Irene Hits Wilton

The hurricane is almost over. We have been very lucky so far. We have not lost power, but 75% of Wilton residents are without power. 700,000 CT residents are without electricity.

Our yard and driveway are littered with tree limbs and leaves. Thankfully, no large trees came down on our property. We are supposed to have strong winds later tonight, so I am not sure if this may change.

The local news says the main road that our street connects to is blocked by downed trees and power lines. I am not sure when we will be able to leave our neighborhood.

We heard from our LI family and everyone is doing ok, although there is a power outage in Oakdale.  

Irene Update

It is 8:00 am and all four of us are soaked from our morning walk.

At 4:30am Otis had to go out. Jeff put on his coat and Coop, Otis and he headed out into the howling winds and pitch blackness.

We went back outside at 7:30am. While it was light outside, the rain and wind were even stronger as Irene is getting closer.

The lights have been flickering and the Internet connection is dropping in and out, so I do not know if this update will get posted. Walking thru the neighborhood we saw broken tree limbs littering the road and yards.

Luckily we still have power, but do not expect that to last. Currently, there are 350,000 people in CT without electricity.

Changing Leaves

Walking the dogs this morning, I noticed that the leaves are starting to change from green to red and orange. Fall is slowly creeping up on us.

"It's comin' on the end of August, another summer's promise almost gone" - The Eagles

Storm Watch

With Irene headed for CT....

We received a phone message from Wilton Emergency Services, stating that we should expect flooding due to 10 inches of rain fall. Power outages may last for DAYS!

Our home and neighborhood is surrounded by tall trees. I am worried that one may land on our house or block the only road in and out.

We are keeping our fingers and paws crossed that this storm is not as bad as is being predicted. To all our 2 and 4 footed friends  living on the east coast- stay safe!

Caramels

I love Godiva chocolates. Jeff loves caramels.

What could be more perfect than this box of candy ? I could not resist buying it.

The cow jumped over the moon

Cooper and Otis were playing in the front yard. Otis was headed straight toward Coop, running at full speed.

I thought Otis would collide with Cooper and send Coop crashing to the ground. Instead, when Otis got close, he jumped up and over Cooper. Otis landed gracefully on the other side of Cooper. Coop looked at Otis in surprise.

I was amazed. Otis can jump a stone wall, so it makes sense he could leap over Cooper. Jeff saw this and said "And you wonder how Coop ends up with a sore back!"

We're Splitting Up

After nearly 20 years of a contemptuous relationship, I just can't deal with it any longer. It's not me, it's you. Your high maintenance lifestyle has just pushed me over the edge. You always need to have the latest and greatest. I get you the latest and BAM the next day you need something newer. I'm sorry, but after catching untold number of viruses from you and cleaning up all your messes, I am done.

Yes, I know that things will be different. You are familiar to me. I know everything there is about you. Unfortunately, so does the rest of the world. I may fumble in my new relationship. I may not even know how to turn on my new friend, but rest assured the journey of discovery will be worth it.

Goodbye Microsoft Windows, you can reach me over at Mac's house.

Monkey Grass

The monkey grass which we planted along the new walkway is finally flowering.

I thought the cone flowers which were planted along the new stone wall would be safe from the deer.  However, the deer come about 10 feet from the front door to snack on these flowers.

Who's afraid of deer ?

We were walking the dogs, early in the morning, when a deer jumped over the stone wall  at a neighbor’s home and raced across the road in front of us. 

We were all startled by the sudden appearance of the deer. Otis immediately sat down and Cooper ran behind Jeff.

A second deer followed and Oti’s jaw dropped. Safely hidden behind Jeff, Cooper barked. Talk about false bravado. 

New Song from Martina McBride

Tags: I'm Gonna Love You Through It, Martina McBride, Martina McBride Videos

Coming Back

The cyclamen that I purchased in January has been losing its leaves for the last few months. Almost half of the leaves are now gone.

I had read that when  all the leaves die, you can put the plant in a cool dark place for several months. The cyclamen will eventually sprout new leaves and then you move it back to a sunny location.

When I watered the plant this week, I saw several new leaves and flowers forming. I will wait and see if the cyclamen manages to return to its former glory without being given a rest.

I Don't Like Water

I thought that Retrievers were water dogs, but Cooper does not enjoy getting wet. On rainy days, Cooper does not want to go for a walk. He will race outside, do what he needs to, and turn back for home.

Of course, Otis does not mind getting wet and happily trots in front of me with Cooper getting dragged along behind.

The three of us eventually return home, soaking wet. Otis will shake off in the garage, but Cooper just stands there dripping. It is only when I bend down with a towel to dry Cooper, that he shakes, sending water all over me. I thought I saw a smile cross Coop's lips as he did this yesterday.

Could it be payback for making Coop walk in the rain ?

Loaded Lobster

Jeff spent three days in Rhode Island at a sporting clays shoot. I stayed home and took care of Cooper and Otis.

I received this t-shirt as a souvenir. How many people have a shirt with a lobster aiming a shotgun?

Faster than a speeding bullet

I worked late and passed Jeff walking the dogs as I drove down our street. I parked in the driveway and was getting my bag from the back seat when I heard a jingle of metal.

The noise got louder and I saw Otis flying down the driveway. Otis was running flat out and quickly closed the distance between us. I smiled thinking that Otis must be very excited to see me, to be running so fast.

Otis flew by me, hopped into the back seat and gave me a look as if to say, "I'm ready for a ride!". I guess a car ride rates higher than a hug from me.

Stinky

Although we washed the dogs about a month ago, I noticed they were starting to smell doggy.

We took the dogs out to the driveway and washed them under the hose. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy and humid days, so even hours later the dogs still were not completely dry.

Back to Dr Duffy

Cooper had his annual exam with Dr Duffy at the Norwalk Vet Hospital. Dr Duffy said that Cooper is doing well and has put on 2 pounds since his last visit. I was not surprised, since Cooper had stopped eating the last time we were there.

Dr Duffy cautioned me to make sure Cooper's weight does not increase. As dogs get older, their muscle mass declines. We do not want extra weight to stress Coop's joints or spine.

I mentioned that recently, Cooper has not wanted to put a lot of weight on his right front paw. Dr Duffy checked and did not find any arthritis or muscle issues in the leg. He then said, a pinched nerve in the neck could also cause this. Dr Duffy twisted Coop's neck to one side and their was no response. Moving the neck the other way caused high pitched yelps of pain. Coop was given a cortisone shot and left feeling much better.

Dr Duffy reminded me that while Cooper was a senior, he is not "old". Dr Duffy thinks that Coop (who is almost 10) could live to 14! How can you not like such an optimistic vet.

Owney

When I was at the post office, I purchased these dog stamps. At that time, I did not know the story of Owney, the US Railway Mail Service mascot.

Postal employees considered Owney to be a good luck charm, because there was never an accident on a train he was traveling on. You can read more about Owney's interesting life by clicking on this text.

Lobster Lover

Otis was raised in Maine, so I guess it is not a surprise he is a lobster lover.

Otis has been carrying the lobster around with him and gnawing on the claws.

Cooper is not as gentle with his toys. Cooper immediately ripped the stuffing and squeaker out and then tried to steal the lobster from Otis.

Shake Shack

When we lived in NC, one of our favorite snack spots was Goodberry's. Goodberry's sells frozen custard sundaes or concretes ( frozen custard with toppings (nuts, candy, fruit)  mixed in). Since moving to CT, we have not had frozen custard.

Now that the Shake Shack in Westport has opened, we can once again purchase frozen custard. We stopped at the Shake Shack on Sunday afternoon and saw a long line of people waiting. After a 20 minute wait, we finally placed our order. I could not resist the vanilla custard with blueberry pie mixed in. Jeff ordered a vanilla with toffee pieces. The concretes were delicious but I would order the smaller size next time.

The seating area inside is very loud and it is difficult to have a conversation. There is seating outside, but on a hot day there are no umbrellas to offer shade.

Finding Nemo

This trio of pet toys was too cute to pass up. Each toy has a squeaker which means it will last at  most 5 minutes before it is torn apart.

Summer Blooms

I couldn't resist these beautiful flowers. The fragrance of the roses and the lilies fills the kitchen with a wonderful scent.

Ear Infection

Otis has very thick ears and is prone to ear infections. I cleaned Oti's ears the other day and thought that one seemed extremely dirty. I checked that ear the next day and it was filthy again.

I realized that Otis had an ear infection and immediately began to apply drops to his ears. Oti's ear must be very painful. I was petting Otis on the head and when I touched his ear, he cried out.

Hopefully Otis will begin to feel better in the next few days.

Rolling Around

On hot sunny days, Cooper and Otis love to roll endlessly in the grass.

I always wonder if the dogs are trying to scratch their backs or are just having fun.

Pawling Mountain Open

Jeff and I spent the day acting as roving photographers at the Pawling Mountain Open, which is hosted at the Pawling Mountain (Shooting) Club. As we drove up to the clubhouse, I immediately knew this was a special place. Stepping inside, the elegance bespoke of the wealth of its members.


The PMC grounds are gorgeous.The sporting clays stations are tucked within acres of tree lined rolling hills and lakes.

The PMO is a charity shoot to raise money for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. We drove around the course in a golf cart, taking photos of the squads.

Participants included generals, colonels, retired military personnel from the US and UK, business men and PMC members. The Special Operations Warrior Fund has funded full tuition for 150+ college graduates and is currently paying tuition for 140+ college students. All awards are given to the children of deceased special ops soldiers.

 The Liberty Belles from the USO sang beautifully during the luncheon. I was glad that Jeff donated his time and talent to photograph to this worthy cause.

Too Hot

We are suffering thru a heatwave in CT. 98°+ temperature with extremely high humidity. Stepping outside feels like being in a sauna and reminds me of our NC days.

When I walk the dogs, they get to the end of the driveway and want to turn back for home. I think the asphalt is extremely hot on their paws.

Coop loves to spend time out on the back deck. When I went to water my plants, Coop raced outside. When I went inside to get more water, Coop followed me in and refused to go out again.

We are all hoping for some rain and cooler temps!

Finally

I waited all summer long for these Stargazer lilies to bloom. Bugs ate most of the leaves and a few buds died on the stems.

The Stargazer's are one of my favorite flowers with their striking colors. They rarely survive the deer, so I truly appreciate their beauty.

Happy Birthday Otis!

Otis has been with us for 2 years. How quickly the months have passed.

According to Oti's medical records, he is six years old. Otis still acts like an excitable puppy.  I think he is really only 4 years old. Otis greets me with the same exuberance whether I am gone for minutes or days. After a long day at work, it is nice to come home to Otis, who acts like being with me is the greatest thing ever.

Otis helps to keep Cooper young at heart. Both dogs love to play together.

Otis has become an important member of our pack.We thank his Maine Mom's, Bobbi and Linda for bringing Otis into our lives.

Welcome!

This new welcome sign was a gift from our LI family. I love the cheerful birds.

It matches our Christmas gift

Table Manners

We decided to barbecue and eat dinner outside on the deck. Inside, the dogs have good table manners. They know not to beg and usually lay down under the table while we eat.

Once outside, it seems that Cooper and Otis thought the rules changed. I am not sure if it was the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers cooking or if it was being out on a beautiful evening, that got them so excited.

Coop sat next to my chair and began to bark when the hot dogs were placed on the table. Otis sat near Jeff drooling. The down command got both dogs to lay down for 5 seconds and then they popped back up.

When the table was cleared, both Cooper and Otis got a small piece of hot dog. I guess their persistence paid off.

Meeting the Family

On Saturday morning, Jeff, Cooper, Otis and I headed to upstate NY to visit family. When we arrived  4 hours later, the dogs were anxious to get out of the car.

While we were there, Cooper and Otis got to meet some of Jeff's extended family. I was impressed by how good Coop and Otis acted. The dogs were not perfect, but after a long drive and being in an unfamiliar home with a group of strangers, both dogs were pretty well behaved.

Cooper wandered to each person to get petted. Looking at Coop, I was amazed. Was this the same dog, who when first adopted, never wanted human interaction ?  Coop took an immediate liking to Berry and kept placing his paw on her. This is Coop's way of saying, pet me! Thankfully, Berry is a dog person and she patiently petted Coop.

Otis bounded from person to person wanting attention . 80 pounds of dog coming at you can be a bit unnerving. Thankfully, everyone realized Otis is just a big happy dog, looking for love.

When we arrived home on Sunday afternoon, both dogs were exhausted and slept all afternoon.

Glimmerglass Opera

I have always wanted to attend an opera. Unfortunately, Jeff does not have the same desire. Luckily, my mother in-law knew of my interest and generously purchased two tickets to Carmen, at the Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, NY.

I did not know what to expect, but the opera was fantastic! One hour before the show begins, Glimmerglass has an expert discuss the composer, the opera and parts of songs are played, so you know what to look/listen for during the show. This was interesting and helpful for a first time attendee.

We had "critic's row" seats and an excellent view of the stage. I was surprised to see that the people in attendance ranged from age 16-80. Dress ranged from suits and long dresses to slacks and even a few people wore shorts.

At 8pm, the scheduled start time, the announcer said a patron had a medical emergency and the opera will begin after medical services arrive. At 8:30, the ambulance came and the opera began.

I had always pictured opera singers as large men wearing viking helmets. Imagine my surprise, when a svelete Carmen and muscular Don Jose stepped onto the stage. I did not realize that a large part of the opera was the dancing and the theatrics, not just the music.  The singers were incredible and the 3 hours passed quickly.

If you are ever in Cooperstown,  NY in the summer and want to attend the opera, I would highly suggest visiting Glimmerglass, I know I will never forget my night at the opera.

Hydrangea

I love the purple color of these flowers

Wall of Rhodies

The rhododendron blooms  are at their peak!

Treatment Options

Dr Duffy called to discuss Cooper's Cushings Disease diagnosis. Unfortunately, Dr Duffy did not have the detailed blood test results, so we spoke in generalities. Dr Duffy did not recommend surgery. To remove an adrenal gland is a difficult surgery, since this is located close to major arteries, including the aorta.

Medication could be used to block the hormones which are being produced. The preferred medication is safe with few side effects. Dr Duffy said if Coop's symptoms are not severe, we could wait to begin treatment.

Dr Duffy is going to speak with the Cornell vet. After Dr Duffy has all the details, we will determine what to do. I was very relieved to hear that surgery was not recommended.

Unstuffed

The new toys from Linda had a very short life. Even though all the stuffing is torn out, both dogs still like to carry them around.  Of course, they both want the same toy at the same instant.

Dr Duffy is back from vacation, but we are still waiting to hear from him about Cooper's treatment options.

CT Made the Top 5!

Well, if you count "The Top Five States With The Highest Median Real Estate Taxes" a good list.

Easter in July

Happy 4th of July!
The Easter lilies are now in bloom!

Ice Cold

With plans to visit our LI family, I knew it was time to give the dogs a bath. Since the day was warm and sunny, we decided to wash the dogs in the driveway.

The water from the well was ice cold. Otis was a good sport and just stood patiently while he was shampooed and rinsed.The instant the cold water hit Cooper, he shook from head to toe, getting all of us wet.

The dogs spent the afternoon on the deck drying out.

Senetti II

In the early spring, I purchased a Senetti. The instructions said that when the plant stopped blooming, move it outdoors, replant in a larger pot and trim the plant to half its size.

It has been a few weeks since the plant was trimmed and now it is in bloom again.