Happy 50th

Our friends, Judy and John, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last night. It was nice to visit with them, but we ate too much. They had quite a spread catered by El Indio Restaurant, plus two cakes. Yum.

Busy Day

Yesterday, Dennis and I walked the mile trail at 7 o'clock in the morning and ate our meager weekday breakfast. Mom and I started out at 8:30, driving to Rancho San Diego so she could take a visual field test at the opthamologist's office at 9:30. Afterward, we went to Wal Mart to pick up a few things. We spent more time there than we wanted to, but we can never find anything at that store. When they remodeled the Wal Mart at Lakeside, they added a grocery department but pretty much kept the same footprint so they deleted many of the products they used to carry. And whoever arranged that store must be insane--it just doesn't make any sense.

However, by noon we arrived home where a whole lot was going on. Vivian was cleaning the glass shop for me and I needed to talk with her for a few minutes; then Glen was working on the computers and I needed to work with him to fix some problems with my computer; and the vet was coming over around 1:00 to check Happy's eyes and clean Doc's sheath (if you don't know what that is, don't ask).

Around 1:20 I looked out the window and the vet and Dennis were chewing the fat outside the barn. I left the comfort of my coooool house and stumbled down the hill in the suffocating heat to the barn. When I got there I noticed the horses were out in the pasture. Dennis had slippers on so I had to go get the horses and bring them back to the barn. Mind you, I am the one who had a stroke, has asthma and a bad leg, but I staggered across the pasture to get the horses while the two men stood around in the shade.

I almost got to Happy when I tripped and she skittered away. She kept avoiding me, so I went to Doc, who stood like the perfect angel he is while I put the halter on him. I led Doc back, shooing Happy ahead of us and trailing Shalla, who apparently thought she might miss something if she didn't go along.

Happy has cataracs in both eyes, kind of expected for a horse of her age, so nothing can be done about it. The whole episode cost $225.

I still had Vivian and Glen to work with, so I got myself up the hill and back to the house. By the time everyone left  (around 2:30), I was exhausted. I read my Kindle for about an hour*, then made an antepasto salad for dinner at Mom's. After our healthy salad, Mom served chocolate cake with frosting and cool whip. It was really good, too.

*reading 1/2 hour, sleeping 1/2 hour

No TROT

After two days of monsoon rain, lightning and thunder, we decided it would be safer to skip our usual Trail Ride on Thursday. As it turned out, it was a beautiful day--warm but no rain. Figures.

Spike

Test results showed that Spike does not have Cushing disease. So now we just go on--no treatment.

Spike was very spunky today. :)

Spike

I took Spike to the vet today for some tests. I had to leave him for a few hours and then pick him up. On my first trip at 12:15 pm, it was 88 degrees at the ranch (hot and muggy). On the way back, it was pouring rain in Pine Valley and it was wet, but not raining, at the ranch. The temperature had fallen to a perfect 70 degrees. Nice and cool. By 4:15 pm, Dennis was home so we both went to pick up Spike. It was again 88 degrees outside. And, again, driving back through Pine Valley, it really poured, I mean serious rain plus lightning and thunder. This time the temperature dropped to 68 degrees at the ranch. Too bad it doesn't last.

The news about Spike was not too good. His one kidney has shut down and the other one is taking up the slack. Tomorrow we should get the results of a blood test that will probably show he has Cushings. The vet said there is medication that will treat the disease. He shook his head and said he didn't know how much longer Spike has to live, but he's a real fighter. I guess we will love him and take care of him until he has to leave us.

Heckel-Jeckel

Heckel and Jeckel are sitting on my favorite rock. I always thought this rock looks like a bird. I guess even birds think so.

One and one-quarter inch

Last night's rain measured 1-1/4 inch in our rain gauge on the front patio. It was cool, but muggy, when we walked this morning. It looked like we had a tiny flash flood off the road onto our walking trail. Not too much damage, though.

Spike still doesn't want to walk with us. Today I'm taking him in for some blood tests and a sonogram to see what's going on with him. The poor little guy is just getting old--16 years now, going on 17. Wow.

First thing this morning, after my pet feeding and kitchen chores, I worked in the glass shop for awhile; came back around 7 and then we took our walk. After breakfast, I'll have my riding lesson. Betsy is coming over early--around 8:30. It's 8:10 now, so I'd better get down there.