[My] Life in Wisconsin

Tremors, Updated- Damage Photo- And other Stuff.

The Casey- The Cat- and The Canine-
"Kids"

Good Evening All;
Just thought I would post a quick update before I turn on the tv.

Casey will be getting her insulin pump. She must take her readings 3 or 4 times each day, then they will put that data into her machine and VIOLA! she will have a fairly accurate pump!
This should be in about 2 weeks or so.
her islet cells are struggling due to her skin infection, her ulcer, and her pain.
As you all know she has been struggling too, to just feel a little better.
This week- yes an entire week, straight through for her- has brought some very good news; so she is really looking forward to how she feels by next month... or so.
"GO CASEY!"

My appointment also went very well! My doctor was as nice to me in person as he had been in his letter to me.
All is well, (and I do not have to go in search of a new pain specialist)! hehehe


So y'all remember what I had written about Clintonville, WI? 
Click here if ya missed it.

As it turns out, these
BOOMS and BANGS really were an earthquake!
This is quite 'new' even according to the USGS.
So.... what happens now?!? A new fault line perhaps? 
And I thought Wisconsin was relatively 'safe'; even with respect to the New Madrid fault...
Oh well.

Lots more info from Channel 11.   Click
And a wee bit more from the USGS.   Click

My sister, the Dear Sweet SissyKrissiePoo, has sent me a photo of the damage.





Clintonville Earthquake

Downright scary huh?

But they have grit, determination and resolve! 
 *** At this point they are not seeking any donations...    hehehe

Nighty-Night

Have a 'wunnaful' weekend, all!

XOXO
me

"Listen to the Rhythm of The Falling Rain"

Gee, ya think my drainfield is open?!?
(Always nice to see this)!


Good Morning All; 
It began raining a beautiful, slow rain about 2 and a half hours ago- 
Just enough to soak now and to make music on the roof- (So happy I have a metal roof)! 
I would go back to bed, and simply listen until I fell back to sleep but I will be going with Casey, early, to her doctor appointment. Her doctors are thinking of getting an insulin pump for her... And I surely do not know enough about this, so I cannot miss the appointment.

I too have an appointment later on. Which means it will be a big "gas" day. That makes me mad with the gas prices as they are. (Well, that and I don't like doing all the damned running around). hehehe

My appointment is with my pain doctor. 
Remember when I had written a letter to my doctor after having had a new doctor come in and try to change my meds?
I received a letter back from my doctor- A very NICE letter too. 
In it he stated that I am to see him, or another NP for my visits.  ("YAY")!

That all said, I will be keeping this one short for now.

Love to all; and may your day be as 'wunnaful' as the rain on my roof...

XOXO
Me

MY FRIEND....

Link

Thank you Sweet Barbara!

All my love.

XOXO
Me

Geologist Puzzler (Clintonville, WI)

*** Of interest to all.
Many of you live on a fault line- or close to one
Many of you deal with odd weather.
This is neither. (Or so they say).
What? Are we growing our own volcano?

This is going on about 30 miles (as the crow flies), from me.
Much closer to my SissyKrissiePoo's house.


All the news outlets seem to be carrying this one.
Kind of reminds me of that old movie- about a giant worm/snake that lived underground (and damned if I can remember the title now).

One would think, in this day and age, that there would be very little left that would stump all the 'experts'.

Love to all

XOXO
Me


Additional Link

>>> Or just Google Clintonville & noise...


Puppies and Dragons

Here.
We go.
Again.

Good Morning All;

Have a dog?

Since 2007, the FDA has tested a total of
371 chicken jerky treats for our dogs! (Click).
Good Lord that's a lot!
These are not the number of complaints; that list is a mile long.

______________________________________


From here:

Dogs Are Dying: Make the FDA Recall Chicken Jerky Treats

Greetings,

Please feel free to forward this to your friends & family.

http://www.change.org/petitions/pet-owners-animal-advocates-dogs-are-dying-make-the-fda-recall-all-chicken-jerky-treats-made-in-china

Make the FDA recall chicken jerky treats

Dogs are getting severe kidney problems, kidney failure and even dying!
Because tests by the FDA are inconclusive, pet treat manufacturers are not required by law to recall their products, and none of them have volunteered to do so. But given that the tests have not pinpointed the contaminant does not mean it is not contaminated. The FDA issued a warning to pet owners in November, 2011 in regards to this issue. The question many are asking is how many dogs will have to die before the products are recalled? It is already estimated that the dead and dying are numbered at more than 500. This number does not count all of the cases that have not made the connection yet between a pet’s illness and the treats. The treats are causing kidney failure and Fanconi syndrome, with some cases resulting in death; others, in chronic kidney disease. Four months has passed since the FDA warning yet the treats are still being sold, and pets are still dying. When Purina began to receive calls from customers whose pets had become ill after eating their Waggin Train jerky treats, they initially discussed financial settlements, but when the FDA’s tests came back with inconclusive results, Purina took all offers off the table. Some consumers who have posted about pet’s illnesses on Purina’s and Dogswell’s websites have been banned from posting there any longer. At a news conference today in Cleveland, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, and Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich both petitioned the FDA to step up their investigation. They both called for the Food and Drug Administration to take immediate action to put a stop to their policy that allows dangerous pet treats and pet foods to remain on the market and to put an immediate stop to its continued sale.

I would like to thank the group Animal Parents Against Pet Treat and Food Made in China for the content and support. Please join them at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Animal-Parents-Against-Pet-Treats-and-Food-Made-in-China/235390426550583 

So far, the list of brands with treats made in China or that are being linked to pet illness and deaths are:
•Waggin Train
•Canyon Creek Ranch
•Dogswell
•Booda Bones – Aspen Pet
•Milo’s Kitchen
•American Kennel Club
•Hartz
•Dingos
•Beefeaters
•Cadet
•Sargents
•Ever Pet ($$ General)
•Home Pet 360
•Walgreen’s new brand – Simple
•TheKingdomPets

If your pet has eaten tainted treats, symptoms may include:
•Decreased appetite
•Decreased activity
•Vomiting
•Diarrhea
•Increased water consumption
•Increased urination

If your pet is sick and you have been feeding it these treats please report it to the FDA. For now, pet owners who find the current state of this situation unacceptable are urged by animal advocacy groups to take the following actions. •Download the FDA warning here, and print some copies.
•If you find the products in your store, remove them from the shelf, give them to store managers with a copy of the FDA warning, and ask that the store return the treats to the manufacturer.
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ReportaProblem/ucm182403.htm

Please share & pass around!

Sincerely,
Susan Rhodes

[Your name]



Or:

______________________________________

From Susan Rhodes, author of above petition.
"The brand I was feeding my dog is hiding behind the words USA (read the fine print people) as they are made in China."
And-
"I need more signatures on my petition, as a group we can be heard. Please spread the word and pass this around to everyone you can think of that may care."


How about we ALL start making our own chicken jerky treats???
CLICK HERE for the very simple recipe.

+ As the author states, it brings the price down from $20.00/LB to $2.00/LB.

______________________________________


My guess is that, slowly but surely, this will affect our cats too.
Not only do we need to READ ALL LABELS- on everything we buy; we also need to be ever-vigilant where our pets are concerned as well.

As stated in the link here, these packages read USA, but the fine print says China.
Even though not stated, the list includes treats made by Nestle, Purina, and Del Monte. 

These products are assembled in the USA.  
Even if they are getting all their ingredients from China, they do NOT have to divulge that info to us.
Why is that?

Somehow we have to Get RID of the damned dragon!

Love to all. 

XOXO
me

MORE:

Report to FDA
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ReportaProblem/ucm182403.htm

From the FDA,
We still invite owners and veterinarians to submit complaints and samples,” said Siobhan DeLancey, an FDA spokeswoman. “The more information we have, the more likely we can find a link.”
The move comes as the FDA is under growing pressure from consumers and lawmakers to address rising numbers of illnesses blamed on the China-made treats. Before the warning was issued in November, the agency had logged 70 reports of illnesses tied to the treats last year. Since then, more than 530 additional complaints of illnesses and some deaths have been filed, officials said.

Great quote:

At the slightest doubt, these products should have been recalled, especially knowing there was a link or at the very least a caution/warning label put on the packaging warning the consumers,” said Robin Pierre, Facebook, a co-founder of “Animal Parents Against Pet Treats Made in China.”  From here.


The real kicker?

06-03-06 Punk
"Please protect me."

I Go Out Walking...

Yes. This is Wisconsin.
Yes this is mid-March...
T-o-o-o-o-o-o-o  very  C-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-L!
Temps to remain 30+° above average for the next week!


Good Morning All;
What a grand Winter season this has been for us!
Any snow that flies past now, though nasty, will be gone shortly-
And with that brings a HUGE sigh of relief.

I went to pick up dog food last Friday- And had this amazing thought that maybe Petco would have an opening in their grooming for Punk- as a walk-in.

They did. (And oh boy, was Punk pissed). 
She hates baths there.
Loves showers here though.
She was so beautiful when Casey picked her up!

As expected, Kelli and kids came on Sunday...

Mr Miller took Sputty for a walk... hehehe


Mr. Miller and Sput
So cute they are!


Then Miller and Coco began butting heads....

All the kids

OK. Not really. 
But first glance sure looked like that when I saw the picture come up!
hehehe

What they were into is anybody's guess.
It wasn't pretty either; especially after they rolled in it -and Mr Miller had some hanging off his ear.

Of a sudden, it occurred to us that Miss Punk had disappeared on us...

Down by the river-
but not yet in it, thank God!


Punk- Whew- Stopped in time

She came back up with not a mark on her!  Say "Yay!"
Whew... Still nice and clean!

We walked a bit.
Kelli had to hold up a tree or three. (She had cleaned the barns on Saturday and was a little more than sore).

We walked. Chatted for a while. 
We even tried to watch Miss Coco-  An impossible task.  hehehe
She moves fast.  And keeps going...
(That is why there are no pictures of her sitting pretty). And it's not going to happen with this dog, she has way too much energy!

We came out of the campgrounds...

Lake Flintville- Punk takes a break. Grrr

Dammit!
Wait, Laying on the ice is really no big problem- She would just get wiped off and brushed when we got back to the house.
Still....

We headed home.

Sputty always lags behind.
We spy him wandering about the "World's Biggest Sandbox"



Sputty- Worlds biggest litterbox.

Too funny! 
He took his darn time- And still almost beat us two back home!


While we were walking I had told Kelli that I would not want to attempt to walk back there alone. She knows my luck, as you know it also. 
I would probably choose then to fall down ... and lay there 'til Summer.

BUT... Then again... There are a few things that I just cannot give up...

With yesterday's beautiful temps, I thought I would try to do just that.
Of course Mr. Sputnik always comes along too.  He raced right by me, knowing it would take a while for me to catch up.
Then he lay down and...


Joy!
Over and over and over again! 

Oh! That sunshine felt SO good!

I caught up to him, and nuzzled his tummy with my cane. We played for a few seconds before I turned to see Miss Punk waiting for me up ahead.
Just laying there.


SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF A DAMN MUD PUDDLE!!!!

I just turned around and began the walk home...
What a PIG!


I love me!
ugh...  But she seems to love her new perfume.  
It's an eclectic mixture of Spring dirt and fertilizer of the local, natural variety. 
... Most specifically the Registered Holstein!

I could have screamed!  (I chose to cuss instead).

As she tried to ignore me Sputty had to go rub it in that she'd gotten in trouble.


"She is too talking to YOU!"

Her belly - - - just black!  And soaked!
Double- Ugh.

Knowing that a gentle pat was a long way off, she ran off ahead and got her Frisbee.
I believe she thinks that I love her Frisbee as much as she does. 
She shares her toys with us lots; especially when one is feeling down, (or just downright uglymad).

Wanna play then?

Yeah. OK. So she's cute. What of it? hehehe

Alone, I had made it about a third of the way back to the woods before I'd turned around.
And it's probably a good thing, (if there is a silver lining) that Punk had chosen to go lay in the mud.  After those 2 days of 'hiking', my back is a little more than sore.
But I am still upright and quite capable.

Casey will be coming out today.
I told her to wear/bring shorts.
Mmmmm  
Lovin' this weather!  
Such a special treat in March for us!
Going to be a treat waiting for Punk in the shower too!
Though what didn't wipe and brush off has now turned to dust, she could do with a good rinsing off. (And a bucket of Cedar or Patchouli Oil). hehehe 

I'd better close for now and get my backside in the shower.  Smiley showering

I shall also try to get my little mound of dishes done before Casey gets here.

Hope all is well with everyone! 
Enjoy this awesome day- but do stay out of the mud!

XOXO
Me

Stare at this for a few seconds while I try to compose a blog...

Got a question for you... (Scroll on down to comments section).

I Have No Excuse. ;-)

Wild Turkeys back by the campsite-
Anyone hungry? hehehe

Good Morning Everyone!
Oh my goodness I have not blogged in so very long- - - again.
My apologies.
I have not been too busy.
I have not gone on vacation.
I have not croaked... (yet).
*sigh*  I see I have no excuse whatsoever. Methinks it's called laziness.
Oh well.

Lots to catch up on.  
(Or is that "ketchup")?
This is...
ketchup


Anyway...

Heck, I never even wrote of Master Gabriel s new quilt- (Christmastime). Oops.

Here it is!


Gabriel, Alexis and Kaylee
Methinks he likes it too!
It is so way big! Made me laugh as he carried it up to his room.


Casey, Gabriel and "The Pack in the Hat" hat


Kristin later sent me pictures of his 'new' room. And now that I want to post them I cannot find where I downloaded them!

But I did find this one...


Gabriel 2-9-12
How beautiful! -
(The dolphin is too)!!
He made this- "with help" as Kristin wrote.
No worries Gabriel, I would need help too. hehehe

Cousin Buttercup came with her friend Dean- 

Tiff-n-Dean
Notice the aura that is around him-
Oh! We had such a nice visit too! 

On one of Punk's visit to the vet I was early and had stopped over to Sue and Glenn's.
They rescue animals- - - - Cats, greyhounds, and deer anyway. 
(At least I haven't seen any gators in their pond)... hehehe


Sue carrying her cat down!

She carries one of them down, and they have 2 cats like this.

At The Gritters!

The other, basking in the sunshine on his favorite chair.
And yes, I have forgotten what breed they are. 
Sorry. 
Imported- from Florida



CaseyAnne- MidWinter Dress
Casey's mid-winter dress.

 *** Forgive my mess.  I assure you that it is no longer like that-
Friend Christy- and her crew!, came over and cleaned one day last month!
What a day that was- And I think they might have had fun too.
The 4 boys even moved the piano 29 feet across the living room! OMG!

Christy is gone for now- 
Her and her hubby are off to Ethiopia to adopt 2 little girls- special needs.
She will have her hands full now. 
(What? As if she didn't before)?! hehehe

Back to Casey-
She may end up back here-

Fairview Medical Center
Fairview Medical, U of Minneapolis.

She still has much pain- And is very, very, tired; perhaps depressed, about being sick for so very long.
But like many who have suffered as she does, she is much like that Energizer Bunny- 
Keeps going and going and going and...
She also had to have a colposcopy- Her paps came back questionable. 
The results on the colposcopy were good though. She does this again come August.

What a MILD Winter we have had! As I think most of you have also?

Matter of fact, once, when it began to snow, the damn birds were so shocked that one even had heart failure...


Dead bird? WTH?

I really have NO idea, but there he was out my door. 
(I know this portends something, but I don't remember what)?

I had better close for now- Already it is quite warm out- And Miss Kelli will be bringing Miss Coco and Mr. Miller too. (I haven't told Miss Punk yet because she would give me no peace if she knew).
For now she sleeps.

As does this man.

Greg and CaseyFace

Happy 30th Birthday Mr. Greg!
And many many happy returns!

I hope all is well with everyone! 

XOXO
Me