like a top. However, her days of that work are long behind her and she enjoys eating and pooping. More about Mica here in Meet Mica.

So Dan asked me if I had sugar and betadine and access to a diaper. He instructed me to clean her foot and flush out the crack then pack it with a sugardine mix. Wrap the hoof in the diaper for cushion and vet wrap it to keep it dry.

He'd call as soon as he got home to see how she was doing.

I called Olive and she trotted down with two diapers and we proceeded to treat Mica. 

In 24 hours after making a 'boot' out of a diaper and using sugardine, she was walking nearly normal. After 48 hours, the heat was gone out of her heal bulb.

Mica's diaper boot:

I didn't have Vet wrap so we made a duct tape hoof boot to keep her frog dry.

She is totally happy with it.

Yesterday she had no heat in her pastern or heel bulb. I hope we licked whatever was bothering her. 

Today I need to change her diaper and retape her for another two days.

I noticed she pushed around the other mules at feeding time so she is feeling more herself.

Dan will be out to check her out, so we know if we are dealing with an infection, and abscess, or bruise.

For now? Color me happy. 

The diaper and duct tape are great ways to make a medicine boot that won't fall off.