I woke up this morning, noticed that Don was already up (it’s very rare when he rises before me) and thought, I’d better get a move on. It was dark outside, but okay, I figured, it’s probably around 6 am.
It was 5:15.
What the heck?
We are on alert, now that Scout is a senior. We keep track of the frequency of her ‘bodily functions.’ If, like last night, we go to bed thinking she should have peed one more time and didn’t, well then, we check on her during the night. Don woke up early and decided to get up and check on her and then he just ended up staying up.
An early morning for MHC. But Miss Scout took care of everything outside and that’s a good thing. We are well versed in this because we went through much the same thing with Riley, only much more intense as his spinal disease really took a toll on his independence. I miss that boy. Every single day.
Yes, this is a look I see frequently during the course of a day. This is the “I want you to do something, Mom” look. “Put that laptop down and get me something to eat.” “Stop reading that book and let me outside.”
All in all, our girl is doing very well. She’s pretty lively, she still pounces now and then, she loves to walk near our local library, and gallop down the long driveway there – the same gallop we re-discovered in the park in Hartford. She may be a little sore the next day and we’re careful about how often we let her do it, but oh my goodness, she loves galloping. It makes her very, very happy.
And that makes us happy.
My two feathered friends appeared again yesterday, along with a beautiful woodpecker who proved too elusive for me to capture with my camera lens. Just as with our cardinals, the red head of the woodpecker is strikingly vivid in the snowy landscape.
I’m afraid I’ve passed on my cold to Don, who says that it feels like an infirmary here. I lovingly donated my big box of kleenex to him. It’s the least I can do. That, and maybe shovel a bit today, as we’re getting a bit more snow. And more snow Sunday through Tuesday. Tonight, it’s supposed to go down to 10 below zero.
What???
More links to share with you – all of them about Harper Lee, the ‘new’ book, and some interesting thoughts on the subject.
From The Atlantic: Harper Lee: The Sadness of a Sequel.
Also from The Atlantic: How Harper Lee’s Long-Lost Sequel was Found.
From Book Riot: Uncollected Thoughts on the new Harper Lee Novel. The comments on this are interesting, as well.
I have a review of sorts up on Just Let Me Finish This Page – my thoughts on Howard’s End is on the Landing: A Year of Reading from Home by Susan Hill. Click here.
Happy Thursday.
I know all too well what you are going through with Scout. We, too, watch old Kane like a hawk and are very in-tune to his needs now. (Which are many) But, like Scout, he still gets around, enjoys his meals, loves his car rides and carries on. Sending a big hug for Scout (and you). Deb
And as long as they are happy and doing okay, we do everything we can to make their daily lives better!
Thanks for the links about Harper Lee; just read them all. Our household is dealing with a dang virus too….hope you and Don are improving. Jen
Don feels pretty miserable, I am doing better. Thanks, Jen. Hope everyone there feels better soon!
Good Morning Claudia! Sorry you are in more of the snow zone. Feels like this winter will never end! Glad that Scout is doing ok…and sorry Don got your cold (better him than Dame Scout though). Will be reading the links you provided later in the day — thanks. Stay warm and don’t overdo it with shoveling!!
Snow and snow and more snow. It’s depressing, Vera!
here, it was the other-way-to. my husband passed the cold, on to me.
and then he got better, after the usual 7 days. and I did not. and the rest is history.
winter colds are the pits!
,-)
such a beautiful bird photo…
Winter colds stink, Tessa! I’m sure Don will recover rather quickly. But right now, he feels not at all good!
Thank you for the links.
After I finished reading one of the articles, I realized (with a start) that like Harper Lee, my grandmother’s name was Ellen although she was always known as “Nelle” (pronounced “Nell”). Funny, I’d never thought of it before as Ellen written in reverse.
Hope you are all feeling better soon!
I knew all about Nelle, but this was the first time I’d heard about it being chosen because it was Ellen spelled in reverse. Very interesting!
Sorry Don has the cold now. Hope you are a bit better and now have immunity to that particular virus so you won’t get it back. Something is brewing in me, but it’s not full-blown yet. Can’t afford to be sick with an active teenager in the house. We’re extra-vigilant with our senior kitty, being careful not to feed her too much at once…intestinal disorder. We’ve been awoken more times than I like to remember by the sound of kitty throwing up. But, they’re vital family members, so we just do what we have to do. Stay snug.
I hope you manage to fight whatever it is off, Wendy. Take care of yourself!
Sweet Scout! I will be checking out the links on Harper Lee. Poor Don, but that happens in a household all the time. Hope both of you get better soon.
hugs,
Linda
Poor Don! My turn to take care of him.
Claudia, thanks for sharing the links about the publishing of the new book. It is interesting to read about the different perspectives on how the book came to be published. I’m sure the truth is somewhere in there. Thanks again for sharing.
On another note, our family also knows all too well, the struggles and joy of your journey with Scout.
I love your Lambs like to party canvas print. It makes me smile every time I read your blog.
Thank you for your kind words, Annie.
I wonder if we’ll ever know the truth about the new book? Maybe not.
Thanks for the links. As others have said, somewhere there is the truth, but still tugs at my heart with the uncertainty of it all.
Sweet sweet Scout! Our big girl is going on 4 mos. w/ her cancer dx, and she continues to carry on. We had been told back in Oct. that it would be 6-8 weeks. She must not have understood. Still no signs of pain, which will, of course, be our indication….. can’t even bear to think about it.
So sorry Don is sick now. Circle of colds, I guess. It was -9* this morning here, too. These circumstances of cold and snow certainly don’t help a thing. But I’m so glad that you are feeling better! One day at a time.
I know how hard that is, but your girl sounds like she is not at all ready to leave. Good for her. And for you. Give her a hug from me and Scout.
So sorry to hear Don is sick…when will it ever end? It snowed here on Tuesday…now, just hitter cold. Then a warm up and more snow. I was enjoying winter…it was warmer than normal, and seemed a nice respite from the usual, especially after last year. But, now, I’ve had enough…especially with the cold! Thanks for the links…stay warm! ;)
Yep. I am sick of this winter, as is Don. When it finally came, it came with a vengeance!
Gosh, snow, colds, senior family member, lack of sleep…what a winter you’re having. Still, what can’t be cured and all that. Big comforting hugs for you and Don and Scout. About Harper, I’m hoping for an optimistic result for this second book, but am also terribly skeptical.
We’re hanging in there. I am the designated grocery store goer today, so I’ll stock up on some things for the infirmary.
Oh, Scoutie is a sweetheart! Hope you and Don get over that cold soon!
It does hang on. Though I’m feeling better, I’m still awfully tired and the nose blowing and coughing continues!
Glad that Scout is doing well…That’s one way to get rid of it..Pass it on to Don..Share!! Poor Guy..ENjoy your day and your Bluebirds..
I feel badly, but what the heck can you do? We’re in this enclosed space together….ah well.
Glad to see you’re getting such chubby birds in your neck of the woods. Not to mention cute. I always worry when I see skinny birds in the dead of Winter. PS – you and Don should pick up some Vitamin C, in a high count like 500 or even 1000mg. Mega-dosing vitamin C works wonders for me whenever I get sinus or cold deals – no kidding. It’s a proven organic [and non-toxic] anti-biotic. Slams any infection that dares show it face. Although I’m still at the mercy of any virus who bops around, I won’t be without vitamin C during the Winter yucky season. Hope Mr Mockingbird Hill feels much better very soon…
We’ve been drinking lots of OJ and Emergen-C. Thanks, Janet!
I doubt that we will ever know the truth about the book and Miss Nelle Harper Lee..therefore I have decided to read it,enjoy it and hope for the best for Miss Lee..I have the utmost respect for her and her wish for privacy..Please people in charge..take care of her..she is a treasure to so many of us..Also Miss Scout Hill-Sparks is a treasure..I love hearing about her adventures and enjoy the mental picture I get of her running and pouncing like a pup at times..My best wishes to Don..having a cold is such misery..
Thanks, Nancy! Scout is still feisty and for that I am very thankful!
Claudia, When you described how Scout wanted to gallop but would hurt the next day….that is how I am too. So Scout has my sympathy. Bless her. I hate to hear that you and Don are both feeling ill now. I sure hope it doesn’t last much longer. I am about tired of our snow conditions here. Sending well wishes to your house. xoxo,Susie
Aww, your dear-sweet doggie. The picture of that fat winter bird is just too cute!
I hope you and Don feel better in record time, Claudia. Scout is too adorable for words, as always! I love your bluebirds. They must be making a comeback. I just posted about them on my blog . We’ve lived in our house 33 years and I’d never seen a bluebird in my life until last year when they started visiting. Sweet little things, aren’t they? I hope you all have a great weekend,
Donna
Having a senior pet member of the family is difficult. But we wouldn’t trade that for anything. I don’t have a dog, but one of my cats is almost 16 now. She needs to go to the vet to have a couple of loose teeth pulled. Poor girl. And while I don’t take her out to do her business I am aware how many times she uses a box during the day. She is a joy.