Notices by Norcal Gma 2 (norcalgma2@sfba.social)

Summer let us sleep in this morning. Usually rising with the sun she gave her pal a break and cuddled up for an extra half hour.
We are already seeing the positive benefits of getting the right antibiotic to fight the specific bacteria causing Summer's pal so much trouble. He is feeling perky this morning and was asking if he can go along for Summer's next adventure. Summer says heck yeah but will see how he progresses.
Oldest grandson will be here this afternoon to help me finish up the gate and a few heavy garden projects.
Today is starting out as good as days start around these parts.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

Early morning strategy session.
These two think they have all the answers.
They wish someone would listen.
I wish they were really influencing the balance of power.
I think I better head to the kitchen and influence the breakfast prep.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

When I was growing up here in Humboldt County we only had two kinds of weather. We started and ended our days with fog unless it was raining which might be a daily occurrence for months at a time.
Feeling the cool mist of the fog on the beach this morning took me back to my childhood.
My family was poor. We didn't have a car, made all of our own clothes and polished our shoes to make them look more presentable. Like other financially challenged folks we were proud.
Sometimes on the weekends my dad would borrow the neighbor's car and we would spend two days on the beach. We picked surf fish off the sand, cleaned and cooked them in a cast iron fry pan. We ate them with our fingers. So good.
A generation later I did the same with my kids.
My vegetarian grandkids weren't interested but loved the beach.
This was my mother on the same beach Summer and I walk.
A Wailaki woman and a survivor.
She taught me what she could.

Flowers are a theme today.
They are everywhere.
I had to make a quick trip to the bank, post office and pick up a bag of kibble for Summer from the feed store.
I parked the car kind of in the middle and walked to each of my stops.
Our bank has a little garden patch managed by the local garden club. It was full of color. I only took a couple of photos but the space was full of bright colors.
Every flower that crossed my path today brought me joy.
#BloomScrolling

I am one of those people who manages to seem strong, confident and capable during a crises. Even when I'm scared to death. Now that my husband has turned another corner and is feeling healthier again I'm feeling like I can shed the pretense. I am back to being me.
I realized this morning I might even be a little cranky. Definitely overwhelmed by all of the chores that didn't go away while our focus was diverted.
Time for a reset.
No one wants to be around a cranky grandma.
So I set off to the Humboldt Botanical Garden for some floral therapy.
It worked.
I feel better equipped to be kind to myself because I'm doing the best that I can.
The garden is just starting to feel spring like and my son's memorial dogwood tree is showing buds that promise to bloom a little later.
#BloomScrolling

More garden walk photos. There was a brand new rock garden that they are calling a crevice garden.
The circle labyrinth is at the top of the hill.
#BloomScrolling

Not entirely sure where to start.
We are doing better seems like a good place.
Clearly we can't navigate both of us being under the weather at the same time.
Yesterday was difficult.
There were moments when I was ready to say that the circumstances were beyond our ability to manage.
Because I am one voice and no one is the sole decision maker at our house we negotiated. He is the best judge of how he feels. Summer always sides with her pal which leaves me at a disadvantage.
In the long run it worked out. My husband's fever broke last night and we all got some much needed sleep. He is sounding like himself again.
The first words I heard this morning were that I needed to get up to see the sunrise.
I'm glad I listened.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Sunrise

Summer let me know that she was not happy that I left my post for thirty minutes.
She has opinions for sure.
Now that I'm home I seem to be forgiven.
Whew!
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

@jeridansky
We still have some yet to bloom.
I definitely feel like our bulbs struggled this year.

Summer's front acre is looking good.
Some of last year's tulips are blooming.
Some decided to wait this year out.
I'm not sure I blame them.
The warm winter didn't help the daffodils and tulips put their best blossoms forward.
We do love the color that brightens our world and are thankful for the brave flowers that showed up to dazzle us.
#BloomScrolling

One more post about my experience at the hospital today.
I want to thank our friends here who encouraged me to press the hospital staff to mask in my presence and that offered good wishes for a positive outcome.
I stood my ground and asked everyone to mask. I was calm and not to proud to beg.
It worked.
I was also insistent that I didn't need general anesthesia and that I would suffer from nausea afterwards. I managed to talk them into drugging me but not putting me to sleep. I ended up higher than a kite and it took hours to get through the woozy.
I never puked though and I am thankful that they listened to me.
I have a pretty extreme hiatal hernia and a crusty ring in my esophagus that was removed today.
I have decided that with everything on our plate I am going to manage my condition by eating in such a way as to not irritate.
In reality I've been managing for years but now know the doctor doesn't suspect cancer.
Summer listened and understands.
I love the love.

Today is almost over.
Thank goodness.
I didn't really plan well enough for all the possibilities.
We agreed that my husband and Summer could drop me in front of the hospital for my procedure and pick me up at the same spot afterwards.
That was the only thing that worked as planned.
Yesterday was going so well.
It is amazing how fast circumstances shift.
This photo is from right after dinner last night.
We were feeling good.
Although, I came through my procedure with a diagnosis and no likely threat of cancer the process completely wore me out.
By the time I got home it was clear that my husband is sick and on closer inspection discovered his fever over 100.
Everyday isn't a trip to the beach for sure.
Summer has her hands full.
#Summer

Summer has a hard job. She keeps eyes on both of us almost all the time.
Today I had to do some mowing in front of our house.
My husband went for a walk on the other side of the house.
Poor Summer parked herself in the doorway trying to look both ways at once.
She says her life would be so much easier if we would cooperate and hang out together all the time.
I told her I will think about it.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

@jeridansky
Thanks.
I'm sure it will be fine. I just wish they didn't make me sit through the everything that could go wrong speech.
I'm glad I tried Mastodon again too. There was a bit of a learning curve for me to overcome.

Summer crawled up on my lap and immediately started snoring.
This turn of events affected our ability to witness the sunset.
It is against the rules to wake up anyone who is sleeping peacefully. At least the house rules at our house.
So we wait.
By the time we made it outside to the deck it was already dark.
Even the early dark of evening is lovely.
I'm back to stitching on towels to finish the last two I promised. It will occupy me while I'm not eating anything more until after my procedure tomorrow.

@jeridansky
You are always so kind.
Thank you.

@j

tubefree.org/@firesidefedi

It looks like it should be here? Maybe?

@Barbramon1
I will ask him. I expect he hasn't gotten around to posting it.

I finally got Summer loaded up and down the hill. I thought this morning's Fireside Fedi experience was interesting. I'm sure it was clear to anyone who watched that the only thing I know for sure about Mastodon is that it is chock full of kind, intelligent and interesting folks and that I am thrilled to be here.
Summer super needed a good run today.
The wind was almost too much for me. It was sand in the eyes level fierce. The shifting sands also make for more precarious walking and I did fall down once. I tripped on a root that the wind uncovered. It took Summer about 15 seconds to realize I was down. She raced to help and stood uphill where I could use her collar to steady myself to stand up in the soft drift.
Lucky I have plenty of padding and the sand is soft.
There are lots of Summer photos and I like all of them so prepare yourself for a happy dog overshare.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

#SilentSunday