Jasper

I have to apologize for the lack of entries in our blog lately but we have been a bit busy and worried about our little dog Jasper.

For the past week and a half Jasper has not been well.  We started noticing that he had very runny stools and they were coming out black.  He had slowed right down and had no spunk.  He used to love to go for walks around the campground but now he walks across the sidewalk in front of the moho and then stops.  He just didn’t want to go any further.

We took him to the vet in Kensington on Friday August 24^th and she gave us some antibiotics and told us if he didn’t get better to come back.  Jasper continued to have no energy and now he had developed constipation and had no poops for 3 days. 

We went back to the vets in Kensington and got a different vet.  She did a thorough examination and said that she thought he had internal bleeding.  She took some blood but had to send it out to the lab.  She gave us another medication to help line the intestines where she thought the bleeding might be occurring. 

The next day she called to say that Jasper’s red blood cells were low and there might be a problem with his liver.  She suggested that we take Jasper to the University of PEI Veterinary Hospital for an ultra sound and further tests.

With the long weekend approaching we were unsure that we would be able to get an appointment with the hospital.  Luckily the Vet in Kensington called down and gave them a sense of urgency and we were able to get an appointment for the afternoon.  Jasper had slowed right down by now.  He had no energy and had to be carried into the hospital. 

The Vet took his history and gave him an examination.  She had a lot of ideas of what she thought it might be.  She felt it best that we leave Jasper with her so she could run some blood tests and do an ultra sound.  She felt that there was internal bleeding and wanted to find out where it was coming from.

We came back to the hospital around 4:30 p.m. and the Vet told us that the blood results came back and they weren’t good.  Jasper’s red cell count should have been around 45 but had dropped down to 19 which was lower than the blood tests that were run the day before.  She said he was bleeding out and he needed a blood transfusion.  She was also worried about the liver and thought that there might be a problem with that as well.  She did the ultra sound and it had come back clear.  She didn’t find anything. The Vet wanted to keep Jasper over night to keep a check on his red cells and to see if Jasper would be strong enough for endoscope the next day.

The next day the Vet called us to let us know that she did the endoscope on Jasper.  She found a large mass of blood mixed with food in the lower stomach.  She felt that there was a lesion in the lower stomach and that is where the blood was coming from.  She wanted to keep Jasper another night in the hospital as he couldn’t hold his head up or stand yet from being under the anesthetic.  She also wanted to watch him on the new medication she was going to give him.

As you can imagine, this past week and a half has been an emotional roller coaster for us.  We lost our beloved dog Barclay six years ago while on a trip across Canada.  Watching Jasper get sick like this was like a flash back of what we went through back then.  We felt for sure that Jasper wasn’t going to make it. 

We now have some hope that he might be alright.  Only time and medication will tell for sure.  I just wish we knew what made him sick in the first place.  The doctors still don’t know where the bleed is coming from.  I’m just hoping that the medication will heal it and stop the blood loss. 

We were told tonight that we might be able to pick Jasper up in the morning.  It sure will be good to get the little guy home.  We sure miss him!!

For those of you who wonder what the cost of all these medical tests, Vet visits, medications and hospital stay cost?  Well … it’s expensive!!  We will get the final bill tomorrow.  The final cost of everything will be between $2500 - $3000 … but he is so cute … he’s worth it.

So I hope you will understand the delay of stories on our Retirement Adventure.  I will try and post more often for those of you who tune in from time to time to see what we have been up to.

Twilight Air Show

Tonight we went down to Summerside Harbor to watch the Twilight Air Show.  It is a preview of the Atlantic Air Show that is happening this weekend. They had stunt planes, older planes, a bi-plane and a glider that was in the dark but set off fireworks from the wing tips of the plane.

We arrived down at the harbor and found that parking on the street was very busy.  We managed to get a parking spot just 2 blocks from the park.  We walked down to park and found a spot right in the middle of where the action was going to happen.  We laid out our towels to sit on and settled in.  The dogs were really good.  Jasper, who wasn’t feeling well, sat with me and Bailey sat in front watching all the people.  As the night air fell it got a little chilly for them so Bailey snuggled in under the blanket along with Jasper.  They were very good all night.

The crowd was a good size that grew as the night went on.  The first stunt plane that came speeding by was really good.  He would climb up really high and then go into a spiral down spin trailing smoke behind.  He also did loop de loops and came incredibly close to the water.

The highlight of the evening came after dark.  A glider plane came but you couldn’t see it because of the darkness until he set off the fireworks from the wing tips.  It was so cool.  The plane went up and down trailing a flow of sparkling lights.  It was pretty amazing.

Then another stunt plane came and started with the music opening from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.  When the tones started to happen, you could see the underside of the plane flashing back the tones that were just played.  Then it went onto other musical numbers while the plane flashed lights and lit off fireworks from the plane.  I have never seen fireworks discharged from a plane in flight.  It was awesome!

After the show was over the crowds dispersed very quickly and the traffic jams were everywhere.  Ron and I took our time to leave the park giving everyone else a head start on leaving.  We got to the car and buckled the dogs into their car seats and noticed that the traffic on our street had gone.  Ron had the great idea of driving 2 blocks down and getting an ice cream cone.  By the time we finished the ice cream, all the traffic was gone and we drove back home.  It was a great evening!!

 

Dogs are cozy under the blanket

Glider with Fireworks

Stunt Plane with Fireworks

Date Night

Every once in a while you need to go out with your mate with just the two of you.  We call it “Date Night”.  This means that Ron and myself get to go out of the house (or moho in our case) without the dogs.  Tonight … was “Date Night”.

We decided to take in some of PEI’s locale festivities.  There was a free concert at Spinnaker’s Landing so we decided to go.  When we got there we decided to go to the Deckhouse for dinner.  We got a table over looking the concert area and facing the stage.  It was the perfect spot.  I had been craving fish and chips for days, so that’s what I had.  Ron had chicken fingers and fries.  They were both really good.

After dinner we went out to listen to the concert.  It was pretty good.  We then walked around the boardwalk checking out the shops.  When I turned around, Ron was gone.  I figured he had wandered off while I was in the last store.  I started to walk to the back where the water is and I heard my name being called.  I turned around but didn’t see anyone, then I looked up.  There was Ron on top of a lighthouse!  He had a bird’s eye view of the whole place.  I climbed up the lighthouse to join him.  What a view!!

The sun was just starting to go down and the refection in the water was amazing.  Looking from the top of the lighthouse you could see the stage in the distance where a lot of people had gathered for the evening entertainment.  In front of us we could see a class of highland cloggers practicing for a show on the wooden boards which formed the walkway.  It was interesting to watch and it reminded me of my days as a tap dancer.  Around the other side of the lighthouse was the water.  There we saw rows of boats tied up at the docks that looked beautiful with the sun glimmering on them and the water.  You couldn’t help but just look out over the water in awe.  It was so beautiful.

It was such a nice evening.  The weather cooperated and was a perfect temperature.  The food was good and I couldn’t ask for better company.  It was so nice to get out with just the two of us.  We both decided that we must do “Date Night” again … and soon.

To enlarge the photos, just double click on the photo.



Having dinner at the Deckhouse



The view from our table in the Deckhouse



Ron watching the concert




Police Boat




Looking for Ron



The view of Spinnakers Landing from the Lighthouse



Watching the highland clogger on the walkway

  

Beautiful view of the boats





Overlooking Spinnakers Landing




Concert goers at Spinnakers Landing



Time for a Trim

As you know, we have 2 white maltese dogs named Jasper and Bailey.  When we went to the tip of PEI we walked along the shores in the RED sand and dirt.  By the time we got back to the car, the hair on both Jasper and Bailey legs and feet we more of a rust color than white.  It was then we decided that we better see about getting them a hair cut.

Not knowing the island or where to go to get the boys groomed, we turned to the internet.  We looked up dog groomers in the Summerside area and found a few.  I wanted to take them to a salon that had a picture of a Maltese (I think it belonged to the owner) but Ron wanted to take them to the Animal Hospital … yes they had a groomer at the hospital.  Ron felt that if the hospital would hire them they must be good. 

We went to the hospital but the groomer had left.  There was another employee working there that did grooming at home.  The other girls in the office vouched for her saying that she was really good and they take their dogs to her as well.  When she came out we told her what we had and she said that she could do them.  We set up an appointment for Friday to get them bathed, a hair cut and nails done.

When we dropped off Jasper and Bailey at the groomers, we noticed that she had several photos and ribbons on the wall of her shop.  Apparently she trains and shows cocker spaniels … and is quite good at it according to all the ribbons on the wall.  We felt comfortable leaving the dogs with her until … she told us to come back in an hour and they would both be done!  I said “one hour?? That’s for a bath, hair cut and nails?”  She said “yup … it won’t take me long to do this.”

We left and got a coffee.  We came back in an hour and walked into the shop.  Both the dogs were excited to see us.  Of course Bailey was freaking out and needed to be held.  At first I didn’t know if they had been done but then I saw that their face was trimmed down and they were “a little” thinner.  Both of the boys had a tuffed of hair in the front of the head.  Their legs and feet were still quite furry … something that I really wanted cut short so the hair wouldn’t get muddy from the sand.  Then I noticed her dogs staring at us through the glass door … her dogs were groomed exactly like Jasper and Bailey!

I asked her to take off the tuffed of hair from the front (which looked like a bad Mohawk) and she did so without hesitation.  I asked her if they had been bathed and she said yes but the rusty colored hair that was still on the legs and feet would take longer to fade away.  I still wondered how she could bath both dogs as well as groom them in one hour.

When I went to put them in their baskets to go home, I took a good whiff of Jasper and he smelled like he had been locked up in a kennel.  It did not smell like they had been bathed.  Nor did they have any wet spots on their hair indicating that they had been bathed.  Also the long hair on their ears had clumps of sticky stuff in them that was there when we dropped them off … and was STILL there.  I was really disappointed. 

Upon closer inspection when we got home, we found that there were clumps of long hair on Jasper and Bailey.  I guess she wanted to go so fast that she really didn’t take much care in actually doing an even job.  I have since taken the scissors to them to even things out.  I don’t care who you are … I really do not believe that you can Shampoo, give a hair cut and trim the nails on two dogs in less than an hour!!

Just how do you judge who is a good groomer these days?  I’m sure during our trip we will have to get the boys trimmed up again, but who do I call?  Everyone says they are good, but how do you really know?  Maybe they are good but only with one breed of dog.  I think that was the case with us.  She shows cocker spaniels and the other girl in the office who takes her dog to her, also has a cocker spaniel … so maybe that is what she is good with.  I really don’t think she has had many Maltese cross her table.

Don’t get me wrong, I was disappointed in what I saw.  I was expecting them to be shaved down clean like how we had them in Chilliwack.  I showed her a photo of them right after they had been groomed the last time and she said … no problem.  Unfortunately, she only trimmed them, leaving the hair longer than what was expected.  This means that we will have to get them done again a lot sooner.  We probably won’t be in PEI when it will have to be done again, so where do I go next?  How do we pick a good groomer?  Any ideas??  Please leave a comment and let me know.



How they are groomed in Chilliwack.
Notice how close and tidy the feet are.



Before taking them to the groomer in PEI



After taking them to the groomer in PEI.
Notice the rusty hairy feet.



North Cape

Yesterday we went to go look at a house in Enmore, which is up toward the north end of the island.  The house didn’t pan out but it was a nice day so we decided to go to the very end of the island.

We reached the top of the island called North Cape.  It is there that they have the Wind Energy Institute of Canada.  There were so many wind mills turning in the wind.  There was a bit of a marine fog lingering high in the air.  It made for a very cool image of the large blades turning but then disappearing in the fog only to reappear moments later.  It was like, now you see me, now you don’t.

We took the dogs for a walk and found ourselves at the very tip of the island.  There was a path leading down to the waters edge so we went down it.  It was so cool.  The walls of the cliffs were made up of several layers of rock and dirt and the color was so red! Looking out over the water we could see a lot of activity. We saw several fishing boats coming and going and small speed boats racing through the waves.  The tide was starting to come in so we thought we better make it back up the path before we were treading water.  By the time we made it back to the car, our little white dogs were little red dogs from walking in the red dirt.

Once we got back to the car we turned the air conditioning on then went and parked away from the parking lot.  I had packed a picnic lunch and we ate it over looking the water.  It was really nice.  After lunch we slowly drove back taking the scenic route along the coastal shoreline.  As we drove back we noticed that we were the only vehicle on the road.  I think we saw only 3 cars during the whole trip back until we got onto the main highway.  That is one of the things we love about PEI … there are no traffic jams!

Even though we started the day going to look at a house that didn’t work out, it turned into one of the nicest day driving and exploring the island.

Jasper & Bailey in their car seats



North Cape




Information on Wind Energy



Wind Energy Institute of Canada

Wind Mills



Marine Fog hiding the blades




Lighthouse at North Cape



The tip of PEI



Path leading to the water



Red Cliffs of PEI



Walking with the dogs in front of the cliffs




Watching the boats in the water




Ron against the red cliffs



Tide coming in

A Day of Rest

Blue Heron Standing in the Rain

Well it was bound to happen … we have rain!  Up until now we have had nothing but sunshine and warm weather.  Since we have been on the go every day since we left Chilliwack, today we have decided to do … nothing!!

With the rain pouring down, I looked out the window and saw a blue heron hard at work catching fish for his lunch.  I guess they don’t mind the rain.  Every day the herons come and stand very still in water.  Then they walk very slowly, keeping a keen eye out for some poor unsuspecting fish to swim along.  Then they swoop down into the water and spring back up gobbling the delectable morsel.

Since we are not doing anything today, there isn’t much to report on.  So I thought I would just include some of my favorite photos of our amazing journey so far.

Here is a post note … just came in from taking the dogs for a piddle and it was HOT HOT HOT!!  The sun has come out and it is 28c outside.  Just thought you’d like to know that.  J

Beach in Marquette

Lobster Festival Parade



 

The View from our Motorhome



 

The Confederation Bridge





Washing Windows





Delicious Dinner




Jasper & Bailey



Another beautiful Sunset





Taking a Rest at Lincoln Beach



Bath & Grooming Day



Lobster Dinner!

We spent the day driving around the island looking at properties … again.  Around 4:30 p.m. we decided to head for home.  I remembered that I hadn’t taken anything out for dinner so I suggested we pick up some lobsters.  We have eaten lobster several times since we’ve been on the island but I hadn’t cooked any yet.  Tonight would be the night!

We stopped in at a lobster shop and Ron picked out a couple of big lobsters.  They were quite lively as they were taken from the tank and put into the plastic bag.  We turned the air conditioner on in the car to keep them cool.

When we got home the first thing I did was look up on the internet how to cook lobsters.  I’ve cooked lobsters in the past, but since it has not been a staple in our diets, I decided to give myself a refresher course.  I put the water on to boil and then thought, what should we have with it?  I looked around and found some yams.  Now I know what you are thinking … Yams??  You’re supposed to have PEI potatoes!!  Well … I didn’t have any PEI potatoes, so I cooked the yams!  I boiled the yams and then mashed them with a little brown sugar.  It was really good.

We set the table and put out the special lobster tools and lobster bibs that I bought in Chilliwack.  After previous years in PEI eating lobsters I KNEW we needed those bibs!!  As I prepared the lobsters for their “water bath”, Ron was capturing the moment through film.  For some reason he loves to film me putting the lobsters into the pot.  Maybe because sometimes I have a bit of a problem getting them to go into the pot!  They like to fight with me … but I always win!

After they were cooked I took them from the pot and carefully split the tails and put them on the plate.  They took up the whole plate so we put out a side bowl for the mashed yams.  We had melted garlic butter to go with the lobster.  It was a bit messy cracking open the lobsters, but oh it was so worth it!!  They were delicious!!

Now the question is … what should I cook tomorrow?  It will be hard to top that!