Showing posts with label Oscar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oscar. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

A Pet Lovin' Medley

Hey ya'll and Happy Hump Day!

So how did it get to be Wednesday again so soon?
I know that time flies when you're having fun and we had a great time in Tennessee.
The weather was cold and rainy most of the time but it didn't matter one bit.
I got to walk across the bridge and into the meadow where the farmhouse is going to be.
I have to believe that this will happen.
I've got to keep the dream alive or it feels as though I'm giving up.
I won't do that...I can't do that.



On Sunday, Parker's 12th birthday began with a birthday doughnut.


I was blessed to be able to witness this precious boy's entrance into the world
and just can't believe that in another year, he'll be a teenager!
Please.....make it stop!!!



We ate lunch at his favorite Thai restaurant but I missed getting a photo of his birthday cake pie...
...Key Lime, to be precise...complete with twelve candles!
Our visit to see the kids in Tennessee was just what I needed.
~
So by the time many of you may be reading this, I will be undergoing my third biopsy.
I was impressed by the doctor I met last week...he was very kind and answered all my questions.
He said that it's not uncommon to do a third, fourth or even more biopsies in cases like mine.
He told me that too many times a doctor will send the patient away to return in six months
or so to get re-scanned after an inconclusive biopsy.
Many times it's too late because a tumor could grow drastically during that time.
Dr. Allen plans to do all he can to keep that from happening.
I am prepared to do whatever it takes to get a correct diagnosis so I can get on with
whatever treatment is needed...and get on with my life!
Let's do this!!
~
So let's get on with the Wednesday Medley, shall we?


Terri, our friend from Florida asks the questions on her blog and we answer them on ours.
Just copy and paste the questions, put in your answers and link up to her blog.

FEBRUARY 20th IS NATIONAL LOVE YOUR PET DAY

NATIONAL LOVE YOUR PET DAY รข€“ February 20

On February 20th, pet lovers everywhere observe National Love Your Pet Day. This holiday is a day set aside to give extra attention to and pamper your pets. This is a good day to focus on the special relationship that you have with your pets.

Did you know that most households in the United States have at least one pet? While there are more cats than dogs in the US, more households have dogs than cats, but not by much. Pets are not limited to the canine and feline categories. There are quite a few who prefer the companionship of birds, reptiles, fish or rats. Whoever your pet companion is, we are sure you will enjoy spending a little extra time with them on National Love Your Pet Day and reap the benefits, as well such as stress relief and lower blood pressure. So on February 20 (and every day) show your appreciation to your pets!

HOW TO OBSERVE
Bring your pet a special treat, take an extra long walk or give them more attention on National Love Your Pet Day.  Whatever you decide to do, spoil and appreciate your pets!  Use #NationalLoveYourPetDay to post on social media.

HISTORY
Within our research, we were unable to identify the creator of National Love Your Pet Day.


1.  Have you ever had a special pet in your life?  Will you tell us about it?

Okay...you asked for it, Terri! My first reply to this question would be more like "When did I NOT have a special pet in my life?" The first pet in my life was our dog, Tippy. He was a Heinz 57 mix and basically a very sweet boy. I remember he had this very fluffy tail that curled over his back. 



There were several other dogs and a few cats as well but none of the cat's names come to mind. My mom didn't like cats much and they stayed outside, away from the humans much of the time. If I had to pick a favorite pet over another, Hunter would share the top of the list. Adam brought him to us when he was just weaned and what a smart dog he was! He was mostly Jack Russell with a little Feist mixed in. 


When Oscar joined the family as a wee pup, Hunter dominated but they got along well. Later on, they became best buds.


Hunter lived to be almost 13 and died suddenly and quite unexpectedly in 2015. We think he must have had a stroke and in a very short period of time, he took his last breath in my arms. So for a year, it was this guy who demanded all of the attention...


And then along came Tasha, very unexpectedly when we rescued her from the shelter. This is the day I picked her up. I'll never forget how timid and shy she was.


In a matter of minutes, they bonded....and the rest is history. 


2.  Did you grow up with pets in your home?  What did it teach you?

As I mentioned before, we always had pets but Mom never allowed them in the house. Occasionally one of the cats would slip in the door and she would quickly shoo them out. What did it teach me? It taught me that whenever I got big enough to have my own home, I wanted my pets to live inside with the rest of the family.

3.  Do you ever wonder what animals are thinking?

Yes, but most of the time I think I know. If you've ever had a dachshund, then you probably know that they have a way of being quite transparent.

4. Sometimes a pet gets out and doesn't return for a few days. What do you think happens to them when they go on a walkabout?

This happened when we had Hunter although he never ran away for that long. He was gone one time for almost 24 hours and I was absolutely beside myself as every scenario imaginable was playing in my head. I can't even tell you how many trips up and down the road I made as I was looking for him and calling his name, thinking at any moment I would see something white lying in the ditch along side of the road. That night, I slept on the couch in the living room with the blind pulled up enough at the bottom that I could see him if he came to the door, wanting in. He finally did show up in the wee hours of the morning to my great relief. There is usually another animal (or more) involved when they wonder away but all that really matters is that they do come home.

5.  With cats and dogs being the most popular pets, what is the most exotic pet you have personal experience with (didn't have to be yours)?

When I was a young teen, I had a chameleon named Cam. He would turn whatever color he was placed on and I remember him jumping on the living room curtains and blended in so well that we had a difficult time finding him. I also had a hamster who got lost outside during a photo shoot in my mom's flower bed. I never did find him, sorry to say.๐Ÿ˜ž

6.  Please tell us something random about your week so far...

I went to the grocery store yesterday when we returned home and I noticed that I parked next to an identical black Honda CR-V as mine. At the time, I remember thinking that whoever owned the car would most likely come out of the store before me and be gone by the time I came out. Well, wouldn't you know that as I was exiting the store, a lady walking quite a distance ahead of me was heading in the same general direction as I was. I went ahead and clicked my remote a couple of times to unlock my car (of course the lights would flash too) and I noticed she was heading directly towards my car and she actually opened my door! I then hollered a friendly "Uhhh......you've got the wrong car!" and totally confused, she looked back at me and realized she had opened the door to my car instead of hers. Apparently she had clicked her remote at the same time as I did and when she saw my car (which was the closest one) she thought she was unlocking hers! We both got a good little chuckle out of it. How's that for random?


So I'll keep you posted...and I continue to thank you for your prayers.
I am just so grateful to all of you!

Much love,

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

A Hodgepodge of a Hodgepodge


Hello, to all my peeps out there!

source
Well, we had more snow over the weekend leaving slushy roads and just overall yuckiness.
But there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel!
Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will have 70+ temperatures!
And if you can believe the forecast, Easter weekend is looking quite promising too.

Come on Spring, show your beautiful face!

This week, someone at our house celebrated a birthday.
I'll give you a hint...
...he's brown and furry all over and he walks on all fours.
NO, SILLY...NOT JIM!
Here's a photo of him the day we got him, at only 9 weeks old...


...yes, this would be our Oscar.
And below, here is today at 9 years old...and getting a little gray around the edges!


But he still acts like a puppy. ๐Ÿ˜‰
~
And speaking of 9 year olds, I must brag a bit on our Olivia.
She competed in a climbing tournament on Saturday and did quite well.
There were only 12 competitors but they were all over 11 years of age and much bigger than her.
She came in 5th...nothing to sneeze at when you're climbing a rock wall!


That's her daddy (Adam) watching intently and Uncle Josh with the video camera.
See that inverted wall?
Well, I can't even imagine how they can do that...



...sheer determination, I guess...just look at that face!
~
 So now to the Hodgepodge...

 ...where Joyce asks the questions and we answer them on our blogs.
A couple of the questions this week really gave a me run for my money!
Thanks, Joyce, for keeping us on our toes!

1. What's a word that describes your life? I think this just might be one of the hardest questions I've ever had to answer on a Hodgepodge. After much thought and going back and forth, I have finally come up with one word...optimistic. The first words that came to mind mostly had negative connotations to them but after thinking about it, none of those words really described what I'm all about. A word you wish described your life? This one is nearly as hard because there are so many things that I am NOT and we would be here all day listing my wishes. I wish I could just snap my fingers and be more Christlike...that pretty much covers it all.

2. Back in my day we_____?

...lived a simpler lifestyle, no doubt about it. I can only answer based on what I experienced growing up and I'm sure we could all answer it a bit differently, yet with many similarities. Back in my day, we were taught to respect our parents and those in authority, love our family members and above all others, love God who created us. Yes, back in my day, we were actually taught that God was the Creator and that we didn't evolve from apes. There was just an overall sense of common decency that seems to be sadly lacking today. School shootings were virtually unheard of. These days, we never know what we might hear coming out of people's mouths...the hatred and venom spewed today surely must break the heart of God because it breaks mine. Back in my day, men were men and women were women...and there was no confusion. Back in my day, the best things in life were free...yet priceless. I could go on and on, but I won't...it makes me too sad.

3. When it comes to takeout are you more likely to opt for Italian, Mexican, or Chinese food? Does a typical week at your house include takeout?


Out of these three options, I'd say it would be Italian, pizza to be precise. Normally when we eat either of these, they are in a restaurant. Occasionally we will get Mexican takeout but it is never as good as eating it in the restaurant. We will possibly get takeout once a week, depending on Jim's work schedule...I rarely get it just for me unless I get a real hankering for something specific or I am in a rush. Every now and then a little sumpin'-sumpin' from Wendy's or sometimes Arby's hits the spot even though they weren't on the list. ๐Ÿ˜‹

4. Think about the people you most respect. What is it about them that earned your respect?

That they are genuine...the "real deal", if you will. Sometimes that is hard to determine when we first meet someone, especially if they seem to be a different person in different situations. People who I respect most are those who demonstrate that they are steadfast, faithful and constant. It's also important they are not afraid to admit it when they may be wrong about something and are never reluctant to apologize when they need to. In fact, that may just be when I respect them the most.

5. What's something your friends might see and say is 'so you'?



This kitchen from 'My Farmhouse Love'.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.






May you all have a most blessed Holy Week and Resurrection Sunday!

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

A Forever Home

Every now and then, things happen in such a way that you almost don't even believe it.
One of those things happened this weekend.
~
After we lost our Hunter just a little over a year ago, 
Jim and I have tossed the idea back and forth of getting another dog.
Would it be best to get a puppy or one already grown?
Should it be a male or female?
And even more so, how would Oscar, our it's-all-about-me Dachshund,
react to having a brother or sister after all this time?
Questions, questions, questions...so we decided to let it rest for a while.
~
So this passed Friday evening as we sat in the living room after eating dinner,
Jim watching his sports and I, browsing my facebook page,
a friend who volunteers with local animal rescue organizations shared this on her page:
Tasha, surrendered 04/15/16.


My name is TASHA.<br ><br>I am a spayed female, red and black Dachshund.
PETHARBOR.COM

Well, let me just say that immediately my heart started beating a little faster...
 and I turned my laptop around and showed Jim.
I'm not sure, but I think I could tell his heart was beating faster too.
I joined in on the comments, expressing some interest in her. 
The next post that popped up was my friend sharing this with me...
We thought it was probably useless to try...
...we were heading out of town the next morning, Saturday the 16th and would miss out,
thinking that someone would undoubtedly snap her up in a heartbeat.
Jim said to call the number anyway, even though they had already closed for the day.
I did...and left a message about our interest in Tasha.
I didn't think much more about it since I figured it wasn't going to happen.
~
So Saturday morning about 9 AM, as we had just gotten on the road, my phone rang.
It was the animal shelter...here's the conversation in a nut shell:

"Mrs. Ray, hi, this is ---- from the shelter and I normally don't return any calls before we open at 10:00 but I see you have expressed interest in adopting Tasha. She will not be allowed to leave until Monday since she was just surrendered on Friday...but I will just tell you that today is the first day of our week long Earth Day Adoption Campaign and after today, I'm sure this sweet girl will be adopted. I am calling you because of the message you left and giving you the first opportunity."

Of course, I again explained that we were on the road and couldn't get there.
She again reminded me that there was a 3-day holding time for newly surrendered animals
and she could not be taken until Monday anyway...
...BUT if we really wanted her, we could adopt her over the phone!
 
What?? Adopt a pet sight-unseen...over the phone??
 
I was just about to say "I don't think so" but then it happened...
Jim had of course heard my end of the conversation and evidently figure out her end too.
The next thing I know is he is motioning and repeating "Tell her YES! Tell her YES!"
So I did what any good wife would do...I obeyed my husband!
After getting a little more information about Tasha and a $22.00 credit card transaction,
we adopted our new little girl!
~
We don't know all of her history, and the vet has estimated her to be about six years old,
She has been spayed, has a clean bill of health...and has even been micro-chipped!

When we made it to our destination, we hit up the local Walmart there to prepare for her.


I mean, our new little girl doxie just has to have the latest doggy accessories in PINK, right?
~
So Monday afternoon finally came.
This was our first meeting and she was even more adorable than her profile picture.


She looks a tad forlorn, probably wondering, "Where am I going now?"
 

Right out of the car, she began checking out her new territory.


Oscar was showing her where the best spots were :)


 
It also looks like I will be making a trip back to Wally World...
 
...you can see she's had a little wardrobe malfunction...so I hope they have pink in size small.


Once inside, she seemed to make herself right at home.
(smile, Tasha...it's gonna be okay)


So what does Oscar think about his new sister?
Oh, I do believe he's going to LOVE her...maybe even a bit too much.


The better question might be what does Tasha think of her new brother.
The verdict is still out on that one...another post for another day.


But I will say, it seems to be looking quite promising.
~
Isn't she just the cutest thing?



I still can't believe it all happened like this...what got into us anyway??
Sometimes I guess you just have to act on your instincts :)
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