Saturday, November 21, 2009

Frisky Cheats Death



So much has happened within the last two weeks, I scarcely know where to begin. Forgive me if this post is disjointed, but it seems to be a jumble in my head, which I am sure will be somewhat confusing. I have been in the Quad Cities for the past week. My mother underwent an Angiogram. Thankfully, she did not need to have an Angioplasty done, but she developed complications from the procedure, which wouldn't close up and clots formed. The nurses had to apply constant pressure for twenty minutes at a time. They kept her overnight and did an ultrasound before releasing her. I stayed with her for a few days after to drive her around and also to try to keep her from overdoing too quickly. That proved to be my hardest challenge, but she seems to be doing well, and best of all, the doctor said she can still travel here to spend the Holidays as she usually does.








I am now officially obsessed with Rattlesnakes! Frisky was bitten two weeks ago on the weekend. It must of just happened when we first saw him with his face and head swollen. When we checked on him later, he had a huge knot about the size of a golf ball, right between the eyes. and was no longer able to sit up. Thanks to the wonderful staff at Round Rock Emergency Animal Clinic, he not only survived, but is showing no ill effects. The staff was amazed at how quickly he recovered and began eating that night!

He was weak and tired for a few days, but I think that was more from the pain killers they gave him than the actual bite. I think once the venom was out of his system, he bounced back very quickly. We did not treat him with the anti venom, but with antibiotics and pain killers along with fluids to help flush the venom out. It is a terrible decision to make, but the with a price tag of $1500.00, not including the other medications and critical care he received, we felt it was all we could do.


Frisky is a feral cat we rescued as a kitten. I am convinced his strong will to live and tenacious spirit is what kept him alive. The vet said the fact that he was bitten on the nose, was in his favor, and if he had been bitten on a foot, he probably wouldn't have survived. My daughter researched on line as much as she could, and based her decision to not give the anti venom on reports, that it is not that effective in cats.



Needless to say, it has dampened my fervor to garden. I have literally left no stone unturned in the garden, and have found several snakes, but none were poisonous. Above is a Thailand Pepper that somehow grew in an Agave...try as I might to extract it, the sharp needles of the Agave have made it impossible.




This seems to be the only way I am able to view the Moonflower...I am too afraid to be out after dark now!






We have had some light frosts that have nipped the Morning Glories, but still blooms.






Not only do the sunny blooms of the Sunflower charm me, but the symmetry--the geometry of the seed heads amaze me.






Granddaughter Libby, first on left. First dance recital of the year. She has had to make the switch from gymnastics to dance after a back injury after nine years of gymnastic lessons.





Here we are, at the beginning of this jumbled mess of events--The San Antonio Botanical Garden tour I went on with the Austin Garden Bloggers.



I think this was my favorite display--the Children's Garden. They each made their scarecrows as individual as their garden plants.




The blossoms on this cactus looked just like little miniature pineapple.






I thought the cactus and desert gardens looked lovely in the midst of the Live Oaks.





The reflection of the Bald Cypress trees of east Texas in the water and the textures of the knobs of the Cypress tree roots at the water's edge was beautiful.




And here is the view of the Bald Cypress across the pond.




A lovely Dragonfly sculpture in the midst of the pond, which made me think of Becky.






I am in love with the Pink Muhly Grass. I bought four plants on this trip, which still haven't been planted yet.



This just looks like Texas to me.




A nice place to rest a minute before continuing on our tour.




I loved the playfulness of the sculpture both in subject and placements.



One of the dogs that greeted us at Madrones, a private nursery we visited, that opens by appointment only. I think the thing that struck me so strange, was our host at this nursery, commented on that he didn't feel the need to caution us on snakes as they were now all hibernating!
The very next day was when Frisky was bitten.



The Pomegranates were so beautiful--in shape and color.

There was so much more at the Botanical Gardens that I wanted to cover on a post, but so much has happened in a short amount of time, I feel I could never do justice to that wonderful trip. It was fun to get to meet some of the garden bloggers, and I hope
to have another opportunity to get to go on fun field trips with them again.
























20 comments:

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

MGRR, I'm so glad to hear both your mom and Frisky survived their harrowing health ordeals!! Love agave and pomegranite--such wonderful shapes!

Wendy said...

Thank goodness your mother is o.k.! What a fright for you!! And poor Frisky! What a lot you've gone through lately.

Nice to see your granddaughter on stage. She looks happy, so I hope the switch from gymnastics has been a good one. I used to love gymnastics when I was a girl.

Your pics are beautiful. It is so nice to come here and see flowers, green plants, pomegranets (I've never seen them growing on trees)and the cypress tree. I had to enlarge the pic to properly see the dragonfly.

The childrens garden really is special, isn't it?
Thanks for sharing your tour with us. Hope your mom continues to do well. And frisky too.
Hugs

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Hi Monica,

Never a dull moment here in Round Rock! I am so grateful that Mom is okay--another thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season. We now call Frisky the Wonder Cat because it is a wonder he is still alive.

All the shapes and colors at the San Antonio Gardens were wonderful--each area had a beauty and flavor all it's own.

Rose said...

Oh my, MG, I wouldn't go out in the garden after dark either! I am petrified of any kind of snake, but a rattlesnake might cause me to hang up my hoe for good. Poor Frisky; I'm so glad he is doing better. Glad to hear also that your mother has recovered. You have certainly had your hands full lately.

What fun to join the Austin bloggers for this tour; lovely photos. I've never seen a pomegranete tree before; now that is something I wish I could grow in my garden. And I do love agaves!

Cheryl said...

Glad to hear that Mum is doing well....so worrying for you...

Frisky is a survivor.....he could possibly have a natural immunity to the venom now.....I am only guessing here. He is a lovely cat....
I can understand you are very aware of snakes now!!

Some beautiful shots......the landscaping is lovely and I thought the dragonfly situated on the lake was very special.......

Marie said...

I'm glad your mother is recovering and Frisky survived! No one needs that kind of excitment.

The San Antonio Botanical Garden pictures were great. The "just looks like Texas" shot is perfect.

Thanks for sharing. It didn't seem jumbled at all.

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Hi Wendy! I feel like I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving--especially my mother doing so well. Between her and Frisky I am done with the excitement for awhile! Thanks so much for your praise of my pics. After seeing the fancy equipment the other bloggers have, I feel I can say with authority, it IS the camera's fault when my pics don't turn out. ;-)
HUGS!

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Yes, I am really having a hard time getting excited about getting out in the garden again. I may have to do winter gardening from now on, and just let the garden go in the summer...I just don't know quite what to do about it. THNX for the good wishes for Mom and Frisky--lot's to be thankful for this Turkey Day!

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Cheryl,

You know, you may be right about the natural immunity being built up in Frisky--but I sure don't want to test it! Between him and Mom, I have had enough excitement for a long time. Thanks for the nice compliment on my Botanical Garden pictures. There were so many things to see, I would love to go back without all the side trips and just concentrate on it. I could probably find something different everytime I go.

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Marie, we have all just been in shock over Frisky surviving! When we left him at the Emergency Clinic, we had all said our goodbyes to him, not expecting him to live--the vet didn't expect him to make it! He was the star of the clinic when he bounced back so quickly. We were all just so happy.

We are all relieved with my mother's good report too! We have much to be thankful for.

The San Antonio Botanical Garden was a delight...I hope to go back sometime. It has something for everyone (that likes to garden, that is). The last time I had been, was probably 20 years ago, and it has changed so much--or maybe my appreciation for it has changed.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Glad to hear your Mom is doing well. Poor cat, I would not be gardening if there were rattlesnakes in my area. You are braver than I am.

Wonder photos. I enjoyed the tour very much.
Marnie

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Marnie,

I probably should do another post on the Botanical Gardens...maybe if I am not too full and sleepy after our Turkey Day feast. ;-)

I am not so sure I am brave...I haven't been out in the garden--to garden since Frisky's bite. I have got to figure out a way to make sure I am safe before I go poking around. I am just not quite sure yet.

I am so thankful that Mom is doing well. I'll be glad to get her down here so I can do some serious spoiling!

ShySongbird said...

Dear MG, I'm so sorry to hear you have had such a tough time lately, how very frightening for you regarding your Mother but such good news that she will be able to join you for the festivities. Then poor Frisky! He must have an amazing sense of survival but again such a horrible time for you all.

I have friends in Tasmania and their dog was bitten by a snake recently, like Frisky he had to be put on a drip etc as they didn't get him to the vet quickly enough to have the anti venom, he made a good recovery eventually but like you they are worried about it happening again and of course the exorbitant vet's fees!

All your photos are lovely but the one I love most is the cheerful Sunflower. A shame about the frost on the Morning Glories but hopefully MG will always bounce back ;)

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration, you definitely deserve to :)

Gail said...

What a harrowing week it's been for your family....I am glad that your mother is doing well and that Frisky is going to be ok. I am so bummed that gardening has taken on a scary aura for you...I like to wear taller mud boots in the wayback where snakes might be. When you're ready you'll pick up the garden hoe again. gail

Nola said...

Glad to hear Frisky pulled through; I am deathly afraid of snakes!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Hey Nola! I was beginning to worry about you--it's been a long time since I have heard from you. Frisky is a walking miracle--but I wonder how many lives he used up on that nasty ole snake!

Anonymous said...

I don't know how you are even able to do any blog posting with those events, Jenny! I echo the thoughts of thank goodness both your mom and Frisky have survived the tramas they both suffered. I don't blame you for being afraid in the garden either. The botanical gardens are lovely and I agree, that agave does look like Texas! :-)
Frances

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Hi Frances! I actually think blogging about all the events of the past few weeks have helped me put things in perspective and move forward instead of falling apart as I am sometimes known to do--always after the emergency or stress that I had to deal with. I am just so thankful that Frisky survived, and especially thankful that Mom is okay. Daughter says all she can see when she looks at Frisky are dollar signs.

Cindy, MCOK said...

I hope the rest of the holiday season is peaceful and uneventful for you and yours. Give Frisky a scratch behind the ears and a hug to your mom (don't get those mixed up ... Frisky wouldn't mind but your mom might!)

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Hi Cindy, Thanks! I hope we have a very uneventful holidays. I'll be sure to give Mom the hug and Frisky ear scratches. Hope your holidays are filled joy. I don't know about you, but they are rushing by much too fast.