Puppy Gal Welcomes You To
Judy's July 2008 Journal....
I started this feature for friends and family to answer their "What's going on?" emails, therefore, I probably tell too much, but you are welcome to laugh, cry and sigh with us."Life is too short to deal with ugly acting people!"
Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect.
It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections! (Author Unknown)
Hardeman Co. Animal Control
English Bulldog Puppy Pictures
If you are waiting on an email response from me .. it will be awhile. We are experiencing a heat wave with high humid which equals a Heat Advisory. I absolutely can not explain how much extra work that puts on us, in addition to zapping our energy because we're in and out of the house all day with the critters or taking care of plants, most of which are having to fin for themselves. I keep telling myself other growing seasons will be better. I need to have sprinklers going for several hours every evening, but I decided I could replace whatever dies more cheaply than using the electricity for the well since we just got a 29% increase in our rate.
The puppies are as lively as can be but they aren't near as chunky as I like for them to be at this age. I'm going to look back at the pictures of her last litter to see if they were that way. At any rate starting tomorrow I'm going to add human baby formula to their mushy food to see if that will perk up their appetite for the mushy food.
It's time for the Midnight Puppy Feeding so off I go. - Judy
*** I'm in the process of writing an article on English Bulldog Eyes which will cover tear stains. Coming Soon!!!
Wednesday - July 30, 2008 5:15 PM
Juliet's three little girls
Tuesday - July 29, 2008 11:58 PM
Just finished clipping puppy toenails ... the two little ones I refer to as wiggle worms because they just did not want any part of their body confined, yet when they are sleepy they love to have their tummy rubbed, so go figure.
At last night's Midnight feeding, I decided to let them nurse a good long time while I cooked quiche, so I really need to get real ... I'm stopping to tickle tummies so they will start back nursing when all of a sudden I realize the filling is way too thin and too much for one quiche. I shredded more cheese, added more eggs, plus spices and it was looking better. I filled two pie crusts and had plenty left over for another so I decided to do it crustless, added self-rising flour. Once cooked the later tasted better. Can you imagine a nursing English Bulldog eating a quiche. lol lol The heifer begged and I gave in.
Luckily the Mincemeat Pie I made for Bob looked wonderful and tasted the same. I'm off to get some sleep. - Judy
Monday - July 28, 2008 11:30 PM
Whew!!! We taught the puppies how to eat mushy food today. The first attempt was great but the second time around I made the mistake of letting them nurse first so they didn't want any of the mushy food. I had picked up several cans of Goats Milk at a surplus grocery store for like $.39 a can, Juliet loves it and it is reported to be the easiest milk on the digestive system so I added a little to the puppy's soaked in water and mashed Purina Puppy Food.
One short explanation of the men in Lowe's that were hanging on my coattail .... they were not "normal" admirers. I have men to start up conversations with me all the time but these guys spooked me. Additionally because I was with Bob I didn't have car keys, money, credit cards or any form of identification with me .. they were in his pocket because the pants I had on didn't have pockets. If something had happened to him I'm sure I could have found a way home but I couldn't have gotten into the house to take care of the puppies. I've threatened him within an inch of his life if he ever just disappears like that on me again. I'm standing outside the restroom waiting on him to come out but he obviously exited before I got there. Finally I asked a man who exited if there was anyone else in there and he told me no. Well dang, the two men on my coattail might have been Lowe's security, thinking I was some kind of nut who hangs around the men's room. lol lol
We had a new dryer delivered today, expensive Whirpool Duet but I couldn't deal with a lower floor model. After a while, I opened the door to look at the tub size again and to my suprise I couldn't get the door to shut. I think Bob might have fixed the problem, I sure hope so. We bought a new lawn mower about 2 weeks ago and when Bob tried to start it last week it wouldn't so we took it back to Lowe's and asked for it to be repaired. The repair man was coming in on Thursday so no big problem ... except we had not been given the correct information. Today we were told the repair man should be there Wednesday and they will give me a call just as soon as they know something. Meanwhile the green stuff is up to our knees.
I'm on my way to bed, it's been a long 24 hours and every time I try to take a nap someone calls.- Judy
Sunday - July 27, 2008 5:00 PM
[From Bob] ... Still trying to catch up on sleep. I'm in 'alert' state when I take the little girl to the store. No more "you get this and I'll get that". It's Bob in protective mode. So I just can't let her out of my sight.
Tomorrow, she'll tell you all about it!
Friday - July 25, 2008 Noon
I still have the telephone "unplugged". We are suffering from lack of sleep and exhaustion. Ms Reba's hormones, the heat wave, storms, Juliet's babies and breeding Petunia have all been a little too much
... plus on Monday I attracted the attention of two weird men in Lowe's. It's not uncommon for men to be attracted to me, which I do not understand although it's been that way all my life, but Lordy you would think it would stop 'cause I'm 61 years old ... gray hair and wrinkled. Bob and I split up because the water pill he had taken for his high blood pressure had activated his kidneys and my thrifty nature wanted to look at the marked down plants, then I couldn't find him when these men were on my coattail. However I did spot a 500 lb man sitting on a ridding lawn mower talking on a cell phone and decided he would be my port in the storm if Bob didn't appear soon, for whatever reason there just weren't any Lowe's associates around. About that time Bob walked in the front door with the lawn mower and I made a beeline for him. I'm furious because he wasn't there for me and he's confident that I can take care of myself. I tell him I can but shouldn't have toooo!!!
.... to be continued. -Judy
Wednesday - July 23, 2008 7:30 PM
I was awake most of the night due to very close, heavy thunder and lightening, therefore Bob unplugged the telephone and I took a very long nap this afternoon. I'm proud to report that it did rain but it was another gully washer and the water just runs off too fast. I can't believe I'm complaining about getting a much needed rain but what we need is a good long medium rain to properly soak the ground, giving a big drink to the roots of the plants and trees.
Our location is such that storms split and goes around us most of the time, which is good and bad ... bad in that we don't get as much rain and good that several tornados have come through the area headed straight toward us but veered off to the east at the last minute.
About the puppies, the little one with spots on her head is being held for Amanda to decide if she wants her. Amanda has had more than her share of heartache the last year which included a puppy she got from me being accidently killed. Bob is wanting to keep one of the girls because Juliet is such a wonderful Mama Bully and we have not kept an offspring from her. That leaves one puppy that will be available, we have several people who have been approved to be puppy parents so I'll have to sort out who gets first refusal rights. At this point I'm too tired to even think about it, plus Bob has to decided which puppy he wants to keep.
Petunia was bred to Jazzman this morning via AI, but it will be 30 days or so before we know if she is "with pups". Have a good night. I'm off to bed in just a few minutes, Bob said he would take puppy duty. - Judy
Tuesday - July 22, 2008 1:30 PM
There is the sound of distant thunder, clouds have obscured the sun, but missing is the smell of approaching rain falling on the dusty earth.
I have a powerful sense of smell and can always detect rain that's on it's way regardless of if I'm in the city or out here in the country. It appears this one is going to pass to the south of us.
Bob says I'm just like PepperJack (R.I.P) he always gave us a 10 minute warning of an approaching storm ... he was a chickie Bully who wanted to ride out the storm in my lap. Once there was a horrible, horrible storm, Bob was out-of-town working so it was just me and the critters. The strays were huddled against the back door so I let them into the kitchen, covered a crate with a sheet and they scramble to be the first to hide in it. Then I made a bed out of old comforters in the middle of the kitchen where four of the English Bulldogs and I rode out the storm. A couple of the old Bully girls in their dens snored right through it but the four chickies were getting stressed and had to be touching Mama Judy.
When Melanie, rescued German Shepherd, first came to live with us she was afraid of storms, but she isn't near so afraid now. We could only conclude she had been left outside during storms but she's an inside dog here ... makes all the difference in the world.
Tuesday - July 22, 2008 6:30 AM
With a high today predicted to be 99°F with a RealFeel®: 106°F there is a Severe Weather Heat Advisory until 8 PM
It's one thing to have high temps but couple that with high humidity and it's a killer for man or beast, breathing is most difficult. We're going under the radar until this is over which will only be a day or two ... we hope. - Judy
Monday - July 21, 2008 10:00 PM
Everyone who has sent me emails, please be patient with me, I'm stretched to the max right now, but I can answer a couple of the emails by saying we did NOT breed Reba. Her last litter was August of 2007 but she was just acting too wired about Juliet's puppies and being a demanding heifer. I think her hormones were way off, probably going into the human equivalent of menopause .... stand up if you've ever been there!! lol lol (Just me being silly.)
Today was an exhausting day, we had to go into the "city" for supplies and drop off the lawn mower to be repaired. Boy it was hotter than all get out!! I'm on this kinda diet were I'm trying to eat lots of fruit and veggies and you will not believe Juliet loves them. She and the pups are the only ones in the kitchen with me right now so she just looks pitiful and I give in.
It's just now getting cool enough to allow the Bullies to go to the covered dog runs for exercise for a couple of hours then back out in the early morning hours for a while. This schedule will definitely wear us out, please we need the break from "our gang" being out of the house for at least a couple of hours. We have to play referee a good deal when they are house bound.
I hope to post pictures of the pups tomorrow. - Judy
Sunday - July 20, 2008 8:00 PM
Juliet has lots of milk now. I walked into the kitchen to find she and Bob eating the "large cookies in various stages of failure". I told him I didn't know if dogs could have dates or not, but neither of them paid attention to me. lol lol He would take a bite then pinch her off a bite. She's happy and so is he.
I finally got him to stop giving her cookies when I asked him to open a can of salmon for her ... but that stinker held out about half the can for the cats who were at the back door trying their best to say "salmon" or "pork". lol lol That is a running joke here. I tell them if they can say salmon they can have some.
It was time to worm the critters so I cooked a pork roast I had bought on sale for them in the crock pot overnight. All the critters were at the back door wanting their "fair share" this morning. - Judy
Sunday - July 20, 2008 7:00 PM
What a day this has been!!! Reba, my Miss Heifer, who is in heat wants Juliet's puppies for her very own, so she's been growling and barking at Juliet. Juliet ignores her because she knows her Mama Judy will take care of the situation. English Bulldog Raging Hormones are about to drive me up a wall. lol lol
All of a sudden Juliet doesn't have the amount of milk she did have and the pups are frustrated so ... I put them back in their bucket and started giving Juliet any and everything I could think of that she might eat, good food in, lots of milk out. Out of 4 bowls I fixed she first ate the soup I cooked for myself (ground beef, potatoes, english peas, petite Italian tomatoes). She said she loved those little green balls. lol lol Just like a little kid. Then she ate a goodly size portion of pork roast and drank a bowl of baby formula.
Meanwhile Reba is totally ticked, she wants all the attention and all the food. Lordy what in the world am I going to do with this girl. She is unbelievably strong and is ticked off at Jazzman because he wants to breed her. He's in lock down, in his crate/den and biting the sides of it as if to let her know what he could do to her if she continues to be so rude. Truth of the matter is he is stronger than she is so I would hate to see these two go at it. Hormones, hormones, hormones!!!
It's still as hot as a $3 pistol here so activity for all is limited. Right now it is 89.5 too hot for "our gang" to go out to potty but they are barking to do so. I posted all the above so you would know why I'm grouchy. lol lol - Judy
Sunday - July 20, 2008 1:00 AM
I did a little back tracking on this subject so you could read the "problem" and then my response.
Saturday - July 19, 2008 4:45 PM
Good Lord Have Mercy!! I get emails that may or may not be truthful. I often wonder what is going on with the people who write them. Is this a "test" or is this for real. lol I'm sorry but there are many people out there who are full of BS, meanness or are just plain crazy. I thought about the following email over night before I decided they were probably real ....
Subject: fellow English Bulldog breeder needs help
Hi. We had our female bred by a breeder who has had a bulldog kennels since the mid 60's, I thoroughly trust her. Our first sold pup went to an owner not satisfied. His vet recommended he see a surgeon. He went and it was determined he has pet lux 3, surgery is likely needed to stabilize his knees. We agreed in writing to return $950 (the cost of the surgery) either paid to the surgeon direct or to the owner upon sending us copies of the receipts of surgery. I gave him 3 days to respond to our offer of payment additionally I gave him 8 months to do the surgery. The pup is 4 months old so I gave him until his first birthday 3-5-09 to let us know that he's done the surgery and we'd give him the funds. The owner got really angry threatened me that he would destroy us on the internet, he said we are horrible breeders and he swore at me like I've never heard before, this was all done in emails. The pup is the issue here. I've seen his blog on the pup, he's skinny you can see his ribs. Do you have any recommendations with your experience that would help us? We are absolutely sick. I wish I would have added a clause in the contract that stated that if the new owner wasn't properly caring for the pup that I could give them their money back and remove the pup. Thank you for your time. We've had bulldogs since the 80's wouldn't be without one. We love them and bred them for pet quality and to improve the breed. Did I do something wrong? How could I have handled this differently. The owner wanted me to return him $1125 cash 1/2 the price of the pup, he did not want to do anything to have his request met, nor would he sign anything that limited his remedy to these funds nor did he want us telling him we would refund either the surgeon or him after the surgery, he wanted cash period. Should I just give his money back? I don't feel that protects us. Then what if something else happens and he hasn't signed any disclaimer? And he requests more money? I thought I was looking out for the welfare of the pup and giving the owner what he needed. One new owner can destroy the joy in the litter huh? I don't think we'll ever breed again this has really upset me. I love your site and all you have to offer as far as info! Great job you've put a lot of work into this.
Sunday - July 20, 2008 1:00 AM
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 3:11 PM
Subject: Re: New Puppy Owner Conflict
I've been raising English Bulldogs for 18 years and in that time have only had a couple of really creepy irrational situations, but I am so picky about who gets one of my babies and I keep the price down so that people don't get crazy over money. Money makes people get weird!!
My rules are laid out in my guarantee but I don't go by the guarantee, I'm much more generous. If I place a pup that has a problem I ask myself, if I had been aware of this problem before I placed the pup what would I have done.
If it were my pup and I had proof that there was indeed a skeleton structure problem, I would refund the full purchase price and give the person the option of keeping the pup or returning it. By proof, I mean x-rays that I could take to my vet for confirmation or the written opinion of two vets, from different clinics. Vets won't dare put something in writing that might come back to bite them later.
Vets are really bad about giving a worse case scenario to their clients. I suppose it's "covering their behinds", but that is always verbal, not in writing. If I told a vet that at times I thought my puppy's knee popped, they would give me the textbook lecture on knee problems and possible operations later.
As a breeder it is your responsibility to calm the person who got the dog while being Sherlock Holmes, getting down to the "facts" of the situation. BUT it appears this situation has gotten past that point.
Put your emotions aside and ask yourself how you would want to be treated if you were the other person and let that be your guide. Then lay out what you are willing to do, proof needed etc., in writing to the person. Emails do not stand up in court therefore you need to send this person a certified, return receipt requested letter.
The important thing as I see it is to get this situation resolved ASAP, neither of you need it hanging over your heads or it being allow to fester any longer.
I was told by a professor at a vet medical school that dysphasia can skip up to 5 generations before reappearing. I believe this is true of other physical problems also.
The best of luck to you in resolving this situation quickly.
Judy
Friday - July 18, 2008 11:00 PM
Do you know how to spell grouchy .... J-u-d-y!!!
But things will be better tomorrow I guarantee. If my sleep is messed with long enough I turn into a bear and like the one at the Yellowstone National Park recently, I bite. Jeb was warning all the other Bullies to be on their best behavior because he knows his Mama.
Have fun, be happy and know when you need to chill. - Judy
Wednesday - July 16, 2008 10:00 PMHere it's hotter than a $3 pistol!! I've been attempting to soak all my flower beds down, the gully washer rain we got last Thursday didn't last long enough to suit me. Maybe I need to get the Bullies to help me do a "rain dance". lol
We've been eating fresh peppers and tomatoes from my big pots. We're lucky to be able to harvest anything because I wasn't able to care from them properly, but a little is better than nothing. Speaking of nothing, I planted seeds that never sprouted but didn't worry too much about it because the seeds were old ... then I looked out the window and saw Mr Cat and Miss Kitty curled up in the pots. Seeds can't sprout if a cat is laying on them. lol lol
Puppies are doing great! I'm kinda partial to the little one with two dots on her head. She is so
very sweet. I have a special Mama, Amanda, already picked out for her. I got an email asking if they could
put down a deposit. I want to wait just a little longer before taking deposits.
We're about to take an hour nap then it's up with puppy time again. - Judy
Tuesday - July 15, 2008 10:30 PM
We were up at 3 AM this morning taking care of puppies. I fixed us both a Salmon Patty sandwich on a hamburger bun. I try so very hard not to eat bread but every 10 days or so I'm lusting after a piece. So we're eating and Bob is taking good size bites off a Jalapeno pepper, the mild ones are mine and the regular are his. I asked if it was mild, he confirmed same so I took a big bite ... I accused him of wanting the last half of my sandwich because that pepper set my mouth on fire. He started in apologizing, got us a big glass of milk, I licked salt from my palm and even held vinegar on my tongue. The vinegar did the trick, but by then I wasn't interested in eating another bite of anything ... do you think it stopped Bob from eating the remainder of my "samage" ... no way. lol lol
Puppies are doing great, Juliet is eating ground beef with barley and black beans seasoned with garlic, plus a side of dry Purina Puppy chow. She loves it!!! I was feeding her boiled eggs but they upset her digestive system, so I quickly stopped. She's drinking lots of fresh water, plus a bowl a day of liquid baby formula made up from dry formula.
I'm off to bed, puppy feeding time comes all too quickly. - Judy
Monday - July 14, 2008 11:30 PM
To me this was so funny ... when I woke up this morning I went downstairs and noticed the "60 large cookies in various stages of failure" were not on the counter where they had been. When I asked Bob about them he said he divided them up into two batches, put them into freezer bags and took them out to the freezer in the covered dog run. ... Who does he think he's fooling!!! In a month or so, I will have forgotten all about them because I don't eat sweets and then they will have found their way into the trash, end of the cookies. He won't have to eat them and he will not have hurt my feelings. My Big Bob is really good, isn't he!!! lol lol lol
Jeb is really jealous of the attention Juliet and puppies are getting ... at potty time there are some we walk on a lead and some we just turn loose to take care of their business and they will come back in. Jeb is an in between. He won't potty on a lead but at times he makes a dash into the woods so we keep a close eye on him. This morning, he saw a deer in the front of the house and gave chase .. that in itself is funny because he didn't bark for assistance from the "strays that came to stay" he just headed out on his own. I don't know if he had visions of venison stew or just had the "chase in mind". He was in hot pursuit when Bob notice him missing from the area, so off Bob went to bring him back home. Down by the pond which is a far piece from the house, Jeb slowed down and Bob was able to sneak up on him, dropped the British Training lead over his head and told him to get his behind back home. They were both covered in tiny ticks, which hadn't had time to attach so showers for both were necessary.
Life is never dull here!!! - Judy
Sunday - July 13, 2008 7:00 PM
Puppies are doing great!!!
Never ever again will I try to make a surprise batch of cookies for Bob, while keeping an eye on Juliet's nursing puppies, plus doing other assorted tasks ....
Juliet the sweetest of all Bullies and one of the best Mama Bullies I've ever had, all of
a sudden decided to get up from her nursing puppies and go into her crate to tinkle. In
shock, I told her "NO" but she paid no attention, hurriedly I went to the crate snapped my
fingers loudly in her face and it stopped her, then I quickly opened the back door to let
her out. I had to take time to get a lead and spray myself with Deep Woods Off out on the back porch.
She's doing this circling of two outside kennels so I thought she wanted in one of them,
but when I would get near her she would trot faster than I could walk. I then opened the
doors to each of them and stood out of the way. She made four circles around the outside
of each of them, stopping to scratch up the ground in different places as she went. Finally she
went inside one, I closed the door. She started scratching deeply at one corner. I opened
the door thinking she was trying to dig out .... but oh no she started nesting in the
dirt!!! How weird, she must have been having a "major hormone moment"!! I had to wash her
down for the protection of the pups and by the time I finished I promised myself to wear a
British Training Lead around my waist when dealing with her, because it would have prevented what
happened. I could have just slipped it over her head at the back door and walked her
around outside.
Now where was I in making up the cookie dough, oh yes. Oops a problem no brown sugar but I've got molasses, a little dab should do it.
The buzzer goes off on the washing machine so I take time out to unload, reload and hang up the dog sheets.
Back to the cookie dough, not so fast Fluffy is at the back door trying to tell me their food pan
is empty, and the cats are telling me the same. So I stop to get them all some food. I've washed my hands twenty times already, once more and I'm ready to use the mixer. I stop in mid reach and remember I might damage my rib more trying to get it down off a storage shelf, it's a heavy Kitchen Aid mixer, so I opt for using the hand mixer with the crank. Huff and puff this is hard work, the basic dough is so thick. Next I'm folding in the chopped dates and oatmeal, when Juliet's babies start crying again to be fed.
Back they go to the nursing pool and I get Juliet to lay on the opposite side from before because evidently
either they didn't get enough milk or she cut short their nursing time. About the time I wash my hands
and get back over to the counter to stir the cookie dough, I glance at the pups and 2 have fallen
off their nipples, it's back to the pups, putting them on nipples again. Three times I had to do
this before they finally stayed on the nipples. I told Juliet she had worn me out and she had to let
them nurse until Bob got home because I'm sure if I bend over one more time I will not be able to walk.
Goodness I have to finish the cookie dough before I loose what little sense I have left .... stir, stir, stir.
It's about time for Bob to be home and I'm still mixing the dough. (lol lol) I turn the oven on and he pulls into the
the parking place at the back of the house. Well it's still a surprise so I didn't feel bad. I put the sample
batch of a dozen into the oven, set the timer and it wasn't any time until my nose picked up the scent of almost burned
cookies, halfway into the cooking time. 
I opened the oven door and started laughing. What was suppose to be big chunky cookies looked like blackened
pralines. Bob tasted them and said they tasted great and reminded him of "lace cookies". lol lol
Three times I added oats, cooked another sample dozen batch which still didn't turn out right, but the final batch was perfect. I added more oats to the final batch than the complete recipe called for. Bob of course raved about how good they were regardless and faithfully ate from all the batches. He has 60 "large" cookies in various stages of failure to eat. lol lol - Judy
Saturday - July 12, 2008 Noon
All is well here!! Puppies are doing great. I'm still frustrated over the technical problems with my email system, but it will get resolved some day soon. Bob's plate is more than full so he just can't take time out to fix the problem right now ... the puppies are the 1st priority at present.
I surely hope you are enjoying your weekend!!! - Judy
Thursday - July 10, 2008 8:30 PM
Our electrical rates went up by 29% as of the first of the month. I've been laid up with first chigger bites and then hurt rib, found out this Website was put on a Warning list for Trojan Virus by Google. Bob discovered the problem and there is a strong indication that our Website Server Host/Provider got hacked on 7/4. He eliminated the Trojan code and requested that Google check the site again, how long this will take is unknown.
We've not had a good rain in weeks and so many of my plants either died or were near death, because I couldn't get out to pull a water hose around the yard ... but it rained today, a real gully washer!!! How wonderful is that!
My messed up rib cage is still swollen but was able to move around pretty good today while cooking and other light housework. I'm hopeful I'll have full lung capicity in a few days.
With all the above happening, you are going to think I'm crazy when I say I'm actually very happy. Bob swears it's Juliet & Jazzman's litter of English Bulldog puppies. He says regardless of what negative factors are trying to influence our life, I get this way when we have those sweet cuddly babies around. lol lol
I'm off to bed, poor Bob still has puppy duty until I can bend over without hurting my ribs. I certainly hope you can end your week on a positive note and be able to smile through the weekend. - Judy
Wednesday - July 9, 2008 8:30 PM
Juliet's puppies are doing great!! We'll post more pictures in a few days.
Whew!!!! I believe I figured out what cause the swelling and pain when I try to breath deeply. This sounds gross but when they removed the lower lobe of my lung they had to separate my rib cage and when they put it back together they had to use some metal pins. I don't even want to know how many, I ignored the whole operation as best I could. Well Friday afternoon we had a young man helping do yard work. I was gathering up trash items and decided to strip the covers off the dens of "strays that came to stay". I figured that might have been where I picked up the chiggers because they are out in the woods hunting on a daily basis. Alvin is about my size and when he stepped over the drainage ditch and onto the porch I followed suit, but let out a sharp cry because my gimpy leg was going down on me. I scared Alvin and all the critters. Later I told Bob about it.
So Sunday night when I woke up in such pain all that came to mind was being rear-ended by a car at a signal light a short time after I started back to work after that operation. I was off work for a couple of weeks as a result. The scar tissue and pins cause the ribs not to be as flexible.
The first thing Bob asked me about was my fall and I assured him I had not landed on my rib, I didn't think about the impact when I caught myself from falling face first on the porch, so I should be good to go in a few days time, that landing wasn't near as bad as being rear-ended.
Grown from seeds, come back every year, growing zones 5-10
Lily
Oh Lordy, we have been up all night long with the puppies and my "sharp lung pain". I've worked with it so that I can take a deep breath, but there is still a swollen place about the size of my palm if touched it will send me to the devil. I know that sounds weird but that is just the way it is. We are going to get through this very quickly because I'm so determined but dang it's taking all my will power to do it. - Judy
Monday - July 7, 2008 11:30 PM
Bob woke me up asking if I knew where the small battery operated alarm clock was. Remember ... I've been in some kind of pain, but I was able to respond, "yes", dropping back off to sleep. He gently asks again and I told him it was in the front yard. Clearly he has no idea so I explained. It was made in China, the little thingies that are suppose to tell a person what function each of those tiny buttons controlled were black on black. I'm not seeing too good and even if I was those tiny little controls are not receptive to my fingers which have medium long finger nails, .... so I opened the window pulled up the screen and toss the little sucker from the second floor out into the yard so the battery could run down out there. I didn't want to hear it screech any longer.
This seemed perfectly logical to me, but he kept laughing. - Judy
Monday - July 7, 2008 2:00 PM
From Bob--
In the middle of the night, Judy woke me up and asked me, "Were we in a car wreck?"...
She was holding her side and groaning LOUDLY! Each time she took a breath, she would let out a yell in pain. Poor baby! She said to Google "sharp chest or lung pain" After several false starts I found "costochondritis". Costochondritis is an inflammation of the junctions where the upper ribs join. The major pain should diminish over the next one or two months but can last for six. Judy says, "I won't allow that-- we're going to get better right NOW!"
I'll keep you posted.
Sunday - July 6, 2008 7:00 PM
I posted the below, ate those pickles and went back to sleep. I just got up but it's only for a little while, I'm exhausted. Mama Bob takes care of the puppies the first couple of days, he's such a Mother Hen, so I better catch up on my sleep while I can.
Puppies are doing fine so far....
Pictures of Juliets three girls born early this morning. Goodness, they are all so active, it's hard to take a decent photo. Judy
Sunday - July 6, 2008 2:00 PM
Awake most of the night I crawled back into bed for a good long nap. Around Noon, I'm really hungry and was therefore dreaming about food. Most people would be dreaming about a juicy hamburger, dozens of donuts or ice cream ... not me I'm dreaming about dill pickles. Is that demented or what!!!
Sunday - July 6, 2008 7:00 AM
Saying a prayer and holding our breath .... Juliet had 3 female puppies via c-section at 4 AM this morning. Dr David is so very much appreciated by us I hope we conveyed this to him in respect to how we thanked him. It is so comforting to know the vet doing the surgery is one of the best.
The pups were so very fretful, although there was a medium warm snuggle safe in the bottom of their container. I took them out to the van thinking it would be warmer than in the air conditioned surgery area, but I was wrong it was chilly outside and in the van ... so I tucked them in my top, next to my skin to warm them. Almost immediately they snuggled in and went to sleep. When a person holds a living critter next to their heart to warm it, it creates a very stronger bond. I do so hope I can let these puppies go to their new home. - Judy
Friday - July 4, 2008 5:00 AM
We had the most gosh awful BBQ Pork sandwiches on Wednesday. Bob made a garbage/bank run and stopped by the local BBQ place for sandwiches. The worst I've ever eaten. I don't know how the place stays in business if this is an example of what they are serving. Yesterday he brought in a pork shoulder from the freezer and asked if I would cook it up for today We also iced down a wonderful small seedless watermelon. I slow cooked the pork in the crock pot, it's moist and tender. Pulled it off the bone, that's called "pulled pork" and put it in a zip loc bag. I'll be chopping it for sandwiches for today. I didn't add BBQ spices because I was going to cook beans and/or something in the broth for the critters. BBQ spices are high in sodium, but they can be sprinkled on and BBQ sauce added to the sandwich.
Thursday - July 3, 2008 2:00 PMWe were up and running by 5:30 AM, trying to get the morning chores finished before it got hot. Plus we had a day laborer coming at 7:00 AM who needs close supervision, but we are so thankful to have him working for a day or two ... you never know with day laborers but this young man always calls if his plans change and he is always on time, works hard from 7 AM until 3:30 PM, of course you know I fed him lunch. I feed everything that will eat.
Jeb and I are getting crippled up in our old age, mine from years of not getting the right vitamins, nutrients and minerals due to the crazy cancerous tumor I had in my lung for 20 something years, all food flushed right through me until I was 40 (too mean to die I guess) and after the tumor was removed I
was in two crazy wrecks one of
which broke my foot in three places, neither of these were my fault, plus another
person's rescue dog tried to eat my leg off. Jeb bless his heart was injured and it took
me forever to get him back home to Mama Bob so he could teach him how to walk again,
instead of laying flat on the floor pulling himself around by his front paws. BUT
considering everything we're both hanging in there. We have him on aspirin therapy but
Mama Judy can't take aspirin unless it is an emergency, these dang chigger bites drove me
to taking 2 aspirins.
Chiggers and other insect bites .... a couple of years ago I went to the doctor because
the chiggers were driving me crazy, he said I do not think this is chiggers there are far
too many eruptions. I told him "trust me" they love me so they eat me up. I went out into
the woods to retrieve one of my Bullies who decided to take a walk and they got me.
I've put most everything a person could think of on all these bites. The absolute best product is IvyDry, however we have been unable to locate a store in our area which sells this product. Only having a small amount left in the tube, I saved this for the worse bites. Next best was Orajel, but it comes in a tiny tube so it wasn't good for large area coverage. Believe it or not, Vick's VapoRub and
Olive Oil helped a lot. I used the Olive Oil all over by body but when I would wake up in
the middle of the night clawing myself, I would lather on the Vicks, especially the feet
which had to have wide coverage.
My friend Kathy sent me an email telling me her mother use to make sure her feet were dusted with sulfur before she went out to pick blackberries, so yesterday I went to the County Co-op for sulfur. It's a powder but can also me mixed with water to spray. I need the sulfate to cover the plants in my flower beds so I gave it some thought and decided the best way was to haul a fan around in my little wagon, with a long extension cord, and dribble handsful of sulfur in front of the wind force it created. lol lol Bob thinks I'm crazy and so did the co-op people but that's OK if this works I can do it every few days and just maybe I won't be laid up with chigger bites again this Summer. If it doesn't work I'll go do "plan B", whatever that is.
This siege of chigger bites is over so I worked too dang hard yesterday and I'm paying the
price today ... achy breaky. - Judy
PS After reading this entry Bob did a Google Search on IvyDry which indicated it was carried by Walgreen's. We've had a Walgreen's to open in Corinth, but I never thought to check there. I've only checked at the locally owned Drug Stores and Wal-Mart. DUH!!!
This is the first bloom for this Hibiscus therefore we documented the opening of the bloom from early this morning until Noon.
Wednesday - July 2, 2008 4:45 AMWhile I was attempting to control my itchy chigger bites yesterday, I decided two more Maggie Mae stories really needed to be written down so why not do it here. I hope these make you smile. ....
Maggie Mae called her sisters and left messages on their recorders. "No matter what you hear, it wasn't my fault I stole that car." You see in a small town word gets around fast so you have to defend yourself straight off.
Maggie was at a friend's house and asked if she could borrow her car to go to "town" to pick up a few things. Her friend handed her the key ring between the movements involved with changing a dirty diaper.
Awhile later Maggie came back and handed the key ring back to her friend and
politely thanked her. The friend's response was "This is not my key ring", to which Maggie
assured her it was. The friend looked out the front window into the driveway and said,
Maggie that's not my car, it's close, but not mine.
The friend told Maggie to go back into town and get the right car, but Maggie wasn't having any part of going back into town, considering her history with the Sheriff's department. You know they won't believe I didn't steal the car and I'll be put in jail for sure. After much back and forth, they loaded up the baby and headed toward town with her friend driving.
There parked in front of the Dollar Store was the Sheriff's Deputy car with lights
whirling. Before they even got out of the car, the woman who owned it was demanding the
deputy arrest Maggie and her friend for stealing her car. Pop, you can say nasty things
about Maggie but don't go being bad to her friends. Maggie turned to the deputy, who I'm
sure wished he had never been given this call. She said it was the woman's own fault for
leaving the keys in the ignition. That as soon as they figured out it was the wrong car
they returned it, what more could they have done.
By this time I'm sure the deputy didn't want to hear any more, Maggie wasn't suppose to be driving and only she could have gotten things this confused. Arresting her would be of no value to anyone, just a lot of paperwork for him.
He turned to the lady and said, please carefully consider pressing charges, once your insurance company finds out you left the keys in your car ignition your insurance rates will probably go up, you've got your car back and no damage has been done.
And so it was that Maggie remained free to drive another day …… (lol lol)
Maggie Mae's Mama is fond of saying, "nuts don't fall far from the tree", but no one knows
if she is referencing herself or her husband. She's lived a hard life having given birth
to 10 children and worked hard to see them all grown. Like many women of her age, now
almost 90, she's had her share of drunken, Hell-bent actions from her husband that she
survived, not having any way to escape with that many kids. She's fond of telling the
story of how he left her for another woman. She waited a few days then, got a neighbor to
drive her and the 10 kids over to his new love's house. She dropped the kids off telling
them it was their new home. She said about the time she got home, got a pot of coffee
made and sat down at the kitchen table with a cup, her husband and the children were back
home.
A few years ago she went to town with one of her middle daughters. Town consisted of a gas
station, grocery store and a Dollar General. I don't rightly know what oral tobacco
product she uses but it's one of those spitting kind so you always see an empty soft drink
can nearby. She, her daughter and two half-grown grandchildren went into the Dollar Store
to shop. Pretty soon she was tired and went back out to the car to wait for them. It had
been a few minutes since she had sat down and she reached for her spit can, it wasn't
there. She looked at the woman behind the wheel of the car, didn't recognize her and for
sure, those two tow head kids in the back seat were not her grandchildren. She looked at the
woman and said, "I hope this didn't scare the Hell out of you, I know it did me", then
she calmly got out of the car.
If you've raised 10 children, not much rattles your cage for too long ……
Tuesday - July 1, 2008 8:00 AM
Another Maggie Mae story.....
Please understand that Maggie Mae has a serious problem but her family and the community try their best to laugh, smile and cry with her, not at her.
She attends all the local funerals when she can, thinking to show her respect. Many of the wakes, visitations and funerals are at the local churches instead of "funeral homes", which just adds to the expense of dying. Of course if the pastor, his wife or the head deacon aren't around then things can sometime get out of hand.
One such occasion a few years ago, happened when Maggie Mae was in attendance. She was sitting in a pew several rows back reading the hymnal and mentally singing the music when the commotion down front got her attention. It seems the family of the deceased, didn't like how the mortician had made up their Mama ... hair, makeup and dress were all wrong. Another point of contention was the fact that she was going to meet her MAKER with lots of expensive jewelry which the daughters were sure she would want to leave here on earth for them.
As Maggie Mae looked on they changed their Mama's dress right there in the church, didn't even roll the casket back to the kitchen which really shocked Maggie Mae and then one daughter got busy reapplying the makeup and restyling her hair. When they were finished they went into the kitchen with the jewelry and devised some kind of system to see who would get what. About the time they all came back out into the church, one of her son's marched down the aisle, placed his Mama's personalized license plate in the casket with her and in a snit announced to the world that he meant to see that those plates went to heaven with her.
This was absolutely more than Maggie Mae could stand, she stood, told them all that she had been in the finest mental institutes Tennessee and Mississippi had to offer and she had never seen anything as crazy as this!!!! She marched out of the church but on her way noticed that Aunt Nettie was quietly sitting in a middle row, middle pew, knitting ...
And I've got the Afghan to prove it!! - Judy
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