Thorsday: On Friday

So, I've been lazy (or maybe busy) and haven't posted.  And for Brutus' new friends, I deeply apologize.

Remember how, 3 weeks ago, the poor dear couldn't stand up to eat, because the activity was just so exhausting?

Well, eating is still exhausting.  But now he's taller, and can reach inside his dish without help.

And he still sleeps in Thor's favorite spot (although the vacuum cleaner there is new, necessitated by puppy spills and whatnot).

Happy Belated Thorsday, and happy weekending, everyone!

A Simple Dessert

A couple of weeks ago, Ryan was complaining that desserts were boring.  The poor guy; he was being made to endure cakes, and brownies, and sometimes blueberry muffins or cranberry bread.  Some might say he's spoiled, but, trust me, he assures me that boring desserts are torturous.

So, one evening, the boys went to the supermarket for milk, and returned with a Jello dessert cookbook in hand.  Naturally, they were demanding "interesting" desserts.  Now would be good, thank you.  A good mother would comply, and I did.

STRAWBERRY GELATINE DESSERT

1 small box strawberry flavored gelatine dessert
1 cup boiling water
2 cups ice cubes
1 pint strawberries (or 1 cup frozen strawberries, thawed), sliced
1 cup whipping cream, whipped with sugar and vanilla

In a fairly large bowl, stir the gelatine into the boiling water, and stir until completely dissolved.  Add the ice, stir until soft set, remove the remaining ice chunks, and put in the refrigerator to cool.  Slice the strawberries, and divide them among 4 to 6 dessert glasses.  Whip the cream with about 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1/4 cup sugar, then add half of the gelatine, and whip until smooth.  Put 2 to 3 tablespoons of the remaining jello in each glass, over the strawberries, then add the whipped cream mixture, dividing evenly among the glasses.  Divide the remaining plain jello between the glasses (there should be about 1 tablespoon per serving), putting it right into the top center of the whipped cream mixture.  If desired, top with another strawberry (I didn't have any more).  Chill for an hour or 2, if you have time, then serve with whipped cream.

The original recipe called for Cool Whip, but I don't use that.  And I am pretty sure that I changed up the fruit requirements, but I don't exactly remember.  Still, it was good, and I'm certain it will be demanded, I mean, requested, again soon.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Dogs On Thorsday: Poor Tired Puppy

After a long time playing outside, poor Brutus was just too tired to walk inside.

Mark makes a good puppy hauler, don't you think? (Don't be paying attention to the grub marks all over my storm door, now.  A lot of insects have committed suicide on that door, trying to get inside.)

Happy Thorsday, everyone!

Wordless Wednesday: Stove and Puppy

My stove was a salesman's sample.  It worked!  See?

And, of course, the obligatory Brutus shot:

Garden Tuesday: Lilacs and Puppies

The lilac just outside my back porch has been working on blooming all weekend.  Oddly, the flowers are all at the bottom of the tree, instead of spaced all over.

Aren't they pretty?

This lilac tree has multiple trunks; it's part of what the kids disparagingly call "the thicket."  Of course, what large yard is complete without a couple of thickets?

And what garden is complete without pictures of the puppy inspecting the stones on his path?

Ah, the mighty hunter.  I believe he was hunting a boxwood.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

I'm Back...

...and hopefully I gave you enough photos of Brutus last week that you didn't even notice that I was missing.

My mother died last month, not unexpectedly, and there is no great sorrow over the event in my little corner of the world.  This is my inheritance.

Yes, that's about it.  But this belonged to my grandmother when she was a child, and I have wanted it my entire life.

Just about everything else in the trailer was given to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or friends of acquaintances who could use the items.

Not to be too morbid or fatalistic, but if you're dealing with elderly parents, here are some things you need to know in order to make your life easier when the time comes:

Banking: Bank name and address.  Account numbers. Log in information for all accounts: checking, savings, credit card.  Also know approximate balances.  Also know that Social Security notifies the bank when someone dies, and the accounts are blocked until probate is filed.

Housing:  Mortgage holder, including address and contact information, amount of mortgage, property taxes, insurance and common charges due.

Online accounts: Have your parent write down all of their "login information" for sites they use, including Facebook, if applicable, so you can shut down the accounts.

And in some states, notably Florida, if there is any asset, including $100 in a bank account, probate must be filed, even if the estate is worth less than the asset.  Filing probate is costly, and they'll tell you you must hire a probate attorney.  So, be aware, so you're not caught off guard, as I was!

On a happier note, Dan, Mark and Jeff came to the airport to bring me home, and I was so happy to see all of them there!  My dearly beloved refused to get out of bed that day until I came upstairs to rouse him.  He had had quite enough of my absence.  And Brutus was absolutely ballistic with joy, knocking himself over with the velocity of his wagging tail.  I think he's a foot taller in 4 days.  Puppies are so much fun!

So, happy Monday, everyone, and I'll be normal again soon!

Dogs on Thorsday

Napping Puppy.

He does that a lot.

Wordless Wednesday: Grocery Delivery

Like his predecessor, Brutus doesn't recognize raw food.  But he was intrigued by the case of green beans.

Happy (almost wordless) Wednesday!

Garden Tuesday: Dogwood

One of my dogwood trees has finally flowered!

The greens are especially vivid, because it's been raining here for 5 days now.

Dogwood trees are not to be confused with dogs collecting wood.

With a nice wood stick, a dog can play with his person.  That's a fun kind of dogwood.

Happy Garden Tuesday, everyone!

Birthday Party!

Brutus attended his first Birthday Party this weekend!

Dan picked him up, so he'd be able to see all of the festivities,

And then it was the birthday girl's turn to give him a hug.

Because no party is complete without a picture of all of the attendees, right?

Happy Monday, everyone!

Puppies Like Shoes!

Thankfully, this puppy doesn't like MY shoes, because evidently I'm a dumb-bunny, and don't have shoelaces, which double as a handy handle for carrying shoes.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Dogs on Thorsday: Napping

Remember how Thor used to nap on the carpet just outside our breakfast room, with his chin on the hardwood floor?

Guess who has found that favored spot?

And, wedged in a corner, he was able to sleep on his back for a few minutes!

Happy Thorsday, everyone!

Wordless Wednesday

Dining is Exhausting!

Garden Tuesday: Rhodo!

This rhododendron decided to bloom a couple of weeks later than the others.  I don't know why, but I'm glad it did.

And, of course, Brutus is doing some puppy gardening of his own:

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Introducing Excitement!

Introducing Brutus!

He's 8 weeks old yesterday.

He weighs about 30 pounds, although that changes daily.

He's sorta housetrained.

His breeder sent him with a baby book, a blanket, and his own squeaky horsie (in the top picture).   He weighed 1 pound, 9 ounces at  birth!  He only gained 3 ounces in his first week, but clearly he's been making up ground ever since.

It was an exciting weekend!