Little Bug and Baby Bear

Sometimes when I'm getting dressed, Little Bug paws at the side of the bed for me to lift her up. She is ordinarily very nimble and quick but my bed is set a bit too high. As I dressed I noticed she copped-a-squat right near Baby Bear (from Goldilocks and the 3 bears, crocheted by my mom at about 1970.)

I guess the girl started to get bored, or tired, 'cuz she needed to lay down.

But not for too long, UP pops her head.

Uht! down again. (she's so freakin' cute)

Then a walk down the bed to be closer to me and do a belly up for tummy rubs. 

She's so spoiled. 

I didn't do it...

Hanz is such a worrier...then there's Bug with none. He's so pathetic it's cute.

Rufus (now known as Lucas) Goes Home

I forgot to tell you...This pretty boy went to his new home on January 28th. He was SUCH a good boy here. I was sad to see him go.

His new canine sister is named Hazel. Hazel is a very pretty 6 year old with long eyelashes, long beard, silvery grey hair groomed in a nice Schnauzer cut. A dog that you would look at and want to hug and squeeze. But you can't, She's Queen Bitch. (I say that with a chuckle and affection) She is the bitchiest Bitch dog I've met....ever! Good thing Lucas is so laid back, it's the only way it will work. Not to worry, he will let her know when he's had enough, but the hierarchy was set right off. She's lucky she has good looks on her side cuz she's a little bitchy toward humans, too, but she loves her mom. Lucas also has a 13 year old canine sibling named Toby. A Dalmation/Lab mix. When Maryellen sent me a picture of her two dogs, I fell for Toby immediately. He looks so sweet.

Oh, The Life

It's been a very busy week. I'm working on a pretty large room changing it from a golden tight color wash to a softer tan-er faux grasscloth/linen look. It's looking pretty awesome, lots of work. I, of course, forgot to take full room 'before' pics, but I have a sliver of the wall with the original faux finish. When I'm done I'll show and tell, hopefully the new finish will show up on camera. 

Speaking of camera. ugh. I've been using mine with lines across the viewing screen for months now. I still hesitate sending it out because I do not want to be without it but those lines are really starting to annoy me. So send it out I must. I just hope they fix it and not email me telling me it'll cost X amount of dollars for a 'refurbished' one with their loyalty program. That's how I got this one because the original crashed to the ground and the shutter broke. But...

This is really what I wanted to share:

Cute puppies keeping warm. A typical scene around here in the colder weather. Lucas LOVES being in front the wood stove and is there 90% of the time. Hanz must have been feeling especially chilly, usually he's on the sofa -- and Bug! well, she doesn't sit still for very long and if I'm doing something, she wants to know what the heck it is. 

Have a great day!!

Finger vs. Vegetable Peeler

The peeler won.

I sliced the top of my pinky finger. From the center down about a 1/2". The first shave of the vegetable peeler on a grapefruit. In a flash! Slip! Shit! Ouch! Crap! 

The deepest part of the slice? almost 1/4". Blood. Blood. and more blood.

I could probably use a couple stitches, but I did what my dad taught me many many years ago...no matter how deep the gash, (And my brother had one looooong deeep gash on the underbelly of his forearm) butterfly stitches will do the trick. So that's what I did...after if finally stopped bleeding.

I just sat down to type, forgetting about the finger and ended up with words missing the letter 'a'. This is not going to be fun. I have work to do and a lot of my work involves water cleanup, plus I can be a little OCD on washing my hands. Injuries on a hand is never a good thing. 

Note to self: no more peeling citrus. Well, that probably won't happen -- SO -- get fingers out of the way when peeling citrus. Ahhhhhh, there we go.

Oh Snowy Snowy Night

One of the most beautiful times to go out into the hot tub is when there is a light snow falling, it's midnight and all is quiet. The warmth the hot water gives you right to your bones, makes one sleep like a baby.

This was going to be one of those nights.

Until I got out there only to find that for some reason the water is 95 degrees and not 104 degrees like it's supposed to be! Aaarrgghh.

My toes are cold.

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Dear vintage Vitamix,

Oh, how I have adored you. It was a tremendously difficult decision to let you go. I love your look, your all metal construction, the hard work you've done for me over the years, but alas, I must move on, I was seduced by another. More muscular, stronger, faster. I couldn't help myself, I went to see it perform and I was smitten, (plus, it came with an extra pitcher for free and an extra year of warranty)...I could not pass it by. I was going to keep you on the side, as you are far better looking, but I cannot be a mistress of two, I am not capable of such disloyalty.

It breaks my heart, but you must go, another will find you and you will be loved again.

Ahhhh, my new love...

You have proven yourself to me time and time again, even though I've known you for such a short while. You are the best Christmas gift. Your swiftness and abilities have swept me off my feet, and I am better for it. I am glowing from the nectar of your cup. I was not being satisfied fully by 'the other' and you have filled me completely.

I think we will have a long, beautiful life together.

Happy Birthday Sweetie

Yesterday was R's birthday. The BIG 5-0. I asked him if he would like a party with all his friends. "No, I'd just like to spend it with you." I asked him what he would like for a gift. "Nothing, except you." He's easy to please...the thing is...he MEANS it! How awesome is that?

So, I did what any decent loving girlfriend would do to start his day off right -- I made him pancakes.

Photo courtesy of Almond Board of California.

The recipe is from Elana's Pantry. They were AWESOME! I doused them with peaches simmered in butter rum syrup. Best pancakes I've ever made.

Since going grain free, R. is being introduced to grain free foods and so far, so good.

I sent him off to work with a refreshing, tasty and healthy smoothie.

And for dinner I made him one of his favorite dishes...nice salad, stuffed peppers, and roasted sweet potatoes.

For dessert I 'whipped' up ... there's whipped egg whites in the cake as well as the meringue :-) ... this flourless chocolate torte with cherry preserves from Martha Stewart.

It's the first time I've made meringue, and although the results weren't stellar, it looked pretty good and R. was impressed with me trying something new. But, we both agreed, the cake would have been better without the super sweetness of the cherry preserves and without the super sweetness of the meringue. A dusting of confectioners sugar (or not) would have been just fine. The taste of the cake was excellent and would have shown off better without all the sweet goopiness.

I did want to give him a gift other than myself, but what? As I was sitting in his man-chair pondering the thought, it hit me. A mug rug!!

When I started reading about mug rugs awhile back I thought, "why would you make one of those?" I didn't get it. A small placemat/big coaster for tea and treats. But as I sat there staring off into space, looking at the coffee table the other day, it came to me. See, R. doesn't like to put his morning tea and oatmeal on the coffee table for fear it may get scratched. So, he'll grab whatever else is on the table and use it as a coaster/placemat. It would only be right to make him his own little coaster-mat, otherwise known as a mug rug. I knew I would have to explain to him what it was when he opened it, and I could see he wasn't sure about the whole deal, he said he'd want to hang it as art, (he's sweet, and again, he meant it!) but he put it into use this morning and was pretty pleased to have it.

I had researched mug rugs before making it. I found a blog that noted this guy's name that had started the whole craze. It looked pretty recent so I figured it was a new thing that this guy thought up (because they said he did, why wouldn't I believe them?)

I was talking with my friend Lenore today, telling her the story of R's birthday and she said, "oh, a mug rug, my grandma used to make them." REALLY? I knew it had to be quite awhile back because Grandma is dead, and has been for quite some time. "Yeah, back in 1993." I thought that was pretty cool.

He tells me he had a GREAT birthday!   Mission accomplished.

Loyal Dog Stories Will Warm Your Heart

Playing my daily Freekibble game, today there is a link for 'more photos.' Sweet stories of loyal dogs. One especially gave me a few tears, the dog in Japan after the Tsunami, stood by the side of it's injured canine companion. Watch the video, see how it puts it's little paw over the head of the other? A definite 'awwww' moment.

Oh Oscar! You Retro God

I found this as I thrifted around before Christmas. Oscar de la Renta scarf, excellent condition. Fun, pop, retro goodness. It would look great framed, and that may happen, but I'm thinking it will be more suited to someone's home with a graphic retro style, so it may end up on ebay. I really do 'dig' it, though.

My camera sucks when it comes to reds, guess I should get me a photo program to enhance/alter...this is brighter and more raspberry in person.