PHOTO CHALLENGE DAY 25

Photo Challenge picture of the day.

Today has been a tough one for Happi.  She must have eaten something that didn't agree with her tummy.  Then she was peeing all over the house.  I tried to put doggie diapers on her but that didn't go so well.  I wish I had a video of this exchange.  Me chasing her all over the house, her running away from me scared.  Upstairs, downstairs.  Finally I realized it just was not going to happen.  Someone needs to make a doggie diaper that doesn't need dogs with long tails to shove the long tail through a little hole.  As soon as I grabbed Happi's tail, it was all over.  Then I cut the diaper and put it around her tail and taped it.  But do you know how hard it is to hold a dog, hold two sides of a diaper and a long piece of packing tape in place?  At least with a baby, they can't run away.  And you can't get the tape stuck in their fur!  It was a mess.  Happi was having none of it.

I took back three digital cable boxes.  Here where I live you can only view TV with a digital cable box.  It is a little box that is attached to your cable line and to your TV.  Since I am "cutting cable", I disconnected the boxes and took them back to the cable company.  I know have two cable boxes and basic cable.  I have Hulu live TV, HBO now, Showtime and Netflix and it all costs less than what I was paying just for Cable.  I should have "cut cable" a long time ago.  I am saving $50 a month.  Who cares if I can see the Military Channel?  I have the basic channels and that is the most important.  I am even thinking of getting rid of cable all together and just go with Hulu, Hbo Now, Showtime and Netflix.

Until tomorrow...

PHOTO CHALLENGE DAY 24

Photo Challenge picture of the day.

Today the gardener came to clear out the backyard for the winter.  She cut all the vines back to the fence.  She trimmed this weird plant back that has grown out of control.  It filled a whole compost bin.  I am super happy with the results.  We also spoke about plans for the spring.

I spent the evening cooking chicken and rice to make frozen meal packets for the dog sitter for my upcoming trip. This way all she has to do is defrost a packet overnight and Happi's food is ready to go.  I really love my dog to cook and cut up breast after breast of chicken. I also bought and cooked way more than I needed so I have it in the freezer. What do I know about chicken?

Until tomorrow...

PHOTO CHALLENGE DAY 23

Photo Challenge picture of the day

It is still raining.  The rain has cleared the air.  It can stop now.

I had a check in call with the vet.  It has been 2 months since Happi's surgery.  She seems to be doing pretty good.  She slept through the night last night so that is progress.  Lucky is not doing as good.  She is having problems from either the antibiotics or some new biscuits and it is upsetting her tummy.  She would not eat her breakfast and whined and shivered all day.

I am trying to get a project done and the whining was getting to me.  The doctor said if she didn't eat dinner and seemed worse to bring her in tomorrow.

Later today she ate some chicken broth and rice but no kibble and curled up near the heater.

Until tomorrow...

PHOTO CHALLENGE DAY 22

Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo Challenge picture of the day:

It is still raining.  The sky is blue and the air is clear.

I woke up and cooked chicken and rice for the next few days for the dogs.  Then I took the dogs for a walk when the rain stopped for a few minutes.  Then I started cooking for Thanksgiving.  I am going to some friend's house for appetizers.  They are eating very late so I am just staying for a few hours.

I made Cauliflower Buffalo Bites for us to munch on.  They turned out okay but I ran out of Panko before I was done so some of the bites don't have any crunch.  The guys liked them and kept the leftovers for tomorrow.

Then I made Kabocha Squash Soup again.  The Kabocha squash was not as fresh as the one I got from my delivery service. The Kabocha squash is the round green item in the right back in the photo.  The soup tasted okay but it wasn't as tasty as the soup I made a couple of weeks ago.  I did the best that I could.  The guys liked it and ate a bowl each.  Once again the guys loved it and kept the leftovers to eat tomorrow for lunch.

I spent three hours with the guys talking and catching up since the kid was at work.  There was a little thing that came up.  It reminded me of the stories my sister-in-law writes about with her kids.  I take my friends son to places to give my friends some respite and also because I really enjoy spending time with their son.  One of the things we do a lot is go to the movies.  He and I enjoy the same types of movies: Star Wars, Superheros, and fantasy.  His fathers are not as keen on those types of movies.  So I step in and take him either by myself or with a group of folks.

Usually he pays for his own way.  For about the last six months he has been showing up and saying he forgot the money or he doesn't offer to pay and I don't bring it up.  So I end up paying for the movie since these days I have to buy the tickets in advance.  A few months ago, my friend H bought the tickets and he didn't pay H back and I had to cover him.

Last night I found out in passing conversation that his parents have been giving him money for the movies and he has not been giving it to me.  His one dad was so angry we had to calm him down.  The other dad was more rational and we made a plan for the future to make sure I get the money and he is held accountable for giving it to me.  I have also been instructed to make him pay for his own snacks at the theater.  The kid has a job and since he has been keeping the money, he should be paying for his own snacks.

Overall it was a good adult time.  It was nice to have somewhere to go and not have to stare at a dead bird.  I had just enough food for the afternoon and came home to eat the rest of my butternut squash soup.

Until tomorrow...

PHOTO CHALLENGE DAY 21

Photo Challenge picture of the day:

Yes, leaves change color in California! 

Oh, it rained!!  All day.  Yay!  I went out to run an errand and I forgot I have not put the stuff back in the trunk of my car after getting it fixed from the accident.  So I had no umbrella.  Of course the minute I parked the car, it began to pour.  I had to run a city block to and from the vet's office to pick up the dog food I paid for but forgot to get yesterday.  It is only water and I dried quickly.  

The funniest thing I heard today:

Today's forecast: mostly rainy with a high chance of "I can finally breathe."

Lucky update: she is reluctantly wearing the cone-of-shame.  Last night she climbed in bed with me and cuddled so close to me she was almost on top of me.  I allowed it because I know she is so miserable and feels horrible.  Normally she would be shooed back to her bed or put in her cage.  I hope I am not starting a bad habit I am going to have to break later.  She just looks so pitiful and makes these little sighing/whining noises.  She just can't get comfortable but it is more important that she doesn't lick her foot.  I don't want her to lose her toenail.  She has already lost 1/3 of her teeth.  

Until tomorrow...

PHOTO CHALLENGE DAY 20

Photo Challenge picture of the day.

I saw this on my way to my client's office today.

My day started out early.  I had to take Lucky to the vet first thing.  Turns out she has a cut at her toenail on her left back foot.  It is infected.  One of three things will happen: 1) she will heal and be fine, 2) the toenail will fall off and she will be fine or 3) they will have to remove the toenail and she will be fine.  She was not happy when the vet touched her toe in the exam.  The vet says to me I will send you home with oral antibiotics and a topical cream.  I said to him didn't you just see how she reacted when you touched her toe?  Do you want me to get bit?  The vet says We also have an antibiotic shot that lasts 10 days and an anti-itch shot that lasts 10 days also. I said I want that!  So they gave her the shot and she seems better.  I have not taken off the cone except for her to eat, then it goes right back on.  If she is still having toe issues in 10 days she has to get another shot.  Since it will be right in the middle of my brother's wedding, my friend offered to take her.

For dinner I made a lovely Vegan Curry Butternut Squash Soup with Kale.  It is so super good.  I didn't cook the butternut squash enough.  Well, that isn't right.  I don't think I made all the pieces of butternut squash even so when they cooked there were some that didn't cook as well as the others.  Most of the pieces were thoroughly cooked but a few where a little firm.  Next time I will take more time.  It was late and I was in a hurry.  I also cooked the rest of the butternut squash by cutting slices and roasting in the oven.  I can eat them over the next few days on a salad or in a grain bowl or a burrito.  The uses are endless.

Until tomorrow...

PHOTO CHALLENGE DAY 19

The Photo Challenge picture of the day. For the lack of another picture: 

Lucky in the cone of shame.

The bad smoke is back again. It smells like there is a fire in the neighborhood.

This morning I woke up to Lucky chewing her back foot. It did not look good. I know her nails need to be trimmed and with this bad air it has been hard. Businesses have been closed.

I called the vet and I will be taking her in tomorrow morning. Meanwhile she is in the cone of shame to keep her from chewing her foot.

Until tomorrow...

PHOTO CHALLENGE DAY 18

Photo Challenge picture of the day. A Thanksgiving wreath.

I have been wondering if this is the best month to be doing a photo challenge. I can't go outside and take photos so it isn't much of a challenge or maybe too much of a challenge.

I decided to run a few errands: pet store, food store, library drop off.  Then home to do some work.

Until tomorrow..

PHOTO CHALLENGE DAY 17

Photo Challenge picture of the day.

My gardener was supposed to come and work on the devil ivy today but she asked to postpone until next week due to the air quality. So I ran a few quick errands. I worries my mask. I had to get my mail from the post office, pick up my meds and put something in my safe deposit box.

I also got some makeup removal pads to use with my eye wash spray. I use it to clean off my eye lids and keep from getting eye infections. So far this is the best eye medicine. It is not goopy or sticky or annoying like the other medicines.

Then I went to see Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald with my friends kid.  It was a good movie. It had a slow start and, I'll be honest, I started to doze a bit but then it picked up. I was happy I went to see it.

Until tomorrow...

PHOTO CHALLENGE DAY 16

UGH!

Photo Challenge picture of the day.  I had a picture I took yesterday and I was going to use that picture but I have not left the house today due to the "Very Unhealthy Air Quality".  It is a purple on the air quality chart.  That is one level lower than Maroon.  Maroon is toxic air.

This was taken today.

This was weeks ago.

The smoke hurts your lungs if you go outside.  Today two people I spoke to were sick from the smoke.  One person said their doctor said it was like carbon monoxide poisoning.  Both of them got lightheaded then began vomiting.  Both, it turns out, had leaks where the smoke was coming in a vent and they were breathing it in.

This is so bad they have cancelled all schools, tourist attractions, public transportation is free, and libraries are staying open late so people have a clean place to go.

I am supposed to be at a going away party for a colleague but I am not leaving my house.  My gardener called to say she is coming next week instead of tomorrow.  I am supposed to go to the movies tomorrow and I think it will be okay.  What better place to be than a movie theater!?

Of course, we have it easy.  We have a home to sit in.  We have our lives. We have our jobs.  We have our dogs and families.  For us it is an inconvenience.  For those in the fire zone, they have lost their homes, animals, family members, and jobs.  My heart goes out to them.  Please donate to a reputable organization to help.

For animal relief, the Butte Humane Society at 2580 Fair St. in Chico is accepting pet supplies, such as wet and dry dog and cat food, litter boxes, kennels and carriers, leashes and toys. For those who don’t live nearby, the Humane Society also set up an Amazon wish list to donate pet supplies online.

Or you can donate to the San Francisco SPCA Disaster Relief Fund that has taken in 30 injured animals.  The Fund is going to take care of their injuries, house them and reunite them with their owners when the time comes.  San Francisco SPCA shows up to most disasters to assist with animal rescue.

Help if you can.  The animals always get forgotten.  They are wo/man's best friend.

Until tomorrow...