Home Runs

A co-workers birthday started my week off with a 'home run!'  I enjoy baking and so I volunteered to bring the office ceremonial birthday cake. I decided to do something a little different, so I brought cake bites.  Have you tried them? Cake bites have kind of taken the dessert world by storm. These bite-sized delicacies begin as rich cake blended with creamy icing to form a moist, decadent center. The cake-bites are then dipped in melted milk or white chocolate and hand-decorated--I think they create a great twist on a traditional favorite. All my co-workers loved them!

Outside this afternoon the temperatures feel like summer and is a home run too.  We have a number of hungry migrating birds around, and I almost missed this looper caterpillar looking more like part of a stem to avoid becoming it's own little (cake) bite.  

Also this afternoon while we were outside Sheba brought me a baseball she found.  I've no idea where she found it, where it would have come from or how it would have ended up in our yard.  It appears to be a home run ball that's signed by all the members of the team, including the coach.  I wish I knew who it belonged to so I could return it.  But who knows, maybe it'll be worth something some day!  

I hope you're having a week of 'home runs' too!

Old Shoes, Frisbees and Joshua

What is it that makes an old pair of shoes so appealing?  Comfort is the first word that comes to my mind.  There's just something about wearing shoes that fit your feet perfectly and you can wear them for hours.  I have to admit that even when I've gotten that new pair of shoes, I still love the old ones best.  I think that Josh feels the same way about his toys--In particular the frisbee.

We've been playing a lot of frisbee lately. We actually used to play frisbee all the time.  Our girl Rudi that passed away last year was obsessed with it, and she made the game a lot of fun with her over-the-top enthusiasm. But when she was no longer with us, I just felt that the game wasn't as enjoyable without her, so we stopped playing, despite that Josh and Sheba really loved it.  Even when I would walk to the shelf where the frisbees are kept in the garage, Josh would always follow me there and whine in hopes of my throwing one for him to chase--Even Sheba would wait patiently for me to give her one too, but I didn't.  However, a few weeks ago, for some reason, I dusted them off and the game of frisbee began once again.

Despite having at least six frisbees that are the same brand and type, both Sheba and Josh have their favorites.  When they have gotten left outside and we can't find these favorites, the newer (and cleaner) ones aren't the ones they prefer.  Sheba has two that she will play with, Josh on the other hand has only one that he really, really likes.  Sure, he'll chase another one, but there is no doubt that he loves and prefers the dirty, old chewed up, hole filled green one.  It has been his favorite for several years now.  I've tried to get him used to playing with a new one, but for whatever reason, it's just not the same for him.  He's happiest when he has the old green one.  I've decided that his love for the green frisbee is like an old pair of shoes--You love those old shoes, and even though you have new ones, that same comfy and familiar feeling just isn't there and it's not the same.

I hope you've had a good weekend.  Below is a little twelve-second video we made this afternoon of Josh chasing his green frisbee--Sheba is there too, and the other dog with them is CarrieAnne.  They run past Toby and Lucas can be heard barking in the background.

By the way, the new neighbors were around on Saturday--I chatted with them and do find them to be very nice, sincere people--My wardrobe malfunction this time?  The denim shirt I wear like a sweater, was inside out.... 

Letting Go of a Bad Week

What a week it was!  I started out on Monday, full of energy and thinking positive. The mornings were so beautiful and there was a feeling of fall in the air.

Then everything started to slowly get away from me and go downhill.  Even the traffic to get to work was worse than  usual.  

And don't get me started about the stink-bugs that continue to take over everything outside and are finding their way inside ...

Honestly, when we had a 4 hour power outage, it all just seemed like too much. And just when I was ready to cry 'Uncle' and be consumed by the frustration of everything, I was returned to reality by the antics of Todd.

The goofiness of Toby ...

The nuzzling from Sheba, who by the way is a great listener ...

And Josh who stood there so patiently with a frisbee, his tail wagging and eyes full of hope, inviting me to play his favorite game with him.  

It was all I needed to just let go of everything, put it all behind me and look ahead to next week that so far, is a blank slate.  

I hope your week is ending on a good note and you enjoy your weekend!

Inside Looking Out

Raise your hand if you like autumn--I know that I do!  The only thing wrong with our weather right now is the indecision Mother Nature brings this time of year--Long or short sleeves? Jacket just in case? The weather men are saying that the high pressure heading our way from central Canada will bring us a good dose of cool fall air.  I think it's perfect weather to be outside.

However I have found myself on the inside, looking out this weekend. We are once again fighting the fall invasion of my nemesis, the dreaded and much despised 'Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. Just as in previous years, they are everywhere.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that they are crawling all over our house. When you do venture outside you are dive-bombed by this fearless insect that just dares you to tangle with it.

Despite all of this, there is one dog that doesn't seem to mind being outside with these most unpleasant of invaders.  Can you guess which one?  If you said Todd, you're right. He's always on guard, watching for birds to fly over so he can chase them, or bark at whatever else may come into view.  

He is a Scottie after all...

As for the Goldens and Charlie, on any day they like to be inside because that's where the treats are and the comfy dog-beds.  

~Charlie~

They are (almost) Goldens after all...

~Sheba~

I hope you've had a good weekend!

~Annie~