Spring Has Sprung

We sleep with the door to the bedroom wing of the house closed and the door to the back of the house were the sunroom is as well. This is because at 06:45 Jason the canary starts singing non stop even with a heavy cover over his cage. This allows us to sleep at least another hour. Not today! 07:00 I woke to the rumble of equipment tearing out our old sidewalks to make room for the new ADA approved walkway with wheelchair ramps. When the racket started Roxy gave a little growl of disgust and rolled over to MeMa's side of the bed and went back to sleep. I opened my eyes to see the water in the glass on my night stand bouncing up and down. I quietly got up without disturbing the ladies and went out to the front windows to see what was going on

So in PJ's, robe and slippers I went out waved a sleepy hello and grabbed up the morning paper. Returning to the house I turned on my coffee maker and then uncovered the already singing Jason. I wish I could wake up in the morning like Jason, such a happy little bastard. Hell, after my allotment of two cups of coffee I still can't sing like him let alone flit from perch to perch. 

I sat in the sunroom enjoying the morning light flooding in through the windows while looking out at the gardens that are coming to life after the winter dormancy. I noticed a big fat squirrel stopping for a drink from the waterfall that spills into the Koi pond, if Roxy was awake she would not let this happen in her garden, no sir!

After MeMa and Roxy got up We enjoyed a small breakfast together before I dressed to go out to start watering the seed trays in the greenhouse and then went out to see what was blooming.

About five years ago I was weeding a narrow bed that borders our front porch and found an old stump of a camellia that was sporting a small stem with a few leaves. In all the years that we have lived here I had never noticed it because there was a large rhododendron growing over it. I pruned the Rhododendron back letting light get to the camellia. It is now about four feet tall and I have trained into a pyramidal shape and this year it has bloomed for the first time.

One of my favorite plants that is blooming at this time is my Star Magnolia. I love the bright white and very fragrant flowers. It is the first shrub I planted at Menagerie Manor in 1976.

 

Bridal wreath spirea is from MeMa's childhood home in Clatskanie.

Its diminutive little flowers are a delight in the early spring garden.

I love this ancient pink camellia it is one of the original shrubs planted by the previous owner. It is so old that for the last ten years I have been carefully pruning it in order to revitalize the plant and hopefully it will live many more years.

Update

After such a long absence from blogging I was really hoping to return with cheery news that everything is as wonderful as the following photos. Unfortunately that is not the case, MeMa's oncologist has informed us that the cancer has returned to her abdomen and in the  lymph nodes  under her arm as well. She will start her on a new chemo regimen this Friday. We are staying strong and hopeful that the chemo will make for a positive outcome.

Spring is in the air, love these little jonquils at the base of the old Cherry tree.

The city has decided that our front walkway should be wheelchair accessible so they have marked and cut the portion of the walk that will become a bright yellow ramp.

Roxy is MeMa's constant companion, this little bundle of energy never lets her out of her sight.

Today we took 41 year old "Vivian the Volvo" through D.E.Q. and of course she passed with flying colors. While we were in line my doctor called to give us the news on my biopsy. They found that the cancer has returned and now I will be receiving chemo once a week for six weeks. I am feeling good about the treatment and outcome.

The Big Freeze

We are completely frozen in, something that rarely happens here in Portland anymore. We are quite comfortable with the furnace and the fireplace. Food a plenty we have nothing to complain about. Our eldest son and his family have been without power for the entire weekend and not expected to get power until late Monday. I asked if they would like to come here as we have more than enough room for everyone but my son and daughter-in-law are closer to work from their house than they would be from ours. So they are toughing it out, cooking on a portable camp stove and keep a fire burning in the fireplace.

 

Last Thursday evening the temperature dropped significantly, then the wind started howling and shortly after it started snowing and never stopped the rest of the evening and all day Friday.  The wind remained pounding keeping this old gardener inside. I don't mind working in rain or snow but toss in any sort of wind and I'm inside.  Saturday morning was a beautiful winter wonderland for all the neighborhood children and a few adults dragging sleds and disks to the hill in the local park a short way from Menagerie Manor. We actually bundled up and took Roxy for a short walk. She seemed to enjoy the quiet snow filled streets. 

After our little walk it was time to get MeMa back inside by the fire with Roxy snuggled down next to her. I was concerned about our mail carrier trying to deliver mail with our front porch frozen with a thick layer of ice. The old chicken house had a stock of Ice Melt that I would have to work hard to get to as everything was layered in ice. There was a good foot of snow that had to be cleared from the pathways and to get the gate to swing open. 

It was hard but enjoyable work as there was no wind so I was able to finally get the Ice Melt out and get the front porch cleared for safe foot traffic. 

The greenhouse had a good layer of snow and ice on the roof, always a worry of collapse I was able to knock most of it off. 

Thankfully there are no birds in the aviary

The Koi pond was so covered in ice and snow but I could hear water running back into the pond from the filter. I was able to slice a chunk of ice out of the ice in order to allow gasses to escape. 

The next morning after breakfast I went out and started removing a narrow path from the driveway which is covered in 8 inches of snow. I decided to try and get just a cars width cleared but the snow was covered in a thick layer of ice which was making this job very daunting. MeMa has to be at the hospital tomorrow and this stuff was not melting quick enough on its own.

Our wonderful neighbors herd me chipping away and soon arrived with shovels and really set to work.

It was less than an hour and the entire drive had a good clear path for us to leave. I thanked them and went in to check on MeMa. As I entered the parlor MeMa pointed at the "army" of neighbors clearing ice and snow from our front walkways and porch. It literally brought tears to our eyes, they are truly wonderful neighbors and just knowing we will be able to get to the hospital helped remove some of the stress.

The next day we drove out to the hospital so MeMa could undergo surgery to remove one of the four lymph nodes.  When we arrived our eldest son was waiting for us to wish his Mother good luck. He and his family are one of the three hundred thousand Oregonians who have no power or heat. After I got MeMa checked in I had to leave do to Covid restrictions so I took my son out for lunch. We had an enjoyable visit and then headed back to the hospital parking lot were we said goodby so he could head home and get things ready for work the next day. I, of course was not alone, Miss Roxy is my willing companion on these hospital visits. When the waiting gets to me then we take a good walk around the grounds.

Surgery went well, removing one of four lymph nodes with cancer. This one will tell them what form of lymphoma and the course of treatment that will follow. As I type this last entry the warm Oregon rain has returned helping to melt this frozen country.

Update

We are currently house bound again, MeMa is having surgery again next Tuesday to remove one of four lymph nodes with cancer on them. They will remove one lymph node to determine the type of cancer and what treatment. Yesterday she had her consult with the surgeon that will be involved, she was not impressed with his lack of personality. At one point he made the statement that in some cases of Lymphoma the patient is diagnosed and then dead in a week and finished up by telling her that her body can only take so much chemotherapy. Due to Covid I was not allowed to join her during this consult so the ass of a human lives to see another day.

MeMa's latest "Porch Post" for the dog walkers.

This morning we drove out near the hospital so that MeMa could get her seventh Covid test, a requirement before surgery. The Covid test center is set up in the large overflow parking lot at a local Shopping Mall. We are now home sitting by the fire, keeping our distance from the rest of the world. 

We are on a winter weather alert for the next three days. Snow and freezing rain is the threat for after 4:00 pm. 

I recently planted this terrarium with miniature African violets 

 
MeMa is doing well, her appetite is good and her energy level is amazing and sometimes I have to plead with her to sit and rest. We are keeping the faith that all go well and soon life return to some form of normalcy.

Fresh from the greenhouse, Cymbidium "Bethlehem Ridgeway" 

 

One Year

It has been one year since our dear, sweet Roxy came into our life. I must say if there was ever a more perfect dog, Roxy is it. She has settled in so well and is such a game little dog ready for what ever comes her way. When Covid is over and life returns to some sort of normal we will have to take some nice long road trips as car travel is one of her favorite joys.  

When we brought her home one of the breeders requirements was that she travel in a crate, which we dutifully obliged. But she was six years old not a puppy so after arriving home I folded the crate up and it is stored in the attic. Roxy has never had an accident and lets us know when the need to go out to the garden is necessary.  She enjoys a good walk, has never missed a meal, lets us know when there is something afoot but never barks just to be heard. 

During Covid and MeMa's battle with cancer she has adapted well to our quarantined life. She is so in-tuned with MeMa and recognizes when MeMa needs some extra snuggle time. The neighbors have all fallen in love with her sweet nature. 


 

When she first arrived Roxy would watch out the front window but never bark, she would watch goings on but remain silent. After a few months she decided that the neighborhood was part of her domain. Besides a shared hatred for squirrels she has a big hatred for the UPS delivery vehicles. Both receive a sound scolding until out of her sight. 

When bedtime approached Roxy is the first one ready to call it a day.

When we take too long getting ready for bed Roxy will attempt to speed things up by pulling down the bedding.