I guess I didn't think

 February needed a post.  I don't know.  There was plenty going on, but here are just a couple of things.

The granddaughter and I decorated cookies.  I ordered a Valentine cookie kit from a friend's sister and we had at it.

 

I'm not the best with the icing...

And she really likes the sprinkles...

Also, some of these cookies were licked before they were done and more icing had to be applied.  On this one, I squeezed the bag while she steered it.  

We did these the week before Valentines Day and when the 14th rolled around, we were getting ready for cold weather to blast through.  Our low for the 15th was supposed to be in the 20s and the next day would be in the teens.  As every Texan knows, that was crazy.

 

No snow and only ice.  Archer was bummed.

 

Power outages, no water, freezing temps... crazy, crazy, crazy.  We had rolling blackouts the first night.  The next day, while our power was on most of the time and water was going good, Mom and Dad had neither.  With rain in the forecast and lower temps, they headed over here.  About 30 minutes before they got here, we lost power for the night.

 

 

I normally keep tall prayer candles in the cabinet for power outages, but thank goodness for our Coco Halloween theme back in 2019.  We had extra.  We used a lighter to light the stove and Cosme made burgers by candlelight.  That was that.  We bundled up and listened to water trickle through the night.  We joked that it was like vacationing at a grotto in Greenland.  Power came back the next morning, but water was slowing down.  Luckily I hadn't drilled drainage holes in the bottoms of my 5 gallon buckets yet because those became our water supply.  I put a couple outside to catch rain water too.  Also, about that time, Eric's place lost power as well.  They loaded up and came over.  The seven of us were basically camping over here.  Thank goodness for the new grill I got for my birthday.  Did I ever mention that?  (I finally picked out a grill to connect to the house's gas line and it gets used a lot.)  The next day we thawed out some outside skirt (thank goodness for that new freezer I kept pestering Cosme for) and a few chicken breasts and grilled fajitas.  Cindy and Earl had also stopped by to check on us.  Lauren, who had been without power longer than us and putting all her camping and homestead skills to use, had been trying to reach us but couldn't.  She called Cindy and Earl, who also had no power or water, to ask about us.  Oh, not only did we all lose power and water, but there was no cell service.  So when they got here and couldn't get back in touch with Lauren, we grilled fajitas.

We were all really happy when that was over with.  It took a few days for us all to have usable water, but we're back to normal now... well, normal for still being stuck in a pandemic.

I did learn a few things during all that: 

• I like being prepared and I feel like changes I've made during the pandemic helped me.

• I need an emergency cold weather/hurricane kit.  (Not that I don't have supplies, but I need things stored together and ready to go.)

• I definitely want to expand my garden.

That's enough for now.

I have one word for

this morning. Frazzled. We have some men working in the backyard and I'm babysitting while trying to keep the dogs on leashes to go out for bathroom breaks. And because they know there's something going on back there, they whimper and whine a lot. I had to take action. With the baby here, I loaded up both dogs and got them to the vet. That was a lot. 

Yes, Archer. We're at the vet. 

He wasn't happy and jumped over the seat, hiding and trying to escape. 

Long story short, I'm home and hoping for a calmer afternoon with equally calm days to follow.  For now though, I'm tired and I need rest time like you wouldn't believe.  It's coming up. I'm making a quick lunch for us, then it's rest time. 

zzzzzzz...

day two of the week and we

didn't eat any of the food I prepped again.  I have another excuse.  I'll start with yesterday.  I was getting up from the computer after posting yesterday and I started doing some housework.  The dogs were in the backyard and I decided to let them stay out longer because why not?  Not too much later, I heard the bark.  (The one Archer does when he's telling Maggie to hurry with the escape route.)  I went to the back door and the barking stopped but I heard wood.  That's the only way I know to describe it.  I didn't know what the dogs were doing exactly but it was happening with wood.  I called their names but they never came.  I went out front and called and nothing.  I got Cosme and we got in the car and drove around back.  Turning out of the neighborhood, I told Cosme, "If those dogs have me driving up to their dead bodies, I will never forgive them."  We pulled up behind the house and Cosme shined his light over to the fence.  We saw eyes.  I told him that was Maggie.  I looked on the opposite side of the road, trying to focus in on something black, hoping it was a busted tire.  Then I told Cosme it was Archer and I broke down.  I was bawling.  Cosme got Maggie on a leash and then Archer popped up and ran over to the area behind the house.  He was spazzing out and wouldn't come to us.  He took off and we couldn't get him.  Cosme put Maggie in the car and we brought her home.  I was crying the entire time, positive that Archer ran off to die somewhere.  We put Maggie in the cage and searched the backyard again.  Nothing.  We drove back around to check in the brush again.  I pulled off the road, shining my lights on as much as I could.  Nothing.  There was nothing else to do.  We were looking for an injured black dog in the dark.  We came back home and on the way, called Eric to let him know what happened.  (They're still giving me a hard time for saying "we have some bad news" before telling him.  I wanted him to brace himself or something.)  Anyway, Eric said he was coming over to help look.  We got back to the house and Cosme found him.  He was sitting along the big gate in the backyard.  He wouldn't get up and had several raw spots on him.  He looked so pathetic.  I told Eric we found him and he came over to see him.  Archer would only get up once he saw Eric.  He had a limp and we didn't know what to do so we all loaded up and drove to the emergency vet in Pearland.  The drive there was horrible.  There were dense patches of fog the entire way.  We finally made it to the vet and Archer got out of the car and acted like nothing was wrong.  His tail between his legs told me that yeah, he remembered that place from his Parvo visit.  I'm sure he would've tap danced if he had to just to get out of going in.  We all made the decision that we'd just wait and take him to his vet in the morning.  We piled back into the car and drove back to Angleton.  I was so happy to get in bed.

I called the vet this morning and scheduled an appointment for each to get their shots and have Archer looked over.  Since I was also having them bathed, we dropped them off first thing.  We picked them up this evening and Archer's limp has gotten a little worse.  The vet sent him home with an anti-inflammatory (and instructions to take generic Prilosec to coat his stomach).  If he still has a limp when he finishes the meds in five days, we need to take him in for x-rays.  There's no telling what happened but most signs are pointing to him probably being tagged by a car.  One thing is certain, that was draining.  Pulling up and seeing your dog lying on the highway and appearing to be dead is a whole different level of emotion.  When we got home from the vet I took the dogs to the backyard to eat and use the bathroom.  Maggie went off to do her business but Archer wouldn't leave my side.  He could barely keep up with me and just wanted his head and neck scratched.  Thinking about seeing him lying there for dead and now limping like he is made me start crying again.  I wasn't bawling like last night but gosh, that shook me up.

I just got back from picking up his generic Prilosec.  I first stopped at Walgreens and they didn't have what I was looking for, which I thought was odd.  I was going to run by Walmart but because the light was red, I made a last minute decision to turn right to CVS.  I walked in and noticed a line at the register.  ugh.  I found what I wanted and looked at the pharmacy counter with no line.  I asked if I could pay there and they said yes.  When paying, they asked if I'd had a flu shot.  I hadn't and really wasn't planning on it.  (Olive Leaf Extract)  Since I ended up somewhere I hadn't planned and was asked, I decided all signs were telling me I should.  So, if this shot just saved me from anything, I have Archer to thank.

Oh, and that blondie recipe?  Tomorrow.

Since buying the swing

and picnic table, I've been out in the backyard a little more.  The weather's been so nice for it, on the days it isn't raining.  When we're out by the swing, Archer usually comes and sits (at least for a little bit) next to the tree.

Maggie's also been coming over to the tree, but to dig.  I'm sure she's just working on her skills.  With their time alone in the backyard being less, she's probably trying to perfect that dig time.  You know she's just waiting for me to turn my back or go inside.  I hope she's only working on making a cool spot for the summer but I seriously doubt it.

After we spend some time at the swing, we hang out on the picnic table.  I'm so glad I found that table.  We were out there yesterday and the afternoon sun was pretty cool.  I took some pictures and it was SO MUCH sun flare.  I need to check the forecast because I plan going out there this evening and grilling the chicken I didn't grill yesterday.  Oh, I also hope to make the Brazilian cheese bread that I didn't make yesterday.  So, yeah.  No picture of doughy goodness today.

We also had to make a quick trip to the vet yesterday for flea and heartworm meds, which the baby was not happy about.  She let me know.  Almost home and coming up the road before ours, I saw two little girls standing on the side.  They looked like they were probably up to something, it reminded me of the thing my friends and I used to do when we'd act like we were holding a string across the street to see if the cars would slow down.  I saw a rather large bird fly away.  I realized the girls weren't out being sneaky, they were just bird watching.  As I got closer, I saw why the bird was hanging out... a dead kitten in the street.  I drove by slowly, making sure I missed the kitten and the girls.  I looked in my rearview mirror and saw the girls move a little closer to the kitten.  Yeah.  The parents might want to keep an eye on those two.  I don't know, maybe teach them to trick cars into thinking there's a string being held across the street or something.

Okay, no more talk of that.  Time to start some chores.

there are always reports

of how much happier dog owners are.  You're happier... You live longer...  I think it's time they start doing studies not on how happy the owners are but what breed it is that's making everyone so happy.  I'll tell you what they probably aren't, that's a lab mix and Australian shepherd/boxer mix.  We've got one of each and they're seriously a couple of arseholes who are on my last nerve.  Would I cry if they were gone?  Of course.  Would I be so much happier if they were satisfied being in our backyard and not getting loose?  OF COURSE.  I don't know what to do anymore and I'm really close to giving up.  We've beefed up security at the perimeter so well that now they've decided to go through the fence.

They were caught escaping over the weekend.  They picked a weak board on the front of the fence and bit their way through it.  Eric was pulling up and saw them so that was a quick save.

I was sitting in the quietness yesterday evening and heard yelping and whining.  I ran outside and saw the noises were Archer cheering Maggie on to hurry before they got caught as she ate a hole in the fence.

The only thing left is living locked up and only being let out under surveillance.  My dogs are in maximum security prison over here.  The pen, the big house, the grey bar hotel... they're in it.  For my own sanity, I hope it's not a life sentence.  I'm hoping they'll see the light and turn their lives around.  Will they ever be good, decent, law-abiding dogs?  I'm keeping my hopes up but I'm not counting on it.

the daily photo challenge

yesterday was shadow.  I figured I'd take advantage of what could be our one sunny and dry day of the week.  I went outside with the dogs.

This is the pic I used.

On the way to that one, there was this:

At this point I realized that Archer wasn't going to go play unless I gave him a reason to.  I threw a stick for them to go after.  Archer went to get it while Maggie stayed back.

Maggie: Hey, Archer.  What you got there?

Archer: It's the stick she just threw.  I went and got it so it's mine.

Maggie: Wrong.

She went and got the next one.

I think this is when Archer didn't want any sticks and just wanted to play and nip at my wrists.  I just knew I'd wake up with bruises this morning but I didn't.  That dog is way too strong to be that playful.

I quit throwing sticks and then they just played around.

It'll be too wet for any of that today.  To make up for it, I have a little bit of bacon grease they're about to get poured on their food.  And if they're good, there's two extra pieces of bacon for snacks.  Who needs sunshine and sticks when you have bacon?

it seems like I should

should start giving myself three options since that's the one I always end up going with.  That's the one I picked yesterday, well, not really picked but was given.  Once I finished a few chores I stopped and heard something.  Rain.  No walk.

I really think I'll go this morning.  I don't think it's supposed to rain.  It looked wet out there but I don't think there is supposed to be rain.  We'll see.  My original plan was to go to the store but I don't really feel like it.  There should be something in the freezer we can have for dinner.  If not, chili dogs will have to do.  Or maybe sandwiches with leftover soup.  Why bother planning though?  I'm sure something else will pop up.  There's always that third or fourth option to surprise me.

The daily photo yesterday was friend.  I chose man's best friend.  Among the two here, I went with Maggie.  Archer is a spaz and can't seem to stand still when I want him to.  So, I posted a picture of Maggie and I even had a few to choose from.  This is why there are normally more pictures of Maggie than Archer.

Such a spaz.  If there's a morning walk today, I think it'll definitely be solo.  Wow, it's almost 7:00.  If I don't get up now, there won't be anything else going on this morning.

i gave myself two

options yesterday.  TWO OPTIONS.  Rest or TCB.  Easy decision.  I wanted to rest but thought I'd TCB.  Instead, I went with option three.  Why not take the dogs for a walk?

I let the dogs out for breakfast and brought them back in.  I guess I was feeling a little bad for them for being locked up but then I felt a little positive since they didn't try to run off (that I know of).  Why not reward them with a walk?  I planned to put the dogs on the back porch to leash them up.  Archer had other plans.  He took off in the house.  I led Maggie to the laundry room as a holding cell.  I finally got Archer back to the cage but I guess my yelling scared him.  He drizzled pee just before he got in.  I got him leashed up, went to the laundry room to get Maggie, and even though I've never needed it, I always take a doggie mess bag with a glove.  They were so excited.  It's not so much like walking dogs but more like going for a walk with resistance bands.  It's a lot of work.  I had the two leashes in one hand but I eventually got my music straightened out and put a leash in each hand.  Lauren called about that time so I had someone to talk to.  We got to what I consider the halfway point, the farthest intersection where we make the left turn to come home.  We stopped because there was a dog loose.  A little chihuahua was out using the bathroom.  Maggie and Archer really wanted to play with that thing.  I was trying to figure out a way to get them around it and when a truck slowed down to watch a crazy situation unfold, I decided we would just turn around and go home the way we came.  I fought the dogs and pulled to get them to leave the little dog.  Once I got them focused on getting home, I had to get the leashes untangled.  We walked a little way and Archer started trying to poop in a yard.  I pulled him and told him to wait.  Sure, I had the poop bag and glove but that would not only leave me picking it up but then carrying it home, putting both of the dogs back in one hand.  I just wanted to get home at that point.  We almost made it to the first corner and Archer started walking weird and crapping on the sidewalk, leaving a trail of turds.  Hot turds on concrete.  Wow.  I was really looking forward to picking that up.  I immediately start telling him to get in the grass, GET IN THE GRASS.  He didn't.  At least Maggie did.  I turned to see her squatting in the grass.  When she finished, I got them both onto one arm while I used one bare hand and one gloved hand to start picking up sidewalk turds.  It didn't take long for me to need more gloves, bags, and paper towels.  I didn't want to leave because other people were out walking and leaving for work.  This was not the first fb post I expected or wanted for the day.  I posted on the neighborhood page, letting that address know.

Like the added touch for blocking out their address?  I thought the color change was appropriate.

I left the one little bag on the sidewalk, full of dog mess, while I took them home and got more cleaning supplies.  I got the dogs put away, grabbed more stuff and drove back to the scene of the accident.  I slowly filled my bigger plastic bag with the smaller doggie bags and paper towels.  I say slowly because it was a slow process.  It's hard to be fast when you have your mouth and nose in your shirt while gagging and trying not to lose your breakfast.  I just hoped the surrounding security cameras weren't catching all this, or any of the houses with their blinds open.  I wasn't about to be someone else's entertainment... or make a bigger mess.  I ran out of paper towels but luckily had a roll of toilet paper in the car.  It was bad, really, really bad.  I finally got it done and made it back home to get the garbage out.  Oh, I remembered to clean up Archer's pee drizzles too.

I am really feeling it this morning.  I hurt almost everywhere.  I would go for morning walks pretty regularly before surgery and that was my first one since.  Go big or go home, right?  It wasn't pleasant pulling back on 120 pounds for a mile and it really doesn't feel pleasant this morning.  I think next time I'll try it with no resistance bands.  If I'm ever feeling generous again, I think I'll stick to one dog at a time.  I don't know what I was thinking.  I do know what I'm thinking this morning though: I sure hope that ibuprofen kicks in soon.  That was a serious workout for a couch potato.

This reminds me.  I need to go do the litter box.

we had a threat of freezing

temps for Saturday night but I don't think it got that low.  I knew it was coming so to be prepared, I ordered these things off Amazon.

They went on easily and more important, they'll come off easily.  They're little pouches you slip over your faucet and then use the attached velcro strap keep it on.  I was excited to get them but I'm sure they're nothing new.

They're almost $10 for a set of two so I figured I'd get some.  Last year I had the faucets wrapped but it didn't do much good.

Also last week, in addition to ordering faucet covers, the dogs got out again.  I was home alone with Little E and had no choice but to load her up and go looking.  I wasn't sure what I'd do if I found them because I wasn't about to load them into the backseat with her.  I left the garage door open and back door unlocked and took off.  I didn't see them anywhere after circling the main block a few times.  I came back home to check the backyard.  They weren't there.  I couldn't let it go because I really don't need any tickets.  I locked up the house this time and grabbed the leashes with a plan in mind.  I started circling the main block again and spotted them running behind some fences.  I made a u-turn and headed back.  On my way to the last intersection, I saw them again, running full speed down the road headed back to our street.  I caught up, called their names, and jumped out with the leashes.  I'm not sure if their outing involved a dip in a lake but they were wet.  I got them on the leashes and with the baby crying in the backseat, we started back to the house.  This was not how I would've predicted my afternoon going.

I might add that while I saw the guy in Brazoria a couple of days earlier with his dogs on a motorized scooter and thought it was funny, I realized later that people were probably going home talking about that Angleton lady driving her SUV who was too lazy to walk her dogs.  Whatever.  If they would've stopped to listen, they would've heard me yelling at the dogs with a crying baby in the backseat.  I also wasn't chilling with a cigar.  Anyway, I was furious at this point, TOTALLY furious.  We made it back to the house and somehow I managed to carry the carseat on one arm with the two dogs linked to the other.  Once we stepped inside, I let the dogs know they were in DEEP trouble.  Anyway, fast forward to Saturday.  I was home alone with the baby again and Archer was whimpering like he needed to go to the bathroom.  I waited until she went down for her nap and then let the dogs out.  They kept looking back at the door to see if I was there.  I made it a point to let them see me through the blinds.  Archer wandered off behind the palm-looking plant/bush thing that blocks the latest escape routes but I was pretty sure I had the area secure.  Maggie stayed in the middle of the yard, facing Archer's direction but glancing back at me while I watched.  I wanted to test them.  I stepped away from the blinds and she took off running.  At that speed, I figured she was chasing something but I ran to the window by the bar and saw them both in the corner... DIGGING!  She was on watch and keeping me distracted while he was doing the digging.  It's like they've seen one too many prison movies.  I ran to the backdoor and clapped my hands and screamed for them to get inside NOW.  They came running back in and I yelled at them.  I'm really surprised the baby didn't wake up.  Once Paige came to get the baby, I went outside to block more possible escape routes.  I took the dogs out there with me and they knew I wasn't happy.  I'm hoping it's secure but I'm not taking too many chances.  I let them out for longer periods of time but they're still under heavy surveillance.  Hey, maybe I need a camera.  I also need more cinder blocks.  I'd also like to hang sheet metal inside the fence but maybe after the fence is replaced.  Maybe I just need guards in booths along the perimeter.

It's crazy that we thought Archer was innocent in all this.  Now we know he just doesn't like to get caught.  He didn't want to get close to that hole while I was filling it.  He can't handle the consequences.  When he gets in trouble, you'd think I was beating him with torture devices.  He's a total drama queen.  Then there's Maggie, you know, the one who hung out with the one cop to visit until Animal Control showed up to haul her away to jail that one time?  Maggie walked right over to the hole, knowing she was in trouble.  She handled being in trouble like a man and then walked away without a peep or anything.  I swear she was wagging the tail she doesn't have.  It's like she shrugs it off like she doesn't care about consequences.  She's all about doing what she wants, when she wants and having a good time, no matter the price.

So, that's what happened when I wasn't posting.  If they escape again, they might want to rethink coming back.  I'll miss them but I'm serious... until they get out again.

just a few minutes before

I cut my finger the week before last, I thought about the dogs being outside.  It was a cold, wet day and I wondered if they'd rather be inside.  I went over to the back door to let them in and nothing.  They were gone.  We went outside and found the escape route, a hole they dug under the back of the fence.  I put the back seats down in my car and spread out the vinyl tablecloth.  It's like "you know the drill".  We drove around back and nothing.  We drove through the back of the neighborhood.  There they were, like "HEY! There you are!  What's up?"  It makes my blood boil.  Cosme gets it now.  So they were nasty and dirty and jumped in the car... front passenger floor board.  We got them back home and Cosme blocked their hole and I cut my finger.  The next few times they were inside, those sad "donate money to the dogs or they'll die" commercials came on.  I made them watch and said that would be them if they kept getting out and I won't donate any money.  I also told them if they like it so much out there on the loose then maybe they should stay.  Everything seemed fine after that.

We did realize one thing though.  Cosme was looking out the back window and saw Maggie walking around and Archer was back by their patched escape hole, DIGGING.  All this time we assumed it was all Maggie.  Every time we'd yell at them, Maggie would be unfazed with her butt wagging while Archer would barely make eye contact with his head hanging low.  It's like those dog pictures where you know one of them made the mess and it's always the one who won't look at the camera.  We've been fooled.  I'm not saying Maggie's innocent in it all, I'm just saying Archer isn't as innocent as he makes us think.

Oh well.  Yesterday I thought I'd let the dogs inside so I opened the back door.  Nothing.  They were gone and the new hole was right next to the old one.  They got out but I didn't find them anywhere.  After circling the neighborhood a couple of times, I came home and they were in the backyard.  I looked on FB and saw there was a post in the neighborhood group about two loose dogs.  So now we know the dogs will sneak out, go cruising, and then come back home and sneak back in.  It's so frustrating and something else needs to be done.

ugh.

In babysitting news, it's all going well.  Knock on wood.  I also need to buy more wipes.  Paige works a half day tomorrow so I'm making a list of the things I need to get done.  A Clicklist at Kroger is definitely one of those things, right after turning the heat on in Brazoria and maybe a pedicure.

I planned on chicken fried steak for dinner last night and invited Eric and Paige over to eat.  It all happened but I needed ibuprofen with a hot bath at the end of the day.  I also have some dirty dishes that lingered around for me to finish this morning.  On the plus side, I was very happy with the gravy I made and there was some leftover so I'll have rice and gravy for lunch... and possibly breakfast.

For now, I need to let the dogs out and hope they don't leave while I get chores out of the way.  It might be easier and less stressful to sit out there and wait.  I guess we're back to that.  Awesome.

i've talked about the different

personalities of our dogs lots of times.  Maggie is the leader and she's stubborn.  Archer is the helper and possible voice of reason.  (At least that's what I'll assume is happening when she's up to no good and he's standing back while barking at her.  Or, when they busted out the fence and Maggie stuck around to visit with the police while Archer bolted and ran back into the yard.)  When we go outside, Maggie enjoys our company unless she's doing her own thing.  Archer, on the other hand, will drop what he's doing to see if we need his help.  Sometimes Maggie won't even pay attention to us in the backyard while Archer is more like our shadow.

We've been having to lock them up because of the fence.  I found somebody on Varage Sale to come replace pickets.  They came on Saturday and for now, our fence doesn't have any gaps in it. (Knock on wood.)  He put the old pickets with the fence sections we already have collecting out there.  We let the dogs out when he was finished.  I looked out the window a little bit after that and Maggie was snooping around the old pickets.  Then she decided she wanted one.

Maggie picked out the one she wanted and then started to haul it to different spot to chill.  Archer was by her side watching.  I can't tell in the picture if he was joining in and got hit in the face or if he decided to put his mouth on it to help.  Based on his legs, it looks like he was trying to catch up and is getting hit in the face.

She got it where she wants it and now it's probably in a million shreds.  So while Archer is a great helper, Maggie really is a hard worker... as long as it's something she wants to do.  I wonder if she'd want to haul the wood to the street for trash pickup.

so yesterday I made

the roast and baked bread as I had planned, amped up for the cold weather.  I'm over it now.  Today it's in the 50s and I'm ready for the 60s-70s.  I wasn't made for chilly weather.  I'm feeling it too.  I woke up needing a nasal decongestant (nothing new there) but I just feel the cooler weather.  It's literally something in the air.  I don't like the whole vibe it's putting off.  I'm not ready for needing a hoodie and socks.  I put thieves and peppermint in the diffuser.  I made myself a cup of hot tea but put ice cubes in it so I can tolerate it right now.  I think I put too much ice.  I added local honey because it couldn't hurt.  I want to go back to bed.  Wake me when the temps rise a little.  Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the break from the heat but isn't there a happy medium with the weather?  Oh, wait.  I think they call that California.  I'll suffer with the Texas temps.

This was yesterday, not today when it was too breezy and chilly.

The dogs, gathered at their drinking hole.  Well, one of their drinking holes.  They're weird.

I need breakfast.  I'd love oatmeal but I don't feel like making any.  I'd use an instant package but I'm running low and would rather save it for a time when I'm really needing oatmeal but don't want to make it in a saucepan... times like this morning, but more desperate.  I don't want to waste it on a morning when I'd just love it.  Maybe I'll make toast.  I need something.  I need to eat something and go sit by the diffuser and absorb cold-fighting stuff.  That's what it is.  This weather reminds me of being sick and I'm not in the mood for being sick.  It'd help if this sinus drainage and allergy crap would go away.  Maybe then I'd appreciate the cooler weather and not associate it with my itchy, watery eyes, itchy nose, and sneezing.  I'm done.  I'm not going to sit here and dwell on it.  I'm going to have some toast, do some chores and catch up on some dvr.  I'll pretend it's yesterday when it was 78 degrees.

the sun is still shining and

it's pretty awesome.  Just ask Archer.

I took my camera outside with me and was sitting on the patio.

He knew I had it and I'm pretty sure this is what was going on in his head.

"OMG.  She's back at it with that stupid camera."

"Maybe if I ignore her, she'll give up."

"Wow.  She's persistent, I'll give her that.  Maybe she'll stop if I just give in."

"Here, woman.  CHEESE."

Then I stopped and we were both happy.

when I was cleaning out

my phone pics yesterday, I found these of the dogs.  I don't think I've shared any of them but then again, maybe I have.

Here's Archer wanting to check out the mosquito coil.

Here's Maggie with her arm around Archer.

Something was going on out in the street in front of the neighbor's house.  It was so interesting, but probably not as interesting as the dogs thought it was.  I guess if it had been, I would've gotten a picture of whatever was going on instead of the dogs looking at it.  Also, remember back when Archer was the smaller dog and could walk under Maggie?  

 Here's Archer using Maggie as, I don't know, not quite a pillow.  It's a good thing she's not a gassy dog.

The dogs came inside and got in the cage.  Well, Archer got in the cage.  I don't know what was up with Maggie.  Did she think she was in the cage?

She stayed there like everything was normal, looking around like she was waiting for me to close the door.  Was she pretending to be in the cage so I'd shut it and forget about her?

Side note: There have been a few times when I've let them in the cage and walked away, clearly not thinking, without shutting the door.  One time I was in the laundry room and heard crazy breathing.  I turned around and saw a dog standing there.  I screamed.

Yesterday I did my post then went on with my old routine of feeding the dogs, starting laundry, washing dishes, starting dinner in the crockpot, etc.  That was the first time I'd done that in a while.  I've been blaming my lack of motivation on being worried and only having surgery on the brain but there was one thing different about yesterday than most of the days we've had lately.  It didn't rain.  Maybe it's a little bit of everything making me draggy, weather and worry.  Or, maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to slack off...

Speaking of getting back into my routine, I've actually done some cooking in the last few days and need to share the recipes here.  It's things I've made before but like I've said, I need easy access.  I guess I'll check today to make sure they're not already up.  I just assumed they weren't.  I could do it now but oatmeal and toast are calling.  I need breakfast.  I'm outta here.

the mosquitos weren't

nearly as bad on the back porch this morning, but I sprayed some Cutter just in case.  The dogs had their breakfast and they ran around for a minute and then they were ready to come in.

I was looking over my DNA results last night and somehow things have changed.  However it works, my Irish went way down and my Norwegian went up quite a bit.  This is more like the numbers I expected to see in the beginning.

I need to make a list and go to the store.  I seriously need to TCB.  I had to put chips in a quart sized bag for Cosme's lunch this morning because I ran out of sandwich bags.  I also need ingredients for dinner.  I think I'll make spaghetti and meatballs.  Oh, I'm having my birthday dinner and cake tonight because my actual birthday is tomorrow and we're all scheduled to be at the hospital tomorrow for a delivery... unless she decides to come a day early and then I guess I'll have my birthday dinner when I can.  Anyway, meatballs will hold up well in the refrigerator in case it comes to a quick change in plans tonight.  I think I'll start them kind of early and have them ready ahead of time.  I think I'll also go get a manicure and pedicure first.

Time to get things done.  Doing a blog post is a step in the right direction.  There might be hope for me yet!

i tried another new

recipe last night and I really had high hopes.  It was THIS ravioli I found on Pinterest.  We also finished off the chicken I made the other day.  That recipe also came from Pinterest and was HERE.

So this was the chicken that we thought needed a pasta to go with it after we only had zucchini with it the first time.  We decided this pasta was probably not the right match.  First of all, I didn't have any capers for the ravioli.  Second, Cosme doesn't care for artichoke unless it's with spinach and lots of cheese in a dip.  Third, I found out that I don't care for sun dried tomatoes.  Oh well.  I really, really wanted it to be a hit but it just wasn't.  It wasn't that it was bad, it was more of a "it's not you, it's me" thing.

Back in shower news, I spray painted a chair.  Somewhere, packed deep in the 11 years of this blog, there is a picture of a little red chair.  It was a chair I got from Dodo that she had in the shop for a little bit.  She said it was Dad's so I asked if I could have it when she was done with it.  I guess she had painted it pink for the shop because I'm sure Dad didn't have a pink chair.  Anyway, she gave it to me and I painted it with a white crackle paint.  When photography entered the game, I painted it red.  Now that there is a baby coming, I sanded it down, primed it, and painted it again.

I roughed it up a little.  And a side note, if you paint something with crackle paint, those remnants are pretty much around forever.  I sanded and sanded and sanded.  I ended up leaving some of it since I was going to distress it afterwards.  Here is a close up of a few spots where I roughed it up.

I think I'm done with it.  The more I look at it, the more I wonder if I should do more to it.  Anyway, that should match some of the other stuff they have going on in her room and if it doesn't, I'll keep it here and maybe paint it again.  Ohhh, or maybe paint designs or pictures on it.  Okay, now I'm just getting carried away.  Maybe I'll just keep it here.

Right now the dogs don't care what my plans with the chair are, they're just worried about their breakfast plans.  Before I go feed them, I have to tell a little story about something that happened yesterday.  First of all, I leave the tv on sometimes with the sound turned down.  Anyway, I was checking to see if a package had been delivered and Archer started barking one of his territorial barks.  I walked back to the living room and asked what it was, wondering if he saw someone trying to get in a back window or something.  He looked at the tv and back at me.  There was a cat on tv.  It was funny.  The commercial ended and he never got worked up again.  I'll give him breakfast now and keep him from getting worked up again.

while we were in

San Antonio, the dogs were at the vet for boarding.  They've never been left anywhere before and I felt bad for Archer because he doesn't like going to the vet for a regular appointment, much less a whole weekend.  Anyway, Friday morning I pulled out the leashes and they were so excited.  I got them hooked up and we went out to the car.  I loaded them up in the back and by the time I got to the driver's seat, they were both piled up in the passenger seat.

Oh, happy Archer... if you only knew where you were headed.

They were tumbling over each other and it was a bit crazy.  Then we pulled up at the vet and it was a lot crazy.  I've compared our situation to a circus act and people in the waiting area found it amusing.  They definitely got a few laughs, especially when Archer was trying to creep towards the door and somehow ended up standing there with Maggie's midsection stuck on top of him with her hind legs in the air and two front paws planted on the floor.  It took a vet tech to help me get them untangled.

The show ended and I made it out the door.  They were good and even got a bath while there.

I picked them up Monday and neither one paid much attention to me at first.

Maggie took the usual spot in the front seat.

Archer was done with it all.  He found a safe spot in the very back of the car, hidden under the trunk cover.

They were happy to get home and happier to roll around in the grass to get the freshness of the bath off.  I do love the smell of dog shampoo so I let them hang out with me in the kitchen for a while.

I'm ready for another long weekend, if not to be a tourist and see a new place, then at least to have that clean dog smell again (from somebody else's doing).