Busy Week Recap

Whew! I needed a weekend, how about you? Thinking back over the events of the past week, I can see why I might be feeling just a tad on the tired side. Here's the recap:

1. Working in the garden to prepare for our area's First Frost took several hours...in some pretty challenging windy conditions, always an energy zapper. Read more about those activities on our Garden Blog...click here to go there.

2. Putting on my Extension Master Gardener Volunteer hat...well, actually a name badge and a T-shirt...to prep and present a program on Winter Interest Gardening to a local garden club took a few hours, too. I have been out of the Speakers Bureau harness for a few months, so this was a treat, especially since I got to team up with an EMGV and HP friend. And, the icing on the cake was a review and recap lunch and equipment hand-off with SB chair and good friend (EMGV & otherwise!), JA.

3. Making a mad dash to Winston-Salem to attend a "lunch-and-learn" garden workshop at Old Salem (one of my all-time fave places) on Monarch Butterfly Migration only took 90 minutes out of the first part of the week...but was well-worth the effort. We have both developed an interest in gardening for butterflies in general, and in Monarchs, specifically. Being on the migration path means we should see them in abundance, but this year there was a frightening decline in our sightings in the Way Back. Did I share this (rather poor quality) photo of our first sighting, which did not occur until mid-August?

I discovered that our late sighting date matched our instructor's experience this year. She also shared many interesting facts with us, along with some alarming statistics. For example: you may know that all Monarchs migrate to winter in Mexico, but did you realize that ALL use only 2.94 acres of land? Unimaginable.

4. Arranging my daily schedule to incorporate the daily training walk with Abbie accounts for just a few hours...but has made the biggest impact in my life. While she is still over-flowing with energy, she is obviously calmer after her walks...and calmer is better! Plus, my back feels so much better when I commit to a daily walk.

5. Doing some Fall cleaning and fix-up activities takes minimal time, fitting in here-and-there...but what a satisfying feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day! Lots more on this list...but fortunately, I will have time in the weeks ahead.

Speaking of the weeks ahead...

After a false start, Mr. T has his shoulder surgery date: November 1st. The scheduler had originally told him Nov. 15, but the doctor decided at his Tuesday appointment to move it forward...thank goodness. T has had the necessary blood work done and goes Monday morning for the mandatory pre-surgery visit to the Surgery Center. Then he will head north for his final out-of-town trip for a while. He'll use Thursday to wrap up monthly reports and general clean-out-the-inbox activities...and be home to help me manage the pups on Halloween, which is always a challenge.

The current medical leave plan is to use personal days, followed by vacation days, followed by short-term disability. How long? Not sure...won't know until we know the extent of the surgery and repairs required...which won't be known until the surgeon "gets the 'scope in there."

Just another way of saying "wait and see." Oh goody. 

Let's Try This Again

I know I've said it before: I'm nothing if not persistent. Ner (the family's affectionate nickname for Nelle Rhea Stewart, my step great-grandmother) drilled it into my head:

If at first you don't succeed

 try, try again.

So, I knew we had to give Abbie's puppy training another try. I realized this as I was standing at the kitchen sink, washing the blood off my arms in preparation for spraying my newest wounds with Bactine. I also knew I'd rather be beaten with a stick. Sigh.

What? That sweet little (almost 50-pound) puppy? 

Vicious?? Say it ain't so!

Back in late July, we signed Abbie up for Puppy Training at our local PetSmart. I met with the trainer and explained how skittish she was around other people...how we couldn't even take her for a walk around the neighborhood because she tried to (a) lunge at people who just wanted to "meet & greet" or (b) run away if another dog was anywhere in the picture. And although Abbie is as smart as a whip, she is so possessive of everything (toys, food, us, the Bassets...it's all HERS...and she will use her teeth to protect what is HERS!)...and doesn't seem to be bothered by any form of correction...other than a spritz of water from a spray bottle. He was understanding and assured me that was "no problem." All dogs can be trained. Right.

Our first class night was like a bad dream. Abbie and I got there early and got a spot in the back of the class "ring," far away from the entrance. Abbie barked at every new classmate's entry and every movement toward her "spot," and then growled almost constantly for a solid hour. One of the other pet-parents (and I use the term lightly) thought he knew best, and continually encouraged his chocolate lab puppy, Jack (a really cute, high-energy 4-month old) to "touch noses with Abbie. Just let them get to know each other!" The trainer was fantastic and did his best to keep control of the situation, but I've never been so glad to escape a building in my life.

Here is the picture I sent to Mr. T when he texted me "So, how did class go tonight?"

To be fair, we did accomplish two things in that first class. The trainer helped me identify our goal for Puppy Training: "help Abbie develop socialization skills." Works for me! And, since part of the training depends on "marking good behaviors," we got Abbie started on responding to a clicker...which she took to like a duck to water. 

Now, the way you provide positive reinforcement is to give a command (like "Sit!"), and then click the clicker {click, click}, followed by a verbal reward ("Good girl!") and a treat. Sounds pretty straight forward, right?

Only...I discovered I'm not nearly as coordinated as needed to (1) hold Abbie's leash (so she didn't try to make a mad dash outta the class into the store), (2) give the command, (3) click the clicker, and (4) fish a treat out of the little Baggie hidden in my pants pocket...all at nearly the same time! Dropped the leash, dropped the clicker, and dropped the treats. Sheesh! 

Then, when practicing at home (a must, according to our trainer), I discovered that "they" are wrong: you can, in fact, "teach an old dog new tricks!" Both Duche$$ and Elmo realized early on that every time that little clicker sounded {click, click}, the new puppy got a liver treat. They wanted in on this action! Don't get me wrong...they didn't want to do the actual commands...they wanted to cut to the chase! So, whenever we attempted to practice commands with Abbie {click, click}, we had a lineup for the rewards. 

Somehow or other, I made myself go back the next week for the second class. Fortunately, it went much better. Abbie, if not exactly sociable, seemed to realize where she was and accepted the situation. She even showed off her new skills of "Down!"  and "Shake!" (she already knew "Sit!" before we started class, as our vet had told us to teach her that when she was a baby puppy). Although she would not allow the trainer to come close enough to give her a treat [growl, growl], she toned down the Cujo act considerably. Plus...and this was the kicker...Jack the Lab and his family were absent. Hooray!!!

And then came Week Three...and Loose Leash Walking. If Week One was a bad dream, this class session was a nightmare. Night. Mare. We arrived to find out that we were not to be in the classroom (where Abbie felt comfortable...and where I had a chair to help take some of the strain off my aching back); no, we were to practice leash-walking in the aisles of the store. While there were shoppers present, attempting to be nice by trying to pet the ever-anxious Abbie. OMG. Throw in the return of Jack and his family (did I mention that in addition to his attention-challenged and attention-seeking Papa, there was an oblivious Mama, a chatty Granny, and a hyperactive10-year old daughter?)...and you can see why this is the picture I sent Mr. T when we got home:

We were getting nowhere fast with improvement in leash-walking in the crowded and confusing atmosphere of the store. When I tried to practice with Abbie walking on the leash (forget "loose leash" for the moment!) at home, I struggled to maintain control of a pulling, twisting, yanking ball of energy. Things seemed to go from bad to worse.

And, as I'm the only pet parent in this household with two good shoulders and two good knees (albeit less than one good back), all the leash-walking practice fell to me. So, I made an executive decision: quitting time!

Unfortunately, it has become apparent that our holy terrier needs more focused exercise than just daily romps in the quarter-acre Way Back Garden. She almost always gets so worked up, running through the gardens, following the scents of rabbits and squirrels that she ATTACKS to work off that energy. If we attempt to practice Fetch! and Drop it! commands, she turns it into tug-of-war. And whether it's one of the Bassets or me or Mr. T (weekends only) who gets the brunt of her bites, it can get out of hand...fast. 

I usually have the protection of garden gloves and a long-sleeved shirt...but, not so yesterday morning. I was vulnerable, she was over-wrought and accurate, and I came inside bloody and shaking. Something had to change.

So, standing at the sink, putting the antiseptic on my arms, I thought: "WWTS?" If I called our trainer to ask for his assistance (as he encouraged us to do), what would he say? I imagine he would ask me if we ever mastered loose leash walking...which is the key that opens the door to letting a dog know who is really in charge.

No. We have not.

So, yesterday afternoon, I hitched up Abbie's harness, tightened the tension on her leash, and off we went. Trying again. Thankfully, our restart went well, especially since we only saw one person along the way...and no other dogs. And this morning's walk was equally uneventful.

Perfect? Nah. But success is just one try away.

A Shoe Drops

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Waiting...waiting...waiting. For another shoe to fall...this Fall. One of my least favorite activities, as we all know...happening in one of my most favorite seasons. Makes it hard to enjoy all the beauty of this special time of the year (like that sunflower, right). Alas, as this is the Year of Suspended Animation at Casa 3917, that seems to be all we have been doing. Until now.

One of the other shoes dropped on Monday, so to speak. Looks like we have some forward motion. But, first, the back story...

Mr. T. spent last work-week on his MD-DC-VA "run," ending up at the Norfolk dealership on Thursday afternoon for their annual Fish Fry...a public event that attracts the World and his maiden aunt in that area. After having to endure some less-than-perfect weather conditions and stand up for about 4 hours straight (made a little more palatable by having all the beer one could drink with all the seafood one could consume), he called his orthopedic surgeon on the drive home on Friday to get an appointment on Monday to have the accumulated fluid drained from his left knee. Friday afternoons are also the time for his "regular" physical therapy appointments, which haven't exactly been pleasant experiences either.

When Monday morning rolled around, the conversation with his doctor apparently moved from the procedure with Mr. T's knee (more painful, each time this is done) to next steps with his (right) shoulder (same doctor; both problems). Truth be told, there is ONLY one step left: surgery. And, it will be scheduled before the end of the month. Waiting (once again...) to hear back from the surgery center about the day and time.

So, what are we looking at here? Not sure exactly. What we do know is the surgery will be both arthroscopic and outpatient. What is still up-in-the-air is the extent of the repair needed...which will tell us the amount of time needed for recovery and rehabilitation. Won't know that until the actual surgery happens. Dr. says to count on 3-4 months of that type of  R & R...and from all indications, the PT is pretty ummmm..., strenuous.

And, the plan now is, when Mr. T. has attained a "successful" recovery and rehabilitation of his right shoulder, he'll be scheduled for Total Knee Replacement (TKR) of his left knee. Another 3-4 months of recovery and rehabilitation...and pretty ummmm..., strenuous physical therapy.

An eagle-eyed reader probably caught the phrase "one of the other shoes" in the opening paragraphs. Yes, to follow the analogy through, we appear to have more than the usual two feet in the fire. But, I'll play this hand close to the vest, for once, and save the rest of story for another post. Enough clichéd phrases for you? Thought so. Moving on...

So, where does that leave me? Looks like I'll need to dust off my trusty caregiver's uniform. "In sickness and in health," and all that. Although, since we wrote our own marriage vows, I don't think we actually said those exact words 37 years ago...still, we said something to that effect. The meaning was implied if not stated: you take care of me, I'll take care of you. Period.
And, while I'm not the best nurse around, I intend to cling tight to my philosophy...instilled in me from an early age by my Daddy...that I can do anything I put my mind to.

And, if I falter in that belief, there's always: Keep Calm...and Garden On!

Warming Up

Interesting title, you say? Could I be referring to the weather...or, to the Braves relief pitcher getting ready to come in for the last 4 outs? Or, possibly something else entirely?

The weather is warming up after a lovely week of daytime temps in the 70's/nighttime temps in the 50's. Thoroughly enjoyed the cooler weather while it lasted. And know it will return, sooner rather than later. But for the moment, we are stuck with the 80's...and a much more active central AC system. And having to live with a garden trying to make the transition from Warm Season to Cool Season. (Click here to check out the latest post on our garden blog, Gardening With The Giants.).

Oh, it was a joy to watch the sheer efficiency with which Kimbrell (the Braves primo closer) dispatched the Dodger hitters in the 9th tonight. Last night's NLDS Game 1 was a heart-breaker, with the Braves losing at home 6-1. Tonight the score was in our favor at 4-3. Believe me when I say, I was exhausted when the game was over.

No, the "warming up" I am referring to is how I would describe the bit of decorating I did today. Once the calendar rolled over to October, I began to feel the need to visit the orange boxes in the attic...the ones that hold the decorations for Halloween and Thanksgiving. 

We are somewhat restricted in what we can comfortably bring downstairs (and then carry back up at the end of the "season")...remembering Mr. T's shoulder and knee problems and my own back issues. Plus we are mindful that, by the end of this month, Mr. T may be either scheduling surgery for his shoulder or recovering from the same...meaning it will be mois who will be packing up and returning boxes to the attic. So, some discretion needed to be the better part of the 2013 Fall decorating plan.

And that's how I happened to cut the number of boxes in half and go straight to Thanksgiving with almost no notice of October 31st. The stuffed turkey centerpiece...pilgrim salt & pepper shakers, chair covers, and mantle nutcrackers...autumn-colored silk leaves...and a welcome-mat that says "Give Thanks." Yep. We are ready for Turkey Day!

And yet...

How can we not hang the decades-old ghost windsocks on the porch lights? How can we not have at least one lighted jack-o-lantern in the front window? How can we not have some colorful "mumkins" (pumpkin-decorated pots that hold potted mums) on the front steps? Surely a few Halloween decorations can come down the stairs without too much strain.

And that's how we got "just a few Spooky things" added to the mix. A little warm-up decorating for the Holidays ahead on the calendar. Happy Fall, y'all!

Speaking of a warm-up...

October 1st is the day I start seriously considering the gifts I plan to craft for Christmas. Only 10 more weeks to turn skeins of yarn into scarves, mittens, cowls, and maybe a sweater or a vest. Tick, tick, tick! But before I get too wrapped up in the to-be projects, let me share a couple of Finished Objects that were delivered just this week.

First up, the Star Afghan I crocheted for Missy M's birthday. Even though I'm primarily a knitter, I try to challenge myself with at least one crochet project each year. This was the one for 2013. I used a Bernat pattern called Mosaic and a yarn called Sheep-ish in 6 colors to match a wingback chair in her living room. See what you think.

And then there was this fun knitted dish towel for AW's birthday basket. Made it with a Lion Brand pattern and a Lily Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn. Added a pumpkin button for the season. Here's a couple of pictures for you.

As I said, I'm just getting warmed up!