Well, I'm back from Helsinki, but Art Unraveled is right off the list. I was sitting in a Helsinki hotel Friday night reading an email from Paula (www.paulabest.com), and I quote "I'm heading off in the truck. See you later today!." Well, THAT didn't happen. Previously, I've arrived at a show for which I never sent in an application; I've purchased tickets for the wrong date (several times); I've even gone to the wrong venue; but this is a new First. As I bumble my way through the years, and across continents, I wonder just how much more incompetent I can get...and then I surprise myself. Very sorry Art Unraveled folks. I'd been collecting some very kewl stuff expecially for you, that must wait for next year.
I didn't take a camera to Helsinki because it weighed a pound (isn't THAT sad), and my phone battery is very whimsical after 18 months (gotta love (NOT!) Planned Obsolescence), so my one pic was taken by Fred and Ank (www.stampinback.nl). This is one of my classes after the show.

Yay!!!! Count 'em -- FOUR functioning legs!! Cosmos in his Ricaro-Montalban-Lounging-in-a-Smoking-Jacket pose....and very happy to have the collar and wrappings off. It's been a LONG 10 weeks.
Here's what the mending bones look like now. It's it amazing how they've gone back together. I'd never dared to hope that we'd be this lucky. If Creighton or I ever break anything, we're going to the vet!!


He's not too keen on the leash, but we have to keep him quiet for another month.
I'm off to a show in Helsinki tomorrow, and then down to Phoenix for Art Unraveled, so probably won't post again for a couple of weeks.

I got a new, cushy bike seat, so Batman and I have been touring the neighborhoods in the evenings. We're up to 6 miles, and were aiming for 8 tonight, but it's just too danged hot.
Cosmos' appointment yesterday was postponed, so we'll be going for our, hopefully, last visit this coming Tuesday. He broke the splint on his last visit -- another $423.00 jab :-(

Purple Flower, Red Ladybug

Creighton's GPS Professor visited this week, so we took off one afternoon and hiked around Mt. Spokane.
Cosmos update: The vet took the splint off on Tuesday, so he just has a bandage around his leg. It has slowed him down a bit, but we're still encouraged in his progress. He gets another Xray next Friday, and hopefully all the wrappings come off then.

Time for more Hawaii pics....Shrine with Rooster and Chicken.

I've been to Collinsville and Orlando. Meanwhile, Cosmos has been back to the vet twice for happy days in the 1960's. Two more pins are out, and he's motoring around on 4 legs.

He still has the Bobble-Head action going on with the Cone Of Shame, but at least the front paw-hop is in the past. Now he is a bit of a "Peg Leg", unfortunately can't get him to balance a fake parrot on his back LOL. I think this means that there is no nerve damage, so we're all happy campers. Batman can almost get lost in the grass. Can't cut it until we have a couple of dry days, which hasn't happened for several weeks. Tomorrow was supposed to be Yard Day, but it's raining again tonight.

I got back from the West Springfield show late last night. I leave for Collinsville on Thursday, so my two days are pretty much unpacking, pressing, trimming, re-packing....and maybe some laundry.
I took Cosmos to the vet this morning so here's his update....
Some good news, and some questionable. The bones are fusing as hoped, but the vet is concerned because he's not moving the leg or foot at all, so there *could* be nerve damage. Don't know yet, so we're saving that panic for later. He has a new contraption....less pins and wrapping, but added a splint to hold his foot up....Oops, the splint is not in the pic. The vet must have really good drugs.

He had to be carried to the car, then carried inside, and has been like this for 6 hours. We're starting some therapy to move his leg....as soon as he wakes up LOL. Water therapy was recommended, but he so hates to even get his feet wet that I think the stress of getting in a pool (assuming that we can even get him in deep enough to be of value) would offset the benefit.
Thanks to everyone who is following the sage. Coz, I Creighton and the Batman all appreciate your Good Wishes and Healthful Thoughts.

Yes, very good drugs. Cosmos is spending his day in the 1960's.

I'm in the Phoenix airport, headed for the W. Springfield show. No new pics of Cosmos, but here's one from the
Audubon Valley on Oahu. The weather was crap most of the week, and we had no money for excursions, but we took a walk through the park one afternoon to see the flowers and feed the mosquitos.

I'm disappointed that the pic is so washed-out looking. Hope it looks better on your monitor. Gotta run for a flight now, so no time to fuss with it. Original looks much better. :-(
Cosmos Update...we've passed the half-way point on his pins and clamps. Only three weeks more and hopefully we'll switch to a cast. He's doing great -- he's gotten used to swinging his leg around so he can lay down on his own, and he's hopping around the yard with no issues. I'd intended to post a video, but it's rained all week, and he hates getting his feet wet, so the trips outside have been short and to the point. I really wish we could take off the Elizabethan collar, but I think it bothers me more than Coz. He looks like a cross between a bobble-head doll and Marty Feldman in "Young Frankenstein". "Walk this way, master". LOL

I am a Bad Dog.

I pulled off all the wrappings and stuffing out of my bandage, AND chewed off the duct tape my parents put on the exposed clamps last night. I even cut my tongue on a sharp edge. So now I'm wearing this stupid collar again, and we're off to the vet. :-(

I'm home from the Sacramento show. My booth backed up to Paula Best. I hadn't seen P and T in AGES, so I was very happy to spend the day with them.
I finally finished T's Christmas pedi-socks -- last Christmas, not this year :-( I have made a couple more pairs recently, but gave those away before I took pics.