It's Wednesday already! The sun is out and the temperatures are above freezing - right now 45. Most of the snow has melted (again) and it's rather nice out. And then there is that forecast for more snow. A front from the south that just might track inland enough to create snow in the Pocono Mts. and we COULD get 6 or more inches of snow!!! GRRRRR  So sick of it.

B and Honey are upstairs while I'm down in the lower level using the larger computer. My laptop, purchased in December bit the dust - the hard drive gave a message that indicated it was dead. I've never had a computer tell me it was failing before. This one had been acting funky for a month or so, hard to get Windows started so I backed up just about daily. While I do back up, I don't usually do it that often. Since I was spending time learning how to catalog my pictures using LightRoom3, I didn't want to lose all that work. So when it finally did die, all I had to do was figure out how to move the backup to this computer. I wanted to be sure to not only save the pictures but save all the tags and folders I created. So much to learn with this program along with Elements 9 and I'm enjoying the learning process. I must say I do also get frustrated at my learning curve but sometimes I walk away and then click, I see how I should have approached the task and go back to the computer and it works. I have two books I'm using and it helps to see how two different people explain something.

So here are some pictures of Honey. She is getting better every day but is still doing funny and often frustrating things. She is into the trash - literally. We recycle and she just moseys into the kitchen and checks out the recycling bin and takes out assorted paper things. This morning it was the paper egg carton and the empty pasta box. She also has been going into the laundry basket that did not have a lid. While we try to keep the door to the bedroom closed, sometimes we forget and out she comes. Her favorite is our socks. So, when we were at Sam's the other day, B noticed an outside trash container that was made out of plastic and brown. It looked rather nice and he said, how about using that for the laundry. So we brought it home and it fits in the corner and looks good. It's also taller and has a hinged lid that keeps Honey out and yet is easy to open to remove dirty clothes. We are thinking maybe another one for the living room papers and other paper stuff. I'll keep the cans and bottles in the kitchen and hope she learns to not pick trash!

This picture was taken yesterday.

We bought her a little rabbit dog toy that she shakes around. Here she is "loving" her toy.

Hard to Believe this is Spring!

I'm sitting at the computer on the lower level looking out over the patio into the woods - all I see is snow. Yes, snow - about 6 inches yesterday that turned a bit sleety for a while and was again falling when we go up today. The sun is out now and the temperature is only up to 30. Our overnight low is to be in the teens. Bernie got the snow plow out yesterday afternoon and although the snow was heavy it did a good job. By nightfall the drive had another inch or so. So enough all ready!
     Yesterday I made stuffed cabbage or "pigs" for dinner. I had gotten cabbage last week due to St. Paddy's sales. We went shopping Tuesday afternoon as we expected the snow on Wednesday and we got fresh hamburger and a package of chicken breast. Tonight I'm making Chicken Parm. While I don't want to cook every night, I do enjoy trying out new recipes and making again some of the things we both like. What I'd really like is a fresh hamburger (as opposed to a defrosted one) out on the grill. Something to look forward to.
   I'll try to get some pictures up on the blog but thought I'd update what we have been doing...

We got snow AGAIN

Yep, more snow!! We really didn't expect it. I put the lights on to take Honey out around 6:30 and SNOW - lots of it. I guess by the time it was done we got about 3 inches. The temperature has been above freezing all day and it turned to sleat/rain by mid morning. It's now melting and should be gone by tomorrow - that's the kind of snow we like - pretty and over with very quickly.

B took Honey for a walk out back.

This is a tree by the driveway in the back.

 And this is a shot from our small deck of the bedroom. It really was a pretty snow.

What Goes Up Must Come Down

We knew once Honey mastered the stairs to the loft, she would figure out that going down to the lower level would be fun, also. She did! Yesterday she got a lot of exercise just running up and down the steps. The lower level is used as a family room on one side and storage on the other and is divided by the steps. I did a quick put away since Honey can get into anything – and we spent the day learning what was still available! First came books...we have book cases down there and so she was bringing first paperbacks and then a hardback up to play with. Ripped the cover off of one and just played with the others. I realized that if I gave her a treat she might think I was rewarding her...so I called her name and when she came she got a treat and I quickly got the item. After the books it was an assortment of things including dental floss. Now where did that come from??? Oh yes, put in a basket to put away along with the key holder she found. We laughed the most when she brought up a battery pack. The package held 20 AA batteries and she was really enjoying chewing on them. For some reason this really cracked us up...and we did get them off her. This morning she was at it again with another batter pack (different in a different location) and finally she fell asleep while eating a piece of paper. We have now closed off both the loft and the lower level with gates. While I intend to take her up or down when we are there, allowing her the run of the house is NOT working as there are too many things for her to get into. She is getting better...today I wore some fluffy bedroom slippers and she didn't try to eat them which she did do several weeks ago. I guess it's all about growing up. She is now 4½ months old. And still growing. Below are some new pictures.

She was really going to town on the batteries

And below, this morning she got a piece of paper and while playing, fell asleep..one piece in her mouth, the other on the floor..

tired little girl!

Rain, Rain, Rain

I'm not complaining, but boy, is it raining! The forecast said we could get 1 1/2 inches with most in the day..they were right. The snow is mostly melted and the brown ground holds acorns and other interesting things for Honey to explore. She got so interested in checking everything out, she almost forgot to pee! We were both wet when we came in. B and I have been sharing walks and he has gotten his share of walks.

I have a cake in the oven. When I find a recipe in a magazine that sounds interesting, I fold down the page. This was in December's Woman's Day and I was going through things to throw out and upon checking the recipe decided to try it. Cherry-walnut crumb cake uses a yellow cake mix. It's made in a tube pan with a walnut cherry filling and strudel top. Smells good and the batter tasted good. Should be done soon and we will have this tonight as desert. Since it was easy to make, I hope it's as good as it sounds and smells!

Honey and B are going out again......

Looking out the back window (kitchen) the stream we have at the side of our property is really flowing..it's over the banks and there are a series of water falls. It's too went outside to take the camera but I'm sure it will still be flowing tomorrow.

Gotta take the cake out of the oven..

Honey Ventures Up to the Loft

We knew this day would come. Honey, along with many puppies, does not (or rather did not) so stairs. She does go up and down the stairs on the deck to get to the great out doors. However, she has been very reluctant to even approach the steps to the loft and the lower level. In some ways that was good as we didn't have to worry about her getting into things (and thus I didn't put stuff away). The bad part was when I would go upstairs to work in the loft or down to the lower level, she would lay at the bottom or top of the steps and cry. She has, on several occasions, gone up several steps to the loft. It was almost like she got a few steps up, said OMG, and went back down. Yesterday she got up to the landing....and there were only 4 more steps to the loft. But, down she went without attempting the rest. I continued to do my work and then...Honey was up all the steps! And into everything! The teddy bears I had on the sofa, the trash, the plant I had moved up there to get away from her.... well, you get the idea. So the kiddie gate is up at the bottom of the steps and I have mostly dogie proofed the room. We will let her up when we go up but otherwise, the gate stays. I'm anticipating that her next thing will be the lower level. So this weekend, that's where I have to work puppy proofing that area. We also need to purchase a second gate...