Happy! Happy!

  For months now, the old dog has been ailing.   The poor, old pup just could not shake the maladies that vexed him so.  Actually, there was not just one thing wrong but a build-up of a multitude of things.  He had a fungal nasal infection, a fast growing tumor on his hind leg, a scratched eyeball (his doing), arthritis, the beginnings of congestive heart failure and...well, age.  He probably could have shaken one or two but when all piled together at once, he was not faring well.  That said, I started tackling one problem at a time.  For some odd reason, the regular vet did not want to give him a strong antibiotic.  He prescribed a weak one and only for one week.  Allergy pills and pain pills, however, were plenteously plied.  The tumor situation was not addressed "until we get the other things under control" and then "proceed with caution due to the heart".  I was perplexed.  Herbal concoctions brought a good bit of relief for the sinus situation but did not fully remedy it.  Poor fellow suffered in silence.

  Then, a deer fly bit him on the eye lid causing him to scratch.  That scratch caused an injury to the eyeball and led to an emergency visit to the pet hospital.  While there, I questioned the vet that owns the hospital about the tumor.  He agreed that it needed to be removed and said we would do it right away.  I felt a bit of turmoil about the risk but was assured that things would go safely.  The surgery was a success and Mr. PJ came home the next morning with a bandaged leg and the cone of shame on his head.  That cone seemed to be far more troubling than the surgery.  He hated it!  I hated it.  First, because it did not keep the dog from reaching the incision site and second, with the thing the size of a bucket on his head, he knocked over everything in the house!  The normally very easy dog magically turned into a bull in the china shop. 

  After two weeks of torture, it was time to have the staples removed and the incision checked.  The cone came off and Mr. PJ is happier than I have seen him in a long time.  While at the pet hospital, I questioned the doctor again.  "Since PJ has been on the medicines you prescribed, the sinus problem has dramatically improved. Do you think we can continue?"  YES!!!  I came home with a new supply of the antibiotics. The cone came off and Mr. PJ is happier than I have seen him in a long time. Oh, happy day! Mr. PJ can breathe again, can rest easy with no bucket on his head and does not have a pound and a half of extra garbage hanging on his leg.  He can actually trot again!   It does the heart good to know that I made the right decision about his care. It would be so grand if he continued to heal and live the rest of his days pain free.  It would also be grand if the veterinarians at the pet hospital could see him on a regular basis and not just for emergencies!

Happy Garden!

  While it probably means diddlysquat to most folks, the fact that the garden is doing well, is important to me.  I have this penchant for eating fresh food.  I understand visiting the grocer when necessary but to be able to step out the backdoor and find food for the taking, pleases me.  I am guaranteed that the stuff is fresh  and has not been in cold storage for some months. Plus, and probably more importantly, it is not laden with insecticides, chemical fertilizers and weedkillers.  It just makes sense that is is healthier.

  Early this morning, the hike from the compost pile took a mite longer than it should have.  Along the way, a visit to the garden patches led to a happy surprise.  The broccoli was heading nicely and would soon be large enough to be harvested.  The fresh-picked stuff is far tastier than any that can be had from a store.  That stuff almost has a rancid smell to it.  Fresh broccoli is delightfully tender and sweet.  Contrary to most folks thought, broccoli is not a one-time veggie.  It is one of those plants that just keeps giving.  Harvest the first head and more will sprout from the stem (albeit a bit smaller versions).  Plus, at any given time, you can pluck the large, tender leaves from the stalk without harming the chances of the broccoli florets forming.  In fact, this enhances the growth of the top.

  Today's meal was fish from the Bay and a pot of collard greens from the garden.  Tomorrow will most likely see a head of broccoli make its way to the supper table and will probably never make it to the cook pot. There is no reason to disguise fresh veggies under a ton of cheese or butter!  They can stand on their own and be downright tasty to boot!

Start the Day!

  Even though it seems that the media fills our heads with bad news, there are actually things out there that are amazing.  You just never hear of good things.  I, for one, decided long ago that instead of always looking toward the negative side of things, I would seek out the happy. Since that time, I feel freer and have a much better outlook on life. Things do not worry me near as much.  Perhaps this is merely because as I age, I find that fretting over useless things is just that...useless.  I make it a point to start my day with a thing of beauty and then count the dozens (if not hundreds) of points of beauty, acts of kindness or pure old amazing things that fill the rest of the day. We all have a tendency to become bogged down in our everyday lives and neglect to really "see" what is around us. The world is full of things that we overlook. I have found that if you start seeking, you will find that blessings are abundant.  

  My first image of the day was quite by accident.  Mark was heading out fishing before daybreak and asked if I wanted to walk to the pier with him.  The sun had not even started to brighten the eastern sky so I declined.  I had no desire to walk back up that hill in total darkness. The coyotes have been frequenting the yard and since Ms. Ez, the Bayou Dog, is aging beyond a good tussle, I have become a bit leery.  I grabbed another cup of coffee and sat near the window.  It was not long before I noticed the horizon beginning to redden.  Oh, my!  It was going to be a gorgeous sunrise.  Ok!  That did it!  I was out the door in a heartbeat and was hustling down the board path to the pier.  Ms. Ez could barely keep up with me!  

  I was right!  Taking a deep breath, I watched in amazement as the morning sky blazed with a thousand different shades of red.  Wow! Yep, here was my point of beauty to start the day!  I just knew that today was going to be wonderful!  

  This evening as I am sitting here, I figure that I must have found nigh on a hundred things that were equally awe inspiring as the sunrise. Most of those were not nearly as photogenic as the sunrise but they were all things that make me thankful.  Things like that first cup of coffee, the hummingbird outside the window, a pail of bell peppers picked from the garden, a walk with the old dog, fresh fish for lunch, a sweet husband who does not mind running to the store for groceries and then picks up a store-bought pie as a treat, chatting with my daughter, the small garter snake in the marsh, dried leaves that crunch with each step, fresh cleaned laundry and so many things that would probably bore most folks.  I am happy.  I know these are all blessings.  I keep counting.