PoMo Golightly

Four and Elevensies

Ms. Maddie Mulligan turns four today!  It's rainy here in Connecticut, so she's decided to celebrate with a nap on my bed.  I'm sure some delicious treat will make it into her dinner bowl.

I'm on a break from reading Guillame de Lorris and Jean de Meun for just a moment.  As delightful as The Romance of the Rose is, I need a shot of caffeine about this time of day. 

During the summer I lived in Oxford, my college's pub had a delightful service called Morning Coffee.  This is not coffee with breakfast.  No, it is a second breakfast of sorts (Hobbits, after all, were born in Oxford).   At that time of the day when you're not quite ready for lunch, but need a pick me up between classes, nothing suits like a cuppa and a digestive.  I always went in for the chocolate McVities, and I loved how the chocolate would melt just a smidge when the biscuit was placed on the tea saucer.   The day-bartender would stand behind one of the long tables in our pub with giant kettles of tea and coffee, ready to pour for the mob of students milling about.  "Milk?" he'd ask, because the proper way, of course, is to splash the milk first and allow the tea to warm it. 

I call my Morning Coffee Elevensies (another meal endorsed by Hobbits) now, as I like to take it at, well, 11:00.  Of late, I've enjoyed PG Tips (do click this link; you will want the monkey as much as I do, I promise!) in my cup.  Dee-licious!

Birthday Girl

"Why, thank you for remembering," says the pup when congratulated on her fifth birthday.  Tilly is one of the most special dogs in the world (I know, most dog lovers will say that about their own dogs, but it's really true in this case).  I swear she's an empath, and she also has a super funny sense of humor.  I wish I could get a picture of her laughing--it would crack you up to see!

Happy Birthday, lovey!

Maybe I Only Amuse Myself

There was potential for darkness today.  I wanted to visit one of my favorite bloggers while she's in the U.S., but my schedule just doesn't allow it.  I know, though, that we'll meet up some day, and I'm secretly hoping that it will mean a trip to Germany in my future.

I just called the dogs in (I typed gods, first, but, alas, the gods don't come in when I call), and when Maddie bounded onto the deck, I sang out, in my loudest of loud voices, "Here she comes, Miss America..."  Then I sort of remembered that I have neighbors who might wonder at that burst of music.  I rounded up the girls, got them inside, and I laughed at myself.  Darkness dispelled by silliness. 

What silly things do you find yourself doing?

Cat Dog

Click on this picture.  Go ahead, I'll wait for you.

Yup.  The figure on the right?  A bear.  The figure crouched in front of it?  Maddie, the cat-dog, so named because this mutt used her third life on Thursday as she would not stand down from chasing this bear out of our back yard.  Tilly (seen on the far left) came back to the deck when Neal called, but Maddie?  Well, she's in her own little world when it comes to listening as my pal blogless Kim can testify (yes, Maddie used up life #2 when she ran away from us in the woods and crossed the BUSY street in front of the house to curl up and rest on the deck.  By. Her. Self.).

My first bear sighting was so exciting that I couldn't hold still for about an hour.  The only problem?  Now that I've seen how big they are live and in person, I'm not looking forward to my next sighting!

Kudos to Scout for her Knitty Gritty show!  JessaLu is burning me a copy from her TiVo, and I cannot wait to see my girly on tv!

I'm making decent progress on the Wedding Shawl.  I've got six repeats done with hopes of tackling number seven after my continuing ed class tonight.  On Monday I managed to knit a repeat in 2.5 hours, which is a big improvement over my 3-3.5 hour average.  It helps to be well rested and to not talk to anyone while I do this. 

I'm off to write a quiz and then take the mutts on a long walk.  I'll let you know if I meet up with any more bears!

Happy Birthday, Maddie!

Maddie turns three today.  I can't believe she's been in my life for nearly that long.  It may sound silly to non-pet people, but she really has made my life so much better.

There's another birthday girl in the house this week.  I plan to catch up on all my chores before Friday so I can enjoy it fully!

Happy Birthday!

Tilly turns four today! 

Well.  We've guessed that today would be her birthday.  She was a rescue pup, so there's no telling for sure.

This is how she looks at me when I work at my desk within an hour of walk time.  "Mama," says she, "let's go play in the woods."  My dogs have me well-trained, so I go.

Dogs and Deadwood

I had a cup of coffee and my final issue of Real Simple (love the magazine, just trying to simplify the number that I read) out on the deck, Tilly on the chaise with me.  Neal was in a nearby chair reading brochures about dog foods we might want to start feeding the girls.  Up he hopped, grabbed his dog for a close inspection.  I jumped up, started and freaked out by what was revealed:  a sore spot on our girl's back.  I've spared you a picture, and I'll spare you a vivid description, but this spot must be the size of a quarter.  A quick trip to the vet got us a topical spray to help it heal and also let us know that it's nothing to worry about.  For me, it was reason 17 for not wanting kids--I can't bear to see my dogs injured, hurting, unhappy...imagine if they were little humans?  It was startling in part because we both spend a lot of time petting our dogs.  Not only is this a show of our affection for the dogs, but also an opportunity to check for any bumps or bugs. 

And, for the Kafkaesque K, I've got to confirm her review.  Deadwood is intense.  I'm only on the second episode, and I don't know how I'm going to wait for Netflix to send the next dvd.  I think this is to 2006 for me what Sex in the City was for 2005.

When's Daddy Get Home?

When the weather is nice, we all wait on the deck for Neal to arrive home.  Tilly is particularly watchful.

Any Tilly twins out there? 

Holy Guacamole

Maddie (and yes, she's sticking out her tongue) has a twin.  Go look.

Maddie is a mutt of unknown parenting.  She was an orphan.  She couldn't tell me who her mom and dad were.  The vet figured on a border collie, and I've added about every dog to the mix.  She's all nose like a beagle.  There's something about her that resembles a giant rat terrier.  Ok, she's just a mutt, but I was so tickled (I actually teared up) to see another dog that looks JUST like my girl.

Charlie Girl

...wants you to remember to stop and smell the flowers.