While Pat's Away

Even though Pat's only been gone six hours, I've hardly had a moment to myself. We still have horses and dogs and cats that need looking after. Three horses went with Pat and two stayed behind. For all intents and purposes, they, Shadow and Clancy, are now retired! After many years and miles, they have earned their place, "out to pasture". When referring to horses, out to pasture is a coveted honor. It's liken to spending the rest of your life on a cruise ship with access to a 24-hour-a-day buffet, lazing in the sun, staring at the endless night sky, and having someone clean up after you--an all-inclusive life! Not too shabby.

The 24-hour-a-day buffet and cleaning up after is where I come in. The same carries true for the dogs and cats. Cali, our springer spaniel, has Pat trained for a 5 am breakfast call. Since it's been Pat that she awakens, I've not minded the unusual habit--that is until Pat's away and Cali licks my face at the ungodly hour. This morning was not a problem since everyone was up at 3. But tomorrow Cali and I will undoubtedly have a come to Jesus moment when she realizes that the world doesn't revolve around her.

The kittens and Puff also need attention several times a day, and since the dogs and cats don't get along it has become a challenge keeping everyone happy and apart. Cali, I believe, would kill the kittens if given the chance, so we are especially vigilant.

Speaking of Puff, last Saturday night when rounding up the felines, Puff decided that she wanted to spend the night outside, which is highly unusual and not recommended. Come to find out, she had gone into heat. Female cats, when in heat, we recently learned, prowl for a suitable mate, usually at night. We had her scheduled for surgery a couple of months ago, but at the time I felt it best not to have her laid up for a week or more with very active and dependent kittens. I cancelled the surgery expecting to reschedule anytime now, except that in the meantime she became fertile again.

After getting the kittens tucked into the barn and calling Puff for several minutes, I decided to let her be. Shortly before turning in for the night, I returned to the barn and called again hoping she had changed her mind. She didn't.

The next morning upon opening the barn and placing bowls of food down for the hungry kittens, Puff showed--hungry, thirsty, and wounded. It wasn't until she finished eating that I noticed a gaping hole in her upper thigh. Not wanting to approach a wounded animal, I called Pat to bring me a pair of gloves and backup assistance. We couldn't tell if she had cut herself on something or had been bitten by another animal. All we could see for sure was that she had a very serious wound that needed attention.

Fortunately, Puff entered her carrier without a fuss. Pat called ahead so the vet was ready when they arrived. After giving her anesthesia, the vet determined that she had indeed cut herself on something--a nail, or barbed wire perhaps. Stitches were required to close the wound that Pat said was deep, almost to the bone. The vet suggested that we have Puff spayed while she was under anesthesia, which we agreed was a good idea. So, now Puff is home resting quietly in the garage away from the pesky kittens. She requires monitoring for infection and doses of antibiotics.

In the meantime, last night Luna's left eye swelled, again, for about the sixth time in a year. We believe she's allergic to something but have no idea what. Immediately we gave her Benadryl, which brought down the swelling and thwarted the itching that, in the past, has driven her nearly crazy. Having a little knowledge and a few skills sure makes life less stressful, but the learning curve has really been hell with the animals and their health and safety issues.

With Pat away for a few days, I'm hoping the animals cooperate so that I can enjoy a little down time, myself. The backcountry widows, of which I am one, are planning to attend a women's expo happening this weekend in Great Falls. The event fills the Expo Park at the fairgrounds with hundreds of booths and presentations aimed at products and services for women. It is now in its seventh year and has become a tradition of sorts for us gals and our pals. My little group meets at noon on Friday, attends a couple of presentations and workshops, then meets at a restaurant for dinner. On Saturday, we meet up again for lunch, then return to the expo and stroll the booths receiving tons of gifts along with a chair massage, aromatherapy, a foot bath, wine tasting (my favorite booth), and an analysis of the skin damage we have on our faces from years of enjoying the sun, to which I say, "who cares"? I think this year I'll skip past the skin care booth choosing instead to maintain my self-esteem, enjoy my sun kissed face, knowing that my sense of vitality and high spirits are a direct gift from the sun in the form of vitamin D and serotonin. Yes, I am quite sure I will skip right past that booth. I will also skip past the booths that encourage mammograms and annual paps, along with the gals who want to measure my body fat. I might, however, try a little Zumba, not for the health benefits, but rather, just for the fun of it. After all, life is supposed to be fun, not full of stress or fear or self-doubt or worry, but good ole' fashioned fun. So while Pat's away, and the horses retire to the lower pasture, the dogs hunker down for their afternoon snooze, the kittens rest with their full bellies, and Puff knits her wounds, I plan to enjoy a little time with friends, and food, and laughter, and all of the guilt-free indulgences the expo has to offer. All is well, and so it is.