Needed repairs keep Gary busy and that makes him happy

Here is the line up at "Gary's repair shop".

A creep feeder, a feed grinder and a hay rake.......  One finished - the grinder .....one almost finished - the creep feeder and the other....well that hay rake will be a big job.  Dwight said there is a consignment auction on April  16 ...that they want it done for.....it will go up for sale. 

As you can see the rake is in two parts.....so Gary will have to weld it back together.   Gary is very glad for this work.  He enjoys a challenge and likes to stay busy.  This winter -- and my broken hip -- were making for some cabin fever for him.   So I am also glad for this repair line up!!

Skip looks like a grown dog on this picture.

But he is still just a pup!!!  A lucky pup I might add.  He came out of the Parvo with seemingly no problems.  He's the same pup he was before he got so sick.   He is laying in front of the trailer wondering what in the world poor Toby did to get in jail!

Toby lives in the box on the right side of the picture......  the whole deck has been enclosed with two gates.  Toby only gets out for potty calls and maybe a short time to enjoy a smattering of freedom.   He can see out the front and back and they can be closed up if it rains.   There is NO JUMPING allowed!!!   And Toby loves to jump and run and play.    Right now he is enduring a "cone" ---- the incision looks so good -- but dogs love to lick wounds and that too is a NO NO!!  I don't have a picture right now of his "outfit"......one of Gary's old shirts .....his back legs put into the long sleeves for protection.  But somehow one leg got out during the night  -- so the cone was put on.

There --- I got a picture of his "outfit".

Toby does put weight on his "bad" leg.....we are encouraged ---- but what a job. 

This is the week of Easter --- the joy of Easter Morning.  We will be telling the crucifixion part of the story at JDC and Release Time this week.  And then we hope to go back to JDC on Sunday evening to tell the Good News of the Resurrection. 

We pick up Holly and the boys in McCook on Saturday early, early morning.....3:00 a.m.   IF the train is on time.

I continue to heal ---- my muscles still need a bit of strengthening but it's coming ........ sometimes I lose my cane.  It's never far away --- but that tells you that I do move around without it at times.  I just don't like my penguin waddle......!!

May you be blessed as we remember Jesus' great sacrifice and his love for each one of us.

Toby ......and Skip

First of all,  we got Skip home from the vet on Wed. of this week.  He somehow got Parvo.  Serious stuff.......fatal many times.  I took him in on Wed. the 14th and he was put on IV....and the vets remark was "I'll do my best to save him".  He had to be there for 3 days, but he spent a week at the vet in Valentine....partly because we took Toby to Rapid City for his surgery on Monday the 19th.   Rather than strapping Don and Jeannie with a possible still sick puppy.....we left him with the vet.    He seems to be totally back to normal.  Loves to follow Gary around and would LOVE to get at Toby.   Toby, however, has to be kept quiet.

We headed for Rapid City on Sunday afternoon to beat the bad weather that was predicted.   So Toby spent the night in the parking lot of our motel.

We did some shopping......    That evening we got a call from the vet at Dakota Hills Veterinary that Toby's surgery went good, and we should call the following morning after 10:00 and she would know if Toby could go home that day (Wednesday).

We picked Toby up at 1:00 and headed for home.  We made the necessary stops for Toby......

.....lifting him down was Gary's job.  Toby must NOT jump or run.....but he can use the leg.  From my point of view Toby's recovery time is longer than mine ....but I can certainly sympathize with him.   He also has some metal on his leg....his is a plate and a screw....mine are pins and screws.  He doesn't really seem to care what happened to me!!   He is wondering what the heck he did that has earned him  this stay in this box.

This is Toby's new home for many weeks to come.  He stays in the plywood box that has screens on both ends.  Then we added 2 gates on our deck and fully enclosed it.  Toby can go out of the box -- IF he behaves and does no jumping.  He has gave us some indications that he doesn't want to obey that rule.   So we have to be real careful with watching him. He'll be able to be out and lay on the deck too.

Poor Toby --- it's going to be a long haul.  Right now we have a few concerns for him.....he hasn't pooped since we got home. But the vet didn't seem too concerned .......  Anyway, we are rather home bound for now but this too shall come to an end.   It was our choice -- so we will make it work.

Holly, Clayton and Sawyer will be here --- coming by train on the 30th...  So Skip will have some boys to play with him for a week.  Sure he will like that --- and they will too. 

We'll try to keep you posted.....

Gary and Barb

Finally some Croppies.......and 2 rustic lamps

The Croppies (or Specks as they are called in Michigan) finally started to bite.....and it was at Beads Dam.  The road out to Beads was questionable -- but do-able.   It will be some really good eating.....with about 6 meals in the freezer.   YUM!!!

Sue came out this weekend.  She had asked if Gary needed a project.   "OF COURSE"!!   So she let him / us have our way with these lamps.   Design and all that.    We first put some barbed wire on the one lamp with the horse shoes.   Sent the idea off to Sue.......

  Cool look --- but a little dangerous for her little ones at home.   So we needed another idea.   How about a "lead rope".......  Seemed like a plan.   The other one would have AN antler or antlers.....we had to see.  Turned out to be one good sized one.....and then a little something to top it all off.

Sue would be responsible for finding the lamp shades.  We gave her a couple of ideas....there are tons of lamp shades available -- I know she won't have any trouble finding something that is just right.  What fun to make these for Jon and Sue!!!

And here are the finished products.....

And now for some sad news --- Our puppy has Parvo....the Vet said "we will do our best to save him".    Sounds bad.   He stayed at the vet and was put in the "hospital" with IV drip.

Beautiful day --- and JDC tonight.
Barb and Gary

Small graduation.....

Today was therapy day..... I had missed the last two sessions ... One due to a dizzy spell and the other due to a blizzard.  So it kind of makes you wonder if there was a little slipping.....not doing quite as well because of those misses.    But not to worry.   I had  Jeremy today.   He is the "head  honcho" and it seems that every so often he has to evaluate how things are going. He was real happy with everything that I could do.  He gave me some new exercises to strengthen my leg muscles.   They are the problem .... not the break anymore.   That has totally healed.  It's those muscles that were stretched and pulled and who knows what all else.     And my graduation?????  I only have to go to therapy once a week from now on.    They know I'm serious about my exercises --- so they will just use their time with me to check how things are going.   YEAH!!!!

Gary is outside in the workshop building a crate for Toby.   We are going to take him to Rapid City on the 19th for surgery.    Gary decided  - after watching Toby struggle in a snow bank -- that if his other leg went bad there was no hope for Toby.   But if we can make his one leg good....then if the other goes --- he will just have to be a three legged dog (still 4 legs - just one not working good).....   I think we could keep him very comfortable that way!!    Skip loves to play with Toby and for the most part Toby puts up with it.  But those puppy teeth are sharp!!!  and Toby lets him know every so often that it's quit'n time!

The reason for the crate --- is that Toby will have to be pretty stationary for a good 6 weeks.  Oh --- Poor Toby!!!  I feel so bad for him!!!   But if this works he will be so much better!!   We can take him out on a leash to go to the bathroom --- but no jumping and running and playing!!!

Anyway ----    So ---- Toby and I will heal together.   Thank goodness I am quite a ways ahead of him.    I hope that by spring I will be able to throw my cane away.   The walker is already a thing of the past!!!

Fishing has picked up some........ we will be eating lots of northern pike this coming year.  Not my favorite but not too bad if you can get those nasty bones out.

JDC was great again this week.   We read thru the story of Jonah.   The one girl knew the story and we had told the 2 boys that was their reading assignment.....but they forgot.   We had a real good discussion with the three of them.   It was good to be able to do just one group again.  And then we sang!!!  David sang his heart out.....Casey didn't really sing---but he did all the choosing.  And then the bonus....... two of the Officers (one was there for the whole lesson) were there singing along with us.   They share a "favorite song".... "Here I am to Worship" and "Jesus Lover of My Soul" (not the one in the church song books....but a different (better) one.)    It was GREAT!!!   Really a good evening.

No Red Winged Black Birds singing in the tops of the trees yet (I always figure spring is here when I hear their racket).  But it's on the way!!

God Bless!!
Gary and Barb

SKIP

I want to share a quite moment with "Skip".   He can be quite the rambunctious little guy.   Toby has had to nip him a couple of times.   He likes to grab the skin on Toby's flank.  His teeth are SHARP!!  Toby has let him know he doesn't care for some of his play.  He loves to follow Gary and Toby around and that's just what was wanted.....for him to learn from Toby.

Toby has his hip problem but still loves to run and be involved.  We hope that will continue for a time!    Anyway ---- here's the "quiet moment".

My legs were all wet when we were done....he had been in the water and the melting snow.  And yes you see my cane along side me.    Today I can walk - side step - along the kitchen cupboard without hanging on.   That was one of the new exercises she wanted me to do......yesterday I had to keep my fingers on the cupboard -- today I don't.   PROGRESS!!!!  Love it!!

Gary is gone fishing ---- with 4 neighbors.  Hope it picks up.   We have several meals in the freezer....but nothing like other years.  Pan fish are the favorite....and then bass.  I will eat the pike but definitely not my favorite eating fish.  There are so many bones to watch out for....and they are hard to figure out how to fillet and leave the bones behind.

Anyway ---- enjoy the quiet moments in your lives!!!
Barb