Stanza Update

Stanza's new preferred nap location

The vet called today with the results of Stanza's bloodwork. She is apparently extremely hyperthyroid. Otherwise her blood results are good for a gal of her age. They are shipping the meds this afternoon and we should have them in the morning. She also said to keep feeding her whatever she wants when she wants it for the time being. Stanza is up to 3 cans of fancy feast per day, the first one in am practically being inhaled! I think the FF bill will be worse than the meds. We need to have Stanza's blood re-checked in 3 weeks to see how the meds are doing. Because of her age they are only giving her 2 pills a day to start. She also advised me on what possible side effects may show up and to call her if I had any concerns. I told her stanza already seemed a bit improved with getting the extra food - poor thing was literally starving to death.

New Beginnings

Today is a big day for my US friends and for the world as well. Barack Obama is being inaugurated today. My owner, Louise, spent the time handquilting on her charm quilt in the frame.

Stanza thinks the new quiltframe makes a great perch for looking out the window

Since she a big meanie and doesn't want tufts of cat fur on her quilt, she makes me get off the quilt when she's working on it.I decided that there are other places a kitty can nap. She does keep the quilt covered with a flannel sheet when not working on it for two reasons:

1) the window faces east and she doesn't want the fabrics to fade - she likes to quilt in the natural light in the afternoon

2) it keeps my kitty "stuff" off the quilt.

Stanza napping on the Ottoman - she adopted this as her own after we moved into apt

The ottoman was left in the apt when we moved in - it makes a good coffee table with a shelf on it for a hard surface; is a great foot rest when sitting on the couch but it's primary purpose seems to be to serve as Stanza's own private comfort zone!

Off to Maple Creek, SK - a trip to our vet

Stanza and headed late this am for her trip to the vet in Maple Creek. We still use the vet in Maple Creek as they were recommended when we used to live in Gull Lake. They've treated us well and know Stanza so we've kept going there even though we moved to a place with several vets. I like to visit Maple Creek every now and then, it's a nice little day trip. We haven't had a road trip together since we came back from BC in October. The weather was great......warmer than it has been in ages. Should be above freezing before we head home, She settled in once we were on the highway and snoozed most of the way. Once I turned off the Trans Canada, though, she was up looking out the window and checking things it. It always makes me chuckle when she does this.

Stanza checking out what's up in Maple Creek

We spotted this over the street metal silouette which we hadn't remembered seeing on previous trips to Maple Creek. Louise took a number of photos of it on the way out.........

Maple Creek street silouette sign

Maple Creek is nestled close to the Cypress Hills Inter-Provincial park and the rolling landscape is great ranching country. It is not unusual to see cowboy hats and boots on "real" cowboys. The first time we drove into Maple Creekwe thought it was a place we'd like to live in. It is about a 10 min drive from the Trans Canada highway. Louise have been known to head into Curragh's for cinnamon bun(s) if she's going by and has the time. There are folks here with the same last name as Louise. She ran into some of them at a local rodeo and found they are not related' Too bad, they are nice folks and well known ranchers in the area.

Stanza going for a little stroll before heading into the vet office. She is looking quite thin for her

Stanza was her usual trooper self during the exam which was very thorough and included bloodwork to check on a variety of conditions. She was not impressed when they shaved her front paw to take the blood. The blood goes off to Saskatoon on the bus to be tested. Results won't be back until Tuesday or Wednesday. The vet said she had a nodule on the side of her thyroid and had me feel it. Stanza has also lost about 1.5 lbs which is a lot for an approx 8 lb cat. Her thinness at this time of year was one of the things that concerned me. She's usually putting on a bit of weight due to what I call the "fur doily" syndrome (sleeping everywhere) in the winter.

Stanza back at home with her "bandage" just before it was removed

After all the travel and news from the vet we were both a bit tuckered. wegot home in time to see an Oprah show I didn't want to miss from Washington DC and stanza went off to catch up on her missing naps and rest up from the indigities she had to endure with her vet visit (they took her temp).

Glamour girl

Happy New Year

Louise was busy today working on New Year intentions and things......getting organized to keep better track of her time, goals and things. She gets really into this stuff.


I havw a more open attitude to my day however -

Louise put a throw over the new couch to keep my kitty stuff off it, it's comfy for snoozing on.