E A Summers – Page 118

May 6, 2013

Bob’s turn at the vet, Part 1

Yes, Part 1…RATS!

Bob’s hemotoma got high praise for being fully healed but still a lot of gook in his ears. Slightly less and enough less that they can now see a 2nd problem: polyps. It is often seen in older cats per Dr. Clark and easily taken care of but does require a bit of sedation. There was time today but because of Bob’s diabetes and age – after some discussion – it was decided that it would be better to do it tomorrow after his insulin and with just a small amount of food. Hence, today is only Part 1 of Bob’s turn at the vet.

It is a quick procedure with small instruments, probably no incisions and the sedation is primarily required to keep Bob quiet and still. As he did fine with the recent dental, this should be easy and he should be very much more comfortable after…after we are home. Me, too.

On a brighter note, it was a gorgeous day. It was 75F when we arrived home and even Bob chose shade and the porch floor vs his fleecy bed.

Bear chose shade also and enjoyed a roll in the grass. The Bear boy is doing wonderfully off leash again. He may be getting his ‘woods legs’ back, but he is currently staying close to me. We’ve been practicing the off leash commands and all is remembered. Even better, he is not seeming sore or tired after the weekend’s extra exercise which has included some running and jumping. YEA!

Now, to get Bob back to 100%, although on the plus side, his glucose has been very good and he is active and moving well and has lost a wee bit of weight since starting Dr. Clark’s diabetes regimen.

May 4, 2013

New days

It has been 5 months since Bear’s first TPLO surgery.

Three months before that things changed as we tried to resolve his lameness with rest.

And now, in what feels like a sudden change, we are resuming ‘normal’ activity.

I had been keeping the blinds drawn in all but the kitchen and the sliding door in the office so as to keep Bear from being tempted to jump up and see out windows.

This morning I opened everything.

The bedroom had been closed to Bear during the day. Now, it is open.

It feels like we have a new house. And it is larger and brighter!

The day cooperated by being beautiful, sunny and warm. The light, the vivid colors – everything seemed fresh and new.

We spent hours outside today. Bear had his first off leash time in 5 months. He followed me around as I did some yard work and then dug a cool spot in the dirt under a tree when I took a break and sat on the front porch.

All of that fresh air, a little more activity, a long nap and then the light of the late afternoon.

All day, it was different.

The 5 months were good months of healing and working together. It is an incredible bonding experience. I am happy we are at this point. If is surprising how it feels, though. I have been so focused on doing what we needed to do every day to progress that I never thought about what it would be like when we got here.

It is good.

New Days.

May 3, 2013

Nearly normal

Bear and I are just back from the vet. Bear had his 8 week x-ray and the 2nd TPLO is completely healed. Dr. Clark said it was “textbook perfect”. Happy Dance!!!

Bear was sedated for the xray as is the protocol at The Animal Clinic for TPLO 8 week check, so he is still a bit sleepy but glad to be home.

We will gradually add some running and jumping and muscle building exercise over the next weeks but for Bear, things are nearly normal.

***I took the photo before we went to the vet. He hasn’t done the “backward downward dog” thing for a long time. It looks even funnier in the chair but I’m happy to see him doing things he used to do. There is no more stiffness in his back end when he gets up from a nap or lying on the ground. All movement looks good and comfortable and I believe he has full range of motion in both knee joints. Hoo – rah!

***I rescheduled Bob’s ear re-check for Monday at the last minute. Got to thinking that it might be a bit much with both.

Friday night, nearly normal…time for pizza!

May 2, 2013

Making Mayonnaise (and potato salad for 1)

This is what happens when I have a little too much time.

A process was running on my computer. Waiting for that to finish, I had all of the ingredients for making mayonnaise in the jar but you need to wait a minute for all to settle before starting the process that emulsifies all into the mayonnaise.

I’ve had in the back of my mind making a quick video of the mayo making process because it is so quick – at least this immersion blender in the jar version. But, I am not a fan of video and my plan of setting up a table that I could be behind with the camera on a tripod in front of me, etc., etc… not happening.

So, here I am. Waiting. I could have washed a window or 2, but that’s no fun. I pick up my phone with the intent of a test video. No lighting, no script, no notes, no plan except just to see how the phone camera (and I) would do – for the fun of it.

I decide it is not that bad and I can live with the corniness and the fact that I forgot to mention a very important ingredient – THE OIL!!! 5/8 cup olive oil to be exact. But, here it is, missed ingredient, silliness and all.

MakingMayonnaise: I forgot to say 5/8 cup oil from Liz Summers on Vimeo.

I don’t feel that I’m letting down my cookery hero, Julia Child, as even she demonstrated making mayonnaise with a blender. And my first mayonnaise was made all by hand which is a definite arm workout. I’ve also made it in a food processor and the Blender Express mini system I have in the motorhome. But this immersion blender version is absolutely the fastest, least amount of cleanup and I cannot discern a taste or texture difference between methods.

The whole egg scenario credit goes to Jennifer Perillo, In Jennie’s Kitchen homemade mayonnaise.

Traditional mayonnaise is made with egg yolks. If you click on the link above and view Jennie’s post, she makes both an egg yolk version and an egg white version. I decided that if egg whites alone worked, a whole egg would probably work as well. I always have the best intentions when I have whites or yolks left from a recipe that uses one or the other but typically, I end up forgetting about whichever until it is too late. So, this whole egg mayo works well for me. I fiddled with the quantities of acid (vinegar or lemon juice) and oil a few times and ended up with this version which has worked every time for me. I am using an XL fresh farm egg.

I don’t use a lot of mayonnaise, but I make a mayo-yogurt-buttermilk-black pepper-herb dressing/dip, the occasional chicken or egg salad and a new thing for me: potato salad. I’ve never been a fan of the picnic-style potato salad smothered in mayo and made from boiled potatoes. But several weeks ago, I was deciding what to do with a leftover 1/2 baked russet potato. I had a hard boiled egg and mayo in the frig.