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Thanksgiving Table all Fouled Up!

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What a dilemma I was in when I recently came into possession of something so delightfully gorgeous that I wanted to share it with all my friends and family . . . but since I’m not hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this year (and it’s a part of the Thanksgiving centerpiece) I knew it would remain unseen by all those I hold most dear.

What does one do in such a dilemma?  One blogs about it of course!

Mr. OTN happens to work a job where he has to work every other Thanksgiving and this year is one of those.  Thus, no big Thanksgiving dinner.  Even so, as I was playing around with my Fall centerpiece and the placement of my delightfully gorgeous new acquisition the other day I began wondering how it would look with a fully set Thanksgiving table.

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The china that my mom passed down to me, Noritake’s Royal Hunt, called out to me from the buffet and before I knew it I was laying everything out for a photo shoot.

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The sun was streaming in through the plantation shutters that day, casting such a delightful display of light and shadow in my room that you can see how I really couldn’t help myself.

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I love having my mother’s china for the holidays. Even if we aren’t hosting a big Thanksgiving dinner it makes for a nice display.

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Each plate has three pictures around the border, an elk . . .

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. . . a pheasant . . .

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. . . and a bunny rabbit!

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All the plates have small hunting dogs dancing around the edges of their lovely plaid border.

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The gold flatware was also given to me by my mom.  I’m so happy that gold is “in” again.

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But THIS!  Look at this delightfully gorgeous foul, Mr. Pheasant, with his colorful feathers and beaded backside!  I’m sorry you can’t see how much they sparkle in my photographs.

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He is simply the perfect addition to my Thanksgiving table!

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Mr. Pheasant was purchased on a recent trip to the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC.  I wasn’t going to buy him but I was with a friend who likes to encourage me to do things for myself.  In fact, she talked me into making two purchases that day, Mr. Pheasant and some amazing glittery branches that I added to the top of my Christmas tree.  Yes, my tree is decorated already but that’s for another post.

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I will miss hosting a dinner this year but I can still enjoy this wonderful gift from my mom.

Thanksgiving Table 013As soon as the Fall decor is put away I’ll be back to share the before and after pictures of my dining room makeover.There will be a ton of fun details in that post so I do hope you’ll come back and see me again.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday,

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Seeing Potential in a Prickly Gumball!

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My new friend Kate messaged me one day last winter asking if I’d like some gumballs from her sweet gum tree to use for a craft project.

Um . . . okay . . . I guess, maybe?

So with visions of gumballs dancing in my head, off I went to meet Kate and her two beautiful babies at TCBY.  It was a rainy day much like today and a perfect day for a project, though I didn’t know what I’d do with a bag of gumballs other than eat them.  Well of course this turned out to be another one of those “Southern things” that a native Northwesterner like myself would know nothing about!

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 THIS is the dried fruit of a gumball tree . . .

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. . . and this is where a portion of my bag of gumballs ended up until today . . . when the rain came gushing out my gutters . . . and the cloud cover was a dark shroud over the house . . .  and I came to the end of myself while trying to write, because I’m always more creative when the sun shines.

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Sometimes one gets stuck and needs to take a break from being creative to do something that’s creative in a whole ‘nuther way.  So out came my ugly/faithful old glue gun and a tired grapevine wreath wearing remnants of hard glue where I’d torn some previous adornment off. . .

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. . . and VOILA, a gumball wreath was born.

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 I don’t know about you but I think this prickly gumball wreath adds great texture to the mantle in my den and finishes off my Fall mantle display to perfection.

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So do you want to hear something funny about these gumballs?  I knew you would, because y’all are like that.

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Last week, when I shared my post on Southern Etiquette and How to Make Your Neighbors Jealous of Your Front Porch I  showed that picture of my Junky Chicken Wire Cloche all filled with gumballs and one of my readers commented saying this:

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“I’ve always disliked those things, but I love how you put them to good use. Takes a newcomer into the south to see some of the beauties that we native southerners miss, I suppose. Welcome to the south.”

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Isn’t that fantastic?

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Sometimes it takes seeing something for the very first time to realize it’s beauty.

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It really got me to thinking about how many times I miss out on the beautiful that God puts right in front of me because I’ve grown used to what’s there, and maybe even begun to have a little bit of disdain for the familiar.

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Old Things New.  Creating beauty out of what others have no use for is a big part of how this blog started, and seeing the beauty that God sees in other people (especially when no one has ever called them beautiful) is the other part of this blog that is becoming ever more important to me.  It is what I want my LIFE to be about!

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The fruit of the sweet gum tree, when it dries into a pod is given a lot of other names besides sweet gumball.  These pods are also called “burr balls”, “space bugs”, “monkey balls”, “bommyknockers” and “sticker balls”.  Names that aren’t so nice.

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 I’m thankful that God gave me eyes to see the beauty in these sweet gumballs.  My prayer is for fresh eyes to see His beauty in ALL those He brings my way . . . even those who might be a wee bit prickly.  Are you with me?

Gigantic blessings to you my friends,

My Signature

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
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 TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NiftyThriftyThings, SilverPenniesSundays,SundaysAtHome

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I have been known to link to the following Inspirational Parties:

Wednesdays A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays A Little R & R Whole Hearted Home Mom’s Morning Coffee Women with Intention Coffee for Your Heart Capture Your Journey
Thursdays Serving Joyfully/Thriving Thursdays The Deliberate Mom/Shine Blog Hop I Choose Joy  Live Free Thursday Thought Provoking Thursday Imparting Grace
Fridays A Look at the Book Christian Mommy Blogger Fellowship Fridays Blessing Counters Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays Faith & Fellowship Bloghop Grace & Truth Linkup Grace&TruthSharingRedemption’sStories Dance With Jesus The Weekend Brew
Saturdays Still Saturday The Weekend Brew Recommendation Saturday Make My Saturday Sweet
Sundays Spiritual Sundays Sunday Stillness

Southern Etiquette & How to Make Your Neighbors Jealous of Your Front Porch

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If you’ve been around this blog for any time at all now you know that I like to have a little fun.  So today I thought I’d share with y’all (I love saying that) some of the things I’ve learned about Southern Etiquette from one of my real life Southern blogging buddies Leslie, at Bungalow Nesting.  Leslie is one of the first people I met here in the upstate of South Carolina and she is one of the most delightful gals I know!  Her fun attitude is contagious and she has become a dear, dear friend.

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When I first met Leslie she began right away to fill me in on proper Southern etiquette.  Since I’ve never lived in the South before I take these tips quite seriously and I’m sure that the following list of social etiquette will be KEY to making my way in this strange new land. 

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  • The first time Leslie and her husband Mark invited us to their home she told me that when you are invited to a Southerner’s home you always bring a gift.  I listened and I brought along a nice loaf of sweet bread.  She graciously thanked me and said that each subsequent time you are invited into someone’s home the gift must be bigger and better.  I can believe THAT!  They have a lot of company and they have a lot of nice things.

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  • Southern greetings are very friendly. Always smile and remember that a smile is not only on the face but can be seen in the eyes. If your eyes aren’t smiling the other person will know you aren’t a friendly person.

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  • Men usually shake hands, women embrace (except for church, church men embrace like women).  A woman-to-woman embrace often includes a kiss on the cheek.  Only woman-to-woman though.  Doncha’ dare kiss another woman’s husband!

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  • When engaging in conversation it is proper to maintain eye contact.  Don’t stare too long though because that can be threatening . . . and don’t let your gaze constantly wander because that shows that you aren’t listening.  If you are bored listen for awhile and then find something you must suddenly attend to.

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  • Speaking of eye contact, don’t gawk! This is especially true for men who should only gawk at their own wives.

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  • Don’t stand too close when conversing with another person.  This can cause the other person to feel uncomfortable, not to mention the fact that you might have offensive breath or even risk “spraying” them.

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  • Be careful what you say while conversing.  Remember, the heart of who you are comes out of your MOUTH.  If you want to be nice your words must be nice and that is the goal of every Southerner.  Being nice!

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  • When being introduced to another person always smile and say something pleasant like, “It is good to meet you.”  Once you know them you can greet them with, “Hey.”  Or, “Hey, hey,” if you are a Finnish Southerner.

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  • When someone offends you or says something you don’t like never argue or get nasty.  Simply say, “Bless your heart.”  Say it with a smile too because the good book says that showing kindness to those you don’t like is just like heaping burning coals upon their head!

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  • Never show up at someone’s house unexpectedly.  A Southern woman will feel the need to invite you in and will be embarrassed if there is any little thing out of place.

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  • Never show up to a party early.  In fact, don’t show up on time!  At least 30 minutes after the party is set to begin is the real start time of any party in the South.

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  • Always return the favor. Whether it is an invite, a gift, a card, a kind word, always return the favor . . . if you want to continue the friendship. If you don’t want to continue the friendship don’t return the favor.

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  • Be Words: Be humble. Be Courteous. Be friendly. Be modest. Behave.
  • Courtesy Words: “Please,” “May I,” “Thank You,” “You’re Welcome,” “Excuse Me,” “Pardon Me,” “Yes sir,”  “No sir,” “Yes ma’am,” “No ma’am.”
  • Southern Cuss Words: Ding dangit; Heavens to Betsy; Dag nabbit; Lard bucket; What in the Sam Hill; Oh my land; Yankee; Shoot a monkey; Jumpin Jehosaphat!  These words are acceptable outbursts in place of  “real” swear words, except in church.  No cuss words in church!

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Now in case you’re wondering at the title, How to Make Your Neighbors Jealous of Your Front Porch, it should be pretty obvious by now that you should never deliberately make your neighbors jealous of your front porch or any other part of your life.  If they happen to become a little green with envy over your modest porch decor simply invite them in for a glass of sweet tea and all peace will be restored.

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I hope you’ve enjoyed these rules of Southern etiquette in social situations.  There are of course rules for every situation, church etiquette; shopping etiquette; porch etiquette; bathroom etiquette; etc.  Too many to touch on them all in one post!   Know this:  If you follow these rules your popularity will be sure to increase . . . because people like people with good manners. 😉

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Blessings,

My Signature

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:

 TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NiftyThriftyThings, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome

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Seasons of Life & Fall Decorating

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“I may look old on the outside but I still feel like little Charlie on the inside.”  My dad’s observation on growing old.  He’s been gone for 28 years now but I clearly remember his words and I’m experiencing the same surprise when I look in the mirror.

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Next month I will turn SIXTY years old . . . I know, right?  As I enter this Autumn season of life I wonder, where DID the time go?  Sometimes I’m amazed when I observe the lines on my face, the crepey skin on my arms and legs, and the way my skin shifts on my bones!  It can make me thankful that my eyesight, and my husband’s, isn’t as good as it used to be.

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Standing outside chatting with a friend after Bible study on Wednesday we talked about the reunion I attended last weekend with my husband, and the stress I felt over meeting his former classmates and their wives.  I wanted to make my husband proud to be married to me.  I already know he’s proud of who I am on the inside but my outside isn’t exactly what it was when we married.

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Now before you say to me, “You look great!”, realize that “great” is a matter of perspective.  I’m getting older and I know that I don’t look or feel as great as I did when I was younger.  Growing up my family placed huge import on looking good so it’s natural that I filter everything through that upbringing.

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Getting ready for the reunion it was fun to put on a fancyish dress and pretty heels with hopes of stunning Mr. OTN with my beauty (LOL!).  It was a slimming black dress, shirred around the middle to (almost) hide the lumps and bumps that characterize my midsection.

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Dressing up became a little less fun when I put on my hose (something I haven’t worn in ages) and realized that my slippery silk stockings caused me to walk right out of my high heels.  We made a quick detour on the way to dinner to pick up some anti-slip shoe inserts.  While at the store I also picked up a pair of L’eggs pantyhose to replace my more expensive stockings that had a fight in the car with the velcro on my camera bag!

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That was just the beginning of the evening which I survived by not walking around too much (the anti-slip inserts failed), taking my shoes off under to table (to relieve the blisters that quickly bubbled up), and making light of my advanced age with the wives that were clearly younger versions of me – the doctor’s wife – or, if not younger, were married to the plastic surgeons in the group!  Okay yes, there were some wives who were right there with me in this beautiful Autumn season of life and they looked great!

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Anyhoo, back to my friend in the parking lot at church.  As we talked she shared with me that she absolutely loves this season of life.  This spunky and vibrant new friend of mine (who is a little bit younger than I am) has chosen to enjoy life right where she is.  I admire her attitude as I see so many in our baby boomer age group fighting hard to retain our youth.

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Most of the time I’m fine with where I am in life . . . especially in jeans and a pretty top.  It’s the form fitting dresses that remind me of the changes in my body, and the uncomfortable high heels that hurt like they never did when I was young (how does Katie Couric pull that off?) that really get to me and don’t seem to mesh with my more youthful state of mind.

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There is so much that is good about this time of life.  This Autumn season brings me into a quieter life than I once lived.  The striving that went along with a career and raising a family is gone, I have more time to pursue the things that make me happy, I can pour more into my relationship with my husband now as we explore new places together, and I’ve learned some life lessons that I can hopefully pass on to others . . .

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. . . and though I have a few more aches and pains in my body I am committed to staying strong so I can enjoy this season of life to the fullest.

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I Thess. 5:18 says it is God’s will that we give thanks in all things, even growing older!  So in spite of a little kicking against this aging thing that’s happening to me, I am grateful to God for this path we’ve traveled together.  Sometimes, to be sure, I’ve stepped off His path for me yet He’s stayed beside me nonetheless.  I can honestly say that I’m thankful for the rough patches of my life (Mr. OTN always says he’s thankful for everything . . . eventually) as they’ve made me who I am today.

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Proverbs 31:25 says of the godly woman that she, “is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”

Wow!  I like that.  We can’t change the seasons of our lives so we might as well do our best to enjoy them . . . or laugh about the things we can’t enjoy so much.  Frankly, all them there wrinkles deserve a good laugh!

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Ageing is one of those things we simply cannot change and I believe that acceptance and thankfulness are keys to living happy in any season of life.  So, in this Autumn of my life I will choose (from inside my home) to relish the rain that runs in rivers down my window panes, the breeze that blows golden leaves in circles round my yard, and the chill that makes it a pleasure to sit today beside a warm fire.

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Haha!  The forecast is changing on Tuesday and we’ll be back to sunny and 70’s, which I LOVE, so it is actually pretty easy for me to make the most of today 🙂

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Tell me now, what season of life are you in?  What do you do to make the most of this life you’ve been given?  And what are your favorite things about the Autumn season?

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Blessings y’all from your young on the inside and (a little) old on the outside friend,

My SignatureKelly's Med School Reunion 001

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:

I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:

Wednesdays A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Wednesday Prayer Girls Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays A Little R & R Whole Hearted Home So Much at Home Mom’s Morning Coffee Women with Intention Coffee for Your Heart Capture Your Journey
Thursdays Serving Joyfully/Thriving Thursdays The Deliberate Mom/Shine Blog Hop I Choose Joy  Live Free Thursday Thought Provoking Thursday Imparting Grace
Fridays A Look at the Book Christian Mommy Blogger Fellowship Fridays Blessing Counters Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays Faith & Fellowship Bloghop Grace & Truth Linkup Grace&TruthSharingRedemption’sStories Dance With Jesus The Weekend Brew
Saturdays Still Saturday The Weekend Brew Saturday Soiree Recommendation Saturday Make My Saturday Sweet
Sundays Spiritual Sundays Sunday Stillness

Gilded Artichokes and Doggy Love

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Sometimes I wish I could gild everything around me and make all aspects of life shiny and wonderful. 

My life is good, REALLY GOOD, but there have been hard things in the past and there are hard things now that I can do nothing about . . . other than trust.  Trust in a God who cares about my feelings of sadness, even when that sadness is caused by a sweet little dog named Snoopy Girl.  More later . . .

Gilded Vegies 013bDo you like artichokes?  I do.  I like to eat them but I also like to have them on display in my kitchen.  I think they are delightful to look at!

I’ve seen some lovely faux artichokes in stores like Pottery Barn but, OH MY GOODNESS they are expensive!  Too expensive for me to justify buying them for myself.  Now before you go saying that I don’t value myself enough (I’ve heard that) I will tell you that I do believe in treating myself from time-to-time with key home decor pieces that I truly love.  Especially if it something that I know will always have special meaning to me.  My (early) birthday present this year is like that but since it isn’t my birthday yet I can’t share.

Gilded Vegies 003These plastic artichokes aren’t in the category of family heirloom, and they weren’t very inexpensive.  They weren’t up to PB standards but they looked okay and I used them last year . . . buried toward the bottom of a Fall arrangement.  This year I decided to brighten them up a bit with gold paint.

Gilded Vegies 004I used this paint from Michael’s (purchased with my 40% off coupon) but any gold paint would do.

Gilded Vegies 003bA few swipes of the paint brush and here you have it!

Gilded Vegies 007bGilded Artichokes!

Gilded Vegies 025bI think they add a nice touch to my wooden bowl of Fall veggies and nuts.

Gilded Vegies 034bHere I’ve tucked one into another Fall display.

Gilded Vegies 018bI love how they catch the light!

Gilded Vegies 021bDraws your eye right in doesn’t it?

Gilded Vegies 040bScene stealer!!!

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Gilded Vegies 014bI’m glad that gold is back “in” as I never really stopped decorating with it.  I’m glad too that gold and silver can be used together in home decor.  I’m definitely doing a lot of that in my new home.

Snoopy on the Screened Porch 004So back to our little Snoopy Girl.  She has been failing for a long time.  We thought we would lose her on the 4th of July but she rallied.  We didn’t know how she would handle the cross country trip but she did great.

In the past few weeks Snoopy hasn’t wanted to leave Mr. OTN’s side when he is at home.  We bought her a bed of her own that we put on his side of the bed.  When he is gone she often goes upstairs to sleep on her bed rather than stay with me.  We think the thought of him makes her feel safe.

Snoopy has been off her feed for a few days so I’ve been hand feeding her . . . but she is eating very little.  She is very unstable on her legs and she’s lost a lot of muscle due to a medical condition that she’s being treated for.  This morning we had to carry her downstairs and outside.  She just stood on the grass looking confused. Since Mr. OTN had to go to work I brought her bed downstairs and laid it near me.  She isn’t doing very well today.

The Vet said that with this condition, a tumor on her pituitary, there could be “sudden death”.  Or she may rally once again and surprise us all.  She is almost seventeen years old so either way, we know we won’t have her around much longer.  So today . . .  we are going to spoil her with special treats and lots of good “scritches” behind the ears.Buffet and Screened Room 025

Blessings,

My Signature

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
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