Hot Caturday Art and Vet recheck report

This has been a very hot hot week here in MadiWorld.

We three seniors are  hot messes

Welcome to 

Caturday Art with Athena

I've been LunaPic'd

Mom took a selfie of she and dad with her i thingie then selected 'thermal'

Madi's Vet Visit yesterday

Mom here:

Well the check up didn't goes as I had hope.  Madi's kidney values have been an issue for about 2 years. The creatinine has stayed pretty much at an ok level or 2.2 ish. Dr. Szabo ideally wanted them below 2.  They were 2.39 two weeks ago.  Above 3 yesterday and no longer ok.  Which explains the unsettled tummy she has been having.  Anyway she is on sub q fluids daily starting today.  They are administered just in the scruff of her neck once a day via IV.  She is a trooper too and did not even seem to notice. Dr. S did it today MadiDad and I will do it from now on. It is a 2 person job.   We go back on Monday to have kidney levels checked again.  Good news is...he said LET HER EAT WHAT EVER brand food SHE will eat. She had lost....not gained a few ounces.   WE both thought she looked like she had gained. Anyway for a 15 yo cat, 76 in human years, I guess she is doing okey dokey.  She acts find and he was very pleased with how she looked outwardly and her blood pressure is fine.  He told me cats can live several years with sub fluids....and we started them early. We three musketeers will take baby steps each day and enjoy each day we have together.  

Sincerely

Private Duty RN to Madi(son) D best Cat

Flowers and Trains Pic #7

Happy Flower Friday...with

Hosted by Da Boyz and Angel Dory

the only thing blooming in this heat is our Crepe Myrtles and our neighbor's

On Saturday June 24th we had a lovely very early breakfast at the Fairfield Suites in Durango. The motor coach left promptly for the train station.
When we arrived we were greeted by this very friendly 1/2 Man 1/2 dinosaur.
It had something to do with a special event for the kids at the station that day.

This part of the trip out west has been on MadiDad's to do list for many many years.
Needless to say it was a thrilling day.

ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL ABOARD!!

Engine #486 was our ride up the narrow gauge tracks from Durango to Silverton

 She is a beauty even though she a bit of steamy attitude 
at high altitude. (lol)

We needed to board our reserved car, San Juan, at 8:30.
When ALL aboard was called we found these nice cups in our seats.
We could fill them up with anything (non alcoholic) for as long as we were on the train.

The scenery on the 3 hour ride to Silverton was amazing...deep gorges and beautiful vistas

THESE NEXT TWO WERE THE MOST COVETED SHOTS THAT HUBBY WANTED AND I GOT THEM

 YES that was a very sharp turn ahead!!

We stopped for water for #486 two times  after she gets a drink she has to
BURP or to a train brain Blow Down, release sludge and debris.  I was able to snap a
Burpy Blow Down too.  Below look way up to the engine.. the red arrow

A blow down is always done over a trestle so as not to harm any trees or vegetation with the hot steam.  The train is fueled by coal which makes ashes which fly about every where.
Due to the dry conditions and all the ashes, we had a spotter in a helicopter
flying above us to watch for any sparks that might start from the ashes. He could
call for help in a nano second.


Once in Silverton we had some time to explore before we had lunch
Silverton has one paved road...the remainder of the roads are gravel
BUT look at those views!!!
Our motor coach is pictured on the left side of the photo. Our fabulous driver
Larry drove it up the Silverton  while we rode the train.

They were having an antique vehicle show.  The red Corvette had my name all over it
but alas my luggage was too small

Of course I was totally attracted to this shop.

 We could have taken a 3 hour ride back to Durango on the train but alas we decided to
Say goodbye to #486 and ride the coach back through some beautiful back roads and scenery
The Caboose...aka THE End

This was a wonderful day the weather was beautiful and temperatures perfect.
If you'd like to read more about this trip click here

If you missed the funny story about an event that happened while the peeps were in
Silverton, click here


In spite of my poem yesterday about my bowl being EMPTY I have a confession.
Since I had the tummy ickies after the peeps returned from the 87 week 
one week trip out west, Mom has been very diligent and dedicated to seeing that my bowl is full.  My vet suggested small meals several times a day.  I LOVE MY VET!
Anyway I go back today for a recheck today at 1:30 pm.  Mom is
pretty sure I have gained back most of the weight I lost.  WE'll let you know how the visit went on tomorrow's post.

As you can see from these pictures and the others from our vacation
each moment was beautiful

We join Koru Bear and his mom

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 

Angel Sammy has suggested one of these  E words:

earth, evil, escape, empty

When my bowl is empty, from mom I get no sympathy.

I whine and I mew for her attention I beg. 

I even threaten to escape these digs.

I try not to get evil by showing my fangs 

BUT 

Surely there is a place on this earth I could roam 

Where food is plentiful and calories don't count and no one
watches the clock go 'round.

Few words Wednesday

This series of shots with my iPad taken in about a 30 minute span

7/8/17

WE saw this speed limit sign at a shopping center near our hotel, Courtyard by Marriott

 in Glenwood Springs, CO. June 20, 2017

Madi moves faster than 12 1/2 mph when stepping off her perch.

This was our view from our hotel room in Glenwood Springs, CO

Few statues outside the Marriott

 Isn't he just gorgeous?  TG sent this to us last weekend.
Kai went to the dog park and was trying very hard to get some pups to
chase him.  But it seems he wore them all out.   Big Kai smiles to you all
  He is a happy pup!! He will be 1 year old this month.

Touring Tuesday: Arches National Park Pics #6

We toured Arches National Park on our motor coach on June 22, 2017. Most of the arches and formations were easily seen from our Motor Coach which was good since the coach was too big to park on the side of the road. I 'borrowed' a little information from the Arches website.

Arches National Park

Website

Directions

4.82,461 Google reviews

National park in Grand County, Utah

Arches National Park lies north of Moab in the state of Utah. Bordered by the Colorado River in the southeast, it’s known as the site of more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, such as the massive, red-hued Delicate Arch in the east. Long, thin Landscape Arch stands in Devils Garden to the north. Other geological formations include Balanced Rock, towering over the desert landscape in the middle of the park.

Address: Utah

Area: 119.8 mi²

Hours: 

Open today · Open 24 hours

Established: April 12, 1929

Visitors: 1,585,718 (in 2016)

Did you know: In 1929, President Herbert Hoover signed the legislation creating Arches National Monument, to protect the arches, spires, balanced rocks, and other sandstone formations. 

No one knows for sure how many arches are there; however,  over 2,000 have been recorded. Some may have fallen and new arches may yet be forming. Most of the sandstones in the park contain iron oxide. It takes as little as 1-3% iron to color the rocks red.

Delicate Arch was way out in the middle of a huge field.  I could not get a picture with my camera due to the moving coach.

The light opening beneath Delicate Arch is 46 feet (14 m) high. The entire rock span is around 60 feet (18 m) tall.

Balanced Rock was the most amazing of all we saw in Arches

A Teetering Giant

Balanced Rock, one of the most iconic features in the park, stands a staggering 128 feet (39m) tall. While this formation may appear to be an epic balancing act, it’s actually not balanced at all. The slick rock boulder of Entrada Sandstone sits attached to its eroding pedestal of Dewey Bridge mudstone. The exposure of these two rock strata layers are ideal for the formation of arches and balanced rocks.

Balanced Rock defies gravity but this won’t always be the case. Eventually, the 3,600 ton (over 4 million kg) boulder will come tumbling down as the erosional process continues to shape the landscape. In the winter of 1975-76, Balanced Rock’s smaller sibling “Chip-Off-the-Old-Block” collapsed (view Then and Now), proving that there is no better time than the present to see this awe-inspiring giant.Unlike many of the other named features in the park, Balanced Rock can be seen from the park road. It is located 9.2 miles (14.8km) from the Arches Visitor Center. Although parking is limited, many visitors stop to complete the short hike (0.3mi / 0.5km roundtrip) around the rock’s base for unusual and up-close perspectives.

Majestic Monday

Subtitle: a Princess and a Diva let loose in Chatsworth Great Dining room

Mom asked me to tell you she has a few more vacation photos from Red Cliff Lodge area
here

Scorching Sunday and Gunnison National Park Pic #5

We saw 5 national parks while we were out West,  I knew Arches and the Red Cliffs would be spectacular but Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

was truly breathtaking...I have a link at the end to read more but I have pasted this paragraph from the link which perfectly describes this unexpected beauty.

Deep, Steep and Narrow

Big enough to be overwhelming, still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time, Black Canyon of the Gunnison exposes you to some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. With two million years to work, the Gunnison River, along with the forces of weathering, has sculpted this vertical wilderness of rock, water, and sky.

My pictures actually turned out pretty good and were able to capture the grandeur.

Click here to read more about this beautiful National Park