Gone To The Dogs -

Our weekend started out like this - a beautiful early afternoon for a dirt road hike before the rain was set to come in.

Rain? What rain? Puffy clouds, blue sky - surely they are wrong about the rain?

It wasn't much longer (like we'd reached half-way) and we began to hear rumbles of thunder coming from those clouds.

Walk faster!

We hurried up to the NC/VA state line sign just so the retreaters from Minnesota and Tennessee could say they had "stepped foot" in another state during their visit.

We had just made it back to the van and were loading up when up the road comes a red Subaru.

That looks like Hubster Dave's car!

It was Hubster Dave's car.

I brightly smiled and said "Hey!" And then I saw the look on his face.

"What's wrong?"

"Mabel is not doing well.  She's throwing up blood."  Oh no!

So he followed me back to the inn where I could leave the van, grab my purse, lock things up, let the ladies know what was going on, all as the sky opened up and it began to pour.

The rain must have fallen in pockets - as we reached Jefferson on our way to the Boone Emergency Vet it stopped.  So there was that.

Dave took Mabel in while I waited in the car to see what the waiting time was going to be before she could be seen (It's an ER vet, sometimes it's packed on weekends and you can't get seen right away) and then the sky opened up big time - I was stuck in the car for a while before I could brave it into the building myself.  Wow.  That was a gully washer.

We didn't know that what she had was EXTREMELY serious.  They did blood cultures and other exams and the diagnosis is something I had never heard before. But by the name I knew what it meant.

Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.

She was big time dehydrated and was passing blood at both ends. They kept her overnight.

Filled with worry, Dave and I headed home in an empty car minus one Mabel.

I got a call yesterday morning that she was doing a bit better, but was restless and anxious all night.  I knew she would be.  Dave is her "person" and no one else will do.

He picked her up yesterday evening and we have been on a mild chicken & rice given in small meals diet along with so many meds.

If she doesn't improve in a couple of days we need to take her to our vet for x-rays.  

I guess March really IS "Send your vet's kids to college" month.

We just want our girl to feel better!

Meanwhile at retreat - the quilters kept quilting!

Yesterday's weather was fairly chilly and rainy.  No hiking.  Besides, it was that "Spring Forward" day and everyone needed a nap by afternoon. HA!

Moonflower with red - perfect for the red moon we had this past week!

This cutie is coming together!

Little X's & O's!

Cute cute cute! I think this is from one of the 3 yard quilt books?

All of these blocks went from this

To this!

Smith Mountain Morning from Scraps & Shirttails II is coming together! 

And this Scrappy Mountain Majesties (Free Patterns tab )

Is being adorned with fusible woodland wildlife!

Something with many triangles!

And a baby quilt top in black and white prints.

As for me - with all of the vet visits and running around - I was only able to get these block quarters assembled.

Some weekends are like that.

Baby steps still move us forward.

This miraculous thing happened on the night Mabel had her sleep over at the vet's.

I've been trying to get Tula to be more comfortable just being around us.  I lifted her onto Zoey's side of the bed. (Hence the extra sheet protecting the quilt underneath and it got a bit muddy because of wet feet + rain)

Tula was up first, settled herself in that corner.  Then Zoey came in and jumped up.  Tula didn't move.

She felt comfortable enough to snooze here for a good long while before jumping down.  She is doing so much better.  Her curiosity is back and she has been exploring all corners of the house.

She hasn't been back on the bed again, but at least she knows she can if she wants to.

And I know this post is getting long but something else happened.

Do you remember me writing about a visit I had with some folks who have ties to the retreat house?

Give this video a view! They did an awesome job.

They did an amazing amount of work on this!

And did you see that both Flash and Hazel had cameo appearances?
Today:  A bit of a trade off.  Dave is off for his wrist therapy and then swimming at the health center. He'll be back by 1pm or so.
I'm running over to the retreat for morning group photos but then will be coming right back to sit with Mabel because she has to be watched closely.
I'll go back to the retreat after he returns.
It feels a little bit like when both boys were on two different soccer teams with games at different places at nearly the same time and we had to tag team with two cars to get them where they were to be and have a parent at each location.
Spring Forward? More like Wilt Forward!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -
I have no need of hiding fabric but this still gives me a giggle! 

Have you ever had to hide or disguise a fabric purchase?
Happy Monday, everyone -