Photo and Pheeder Update

If you squint and strain you can see the wood pecker.  I'd been feeling badly about my horrible pictures.  I listened to all the tips, read the settings and practiced. I was feeling very dumb.

Not happy with the result especially since I had awesome opportunities lighting right in front of me. Birds do love the feeders as long as they're full.

No matter what I tried, I just couldn't take good pictures with my long lens.  The bad news is it died. The good news...it's under warranty.  The bad news is my little Power Shot doesn't zoom as well but the good news is maybe there's a chance at good photos when my lens is repaired!!!  I'm relieved.

Robins with my Power Shot

weren't too bad.

Happy shooting, my friends, and thanks for your help.

Looking Down With Things Looking Up...

Another three hour trip one way to the place that pulled Hubby away from death's door.  I went armed to talk about attitude.  The doctor had made a miraculous change of attitude since our hospital stay the beginning of this month.  After a little confusion about the front desk having the wrong files we went into test mode.

Body fluid work, pictures of the heart, x-rays, stress tests, oxygen and CO2 tests and other multitude of tests....medicine assessment and pep talks and progress reports.  Sticking to that low sodium diet and the new medicine and THE PRAYERS all you good people sent out have paid off wonderfully.

When he was so seriously sick his cardiac refraction rate was less than ten percent (out of one hundred percent).  In layman's term I think that's the pump pressure and out put.  I never really looked it up.  I didn't want to know what it meant, I just wanted it fixed.

After intense fluid reduction and a loss of almost twenty pounds of fluid the congestive heart failure was delayed...still there but immensely improved.  From ten percent to thirty percent in less than a month's time!  I don't know what you think but that sounds like a miracle to me especially since I had been informed that refraction rate could not improve.  His rate was 35 percent and functional two years ago and 25 percent and then downhill to the morgue was where he was headed. I would say a twenty percent improvement is a good sign.

HUBBY DID NOT MAKE THE TRANSPLANT LIST!  AS OF TODAY HE IS DEEMED TOO HEALTHY TO BE CONSIDERED AS A POSSIBLE RECIPIENT OF A DONOR HEART.  WITH GOOD SENSE, GOOD DIET AND CONTINUING PRAYERS THIS HEART COULD POSSIBLY SUPPLY ALL HIS NEEDS FOR A LONG LIFE.

They have not abandoned him but will keep a close watch on his progress and if there is a downward dip, he can be placed on the list but for now we are celebrating.

We even ate out!!!!  The low sodium choice at Subway's was delicious and not dangerous.

The view of the lobby below our office area.

So Praise God and Pass The Biscuits(even if they have too much salt)   Thank you all for the healing prayers and your patience with my panic.  Neither of us could have survived without your support.

Lizzy And Loads of News...

My tooth broke but Hubby's retirement has been approved.  I just shot soda pop out my nose but the laundry is almost done.  The yearling ticks are out but we got rain!

You who know me knew I could not resist saving another life to enrich mine.  Meet Lizzy or as she was sadly labeled, Number eighteen.

Her first view of cattle

Lizzy's face wet with dew

Playing with her hedgehog

which she loves until it squeaks.

I love dogs and animals in general.  I am not a dog hoarder.  We have seven total dogs now...and I agree, that is a lot.  That is divided between two households and all of them do earn their keep. They also are not all house dogs!  Lizzy a Cairn mix will be my snuggle buddy and Maggie by royalty order are the only two inside.  Andrew sneaks another in now and then but what can I say, dogs and boys go together.

Before I make this too long and drawn out...I HAVE 400 FOLLOWERS!!!!!  Never thought it!

Marcy continues to recover and Hubby is holding his own.  Through all the rough times, I thank you for your prayers and thoughts.  Never could have made it without them...or you.



This N That

I WON!!!! My insurance has been reinstated with apologies from my agent.  The person who took those horrible pictures and made the decision has been out sick since the decision was made...Karma! 

I have purchased a new computer...a special treat for me since Andrew and I share one. 

It's an Alien from Dell.  Didn't know I was a secret gamer, did you?  As soon as I figure it out, I will be flying on the Corvette of gaming computers...and I have to install my favorite game...when I figure out how to save my character and transfer that.  I don't want to loose the ground I've gained in the world of Diablo II while I await the release of Diablo III! 

It took me a while to do the few things I did get accomplished but all is not arranged to my liking yet.  I selfishly have kept the password a secret since Andrew has been drooling as he walks by. There is computer envy going on but since I'm the one with a job, Andrew will just have to deal with it...mean grandma!

Something is wrong with my husband...maybe he is the victim of bodysnatching.  He has learned how to operate the vacuum, wash dishes, do laundry, mop and cook.  Now, this miracle has been a long time coming but it's arrival is greatly appreciated.  Hubby has never been a Suzie Homemaker but he is learning. 

From past posts, you know I've tried many things. I've gone on strike, got rid of many dishes so they will have fewer to use, tried explaining that I work full time and he doesn't...but none of this seems to make any difference.  I  know if the dust bunnies and mushrooms held a dance in front of him, he would just turn up the tv volume.

No more!!!  I came home to the smell of Pine-Sol.  My computer room has been vacuumed!  Dinner has been cooked more by him lately than me!  He shops for groceries!!  He even folded some clean towels...although the socks are yet to be mated, I shall not complain.  I wondered what made this wonderful change occur since I have been trying over a year to get some help in the house.

I found out...he's been bragging to Bev, my sister, the farm work horse.  Telling her about what he does, she said, it's about time!  You're not working, you should do it.  Welcome to wifehood and don't complain. Gail has been doing all this for years AND working...then she said, it's about damn time you did something around here!  I think I'll send her roses!

And the good news just keeps coming...got a tax refund!  This finally allowed me to pay all the medical bills from hubby's four surgies in 2011in full that I have been slowly whittling down. I do have insurance, Thank God, but 20% of a lot is, well, A LOT.

Today I head to the family shop, may my good fortune continue and sales abound!!!  One way or the other we are whipping this farm into shape.  By selling what we don't need and thinning, our life should begin to be simpler.  We are determined to be the last generation to leave an abundance of stuff for the next generation...but we're getting old so we need to hurry.

HE"S NOT DEXTER!!!!!

Jake and Yoda

You are not gonna believe this!

He is not Dexter, the guy brought him back today!!!

Yoda is bigger than his dog was.

I knew he belonged with me.

I got my Christmas early.

Hubby had him hidden in his coat when I got here.

You can tell he is mine, can't you?