Froggy Health 02-23-24

Poor  Froggy!   He has been sorely neglected.  His back was so battered I had to remove it.  You can see why he needed a new back several years ago.  I have selected a fabric for the replacement back and hope to have it replaced soon.  

His legs seem to be hanging on by a thread, but they are secure when KoKo plays tug-of-war with me.

You see the problem.  KoKo just doesn't want to let him go. 

I have to hold on tight and not stick the needle in too quickly, lest I sew KoKo and Froggy together. 

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A week before Xmas 12-18-23

Not much to say.  Went on our  two walks and took a stroll around the backyard.  Didn't cross anything off the "To-Do" list and tomorrow is a  busy day.  Boys to school, Surfside Quilters Guild  Board Meeting, KoKo has teeth cleaned, pick up boys, and a special Xmas dinner out at Summit  House with much decoration and strolling carolers.   Hope my energy holds up.  

Poor Froggy.  Caught in the recliner again.  I heard KoKo growling, very unusual inside the house, and went to see what the problem was. Once Froggy was freed KoKo lost interest!  For the time being, of course.

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Miscellaneous 11-08-23

 I thought it was just Blogger that wouldn't let me post last night, but it was something else.  Still having a problem with  my space bar.  Guess  I will have to go visit the Geek Squad.  I think I was just born without  the  electronics gene!

The Fuyus (persimmon) are just ripening. This one hangs over an 8 foot wall along our walking route. I  think  I will knock and see if they will share.   I guess I will need to  carry a ladder over to reach them.   They are  my favorite fruit.  

I  am taking the boys to school  on both Tuesday and Wednesday this month and Julian can't stay alone  when he gets out at  1:15 or 2:15 so I stay with him until his dad comes  home. I have been doing surgery on Froggy while I am sitting at the  boys house.  Poor guy, I will need to replace his entire back again since KoKo  chews on him there.  But there are also many small  holes with a tiny puff  of stuffing sticking out.   I use carpet thread, which doesn't come in  green, but KoKo doesn't notice. 

Lots of Western Bluebirds lately.  This one turned his head just as I clicked. 

I think we need to have our fence  sanded and repainted.  

Here is  another local bird!  This is an artificial blackbird perched on the right hand  of  the giant skeleton who has been "re-garbed" for Thanksgiving.  

I think he needs  a pilgrim hat. 

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And it is still raining!! 03-21-23

Yep, we are having one of the wettest winter/spring in a very long time.  This morning  when it was time to drive down to Dana Point for the meeting I just couldn't face it and called to let them know I wasn't coming.   I hate  to miss a  Board Meeting because I am so nosy and want to know what is going on.   I think it was a wise decision to stay home and make some progress on getting ready to leave on Thursday.  Not that I accomplished a lot, but some anyway.  It rained off and on all day.  A clearing spot about 10am so we did our walk and again around 7pm for the evening walk.  Had a few drops, but the wind was cold and pushed us along to get home and get warm.  

Water collects in this area adjacent to the front porch  even though we put in special drainage when we first moved in over 30 years ago.   This is at 10am.

 

When we went out to walk about 7pm it was almost lapping onto the porch, which is only a couple inches high.  The soil is so saturated it can't absorb very quickly.  

This is KoKo's favorite position, I think.  I had done some surgery on Froggy and KoKo was protecting him from me.  He always licks Froggy extensively after I have been sewing on him.  Right now Froggy is in the washer so he will be all bright and clean to go to the KoKo keeper.  And KoKo will have a bath in the morning so he won't be a stinky dog.  

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It's a KoKo night. 07-08-22

Home from the groomer, time to rub all over everything.  He has his backside in the air although it isn't noticeable in this picture. 

Since he is just bathed and trimmed he can get on the back of a quilt. 

He is so protective of his Froggy.  He is hanging on and giving me a stink eye because I need to do some more surgery on Froggy. 

This big hole required a patch of another green fabric.  KoKo is very rough with Froggy and bites and tears while shaking him furiously. 

I had been "operating" while KoKo was at the groomer, but didn't finish before pick up time.  First thing KoKo did was look for Froggy.  He can't quite reach. 

Which was a good thing since Froggy still had a needle in him.   I have to close KoKo in the bedroom while I am working on Froggy.  He whines and scratches, but that is the only way I can work without him trying to take Froggy away from me.  

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Another day - flowers 06-08-22

I didn't drive to San Diego today for the meeting of the art quilt group I belong to.  I just didn't have the energy for the two + hours down and another two + hours back.  But I did have some errands to do and was in the vicinity of Armstrong Nursery which I have been going to visit for at least a month.  Needed rose food and some marigolds to plant with my tomato plant.  The garden center is chock-a-block with blooming everything, very beautiful, but I was pressed for time so didn't take pictures.  I had KoKo with me riding in the cart and being a good dog.  The clerk Nicole was very helpful and friendly, hope she is there when I ever go back again.  Along with the marigolds I bought a single Coreopsis plant, just because I used to always have some in my yard.  They make me feel good!  

KoKo, Nicole, Coreopsis, and Marigolds.  

Then I met friend Carol for lunch at Blue Agave restaurant in Yorba Linda - it was delicious and I didn't need dinner tonight.  The food is sort of modern Mexican and they were very busy.  Because it was about 80F we ate inside, but felt well socially distanced. 

By the time I was home again I had to have a nap and just sort of passed out for several hours.  This being tired all the time is a huge waste of time.  KoKo and I spent about 20 minutes looking for Froggy - where could he be?  Ah-h-h-h, I finally thought to look in the recliner.  Yep, there he was trapped, why couldn't KoKo see or smell him.  Once I showed him where that frog was he grabbed hold and tugged and tugged.  I had to sit down and recline to let him loose.  

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KoKo time again 05-11-22

Yes, it has gone beyond "indulged" and is straight up SPOILED"!  But I don't really have anything else to do, so I let him call the shots.  He is basically a good boy and listens when I tell him to do something.   Although we are working on "STAY" again lately.   He is smart enough to remember where the nut grass grows and not step off the sidewalk.  If he gets one of those little land mines in his foot he stops and holds it up off the ground to tell me he needs some help.  I can usually work the burr out of his fur, but have considered carrying scissors with me!  

  What a smart dog! 

I think this is his favorite position, laying on my legs with his feet at my feet and his head on my thighs.  All four feet in the air. 

When he is on his chair he frequently has Froggy support his chin.  Froggy is pretty ratty now, but I keep sewing up his wounds.  I was going to post a video showing how mean KoKo is to that poor frog, but I can't make it work.  Maybe later. 

 

He spens a lot of time washing Froggy or chewing on him. 

He has three beds now.  This is the smallest - he just fits. 

When he wants to sprawl he uses the larger bed.  He keeps a squeaky ball close by so it is handy if he gets tired of Froggy. 

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Quiet life with KoKo and Froggy 04-27-22

I just don't have anything to say because I am not doing anything.  We go for our two walks a day (9am and 7pm) and we talk to neighbors sometimes, so there is a little human contact!  This week has been doctor week, visiting my primary and seeing the periodontist.  I am reading Katie Couric's memoir "Going There" (2021}  - because one of my Book Group members was passing it on.  I have never watched anything she has done that I can remember, I was never a Today follower.  It is interesting what goes on behind the scenes, but I find her a little too frank and very flip.  Since I don't watch TV anymore I have no idea what it is like now or what she is doing.  

KoKo is being the perfect dog, but keeps wanting to go see Donna where he stayed while I was at Empty Spools.  Maybe he wants to see the cat?  He is always interested in a cat, but has never made friends.  It is time for more major surgery on Froggy.  I am amazed that KoKo still is so attached to him.  I try other toys, he has a bunch, but he just goes to find Froggy. 

  

We did go to PetSmart to visit the Easter Bunny on April 9th.  KoKo seemed bored with it all.  The Easter Bunny was huge...... 

...and KoKo looked so small.  

All that is on my May calendar is Surfside QGuild on the second Tuesday and several more doctors to see.  They are all specialists - soon we will have a specialist for one's left arm and another for the right arm and one for the right eye and another for the left.  It is so time consuming and stressful. 

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Walking and KoKo 11-22-21

I actually did some sewing today, but nothing I can share.  Mostly just working on UFOs and doing some repairs on quilts in TCQC.  Sleeves come loose, sometimes a few stitches on bindings are not secure, and loose threads have been missed.   I always put a TCQC label on the quilts and have been very lax the last year or so.  Out of labels and need to make some more.

KoKo and I do our two walks a day, some are longer than others.  There was a brush fire in Riverside County, which is about 40 miles away, and the Santa Ana wind was blowing toward the ocean, so we had smoke.  Didn't see any ash, but the wind was so strong I suspect it all just went out to sea.  I wore my mask, but KoKo doesn't, so we shortened our walk last evening.  Today it was still windy, but no smoke, so we did the full loop morning and night.  There are Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas decorations in yards.  I know a lot of people put up Christmas stuff the weekend after Thanksgiving, but I suspect some people are traveling so they decorated before they left.  

The giant skeleton is now wearing a fabric face, a coat and a hat!

Two black birds have been added - one at top left on his hand and one at bottom center on one of the pumpkins,  I guess black birds go with skeletons as well as black cats. 

This family took down their blow up ghost and the same day replaced it with a blow up turkey. 

Right next door to the skeleton in a basketball hoop.  He came down over the  week end, I kind of miss him. 

KoKo and Froggy are having a snuggle.  They do a lot of nose to nose snoozing.

A KoKo & Froggy Saga 08-21-21

Oh, dear!  KoKo has ripped open Froggy's back, so it is time for a new back.  KoKo has to be right there to keep track of his Froggy and cannot wait to have him back again.   It has been just a year and 20 days since Froggy's last major back replacement.  This time I used a heavier fabric I found in one of my scrap boxes - maybe it is Trigger - perhaps it will last longer. 

KoKo stands as tall as he can, but cannot quite reach the wounded Froggy. 

Froggy peers back at his tormentor.  

Removing the torn back and some of the stuffing.  KoKo supervising. 

Back exposed and some stitches to hold it together. 

The waiting is too much, KoKo has to hold on to his friend. 

"Are you almost done?"   I NEED him. 

Some final stitches.

Froggy has survived his surgery and has a fine, smooth green back.  How long will it take KoKo to tear him up again?  And how many successful surgeries are them in his future?

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KoKo, again. 05-12-21

Here is KoKo showing off his light side.  Since the hair on his back is black most people think of him as a black dog.  But he is mostly tan.  

He likes to lay between my legs, but I put his little quilt between us so his toenails don't dig into my legs.  If I don't have the quilt (seen at upper right) on, he will wait for me to arrange it for him.  Such a considerate guy. 

 

When he assumes this position between my body and the arm of the chair he is saying he wants a belly rub.   Several times a day - I just sit down and he is ready. 

But, more often than not, he is in his cuddly bed with Froggy.   You can see some of Froggy's surgical scars.   And that poor limb that was almost torn off.  Froggy is a trooper, always ready to be mauled and repaired. 

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Miscellaneous stuff 03-14-21

My life has gotten so dull that I usually can't think of anything to post on my blog.  Tonight I looked at some pictures from years past and came up with these images.

Ten years ago I had a hummingbird nest in my little tree, which has since died all on its own.  Lovely to watch these little guys grown until they were hanging out the sides of the nest.  Allen's hummingbirds. 

This was March 13, 2020.  I took the picture while we were walking on Brian Street, which parallels Warren Street where we live.  The tall, light colored tree in the right of the image is a "needle" cactus which has turned red in the sun at this time of year.  However, the owner discovered that it is a highly poisonous tree and the white sap is very irritating and can even cause blindness.  He took out all of those that grew in his yard.  I still have one in my backyard and watch carefully when KoKo is out that he doesn't rub up against it.  

Also from a year ago.  A close up of the trunk of a crape myrtle, a street tree in our neighborhood.   This time of year all of their bark has peeled off leaving lovely smooth "skin" to show.  

And finally, here is KoKo last year in March holding on to his Froggy while Froggy undergoes surgery on his foot.  Poor Froggy he is covered with scars, but still holding together. 

We will see the vet tomorrow morning and KoKo will have a blood test to see what the status of the pancreatitis is now.  He seems to be his old self and I would like to get him back on kibble instead of the smelly canned food the vet has him on.  Also a return to dental treats to keep him teeth in good shape. 

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KoKo post 02-21-21

KoKo is my housemate and keeps me sane.  He needs to be fed, loved, bathed, walked, pottyed, brushed, bathed, and entertained.  In turn he entertains me, keeps me moving, snuggles at night, and listens intently to everything I say.  He is the perfect housemate.

KoKo likes to walk the wall in the backyard.  It overlooks, a weed grown slope, a metal fence, a gravel road that belongs to the water company, a flood control channel, a chain link fence, a block wall and a tract of "garden" homes.  The taller buildings are apartments on a parallel road.  The other end of our yard overlooks a park that is little used - mostly lovers, dog walkers, and guys tossing footballs or frisbees.  

 

Today was bath day and KoKo is now squeaky clean and curled up in his bed with his best friend, Froggy.  Froggy is going to have some shoulder replacement surgery, necessary to keep his arms from falling off!  I don't know quite how to do it, but some artificial joints may be necessary.  Poor guy, I'll bet he has more surgical scars than any frog on record.  He is the same age as KoKo, seven years old on May 20.  Old for a doggy's froggy, eh?

Tomorrow I have a date for my 2nd vaccine.  Fingers crossed for no side effects. 

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Froggy has a hard life. 12-03-20

Poor Froggy. Someday KoKo is going to love him to death.  Two feet were about to come off and I found half a dozen other places that needed a stitch or two.  As you see, KoKo watches attentively as I carry out the surgery.  

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