When I opened Dougie’s record, there was lymphoma staring out at me almost as if from Luna’s distant past.
I was gonna tell you our happiest news, then later I was gonna tell you what Dougie has been walking through. But life does not separate out like that does it?
If you ask for acepromazine, we will fish it out from the back of the top shelf and throw the bottle at your head. Just kidding! Also, don’t open that.
Many years ago, when I was first starting gardening, we got a Seed Savers Exchange catalog. That and the Square Foot Gardening book have been my very favorite gardening resources - besides YOU of course!
We got Grandpa Ott’s morning glory seeds from that first catalog, and they STILL come up every year.
We have since been to visit the Seed Savers Exchange farm twice, and I have written a joint post with the Square Foot Gardening book team, because I just love all things gardening. And people. And random fun connections.
And I love these flowers so much.
When Blue and Abby were little, we covered a stick tent frame with these morning glories and scarlet runner beans, also from Seed Savers Exchange.
Last year when a visiting nurse was over (my ridiculous cat allergies are a whole other post - or posts - as you know!) she asked if she could take a cutting from the morning glories. I hope they are everywhere in her yard now too.
They are just coming up again in our front containers, and I love them so much. It does not show in these photos, but if you are not a dog or cat or are not red-green colorblind, they are the most gorgeous bridesmaid dress purple, and they are my favorite thing in our garden.
Next week - the rest of the garden so far! Have a great week all!
If you want morning glory cuttings or seeds, lemme know. We will make it into a blog post :)
Another one in full color because…have you seen Mom and Dad’s yard?? It is my favorite place in the world.
My Mother-in-law-in-law gifted me a Bird Buddy - a bird feeder that takes photos of birds who visit.
My Mom and Dad gave me a Bird Buddy too!
I love them so much. Russ and I both do.
Doug does not. He - as a Golden Retriever - a bird dog by blood - does not hurt the birds who visit. He is as always the most gentle soul. He gets his feelings hurt if I call the birds my buddy. This is a real conversation we have had more than once -
Me to a sparrow: “Hi Buddy!”
Doug: mopes till I self-correct and tell him he is my only buddy.
Here are some of the birds we have seen. I left the post in full color instead of dog and cat vision as usual. Mostly because how beautiful is this male oriole?? And that woodpecker!
More to come! I wanted to show these to you to start! I have loved seeing your wild bird photos!
I love this so much. And Doug DOES love time on the deck with us. A win all around.
Hope you have the best weekend ever.
Kathi Ortmeier, the incomparable and amazing leader of Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland, had donated a huge box of teddy bears, other toys and some snacks to give to our patients.
This story is not from today, but from several months ago when Dr. Soethout was a brand new veterinarian at the practice.
We were all getting a little overwhelmed, probably New Doc because everything was, well, new, and the rest of us, because seeing the mortality and morbidity of pets and sharing in the grief and uncertainty of the people who love them most sometimes can be just a little more than our hearts can bear.
We reached this point fairly early in the morning.
The wonderful dentist who works on the other side of our building ran over to the veterinary side of the building, down dove held gently in both hands.
Sarah took her. Dr. Soethout examined her. She had crashed into their window mid-flight. She was shaken but not broken.
Same little dove.
We watched her all morning as she gathered her tiny little bird wits and her mentation stabilized, grateful for Nebraska Wildlife Rehab in the wings (haha) but hopeful we would not need the transfer.
Mid-morning, with a hospital full of patients and their families - all understanding we needed a tiny win because they too needed a win - the entire team went out back by the trash cans and picnic table and opened the box.
The dove nestled in and waited.
Dr. Soethout picked her up gently, and still she waited. “You got this Snow White!” I said.
I bet you are grateful the nickname did not stick, huh Doc?
The dove nestled in further and waited still, seemingly comfortable with her rescuer. He set her gently on the ground. She looked behind her and then ahead and flew off without a hitch.
We all laughed in relief and got back to work. The day seemed lighter.
That night I posted this below on Facebook. That case still gets me through sometimes. Thanks Doc. Thanks Sarah. Thanks team. I am so very blessed to know all of you and walk through this career with you 🤍
🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
Sarah and Dr. Soethout saved a mourning dove who bonked her tiny noggin on the neighboring dentist’s window first thing this morning, and we all stopped in The Middle of Everything and went outside to watch her be released, and that is just the Noah’s Ark miracle minute we needed to keep going in this FREAKING week. 🕊️
🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
Thank you to the amazing Barb Ericson and Russell Finch for these beautiful photos! 🤍
I hope your new coworkers always put signs up to protect you from touching hot things and sharp things - and if you are lucky enough to work in medicine again - sterile surgery sites :)
This is gonna be the best chapter yet. I will continue to walk with you every step of the way through whatever comes next.
Emily attracted and enhanced the best in everyone. We are all gut punched.
Happy to report after over a decade of seeing ONLY dogs, I am now seeing stuffed dogs and (pretend) pandas.
Happy 80th birthday tomorrow to Russ’s Mom and my Mom-in-Law, Karen Finch! Love you so much! Hope this is the best birthday yet!
I will name her Lucky :)
My favorite TV comeback of 2026…SCRUBS SEASON 10!
I realized after I said it that I had just yelled at a stranger that he was a liar and quickly apologized.
Remember you are very very loved. If you forget, Dougie will be there with a mouth full of drool to remind you <3
I guess that was a weird aside in my Christmas letter post. So much for me staying on theme, but I realized I owe you all an explanation.
The group of Schnauzers who look like THIS are some of my favorites in the world.
They brought two bags of the best smelling and most delicious coffee as a just because gift for Russ and me, and we enjoyed it every weekend morning until that rough season was behind us.