Canine Home Health Care (R rated for language)

     This is how Dan and I have felt this week.  Hudson has a drug resistant E. coli urinary tract infection.  The only available antibiotic that will kill the little bugs has to be injected under his skin. The main side effect is kidney damage, so it must be given with lots of saline, also injected under his skin.  

     We've been at the vets for the last 4 days, making sure his kidneys were working well and learning how to give the medicine and fluid.  I am happy to report that we have just successfully completed his first home therapy.  He wasn't too happy about it, but is much more easily plied with treats at home than at the animal hospital. 

     Moral of the story: Don't eat poop!  If you do eat poop, don't lick your penis!!

(photo is Sarah's impersonation of "The Scream")

Christmas Denouement

           Dan worked hard yesterday and last night.  My sister's Christmas lunch was a success.  

The presents are gone and and in their place a sunny spot to take a nap. 

Zoo Lights

Deb and Dan will be visiting Andrew and Maya this Christmas.  After dinner and the big gift drop off, we went to see the Lights Before Christmas at the zoo.

My favorite - Moose!

Hanukkah Denouement

Happy Hanukkah!

     One of our friends couldn't resist buying this toy for Hudson.  When you squeeze it, a voice says "Oy vey!"

     Hudson thinks it needs to go outside..........to the river?  More likely to a hole in the ground, but I'm not going to find out.

Santa's Helper

 

......always attracted to the small and furry!

Red sky at morning...

     Sailors take warning is the old saying.  Turns out the red sky this morning only foretold a cloudy day, a common occurrence around here this time of year.  Any sunny day between the beginning of November and the beginning of March I consider a "bonus" day, but even the cloudy ones can be pretty.

Cray Cray

       Lora has been my friend since June of 1966 (it says so in my baby book).  We meet every month for lunch.  The Cracker Barrel ("The Crack") is one of our favorite places.  She gets baked catfish and I get fried. Then, we shop.

     This hat lights up and plays "We are Santa's Elves" from the Rudolph movie.  It was on sale for only $7.99.  I resisted.  She didn't.  

The hat will make its debut at her daughter's Ugly Sweater Party.

Christmas Tradition

     Our friends have been getting their Christmas Tree from the Whitehouse Tree Farm for many years and their enthusiasm has rubbed off on us.  


The tradition consists of:
1. Racking your brain trying to remember what you have in previous years figured out to be the best variety of tree (in our case, a Frasier - for the wonderful fragrance)
2. Finding that tree species on the farm map
3. Navigating to that section (with the attendant debate)
4. Traipsing around the section while having another debate about optimal Christmas tree structure.
5. And (for Dan and I) returning to the starting point and buying a tree imported from North Carolina!  


     The Tree Farm is owned by the Wheelers and has become so popular that they can't plant trees fast enough (thus, the imported trees).  The popularity arises from a combination of a scarcity of competition, and the availability of free horse drawn sleigh or carriage rides, bonfires, and free hot dogs and hot chocolate (a true tree experience destination).

     Once you are ready to go, your tree is hoisted on top of the car (by Duke, Jr., in our case) and expertly tied down.

     The McWeenys beat us every year in the tree size contest.  This year, theirs was so big, their name fit right on the stump!