For years and years I’ve heard people who no longer work say “I don’t know how I did it all” and I agree. There are days when I sit and knit way too long but most days, when I think back to my working days, mostly before Chad, I don’t know how anyone does it. I always came home and cooked dinner, or we went out with friends and they came back to our house for dessert; I had a garden; I sewed, smocked, quilted – always some kind of handiwork and worked full time, with a drive of at least 45 minutes each way. Maybe because I was young and had more energy but I don’t think I could do it now. I’m not sure I could be up at 6, out the door at 7 or 7:15, gone all day and back home after 6 p.m., cook dinner, get laundry done, keep the garden up, have time for socializing and do all the things I did back then.
You might can guess that I’m sitting her thinking . . when Vince goes back to work after lunch, I’m taking a nap!
Wednesday evening, Rita started scratching. It’s kinda funny because she sits on the back of the sofa but she gets down on the floor to scratch when she’s got an itch, then gets back up on the back of the sofa. She was up, down, up and down . . all evening. At night, she gets in her little bed and goes right to sleep and sleeps like a rock all night. But, not Wednesday night. She was up and down all night. About 3 a.m., I put her in the kitchen and closed the gate but she made so much noise Vince couldn’t sleep so I let her have the run of the house. She got onto the back of the sofa and was quiet enough that we were able to finish sleeping.
She seemed better yesterday til about 4 so I called the vet and he told me to give her half a Benadryl. I did but I was so worried that I had harmed her so I didn’t give her any more. Last night . . same thing . . I ended up on the sofa with her for a while so Vince could sleep.
First thing this morning, I took her to the vet and she has allergies. I’m thinking . . I washed her blanket Monday or Tuesday and I didn’t use Free & Clear detergent because she’s never shown signs of allergies but I’m going to re-wash everything today and see if that helps. I just don’t think she’s outside enough to have allergies from something outside but . . maybe. Plus, it’s all on her skin . . no coughing or sneezing. Who knows.
I had to laugh . . Rita is taking meds for allergies, I’m just finishing up meds for a sinus infection and Vince is taking meds after cutting his finger over the weekend. Of all the inhabitants of the house, only old Speck isn’t on meds.
Early this morning I started making gumbo so after taking Rita to the vet, I had to come home and take another shower. She sheds so much when she’s nervous and I didn’t want to have dog hair in the gumbo so after a little interruption, the gumbo was going again.
Gumbo
It’s a little warmer than what I prefer for making gumbo but I was so hungry for it and a friend had surgery today and I told her I’d bring dinner. They have never had gumbo so I gave them a choice of gumbo or smoked chicken and they chose gumbo . .which makes me happy.
I’ll make some rice, a spinach salad and something for dessert and I’ll hope they like gumbo!
Vickie in Cleveland says
Funny you should mention allergies in dogs. Our dog is experiencing the same thing! She was rubbing the hair off her backside so badly, we had to finally take her to the vet. He said this is the season for allergies in dogs. I had never heard of such a thing, either! Now she’s been taking amoxicillan and predizone, and she’s doing much better.
Sherry V. says
One of our dogs has been battling allergies almost continuously for over a year. . . .it seems to let up a little but then she is back at it again. Our vet gave us a cream to use on the exposed skin (she’s pulled out quite a clump of hair on her side), but the allergies just never go away. I feel so bad for her.
We have taken to giving her more frequent baths with an oatmeal shampoo and that seems to help a little. . . .but not for very long.
Hope Rita feels better soon.
Sherry V.
Laura says
I really look forward to when I can retire. I won’t cook or garden to the extent that you do, but I have plenty of other activities awaiting my attention.
Theresa says
For what it’s worth, here’s a few things to try: feed Rita chow that doesn’t have grain in it; give her a fish oil capsule with her food once a day (break it open if she won’t eat it, mine love them); don’t get her any vaccinations except those mandated by law (rabies); try coconut oil topically and/or by mouth. Don’t know if it’ll work for Rita, but it’s worked for mine.
Barbara says
my hairdresser just told me a similar story about his dog…
she had all kinds of skin problems and taking medicine etc.
he changed her dog food and all her skin problems vanished!
Maggie says
My grandcat has to get allergy shots, her allergies were so bad she had to keep getting steroid shots, and that is not good for her liver. So now we have to give her a shot of allergy serum every week. Crazy, but it is working great!
Mechelle says
My 8 yr old Cocker has very itchy skin caused by allergies – no food changes have ever helped but we did recently get some new medicated shampoo prescribed by the vet that has helped a lot called Ketoseb+PS. It was pricey, but how much is a good nights sleep worth! Contains- Chlorhexidine2%, Ketoconarzole1% and Phytosphingosine .05% Interestingly the Keto stuff is what some human dandruff shampoo has, makes sense it would help with itching! Good Luck!