That Tween Stage

First off, thank you to everyone that gave me virtual hugs at the loss of my very special girl, Shasta. I felt them, and so appreciate them. I will feel that hole in my life for a very long time. My girl.

And, I will make sure to take a picture of the little dog who parked next to us this morning. You will not believe it.

BUT, you know how we live in this small building on wheels, and how we only have so much room to store stuff. Well, as we look towards this weekend, and the funeral, of course my thoughts jump to "What the hell am I gonna wear?" My wardrobe consistes of shorts, tanks, and tees. Okay, I have ONE dress in the closet, thinking I may need said dress in some dire circumstance (such as this). Long sleeved, polyester, black. Hello! It's going to be 95* in Utah this weekend.

So begins the "dress" search. Okay, I am 59 years old. (I can't believe I'm saying that) I have spent TWO days searching for something that is tasteful, yet something that I can wear at any other function. Only so much room, remember? In a big mall. A bazillion stores. No. There is hardly a dress to be found. Okay, so nobody is wearing dresses these days. The ones that carry dressess, are either pandering to 20 yr. olds, or 80 yr. olds. I know. I may start a WHOLE NEW CLOTHING LINE! God knows there's a need!

Yes, I finally found a sundress and added a little skimpy sweater thingy over it. Doable with the brown sandals that I have onboard already.

Wait till I tell you about the new regulation in the Bellingham, & Seattle area in effect! Ah, geez!

A Sad Day, But Still Hopeful

Friday night, around 5:30, sitting outside talking to a neighbor at our site, Shasta listed to the side. We all jumped, thinking it was a problem with her hip. Within seconds, it became clear that she was in full seizure. Turns out our neighbor is a fireman in British Columbia. He helped us through not only this one, but the next three. She bit through a piece of wood, and his finger.

Rushing to the emergency vet 15 miles away, it was after 5p.m. on a Friday night after all, she seized three more times in the car. They gave her Valium immediately to quiet the brain, then evaluated her. They put her on Phhenobarbital and Diazapam, trying to keep her seizure free for 12 hours, so she could come home to us the next day, but she seized a couple of times through the night.

We arrived at the vet today around noon, after hearing this morning that Hubby's stepmom had passed.  (We knew she could pass soon, but never imagined that these two events would happen at the same time.)

They let us into the backroom right away, thankfully. Shasta was so drunk with drugs, but she responded to us with a slow, stoned, wet nose kisses, and whines of what she'd been through. Shasta has always been very vocal in so many circumstances. :) Ask any dog that camped anywhere near us.

The nurse offered to carry her out to the grassy area behind the building so we could spend some time together out of that cage. She carried her outside, down the stairs, around the parking lot, and to the most beautiful area of grass with a little creek rustling over some rocks. The nurse mentioned that when things got too awful in the office, she would come out here and sit by the creek. It saved her.

We layed in the shady grass with Shasta, listening to each other breathe, rubbing belly, and looking into one another's eyes. Occasionally she would wipe that slow dry tongue across my face. She cried for her mom and her dad when she looked at us. Tried to tell us how confused she was. She also fell asleep to a rub under her arm which she loves, and my head on hers. Her breath quieted, and I thought she had some peace at that point.

I felt hopeful then. Even with the stimulation of us being there, she didn't go in to another seizure. We left feeling hopeful, and after calling several hours later, heard that she drank some water and had a bit to eat. Well, I guess it's just never that easy, is it, especially not knowing what the cause is. More seizures tonight during her stay at the vet.

We're saying our prayers tonight for our dear Shasta to not be in any pain, and to wait for us to get there in the morning to bring her home, no matter her circumstance. She needs to be home.

Jumping Around Washington State

Finished up Lexi's sweater today. Too big for her now, but I'm thinkin' by spring it'll be just right. Super easy top-down pattern from Ravelry, and the best part? No seams to sew! Yea!

We've been working our way west through Washington state lately. In Cheney, we stopped to get the oil changed in the building on wheels. It's a 2-3 hour thing where we're kind of kicked out of our house.

Oh yeah, and after my hair blowing into my eyes continually all spring and summer, off it came. Go ahead wind, blow, see if I care. Of course I'll grow it back out eventually, like I do, but I'm sure enjoying it now.

We stayed under the trees in Spokane. The cool thing about this place was every morning several swallowtail butterflies would flutterby in front of the mh window for hours admiring themselves. Sometimes they would land on the side mirrors wondering how to get to that other good looking butterfly.

The next stop we made was at Moses Lake, located in the middle of the state. I know I took pictures there, but I sure can't find them. The lake is lovely, and very green, but once you get away from the lake, it's like a desert. Covered with sage brush and many acres of agriculture. I wouldn't care to live there personally. Get me back to the trees.

Cascade mountains in the backround, we were pulling in to Cle Elum. I believe that there is some pretty great skiing up here. Cle Elum also has one of the best meat markets ever! Owen's meats. The hand pick every piece of meat. When entering the store, we were offered several samples of cheese, pepperoni, and jerky. Yes, thank you very much. The smoked pork chops were to die for and the filet, well, perfect.

Oh, yes we did, we saw this helicopter being hauled on our way. I'm telling you, we never know what we're going to see on the highway.

Love coming around a corner to something so beautiful.

The wildflowers are still blooming in Washington.
And in Mt. Vernon, which is getting on up to the northwestern part of the state, we stayed in a fabulous Thousand Trails. It was thick with trees and these...

They always make me happy. Shasta too. :)