Last Friday Jack and I discussed the bales of hay I had in the yard and the fire danger. I agreed that they really needed to be removed but I was concerned because the Mama cat and the kittens were missing and when they came back their home would be gone... the other cats were adults and could fend for themselves, but it had to be done.
The neighbor boy wasn't home from school yet so I went to the shop/barn to get the old flyer wagon that mom had and there was the mama cat and the babies! Her look said it all.... how come it took you so long to find us! Well needless to say the 6 bales of hay... patio furniture and cat table created by the neighbors a couple of years ago were all moved to the barn/shop and all by this lady. My plan was not to leave anything that would encourage a cat to spend any time on the patio.
Of course I had plenty of help and the four legged inspectors checked each item, it's placement, the blankets, old pillows, boxes of hay, and compartments made by the bales, everything. All the feed containers and pans were placed around the room. The 10 litter boxes were cleaned and new litter added...... you know the bad weather hit that weekend.
Monday was so bad but we had a doctor's appointment so we started and two miles out of town our windshield was a sheet of ice.........time to turn around. We cancelled and made a new appointment. Schools are cancelled. Tuesday is so bad we called and cancelled the Wednesday appointment to only find the doctor's office would be closed and they would not have any patients that day. Schools are stilled closed. We tried for an appointment on Wednesday afternoon but roads are still bad. Finally we got an appointment for Thursday afternoon at 3:30.
I hired a ride along neighbor who really likes to drive so I let her! (smiles) The roads are fine but the parking lot where the clinic is located is filled with deep ice and snow. In fact the sidewalks in most places are not cleared and we were in a quandry about how to get Jack's motor chair into the clinic...our driver bless her goes in and gets people to move.... helps the laundry truck load and clear the way to use the handicap ramp....we down loaded Jack and had to help him because his chair was really beginning to skid and slide in the ice....but we made it... coming out at 5+ it is again frozen and icy... but the parking lot is cleared of cars and we pull the van right up to the sidewalk and onload Jack from there. Our driver was surprised to see the ramp was so versitile. Stopping for fast food was a real hazzard! And getting home at 7 was a nightmare of ice and slippery walking. But these vans are great.... I can outload Jack on the sidewalk at our door and then drive directly into the garage.
I had fed the felines extra at noon before we left and told them see you in the morning! LOL They were really waiting with eager appetites this morning....These strays and discards are really spoiled! I wonder if I could get a government grant to take care of these mouse, rat, and bird eaters...but then I probably would get in trouble because what they were catching and eating might be protected or endangered.... yeah, any of the above are endangered in this neighborhood.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Sunshine in the middle of winter.........
When you think of sunshine......I immediately think of the warm rays of the sun warming the chair where I sit or making patterns on the carpet.
To the handicapped it might mean an opportunity to get out without the frigid wind and cold temperatures. To the caregiver it means all an opportunity to just walk around the yard and inhale the freshness of the day.
Sunshine is also one of the best medicines to push away depression and heartache. My husband is often depressed because of the inability to do what he has always done and the lack of mobility to move where he would like to go. This morning I asked if he would like to go out into the sunshine for awhile. To move around in the yard and watch the feline residents at play.
He declined the invitation because of pain and general discomfort. Perhaps later in the day another opportunity will arise. A caregiver may feel such awakening and infusion of energy and strength in the sunshine but a patient doesn't always respond in the same manner. We have to wait and try again and hope for a change in emotional wellness.
Sunshine awakens the plants and brings new life upward and we all want the same thing for the patient. That feeling of renewal of life in the patient would be rewarding for both the caregiver and the patient. Just watching the felines that inhabit our yard you would think spring had arrived on the morning sunrise. The small kittens at play and the adults resting on the bales of hay that I have added to the yard in special places for windbreaks gives your heart a surge of good feeling.
Yes, you read that correctly. I have added bales of hay in places in the yard to provide windbreaks. Later this spring those bales of hay will retreat to the barn/shop and some will be broken up to add mulch to the flower beds. This is the first time I have purchased hay for the windbreaks but it seemed a good idea. I even like to go out and perch on a bale of hay and hold a cat or rub the back on another feline that is sitting beside me.
Just to keep the record straight. These are not my cats. They are the refuse of the unthinking people who give their children kittens and later abandon them to starvation or the wild animals. All I provide is an opening into the shop/barn so they can get away from dogs or other wild things, plenty of water (ice broken in the winter) and food (dry, canned, and table scraps). I have also constructed temperary shelters behind the trash cans and behind the hay and under benches so they are generally out of the wind and worst of the chill.
Yes, it is costly but the enjoyment and entertainment that is provided for my husband has far exceeded the cost in my estimation. We have had 2 males fixed! This I didn't know... that the males are the most affectionate of the sexes and make excellent house cats. My mother had a house cat that now lives mostly in the car garage because of her/his nasty attitude toward all others, sometimes even humans. That cats plenty of petting and attention when the other cats are not around. There is a young kitten that may also get to the vet soon because he has lived well with the other two. He came in originally because he was sick and has stayed a lot of time inside.
It has been a beautiful day. These are rare in the middle of winter. The sunshine has been warm and full bodied not thin and unfulfilling. Hope your sunshine has made you happy as well.
To the handicapped it might mean an opportunity to get out without the frigid wind and cold temperatures. To the caregiver it means all an opportunity to just walk around the yard and inhale the freshness of the day.
Sunshine is also one of the best medicines to push away depression and heartache. My husband is often depressed because of the inability to do what he has always done and the lack of mobility to move where he would like to go. This morning I asked if he would like to go out into the sunshine for awhile. To move around in the yard and watch the feline residents at play.
He declined the invitation because of pain and general discomfort. Perhaps later in the day another opportunity will arise. A caregiver may feel such awakening and infusion of energy and strength in the sunshine but a patient doesn't always respond in the same manner. We have to wait and try again and hope for a change in emotional wellness.
Sunshine awakens the plants and brings new life upward and we all want the same thing for the patient. That feeling of renewal of life in the patient would be rewarding for both the caregiver and the patient. Just watching the felines that inhabit our yard you would think spring had arrived on the morning sunrise. The small kittens at play and the adults resting on the bales of hay that I have added to the yard in special places for windbreaks gives your heart a surge of good feeling.
Yes, you read that correctly. I have added bales of hay in places in the yard to provide windbreaks. Later this spring those bales of hay will retreat to the barn/shop and some will be broken up to add mulch to the flower beds. This is the first time I have purchased hay for the windbreaks but it seemed a good idea. I even like to go out and perch on a bale of hay and hold a cat or rub the back on another feline that is sitting beside me.
Just to keep the record straight. These are not my cats. They are the refuse of the unthinking people who give their children kittens and later abandon them to starvation or the wild animals. All I provide is an opening into the shop/barn so they can get away from dogs or other wild things, plenty of water (ice broken in the winter) and food (dry, canned, and table scraps). I have also constructed temperary shelters behind the trash cans and behind the hay and under benches so they are generally out of the wind and worst of the chill.
Yes, it is costly but the enjoyment and entertainment that is provided for my husband has far exceeded the cost in my estimation. We have had 2 males fixed! This I didn't know... that the males are the most affectionate of the sexes and make excellent house cats. My mother had a house cat that now lives mostly in the car garage because of her/his nasty attitude toward all others, sometimes even humans. That cats plenty of petting and attention when the other cats are not around. There is a young kitten that may also get to the vet soon because he has lived well with the other two. He came in originally because he was sick and has stayed a lot of time inside.
It has been a beautiful day. These are rare in the middle of winter. The sunshine has been warm and full bodied not thin and unfulfilling. Hope your sunshine has made you happy as well.
Monday, January 12, 2009
why visit the handicapped/NOT without a call first
Too often the doorbell rings or some knocks and the patient is in the middle of a bath or isn't feeling very well. For a while I used signs on the door and still do but people who just drop in have to realize some of these times are not good times.
The caregiver has to balance hospitality against patient welfare and at times this is difficult. I just love it when someone says," just go ahead with what you are doing I will set here and talk to you. Sure I am doing medications for the week and making mistakes are not the best for the patient. I always check each day to be sure the medications are correct. But it is inconvenient to always go get the med bag and redo a days medications.
"Just go ahead with what you are doing".... giving the patient a bath? No it isn't possible. We need space and sometimes we need things from the room where you are sitting and opening doors reduces privacy for the patient.
" Just go ahead with what you are doing", fixing the meal for the patient and his eating in front of you isn't always pleasant. Sometimes there are spills or other mishaps that are embarrassing. Besides I like to sit down and eat or have coffee with Jack when he is eating.
" Just go ahead with what you are doing." Taking a nap that you just woke me up from so I can be more alert tonight. Now I won't be able to finish the nap and the patient might have a cranky caregiver when awakened in the night! LOL
" Just go ahead with what you are doing". Well we were getting ready to go to the doctor and your sitting here talking to us makes the check list of things NOT to forget a little less effective. Besides we take about 10 minutes to finish up things and get into the car.... you are sitting in the way and I hate to say please leave so we can because we are on a tight schedule.
Is this only at our house? Sunday mornings are getting hectic. We have a drop in guest most Sundays who come for coffee and chat. This means I have to rush to get the house ready.. the coffee on... myself dressed for church.... Jack ready for the day....etc. Jack sometimes has a drop in guest that sits with him while I go to church, I need the coffee fresh and ready and something like coffee cake ready.
If people would just call ahead and ask how Jack is feeling and if it is convenient for them to drop by for coffee and chat.... I would be thrilled and I would seldom say no but I do wish people would respect our lifestyle. It is different from theirs and one day they may have the same frustrations.
The caregiver has to balance hospitality against patient welfare and at times this is difficult. I just love it when someone says," just go ahead with what you are doing I will set here and talk to you. Sure I am doing medications for the week and making mistakes are not the best for the patient. I always check each day to be sure the medications are correct. But it is inconvenient to always go get the med bag and redo a days medications.
"Just go ahead with what you are doing".... giving the patient a bath? No it isn't possible. We need space and sometimes we need things from the room where you are sitting and opening doors reduces privacy for the patient.
" Just go ahead with what you are doing", fixing the meal for the patient and his eating in front of you isn't always pleasant. Sometimes there are spills or other mishaps that are embarrassing. Besides I like to sit down and eat or have coffee with Jack when he is eating.
" Just go ahead with what you are doing." Taking a nap that you just woke me up from so I can be more alert tonight. Now I won't be able to finish the nap and the patient might have a cranky caregiver when awakened in the night! LOL
" Just go ahead with what you are doing". Well we were getting ready to go to the doctor and your sitting here talking to us makes the check list of things NOT to forget a little less effective. Besides we take about 10 minutes to finish up things and get into the car.... you are sitting in the way and I hate to say please leave so we can because we are on a tight schedule.
Is this only at our house? Sunday mornings are getting hectic. We have a drop in guest most Sundays who come for coffee and chat. This means I have to rush to get the house ready.. the coffee on... myself dressed for church.... Jack ready for the day....etc. Jack sometimes has a drop in guest that sits with him while I go to church, I need the coffee fresh and ready and something like coffee cake ready.
If people would just call ahead and ask how Jack is feeling and if it is convenient for them to drop by for coffee and chat.... I would be thrilled and I would seldom say no but I do wish people would respect our lifestyle. It is different from theirs and one day they may have the same frustrations.
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