On Saturday I made a coffee cake. An “honest to God” coffee cake that filled the house with the fragrance of cinnamon and sweet spices. But baking was just as tedious as I remembered. For me, it has always been a means to an end: you bake so you can eat whatever wonderfully fattening thing […]
Read MoreThe puppies are almost six months old, and we really felt we needed a break. The big question was, could we leave these creatures that take up so much of our time? And yes, that is one reason we wanted to go on vacation—but don’t tell them. This would be the first time we left […]
Read MoreI’m sitting here thinking I would really like to have a glass of wine to accompany my thoughts about the day that is almost over. Alas, the last of the wine went into the pasta-shrimp dish we had for dinner. What a sacrifice. Do your days start out with a blank slate and an imaginary […]
Read More“I just didn’t see myself here at this time in my life,” my husband, John, said with an expression that would have done a bloodhound proud. It was the kind of day in the life of a puppy owner when you ask yourself, “What was I thinking?” This was supposed to be our year to […]
Read MoreWell, it has been hot here. So hot that the patio scorches the pads on my beautiful feet. Trips outside are only for necessities. This morning I thought I would have a little grass to refresh my palate, but it was dry and lifeless. Ugh! I did a half-hearted morning patrol, but as the story […]
Read MoreBecause of the surge in coronavirus cases in our county, we were among those who took several giant steps backward. No more mani-pedis or haircuts. No indoor restaurant service. No more gym, and no more indoor church. And don’t think of having a party. Hiking in the park and trips for necessities were our only […]
Read MoreWhen you think of puppies, what is the first picture that pops into your mind? Innocent, sweet, new, lovable—adjectives like that, right? Now, when you think of the word toddler, what comes to mind? I picture a brown-haired little boy in striped Oshkosh B’gosh overalls that gives extravagant hugs, has incredible energy, is busy exploring […]
Read MoreHave you ever had a day so strange that by the end of it, you feel completely unsettled—that anything could and probably would happen? Yesterday, I had a day like that. It started out as usual. I had consumed about half a cup of coffee when Teddy came in from outside, crying in distress. One […]
Read MoreI know you are all bored out of your minds reading all these blogs about the puppies, Teddy and Sadie, when you would much rather hear about me. The past few months have been challenging for the canine nation. We have been taken on endless walks (file that under “too much of a good thing”), […]
Read MoreA few weeks ago, I wrote about the utter shock and joy of owning two puppies after a twenty-year hiatus in puppy parenting, likening it to having twin human infants. Well, I’m here to tell you it is—but tiny canines develop at warp speed. Just when you are thinking of calling the puppy farm and […]
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Kathleen Chamberlin 