Dog Days?

About once a year Holly decides to see if she is the queen of the hill yet. She is 8 and Duck is 12 and 1/2. This year we had the Monday night fights. Everyone had been fed and watered and been outside and was back inside. The girls were in our bedroom and, with absolutely no outward provocation, Holly went after Duck.Duck does not take kindly to this. She never does. They are both strong dogs. They are both stubborn dogs. They are both dogs who are normally very well-behaved and who listen to me. They did not even hear me. They fought from our room through the hallway and into the kitchen. Shorty and I got them separated, one dog to each person. I took Duck and slung her back into the bedroom. I let go of her and my hand came away covered with blood. It was not hers. It was Holly's.
Duck, once again, reigns supreme. She is stiff and sore today and took her children's Motrin off a teaspoon just like a good little girl. Holly is still tense, pacing and circling and not quite in her own mind yet. None of the wounds needed stitches so we are counting ourselves lucky.

Until next year...

My house is a very fine house

Three years and a couple of months ago, we moved our house. Three years and a couple of months ago, my husband and I were both very busy with work and grandkids and work and sleeping and all that other crap. Our house became the house you did not want to live next to.

Over the past two weeks, with the help of our friend Chris and his boss Ted, miracles have been accomplished. The pipe fence in the back yard has been welded and plans are in place to fix the front, also. The toilet was hooked up to the septic. The skirting (we used fence panels and it looks just terrific) has been affixed to the house and plans are in place to repaint. Next up? The roof.

I cannot begin to tell you how pleased I am. I can now go home and flush the toilet after three years and a couple of months of using a chemical toilet. It was effective, it was sanitary, it was a semi-permanent solution to what was supposed to be a temporary situation.

Two of my four dogs were unfamiliar with the swirling, swooshing, fascinating rush of water into a toilet bowl. They still run to the bathroom to watch in awe as the bowl refills. I am also in awe.

Thanks, hon.

Sharing - Not

Normally, we buy one of these a year for the dogs (disclaimer: that is not one of my dogs). They like getting wet and tracking their muddy feet through my house.This year, we decided to get one of these instead. My thinking is that we can cover it at night, at least until the wind blows the lid away. Shorty picked it up today.
I woke up to the sound of Duck just having a wall-eyed fit. I looked out the window and laughed so hard I almost fell out of bed. Duck was in the water-filled turtle. Goose wanted to share the water-filled turtle. Now, Duck shares her house, her bed, her parents, her space and some of her toys. Duck has evidently decided that she will NOT share her turtle.

Goose was running around the perimeter of the turtle, trying to get in. Duck was pivoting, barking ferociously, using her big girl voice. She was spinning so hard, waves were forming. Goose finally just decided to do the demon-dog run around the yard.

Duck got tired, finally, and went to lay on the porch. Goose got to play in the pool, too, and all was right in the kingdom of the animals.

Wordless Wednesday

Bakery vs. Donut Shop

The bakery would have been about where the white station wagon is parked on the left.

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away was a lovely bakery called Christiansen's Danish Bakery. Every Sunday that my brother and I could, we would stop at the bakery on our way home from Church and buy either a bear claw or a butterhorn.

The bakery where my uncle worked.

During this same period of time, my Uncle Jay was a baker for the Lady Baltimore Bakery in San Rafael. He would occasionally bestow upon us what seemed like tons of danish. I know now that they were undoubtedly out-of-date baked goods but who really cared? I didn't. Heck, I didn't even know.

NOT a bear claw

Recently, I was at our local donut shop. I saw bear claws on the menu and, flashback, was delighted. I ordered one and the clerk asked what kind of fruit filling I would like. Fruit filling? in a bear claw? I was not sure what they were selling but I was positive that it was NOT a bear claw. Thus began the search.

After several weeks and numerous internet searches and phone calls, I located this wonderful bakery only 57 miles from my house. Their online menu said they had bear claws. I emailed, asking what filling they used. The lovely Miss Phyllis answered me, not only with the correct almond paste answer, but from where she had travelled for her daughter's wedding! Now, that's dedication. I went, I bought, I ate. I returned, they were out, I mourned. I returned, they were out, I mourned. I ordered, I returned, I took home and now I eat one every day. I have not yet become tired of these lovely flaky, buttery, moist, decadent pastries. When I do, I will only have one a week instead of one a day.

THIS IS A BEAR CLAW!

My husband can also vouch for their breakfasts, their coconut pie, their pear bread pudding, etc. I had not realized how much I missed an honest-to-goodness bakery. Thanks, Village Bakery!

One of the reasons I work

Five years ago, come September, my husband's bike broke. Due to work and finances and health and work and finances and vet bills and car bills and health and work and finances and just life in general, repairs to the bike were always put on the back burner.

Two weeks ago, my husband's bike went here. I wish they had a website so I could rave.

I love this sign.

Isn't she pretty all washed up? Doesn't hardly look 26 years old, does she?

I think he remembers how to back up.

Moose and I were discussing the fact that real riders wear long pants, even in the summer. I don't know what those other two are discussing, probably how fast them bikes'll go.

...and off he goes. Think I'll see him again this summer?

Goose

This is the Goose. This is the stuffing from the dog bed, socks, magazines, books, and cd cases. Evidently, waging war against all of these things is very tiring.