A new post..... horsey stuff......

Tonight, with my "toe" hopefully healed.... I took Princess for a run. It's been over two months since we went out and had a run.

First, we went down by the creek, had a bite of grass, an apple - and then headed down the road.

If I jog, she jogs.

I thank God every day for my wonderful cooperative horse.
Probably, without her, I wouldn't make it through my troubling times.

We went for about 1/4 mile each way, then ate some more grass -- and trotted back up the hill.

I swear, soon -- I will ride her on that jog...

BUT, good thing is my toe/foot didn't and doesn't hurt...

Just had to write this story down.

Barb.

Journal cont.

Today was a good day for me. Terry took Don and they were gone for almost 4 hours. I worked in my crafty room (the crap room might get a new name) and picked up, put away and finished one creation. I also cleaned out our "sock drawers". We wear socks in the house, not shoes.,, or, we use to.

Lately, Don won't take off his sandals and since he is prone to spill - I have rugs everywhere that can be washed.

Don was so happy when he got home. He ate a really healthy dinner and enjoyed a glass of good red wine.

It's interesting. I put some old socks, etc. in a paper bag in the kitchen. Unfortunately, I don't think the Goodwill would want them, so... they are leaving for the land fill. (I'm a big recycle r but socks? .mmm....) When Don got home, sat down, he saw the bag and proceeded to empty the entire sack on the kitchen counter. I ask "why"? He said we never throw anything away. This is a sack of really good stuff. In his formal life he wouldn't have even noticed it. Interesting how I have to do some things when he is not around ....like hide the sock bag.

Journal Continues

So who is really interested in knowing about Alzheimer's?

Really, you should be -- because you can be healthy as a horse and then your mind starts to decay... that's what happened to us.

Don was brilliant, interesting, handsome and enthusiastic. Now he acts like a child, can't see very well (Dr says eyes are good), can't find his way from place to place, can't dress correctly, can't cut his food up.... and most of all can't start or finish any task.

I believe that sometimes his instincts take over and he wants to -- rake leaves, sweep, hang up his clothes (he's was a heck of a neat person, not like me at all), play with his hobbies, but he can't....

If we do a project (like sweep the front porch, I have to get the broom, show him how to sweep and then put the broom away.) 5 minutes later, he doesn't remember the broom or the sweeping. Sometimes, it's kind of funny. (Thank God for humor....)

Today is a better day than yesterday!! YEAH....

Journal Continued

The Blog Journal continues.

One of the things I have observed with Alzheimer's is everything is accentuated. (Is that the right word? - I think so...)

For instance, if I drop a bottle cap Don reacts with "OH OH" very loudly. If you shut a door that normally wouldn't cause alarm, he stands up and holds his head. I must be careful with any "sounds"... Interesting, right?

Princess's leg swelling has not changed. But, she is highly concerned with the world and of course her hay. Alfalfa is her main concern. I "treat" her with some alfalfa, but, most of her food world is pasture hay. (Gads, it's $16.00 a bale)

It's great to have a horse I can communicate with.

Animal behavior is my favorite subject. Love it.

P.S. I noticed that my beloved favorite animals are "black"... Princess, crows and of course my wiener dog "Lucy"... Wondering, what that means?

Have a great weekend my friends.

Journal

I really love that song "Sometimes a Diamond, sometimes a Stone" cause it was a HUGE stone today. We had a tree root break up the garage floor so the tree (a few months ago) had to go. Today, a part of the garage floor was removed and tomorrow it will be poured. I've included a pix of that darn root. Oh well.

Don went with his caretaker today bowling. They were gone about 3 hours and I did absolutely nothing. I had "wash", "cleaning" and well you know... but I sat on my butt all day. No art, NOTHING... That makes me feel guilty as hell.

Don was so mixed up tonight. Honestly, he is so much worse. Can't find the bathroom, not sure what's going on. GADS....sometimes the "love" is lost.... then I find it again.

Princess developed a swelling on a hind leg near her hock. It sure wasn't because of too much exercise... but, it worried me all day. Tonight, it looks better. She was very upset because the noise of the work in the garage made a herd of 8 deer jump and run outside her corral ... well, she jumped and ran too. I think she sprained something. I have to admit it was something to see her rear, buck and run like a deer. I think it was play time. At her age it needs to be more subdued....

I hope your day was diamonds.

Barbara
Praying for the folks on the East Coast with Hurricane Irene approaching. AND, I think I'm bad off, the people of Libya are in my prayers.

What's going on...

Okay, I'm going to try and blog some stuff. But first, "Princess"...my horse.

Tonight before the sun sank in the west I took her to the round corral and made her "jog" around. Of course she did exactly what I ask her to do.. She paused only to ask me to scratch her belly.... (there goes the nails....)

I sat out there on a stool - in the middle of the corral -- and thought to myself.... "I'm dreaming"... This beautiful black horse is right out of my story books that I enjoyed in younger years... She really is so pretty.

Also, I have to be very careful. Anything I teach her -- for a treat --- becomes a passion - she's too smart for her pretty black head... (I love it)... I taught her tonight to "paw"... just let me count three in the sand and she does it too... Wow, horses are not known for their smarts, but my girl? Move over movie horses.....

About AZ... The first thing people ask is "how long has he had it?" .... I'm going to guess for 5 years. I first noticed something when we were traveling to my cousins' in Alaska. He would listen to a conversation about almost anything, and then ask something about what had already been discussed. I admissed it for poor listening skills....

Don is on the best medicine available. For some time, it did pause his progression. But now? He's worse.

He is, however, a good patient and accepts my help. I have to help him put his clothes on. He can't load the dishwasher, water the deck, use the broom and/or find anything he needs to do a task of any kind. He still wants to be productive, but ... I have to be right there to help him find something or even do the simplistic task.

Thank God for good people and angels.

Our neighbor takes Don 3 times a week to go bowling (yep, he remembers how to do that)... they go to the park and get an ice cream cone. I have 3 glorious hours to myself. And today? she said "how about 4 days?". I accepted with JOY.

I'm sorry about Alzheimer's. It deprives you of your life and sometimes your very existence... BUT, it is what is is and we have to make the best of it. I pray every day for patience and grace..... It's been working out pretty good lately.

So, how's your day going?



Have an art filled day and fun. I'm going to do just that.

Alzheimers

I'm considering using my blog as a journal about my life with Don, my husband and this intruder called Alzheimer's disease.... Seems I need to write things down and that brings some kind of comfort... well, so does spending time with my horse, dogs and birds...

Samples to Art

I'm in a swap on AAWA for Formica tile artwork. I made one with an excerpt from the poem Iron Gate and the other is just a gift tag. The flower on the gift tag was created from coffee filters. (From Oliver Wendell Holmes Iron Gate... So when the iron portal shuts behind us - And life forgets us in its noise and whirl - Visions that shunned the glaring noonday find us, And glimmering starlight shows the gates of pearl.)

Fast Forward - I'm trying to get back.

Had some inspirational moments during an AAWA's Artful Gathering. We called it a "pity party"...the leftovers that stay home do some swapping.

Sometimes, for a bunch of reasons I feel pitiful. You can see this theme is right up my alley.

My new goals are to create some fun stuff, organize my dusty craft room and finally do a little blog posting... (I have to do some catchup too on Inchies )

For the pity party I made a charm.... "Monkeying Around"
For the pity party I made an ATC.... "Life Began in a Garden"...

I just joined a fat book project, using the theme of Transportation. Good golly I may have to create 56 4x4's. Now that commitment will get me arting...

Blog Delay

I'm really here, just so busy caring for my husband. I've neglected my blog. Sorry about that. I'm just going to sign off for a while. (I may change my mind tomorrow... but life right now is complicated.

My art supplies have a new layer.... dust. Hope all goes well with my friends.... :)

Tonight

Gads, it is so very good to be in Oregon. Don and I sat out tonight in Princess's paddock. Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed her body scent, the wind in my hair (gads, which is sparse), and the mystical of the pines and sky.... We moved here from So. California, which was so in the midst of growth.... hated the people movement and needed space. Now, to my dis pare, Don has Alzheimer's... but tonight we held hands in the corral and felt good together. God is our inspiration for happiness in this life. Am I religious?.... Praise the Lord.


Barbara, OR

Inchie Monday "Heart"...

I believe in heart-felt love and friendship.

It's Your Birthday, you are how old? (Gads)

It was fun celebrating my birthday. I received so many beautiful cards. I'm only posting a few. How old am I? I'll never tell.

Inchie Monday "JOY"

I had no inspiration for Joy.... It was a VERY sad day today with my husband's Alzheimer's.... Very hard to write about it - let-a-lone art about it.... Oh well, I believe in the "good times", so maybe "joy" is around the corner??

Sorry my inchie friends.

AB Pages

I'm in a round robin altered book swap. I'm on the last book and the theme is
Let's Go See. I picked the Circus, one of my favorite subjects. Much of the work was done by cutting out graphics, layering, using stickers & die cuts -- and creating a collage with wax.

You can't imagine unless you live with it

Alzheimer's is an awful disease. Can't state it more clearly than that.
I just am thankful I have this wonderful horse that I can put my arms around and hug... She is such a God send....

P.S., She "smells" good too....Happy Trails....

Time for a little artwork

Time is precious in this household. Some of that precious stuff must be used for creativity or this ole gal will not be happy. Know that feeling? I joined a Gothic Arch swap and had some fun. Then I made a lottery piece with a western theme. Of course I ask my horse Princess her opinion and she snorted and tried to eat it. Somehow, I knew that would happen and had a sugar lump hiding in my other hand. Needless to say, it all worked out. The lottery piece is authenticated, by a "real horse"...Also sending thanks to my good friend Jean in Florida for the boot sticker. I scan'd an outline of it and used Make the Cut Software to cut the other two boots out on the Expression.

Inchie Monday - "Friends" always

Inchie Monday ..... Peace

All that is left

Dennis is gone but not forgotten.... he left me one memory....

Inchie Monday

My inchie was completed last Sunday but I didn't post it. I was too upset about Dennis the chicken. I felt awful every time I visited my blog to post. Couldn't do it.

Time really does heal your heart (not your memory) and it was so true with me.

My inchie is a shrink plastic bird that is singing his heart out. The mountains, sun and fern leaf are all punches. The song is for Dennis the dearly departed chicken.

The Saga ends

Dennis is gone. I found where he perched and there was one feather left behind. I hope Dennis enjoyed his time in our barn yard. I know I did.

Dennis is my friend

Yep, he was there this morning, full of crowing and needing some food. I gave him cracked corn, bird seed and oatmeal flakes. OF COURSE, my black beauty Princess, the horse, was right there -- tuned into every bite. Who would guess she would lick oatmeal off the ground. Was Dennis bothered? Not a bit...

Then, about 2PM this afternoon, he disappeared. I stood by the paddock fence and said a prayer that he went to chicken heaven and then, oh no, lo and behold, here he comes walking up our long driveway...strutting his walk...crowing like he was feeling good. I think Dennis, the chicken, is a good friend and I hope the best for him. Right now? He's perched on Princess's corral fence, fast asleep. Must be nice to be a chicken....

to be continued.....

The Saga Continues

Well, without any expectations, "Dennis" the rooster was sitting on my front door step. Imagine my surprise when I opened the front door. I about clucked over.

BUT, I have an empty aviary and I thought I could "shoo" him in for an hour in the pouring rain.

There I was with arms open, heading my chicken boy into my empty coop... do you think we would go? NO WAY....

"Okay" Dennis, you can roost again tonight..I hope in the tallest tree.... but if a coyote (oh my gosh) has you for chicken dinner, I tried to save you.
There you go.... to be continued.

The Saga Begins

Got home yesterday from running errands, husband in tow, message on machine. "This is Dennis and I delivered your rooster"... SAY WHAT? says I.

Oh Oh, some months back a gentleman that was helping with construction on the old homestead told me about a neighbor's rooster that was crowing all night and keeping his household wide awake. He told me he was going to find a new home for that rooster.
I told him not to take drastic steps as I would probably get some chickens when I had adequate fencing and I would give that rooster a home.

Fast forward to yesterday.

The lady that owned the rooster is very ill and can't keep him. So, my friend Dennis has been feeding and caring for that loud bird. As a matter of fact, he has formed a bond with this rooster but can't keep him. She asked him to find a new home for her beloved Rooster. He remembered our conversation.

Need I say more?

I now have a free roaming rooster named Dennis. He's obviously an adult and will not stay behind the fenced corral. He just crows and flies over. He seems friendly enough, and apparently can take care of himself - as he was waiting at the gate for me this morning. Of course I fed him. What's a girl to do?

Princess looked him over then proceeded to ignore him UNLESS I start chicken talking to him.. then, she trots over and pushes me.. This behavior is interesting to say the least.

Poor Dennis is at risk for loose dogs and coyotes. We'll see how this saga continues.

Oh almost forgot, I called the neighbors and told them that Dennis might visit and that I have no control over his behavior.. They all were anxious to meet him. There is a distinct possibility that photos may follow....

Inchie Monday

OOPS - I'm back, it's Tuesday and I was too pooped to finish my inchie last night. Since I needed something with wings I made a tiny collage, hand painted the background, added some embellishments and in flew a dragonfly.... This is a belated inchie..

My mirror

I'm thinking tonight of the song "I'm looking at the man in the mirror".. BUT, I'm looking at the woman in the mirror tonight and I see lines and wrinkles... Gads it is hard to get old.... No pix, just a thought.... Cheers to old women and good horses...

I didn't forget..... Rhythm

Inchie Monday... here's my take... I call it rhythm in flight. I painted this little art work with a toothpick...

A Smile for my Blog Readers

I don't have a lot of blog readers but if you read this, here's a smile just for you. If you are not a frequent reader or commenter, bingo, you still get the smile...

P.S. I Kiss my horse right on the lips.... (oh yeah, the ribbon? I was dismembering a cedar wreath and stuck the red ribbon right on her head. I think she liked it, until it fell apart)

Shrinking Continued on an ATC

The Local Craft Girls that meet on Tuesday just had to be on shrink plastic..