WATERMELLEN SPARK: First blog!!

Yes, here I am!  Another "refugee" from Spark People which is so sadly closing down its site August 17 2021. 









So many of us liked to blog there: so I'm putting on my special watermellen shoes and strolling over to join those who've already swum to this particular life raft!  No no no: not implying that I'm capable of walking on water . . . the shoes aren't so special!  I'd need my water wings for that! (And . . . technical assistance with the new platform too, thanks OKM!!


  







This looks like a good place to continue my stories of Henry, our beloved golden retriever. 











And all our adventures exploring our new retirement home on Prince Edward Island!












Where right now and probably for a week or two more, the lupins are in bloom pretty much everywhere. 

All right then -- a Henry story. We have been very lucky to be accepted as patients by a new PEI doctor.  And she has been diligent about ordering and following up on standard blood work.  But much to my surprise . . . my cholesterol levels are apparently very high. Even though I've been eating a healthy diet and exercising more or less consistently since I lost the big whack of weight in 2020 (and kept it off with the help of the Sparkie community since 2009).  

Well high cholesterol under those circumstances signals: it's probably genetic.  Statins required, at least on a minimum dosage 3 month trial basis. 

My prescription bottle is tough to open, "tamper" proof: and so I left it with lid ajar on my beside cabinet.  After supper last night, Henry decided to grab it and race around the dining room table, rattling it loudly.  Just inviting me for a little game of chase!!   But of course I was worried he might eat the pills and do himself a harm . . . which meant I had to holler and run after him and  . . . it took both of us to catch him, prise the bottle out of his jaws, and then I ushered him (not gently, using the broom) down to the basement! While I picked up all the tiny little pills off the floor out of the rug. Where they had become instantly almost invisible.

Counted 'em all, found 88.  Maybe one missing, maybe one rolled under the sideboard --  

However, Henry was ASTONISHED!  And indignant!  "Heck, just trying to help those oldsters got off their butts!  Maybe a little bending and stretching!  Couldn't hurt, might help!  And a little fun for me too!! What's the harm in that?" 

Big sigh, thumped down on his elbows resignedly, I could actually hear him thinking "Oh well oh well oh well."  

Henry this morning seems to be just fine, even if he did get one pill.  Well, possibly a little subdued.  Not quite sure he's going to forgive me.  All that SCREECHING!!  


Comments

  1. Pictures! That's quite a Henry story, the little stinker. Yep, he'll get you moving even when you don't want to. (Bummer: they don't have emoticons. LOL)

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    1. So happy you found me here -- and thanks for your comment!! Yup, total stinker pretty much sums it up!!

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    2. Wow! That must have been scary for you!
      So nice to have PICTURES!!!

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    3. Our waitress yesterday wanted to know how my son and DIL's dog was ( a wonderful gentle pittie rescue from Quebec); turns out her pooch has become extremely bored during this latest lockdown. She left it alone for a couple of hours this week and returned home to find the fridge wide open. It ignored the bag of marrow bones that she keeps for doggie treats and instead tackled a tub of butter. Quite the mess!

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  2. Oh my! Oh Henry!! Naughty, naughty! So glad he is okay!
    I hear you on those child proof caps. When I order pills from the pharmacy I ask them to put them in ointment jars, nice white plastic containers with easy screw off lids -and sturdier than those see through plastic ones.
    Looking forward to your adventures on here. glad you can load photos on here!
    Linda (JHADZHIA)

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    1. What a great idea, requesting alternate packaging for the next round of pills. My hands are just too arthritic to cope with the "tamper proof": and I suspect that might be true for the majority of people needing statins anyhow!!

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  3. Keep those Henry stories coming. I have. 4 legged friend who also likes to get into trouble. But he makes me smile so it is always worth the chase

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    1. We are ridiculously fond of dear Henry AND he knows it and takes advantage of it!

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  4. Very nice.

    Got you added to the Google group Start Page 🙂

    Retrievers do love to initiate a game of chase, don’t they? 😂

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    1. And know I know who POTAMEID is!! Many thanks, much appreciated -- We'd like a little more retrieving and a little less "come chase me"!!

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  5. Thanks for the link!! I wonder if your Rx lid can be turned upside down to be screwed on. Some are like that!

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    1. I'm thinking not this one -- it's attached with a little hinge!! Grrrrr.

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  6. Henry is obviously not convinced that exercise and a good diet aren’t enough to reduce your cholesterol. I’m with you on this one. My second husband had a heart attack; the consultant tried to persuade us that he needed to change his diet, I tactfully explained that our diets were very heart healthy and that my own cholesterol was on the low side… exit one embarrassed consultant to write a prescription for statins……

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    1. So glad your experience is confirming I did the right thing in going for the prescription: my doctor was pretty emphatic about it being necessary!!

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    2. Yes, cholesterol is not always a matter of diet…

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  7. Oh, Henry, Henry! You are lucky your humans love you enough to make sure you don't swallow things that are NOT good for you. Yesterday I had to grab both sides of Carl's collar and give him the "I don't want to see your picture on a lost dog poster, so you will NOT back out of your collar to go chase where your Daddy disappeared. He will come back!"

    So glad you got the technical issues worked through... my Spark refugee life-raft would not be complete without you in the fleet! And I was especially thrilled to see the PEI photos!

    Welcome to the club!

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    1. Thank you so much for your help and encouragement, Barb!! For some reason the default position on my blog was "HTML" rather than "compose" and once I realised that I was all good. Carl's a big dog too . . . and it's such a good thing you were able to get a firm hold on his collar!!

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  8. LOVE those watermellen shoes! And Henry looks so excited to be in a new blog spot!

    OMG on Henry grabbing your statins! OMG! Hope you found them all! I'll bet he was surprised with all the hullabaloo!

    HOPE things carry on a little quieter! HATE those tamper resistant bottles. They keep US out, but not the ones that they’re supposed to keep out! THEY can open it!

    Here’s to a more sanguine Sunday!

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    1. Thanks for reading and commenting!! And so far today has been much much quieter: I even think Henry has forgiven me for my screeching at him: double cheek kisses!!

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  9. OJ here, that was so funny.. Henry assured you had your exercise for the day!

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    1. He had already taken me for TWO long walks . . . that was just gratuitous torment!! He has a wicked sense of humour . . . and it's our fault, we can't help laughing at him most of the time!!

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  10. Oh no!!!! Henry is playful, and definitely has a doggie sense of humor, but he needs to learn that pills aren't playthings. Can he learn to "drop" the way he would if he retrieved a duck or something?

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    1. Thanks for finding me here and commenting!! You've been blogging here for so long with such magnificent pictures too -- the technology must be absolutely automatic for you. I'm hoping to get to the same place!!

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  11. Found you! I'm on blogspot too.
    Eventually, I'll have a list of where everyone has landed.
    Good job finding all those pills

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    1. I've gotta figure out how to list all our ex-Sparkie bloggers and keep up with everyone!! So glad we've found a "home" here!!

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    2. Now I have to get used to how to reply to a reply to my comment.

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  12. Woo Hoo! glad you decided to blog here... and that I figured out how to add you to my reading list!

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  13. What I also need to do . . . figure out how to establish a "reading list" here!!

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    1. Go to your Blogger profile, and bring up the left hand side menu (click the B, if it's not showing, or the little menu icon). "Reading List" is toward the bottom of the menu, above "View Blog".
      Once your Reading list comes up, on the upper left hand side is "Manage". Click that and it lets you add the blogs you want to follow via the reading list.

      I've found it a little unreliable in which ones show up top (I'm following 14 at the time, and it looks as though the chronologically most recent entry is on top, but I have yet to have yours appear, even though I added you!)

      If you want more control, you can always go back to "Manage" and click through the individual blogs you're hunting for.

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  14. Naughty gorgeous Henry! =)) Love it here for posts! Yay! I hope the lowest possible dose of statins will help you lower that cholesterol. The same happened to me when in my target weight. Beautiful photos!

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    1. So happy you found me here!! And thanks for the encouragement about the cholesterol levels . . . I'm testing my "settings" permit "Anonymous" comments as requested by some Sparkies, but this is WATERMELLEN responding!!

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  15. Oh Henry! I'm glad you are okay but you must not upset Mom like that.

    Pictures too. I was trying to explain lupines to my husband. I showed him your picture. I am looking forward to seeing more of your little corner of PEI. Thank you for writing.

    Harrowjet

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    1. Lupins are just not imaginable until experienced here in the Maritimes-- I was waiting for them and really looking forward to them and they have absolutely blown me away. Will be collecting LOTS of seed!! Thanks for finding me here!

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  16. My pharmacy has the same bottle lids as Penny Walker's - they just invert for easier opening. Sorry to read that yours don't.

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    1. Thanks for your comment -- I will ask the pharmacy next time to package in something easier to open!! I'm sure that they will.

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  17. Yay..
    I found you!
    Love the pix and the Henry story.
    I have had my Rx done with pop off caps for a few years.
    ❤️

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  18. Aren't you lucky that your new doctor was insistent on testing.

    Betsy (bmassie3)

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    1. I am SO grateful that we got a doctor really quickly and that she has been so diligent and concerned. We are lucky indeed.

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  19. Yikes! Henry is quite the scamp and lucky that you were able to retrieve them all and even if one escaped seems like Henry is no worse for the wear. Have been on statins for years and since my heart attack bet I'll be on them for the rest of my life. Part of this in my case is genetic and keeping the weight off and eating a healthy diet AND exercising are all part of keeping them in the healthy range.
    Love your new blog!
    Martha (martha324)

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    1. Thanks for the encouragement both with the cholesterol levels (I was really shocked) and the new blog! With all the supporter from ex-Sparkies, both of us will continue to manage our weight and exercise to stay as healthy as possible!!

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  20. Those little dogs are something! Stinkers one and all. I do love my little Peaches but sometimes she starts grabbing something and runs for her life! Sounds like Henry is of the same ilk!
    So glad I was able to get to your blog. The pics are delightful!

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    1. Thanks for your patience while I figured out what I was doing -- and your kind comment!! I am sure Peaches HAS to be better behaved than Henry: he needs some more sessions at obedience class for sure!!

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  21. Oh no! I don’t know if I’m allowed to laugh, but your story telling gives me such a funny mental picture. I would definitely have added the chase to my fitness minutes if this was Spark. I’m so glad to see you here with the gorgeously colored melon and your cute melon shoes.

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    1. You are most definitely allowed to laugh! It's funny after the fact, no harm done!!

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  22. So glad you figured it out! I can just imagine the chaos with Henry and it gave me a good chuckle. Glad he did not eat them!

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    1. Replied in the wrong place -- many thanks for commenting and yes indeed it was chaotic here for a bit!!

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  24. Goodness, goodness, goodness Henry! They do give us a fright sometimes. And, of course, Henry forgives the screeching.

    DH & I have a fondness for lupines. Shared an incredible experience in a lupin field filled with their fragrance. It was divine! We've never forgotten it. I showed your lupine photo to him and he asks: "Where's that?" I tell him: "PEI." Then, he says: "Let's go visit!" Enjoy the lupines.

    ~ JEANKNEE

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  25. Saw a tee shirt today that read: "All dogs are therapy dogs. Most are just freelancing."
    I'm not discounting cats, but as an adult became very allergic to them.
    PHOENIX1949

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    1. Love that: "freelancing"!! So very true . . . and sadly I'm allergic to cats too although I do love them!!

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  26. Great you have a new site :), if I can get in i will be back to read about your wonderful life :)
    doveseyes

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  27. I found you!!! Even if Henry was a bit of a stinker. I loved the story! Thank you for figuring it out.

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  28. Oh that Henry! How do they always KNOW exactly what will get us going, LOL? I'm so glad you found all of the pills. I'm also glad to still have your stories as a touchpoint to my day! I thought of you yesterday and today... we recently purchased an RV and took our first very short trip, made longer because I kept needing to hop out to capture pictures of wild flowers, LOL. When I was focused on a gorgeous lady slipper, I immediately thought how you'd appreciate it as much as I did... that and all of the wonderful birds we saw. The RV is allowing us to truly enjoy the roads less travelled! Have a great start to your week, dear Ellen!

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  29. Just fantastic Watermellen, will be back again! So glad I've found you here!

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  30. Found you. I'm just figuring all this out too. PEI is a beautiful province.

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    1. So glad to have found you. I’ll bet you are known as Henry’s parents. We were out to breakfast at a dog friendly place recently. The couple next to us introduced themselves. They asked about our dog so DH introduced him. “This is Dusty.” They exclaimed, “Oh, we know Dusty.” We had never met them but they live a block away from us on a street we frequently walk. I guess dear Dusty has a following in the neighborhood from his frequent walks.
      Hi, Henry’s mom.

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    2. Yup!! A dog is a wonderful good will ambassador in the neighbourhood -- helping us meet new people (but: I'm thinking carrying those poop bags and using 'em is pretty important!!)

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  31. Wonderful to get a peek at the insoles - so cute! And thank you for the mischievous Henry story. 😂😂😂 All's well that ends well!

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    1. Yes, those shoes are pretty cute! AND: my dear daughter gave me a gorgeous watermellen beach towel for my birthday in April -- used it yesterday for the first time!!

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  32. Skinny Hubby has been on statins for years ... his is genetics.

    So glad to get to see your pictures again.

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    1. So happy you've found me here!! And it's reassuring to know: others like your hubby have dealt with statins for genetic high cholesterol without issue for years . . .

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  33. I loved this story of your rollicking adventure with Henry! A little tough love--albeit with some screechiness--that's not such a bad thing. The broom detail made me smile. I'm sure that Henry has forgiven by now and is waiting for his next opportunity to make a scene. Thanks for the laughs!

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    1. Really glad you've found me here!! Glad you enjoyed the Henry story and yes: I was comforting him during last night's thunder storm and he seems to have completely forgotten and forgiven!!

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  34. Loved the Henry story - and oh my - the beautiful lupines. Sigh.

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    1. Thank you Bess! The lupins . . . I had anticipated them and yet they've been more beautiful than I could imagine. And I'll be gathering seed in hopes of creating a lupin patch on our property too!!

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  35. Hello! Last night my Boomer was racing around in the yard. It was dusk out and hard to see but I could tell he spit something out of his mouth. Then he was smacking something with his paw and jumping back - over and over. I grabbed a small flashlight from the house and found what he was playing with. A huge, fuzzy, bumblebee! Crazy dog!!! Luckily I didn't find any redness or swelling in his mouth.

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    1. Boomer -- so very glad that he did NOT get stung!! How was a young doggie to know, that buzzing bumble -ball wasn't just a new kind of: ball??

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  36. So glad Henry didn't eat any of the pills. I probably commented on this blog over spark but I'm just practicing entering a comment so bear with me. Thanks. I am so glad I finally learned how to do this.

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    1. Yay you two!! And thanks for commenting!!! Yes, I was really worried he might have eaten a pill or two!!

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  37. Oh My!! Thankfully Henry is ok!!

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  38. Sorry - I am the Unknown - RayLinStephens
    BTW, the vinegar is working!!
    I had already mixed some with salt & soap, but I added straight vinegar and sprayed sprayed sprayed.

    Looks like some of the grass/weeds are dying!! WooHoo!!
    Later the torch!!

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  39. I’m glad I found you here!

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