Raising a Puppy is hard work!

     Boy, Honey is growing. When we look at the pictures we took in the beginning of the month we are amazed at her rapid growth. Of course, she is eating - 4 times a day as the directions on the food suggest. She sleeps a lot too which then gives us a break.
    She really likes the snow. B has been making snowballs for her, throwing them and she eats them. Because of this we found out she likes ice cubes too. She enjoys going all over the yard and back in the woods by our driveway smelling all the smells and checking everything out. Of course that means we do too as she is on her leash. She often brings a stone or a twig back into the house with her. She attempts to pick up rather large branches and I'm sure shortly she will be carrying them around but they won't be brought in. She still has her puppy teeth and bites but that's usually just when she wants to eat or go out. She really is a good girl!

    We got her this bed the other day as she was falling off the pillows. She also was biting on the pillow's zipper and has pulled them off (they are in the loft on my list of repairs). So the bed was our next try and since it has no zippers it's working. As you can see, she is growing.
   But taking care of and training a puppy is hard work. My rule - no up on the furniture at all. However, we are still following "don't ask, don't tell" as B tends to let her up in his lap on his chair. She is getting better about getting down. A piece of kibble and the word DOWN as she moves off what ever she is on is an ongoing lesson. And then, as you can see below, my efforts don't always work out but the results are very cute!!!

Gosh, SNOW

It was a snowy day. Last night they changed the forecast to several inches of snow. OK... So we did outside duty around 9 and then went to bed. And I was sweeping the steps as the snow was light and fluffy.
Then, when Honey and I went out around 6 AM it was....a snowy wonderland!! WOW, snow and more. Well the sweeping had helped and we went out and she did her thing. Then back in for coffee and then breakfast. Yes, I can make breakfast and have been thanks to Honey!!!

Then B fired up the snow blower and hit the driveway. The snow was fine and he had used the leaf blower yesterday. We ended up with about 6 inches and here he is with the super dooper snow plow with gears and headlights (a guy and his toys).

He had it well cleaned off and the sun did help so now the driveway is just about cleared. And we should get warmer later this week. But the trees are back to making noises and for little puppies it's scary. Well, I'll keep her safe!!!

It's been a busy couple of days. Had family over on Sunday and we really enjoyed seeing them. We took a quick trip to Scranton on Wednesday to do some shopping at Macy's and also to Wegmans for a hoagie and some veggies. We left Honey in her crate and she was fine. We take short trips knowing when we need to get home to feed her or take her out.

Yesterday and this morning I was baking and then, after lunch, we took a trip to the library and then the pet store to exchange a harness for Honey. She is growing so much that we knew the harness we got was too small. We want her to use this when we take her for a trip in the car. The harness will attach to the seat belt in the back seat. Our other dog sat in my lap or was on the back seat. She also was a lab and 95 pounds of dog in you lap in a car doesn't work! It's also not safe. So, this one will use the harness.

Honey has her good times and bad - right now she is biting B's shoes. She tends to bite when she needs to go out or when she is hungry. Since she ate a while ago and went out just a short while ago.... well, she is now playing with her toys so I guess the biting was just a distraction.

She does come when you call her and will sit to get a treat. I'm trying to teach her to get down. I don't want her up on anything but that doesn't always happen.

Gee, Mom, this chair is nice!!!

I love my bone!

I just can't go down those stairs!!!  :(

People sit in chairs - NOT puppies!

When we first got Honey, we resolved we would not have a "Bad Dog, Marley" dog. I also am adamant that she not get up on the sofa or chairs nor sleep in the bed. Sooooo the other day she started eying B's lounge chair. She tried to jump up but was too small. However, we knew she would grow. Well, grow she did and here she is sitting in the chair. I took the picture then said NO in my Stern, Alpha Mommy voice and removed her from the chair.

It's raining out and is rather warm at 41. So while it's often heavy rain at least it isn't snow. However temps should drop tonight and we may get an inch or so overnight.

A Walk and then a Nap

After eating at the diner this morning (yea!) we took Honey out for a walk. As we were coming up the hill Jenny, our neighbor, drove by. Well, Miss Honey has another friend for life!

Right now she is asleep in the kitchen on the blanket throw we got for her. She has been playing with her toys, some of them new ones thanks to Miss Merry and her family.

She is really growing fast. We weighed her yesterday and she is 21 pounds.

Her new "trick" is getting into B's chair - not something she is allowed to do. He said she jumped up into the chair this morning when he got up to get her a toy. Any time she attempted to jump up on something we have pushed her down and said no. And, she was too small to jump up. Well, guess those days are gone.

Here she is ready to go outside. I keep my shoes on the crate as she would eat them on the floor. Sometimes it's just easier to have things out of sight out of mind.

Around the House & outside

Boy, has Honey grown. She is now 21 pounds! So much bigger in just 2 weeks. We went to the local pet store yesterday to get her some new toys. This thing is a "cow" toy and she really is enjoying it.

While Honey does the steps out the front door, she just won't go down the steps to the lower level. This is where I iron and have my main computer. so if B isn't home, I don't go down. She has gone down 1 stair and then backed up. We aren't forcing her. The funny thing is B will walk her around and come in the back sliding doors and she is fine. But she then will not go up the steps - he has to take her out the sliding door. Well, sometime she will figure this out.

Another picture of the turkeys. They were really BIG

For shooting out the window this isn't a bad shot. It does give you an idea of how big they were. Well, not for our dinner!

Turkey Visit

I was working in the kitchen around noon yesterday. And just happened to look out and see a flock of turkeys These guys were BIG! There were about 7 in all and they were around the car on the back drive and also the septic mound. I think the acorns are a big draw!

It was amazing how big there were - a late Thanksgiving dinner, that's for sure. We figured maybe 15 to 20 pounds.  Well, not our dinner!

A snowy day

We had snow off and on all day with temperatures in the low 30's. When I took Honey out she slipped down the steps. We were both careful. It's 25 right now. That's cold.
B was out doing things today and I had doggie duty. We put the tree up. Now this is a 4 foot tree with lights. It is on a table in the living room it does look nice
Got to check on dinner. Good day.

The rains came

What a rainy day! It started yesterday with winds and warm temperatures. And the rain kept falling - over night. And we found out Honey does not like to go out in the rain. I think it was because the winds were so high the trees were swaying and making noise. It was the noise and the rain sideways that spooked her. Well, you gotta go so out we went (I get night duty). She is better only needing to go out twice. She was very good and after a wiping down she went willingly into her crate. She was up at 5:55 and since I've been getting up at 6 we got up, went out and I had some coffee.

We had a visitor yesterday, our neighbor George. She greeted him at the door but didn't jump up. When he sat down she did go after his shoe laces but was generally well behaved and while George and B talked, Honey lay down on one of her pillows. Today we had someone doing routine maintenance of the HVAC and while the guy was mostly downstairs, when he came up for some info she just looked - no barking or jumping. Soooo good!

Right now she is on her pillow sleeping. The temperatures are dropping and I hope it won't get icy as she has a bit of trouble going up and down the steps to the driveway. She hasn't tried the steps in the house. I went down for something a bit ago and she looked over but didn't go down. Here she is after she took a look and decided not to head down. They are rather steep steps but we know she will venture down very shortly.

We had the last of the turkey soup for lunch and tonight we are having hamburgers and baked beans. I got sick of turkey and then I made a ham over the weekend. So we will have something simple and good tonight.  Since I'm cooking breakfast for a while, I made a Lynn Mac Muffin with egg, cheese and ham on an English Muffin. That was, if I do say so, good! I've made pancakes, scrambled eggs, eggs hash browns and bacon and a bagel (purchased from Price Chopper and frozen). I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring. Probably scrambled eggs or maybe an omelet. I do miss the diner!

Cabin Fever

Day 4 of puppy and day 4 home. B went to Wal-Mart without me!! YIKES... I was puppy sitter and he went with a rather short list. I needed things such as English muffins and eggs because we are now eating breakfast at home (another story) And off he went and Honey and I were home. He left before noon so I fed her around noon and then we went out and about. When B returned he was loaded with stuff... a second pillow type bed which we both agreed she needed and some doggie type treats. And a toy or two. She is so cute and we are enjoying her so much.

We had a ham for dinner last night and then scrambled eggs with ham for breakfast. Yes, I'm cooking breakfast. Well, I'm doing things that sound different or that I haven't made for a while. And I'm sure we will be able to go back to breakfast out somewhere along the line. But I've got a breakfast cookbook and I'm reading that for ideas.

Tomorrow I get to go out in the morning to the library while B had doggie sitting duties. Life is good!

Here is Miss Honey!

Yesterday we got our new little puppy, Honey. We had visited here several times and had purchased her all sorts of things including a rather large crate her to grow into. Some chewy toys and treats. We picked her up around 10 and she sat on my lap and shook as we drove home. Well, I'd be scared too as she had been taken from her mom and litter mates and gone of in this big car. We put a collar on her in the car and added the leash as we got home so she could do her stuff before she came in. Well, even tho she did, after she got in the house she had an accident. Nerves. So out again and more "good girl" when she did it outside and then B watched her as I cleaned up everything. The rug spot remover worked well. We then had her out every 2 hours or so. She didn't drink much of her water and we didn't feed her too much as we were concerned she might throw it up. She went in her crate with no problem. We had the door open and a towel on the bottom tray. She seemed to enjoy it - close and safe.

We put the crate in the foyer so she could hear us and we could easily check on her. If you look you can see the partition that can be moved back as she grows bigger.

She was finding new spots to sleep. Here she is under the table that is just off they foyer.

And later on she went under the dining room table.

She had no trouble going into the crate at night and I took her out several time. She did her thing and then back into the crate which I then fastened closed.

Today she is much more relaxed. She is eating fine and enjoying her walks outside. She does bite but we just redirect her to one of her toys. She keeps eating Bs shoe laces and he is going to have to see if he has something with no laces. She is playing with more of her toys and when I was up in the loft earlier she was looking all over for me. While she does the steps outside, she has not gone up and down our inside steps..yet.

One of her toys that she was hauling around today. It's so big she has to drag it. right now she is at my feet while I type in the breakfast area.

So sweet - she is a cute dog!

Thanksgiving Turkey???

Our turkey is in the oven. I was at the window and looked out to see a flock... I mean a LARGE flock of turkey visiting us. There were several on the wall where B feeds the chippies (and now the turkeys) and quite a large number to the left on the septic mound (the only clear space around and where many acorns have fallen). Naturally I had a small camera that did not take detailed pictures. I was shooting through the window and had trouble holding my arms steady. That having been said, I'm still posting a few pictures. And, I'll keep my better camera upstairs with a memory card in it all ready to go. Guess these turkeys knew it was safe since I was already cooking our meal!

Thanksgiving Snow

We are having snow flurries. Seems appropriate as today is Thanksgiving which, in my opinion, is the start of winter. Yes, I know it officially starts on December 21 but some how Thanksgiving is the real start. Perhaps it's because in days long ago, one did not see Christmas decorations nor Santa BEFORE Thanksgiving. And Black Friday was the start of the shopping season. And the shopping for Christmas season started winter. Now we have been seeing decorations since before Halloween and there are every day specials to rival Black Friday. Go Figure!!

We are enjoying the snow - not sure if you can see it on the two pictures I just took. It's rather heavy but with temperatures in the upper 30s it probably won't amount to much (famous last words).
The turkey will go in the oven around 1:00. I made the pecan pie yesterday and the pumpkin pie this morning. The turkey will be un-stuffed and the stuffing made as a side in a nice serving dish (not stove top!) along with green bean casserole and I'm not sure what else. Cheese savories for snacks while we wait for the turkey to rest and I make the gravy.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!

Her Name is Honey

Her name is Honey and we went to visit her again.
We have been debating this name...we had a Honey before and when she passed away we put off getting another dog. Well, time has moved on and we are now ready. But would naming the new dog Honey be good? I didn't want to but every time I talked to her in my mind, I was calling her Honey (well, she looks like our other dog who was also a yellow lab). So, Honey it is.

The breeder is about 15 miles from here. So visiting is not difficult. They have her mom and another dog on site. The dad was from down south and when we saw pictures he was almost white. Honey is one of two that are a very light/white color. Here are several of the puppies playing with the male dog. The dogs are in the garage which has heat. They are in a rather large cage for the time they are not being watched. They seem to understand the concept of going outside to potty. They are all cute and their little teeth are SO sharp! They also all love to bite on shoe laces.

More playing and some are busy with mom. We bring Honey home soon. Can't wait!!!

Meet Miss Pink!

We are going to adopt a puppy! Now those of you who have known us for many years will remember we had a dog. However, we had put off getting another for various reasons. And have talked about getting one but the moment was never right. About a month ago we stopped for breakfast at a diner in Hamlin and there on the door was a sign for puppies with 6 little tiny yellow labs who at the time were only 2 weeks old. When we left we copied the phone number down. After talking and thinking we called and went for a visit and gave them a deposit. We have visited twice to see the puppies. I have also read quite a few books (surprise) and we have been shopping for doggie things. Today we visited to make a decision. We had narrowed the choice down to two puppies and today I took two pieces of ribbon - pink and yellow - to tie around their necks so we could observe the two we were favoring. And after holding and playing with them all, we decided on the puppy with the pink ribbon as shown below. They were all cute and they all were playful and doing all those good things puppies do. However this one was the lightest in color and also was a bit smaller. She just seemed to be THE ONE. They need another two weeks with their mom before they can go home so we will bring her home around Thanksgiving. But here is an early peek. We are quite excited!!! Now we have to decide on a name... hummmmm












































She is on the left - you can see just a bit of pink ribbon They were outside for a bit and appear to understand that you do potty outside. So they were all tired out and taking a nap.

Fall at the Lake

When we checked the thermometer this morning it was 34. Fortunately the day has warmed up and its in the low 60s right now. It's a beautiful time at the Lake. The trees are turning color and the air is crisp and clean.

The docks come out this weekend. We took our boat out several weeks ago - right before all that rain. The picture posted above (which I took yesterday) shows just a few remaining boats in the slips - and there were less this morning. I hope to head out in a bit to take some pictures of the trees. Tomorrow we should be getting rain.

More Deer

The other day we got visited by a really large buck. He came in from the woods to the septic mound. He showed up twice. Naturally I was not prepared so some of my pictures were hand held. However, I did get the tripod for the second visit and got some great shots. They have been cropped but that's about all I did to them.




I'm trying to learn Lightroom 3 - but right now I'm editing in Photoshop Elements 6. It seems to be working..a learning process in the works.

I just hope he comes back again. He did seem to like the taste of our trees!

Lobster out side

Yesterday we took a fast trip over to Shop Rite as they had lobster on sale. It was a beautiful day and we had the top down on the way. The trip takes about 20 minutes. I love that store and was glad to find one up here in PA as we always shopped there in Jersey. Anyway, we got 2 lobsters and cooked them in our big pot out back.



Here is one - I got the other one. They were GOOD. It was also nice to sit outside and enjoy the cooler temperatures. I prefer to eat messy stuff like lobster outside. You can see a bit of our new table. We got new outside furniture this season and have also gotten deck boxes to store the cushions in so now, when we want to sit a bit, it is easy to just pull the cushions out and sit. (also easy to then put them away)


Today I made a cheese cake in the pressure cooker. I have an electric cooker and the process is easier and shorter than the oven and doesn't heat up the kitchen. It also is smaller which is good...we shouldn't eat too much cheesecake! Another nice day today but rain for tomorrow. That figures as it's the Pocono 500 tomorrow that will start just about when the rain starts.

Cook Out/Cook In

I'm posting this because I just spent the last hour trying to upload the video.... and can't figure it out. How frustrating.

Anyway, I decided to upload this which B took while I was finishing the hamburgers. I started them on the grill... which ran out of gas before they were done. Now I cooked outside because it's too hot to cook inside. I even made macaroni salad this morning so I didn't have to cook later. Oh well, they were almost done. The pan I'm working on is one holding the zucchini I purchased at the farmers market. Now this zucchini is round and I was interested in trying it. I'm the only one who eats it. It wasn't on the grill long enough to pick up the grill taste but it was good. There are more seeds so the amount of flesh is about the same depth as a regular one. I got a yellow one and I'm not sure if it's a yellow round zucchini or a yellow round squash. Whichever, it was good. So was the macaroni salad and the hamburger.

So Neat...so clean....WOW

The first try at the upload only gave me this picture. The video is at the bottom... if it works :) It doesn't.... I'll try later

Several days ago I cleaned out the pantry. I just love this space! It's an open closet on the right of my kitchen next to an expanse of counter. It was set up when we purchased the house. As well as having shelving, there is a wall of peg board. I have pots and pans hanging there.

The total cleaning was due in part to an ant infestation that caused me to clean and toss lots of "stuff". I also replaced all the contact type paper with something more my style. While that sounds simple, I found that due to the odd shape, several of the shelves would move but not come out. So, I re-papered them without removing them which was an experience. I then made sure everything was in something - plastic or glass or some sort of container. Sleek, clean, nothing to attract ants. Now I have everything in see through canning jars or plastic. Many are labeled because it's hard to tell just what an item is (i.e. is that walnuts or almonds) when it's on the top shelf. It also lets me see at a glance what I have and what I need more of.

The peg board was cleaned off, and I decided on what I use the most and then hung that on the board. Julia Child had a peg board storage but I'm not outlining my things like she did because I change my mind, move things around and try out different things. It is so convenient to just reach for a pan or colander rather than dig in the cabinet. It also gives me room to store items I don't use every day but want close by.

So, since I'm trying out the video camera, I thought this would be a good video to upload....I'm so pleased with my pantry!!

Two Down Three to Go!

Let me tell you about my toes. Several days ago I mashed the first one. We had the air conditioning on because it was so hot and muggy. In the second bedroom there is a dresser in front of the window which means it sits over the only vent in the room. Normally, I cover the vent with a book, keep the drawers in the dresser and the room is cool when the heat is on. When we put air on, I remove the drawer, uncover the vent and the room is cooler. So, that’s what I did. And then I was in the room putting stuff in the dresser (back up storage space) and forgot the drawer was on the floor and SMASH, my toe was stubbed (one next to baby toe). YIKES, I yelled. B tends to ignore my hooting and such unless I hit a certain level, which I didn’t. Wasn’t broken…but boy it hurt. Pain subsided but some shoes were not to be worn. Then today…. I went into the closet down in the mud room for some liquid refreshment for B…. storage place. And as I moved things around CRASH… on to my baby toe…. A bottle of wine (my bottle of wine) and again….YIKES… owie…. Pain and I guess again I didn’t hit that level of yelling that brings B running. Again, not broken (I know this cause it doesn’t flop) but it really does hurt. So, two down (next to each other) and three to go… Hope I’m done.

The critters around us

Over the past week we have been visited by deer. Well, that's not unusual. These 2 guys (or gals) were so cute I shot quite a lot of pictures. They were all alone - no mom around. The next day mom was with them so I guess this was a learning time.

I took the pictures from our small deck off the bedroom. It overlooks the side woods and the septic mound. The septic mound, since it's grass, is a favorite place for the deer.

The next evening B cave me a call - bring your camera. And this skunk was out for a stroll. Now I always thought skunks were mostly black with a narrow white stripe. Not this one.... his/her white hair was nearly covering the back and side. Again, I took lots of pictures from the deck. FAR away from him. I have a great lens and a fine camera.