Maude

Let me preface this by saying, when you don't have kids, you blog about your dogs. Which are your furry kids!! (and take and post lots of pictures. So if you don't want to see a bunch of pictures of a CUTE dog, stop reading NOW)

I love Maude!

We went to Overton Bark last Spring with some friends and their 2 dogs.
Maude had a ball!

I have had a lot of dogs in my life, but I must say, she is by far the sweetest and cutest of them all.
Stewart got her when she was a puppy.  I've seen pictures and she was the tiniest little thing.

I kinda stole her from him when we started dating in 2005.  Maude and I girl bonded.

One of the 1st pictures we took as we began dating.  
With Maude in the middle of course!
Wolf River 2006

But before the stealing and bonding, Maude was our chaperone and made sure I knew she was there first.

Maude was a hoarder in her younger days!

Once, at the beginning of our relationship, Stewart and I were at his townhouse watching a movie, Maude jumped up in between us, looked at Stewart, then me for more than a few minutes and put her paw on Stewart's leg never taking her eyes off of me!  It was like she was saying, "Ok lady, I guess I'll allow you to come around, but you just need to know who runs things here."
I agreed to her terms and we've been a little family ever since.

I also love to tell (and somewhat embellish) the story of how Maude growled, barked at and tried to bite other girls Stewart dated.
But not me!!  In fact, once as I pulled up to his midtown townhouse, they were outside on the opposite of the courtyard and when she saw me, she took off running and jumped into my arms!  I knew I was in!

We just HAD to get some pictures with her during our engagement session.

Christmas 2012

Dogs are just so wonderful and Maude is no exception.  Actually she's above exception.  She has always been sensitive to moods.  Anytime I've been sad, she senses it.  Suddenly, she'll appear from whatever hidey hole at home she's been sleeping in, jump up in my lap and just snuggle. She has been especially sensitive as Stewart and I are going through our infertility journey and is always there to love on us.

Working us for treats with
their best "cute" faces

Maude and Wyatt. Partners in crime.

Dogs in sombreros

Everyone who meets Maude immediately falls under her spell and is in love.

Will, my baby brother, loves Maude.

She's very small for a Boston.  The story I heard was that she was the runt of the litter.  She's just a petite little girl, but has a great, big attitude and personality.  But don't let her sweetness and cuteness fool you...she is hardheaded, very independent,  a little spoiled (one of her nicknames is "The Sultan") and usually gets her way.

Maude relaxing on "HER" bed.

She loves to roll around and scratch her back in the grass. 

Maude relaxing while we're watching tv.

But she's the most obedient dog I've ever met.  I just about think she'd let her bladder burst before she did #1 (or 2) in the house.

She's also a girl who loves her cheese and treats.  You better be careful when you extend your hand giving her one...she's like a shark jumping out of the water!  CHOMP! BITE!

Maude and Wyatt on the Roaring Forks Motor Trail
Gatlinburg, TN 2012

Maude on the Gatlinburg Trail Summer 2012

She also loves her pillows. Rather humping those pillows!!  Sometimes, we have to hide certain ones. I'm talking, she will WEAR her little self out!  Gracious.

Maude loves to ride around.  She doesn't care where as long as she can get in your lap and look out the window.

A trip to the Olive Branch park

Maude just LOVES getting out and about.  Especially at parks!

Maude after we left the Germantown dog park one day in May.

She's our little girl. Our little fur baby.

Maude is also 15 years old.  She's getting SO white. Especially around her little ears.  Her pretty eyes are cloudy and she has trouble seeing in dim and very bright light.  She's been running into things lately and sometimes runs right by us when we're calling her.  She has arthritis and joint issues.  She also has a heart mummer.  Maude is not young anymore.

I love doing doggie photo shoots and this was in our backyard last spring.

In September, Stewart and I were getting all dressed up to go out to eat for our anniversary.  He let Maude and Wyatt out just as were about to leave.  Suddenly, we both heard this terrible, sorrowful crying and we just looked at each other.  I said, "That's Maude!" I've never seen Stewart move so fast.  He ran outside to her, slipped in the grass (doodoo actually! haha) in his hurry to get to her in his nice khakis.  She was lying on her side and was just heaving.  Her eyes were wild and she was crying out.  She didn't know were there with her.  After a few minutes, she seemed to come back around and we just sat there in the grass and petted and talked softly to her.  Stewart picked her up and took her inside.  After a few more minutes, she perked up and was ready for a treat.  We waited a bit and watched her and finally decided she was ok and left for dinner.  We talked about it on our way to eat and just decided her arthritis just got the best of her and she got disoriented in the bright sun and got scared and called for us.

She's a great little poser.

In the following months, she had a few more episodes.  In the past few weeks they seem to have gotten worse.  And one day about two weeks ago, she jumped off of our bed.  (which is kind of high) One of her back legs gave out on her and she fell and seemed to hurt herself.  Stewart said she went into a pretty bad "episode"and just wasn't herself for a few days.  We took her to the vet at that point where we found out her heart murmur has caused DVD (degenerative valve disease). She is now on 2 medications. One of which is for high blood pressure.  Our vet said she may very well been having cardiac episodes.  At first we thought it was seizures, but her little heart valve is just wearing out, fluid builds up and makes things tough for her.

The past few weeks have been  pretty rough for us.  We just haven't been seeing her sweet little personality and we know she's having a rough time. Neither of us have said it but we both are thinking, "Is this it for our sweet Maude?"  As this past week went on, we could tell she was still uncomfortable and still having difficulty, but seemed to begin perking up a little more.  She seemed to be reacting to all her meds fairly well.

We had another vet appointment on Friday, January 31.  We told the vet we felt like most of her problem was her legs.  He watched her walk around (quite well in fact, thank you very much!) and said it was her arthritis and bad knees.  He said corrective surgery would help but that she was so old she wouldn't survive.  He did an EKG on her and took her blood pressure.  He had to use a cat cuff and even it was too big for her petite self and he couldn't get a good enough reading.  But everything looked good and he gave us stronger arthritis medication.
We take her back for another checkup in a month.

From another backyard doggie photo shoot.

So now, we're just trying to love on her and prolong her sweet little life for as long as we can.  We can definitely tell that one of her medications especially is really helping her.  She doesn't dance for treats and run around like a cat with the night crazies anymore.  The vet said to try to keep her stress free and not to let her get too excited.  So we carry her up and down the stairs and pick her up to put her on the bed.  She is still independent and still runs up the stairs and jumps on and off furniture, but she's also realizing it hurts too much and will stand and wait on us to pick her up.

Maybe you're reading this and you're thinking..."good grief!  all this for just a dog."  But she's a family member and has shown us nothing but unconditional love.  She is a blessing to us and we see her as a Gift from God.  As I believe all dogs are.  It's our job to take care of these sweet, loving animals who are a reflection of God's pure love for us.

One my favorites.
Christmas 2010

After this picture, she promptly tore that lei to shreds.

A few winters ago when Memphis actually got snow and ice.  We have the perfect hill in our backyard for sledding.

The same winter.  She hated the snow but loved looking out of our bedroom window and barking her head off!

Stewart and I are going to be unbelievably sad when her day comes.  It is going to be incredibly sad and tough for us.  I am praying we will both be home so that we can both be holding her, talking to her and helping her to not be afraid.  I have tears in my eyes as I'm typing this now.

All dogs go to heaven.

Snow Globes and Adjectives

Christmas break is over.

 It's a new year and the 2nd semester at school.

The first few weeks back are always tough.  Trying to get back in the swing of things in the middle of winter don't really mesh well for me.  But....get back in that saddle I must.

Here are some things Class 202 have been working on during the first weeks of 2014.

A few years back (before Pinterest) I was searching winter writing ideas/activities and came across, "If I Lived Inside a Snow-globe".  I loved the idea and now we do about this time each year.

I start out by reading a couple of books.  I can't remember which books I've used in the past because this year I found this book on Amazon.  It is PERFECT!

And also this cute book.  It's not about living in a snow-globe, but about a little boy who is obsessed with making a snowman. Except where he lives hardly ever gets snow.  It's very cute.
We can SO relate!  We have been experiencing bitter cold temps lately, but NO SNOW!  That's just not right.

I found several craftivities that go along with it that have the students making their snow-globe out of paper plates.  Again, super cute and right up my alley!

Although, one variation of it was to use a ziploc and actually add water and glitter and staple between the paper plates.  I haven't gotten quite THAT brave yet.

Last year, I had the students just do the whole glue and glitter thing.  This year, we used foam plates because I like the way their markers look pastel and winter-y.

In Grammar, we're on adjectives.

I don't know why, but every year, every class has a difficult time understanding adjectives.  They always want to use or choose a verb instead.

We always talk about how verbs show action and they're what you can do and adjectives are describing words.
Adjectives tell you more about how something looks, feels, the size, shape, smell, etc.  Maybe in their little 2nd grade brains, it's just having to change their thinking and trying to recognize each part of speech in one sentence.

But adjective activities can be fun.  Here is one of the first ones we've done.
Of course, I sought out my fav blogger, Amy Lemons.  I can't remember where I got the cut outs, but here's a link to her page for ideas.
http://stepintosecondgrade.blogspot.com/2011/10/adjective-activities.html

I know I went a little overboard with posting pictures of this one, but they really got into drawing themselves and I have to say, they did a great job.  I can look at most of these without looking at the names and know which student it belongs to.  They turned out so cute!

I LOVE how he drew a TMNT on his shirt.

His adjectives describe him perfectly!

This little boy is definitely silly and wild! ha

She drew a perfect version of her hair. And smile!

She totally captured her own likeness!

Class 202 is intelligent, fun, beautiful, handsome and creative!

Major and Breakthrough

I don't know what it is about working those 1,000 (or more) piece jigsaw puzzles.
I LOVE it.
We're talking, I get obsessed once I start one.
 But obsession aside, it's very soothing to me.

I guess it's also the fact that you have to put your hands on every single piece and slowly but surely you begin to see the picture form.
And finally, you place that very last piece, stand back and compare your work of art to the picture on the top of the box.

Maybe it's the slow, methodical pace in which I must work.  It forces my always working brain to slow down.

Maybe it just reminds me of my childhood.

My mom and dad both worked them with us.  And it always seemed we worked them in the winter, on the floor in front of the fireplace.  I just have some warm, fuzzy memories.
 We would lay out a giant piece of cardboard and start on it.  All through the week, family members would pass by and spend a little time here and there working on it.

My best memory is when someone would find the one piece that would connect the part they were working on with my dad's and he'd yell in triumph, "Major Breakthrough!"
It's a tradition that I proudly carry on in his place to this day.

Last Christmas break, I picked up my puzzle working after years of not working one.  I don't understand why I ever stopped.  I think I ended up working 5 last winter.
Also, I have the BEST kitchen table for working them.

So today, my mom and I went shopping to spend our gift cards we got for Christmas, (we did good!) and she brought me a new puzzle when she got to my house.

 I got real excited!  I started it after Stewart and I ate supper tonight.
I pushed my plate aside and took the top off the box (I may or may not have smelled the pieces as well) and pretty much zoned out and started.
 My hubby loves and understands me. He just got up, did the dishes, kissed me on the cheek and said, "have fun".  I have no idea where he went or what he was doing.  It had begun.

As I was working, my thoughts begin to drift.  I started thinking about how our life can seem like a puzzle at times.  All the pieces are mixed up in the box and we have no idea where they go or how they fit together. Or even if they DO fit together.

Just taking the top off and peering in the box at the jumbled mess can seem overwhelming and stressful.  Suddenly, I  see some end pieces and think, "oh, I can do this part".

 

Then I see some words or part of a dog or house and
immediately get those attached.

But then there are the sky, water, sunset or dirt pieces.  None of those have any defining characteristics so I either put them back in the box or in a pile all by themselves.
I hope that somehow I'll figure out that part at some point.  I bypass it because it's too hard.  Those are the parts that are usually the most beautiful and what brings the whole thing together.

Then there are the pieces I grab and say, "A HA! you little sucker! I know EXACTLY where you go!" But it doesn't go.  No matter how much I try to make it fit, even flipping the pieces over to see if they connect.  After a sigh of frustration, I'm forced to throw it back in the box only to pick it up later and place it never even remembering that was the piece that gave me so much trouble.

I started thinking how my life seems like a puzzle sometimes.
Especially right now.
Trying to make everything I want to do and wish for fit and make sense.
One day, I have faith that all the pieces are going to fit together.
Those undefined, weird pieces that I can't place will be placed by my Father.

After all, those are the most beautiful parts and bring the whole thing together.

Goodies and Pinterest

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is cooking and baking Christmas goodies with my mom.  It's a LOT of fun. We turn on Christmas music, giggle, do a lot of taste testing and enjoy each others company.

This year, we decided to try a Pinterest idea.  Here's what happened.
We decided to try this pretzel Hershey Kiss thing...looked easy enough right?

At the grocery store we couldn't find the striped kisses. I think they're called Hugs.  We finally found one bag. Then we just decided to get a bag of the regular kisses and another of the yummy caramel.  We found the red and green M&M's easily.

On our way back to my house, we took a little detour and drove by some houses decked out with some pretty fantastic lights in my neighborhood.

Back to the chocolate.....The directions were fairly easy. Place a Kiss on the pretzel then melt in the oven. For the final touch, press an M&M on top.

For some reason, I thought using this pizza pan would be a good idea.  We discovered some kisses melted better than others.  The Hugs did better and the milk chocolate pretty much kept their shape until you pressed the m&m into it.  As did the caramel ones.  But those cracked and were not pretty at all.  I like the way the Hugs look with the stripes best.

 

Here's why the pizza pan with HOLES wasn't a good idea! The chocolate melted through the holes and made the pretzels stick to the pan. Scraping them off wasn't fun and it broke them.  In my defense, I think we were just trying to be efficient and get a pan ready while another was already in the oven.  I finally got smart and used a cake pan with aluminum foil.  The foil also came in handy when we decided to put them in the fridge to cool and and allowed us to sort of peel them off.

 

Here's a batch of the caramel kisses.  They didn't turn out very pretty, but man! They sure did taste GOOD!

FINALLY!  We mastered it..sort of...and got a decent batch.  Good grief Charlie Brown! Who thought something so simple could cause so much problems!!  Mom and I just laughed and ate the ones that didn't turn out.  And let me tell you, they tasted every bit as good as the ones that did.

The finished product.  They were so yummy. But dangerous!  Small little, tasty goodies like this always are.

 

This is an easy one mom  taught me.  She just poured out a bag of chocolate chips, melted them in

the oven, the sprinkled chopped pecans over it. 

After you cool it in the fridge, just break it up into pieces.

Mom even got jazzy and used mint chips. The possibilities are pretty endless, it's super easy, goof proof and delicious!