Ed Art; Good Bridie

 

Many thanks to local artist Ed Robinson for this small painting. 

Ed painted it on site a couple of months ago, then posted it with the note that if anyone could guess the location, they could have the painting. 

Pays off to be out and about around the country, taking pictures or just sight seeing. 

I immediately recognized it and sent in my answer. 

It was correct.

Ed, who's a very busy artist, had some finishing touches to do on the painting.  He completed them this week, and now we have a third Ed Robinson painting in our home. 

Ed was Bill's boss at the Idaho Department of Lands. After retirement, he took on a whole new mission of going to the beautiful places around our area and painting them on site. 

Bill and I have run across him with his easel and brush a couple of times in our travels. 

I'm not going to reveal where this scene is in hopes there will be others who may recognize it. 

No offers to give away the painting though. 

Most anyone who's ever had a dog or cat probably knows by looking at this photo what's happening in Bridie's life.

Yup, she's been spayed. 

It's been 15 years since we've had a dog spayed. 

At that time, our vet Cherise picked up Kea from our house, performed the surgery and delivered her back to us that afternoon. 

Fifteen years must be a LONG time in the doggie spaying memory bank.  I did recall that we had to keep an eye on Kea, but I don't remember 14 days of no playing, running, etc. 

I don't even remember her wearing an Elizabethan collar, but since we have one in the garage, somebody must have worn it for some reason.  

When I heard the tech say 14 days of minimal activity, I was gobsmacked. 

"Fourteen days?" I said. 

She just kinda smiled somewhat apologetically and went on with her post-surgery information. Then, she helped me put Bridie in the car.

Bridie's surgery all happened fast.  I took her to the hospital at 9 a.m. and went back to pick her up at 11:30. 

All the way home, while petting poor little pathetic Bridie, I kept trying to dig deep into the recesses of my mind to revive memories of 14 days of keeping a puppy from doing what puppies love to do----and I don't mean drinking from the "turlot," as Bill calls it, or ripping up toilet paper rolls.

I mean rough housing and racing hell bent for leather with their doggie friends.  

How does one put the brakes on that behavior---cold turkey, no less?

Still, this morning, I do not remember the 14-day sentence with prior pups, but the Internet says it is so.  

One link even warned owners about innards falling out if those babies lick their wounds too much. 

SO, we'll adapt to this new temporary routine with Bridie

Bridie was feeling pretty out of it all the way home.  She, of course, rallied when she saw Liam and he sniffed every inch of her body.  He knew where she'd been. 

Puppies get extra special attention from their friends when they've gone through a traumatic event. 

I told Liam and Foster they needed to be careful around Bridie, and they seemed to understand. 

Bill and I spent some time adjusting mentally to the situation ahead. 

Later, I found the Elizabethan collar dusted it off and put it around Bridie's neck. 

She wasn't in to adjusting, contorting all over the place, trying her darndest to get that thing off. 

And, Bill thought that collar looked mighty big for little Bridie and that certainly we could find a smaller one. 

So, I told him to go to town and do his shopping. 

Bridie spent the afternoon dozing a lot, sometimes whimpering. 

I called the vets to see if she could have pain meds, even though the instruction sheet said to wait until today.

Turns out they had been concerned about her sensitivity, so they said to come by and get some stronger meds. 

Later, Bill came home with the meds and a smaller collar which fastens with velcro.  He also brought a whole bunch of treats which were on sale AND four more cans of Festus food (YAY). 

Our new routine for doggies outdoors and doing their business now involves leash time for Bridie and time away from Liam so she can concentrate on No. 1 and No. 2. 

Bridie's smart, but she LOVES her Liam to the point of total distraction. 

Before going to bed, Bill gave Bridie another pill and put on her collar for the crate.  The tech told me that crate time is most crucial for the collar cuz they can be pretty sneaky while in their own personal quarters.

And, so this morning "Good Bridie" had made it through the night with no whimpering and maybe even a little sleep in that collar. 

She seems to be adjusting to the collar and not running into nearly as many cupboards, chairs or coming to abrupt stops when the plastic meets the ground surface.

I don't know if it's harder on us or on Bridie for her to cease playing and enjoying fast times with big brother Liam.   

Yes, Border Collies are smart, but I'm not so sure they have the acuity to understand recovering from wounds, so we adults have to be on our guard at all times and guard them against engaging in any activities that would slow her healing. 

Bill saw another collar yesterday which is somewhat like those neck pillows we wear on long airline flights.

He's planning to purchase one, bring it home and we'll see if it's effective and less cumbersome for Bridie.

If all else fails in the collar department, the tech said we could look into sweat pants for Bridie.  Somehow I think that option could cause more problems that it solves. 

In the meantime, after today, only 12 days of Bridie rehab left.  Still sounds like a LONG time, especially for puppies as well as their old personal peeps. 

We'll make it. 

Happy Friday. 

Bridie BS aka Bridie Before Spaying