A Fitful Night...

After having a frustrating week dealing with car repairs, and receiving a letter with detailing how we are going to be financially screwed for the next year, it was topped when Sisko started having seizures yesterday.

I spent a lovely afternoon with my bestie, having coffee, browsing the craft store, and selecting teas to try before my birthday.  I was able to drop off my rental car and pick up my VW since there was apparently nothing wrong with it.  That's a story in itself, but who cares.  The car is fixed. 

When I arrived home, I let the dogs out of the bedroom, but Sisko did not greet me.  I had to call his name before he came out of his bed.  Not thinking anything of it, I sat on the couch and waited for hubby to get home.  Sisko sat at my feet and just started up at me for a long time.  I invited him up on the couch, but he wouldn't make the jump.  I picked him up and cuddled him close. 

Within moments, I felt him shaking beside me.  He was sitting, but his legs and back muscles were jerking in place.  He had a dazed look and couldn't focus on me.  On cue, hubby walked in the door.  I called him over and he dropped his papers and with one look, deemed Sisko needed a vet. 

His shaking did subside within a minute, and since money is slim, we decided to wait to take him to our vet tomorrow instead of paying extra for an emergency vet.  That plan was quickly thrown out when he had several more, smaller fits over the evening.  As well, I had let the boys out for their bedtime pee, and Sisko decided to fixate on the chicken pen, so I bent down to put my hand on his chest to move him away, but the mere touch of my hand made him yelp. 

So, off the the emergency vet we go.

The vet's opinion is its either epilepsy, poison, or a brain tumor.  I approved blood work and took home a few days worth of medication for epilepsy.  Once I get the blood work back, I will be continuing care at our regular vet.

This morning, Sisko seems to be feeling better, just tired and mopey.  No serious shaking, just a bit of head bobbing.  The concerning thing at this moment is he has yelp twice when I touched him and he won't jump up or take his paws off the ground.  Very odd behavior.

So that's my story.  I'm pretty tired and am eager for the call from the vet.

Hope everyone else is having a better day!  Its still a new year, plenty of time for things to change!

This Moment...

Sisko Is 7!!

Sisko turned 7 today!  I thought his birthday was the 27th, but Husband corrected me.  Oops.

Let's all say a quick Happy Birthday to my adorable Sisko!

Note: I have no children, so that makes me a crazy pet owner who celebrates stuff like this.  Bear with me.

This and That

Just a quick note about things here.

I didn't have a blacksmith lesson on the weekend.  Instead, I attended an amazing Retirement Party for my father-in-law put on by my brother and sister-in-law and celebrated Mother's day!

Pigeon is doing well.  He/she/it broke a nail on the wire cage, so I had to clip and clean the area and fix the bottom of the cage so it wouldn't happen again.  Bad news; pigeon now hates me.  He tries to remove skin every time I feed him.

Chicken is iffy.  We are doing everything we can for her, but she isn't doing as well as we hoped.

Garden is amazing!  So many veggies growing!

Flower garden is terrible.  So many weeds...

Rabbits are happy in their hutches.

Chickens are happy, but stopped laying eggs.

Dogs are monsters.

I'm very tired.

Happy Birthday Bain!

Today, Bain turned 1!  For those of you who don't know who Bain is, he is my friend, April's, Dogo Argentino dog.  To celebrate the momentous occasion, we hiked up Teapot Hill.

And we're off!

Teapot Hill is an easy 5km trail that's located just on the edge of town.  Along the route we saw trees sipping tea out of cups left dangling on their branches while their teapots stood atop mossy stumps or hidden in the crack of a tree's trunk.  The forest along the trail was partaking in its own tea party.  We saw many different pots and cups, mostly white plastic or porcelain, but occasionally we spotted a colourful set hidden within the forest.

I took no pictures of the trail going up or down.  I forgot my camera, and instead of turning around to get it, I decided I would pass.  My dogs are a bit unruly when they see others of their own kind, so instead of focusing on pictures, I thought it best I pour all my effort on their training.  I have been practicing a 'Focus' command with them to draw their attention back to me when they start to fixate on something.  They met several dogs and a lot of people along the trail, and I was so pleased with how the command was helping the dogs.  It was especially useful for Jack!  I was so proud of how calm he was most of the time and how little he fussed and barked!  For Sisko, I wasn't able to give him the command soon enough and he slipped into a distracted (and barky) state from which there is no return.  Its all a learning curve, and I know I we will be able to pull it off!

Luckily, April was able to take some photos of the festivities and was willing to share them with me!

Bain, the birthday boy!

Sisko hates his hat...

Adorable Jack, back at home.

This is how I spent my Sunday!  I hope everyone had just as great of a day and enjoyed the sunshine to the fullest!

All Photo credits to April Nichols of Gogodogo.ca!  Check her out ;)

Season's Greetings!

Its so snowy.  Love it! 

This is my first week of unemployment!  Had my last shift on Saturday.  I had a feeling this winter would be bad and I didn't want to make the trip to work through snow again.  I decided it was time to quit, not only because of the winter and distance, but because I need a change.  I need work closer to home and hopefully not as stressful.  And by leaving when I did, it means I get to spend all the holidays with my family!  I won't have to work Christmas Day again!  For the last three years I have worked Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Not my idea of a good time.

I'm taking this time to get things in order.  I need to clean up and shape up!  My house is a constant disaster, and I feel like a zombie.  Before I start looking for a new job in January, I'm going to get as much clean up here done as possible.  I've made a good dent in the living room, but there is more to do.

Other than that, we had our first huge snowfall yesterday.  It was really great!  One of my fingers went completely cold and white, but it was fun to make snowmen while Jack tore them down.  I did a little video as well, a look around the backyard with clips of the dogs playing.  My first attempt at a video.

Well, only a few days left until Christmas!  Hope its great :)

Second Update: Sisko

There really isn't anything new with Sisko.  

 

I just find him adorable.

No News is Good News?

I've been checking my garden every sunny chance I get...



Nothing new. Dirt and a few weeds, and the three, thriving strawberry plants. Its day 11, and still nothing. I'm planting my second rows of salad, spinach and carrots on Monday (if I have time). If I don't see anything sprouting by next Friday, I'm replanting. I think I may have planted too early. The mornings have been a bit chilly so I wouldn't be surprised if they were struck by a frost.

One thing I am grateful for is no cats in the garden, or crows for that matter. And I do love that fence Mr. Selinger built for me a few years ago. The ground is so hard I had to dig holes for the posts. Boy it was a pain, and I don't think Sisko appreciates it either...

Soggy Puppies

Today I finished leveling the area where I will put the raised beds. I measured the plot, and wasn't surprised to see one side was about 2 feet narrower than the other. Still, I measured out how much room I had, and how much I wanted for the beds. They are much smaller than I had originally planned for, but when I consider the fact that I'm only going to grow a few different vegetables, I think it will all even out in the end.

I am, however, sharply aware that I am falling behind in my planting schedule. I'm not overly concerned since I don't have a green house to get my plants started in, and we are still experiencing frosty nights. I just hope the delay won't be too detrimental or cause too much frustration.

Oh, and are you wondering about the title? It was bath day.

Buddy...










... and Sisko.

Slow Progress

Yesterday turned into a work day. Well, between periods of the mens hockey game, Canada vs USA. The Olympics closed last night with Canada winning more golds than any conuntry ever has in any Olympic Winter Game! Congrats to our athletes!

....

Pride aside...

This was the view of backyard last Monday. This is looking South-North (ish), with the compost in the back corner.








This was the after math of a full day of work. I cleared out most of the blackberries over the area I want my beds. There are plenty more to the right, in the sun, and I'm standing next to massive pile of the fallen. Its hard to see, but I have used the ads to break up the soil, and then raked it somewhat level. This view is looking South-North.



Yesterday, not much happened. I continued to clear out, then used the ads to break up more soil, then raked it level again. Still, I think its mighty impressive!


This is looking East-West. There are more of those thorny devils off camera, but its still looking mighty nice! Well worth the blood, sweat, and tears! But I assure you, the tears where from the hockey game...

Sisko enjoyed his new hideout behind the compost... He's trying to get into the neighbours yard... He's not too bright considering he keeps hitting his head on the barbed wire. Oh Sisko... At least mommy loves you.

You might be wondering what was so exciting that he would purposefully (and eventually successfully) try to barge through sharp, rusty barbed wire?

Mew.