Jenna Lou Loves You

Grateful for her

The house was too quite while Zoey was gone so we were beyond happy to get the call that Zoey's surgery had gone well and that we could come pick her up the following day. She is now happily at home recovering. Dogs are so good at dealing with pain, I really can't even imagine how much it must hurt, yet she waddels around and her tail still wags when we talk to her. So far things have been like I expected. She is much more still and quiet, but I'm sure that won't last long. In about two weeks we get to go back to remove the big bandage covering her body and remove stitches. I think she will be so happy to have it off and I'm sure will be almost back to feeling like normal again by then.

Thank you God for giving us more time with her!!

 

 

Words are hard to come by today.

Today we found out that Zoey will need surgery. One to remove 3 large tumors on her stomach and another to spay her. Apparently it is common for female dogs who have never been spayed to expreince this, and in most situations the tummors are not harmful.

I'm not sure yet when we will do the surgeries. Maybe in a week, maybe two.... the doctor said it isn't life and death at this point, but to take care of it as soon as we can. My heart goes out to her and I really feel somewhat like the mother who can't help her hurting child (or in this case will be hurting from the aftermath of scars).

So I just want to ask that God protect her. She has been my companion for 8 years and I truly feel like she is a part of me. And if you too could just whisper a kind thought for her I would be grateful.

Animal Oddity

I'm a bit reluctant to share this with the world, but it has been going on for months now with no end in sight and when I caught them together like this the other day all I could do was laugh and grab the camera.

Since the day we brought Maria home, her and Zoey have had a special bond. I don't know if it was Maria's need for comfort or Zoey's need to be controlling and at the same time nurturing, but Maria has been nursing on Zoey. Well there... I said it. My cat is nursing on my dog who hasn't had a litter for over 5 years and is in no way lactating, but apparently it is still comforting to both of them because all my attempts to separate them have been for nothing.

And yesterday I found them on the pillow under my desk just like this. Zoey was half asleep and Maria was purring and pulsing her hands against Zoeys tummy with her hind-end up in the air. My first thought was boy that looks uncomfortable, but they proceeded like this for over a half hour.

 

In case you can't tell what is going on here I've illustrated the animal anatomy.

I stood there with my mouth hanging open. Shaking my head with giggles.

What an oddity.

I can't get over how cute these two are together. It's awful how much of my productivity has gone down just because it's more fun to watch these two sleep.

Oh Maria

We got to bring a new friend home after our honeymoon. She's gray and soft and has the most charming blue eyes. Her name is Maria and she has been keeping us on our toes. One moment she is napping under the coffee table, silent and sweet and the next she is climbing the walls.... literally. 

She made fast friends with Zoey and who wouldn't?

Now I just have to teach her to stay off the fabric PLEASE!!

 

 

.

We've had a couple not so fun days around here. Zoey had a visit to the vet today for some flushing, antibiotics, and pain meds. I'm not going to go into details, but we'll just say she has a sore bottom today.

It's so sad and frustrating to see her in pain. Especially something that could have been prevented had there been signals beforehand.

Oh my sweet puppy. I'm sorry. I love you and hope you feel better soon.

Alfonso

Upon doing some cleaning I found our old friend: Alfonso the camel. He's been with us since 2005 or 2006.

He was a gift to me, won chivalrously from a claw machine... and Zoey took an instant liking to him.

Am I a dork for posting pictures of my dog + my Alfonso? It is very well true, but I do love them together!

Kitty Snack

This is my cat. We call her K-K, kitty, mauw mauw, cat, baby... pretty much whatever name strikes us that day. I know it seems mean not to have a name for a cat or any beloved pet, but she came to us through several owners and we just never could decide on one. For the most part she knows K-K and that seems to stick most days, but really when someone meets her and they ask her name I'm stumpted.

Recently we've been growing closer and spending more time together. She had always been real shy and spent almost everyday in the bowels of our house (the basement), but over the past several months I've made note to open the basement door anytime I see it closed and she's slowly started to spend more and more of her day upstairs. In the past couple weeks she's spent almost everyday in my craftroom curled up in a spot where the sun strikes the floor. Napping away the day. It's been nice for me to look over and see that little furball and hear her pur as she sleeps.

So to give her a little treat ( and to satisfy my need for more winter indoor gardening ) I planted some cat grass for her. Not surprisingly she loves it and I find her perched over the dish several times a day just munching away. I feel badly for not planting it thicker... it grew kind of wimpy, but the next batch will be better. I promise.

A Christmas Story

I hope each and everyone of you had a happy holiday. We celebrated Christmas 3 days this week and each gathering was a special treat.

On Christmas Eve we went to my mom's house as is tradition. It was just the family and lots of delicious food. My mom made her famous wild rice soup (which to this day is my all time favorite soup! Thanks mom!)... and there were lots and lots of treats to munch on. I brought sugar cut-out cookies and my favorite cookie the peanut blossom cookie (see below for recipe). It was a great night of relaxed chatter and warmth around the fireplace. 

Christmas day we drove for John's family party at Grandpa's house. John's family has some younger kids and each year I find it more and more amusing to watch them open gifts. It brings back so many memories of being a child and all that rush of excitement as the wrapping falls off and the gift is revealed.

And finally on Saturday we drove to my Mom's family party. It was a big gathering of all the brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins. Our family is so big we often have to reintroduce ourselves each year. It was good though to sit down and tell stories. Our Grandma brought back memories with home movies from the 80's and a gift that posed one question: Do you remember how to play "hide the thimble"? And the answer slowly emerged from the depths of my memory. YES.... I do :D The best gift I could have been given!

Mix in a little work here and there and that's how I spent my week. A bit of driving. Good food. And as always my wonderful family.

...............................................................
Peanut Blossoms (my absolute favorite cookie!)
1/2 C. butter
1/2 C. sugar
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/3 C. peanut butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
candy chocolate stars (or Hersey Kisses)

Cream butter, sugars, peanut butter, egg, and vanilla. Blend and add dry ingredients. Roll into small balls, then roll in sugar and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350* for 8-10 minutes. During the last 2 or 3 minutes of baking (when cookie starts to crack) place a candy star in center of cookie and finish baking. Makes 4 dozen.
................................................................

Helper

This is my little helper Zoey. As much credit is due to her she doesn't get much face time on my blog. Not sure why... I think it might be because she is so sweet that I just like to hid her away and keep her all to myself. Yesterday as I was sewing she was sitting in the chair next to me snoozing. And when I would stop sewing or stand up to iron something she would peel open her eyes and give me that look.

Today I think we are going to go for a walk. It's a warm 40* out today and the sun is softly shining down... just perfect for a tour of the neighborhood.

I'm taking this weekend off to enjoy and relax. Things have been crazy since the wallet pattern release and I can finally say I'm caught up!! Then it'll be three weeks of sewing like a mad woman to get ready for some big shows starting in the end of April (more on these later).

I hope you all have time to take a look outside and enjoy the various stages of spring that are upon us. It's really a spectacular time of year!

xo,
Jennalou