New Tangles and Pooch Updates

Last week I was a tangling fool. Insomnia will do that for me…I just pull out the pens and paper and I just draw away!

One of my Christmas presents was a box of 16 Sakura Micron black pens in various sizes, including the graphic tips, so it was time to break them in. So I tangled some traditional tiles in black and white.

And I tried out my new sepia pens from Sakura (top) and Copic (bottom).

The Copic pens are fine to tangle with – no bleed and flow across the page. However, the color is an light sepia, a very orange brown. I don’t like them for that reason alone.

I found 5×5 black frames at Michael’s for framing my best tangles so many will be seeing my desk, groupings on my walls and gifts for friends.

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Lulu Belle continues to improve weekly. Her tumor is shrinking slowly…very slowly…and no new tumors are appearing. The drug is playing hell with her immune system however, so her skin is a wreck (she breaks out in hotspots) and she has to be on antibiotics for it.

Thing 1 gave us a big scare last week. He had lost a 2 pounds-a big deal for a 18 lb dog. He was off his food and scattering what was in his bowl. He was rushed to the vet expecting the worst possible news. Upon physical examination the vet said Thing’s heart sounded like a young dog. Several hundred dollars of diagnostic blood work and ex rays showed an exceptionally healthy dog.

But here was one last exam Thing refused to cooperate with…opening his mouth to allow Dr. B to see his teeth and examine his mouth. Obvious though was bad breath. So Thing was given a B-12 shot to stimulate his appetite and sent home with antibiotics to knock down any infection present in his mouth. A full dental was scheduled for this week and we prayed he would tolerate anesthesia for long enough to get it done.

Thing did exceptionally well during the exam and lost a tooth that was probably the root of his problem. He came home wide awake and glad to see me. His eating has improved, he has gained the weight back, and he is playing with his toys again, wanting to play tug of war. How many 16 year old dogs still play tug of war?!?!?

 

 

 

 

A Life Well Lived

Tuesday my grandmother died six days short of her 98th birthday. For all of those years she was a driving influence in my life.

She loved her children and grandchildren totally, and we lived to please her. She gave of herself and not material things. She gave most important thing-unconditional love.

I was the first grandchild so I was the lucky one. She would babysit me frequently, even taking me and my brother for several weeks in the summer to just to play at their home in the country. It was a tradition that continued until we were 18 years old. Since the rest of my eight cousins were much younger than my brother and I and lived further away, this was a special privilege only we had with our grandparents. We were also the only grandchildren to ever know our wonderful grandfather.

Through my grandmother I learned the finer things in life. She showed me how to fish and shoot a 22 rifle (always supervised.) She taught me to knit and crochet. She was a hell of a cook and taught me how to cook many of the things I cook for my family today. She would drop what she was doing at the drop of the hat to play Scrabble or cards with us. When I got my drivers license, she would even let me drive her Cadillac everyday to the tiny town post office to get the mail.

After I was older, married, she would always laughingly introduce me as her first grandchild…”the crazy one!” Then she would tell a story about me and my imaginary friend that I had as a toddler and her encounter with him. I can’t tell how many people she told that story to!

After I grew older, went to college, and got married, I stayed in the area so saw my grandmother at least monthly. My grandmother was always my refuge and confidant, and In some ways I twas closer to her in many ways than my mom. However in any dispute between me and my mom, she ALWAYS took my mom’s side!

My grandmother was herself to the end. She was sharp and completely able to manage all of her affairs up until the last few days of her life. Her last wishes were that she not go to a full-fledged nursing home before she passed away. She wanted to stay at her apartment in her retirement home, in her bed with her family near her side. She got her wish.

Weds cannot express how much I will miss her but I know she is with my grandfather and family in a much better place.

Thank you, Polly, for being the best grandmother in the world.

Finally We Can Take a Long Deep Breath!

For all of Lulu Belle’s fan club, I finally think I can say Lulu Belle is turning the corner and doing much better. Her tumor on her tail is shrunk significantly now. We can see the difference and marvel at how well this medicine (Kinavet CA1) has worked with this type of cancer.

When I heard her original diagnosis of Mast Cell Cancer Stage 2, I felt like she was not going to make it, but thanks to a terrific vet who encouraged us to keep on trying with Lulu even with small progress she has turned the corner. Thank you Dr. B. We love you for 35 years of caring for our dogs.

Lulu Belle has also been weaned of the steroid she was prescribed for her severe arthritic pain due to damage from a prior neurological disease. It was making her feel much better, but also making her a real bitch to the other dogs in the house. Can’t have that!

I want to thank all of Lulu’s fan club for their support and prayers. She wouldn’t be here without them!

Tangling Away

I have been working in bigger sizes and am finding it hard to fill the paper. Here are a couple I did last week.

First the butterfly. The halo effect is via the iPhone camera…not intentional.

And then the Flower Chain.