All About My Pooch and My Projects

It's been a while since I've created a post.  I've been lazy, not in the mood, and tied up with other things.

One of the things I've been tied up with is my little dog, Finn.  He's been under the weather since October.  He didn’t really act or feel sick, but his stools just weren’t right.  Our vet did 2 worm tests on him at different times that came back negative each time.  But, the vet said the tests are only accurate 65% of the time.  He treated him with antibiotics and wormers and every time it cleared up but then returned. 

Then he ended up with an abscess.  The vet wasn’t sure if it was a tumor or an abscess, so again 2 weeks of antibiotics and he tested the growth…it came back negative for cancer.  After 2 weeks he checked internally, and the growth was gone.  The vet said we may just have to deal with stools that are a bit soft forever.  He suggested giving him a teaspoon of pumpkin daily with his food to see if that helps.  He’s been finished with his antibiotics for a week now, and the pumpkin has helped a lot with his stools.  We’re keeping our fingers crossed that this will continue.  The vet said the only thing left to try is to put him on a special diet.  So, we’re hoping Finn will continue as he is now.

In the meantime, of course, he's gotten spoiled eating chicken breast and rice.  So now, that's all he wants.  He gets that mixed with kibble and pumpkin once a day.  After he's eaten that we fill his bowl with just kibble.  If he's hungry enough he'll just have to eat that.  Silly pooch.

I'm still working on projects to use up my leftover yarn.  Although with Christmas coming, I haven't had as much time as I've wanted to crochet.  Here are a few of my latest finished projects.

This is a large afghan.  Although I'm trying to use up my yarn, when I use this many colors, I still have a lot of leftovers to use up!

This picture doesn't do this scarf justice.  The colors are blue, lavender and a cream. I love this yarn!! It's so soft and easy to work with, it's called Sweet Roll.  This was not part of my leftover yarn.  I wanted to try and make something using a corner to corner pattern, and I also wanted to try this new self striping yarn.  I want to buy more!!!! But, I need to get rid of the old stuff first.

This is another corner to corner throw using the leftover yarn.  I wish it was bigger, so I am working on another afghan using the same pattern but increasing the size.  These colors are cornmeal, sage, cream and a variegated yarn (I can't recall the color name).

I still have a long way to go to use up my old yarn, but I am making headway!

My Quiet Friends Once Again

Love seeing the deer.  They are always so peaceful and quiet.  Lately, they don't even seem to be afraid of me.  Luckily, I'm usually by myself when I see them, and there isn't a lot of noise on the trail.  Hope you enjoy my pictures and videos even though they are usually of deer and turkeys.

There are two in this picture.

And finally, a video I took.  Hope it works!

A Few of My Favorites

It's turkey time again!  Haha!  I love looking for these guys all over the place.  There are several places I usually see them and always get a kick out of seeing them.

This is in the field right before I get to my usual hiking trail.  The park has left it overgrown, so once in awhile I can spot a head sticking up and spot the turkeys.  In the background is a baseball field.

There are 3 turkeys in this next picture...in the same field.

Another spot that I see them a lot...along the road.  Three in this picture.

An action shot of this guy and his friend running away.  They're so funny.

Yikes!!!

Confession time!!!  These are not my pictures, but pictures my daughter took.  I thought they were very cool, so just wanted to share.

I'm not sure why this spider is showing up white in this picture.

This is taken from a side view to show a different angle of the web.  Spiders can be creepy and cool at the same time.

And now, to calm down those creepy feelings you're having right now...something pretty.

A New Routine and Update on the Bridge!

After a brief break in my hikes due to lots of rain and having a cold, I finally got back to hiking yesterday. 

I've established a new routine lately, that I'd like to continue, so we'll see how it goes.  I love not having to get up at a certain time each morning, so the only day I set my alarm is Sunday mornings for church. 

Lately, I've thought it would be nice to go to daily Mass.  However, since we share our pastor with another parish, we only have Mass during the week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.   So instead of setting my alarm, I let it all up to my guardian angel.  If she wakes me up in time I go to Mass...so far, she's been a great alarm without the alarm!  I've also attended Mass at the other parish once.  Even though I got to see my cousin that day (he's a parishioner there), I decided it's too far of a drive on Wednesdays and Fridays.  I may go there now and then, but it's not going to be part of my routine.

Here is a picture of the chapel at Corpus Christi.  It is a small room in the building where the office is too.  There are three rows of seats that face the altar along with the seats along the side wall.  The chapel is usually filled to capacity on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  At first, I felt cramped but I sit on the very end of the row, so that helps. 

After I attend Mass which is usually over by 9 am, I head over to Winton Woods to do my hike.  I was thrilled to discover that they have finally started on rebuilding the bridge on the trail that has been gone since the spring.

Heading down the trail I spotted a large pickup truck, which I later discovered belonged to the guys rebuilding the bridge!!!  Yay!!!

This is a picture where the long and short trail meet.  The water is still a bit high from all the rains we've had, but if you look at the foliage in the foreground you can still see mud on the leaves.  So the water was quite a bit higher.  The yellow caution tape in the left of the picture is where they are rebuilding the bridge.

Here is a video I took yesterday from the top of the short trail.

This is a picture I took today.  Looks like the forms are ready for the cement footings.

Sure enough, as I was leaving the trail, a cement truck was heading down the trail.  I got out of the way just in time! 

Hiking in August

Still spending lots of time hiking and taking pictures, but I just don't seem to get around to blogging.  I usually allow myself a certain amount of time on the computer, and before I know it, I've run out of time and have work to do!  So this post, will be about several different hikes plus a little more.

Of course, I'm always looking out for my turkey friends.  On this particular day I spotted 4 of them.  However, as soon as I stopped, 3 ran away.  When I looked in my rear view mirror, a car was behind me, so I only took 1 picture.  I like the way the sun shines on his wattle.

I thought this bit of fungi looked like either a beautiful cup or flower.

I also liked this collection on both sides of this stump.

During this damp and humid hike, I also spotted this little guy right beneath my feet!  Can you see him?

And, of course, I can't pass up pictures of any deer that I come across.

And, finally, our new couch finally arrived!  It looks pretty average, but it's exactly what I wanted.  I wanted something that looked like it belonged in a ranch or cabin.  I like the nailhead decoration on the ends.  Kind of reminds me of something you would see on a saddle.  The two ends recline, so now we can both have a comfy place to sit.  More seating during the holidays too!

Germania Society Oktoberfest!

I've always wanted to go to the Germania Society Oktoberfest which is held in our area every year.  For some reason, we never get around to going.  But this year, my son Eric and his wife, Nikki invited me to tag along.  I was really excited.  My heritage is German, and I love all of the music, food, and of course, the beer!

I splurged a little and spent more money that I had planned, it wasn't exorbitant, just a treat for myself.  Who knows when I'll go again...right? 

These chickens really looked good! 

The aroma of all the German food was sure tempting.  I wanted to try everything.  Since I've been trying to lose weight, I limited myself to a few choices.  This next picture may not look like much, but it was really good!  Goetta on German Rye!

Eric also bought a side of Sauerkraut balls.  I tried one and it was really great!  If nothing else, I want to go back next year and just eat all day and all night!

This is a picture of my daughter-in-law Nikki and my grandson Alejandro.  Alejandro sometimes gets bored with things, but he really did well and seemed to enjoy himself.

I wanted to try one of the beers they had, but I didn't want to drink because I would have to drive home afterwards.  I had driven to Eric's house so that we could ride together.  However, he gave me a sip of his Dunkel beer, and it was out of this world!  Best beer I ever tasted!

I wanted a German hat, but kept denying myself.  Finally, I gave in and bought the cheapest one they had for $10.  I really liked the red ones, but they were $40.  I may look a little crazed in this hat, and no I wasn't drinking.  I just had so much fun!  There are 3 feathers in the hat band.  Think I'll wear it to church tomorrow...not!

Finally, my Mom used to make cream puffs when I was a kid and they were always so good.  Eric surprised me and bought one for me!  It was so big, I decided to take it home and share it with Herb.  He was working, and wasn't able to go along. 

I also bought a souvenir t shirt.  So I think it was a fun night all around!