Friday Flowers

While the Iris have a short bloom season, especially with the rain we've had this season, I've loved collecting different colors that now have spread across my yard and those of friends and family, too. My collection started with family and I added to it with flowers from local garden clubs' sales and green houses.

Not Today Mom

Yesterday, I was sure Bailey was ready to make the trip to the bridge today. All the signs were there and the Vet was sure we'd be back to visit today. However, she gave us one more option a shot to make up for the meds he'd refused to take orally and a suggestion for meat baby food. Not having much hope DH picked up a couple of jars of baby food knowing the store collects baby food for the local food pantry and if he didn't eat it, we could donate the unopened jars.

Well Bailey's not ready to leave just yet. I'm not sure how much longer he wants to stay, but he gobbled down two jars of baby food yesterday and two today including one with his oral medications which he's refused to take since last week. When he doesn't take his meds he can't keep food down and eventually stops eating all together, which is what happened over the weekend. This is the sign we've been told to watch for as a sign he's done fighting. When he stops eating and we can't get him started again, it is time to let him go. We thought we had reached that point yesterday. DH had to return to the store for more baby food jars. Honestly, I have no idea how that smell appeals to his stomach as it makes mine turn, but as long as he's eating I can deal.

He also was sniffing in the garden today where Katy's been flushing out the bunnies. He hasn't shown any interest in critters for weeks. His back legs are very weak and since that trip out he's been resting quite a bit.

This may just be that last burst of energy some dogs show at the end. I don't know. I can't think beyond the fact that today we are not visting the Vet to say goodbye to Bailey. Tomorrow and the next day I can't predict. We are cherishing the time we have. The Vet said he'd tell us when it was time to say goodbye. Today's message seems to be not today, Mom. I'm not ready to leave just yet.

Thank you all for your prayers. We are continuing to take this one day at a time. He will let us know when he's ready. We just have to follow his leads. We ask for your continued prayers.

Wordeless Wednesday: Katy in the Garden

Prayers for Bailey

After a weekend of not eating and being sick to his stomach when he tried, we saw the vet today and the news isn't good. Bailey is refusing the oral meds that were helping him to eat. The vet thinks he's decided he's done. His back legs have recently given out on him and he's struggling with stairs. We decided to give it one more treatment. He got a shot today and we are trying baby food. If this doesn't work, she believes he's making it clear he's done.

We can't argue. The energy he showed at the beginning of this fight is gone. He does seem to have surrendered. However, we are giving him one more chance to decide if he wants to stay or go. It is also giving us time to say goodbye if he truly is ready to go. Our baby boy has certainly fought hard. When we started this journey nobody thought he'd live to see the trick or treaters come to the house once more. Then the goal was Christmas. He made it through his 13th birthday in March. Sadly, I don't think he's going to see Katy's 8th birthday at the end of the month. We ask for prayers to guide us in making the right choices as we continue forward.

Hidden Pictures

What do you see?

Friday Flowers: Yellow Iris

I talked my husband into buying these at a local garden club sale and I"ve never regretted it. While they don't last very long the color is amazing and they are huge.

Wordless Wednesday: Return of the Bunny

The Bunnies are back and not afraid to show it.

Bone Broth

Mom researched several Bone Broth recipes for us and finally decided to mix and match. All seemed to agree you needed to use joint bones for maximum mineral benefit. Many used turkey and chicken, but even though they suggested you could blend the bones to protect from the chocking hazard of small bones being stuck, Mom decided to go with beef bones. She put them in her crockpot and put water in until the bones were under an inch of water. Then she added 3 Tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Several recipes suggested lemon juice, but Mom hand squeezes hers for her water and she wasn't sharing. The acid helps break down the bones and puts the minerals into the water. Most of the crockpot recipes indicated you should put the bones on high for an hour and then turn on to low. The times after that varied anywhere from 24-48 hours. Mom decided on the 24 hours and man did that kitchen smell good while it was cooking.

After it cooled off Dog Dad let us taste test the product and it was amazing!!!

Our massage therapist suggested freezing the broth in ice cube trays and giving us an ice cube a day. It is the best treat ever. Katy never really liked ice cubes before, but now she lines up for her beefcycle every day. We started on this snack because it is supposed to be good for joint health. On further reading Mom also discovered it can be good for dogs with tummy issues, too. With all the tummy problems IBS has brought on she's always looking for something to help me with that.

As always you should check with your vet before trying anything new. We are not vets, nor do we play ones on TV. However, we had not thought to try bone broth before and Mom and Dad found it was easy to make and since we freeze it, easy to store and serve. We just thought we'd share our experiences in case someone else could benefit from it.

Friday Flowers: Bleeding Hearts

Bleeding Hearts were Mom's Dad's favorites so of course when she saw this one single broken down plant at a Garden Club sale, she had to bring it home, never thinking it would survive.

Now it is a bush and what she didn't know is you can't kill this thing. Really, you can't, even the City tried. They did some work on utilities and while they were repaving the street they thought it would be a good idea to pave over the corner of Mom's perennial garden. You know what grew through the asphalt the next year, the Bleeding Heart. It was the only plant that survived and continues to thrive. The rest lie dormant under the asphalt.

Friday Flowers: Iris

Mom went out on Sunday to check on the progress of the big purple Iris and they were still closed tight. On Monday, she happened to look out the window and surprise they had popped, so she went out to capture a picture of them before she missed them. The weather has been crazy lately. The wind or rain could easily destroy them if she waits.

She says these are very special because Dog Dad's favorite Uncle gave him them from his very own garden when they visited him.

It grows so well, Mom has been able to give other people Iris plants from it, too.

Wordless Wednesday: The Power's On

Bailey's had this strange attraction to the power strip lately. He really does seem to think he can draw power from it.

However, he has found another source of power that is helping him get stronger. He and Katy have started massage therapy and it is working wonders. We found a massage therapist at Paws in the Park and decided to check her out. We'd talked about doing it for years, but sadly something always came up. This time with Bailey's health issues we decided it was a priority. Then we discovered she lives in town, which made it seem even easier to commit the time to do.


Bailey has become very bow legged and walking almost on the sides of his paws. He's also lost significant muscle strength in his back legs that occurred sometime around our failed rescue attempt. He's had chiro for years, but nothing had stopped the progression. After his second massage session, his bowing has decreased significantly. His front legs have straightened dramatically. I hope to get some pics to show his vet the progression. He was too tired last night to submit for pics and I wanted to post something this morning.

We are also learning stretching exercises. As someone who needs PT exercises myself it never occurred to me to think that my dogs might benefit from stretching exercises as well. In the first session DH and I learned how to stretch both Bailey and Katy to help keep their legs more limber. Katy, especially has seen a difference with the stretching.

Our second session was with an intern who suggested we try making some beef broth from bone to help with Bailey's joint issues. I've made beef and chicken broth as starters for us over the years, I've never thought of the benefits for the dogs. I won't add all the veggies I do for ours, but I will look to getting a soup bone this weekend and making up some broth. She suggested freezing them into ice cubes to store the broth. Bailey loves ice cubes, so this could be a nice treat for him as well, especially with the hot summer months coming up.

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Dressing Up for Whitley

We are not much for dressing up, but Mom reminded us how important it is to remember friends on Blogville so we let her take pictures of us in Dog Dad's hat for the occasion.

Run free over the bridge Whitley. You will be missed by so many.

Friday Flowers: Rhododendron

Friday flowers are some of Mom's favorite posts. She loves going back and seeing all the pretty flowers when all that she can see outside her own windows are piles of snow. This Rhododendron bush is blooming next to the currently empty veggie gardens, which soon I will not be allowed to step inside as I'm doing here.

Do you see the little fellow hiding there. These gnomes are all over the yard. Katy is particularly interested in one that has binoculars. She isn't telling, but Mom believes he's providing her with intel.