It's been quiet at Lakeside Musing lately. A new dog in the house requires a huge time commitment, and if that dogs gets sick, it becomes even greater. Zelda arrived just over a week before our trip to the 'doggy ER' last Sunday. Four hours, $400, and a few tests later, we were back home. Zelda, freshly pumped up with fluids, received a diagnosis of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, a week's worth of antibiotics and dietary supplements, and I began boiling chicken and rice for her next meal!Thankfully, Zelda bounced back just as quickly as she became ill. A couple of days later, we began reintroducing dog food along with the chicken and rice. The last chicken will be fed tonight.... we'll see how she feels about a breakfast of just dog food tomorrow! Aside from the digestive issues, she has adjusted seamlessly into the household.
This is the final week of school and Regent's Exams for Twin B. Summer at the lake officially begins Friday afternoon. We can't wait!
As far as reading goes, I finally finished a book! The last 50 pages of The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton were turned while sipping my morning coffee. This was a very entertaining, plot-driven novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My book club meets for discussion on Thursday, but I'm not quite sure what we're going to talk about. Will need to give this a little thought...
The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper is my current audio book. Cooper was born into a privileged Liberian family and enjoyed what seemed to be an idyllic childhood before civil war forced her family's exile to America. The book is read by the author. It took a couple disks to get used to her flat delivery, but I really enjoy when she speaks in the Liberian dialect.This week also mark the conclusion of our Wuthering Heights Wednesday read-along hosted by Jill at Fizzy Thoughts. I've really enjoyed this experience, probably even more than the book, and will post my final thoughts on Wednesday.
As for my next book... we'll see what strikes my fancy later this evening. What are you reading today?
I am glad Zelda is feeling better!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing better than finishing a book in the morning with a cup of coffee--sounds like your Sunday got off to a great start!
Glad your new dog is coming around and fitting into his new environment. I also sense your enthusiasm for the coming summer break. (I remember those days.) I hope this means your daughter will have more time in the kitchen. I enjoy reading about her latest projects.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry that Zelda (and your family) had to experience such discomfort. I hope that all is well now.
ReplyDeleteI know how excited you must be for the official start of summer!
Hope Zelda continues to improve.I hope Summer hurries up soon too, otherwise we'll be into Autumn.
ReplyDeleteTuesday at 3:00 pm marks the beginning of my summer vacation. Can hardly wait for all the books that I will get to this summer!! So glad that Zelda has bounce back!! I so want to read The Forgotten Garden, have fun with your book club discussing this one.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that Zelda is doing better and adjusting well to life in your home.
ReplyDeleteI was glad to hear that you enjoyed Forgotten Garden as well, and wanted to let you know that I enjoyed The House on Sugar Beach (print version).
Have a great week.
Yay for Zelda getting better!!
ReplyDeleteI want to check out the Morton. I just finished Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games, and now think I will (finally) return to Wolf Hall.
I'm so glad Zelda is better. Is it possible all her traveling had something to do with her illness? I still need to finish A Place of Greater Safety. Once that is done I will start my first book for the Japanese Literature Challenge. I'm very excited about that! Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteSorry to read of Zelda's illness, but very glad that she is feeling better (it is so hard to watch a pet suffer)!
ReplyDeleteHappy almost-summer!
Happy to hear Zelda is recovering - those vet bills can be horrendous.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed The Forgotten Garden too.
Both books look so good! I really must look into the second one.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I can relate to the pet thing. My cat has been through the wringer, and the bill is really going up, up, up. We love them so much, so it sure comes with having a pet! Good luck with Zelda!
Oh I'm glad Zelda is better! Summer is almost here, I think, too - I'm going on my summer holiday next week so that's it for me! I miss the days when I was a student and had months of summer holidays stretching ahead of me..sigh.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear that Zelda is feeling better now. Must have been a stressful time for you!
ReplyDeleteThe House at Sugar Beach sounds interesting.
P.S I have an award for you at my blog :)
Fingers crossed that Zelda's tummy troubles are almost over...poor girl. If you have carpet in your house investing in a steam cleaner is a good idea (this is experience talking!).
ReplyDeleteI'm slowly making my way through The Priory by the wonderful Dorothy Whipple.
Reviewsbylola - It's funny, but I rarely read first thing in the morning (need to wake up first). Finishing a book was a great way to start my Sunday!
ReplyDeleteMargot - Oh yes, definitely more time in the kitchen and more time reading, too. She has a stack of books and several recipes all ready to go!
Molly - Zelda is much better now. I was amazed that things got so bad within just a few hours... thank God for the doggy ER!
Zetor - Zelda continues to improve every day. Now if I could say that about the summer weather, we'd be all set. Have a great week!
Staci - Your countdown is really on now!! We are so looking forward to a little less structure over the summer. It's been a long year...
Diane - I think you'll enjoy The Forgotten Garden when you get to it. I'm liking The HOuse at Sugar Beach and learning a lot, but am not blown away by it... yet.
Amy - Wolf Hall is still near the top of my tbr. Maybe summer will be a good time to tackle it.
Gavin - I'm sure all the travel and changes had something to do with her illness. We're so glad she's better - what a sweet-tempered companion/walking buddy she has become for all of us!
ReplyDeleteDS - In all our years as pet owners, this was the first trip to a doggy ER. We were really impressed... better service than some of the people ER's I've been in!
Cat - Have you read Morton's other book, The HOuse at Riverton? I'm wondering how it compares. It's been several years since we last had a pet, and I'd forgotten about those unexpected vet bills... at least she's feeling better now.
Becky - The House at Sugar Beach is teaching me a lot about Liberia and it's history - something I've never been exposed to before. I'd forgotten about those vet bills, but they definitely go with the territory!
Bookssnob - I'm sure your trip will be fabulous. Can't wait to hear about it... and see a few pictures!
Kals - We're so glad Zelda is finally feeling better, too. It is a relief to us all. Will stop by your blog shortly - thanks so much!!
Darlene - Thoughts of investing in a steam cleaner have crossed my mind ;-) Can't wait to read your thoughts on The Priory. I need to get my hands on another Whipple book!
Aww...I hope Zelda gets back to 100%. It is always a little heartbreaking for me when babies and animals get sick because they have no way to say 'it hurts here'. I am happy she is on the mend...no doubt all the TLC is getting her there quicker:)
ReplyDeleteAw, poor Zelda! I hope she gets well soon.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I was one of the few people in the world who didn't enjoy The Forgotten Garden :\ Ah well... can't love them all, right?
I'm so sorry to hear that Zelda was sick but glad she is already bouncing back. I've been giving Buddy macaroni because he doesn't like the rice and it looks like it upset his tummy. Oh well, not sure what we'll do next.
ReplyDeleteI still have to read The Forgotten Garden - one of these days I will. I never did make it through WH -maybe when things settle down more I can focus on it again.
Poor Zelda! Hope she's feeling better!
ReplyDeleteI have yet to read a book set in Liberia (I'm failing my own challenge!), so it's nice to see mention of a book that's set there.
I'm reading The City Below. It's pretty standard fare so far. Two Irish Catholic brothers living in 1960's Boston. One is falling in with a criminal element, the other is heading off to college.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I can already guess where the plot of it will go, but that's okay. It's a summer read.
I am wishing Zelda for a speedy recovery!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for summer to be here. In San Francisco, summer usually doesn't come around until late August, early September---Indian summer. But I'm in the mood for summer already since there's massive cut back for teaching this summer. I have both The House at Riverton and The Forgotten garden in my pile and I can't wait to read them. :)
BookPsmith - Zelda is fully recovered now. I've always thought pediatricians and vets have the hardest jobs - patients that can't communicate!
ReplyDeleteNymeth - No, the same books don't work for all of us. Sorry you weren't able to lose yourself in the plot of The Forgotten Garden like I did... this would have been a great book for me to take to the beach!
Darlene - What are we going to do with these dogs and there sensitive tummies?? I know you had way too much going on to devote the time to WH. I liked it, but it certainly won't be one of my favorites this year.
Softdrink - I didn't know a thing about Liberia before starting this book! It's certainly had an interesting history.
C.B. James - Books like that are fine for summer reading, I think. Looking forward to hearing about your experience at Yale.
Matt - Thankfully, Zelda is better now. Hope we don't have to go through that again! The Forgotten Garden is a perfect book to read when you want to lose yourself in a plot... maybe by the pool or at the beach.
yay for summer! The picture of the lake on your blog is full of sunshine!
ReplyDeleteGlad Zelda is feeling better!
Booksnyc - At last!! It's finally looking like summer around here. We're happy Zelda recovered so quickly... a sick dog is no fun.
ReplyDelete