A blanket and some hot soup are our antidote for cold weather. – Toby & Mom
Uncategorized
Puppy With A Death Wish Part 9 (or The Nutty Buddy)
Toby stole a can of cashews this week. He has been pooping nuts ever since.
You took mine, so I took yours.
I told you there was nothing sadder than a puppy with an empty dish. This puppy did something about it!
**************************************
All summer I have been watching fawn twins grow up. I’ve caught them frolicking in the fog and sunning themselves in the middle of the day. (Unusual because deer are crepuscular.) This day, while Toby and I were out making a nut deposit, we caught them watching us. This is the first time I’ve had a camera with me when we’ve seen them. They are so much more mature than when we first met.
What’s that yappy little thing saying? Something about venison?
**********************************
Do you have a little girl in your life who might enjoy celebrating the holidays in Dickensian style? If so, then this Red Velveteen Capelet was made for her! Whether out caroling with family and friends or heading off to a holiday dinner, Red Velveteen Capelet is sure to turn heads.
Red Velveteen Capelet is for up to Size 4.
This and other fine gifts are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.
What the Heck, Chicken Neck
Last Monday I had a second MRI. This one was to see if there has been any damage to the nerves in my neck that might be causing some of my upper body symptoms. Guess what the results were? Yes, A OK! My neck is nearly perfect which is apparently all the more impressive given my age. (I didn’t realize 29 was such a milestone.)
Oddly, with everything looking so good with my neck, my diagnosis circles back to MS. The new doctor I have been seeing said that it is possible to have MS but not yet have any lesions on your brain. That would be why my CAT scan and MRI were both clear. To test for MS at this stage, you would need a spinal tap. Needless to say, I am not enthusiastic about this next step. In fact I am so unenthusiastic, I may not do it. (I have read posts from several people about their experiences saying that on a scale from 1-10, their pain was 100.)
My symptoms overlap both B12 deficiency and MS, but fit neither one well. I am generally considered old for MS, but the right age for a B12 deficiency. My symptoms are worse on the right (but also exist on the left) which is unlike B12 and more like MS. They affect my upper body more than my legs, but my legs are affected which is – well – both.
I have five weeks before my next appointment, and I plan to learn everything I can about MS and what treatment options are available. I had luck earlier in the year with CBD oil. Even though it is expensive, I intend to keep taking it. For some people I have talked to, that alone has worked better than any of the medications they have been prescribed for MS.
While this seems like rather stinky news, I did find a ladybug, a penny and a four leaf clover to balance out my luck.
I saved the clover from being peed on by Toby.
That was supposed to be my clover. I was marking it.
Anyway, your luck couldn’t get any better: you already have me!
**************************
If you would like to see what else my little stinky monsters have been up to, pick up a copy of Dream Our World. Inside, Bitey and Toby visit the museum of their dreams and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun.
Dandelion Fluff
Did you know that psoriasis can make your hair fall out? Well it can! After falling out (again) last August, mine has finally started growing back and is maybe four or five inches long. When I stand in the light, I resemble a dandelion gone to seed.
I have a friend who is facing chemo and is rightly disappointed at the thought of losing her hair. I wanted to let her know that she is not alone. When I lost mine, I spent a good bit of time looking at chemo hats, and I found a company that I liked. It’s called Headcovers Unlimited, and it has a lot of options other than traditional chemo scarves.
Of course all their models have a healthy glow to their cheeks and don’t have tired eyes, but it is nice to imagine that I might look this cute in one of their hats. Some of the hats and scarves have hair in the back to protect your neck from the sun. (The hair is attached to the hat in this picture. )
So, if you are dealing with alopecia, you don’t need to send your husband beat up comedians. Instead splurge on some soft hats to make yourself feel better. And chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate.
Not my image, but I wish it were!
Mommy gets lots of compliments on her pink sunhat
…but she gets even more compliments on me!
****************************
Self conscious about the state of your hair? Then consider this dramatic hooded cape/cloak when you go out for the evening.
Made of light-drinking black pinwale corduroy and lined with soft as silk red acetate, this cloak is sure to make a bold statement wherever you go.
Ladies Cloak/Cape is available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.
Frenzied Fall
On top of all the regular responsibilities that come with fall, I have been walking my neighbor’s pup while she is away. The little Schnauzer learned to blackmail me very quickly. She refused to so much as pee unless she got a walk.
Of course I got walks too. I’ll share you, but you’re still my human.
By going on so many walks each day, I got to experience some incredible things. I got to hear the cock crow three times in the morning. I got to watch the fawn twins frolic and play, and I got to see the most incredibly heavy fog that looked like something from a movie.
******************
You’re alright for a girl.
You don’t smell too bad for a boy.
***************************
Suitable for both foggy mornings and foggy evenings, Black Hooded Cloak/Cape can keep you warm while still looking stylish. Whether heading to an evening at the theatre or celebrating Halloween with ghouls and vampires, this satin-lined cloak is sure to make a statement.
Black Hooded Cloak/Cape is available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.
The Yark and the Witching Hour
Luminescent pile of yark
gently glowing in the dark.
Yellow like a ‘nanner peel
Little doggie do you feel
better now the puke is gone
sitting outside on the lawn?
(Wouldn’t Mozart be proud?)
The other night, Toby managed to jump up to the counter and steal and eat a banana peel before I could stop him. At 3:00 am he kindly gave the peel back. The poem has a happier ending than real life because it happened outside unlike reality which required an early morning kennel scrubbing. Thanks Toby.
Anytime, mom!
*********************************
If you would like to know more of what Toby and his brother have been up to, pick up a copy of Dream Our World. Inside Bitey (Geordie) and Toby visit the museum of their dreams and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun.
Dream Our World is available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.
A Haiku
Warm autumn evening-
bee clouds swarm menacingly
around the dumpster.
Don’t believe these drawings. I’ve been really nice to mommy lately.
*************************
This colorful Patchwork Butterfly Quilt, and many other fine items, are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.
I Always Thought Sunflowers Were Happy…
…but maybe not this one. It appears she did too much partying over the weekend, and on Monday I found her face down in the spinach.
Ha Ha!
Her sisters stood over her laughing at how she couldn’t hold her booze.
Can’t wait to get rid of those pukey flowers so I can get back to digging!
*******************************
School is back in session! Encourage your young student to combat covid apathy by wearing quality, classic attire instead of the ubiquitous T shirts and shorts/yoga pants. Also suitable for religious services, these handmade silk neckties show that your young person is serious about their future. (I think these days that passes for grammatically correct.)
Silk ties and other fine items are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.
Cotton Balls
Today I got to experience nerve conduction testing. While not as bad as I was expecting, it still wasn’t much fun. Basically they stick needles into your muscles (while insisting that you remain completely relaxed as they do!) then ask you to flex so that they can check how your nerves and muscles are working. Some times they shock you with electricity (probably mostly for amusement). Where they stabbed me in the back, I developed some colorful goose eggs. I take turmeric, which acts as a blood thinner, so I ended up with cotton ball band-aids all over.
The take away? I can add Lou Gehrig’s Disease to my list of things I don’t have.
Another “you” post? This is getting boring.
********************************
Are you heading to a birthday party or shower? Consider using this festive, reusable Zodiac Gift Presentation Bag to present your treasured item! Colorful Zodiac themed bag is made of durable bottom weight cotton and lined with muslin and a stiff interfacing to give it its shape even after being washed. After the gift has been removed, the bag can be reused as a gift bag or repurposed as a tote.
This any many fine items are available from my shop at L Bowman Studios.
Woof, Woof Brown Dog
Woof, Woof Brown Dog
Have you any stool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Five bags full!
Two for my mother.
Two for my bro
And one for the chippy-munk
who runs to and fro!
Oh dear heavens, where did you come up with the idea for such an awful poem?!?
Well, it is that time of year again. After a late start, the beans started coming in like crazy. Toby loooves green beans and begged and stole and whined and howled until he was finally full.
I am a very effective howling beggar.
The next day’s “end result” inspired today’s poem. (It’s your own fault for stopping by today!)
*************************
It’s hard to believe it is back to school season already. Some youngsters I know only had one day of class before catching the latest bug going around. Whether it is a virus or allergies, having a reusable handkerchief can save both your nose and the planet!
There are a number of hand painted handkerchiefs at my shop that would make a great gift for yourself or someone you love.
The Adventures of Bitey Dog 