Puppy Love

This morning was nice as Rob got up with me at 5:30 am and took Portia out the front door to do her business while I was out the side with Buddy.  One extra dog I didn't do this morning got me to my first cup of coffee that much faster.

I actually slept last night better then I have, however it seems after a run of no sleep nights that is what happens ... thank goodness.  Regardless both Rob and I had felt so tired this morning we could have used a pail of coffee each to bring us to our senses.

Once Rob returned from a couple morning runs he came to pick me up.  Each time we have a litter of pups I always take one or two down to the Day Away Program at Gateway Haven Nursing Home.  I started this when my Mom lived with us and attended the program.  The Seniors love to see the puppies.  

First thing this morning I had to get them all clean out ....

What a mess the puppies were this morning, as they do not have Mama Lexus in with them anymore to keep them clean, and it is now up to Mama Cindy.  I gathered them all up and put them into the tall recycling box we have while I attended the undesirable job of cleaning their pen.  But really all those cute faces? how could they make such a mess.  

When Rob came to collect us I bundled up Izzy & Snickers into a huge towel for their first outing into the big World.  

The Wiarton Nursery School has their unit right beside where the Day Away Program's is.  The girls spotted me with the pups inviting us in with the preschoolers to see the puppies.  The kids absolutely loved petting the puppies, and were telling me about their new baby sisters or brothers at home.  It was all too cute.

Once we were done at the Nursery School we headed next door to the Day Away Program where Izzy and Snickers were passed from one Senior to another getting so much attention they never experienced before today.  There was lots of puppy love going on today.

This was Bill holding Snickers.  He pulled photos of his cat out of his pocket to show her, but she really was more interested in getting up around Bill's neck and snuggling there.

Snickers & Izzy had been good as Gold the whole visit.  We could not take photos of all the Seniors but only of staff, and Lois who gave us her permission to do so as she held Izzy.

Rob came to collect me, but had been stopped at the Nursery on his way in as they had made me this poster Thanking me for bringing the puppies in.  My friend, Wanda, who works at the Day Away said her good-byes giving Izzy some soft kisses.

It was a busy day all around.  I just sat down about 7 pm as the doors have been revolving here between Aussie puppy and adult duties for me.

When I was out and about Wiarton today I did take some "me" time to enjoy our lovely surroundings.

Over looking Colpoy's Bay with the wind picking up the snow across the bay.

The Old Train Station at Bluewater Park which serves the town as a Tourist Information Centre in the Summer months.

It is now after 7:30 pm with a great day behind me, however busy it was, with my thoughts being it is time to have some Dinner before the Aussies need out and about for their last time today, Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard.

Beauty Of The Morning

Just before 7 am, when I walked back into the dining room towards the wood stove something caught my eye outside the window .... I found my camera, hurried to get into my jacket and I was out the door, as I did not want to miss ...

"... the Beauty of the Morning."

It took my breath away with its beauty.  Absolutely stunning it was.  It never last too long; how blessed was I to have been able to take it all in.  I pray it is a sign for better days ahead.

The "Checkerboard Aussies" all taken care of and the bed made, before I headed North of the Checkerboard to my weekly appointment with the Good Doctor Loney for the hour of 9 am.

My appointment this day went well being the allergy shot didn't hurt too much, and my blood pressure was down from last week.  Both very good in my books.  I am being sent for more x-rays on my neck.  For those who know me, know I suffer from Degenerative Disc Disease in my neck which 4 years ago was diagnosed with being Moderate to Severe, making for lots of pain and discomfort some days more then others, hence part of the reason for my headaches, the reason I do not knit or read rarely anymore  The neck pain is just one more thing that has slowed me down from life as I used to know it at 150 miles per hour, along with the Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Four years ago I had seen the Head  Orthopedic Surgeon at the Barrie Hospital.  After the consultation with him, with the MRI results of my neck removed, his personal examination and a discussion in length how and what I felt, his conclusion was I would no longer be able work at regular employment, suggesting I do not subject myself to repetitive activities, however also not recommending surgery as I was way too young and the outcome of  surgery could worsen my condition.

Dr. Loney has first ordered an x-ray before anything else, to see if this will show up anything to be worse then it was when I last had x-rays two years ago March 2nd after being in a car accident, wherein my vehicle flipped three or more times after hitting black ice.  I remember the attending Doctor at Emergency at that time asking me if I realized how bad my neck was, wherein I panicked thinking the accident had caused more damage to it ... a second x-ray at that time had been taken to make sure it had not.

I am pleased to say, Dr. Loney is pretty much "on top" of these things if there have been "red flags" put up.  My "red flags" have been that I have been experiencing absolutely no feeling from my neck down into both arms at times, since just before Christmas, to the point I have felt paralysed, sitting unable to move with a fearful feeling until it passed.  I feel very scared when this happens.

X-rays should be done next week, with it really not being too long until it is determined what the next "plan of action" will be from there on in.  In the meantime he has prescribed a different type of pain medication to see if this gives me more relief then what I have been taking.  I am confident it will be all sorted out in no time.

This is the reason why some days I get less done then other days ... oh for the days when I could do up our house and almost turn cartwheels at the same time.  Ha !

Truly though I am happy for what I do have more then naught,  which is countless blessings even though some days I get weighed down by other obstacles.

Really now, how could I feel down when the day began and touched me with such beauty?

The Chicken Stock I had made the other day needed packaged up and put into the, now working again, freezer.

On to the rest of my day ....

"I took a clean tea towel to strain sentiment and fat from the stock.  Look how rich and dark it is, as  I used a bright red onion along with the goodness of other vegetables when making the stock.  Seven containers there were for the freezer.  I can't wait until I need to make up a Homemade Chicken Soup to try it out... yummy."

"It was cold today but not overly for these two youngsters to be out romping together.  Buddy just turned two, and Missy Mercedes 18 months, it is good for them to play and wear themselves out with each other.  Trust me they both sleep very well at night, with not a peep from either of them."

I received mail this day from young Nathan Reynolds-Furry, who had been visiting last month from Yass, Australia.  Nathan does an article for the local newspaper, the Yass Tribune.

"Nathan was kind enough to mail me two articles he had wrote for the paper.  One was on corresponding with another as a Pen pal, touching on my relationship/contact with my friend, John Daley, who is now passed on from this World, and the other was based on his trip to Canada.  Very good Nathan, thank you for sharing with me."

For those who know me, know how much I love Easy Peasy as 1-2-3, with my Slow Cooker being one of my most favourite small appliances.  I first began my love relationship with my slow cooker when I had went back to College for a Computer for Business Course (at least 16 years ago now I would think), when homework was piled high and good meals needed to be easy and good.  The Slow cooker gave me both with a great meal all ready at the end of a long day.

"Dinner could not be made easier then this."

There is never a day I do not have myself some ....

" Puppy Love "

... for at least 5 more weeks !

I would love to welcome my newest follower, this being Kristen of About a Girl, who lives in Winnipeg, Canada.  I have already dropped over at Kristin's blog and know I am going to love following her too, as she loves to take pictures.  I do love picture taking as they tell such wonderful stories, do they not?  Thanks for the follow Kristin !!!

Oh my "Crabby Cabbie" Rob?  he is hard at work trying to chisel a living out of life for us.  I do love him dearly for that.  In-between he did manage to enjoy the wonderful Slow cooked Roast Beef dinner I had made for him.

I think that pretty sums up the day I have had myself, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Step Ahead, Then Two Back

This morning got off to a pretty good start with Rob out the door with his "Crabby Cabbie" hat firmly set upon his head, the "Checkerboard Aussies" out, about, in, fed and happy, the bed and few dishes all done up early.  

A bit of puttering went on here and there in the house with a couple phone calls this morning with friends, then before I knew it was time to go back out for a bit of a run again.  It wasn't sunny and warm, however it was not freezing cold by any means.

"Lots of amusement for me to stand back and look upon.  This photo I could not get Bandit and Lexus put in so took a photo of each separately.  Bandit did move with Lexus ready to "pounce" on him."

"Missy Mercedes then had a turn.  She always has herself a "blast" in the snow.  Earlier this morning her and Buddy had been back in the run together having just as much fun."

I had entered into another Challenge this month.  This time it was a "sort out recipes" challenge put on by my Blogging Buddy, Debby over at Nanny's Place.  I am sure her and I had this discussion about the state of recipes (mine being a total disaster of course), so I was happy she put this challenge out there.

"I pulled all the loose recipes out, along with the 2 beautiful Recipe Binders I have never used, across the Diningroom table.  I had it in my head I was going to get this started this day."

That is as far as it went, no farther then my head, as a Aura had set in at exactly 11:50 am when I looked at the clock.  I took a migraine pill and sat myself down with a bottle of water.  Two hours later the medication had not worked, so two Tylenol 2, along with 1200 mg of Ibrophen was my next plan of action.  At this point I had felt sick to my stomach, ready for my neck to snap and my head to fly from my head.  Anyone who knows what a migraine is about knows exactly how I was feeling.  Rob called and I couldn't even speak to him as it had felt too loud.

Of course any other day the phone would not ring, nor anyone would ever come to the door.  Not this day ... almost drifted off into a semi-sleep each time the phone rang on four different occasions with a visitor at the door around 3 pm.

I really wished I had felt better, but then again the pills had begun to work, and I was so happy to have had one of my "favourite" people drop by ....

"Anita Dejong of Dejong Acres Farm dropped me around some of their farm fresh eggs.  My eyes "lite up" when I seen the nice new labels they now have."

I absolutely enjoy anytime I get to see and visit with Anita as she has one of the nicest smiles going !  Just before Anita had to leave Rob had arrived home, so he was also able to have himself a wee visit too.

Since today was Shrove Tuesday, otherwise and sometime known as Pancake Tuesday, I had promised Rob pancakes and bacon for Dinner.

"This is what I set myself about doing trying a recipe I had gotten from Chatelaine for Whole Wheat Pancakes Made from Scratch."

Not fluffy and light like a Buttermilk Pancake, however they were very tasty, good and filling, by hitting the spot.  How could they not be as we used the Pure Maple Syrup that we had in our pantry from where else then Dejong Acres Farm.  Nothing better then goodness of PURE.

"Then there is always time for a little "puppy love" isn't there?"

Really it was a "step ahead day, then two back" with me carrying on forward after all.  It is late, I am tired, and it is way past my bedtime, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".