First off, Scout is home. They didn’t get to her procedure until late in the day yesterday. I lost count of how many times I checked my phone during the course of the day. My concern was not the procedure itself, which was relatively minor. It was the use of any kind of anesthesia. Scout is 16½, remember, so she doesn’t sail through these things like she did when she was younger. I had Don tell the vet that she was very sensitive to certain medications, like acepromazine. It takes an alarmingly long time for her to recover. So they ended up giving her an IV of something or other that was mild. Even so, she was moaning and barking last night. (She doesn’t bark anymore, so you can imagine my surprise when Don sent me a video of her doing that very thing!)
No cone, thank goodness. I’m so glad she’s home with her dad. We’re grateful to her doctors, who are simply the best.
We never heard from our neighbor, the electrician. So Don called a friend of his named Gus, who is also an electrician, and he came by the house late in the day yesterday. He and Don played with the circuit breakers and Gus replaced one of them. While they were in the middle of running up and down the basement stairs, Gus noticed the dehumidifier in the basement was shooting sparks.
Oh boy. We think that dehumidifier was the culprit. It was sparking, which caused the circuit breakers to flip. Needless to say, it was unplugged immediately and so far, so good. The power company is going to check the lines today and I think it’s a good idea to have them do that, just to be safe.
Grateful, as always. Grateful Don saw what was happening to Scout before he went to bed for the night. Grateful for our local vet. Grateful for friends who stop by after a long, long day at work to check our electrical problems. Grateful Scout is okay. Grateful my husband is dealing with all of this while I’m away. Grateful for the good thoughts sent our way from all of you.
I don’t like to dwell on the negative here on this blog. That can get old very quickly. Everyone is dealing with challenges, big and small. So we’ll end with the positive. Scout is well. Don is well. I am well. Our house is still standing. We have friends everywhere. We are blessed.
Rehearsals are long but lively and I’m having a great time.
I am convinced that Our Town is simply the best play ever. It’s that profound, that powerful, that glorious.
Lucky me!
I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to acknowledge the senseless tragedy in Charleston. Words escape me. Our collective heart is broken. Sending prayers to all those who are suffering and are waking to a world that will never be the same.
Happy Friday.
Very Happy for you and your loved ones, Don and Scott.
I love your words and you are right we all go through stuff and choose our reponse. I like your reponse..hopeful.
xo, Kaye
Thank you, Kaye!
So glad Claudia that Scout, Don and your Cottage are all ok. And, just in time so that (hopefully) you can enjoy a weekend in beautiful Chautauqua. Have a good one!
The weekend will be full of rehearsals – at least the Saturday portion of it. I’m sure hoping the weather gets better. It rained all day yesterday.
YEAH! LIFE IS GOOD! Doris
It is, Doris!
Claudia, I too am so grateful for things working out like they have. Sweet Scout and Don seem to be doing well so you can enjoy your time away. Keeping you all in my thoughts!
hugs,
Linda
Thank you, Linda!
It is great to hear that you have found your “calm amongst the storm” through being grateful. Now you can relax and just enjoy your time in Chataqua, NY (?)
Yes, the worry has lifted and I don’t have to keep one eye on my phone during rehearsals!
I am so happy Scout is better! I think I stopped breathing when I read about that sweet girl. She pulls at my heartstrings, even though she is not mine. I hope the electrical problem is remedied soon.
Have a brilliant Friday!
Hugs,
Deb
Thank you, Deb!
So relieved to hear Scout is on the mend.
We too are grateful for friends. Our land line gave out last week apparently as a result of last year’s floods. Having had one heart attack (this living right obviously isn’t paying off), having a land line provides some peace of mind. My best friend’s boyfriend works for the phone company and gave up a Saturday to deal with an extensive repair job. Just because.
Your photos from “around town” are lovely. The houses from yesterday’s post look very much like the 1:144 dollhouses you can build from kits. I hope you have time to show us more.
Having a landline is an absolute must for many. I’m so glad your friend came by to fix everything, Barbara.
Good Morning Claudia, First, I wasn’t able to comment yesterday for some reason my phone wasn’t cooperating. I wanted to tell you that I loved the house you showed to us. I would live in any of them. I was so happy to read today’s post that all is well at your cottage now. I have had you, Don and Scout on my mind an in my prayers since read about everything yesterday. I hope your weekend is a much better one for you now.
I am also heartbroken by the senseless happenings both here and around the world. Such unnecessary tragedy.
Blessings,
Betsy
A horrific tragedy, indeed. Inexplicable. Unfathomable.
Grateful indeed in so many ways. x x
Thank you, Amy.
So glad to hear that everything is getting better! Have a wonderful day!!
Hugs
You too, Nancy!
Very happy things are working out and Scout is okay. Always scary when they have to have something done…
It is, indeed. Especially when they are elderly.
This is a perfect uplifting post. There are so many things in life that can derail us…both big and small. So happy for you that things are looking up! ;)
Thank you, Donnamae!
So glad Scout is doing okay. I know how hard that must be for you being away when she is ill. But, you also know Don will take excellent care of her. Hope the electric problems are all taken care of. So much stress after a storm like that.
What hours do you work? Will talk to you sometime soon, Do you get to go home at anytime during the three weeks?
Have a great weekend.
Judy
I work different hours every day, Judy. But usually I’m gone from 10 in the morning until 7 or so at night. But tomorrow, for example, I’m rehearsing between 3 and 9. Depends on what else is scheduled within the conservatory. One day off – Sunday.
No, I don’t get home. Home is five hours away and I don’t have a car here!
Hoping your remaining time in Chautauqua is uneventful and all the worrisome bits are now out of the way.
Fingers crossed. And it’s not raining today!
Beautiful words. Thank you.
Love you, Kay.
Grateful indeed! Beautiful photos.
Addie
Thank you, Addie!
Hi Claudia – I have been late catching up this week but you have been in my thoughts and prayers. I’m so glad Scout is home. I understand completely having an elderly dog myself. Deb
It’s very worrisome, isn’t it, Deb?
Beautiful pictures to go with your beautiful thoughts Claudia..I will never understand those who hate people because of the color of their skin..I never have..and I never will…
Nor me. I can’t understand it. Fear, ignorance, so many things fuel hatred.
So much to be grateful for , Claudia. The tragedy in SC is terrible- a volatile time for our country! Not to mention so sad.
Glad that Miss Scout is on the mend– wonder if that growth ( can’t remember what you called it) anyway, wonder if it was obstructing her hearing, and that is why she hasn’t been barking?! Blessings to you and yours friend!
Oh, and I happy to hear they found the problem with the electric – hope it’s an easy fix.
I wonder, too. At the very least, maybe her hearing is better? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
I’m so glad to hear Scout is home and doing well.
Thank you, Kathleen!
Great to hear that both Scoutie – and the house – are doing well. And you are so right. “Our Town” may be one of the most perfect plays ever. I first saw it in movie form – with a VERY young William Holden – and since then have seen it maybe a dozen other times, mostly as high school or college productions. One an excellent TV version with Paul Newman as the stage manager. It just never gets old, and always makes me think. Hope Scoutie gets some good rest and continues to improve. And have a great Chautauqua weekend! :>)
It is now my favorite play. You have a good weekend, too!
So glad everything is back in order. To have so many things happen while you are away is really tough. Bless Don for holding the fort down. And blessings on Scout, your four legged love.
Glad to hear that Scout is home and doing okay. And, that Don and Gus figured out the electrical problem. We had a dehumidifier that wasn’t working well and I looked up online to see if I could figure out the problem. I found that it had been recalled two years before for causing fires!! Needless to say we got a new one! The tragedy in SC is so disheartening. No words…….
Dear Claudia
After reading and worrying about all the things that have happened to you lately including the tornado of course I’m very happy to know that dear Scout is at home and recovering.I must confess she was what worried me most( I’m in love with your girl )but I`m sure all the other problems will soon be solved.I can imagine how difficult these days have been to you far away from home.I wish time goes by quickly and you can be home with your loved ones after doing an excellent job in such a beautiful place you are.By the way your photos are beautiful.Please take care of yourself and have a quiet and nice week!
xoxo Alicia
So glad all is well. Especially your Dear Girlie. I am very partial to senior dogs, and I am relieved to hear Scout is home, where she belongs.
Oh, I am so happy that sweet Scout is home w/ Don and on the mend! And withOUT a cone!! yay! I’m sure the relief will lead to a better weekend for you. (Along w/ the help on the electrical issues. )
The sadness of SC is beyond any words I know. I always think each one of these “events” is the most awful thing we will ever see,,,,,, and then it is topped. I can’t watch the news. I suppose that makes me part of the problem and not the solution. Senseless horrendous violence upon loving kind people…. what have we become?
I don’t fully understand why problems happen, but they do. Once they are passed, that’s it, they are gone. The sense of relief when we know that all is well with those we love and that dear place we call home is once again safe and sound is beyond compare. I am so thankful that things are fine in your little place in the world. We are always here for you.
Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Oh dear. You are having your share of difficulties over this past week! I am just checking in as our internet connection has been down for two days and my heart sank when I read your first line about Scout because I didn’t know what was happening. My husband formerly traveled a lot with his job and I have more than once rushed a dog to the vet on my own at some odd hour or was in the position of observing and trying to figure out what to do and talking to my husband by phone…or, and this has happened too many times, there was a crisis with a dog and the vet was closed for whatever reason which meant a race to another vet in another town…or the very-expensive pet emergency clinic where I could never get out the door for under $500 although I was so grateful for the help. Just so much stress and yes, anesthesia is VERY tricky with senior-aged/elderly dogs. Just as it can be with senior-aged/elderly humans. One neighbor of mine had the teeth cleaned on her 15-yr-old cocker and he sailed thru just fine, but another neighbor had the same done for her American Eskimo dog, same age, different veterinarian, and he was never the same afterward; the poor old dog seemed confused/dazed/quiet, as if he’d been lobotomized or something. I guess every dog is different just like every person would be but I don’t know enough about canine anesthesia as to how much if any potential problems could be due to human error/judgment on application…is it an exact science? I’ve been told by human doctors that every human surgery carries risk so it obviously must be the same with dogs/cats/horses et al. Anyway, I’m relieved Scout is okay. Between the tornado and her ear and you being gone, the sweet girl must be pretty shook up. I’m glad we live in the day and age where there are more treatment options and more precise diagnoses for pets than, say, when I was growing up decades ago.
Your electrical problems are scary. SCARY. Thank goodness you have someone helping to get to the bottom of the problem. I don’t mean to always have a similar story but I have a similar experience…I would say a half dozen years ago, in my old neighborhood with vintage houses and older infrastructure, we had this big can thing on a pole…I have no idea what they’re called; the various electrical/Edison lines in SoCal…which basically burned up in the dead of summer. The workers told us later that it was some old thing from about the 1920s and it was encased in trees so we were lucky it didn’t burn down the neighborhood. (I feel like I’ve mentioned this before; sorry if I’m repeating.) The weather was very hot…I think we were 100 degrees (F) at least that day…so those of us with central air were running it, and then we couldn’t; I’d say it took them 16 or 17 hours to repair it. Afterwards, though, several of us had big problems with our a/c units and the consensus of the people we had to pay to come out and fix our units said it was undoubtedly a result of what happened to that can-thing/wires/pole in which case I figured Edison should have to reimburse us as they had to do for the lost food in our refrigerators but, in the end, it was too difficult to prove, so we were all just stuck with the cost to fix our a/c units. Made us wonder if our modern updates were just pulling too much juice but, ouch, it got expensive.
Thanks for sending thru the photos of the houses. So lovely, those homes.
I am behind reading by a couple of days.
I am so relieved for you that Scout is doing well. It is always difficult when our kids need a doctor but especially as they age. My oldest will be 16 next month, and I continually watch her for changes.
THe cottages are lovely. As are the gardens. You are indeed fortunate to be there.
As long as evil exists things like what happened in S.C. will continue to happen. The best thing we can do is pray for those affected (all of us?) and to pray forthe end of the senselessness of it.