The Shadowlands of Flintville

Subtitled: "Dirty deeds done under the cover of darkness."

OR...  "Things that go bump in the night" 

Good Morning All;

I don't sleep- well, or often- but when I do, it is almost like my own little piece of paradise.

Under the blankets and the homemade quilt- the weight of warmth. 

Personally, I do not care for the lightweight fluffy comforters of today. And am happy to save those bits and pieces of such for the cat or the dog. After sewing up the edges I can place them around to be found (usually by Sputty)- and soon there is a snuggled cat somewhere within the confines of my little farmhouse.

Last night I did not sleep early- I had napped a bit after Casey left, (after spending her entire day here)! When I woke, I was quite wide-eyed and bushy tailed.

Such is life.

It is dark- quiet then- even with the window opened a crack- even with the fan running over the stove. 

If I have the heat on, it is also warm.

Lately I have been using an old piece of Green Bay Packer material for a lap cover. it keeps my legs and feet toasty warm when Punk and Sputty are dreaming, lying elsewhere. It is good enough for me during this (knock on wood) 'warm' winter as I read on and on -from links -and thoughts- that are searched for, then researched on(ward).

Looking forward, with that glass being half full, I was reading about the Spring equinox, and waiting for another page to open about the Fat Witch Brownie Book. (Note: she cooks- she does not eat little girls in small brown uniforms). hehehe

Of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye, and a split second before my head turned- I see a great black fleeting image- The cat, very much outstretched like a flying squirrel, taking sail off the chair through the dining room, and into the dark confines of the kitchen.  

I heard nothing, even as he landed on the old rug between the kitchen and the living rooms.

I waited to hear anything...

Comes a memory of the night before- as I'd been woken with a very loud 'bang' and a 'crack'... Later inspection would prove this to be the linen scented candle I had just bought- still in the bag from the store. A 'new' fragrance I had been eager to try in here- A light enough scent that I had thought might mix well with the patchoulli and the sage, (and of course, the dog).  hehehe

Damned cat. As he'd pushed the bag off the table, it had left little hope that I would ever find out if it would have mixed as nicely as I'd imagined... 

As that thought passed, I was quickly reminded that there was something in the kitchen that I, quite probably did not wish to deal with at that point in time- 

I waited. And I waited more- for anything to come of my aerobatic cat.

A moment later I heard a low gutteral growl... The sound that only comes from a feline as it protects its food.

Then nothing once more- save for that interminable 'wait'...

Confirmation came quick as he silently strode back into the room with a mouthful of mouse. A medium-size interloper that, I imagine, had been on its way to seek out the new bag of cat food that I had lain on the chair in the kitchen. Rarely am I able to put everything away form a shopping trip- I put the necessary things into the fridge/freezer, and the rest will be put away when I am able to do so. 

There ARE worse things. (Hmmm... -I think).

Almost as soon as Mr. Sputnik had shown me his pride, it leapt from his mouth- and again my cat began twisting- soaring, to retrieve it. 

I had no capabilities at that moment to participate in the chase. My back being just about as painful as it can get...

And yes, it is a story that has been told by me many times previous. Still, I have not seen a mouse in 3 months. This, thanks to Sputty, (or maybe thanks to the fact that none have been 'in' either. 

Then again, I have not seen last night's mouse either...

I am unaware if the damned cat ate it, or lost it. 

My day is planned in advance to see if he has, or not. 

As for Sput, he is asleep on the couch.

Punk will gladly help me- Her nose being one of my greatest assets. My airborne cat will not help further.

Off I go now- Going to be a LONG creepy day- one of which my nerves are not quite ready for. 

I shall try to put away things in their proper places- Perhaps even I will find a dead medium-sized mouse that has crawled under 'something' in a last ditch effort to hide from its predator... 

Ugh.  Maybe I will even vacuum up the leftovers, if indeed there are any.

At this rate, I will never be able to get my house into shape to $ell it.

For now though, it is warm enough- And as I wait for my little pills to kick in, I will try to go take a few peeks around as I remove my rugs and toss them outside to be shaken off.

My love to all. May you have a 'wunnaful' day!

XOXO

Me

Pink Bunnies. Busted Trailers. And a Long Drive Home.

I hear you lost your cat?

Good Morning All;
I was reminded yesterday that it is 'time' for a blog from Flintville.  I have taken note;l and love when i am loved enough to be missed!
Yes this is almost a 'cheater' kind of blog- I actually put this together a while back, and just saved it in my drafts-
It only needed words.
But it's the words that are a worsening and now painful problem for me.
Adding to the frustration of trying to hit the correct keys, came the fact that I 'think' I either bruised a nerve near to, or broke, my left thumb, somehow.
I feel like I used to feel in typing class. Major "KLUTZ~n~Duh"... And who the freak didn't know how the alphabet went??? Or so it seemed in office class for that first day.
(Of course, anyone under 35 or so will not even understand what a 'typing class' is)...
Personally, I am so happy that there is a backspace key- Surely if I had to use whiteout I would have passed out a LONG time ago.   hehehe
(Those under 35 will not know what 'whiteout' is either, save for a blizzard).

I do not know whose cat is in the top picture. But he has taken over my outside areas. A good thing -as my annual "catching of the mowisses" is at an all~time low this year. Thus far I have only caught one measly little mole. And he was in the attached garage. Sputz got a baby mowiss earlier... but nothing more... yet.
(What's with all the freakin' moles anyway? Are they eating my mice or what)?
The first time I saw the cat is credit to Punk. It was dusk, almost dark- I was watching the early news.
Of a sudden the dog actually tried to fit through the screen on the window. She squealed. She barked. She sounded pathetic...
I went to push her aside so I could see too. Didn't work- I had to open my own set of drapes. She, being my fierce protector.
I opened the drapes to the next window over, and I swear what I saw was a pink-ish bunny! (In my own defense, he was facing away from us)... Punk would not move away from her window, so I closed the drapes in the hope that she might quiet down for a little while.
She did. I missed the news.
A few days later, I had to go through the whole thing all over again with Sputz. Closing the drapes on him is not an option- He just moves them aside and perches on the windowsill.
Possibly the 'pink' cat looks to be hurt a bit- But there is no getting close enough to it to see if it is just dirty- or truly hurt.


On to Flintville... ('bout time, eh)?
The view across the road... (from when the corn needed pickin').



"Pick me!  "Pick me!"  "Pick me!"


Finally, in the little bit of snow that was leftover, came the gravity boxes.



The corn-picker too...



Like the corn in the field, our snow was gone in a few days.
But it was still quite chilly some days...

Casey had a doctor appointment to check her blood- Punk would not hear about staying home- And leaving a crying whimpering dog behind the door is an awful hard thing for me to do.
Since the weatherman had said we would have intermittent sunshine that day, I agreed she could come- *if* she wore her sweatshirt.



Oh. Wait for it.   hehehe



At the clinic now- Mad she can't come in too.


Casey and Lori- Lori is the nurse that told Casey 3 years ago that she couldn't have her TP/AIT because of the budget... Long almost unbelievable story that.

Later, as Casey picked up her meds, Punk and I took a little walk...



Cute, no?



The sun ready to set- and in a whirling of clouds- painted the sky so very pretty.

I dropped Casey off at her place- and took the highway home.
BIG mistake as it was the Friday before gun-deer hunting season.



Way too much traffic- and way too much construction.



What an awful thing to break down on the way "up nort'" But no, I wasn't giving up my place in this nonstop line of traffic to ask if they needed help. Besides, there 2 guys- they would be ok.

Finally off the highway I could enjoy the sunset a bit better...



Isn't it awesome?

My love to all.  Have a wunnaful Sunday!

XOXO
Me

To be continued...   (I think...)! hehehe

Ketch~upping... Pre- Snowstorm Francesca-

Monday Morning. Now...

Sure has been a long time since I have blogged about anything even remotely "Flintville" hehehe
Didja miss me?


The Channel 11 picture  to the right was actually taken about 2 or 3 weeks ago already-




Do you remember Casey having that horrible allergic reaction to the meds they gave her in Minnesota last January?

???????

"Anaphylaxis" I think they'd called it...

I even had a little allergy of my own
I've been feeling pretty rough too, even without my fractures, and the rest of it.

Now, toss in a little something that I'm allergic to too; and I've got Casey beat!




By a longshot!

Pretty damned gross, eh?

Nice temps earlier in the month and this beautiful weather gave me a chance to even 'wander' a bit outside -
Picture this: Me out there, with the camera around my neck- and of course, those two canes.  Quite a funny juggling act- (And I can't even juggle).  hehehe

Not to mention that Punk kept bringing me her Frisbee- time and time again. oh- Oh! OH!
She was thrilled for those few days of respite from the cold! As was I. hehehe

There is even a wee bit of green showing up...
 ... It always amazes me- especially after a long Winter-

A little snow left- and a little bit of "life" too.

More life here! These will be this years and next winters chives!
(Hey, "I" see green, even if you don't)!  hehehe

I have a silly question for anyone that might know-
(God knows I surely don't).

Why does gravel always appear to be tinted 'blue-ish' after Winter?

I also found a few 'candies' laying around in the grass-

It's all those brown M & M's that I refuse to eat.
  ~Punk seems to ♥ them though!!   hehehe

She even had to sniff all over to find more...

... and very begrudgingly came back to me after I'd called her-

Then, from somewhere the snowplow had left it, she magically found her Frisbee!



I threw it more than a few times !
(In the meantime she ran a mile or so)!

But then... "O0pS"

And that was it for that Frisbee-
Odd, but once it's near to her poo-poo piles, I seem to lose interest in it. hehehe

Darn fine thing Casey had just brought her a new one-

   hehehe

We had to walk almost to J & J's driveway to find snowbanks for her to play on-

-and in.

!!!hehehe!!!  ...."BUSTED!"

 ~ She HAD been "hiding" on me...

Then off she went, to look for a few lost/forgotten squash...
No luck with that-
(What I didn't freeze, the deer got a long time ago).

But plenty of snow left there for an ice cream headache -

Would Sputty come outside with us?   He did- finally.
See, it's ONLY on HIS terms.

Once out, then he does not want to come back in.
When he does this, I let him sit.
Or hunt- or go poo in the fields- (or whatever it is that cats do outside)-

Like sitting in the sun I suppose...

OR...

.........

    He checks all around the house-  ..............Then sits in the blue gravel


If he refuses, still, to come in with us, he has to wait until Punk gets fed her supper- (She always has to go potty and poo first).

Then, even after all that waiting, that cat still follows her around, and ONLY comes in when she does.
(This, no matter how high/low the temperature is/not).

OK OK-
Then, It's FINALLY time for supper... hehehe

I took this shot a LONG time ago-
Still one of my favorites though.

Sput has taken to moving the heat register cover so that it doesn't blow on me when I am sewing. He adjusts it so it blows on him in his box!!!! Grrr...
And that, my friends, is the definition of "cattitude".


I have been having horrid days/weeks with my back.
The last 2 shots I received did nothing to help.
The h/a last night and this morning added nothing either.

While searching around the net, I found THIS picture- It is the same as MY own brace; which needs replacing.
But I'll be damned if I'm shelling out $780.00 for it! 




I found one on eBay though. hehehe


Tonight though. -When I do go to sleep. I shall sleep in the utmost of comfort!

Thank you Casey-So very, very much!

Not only for this beautiful pillow, but for EVERYTHING you have done, and continue to do for me.


Tonight, she drove ALL the way out here just to feed Punkin her supper.

She knew I hadn't slept a wink last night, & so I wouldn't have to wake up...
(I did anyway).  And it was a darned good thing I did.  Casey had to help me out of my own darn bed! 
Oh well. There are always worse things.

Hope all is well in your little corner of the world.
Been trying to keep up with everyone's news and all- I have found that to be a most impossible thing to do!
I shall keep trying though...
My love to all!

XOXO
Me

PS:
Tomorrow (maybe)...
The entry about Snowstorm Francesca.  Here's the link-
Tomorrow the pictures.   hehehe

Ferrlecit Reaction- (part two)?

Sputty. (With "cattitude")...

Good Afternoon!
As you know from yesterdays blog, Casey had a very bad reaction to her infusion on Wednesday evening.
It's pretty damned bad when suddenly your own body no longer fits in your own skin!
She was so very swollen, and had so much pain everywhere. The swelling in her joints being almost as bad as the hives and the other swollen parts.
Unfortunately, she can only have benedryl as the rest of the stuff is steroids. As Robin was good enough to point out after Casey had tried the Infed infusion, Casey cannot have those treatments because steroids ultimately kill off her precious islet cells.

It happened again last night. The same thing! This, 24+ hours after her infusion was stopped. Again, she took the 50 mgs benedryl and her pain meds as prescribed. Finally, about 4AM the swelling began to go down. She is sleeping for now- I will wake her about 3 or so to make sure that we don't have a repeat of last nights insomnia. I would fall asleep a bit, then awaken; and she was still up. Even after another 50mgs of the benedryl...
The only difference this time is that now we are home. The Minneapolis forecast called for flurries yesterday. No big deal that, as flurries are almost a way of life in Winter.
But the forecast was wrong.
The weather turned a 4 and a half hour drive into almost 8 hours. Kelli remarked that we must have brought it with us because it didn't start snowing in Flintville until 20 minutes before we got home. hehehe
We followed that weather all the darn way home!!! Saw one lone snowplow spreading salt, and just west of Wausau, WI; otherwise the roads were not treated in our direction. (I must add that we counted 8 or 9 plows heading west, plowing and salting).  We saw a few crashes along the way- only one that the car had passed me previously. Being a fan of "late", (in the choice of 'late' or 'never'), I just took my time; stopping every now and then for a potty break. (And medically necessary to unwind my knuckles for a short time).
No stopping in Ringle for Punks potty break either. 
I did stop every now and then for gas- Not needed, save for a few extra pounds added to the car.

As I wrote to my KelliBaby this morning, Mr Sputnik couldn't make up his mind whether to sleep upstairs or down last night. ('Course neither could Casey, so she was awake all night long).
Grrr... One might be tempted to think that 2 days post surgery that one would want to sleep. Not so with herself...  hehehe
I wonder now, if it was pre-hives, the allergy, that kept her awake, the trip, the surgery, or a combination of everything?  Probably that combination.

I still have dishes to do- Left over from before we left, my back not being accommodating enough at that point to stand and scrub. (How's that for an excuse)?! hehehe 
Will get to those after I go in search of a few fresh groceries. The darned dishes will keep a few more hours, and are soaking in bleach water for now.

I would put off the shopping until after the dishes if we weren't to be expecting about 4" of new snow today. I drove far enough in the darn weather yesterday and don't wish to be driving any more than I have to today.
The sun was out earlier, but it is cloudy now. Imagine the snow will start soon.

That said, I had better close.  I hope everyone is safe and warm. And I thank you ALL for your letters, notes, and gifts, for Casey. What grand family and friends we have! Thank you! Thank You!! THANK YOU!!!

My love to all.

XOXO
Me

PS

If you are newer here, {since Casey's TP/AIT (transplant)}, please read here
http://flintville.multiply.com/calendar/item/10011
or here
http://flintville.multiply.com/journal/item/721

Or...
Just start here
http://flintville.multiply.com/journal/item/712
& keep reading forward by hitting 'next' at the bottom of each blog...
Pictures in most. <--- (You have been warned). hehehe 

Captions Needed? hehehe

CaseyFace!   -05/19/10


Good Morning All;
Another infusion day for Casey. Hopefully the poke will 'take' on the first try this time.
Again, we are to arrive for 8:30...

I have been running down to Kelli's and snapping pictures of the construction...
Punk gets left in the car after last week deciding to run in wet clay. hehehe


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She is not always happy, but having given her numerous baths in the past week, she is not getting near dirt anytime soon.

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I will also be leaving Miss Punk at home today. Temps are forecast to be in the upper 80's.
(Which I have learned to actually mean temps will be in the lower/mid 90's).

Casey and Greg came out on Sunday, knowing that the temps were going to go high, and also knowing that my A/C was in the basement.

Greg carried it up.
We cleaned it up/out, installed it, and got it going...
Yesterday it ran for 2 hours, rattled some, and then quit on me. 
(Suffice to say I did not move overmuch, nor eat a bite, yesterday). Too hot to do so.
And when I chanced to peek at the thermometer on the 'due north' side of the house, it read 95°.
Life goes on.

Below...  It matters not what the commercials say, this is NOT a happy cat!

This is where your captions are needed.   hehehe

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Still laughing!

A bit of background...
While Casey was here, being bored while Greg played with my computersaurus, she decides it is high time for Sputty to also get a bath.
Punk canNOT always have all the fun after all.

Unlike Punk's baths, this is way too dangerous to attempt to do in the bathtub.
Mr. Sputnik found himself confined to the kitchen sink...


Having been watching my bluebird family, I chanced to get the perfect shot of Daddy Bluebird.

When, of a sudden, he realized he was camera shy, and flew off...

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While it ruined my shot, I still think he is lovely, even in a twist of flight.
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I'd better close for now and get on with my day.
I have windows to close, entrapping the night air for a little while. And then to pick Casey up and bring her in.
Please say a little prayer that today is easier for her?

My love to all.  Have a 'wunnaful' day!

XOXO
Me


Now.   About those captions???    hehehe

Fat Cats and Bitty Baby Bulges

I had to be in Green Bay the other day and snapped this photo as I crossed Hwy 172
While I am not in construction, I found it creepy to see them assembling a 4~lane highway bridge with WOOD!
The only conclusion I came to was that this was the support for the concrete?
I sure as heck HOPE so! 
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Good Morning All;
For me, there is good news?!?  ~and worse news...
I have learned that I do not have 3 fractures in my back. 
I have 5.
That sorta sucks.

Here's a heads-up for you...Some nasty news about the Fosamax I have been taking... Will have to find a link for you later, but heard that in the short term it helps- But in the long term it seems to be responsible for creating more brittle fractures.

Casey and Greg were out this past weekend. While she was here, I asked for her to bring a pitcher of water outside since we have had no precipitation lately.
I needed to water my chives... It's been a long winter, and I am sure they were thirsty.

Two days later, I took this picture...
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Mmmmmm.....    We will be having yummy potatoes within the next week or so.
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Casey brings her little snacks along with her since I rarely have anything too yummy in the house-
This time it was peanuts, and there were no two ways around the sharing aspect of it all.
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One for Punk, and two for Casey; one for Sput and two for Casey...
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Punk is always peeking around for snacks...
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Whatcha got there????   hehehe
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Our 'dry spell' has ended since we watered those chives- They are predicting rain through the weekend. (Sam and Katie sure know when to go on vacation; they are in Bermuda if I remember correctly).  At any rate they are missing the rains...

It has been warmish- daytime temps into the 50's- But when it is so damp, it's chilly still.

Last night, upon realizing that my toidy wasn't filling up at its normal rate, I checked the water.
Sure enough- It was down. AGAIN! what the hey?

I walked out to the pumphouse around 11:30 or so, through this darkness.

And this pea soup...
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Fog. Up close and personal...
Am hoping it really IS the fuse this time...

Casey had an appointment this morning, and said she will also bring a few new fuses for it, just in case.
The chicken warmer light was still burning in the pit, so it isn't froze. Besides, it has been much too warm for that silly noise. Methinks my water pit is possessed... hehehe
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Speaking of possessed, there have been a few comments on whether or not Sputty is fat
He is, and I now have proof!

Many of you remember Amos, (my Moose~da~Kitty)?

Here is Amos in his heyday...

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21 pounds of pure arrogance and "cattitude"
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And here is Mr Sputnik.

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**** I can plainly see the resemblance, don't you?!?
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Casey had a doctor appointment on Tuesday. Punk couldn't wait to go!

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She has to wait for me to take that picture! hehehe
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CaseyAnne has been feeling awful- And for the past few days had nasty pain when she had gone to bed.
She has what appears to be a hernia, by her scar. But it has nothing protruding through it. Just an itty bitty bulge. About the size of the top third of a softball...
Soft too. Nothing hard to the touch.
Even the doctor found this odd. We will keep an eye on it and see what happens.
The good news is that her white blood cells have finally returned to normal-
(And that's a big "yay")!

But, she is also quite anemic, and he gave her a script, iron, for that.
If I was rich I would feed her $teak every day. Too bad for her that pills are cheaper.
Come to think on it, it's too bad for me too.
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Dr Szabo and his little pancreapneumogastro Casey! hehehe
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Casey has just gotten here- Time to head out to the old milkhouse and play with water and electricity.

Hope all is well with everyone!

Love to all

XOXO
Me