Sunday, October 28, 2012

Puking, Piping and Perspiration

Toby's sick.

Before I get inundated with get-well gifts and cards for him (but if you feel compelled to send gifts, he's quite fond of almond M&Ms and always shares some with me ... or is it the other way around?), I'd like to say that it's totally self-inflicted. His greed has given him a little bout of mild gastritis. And by greed, I mean him eating anything and everything. Dog food, human food, compost, chicken food, sticks, chicken poo and possum poo. This is not a dog that you want licking your face.

He puked his dinner up last night. And this morning I had to clean up four more piles of slightly digested solids of unknown aetiology. I managed to rush him outside before he produced a fifth so I'm counting that as a win. Apart from the vomiting there's really no other symptoms. He's alert, happy, hungry and energetic so I'm not worrying. A day off food will hopefully have him better again.

I think, though that the gastritis is a bit my fault. I let my son dress him as a superhero for fun.

Toby liked his new status and started to believe that the mask gave him super powers. He believed he could fly. Which is the only explanation I could come up with when I found him in the chicken run eating all kinds of unmentionable things. When I told him off I saw that the three foot high fence was no longer a barrier between him and what he really wanted. He didn't even need a run up to bound over it.

The chicken fence now is five foot high.

As I sit typing this I'm having to pause to yell at him out the window. He's lying down next to this morning's big success (the one that didn't soil my carpet) having a second go. Ughh! Hopefully, being already partially digested, this time it will stay down.

***

I got some new nozzles last week. For piping! It nearly killed me to have to wait till the weekend to use them. But the wait was worth it. I got a medium petal nozzle and a medium leaf one. The first is a daisy-type flower.

This next one is supposed to be a rose but I think horticulturists would argue with me on that so I've decided to call it a camellia.

And we can't forget that Christmas is just around the corner.


Yep, I got hours of fun out of those two nozzles.

***

And last, but not least I had a pretty great weekend of running. Saturday was hot and humid and Coach Chris decided to add another H word to make my trifecta of dread. Hills! We went out along Hillside Terrace. Next time I might need a sea-sickness tablet before I go. Up and down, up and down. But I made it - 16k. Apart from the hills, and the heat, and the humidity I quite enjoyed it. Especially the finishing part. I had some great company and she didn't even complain when I walked the last little bit of the last hill.

And then Sunday I went out on another run to wrap up my fourth for the week. I was a little worried that the previous day's effort might have left me drained but not so - 11k @ 5:45 pace. That made a 53k week all up. That's two weeks where I've run over 50k so I'm a happy little runner.

18 comments:

  1. Poor Toby! That might teach him but probably not :)

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  2. Poor Toby! That might teach him but probably not :)

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  3. Sorry me again, don't know why I keep coming up as "The Phantom"

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  4. Poor, poor Toby :) Although it was hard to feel sorry for him when you got to the part where he was eating his own vomit...
    I love the work you've done with the new nozzles! I'm a bit intimidated by anything other than standard swirls and 'grass' when it comes to buttercream... I'm much more at home with fondant. Any tips on how to make beautiful flowers like yours? Or is it 'stop being such a chicken, practice makes perfect'? :)

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    1. It's a little bit of jumping in boots and all. I've been watching tutorials on YouTube and that seems to be enough. Those were the first leaves and flowers I've ever done so it's obviously not a skill that requires a huge amount of practice.

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  5. Love the mask!

    And as for your cakes. You are amazing!

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  6. The cupcakes look great - hope Toby is feeling better!

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  7. Poor Toby is learning his lesson the hard way. My poor old pup was like that when he was younger--they do grow out of it.

    Those cupcakes are BEAUTIFUL!

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  8. I hope Toby is better by now. Cleaning up pet vomit is one of my regular tasks at home. You are super creative! I'm really happy that your running is going so well. Have a good week Char!

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  9. Dogs can be so disgusting sometimes. UGH the things they eat. My dog enjoys his poo too, but only when it's frozen. We lovingly call it poopsicles....so gross.

    Love the cupcake designs! You are so creative!

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    1. That's gross and funny all at the same time.

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  10. Yay for good running weekend! So glad to see so many positive developments!

    Sorry Toby is under the weather from his "over consumption", but who wouldn't love chicken poop? :)

    Love the cupcakes! Really, I think they will "keep" across the Pacific if you want to send some :)

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  11. That's a lot of running, especially after all the overtraining illness. It' s great that you're doing so well.

    LOVE the Christmas cupcakes. I bet they taste as good as they look?

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    1. I actually haven't tasted them - apart from the batter. But son #3 said they tasted all right. Boys are so lavish with their praise.

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  12. Poor Toby. My little Frankie has only jsut recovered from gastro too. Broke my heart to see her sad and vomit and shake. It took over 2 weeks, 3 vet visits, 3 jabs and 1 course of antibiotics before she recovered :(
    Hope Toby gets better soon.


    PS: I'd like to invite to join the Bosisto's giveaway at my blog, I have 4 lavender packs up for grabs here: http://www.underlockandkeyblog.com/2012/10/bosistos-lavender-giveaway.html

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  13. Hope Toby feels better. You made good use of those nozzles. I especially like the pink flower.

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  14. So sorry to hear about Toby :(

    Sadie has always been a fan of eating excrement :p

    Lovely cupcakes!!!!

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  15. I hope Toby gets better. I'm creeping for that buttercream recipe and then I'm planning on changing it a bit ;) but couldn't NOT comment and say GET WELL TOBY....ps: the mask needs to be a regular thing.

    Love the cupcakes, you're my cupcake idol. Also envious of your millage considering I'm the world's laziest runner ever. I've logged 10k for the week - :P

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