Sick Odda!

Took Odda to the vet today.  She tested positive for Lime disease and Anaplasmosis.  She is now on doxycycline medicine and a pain med, and after the doxy is done, she'll be on Amoxicillin.  I also bought some canned dog food, as she hasn't eaten and has lost 7 lbs.  Poor dog ~ I feel so bad for her.  I needed to have her eat some dog food so we could get the pills into her, and it's easier to hide the pills in with wet dog food.  If she figures that out, I'll have to get the pills into her by putting them way on the back of her tongue, holding her head up and getting her to swallow.  The doctor said she should be feeling better soon and if she isn't getting around better in a couple of days, to get back to them.   She ate the canned dog food good after we got home.  Tomorrow I'll mix the wet food with her dry food, so she won't hate it so bad when the canned food is all gone!  Her temp was 104.5 F, so she was very feverish.  Anything over 102  is high. To get her into the SUV was something.  I had to lift her into the car and out again.   She is a heavy dog when all dead weight.  You can tell she hurts as it takes awhile to get up from laying down and sitting down.
The vet suggest that since this area is so bad for tick borne diseases, that along with the monthly use of Frontline, we should also use a tick/flea collar and daily or each time they go outside to also spray or wipe repellant daily around their neck, head and top of head area where Frontline doesn't get too.  So now we'll be doing that for both dogs, and we'll be watching Hooch closely too, to make sure we catch it quick if he starts to show any symptoms.  They are:  lameness; fever; swollen, very painful joints; loss of appetite; can have kidney failure; vomiting and diarrhea.
Friend Connie and Gene have gone through this with Chance last fall.  He has recovered nicely, so I think that Odda will too.

So that's the update on Odda ~ I'll keep you posted to how she is doing.

Good Morning Saturday!

 A nice bright winter / spring day.  Snow better start melting today, as we're all so tired of looking at this - -

From our driveway looking south.  Everyone's car dragged in the middle; the plows finally plowed the road on Wednesday afternoon.  Now there is dirt peeking through.  Notice - there aren't even any snowmobile tracks in this snow!  The snowmobilers are tired of winter too!!!!

This is what I've been working on this past week.  A lap quilt for a special girl that is graduating from high school this spring.  Pretty colors, huh?  Hope she'll like it.  Think I'll have someone machine quilt it.  It's too big to do on my little machine, and I don't want to have a messy job.  Sometimes I don't get even stitches.

Odda had an eye infection earlier this week, but now doing fine.  Maybe allergies?  She is now TWO years old.  Our big baby! 

Her coat is nice and shiney (except for the white area), and I can't wait to take her to the groomers for a bath.  We'll wait until all the snow is gone, and things are greening up.  We laugh at her because she walks around puddles, mud and the brown grassey areas.  She finds her way walking on the snow - well soon that should all be gone.  Hooch doesn't care where he walks.  We have towels at each doorway to wipe them dry.   

Amanda with Odda when we brought her home!   

Hope you all have a great weekend.

A Valentine Card!

 We got our first card for this Valentine season!

Isn't she just the cutest pup!   Leah, Steve and Amanda got a new puppy yesterday.  Leah is our oldest daughter, blog site: livingitupcountry.blogspot.com, and they had several pets and horses.  They lost a beloved pet Rudy, and this little girl just happened to become available, so a new member to their family, and of course, they visited this morning to meet Odda and Hooch.

Pretty soon, she'll be larger than Odda!  She is so soft and cuddly.   A different kind of hair than Odda.  Of course, she has her puppy coat, so I wonder what it will be like when she gets bigger.   She liked our dogs, so I'm sure we'll be visiting often!

I'm busy getting food and stuff ready for our card party.  Will post some pictures tomorrow. 
Have a great evening.  Our day has been wonderful here temperature wise.  It's in the high 30's!!!!!   whoopee!!!

Your Cereal Is Better Than Mine!

I got up and walked into the kitchen to see this! 

Odda thought that Steve's cereal was better than the dog food she was suppose to eat.  Steve had gotten up to get his toast buttered, and Odda must have put her paw or mouth by the bowl, because she tipped it and milk and cereal spilled all over.  She had a great time licking milk up from the floor.   Neither one of us saw it happen.   Opps!    I let her help clean it up a little before I dug in and cleaned the mess up!  Another good reason to wash the floor!

Had bell practice tonight at the Catholic church.  They are short on players because so many of their players are on vacations South, so I've been a substitute player there on Wednesday evenings, as well as playing for my church on Tuesdays.  We play bells on the third Sunday at our church, (Methodist) and I'll be playing for the Catholic church again this month on the fourth Sunday.  It's fun to play different bells, and have the challenge of different music.  I've been moving around the treble and bass clef music and that's a good challenge.  Just to remember which bells I'm playing sometimes can be a challenge!  If you've never heard a bell choir, you're missing out.  The music is beautiful.

Also have been busy making a couple of things for prizes for our Whist card party we're having this Saturday evening.  A Valentine party!  It's been so long since we've played whist, that we've had to practice!  It should be a good time.  I've invited 5 other couples, so we'll have 3 tables going.  It will be tight squeeze for our house, but that'll make it more fun also.  Will have 2 tables in the kitchen, and 1 in the living room.  I have to take out one lazyboy rocker to make room.  But we'll all be within talking distance, so no one will be off in another room somewhere.  I'm going to have a female and male prizes for winners, and losers.  I suppose I should decorate a little for Valentines too!  Don't have that done yet.

Oh, already mid week -  it's getting closer to spring!!!!!!!

Naughty or Talented!

Good girl.  Pictures were taken out of our kitchen window, so they may be a little fussy.  Odda is laying there nicely,  but a few minutes later I looked out again and this is what I found!

Laying nicely INSIDE the garage!   We've had trouble with her using her paws to open the lever door knobs on the garage, but only once caught her in the act, and I didn't have my camera then.  She has been scolded and scolded, but what can you say!  We will be replacing the lever knobs with regular round knobs.  Then we'll really see how talented she is!!!!!

 Oh, you're not mad at me, are you?

We have locked the door, and watched her try the lever with her paw, and when that didn't work, she used her mouth.  It was so funny to watch.  I didn't have my camera handy then either.  She seems to hear us when we're at the window, so we have to be really quiet!

We have been busy fixing up an old wagon so that she will be able to pull it.  I need to get some pictures.  Steve had started working on the wagon when I told him about her not having any trouble with the harness.  I've worked several days with her in a harness, and dragging heavy rope behind her.  I thought she might get skidish with the dragging rope - she turned to look at it a few times, but she readlly didn't have trouble with it,  and listened well.  She is ready for this new adventure of pulling a wagon.  We are rigging up our garden wagon that has four fat tires on it, but will still beable to use it as a garden wagon later.   More pictures later on that project.

A cooler Saturday here.  I think our little January thaw is over and it's starting to cool down again.  It did help to settle the snow some.  How you all have a great weekend.  jo

Won a giveaway and a good day - The Sun is Out!

I won a give away from Ginny Diesel at That Creative Place and received this in the mail this weekend!  Isn't it cute.  Canvas is painted and with a poly pumpkin.  How did she know that I like Halloween.  Even    

got some M & M's!  Thank you so much Ginny. 

I also finished my Halloween throw (or it can be a tablecloth) this past week.  I started it last year, but had not finished the binding or cutting and tieing all the threads.  At this time of the year, I miss having the girls around.  We used to decorate so much more - fall and Halloween yard stuff, etc.  So my new gift and quilt will be the extent of my Halloween decorating this year.  Until Oct 31, when I MAY put on my witch costume for the trick or treaters!

Took some pictures of Steve going out to the barn.  Odda always stands below the steps while he puts on his rubber boots over his boots.   Barks at him, telling him to hurry up!   Then she jumps all over - just like when someone comes to visit.  She is so happy to have company. 

Then you have to stop to pet and rub her back or she'll keep jumping.  Ya, I know I need to stop this habit.

Then she gets some lovin! 

Then she's ok to go! ! ! !

Today the sun is out.  Think if things dry up, I need to mow again or maybe go for another drive today!

I read my friends blog, and read that she is a bit cranky, so think we need to go for a ride by ourselves! 

Have a great Sunday! 

Odda Passed her CGC testing!

Good job Odda!

Our Odda, Bernese Swiss Mountain Dog, at 1 year 4 mos of age has passed her Canine Good Citizen testing.  We had missed the original testing date, so this was a makeup date and she was the only one tested today.  Our dog trainer Susan is moving back to Yuma Arizona and leaving Monday morning.  I was so glad that she took the time out of her busy schedule to test Odda. 

Leah and Lennie went with for moral support.  We were at Heartland Park where there are several picnic areas, play grounds, tennis courts, and boat ramp.  There is a lot of parking there, as the park is adjacent to the Heartland Trails that is a walking and biking trail.  It connects several towns, so this park is always busy. 

We went an hour early, as it has been a month since I've had Odda to town, I was worried she'd be really hyper.  It was very warm and muggy out and by the time that Susan got there with her clip board and ready to test, Odda was doing just fine!   Here's the rules::::   The dog cannot fail any of these 10 items on the test:  1.  Accepting a friendly stranger: where they shake hands with the handler. Does not touch the dog.  2.  Sitting politely for petting: Evaluator pets the dog, dog must show no shyness or resentment.  Also several strangers asked to pet her before Susan came, and she did great.  3.  Appearance and grooming:  Evaluator inspects the dog, combs or brushes lightly, examines ears and each front foot.  4.  Out for a walk: Handler takes dog for short walk including right turn, left turn, about turn and stop.  5.  Walking through a crowd:  Dog and handler walk close to several people; dog may show casual interest by not jump up.  6.  Sit and down on command/Staying in place:  Handler shows dog can do sit and down, then chooses a position, leaves dog and goes to the end of a 20 ft line and then return.  7.  Coming when called:  With dog on 20 ft line from test 6, handler walks out 10 ft and calls the dog.  Handler cannot pull lead, dog has to come willingly.  8.  Reaction to another dog:  Two handlers and dogs approach, shake hands, exchange pleasantries, move on.  Dogs can only show casual interest.  9.  Reaction to distractions:  Distractions are presented; dog may not panic or show aggression.   (If your dog growls or yips at any time they automatically fail -  even if this would happen before evaluator actually started testing, and was in area to hear or see.)  10. Handler goes out of sight for 3 minutes, while dog is held on lead by an evaluator. 

I'm glad I've taken Odda to dog classes.  We've met some wonderful people and their dogs.  Now we'll have to try other training classes as they become available.  I do want to start Odda in harness and pulling, but want to do it correctly, so need to do some investigating as to where we need to go for good training, etc.  If it's not available somewhat near, we may have to try agility or something else.  I think if I'd thought of it,  that Hooch (our Jack Russell) would also have passed this test.   Do you know Far Side and Chance the Border Collie?  I also think that Chance should have gone for testing, as I know he would also have passed.   This test wasn't as strick as the Obedience testing, and sure is good for all dogs and their owners. 

You know, at the dog training classes, most of the training is for the owners!   As an owner of a pet, we humans sure can do a lot of wrong things, creating monsters out of pets.  It's so gratifiying for a trainer when at the completion of a session of classes, where dogs and handlers are able to do it all.  In the classes that Odda and I attended this last year, we had a couple that were handicapped and had just gotten a Pug puppy.  It was so fun to watch them progress with the rest of us.  Husband and wife would take turns as they would get tired out.  Mr. used a cane and couldn't bend over to help teach the pup to sit.  Well, it didn't take long for that puppy to learn that just a tap on it's top hip from the cane meant that she needed to sit.  It was so cute.  This little pupply learned that she had to go very slow and she learned it all by the end of that 6 week session.  

In July - before cutting up her nose!

Babies and More

Sister in law and her granddaughters came over yesterday for me to help the older girl with learning how to crochet.  She can make a very good chain, but struggled with getting the single crochet.  With some practice she'll do great.  Before they left, the girls wanted to see the baby pigs.  They are so cute. 

The girls didn't want to hold them-petting was enough. 

At this age (less than a week) they are so soft.

Getting ready for the state fair. 

Next Friday granddaughter Amanda will be showing her pig at the MN State Fair.  Her last year.  Last of an era!   Now the other kids in the county will be saying - "So glad the Nilson families are all done!"  Our girls and grand kids have done very well at the county fair and state fairs throughout the past years.  For me, I'm having the same feelings like I did when the last daughter graduated and was leaving the nest.  Makes me teary eyed!  After this year, won't have the need to go to the state fair 4-H show; but I bet we may go down to watch other local kids that have bought pigs from us.  But it won't be the same for me.

We have had so many good years with our girls and Blake and Amanda.  4-H events, fairs, and open class showes have been our family time to get together.  I'm sure daughter Leah and I will both have some good pictures from the state fair to share with you all next week.

Another picture of Odda with her sore nose.  She and Hooch have been digging under things, and her big nose is getting scraped and cut.  Now is scabby and sore.  Not so pretty in pictures until her nose heals up.

   

I've been so busy this week, mowing between rain showers.  Have cut out flannel for a new quilt.  Those pictures to come. Tomorrow, Sat. I get to take Odda to town for make up date for testing for CGC (Canine Good Citizen).  We were out of town on the original date.  I sure hope she passes.

Hope you all have a great weekend.  jo

Clean Dog Is A Good Thing!

A clean dog is a Nice Thing! 

It was so nice to take Odda to the groomer and have them give her a bath, good brushing, trim hair on feet and do her nails.  They said she was a good girl, but she did put her "brakes" on when they were putting her in the bath tub!  I took her at 8 in the morning and picked her up at 4 pm.  Now the white is brilliant white and she is so nice and shinny.  She really needed her day at the spa!  She looks 10 lbs lighter now without all her winter coat!  We'll have to do this again, so she isn't so afraid of the bathing. 

We had our dog schooling in the evening - and she did great.  She was tired from her day out, and behaved perfectly.  Wish last night would have been the testing for Canine Good Citizen - she did great in everyting.    One thing that will cause her to not pass in testing for CGC is when a stranger comes up to talk to me.  She always wants to greet them too!  That is not wanted in the testing.  So we'll keep on practicing and we'll see how testing goes.  Our CGC testing will be done on a Saturday toward the end of June.  I even had my camera there, but forgot to carry it.  Will carry it around my neck next Tuesday, so I'll remember to use it. 

On this past weekend, I took both dogs to town to walk on the "Heartland Trail": a biking, walking trail that used to be a RR track, now changed to a recreationa trail that goes many miles through many towns.  I met up with three others from dog training, as an extra outing for our dogs.  Before leaving the house my husband thought I should take Hooch with too, as he gets left home so much.  So off I went with both dogs.

Well, I thought all was going well, we all got dogs unloaded, leashed and down to the trail and not far into our walk, my two dogs, still hadn't settled down into the pattern of two dogs on left side, walking at heel position, and I tripped over the small one "Hooch" and what a bummer.  Skinned up both knees, with the right one the worst, scratched up my face a little, with bad scratches on the right lenses of my glasses.  I had to just sit on the ground for awhile to get my bearings!  Two young ladies stopped to help and gathered up my dogs leashes.  One was an athletic trainer and told me to get ice on it right, etc. etc.   But I needed to see if I could walk!  Well, after getting up and re adjusting my glasses, we did walk.  I walked for an hour on this bum knee. I did quit before the others, and after I got in the car and started out of the park I knew that I needed to stop at the grocery store to get some frozen veggies to put on this bad knee.  It swelled up like a volleyball!  Couldn't bend it!  Well, it doesn't look much better now.  I'm black (purple) and blue from mid tigh to almost my ankle - it looks really nasty.  The swelling is going down some, but I'm still gympy, and not walking real good.  I can bend it, but CAN'T kneel.  Now also, my left foot big joint by big toe really hurts and is black and blue, and I have a tender spot on the left knee.  I didn't go to the doctor, but figured if I'd broken something, I wouldn't be able to walk at all.  I'm still putting cold on it occassionally, and taking Ibuprophen.   Don't think there's much else the doctor would do.  So I'll just take my time and wait for it to heal up.   I stopped at the eye doctor to order a new lens (less than a month since I got my new glasses)!  Hope I'm not going to be hobbling along all summer!  Way to go Jo! 

My Yard

Happy Odda!  In the shade!  When I'm out in the yard, she's my tail - has to be next to me, until our Jack Russel, Hooch wants to play.  Then they run and chase each other, play bity face, and tug of war with one of the toys.  Then she comes back to cool off and lay still for awhile. 

Took her in to the groomers for her first groomer bath.  I hope she's being a good girl.  We're having scattered showers today, so I think I'll let her in the house today, so she stays clean for awhile.

My one poppy plant.  Looks like I will have six flowers before it's done.  That's great.  This is the best it has ever looked.  Love the tissue paper thin flower pedals.  So pretty.  I would love to get more plants going.  Maybe it will reseed this year.

My iris plants are blooming later than everyone elses.  Finally got some weeding done!!!!

Love the rich purple colors.  They are so vibrant!

We've been trimming up the limbs on the big pine trees.  I planted two the year we got married (1970) and they must be 40' - 50' tall now.  Sure do like them.  In later years have planted 4 others and they are not as big.  In fact, one, is growing crooked now because a strong wind during a storm uprooted it and we didn't

 get it pulled back.   Now I need to rake up all the pine needles and clean up the old pile of wood that is

for the burn pit.

I was glad to have Steve come help me remove branches, and help to cut them!  This took all afternoon!

Glad it is done,  now just the final clean up!

Wet Dogs Stink & Good Luck Blake

Impossible to keep dogs dry when all it does is rain!  Odda had a bath a couple of weeks ago, but you'd never know it!  I know that when she drys off tonight, inside her kennel, she won't look so bad in the morning, but if the sun doesn't come out tomorrow will be another day like today.  I brushed her yesterday, and her 3rd coat is really falling out now that it's warming up, but still more hair to come out.  I can't wait until it's nice out again, so she gets a bath again.  At least then she might stay clean for a few days!

She always wants to be as close to you as she can (which means she rubs and leans into you), and you don't stand a chance of staying clean!!!!!  Sometimes I can keep her under control, but other times she's just too excited to see me!  Hooch is dirty now too.  It doesn't help that we have a lot of black dirt and sand as the new garage has not started to go up yet.  Too much rain lately and our cement guy hasn't been able to get here.  I can't reseed any grass until most of the construction is done.  So our spring and summer is going to be messy around here.  If it drys off this weekend, hopefully our cement guy will be framing this weekend or the first of the week.  I know that this rain has put them behind too, so we just wait.

Working on replacing a pole here at the farm.

Grandson Blake stopped in to visit this afternoon.  Leah's son, and he moves tomorrow south to his new job.  He has to be at his new apartment at 8 in the morning to meet the cable TV guy to hook up his tv.  Blake is real excited about his new job.  He starts Monday morning as a lineman at a rural electric company.
His past 2 years experience will help, but he'll learn a lot at his new job; as his old job was construction and no "hot" lines. Now he'll be working what they call distribution, and he'll learn about rerouting power, working on installing underground, and repair of underground and overhead lines, overhead and underground transformers and there's a lot more.  We're so excited and proud of him too, as he starts his new job.   Good Luck Blake!

Yesterdays Woes!

Update on Odda!  She is doing well.  Steve will be taking her back to the vet on Friday the 12th to get her stitches out.

 

Don't ya just lover her cone!  With all this snow we have when she goes outside it works as a good scoop!  I laugh at her because I have to clean the snow out when she comes in!  Just a few more days Odda!  Then you'll be able to run around without that thing, and you won't bump into everything in the house.  You'll be able to go EVERYWHERE!  I'll be thinking about her when I'm down south, wondering how all is going.  I'd like to be a mouse in the car and at the vet when Steve takes her there!  I'm sure if she will need to continue to have more ointment put in her eye area, that he'll need to have either Leah or neighbor Connie (Far Side) come help him!

Yesterday I was having a bad day!  It started on Sunday, when I was washing clothes, the washing machine made an awful noise when spinning the water out, and I thought maybe it was off balance due to the load, so I repositioned the clothes, and it didn't help.  I thought maybe I was in trouble, but that was the last wash load for the day.  Had mentioned to Steve, that we might have a problem, but I'd know for sure when I would wash the next load.  Well - that was yesterday, and we were in trouble.  I'm trying to get ready for my trip, and had a load in the washer.  I didn't hear any noise, so kind of forgot about it, but when I went downstairs to check, I found a tub full of water, and the timer said off.  So the timer worked the whole cycle, but the clothes were still there in a tub of wash water.  I called where I'd bought the washer and dryer in March of 2007 (so it wasn't over 3 years old!), and asked if they could send a repair man out yesterday or today, as I was going to be leaving on Wednesday and needed to get caught up on laundry and get ready for my trip.  I emptied the water out by using a cottage cheese plastic bowl, and scooped the water into an ice cream bucket and then emptied it into the drain!  That took awhile.  Wring out clothes - boy I'm not very good at that.  My hands just don't twist wet clothes very well any more. 

The repair man came before 10:30 am and took it all apart and found that the transmission went out.  EXPENSIVE!  darn! It was quoted something over $365.00 for this trip,  part and install.  So we bought a new machine for  just under $600.00.   Now we have a warranty for 1 year again.   Three years ago when we needed a new set, I had wanted to get a front loading set, but where we have the washer and dryer, there wasn't enough space, so I had to get a top loading set.  They have the energy star, so I'll get a $25.00 rebate from our utility.  It's just too darn bad, that these appliances can't be made to last longer!  It just irks me, that the money spent on these appliances and they don't last long.  Like how can washing for two people wear out a transmission in just 3 years.  We've had washers and dryers last 15 years when we had all 5 of us here!   The new machine is exactly the same, the only new feature is that you don't choose the water level you want, it does it automatically (something else to go wrong later!), and if you open the lid after the washer has started, then it adds more water to a higher level.....  That's just down right stupid!  I need to change my way of starting a load now.  Depending on what I washed, I sometimes added the soap first and then the clothes after the tub was started filling.  Can't do that now.  Now put clothes in, soap and shut the lid!   I'm  sure I'll get used to it, and it'll save on water.  I'm sure that is what the feature is for.  Saving water, as I know that each wash load at the regular level uses 40 gallons of water for each the wash and rinse load. Learned that when we sold washers and dryers at work.  That is a lot of water.

I propbably wouldn't be so anxious about having spent this money on a new washer or repair if I hadn't just put new tires on my car for over $600.00 and then Odda's surgery at $292.00!   Dah - my saving for a rainy day is now pretty empty.  And I wanted at least $200.00 for spending money on my trip!  Oh well - we'll eat beans and bacon for awhile after I get home and get that savings built back up again!

I did have a good email yesterday.  I won a gift certificate from a local very nice restraurant (that we haven't been too) from the POWER UP group that Leah and I have joined through the Community Education.  I'll go pick it up today when I go to town for bell practice this afternoon/evening. This is the multi-community wellness challenge that we are doing.  In fact I am doing ok with this challenge.  Just some trouble yet with "Grazing" once in awhile.  I need to pick Grazing for my next week challenge.  I've got the Water down pretty good, drinking over 64 oz every day.  When you drink that much water, you don't even want pop.  Still need to exercise more tho.  My back has been giving me fits the past 2 weeks, so haven't done anything but walk.  I had lifted too much, and couldn't move for a couple of days.  Getting better, but still hurts getting up and down even from the sitting position (especially from the couch, as it's lower than a chair).   Hope I don't have trouble on my trip!  

Shoot Me! 5 of 52 Challenge

 Here I am with Odda the other night.  This is the day before she had her surgery. 

Now after surgery she has to stay in the house - just goes out to go potty, and play a little.  She hates it!  Her cone collar lasted  one day before it cracked completely.  She bumps into everything!  Poor girl.  So we duck taped it back together.  Her eye looks pretty good, still swollen somewhat.  Steve will be taking her to get her stitches out on the 12th.  She is suppose to wear the collar until that time!

She is so clutsy with this collar on.  Bumps into everything, and she always wants to be so close to everyone.  She wants to be rubbed, and she'll come up to you, rub against your leg, and then turn so her back is where she wants rubbing.  Her head with this cone is then usually caught up with the corner of the table, the computer keyboard, or the edge of the chair.  Then the cone snaps, and so far, when she's inside, it hasn't cracked.  The cold outside here doesn't help - the plastic snaps and breaks real easy when she bumps something.  Oh for good duck tape!  It fixes almost everything!

Here she is stealing Hooch's food (after eating all of hers).   I let her eat some, so I could get a picture.  I took her for a good walk Tuesday, and will do it again today.  Yesterday I could hardly move, so I was not moving very good.  Not even enought to take her for her walk.  I slept pretty good last night, so we'll go for a walk today.  Think I pulled a muscle in my left side low and couldn't even get up and walk upright for 2 days now.  We'll see how today goes.

Week 2 being accountable/week 1 of POWER community challenge and Odda

 Being involved with two challenges for living a healthier lifestyle (replacing the dreaded diet word) is making me accountable if to no one else - ME!  I've been doing really good this past two weeks, except today was not so good.  I had 2 cokes today, and 1 candy bar!  Bad Girl! - but it was a mixed up day, and I couldn't cook and was on the road. 
Our Odda has had a bum eye for about 2 weeks, the right eye (not the eye itself, but the area around the eye) was all swollen, and hair rubbed off.  At first I thought she'd punctured the upper lid with a branch or something, but our local vet thought it was a dermatitis type thing going on and we'd been giving her antibiotics, and after a week there was no change.  You could tell it itched or bothered her because she was rubbing it with the side of her paw, and on our pant legs, etc.  It has been swollen shut, and she did not always open her eye up, and this morning it was pussy.  Our vet is on vacation, so I called the Vet hospital out of town that he recommended and drove the 60 miles there to have them check it out.  They determined that she has  Entropion of the lower eye lid; which is where the eye lid is turning under and scratching her eye, and very irritating.   I'd called about 10 am and they wanted to see her at 1 pm, so that meant I was on the road during dinner time, and didn't even have time to fix something for Steve.  He was outside cleaning the barn, so told him where Odda and I were going and off we went.  So now Odda is scheduled for surgery on Monday Feb 1st and needs to be there at 7:30 am - another car ride early in the morning.   The doctor said it isn't uncommon for large dogs to have this happen, and there was nothing we did wrong!  (Thank goodness.)  They will pull the lid out, do a little clip/cut of extra lid, and sew her up.  He called it a little plastic surgery.  She'll come home with a cone on, so will be staying inside a few nights then.  As long as she is under they are going to do a prelim OFA check also, saving me about $60.00 as she is already under.  They said she was such a good girl.  I told him we were doing obedience training now, and he said she was better behaved than any other 9 month old large dog he's seen for a long time.  So I had to let Sue (our dog teacher) know that Odda wouldn't be there for 3 to 4 weeks.   Odda has been doing so good at classes, and I was going to have our daughter come this week and take pictures of us and all the dogs.  Oh well, that will have to wait.

Didn't get home until 3:30 pm and husband was getting ready to head to Iowa.  He was loading a couple of young boars to take to a boar stud station.  He's staying overnight at friends, and then the two of them will be driving to Iowa and back tomorrow.  It was Hi and Bye again as I had to be in town to practice bells at 5 pm and had to leave home before 4:30 pm.  Didn't get home again until after 7 pm.  So that was my day.  Had left overs for a supper by myself, and had Odda inside, thinking maybe she could stay in all night.  But she wanted to go out.  So I put in her eye ointment in twice before putting her in her kennel now at 9:30 pm.  Her house is nice and warm, but not as warm as being inside.  After her surgery, she'll just have to stay inside overnight and sleep by the door.  We'll need to be able to watch over her more then. 

So my day of not eating well today is over, and on with the program better tomorrow.  If I'd thought straight, I'd have taken  cut up celery and carrots in a baggie with, or make and take a sandwich with.   It's not that it wasn't available.  I did drink water, but did have a diet coke on the way there, and the way home.   Other than today, I've really cut back on the pop, which is good, and I feel better for it. 

So I'm being accountable for what I'm doing; and also on week one of our community POWER UP challenge.  POWER stands for
P-rotein/produce; O-ptimism; W-ater; E-xercise; Resist grazing.  Leah, went with me to sign up for this at our Community Education office.  We will report every Monday on how we are doing.  You grade yourself from 1 - 5 on how you feel you are doing each day for each of the POWER catagories.  You pick 2 goals each week  and mine for this week are:  Water - drink 8 - 8 oz glasses of water daily, and reducing the cola drinks.  Doing fine on this goal (except for today- so my number today for Water will be a 4.  2nd Goal this week is Proten/produce - eat protein and veggies with each meal.  Well - today that was a bust!  So grade today will be a 1.   My Optimism today will be a 3 and Exercise a 0 and Resist grazing a 2, as I'm not grazing tonight!

So it goes - A busy day and not planned, but I'm going to pack up some celery and carrots in baggies and have them ready to grab when I go out the door unplanned.  That will help.  Need to dig out the water bottles and have some ready to take too.  Then I won't be so tempted to stop at a gas station to get munchies.

The drive to the Vet Hosp. was pretty, and the drive home was not so nice.  It was blowing snow and getting slippery.

On our way to the Vet Hosp.

This one is on the way home - icey roads and blowing over. 

Odda slept the whole way home.  She is such a good traveler. 

More again another day!

She's Still Growing!

Odda - Our Bernese Swiss Mountain Dog now is now 6 months old. She got bigger the week we were gone - we sure could see the difference, she's filling out more.

Each day I let her inside for awhile. I want her to know what she can do and can not do inside. She does behave very well. Today I had to comb out some burrs that were in her tail and a couple by one of her ears. Don't want those nasty things to get a head start on me and our brushing her. We've had to deal with cutting them out on one of our other dogs years ago, and I hate doing that. Odda now has the upper hand in size over Hooch (Jack Russell), but Hooch can still put her in her place! Hooch is the boss....




Odda can look over the kitchen table, and we'll have to make sure there isn't food there when she comes in. She had to back out this time - instead of walk right through! Not enough room with chairs in the way. She used to crawl through the chairs too --not any more!!

In the mornings she is so excited and happy to see us, but then in awhile she settles down. Sometimes when company comes, she can be a handful too. Hopefully that will settle down as she gets older. She really likes company, and loves to see the neighbors come over with Chance (border collie) -- except the last time Connie came, Chance wouldn't get out of their vehicle! Odda just likes to play a little too rough for Chance. Chance does love Hooch tho. When they're alone to run and chase the ball or frisby, they're both in 7th heaven!