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5/1 Updates

Quick report:

11:30 am – The much anticipated, and welcomed rain has begun, thankfully, very gentle drizzle. Hopefully, more to come.

Dakota continues to heal, but very slowly. She will get the drains removed Monday, but in the meantime, I try to keep them clean, keep her quiet and calm, and give her medications twice a day. Walk her carefully four times a day. Just about a full-time job taking care of her, right now, making sure she doesn’t lick or try to pull the drains out. She cannot wear a collar, it puts too much stress on her.

CT Projects & Announcements

Two new Cal-Trans projects began this week. See CT page for details. Also, two new announcements posted on the announcement page.

Dakota and I are resting comfortably today. Photos later, I am too tired right now.

Bedfellows (Dakota)

Dakota came home today, after two surgeries for being hit by a car. She has two drains, and stitches from a few inches from her spine, all the way down and around to an inch from her vagina — hundreds of stitches. She gets pain meds and antibiotics. The vet says she cannot jump, and needs to be on bed rest for 2 weeks. No excitement, no running, no fun for the puppy. Just quiet, peaceful bed rest. I have 3 other dogs. And a job. How is that possible?

The no running and bed rest are pretty doable. I’m lucky enough to work at home. I’ve been worried about how to keep her from jumping, though. Her place is in bed with me. She has to jump to get on the bed. What to do? I bought her a special bed. A $50 bed, to place on the floor next to mine. She loved it in the car. But would she prefer it over sleeping with me? Somehow, I doubt it. I think she will try to jump, which could open everything up again, requiring a THIRD surgery. Plus there is the excitement of 3 other dogs. No way.

So, I moved a mattress into my cottage — on the floor. No jumping for her, and no other dogs to worry about. Just Dakota and me, spending the night (probably many nights) on the floor in the cottage. It’s like camping out, sorta. I have heat, a chamber pot, some water in a jug. A kind of odd camping out, as I have electricity, internet, and DVD to watch tonight, some champagne to celebrate the return of the love of my life, and we are happy campers. Ten days of this? I’ll do what I have to do.

I have tried to primarily report on conditions in Big Sur, either fire, flood, or wildflowers. I have tried to keep from making it “personal.” I was a private person. But Dakota’s accident changed all that, and I find myself making this blog personal. Once she is well, I hope to get back to the regularly scheduled programming my readers have come to expect. I hope you will bear with me until then. I hope. 

Oh, and on my regularly scheduled programming? There was to be a  new post on the Cal-Trans project page, but the announcement won’t open. However, there is to be rockfall drapery replacement on Rain Rocks, which will cause delays. Until I can get the details (days, hours, etc.) that is all I have. But I do understand. The darn things are FULL!!

Dakota, 4/27/09

Dakota had her second surgery today.  Today’s surgery was to remove the dead tissue, and not nearly as long and difficult as the first one. She gets to come home tomorrow, but has to be on bed rest for a couple weeks, and she might have to have a third surgery, depending on how this one heals. Keep us in your thoughts just a little bit longer. Thanks. 

Also, see Cal-Trans page for project update.


Dakota Update

4/26/09 – The vet never called yesterday. I’ll be going down tomorrow.

4/24/09 – Spoke with the vet this morning. There are some problems, and she may have to have a second surgery to remove the “dead” skin on Monday. She pulled out the drain on her back that they were using to flush the wound. They tried the collar, but it stressed her too much. Her red blood count is not recovering as it should, so they will be doing some tests to find out what that is. She is eating very well, walking better, and feeling better, over all, and everyone loves her, she is a sweet dog, they say. I just want her home!

4/23/09 – The vet just called, and Dakota continues to improve greatly. She is “brighter” today than yesterday, is wagging her tail more, and has a great appetite this morning, and is walking better. There is a “slight” chance she could come home for the weekend, but I called and said given the 3 other dogs, the rural, dirty, dusty nature of my place, Monday would be better for her. I would really like the tubes out before I bring her home, as much as I miss her. I don’t want an infection or relapse! I really want her home, and miss her terribly, but reality is Monday, I am hoping.

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I went and saw my dog, Dakota, today. That was so very difficult. I did take my winter sweater, full of my smells. I am so grateful for the suggestion. I am sure it will help her. Hasn’t been washed in quite a while.

I expected her to be happier to see me, but she was so hurt and in so much pain, it pained me. She did wag her tail, some, and did give me kisses when I asked.

I got down on the floor with her (my ex said, “don’t do that, you are going to get blood all over you!” I said, “I don’t care.” But I was grateful he offered to go with me. It was so emotional.) She has a tube going in the top through which they put sterilized water to cleanse the inside of the wound, and, of course, a drain out of which is coming lots of blood, pus, and the water. She has an IV catheter on her leg, as she gets several IVs a day. Her belly looks like she is feeding a dozen puppies, her teats are so full and swollen. She has about 40 stitches, maybe more. She may need a second surgery to remove the dead and dying tissue. She won’t be coming home before Monday.

The good news is, no broken bones, no internal injuries, no gangrene, and no amputations. It will just take some time for her to heal. She is eating, goes out to pea, and walks around, albeit with quite a limp.

I will upload a couple of photos of my baby as soon as the internet allows. They don’t really show the injuries, as that is in the groin area, but they show the top, flushing tube, the shaving, and my sweetie. Thanks, to the ex for thinking to take these for me!!

What she went through to get home to me is beyond remarkable. We are so connected, and the psychic communication was incredibly strong.

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Happy Earth Day-show Mother Earth some lovin’

Hey, what happened to the cool down? It’s as hot as ever up here! Now, go plant a tree, pick up some trash, or care for her critters! Better yet, plan your solar system.

Going to visit Dakota in the doggie hospital. I am taking her my winter sweater, full of smells of me. She can’t come home until at least Friday, maybe Monday. The damage was worse than the vet thought. *Sigh* 🙁

Life in the Wilderness, 4/20/09

Two stories, and I will try to keep them short, but hopefully interesting.

Remember my post a few days about about trespassers? Wow, did that spark some debate at the Ventana Wilderness Alliance. So far, it is about even between those outraged by my declarations re my private property rights, and those who defend my right to be suspicious of trespassers, with those supporting me gaining a slight lead.

I had no idea people could get so het up about my private property rights. It got really hot today, and I don’t mean the weather. Some posters are very supportive, and others, not so much. Funny, sort of like the trespassers I meet up here: some nice, some not so.You can follow the whole debate; the good, the bad, and the ugly here: 

Ventana Wilderness Forums • View topic – Private Property & Silver Peak Wilderness.

Second, you remember when Dakota was missing for 3 days and I found her shut inside a storage trailer? Well, she’s been missing again. For four days. I didn’t post, as I just KNEW she would come home.

On Thursday, I went to town for an overnighter. Dakota absolutely has to be kept locked inside the first day, or on a leash, otherwise, she will come looking for me. Once, about 3 years ago, she went to the school, 5 miles away. So, she always gets locked up. This time, the dog sitter left the door open and she, naturally, being Dakota, went running off to look for me. When I got home, I combed the area on Saturday. Went to the campground, went to the school, went to Sand Dollar, checked the sides of the road, nada. 

Today, just after noon, Dakota showed up with no fanfare. She came in the open door, and laid down at my feet. I jumped for joy, and then noticed she was all tore up, not walking right, and had a major gash. I rushed her to the vet. Seems she was hit by a car. Her wound was filled with maggots. Four days with little or no food or water, a hip and/or leg that may be broken, and yet she made it home, five miles and 3200 ft in elevation from the highway where she was probably hit. She is in the doggie hospital tonight, and will undergo surgery tomorrow, but the vet is confident she will survive. My dog sitter might not, however.

Dogs are just the most amazing critters, aren’t they? Dakota, the Wonder Dog!!

Trespassers & Threats

After seeing the hikers on Easter come up through my property, I posted this on the Ventana Wilderness Alliance Forum:

“Because Ventana Wilderness is closed, the Silver Peak Wilderness has increased numbers of hikers, campers, and other users, as it should. Some of these users are not respectful of private property. I had 4 hikers come up Home Ridge on Easter which lets out right by my spring road, who hiked through my property without my permission. They were greeted by my four guard dogs, who fortunately did not attack. Trespassers are fair game to my pack. I’m not implying that these trespassers are members of VWA by posting here, I do not know. But I do know that other hikers also read this forum, as well.
All I ask is that when you hike an area, please find out where the private property is located, and do NOT hike it without the owner’s permission. Do not assume that the owner, living on the edge of the Silver Peak Wilderness, will not mind. We do. Just stop by the PV station and ask. Many people do not seem to know (or care) that there is private property here. On Home Ridge alone, there are at least five parcels besides my own, which is at the top, two of whom also complained about the hikers. Hike the Prewitt Loop. Home Ridge is not a trail, but a dozer cut left from the Chalk Fire. Please. I won’t be as nice with the next trespassers.”

I got a very nice response from Boon, with a positive suggestion on how to prevent this. But I also received this threat from an anonymous poster:

“Re: Private Property & Silver Peak Wilderness

Postby guest on Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:46 am

Oh.. An arms race.   

To protect myself, from being attacked if I wander off a trail and onto private property, I will naturally not want to be hurt by dogs. I will now need to carry my 9mm ruger, and have my protective pit-bulls with me. They and I are quite harmless unless an aggressive dog or gun-toting pot-grower happens my way. ( Not that all or even most protective land owners are pot-growers)”

I see this person as an aberation, and certainly not indicative of the vast majority of the VWA members. But he has certainly given me pause for thought about how I handle trespassers in the future. I’m not going to get into “an arms race” with this jerk, but if I am not nice to trespassers this year, you have this idiot to thank for it. I don’t know who he is, so any trespasser could be him — carrying a 9 mm Ruger. Nice, huh? 
You can see the entire thread here:
http://www.ventanawild.org/forum08/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=187

Living in the Wilderness pet peeves

With spring break being both before and after Easter, and the increased users here, due to the continuing closures elsewhere, it is time for me to address my two biggest pet peeves about users to the Forest surrounding my home. 

The first is trespassers. I don’t know where some users get the idea that because I live in the Wilderness, I won’t mind hikers, bikers, motorcycles, and even the occasional vehicle, if someone cuts the lock off my gate. I do mind. My dogs mind. I had four hikers come through on Easter, like they were entitled. Actually, they were lucky my pack of four dogs did not bite them. Find out where the private property is when you go hiking, and hike around, not through it. Please. As the season progresses, and my patience is tried, I will no longer be nice about it.

The second is, of course, campfires. As of April 10th, permits are now required for all areas outside developed campgrounds or day use areas, which on the South Coast are Mill Creek Day Use, Sand Dollar Day use, and Willow Creek Day use. The only two campgrounds open are Plaskett Creek and Kirk Creek. EVERY where else, a permit is required for a fire or a stove, as of April 10, 2009. And remember, that permit is only good IF campfires are allowed at all. One yahoo thought it meant he could use it, even though campfires had been completely banned. Also, do not have a fire unless you have BOTH water and a shovel with you. Make sure you clear the area well and completely, AND make sure it is completely and totally out when you leave.

Plaskett Ridge Rd. has been devastated by Sudden Oak Death, and it will not take much this season to set her off. I don’t know how I could handle another fire after last year, but I imagine I will. This year’s rain totals have been extremely low, and winds are drying out the vegetation earlier. I suspect a campfire ban may go into effect earlier than usual, and the USFS may have to close the forest completely at some point, to minimize the fire danger.

My plea is to respect private property, and to be fire safe this year, please. Thank you.

Baby Blue Eyes

baby blue eyesThis field of baby blue eyes shows the scorched area of the Chalk Fire.  That is Cone Peak in the background.

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These are the baby blue eyes, a little closer up. I have one more hillside of baby blues to add to this post later tonight, if possible.