PuPdate!

I had to wait… to post…and then other posts got in the way …. can you say Clearance! Yes it is still going on. I still have too many items, so go and check them out! www.ihaveanotion.com 

Goldie and Linzi… in January 2018 (4 months old)

Goldie is 9 months old now and almost that size. Her early difficulties… kind of held her back a little. Since we started down this path to getting her colon cleared she has gained lots of weight and grown to almost the correct size. I took another sample up to the specialists… for testing in late April. For some reason it took more than a week to get the results…. (their tests result timeline is all over the map). I was hoping to say that we got the all clear and on to a normal dog life for her.

Goldie in March 2018

Nope, she is still positive for Cryptosporidium. Doc doesn’t like it, but doesn’t see any reason to do more invasive tests. I’m happy, my wallet is happy and I’m sure Goldie would be happy too, if she knew what we were discussing.

Goldie napping… May 2018

Vet has suggested that we continue with the antibiotic powder for 4-5 months and then retest. Not a difficult issue, except that she has to be dosed with a meal every 8 hours! So no late nights or sleeping in… for at least one of us! This schedule also means no opportunities for both of us (humans) to be away together yet. We got as far as making plans and kennel reservations, and then the idea of counting on others to medicate her on time, scared us ….into…. one of us staying home.

Goldie and Linzi playing…. as you can see Goldie has done some growing… almost as tall as Linzi… and can easily out run her, but that might be more youth than growth!

So there we go… hopefully by her 1st birthday(September) … she will be clear and ready to take up the ‘dog life’… 

More later-     Beth

Whats UP?

Hi…. and what exactly is up at I Have a Notion?

Our rainfall and snowfall amounts are up in Kentucky. Almost 3 times more snow than was predicted… and if we get too much more rain… we will float away.

Also up are the wild Hyacinths. These pop up every year in the lawn, and they are naturalizing. The first year here we only had 2 or 3 plants and now we have 20! I love them. We also have lots of wild violets… under the maple and just to prove its spring… even if the temperatures don’t say so, the dandelions are blooming too.

This little one is up to 1 month old! I spent a day last week with her. It shot the whole day… by the time I drove up, we had lunch, a quick spin around IKEA, and the drive home… But well worth it!

And another day I drove up to Louisville to drop something off for Goldie. To be tested. I took Goldie with me… for some more experience riding in the car and to get a weight. That is also up! Can you believe that in the 4 weeks since diagnosis… she gained 15 pounds!!! The C-diff is done! and we are working on the Crypto. Hopefully one more sample…. and we will be in the clear.

And just like the rest of America… some of this! and it is taking more than one day!

What has kept you busy? Sewing or Taxes or….?

Pupdate- Goldie

So what is new in Goldie's world.

Quick snap… of Goldie 7 months!!!

LOTS!!!

We think she is on the mend!

After the last test for Giardia came back positive I whisked her off to a visit with specialist. Required a drive up to Louisville with Goldie. Due to miscommunication, it required a second trip the next day to deliver a sample.

Took about a week to get the full panel of results back.

But we got an answer.

Her lower GI track was compromised. She had Cryptosporidium and Clostridium Difficile (C-diff). Poor girl. Both were causing her problems.

So a bag of Hydrolyzed dog food (to also rule out a food allergy) another script of Panacur and a script of an antibiotic, (fortunately sprinkled over food but needed to be dosed every 8 hours). We saw some immediate improvements.

Good NEWS!

She has been gaining weight and growing, now that she can absorb some nutrients. We send in another sample… and hopefully we will be done…. but will have to keep her on a tight lead until we can use some bleach in the yard. C-diff stays in the environment for a very long time.

Where did she pick it up? I suspect at the vets office when we went in for her regular course of vaccinations or for the Giardia. She had not left the house or yard since we brought her home. I feel strongly about taking puppies out before they are fully vaccinated and it was just too darn cold to go outside. Too easy to pick something up…. and she did!!!

More Later! Beth

Pupdate…

I promised a pupdate… that would feature Linzi. She is going to be 8 in a few months. She has had a rough time of it the last year or so … with Bandit being a bully, and then… having to deal with another puppy. She has been a little gun shy… not sure if she should fully embrace Goldie or not. For the most part, she has.

We acquired Linzi in South Africa, shortly after moving there. She and Axel, (he was 6) got along great. Mostly because Axel was such a low key dog with other dogs. No cuddling, but no wars either. Axel on the right and Linzi on the left in 2010.

                              

To give Linzi some peace from Bandit, I used to take her up to the sewing room with me after dinner. She would =find a place and just rest. Not often changing locations. Now, because Goldie is still a puppy… I still give her the peace and she knows the phrase ‘take Linzi up with me’.

 

And this is her favorite toy in the Creative Space. I was clearing off a table and tossed this old top that has some repair work going on… out of the way for a few minutes and… when I turned around …..

A note on Goldie. She just completed round 5 of medications for Giardia, after the last test of clear.. she started to revert again and on Monday I took another sample in. Things are looking better and I will consult with the vet again tomorrow… about how things are shaping up, (pun intended).

We have lived in this house just over 2.5 years and never had a fire…. we fixed that the other night.

And outside this morning… yep that ground hog might just be right!

More Later-Beth!

Winter 2018

The middle of January has come and gone!!!

I would say I have no idea of where the time went since the New Year Year dawned... but I do.

Most of it has been winter!!! Lots of it. We went in the deep freeze in December and haven't really seen any relief since. This has been like Chicago COLD!!!  negative temperatures with biting wind chills, and we have snow to go with it.

There are a couple of bright spots.... even in the winter!

This bloomed yesterday. Can you see the snow outside. We had more than 5" on the ground when all was done. And it is still cold, weather people suggest that we will be above freezing tomorrow.

I know.... I said Linzi next, but well ...The only ones in our house that love the snow are the dogs. This was Goldies 1st snow of any accumulation and she loves it.

Plays tag/chase with Linzi... eats it, snow plows with her nose... and in general doesn't want to come in.

I observed the robins last winter... flocking, like in huge groups... and saw it again yesterday. If you were wondering how cold is is, this robin is puffed and sitting with his feathers covering his feet.

In the Creative Spaces I have been on hold. It is the end of year or the beginning of a new year for both of the guilds. I have been preparing to hand off the VP stuff for one guild and pick up Membership as well as have a Live Auction in a few months and that has taken a chunk of time recently too.  At the other guild we are gearing up for the Quilt Show... in September!

What are you working on.... something quilty or NOT!!!

More Later-Beth

Goldie 4 month Pupdate!

As I promised.... a Goldie update.

Let me just say that is Freezing cold in Kentucky these days. Much more like up north... in Chicago than down south in Kentucky. Several nights have been at zero... and a few degrees below that a couple of  times... and that does not include wind chills!!!

Her life in our household has been a bit difficult to say the least. Nothing too serious .... but her puppyhood has had a rather 'loose' beginning. I will try and discuss this delicately... She was 9 weeks old when she came to live with us. As you can see by the rug she is on... she has grown! Photo on the left  9 weeks + and one on the right is just the other day at 16 weeks +. She pretty much fills up the rug now.

  

At first we thought that she was under stress ... of leaving home new people, sleeping alone; then she wasn't eating so we gave her a little food additives (canned food as the breeder was doing) which can also bring on a bit of looseness.

Then we saw the vet for our 12 week inoculations, vet found Roundworms, (they come from mom, either in utero or via the milk). Medicated and eradicated.

Next we had a bit of teething.... which will often cause the same issue.

 

So, at about 14 weeks... still the same, so return visit to the vet along with a sample. The sun was coming in a high window... and I just couldn't resist the silhouette.

Diagnosis; Giardia -generally caused by unclean water or from a particular delicacy found in a yard that has visiting wild rabbits (Rabbit Treats).

At 16 weeks, the final shots and a revisit about the Giardia... Now after 4 weeks of 2 different medications, and not much improvement, although she feels better! More active. It might also be just a particularly healthy colony of Giardia and it has resisted the individual medications, but we may be seeing some improvement....  Along with this last course of medication we are changing her diet, as there may also be an allergy to something in her food. Hopefully this poor girl will get a bit more regular and I will get a full nights sleep without a trip or 2 outside in the middle of the night!!! We keep a calendar... of  'puppy business' so we will know if the puppy is holding longer... and able to go through the night without a trip outside. This calendar started out as joke for the husbands retirement...so he would know which day of the week we were on and the date. It only took a year for us to not need the chalkboard for that... we found a new reason to use it... first for Bandit and now for Goldie, but I din't change the reason!!!

It always seems to be something.... the next dog story I'll share some about Linzi, she has been a trooper!

Do you have a pet? Does it bring you joy? Share in the comments, we all want to know!!!

As Always- More later! Beth

The Rush

Let's start with the good stuff!!!

Goldie at 12 weeks!

After Thanksgiving, is the onslaught of Christmas Planning, Preparations and then the New Year, which brings all that turmoil of clearing and cleaning up of the Christmas Holiday and making pathways into the whole of next year!

Today is only the fourth of December and the statement above makes me want to pull the blankets back up for another hour or two of rest!!! The constant onslaught of sales pitches for the things we need to buy (for others or ourselves) to have it all just seems to take all the fun out of it for me.

At our house we have been simplifying... the last few years, especially with a puppy in the house. So now the Christmas Tree has to fit on a table top, and fortunately for us... that is all we need. Unless a child or company comes for Christmas, I save all that decorating time, which is nothing compared to the undecorating time!!! Nearly 90% of the ornaments on my "big" tree have been handmade and are pretty old and fragile. Not only do they have to all be unwrapped from the boxes, but they must all be rewrapped, and some have to be repaired before being put away.

As usual, time is of the essence for me... I have way more on my plate and have some deadlines to meet. Most of them of course in the quilting arena. Don't we all think it will only take a few minutes which is in reality HOURs.... to get done in our creative endeavors?

Later this week the Kentuckiana Longarm Group meets at Quilted Joy in Louisville. It is an informal group and we all take turns presenting something... In July I presented a bit on thread, not that I am an expert on thread for the Longarm. However, I concentrated on the general properties of thread; size, weight and content. For December I am up again... with my friend Linda... and we are doing a little something on labels, we call it Low Tech-High Tech Labels. Linda does the Low Tech side of it and I do the High Tech side of it. One of my quilt labels is featured on the Quilted Joy blog, (it is a book style)

So I am busy preparing... my information and pulling out a couple of quilts to share. We only have about 10-15 minutes each... so we have to keep the quilts to a minimum!!! And both of us are creating a handout...... about our labeling. I need to pare my info down a little!

In the meantime life with Goldie is careening along! She is now 12 weeks, had her first Vet Check... weighs in at 12 pounds. Next up rabies vaccinations and obedience training starts.

We have started teething... last week we had a little floppy eared pup, and then a one ear up pup and this week they are both up again.

I hope you are staying ahead of the December rush... and as always,

More Later- Beth

Thankful and Goldie

I was going to post about Goldie today, but on retrospect I decided to post a Thanksgiving note. And on second thought I can do both.

I have so much to be Thankful for. I am Thankful for a fabulous worldwide network of friends that keep me entertained; and I am Thankful for a wonderful network of Quilters and Crafters that visit the store and occasionally a sale, (hope there will be more of those in my future!); Thankful that we have our health; and Thankful for family, even though we don't live close to them and will miss the gathering this year in Indiana, (but I did make a cherry pie that will rival last years if any family is reading this!!!!); I am deeply Thankful for my husband and partner in this life of happiness. We have had mostly fun along the way, lots of adventure and looking forward to more this next year.

And I am thankful to be able to say I am Thankful, for such a small thing...  as Goldie!

Meet Goldie.

She was 9 weeks old when we brought her home. Her sire is the same as Bandits, different mom. 

She is now almost 11 weeks old.

  

Her Kennel name was Goldie and it goes along well with Linzi, as in we can call them both with ease as the names fall together off the tongue without tripping, so we kept Goldie. She is smart and friendly with us and Linzi. Or maybe I should say Linzi tolerates her with a gentle firmness. It is fun to see the interaction between the 2. They play together, a little and sometimes lay together. 

We, (meaning she) have almost mastered the house breaking... and she likes her crate, sleeps through the night at least one night a week without a need to go out. She is playful and attentive to humans. She already knows how to sit... for her dinner and if finally eating with gusto. She did not like her food the first few days...

She is a cutie isn't she?

What are you Thankful for?