The day started early – we departed at 7 AM to see the surgeon, Dr. McLaughlin, because Harry started having some sharp pain yesterday.

Harry would not use the transport chair. He walked into the clinic, where they took him straight to X-ray, and shortly afterwards, Dr. McLaughlin delivered good news, that the hardware has not moved, and this is just part of the healing process. The body is trying to heal, and it needs rest. Harry might have overdone it on Tuesday when he was getting a PT assessment.

It is very frustrating that the recovery is not a straight line, but we know that. And it has only been 5 weeks – full recovery will take one year. We were told that at the hospital. It’s just that Harry has made so much progress, he is discouraged to encounter a setback. Dr. McLaughlin prescribed gabapentin, which will ease the nerve pain and might have the added benefit of enabling Harry to sleep at night. He is quite sleep deprived!

It actually hurts my hip just to look at that picture!

Not much time for any pictures around here, but I did get a mocking bird in the morning, and some cardinals as the sun was going down…

And rather than show more pictures of the horses schlepping around the muddy fields, here are three pictures of the boys doing their jumping jobs…

Roscoe channeled the doctor’s advice, and is getting plenty of rest, while Eddy is busy keeping watch.

Be safe, be well, get plenty of rest. Listen to good advice. Be kind, and stay grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

Oh, this has been a chaotic day! It was very warm. In looking at the forecast last week, I chose today as a good chance to have the automatic waterer in the shed repaired. The weather complied, but the project was more difficult than anticipated.

I won’t go into detail, but I learned a few things, got a few more gray hairs, and enjoyed being outside for more than just a few minutes.

I saw Harlan briefly when he emptied the dumpster, but failed to take a picture. I haven’t seen him since Harry’s fall.

I did not take any pictures, because things were so busy. I kept running (well, shambling)to the house to check on Harry, and he was coping well, but suddenly began to have pain in the hip area.

We called Dr. McLaughlin’s office, and they moved our appointment for next Wednesday up to tomorrow morning, first thing. That will mean a very early start for us! No complaints, we feel lucky to be seen so quickly.

I am pleased to report that the automatic waterer is now working in the shed.

Here are two of my favorite pictures from the recent past, and a nice sentiment that I copied from the internet…

Be safe, be well, be kind and grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

It’s been a good day here, with Spring weather and continuing progress after Harry got his first good night’s sleep since the accident.

The day began with a visit from Physical Therapist, Devan, who makes Harry work hard. He was relieved that Harry was no longer groggy, as the effects of the new prescription drug had overwhelmed poor Harry and left him groggy for about 36 hours last week!

Today, Devan worked on side sleeping position. The animals watched.

Next, came a trip to the studio!

The good part of an early therapist visit is that Harry can recuperate for the rest of the day. His appetite is improving, since we have cut back on the protein drinks.

Well, I was found wanting by two very annoyed birds today. First, the magnificent Mockingbird, who is very bold and does not mind having pictures taken. It was quite disappointed to find the suet had all been eaten and I had not replaced it! I received a very disappointed, judgmental stare.

I was chagrined, and immediately put more bird food out. But I didn’t get to the birdbath, which needed cleaning. To my dismay, I saw it in use! A little blue bird had the biggest frolicking bath I have ever seen. Alas, it felt that there really should have been more water available. I soon put it right, after taking pictures.

Bart decided to participate in the mud contest. He is in the lead now, I think.

Jane continues to do all the real work. Eddy loves to see her every day.

The sun was so warm, we almost forgot how miserably cold it was last week.

Be safe, be warm, be kind, and be grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

Harry and I are both tired today, so here are just a few pictures. If I am tired, I can hardly imagine how exhausted Jane must be, with all the work she is doing.

Harry started the day with a bang, walking to the kitchen and almost cooking again! I convinced him that I actually enjoy cooking now that I am getting experienced, so he let me take over.

Here are a few birds…

Eddy loves his toy from Jane. He plays with it every day, and is very proud of it.

Roscoe has the right idea. Time to catch up on some rest…

A late varmint visitor again…

Be safe, be grateful, be kind, slow down, and rest. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

I am still very sad, of course, but on life goes. Nature and animals can ease grief a little. It was a beautiful day today, warming up and turning the pastures to mud.

Oisin and Stone gave themselves mud treatments. Bart still thinks he might be a show horse, so he stayed clean. So far…

There was a coyote encounter for Eddy in the south pasture yesterday morning! I watched the coyote chase him up the hill. When Eddy got close to the house, the coyote retreated. I think it is a game for them. I certainly hope so! I am partial to coyotes, since I had one that lived with me many years ago. She and my dogs played chase often. First, a dog would chase Joni, the coyote, then they would reverse, and Joni would chase the dog. They wore a path around Wheatfield Cottage, the house I lived in then. On hunting days, when Bridlespur Hunt met at Wheatfield, I locked Joni in a crate, as she had no fear of hounds, but they never bothered her. I think she smelled like the dogs she lived with. Eventually, she met a cute guy coyote and eloped with him. Don Walsh took pictures of her, but I didn’t have a camera in those days. She grew up to look something like this…

Jane continues to work her fingers to the bone.

Some birds for today…

Tom Morris enjoyed the sunshine, as did Weedy…

Just now, we had a varmint visitor on the porch. I actually like possums, with their funny, naked tails and pink toes. This one was very unconcerned about me, quite interested in the water hydrant. Luckily, Eddy was asleep, and missed it!

Speaking of sleeping, here is Harry abed with Weedy just now…

The sky predicts another nice day tomorrow…

Be safe, be well, keep in touch and be grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

I am shattered by news of the sudden death by accident of a dear friend to countless people and animals in Missouri. Don was Dr. Walsh, a veterinarian and character full of stories, and life, and laughter, always with a smile whenever you saw him. It is impossible to explain our long friendship that began in 1973. The effect he had on the life I have led was profound.

Though I have seen little of him in recent years, we never missed a beat, as close friends can do. The last picture I have of Don and Diana was taken November 5, 2024.

They were at Harry’s art show in October, just a few months ago. I spoke to him on the phone in October, and then life got complicated, as it does sometimes. I missed his eightieth birthday in December.

Diana sent me a note just two weeks ago, telling me that Don had put Harry on his prayer list.

“And there with his peers we may leave him, with all the good men and the true / Who have come to the Last of the Gateways and laughed and gone galloping through…” (Will H. Ogilvie)

Godspeed, Don Walsh, you will be missed by more than even you could imagine.

The day began with a visit from Patrick, the “Occupational Therapist”. It’s a funny sounding medical career, but we learned in 2020 how valuable Occupational Therapy is. Another term for it is ergotherapy, from the Greek ergon, which refers to work, and to activity. So, Patrick comes here to help Harry return to his work, ultimately, but also helps him return to normal life around the house. He has excellent ideas for how to accomplish things, and has been a big part of Harry’s remarkable progress.

Once Patrick left, I spent some time outside, cleaning the septic filter. One of the less pleasant aspects of country life, particularly when the hose must be dragged out of the basement to accomplish the task.

It was just “one of those days”, with little to show for a lot of busy work. The daily weight was alarming, as Harry has little desire to eat, so we consulted the Primary Care doctor, who prescribed a new pill to add to the regimen. It’s strange, because he is getting stronger, but has no appetite. Protein drinks are sustaining him.

The doctor’s solution entailed a trip to the pharmacy, hurrying because it was the end of the day. The Medicine Shoppe is one of our favorite places, since Jen, the owner, also rides horses. Eddy came along, which he loved, though he was desperately wild when he saw deer through the window. There were many deer out and about as the day was winding down.

I did try to take some pictures of birds, and of Jane, when she came by with the mail. Not much to report today, though I am exhausted…

Be safe, be well, be grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

Today was a long day, without many pictures. The morning was full of preparation to go to town for a routine visit to the electrophysiologist (the heart “electrician”). We had missed the six month scheduled visit on January 5 because Harry was in surgery to fix his hip. They were kind enough to fit us in today to check on Harry’s heart and pacemaker.

Harry insisted on walking (with the walker) to the car, and then, when we arrived at the medical building, he walked into the building and to the men’s room. This might sound mundane, but it was a feat of epic proportion, just 4 weeks after a hospital stay during which he was in very critical condition.

I did bring the transport chair, and we used that to travel up to the office. Once we returned home, though, Harry insisted on walking from the car to the house. I am astounded by his guts and the progress he has made!

The trip was a 5 hour ordeal, door to door, but news at the doctor was good, and the travel was less miserable for Harry than just a week ago, so it was a good day!

The dogs were thrilled to see us, as was Roscoe. I never even spoke to the horses or barn cats, but Jane reports that everyone is fine. Every day, our gratitude for Jane’s help with this unfortunate circumstance grows exponentially.

Since I don’t have much of interest today, here are a couple of old pictures of Harry doing difficult things.

Be safe, be well, exceed expectations! Be kind, be grateful, be patient. Slava Ukraini! Peace…

Warm weather arrived today. The sun shone brightly and snow has begun to melt. The bad news is, it’s Groundhog Day, and shadows thrown by the balmy sunshine portend six more weeks of winter. I am not superstitious, but I really hope this one is wrong, and winter will end sooner than later.

Meanwhile, no rest for Harry. Devan arrived early and put the patient to work. Harry is making remarkable progress.

Once Devan had worn Harry out, the dogs and I went to Wentzville. There was great enthusiasm for getting in the car and seeing the sights. Not so much for nail trims, but both boys were very good.

It was a beautiful day, and I took the camera out to see the horses.

Eddy had a great time in the nice weather. He is constantly on the run, checking in from time to time, contained by his Freedom Collar.

Weedy looked very handsome at table, hoping for some scraps.

As for Roscoe, he slept in and waited until the sun was high before he ventured outside.

Harry was able to sit in Eddy’s favorite chair, which is lower than the recliner, so requires leg strength to stand. He had no problem, and enjoyed the comfy chair while watching television.

The moon was bright tonight, as I took some trash to the dumpster for Harlan tomorrow.

Be safe, be kind, be grateful. Slava Ukraini! Peace…