Another Loss.

Aaron and I had a fantastic time visiting with our buddies in Chestertown, New York.  It's always nice to take a break from the everyday, and see some close friends (and new friends), and celebrate the happy parts of life.  I planned on coming home, and making a happy post, with joyful photos, but sometimes life just gets in the way.  

Around noon my stepdad, Andy called me while Aaron and I were on our way home with absolutely awful news.  My mom and Andy had to rush Moose to the pet hospital.  They had noticed a swollen bulge on his tummy, and the night before he had three accidents in the house.  They didn't see him make them, so they weren't sure what end it had come out of, but they thought it might have been throw up.  In the seven weeks we've had Moose he was always great about letting us know when he had to go, and he only had one accident on the second night we had him.  

They got x-rays done, and a little while later they let me know what the veterinarian's diagnoses was.  He had a strangulated hernia, which would mean ultra super expensive surgery, that they wouldn't be able to guarantee that a few months, or a year down the road it wouldn't happen again.  Permanent debt to the vet.  Or let him go before his colon ruptured through his hernia.  

We rushed home to spend a few moments with him, and to be by his side for his final seconds.  It was a terribly hard decision, but we just don't have that kind of money right now, and we can't take on that much debt.  And like the vet said, sometimes it's easier for the animal to move on to the other side.  Moose is in a better place now.  

The day before we left he seemed a bit sluggish, and he wasn't going up the stairs.  I thought he banged up one of his knees on the steps, because almost daily he'd slip up one step, from running up them too fast.  I couldn't have imagined it was something this severe.  The vet said it could have been hereditary, and something he had been living with, or there could have been an incident like a dog fight or if he fell.  Besides slipping on a step or getting a little wild on his walks, we can't think of anything that could have happened during the short time that we've been caring for him.  

Sometimes our bodies just fail us.  Young or old.  Animal or human.  

That's all I got.  It's beyond hard losing two animals less than a few months apart.  Hope you're having a better day than I am, and happy DIYing, chris.  

Photo An Hour #3 (( Part 2 ))

Hi ya!  Happy Thursday!  I'm back again with the second half of my third Photo an Hour from June tenth with my macro lens.  

1:30pm - 2:30pm

A little overlap from where I left off yesterday, hanging out in the back yard.  Moose joined me, and I caught some super cute close-ups of his adorable nose and ears.  I can't get enough of his handsomeness.  

2:30pm - 3:30pm

As the sun started lowering toward the horizon more mosquitoes where lurking around.  This one didn't survive the battle.  

3:30pm - 4:30pm

My latest DIY that I finished recently.  Photos and a tutorial to follow in the future.  

5:30pm - 6:30pm

I took Aaron outback to take some outfit pics, and of course i had to snap a few of my own.  This t-shirt is perfect for Aaron.  I always smile when I see him wearing it.  

This was the first thing that caught my eye when we walked outback.  I love the way the sunlight is making the lush green leaves glow.  

This lovely lily was growing in a bunch of weeds around this cinderblock.  So lovely.  

I loved the color of my sweater against the green.  Makes me think of watermelon, mmm.  

That's where I ended my photos for the day.  Of course I didn't go to sleep at six thirty, but as the sun lowered to the horizon, the more buggy it got, and the less I wanted to hang out in the sun taking pictures.  Plus by this point I had tons of photos, so I thought I reached my goal for the day.  I enjoy Photo An Hour days, because it really has me thinking outside of the box to push myself to get creative beautiful photos.  I'm always excited to upload my photos, and share them with ya'll.  Hope you enjoyed, and happy DIYing, chris!  

Doggies & Mushrooms

 These photos are from last weekend.  We took Moose for a walk at one of the local State Parks.  He was extra excited about the car ride, and completely mad for the walk.  He's a wild man!  By the time we got half way through, he was running between shady spots.  At one point he just plopped himself down.  Silly dog.  

I should take actually outfit photos of this get-up.  Ha!  Did I just say get-up?  Anyway, I love the top.  It used to be my mom's when she was in her 20's.  It has cute delicate sleeves, with the sweetest little flower cutouts with embroidery all over it.  So feminine, and genuinely from the late 70's.  I don't wear it that much, because I don't like washing it.  It's mostly white, and I'm clumsy.  I try to take good care of it, because i'd  like to keep it forever.  :)  

I love mushrooms!  I love to eat them, photograph them, and I REALLY want to try growing them!  I'd love to try some of those ultra cool heirloom varieties, like oyster mushrooms, or shiitake.  I'd start out with one of those handy mushroom grow kits (click on the links).  Until I try my hand at that, I'll be satisfied with photographing them.  The bottom two photos are the same pair of mushrooms, and I found them in our front yard.  They were right next to our car parked on the street. I had to lay in the middle of the road to take them, but I didn't care.  I think I might have gotten poison ivy/sumac when I photographed the one in the state park.  Or Moose got it on me when he rubs is paws on my legs.  

I never had any poison ivy reactions until the last couple years.  I'm totally disappointed in that changing about me as I get older.  Poison ivy reactions are absolutely no fun.  Besides the horrible iciness, they leave terrible ugly rashes for days or weeks on end.  The grossest part ... the rashes leak.  Ick!  Now that I've grossed you all out, I'm going to go get dinner ready.  Happy DIYing, chris.