Monday, December 8, 2014

Notes From The Canyon



How I love a foggy day. In Stockholm, where I was born, when the sun shines strong in spring, park benches are full of pale Swedes with their faces turned up, catching every last ray of sunshine. Not me, not even when I lived there, and certainly not here in the desert mountains where the sun shines ALL the time, or so it seems. 



Faith is doing very well. Samson not so much, he definitely picked up on my nervousness as he interacted with Faith when she first came back from the vet. I have kept them apart since then, but the few times they have met up, he tries to avoid her as she comes at him with all her usual exuberance. His attitude is not good, he's nervous, and I don't trust him. I know he picks up on my emotions, so I let hubby deal with the two of them. I'm just not good with dogs, they are far too able to pick up on and react to my worries. Her stitches come out a week from today and I can't wait.



Since Faith has to be on a leash now, I walk each them for half an hour, so an hour for me. This morning, Samson and I climbed the tall hill to the north of our house. Samson is like a mountain goat out there, he truly loves to climb and has a special way of doing it. The way down was steep, and since I didn't have my ski pole with me I shortened the leash, grabbed some fur on his back, and with his help made it safely down the hill.


My husband had a setback that we traced back to food and drink. It began on the 17th of November when we headed to Denny's for lunch after a trip to Bakersfield. We were hungry and tired and he drank two cups of coffee, after not having had any since May. Then there was Thanksgiving at our neighbors. Then there was Rachael's peanut brittle, which he adores. He gobbled up all of that in record time. And then had some spicy New Orleans food that really did him in. I have been so worried, but he is now feeling better. This is the first time since May that he's slipped up on his diet. I must say, he's been extremely good about not eating any of the things he always enjoyed: no spicy food, salt, red meat, sweets, coffee, tea, beer, wine, and you get the picture. He will not repeat his mistakes, the consequences were that bad.



Finally, a note from the UK: My blogger friend Hailey-Eszti, who has M. E. and whose picture I have at the bottom of my blog, made four of the national papers in the UK the other day. Please click here to read the story of her battle with M. E., of how she's not taking it laying down, and how she's making it as a disabled model (she is stunningly beautiful, but better yet, amazingly courageous, and very talented). Her story is uplifting and I know that if you click on the link and read her story, she will inspire you as she has me.




Finally, this is a word verification free blog, has been for years. Please let me know if you are being asked to verify a word or some numbers. I am worried because I see it sometimes now when I check your comments from the front page of my blog. 










32 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear about your hubby's setback--I didn't know. GLAD he's back on track!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. i am sorry your husband had trouble, but at least you could identify what was causing it. and i'm sure samson will settle down again once faith is free of stitches and cone. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ah... the sins at the table, how some of us pay for them! Glad he's behaving again. I know, I know, sometimes a person has to try to sneak some stuff in. Sigh.

    Good thing Samson has tight fur. :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm sorry your husband experienced such a harsh lesson. I hope Samson and Faith will be okay together. Under this comment box it says "Please prove you're not a robot," followed by little numbers that I have to put in another box.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
  5. Inger, you do have word verification on, that is what the 'prove you're not a robot' is, so you will know in the future. Go to your settings for comments on your blogger profile page and uncheck word verification. If you need more detail just ask me. I've been slack in blogging as hubs is at home now, and time is very minimal. I will get a bit more help soon. I'll answer your email soon.

    As for the food, we have to avoid most of those things you mentioned as well, but as our doctor said, "it's only food. Your health is more important".
    I plan to look for a Heart Healthy cookbook just to get other ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sorry your hubby has had to pay for his few miss steps with food. Sometimes life is not fair.
    Perhaps it is the cone that is putting Samson off. Also she may have picked up some smells at the vets that humans can't detect.
    That word vert thing has attached itself to my blog too even though my settings appear normal. Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have had my word verification off since 2009 or so. I hate it. I don't know why it is popping up. I think Google is out to get me once again. I will post about this on my blog soon. Maybe someone out there can help me.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have warred with removing PROVE YOU ARE NOT A ROBOT all day!

    I finally found the solution. Go to your Design at top of your blog. Once there go to the left side column and pick SETTINGS. Go to COMMENTS. Check NO to Word Verification. Chose the drop-down that says EMBED.

    You will be free of that rotten concept!

    Perhaps Samson is just too set in his ways to be comfortable around an active puppy anymore?

    Staying away from food you love is so very hard. But getting ill from them certainly helps!

    ReplyDelete
  9. My blog says Design -- Your blog says DASHBOARD -- it is the same. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. i am getting the word verification on my blogs now and i didn't set it up for that. not sure what is happening. And yes it is here too. blogger changed something.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm glad faith is recovering so well. It's sweet that Samson is being gentle with her.

    I'm sorry about your husband's setback. Hope he is feeling better.

    ReplyDelete
  12. My word verification problem is solved. If anyone else has had it suddenly pop up, please follow Roland Yeoman's advice above. You will find Embedded in the top of the Comment settings, under Comment Location.

    ReplyDelete
  13. And your comments will look like this instead of what you had before. I used to have embedded comments early on and now I'm not sure why I changed them. I like it like this.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I like foggy misty mornings too but I prefer sunny ones. : )
    Glad to hear your husband is feeling better now.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks, Inger! I had no clue! You were the first to mention it to me.

    ReplyDelete
  16. That word verification thing is wierd. Like you, I have had it turned off for years... and the other day someone got stuck with it. So strange -- and annoying. I love the fog as well; one of the things I am most enjoying about living here is the weather (except for the summer heat, ugh).

    ReplyDelete
  17. I hope hubby is feeling good today. Sorry he hasn't been. I know how worrisome that is. And hoping the dog babies get well soon too. Maybe I need a dog to make me get out and walk.....no, I think not yet! Have a wonderful week my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Inger and Roland - thanks .. I was quietly having a frothy about WV appearing again - though I had expected it .. because I've seen notes about it. Mighty grateful for the information re sorting it out - I'll do it before I post again.

    I was wondering about your hubby - but now feel easier for you both - that you've realised sadly restriction is the key .. I too hope Faith and Samson will be back to normal in ten days or so ... sure they will be. Lovely to have the fog and reminders of yore ... so pleased you're able to walk with both dogs .. remember your ski pole?!

    Cheers and enjoy your canyon days ... Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  19. The dogs will settle down. My two frequently drive me crazy but they work it out. I hope the walks help you relax. I walk through our woods when I am tense and I think it does help.

    ReplyDelete
  20. The dogs will settle down! Lovely light in these shots.

    I have to fill in word verification before being able to leave a comment.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Food gives us joy, but can also cause pain. It is so hard at this time of the year to say no to treats. So glad that you identified the culprits and your husband is doing better.

    I have noticed the word verifications on several blogs that did not have that before. At least they are numbers that I can read.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi all .. I've changed mine as Roland and Inger advise above .. I prefer the floating comment box, but have resorted to the embedded on for now - I'll try and change back anon and see what happens - but the dreaded WV has gone thankfully ... cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  23. Its depressing to have all your favorite foods and drinks taken away like that. I am glad he is feeling better. Looks like I'm going to have to change from pop-up to embedded comments too; I'm so not happy about it.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Inger, Isn't life just about learning and growing and changing? I am reminded of it as I read your post, and I wish you and your husband all the best as your learn and grow together in your challenges.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hope things start, looking up for you. I am wondering if the storm coming in is going to be as bad here as the news is hyping it up. Take care ...... hard to watch special diets this time of year with all the animals tempting goodies.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thank you so much. Embedded does work. I use to have it before also but for a while it started blocking people trying to comment. Pretty sure that has been fixed by now. Thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I hope that things are getting better for your husband ( and you).
    I feel sympathy for Samson. He must be confused. I hope that with time both Faith and Samson settle down and be back to normal.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I am so sorry that hubby has been under the weather, but I am doubly sure that you are a great nurse! No word varification for me.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Dear Inger, I am so sorry that your husband had trouble with food and his diet. But I am glad to hear your husband is feeling better now. It's a good news!
    I hope Samson and Faith will settle down soon!
    Love your pictures, as always!

    About the word verification, I choose NO on my Settings, and my blog has been free of it for years, like your blog. But I don't know why Blogger don't Save my Settings NO. I hope that inconvenience on my blog will be temporary.
    But I see that on comments, no word verification for me.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Inger, I felt a pang for your husband when I read what he can't have but big applause for him for having the discipline to say no more forcefully now. If someone told me not to worry it wouldn't keep me from worrying so understand how you're feeling. Hopefully, the dogs will settle down. (And there was no verification to leave this comment.)

    ReplyDelete
  31. I missed this post of yours, but thank you so much for the kind words, it truly means so much to me! I am so sorry your husband hasn't been doing too well. I hope he is doing better.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I bet your husband only enjoyed it for the moment!! lol It is hard to give up food we love isn't it?

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for leaving a comment.. ~~ Inger

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails