Sometimes it's impossible to work around "Real Life" Lemons--- Lemonade---
In prep for my big trip I decided to give all 3 of my dogs a soapy long overdue bath! Even Jimmy my sisters dog got one too! BUT when we were drying Annie off I found a tumor on her! It's located just above her rectum--I mean It's not a place I normally check--it's about the size of a marble...That was Friday....So on Saturday I got up early and took her to the vet. He said it is a tumor and it needs to be removed due to its location. So I scheduled her for the first available opening they had on their surgery calendar, Aug 15th. So instead of my long awaited and planned trip I get only one week before her surgery so Annie is with me...we'll get as far as we can and will return home on the 13th...Casey and Floss are home with sis and mom... I just wanted to get this special one to one time with Annie before this operation. The tumor will be sent for testing and so I am just holding my breath. BUT for now she and I are having a week together tripping and we are having a great time. When she is well enough to either go with me or leave with Sis I will get back on my journey...sometimes you have to be flexible! SO I don't know If I will get to finish my original trip or not it's wait and see... BUT living in the moment is the only way to deal with this bad news....
As I said right away get as high as we can so we hit the Blue Ridge Parkway can't go wrong with this special place!
When we left it was so humid you could stand a fork up in the air...no lie... and as soon as I climbed the first mountain I was able to roll the windows down and the AC has not been back on yet. We left Sunday it is now Tuesday...and I'm trying to not have second thoughts and just keeping going and pretend Annie is as fine as she appears to be ANY suggestions are appreciated...I just hate the idea of Anne going thru this surgery it's breaking my heart...
We have blue sad hearts but look we were rewarded by the cool air and the wildflowers along the roadside...which brings in butterflies!
I have seen millions of nectaring butterflies! My next post I will share millions of photos of them..:o)
I enjoy seeing the Blue Green fields of cabbage and maybe its broccoli too
Annie is a seasoned roadie she is no trouble she does bark if people get too close to the van which today a kid didn't know I was watching and he was teasing her through the open window! I was showering at a forest service public shower and left Annie in the shade but I left all the windows down she cant jump out the way I have her access to the front blocked...but he was running around my van sticking his head and hands into the open windows...I yelled at the little brat and told him stop teasing my dog! His father who watched the whole thing tried to say he was only curious...I said "why are you making excuses for his bad behavior?" I am NOT a people person...however I love flowers!
SO many kinds I couldn't begin to name them all but this looks like a Turks Cap to me,
So we got on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Fancy Gap in VA, and headed north...I have blogged this mill before in fall color but I wanted to see it in summer green so here is Mabry Mill it is an iconic structure along the Parkway.
I camped at Rocky Knob campground its $8 with senior pass, and I've stayed here before it was nearly empty! After getting a site Annie and I stopped at the Rocky Knob Visitors Center...it is housed in this old 1950's gas station building! SO charming...and the Ranger inside told me of a short one mile loop that Annie and I might enjoy and so we took off...no one was around so I allowed Annie some freedom...
she has been so good she has not offered to run off and leave me, she doesn't have Floss along to show off for!!
the hike took us past this old crumbling building it has seen it's best day for sure!
I almost expected to see Gnomes living in here....the scenery all around is just breath taking...
here is our little camp site it was a tight fit....but we managed...
I always take a tent site to save the larger sites for the people with large RV's and such, plenty of bigger spaces were available, but I've found its quieter in the tent section no generators.
I'm beginning to think Annie doesn't like her photo taken she always looks away....
The night was chilly and the rain started about 10 pm and it never stopped....next day we continued North on the Blue Ridge Parkway...into the fog! Hopefully I'll have internet to tell you all about it!
PEACE
Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.
I hope the tumor is nothing bad and I know she will be fine. I think it's wonderful for you to take this trip with her. The pictures are so nice and I would love to feel cool mountain air. Hope the rain lets up and you can continue moving on and taking more fantastic pics
ReplyDeleteThanks JO I found some free WiFi so Im able to get many photos uploaded! We have had some cool tempts now back into some lower elevations and its heating up a wee bit.
DeleteHope it all turns out OK in the end. Looking forward to seeing where your travels take you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Adam!! Annie is having fun!
DeleteSometimes we give animals credit for having the same feelings as us, but I bet Annie doesn't know that there is anything wrong with her and she is behaving the same as she normally would. My last dog had one stroke from which he recovered and then he had a final one, but to him he still wanted to go for a walk its just that his back legs weren't up to it. Unless you have had animals it can be hard to understand the bond you have with them, but I always looked at from the point of view that I made their lives very enjoyable and fun and we shared a mutual love and affection. I hope Annie will be fine and Vets nowadays can do wonders. Enjoy your time together.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story Dave, It is so true...I am worried but trying to stay positive about the whole situation.
DeletePoor Annie, here's hoping it's benign. If fact, I'm sure it is. :-) That's disgraceful how the father was allowing his son to tease her. What's wrong with people? Love the little gnome cabin.
ReplyDeleteI know Barb, parents forget that not everyone has a child and enjoys watching them misbehave! I figure the kid needed a good chat but I doubt he got one since dad made excuses for him!
Deleteoh I hope she is ok and that the tumor is benign. it's good to have the time with her and i'm glad you could be flexible for her, the flowers are beautiful, as is the scenery. And I can't believe that kid (or more especially his father for letting him get away with that behavior. I hate that.)
ReplyDeleteHi Sallie, I was surprised the father would allow his kid to stick his HANDS up in a window where a dog is barking at him, can we say Stupid? If he had been bitten Im sure they would have had plenty to say to ME! But to Annie it was an invasion of her "territory" which is the van when she is in it...not to mention he didn't need to be touching my vehicle period! That is the chat the dad needed to have not like my dog was shut up in a windows UP hot car not the case at all--so they had no reason to be investigating!
DeleteAw man... Now I see why Annie is with you, and that her operation is today. Fingers crossed everything goes well. Jake had one lump removed a few years ago and it turned out benign. Now he has a couple on his belly that are both just fatty masses that aren't cancer. Some dogs just turn out to be lumpy, I hope that's all it is.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea for trapping and relocating unruly kids at campgrounds! My dogs are protective of the car too.
Hi Jen, I really enjoyed your new Anything Blog...life is such a broad subject eh? The surgery is over and I am assuming I will get a report on the lab when its done, I have decided to NOT pursue any further treatment if it is Cancer I would never put Annie through that, I wouldn't put myself through it either!
DeleteShe is currently sleeping on the rug with Floss and Casey close by she ate a good dinner and she even made a pretty good attempt at a Poop...so far so good, tomorrow she starts a regiment of pain and inflammation reducers and antibiotics.