RIP Rocco

Garden or Jungle

It's hard to believe that it is August and it is still this green.  Usually by this time things are starting to dry out and burn up with the summer heat and no rain.  This has been a "different" year as it rained in July.  Rain water is like a magic ingredient.  Everything has grown so much!  I got behind in "nipping" back the tomato plants and they are huge.  One night a high wind tipped them all over (cage and all). There are not a lot of tomatoes on them either.  I have heard of other people having that result this year too.

On Sunday I posted a blossom from the one volunteer pumpkin plant that came up this year.  I had lots of pumpkins last year.  I still have frozen pumpkin in the freezer so I didn't plant any this year.  One plant came up and I left it to grow.  It has gone crazy--taking over the whole garden with huge leaves and lots of blossoms.   I'm not sure if we will have many pumpkins grow to maturity before it freezes, but I'm giving it free reign to do it's best.

I only planted two pepper plants this year.  They are the biggest plants I've ever had, but I'm still waiting for the peppers to grow.  Other years I've had small plants loaded with lots of large peppers.  It is just a different year.

I planted four hills of cucumbers, because we had plenty of relish and pickles left.  They have really produced vines.  The cucumbers are coming now tho and I will need to share with the neighbors.   I'm glad now that I really didn't plant a lot of garden.  I just haven't had time to tend it or harvest it.  Cucumbers that taste like a cucumber are such a treat! 

Thank you to all of you who have expressed your concern and prayers for Rocco.  It has helped me a lot too.  I think I just needed to share my burden with all of you.   I was pleased to see Rocco laying on his back sleeping.   He hasn't slept like this since he started having symptoms.  I think this is a sign that he is feeling less dizzy.  He is walking some better, but time hopefully will be the needed healer.  Michelle was home for a couple days and he enjoyed that.   He spends a lot of time sleeping.  He's eating and drinking regularly, so that is probably a good sign.  

No sewing done yet.  I spent some time organizing yesterday afternoon--maybe that will help get me motivated.  lol

Silent Sunday-Volunteer Pumpkin



I'm not avoiding you.

 Rocco and I aren't avoiding you.  We are just hanging out and not doing much to blog about.  Rocco has improved in the last week.  He hasn't been circling and not much head tilt.  He is unsteady on his feet, but mainly I think he is blind and just unsure of himself.    We are doing some eye drops Dr Cooper recommended.  He said they might help and wouldn't hurt anything.  We are really sad for him and still hoping for improvement.  I had to take DH to the field this morning and it breaks my heart that Rocco has no interest in having his head out the window.   The cats can't figure out what is wrong.  He no longer chases and plays with them.  They seem to know something is wrong and gather around.  I know I'm sounding depressing and I am.  I just pray with time things will be better.  It's hard to not see Rocco enjoying life and making us laugh with his antics.  I have been doing a lot of reading and holding him.  I don't want him to get depressed like me.  lol  I hope our love can pull him through.

 

I thought I would show you how my English Ivy has gone wild.  I usually pinch it back, so it doesn't get too large.  I've been neglecting it and it has taken advantage of it by growing and growing.  I probably should re pot it, but don't really have a cute container to transfer it to.  I never think to look for something when I get to a place that might have something.  As you can see I still have the July  runner on the library table.  I love red, white and blue any time of year.

 

This is the Silent Sunday kitten that was sitting in the pan.  The black barn cat "Blackie" (very original name for a black cat) brought 4 little kittens to the house for feeding.   They were pretty timid at first, but this one and a black one are tame now.   He is  such a pretty gray cat.  It's fun to see them tear around the yard in the mornings and evenings when it cools off.  They miss Rocco chasing them.  In fact I hold the little black one while Rocco does his business or she will jump on him.

DH is busy mowing, raking and baling.  The wheat is ready for combining and we are waiting for the crew to come--not very patiently either.   I packed him lunch today so he can keep working without a stop.  I'll have left over shrimp fettuccine alfredo from supper last night for lunch.  I was so hungry for something that wasn't cooked on the grill.  DH isn't much for pasta, but I haven't made this for a year.  It was a treat for me and ok with DH.   He's more of a "show me the beef" and potato guy.

I'm going to try to harden my heart and do some sewing this afternoon. 

Vestibular Syndrome

Rocco has been diagnosed with Vestibular Syndrome, maybe.  Remember that fun week-end I had?  When we came home that is when it all started.  At first we thought it was just his eye sight from his previous eye injuries. He had gone totally blind.   So on Tuesday of last week I took him to Aberdeen to Dr. Cooper for an exam.  Dr. Cooper confirmed that he had no pupil reaction in either eye.  He couldn't explain why suddenly the vision had failed.  I returned home with a heavy heart, but hopeful that Rocco would adjust to being blind eventually. 

 On Wednesday, he began tilting his head, circling and definitely showing signs of weakness on his right side.  He was sick to his stomach too.  Instead of the 90 mile trip to Aberdeen we went to Miller to see our regular vet.  I had done a lot of reading on the Internet.  Could he have an ear infection or a stroke?   Had he been exposed to poison some how or injured his head or back?   I had also read about Vestibular, but it is more common in older dogs and Rocco only turned 4 in July.   Dr. Cain examined him and gave him a steroid shot for possible inflammation.  "Let's see if he improves".  Poor Rocco, so dizzy he can hardly go to the bathroom.  He was very lethargic.  His eye sight seems to have returned to what it was before these symptoms started.  Dr. Cain said there was light reaction in his left eye.

Yesterday day we returned to Dr. Cain.  Rocco isn't circling as much and doesn't have quite as severe a head tilt.  Dr. Cain thinks it is Vestibular Syndrome.  He did x-rays and blood work.  There doesn't seem to be any obvious irregularities in the x-rays.  His blood work and temperature were normal.  So we are just waiting for Rocco to improve.  Today he is very lethargic and has vomited a couple times.  He is drinking water, but not eating today.  He's very unsteady on his feet.  I carry him outside for potty breaks.

He seems to be most comfortable being held.  I'm not getting much done, but it makes me feel better to hold him too.

Have any of you had any experience with this syndrome?  I'd really be interested to hear if your dog had this and how long it took to get over.   It's been about 9 days of varying symptoms for Rocco.  
Please say a little prayer for our Rocco.

Silent Sunday

Fun Week End--for me

I attended a wedding in Pierre this week-end.  Michelle was a bridesmaid for a very special friend of hers.  It was 105 degrees on the bank sign as we went into the church for the 5:00 pm ceremony.  The church was lovely and cool.  The humidity was very high--hard on make-up and hair dos.  The heat didn't put a damper on the wedding fun tho.

Michelle and I especially enjoyed seeing some of her classmates from the high school class of '99.  Rocco enjoyed the cool hotel room. 

DH stayed home to work.  They are silaging the oats for winter feed.  The wheat in this picture is quickly ripening in the heat and combining will be next very soon.  All the way to Pierre I saw combines in the field harvesting.  It was equally hot on Sunday, so Rocco and I headed home right away.  It was about 8:00 pm when it finally cooled off to 80's and I mowed the grass.  It has been a very hot July and the AC has run day and night.  The humidity has been much higher than we are used to.  It has been raining in July--unusual for South Dakota. 

It rained last week a couple times.  I took this picture one evening when we didn't get any rain, but others did with high winds.   Thankfully we have missed any damaging storms.  I'm surprised there hasn't been more violent storms or tornadoes with all the heat. 

DH took his lunch today, so I hope to get back to sewing.   It is suppose to be over 100 again today, so Rocco and I will be keeping cool inside.