Just the Basics

Sue's health is improving every day even though she gets frustrated, and wishes the whole thing gone. That reminds me i have to pick out a ball of yarn, and some pairs of kntting needles. Should help regain hand and eye sync. I am going to have you wait for any details that Sue wants to share about her experience, out of respect for her privacy. The prayers and best wishes keep pouring in from all over the planet. I have just approved several dozen comments. Sue also received a beautiful arangemen of flowers from one of her onling frients, We don't have a go fund me site but the checks and money orders just come in directly. Thanks for all the support.I expect to have Sue home sometime late this week or early next week. She will then recieve home health support while she regains her strength. I have met many wonderful people during this trial, Doctors, Nurses,LPN,People that change the sheets, and run the whirlpool bath, or just a nice person in the next room.. The latest pet is getting impatient and I don't want a cleen up job at what ever hour this is so I wish you all a good night!!!!! Robert

STAYING ALIVE and LIVING WITH HOPE AND GRATITUDE

HI, THIS IT ROBERT W. HALL, NO THE W.IS NOT FOR WILCOX IT IS JUST WILLIAM AFTER MY GOD FATHER,UNCLE BILL. SUE IS NOT READY FOR E MAILS, BUT CARDS DONATIONS AND FLOWERS AND A NEW PORTUGUESE WATER DOG PUPPY, IF THERE IS ONE THAT NEEDS A FREE ADOPTION WOULD EACH AND ALL RAISE HER SPIRIT AND HASTEN HER RECOVERY. I REALLY MISS HER AT HOME DOING ALL THE WORK I AM PICKING UP NOW THAT COMPRISES HER EVERY DAY. IF YOU HAVE A MESSAGE FOR SUE PLEASE USE MY E MAIL ADDRESS {SAMBA771@YAHOO.COM}I WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PUPPY, DEPOSIT THE CASH, WATER THE FLOWERS,FOWARD ALL THE MESSAGES {UNCENSORED},AND REPLY AS SOON AS SHE TRUSTS ME WITH HER YAHOO PASSWORD. ON RECOVERY WE WILL JOINTLY DISPOSE OF THE DECAYING FLOWERS, SPEND THE CASH ON A GREAT ITALIAN FEAST, AND LOVE THE PUPPY RIGHT UP TO THE DAY IT PASSES OVER THE RAINBOW BRIDGE AND FOEVER AFTER ADMIRE YOUR NAMES CARVED INTO OUR BORDER FENCE. SO AGAIN: 1} MESSAGES GO TO SAMBA771@YAHOO.COM 2} I WAS ONLY KIDDING ABOUT THE CASH IT WOULD BE CRAZY TO SEND CASH THROUGH THE USPS, CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS ARE SAFER 3] FLOWERS GO TO 971 EAST BLUFF DRIVE SPRINGFIELD, MO 65803 THERE WILL BE NO CHARGE TO YOU FOR THE COST OF FOWARDING THEM TO MARANATHA PREMIER REHABILATION 4} OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT IS "AVANZARI" 5} I DON'T REALLY NEED HER PASSWORD TO REPLY TO MESSAGES SENT TO MY YAHOO ACCOUNT. 6} SUE MISSES HER TIME IN BLOGVILLE WITH ALL OF YOU, WITH OVER 2MILLION READERS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS THAT NEEDED TO BE VETTED EACH DAY, AND COMING UP WITH NEW WAYS TO WRITE ABOUT DOGS,HAS LEFT ME A VERY LONELY MAN AT TIMES. I CAN COOK FOR MYSELF, DO THE LAUNDRY, CLEAN DOG VOMIT OUT OF THE CARPET, RUN THE WHOLE HOUSE VACCUUM, MOW THE LAWN AN CLEAN THE GUTTER WITH OUT FALLING OFF A LADDER. TODAY WITH OUT HER NEAR ME AT HOME I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH ALL MY FREE TIME. WITH ALL MY LOVE TO ALL OF YOU IN BLOGVILLE SINCERELY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR ALL THE JOY AND FRIENDSHIP AND FUN OUR HOME HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH YOU TOUCHING OUR LIVES. ROBERT W. HALL PS:PLEASE LOOK UP THE 8 SERIOUS PLAGUES CARRIED BY TICKS AND TAKE PROPER PRECAUTIONS

ALIVE

We take it for granted that each morning we will wake up, but it is never a certainty.Sue an I laid down for our nights rest about a month ago, each of us with our current book in hand. 'I'm not enjoying this book you can bring it back to the library tomorrow", never did I comprehend those were the last words I might have listened to from the love of my life, my partner, bookkeeper,and the master of pets in our house. The next morning I got up and took care of the dogs needs as was my normal routine. Sue woudl get up about an hour later and join me for a cup of coffee while I was downing my seond cup. Not a morning person, I learned through long experience that conversation was not to be started until about ten oclock, Sue's not a morning person. Sue had not been feeling well since receiving a tick bite a couple of weeks past, Emergency, and our regular physicians thought she had a virus and would shake it in a week to ten days, but both were wrong. Not able to get Sue up, I called for an ambulance and made the trip behind the rescue team to the hospital Where I learned she was in serious trouble. The tick bite that Sue and I thought was a spider bite had caused total liver and kidney failure, and swelling of the brain. She would be unconcious for the better part of a week in a ICU bed while a team of Doctors tried to figure out what the cause was. One of the eight diseases that ticks can transmit was only an hour or two away from killing her when we made it to the Emergency Room. WARNING: DON'T IGNORE A TICK BITE. IF YOU START HAVING PAIN IN YOUR JOINTS, FEVERS THAT COME AND GO, AND A COMPLETE LACK OF INTEREST IN FOOD, GET TESTED.DONT ASSUME A VIRUS OR FLUE. SUE IS RECOVERING IN A REHAB SETTING AFTER A LONG STAY IN AN ICU BED. YOUR COMMENTS AND WELL WISHES WILL BE WELCOME. I AM ROBERT, THE OTHE HALF OF THE PORTUGUESE WATER BLOG. SORRY NO PICTURES IN THI POST. WHEN SUE COMES HOME PERHAPS WE CAN REVIVE MY ATTEMPT TO GET THIS MESSAGE OUT TO EVERYONE

My Little Puppy

Well, it's been a couple weeks since I reported on Boston. He's been very busy growing during that time. Need proof?

Remember this picture? It was taken on Christmas Day.

This picture was taken last night. 

In the first shot he weighed 6.5 pounds. At his weigh-in last week he was 27 pounds and the way he eats I'm sure he's closer to 30 by now.

Also, notice the ears. We met his mama and she is a lovely chocolate Lab. We were told that his daddy was an Australian Shepherd but we think his daddy is actually Dumbo the Elephant. Those ears are huge. The vet thinks mama had something going on with a hound dog and has revised his prediction about size. Originally Dr B thought Boston would become a small Lab but now he says that he'll be a BIG dog. That's ok with me. I like big dogs.

Boss does a great 'sit' and a very dramatic 'down'. He's food motivated but also wants desperately to please so training is much easier than with Mackey who doesn't care the least about pleasing anyone and thinks rules don't apply to her.

Here's a pic of baby Boston napping.

And here is big boy Boston.

I'm trying to keep up with blogging but as you can see I have a major distraction. Still Boston wants to show you what a good boy he is.

We'll be back really soon, We promise.

Bigger and Bigger

 This picture of Mackey and Boston was taken in January 1st.

This picture of Mackey and Boston was taken on February 4.

Boston seems to grow taller every day.

Everything in the house is moving to higher ground. Doors are kept closed and gates are up across stairs and hallways. He's curious about everything.

 

The Gnome A Month Club

 So, are you wondering where I've been and what's been keeping me busy besides young Boston? Well I guess I might as well confess. My Ravelry group had a knit-along challenge. We were given a year to make a gnome. I guess I must be a little  obsessive compulsive because when I started my gnome in mid January I suddenly had dozens of ideas swirling in my mind. Then I came up with the brilliant idea of making not one gnome but twelve gnomes, one to represent each month of the year long challenge. OK, that wasn't such a bad idea. I could make a gnome each month for a year. That would be fun.But no, here's where the OCD part come in. I made all 12 gnomes at once. I started mid January and finished the first week of February. Want to meet my gnome family?

Presenting January Gnome...

February Gnome....

March Gnome...

April Gnome....

May Gnome...

June Gnome...

July Gnome...

August Gnome....

September Gnome..

October Gnome...

November Gnome...

December Gnome....

So I'm done with my gnomes and I can go on to obsess over the next project. I'll introduce you to some other obsessions soon.

And just because I can't leave without a pic of Boston.

Oh Boy, Snow!!

 We woke up this morning to several inches of snow. Rob and I were not all that pleased but Boston thinks it's absolutely wonderful. Now when we go out he can toss snow in the air and try to catch it, dig for buried treasure such as sticks, make snow pupangels and leave great yellow markings for whoever comes by.

What do you mean we just came in and can't go out again immediately?

 Well, I'll just wait here until you drink that hot coffee, then we can go out and play again.

Fortunately, he fell asleep while waiting and I got a chance to get a few things done.