Just For the Fun Of It!

Because of my fibromyalgia, I go for therapeutic massage regularly at Lake to Mountain Massage. Have done this for 3 years with the same person. I just love the gal who owns it, Suzanne. She has a bachelors degree from U of A and certificates out the ying yang (that's gonna be my next "y" word!). This young lady knows what she's doing and I must say is probably the best therapist I've had. Anywhooo, she showed me some exercises to do at home and I brought my camera last week so I could save them in infamy. I hope you enjoy my newest film venture.

On the home front, Patrick will be recuperating up in farrr North Idaho as of Thursday!! Yippee!! Can barely wait to see my sweetie again. Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes. He still hurts, but is slowly healing---the break was a very bad one. love, Cassie

A to Z Mondays ~ The Letter Y

Yip! Yap! Yelp!

Take a look...

Yes, now wasn't that fun?? If you go over to Jen's blog she has more A to Z bloggers listed on her sidebar. Blessings to all who view this! Have a good day.

love, Cassie

Blue Flowers In Our Garden

Hi Friends! Thought I'd get the lovely kidney photos off the top of my blog now. Here are some blue flowers from my garden. They are so cute. The dogs and I are usually up around 430am when the sun comes up and these blue flowers are wide open at that time. They close up at the end of the day as if to say they're sleepy. I planted them 3 years ago from a wild flower mix and they come back each year and each year are a bit prettier. Have a good weekend. (I'll be busy thinking of a "y" word:<)

love, Cassie

A to Z Mondays ~ The Letter X

These are 2 polycystic kidneys. Note the size in comparison to the hands. A normal kidney is the size of a persons clenched fist.

This is a pkd kidney vs. a normal, healthy kidney. Lovely isn't it?

This is really pushing it, but my ‘word’ for today’s letter is Xplant (pronounced transplant). Okay, I know it’s not really a legitimate spelling, but this shortened version is used Xtensivley on Xplant forums and as shorthand in some medical groups! I know this, as several years ago I was the coordinator of the Arizona Friends for the PKRF (Polycystic Kidney Research Foundation*)and the founder and moderator of the first PKD (polycystic kidney disease) patient/friend email forum. Toot - toot. (That’s my own horn. hehe.) Anywhooooo, PKD has no known cure and kidney dialysis or Xplant are the only things that can be done to prolong life, once the disease has destroyed the kidneys. Obviously Xplant is most desirable, but unfortunately there are many more people who need Xplants then there are donors. In recent years live donor Xplants have become more common since we all have 2 kidneys and this has helped a bit. There is still a very urgent need for folks to mark the organ donor box on their drivers license or fill out an organ donor card. Kidneys are not the only organs that are in short supply for Xplant. The heart, lung, liver and even corneas and skin can be Xplanted in this day of modern medicine. Quite amazing. So friends, I urge you to sign a donor card and perhaps some day give someone else the gift of life!

God bless you richly. Love, Cassie

PS- Patrick is feeling a little better and awaiting his next ortho. visit. Thanks for your continued prayers.

PSS-Jen's blog has more A to Z Mondays listed on her sidebar. *the name has since changed to PKD Foundation

Final Patrick Update!?

Dr. Ungar agreed with Dr. Dewanjee (the VA Orthopedic surgeon) as far as the course of action to take with Pat's clavicle. Seems "when you get older" these things are handled conservatively. Hmmmm. Seemed weird hearing that. I'll not bore you all with this henceforth. We're muddling through this alone now. Thanks for all your support. love, Cassie

You Be The Judge...

I don't think Patrick'll be doing this in the near future. Exhibit A: Patrick's right collar bone.

Thank you to all for your prayers and (nurse John) for your advice. When the Orthopedic Surgeon at the VA Hospital talked with Patrick today he said he wanted to try another type of sling and see him in 2 weeks---it should grow back together!! Can you see from the xray what his collar bone looks like?? Do you think the doctor even looked at the xray? Patrick has an appt. with our friend & GP (former ER doc) Ira Ungar at 430 this afternoon for a second opinion. If Ira says he concurs (with the orthropod) than we'll be okay with this, otherwise he may have to forget about the VA and go elsewhere to get the bone set. Oh man I feel so majorly helpless. Patrick feels like he is in limbo right now and has major pain. He says as long as he doesn't move he's sort of okay. What a mess. A young couple from the Mennonite church said they'd watch the dogs if I need to go down to Phoenix, so I might have to take them up on their offer. I will keep you posted. Keep up the prayers, and thank you.

A to Z Mondays ~ The Letter W

Western Tanager.

This morning I was awakened by a loud [[thud]] that came from downstairs. Unfortunately I have come to recognize this sound and knew that another bird had most probably bit the dust by flying into our bay window. Sure enough, there on the deck lay an adult breeding male Western Tanager. (I looked him up in Patrick’s Birds of the Inland Northwest and Northern Rockies.) He didn’t just have the wind knocked out of him; he was dead. What a shame too. He had a beautiful orange-red head and bright yellow body…just a lovely specimen of a bird. After reading about him I felt even worse, as these little guys not only are song birds, but they really help us out. Here’s what the book said about their behavior: “Gleans insects with sluggish movements through foliage, often high in trees; also sallies after flying insects.” I picked him up and he’s now in the back of the car going to a burial sight at the local landfill. Glad Hootie didn’t see him first, or I’d be running around in the rain trying to get him out of the little poop’s mouth!

My second W word for today is Wellness. Patrick was in an accident down in Phoenix with his motor scooter last Friday and dislocated and broke his R. collar bone. They scheduled an OR for him for tomorrow to get it set. They needed to wait until the swelling went down. His oldest sister (who is a nurse) went over yesterday and took the dressing off his back (road burn) and said he didn’t need that. Ginny called me from our place and said he was doing well, all things considered. Pat told me not to come down there (when it happened), as all he is doing is taking pain meds and sleeping. Ginny agreed and said I can baby him when he gets up here. I’ll let you all know how he’s doing, as I find out myself. Will appreciate your prayers for his wellness. Thanks all.

love, Cassie

ps-Don’t forget to check out Jen’s blog for more A to Z Mondays!!

pss-I'll post about the run at a little later date. We did better this year than last!

Hootie Lounging In Bay Window AND Our Newest Project??

The reason I have 3 photos of Hootie in our bay window is because I want to show off the cover I made for the window seat. (Also, isn't he cute??) I have a sewing machine that we bought at a yard sale 3 years ago, and supposedly it's a good one. Only thing is I took it in to be adjusted ($$$!!) and it was good for a few items I sewed, then I messed around with the tension and screwed it up again. Phooey. So, this window seat cover is all hand sewn. I really liked the pattern of the upholstery material. So back-woodsy. My fingers are sore from pushing the needle through, but I'm quite pleased with the results. The new project I mention in the title of this post is the deck. What a mess it has become. The heavy winter snow the past few years have eaten all the stain off of it. We might try a different path to fix it this summer. Maybe a weathered look...

Tomorrow is my 4th Kootenai River Run. I'm not in near as good shape as I have been previously. I'll let you know how that goes. My buddy Candace will be joining me, and I think another gal, Linda and they are both fit. Sooooo we'll see. The weather forecaster said it's going to rain in the mountains so I'm not sure what kind of weather we'll have. I don't want to melt in the rain!

Bye for now. May the Lord bless and keep all my blog buddies.

love, Cassie

A to Z Mondays ~ The Letter V

First of all, my favorite V is my granddaughter, Viola Avery. Viola is Teddy’s daughter and lives in a small town in Arizona with her folks and younger brother, Leslie Andrew. I don’t have a photo of Viola on my digital camera so you just have to take my word for it that she is adorable!! She is a sweetie too. I hadn’t heard her voice in a very long time, and was surprised by her on Mother’s Day with a telephone call. Viola is 12 years old now, and sounded so grown up. I miss my grandkids. If you are a praying person, please pray that my grandkids know how much I love them and that their mom’s heart will soften towards me. Thanks.

Secondly, my next V word is Violetta the Garden Fairy. Here is a picture of Violetta in my tiny little garden: Third V word: Vicious, Villainous, criminal Dog --- Beware!!! This dog can not be trusted. He is now wanted for bunny-slaughter.

[Since these photos vere taken the Villainous Dog has been Vindicated. Seems he just vanted to play vith the bunny, not hurt him.]

For more V words on A to Z Mondays check out buddy Jen's blog!

love, Cassie

Nature Girl, errr, Nature Old Gal...

Here I am in my favorite kayak:

Prodigy 10.0 Kayak paddled by Cassie.

Dover Bay had a home and garden show yesterday and it was really nice. The reason I went (with the pooches) was so I could try out different types of kayaks that Outdoor Experience of Sandpoint provided. My favorite was the Prodigy 10.0, that's the one I had my picture taken in. It doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, but was comfortable and had adjustable foot rests & the price seems to be reasonable. Besides the kayak ($425), we'd have to get a life vest ($75-150), paddle ($65-150) and some sort of tie-down to hold it on the car. I'm posting this especially for Patrick to see, so he can see how good I look in this cute little number!! What do you think, Pat?? Are there any special occasions coming up?? Perhaps Father's Day? Hmmmm.

This is one of the launches at Dover Bay:

For some more photos of the dogs from yesterdays adventures, go on over to their blog for a look-see!

Have a lovely Sunday. Blessings on all who venture here.

love, Cassie

Miscellaneous Photos From Around The Cabin

The goobers above, are Hootie and Baby Rocket Dog after running around the outside of the cabin for about 15 minutes. It was their afternoon-crazies time. Below is my kitchen window. This is one of my miniature Lilac bushes. Wierd little Lilac flowers.

This is my newest planter for on the deck. It came with all the flowers in it already. My light pink rhododendrons. Since posting the first pics I've found I'm lucky they bloom at all!

This is my clever rock work around the little Blue Spruce.

Peonies. Poppies.

Here are a few more photos I've taken lately. The Poppies, Peonies and Lilacs in vases are from The Cornman's yard. He also let me load up on river rocks...see the rocks I placed around one of my Scotch Pines? I'm so thrilled by the little things! Right now I have a mess of new rocks I've picked in the back of my Subaru wagon. Our friend, The Cornman, has to pull the big rocks out of his fields when he plants his corn. It seems he always has an abundant supply of them and told us to come and get them all if want them. Since Pat's back in Phoenix, I only manage a few (tons) at a time. The 2 pups are laying on the car seats as I type this in the parking lot of the visitors center. It's sprinkling rain a bit and the air smells so fresh and clean. Well, better go now. See you on Monday!

Have a great weekend. love, Cassie

A to Z Mondays ~ The Letter U

Uncommonly handsome man with Undeniably happy, Unusually beautiful pooches!

There is no photo to go with this one, but wanted to pass along a funny story...At least Patrick, Jessica & I laughed about it. When we took Jessica to Issaquah, Washington for her freshman year in college the three of us trooped over to Pier One Imports to look for an area rug for her dorm room floor. She has allergies, so we always made sure to check the content labels before buying anything like that for her. She saw a pretty rug she liked and here is what the label read:

100% Undetermined Fiber.

Not only did it have a little undetermined material in it, they were unsure of 100% of it!! Ha! We then made suggestions as to what it could be...rodent fur perhaps? (BTW, we didn't purchase that one!)

Happy A to Z Monday to ya'all!! Why not go on over to see more A to Z's at Jen's?!

Blessings & love, Cassie