Vacation Wrap-up

I saw this Asian lady beetle crawling on a cup and figured I would take advantage of the situation and see how good a video I could make on my phone. Then I made these GIFs. I want to get up much tighter for bug videos. I have to practice my skills for summer. I enjoy watching those little legs with their flat feet pumping along.

I've been reading, but not enough. TV has gotten in my way. What a bad habit! But the kids and I had a couple of watch parties with movies and a baking show. And we cooked and baked, too. 

Shells and sauce with sweet Italian sausage

I made a lot of bread, but only simple sandwich loaves.

Amy and I made apricot bars:
I did the puree and Amy did the shortbread crust.

And of course, it snowed. It snowed for 8 out of 10 days. But if you count light snow showers, it snowed 10 out of 10 days. I have not left the house once. Amy did, though, and often.

Amy's house after shoveling the roof.

Dori keeps an eye on the village sidewalk plow.

Dori watches over all activity on her road.

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I did my taxes and re-organized and re-created my iTunes library on Apple Music. Lucy has been happy I'm home. But the cats? Just trouble with the plants, their food, their toys, their nonsense. That's just how cats are.

Happy Poppy says "Oh, hai!"

Basically, it was a boring week. I think I needed that—time to catch my breath. 

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Pet Friends Over the Years

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Another video from iPhone today and just when I needed it. Dori's littermates are in this video. I've learned how to save these forever because they are better videos than I'll ever make. It's been a very rough two weeks and I am slowly climbing out of the dark hole and regaining my life. So I have made no visits and very few posts. Who knew life at this age, and alone, could be this difficult?

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Andy's Dandys

Dori and Lucy waiting for Andy's Dandys cookies.

I came across Andy's Dandys dog cookies at my local grocery store. Lucy decided they are the best in the universe and has had one a day since that day long ago. 

The problem is that once in awhile I would run out of cookies. What do you do with a broken hearted, cookie-deprived yellow Lab? Not much, except cry with her.

I found the source of Lucy's cookies here in Vermont and ordered them online. I get two months worth at a time now, plus a bag of mini-cookies for Dori when she visits. Oh, Dori loves them! 

Lucy gets one large Andy's Dandys every night after supper.

The first time I ordered them, though, I didn't allow for shipping time, so I added a note to please send them as soon as possible and that I would pay whatever it took to get them here fast. They got here very fast, but for free! And with a wonderful note. We have had an on-going online relationship since then with photos included and tiny gifts now and then. You see in the note below that they even know about Nelly. Nelly ripped open and stole some dog cookies once, so I had to tell them about the excitement that day as Lucy watched helplessly as her kitty stole her cookies.

A lovely note from the staff at Andy's Dandys.

Andy's Dandys is co-owned by young Andrew Whiteford. Seven Days Vermont wrote an article about him and his inclusive business in 2021 that you can read here. The family is truly inspiring and loving. 

A beautiful Christmas cookie that Andy's Dandys sent Lucy.

All is calm after cookie time.

This is a bag of very small cookies,
Dori's size, that the two dogs get at play time.

I am getting no reimbursement of any kind from this post. I simply think all dog families should know about these cookies and order them. They are expensive, but I only have Lucy and the two cats. They are my priority. 

Click for Andy's Dandys website.

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Lucy and Dori iPhone Video

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The iPhone dropped this two days ago. They are such rascals!

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Sunday Dog Selfies

Lucy awaits her cookie.

Amelia came and constructed my new cat tree yesterday, so I dogsat Lucy and Dori. It was challenging! Even though Amelia was right in the same room, they kept asking for cookies and kept rough-housing. But it was fun. 

So calm!

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So crazy!

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Woof!

The new and unused cat playroom.

Sunday Selfies at
The Cat on My Head

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Happy Tuesday: Supervised Visits

When I look at my blog archive, I see that I basically took a ten year blogging break. I had gotten married, life was busy, and I focused on Facebook. Facebook is over for me now for several reasons; the biggest of which is that I'm uncomfortable grieving and reminiscing there and reviewing my memories as I try to make a new life for myself. The memories are not always painful for me anymore (even though some still are), and this blog is a good memoir of my life. Not much is going on with my life now, but plenty went on before. I want to remember those days. Happiness may be within reach. 

In the video above, puppy Dori was not permitted to visit Rosie, a special needs kitty of Amelia's. But the time finally came for a supervised visit. Rosie and Dori did excellent (but are still always supervised)!

Dori is now a year old (but basically the same size), and when she was very young, we closely supervised her visits with Lucy. Not because of Lucy, because she is a patient Lab. But Dori didn't know doggie boundaries. Here, Lucy basically smooshes her to the ground to show her boundaries. Dori never listened too well!

Thank you to all for visiting and listening.

Click for more
Happy Tuesday

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Awww Monday: Weekend Wrap-up

I called Lucy down from the upper field just to see her face when she asks, "What? What?" and being so happy, as she is all the time (well, unless I won't give her a treat that is bad for her). 

Daughter Amelia took Dori for an evening walk and bumped into a beautiful sunset.

Amelia and her husband went out for the evening, leaving two foster kittens behind with their babysitter, Fender, who confronts them at the end of the evening at the door, "Why you so late??? They were so naughty!" 

Dori had a bath. Dori always ends her baths like this. Dori is a self-drying puppy.

Remy (for Rembrandt), below, is a pandemic lockdown kitty that my son, Andrew, adopted literally one hour before lockdown in Washington, DC, where he lives. Remy "discovers" himself here. He bushed out his tail at the stranger (he's a shorthair).

Finally, my daughter, Anna, and her husband rescued abused brother long-hair chihuahuas a few years back. What a handful they are! But here, Stewie and Milo share a quiet, cooing moment. 

May you have a peaceful week with wonderful weather.

Click here for more AWWW

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Photo Sunday: Dark

Grandpuppy Dori is finally caught in some quiet moments. That doesn't happen too often!

Even this playtime with Lucy was quiet.

Visit Photo Sunday for more Dark.
Submit your own!

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Play dates

Lucy tries to escape her play date with new. bouncy, extravagant grandpuppy Dori.
July 28, 2021
Happy Tuesday!

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New Grandpuppy Dori on Wordless Wednesday

7 months old

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