It has certainly been busy...
Along with the Gidget's major crisis, Daisy had 20 puppy teeth removed. At 9 months, they were crowding out her adult teeth some were starting to be malformed. All manner of maladies could happen if they did not go. She has been scheduled for a month, so we kept the appointment.
She slept most of yesterday after returning home. Like Gidget, she is enjoying the softer special meals and the  extra attention.
This morning we are all set to continue babying her but she had other plans. She grabbed Steve's clunky /heavy sandals and challenged us to chase her for it. They have to weigh as much as she does.

When DeeDee and Dani were here they got us a ( reppose') Gecko momento. We wanted to put it everywhere but we decided it needed to go over the Lanai door.

Steve said "it is going here! ",
 

IT does look good there, ... don't you think?

In other news, we were more than surprised to find out we have kittens.. out in our building material's bone pile...well, actually under it in the blocks ( hollow tiles) and play in the heavily branched Podacarpus trees. Now they are laying out in the pile catching some sun.
They look to be about 6-7 weeks old. 

Last week I saw the first one.. 'Pretty Girl'. I tried to get her to come to me, but she is as feral as they get. She was eating the kibble I toss out for the Francolins..and their babies . The bird parents were screaming at her.

I asked my neighbor if they had gotten a kitty. She said she was ready to smell my breath... lol
I lookes around for lost kitty signs and even called the humane Society for any missing kitties...
Immediately, I set out dishes of food and water and then sort of kept an eye out to fend off other ferals.

A few days ago, I saw another scrawny silver gray kitty. My heart dropped when I noticed he has the shortened tail of the one that I chase off.
OH NO! Bugga's cat nemisis is either the father or the mother of these babies.
The Gray has already gotten more used to me but will hide when I get close as the 10 foot mark.

'Pretty Girl is very skitish, used to run the minute there was foot fall, but now she hangs back a bit if it is me. I think they have figure me for the food supply....
I keep saying he and she ... and of course, I do not know.. She is smaller than what I think are the two boys.

Here is Pretty Girl, hiding from the noisy Francolins that are fully her size and the noisiest bird ever ... not happy about sharing their food with a C A T
 

I was taking pix today and Lordy!, there was another gray kitten. The 'newer' one is lighter than the other... something that until I saw them together I'd never know there was the two of them.   and the new kid is so skinney.  Obviously, has not been to the dishes.
I have never seen an adult near the kitties, so I do not know who is the mother and who.. but the gray is related and somewhere in there as is a Siamese.

I think I'd be keeping her if she tamed up a bit.... I better prepare Steve~

I telephoned my friend at the Humane Society. She asked that I continue to feed them and see what socialization I could give them. They will need it to be adoptable. Right now we agree it is too risky for them to be trapped and moved.
She said there may be more~ to pick up the food at night so we do not attract more adult ferals. ( I do that anyhow. )

If I was not working outside so much, I'd have missed all this. Steve is outside, and never suspected kitties until I  asked him to tread lightly while pruning the Podacarpus.  He has been back and forth a million trips past them and they magically disappear.   Makes me wonder what else I have missed~ LOL

See ya!
 

We are so pleased to tell everyone that little Gidget is doing well and was released to go home yesterday afternoon
In a note from DeeDee "

Gidget's blood count was still at 40% this morning at 9. That is exactly where it needs to be so that is perfect. I was also told they had never seen a dog have such a quick recovery with everything she's had on her plate. I am certain it is because of all the prayers and good thought sent her direction. 

She barked the loudest and the longest when Randy came through the door tonight.

She is extremely happy to be back at home.

Thank you all so much for everything!

The very latest is that she does have a follow up Vet's appointment tomorrow and still expect that her tests also show she is improving. While she is doing well, she still has some neurological problems because of the anaphylactic shock, but, her meds have helped her not have seizures since returning home. 

The bee venum was a direct hit into Gidget's vein. Gidget weighs only 5 pounds so just a hit any where on that little dog would have been a crisis.  Most dogs her size would not have survived. We asked for a miracle and we got one. ... thanks to all Gidget's new friends.

Dee Dee sends her Thank You!'s and I THANK YOU!

Things have taken a turn for the better!

Dee Dee could not write her own message because there seems to be something amiss with my site and it insists on proof she is the 'right' age.... sigh~

She emailed
"The news was GREAT at the hospital. Gidget perked up in hour 2 of the 4 hour transfusion. They brought her into our room for us to hold her while we awaited the red blood cell count. She was so happy, she melted in our arms and fell into a peaceful snoring sleep. We had to quiet our laughter as not to wake her up.  When we brought her in last night she was at 18%. This morning it was 15%. Tonight it was 40%!!!!!!!That is not out of 100% either. 40 % is EXACTLY where she needs to be and STAY. It is our hope that she stays at 40% and that her own body does not attack these blood cells. The Dr. will call me tomorrow around 11 (they got 4 more ICU patients in today so they are very busy). If all goes well, we are still not out of the woods for 4 more weeks. And after that, she may have to be on steroid therapy the rest of her life.

 Best case scenario is, her blood cell count stays at 40% and we get to bring her home tomorrow. She still needs all the good thoughts you and anybody else can send her way.

I am following the principles of 'The Secret' and am envisioning her in her little bed with her favorite toy, Woot Whoot Bear next to her, her growling at the other dogs and her snoring keeping me up at night.  

 We thank you for everything.

 * My thanks, too!

This is Gidget!

 She is fighting for her very life...
She is a Chocolate Chihauhau and the apple of her Mom's eye. She lives with my daughter DeeDee and her family.

She was stung by a bee while playing with her family in her front yard. Almost instantly, she went into anaphylactic shock.
Gidgit is a very special little dog to me, too.It is like we have a shared secret kind of friendship. She wanted to be an only child~ but is happiest when she can run like crazy, jump up and be next to you. She is litterally in her 7th heaven when she can talk you into rubbing her tummy.
She is getting the best of medical care, but ..
...so, I am turning to my friends on Zanga, asking for your prayers and send her special thoughts for her recovery.

Here is an e-mail from DeeDee.

Gidget had a seizure tonight. We rushed her to the dog hospital where she had a second.

They got her stable and we transported her to Dove Lewis where she is in ICU. Her red cells are at 18%. She should be at 30%. She is right at the % where they get blood transfusions. She has a 50/50 chance of making it. She has Hemolydic(sp?) anemia. They have no idea why. They have run blood panels and tonight will do a urine panel. It is from the anaphylactic  shock of the bee sting but no one has answers for us as to why this is happening or what to do. Our hearts are breaking and we are scared to death.
                                                     **********
* A little note on DeeDee. She has been living with terrible pain from Fibro Myalgia. She also has type II diabetes.
 As if that was not enough to deal with, now, her youngest daughter has Fibro.

Even so, she just puts one foot in front of the other and marches on.
She has a career as an ESL teacher and loves her little charges as if they are her own. Her eyes and face really come alive as she talk about them.

She just deals with every day as it comes.. never ask for favors, until now.

Thanks ever so much!

Elbows and ....
It would have appeared that we scheduled an intense work week.

...and WORK we did! and we certainly had not scheduled this for the 4th.
It was just that we got a whole bunch of loose ends tied up for several projects and one thing led to another.

Let's see, I washed the curtains and bedding in the guest room....
Ironing board went up and Mz, Daisy is helping..
    
I really hate ironing...

   Curtain are back up and dust ruffle is ironed....
   

Last week I finally remembered to get the the rope filling for the welting..... and the paint and the work space available and the time. Then I decided it was time I quit putting off one of the chair projects  s
 
  The before.....
 
We added tarps, all manner of paints, brushes, sandpaper and sanding pads. things are getting messy and looking like projects are really in the works.
 
The chair got sanded and primered and a white coat of paint. That white was nice, but too bright for where the chair needed to go...
Then it required that I put some age to match the room's furniture

     
     a little sienna wash and wipe it off  
   
   'Aged' ... to match the existing furniture///
  
Now the chair s ready for re-sand and a coating of clear satin finish.

   Daisy is checking it out...
   

While that is drying I can get to the upholstery part. Then the sewing machine got into the act. 
 
     Making the pattern and cutting the fabric.
    
This fabric was originally purchased for recovering two chairs. There was not enough for the two chair project when I bought it, but I had hoped I'd find more to match in my travels. well, over two years and it it time to move on. The first two chairs are are still lounging in the garage.

 ...and Voila!

We have many more plans for this room, like updating with a new TV on a wall mount, painting the screen a bright glossy white.. and a new headboard is finished at the drawing board.
While this room is smaller it is en suite, the closet sliders are mirrored, and the slider opens up to the patio.
It is a most pleasant room, gets the morning sun, the nicest morning breeze that cause the curtains to billow romantic.

       Steve got the AC motivation for the MBR. 
      
We are having a few warmer than usual nights....so this smaller AC is just the ticket.

     All painted up it looks like it may have been here for a while..
    
 
and he even painted the wood insert.

We had finally located the 1/4 inch Lexan.. or so we thought.. The store salespersons were not sure it was real Lexan or another composite.  Frustratingly, not one of them could tell us how to cut it. The last time we tried it, we ruined a 10 inch saw blade.
**** Any advise on this subject would be greatly appreciated!!!

I can live with it... it's painted and not shouting at you for attention.

Another coat of paint on the gate.
.
Are you awake yet?
Whoa! This looks much brighter in the sunlight and in this photo. In reality , it is a bit more toned down ..a red/brown. The color supposedly brings good fortune to those that pass through the doorway  It certainly gives presence to an ordinarily sedate house.
( If we had it to do over again, we would have used a brown primer.) 

Thankfully, Steve decided he did need a space for his magazines in the garage. He is an avid reader. Several  times I have found myself air born after sliding on magazines stored on the floor. True, it is 'his space', but... 'nuff's enough!
       

After all that, he decided it was time for a magazine run ( to the local hospital ) and literally stacks left the area.

Let me not forget to mention that we also had to stick this tiny plant in the ground. and refresh the soil. The previous plant died and the two remaining ones made the difference in size even more noticeable.
    
grow.. Grow ... GROW!

We have almost finished tying up all the loose ends for this round of events. The house is clean again, things are put back where they live.  We have big plans to rest on our laurels, as it were.

Dee Dee, my youngest and her youngest Dani are coming for a visit in the coming weeks. 
Dani just graduated from Oregon State University.
DeeDee is a Special Ed teacher. Both need to come play in Hawaii.
It will be their first visit to the Island in a long while.
Lotsa things have changed since their last visit. Of course, they already have time scheduled for their favorite beaches.
I am so excited!!!

Edited! Photo editor seem to be working now..  here are pix as promised . 

To date, we have had what appears to be 3 separate hatchings for these noisy birds. Two in my back yard and one that comes to our garage door to be fed.
In the back yard, there are two different sizes, one where their babies are twice the size of the new ones just ready to follow the parents out of the nest. These are about the size of a small house sparrow, but on taller walking legs.

The larger ones started out having at least 6 babies.. are now down to two. I shudder to think why.( wild cats)
The other backyard bunch had 6 and now 7 ?  Yes, I counted 7 in today's picture. maybe he was there all along and I just did not see it.
 They are here, they just walked away from feeding ... but I cannot even see the parents..

...........

 A closer watch for movement and I see Momma and some babies. They are the exact color of the rocks!
They are just inches to her left.. Hine.. Look like rocks. LOl
    

 Now you can see them, they have hopped from the brown rocks into the gray crushed rock..and will move on.  
           

Stephen spends plenty of time in the garage, with the door wide open. When the birds come up, we grab a handful of cat or dog food out of the bin and shoot it across the drive for them.

I have been feeding them in the morning and he in the afternoon and not mentioning it to the other. The other day, Steve made first mention that the birds had come into the garage to get his notice. He said he was doing his usual sitting there reading and listening to his radio and heard them.. they were garbling talking.. When he got up, they backed off and ran over to their feeding site... with 12 babies! 
They have called and even full throat "teenager Teenager " scream to get out attention when picking have not been good elsewhere. 
HE is such a brag. "My Birds have at least 12 babies." ( so far no pix available)

I have been hurried from the house and asked to sit quietly because they will be here in a moment. Like some kind of surrogate mama, he gets himself into his chair, magazine in hand and gets ready to act surprised they are there.
In my own minds eye, I see the birds grouping up behind the garage and going over their plans.. L M A O.

I am happy that we are taking the time to see the treasures of nature and to understand when we are welcomed to join.
 
None are happy about seeing other like birds in their feeding walk-around territories. These are very territorial birds, even though they live somewhat communally most of year. When they have babies they are especially territorial.. and more NOISY than usual .  I have yet to see them fight or chasing each other as they usually do. Maybe it is against their union rules..
Our plan to stop feeding them in the back yard is on hold. The plan was to move them off to the side and then out front so they would not be digging up grass seed when it gets planted later. Oh Well!~

  
. 

 
Edited version, hopefully the pix will show up....

A friend sent these pix and I thought it will be interesting to a lot of my friends.
It resembles a Fuchia except the Fuchia's leave are smoother edged and not jagged. The structure itself is looks very similar.

Warning, if you are going to be offended by the words 'horse's asses' , unhitch your wagon now!

 
I was thinking this was going to be one of those quickie projects...20 minutes max, start to finish....maybe the crack of dawn is not the time to be thinkin'. 

You can guess what happened with that....
I found this little thermometer at the new local hardware store. Ready to bang in the nail, I decided it was too white  Where ever I tried it, it stood out like... well, you know. ..
This story is so predictable....It needed some ageing, Rickie style...
 In the beginning...

     So far so good
    
 ... a couple quick spritz's of clear coat, the top back on and

                     Voila!

      Fini.   I like it~ even Mikey ( Steve ) likes it.
          

Now, where can I put this I won't be hitting it with the water ( hose ).....
Geez, that just ruled out about every place I wanted it. I'll bet it okay to get doused ..I could maybe help it be waterproof...
     

I have been haunting the internet and places that might have MY real clock.
All I want is a Lassie clock!
Yes, one that does everything.... time, temperature and humidity.... numbers large enough I can see it from 20/30 feet or more, must be kind of Artsy, have a flower or two, maybe a bird, butterfly, grapes or a pear would be purrrfect. .. oh yes,  be indoor and outdoor.
( Does not have to do dishes or dig holes)

I have come close, but the prices are too outta sight for close.
If they are not the 'right color', still no problem.. I have a box of paints.

I have to confess, I do not know what the 'right' colors would be...  but I know what they are not.... like a bright white is out.
.....as I said, I have this big box of paints. I reached in and grabbed a couple colors and in s few minutes it was a done deal.

I left everything on the table, in case it needed something more and ran inside for coffee..
Well the winds came up. When I got back to the 'Quickie'... the paint cup had blown over, dried on the chair cushion and on the concrete.
It takes me another 20 minutes to clean up. A passer-by hollers in that my bags are flying. 

... the trash bags that I use to cover the patio chairs when it rains had gone AWOL from under the cushions and were flying up the street. I gave chase!

Not enough drama ????
I was making an Italian salad, grabbed the sprinkle cheese after not finding the good stuff, shaking the heck out of it .. like that is going to make it taste better... and cheese dusted everything in the kitchen in a flash!.  

Only minutes later, at lunch, Steve opened a bag of oyster crackers, (that was already opened at the other end..so when I grabbed them ....yes...................sigh... all over~

(Daisy was right on it, again.... so much for keeping her on specific foods.)   
 
Steve! I hollered in my whiny-est voice.. I was ready to lose it.
 
"I know ... don't drive anywhere today.."

 He just cracked me up!

Ya'll have one really good day!

'nuff said.