NorcalGma2

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to random

Summer says it's time for action. Her pal is a little down in the dumps.
We decided the best solution was to bake his favorite pie.
Summer was on board with that plan, so I went in search of enough apples for two pies.
Just in case any of the grandkids are down in the dumps, too.
Pies don't fix anything, but they help and smell really good.
#Summer

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to random

#SilentSunday

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to animals

Summer is consistent and loves to keep our scheduled activities on track.
This morning, she asked me if I ever get tired of our bouncing the ball down the stairs to grandma to throw it back game.
I said I never get tired of seeing her happy.
She said that isn't the same, but I think it is.
Now that I am old, I have narrowed down my life goals to three. I want to enjoy doing the things that make me the people and dog I love happy and healthy. Finding the joy in doing that keeps me going every day.
She said me too.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

Golden Labrador retriever laying at the top of the stairs with her orange ball. The ball is on the step in front of her, and her paw is resting on the edge of the stair.
Golden Labrador retriever laying at the top of the stairs with her orange ball. She is chewing on the ball on the step in front of her, and her paw is resting on the edge of the stair.

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to animals

The first thing Summer found at the beach was mud, glorious mud.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

Golden Labrador retriever happily running through shallow water and mud.
Golden Labrador retriever happily running through shallow water and mud.

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to random

I followed Summer around the fence line while she did her rounds. She found these late blooming daffodils in the bright morning sun.
#Daffodils

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to random

Today was perfect.
The weather was perfect.
Our garden was perfect.
Summer's pal was almost perfect.
Even dinner was perfect.
Summer was perfect, and the sunset was perfect.
Summer and I basked in the gorgeousness that was our view while we did a happy grandma dance on our deck.
A splash of color for you, our Mastodon friends.
#Sunset

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to random

Oh my goodness.
After I finished in the garden I curled up in a chair. Warm and cozy outside. My book was in my lap. I was watching the wispy clouds race by.
Beautiful turbulence.
An hour later, I woke up. I must be tired.
At least I still have time to get dinner started, and the clouds were still lovely.
#Clouds

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to random

Lots of gardening happened today.
The blooming raspberries prompted me to bring the huge spinning daisies out of winter storage. They are happy to see the sun again after a long wet winter.
Hopefully, they will work as well, this year, at scaring the birds away from our crop.

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to random

My husband wanted to watch 1923 together. I am not a big TV watcher and not a fan of Yellowstone, but I am a fan of my husband, so Summer and I curled up with some snacks in my recliner.
The storyline has given us pause because his family and mine would have been on opposite sides. My relatives would have been in the Indian boarding schools (which they were), and his family with several Catholic priests and nuns could have been the oppressors.
He had no idea how bad the schools were. I did because I heard directly from my mother, who was second generation in her family, to be sent to boarding school.
She went from a one room school house to a school hundreds of miles away from her family. This end of year school photo of all the children she attended school with, on the reservation, represents the end of my mother's childhood. Her next school year was in boarding school, where she stayed until she was placed in household service to a wealthy family.
Not really so long ago.

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to random

Summer wants to be outside today.
I don't blame her it is gorgeous weather.
She is a high flying dog.
#Summer

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to random

Summer seems low energy today. I think we all might be. Her pal is still taking potent antibiotics and dealing with the stress he feels when communicating with the VA about his disability. I am stressed because he is stressed.
He has been laser focused on filing an appeal of the denial of the disability claim that he suffers from neuropathy in his hands and feet from cancer treatment. He researches online to figure out how to get the VA to hear him. Because I want to break this anxiety inducing merry go round I filled out the forms today for his signature and immediately filed the appeal. I am hoping that until they respond, he will relax and we can all relax. It is out of our hands.
Summer says we will all get a good sleep tonight and wake up to happier thoughts tomorrow.
She says she is sure.
#Summer

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to baking

Summer's pal has a birthday soon.
He requested white cake with fudge frosting cupcakes. I added chocolate sprinkles to six of them because sometimes you feel like a sprinkle, and sometimes you don't.
He wants to celebrate for the rest of the month because 75 is a milestone birthday. I think cupcakes are just the beginning...
I heard him plotting with Summer to talk me into donuts next.
Oh my.
#Cupcakes #Baking

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to Bloomscrolling

Last July, I moved a whole bunch of neglected bearded iris from our back field to the front. I can't really maintain a bigger area than Summer's front acre.
I knew my husband really wanted to save these plants, so I dug them up and moved them. They weren't in the best shape, but I tried.
Today was the reward because the first one bloomed with more to come.
Yay!
#BloomScrolling

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to random

Summer sleeps close to my husband. He sleeps attached to a medical device and stays in the same position all night.
My husband is a Vietnam veteran who finds relaxed, sleep a challenge every year around this time. He will make noise and run in his sleep. Summer handles these situations by providing quiet comfort. She will rest both front paws and her head on him until he goes back to a restful sleep.
This morning, he was sleeping in a little, so Summer, who is an early riser, and I snuck outside to see the sunrise. We were rewarded with a beautiful display of color. It was my turn to get some Summer cuddles.
Feels like the beginning of a good day.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Sunrise

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to random

My husband and I have been a couple for a long time. Through ups and downs, sickness and health and times happy as well as sad.
Now we navigate being old.
Even through extreme circumstances, we manage to show our devotion to each other.
Our methods have changed over time for sure, but not the core desire to love and be loved.
My husband just did something for me that might seem small, but it isn't. The other day, when I went hiking through the redwoods, I wore a new pair of walking shoes thinking the trail was maintained. It turned out the trail was muddy, and I thought I ruined the shoes. They looked pretty bad. So I left them in the garage and added, cleaning them to my to-do list.
While I was working in the kitchen today, he quietly sat outside, in the shade, and made my shoes look like new again.
That's true love.
I am pretty lucky.

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to animals

The sun came out, so Summer thought we should get outside. She reminded me that we could go to the refuge where the trail is flat, lots of benches for her pal. Even though he hasn't been feeling well, he was up for a short outing. Summer said she would help him along the way. So we bundled up and headed on down the road.
Everyone had a great time.
Now Summer and her pal can rest while I clean house.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

Golden Labrador retriever sitting with her pal on a bench. He is wearing a hat and green jacket.
Golden Labrador retriever standing on the shore after a swim.

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to animals

Summer has a new skill.
My husband has a stick that he uses sometimes to reach things he wants to move closer to him.
Now, when he asks Summer to bring him his stick, she fetches it immediately.
She is the best good girl and a huge help to her pal.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

Golden Labrador retriever brings a blue plastic stick to her pal. She is standing with the stick in her mouth.

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to random

We are almost at the end of our daffodil bloom, but Summer and I found this one while we were practicing with the leash. Summer got to work on sitting in place while I let go of the leash to take the photo. She was a very good girl.
#Daffodil

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to Bloomscrolling

Tulip toot for today. This has been a super good year for our tulips.
#BloomScrolling

Three dark pink traditional shaped tulips and half a dog in the background.
Red and gold tulips with pointed petals.

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to random

I have been spending more time than usual keeping my husband company while he is watching television.
I am not really a fan of network television.
Almost every commercial break a person says, "50 is the new 20" which bugs the bejesus out of me. This implies that being 50 isn't ok. I loved 50! I took downhill mountain bike lessons on my 50th birthday.
I wish the media would allow the celebration of each age for the accomplishment it represents and stop glorifying youth.
Not that youth wasn't fun when I was 20.
Even at 65, I wouldn't change a thing and am proud to represent the age I really am.
End of rant.

NorcalGma2, 1 month ago to random

Summer has the right idea. It has been a super long day.
Good, though.
We found out that my husband is on the wrong antibiotics, so we are starting over with new meds. His introduction to his new primary care provider was all positive, which is a relief.
Summer passed her physical exam at the vet with flying colors. There was a dog that was about three times her size in the waiting room, so poor Summer gave it a wide berth. She almost merged with the wall on our way by, and she was shaking like a leaf, but she kept walking and didn't bark. She has never seen a dog that large.
I picked up my husband's new meds and chucked a pot roast with those little round potatoes and carrots in the oven.
Now, we are all ready to kick back and relax.
#Summer