How Bizarre

So I'm coming home with Kona from her evening walk when I noticed a bizarre site in my pool. My little floating flamingo pool thermonitor seemed to be wearing a hat! What the -- ??

On closer look, I realized a grasshopper had somehow hitched a ride on its head! I've never seen a grasshopper in the pool before, let alone one taking a joy ride on my flamingo. I managed to save the little devil and, though I'd usually kill such a thing (terrible chompers on my plants) I instead released it over the fence into the alley, figuring he'd had a rough day already.

Imagine my surprise when the very next day he was back! Now that is weird. A new grasshopper sport? Flamingo riding? A thrill seeking, hitchhiking grasshopper? This time, I got my camera out before rescuing the little guy.

Wonder if he'll be back today?

Update: that flamingo riding grasshopper came back tonight! What is with that?  Caught him (the grasshopper) in my leaf basket, tossed him over the fence (again)... will he show up tomorrow? That is the question... inquiring minds want to know..........and why?

(Click on photos if you want to see a zoom in closeup of this athletic hopper!)

Kona Update

 Good news! Took Kona in for needle biopsy on all her lumps and all negative, just fatty cysts, just keep an eye on them.... Thank God! Now just have to deal with her allergies... new allergy panel indicates Kona is allergic to CATS! yikes! And believe me, Ripley is not going anywhere, we gotta figure this one out.  Also allergic to beef and chicken, what dog food doesn't have that? Believe me, I found a dog food that didn't have white rice, potatoes, wheat, etc. way back when and it's impossible to find any kind of food that doesn't have something in it she's allergic too.

The vet today said, OMG your dog is allergic to everything! Yep, grass, trees, dust, etc. now cats! GA!

Anyway, no worries about cancer.... 

And I will sleep well tonight.

Kona Kona Kona....

 So my beloved Kona Jean has another ear infection, plus yeasty paws which she keeps licking and biting. Called my vet/friend to come over and take a look... and when she did a physical exam she found three lumps, one on Kona's neck (under her collar) large and round about the size of a ping pong ball, and two smaller ones on the back of her rear legs....

Okay, I'm freaking out.  

I need her, love her, praying it's nothing ... praying it's not cancer. I need this dog.

Kona just turned 10 years old. 

Got an appointment on Friday the 13th (luck day, right?) at 2:30 with a doctor (recommended by my friend/vet) at a clinic who can do a needle biopsy or aspirations of the lumps or surgery if necessary, as my vet who is a mobile vet isn't equipped for those procedures.

Meanwhile, we're doing ear drops and sprays for her yeast infections.

Keep Kona (and me) in your prayers and thoughts, thank you.