Day 321 - Ashley and Kyle

Happy Anniversary guys!  <3

Day 320 - Redwoods

Took this during my trip to California in 2007.  Awesome trees. 

Day 319 - Communion

We have a vet student staying with us for the next two weeks and she and her husband were married on the very same day as Matt and I!  They were married in Gettysburg, PA - so they enjoyed the same lovely weather that we did on May 24th, 2008.  

We've been reminiscing about that day because of talking about it with her - so I was looking through some of our wedding pictures.  

One of the things that happened at our wedding that only a few people know about is just what we were served for communion at the end of the ceremony.  

Larry (who married us) is a funny guy.  We love him so much.  The sacraments that he served to us were as follows:  a twinkie and a kool-aid cooler.  

I'm not kidding. 

I looked at him a bit mortified when he handed me a twinkie to bite into and then I whispered to him "what am I supposed to wipe my hand on?"  He replied "wipe it on my jacket."  Which I did.  :)  I had frosting on my fingers and I did not think it appropriate to just lick them clean.  Ha!

Then the kool-aid.  It was a bit difficult to keep a solemn state of mind when taking the Lord's cup in a plastic bottle that you have to suck on.  :) 

But the sentiment was pure and we trust that our remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice was honoring to Him.  Even if it was a bit.... non-traditional.  :) 

Thanks, Larry.  Miss you!

Day 318 - Dhaka

We have a vet student visiting with us for the next two weeks.  I was telling her of my trip to Bangladesh and thought I would post a picture from that trip.

I don't know the story behind this one other than saying it was a 'typical' street in Dhaka.  Crowded.  Noisy.  Diverse.  Alive.

Day 317 - One Year

It's October.  Dixie made it a year.  :)

Her mom sent me this picture and I just love it.  She looks older, for sure - but she's still here. 

If you don't know what I mean by this, click here to read Dixie's story that I posted 100 days ago. 

Such a tough dog.  Such a good dog. 

Live on, Dixie!  Live on. 

Day 316 - Leaping Kitties

When we were visiting in TN, we go to watch our niece, Eliza at her horse riding lesson.  While that was going on, we were entertained by some young kittens at the barn.  They were leaping machines!  

The pictures are blurry, but they are still fun.  :)

Day 315 - It is Fall

And that is all.  For tonight.

Day 314 - Activated Charcoal

Sometimes dogs eat things that are bad for them.  Like this dog.  Who ate an entire bottle of ibuprofen.  

When we can't force them to vomit or pump their stomach because it's been too long since they have ingested said toxin, we have but one remedy:  activated charcoal.

Charcoal.  Black, sticky, awful tasting charcoal.  Charcoal that has the ability to bind to anything non-organic and remove it from the GI system.  Magical charcoal.  It makes lots of sick dogs, cats, and cows better.

But convincing them to swallow said magical charcoal is an altogether different thing.  :) 

I believe in people they sedate you a bit and pass a tube into your stomach and THEN put the charcoal in.  People don't have to taste it.

We are not so nice in vet med.  

So, how do you keep a beautiful dog with white legs and feet from getting all covered in black charcoal as they spit it out as you try to force them to swallow it????

Cover them in a smock!!!!!  Just like your two staff members that you have asked to administer the awful black goo.  They wear smocks AND gloves.   

And then, just for added measure, wrap a towel around the smock.

Then you only have to clean off her face.  :)

Day 313 - A Video!!!

I know this is a blog for pictures, but this video just makes me laugh - so I had to share it.

This was the winter of 2005.  We had a snow that was on the ground for a day or two,  then it warmed up and rained and subsequently cooled down really quickly.  The result was a pack of snow with a thick layer of ice on it.  It stayed around for over a week!

I was playing with Neema on it and started shooting some video of her sliding around.  Then I discovered that I could basically ice skate on this stuff!  I've never seen anything like it before or since.  :) 

I hope you enjoy! 

Day 312 - Me in 1991

Ahaaa haaa haaaa haaaa!  I needed a laugh tonight and this picture provides it. 

This is me at age 14.  I was a clogger and this was one of my outfits. 

My hair is permed, but the color is real.  It used to turn blonde in the summer when I was in the sun. 

The bangs?  Blame them on the early 90's.  It's not my fault.  They were AWESOME at the time, let me tell you.  I can't imagine putting that kind of hairspray in my hair now.  Wow. 

The braces were also necessary cause now my smile is pretty.  :) 

I was around 5 foot tall and about 80lbs, I'd say. 

And my skin was flawless.  *sigh*

Day 311 - Acorns

As much as I love fall - I also dread it.  This is why. 

I live in the woods.  Our house is entirely surrounded by Oak trees.  Prolific Oak trees. 

This is what our yard looks like.  It's a solid coating of acorns.

Who wants to come and help us rake?  Bueller?  Bueller?

Day 310 - Taco

My classmate, Mary lost her friend this week.  Taco was one of the sweetest little dogs ever.  She was our unofficial vet school class mascot.  And she was awesome.

Most of us in vet school did not actually have pets with us due to apartment living.  For those of us in that situation (I being one of them) having a little dog around from time to time was just good.  It helped remind me during those very long days and weeks and months of class just why I was doing this.  It's funny how different learning about dogs is from being around them.  And how much easier it is to learn about them when you get to physically interact with a living one. 

I know that Mary is very sad.  I'm sad for her.  I'm sad with her. 

Thank you, sweet Taco, for being such a good friend to us all. 

I took this picture during our end of school picnic our senior year.

Day 308 and 309 - Red Leaves on a Blue sky

Why on earth is the sky SO blue and beautiful in the Fall?  Cause it is. 

And as much as I love the fall.  I also hate it.  Because I live in the woods.  A woods made up of mostly Oak trees.  Oak trees who spawn acorns by the thousands. 

But I do love the changing trees colors and the blue sky.  :)

Day 307 - Bangladeshi Clothing Store

On my trip to Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2005, I had to purchase local clothing in order to be properly dressed.  This is the store we bought our 'Sular Camis' in.  They had some lovely choices - but most of them were very bright and colorful. 

The clothes I bought were the fanciest coveralls ever.  :) 

And Holly (the vet student at the time who accompanied me) and I treated them as coveralls as soon as we got cow manure on them.  "There now!"  I said.  Only my vet school classmates will understand that reference.  Sorry to the rest of you.

:)

Day 306 - Mmmmmmmm!

We never tried one of these - we were too pleased with the actual Key Lime Pie.  I have regrets, folks, I have regrets. 

Day 305 - The Bride's Roses

This is the 'aisle' of the wedding we attending in Key West.  So pretty. 

I'm SO tired tonight.  Boo.

Day 304 - Guitar Man

I do not know this man's name and I do not know his story.  But my guess would be that his life has been colorful - and likely not what he thought it would be.  I could be wrong....

He was one of many musicians at the Sunset Celebration in Key West, FL.  He was sitting just down from where I had set up to photograph the sunset.  He played and sang quietly.  Most of the other musical 'acts' were very loud. 

I like his guitar.  And his hair.  So, I took his picture. 

Day 303 - Key West Sunset Carnival

The sunset carnival at Key West is a big thing.  We were there during the 'off' season, so I can only imagine what it's like in the throws of tourist season.  We were told there were lots of street vendors and entertainers - which there were!  But we were disappointed that the guy with the trained cats who jump through flaming hoops was not there the night we were.  Sad. 

We watched the sunset (taking oodles of pictures) and then walked around as the light was fading.  I spotted this guy and took several shots of him.  This one is my favorite as I just think it's cool.  I'm so glad that it turned out sharp despite the low light. 

I really enjoy photography.  :)  When it turns out cool, that is. 

Day 302 - Eliza and Harley

While visiting my family in TN, Matt and I were able to tag alone and go to one of Eliza's riding practices.  This is her on her horse, Harley loping gracefully.  He's a nice horse - but he is not smooth to ride!!!

She did great - she is growing in confidence and skill.  She and Harley are going to grow up well together.  :) 

Day 301 - Ocean Bubbles

Kiawah Beach, Charleston, SC this past September.  This is an ocean bubble - froth left on the shore as the waves receded quickly. 

They were cool.

Day 300 - At the End of the Rainbow

No, it's not a pot of gold - it's WENDY'S!!!!!! 

And when you've been driving for 7 hours and are super hungry, it really feels like a pot of gold.

:) 

See the double rainbow?  One of the things I learned (and retained) from physics class in college is that there are always 2 rainbows.  We sometimes can only see the one, but there are always two.  AND that second one is exactly inverse of the of the first one.  See???  That's because it's a reflection.  A-Ha! 

Took this on our way back from Charleston, S.C. 

Day 299 - Linda, the Bride

During the ceremony, Linda looked right at the girl in front of me - which gave me the opportunity to take a direct shot.  Yay.  She was so beautiful. 

:)

Day 298 - Wedding in FL

The real reason we went to the Florida Keys was a wedding.  A good friend of Matt's was marrying and we were so honored to be invited to their wedding.  It was a very small group and most of them were family.  The entire ceremony was in Spanish and it was lovely. 

This was the wedding location after the ceremony at that lovely sunset twilight glow.  Islamorada, FL is a beautiful place, indeed. 

Day 297 - Abby the Chicken

This is Abby.  HE is a 9-10 week old chicken that is becoming a celebrity in Key West, FL.  He was rescued as a chick and hand reared and is thus very, very docile.  He rides on a moped and will even go swimming in the ocean.  I kid you not - I have seen the videos.  Soon he will have his own YouTube channel, I was told.

His name is Abby - as his owner named him before he knew whether he was male or female.  He guessed.  And he was incorrect.  :)

Very nice little guy.  Makes me look forward to having chickens even more.