Best Friends Day 6

Today started at DogTown with Ann Allums (you might recognize her from the NatGeo show DogTown). While I was waiting for her I ran into a dog named Micki in the headquarters lobby. Micki is a puppy mill dog as you can see from the picture. He was in a kennel that too small and he could not stand up so as he grew and developed it developed into this stance. That being said, Micki had a lot of Sass and confidence!


We went through some Dog Training, Personality Assessments and Clicker Training. I met her dogs Sylvi, Serg, and her foster Mason. We also brought in two dogs to do behavior assessments.


I wish I could have taped these for everyone to see because one was a great example. We did an assessment on a 6 month old puppy. The was fun and affectionate. When we worked with him and touched him and his food bowl he growled. He NEVER snapped at the fake hand he just growled and speed up his eating. For most dogs in shelters this would be a death sentence...He growled so he is agressive so we will put him down. WRONG MOVE! This dog actually was fantastic. He gave great warning but never acted. Just think how you would feel of someone took your plate or what you say when someone takes a French Fry off your plate. You say, "Hey! That's mine. At least ask!" That is exactly what this dog was saying. Unfortunately so many dogs are labeled bad dog, when they are really give you every sign and expressing themselves very well. We also let the puppy off leash with Serg and Sylvi. This was a lot of fun because we saw how Serg through growls and corrections taught the puppy in a matter of moments what acceptable behavior was.
At lunch I met an adorable wheelchair dog that I fell in love with. Bella is a puppy that was born with some neurological issues and cannot use her back legs. But let me tell you this girl gets around with her wheels. She is just a darling little girl.



Even though cats are outside my realm I had an afternoon meeting on Feral Cats and TNR (Trap Neuter Release). The rest of the afternoon was with the founders.
The evening was spent with our sleepover buddy Mr. Pickles. Best Friends has an enrichment program for the dogs where they can go for an overnight sleepover. We chose Mr. Pickles because of his cute bow legs and the fact that he does not get to go on sleepovers often. He is sweetheart the needs a loving home where he is the only dog. He loves to snuggle and curled up with Laticia the entire night. He loved car rides. He does go to hydro twice a week as his back legs are not as strong. Although this helps him you would not be required to continue this.
Here is his adoption video:

And here are a ton of pics of our sleepover!

Best Friends Day 5

Today was amazing!!! I spent the morning in Piggy Paradise with a woman who has to be one of the greatest staff members at Best Friends, Yvonne. She is an passionate, caring and intelligent woman who has a great heart. I had such a great time getting to know her and her pigs today. She is a person I will stay in touch with long after I leave this week.
I fed and walked the pigs today. I took Hogan and Jeffery for a quick stroll while they moved a housing unit near their enclosure. They were very sweet and funny. I then made the rounds feeding and then took Daphne and Sprocket for a walk to the welcome center with Yvonne, My sister, and my friends Kara, Laurie and Jan. I have so many pictures and videos I will link and post once they are available. It is important for me for me to tell you that Daphne and Sprocket have a funny relationship. They lived together at one point in time and they have a brother/sister type relationship. Sprocket is like the annoying little brother that Daphne does not want around. This is important because it sets the tone for most of our morning. We walked to the welcome center while feeding the pigs popcorn. We stopped on the way so Daphne could take a mud bath to cool off.

Once we reached the welcome center grassy area the pigs snacked on grass and played around with us. But Daphne would have a fit anytime Sprocket got close and when Sprocket knew this he kept doing it just to irritate her. At one point Daphne had laid down on her side to get a belly rub and Sprocket comes rushing over and spoils it. It was funny. We had a lot of visitors come by and we educated them on pigs. We also just sat around and talked as animal lovers. Yvonne talked about losing her cat and a beloved pig at the sanctuary Brittany Marie. We sat around for 3 hours chatting, laughing and even crying while the pigs played.



Both Sprocket and Daphne can sit on command. Fun Pig Facts: They are smarter than dogs and they are VERY clean. When it was time to head back we had a bit of trouble getting the pigs to come along. Yvonne showed us they are literally like kids. She would just keep walking and say to Sprocket, "Bye Sprocket, we are leaving you." And he would run to catch up. It was great. At one point Sprocket was lagging behind Daphne was way out in front and I said to him, "Sprocket, Daphne is gonna beat you home!" He took off like a shot running ahead. We all were dying. We could not stop laughing. Then he rounded a corner and I went after him as it was not on the way back. As my sister and I take off after him I hear Yvonne yell, "There is a back trail to his enclosure that way." Sure enough he leads us at full speed down a back path and he beats Daphne home.
We then had more time with the founders. Then an afternoon with PUPPIES! Timon and Pumba were sweet puppies but puppies all the same. As were are discussing best care practices on puppies they caused chaos. First Pumba spills water everywhere, then Timon had to go potty. I took him out to potty but all he wanted was for me to hold him. So I came back inside and as were are having a very serious debate and discussion on policy and standards he is squirming and yelping. I felt like that woman in church that should have taken her two year old to the cry room. It is a good thing that everyone there is an animal person.


After than I got into a HUGE argument with someone over temperament testing. A Shelter visiting Best Friends said their shelter's philosophy was not to temperament test until AFTER they were placed in foster. RED LIGHTS started flashing and I started hearing “Danger, Will Robinson!" But armed with my Animal Behavior Certificate I took it head on and she bit back. I stood my ground and basically said in the end that I although we had a difference in philosophy she was opening herself up for a lawsuit.
Nothing like me stirring somethings up!

Best Friends Day 4

Today was DogTown day for us. Laticia was off to take care of feeding and walking dogs in the lodges. She met some great new friends. One of which is going to do an overnight with us. Mr. Pickles video is below.

Then she met some other friends.
First is Spuds. He is a sweet confident character.



Then Bobo stole her heart. I would not be surprised if he goes home with her. He is a Katrina dog. He was taken by another rescue group but it wasn't a good situation as he lived in a crate for three years. Then he came to Best Friends at the beginning of the year. He requires human affection for him to even eat.



She also met Tina Louise who has an adoption pending.





While Laticia was off with her doggie friends and our new human friends Kara, I was working with DogTown dog trainers. Yup. A dog person's dream. Especially for me. I have a certificate in Animal Behavior. Heaven pure heaven!
We worked with two dogs. First was Bella. She is a German Shorthair/Boxer mix. She was adopted once but showed some guarding and other dog aggression so she came back so she could work on her manners. He is a big girl that can knock you on your butt and drag you. She hates golf carts, but loves lizard hunting. We worked with her on clicker training. We did some agility for the first time. She mastered the tunnel quite quickly. I was so proud. Agility, even if they don't compete, builds confidence in dogs. She is a sweet girl that is VERY smart and catches on very quickly. When she drools is forms bubbles in the corner of her mouth that is just the most adorable thing ever!

We then worked with Tiki.
Tiki is a bouncing boy that has some jump in him. He is a sweetheart. We took him to Angels Landing where he got to swim in the pond and explore. On the ride back to DogTown he rode with his head out the window while she sat in my lap. I was covered in dog hair and mud....It was FANTASTIC!

We met with more Best Friends staff in the afternoon. I got a lot more information and training. Before lunch we met with some of the board and maintenance staff. After lunch was time with Dr. Patti Iampietro, again of DogTown fame. We had a long conversation covering spay/neuter, vaccinations, zoonotics, euthanasia, and much more. It was great!! The rest of the day was spent chatting with more founders of Best Friends and finished with spending way to much money at the gift shop.
Tomorrow I have a date with Jack...the pig!

Georgia (and John's) Appearance on Larry King

I have also included Georgia and John's visit to Ellen.

Best Friends Day 3

Well I am back in my room and I am trying to recall all the events of the day. Let me see if I can remember it all.
It was up early and arriving at the Sanctuary at about 7:30am. It was the desert so it was cold. Very cold. We were in capri pants and tank tops and we did not want to bring jackets and sweatshirts because it would shortly be 100 degrees so we toughed it out.
We started the day with the horses. It was a great overview of equine rescue and the subcatagories of that. The picture below is of Luna who was run over by a horse trailer. She broke her leg and pelvis. Since she is a mini she was able to work in hydro-therapy and is now much better.



Then I met my newest friend...Jack! Jack is a pot bellied pig that is sweet and adorable. He loves to snack on popcorn and is smart and affectionate. I will be spending more time with him on Wednesday.




Then it was onto Wildlife rescue where we met some owls, minks, and some great possums named Oscar and Felix. Fun fact: did you know possums only live 3 years?






I also meet Wendy (she is a human) who is just the greatest fountain of information on birds of all kinds. She is no nonsense and very upfront on the realities of birds.
Then we made our way to the Bunny house. We saw so many sweet bunny faces. One only had three legs but moved around like a pro.
We then headed to lunch which at Best Friends is an event everyday. The entire sanctuary shuts down Noon-1pm everyday and everyone comes up to Angel Village and eats together. Volunteers and staff...everyone. The meals offered are either vegan or vegetarian. My sister and I chatted and bonded with other staff and volunteers. It is so nice to be around like minded people. I get the same feeling when I am around music people. I feel like I can be myself and no one will judge. The same here. I do not feel I have to excuse my passion for animals. Or that I would rather have animals than children in my life. What great people of passion.
The afternoon was spent on continuing education and chatting with Best Friends founders. AMAZING stories from the beginning days.
Tomorrow starts off with quality dog time. I hope to spend time with some "Old Friends" and Pitties. For now it is off to bed. I really need it.

Best Friends Days 1 & 2

A long 48 hours. I am falling asleep as I write this. My sister is promising ice cream from Three Bears Creamery later so I am trying to stay up.
The flights from Omaha to Vegas were uneventful. Flying on the weekend has always been a breeze for me. I almost had a first class upgrade but they had an issue at the last minute and couldn't give it to me.
Arrived in Vegas to a tipsy sister and a busy airport. My suitcase was the LAST off the plane so we loaded the car and left Vegas. The four hour drive turned into five because we dawdled and stopped a lot. We finally arrived but not before stopping as we drove through a canyon to snap a few photos.



We arrived in Kanab and unpacked and relaxed.
This morning we were up bright and early. We got my Diet Coke that I cannot live without in the morning. We were there early and had an amazing time meeting people from all over the United States. We met people who are just getting into animal welfare work and others who have been involved for a while. Spent most of the day with Faith who is one of the founders of Best Friends. Her stories from the early days of Best Friends are amazing.
We spent the afternoon at Dogtown with dog trainer John Garcia.

What a humble, sweet guy. He started working at Best Friends when he was just out of high school and is now one of their managers. His "celebrity" status is completely lost on him and he is very bashful about it.

Heard some great Katrina and Vick dog stories. The dog in the picture with John is Stella who is a resident at Old Friends. We also spent time in the hydro therapy room learning about the applications for this amazing therapy tool. Found a few new clients up here as well so I will have to add them into my mix while I continue to work for the Girl Scouts.
When I stand here at the biggest Animal Sanctuary in the world I am in awe. The passion is in the air...even after 25 years. They are just as upset about Michael Vick as most of us in Animal Welfare are. We were told a story that before Michael Vick was release that they were contacted and asked if Michael could work with them to help "rehab his image". It was phrased just like that. Nothing about repaying the animals for what he had done..."rehab him image". Needless to say no one was sporting Eagles jerseys today. (Click HERE for Best Friends official statement.)

Legacy

My post today was going to be about something different but that all changed an hour ago. I was talking with one of my employees today (a senior in high school) about one of my favorite teachers in high school. Then tonight my parents (my dad is on the school board) called and told me that he had passed away.
I was taken aback. I just saw him a couple of months ago at a dinner for a foundation that supports the school district from which I graduated. I stood and talk to him and his wife and then we walked out to our cars together. Shock!
Dr. W was is without a doubt the teacher that prepared me most for college and in turn life. In all aspects. He taught in a different style than I had ever experienced in high school up to that point. He used a collaborative learning approach which was a lot of discussion and exchange of ideas. It wasn't about lectures or reading textbooks. He was about coming prepared to discuss in class. I also learned a ton from him on how to write papers. At the same time I was taking his class I was taking a class on writing research papers. While she was teaching us Chicago Style he was teaching us APA. Those are the facts but the overall lesson of what he taught me was this, it was never about the getting an answer. Learning is what happened on your way to the answer.
My senior year I took an independent study course that he was experimenting with curriculum wise. It was a community service independent study. I would go out and volunteer in the community and then once a week talk with him about it and at the end of the semester write a paper. It was one of two classes I took my Senior year. I worked for a Senator and a Congressman and gained so much from the experience, especially the weekly discussions with Dr. W. When I graduated from high school he was the ONLY teacher to come to my high school graduation party. I can say without a doubt he is one of the reasons I love learning so much and why I got my Masters and why I will be starting my PhD next Spring.

Teachers have a gift. They have a legacy that keeps on giving long after they have gone. Just as he passed the legacy onto me, I was passing along some of what he taught me when I was talking to that high school student about him.

I have searched and searched for a video of the retired teacher commercial from Hallmark but could not find it. I thought it would be a fitting close.

Perseid Meteor Shower

Hello everyone!
Last night was so amazing.I laid outside until 2am watching the annual Perseid meteor shower. It was a completely different sight out here in the country. I was facebooking (is that a verb??) with a friend who lives in a small town about 20 minutes away. It was something everyone one should do. Tonight you might still be able to see some so take a nap, get put of the city, and get out there tonight!
In a related story Stephen Hawking was honored at the White House...coincidence? I think not!

Must See

My must see movie of the year...

STAY TUNED!!!

My sister and I are heading out to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary on Saturday for a week of Animal fun. Let's see if I can take this Animal Behavior Certification I have for a spin!!!! I will try to blog daily like I do on my music blog when I am on tour.

Girl Scouts

Thanks for asking everyone! YES, I did get a new job. It really is my dream job. So when I got laid off in December and started consulting independently I really wasn't looking to ever go work for someone again. I thought I can just take on clients and work for myself. I had more than enough business to sustain me. Then my dream job fell into my lap. The Girl Scouts. I was a Girl Scout from 1st grade on (sadly I was not a Daisy because they were not available until I was a Junior.) I was in many different councils because my family moved a lot. I attended the 75th anniversary celebrations at the Metrodome in MN and got to see The Jets perform. I went on and got both my Silver and my Gold Award. I then became a Lifetime member. As an adult volunteer I was a spokeswoman for one of their campaigns...


I have so many great memories and just felt at home and fit in with Girl Scouts. I have never fit in any place like I have there. So when they called I went running. When they asked when can you start, I said, "Is tomorrow too soon?" The other great part is I get of lot of vacation time (A TON!!!) so I can do my volunteer work and my music tours each year.

My greatest memories even as an adult are of my Girl Scout days.
So now dear readers I ask you...what is your favorite Girl Scout/Brownie/Girl Guide Memory? Post it below and also send it to you local council office.(Click here to find your local council. and for my International friends here is the WAGGGS link. WAGGGS will be celebrating 100 years April 10th 2010!) We are all getting ready for the 100th anniversary in 2012 and would LOVE to collect all those stories from Girl Scout Alumni.

Just Another Manic Monday

It was one of those days. I had a plan and a list, with a schedule to get me through the day. What happened? I got none of that done and managed to add more to the list...of course. My plan is to get three things done tonight from home...we will see.

Here are some fun videos from this weekend. They are of my Lucy and Ethel and our neighbor's dog. Tildi and Tori were laying inside where it was cool. They are not stupid. Pool or no pool they wanted to be inside where it is cool!

Favorite New Blog

I found a great new blog that I have been following.

This of it as the modern American version of All Creatures Great and Small.

My blog design

I get a lot of compliments about my blog! I know isn't just yummy?! it looks like a scrapbooking page. Shabby Creations designed it. She does custom designs but if you just want something simple you can browse her pre-made list.
Her customer service is amazing and I have never placed an order with her and not have it fulfilled within 48 hours.
Highly recommend if you are looking for affordable professional blog designs.
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Dog Blog

It is dog blog time again!
I have had more than a handful of friends that had a dog pass away in the past 2 months. I have honesty cried for each and everyone of them. Today I will feature two of them. Very different lives, but both very loved!

Cutter

The most recent came this past week when Cutter, Champion English Lab, died at the ripe 'ole age of 15. He was up there in years, blind, and lived with an injury he received while out to stud (so to speak). Cutter went outside and laid down in the middle of his farm and went to sleep. He had a great life. Cutter FINISHED HIS CHAMPIONSHIP AT 16 months!!! Was #1 Labrador Retriever in 1996 in BOTH Breed and all systems. That year he went on to become the ProPlan Chosen by Champion Labrador Retriever in their print campaign. He won the breed at Westminster and many other shows including many BIS. Cutter was listed in Dog News as the #1 Labrador Retriever in Breed. He was a dog that loved confirmation and competition. He reveled in it. It was his calling. In recent years he had come to be known as the wise old one. He loved life as a retired dog living on the farm. It seems that this year he passed on dog show secrets to two other Gingerbread dogs, Zeus and Paris, who won Breed and Opposite at Eukanuba.

But at the end of the day Cutter was a dog that was loved and adored. He was a true friend and companion to his owner/breeder/handler and all he knew. His legacy lives on through not only breeding lines, but his true legacy of love and devotion to his family. He was a one of a kind dog.

Lucy

At the other end of the spectrum was a dog rescued from a shelter. Lucy was a bouncing boxer puppy of 8 months. She was a happy crazy puppy. I got a text message from her mom that they took her to the ER Vet on Sunday night. She had a seizure.
I could write a story to describe but I think the email exchange with her mom say it best. Here is a bit of our exchange:
Heather: What is wrong with Lucy???!!!
V: She had a seizure, I never knew it was common in boxers. They're keeping her overnight to determine if it was a one time thing or if she is epileptic. It was a pretty scary day. It's going to be an even longer night. She is a big cuddler. Sleeping will be hard without her!
Heather: I know it does not make you feel better but seizers in boxers are almost the norm. Their origins are from Mastiff lines and have been breed "down" to the dog you see today. One of the side effects of this breeding down is seizures. Most Boxers live a normal life even with seizures. We have a great vet if you want a 2nd opinion.
V: That actually does make me feel better. This emergency place totally screwed us over payment wise. It's ridiculous, but I saw it coming since it was the emergency vet. Hopefully things go smoothly but I may take you up on the vet, we have a good vet, but when it comes to my babies, a great vet is better!
Heather: Emergency vets always do!! It is horrible. They know you are desperate and will pay just about anything. Our GREAT vet is Dr. Johnson at Harvey Oaks. She is amazing!!!

Lucy was put to sleep the following day.
Heather: Hey sweatheart! I am so sorry about Lucy!!! Let me know if you want to get together and hang out. She was a very loved dog!
V: We loved her more then anything. Getting Lucy was one of the best things we have ever done. We wouldn't take it back for the world. We loved her more then we could have ever imagined and she was the sweetest most caring dog I've ever come across. All she wanted to do was cuddle. She wasn't even 1 year old yet. Next month would have been her 1st birthday. It happened so fast. Less then 24 hours and she was gone.

Needless to say I cried my eyes out. I needs to be supportive. I sent her the Doggie Soulmate Blog.
Heather: Just for you! This is an blog I wrote in December of this year. It was something I needed to write for a while. When I did and posted it on my blog it was picked up by Pet MD. I did not expect the response I got. I got emails and stories from other people about their doggie soulmate. Made me feel less alone and less foolish that two years later I was still mourning her.

My sister had a dog Bo that slowing became paralyzed from a injury he received before he was rescued. She bought him a wheel chair but eventually the injury began to effect his ability to breath or function. He was Laticia's Doggie soulmate and to this day she cannot sleep without his collar still under her pillow. Three months later she went to look for her next dog. When she met her new dog Cezar, she loved him but she still wasn't sure. So they went to dinner to think it over. She was crying and telling her husband that she needed Bo to give her a sign that this was the right decision. A few moments later she saw a shooting star. Cezar came home with them that night. Bo became our inspiration for our dog sanctuary.

I hope this story helps. No one will replace Lucy.

V: Heather,
That is a beautiful story. I've been asking for Lucy to give me a sign that she is ok and better now. I'm still waiting but I know it will come. We aren't ready for another baby just yet but I know in time we will. It's just so hard, as I am of course sobbing as I write you. It makes me feel better that other people are as passionate about dogs as me and Dan. I just really can't process it all yet. It happened so fast. We went to Borders and bought a couple Boxer books. As we were reading we found something that sounds exactly like what happened to Lucy. It's a brain tumor called a glioma. I'm sure you've heard of it but all the symptoms are exactly what happened to Lucy girl. We'll never know for sure but it gives us a bit more piece of mind about what happened and that if it was in fact a glioma we made the right decision. It's just been so incredibly hard and I've felt like people think I'm weird for being so depressed about losing her but they just don't understand truly how special Lucy was and still is to us. She really was our baby. Thank you for being there for me. You truly have helped me so much Heather. Your mom as well gave me encouraging words, which is her specialty. I appreciate you guys so much. Thank you.

Then I get a text exaclty one month later:
Not a replacement to our Lucy girl, but our new baby. It's still hard because I can't stop thinking of Lucy but this little baby sure has brought us sunshine when we needed it most. Lacy, born March 20th, 2009. AKC certified. Our little sweetheart. She reminds me so much of Lucy. It's nice to hear the little pitter-patter of her feet all around. She's so precious and loving. Just what we need right now!

Meet Lucy's Legacy...LACY! When I saw here picture all I could say was, Lucy sent her to you!!

Just My Luck

Last night I was driving home from Mom and Dad's house at about 1:00 am after finishing a movie. Since I live in the country now it is a lot of dark gravel roads. I had the dogs in the back seat and we got a flat tire. It was pouring down rain pitch black because of the country roads. I managed to limp back to a high end subdivision closer to the city and park up where no one could see (rapist and murders ya know). I thought about changing the tire but with rain, lightening, two dogs and gravel roads I decided it was not the best idea. Roadside Assistance said I was outside the service area. BASTARDS! I then proceeded to try and call my parents for TWO HOURS. They just got rid of their land line and only have cell phones now. Finally Mom heard the phone and they came and got me. I was SO happy I had Tildi and Tori with me in the car. They were so good and did not bark or whine once. They snuggled with me.
When my parents show up they had a golf umbrella and get my dogs first. Mom came back for me with a towel. Yup that is them. Dogs are the priority. We went back this morning and changed the tire.

A Grammy? Really?

I know I made a promise to keep my music blogs to a minimum on here but I am just explode!

Okay maybe I am jinxing things (if jinxing is a word) but I decided to talk about it anyway because I am about ready to BUST. I got word from my record label in Italy(Ava Maria Records) that there is some Grammy buzz surrounding the project I participated in last November. Now buzz does not mean a nomination let alone a Grammy win but it is still exciting to be talked about by other musical professionals and be recognized for your performance. Right now it is just released in European market but if we do get a nomination we would release the CD in North America in 2010. (Europe is inclined to have much higher classical/sacred music sales. USA not so much.)

Now just to get a nomination is like running a Presidential campaign. It is wooing and lobbying. God bless my label for taking this challenge on. Even if we get a nomination we are on the untelevised portion of the awards because sacred and classical music just isn't sexy enough. If we do not get a nomination participation in the project was still one of the most life changing experiences I have ever had.

We had already planned on entering the documentary filmed during production into the Sundance Film Festival. The film is not so much about the production but rather about death...depressing I know, but it was a Requiem and each musician had death on their mind and was in a way motivated by it.

I will keep you updated as my label tells me it will be a long journey with about a 2% chance of nomination but it is still amazing.

The Reports of my death...

I am a horrible blogger. My head has been spinning with client projects and rehearsals that time has just not allowed.

Tildi and Tori are doing FANTASTIC! They are new dogs! Tori is bossy and vocal. She still does not like men much. I found burn scars on her neck and we have found that her gait is a bit off from what we can only assume was her being kicked as a puppy. I give her Glucosamine supplements to stay off arthritis. She has a blanket that she loves and sleeps on next to the TV. She LOVES my dad. She runs in and sits beside him when we visit my parents
Tildi is crazy and hyper with so much puppy in her. She has so much Aussie and Border Collie in her it is funny to watch. She decided to chase a fly the other day but not in a normal dog manner. She used all of her herding skills and it was hilarious. She nips and jumps per her breed. She also pouts and whines when she doesn't get her way. She LOVES to play with Ethel. They are the best of friends.

It took a few weeks but we got the 'ole AC up and running. I was taking my dogs into my parents everyday because it was so hot there for a while. But since the AC was under warranty we got it taken care of!!

It has been horse heaven around here. My closest farm neighbor had a foal in April and she is adorable. Tildi loves her and wants to play everytime she sees here.
My neighbor about a mile up the road adopted three horses from that huge rescue here in Nebraska. It is fun to watch them because the are three completely different breeds of horses but are inseparable because of the life they had previously. I also love to watch them run and actually bounce with joy. They are so happy and they are putting on weight.

My neighbor has a trailer home on his land that he fixed up and rented out. He has such a great heart that he rented it to a VERY, VERY poor family with 5 kids. They have no furniture (one of the town's ladies and I are trying to round up some). He is renting it for half the price he wanted and is willing to take rent weekly just to help them out. The lady from town ("J") told me that the mother couldn't read and she had to help her out with a few things.

"J" is fountain of "neighborhood" (if you can call a farming community that is acres and acres between neighbors as neighborhood) gossip. Last week I came home and was unloading groceries and the county sheriff pulled up asking me if I knew where a certain address was (another country life problem house numbers). I told him where it was and told him to stay safe. "J" later told me about a farm up the road where the wife will go on benders and then lock herself in the house convinced that al qaeda is attacking. She said obviously the sent the poor rookie to break him in. Yes, my little town sure has color.

I also might get a farmer for a client. REALLY a FARM!

Where is Pooh Bear?

March came in like a lion and now it is going out like a lion too. Apparently, March has downsized and no longer has lambs.

If you ask Winnie the Pooh he will tell you it is a textbook blustery day. It snowed off and on but the wind was the horrible part gusts of winds up to 55mph. Freezing rain and a blizzard out in Western Nebraska. We are suppose to get 5-10 inches tonight. We will see.

I also got sick today which is ZERO fun. I wanted to be at home in bed but had to work. It was horrible. Now I am cozied in bed with Tori sleeping on a dog pillow beside my bed and Tildi being a clown running up and down the hall like a crazy puppy.
I transferred some of my vinegar into the next stage yesterday it is looking good. That is kinda second nature to me since that was part of what I used to do when I lived in Napa. I figure I should have some great vinegar by the smell. I need to start a new batch soon.
Have you all caught the Depression Cooking Videos on youtube? 93 year old Clara, recounts her childhood during the Great Depression as she prepares meals from the era. So adorable and a must see. Here is the link to her Youtube Page




Well I am off to sleep off this cold! Anyone know any really unique or really easy chicken noodle recipes? Some one said they made Chicken Noodle casserole. That sounded kinda good!

Sewing

I miss my Grandmother everyday. She was a classy, spunky lady that a simple blog about would not do her justice so I am not going to even try. Let's just say everyone who met her loved her and she lit up a room.

She was also an amazing seamstress. She and my Great Aunt both were. My Grandmother made all my clothes as a child. In fact my she and my Great Aunt ripped apart one of their fur stoles to make a collar and muff for a little coat when I was about 18 months old. My mother still has it and it is the most adorable thing ever. I remember spending entire Saturdays at the fabric store pouring over pattern catalogs and looking at fabrics for outfits that she would make.

Now as I start sewing again myself I miss her being here so I can ask questions. I can hold my own with sewing. I am not bad. It is just the more complicated things that I have questions about that you cannot post on a message board online. You need to show and converse with someone about. Most fabric stores do not do classes anymore except for scrapbooking. I need master classes or a sewing mentor who lives close.

My Mom is a great about sewing. She made my curtains but she has a tendency to take over projects instead of answering questions. My Mom is such a doer. She loves getting stuff done and crossing it off the list. Now that she is "retired" (I say that because she works for my Dad 20 hours a week)hopefully she can help me out more.

The Canine crew says Hello! I have all four of them to myself this weekend so I will try to post many pictures and if it is nice I will bring out the puppy pool for them to play in!

Today was a relaxing day as we eased into spring here in the Midlands. I worked for a client this morning and then hit the local farmers market on the way home. I was excited to see that had spring veggies in already. I picked up some spinach. I of course got some farm fresh eggs that I can actually get me hands on now that it is warm enough for them to lay consistently. I got some HUGE beefsteak tomatoes. I plan on having at least one tonight with dinner with some mozzarella cheese! Yum!

As I drove home I went past my house and down the road a few miles to a State Park near me. I was hoping it was open so the dogs I could go walking later. No such luck; not yet. I want to go camping soon so it better open up.

As I was carrying my farmer's market goodies inside today my dogs were hanging out watching me. I had to make a couple trips back and forth so I gave them a chewy to snack on while I went about my business. Well, my youngest somehow managed to finish her chewy and rip open the bag of dog food I bought and go to town. I think it is important to add here that she went to the vet for the first time yesterday and we discovered that she is NOT 2 and a half years old as the rescue place told me. My vet, Dr. J, said she is a year at best. A puppy...I think so!

I am cleaning today and getting somethings done. Signing the dogs up for training classes.

I am participating in Earth Hour tonight so I have a lot I need to get done before then.

Bad weather always looks worse through a window

Spring has arrived and with it all sorts of activity. Today was a very odd day to say the least. I awoke to a dreary cloudy day with high winds. You could actually see caps on the pond out back. Very strange. A sign of things to come.

I was getting ready to go into my office in the city around 11am and found that my drive way was blocked my a digging crew digging a line for my neighbor's new water pump up the road. Also at the end of the road they were moving an old cottage. So needless today I worked from the home office today which as of late is not at my desk but my couch and huge coffee table. The dogs did not like the sound of the digging much refusing to go outside. I coaxed them with my happy "Good Girls" voice but they still thought it was the height of ridiculousness that all this noise. I worked like a woman on fire for one of my favorite clients today. I get so excited about all that she does. I almost forgot where I was or what time it was and that is was not a good thing today.

I got a little ticked at my mother today but now I am fine. It seems that Ethel got really sick in the middle of the night last night with horrible watery stools and violent diarrhea. Lucy is fine and so were my girls so it was isolated to Ethel. My mother emailed me a short email to tell me that was a single sentence long. So I call her. The conversation lasted 1:14. I was pissed when I got off the phone. I am a person who needs facts to deal with stressful situations. Not even a diagnosis. A timeline of events. I need the details so I do not think the worst. So I emailed my sister who is the most empathetic person I know. She gets how my mom operates. My mom thinks that by giving us very little information it is better because we worry less. My sister and I joke about it all the time. My mom pulled almost the exact same thing when she took my dad to the ER three weeks ago for tightness in his chest. (He is fine just too long on the same blood pressure meds not even a blink on the cardiac monitor.) We did not find out until a day later. So my little sister just laid down the smack and said what is going on and what happened then called me back to fill me in on everything. Mom then texted me and said she was sorry but a client walked into my dad's office when she was on the phone with me and had to go.

So you all don't worry Ethel is now home and has a bacterial infection that she is on meds for and she stayed at the vet's most of the day on fluids so she didn't get hydrated. Last report was that she at home and was sleepy but still her goofy self.

As I worked away today I could hear the wind howl but it did not register much. When I was outside I with the girls I gathered all my outdoor decor and stored it in my foyer as the wind was really bad. As I was securing my trash can my pants fell a bit and I mooned the world. Thank goodness there is no one else around. Other than the wind I noticed nothing. I was so focused on work. I did not notice it get dark either. Mom called around 4:30pm to tell me that we were under a Tornado Warning. I am so far out in the country without TV and sirens are only in the city. I am going out tomorrow and getting a weather radio and I ordered one of those crank radio/lanterns from Harriet Carter. So I hauled the girls (literally hauled) into my bathroom with sits in the exact center of my house. I love it because it is L shaped. I put a blanket on the floor for the girls with their bones and water bowl and me with my laptop and cell phone.

This went on for TWO HOURS. Now note this is not as bad as June of 2008 when I sat in my apartment hallway for 6 hours. I texted my mom the entire time who was also under the warning in another part of the county and more heavily under the gun. She said she did not have to have the TV...Lucy KNEW it was time to go to the basement and went to the door and barked until mom went down with her and Ethel. It is important to understand that Lucy has not liked the basement the last month because we had a shelf fall in the wine cellar and it scared her so she had not been going down there.

Now the way storms work is I get hit first and then it travels into the city where my parents live so there is about a 20 minute delay. But when it reached them there was a Tornado actually spotted. So I spent the afternoon texting mom in my bathroom while working on a client project then deciding to clean my bathroom. I mean heck I was stuck in there. A friend of mine commented during the storm that she finds it amazing that the meteorologists feel the need to explain how tornadoes form every time we have severe weather. Most of us here in the Midwest learned that basic science fact in the 2nd grade. We are experts on the Fujita Scale. (We know operated under the Enhanced Fujita Scale that was put into play in Feb. 2007. It just looked at new wind speeds and 2 second gusts.)
For those of you who don't know here is a video to help:


The storm passed. And I went back to work on projects. But before I did that I took a quick look at the 5 day forecast to see if we had more stormy weather headed this way. Yeah...we do. Snow on Wednesday.

Keeping Up

Hello Everyone!
We have been busy here at the cottage and so much to tell you all.

First off my two new rescue dogs are doing so much better. They make strides night and day. Matilda is a pistol and is the outgoing one. Victoria, who we have discovered to be her mother and not her sister, is very scared and shy. She really trusts me and now my mom since she was here all last weekend (That is another story). I know with Tori it will take a lot of time an patience. She prefers to be in her kennel most days as she feels safe but has taken to sleeping in the hall so she can see me while I work or when I am just hanging out. I see signs of Tori being an amazing agility dog as she leaps over boxes from a dead stand as I continue to unpack. Tildi is great at obedience. It took me 13 minutes to teach sit, down, and come...and my dogs are NOT food motivated so this was a new type of training for me.
My dog behavior certification has come in handy.

Oh lookie there as I write this she (Tori) just walked into the room to check on me. She came over kissed my hand. Tildi on the other hand is all over the place because she is my on the go girl. It is storming here so Tildi is scared. I am making fool out of myself to keep her distracted as I type I am singing Motown and 70's Classics songs, which she enjoys and distracts her. But as most of you know I am a classically trained Soprano so to anyone who sees me perform on a normal basis would get a chuckle. A Soprano singing the Doobie Brothers is a sight to behold anyway.

I spent all of last week wrapped in a variety of projects both personal and professional. Here at the cottage we have had beautiful weather so it has really been the first time since winter set in that we have had time to get out and get some things done from last Summer's serve storms. Valley was hit by the same storm that hit the boy scout camp in Iowa and that was just the kick off to the summer. The house I have now as well as my neighbor up the road had trees fall of them and had damage. That is why we are still playing catch up with a new roof this spring and new siding from hail damage. The yard took a beating as well. Mom and I went through the debris that is still on property. It is amazing how much damage was done even to the earth not just buildings.

Most of the weekend was spent inside working on projects. Mom came over with Lucy and Ethel on last Friday night as dad was out of town. She spent the night and we hung blinds and sewed curtains. We bought new things for the house and put together shelves and other cabinets. Literally it was all weekend. The funny part was going to bed at 2am with 4 dogs in the house. Matilda and Victoria love their kennel so they slept in there, and Lucy found a spot on a comforter, but Ethel could not settle. She was all over. She too prefers her kennel but it wasn't over here so she made due. She did finally cuddle with me for part of the night, then mom.


Mom was a sewing machine hog so she did most of the curtains. We still have one set we need to shorten. They look really good. I got a great old sewing machine with a cabinet off of craigslist for $50. I am so excited. I am working on some new Simplicity patterns for spring. Actually what I do is take parts of patterns and put them together for something I want. Like the top of a dress from one pattern and the bottom from another and put it together.

My consulting firm for small businesses is doing well this month. I have signed on a new client that is huge so that is keeping me busy. I had another article published and my Doggie Soulmate story has been picked up.

Wishes

The following is the wish list for my little cottage. I know I cannot buy it all right away with the economy in the state that it is but I can buy it piece by piece through garage sales, classifieds and networking with friends.
*Day Bed-Prefer it to be white and come with a mattress. If it came with a trundle that would be a total win.
*Fireplace- Prefer gel or oil burning as I need something in case I lose power next winter as my heat is electric.
*Outdoor Storage for chairs and items during winter that can withstand the prairie winds.
*Shutters
*Shrubs for the front of my house
*Plant stands to put by my stairs.
*Short bookshelves that I can put storage baskets in for hallway and one for extra bedroom. One black and one white.
*Sewing Table and newer machine
*Wall shelves for picture frames in hall and family room
*Telescope
*Portable Dishwasher
*Storage shelves in Bathroom
*Storage shelves in utility room
*Entry Storage Bench
*Stools for breakfast bar (oak)
*Solar Lights
*Benches for fire pit
*Kitchen Cart/Island
*DVD Storage with doors (Black)
*Bookshelves (4 Black)

My Blog Readers are the Smartest People...

Nothing gets by you all does it? I make one small comment and you say wait a minute. Out of everything I wrote in "Downsized to the Good Life" you notice one tiny thing.

Yes, I have two new girls in my life Matilda and Victoria. I call them my TnT girls as I call them Tildi and Tori. Tori is the first two pictures and Tildi is the last three.

Downsized to the Good Life

I am one of those people. I lost my job with a global consulting firm the Monday after Thanksgiving. When they told me I actually felt a sense of relief. I have applied for many jobs and even with my Masters degree nothing was coming my way. So I threw caution to the wind, moved out of the city and to the country. I lived in an apartment that cost and arm an a leg, I now live in a hundred-year-old cottage on a farm in rural Nebraska that has so much character and meaning it feels like a real home (at half the price). I have a lake in the backyard and the river runs along the front of the property. I adopted two dogs. I have Australian Shepherd mixes and we have signed up to start agility. (Watch out world!) We take walks each night even in the snow. I don’t have cable. I depend on Netflix for movies and watch my favorite TV shows free on network sites. I actually cook dinner at night instead of eating in an airport or getting it out of a drive-thru window. I have Sunday dinners with my parents. Any major purchases I do need I look at eBay or online classifieds and buy second hand. I bought a sewing machine. I am considering building a chicken coop.

The funny thing is I am making less than half of what I made last year but I have so much more cash flow. I am saving more, because life is so much simpler for me. I don’t WANT things. My big spend each week is at the local co-op for groceries from local farmers. One of my simple pleasures of the day is making homemade dog biscuits that my neighbors tell me I should sell at the farmers market in town this summer. It is about perspective. I am getting by consulting for small businesses on my own. These are companies that my old firm would never touch because they are too small and needed too much work. I couldn’t be happier working with them. I get to help people realize their own dreams ... now that is really exciting. On top of that I have so much less stress. I am not scheduled from 5 a.m.–11 p.m. every day. I set my own pace. Getting laid off was the greatest thing that every happened to me. Well, I am signing off so we can get some reading done (Complete Idiot’s Guide to Sewing). Warm wishes from us here in the good life.

Books

The BBC believes most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here. Count up your score and see how you do.

Instructions:
1) Look at the list and put an 'x' after those you have read.
2) Tally your total at the bottom.


Here's the list:

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen X
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien X
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte X
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling X
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte X
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman X
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens X
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott X
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy X
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare X
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier X
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien X
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger X
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot X
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald X
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens X
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams X
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh X
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll X
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame X
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis X
34 Emma - Jane Austen X
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen X
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis X
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden X
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne X
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown X
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery X
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy X
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood X
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding X
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan X...HATED IT
51 Life of Pi - Yann Marte
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons X
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen X
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon X
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens X
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez X
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold X
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas X
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding X
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens X
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker X
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett X
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath X
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray X
80 Possession - AS Byatt X
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens X
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro X
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White X
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom X
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle X
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery X
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams X
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare X
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl X
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo X

56

As one can see I am not big on MALE post modern authors and it seems I really don't care for the Russians much either.

Home

Hello everyone! I am home from Westminster and I have so much to share. It is in describable. I am going to try to sleep tonight and post all the photo from the events tomorrow. I even have some videos I will link up. The most exciting part of the whole event, I met a wonderful breeder of Australian Shepherds. She and I chatted for a while and I am on her wait list for a puppy.

Westminster Day 1 (Pictures will be added soon!)

Westminster is something I have watched since I was a kid. While most little girls dream of walking down a runway waving with a crown on their head, I had visions of me rounding a ring with a dog on a lead and the judge pointing at us. It was a tradition in our house to watch the show. Even now as an adult I head over to my parents house for two nights of dog fun.

We flew to NYC on Sunday, really early on Sunday. My parents and I had to leave the house at 3:30am to catch our 5am flight. Travel was really uneventful except for the fact that I gave up to complimentary updates so I could sit with my parents. I am like a gold star, silver, platinum, elite member with Delta so I get them. Upon arrival in NYC we head to the hotel and I go to my room and unpack and my parents go to their room. We were then suppose to head to the AKC open house. But my parents never came to my room so I waited a bit then headed down to their room. They were watching a movie!

We then head out to the AKC open house. It was a blast tons of art and food and they had miles and miles of books on dogs going back to the 1800's. I was in heaven. Books and dogs yup a perfect afternoon. I spoke with them about becoming a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and god information on AKC agility trials. The AKC has a great art collection. The art collection is housed at the headquarters in NYC and the Dog Star Museum in St. Louis. I have now been to both and I cannot begin to say how thankful I am that someone has cataloged and preserved such important pieces of art and knowledge with their library. The AKC is celebrating their 125th Birthday! A local bakery in NYC made them a Golden Retriever cake. It was beautiful! After we left the AKC headquarters we went to a café for Sunday afternoon glass of champagne. My sister and her husband arrived later that evening and we then headed out to Patsy’s for dinner. There I ate way too much and drank some great wine.

I got up at 5:15am to head to the show at The Garden. One of my favorite breeds, Australian Shepherds was up right at 8am so I wanted to get a good seat. I knew some of the Aussies being shown so I did the WooWoo for them as the rounded the ring. Ch Briarbrooks Copyright won for the breed. He was beautiful with a sweet yet focused temperament.

We then headed over to see Harriers, Beagles, Not Exceeding 13 Inches and Bloodhounds. One of the Beagles did an adorable spin trick while he waited for his turn. There was an adorable almost 4yr old bitch that was one of the tiniest Beagles I have ever seen. She was so sweet with the most endearing eyes.

After them it went to Bloodhounds. Bloodhounds are scent hounds used for tracking purposes. They have the shortest longevity of any registered AKC breed with an average of 6.75 years! While I was watching I met the #1 Bloodhound in the country named Moony who won the Breed at Westminster last year. But As I watched one bitch kept catching my eye. She had a grace that set her apart and a need to meet everyone around the ring. On top of that she had she an amazing connection with her handler.
She did not win but I did find out later she is related to Knotty who won Eukanuba in 2005.

After that I went and spent sometime in the benching area. I got TONS of puppy SWAG and met some great breeders. One that i met was Linda Wilson of Briarbrooks Aussies. This was a breed I have been researching for a while. I knew I wanted a breed with herding instincts, super smart, that could do agility, but had more focus than a Border Collie. I found that Aussie can do that. I chatted with Linda who I bonded with over that fact that we were both from the Midwest. There is a new litter that she thought had the right male pup for me. I am going to call and chat with her next week. I met some more dogs, had a hot dog for lunch, saw David Frei (dog show celebrity for those in the know) and got slobbery kisses from a Bloodhound.

We then went back to the hotel to drop off the puppy SWAG and then headed back to The Garden. We met some more dog and got ready for the groups to be judged that night. The judging results on most of the groups were unexpected and lead to a lot of confusion. The Terrier Group Lead to two dismissals which, we later found out was because of a relationship the judge had with the handlers. I have to tell you at the end of the night when we were left with a Scottish Terrier (Terrier Group), Puli (Herding Group), Scottish Deerhound (Hound Group) and a Poodle (Non-Sporting) I was concerned.

The Furnace and the Wasps

Hey everyone!
I feel like an episode of Doctor Who. One of the episodes this past season was called "The Unicorn and the Wasp" (funniest Doctor Who episode ever by the way!)


Except mine is more The Furnace and the Wasps and not quite as funny.

I am still here but after a weekend of cold temps and howling winds my brand new furnace could not take it and died. I woke up to a 62F degree house. On Sunday morning, called, "Mr. P", my contractor, builder, caretaker extrodinare at 8am on Super Bowl Sunday and he came right over with the man that installed the furnace while I huddled under a down comforter, hugged a space heater, and read. After about three hours they told me they would have to order parts. So I headed into the city to shower and get dressed at my parent's house where it is warm. "Mr. P" calls me at 6:30pm and said he may have found the problem and fixed it! HAZAH!

I watch the Super Bowl (YA! YA! Steelers!) come home and my house is till chilly so I figure it is still warming up. I go to sleep. I wake up at 5:30am on Monday morning to a 54F degree house. I hop in my car and head to my parents in the city again and politely wait until 8am to call "Mr. P". He says he will get it take care of that day. I get a call at Noon that the new parts are in and it is up and running and my house is back at a nice 70F.

I come home that night to a nice toasty only to kill 3 wasps. I call poor, poor Mr. P again and today he set off a wasp bomb of some sort under the house. It is a good thing too because there were two more in my shower this morning. I came home to a warm house and no wasps tonight.

Gotta love the country life.

Moved In !?!

I am moved in. Well, all my stuff is in the house. That is the more realistic picture. I had to head back to work today (yes on a Saturday I work about 6 days a week). I was gone a week to move and I have a zillion client requests and everybody wants me on Monday so I am splitting my day up so everyone has time with me. It is good to feel loved.

I am heading out with Mom here in a bit to get window coverings for the house. Really exciting. Then it is back home to put the up and watch the dog show! I still have not unpacked the box with my camera but I swear pictures are coming soon. There are beautiful sunsets out here I will get pictures of for you all.

Guest Blogger: Ethel

Hi! I am Ethel. Heather might have mentioned me before. She is really busy unpacking from her move, so I said I would blog today telling everyone not to worry she will be back soon! I also wanted to remind you to watch the AKC/Eukanuba National Championships on Animal Planet Saturday Night. My friend Paris, a Lab, is there and we are hoping she gets best in breed so she can go onto group.

Moving Day!!!

8:30am CST
So here I sit a top my dryer trying desperately to stay out of my movers way. I have talked to my dad on the phone and my mother. I tried by sister until I remembered it was 6:30am her time...oops. I have watch TV shows on my laptop. I want to get this done so I can settle into my new home.

I visited with my contractor, builder, caretaker extrodinare yesterday. We are set on most things inside. We still have to run a line for the air conditioning, but with the snow and the cold this week I don't think that is a a huge deal. I have heat so I am set. He is as excited for me to move in as I am to move into my new home. I will take pictures and upload soon.

10am CST
Almost completed loading up. Movers commented that I highly organized. After moving as many times as I have growing up I am a bit of a pro. We have a family rule that we don't go to bed until everything is unpacked and put away. Pictures are allowed to be hung on day 2. Since I am the only one on this move I am not sure that is going to happen.

11:30am CST
Hit the road with the movers behind me. There is no way they could get there without following me since directions are kinda like "turn left at silo then a quick right at the Alpacas." While my team unpacks my mom calls and she got lost. Note to self program directions into the GSP on her car and have alarms sound when she makes a wrong turn. She arrived bearing gifts of 2 cases of bottled water and 3 12 packs of Diet Coke. Oh my mother knows me well.

12pm CST
Meet a new "neighbor" which confirms my status as a dog magnet. I have an elderly woman "J" who lives down the road who has a BIG HUGE Chow. But that is not who I met. I was standing in my kitchen directing mover traffic and talking with my Mom. We had the door standing open so the movers could come in and out with ease. All of the sudden I see a big black streak dart in the front door and back to my bedroom and then to my music room. I look at my Mom and she looks and me and starts to laugh. This black streak then comes barreling back and right at me. The black streak was a enormous black lab. We snuggled and he gave me kisses. He then ran outside and ate snow. My mom at this point is in fits of laughter. "You are only here 30 minutes and a dog finds you. You must send off some sort of signal." The dog kept eating snow so I assumed he was thirsty so I started ripping open random kitchen boxes looking for a bowl. I filled it with water and gave it to him which he drank down. My mom then took a picture of him on her cell phone and sent it to the rest of the family introducing "my new neighbor". When mom went to take his picture he sat and smiled at the camera.
He continued to lay on the porch the rest of the afternoon. Since I have no idea of his name, mom and I decided to give him a nickname. He drools a lot so I said, "How about Drooler?" Mom said, "We will call him Drew for short." I wish I had the some luck with men as I do with dogs!

2:30pm CST
Made a trip in town to Walmart to pick up a few things. The air is so dry that the skin on my legs are so dry they are cracking. It is painful. I stocked up on lotion and milk bones. I now have a jar of milk bones right door for Drew.

3:00pm CST Ran by the old place to pick a few things up. I still have a couple of things over there yet and I need to vacuum and clean tomorrow. As I stood in my empty apartment I was a little sad. I remembered all the memories. The week of my sister's wedding I hosted a "Cab'in' Party" for the family to meet and enjoy each other in a casual setting. Everyone brought their favorite Cabernet. Then all the dinners with friends. 4th of July with the dogs watching 102 Dalmatians. I also remembered the not so happy memories. Sitting on my bed and crying sure that my heart would break in two after a boy break up. Sitting in front of the fireplace and flipping through pictures after my Uncle died. The loss of my beloved Cassidy. But also as I stood there the place just didn't feel like my home anymore. It felt like a standard apartment that was empty. Home was somewhere else now.

4:00om CST
Ran by Best Buy to drop of my DVD player that stopped working. Maybe it was the marathons I have had watching entire seasons of TV Shows while I packed. While I was there they had the Season 2 of Paranormal State on sale so I grabbed it. I figured I could pop it in my laptop and watch it while I unpacked.

4:30pm
Arrived home and unloaded my car. I then crashed on my couch and slept until 5am the next morning.

Tomorrow:
Unpacking

Dog Blogger??

Someone introduced me the other day today as a dog blogger. Really? I really had always thought of my blog as a random stream of thought. I had another blog that I wrote through my 20's that I have since taken down...because, well I wrote it while I was in my 20's. WOW the naive thoughts and musings that brought about. I have another blog that is just devoted to my musical travels. I am horrible at keeping it up to date and do not put in the care into it I should. Then there is a blog I set up solely for my sister, mom and I to keep track and share recipes with each other. It seemed we were always emailing each other for the same recipes and then deleting them. Silly us.

I thought about this dog blogger comment for a while now. Today while I was putting the final touches on packing I was listening to a Jon Katz audiobook. If you don't know Jon Katz, your crazy, but other than that he is a writer and farmer of sorts. He runs Bedlam Farms and shares the adventures of the farm through the many books he writes. So any way I am going about my packing listening to him tell stories of the Bedlam Crew, seeing Rose, Elvis, Izzy, Clem and the rest of the crew as they play out adventures in my head. I laugh as he makes reference only dog people get. Now don't get me wrong, I do not think that Jon is an expert on dogs or a dog guru. He is a man who has found balance within his pack. The thing I love about him is he does what is best for his pack. He does not let "dog rules" or "dog snobs" dictate to him how he leads his crew. Then I hear something to the that explains the dog blogger comment. He wrote that "while a lot of us dog people are content to make all about the dogs and isolate ourselves. But that is the irony," he writes, "dogs bring us closer to other people." I begin to realize that this is how I relate to people. My friend knew this. I relate to people on a dog level. What is their dog story? That is how I begin to relate to them.
After my Doggie Soulmate blog was picked up i have had so many responses. People have told me their stories of animals who have made all the difference in their lives. I found myself continuing these conversations and making tons of new friends since it was first picked up. It is amazing.

So here is another dog blog to reaffirm my new title.

Snow-way

Yeah I still have an entire room to pack and a garage to get organized but I had to post a few things. Packing is going well thanks to Sanctuary, Firefly, Supernatural, and the Aussie show Underbelly.

First off, the peanut butter recall is extending to our furry friends. Here is the link to the list of items.
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/
I know many of you are crazy animal lovers like me so I wanted to spread the word.

Second, I HATE snow! Right now living in the city when it snows sucks. I live at the bottom of a hill that is a 45 degree angle. This morning I slid back down it, spun my car and slammed into a snow bank. I am totally fine my parking light is busted but other than that it is okay. I still cannot get out. I cannot wait until I am in the country where it is flat. I can deal with drifting and blowing. It is the sliding down a hill I cannot take. Plus, my friend, new neighbor, a farmer with a plow, is up bright and early and clears my road. Yeah country folks are the best!!

Third, I am leaving for Westminster soon! I am uber excited. I will blog here to keep you up-to-date.

Finally, Thank you for all your emails about my post on Divine Caroline. Once I am moved I will tell you a story about a dog named Bo.

Must See!

I know I should not be blogging and I should be focused on packing, but I just have to tell you about the most adorable movie I watched while I packed today. The movie is Mist; The Tale of a Sheepdog Puppy. It is a kids movie but I totally delighted in it. Think Milo and Otis meets Jon Katz's Bedlam Farm Books. I loved it!

I have a current infatuation with herding dogs, so this movie was perfect for me at the time.

Moving

Hello everyone! A quick pop over to check in. Not many posts right now as I am in the middle of the chaos of moving! I cannot wait until this is all over. I bought a new appliances for the cottage today and have narrowed down some names. I will post them next Monday so we can finalize the vote.

The other exciting bit of news is the post about my Doggie Soulmate was featured on Divine Caroline. So for those of you who are joining us from there welcome and sorry for the thin posts right now while I move.

Love you all!
Heather

Foxie is A-Okay!

Here is a note from my sister on the lastest on her dog, Foxie!

I went to visit Foxie yesterday afternoon. Dr. Lung said she had been doing so well, that I could take her home. He said he keeps them overnight mostly for the people’s sake as the night will be rough. But the minute he took me to see her, he turned to me and said, I think she needs to be with you. So, she slept from 12-5am without waking up, which is about what I slept too J I have her sleeping in a kennel in the bedroom, as I am worried about her wandering off the bed at night.

So, it is a long road ahead of us, but everything went well. She is obviously in tons of pain. She has been whimpering, groaning and crying pretty much on repeat-but a very low quiet type. She just wants to be in your lap and held. I am working from home today and she is next to me on the couch (on a leash-around my waist J) Levi has the day off tomorrow, then I can be with her all weekend. We will see what Monday brings. I will be leaving her in her kennel though, as Cezar (bless his heart) has been gentle, but on her walk to the water bowl today he bumped into her and it hurt her I could tell. My hope is I can get Levi to hang with Foxie for a bit on Sunday so I can take Cez for a big romp.

Dr. Lung said she has a significant amount of arthritis, which he removed, giving her a fresh start. Her tear was complete to her CCL (the doggie ACL). He removed all of that, drilled some holes in her bones, ran basically fishing line through and help it together with a wire. The wire will eventually break down, but he is forming scar tissue to bind them new knew together.

Half her rear and her whole leg is shaven. Her leg looks like doggy Frankenstein. But she is with me, now (finally for the first time today) snoring next to me. Which means I will not move (no matter how bad I have to pee or what needs to be done) until she wakes up.

One thing I have learned from this. I truly love love love this dog. She is just the world to me. I know you guys understand that. I just feel like she is my bestest friend. Well, she is actually.

Austen Heroes

Okay I have reread Sense and Sensibility for like the 10th kazillionth time. I have some thoughts about it.

What makes Edward any better than Lucy or Willoughby? Austen wrote the following about Lucy, "The whole of Lucy's behavior in the affair, and the prosperity which crowned it, an unceasing attention to self-interest, however its progress may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing every advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time and conscience."



How is Edward any different then Lucy? He too had no other sacrifice than of time or conscience. Everything just fell right in his lap; he was given a living at Delaford by Col. Brandon, his brother runs off with his unwanted fiance' and his mother reinherits him. While the entire time Elinor was ripped apart not being able to show her true emotion holding it all in. Edward was engaged to someone else. Elinor has no claim to him and there for no ability to grieve publicly . She says "I have suffered the punishment of an attachment without enjoying its advantages."

She even goes on in her reasoning for not telling her family about Edward's little secret is in protecting them and being honorable. She says to Marianne:

"I understand you. You do not suppose that I have ever felt much. For four months, Marianne, I have had all this hanging on my mind, without being at liberty to speak of it to a single creature; knowing that it would make you and my mother most unhappy whenever it were explained to you, yet unable to prepare you for it in the least. It was told me, -- it was in a manner forced on me by the very person herself whose prior engagement ruined all my prospects; and told me, as I thought, with triumph. This person's suspicions, therefore, I have had to oppose, by endeavoring to appear indifferent where I have been most deeply interested. And it has not been only once; I have had her hopes and exultation to listen to again and again. I have known myself to be divided from Edward for ever, without hearing one circumstance that could make me less desire the connection. Nothing has proved him unworthy; nor has anything declared him indifferent to me. I have had to contend against the unkindness of his sister, and the insolence of his mother, and have suffered the punishment of an attachment without enjoying its advantages. And all this has been going on at a time when, as you too well know, it has not been my only unhappiness. If you can think me capable of ever feeling -- surely you may suppose that I have suffered now . The composure of mind with which I have brought myself at present to consider the matter, the consolation that I have been willing to admit, have been the effect of constant and painful exertion; -- they did not spring up of themselves; they did not occur to relieve my spirits at first, -- no, Marianne. Then , if I had not been bound to silence, perhaps nothing could have kept me entirely -- not even what I owed to my dearest friends -- from openly shewing that I was very unhappy."

How is Edward a Austen hero after this? He only did the right thing in the end because Lucy ran off with his brother. If Lucy had not cut off the engagement he would have continued along with her. It seemed he was stringing Elinor along for his own entertainment Edward did not grow or change over the novel like all other Austen heroes.

This is why I feel Edward is not a true Austen hero...Elinor is.

Book Heaven

I love books! I have shelves and boxes of them. I have all sorts of books not just one particular genre. I probably have every edition of Jane Austen's books (except the Cambridge, I just cannot afford them). I have all of Jon Katz's books. I asked for and got another books shelf for Christmas.

One of the favorites in my collection is my Father's Hardy Boy's collection from when he was a kid. Some of them are first editions that I just treasure. My Dad was an only child and this was his escape and how he entertained himself. I also have some of his Chip Hilton books (they are back in print now for those of you looking for good books for boys).


A couple of years ago there was a sort of a book fleamarket at the local mall where you could buy books $1 per lb. I went crazy. I found a ton of great out of print titles.
When I was recording and performing in Italy this past year I fell in love with the Mercato delle Stampe in the Largo della Fontanella di Borghese. Basically a book lovers market of second hand books, magazines, and other printed materials. They are typically open 7am-1pm Mon-Sat. As with all things Italian the times are, più o meno.

Lost in Austen Details

Tonight was the US premiere of "Lost in Austen" on Ovation TV. Most of us crazy Janeites have already watched it via the internet but I am delighting in watching it againy The added bonus is that they are playing Episodes 1 & 2 back to back all day. Tomorrow is the finale with episode 3 & 4. Jemima Rooper is brilliant in this fun romp through Austen. It provides one of the most nauseating Mr. Collins EVER and a view of Wickham that makes you think that we may not know the whole story. It is not out on DVD in the US yet otherwise I would own it!

This reminds me a little gem I found this past year.


The Annotated Pride and Prejudice is a wonderful edition for those of us who have read P&P 50 kazillion times. It gives us tons of funny little bits. Even though I have like 12 editions I had to get this one. My only disappointment they have not done an edition for any of Jane's other works.

Reflecting on 2008

A bit of a crazy day for me! I worked with one of my clients setting up the their merchandising program schedule for 2009 and putting together prototypes of gift sets for their everyday line up & Valentine's Day. All in all a pretty productive day. I love merchandising. I had a blast working on it all day.

As I was leaving my client's office today it started to rain and by the time I had arrived home it was freezing rain and about 10 minutes later it turned to snow. A decent amount of snow. I am thankful I am warm and cozy inside for the night.

A friend of mine on facebook sent me this so I decided to post it here for fun! A reflection of 2008 and look ahead to 2009!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
I performed in Italy twice and twice at the Vatican. AMAZING!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't do New Year's resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Oh, so many people. Some that pop right in my head are;Tracey and Jake who had Kenna; Melissa who had Lexie; Brent & Prairie who had Josephine!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes my dear Aunt B. I will miss her!
5. What countries did you visit?
Italy! TWICE!
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Greater balance, less fear.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 5-Sang for the Pope
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I got into the recording studio. Album release Feb 17 in Europe. Nothing special. It will not be a chart topper. Just a Requiem but still I did it!
9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting people walk all over me!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Where do I begin...I just got the bill from my last ER visit.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I know it sounds weird but my back up battery pack for my iPod. Only 19.99 but it is something I use over and over again. Maxell iPod Backup Battery Pack

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mine
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A certain someone my sister calls Asshat (sorry for the language but that is what my sister calls him.)
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent and travel to Italy.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Singing in Italy
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Bleeding Love
and according to iTunes I have listened to it 49 times.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Happier, MUCH MUCH Happier
b) thinner or fatter?
Fatter
c) richer or poorer?
About the same
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Rehearsing
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying. When I started 2008 I had the worst job which caused me stress. I have since left it and have a much happier, healthier life.
20. How did you spend Christmas/Chanukah?
With my family and 4 dogs
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Oh, yeah!
22. What was your favorite TV program?
I have a list of shows
Bones - The Complete First Season
Supernatural - The Complete First Season
Torchwood - The Complete First Season
Doctor Who - The Complete Second Series
Life: Season One
Paranormal State - Season 1
Anderson Cooper 360 Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival
Fringe
Ghost Hunters - The Complete First Season
Burn Notice - Season One
My Boys: The Complete First Season
Primeval: Volume 1 (Series 1 and 2)
Wire in the Blood - Complete First Season

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don't hate people that just take too much energy. Are there people that I have taken out of my life because there are not good for me...yes!
24. What was the best book you read?
I read a lot of Jon Katz books (love Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm
), became addicted to the The Twilight Saga
and reread all of Jane Austen
's works for the zillionth time.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Stephen Edwards (my composer from my 2nd Rome performance & What Love Is
26. What did you want and get?
An external hard drive
27. What did you want and not get?
Some TV Show DVDs
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Only one?? P.S. I Love You

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 31 and ummm what did I do? I cannot remember.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
It was a great year I cannot think of anything more!!
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Trendy Euro while trying to maintain office professional.
32. What kept you sane?
My sister and parents and my puppies
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Everyone knows about my Anderson Cooper obsession.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I cannot believe that McCain thought that since I was a woman and Palin was a woman that I would vote for his ticket. Seriously?!
35. Who did you miss?
My sister
36. Who was the best new person you met?
I have to say the Pope.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
People come and go in your life but the only person that is there from cradle to grave is your sister.
38. Quote a song lyrics that sums up your year.
Na na na na na na na (x7)

A pretty face
All the years it finally took to see this pretty face
After listening to the world tell me who I should be
Oh I let it feed
On my insecurities

See the world is mean
And if you let it it will make you think that everything
Has to look a certain way

But that's not how it is
You see I got a gift
That the world can't change or take away

I found that through it all that I'm one of a kind
And what god has given me I'm gonna let it shine, hey

Just look a little deeper and you'll see
All the beauty waiting here inside of me
Don't let what's on the outside go and trick your eyes
And catch you by surprise

Yeah 'cause I
I'm every woman that has ever been
So if you're deep enough to see what's underneath my skin
I just might let you in, and then you just might win...
The prize.

Na na na na na na na (x3)

Now the hurt is gone
But when it was there its purpose was to make me strong
And I guess that's why heaven sent it down to me; oh so I could see
I have everything inside to be complete

So next time that you're tempted just to walk on by
It might be worth your time to stop and stay a while, hey

Just look a little deeper and you'll see
All the beauty waiting here inside of me
Don't let what's on the outside go and trick your eyes
And catch you by surprise

Yeah 'cause I
I'm every woman that has ever been
So if you're deep enough to see what's underneath my skin
I just might let you in, and then you just might win...
The prize.

Hey, just look a little deeper and you'll see
All the beauty waiting here inside of me, yeah
Don't let what's on the outside go and trick your eyes
And catch you by surpriseYeah 'cause I
I'm every woman that has ever been
So if you're deep enough to see what's underneath my skin
I just might let you in, and then you just might win...
The prize.

Na na na na na na na (x3)

Since my last post some of you have emailed asking for updated pictures of Lucy & Ethel. Here is a video I made of their 2nd Year!

“If you don't own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.”

I was chatting with a friend on facebook this week about how her four kids were coping with having their cat and dog put to sleep within four months of each other. It brought back so many memories of my doggie soulmate.

Before I can explain what a doggie soulmate is I need to get something out of the way. I don't get people who don't like animals. I just don't. When someone says, "I am just not a dog person", or "They smell" or "They are messy", I begin to question the person's humanity. An animal gives so much more than they take. Yeah you have to feed, walk, clean, etc. but what you get back is priceless.

I have two dogs now Lucy and Ethel who are a riot! I find myself laughing and snuggling with them on a daily basis. They are true friends and constant companions. I cannot imagine them not being in my life. But the story I am going to tell is about another dog. My doggie soulmate Cassidy, who changed my life.

Cassidy was a rescue that my parents adopted when she was about 8 months old. She has been abuse and neglected. They got her through a Golden Retriever rescue group. When they got her I was away at school. Three weeks after they got her I was coming home for summer vacation. Something had happened to me while I was at school that year (I am NOT going to go into what happened). Let just say that it made me completely distrusting of other people, I was hiding in a shell and quite frankly depressed. I was skiddish and did not want to interact with people. Upon returning home I was greeted by a bundle of Golden Red fur with the most beautiful dark brown eyes you have every seen. Her eyes looked into mine as if to say "I understand" and I knew she did. Here I was trying to push everyone away and she just trots into my heart. Now understand contrary to what my father says now, this dog was not always a saint. She had her issues. One of which is common with abused dogs and that is submissive urination. The dog had a lack of self-confidence due to the abuse and urinated to say that "You're the boss, please don't hurt me!". Whenever someone came by the house to visit Cassidy would have issues with submissive urination. The secret was I felt the same way she did. One of her most adorable attributes was the fact that she did not bark. The reason we belivev she didn't was she was probably beaten when she barked so what she did when she was excited was what I called "Mooing". Seriously she sounded like a cow.

The amazing thing was over that summer Cassidy grew and became more and more confident. Strangers did bother her as much and she loved every person she met showing them with kisses and love. At the same time she knew what was going on inside of me. Everywhere I went there she was...If I laid on the couch she curled up behind my legs and would rest her head on my hip. When I walked in the door she would jump up and "hug me" followed by a mooing account of her entire day. She only did it with me no one else.

Then one day as I watched her greet strangers and I stood back trying to blend into the wall. Cassidy came over and was strangely urging me forward. A light bulb went off in my head. This was a dog who had a horrible life since it was born until the time she came to live with us. The only life she knew was abuse and neglect. Yet here she was loving and trusting every person she came into contact with...If she could do it so could I. So I did, ever so slowly, but I did. I transfered to a school closer to home and Cassidy continued to be my constant companion. She got my through college AND my Masters. She saw me through the death of my beloved grandmother.

Then in 2006 I sensed something was wrong I took her into the vet and our awesome vet Dr. J told us she had cancer and it was widespread she would go pretty fast. I took her home that night swinging by the local Dairy Queen where she loved to get Vanilla Ice Cream in the Summer. I drove with my arm holding the cup in the back seat so she could eat it. That night we decided as a family that the best thing would be to put her to sleep. I slept with her on the floor at my parents house while my dad and mom slept on the sofa. Since dad had a meeting out of town the next day mom and I took her in to put her to sleep. Before Dr. J put her to sleep I told her how much I loved her and would miss her. Then my mom leaned over and said something that I thought only Cassidy and I knew. She said, "Thank you for saving my baby's life and bring her back to me. You did that when I couldn't and I will always be grateful." I stroked her head while Dr J did the injection. Afterwards the vet tech gave me a lock of her hair and made ink prints of her feet...That I still have to this day.

That night I spent the night at my parent's house. With my dad out of town Mom nor I wanted to be alone. We sat quietly on the coach with the TV on neither really watching it. It was the first time EVER since my parents had gotten married that they did not have a dog in the house. That night I cried myself to sleep knowing life would never be the same for me. The one soul that I trusted implicitly was gone. The next day was Saturday and since I worked retail I decided to visit one of the stores closest to my house. I was not in a mood to drive very far. While at work I got a phone call from my mother that went something like this:

Mom: What are you doing after work?
Me: I don't know probably crying on your couch some more. Why?
Mom: How would you like to ride with me to Fremont?
Me: Fremont? Why do you need to go to Fremont?
Mom: I need to go to Walmart.
Me: There is a Walmart 2 miles from your house.
Mom: Yes but the breeder with the Golden Retriever puppies is meeting us in the parking lot of Walmart in Fremont.
Me: WHAT? Puppies??
Mom: Do you think it is too soon?
Me: NO!
Mom: Good Me Neither!

So off we drove to Fremont. This is probably a good time to explain my mother always wanted a BIG, blonde, boxy, Golden Retriever. One with a HUGE head she would say. I am partial to Golden Retrievers that are BIG, BOXY and Field (Red) Colored.
We arrive and meet the breeder who apparently had already put my mother through the paces to ensure we were a good home. In a box of puppies I pulled out a field colored bundle of wiggly puppy. I started to cry because he coloring and eyes reminded me of Cassidy. I had to have her this was the dog. I started crying. I hear my Mom say, "What do you think of this one?" And she is holding her own squirmy bundle but her's is blonde. She sees me crying and turns to the breeder and says, "It looks like we are taking both of these." On the way home we named them Lucy (red) & Ethel (blonde). We also called Dad and informed him of our purchase. We took the dogs to Pet Co and proceeded to chase them around the store and drop about $300.

That night I stood back and watched them sleep in Cassidy's old bed and knew she wouldn't have it any other way. I knew Cassidy had sent me these two girls to help me on my next journey in life. And I also knew that someday in the future Cassidy would be waiting for me at the The Rainbow Bridge: Pet Loss Is Heaven's Gain
.

Lucy sleeping in Cassidy's bed. She still sleeps in it to this day!

Lucy and Ethel their first night home!


Ethel as a puppy!

Beignets

I am the type of girl who can take or leave a donut. They really don't tempt me but the one thing that can always get me with their sweet siren call are BEIGNETS!



Maybe it is my southern roots. Or maybe it is the yearly trips to the Gulf Coast where we would stop by Cafe Du Monde on the way to the house in Gulf Shores. Every morning in Gulf Shores dad drives to Cafe Beignet to get us a dozen...fresh!

Cafe Du Monde sells their mix but there is nothing like making them from scratch. ENJOY!

New Orleans Style Beignet Recipe

1 Envelope Active Dry Yeast
3/4 Cup Water (110 degrees F)
1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
1 Beaten Egg
1/2 Cup Evaporated Milk
3 1/2 - 3 3/4 Cups A.P. Flour
1/8 Cup Shortening
Vegetable Oil for Frying
Powdered Sugar in a shaker or sifter

Combine the Yeast, Water, and Sugar in the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Let this sit until frothy, about 5 minutes, then add the Salt, Egg, and Evaporated Milk. Mix on low speed, then add half of the flour until it starts to come together, then add the shortening. When the shortening is incorporated start adding the remaining flour, a little at a time until most of it is incorporated. At this time turn the dough onto a floured bench to finish by hand. Knead the dough adding just enough flour as necessary to make a non-sticky, smooth dough. Place the dough into a large oiled bowl, loosely cover and let rise. (Overnight is best).

After the dough has doubled in bulk, punch it down and turn it onto a floured surface and roll out into a rectangle that is about 1/2″ thick. With a very sharp knife working at a diagonal to the rectangle, cut into 2″ wide strips. Now cut into diamond shapes by making diagonal cuts in the opposite direction. Place the Beignets on a floured baking sheet to let rise about 40 minutes in a warm place (barely warm oven).

When the Beignets have risen, heat 2-3 inches of vegetable oil in a large saucepan to 350-360 degrees. Place 2-3 Beignets into the hot oil at a time, being careful not to smash or deflate them. When they are golden brown, flip them over until golden brown on the other side. Remove to paper towel lined plates to drain. Serve hot topped with plenty of powdered sugar and because the dough doesn’t contain much sugar, you will want a lot!

Music Room

So as time gets closer to the move the crazier things get. When I was working today I got a call from the moving company. It is going to cost me an extra $200 on the typical cost of the move since it is out in the middle of nowhere. FANTASTIC! This should tell you how far out in the country it actually is. Additionally when I call to have them set up trash pick up they told me they only pick up out by me every two weeks because most people burn their trash.

I do know how I will decorate my music room. I am going to take sheet music and basically "wallpaper" the room with it. But I am not going to use just any sheet music. I plan on using the score from the Requiem that I performed and recorded in Rome for one side of the room as well as the music from my debut at Carnegie Hall. As I mentioned before the room has all the old kitchen cabinets installed in it. They are very shabby chic.

Sundays

So today was a day to stay inside and enjoy a crackling fire and two cuddly dogs. My morning was spent watching the 1951 film, "The House on Telegraph Hill." Classic film noir. A little bit "Rebecca" mixed with "Dial M for Murder" and it was actually an interesting movie.



While I cleaned and got ready for the day I listened to a couple of episodes of the old radio show "The Bickersons". I just love that show. In the afternoon, my father came back into town so I drove him out to the cottage so he could get a first look. At first he asked if my nearest neighbors were Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor. I am not that far out in the country...well maybe I am. He then started with the practical questions. Then timed in distance and minutes how long it took to get back to my parents house. (15 miles; 21 minutes). He also figured what side of the cottage I would get the most snow on by what direction it was facing. Like I said practical.

What's in a Name?

I am the city girl who is getting ready to move into a country cottage with a creek in my backyard and a river across the street. The cottage is still under renovation with them adding on a new addition and making repairs and I will be moving in while it is still under construction. Yeah, it is my own little Under the Tuscan Sun but without Tuscany or Sun. It is 2 degrees outside. The house was originally build in 1931. My music room is the old kitchen with the old white cabinets still in place and the Master bedroom has the original walnut wainscoting. It is beautiful and idealic but it will need lots of work. Especially the outside. The area was hit with a bad storm this past summer and the the landscaping will need some help.

In amongst organizing a move and packing and purging my life of items I no longer need, I do have an issue at hand...what to name the cottage. I have been informed that I must name the cottage. Some of the suggestions have been Rose Cottage (Road to Avonlea), Barton Cottage (Sense and Sensibility), and Rourah Cottage (Joseph Hayden's Cottage name). I have also had fun playing with the Cottage Name Generator. I have had a blast with this one.

So tell me your ideas! We will put the top ones in a poll for you all to vote for later on...so start commenting.

The Greatest New Year's Eve

My sister and I waited 25 years for this gift and Santa finally brought it this year and we were not going to let it go to waste.


Laticia's Goddaughter made a cake...I think.


I see evidence of Maddie licking the spoon!





Maddie had us get dressed up. I think I always look better in a tiara. I think I will start wearing them more often.