Striking catkins dangling on a hazel tree are a reassuring sign that spring is on its way. These catkins are all male; watching them dance in the wind is a pretty spectacle all on its own, but knowing that this dance is also a fertility rite, and that the wind is busy pollinating them, gives added meaning to the display.
Squirrels have made good use of the fruits resulting from this annual period of mad procreation. Peering into a hollowed out fence post I found this cache of emptied hazel nut shells. I wonder if squirrels used the hollow for storing their autumn loot or if they came here to crack them open and eat the tasty kernels, leaving the shells behind?
A toothless tree witch watches over it all. Deep eye sockets, a bulbous nose and petrified braids of grey hair complete her picture. A sight to frighten children.
Millie isn’t frightened of anything, not even having her stitches removed. The vet and a nurse got hold of her between them, turned her over forcibly and went to work. Her hind leg trembled a bit but her tail kept thumping the floor. Funny girl.
The lump removed from her groin is a malignant Fibrosarcoma; the good news is that the likelihood of metastases is low and the sarcoma is not particularly invasisve. The vet has removed all of it, including a few millimetres of healthy tissue, which means that she is now probably clear of cancer. I sincerely hope so, both my previous labradors developed terminal cancer. As Millie will most likely be our last dog (famous last words) I hope that the lab report’s final sentence is true: ... "long term prognosis is good”.
Sending best wishes fro Millie's full recovery. Thanks for stopping by and for your encouraging comments.
ReplyDeleteGlad Millie is doing so well and never say last dog. You have loved your dogs so much, why deny yourself this> Yes, it is work, but you can handle that. Why are the English Isles so exotically beautiful? Love your yard.
ReplyDeleteGood news about Millie. I understand you saying that she may be your last, but as we here in our sixties get ready here to adopt a new couple of kittens (our beloved 17 year old cat, Satchel, dying this fall) I do think about whether this is wise. But then I figure that I'm going to be pulling them out of the animal shelter so the cat paradise they will be living in here is worth the risk.
ReplyDeleteIf I outlive the next batch, I'll start adopting geriatric animals with only a few years in them! :)
Poor Millie, and poor you to be worried about a lovely pet.
ReplyDeleteThose catkins enchanted, especially with your description. Always a pleasure to read you. Narrative and easy.
ReplyDeleteDear Millie has our hearts & good wishes (as you've had for some time) :-)
ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
It has been a worrying time for you with Millie but I am glad that the prognosis is good and it seems as if she is continuing to enjoy her walks!
ReplyDeleteGet out and enjoy spring. Fascinating changes are taking place like the action of the catkins.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that it's good news for Millie - and thus for you. Patient old lady isn't she.
ReplyDeleteha. i see the mouth of your toothless tree...
ReplyDeleteyou found the squirrels hideout...ha...the squirrels crack me up...
i am glad for you on millie's prognosis...
I know you must have been very concerned about Millie (I am, and she's not even my dog!) And while cancer is never good, the fact that they got it all and seem to think that it hasn't spread is indeed a gift worth celebrating. I hope you came home from your appointment with your little champion, gave her an extra treat and enjoyed a glass of wine or some other celebratory treat. I have a feeling that plenty of spring walks are in store for you two in no time at all!
ReplyDeleteWonderful news about Millie. I suspect you breathed quite a bit easier.
ReplyDeleteGood news about Millie. Squirrels are quite alien to us, so it is interesting to learn of their habits.
ReplyDeleteDear Friko, good news twice! Well spring we knew would come, we can be sure of it year after year. But with Millie - we could only hope for the outcome, and here we love the news and are glad about them and thankful very much!
ReplyDeleteUnd die Haselnusskaetzchen sind ja zu suess! :-)
Good wishes for Millie ... every time I see her pic, I am reminded of my own lab Piwo (RIP) ... spring is just around the corner ... only 2 more month of winter for us here in Alberta ... our squirrels seem to have used up their winter stashes ... stealing cat food off the porch now ... smiles ... Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteIf the catkins are all male, how do the female look like?
ReplyDeleteI guess the squirrels used the hollow just as a cosy
place to have dinner :D
That tree is funny, I could see it before I read about it :))
Glad to hear that Millie is out of danger at least for a
long while.
Have a fine day
【ツ】Knipsa
I am happy to hear about the success of Millie's operation. Dogs heal different from people too. They seem to repair faster - I do hope all goes well for Millie. Its really amazing to watch squirrels gather in the fall. They bury food everywhere in the yard and it amazes me that they remember exactly where and how much. Imagine how great their minds are, eh. Have a wonderful day and gentle hugs to Millie.
ReplyDeleteThat is really good news. I can see her tail thumping from your description. And I love that catkins picture; I didn't know it's a mating ritual. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe hazel nut shells are an optical illusion. They look like bowls.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear your pup is on the mend.
Friko, I am so glad to learn that Millie has had good treatment and that her prognosis is so good. What a great time of the year to resume enjoying your walks.
ReplyDeleteThose photographs of the natural forms are splendid. The squirrels' caff is a gem. The witch in the tree could definitely be quite spooky to children ... of all ages.
I'm delighted to report that our NYC weather has now taken a warming turn...lots of melting going on. The Park awaits! xo
Spring green is exploding everywhere here. Glad to hear that Millie should be fine.
ReplyDeleteI see a few images in that tree, but between my bad eyesight and wild imagination, that's normal for me.
ReplyDeleteI am happy for you that Millie has a good prognosis. Our pets so improve the quality of our lives.
The tree witch is truly scary!
ReplyDeleteHopefully Millie will be fine now that the lump and some extra tissue have been cut out.
Love your picture of the tree witch. So glad that Millie is recovering well.
ReplyDeleteGlad indeed to know Millie's been given a good bill of health! Your catkins and their "fertility rites" reminded me of the fellow who came to the house yesterday morning to check on our boiler, which seemed to be acting up (but all was well, just a "setting" that need to be adjusted). He turned out to be an avid beekeeper, so I got a full bore tutorial on their behavior. This is a sorry little sum-up, but it seems, except for the queen, it's fertilize/be fertilized, eat (male) work (female), and die within a couple or so months.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that the prognosis for Millie is good. Even with a satisfactory outcome, it's nerve-wracking. It sounds like she's coping quite well, though. As for the squirrels, they do tend to stash things. One thing I've seen them do is cut and stack little pieces of fungus, especially mushrooms. They'll find a tiny corner for them, out of the weather, like your tree, and just fill up the pantry.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, my pet squirrel did like to take his pecans into a certain bedroom closet to eat his snack. Every now and then I'd have to remember to go in and clean out the shells.
Great news about Millie. You must be relieved. So lovely to see catkins out.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all three of you !
ReplyDeleteHer timing is good .... she'll be recovered and bouncy just in time to enjoy the Spring.
If its any comfort to you, when they removed my first skin cancer (melanoma) 54 years ago, the doctor told me I was cancer free as they excised the whole thing. I'm still here so I guess it worked.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos Friko. I particularly like the witchy tree...and the Witch Hazel too.
Sending thoughts Millie's way!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a well-earned relief for you and Millie - here's hoping many more interesting smells for her to come!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for re-visiting my blog and leaving such a lovely comment. You are right; it has been ages since we visited one another's blogs. I loved this post with lush photos and great commentary. I will not tell the squirrels around my house how amazing it looks for their counterparts (I feed them peanuts and cracked corn).
ReplyDeleteMay the prognosis for Millie be true, and may you have many more years together. My precious Standard Poodle, Bonbon, died in December '14 of liver disease. She was over 13 and had lived a wonderful life but that is of little consolation to me in my continued mourning for her! My husband does not want another dog right now and I have returned to work since her death (after 15 years!) so there won't be another dog here for awhile. But I will never say that Bonbon was my final dog.
Please pet Millie for me.
Hi Friko - I too hope that Millie is around for a good few years yet - she's been a treasure for you ... and they are such faithful friends ...
ReplyDeleteCheers Hilary
Delighted about Millie, good news indeed. Lovely walk through the woods - thanks for taking me :)
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
Very glad to hear Millie's reassuring prognosis. It's been an anxious time for you both. Love your photos, especially the nut-shells in the hollow post.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, I do hope the long term prognosis is good, too. That's worrisome, indeed, to see a beloved pet possibly heading the same direction as previous beloved pets. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, I do hope the long term prognosis is good, too. That's worrisome, indeed, to see a beloved pet possibly heading the same direction as previous beloved pets. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that pets too now are cancer victims. Wish we would feed them a more healthy natural diet . Actually we need it too.
ReplyDeleteGlad Millie's on the mend.
Oh Friko, yes! dear Millie (and you) are so deserving of 'long term prognosis' being good.
ReplyDelete