RIP Laxy. We Will Miss Your Sweet Spirit

Today we had to put our beloved dog, Laxy to sleep. It was not an easy decision and it has not been an easy day. We got her when she was about 2years old from some friends that had found her wandering. We had her for about 4 years. Recently she had not been acting like herself. Not very excited, kind of lethargic. I took her to the vet. The words you don't want to hear. Kidney failure. "She's so young", I said. "Is there anything we can do?" We did everything they told us and it still was not enough. She went from a 70 pound dynamo to a 41 pound old woman. Last night she wouldn't even get up for me. Wouldn't eat. Kept vomiting. I just couldn't watch her do that anymore. It broke my heart = ( My son wanted to be there when they did it. I had to be there. I always have to be there. It just somehow seems so wrong to me that your friends should leave without the comfort of someone they love being near to ease their passing. As difficult as it is to be there I feel like I owe them at least that. To tell them it's ok, to let them know we love them and that we will see them again at the bridge. So Lax, "Get the kitty" and "Bring us your toy", we will grieve today and then celebrate all the good times we had together. We love you and we miss you!

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Happy Birthday and Some Not So Great News

So yesterday was a day of very mixed emotions.  My middle daughter was born 23 years ago yesterday.  She is a shining star and I love her so much!  She makes me proud to be her mama every single day.  How did 23 years go by so quickly?  It seems like just yesterday she was a baby.  She was in a hurry to get into this world, there was no stopping her and she is still like that.
Happy Birthday baby girl, I love you!

She came over to the house last night and we baked her a birthday cake, Funfetti.  Then we went out for dinner.  DH is out of town so it was me, her and my son, then one of her friends joined us.  She loves her some BBQ so we ate at Famous Daves.  Fun dinner.  Came home too stuffed to eat cake so she is returning tonight for some cake.

So you are wondering what the not so great new is aren't you?  Blood tests were back from the vet.  It looks like our dog has an infectious disease, Leptospirosis.  Now they are not 100% certain this is the case and without running the test they can't say for sure and if I start her on the antibiotics they can't do the test, but if I have the test done it is done in 2 stages over a 2 week period.  The test is expensive and the antibiotics are not.  I went and picked up the drugs last night.  She is in renal failure and has some liver damage.  Apparently according to the vet, if the phosphorus level is less than 12 they can usually save them, Laxy's is 18  = (  They wanted to hospitalize her and give IV fluids over a 48 hour period, but I can do subcutaneous fluids at home which will accomplish the same thing and cost a LOT less.  We are going to try to do what we can and hope it is enough.  I think she will do better being at home than she would being away from the people she loves.

So, please pray for our dog.  My son is beside himself, it's his dog.  I'll keep you posted.  ~XOP

Just for You Ruth Ann

Today was a really fun day but I don't have the time right now to tell you properly but I do have something else to tell you all about.  I was driving home from the gym and saw my friend, Ruth Ann driving by.  She waved and I realized that she wasn't driving.  Being that it is Tuesday, I figured she was going to quilting and that her son, Craig was driving her.  Craig is an amazing quilt designer and a great guy.  So I went home, showered and went to the church to visit with Craig.  I have lots more to tell you about him soon too, but RA was asking about my dog and how come there are no photos of her on my blog only the cats.  So here you go Ruth Ann.

I came home the other night and there was Laxy laying on a quilt on the couch. Crazy dog! I hope you all had a great day, heading off to bed now, LOTS more tomorrow. ~XOP~

Thursday Stuff

I went with DD1 yesterday after work to a place called Sham Pooch to bathe out dog. They provide everything you need to do it but you do it yourself. We were both wet (since we forgot to put the vinyl aprons on first, DUH) when we were finished. They had this amazing high powered dryer thing that worked like the high powered dryer at the car wash. It just literally blew the water off her. Amazing! It was about half the cost of taking her in to have it done too. Clever people, great idea.

I thought you might like to see how my flowers have been opening up. They are truly beautiful now! Thanks, kids!

I went to quilting last night and decided I wanted to do the embroidery on the first 2 Tisket A Tasket (TAT from now on) blocks. I think they came out quite well. I just need to do the embelishments which I will do after it is quilted. I now have Jan and Feb done. I have fused March and April and will work on those next.


I have to make caramel brownies for one of my best friend's birthday for tomorrow so I will try to remember to take some photos of them. They are AMAZING!! Have a wonderful evening.

Weight Loss Monday

Why yes, it is time for the official weigh in at the WW meeting tonight. Guess what?? I really was down by 6.4 pounds!!! So I managed to keep it off this week so far. I went to the gym today and worked out for ah hour then went to Pilates for an hour and then I came home to eat. I was starved!! When I got home from work and before I left I let the dog out into the front yard and then I happened to look out the window and this is what I saw.

The little girl next door was sitting next to Laxy petting her. It was too cute!

I told you I was working on a baby quilt and I thought I would share the blocks with you so here ya go:

and these

and then the tall ships

They surround a BIG ship and I decided that I want to use U of M fabric for the base of that one but I don't have it finished yet. I did realize that the background fabric I was using had directional fish on it. So that meant re-cutting some of the pieces and I suspect I will need to do some more before it is done too. Oh well. I got all this flue fish fabric on clearance so it's OK. I even found some cute sail boat fabric that I can use with the fish for the back too. Good day shopping in the stash!!

Let me know what you think of the boats! I hope you all have a good day too.

Laxy enjoying a bowl of snow

Here are the videos of our dumb dog, Laxy. Let me know what you think!



And this one is Jack trying to get in on that delicious snow bowl!

The Drop Off

I hope you have enjoyed the gratuitous photo of Laxy, our dog.  She loves to sleep on the bed once we get up.  She knows she is not allowed on it with us, there is just not enough room.

I had quite a busy weekend!  Liz, and her parents and some of the CL's were going to the Methodist Boys Home (MBH) to drop off 40 quilts for the boys.  I had 2 more crazy rail quilts that I chose the fabrics and that Jane and Owen (Liz's parents) put together and Liz quilted.  this one is with football players and I loved how it turned out.  I would choose to make this again, I liked it that much!
Here is another CR with that wonderful bear fabric I loved so much.  No red like the other one, I used orange.  And made the borders green.  I found some wonderful tree fabric that I used in this too.  The plaid in this is green and black and the other one was red and black.
The director, Mia, is shown here holding up the other bear CR that I made.  She was so thrilled that every boy will get a quilt.  
Here is a photo of Liz's folks Jane and Owen.  They made a LOT of the quilts that went this day.
It is amazing to see all the 43 quilts.  (Yes, we brought 43 because we didn't want any boy to not have a choice).  We didn't want someone to get "stuck" with the last one.  It is always good to have a choice!  A local quilt shop had brought 30 the week before so there will be a total of 73 there right now.  Mia will call or email me when they need additional quilts.  I left her 2 fabric markers so the boys could put their names on their quilt too.  We'll have no mix ups!

So many quilts.  Mia, me and Liz.
More photo ops.  Dolores, Liz, Owen, Me, Charlotte, and Jane.
Jane and Owen made cookies and brownies for the boys too.  YUM!!
So that was my Friday.  I took the afternoon off from my job and went to deliver the quilts!

Friday night DH and I met my good friend and her new beau for dinner at Caladah's.  The food was great and he seems like a nice guy.  Her DH passed away a few years ago so I am glad to see her so happy again.  We then met some of my other friends at an erotic art exibition.  That was quite an experience!!  Really smoky though so we didn't stay a long time.

Sat am I had a class at the LQS.  One Block Wonder.  I bought my fabric in Indiana and I LOVE how it is turning out.  I will take some pics when I get home and post them so you can see.  I was so wrapped up in the class I completely forgot to take any pictures at the class!!  I did see a woman that I took the lone star class from last summer and that was fun.  She bought a LOT of fabric but she ordered in a collection that I bought a little bit of too.  

Sat night we had to go to a going away party for my nephew in Lansing so got to see DD2, which is always great.  

Sun I had to do laundry (5 loads) and then totally nuked down both bathrooms. I also spot treated the carpet in DD@'s room.   Then and only then would I allow myself to work on anything quilty.  I worked like a fiend on the OBW but I *still* have a lot of blocks to do.  I think I have 12 more or so to still do.  Then the fun of putting them on a design wall (read floor here) to re-arange and put into order.  I may take some photos too and see what you all think.  I may use the newly cleaned floor in DD2's room.  That way I can close the door and keep the animals out.  The down side is that the BR is upstairs.  Oh well, self imposed exercise for me!!

It is -14 degrees today so I will try to stay warm.  My computer at work is near the window so it is a little cold here.  Stay warm everyone!!