Musings on a Small Life

We're still here, still in work-from-home mode. Most days I wish I could hide my head and nap too! I snapped that pic on the 20th, my first day back after 11 days of staycation. Derry perfectly modelled how I felt, it was a crazy day, even for a first day back. On Thanksgiving Sunday I walked up to Fort Henry Hill for a few pics. It was a gorgeous day, still warm compared with our temps now. I really didn't get out anywhere else for pics while I was off; instead I tackled some house chores like washing curtains, shop-vacuuming the (unfinished, dusty, cob-webby) basement, etc. Fun times! I did take a few more snapshots this past Sunday, while I was out for a walk and some retail therapy (winter socks from Winners and a new high-sided litter box for Derry--do I know how to splurge or what?). The trees definitely have passed their peak now, though, and as I type this I can see that flurries have started. I'm so not ready for 6 - 7 months of cold! Derry definitely has the right...

(Note: Some of these snapshots have been posted to Instagram, so they will be repeats for anyone who is on it.)   While we're currently having summer-like temps, autumn definitely is starting to show her colours.     I really haven't been out to take any pics yet, but hope to do that over the next couple of weekends, if we have decent weather and I have the time. I managed to snap a slightly out-of-focus shot of this nuthatch, below, on a morning walk earlier this week. It was my first time getting a pic of one, so I was just happy to have anything.     I saw this cutie too: I'm still seeing a lot of cottontails! It was a banner year for them, apparently. And there are plenty of blooms left, which makes my heart happy. Of course this cutie makes my heart happy too: So for the moment all is well with us, to the best of my knowledge. Everyone take care and stay well. Have a good weekend! Peace.

I would have thought given the ongoing COVID pandemic and all that entails, plus working from home indefinitely, that time would pass slowly for me. Drag on. But here we are mid-way through September already and barreling toward you-know-what. (I don't even want to type it, though I've seen some of those decorations coming out in stores already, like Michael's. And I don't mean Hallowe'en!) Crazy.   This morning at the swamp, early signs of fall evident in the browning grasses and leaves.     The sun this morning around 7:15 AM (already posted on Pinterest). The sky wasn't dark, it just appeared that way when I zoomed in. I think we have a bit of light smoke in the atmosphere from the devastating fires on the west coast of the US. There's little to write about, which is partly why I'm seldom blogging at the moment. (The other reason being that Pinterest is so much easier and faster.)   I did have a little "adventure" last Thursday, though. One ...

Thanks to those who asked, I ought to have done an update a few days ago. Derry's lower lip seems much better, either is normal or almost normal, but it took till the end of last week. I, however, got stung or bitten by something nasty a bit earlier, on the way back from a quick errand. I hope the miserable sucker that got me on the leg is dead!  Take care and stay well, everyone. Comments are off.

 (Note: I've posted this on Instagram as well, to cover all the bases.) I snapped this pic of Derry Sunday afternoon. I noticed that he had a swollen inner lower lip that was protruding much of the time. There does not appear to be a sore or abrasion of any kind, not that I can see. I'm wondering if anyone has encountered this before and can provide suggestions as to the cause. I did send this pic off to the vet yesterday, asking if he knew what was wrong and if Derry should come in or if he needed meds of some sort. The vet replied stating that it looked like normal tissue to him and that if it was swollen he couldn't think what would have caused it. He's happy to see Derry, of course, and if I have to take my little one in I will--but I'd rather not have to take him there for a fourth appointment in such a short time. I have never used plastic food or water dishes, I have not changed food or treat brands. I thought at first that he must have been stung or bitten b...

      I thought you might want to know that Derry has been healing nicely since he got his stitches out, and the cone off, last Thursday (August 6th).    He does groom the incision area quite a bit, but already the fur is starting to grow back. I hope he feels better without that huge fatty lump attached to his side! I know I would, if I were in the same situation. LOL. Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well, is surviving the summer heat (if you're in the northern hemisphere). As much as I dislike our long, bitterly cold winters, I will be glad for the respite from the high heat and humidity. Maybe when I'm 85 I'll appreciate it, but not right now. :-P Take care; peace to all.

Derry's new cone, as of July 30. Don't tell him it's pink and "girl kitty" looking. The paper cone from the vet, while flexible, had issues. It drove poor Derry mad, so much so that he was constantly and obsessively picking at it, as well as licking and biting the fur he could reach on his flank. Every time he would twist around, which was all the time, the edge of the old cone would scrape across his incision, making it feel even worse. Added to that, the sound of a raspy cat tongue against a paper tarpaulin all day and all night drove ME mad. We both were barely sleeping, even though I escaped to the guest bedroom for a few nights. So I found this one on Amazon.ca, paid for shipping, and it arrived yesterday morning. It's thick and obviously heavier, but it's blessedly soft and oh, so quiet, and I think it must feel so much better to him. He spent yesterday afternoon curled up in the living room and was sleeping so deeply that he didn't even hear m...

In the pet blogging world, the post-surgical cone that dogs and cats often have to wear is referred to the as the "cone of shame." Derry is the first cat I've had that has had to wear one and I think it's the cone of bravery, not of shame. It's a badge of honour for having survived an ordeal. He had a dental on Thursday, and the vet thought it worthwhile to remove the egg-sized fatty lump on his right side at the same time. (We had discussed this at length two weeks' prior, when I took Derry in for a check-up and blood work, urine analysis, etc.) This was Derry's fourth dental since he was three years old (he's 13 now) and the first one at which he's not had any extractions. (He lost nine teeth during the first dental, three at the second and two at the third.) I assumed, based on previous experience, that he would have needed at least another couple of teeth removed this time, and had I known he would not, I certainly would not have put him throug...

Thanks to those of you who have checked in to see if we're okay. I didn't realize how long it's been since I posted here. Derry soaking up the sun yesterday evening. I'm still working from home, probably will be until 2021 by the way things seem to be going, and I just don't have anything to write about. I'm taking lots of morning walks, taking pics when I can, but overall, life is even "smaller" than usual, more constrained. (As it is for so many of us!) Anyway, I'm posting on Instagram usually once or twice a day, and you can find us under "fuzzy_tales" if you're on it and want to see pics. It's a private account, so you'll have to submit a request to follow. If your Instagram name is something I wouldn't recognize, you'd do better to give me a heads up via email or a blog comment. Otherwise I'd probably delete the follow request! Take care and stay well, everyone. Looks like we're in this for the long haul! ...

Tomorrow will be 10 weeks, 70 crazy days, and counting, since we've been under lockdown of varying degrees and working from home. I actually don't think we'll all be back at the office until next year unless there's a miracle vaccine before then. May 8 and 9 we had snow and ice, as you can see below. My poor bleeding heart! I lost about 1/3 of it, but it's now in full, glorious bloom. Now we're having a heat wave and my air conditioning is on. From winter to summer overnight, almost. I've been taking lots of walks down to the swamp, which is where most of the following snapshots were taken. One of the paths to the water, below. The geese families like to hang out here, so I'm very careful when they're around, don't go close, since they have their babies to protect now. In the distance, below, you can see two large apartment buildings under construction. It's a busy area, usually quite noisy with tr...