LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Friday, April 26, 2019

Friday with a Golden Lucy

Another week, more rain.  Today is bright and sunny but with scattered showers.  Rivers are still high and fields are still flooded.  While an inconvenience for us, the continued rain has been disastrous for farmers and early crops.  And for families who enjoy having a garden.  Especially for those families who really need the garden to supplement their food supply.

The rain has definitely increased the beauty of the spring trees and flowers.  We hear a lot of birdsong every morning and a pair of wrens have built several nests about our deck.  There's no guarantee they will use any of them, but it is interesting to watch them working.  Towhees are once again nesting in the bushes near the driveway.  Chickadees have found two of our bird boxes to their liking and are nesting there.  The Pileated Woodpeckers come to the suet looking quite dirty and take food back with them so we are certain they have nestlings in hollow trees nearby.  Quite often we find a Tufted Titmouse flying out of the garage, but so far we have not found a nest.  It's a wonderful time of year.

Lucy is holding her own.  She manages to walk around a bit outside and indoors but she definitely spends more time snoozing than she did before her leg went lame.  She seems happy and has adjusted to the changes in living and eating upstairs rather than the den and "doggie room."  We try not to leave her alone for very long at a time, because she seems to want someone around.

A raggedy but comfortable old girl

Our Violet loves to be outdoors and especially loves bubble time.  Notice the amazed look on her little face when she actually caught a bubble in her hand.  Her sitter had put her hair in a "Cindy Lou Who" style.  Her hair does seem to be growing.  Finally.  My son allows that she might be cuter with hair, but grooming a bald-headed daughter is easier.  Especially after she gets something like syrup in her hair.  She had her first croissant recently and has a new favorite food.  She continued lip-smacking and saying "good" in the car all the way home.

Delighted to be holding a fragile bubble in her hand.

I had my endoscopy this week and it showed a narrowing of the esophagus near the stomach.  The procedure included dilating the area so that my diet was liquid for 24 hours and then soft for two more days.  The gastroenterologist did not think this was a significant problem but did biopsy the area to make certain.  Everything went smoothly and Lucy enjoyed seeing our marvelous dog walker/sitter again.  Now that I can drive myself to chemotherapy, it is no longer necessary for leave her alone and have the dog walker come by.  Lucy really loves her and the walker always stays around long enough to give Lucy a good massage.

I have mentioned before that there were times last year when I wasn't at all certain that I would see another spring.  But here it is in all its glory and here I am, optimistic with a healthy dose of realism.  Just looking out at the trees and birds and flowers makes me happy.  It helps that I do not watch any "news."  I stick to reading, driving, and watching movies and documentaries.  No need to get upset watching politics.

I often quote Marcus Aurelius because he had a lot of sensible advice that rings true yet.

"You have power over your mind---not outside events.
Realize this, and you will find strength."

In these days of widespread shouts of Christianity from people who do not behave at all like Christians, it is well to keep in mind that there are many gods, each as powerful to believers as any other.  We must be more tolerant and come to value a good life more than a specific belief or non-belief.  Another Marcus Aurelius quote says it well:

"Live a good life.

If there are gods and they are just, they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you lived by.

If there are gods and they are unjust then you should not want to worship them.

If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones."


HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK!

BE HAPPY AND STRONG

AND BE MORE TOLERANT OF OTHERS


10 comments:

Barbara Rogers said...

Thanks for the updates on your health, and Lucy's and Violet's latest cuteness. That is a good photo catch of a moment...I'd never have the camera up at the right time to get that look! Yes to all your quotes are saying. I do hope blogs continue, with all that is changing.

Arkansas Patti said...

So glad your endoscope did not turn up anything alarming. After a while it seems we spend a lot of time and worry about parts of our body that we never thought about before.
I think Lucy has the right idea, just sleep a lot, gets lots of love and good food. Not a bad way to live. Me too on the news, it is appalling and I wish I could just disconnect. Can't quite yet.
Violet is so cute being fascinated by the bubbles. She makes them kind of fun, even for old gals.
You might be making me a fan of Marcus. Love those quotes.

Anonymous said...

So glad to know that the endoscopy did not show anything alarming. I hope the weather gets sunnier and warmer there for a real spring to begin. It's good to see Lucy resting and managing her aging body. She's still such a beauty. And...Violet is so adorable. I love seeing the weekly photo of her. Wonderful quotes, all of them. These are such challenging times.

Nance said...

Oh, kids and bubbles! Such a simple joy. I love it.

Thank you for sharing those quotes. They are so very, very true and so wise. I, too, have unplugged from Politics by half, at least. I need to preserve my serenity and nurture my joy, especially now that Spring is here.

The Bug said...

I love the Cindy Lou Who hair - so cute! And I love that last quote - so logical & yet so many ignore this excellent advice. Including people who profess to believe in a loving God. Makes me a little crazy.

Busy Bee Suz said...

Beautiful quotes to live by. I'm glad that all seems well with you and that you're enjoying another spring; prayers for continued health. The smile on Violet's face says it all: JOY!

Goldendaze-Ginnie said...

Your whole post was wonderful as always but just seeing the joy that Violet had with the bubble was the icing on the cake.

Vicki Lane said...

So glad that Lucy is holding her own -- and that you are here to enjoy another Spring! Babies and bubbles are such a treat. And Marcus Aurelius's words sum up my beliefs exactly.

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks for your comments, everyone. I am criticized by some of my cousins for suggesting that there is any god except "Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." They simply cannot recognize that had they been born in another country, their faith might have been different.

I am generally opposed to balloons for children as the most disappointing "toy" of all. It never ends well with a child and a balloon. (Except perhaps water balloons.) But I do love bubbles. Their sole intent is to shine rainbows in the sun and pop when they will. Sometimes with a little help.

Lowcarb team member said...

I'm a little late to this post, but was so pleased to read that all seems well.
Beautiful photographs of Violet and the bubbles, my grandchildren always like playing with bubbles, you can have such fun chasing them!

All the best Jan