Walking in the neighborhood 03-06-21

Looks like there will be a huge lemon crop next year.  This year was pretty heavy, but every tree I see is almost solid blossoms and still a lot of unpicked fruit.  One family hangs a basket in their street tree (a crape myrtle) and fills it with free lemons.  They are Myer lemons, the best kind, which are very common around here.  

I wish I could post the fragrance, it is fabulous.  In the 50s when I first moved to SCalifornia I could smell it while driving down the freeway.  But there are very few lemon or orange groves here now, mostly the trees are just grown in yards.  There is a tree upwind from our house, so we get the hint on the breeze. 

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Miscellaneous including KoKo 03-04-21

I think he is telling me not to read, but to give him a brushing or a massage!  He is feeling pretty good and saw the vet today.  She says he must stay on the canned gastrointestinal diet for at least another week, maybe two.  She gave him some hydration because he just isn't interested in drinking water.  I dribble it from my fingers and he licks it off, occasionally dipping his tongue into the bowl for a lick or two.  We don't know why he doesn't drink.  He seems to enjoy his walks and does a poop once a day now.  And he brings Froggy for me to play "toss Froggy" with him. Too bad they can't talk and tell us how they feel, isn't it?  

I guess I miss out on new items because I don't go shopping or see them advertised on TV.  Found this package in the gutter.  Single "serving" hand sanitizer.  What a great idea.  I'll look for some to carry in my purse instead of a bottle of the stuff.  

A year ago this date I took these pictures of African daisies in my neighbor's yard.  So symmetrical and detailed.  Looks a lot like the coronavirus that was just invading our lives.

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Additions to TCQC 03-02-21

 During this past year I have added only a few quilts to the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection.   A few from the SAQA online auction in the fall and now there are three from the SAQA Traveling Trunk Show - 2016.  Every year there are several trunks of 10" X 7" quilts that are available to show what is happening in the quilt world.  They can be rented from the SAQA website and they travel all over the country.  At the end of three years these "quiltlets" are put up for sale.  I have purchased a few in the past, adding them to the "small quilts" section of TCQC.  When they travel they are in cello sleeves to keep them clean and have Velcro dots on the back of the sleeves to allow mounting on a fabric wall.  

I love scraps and use them a lot.  But I never thought of doing something like this. 

There are several Karen Rips pieces in the Collection.  I particularly like this one because of the variety of textures and lines. 

I know this Ikea fabric!  Sonia has used it in her unique way.  Like it a lot. 

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Food, again. 03-01-21

Yes, it is a shark cake, I suppose for a shark loving kid!  On the way home from my doctor's visit I stopped at Rockwell's Restaurant and Bakery in Villa Park.  Not far off the 55Fwy I have gone to the bakery for many years, but only now and then.  They make spectacular cakes and this one caught my eye.  It is tall, probably 12 inches, and the simple fins tell immediately what it represents.  But I wasn't there for cake.  Their muffins are large and delicious, via for my attention along with the bear claws, cheese Danish, snickerdoodles, and a broad assortment of goodies.  I usually just buy the muffins - cranberry and pumpkin today - but I was tempted by the bear claws and had to have a snicckerdoodle.  This after the doctor pointed out that my glucose count was slightly elevated, but not enough to worry about.  So, I didn't.  (The diagonal white line on the left of the image is a reflection in the glass.)

My thyroid succumbed to radio active isotopes in the late 70s, so I take Synthroid every day.  But the amount needed goes up and down over the years and the doctor is now reducing it a bit.  Of course, I have recently refilled the higher doage prescription.  Sigh.  Thyroid affects mood and fatigue and this may help alleviate my ongoing problem - maybe it isn't the sciatica and the TIA and the Covid vaccine or just plain old age!   Meanwhile, KoKo seems to be much better and we did the loop twice today.  The vet is supposed to call tomorrow to see what we need to do now. 

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Friday Food - a few days late 02-28-21

Eating out!  What a thrill it was.  On Friday I drove down to Oceanside to pick up my "Palms" quilt at OMA and meet friends for lunch.  We went to Rosewood Kitchen located on Mission St just past Ditmar St.   We have eaten there previously and the food is always excellent.  They have a covered patio on the sidewalk, so there is traffic noise, but the food is worth it!  

One of us ordered the white pizza which she has eaten here before and it was, as usual, excellent. 

Another of us ordered the tuna cake, like a crab cake made with tuna instead.  She said it was also excellent.  Nice presentation. 

She also ordered the Brussels Sprouts. "Sauteed with Smoked Bacon, Balsamic Reduction, Pistachio Nuts".  And she let me take home her leftovers.  M-M-M-M, good. 

I had the salmon.  My usual choice when I eat out, but I had not had it here on past visits.  It was one of the specials so I can't quote from the menu, but it came on a bed of rice and black beans with veggies and a lovely silky sauce.  I did bring half of it home to eat (with the Brussels Sprouts) for dinner tonight.  It held up well.  I added half an avocado which was ready.  

I know that many of you long to go out to eat, so if you are in Oceanside I recommend Rosewood Kitchen. 

 

KoKo seems to be doing okay.  He has not thrown up again, but he has only eaten Tbls of the special canned food from the vet.  Only half of the can has been eaten.  I know he must be hungry as he goes to his placemat every time I walk into the kitchen, but the vet said not to give him anything else.  He is not drinking water regularly as he usually does.  I have given him the medications as the vet directed and I think they make him a little lethargic.  We have spent most of today in my chair, he sleeps and I have read a whole book.  The Goddess knows I have a million other things I should do, but KoKo deserves every minute I can give him and right now that means rest. I did do my one hour of daily sewing and my PTherapy exercises and we went for a walk this evening.  It has been terribly windy almost all day so we skipped the morning walk.  

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KoKo is sick! 02-27-21

Yesterday morning KoKo didn't want his breakfast!  It has happened a couple times in the past, but eventually he would go back to his bowl, eating every bit of kibble.  He wasn't very perky on our morning walk, but seemed happy to ride in the car to stay with Nancy and Bud for a few hours while I went on to Oceanside to pick up my "Palms" quilt and have lunch with two friends.  He didn't finish his breakfast at Nancy's.   Back at home he threw up what little he had eaten.  As the evening went on he grew lethargic and around midnight he was shaking all over.  I was afraid he was having a seizure and looked up an emergency vet.  It is way on the west side of Fullerton and we arrived about 12 50am.  It looks like a well kept place and the young woman who took KoKo inside (Covid rules: nobody can go inside with their animals) was pleasant and gentle with him.  After about 40 minutes she came back out and told me the vet thought he had Gastroenteritis, but more tests were needed and I would have to leave him overnight at least.  Somehow my inner monitor told me "No".  I signed the papers that I was refusing further treatment (what?  all they did was take his temperature and examine him).  We drove home on the deserted streets, he threw up some more, but finally settled down and slept on my lap all night.  I drove us to our usual  vet, "Circle of Friends" in Yorba LInda, hoping they might be able to see him right away when they opened.  No luck.  But there was an appointment at 11:30am, so we drove back then.  The vet did some blood tests, X-ray, gave him some hydration, medication, and a thorough exam.  She came out to tell me that his problem is  Pancreatitis. Not unusual in dogs and treatable.  Just like people it is caused by a fatty diet and lack of exercise, neither of which apply to KoKo. He eats the kibble recommended by the vet and does not eat people food.   Why he has this condition is unknown, but once he has it he is more likely to have it again in the future.   He has antibiotics, pain pills, and a liquid to reduce vomiting.  He can only have a canned dog food for "delicate stomachs" and I am to give him just a few Tablespoons at a time today and tomorrow.  He gobbles it down!  So far he has not been drinking water, which is a worry as he has always been a big "drinker".  He has been sleeping a lot, but we did go for about a half a walk tonight without any poopy.  But there isn't much in there to come out since he threw up so much last evening and night.  I am still very concerned and hope I am doing everything right.  I have a new understanding of parents who have very sick children in the middle of the night or on weekends.  Guess I will try to identify an emergency vet that I will feel more comfortable with, in case my "child" gets sick when our regular vet is closed.  Of course they are closed on Sunday, so I am on my own until Monday morning when I am to report his condition and get further instructions..  Meanwhile, I am feeling a bit better, but sooo tired and my injection site is still swollen and itchy.   All I can think of is "We will get through all this.!"

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Blooming 02-25-21

 Spring is coming!  The oxalis is blooming and the bees are very, very busy. 

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