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| Well, we arrived at the woods having been able to see sun reflecting off what used to be Postwick marsh and is now Postwick Lake (complete with assorted ducks and geese) - amazingly, the track down to our woods was dry and, despite being surrounded on 4 sides with acres of water, the drainage ditches and dykes held - our woods are a little island of dryness (apart from a small corner at the southeast which is where the osier beds are going - precisely because that is the wettest spot). This was after a 60 year tidal surge - the last one in 1953 is legendary in East Anglia, - many, many lives were lost and sea defences were simply abandoned all down the east coast. We had expected to find the horsebox sunk to its axles. A couple of trees had fallen, but nowhere near the horsebox. The beehives are fine and the first shoots of bulbs were poking through the leaf litter. Have spent most of the day at the vets and the attached hospital where Lila is having tests. Have had to spend our Christmas savings but there ya go - she is priceless to us and we need to know all options have been explored before having the quality of life conversation. Presented with a list of possible problems, ranging from liver and kidney fails, tumours and heart murmurs (which have just been discovered) - not to mention hormonal imbalances. Undoubtably, we are massively fortunate in being able to access the world famous Cambridge University Vet's school - especially since we only pay for tests and meds and not the vet care (which can run into thousands of pounds). I have been lucky, so far, to never have to make a choice to let an animal go because we were unable to afford treatment - I could not imagine anything more heartbreaking.....but if we did have to rely on private vet care, I suspect we would not be able to afford any animals at all (insurance is frequently useless with ongoing conditions and no-one will insure an older animal). Still, a new cache of seeds arrived in the post today, including a couple of elms (lacebark, siberian), the amazing (but wildly optimistic) madrone, nandina, winterberry, bristly locust and chinese pistacio.....so will be sieving, potting and generally faffing, to keep my spirits up and hands busy. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by poorbutroserich none (My Page) on Tue, Dec 10, 13 at 10:18
| I like your attitude! Life is what me make it! Keep on keepin' on. Susan |
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| I'm glad to hear things are working themselves out. We were worried! |
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- Posted by sherryocala 9A Florida (My Page) on Tue, Dec 10, 13 at 12:40
| Being high and dry is a good thing! I feel your pain over Lila, Suzy. All you can do is make the best of each day you have with her which, of course, you are doing admirably. Even a boatload of money isn't enough when the time comes. It takes wisdom to know when to stop when love won't let you. For us it's the vet bills that prevent us from having new pets. Your seeds are the next step of optimism that everything will be better. Be well. Sherry |
Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation..
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- Posted by cemeteryrose USDA 9/Sunset 14 (My Page) on Tue, Dec 10, 13 at 14:04
| Faffing. Yet another wonderful English word that I've never encountered. And so applicable to my usual day. I must stop faffing about right now and finish an article, pay my property tax bill, and set my house to rights... Suzy, glad that things are going ok and that Lila responds to the care and love that you are giving her. Our old cat is on several medications and spends his days in a heated bed to ease his arthritis. We've got him comfortable and he seems content enough, but our hearts break a little more when the next inevitable problem develops. Gardening brings us hope and happy anticipation of the upcoming season, and gardening friends bring us support and camaraderie. Aren't we lucky! |
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- Posted by harborrose 8-Puget Sound/PNW (My Page) on Tue, Dec 10, 13 at 18:05
| I love madrones, Suzie. I hope you get a good crop from all of your seeds. It's always heartening to think of new life coming from seeds and seedlings. Sadly, the endings come for us all though and are hard to bear. I hope your pup has many more days and months and years of happy times with you. |
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- Posted by mendocino_rose z8 N CA. (My Page) on Tue, Dec 10, 13 at 18:26
| I can really sympathize about your dog. Our Mimsy came down with an auto-immune problem last June. We took $4000 out of retirement. It was that or she would die. I'm glad we had it. How fortunate that your spot was dry. There's always something to be thankful for. |
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