Monday, October 24, 2011

UPDATE, OPTIMISM, OWL


Last week was a sort of time-warped paradox—both numbingly tedious, and flying past like a highballin' freight train in one headlong rush. I suppose that's a result of worry and the pressure from the enforced routine of staying in taking care of Moon-the-Dog. 

I'm hoping this week will see things getting back to some semblance of normalcy, though even during the best of times, "normal" is a hard-to-define term hereabouts.

As an update, Moon is doing much better. The weekend turned out nice, and as one of our neighbors had generously loaned a hydraulic splitter, Myladylove and I spent quite a bit of time turning huge log "rounds" into manageable chunks of firewood.  Moon got to come outside with us on several occasions—generally for a "meet and greet" with the neighbors, whom she loves seeing. For the past couple of days she's been eating on her own, and is much perked up in her behavior. She's now taken all the medications the vets sent home with her following surgery. I'll have to take her to Cincinnati on Friday to have the 60 or so staples removed and some blood work done to make sure liver and white cell counts are back to normal, and that there's no sign of bile in the stomach since her "replumbing." But my beloved old dog seems to be doing really well, and I'm optimistic the news will be good.

I'm also hoping I'll be able to get out in the woods and fields before the final autumn leaf comes down. I've missed almost two weeks of photo-rambling time. However, in truth, this hasn't been much of year for fall color. Here along the river the tans and golds have finally dominated the greens…though plenty of green is still out there. 

The barred owl photo is from an earlier excursion to a small patch of woods up the road.
——————— 

22 comments:

Jenn Jilks said...

Twas quite a week for me, too.
Involving hospice client. I'm fried and missing my woods and forest. Fabulous owl.

Cheers from Cottage Country!

Samantha said...

Heal, Moon, Heal! That's great news.

The owl photo is just incredible.

giggles said...

yay!

Grizz………… said...

Jenn…

Yup, know the feeling…though I'm also so sore I can barely move from all the wood-splitting. But it was sure one of those weeks…

Grizz………… said...

Samantha…

She's doing her best—and making good progress. It is good news, and we both thank you for your encouragement. Thank you, too, re. owl pix…though mostly luck.

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ - I was just going to email you today about 'Moon-the-dog' :-) I am relieved and optimistic that she is on the mend. I am sure all the love she got was the best medicine. Looks like you and your Lady are getting ready for Winter to settle in. Us too.
Love to you always
Gail
peace......

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

I'm relieved and optimistic, too. And just after posting this, I received a call from the surgeon who did Moon's operation telling me she'd received the blood work and samples back from the lab and that everything looked consistent with a severe gall bladder blockage and infection, but no signs of anything else. She, too, though it sounded like Moon was doing really well. So if Friday's check turns out good, then we'll be able to relax and look to enjoying the days ahead.

Hey, you know you can write me any time.

We are getting ready for winter, at least when it comes to the woodpile. I'm not not one of those guys who's dazzled by machinery…but I love my neighbor's wood splitter!

Take care of yourself. Have fun, be good, laugh often.

Grizz………… said...

Giggles…

Yup…yeah! No, actually…YEAH!

Dawn Fine said...

Beautiful photo!! Wishing the best for your pup!

Grizz………… said...

Dawn…

Thank you…from both Moon and myself. Hope you're somewhere with great color!

Carolyn H said...

I'm so glad to hear Moon-the-Dog is doing better. That's a really scary thing to have happen. I'm glad she's on the mend.

Grizz………… said...

Carolyn H…

It was a big deal—and still is, for that matter. The risks were great, the complications many—and every time I read the odds I got even more worried and frightened. But she had good care, wanted to live, and I believe the prayers, good thoughts and well wishes truly helped make the difference.

I—we—have been blessed and comforted in many ways throughout this ordeal, and in no small measure, by my wonderful and caring blog readers/friends.

Kelly said...

...glad to hear Moon is on the mend!! (Beautiful owl photo too. He or she is gorgeous. I've only been that close to one in the wild a few times.)

Grizz………… said...

Kelly…

I was just poking along, looking for autumn leaves, flowers, or whatever to photograph—not being at all quiet—and looked up…and there he/she was, gazing down at me. I got off several shots (all underexposed) and the owl flew about 50 feet to another tree, I reset my ISO, ambled in that general direction (not going directly at the owl) and made a few more shots. Then a jet came roaring over, heading for a landing at the nearby airport, and the owl had had enough bother and departed. As I said, pure luck. Just thinking back, I've probably been rather close to wild barred owls more often than great horned—which isn't to say it's common. Most times, the minute either realizes you've spotted them, off they go. However, I used to spend many weeks each year camping, brook trout fishing, and just rattling around the Lake Superior country, living out of the back of my pickup and following two-tracks to see where they led. I came across great gray owls every so often and, like saw whets, they would sometimes allow you to approach within a half-dozen feet. Been startled near-witless by a couple at close range, too.

Thank you re. Moon.

George said...

Great news about Moon-the-Dog! There's nothing better than knowing that a beloved dog is on the mend.

Love that owl shot! I've never been able to spot an owl in broad daylight.

Grizz………… said...

George…

I sure feel better about my dog today than a week ago. I'm so grateful for the good care she's received, the prayers and encouraging words said on her behalf, and the progress made in getting her thus far along the road to full recovery.

This is good owl country around here. Barred and great horned are fairly common—common enough that if I wanted to spot an owl—not necessarily be close enough to photograph one, mind you—I could probably manage it fifty percent of the days I tried. I usually see or hear an owl (barred in the daytime, of course) when I'm out for any length of time in the riverine woods. We also have a few screech owls, the occasional visiting saw whet, and very rarely, a barn owl—though it's probably been a decade since I last saw one of those. But if you're poking quietly along through the woods, doing more standing and looking than walking, you'll see owls…and if you don't appear to be a threat, they'll occasionally allow you to get fairly close.

Jain said...

Beautiful owl shot, Grizz. I'm so relieved to hear the Moon is eating on her own and feeling better. I trust that she'll be out of the woods as you get into them.

Grizz………… said...

Jain…

Why, what a wonderfully symmetrical way to put it!

And I hope you're right, though I suspect once the staples are out, Moon will still require an additional week or two in which she'll have to be watched to keep her from licking along her scar and jumping up on the bed. And, of course, that means good old pack-leader and dog concierge—moi—will have his work cut out. Woods? Maybe by Thanksgiving!

Grace said...

I haven't checked in awhile so I missed your first post on Moon, I'm glad Moon is healing well--she sure is a beauty.

(I'm also dealing with wood these days--5 cords to pile in the wood shed. At least there is no splitting this year for us:)

Grizz………… said...

Grace…

Moon continues to heal and acts as though she feels better with each passing day. I've always she was a very fine looking dog—but then I'm prejudiced.

I'd guess we have 5-6 cords of wood to stack, and maybe half needs splitting. This, of course, in addition to our wood from last year, which is what we'll burn this winter. But nothing beats a wood fire on a cold day; cranking that thermostat up another notch doesn't even come close to scootching closer to some good ol' radiant heat.

Jain said...

Grizz, I have a little too much experience with Elizabethan collars these days. You know, the plastic cones that go over dogs' head when they're injured. They're awkward the first few hours, but then the dog adjusts and the collar keeps the wound dry, clean, and intact while it heals (and as it itches like crazy). Short of that, I heard that wearing pa's t-shirt works similarly well, though I haven't tried it as it requires some adjusting to keep all the other necessary parts available for use. Good luck to you and Moon as she recuperates!

Grizz………… said...

Jain…

We've been doing the E-collar since I brought Moon home following her surgery—and she's adapted better than I would have guessed, with no real fuss or reluctance when it comes time to put it on. I use it during the night or whenever I have to be where I can't keept watch on her for more than a few minutes. I expect that when she has her staples out come Friday, she'll be likely to want to lick the scar area as it heals, which means the E-collar will continue in use for some time.

No experience re. Pa's tee shirt…though my guess is Moon would eat it.