It's About Time

Yea, I know.  It’s about time I update my blog.  I’ve been busy J

First of all, I want to let you know that Jana’s dog, Smoky, had to be put to sleep.  Before Jana came to visit Smoky was diagnosed with cancer.  Smoky was eleven years old.  The vet gave her two to four months.  She made it to three months almost to the day.  It was a very sad time.  Smoky had been doing very well until about two days before she was put to sleep.  At that point she just laid down, and didn’t do much except get up to get a drink of water.  Jana took her outside to go potty, but the last day her legs gave out and I had to help her and Jana to get back in the house.

Jana called her vet in Cincinnati and he told her that it was time.  I then called my vet that takes care of both Penny and Kevin/Renea’s dogs.  Renea and I went with Jana and Smoky to the vet.  They so considerate and very caring.  Jana had Smoky cremated and is taking her home with her.  Jana was supposed to go home this weekend, but postponed it until next weekend so she would have Smoky.

We never did get a good picture of Smoky and Penny together.  Every time one of us got the camera out Smoky would turn her head and Penny would leave.

One of the last pictures of Smoky.  Taken during the holidays while visiting.

It’s a good thing we postponed the trip since winter has arrived with a vengeance.  Right now it looks like Kevin will be taking her home with us leaving on Thursday.  I will be going with them.  Renea starts her new job on Monday so she will be staying her to take care of Lola and Penny.  Speaking of Penny, she keeps looking for Smoky.  Smoky used to lay on the rug in my living room, and Penny goes over and keeps smelling the rug trying to figure out where she went.  She also sits on one of the chairs, the end of the couch and on the end table and keeps staring at the rug where Smoky laid.

When we get to Cincinnati I am going with Jana to the SPCA so she can get another dog.  She is looking for one that is a year or two old.  She doesn’t want a puppy because she doesn’t think she can train it since David took care of that with Bubba and Smoky.  Kevin and I will be coming home on Sunday.

Jana and I have still been doing some shopping and eating out.  We have eaten at all the restaurants where we had planned to eat.  We have also made several trips to Books A Million and Barnes and Noble.  We have purchased a lot of books.  I have introduced her to Hobby Lobby and she has learned to like to go there also.  And, of course, we go to Kroger and WalMart.  This past week Jana, Renea and I had a “girls” day and went to Books A Million, Hobby Lobby, Kroger and to Chill for dessert.  Awesome day!

Tuesday I have an appointment with my heart doctor.  I have been having trouble with my blood pressure.  It has been running high; especially the bottom number.  I am also changing lung doctors.  I did not like the one I went to see.  He has been absolutely no help.  I am still short of breath, etc.

For those of you up north, stay warm and safe!

The Sun is Shining!!!!!

It’s a cold but beautiful day here in Alabama.  If we are lucky it will be like this for three days.  Rain is due to return Thursday.  So, Jana and I are going to get some shopping done.  Today we plan to go to Barnes and Nobel, then eat at Fridays which are two of our favorite places.

Yesterday afternoon, since it wasn’t raining, I decided to check my backyard birdfeeders.  The one just needed to be filled.  The other one which is a tube type finch feeder was almost full and the birds were not eating there.  When I checked the seed was a solid piece and moldy.  I didn’t think I would ever get it cleaned out, but I did.  I filled it with fresh seed.  This morning I have seen a few birds eating from that feeder.  I’m not sure the birds like that feeder.  It’s different from the type of tube feeder I usually buy.

Yesterday morning was interesting.  We had planned to go to church, but that didn’t work out.  The screw came out of one side of Jana’s glasses.  Of course, we didn’t have a small screw driver to fix it.  I called Kevin and neither did they.  Since she couldn’t see too well without her glasses, we decided we better get them fixed.  We headed for Walmart in Opelika.  When we arrived we were told that the vision center didn’t open until noon (CST) and we run on EST.  That meant we had three hours to wait.  So, we walked around Walmart and bought a few things we just couldn’t live without.  We then decided to head to SAM’S.  We had to wait about fifteen minutes for them to open, and then another hour for the vision center to open.  This was better than three hours.  We walked around Walmart and bought a few things.  By then the vision center was open and Jana had her glasses fixed.  If we had been smart, we could have gone to church (even if Jana couldn’t see) then drove to Opelika and had her glasses fixed.  But, oh no, that would have been the smart thing to do J

Kevin grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for supper and Jana and I were invited to eat with them.  We did not turn them down!  Ryan, Stephanie and her boyfriend, Gary, were also there.  We had a really nice visit. 

We have started taking the Christmas decorations down.  Saturday Jana packed her ornaments so she could take them home.  We took down her tree and packed it up to store in my shed.  Sunday Stephanie and Gary helped bring my totes and boxes into the house from the garage so I could start packing my “stuff” and putting it away.

At some point today I need to get outside and check the birdfeeders in the front yard.  I bought some new ones for the front.  I am not sure I will be putting up the new tube feeder since the backyard birds aren’t using the one that’s back there.  They are both the same.

I can’t forget to mention Penny and Smoky.  They are doing fine.  Smoky loves being outside even if it is cold.   She lays out there and keeps an eye on the neighborhood. We feel well protected and safe.  She barks at anyone who comes near, including me.  She also keeps watch of Kevin and Renea’s.  Penny either sits at the door or window and watches her.  If she isn’t doing that she is in her bag.  She loves paper bags.  Jana calls her the bag lady.  She hides her toys in them and she takes naps in them.  I guess she considers this her safe spot.