Friday August 1 2008

Jerry Mowing our Field

A really beautiful day, but I guess it's not so nice in Pinedale because of smoke from the forest fire. We're a little hazy, but not that bad. The dogs haven't swam in their pool yet. The weather is cool, not out of the mid 80s here and with a breeze it feels very pleasant. I saw the little Tigger cat this morning out hunting in the hayfield. She looked good. Just a glimpse of my face in the window taking her picture sent her scurrying. I slept until after 9 this morning and am slow getting around, but got some laundry started - changing sheets. Just sat and messed with the photo files today. I got July 25 in Yellowstone posted, and be going ahead with the 26th as well. So you can go check those out. It's been so long now that I can't remember much to journal about. That may be just as well. But the photos are there now.

Debbie called and she's doing o.k. Tayler will be gone to college in a couple of weeks now. Beverly called later tonight too.

A very small and very lost sage chick was wandering in the yard for a while this afternoon, peeping plaintively. I hope it found its family and the cats or dogs don't get it. One of my fillings fell out this evening. So there go the plans for never going to the dentist again. And probably will cost another $300 for 10 minutes work. I'm feeling some better tonight, thank goodness.

See Gina's blog today for another look at the forest fire and her comments. It looks like it's progressed into two separate fires now.

http://www.pinedaleonline.com/photogallery/davebell/NewForkLakesFire/home.htm

Thursday July 31 2008

Antelope and Fawns (click it to see better)

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Muddy Creek Summer

Wow, already the end of July. Today we left for town about 10 a.m. Joe had a haircut appointment this morning at 11. While he got his hair cut, I went to the car wash and mailed Beverly's makeup kit that she forgot to take when they left. Then took the dogs for a walk on the bike path, where we nearly got run down by a pack of charging bicycles - a mom and her kids. I saw her again later wheeling her bike through Riudley's while she grocery shopped - that was a first. Saw Charm at the store twice so got to say hi to her. They are getting ready to go on a pack trip with a friend of theirs. And also ran into Barb, Paul and Tharon - so good to see them.

We went for some lunch at the Chinese place. My taste is really gone and nothing tastes good at all. The dogs got the leftovers and enjoyed them, but Raven didn't seem to like the General Tso's Chicken much. We went to the feed store for dog and cat food. And to Dale's to buy a wading pool for the dogs. I'd asked at Ridleys first because I'd seen some there a few days ago, but they were out of them. Dale asked if it was for Joe. Ha!

Last we went up to the clinic and I got the chemo pump taken off. I really like Amy who does that. Got home about 3 p.m. and after putting the groceries away took a nap until dinner time. So..... Now I'm up. Watching the video Pay It Forward. Next is As Good As It Gets with Jack Nicholsen.

It's the birthday of children's fantasy writer J.K. Rowling, born in Yate, England, in 1965. She has written seven novels in the Harry Potter series, a series that has sold nearly 400 million copies. She said, "To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCnAjel02lM
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=yNy9jTeolUk
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A NOTE TO ALL FROM MY DAUGHTER DEBBIE

Debbie


Hi All,

Just wanted to send a quick note to let you know I got the results on my thyroid today -- all is good, no cancer. He did say it was the right thing to do in taking the left side out, I guess the nodule was comprised of cells that can become cancer if left unattended. Anyway I will get a blood test in about 3-4 weeks, to check that the remaining half of the thyroid is producing enough hormone. If not, they will put me on some medication to make the appropriate adjustment.The neck is healing well, the doctor did say that it could be 4-6 months to totally heal. I had to repeat that back to him thinking he meant to say 4-6 weeks, but he did say months. Do you think Curtis will buy the fact that I'm still sick for that much longer? (hee, hee!)Thank you all again for your love and prayers. Love, Deb

Wednesday July 30 2008

New Fork Fire last night - what a bonfire

I swiped this one off Pinedaleonline

Although sunny and pleasant, the wind is blowing this afternoon and I keep thinking of what is happening with the fire. At the moment the smoke from it isn't coming over here.

Today was mostly a total loss for me. My eyes especially -they look like they will start bleeding any moment.The skin on my hands is like leather and starting to crack and just peel off so that's quite sore to try and do anything with my fingers. Since its a quiet time day, I sat and tried to get some of the emails caught up, but didn't even get that done very well. Got a pile of paperwork sorted through. Not doing anything about the TVs yet, so its nice and quiet. Joe's kind of lost without it though, and I miss mine in the night when I'm awake. Figured I'd better wait to call tech support until I get my brain back.

Got an angel in my house yesterday and today. Bonnie is cleaning and she is a busy bee, doing a good job. Everywhere she has worked is clean and shining. She's working for about 4 hours in the morning. I don't know how she gets so much done in a short time. Especially when I compare it to what I can do anymore. Well obviously I just can't do that any more. She's probably more than half done and will come back again next Tuesday. She wants to trade artwork for the cleaning bill.

Sparky has had a lump near his tail for a couple of years I thought was some kind of growth, cyst or tumor, but I haven't wanted to put him through any vet trauma with it since it didn't seem to be sore or bothering him. Joe got a good look at it and said he thought it was a grub worm, and called my attention to it and that it now had a hole in it like those do when the worm is ready to come out. I got to looking at it and squeezed on it and out it came, perhaps and inch and a quarter long. Very unpleasant. I squeezed until nothing more would come out - gross stuff -a grainy yellow-gray substance - eggs? offal? some kind of hardened puss? Anyway it is out and got the hair cut away and doctored it up. It never seemed to hurt him and didn't bleed much. Will watch for any signs of infection that may require a trip to Dr. Susie. Then I gave him a good brushing and got wads of hair off. He was like a big wooly mat and just laid there and reveled in the attention. He's also getting those needle grass stickers in him. They are awful to go right into their skin. It took about an hour and a half to work on him including the "surgery". Raven also got brushed and was relieved there was no toenail cutting. They got a slice of cheese each for being good boys. Sparky had to remind me and insisted I open the fridge door or I'd have forgotten to give it to them.

Sandra invited us to come to their cabin at South Pass with a group of friends for a bbq on Sunday, so think I might like to do that. Some horse friends have come from Alabama. Don is a farmer and Donna is a horse trainer and gives riding lessons. Dave and his mother Sue and her cousin Debbie will also go, so it should be very enjoyable.

AND another invitation to go on a 4 day sightseeing trip over to E. Wyo. with Judi - also leaving Sunday. What to do? The answer came when Edis called and wants to come over next Monday night for a couple of days. She said she would come but we hadn't set a date yet. So although I will miss the trip with Judi, I'm looking forward to seeing Edis soon. I will think positive about going to Sandra's cabin. Summer is always busy here when it is so short and everyone tries to cram as much in as possible.

It was on this day in 1954 that Elvis Presley made his debut in what is called "the first rock 'n' roll show" in history. He had played publicly before at a crowded music club, but this was his first performance at a real venue.

http://fortmeyer.blogspot.com/ - Watch Judy's progress on a wonderful new cougar painting on her blogspot.

Updates on the fire and some pictures: http://www.pinedaleonline.com/#firemancaused
http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2008/07/FirenearNewForkLake.htm

Got this note from a friend about the “Ballgirl” video I sent out earlier. It seems that it was a clip from a commercial that was made but never shown. The Ball girl was a stunt woman that had wires attached to her so she could make that spectacular looking catch. http://www.snopes.com/photos/advertisements/ballgirl.asp

Forest Fire Near New Fork Lake - Tuesday

Near Bondurant

Before the Rim

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At Bondurant

Near 40 Rod

From South of Pinedale

From Near Boulder

As we came home from Jackson on the shuttle, when we got through the Hoback and out past the hills that obscured it we could see a huge plume of smoke and cummulous cloud to the north. At first could not tell exactly where it was but soon could see that it was just south of New Fork Lakes. I got some pictures through the window. We did not see it at about 10 a.m. It started about 2 p.m. at this point it's been burning for less than 3 hours. This is what happens to the beetle infested trees which have died in the last several years. Just sitting there waiting for a spark. You can go to http://www.pinedaleonline.com/ to see some photos and read about it. The radio KPIN said 40 acres but it has to be much bigger than that.

Also see Gina and Sally's blogs to know what they are saying about it. The ranch they were raised on is in the way. Sally says the Butner's from Box R are getting cattle out horseback.(Their parents are our neighbors at the Parkinson Place at Buckskin Crossing.) Awful, not to mention dangerous! The original Box R lodge burned down some years back and a fine collection of Carl Runguis paintings were lost. He used to go there to paint.

Tuesday July 29 2008

Horses at the Kramer Place

It's another beautiful day out. Got up to around 85 degrees. Today is chemo day. Brought the laptop and am blogging in my chemo chair. Joe had to wake me up this morning. Last night I hardly slept until morning. Watched the trilogy of Sarah Plain and Tall. It is good. Left the house about 8:15 so had to drive a little faster than usual to meet the shuttle at Stanley's. Got there in plenty of time.

Passed Bonnie coming into the house for her first day of house cleaning. Joe will be helping her find the things she needs. We waved - will talk to her later. -----Yes, Bonnie called after I got home and sounds like she went like a whirlwind while she was here. All the cabinets and pine paneling cleaned and some of the windows and the living room ceiling. Maybe even more than that. She is coming back to do more in the morning. .

Arrived maybe 15 minutes early and had taken one of the special window cloths so cleaned all the dog nose prints off the windows. Yesterday I had spruced up the inside of the SUV and put the seats down which had been up for company, so the dogs won't get on them now, and I had time to brush out the floors and clean the dash. It looks a lot better.

Poor Al the driver had gone all the way down to Big Piney and those passengers didn't show up. Anyway Bob and I traveled to Jackson from Stanley's in the shuttle. We arrived just about 11 when was when my appointment was set. They had a little trouble getting my port to flow, but got it fixed and the chemo is dripping. This is the second or third time for that - getting a small clot in the port. Will have the pump for two more days again.

Ordered the special lasagna for lunch with a salad and it was good - except it was supposed to come with asparagus and they must have run out, because I got mixed veggies. Soon in the afternoon I started having more symptoms earlier than usual, diarreah, runny nose, burning eyes. They had given me the usual benedryl and Tylenol. But Paige put some anti-diarreal stuff right into my IV. She says sometimes one of the chemos will start a savage diarreah and it needs to be stopped right away. It worked. I sure didn't want to have to make the bus stop on the side of the road! My legs were also extremely uncomfortable and cramping. That went away after a few hours. I'm o.k. tonight.

We had no sooner got on the bus and gone a couple of blocks before the pump stopped working and began to beep. It's a computerized thing. Al turned the bus around and took us back to the hospital where Paige found the tube was clamped - I had looked at that and thought it was o.k. but not - She got it reprogramed in quick time and back on the bus to go home.

I shopped for groceries at Ridley's on the way home. The usual ETA at home was 7 p.m. Fixed a fruit smoothie for dinner about 9. Joe has a haircut appointment on Thursday and I will go along with him to get the pump taken off at the Pinedale Clinic.

Still Monday July 28 2008

US

Photo taken by Judi at Charm's

Oh why not just confuse everyone with two blogs today. Just wanted to let you know that Gloria and Beverly arrived safely but very early at the Salt Lake Airport. Returned their rental car which had over another hundred dollars in taxes and fees tacked on to the bill. Gloria is flying out just about now 5 p.m. ish, and Beverly will go about 7:30. They both have to go to work in the morning. I left a message for Debbie. I think this is the day she was to go back to the doctor and get her pathology results.

Bonnie, who has offered to clean my house came over this afternoon to check and see what all I wanted done in the way of the cleaning. I am so very grateful to her for offering and making time in her busy life to do such a huge job. She's going to start in the morning. I have to go to Jackson, so Joe is going to be here. This is a great relief to know the house will be clean. Bonnie took a bunch of the Iris bulbs and that got the pile of them out of the yard.

Carol from Nebraska called - she used to work at the lodge for the people who bought from us, and then for the next owners too. She is a cook. She has pulmonary fibrosis (or something like that - not sure I heard her right) and is on oxygen. She hasn't been well for a while, but this is something much more serious and started with pneumonia and two collapsed lungs, so I could sure relate to that. She will always be on oxygen now. She also got ill in October about the time all mine started. So no wonder we hadn't heard from each other. I have to call her back because I jumped out of the shower to answer the phone, and Bonnie was coming any instant.

Betty also called so I called her back after dinner and we had a good visit. She hadn't called but once during the time my family was here. Fixed Joe one of his favorites - hot German potato sald for dinner.