Doc Visit Updates / More signs of Winter

Both the dog and Jack had semi-annual doctor visits in October.

We noticed a small red growth on the lower right corner of Česky’s left eye for the past few weeks.  Since it could be any number of things, it would be best if he cut it out and sent it to Michigan State University for analysis.  Because this would require putting the dog under anesthesia within seven months of the last time, he needed to have tests done to be sure his kidneys at 10 years of age could handle it again.   He did more extensive blood work this time.  Test came back great.  Surprisingly good for a dog his age.  One of the healthiest dogs he’s seen in a long time.  Lucky us.

The following week and one small snip later it was done, along with a little teeth brushing and nail trimming while he was sedated.  Results came back this week that it was just a slight infection.  Vet had given his eye a real good look over and doesn’t feel that there is any infection in the eye outside that growth, which is good because that dog wouldn’t let me put drops in his eye without taking my hand off.

Jack’s semi-annual tests also came back real good.  Good enough that he no longer needs to take Lipitor.  His cholesterol has been way down for the past few years.  He was taken off it a couple months before this appointment to see how much of a change there was between then and now.  That just leaves him on insulin, Vasotec, and an aspirin.  He doesn’t have high blood pressure, actually just the opposite.  They have him take it as a blood thinner. 

More signs of winter are the gloves on the table.  I have brown and black pairs and take the appropriate one depending upon what coat I wear.  Haven’t pulled out a winter coat yet, but these gloves had to come out.

It has been an unusual for fall colors.  The Maple out front just started turning colors this past week.  The Ash next to it has been bare for the past 2-3 weeks.  Bradford Pears in the neighborhood are late to turn this year also.

I have to get a hold of Kirk.  We read where they are under a winter storm warning this weekend with the worst being heavy wet snow and the problems that can create.

No new news from the Prague or Troy Hubbells. 

Learning from Elder / Books / Tigers / Family

Been awhile, so this is rather long.

Family:

Kirk called last night.  Northern New York is still on the wet side; they were having a reprieve Friday.  It doesn’t look like they will have more than Thanksgiving Day off.  Too soon to tell how much time they will have off at Christmas.  We are planning on going to Beaver Dam for Christmas this year so fingers crossed that they get a couple/three weeks and then could hit Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Mary and Nick are back from the annual senior baseball tournaments in St. George UT.  Mary said it was good weather and great views; however Nick’s team didn’t win this year.  Bummer.

Tigers:

When we lived in Lawrenceville, Georgia we really got into watching the Atlanta Braves.  We even went to a couple of games.  Back then, Joe Torre was the manager.  That’s how long ago it was.

Detroit Tigers had been doing really good so we thought we’d start watching them.  We tried a few times in August, but had a hard time of it.  There is so much pre-pitch wiggling, waggling, practice swinging by the batter that it took forever between pitches.

We gave it another try during the playoffs.  Not any better, if not worse.  Me, I started people watching during the various games. This is the playoffs.  Win the series and your team is in the World Series.  So how can a 60ish gentleman, sitting in the 2^nd row behind the batter’s box, in a sweater looking like Mr. Rogers, be nodding off?  There was a guy that could pass for Mickey Rooney’s brother.  In another game there were two women about 3 rows up having talk fest.  I mean looking at each other totally oblivious to the crowd noise of a hit or bad call.  That had to be one piece of juicy gossip.  Men would kill for those seats and here are two women jaw-jacking.

Books We Are Reading:

I haven’t been checking out books from the library due to the Nook.  However, in the library last week, I noticed a Pearl S. Buck “Letter from Peking” in large print.  A very good book.  Doesn’t top Good Earth or Three Daughters of Madam Lang, still I don’t think she wrote a bad book. 

Jack picked up books at the library from Charles Cumming, Robert Crais, and Steve Berry.  He’s into espionage-ish / thriller stuff.  About a year ago I started keeping the check out slips that lists the author and title.  That got cumbersome. Then the idea hit me to buy a pocket size address book.  I started writing down the books he has checked out so I have an alphabetical list of the dozen or so authors he likes that is easy to carry.  Yes, I could put it on the computer, but there are times when handwritting them down is easier and quicker than firing up a computer, opening a program, opening a document, entering, printing out a list, and saving.  Maybe it's just me.

Never Too Late To Learn From The Elder:

I’ve never liked yellow flowers.  A couple of years ago Dar mention using yellow in flower beds.  After Jack mentioned I’m using a little too much pink, I picked up a bunch of yellow cone flowers just before Dar and Thom visited.  She suggested we plant most of them in front of the Russian Sage.  Damn, that was a good mix.

Or the value of pruning shrubs short.  My Clematis’ have been doing terrific for years due to a hardy annual pruning.   But it wasn’t until she trimmed back the new Nine-Bark and Viburnum that I really saw the benefit.

Then there is the benefit of not just for sightseeing, but also for shopping that a small purse with a long strap that can be put over the head and across the body is handy.  Dar and Thom are into traveling light. 

And the microwave of 2 cups of water with 4-6 ounces of pasta for 10 minutes.  Summer is the time for salads, but heating up the kitchen to boil the pasta was counterproductive.  I was boiling the pasta at night for the next day up until now.

Who knew there was much to learn from the elders?

Football:

Notre Dame has Jack really grumbling tonight.  They are playing USC and…not doing well.  Western Michigan lost to Eastern Michigan no less.  Here’s hoping Wisconsin and Tennessee win to even things out.

The Weekend

It has been a great weekend.  Weather could not be better. 

Friday I called Martell’s Restaurant to see if their patio was still open for dinner or if they had closed it for the season.  It was hitting 81 degrees Friday and the patio was open.  Hurray!

Martell’s is within a housing development that has apartments, condos, and single family homes all nestled into the woods.  The restaurant and patio, also nestled into the woods, overlooks a small lake. 

I had their fish special, a whitefish on top of lentils and some greens with a white wine sauce.  I love lentils.  Never would have thought of paring them with fish.  Jack had the grilled flat iron steak sliced thin, topped with a buttery chive sauce, served with crab cakes and string beans.  Both were delicious as was the wine.

Three deer even passed by while we were eating.  I had heard someone behind me say ‘look at the deer’.  I assumed they meant somewhere farther to the south along the lake.  But it wasn’t.  It was a doe and two fawns walking hastily between the patio and the street.  The street is about 25-30 yards away and the area between is all wooded.

Saturday afternoon it againwas 81ish and at least for me the majority of the time was spent sitting on the deck reading.  It’s Jack’s favorite time of the year, college football.  Notre Dame won.  Western won.   Wisc. must have had a by week.  I forgot what Navy did.  He’d holler scores and big plays to me through the open living room window.  He can watches two and three games at a time.  And then curse if all three games have commercials at the same time.

Today we took a drive as this weekend and coming week are to be the peek for colors.  We were headed to Hastings.  The intent was to stop at a restaurant we both thought there was on the west side of Gull Lake.  We either were remembering a different area of the lake or it’s now a mini-market.  Hastings was still another 30 miles off so instead of dealing with possible sugar lows, we headed back to Richland and stopped at the Richland Pub for lunch.  No outdoor seating, but good food and Bell’s on tap.

So now we are back out on the deck to write a little and read a little.  The work I brought home just doesn’t seem to be getting done….