Yes, my wee girl. She ventured out in shoulder-height snow, for a test run. Buster had already gone, you can see his tracks, but he hopped - a giant leap for feline kind. Daisy kept shaking her back paws!
First snow and cats from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
The temperature is around 0 C., we had nearly 7", about 17 cm of snow. The cats were quite shocked! They headed out to under the spruce tree for some reason!
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Changing seasons – Canadians DO complain!
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| Laughing at me? |
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| Bala goose |
I love the change in the seasons.
I like resting from gardening. I miss my lake, but enjoy wildlife where I can find it.
I love my walks on the frozen bog, watching for the snowshoe rabbit bounding away.
I love the deer watching me, leaping off into the forest as I walk the cats in the forest. The turkey tracks in the snow tell a story, too. I love my sweaters and warm winter coat. I am grateful for all the bounty.
Sumer has fled, as have many of our birds.
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| May babies, they're now part of the flock. |
On our way into the city for a medical appointment, I stopped for a photo-op of the Canada Geese. The river shoulders are frozen, but the geese were plentiful. There were hundreds of them. The Rideau Canal, Black Rapids lock, was closed for the season, but the geese were gathered, flocking to the parts of the canal waters that were still flowing.
It was -10 C. this morning, and it was a brisk walk down to the river from the highway. I neglected to bring my zoom lens, but I have many photos of them in close-up from previous endeavours. The louring sky eventually changed the day, and I'm glad we stopped on the way into the city, rather than after.
I made a brief video, as the sound of their honking was amazing.
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| 'spose I need to clean the lens?! |
Where geese will gather...
I took a wee video of them.
Canada Geese on the canal from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Another cold morning. We stopped beside the Rideau Canal, at Black Rapids lock, where hundreds of geese were gathered. The overnight temperatures of -10 C. had frozen the river shoulders. The fast-flowing water in the middle kept it from freezing.
Canada Geese on the canal from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Another cold morning. We stopped beside the Rideau Canal, at Black Rapids lock, where hundreds of geese were gathered. The overnight temperatures of -10 C. had frozen the river shoulders. The fast-flowing water in the middle kept it from freezing.
Monday, 25 November 2013
The Process of Cancer Treatment: Part VIII –follow-up with the surgeon
Nov. 25th, 20138:45 a.m. Left home. After driving towards the city to the hospital, 45 minutes into the trip, I knew we'd be early for the appointment. You never can tell! Rather than barrel into town, we stopped at a Rideau Canal lock. There were quite a few geese on the edge of the frozen river. A nice, albeit cold, walk to the river. It was bracing and a nice time for relaxing.
10:17 a.m. Arrival. We found a parking spot on the top floor of the parking garage. I took the wrong entrance, and realized I was hooped. The parking garage, under the shelter, was very full. We ended up on the 5th floor.
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| 5th floor parking |
We'd forgotten where the Cancer Assessment office was in the bowels of the hospital. Digging out our files, and finding our info, we realized we had to go to the 7th floor. Rather than struggling, I found the main entrance to the Cancer Clinic, and spotted three volunteers who were happy to help us find the danged elevator! We wanted wing F, but were in the building with A, B, C, and D.
10:30 a.m. We made it to the correct office, checked in, and got the paperwork. There is a form, which is a self-assessment of pain and other symptoms. Hubby had a snack, and we grabbed some water from the cooler. The waiting room is nicely set up. They feature artwork by those who are managing cancer.11:00 a.m. Our appointment was for 11:00, and we were ushered in, right on time, by the nurse. She collected our self-assessment form, and said that the doctor would be in when he finished with his previous patient. We could hear him talking to the other man.
Here are a few parking lot photos, 'you have a few minutes to wait until the doctor comes', explained the nurse. It is difficult to imagine how many people are being seen in the hospital right now, never mind the staff required to run the place.We sat. Talked. Reviewed our paperwork. Planned. Chatted. Looked out the window. Reviewed questions for the surgeon. Time passed. We popped out to powder our noses. More time passed. Hubby began reading The Economist to me.
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| long halls, much signage |
11:52 a.m. In marches our surgeon. He took his time with the guy next door. We could hear him. He took his time with us, as well.
His first comments, based on the three tests (Bone Scan, MRI, CT Scan), said that the tests were very, very good, since there are no signs of distant cancer cells. The cancer cells have not metastasized, spread to the bones or other organs. It has spread to the surrounding tissue, fat cells.
He explained our options; the best treatment, based on tests, seems to be surgery, although that is only a 50 - 60% chance of eradicating the cancer cells. We were assured that the cancer cells are highly resectable, despite breakthrough into the surrounding tissue. It may require a multi-modal approach, but surgery is better for local control.
It all depends upon the actual test results of the biopsy of the cells the surgeon removes. The tests can only generally give us an idea of the spread of cancer cells. And who knows what will happen between now and the surgery date.
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| I took copious notes! |
Radiation would mean 20 treatments, if this is called for later. Median survival rates work out to 77 months, based on recent research.
Surgery will likely be around the 2nd or 3rd week of January, as he is high priority, with a fast-growing cancer (8/10).
There is a training session done by the staff, another 75 minutes trip into the city, before surgery, to explain post-surgery care. Our nurse explained some more, she gave us more reading and pertinent phone numbers.
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| Louring sky |
12:45 p.m. Made it back to the car. Hooray for signage. Parking cost us $13 for the day. Save those receipts! This is tax deductible. I was anxious to get out of the city, and nearer to home, before we stopped for lunch.
2:00 p.m. A nice lunch at the pub. Hubby reviewed what he'd remember from the surgeon's conversation. Then home to happy cats.
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| Parking lot mysteries |
THE PROCESS OF CANCER TREATMENT
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| Bison burger and salad! |
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| lots of sheltered parking |
Smiths Falls: Dominion Tankard 2014 Ontario Men’s Curling Championship
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Ford World's 2013champions |
Dorah won me a broom! (Daisy likes tennis, too!)
That would be the broom signed by the world men's players!
I submitted a photo, like these, and ended up one of three winners. I've found a great place to donate it.
The Dominion Tankard is the men’s curling event for Ontario and determines the Ontario Provincial entry in the Tim Horton’s Brier. It takes place in nearby Smiths Falls in the new year! They are having a silent auction.
The Dominion Tankard 2013 Championship team will compete in round robin play to determine who will represent Ontario at the National finals – to be held at Interior Savings Centre in Kamloops, British Columbia, from March 1-9, 2014. The Dominion Tankard will bring thousands of people into Smiths Falls to view this exciting championship.
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| You have to love their pants! |
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| I love the stained glass piece - spotted in Gravenhurst! |
I love the language: 'Hurry hard!'
They discuss shots: 'It's not terrible!"
In case you think it is simply a spectator sport, you must realize that the family that works out together, watching curling, has physical benefits!
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| Here we are, in a timed photo, watching curling! |
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| Something about sports! |
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| She even liked the round robin report! |
Ford World's champions skips 2013
☛ Brad Jacobs - Canada
☛ Rui Liu - China
☛ Jirí Snítil - Czech Republic
☛ Rasmus Stjerne - Denmark
☛ Aku Kauste - Finland
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| Yusuke Morozume and Brad Jacobs |
☛ Thomas Ulsrud - Norway
☛ Andrey Drozdov - Russia
☛ David Murdoch - Scotland
☛ Niklas Edin - Sweden
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| Niklas Edin |
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| David Murdoch |
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| Sven Michel and Aku Kauste |
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| Brady Clark |
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| Rasmus Stjerne |
Sunday, 24 November 2013
Dorah is getting into dirty trouble...
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| She likes to play in the dirt! |
Inclined to pop outdoors for a short time, and
back indoors to mush with hubby and get warm, whereas Daisy spends hours playing outside, as does the big boy, Buster. Sadie is a fair weather indoor cat, although she'll take the odd walk in the forest with hubby!
Yesterday, Daisy dropped a mouse friend in front of the door side window. Easy for me to see through the glass. She was so proud, after hours outside in near-zero weather. Today it was -10 C., and the cats only lasted a few minutes.
Dorah smelled her intensely and spotted her mouse breath, then stole the mouse away to tenderize it!
Dorah likes doggy digging under the blue spruce tree, where her mouse friend, a field mouse, has a hole. She is much fun to watch, getting her arms in up to her shoulders!
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| Our spruce tree with lights. We have endless tunnels underground, where the mice play. |
Coming in with a dirty face, we know she has kept busy outdoors. Often, Buster will come over, and give her a bit of help, washing her face for her. He's a good big brother.
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| Mice friends live here! |
Dorah stands 'on guard for thee' on top of the ledge (below), gazing diligently, waiting for mice friends. It certainly keeps her busy!
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| Time for wash-ups, Dorah! |
It appears she uses Napster and the porcelain cat as a screen, waiting for a mouse to appear.
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| Oh, mummy, you're bothering me! |
They are all good mousers, with field mice aplenty in the yard, they love the grasses and sit, listening for mice friends.
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| Sadie and mice friend |
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| Buster and mice friend |
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| my mouse |
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| mice friend on snow |
Here is a big boy that Buster caught last year. I took the opportunity to do some macro close-ups. You can see their big teeth, long claws, and padded feet. |
| Well-hung field mouse |
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| deer mouse I caught eating deer food! |
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