Common Ground Coffee House #101

[I Am Blessed 24]

Good morning Gina and Cindi!

Sorry to hear about Hammer. What is wrong with him?

Grandpa didn't get very far with the water pump. He is taking it to a garage - $$$$$$$.

 

[menageriekeeper]

When we moved to the "city" 7 years ago, Hammer was diagnosed with heartworm. He was already 3 years old and the treatment was about as dangerous as the heartworm. We made the choice not to treat, knowing that his life would probably be short.

Hammer evidently disagreed with the idea of a short life and he has been fine with the exception of one urinary tract infection all these years. He hasn't shown any symptoms of the heartworm except an occasional cough and a little less energy this past year. He still barked if anyone came up and came to greet us when we came home. But he had quit following the kids when they went to play. Then again, he was 10 years old, so that was kind of expected.

Last week he followed me up to the neighbor's house and sat barking for our attention (soemthing he often did if he didn't think he was recieving his due). His mouth was hanging open and way back in the corner of his jaw between his teeth and his cheek I saw something red and kinda bulgy. When I looked closer I could tell he had some sort of cancerous tumor. It was already as big as my thumb, but you couldn't tell it was there unless his mouth was hanging open. The visit to the vet confirmed that it was indeed cancer. A "classic squamous cell tumor". There weren't any options, this wasn't something they could cure even if Hammer hadn't have had heartworm because of where it was located. And I knew it was already causing him some pain. He had begun whining at me occasionally a couple of months ago and I couldn't figure out why. Now I know.

I stayed with him until the end. Hammer was terrified of strangers. I didn't want his last moments to be spent in fear and he was already unhappy even with me there. They gave him morphine so by the end he already wasn't feeling anything.

After this I'm going to choose to remember all the good, funny times we spent with him and I'm not going to dwell on what I knew was going to happen when I first started feeding the scruffy little mutt that someone dropped off at the neighbors. I'm going to remember Hammer licking the dogfood out of Jenna's little hand when she was a baby and thought he needed "feeding". He would eat from her hand as long as she would feed him even if he wasn't hungry. I'm going to remember the loudness of his bark when someone came up. It sounded so ferocious, but Hammer was already halfway across the yard in the other direction by the time I could get to the door. We called him our "dogbell" because his bark alerted us before anyone had the chance to ring the doorbell. I'm going to remember how he always followed the kids around when they were playing around the neighborhood and how he would bark if someone he didn't know came up even if they weren't at our house.

I'm going to miss him like crazy, but I know I did what was best for Hammer and that he had a good 10 years of comfort in his life and there are so many dogs out there who don't.

Thank you all for caring.

 

[Gayla]

Hi folks,

Cindi, sorry abouy Hammer. I bet the doggy being fed by the baby was so cute!!

I'm busy researching and trying to figure out how to pack, what to pack, etc. This is the first time we've flown since September of 2000. Things have changed!!

 

[Jim1999]

So sorry to read about the pet going on to its "better place". I have been there many times, and there is no way to make the feelings any better......It's ok to cry.........as the song says.

Daughter had a dog go astray a week ago and we have searched for miles and miles to no avail. We found the one dog, and there is joy in that, but the other remains lost.

Cheers, and God bless.............my feelings are with you,

Jim

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

Good morning all,

The boys left for Chicago early this morning and are coming back very late tonight - actually they won't be home until way after midnight. They're not leaving Chicago until after the service is over at the Pacific Garden Mission. They will spend the day at the Shedd Museum. I'm not sure if they'll have time for anything else this trip, but they plan to do this again next month.

I'm listening to the controversy on MSNBC about the two 9/11 films that will be aired this weekend and next week. One of them is full of profanity and the other rewrote history.

I think I'll just have Brent watch the actual live news shots that will be running all day Monday and then write a report. That will be his Social Studies lesson for that day. He was only 6 when it actually happened and didn't really grasp the significance.

HAGD!
§ue

 

[menageriekeeper]

Good Morning Everyone!

I've been listening to MSNBC this morning too, Sue. What crock of sour dough! This is one topic that should be dealt with factually or not all. Not that I was planning on watching ABC's mini-series any more than I watched Farenheight 911. I agree that having Brent watch the actual news coverage from that day will be much more meaningful, if you think he is emotionally ready for it. I'm not encouraging my kids to watch any of the coverage, but am allowing it if they want to. Chris especially is asking questions and trying to comprehend just how a person or group of people could be so evil. Lot's of discussions coming from this topic.

Going to take it a bit easier today and do things from my want to list and not the have to list. Cassie's migraine is better today, Chris' is still hanging on but he's talking so that's good.

I'll see ya'll later!

 

[Friend of God]

Good Morning Everybody,


Today is busy, so I threw together some Spinach and Bacon Quiche to bring in for breakfast.


Brenda is laying down. I've got the laundry, dishes, and vacuuming done. The kids have been bathed, dressed, fed and are outside playing. I'll have lunch ready for them when they're hungry.


We have a potluck at Church tonight. We're taking Firecracker Burgers with Cooling Lime Sauce, Chicken Tacos with Apple-Avocado Salsa,Lemon-Herb Grilled Potato Slices with Spicy Black Bean Dip, and Creme Caramel in a Bundt( or as I told somebody from Church who called this morning-Burgers,Chicken Tacos,Sliced Potatoes, and a Bundt Cake.)


People take those things to picnics & potlucks don't they?


Got to get busy, You Women know that food doesn't make itself. I've also got to have some lunch ready for Brenda for when she wakes up.


I'll try to check in after we get home from the potluck.

 

[menageriekeeper]

Howdy Everyone!

Ya'll should have seen me just a few minutes ago. I was absolutely covered in mud! I got a wild hair to transplant some monkey grass that was growing way to big in a spot where I didn't want it. My plan was to pull up the four biggest clumps and separate them into enough smaller clumps to line the beds in the front. What I didn't count on was how hard the dirt was and how tangled the roots were. Of course water is the answer to hard dirt and after soaking the roots for a bit and using a little elbow grease those big clumps seperated quite nicely. But dirt and water make mud and I managed to cover myself up in it.

Cassie takes one look and says, "I hope those weren't your good jeans."

Chris sat and watched me and never said a word about how much dirt I was getting on me.

And sweet Jenna just walked by me, mad because she got sent home from the neighbors.

It's funny how no one wanted to help. I got my revenge though, I made the kids cook supper!

 

[Jim1999]

Just shows we never get too old to play in the mud............Did you have a good time?

I relaxed all day, wanting to work, but I decline cos I thought it was Sunday!!!! I may have to make up for Saturday tomorrow....

Cheers,

Jim (A little mud, maybe!)

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

Good morning all,

Jim: For some reason I've been a day ahead this week too. I think it's because hubby took Friday off and I thought it was Saturday all day!

HAGD!
§ue

 

[Friend of God]

Morning Everybody,


Welcome to the club!! I'm always a day off after a holiday.


I am whipped. I think I tried to do too much yesterday, but all my daily "chores" got done, the kids and Brenda got fed(twice), and everything got made for the potluck.

Sorry Guys, I'm too late for breakfast. I brought in BBQ Turkey Subs with Banana Pepper Slaw for lunch. Enjoy.


The potluck went great. Everybody brought a nice variety of foods. I guess what I brought was okay, it was gone.


Today is Caprese Style Thin Spaghetti with Herbed Italian Sausage Calzones. Not quite as much work - I'm not as young as I used to be. LOL


I'll try to check in later.

 

[menageriekeeper]

LOL, FoG! Gone is good!!!!

Blessed Lord's Everyone!

Yes Jim, I had quite a nice time playing in the mud. I get to play some more today cause I didn't get all the planting done and I'm afraid to leave the plants in the wheelbarrow of water for too long.

But that's for later. Right now I'm starving and the smell of the pot roast cooking is killing me. Unfortunately the pot roast is meant for supper so I've go to feed the menagerie some lunch. Think frozen pizza! :laugh:

 

[Brother Shane]

Good afternoon everyone!

Today has been so busy for me....I can hardly get up to fix a glass of tea!!!

Now I have time to come post over here and I actually feel free, lol.

If it's okay, I would like to invite all of you to take a looksee at Our Friendly Community, my forum that started a few months back. It's in my profile. I don't want to post the link...that's spam.

But you all are invited...and feel free to post.

Do you guys remember GrannyGumbo? She's over there,,,,and still cheerful as ever!!!!!!!

So...with that said...I'll quietly take another sip of tea, lol.

Love you!

 

[menageriekeeper]

Whoa! The lights are still off in here!

Oh well, I'll turn 'em on and open the blinds. Once we get some light in here things will start stirring.

Coffee's on and there are fresh homemade donuts on the counter. The waters hot for tea as well.

I've had my bowl of Strawberry Honeycomb and I'm off to get ready for the day.

Count 'em 1, 2, 3! No kids at home with me!

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

Good morning all,

Today is a day for remembering and we have been, and are, watching live tapes of 9/11.

Lest we forget...
§ue

 

[Jim1999]

It is a lovely sunny day to-day, but chilly, I must say. Almost time to return to long trousers.

They had some interesting interviews on the telly yesterday; some of the spouses and children of 9-11 victims and how they have overcome or are dealing with their plights.

I really don't want to see replays of the twin towers, anymore than I want to see film of the bombing of London during the war.

It is also interesting that some surviving firemen and workers are fighting to get health benefits as payment for their suffering....some reward for heroism!

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Gayla]

Good Morning All!

MK, will you/have you posted the donut recipe?
I have an old recipe that my Mama used to use when we were kids. DEEElicious!!
It says it makes six dozen, but I think it makes more than that.

We're starting to have high temps that are a little cooler now. Mid to Upper eighties.

See ya later!:wavey:

 

[menageriekeeper]

I'm with you Jim. My TV is off today. That is one day I'm not likely to forget and all the coverage is like rubbing salt in an open wound.

No Gayla, I don't think I have. This is my grandmother's recipe too, has potatos and nutmeg in it. I haven't made it in a long time but now I have this deep fryer just begging to be used and Splenda so the sugar doesn't bother T's diabetes. I'll try to post the recipe later after I get the cave cleaned up.

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

Our TV is on because Brent has never seen it and it IS history. He will write a report on what he saw. That is his Social Studies lesson for today...

 

[Friend of God]

Afternoon Everybody,

I'd have been here sooner but I've been posting recipes in the Recipe Thread. It's http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=28062 if you want to take a look. I'm humbled that someone would want my recipes. They're not special.

I brought in Baked Sweet- and- Hot Orange Wings for lunch.

Today is a quiet day for a change(doesn't happen that often). So I'm going to take it easy for awhile.

I'll be a-round, the rest of you are probably a-thin.:laugh: