Walk

It's been a long time, but Dennis and I resumed our walk on the ranch trail. My leg is strong enough now after physical therapy and daily exercises.

Otherwise I sat on my butt most of the day, working on the sock I'm knitting for Dennis while watching the Sunday morning news shows and movies.

Spike slept most of the day. We had to wake him for dinner.

Spike

The vet had an emergency yesterday, so our appointment was moved to this morning. Dennis and I took Spike in his travel bag and drove to Alpine to see the doctor. The vet calls Spike the "miracle dog" because he has endured three critical illnesses including two surgeries. He almost died the last time he was there, but he is such a fighter, the vet said, that he survived.

Today, though, the vet said that it was just a matter of time now. He's lived a good, long life and we can just make him comfortable now. We have pain medicine and antibiotics for the infection from his tooth. Spike is still eating and drinking, which is good. He wanders around the house and somehow finds his way to his food, water and the doggie door.

We love him and will keep him as long as he wants to stay.

Up to Date

Ok, my blog is up to date. It's Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. Today I'm getting my teeth cleaned at 11 a.m. and then at 3 p.m. I'm taking Spike to the vet for a check-up. We are very concerned about him as he seems to have lost all sight and hearing.

We've watched him wander around, bumping into things and being thoroughly lost. We pull him out of corners and guide him to his food and water and the dog door so he can go outside. My heart breaks when I see how hard it is for him. He's 16 years and 7+ months old now. He spends a lot of time in our closet where he feels safe. When he comes out, it is usually to eat or do his duty.

He seems to have calmed down somewhat from the frantic walking in circles and wandering day and night. I try to help him as much as I can, but it's still difficult for him and for me, too.

Horse Tales

On New Year's Eve day Dennis and I took a trail ride on Connie's Loop. On the way back, Doc bucked really big, but luckily I just went up and came down again--no falling off. I then decided I should ride him more often (New Year's resolution?), so the next day and the next day I road him in the arena and around the ranch trail by myself. He was really good. He does this "I don't wanna go" dance sometimes, but then he goes ahead. No bucking.

On Wednesday, I took him out of the ranch on part of Connie's Loop and he was fine.

On Thursday, we had our Trail Ride on Thursday in Cuyamaca and, again, he was just fine.  Yea.

Christmas Day

Dennis, wearing his Bad Reindeer shirt.

Spike, playing with his toy.

Look at Baby Jennifer in her fancy Christmas dress.

Amanda models her Hello Kitty pj's and outfit.

Dennis, Gary and Amanda try to make the Nook work. 

Grandma Angie with Jennifer.

Me, in my new jacket.

Merry Christmas 2011

End of Year Report--Christmas Eve

I know it's January 6, 2012, but let's pretend it's still 2011. What happened since my last post when we were waiting for Dennis and Gary to show up for Christmas Eve dinner and presents? They did arrive in the late afternoon and then ...

We had a different Christmas from our usual traditional Italian meals and desserts. For dinner on Christmas Eve we had pasta, with cookies for dessert. Amanda was enthralled with black olives.

Christmas tree and presents before the onslaught. And here we are with our bags of candied pecans sent by Gary's cousin David. Yum.

We all had presents to open as we selected names at Thanksgiving. Our cat, 50-50 is shown here wearing one of the ski hats Dennis got for Christmas. She's such a helper. 

50-50 likes Dennis.

Amanda is a great helper, too. She put the cookies on a tray for us.

She really liked my Russian teacake cookies, eating them two at a time.

Look at this: Great Grandma T with baby Jennifer. 

I spent some time with Jennifer, too. She really likes baby formula--good to the last drop.

Here she is with her Mom, eating again.

Amanda had a great Christmas. She was happy with everything she got.

And with everything Jennifer got, too.

Angie seems to like her Cake Boss book.

Really, baby clothes are so cute.

Amanda is so easy--she even likes the empty cardboard box for some reason.

But she was really surprised by the Nook Santa brought. 

Unfortunately we didn't have very much luck setting up the Nook for her, so Santa had to return it and instead brought her a Kindle Fire the day after Christmas. She's a wiz at the Kindle. Santa preloaded the device with Angry Birds, math programs, a book and more. It took one day for her to read the book. A kid after my own heart.

Christmas eve day

Well, there was no trail riding on Thursday, so I was able to catch up on wrapping Christmas presents and finishing the sock I was knitting for Dennis. Yes, that's right--sock not socks.

Friday I had what I hope is my last Field of Vision test. I'll find out the results on Jan. 9. Dennis and I left at noon to deliver some of his homemade salad dressing to our friend in Point Loma. Then we drove back to Rancho San Diego for my test. After that we had dinner at Lido's in Lemon Grove; then home to relax.

Saturday, Christmas eve day, everyone came to our house to eat cookies and watch Christmas movies until dinner. Amanda and I chased the turkeys back into their pen in the late afternoon because Dennis and Gary had gone to Klaus's open house in San Clemente. We are waiting for them to come back, then we'll have dinner and open Christmas presents.