Under the "wow, finally got something done" category, we got some of the damaged pine tree from Hurricane Sandy chopped up (see post at http://wraithfodder.livejournal.com/493940.html for the 'before' photos). Here is what part of yard looks like now!


The stack of logs in the middle is the remains of the pine tree trunk that was splayed out in the yard all winter long. At right is the smaller stack of the remains of the poor dogwood tree. It took me about 10-15 minutes, but I was able to dig out a branch (about 6 feet long), half of which was driven straight into the ground. I found several branches like that, most small but the big one took more time to remove. The tree, alas, remains, as done the big scattered pile of BIG pieces of chopped pine (seen more to the left, between the brown stack of dead pine needle branches and the stacked pile of logs).

But then again, the big logs now serve a purpose. Continue reading!

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My little Ian is gone :(

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Here's a video of my fat squirrel, stuffing its face on the bird feeder which I decided to fill cuz nobody's getting anything for the next two days. Shot this around 8:00 a.m., October 29th as Hurricane Sandy starts ramping up at noon.

Well, last week the little fella got sick; started with some inappropriate peeing on the bed (all that stuff in part #4). Well, he ended up at the vet again, but at least I got him back at the end of the day. He was dehydrated. SubQs are now every two days, and probably, forever. However, his kidney levels were better, but he had a urinary tract infection (now pretty much fixed with liquid antibiotics). However, he had one retina half-detached (it can happen with high BP with renal failure). But he's never exhibited high BP. He went back today for a checkup (he's seen the vet more this year than I've seen doctors). His retina has partially reattached, and there is the chance it could rectify itself. Otherwise, he's doing fine.

As for the sheep comment, when he came back from the vet, he'd been subQed twice, so was ... puffy. He reminded me of sheep from animated/stop motion cartoons, as seen below:



He was sorta like a plush toy for a while. When we give him subQs, he gets a puffy hump between the shoulders (you injected in the area where mom cats grab the kittens).

I awoke to the sound of streaming cat, aka, he peed on the bed, well, his part of the bed, which is protected by the bed pads. I didn't yell at him, since, well, he'd had subQ the evening before but did go "nnonononononononono" and grabbed kleenex and stuck it on the blanket so it wouldn't soak all the way through. Needless to say, I started the day with washing the blanket. What annoys me is I have a kitty litter box in the room, which he refuses to use, so I just put it down next to the other one, and now he uses it. *headdesk*.  I also boiled him up an organic chicken to make chicken broth. Alas, the fat from dark meat seemed to have infused in the dark meat and he had some runs. Ack. So, it's back to frozen white chicken and we'll eat the rest. No loss.

Amazing how he'll let us stick him with needle but pills, forget it. Shall try again tomorrow.

The Emmys used to be better, I swear. I haven't watched one all the way through in ages. Just tape it and speed search for any good stuff, if any. Otherwise, went to a dog show, even though I don't have a dog, but did meet some Shelties, so that was fun, and got so many free food samples I'll donate them to the food bank (dogs have to eat too). Got some cat food and will check to see if it something the evil little creature can eat.

Otherwise, waxed floors, did wash, mowed the lawn again as since the back go to a foot high *hangs head in shame* it didn't cut properly. Also saw mom deer and two teen does. No sign of Three, my 3-legged deer. Hope she's still around.

TV-wise, with new season starting. Tried out Revolutions. Think it would be better without the teenagers. I'll try another episode. Shame they killed off my favorite character in the first episode! Of course, season openers of NCIS and Person of Interest are my priorities. I watched Haven but fell asleep then woke up to repeat but felll asleep again. Long week. I'lll catch up later.

Well, the evil pilling is about over, but... we did the SubQ Saturday evening, and what did I wake up to at 2 a.m.? Wet bed! ARgh! This is the 2nd time he's done it after the subQ (but he didn't do the first time), so I'll talk to the vet. I hate to think the little guy is getting incontinent after the SubQs... in the meantime, I have these bed pads (from when my grandmother was alive) and am putting them up his part of the bed as I don't want to have to wash the entire bed if it happens again...

First off thanks to everyone who commented in the previous post. It's much appreciated!!

Part 2: during one pilling session, he fought like a wildcat, then, because his back was to my chest, he slammed his head up and smacked me in the face, drawing blood with one fang. Fortunately it was just one single hole. I make it a point to wear my glasses so I don't lose an eye!

So, pilling is, er, difficult...We're grinding up the pill and injecting it with water into mouth. Still a nasty process, but less chance of being bitten again.

The subQ, however, is placing cat on ironing board, grabbing skin, sticking needle in (he made a brief noise and attempted to bolt but then settled down).

I must admit Iet my brother the former EMT do the honors of jabbing it, although I am going to have to do it.

Odd that stabbing cat with needle is easy, but prying open the mini Jaws from hell is difficult. Aieee...

Alas, the poor kitty, now age 16, started showing some bad behavior around the kitty litter box (and rugs!) so of course this happens on a holiday weekend, and we took him to the vet as soon as they were re-open. Alas, it was as I feared. His kidneys aren't doing well :( His BUN level was 48, when it should be no more than 36, and his WBC (white blood cell count) was up to 22.68, pretty high. He also has some pancreatitis. He spent two days at the vet, on an IV to flush his system plus now he's on Baytril, Pepcid, senior cat vitamins, and oh yes, the Lactated Ringer's drip which we must administer as a SubQ injection/whatever, twice a week, I suspect, for as long as he lets us do it, or rest of his life. The vet said he could, if he does well, last for a few more years, or.... we'll know in a month when he goes back to rerun the numbers.



Here's the little guy at the vet, with the IV things in his arm. Not a happy camper. He's lost a bit of weight over the last half year, which we thought was due to being a picky eater and well, just being an older cat. We hope to get some weight back on him. We can give him cream cheese, to help with the pilling, which was sheer hell the first couple days. He bit me. We think we have now perfected the 'burrito cat' roll: swaddle him up in the big thick blanket, wrap twice, pin to chest, quickly (that was the secret) pop open mouth without shedding my blood, and have pill tossed in, then clamp mouth shut. Afterwards, I gave him some cream cheese to make him happy.


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Well, I bought cherries, and I still can't eat them. Allergic to them now, if they're raw. However, if they're baked into a pie....



These are the now pitted cherries, mixed up with sugar and stuff, before I baked it.



Um, did some taste-testing. Had to make sure it was done, right?

And then there were a bunch of cherry pits. Did a quick google, then put them out on the patio, for the ravenous rodents...



burp!

I was coming back from shopping. I bought a little pot of miniature sunflowers (which will spend a lot of time in the kitchen so the squirrels/chipmunks/etc./etc./etc. don't devour it) and was coming up the driveway when suddenly - eek!  the creature bounded onto the dashboard and began beating its arms against the windshield, trying to get out. So I stopped the car and got my camera out.


Cute little fellow!


Then he went to side window. "Let me out!" I could imagine him/her screaming.


Once outside, it was happy. Very happy. It didn't seem to mind me at all. Was fascinated by the camera - kept crawling all over it. I released it on a tree full of leaves where it rapidly just vanished amongst the greenery.



Oh, and here's one sunflower bloom.

And then, I was in the garden weeding (never-ending job) when suddenly, a flurry of sounds like something beating against a bush. Then a young hawk flew off. Think it got a chipmunk, of which we have.... too many. Didn't see any bird feathers (usually a few or more left in an attack) so.... bye bye chippie...

Oh, and saw a doe and a young buck in yard yesterday morning. Beautiful...


In fact, here's a picture of a deer (they all sorta look alike to me, except my 3-legged deer, who I saw last week).