5C's Que Pasa

We have been busy the last several days which means Colin is meeting old and new clients and things are starting to happen in the business.  Today was my favorite part, I got to write up and send out a few invoices.  I used to do them and then mail them by snail mail.  Now it is always via email and several clients pay by direct deposit, most efficient.

We have been enjoying some very nice fruit breakfasts this week. Costco has the sweetest pineapple and the raspberries almost taste like they were picked off the bush.

My desk every day this week despite the fact that I clean it off at night.

Yesterday, Tuesday I was off to do some errands. Colin is enjoying taking photos of my new outfits.

I haven’t been to WW since October 8th but I always return in May.

It was not a happy meeting.  I knew that I had gained over the winter months and I truly enjoyed every bite and every sip but still 11 lbs 😕   Yeah it was still worth it.  I am only 2.7 lbs over my goal weight so it is not a major issue but still 😳   I look and feel better at a lower weight.  I have not had a chance to do much walking since we got back.  I miss our morning beach walks on the Isla so much.  Oh well we will be there in about five and a bit months.  What I was upset about was that WW has yet again changed their program.  I did well with the program two changes ago and also the last one but this new one confuses me.  I really have to think about what I am going to do.  I love the motivation of the meetings but I am disciplined enough to continue on my own.

Guess what I saw in the Walmart parking lot? Cool custom BMW.

This is where you will find Caeli most mornings but today for the first time ever it was Carmeh laying on the top step.

Meanwhile Caeli was hanging out on our bed which is where Carmeh usually is in the morning.

Monday morning we brought Caeli into the vet so that her one ear could be checked as it still had wax in it.  For the past few weeks I have been putting drops in on a daily basis.  Her ear is now clear 😀   However I still wish it was Carmeh who could be hearing better.  Her hearing is still coming and going.

Last night was the last dose of Caeli’s antibiotics and so this morning we had to do the running around behind her with the long spoon thing to collect a sample.  She appears to be clean of the ‘rods’ that indicated her E Coli infection and there are no longer any extra white blood cells in her urine.  The vet said that ” she has normal dog pee “.  She also suggested that for scientific reasons that we should do another urine culture in a few days just to check.  That is another $150.00 😯   I wish we had money to burn but I think we shall just leave things as they are at the moment.  I don’t even want to know what the final vet bill is but I guess I will have to deal with it come month end.  Meanwhile I do hope that we are free of vets until October when we get ready to head south.

Caeli is such a sweetie. Both paws are up in the air as she sleeps.

The forecast is not promising.  Basically it means no business but likely housework.

Hopefully we can mange some play time in there also.

We took Caeli to the Vet this AM as requested to check her left ear re the wax build up.  This had been discovered while she was getting her teeth cleaned last week.  Of course she was fine as was her digestive issue of the last few days.  Next visit is Thursday for another urinalysis re her bladder infection.  I have no idea what the bill is for the last two weeks and they aren’t telling me 🙄  I really don’t want to know 🙁

Our forecast is not too good, worse as Colin has perfect weather photography scheduled.

We have been home one month today and we are amazed at how much we had managed to get done.  Best of all is the freedom for me of  no longer having to wear those dreaded compression stockings.  I have become a bit of a sloth this past month and I long to get walking again.  Oh how I miss the Isla beach.

Colin’s new lense captured a duck about to land.  There are some painted turtles to the left of the left wing.

Sadly those two spots on the window are because of two swallows who hit the glass as the same moment.  One did not survive.

Colin did try to save the other by placing it in our rain chain basket. Sadly, a few hours later it passed away.

Meanwhile life continues.  There are several pockets of flowers scattered within our park.

I particularly love these clematis, I had a few in our other yard.

Such a lovely blend of blossoms and color.

Just a walk in the park as we did walk our girls thru the area.

We finally were able to pick up our two new patio umbrellas from JYSK.  They had been on back order for 3 weeks.  Best part was that it was the 25th anniversary of the store or something and we did not have to pay tax 😛   So we saved $21.43 PLUS they gave Colin a free ladies watch as well as a white robe.  Such a deal.

Sadly things are not going well in Fort McMurray.  Earlier today it was reported that the air quality in the town was very bad.  Usually is it rated from 1 to 10 with 10 being the worst, today it was 38 😯   Those working in the town to help out have been advised to wear special breathing apparatus.  Meanwhile very recently this evening those working in the oil field camps north of the town have just been ordered to evacuate due to the fire turning back toward them.  All we can do is pray for them all.

It is 9AM Saturday morning and we are off on a treasure hunt.

Our park has garage sales monthly thru the summer but the first one in May is the best.   Colin did get the black roll of something or other but not the level.  The fellow had some outdoor facet connectors, the kind you can use for 2 hoses but he wanted way more than I could get them for at a Dollar Store.

Great to see the folks who live in the condos participate also.  The park is a mix of RV’s and park models like ours and some condos, something for everyone.

What a cute kettle, complete with curly tail.  I thought of Rae when I saw it as she is looking for a kettle.

More and more folks have golf carts as we are a large park so today they were out in full force driving around checking for bargains.  These people were offering everyone ice tea, coffee and pieces of granola bars.  A nice touch.  They also had a large sign saying that all the proceeds were for Fort McMurray and that they had someone matching them.  Very giving indeed.

I love all the color in those blossoms. We were not shopping for us today, we rarely do but for the folks on the Isla back in Mexico.

We lucked out and got a lot at this place including 2 lamps for $5.00 and a lot of tools in great shape.  You can see the girls patiently waiting for us, everyone commented on how well behaved they were.  Except for the moment Caeli saw a cat streak across from us, she jumped out and chased it barking all the while.  She never caught it and came back just a minute later.

Don’t you love the rumble seat in my golf cart?  We certainly put it to good use yesterday.  From here we went home and unloaded and headed out yet again to do the other half of the park.  Hard to believe that we were out cruising the streets for a full three hours.  We enjoyed it thoroughly.  Now we just have to pack all the stuff into the RV when we head back to Mexico 🙄

Caeli seems just fine today which is a relief to us.  Almost 7PM, time to start our dinner. Thanks for checking in.

We had a great morning today as a family and I hope to post about it tomorrow.  This afternoon we did some chores around the house while the girls napped.  Then we sat at our desks to work, makes no difference to us what day of the week it is.  About 5:15PM Caeli began to whimper.  I thought she just wanted her dinner 45 minutes early.  I told her to go back to sleep.  A few moments later, more whimpering and again we ignored her.

Lesson learned, do not ignore a whimpering dog.  Looking back it seems that she had to vomit and could not get off the bed and down the ramp.  I assume that she was calling for help to get outside and could not manage on her own as she was not well.  What a mess but totally our fault.  The dog blanket covering the silk duvet cover as well as the down duvet itself were soaked in the most awful smelling gunk I have ever smelled as a dog owner or a nurse and I have smelt a lot of bad stuff but this was the very very worst ever.  At first we had no idea which end of her it had come out of.  She threw up once again outside so I then knew which end.  The biggest side effect of her new antibiotics is vomiting and a request is on the label to get her to a vet if she does.

Our vet closed at noon today and the answering service referred us to a 24 hour animal hospital here in Kelowna.  First thing they said was the cost of just coming in before any work was done and to not miss her next dose of antibiotic no matter what.  So instead I called my vet at her home, no answer, then I called her cell and left a detailed message.  Susan called back within 5 minutes, we are so fortunate to have her as our vet.  She agreed that going to the ER vet would be of little help.  So we discussed a few options and she said to call anytime if I needed to.

At one point early this afternoon Caeli did get out of the yard.  Colin was cleaning up both the yard and our shed and the gate was open off and on as he loaded garbage onto the golf cart to take to the garbage.  A bit later I did a head count of dogs which I do often throughout the day and Caeli was missing.  I looked out the window and there she was sitting outside the gate wanting to come back into the yard.  The big question is did she eat something in those few moments she was out of the yard 🙁   We will never know.

So now she is resting and Carmeh is pacing as she is rather worried about her sister.  I have the king duvet in the washing machine and hope that I will be able to dry it in our dryer, it does need a lot of space.  Colin hosed the dog blanket off outside ( it had the worst of the mess ) and it is next into the washer.  The silk duvet cover sits outside till tomorrow.

Colin is off to the RV ( thank goodness it is nor far and the golf cart works perfectly as transport ) to pick up more laundry soap as I am out and also our queen duvet in case I don’t get the king one dry before bedtime.

Now that Caeli has emptied her stomach and had a nap she seems fine and wants dinner.  So I am making rice which I will cover with my chicken broth and that is her meal for tonight.  Yes with the antibiotic as per the vet.  We could have waited until midnight but as Caeli is asking to eat why not?

Dinner is over and she licked her bowl clean.  Meanwhile Colin and I have opened a bottle of the expensive stuff. It is going to be a long night of laundry and dog watching.  I figure it will take 5 -7 hours to get the down duvet dry at low 🙁

Caeli is under the green blanket ( that I personally knit ) and Carmeh finally settled down next to her sister for mutual comfort. So very sweet.

As I post this at 8PM, things seem to be settled.  The dryer keeps rumbling and so are our tummies so dinner is about to happen.  Something simple tonight, caesar salad with fresh shrimp on top.

SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE

Caeli seems to be back to normal, she did sleep thru the night but did not move at all.  It took a while for her to get outside and do her business and that appeared to be as is should.  Again I only gave her rice for breakfast with about 12 tiny pieces of kibble.  I believe that the worse is over.  Needless to say I will be watching her all day.

Caeli in the middle. Her urine culture came back and she simply requires a stronger antibiotic.  We can only hope that it will work.  It was a relaxing hour for the three of us.

Colin made the bed around Carmeh including placing all the pillows.

She did not move for many minutes.  Such a sweetie.

Our lake last evening had some strange lines on it.  They radiated pie slice style from a central point.  Whatever would have caused that?

Our here again and gone again neighbors arrived yesterday.  We had them over for drinks and snacks earlier  and were delighted to learn that they have decided to put down permanent roots next door to us.  First comes the yard work this summer  and next year their park model home.  Meanwhile they plan to keep living in their on site RV.  Such good people who also winter in Mexico but in Loreto in the Baja where they have a home.  We are so fortunate to have such wonderful neighbors.