How does time do that?

I'm not sure if you noticed, but it is December. Almost a week into December, in fact. If time is not linear, can I circle back and have a redo on some parts of it??? It's been a busy few months, to be sure. I have been up and down to the Seattle area quite a few times since the wee one was born. I've also been busy with house and yard stuff but those weren't interesting projects. I had to hire someone to prune 'the giant shrub' in the back yard. It's at least 20 feet tall and way beyond my reach, same with the giant rhododendron in the front. As my mom used to say, 'If it grows at all here, it'll grow like a champ.' 

 Did I tell you that my best neighbors moved? Broke my poor heart to lose them. Donna had just reached her limit with the bs here in this country. She worked in the public school system and said, 'I don't want to teach active shooter drills to kindergarteners.' Can't blame her, really. The gun epidemic is frightening. So, they moved back to Canada. Not to Edmonton, where the husband was from and where they lived before. Now they live in Kelowna. I'm happy for them that they are loving it, but I miss them terribly and my life has gotten a lot smaller without the frequent social interaction. I had their little charmer of a dog for nearly four months while they were house hunting. He was great company. But, alas, they came back and picked him up and stole him away from me. I am without a pet for the first time in my life. Feels strange, to be honest. The upside is that I don't have to have a pet sitter when I go out of town. Not sure it's a great trade off though. 

 I completed another NaNoWriMo in November. Wrote a mystery this time. It's not great, but I've tried before and struggled with the plotting. It's not always Colonel Mustard in the Library with the Candlestick! I got to the finish line though, which pleased me. I did, however, leave my characters stranded at the end. Perhaps I'll go back and give them the decent conclusion that they deserve. 

 Debra, She Who Seeks, and the 8th Day Planner have reminded me that I could put the seasonal decorations up. I need to haul the ladder out to the front porch and sort out the sparkle lights - some strings are dead and new ones are needed. Maybe even put up the tree and decoration... if I feel so moved. Sometimes it doesn't feel worth the bother. 

Here are some pics of the giant shrub. It's a mock orange - Philadelphus lewisii.

Before and After. Donna for scale. Lol. 

The youngster is doing well. She's on the small side (except for her head!) but seems to be meeting developmental milestones. She is a cheerful baby and makes us all so happy. Not that she doesn't have her moments, I mean, she's human after all. But, she is amazing and her parents (and the whole family) are all smitten. Here is a current picture of the little darling. Love!

Back Home after the Big Event

Everything turned out just fine. Whew! My daughter gave birth to a healthy baby girl and the whole family is delighted. Charlotte Elizabeth (wt 7.7, length 19") hit all the average markers. We are relieved at that since her father has a genetic disorder which could have had profound effects. So far all good. Once they were home from the hospital, we got into a routine. Zoe would be up and down with the baby all night and then in the morning I would hold her for a few hours while Z got some sleep. Now I'm missing that morning snuggle time! They have had to supplement breast feeding with formula as the supply wasn't yet up to the demand (as it were). Well, you know what that means. Of all the times for there to be a nationwide shortage of baby formula! One morning I went to 4 stores to search out what we needed. I can't imagine what it is like for families who have no other option. What a nightmare. In fact, I talked to some parents while we stood in front of empty shelves or waited for the store clerk to bring the keys to unlock the cabinet. That's right, in some stores baby formula is now under lock and key. On the good news front, both parents are absolutely in love with their baby girl. I knew Zoe would be but I wasn't sure about her man. Thankfully, he passed the grandmother administered test. He didn't know that he was being tested, so he couldn't fake it to get a passing grade. I was going to post a couple of photos, but I'm having computer issues. I hope to have that sorted out soon. Now I am home and feeling a little at loose ends. I've got plenty to do around the place but I'm finding my attention is drawn northward. I suppose that's natural. I told the kid to get her man on board with moving somewhere that has a mother-in-law unit. She's in favor of it and he says that he is too, but he is dragging his feet. We've got some time, but... tick tock! That's all I've got for now. I'll try to post a picture soon... Cheers!

Now we are waiting...

 I'm heading up to the Seattle area today.  Going to help the Kid get some stuff in order before the Big Event.  She has asked me to sort out her linen closet and laundry room, and help get the baby's room in order.  I'm also taking a few things up that she left here.

We had a baby shower for her at the end of March.  My two buddies came up for that - in fact, they did most of the organizing for it.  It was a small event, my two pals, me and the Kid, the neighbor, my cousin, and one friend from work.  All the other guests were on Zoom.  We had a pregnant woman and an immune compromised woman in attendance and while the mask mandate has expired the virus has not.  Doesn't hurt to be careful.

The only thing that Zoe asked for was books.  She received quite a variety!  There are so many new and wonderful books for small children out there!  I was hoping that the other mums who she knows would have a great selection of new reading material and I was not disappointed.  There's even one with a bi-racial gay dad couple.  Big thumbs up from this grandmother!  Seriously, though, I need to find some baby books with lesbian grannies...  if any of you have seen one, let me know!

Of course, she also got a bunch of other stuff.  Super cute clothes, practical baby gear, stuff that I have absolutely no idea what it is for...  good thing that Zoe's on top of all of the new stuff.  There is so damned much equipment involved in childrearing!  

I'm planning on being there for several days.  Then I'll come home and wait until I get the call for the big event.  Originally the baby was due in early May but the doctors have moved the date up a couple of times.  Once because of measurements and once because of Zoe's blood pressure.  It's borderline too high and they don't want to take a chance of her developing pre-eclampsia.  So, now they are inducing labor on the 21st of April.  That's just two weeks away!!!  

Zoe and her husband have asked me to come up and stay when they bring the baby home.  They are nervous, naturally.  I'm sure they won't need me for as long as they think they will (Rob asked if I could come for a month, lol).  But, I'm happy to help.  I think that I'll mostly be doing things like walking the dog, cooking dinners and washing clothes, but that's cool.  I'm super rusty when it comes to infants!  I've only had one and it was quite some time ago...  what if I have forgotten everything?  Just something else to worry about.

I'm also going to cook and freeze some meals for when I leave.  Nothing says I love you like a pan of enchiladas!  They live too far from civilization to have those meal prep services delivered so I'll prepare in the old school way.  Frozen casseroles to the rescue!  Lol.

That's all I've got for now.  I'm looking forward to getting some stuff done for the Kid -- she'll be busy real soon!

Cheers!

Damn it all to Hell

 Because things aren't shitty enough, my beautiful companion Pierre is leaving for the rainbow bridge.  The house call vet is coming this afternoon.

I took him to the vet on Friday to get something for a skin irritation that wouldn't go away.  They did a blood work panel that showed sky high thyroid levels.  I contacted the specialist vet to discuss treatment but before I could even get an appointment he took a steep downward turn.

Wednesday he stopped eating.  Thursday I could only get him to have some tuna and tuna water.  He is unsteady on his feet, drooling, and just looks really bad.  This morning he had a little more tuna water but can barely stand.  I can't let him linger in this condition.

I adopted him from the county shelter in 2011, right after my mom died.  He's approximately 16 or so years old.  We've had a wonderful decade together.  He is a loving and lovable character who enjoys spending time curled up next to his human.  He loves to be brushed and I doubt any cat has been brushed as much as this one.  He likes to lie next to me and rest his chin on my ankle.

He has helped me get through this stupid pandemic.  Not sure who I'm going to talk to now...  probably still Pierre.  I'm really going to miss him. I think it was George Carlin who called pets 'furry little tragedies'.  That's sure true.

Au revoir, my lovely Pierre.