forget me not

the most perfect tiny pale blue flower

When I look at them ... I am reminded how astounding nature is. Our garden is filled with forget me nots - not yet in blossom but soon, very soon.

Miss D has hurt her back leg. She awoke this morning fine, bounded down the stairs and outside into her vast fenced in dog yard with her normal enthusiasm (to take care of a little business) and came back into the house not able to put any weight on her left back leg. Of course Mama totally freaked (as is her nature) and immediately began going through her doggie 911 check list. Was she bleeding, had she cut her paw ? was it a thorn ? a burr ? was her hip dislocated ? her knee ? I palpitated her entire limb gently while scrutinizing her every facial expression, is she in pain ? are any areas of her leg or foot warm ? I check her gums, are they pale ? is she bleeding internally ? (she's limping, I remind Mama !) is she still hungry ? could I tempt her with some cat food ? Thankfully all nos and a resounding yes to the cat food. Oh Thank God ! OK ... try and calm down Susan. She turned 10 in January. Please Missy D, live to be a very old dog.

So I sit here this morning a little later than usual at my lap top (hence more archival photographs) in our dining room. Winnie's one of those dogs who will insist on following me wherever I might go and I don't want her to try and climb the stairs. I've been able only to race upstairs for minutes at a time to retrieve a few things and even by then she's hobbled up onto the landing at the bottom of the stairs. I'll forgo the bubbles & scent this morning, I'll rearrange my Sunday schedule a bit and I'll hang with her today, keep an eye on her. I did give her an ASA tablet (325g- she weighs about 65lbs) and she's now sleeping soundly on her living room bed. I'm thinking and hoping that it's just a bad sprain.

A fantastic dog first aid kit list every dog lover should either print or bookmark.