COLD, RAINY DAY WITH NOTHING TO DO - YIPPEE!!

What a pleasure it is to be able to spend the day doing NOTHING!  OK, THAT will never happen (have already done a load of wash and played indoor ball with CLOVER for an hour), but at least I have the leisure to decide WHAT to do, if anything.

Yes, I will read some of my NonFiction Book Club book, GENGHIS KAHN AND THE MAKING OF A MODERN WORLD. I just finished A PARIS APARTMENT by Michelle Gable and loved it - grabbed me from the beginning and NOT just because it was set in PARIS; although I do love anything PARIS, PROVENCE or FRANCE.

I have a whole list of "projects" to attend to, but of course they can all wait until another day........

LOVED the family time at CHRISTMAS and hope that yours was just as MERRY. Marching quickly towards the NEW YEAR. Can you believe it's 2016 already?

JOAN

CHRISTMAS REINDEER MANICURE

I'm sure that some people think I'm OVER-THE-TOP FESTIVE at this time of year...... in fact I've been reminded to remember that I'm 63 years old. But to do what makes us happy (without hurting others) is A-OK in my book, no matter how OLD you are. 

Yes, these are my nails, hand-painted by a manicurist this week. It makes me smile whenever I look at them. Are you SMILING??

ON DASHER, ON DANCER......!!

JOAN

CHRISTMAS JOY

Speaking of CHRISTMAS JOY, I had to take a moment to share my recent pedicure with you. 

It makes me smile. I hope it does the same for YOU!!  

JOAN

HUSTLE and BUSTLE

I LOVE this time of year. So much to do and prepare for. So many social activities. So much JOY!!

The first of November marks my deadline for creating a Christmas card photo of the dog(s). First I have to come up with an idea, stage it and then dress the dog(s) appropriately. As you can see, CLOVER was such a GOOD DOG for her very first CHRISTMAS PHOTO!!

Note CLOVER'S halo...... it's a joke!!! Here's one mishap to prove it........

So, after the CHRISTMAS PHOTO is a "go", then I search the web for the best "deal" for photo CHRISTMAS cards. And if you haven't signed up for EBATES yet, you're missing money in your pocket. For instance, EBATES is currently offering 20% back on any orders from SNAPFISH on top of the 60% off from Snapfish.  How can you beat that??

Most years I begin CHRISTMAS GIFT SHOPPING around August. This year because of the family trip to FRANCE in August and my eye surgery in September, I was late getting started. BUT, I had 90% bought and wrapped by THANKSGIVING so I could transport the gifts to my sister's home, where we spend CHRISTMAS together. I sure can make a mess while in "wrapping mode". And the car was pretty much packed full.

I'm surprising my grandnieces and nephew, GRACE, NORA and DEREK with a FRENCH COOKING CLASS on Dec. 22nd as one of their CHRISTMAS GIFTS. One will make CREPES, one MADELEINES and one COOKIES.  They'll then spend two nights with "AUNT JOAN" and we'll ride back to MD together on CHRISTMAS EVE, so pre-planning was required to get the gifts down there ahead of time.

My Greeting Card Business (that I thought was going to keep me busy in my retirement years) never got off the ground. So, I decorated sets of 4 cards in CHRISTMAS colors and donated them to my favorite bookstore - WELLINGTON SQUARE BOOKSHOP to hand out to their customers. Yes, it did cost me a little more to buy and add the ribbon and ornaments, but it's the season of GIVING, right?!

My Sorority Alumni Group (KKG) put together a gift box of gift cards, personal notes and goodies for a fellow Kappa in need, who lost everything she owned in the recent South Carolina floods. A couple of cat lovers made sure her cat also received some goodies. Needless to say, she was thrilled to receive our package.

Visiting 6 Chester County homes decorated for CHRISTMAS was a wonderful way to spend the day with friends last Sunday. This particular home used to be a one-room schoolhouse. It was decorated so elegantly indoors and was perhaps my favorite on the tour.

PARTIES, LUNCH and DINNER with FRIENDS, FAMILYTIME, GIFT buying and giving...... I'm in HEAVEN!  I hope you too are experiencing the JOY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

JOAN

HOW MANY DAYS 'TILL CHRISTMAS?

November 1st is my gauge for how prepared I am for CHRISTMAS. Is my CHRISTMAS card photo taken yet? Is my shopping under way? 

Since I traditionally send out a photo card of the dog(s), it takes some time and ingenuity. Yes, the poor dogs have been tortured annually into wearing a CHRISTMAS costume for the photo. With multiple dogs it was more challenging to get them "dressed" and then have them "pose". With one dog, CLOVER, it should be a piece of cake, right??   "CLOVER.............."

It's her first year and she's only 6 months old, so she had no idea what was going on. I think that's why it was actually sort of easy getting her to sit and stay. I was so surprised. Back in the day, before digital photography, I had to take a whole roll of film and send it off to be developed before I knew if I had a decent enough shot. This took extra time of course, so I usually started in October.

I think one of my all time favorites was dressing NIKKI and PEPPER in tuxedos and top hats. THAT was a CLASSIC. 

Some people really enjoyed when I dressed CURRY and SAGE in boas and pink t-shirts that said "DESPERATE HOUSE DOGS" - with a "cut and paste" photo their Welsh Springer Spaniel cousin, HOOVER as the "sexy gardener" pushing a lawnmower - MY GIRLS were watching him from the front porch and looking out over the neighborhood...... 

Or maybe it was my very first card - NIKKI and PEPPER visiting SANTA at the Mall. Yes, it was PET NIGHT, so the 3 of us stood in line waiting our turn with all of the other critters.  Someone was in line with their LIZARD!!

Naturally I can't show you the photo and spoil the surprise for CHRISTMAS CARD 2015. You'll have to wait until after the Holidays to see CLOVER in all her CHRISTMAS ATTIRE GLORY........

And so my internal clock is ON. I started late this year with my online shopping, but made a HUGE DENT over the past week. And then there's the wrapping........ I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!!!

Oh, and if you too do a bit of online shopping and haven't yet taken advantage of EBATES, you are missing money in your pocket. Read about it in my August 31st, 2014 Blog Post.  CLICK THIS.

HERE'S TO THE HUSTLE-BUSTLE AND MAY YOU FEEL THE JOY OF THE HOLIDAYS!!

CHEERS!!

JOAN

LETTING THE UNIVERSE FIND ME A PUPPY - JULY 2015

Isn't it curious how one is "led" to the right thing?

JULY 2015 - Right after WILLOW died, I was distraught, lonely and the house was TOO QUIET. A psychic friend told me a female puppy from PENNSYLVANIA would find me before AUGUST.

I was thinking I would instead, wait until SEPTEMBER when I return from my family trip to France - save money on dog sitting, etc. So I had in my mind that I should look for a dog pregnant NOW so that in 2 months the PUPPY would be ready to come home with me.  

Here is what was been presented to me once I put the word out that I was looking for a puppy........

• A 1.5 yr old Shepherd was returned to WILLOW'S breeder. I've felt a concern about why she was returned AND why she hasn't been placed yet after several months there.  REALLY pretty dog, but she comes with "risks".

• Found a breeder in MARYLAND and puppies were born that week. Pick up would be September. PERFECT.

• Found a rescue SHEPHERD MIX coming from the South due to arrive in PA JULY 25th. I had an appt. to meet her. Not sure what she'd grow up to look like nor how big, nor if bloodline has a sweet temperament.  A risk.

• Found a litter born 2 weeks prior, but I didn't fall in love with the look of the mother when she sent me photos (yes, I'm PICKY, PICKY, PICKY!!)

• A friend had suggested I check at BRAXTON'S (a reputable, local pet food store) for puppies they might know about. By "coincidence" (?), a few days later, I drove by there, stopped in and asked - they gave me a list of good local breeders (PA, NJ, DE, MD). I emailed one who is nearby with the story of losing WILLOW and asked if she had any puppies. No, she didn't, but suggested I call her good friend, who did. I found her friend on FACEBOOK (gotta LOVE FACEBOOK!!!) and sent her a private message. She messaged me back and said she would call me the next day. When we spoke she said that she had the PERFECT 12-week-old female puppy for me (based on my description). The one she had in mind was the same puppy that caught my eye in her FB video of the litter - Lime Green collar - female. And I LOVE the look of the father AND the mother!! The AKC puppies are all show quality and the father is a Champion.  WILLOW'S breeder is "coincidentally" (?) related to this breeder.  She's in PA. 

As predicted this PENNSYLVANIA PUPPY found ME - before August. I named her CLOVER.

She sure is adorable.  I mean LOOK AT THAT FACE!!!  But she's been in "THE TERRIBLE TWO STAGE" since August. She doesn't hear me when I say "NO!".

I have to say, it was a LOT easier to train a puppy when I had an older dog who would do most of the work AND keep the puppy entertained. Thank goodness for her crate or I would get NOTHING accomplished!

More photos to come!!


JOAN

CINNAMON TOAST - YUM!!

I recently ate "CINNAMON TOAST" for breakfast. Buttered toast with cinnamon-sugar on it. We had this regularly growing up. Cinnamon is good for you, but I'm not so sure I'm doing much for myself with the sugar and white bread......... But hey, it brings back fond, homey, loving memories and that's a great way to start any day, right?!!

I posted this on Facebook and received a lot of responses from friends who grew up on the East Coast, which made me wonder if it was just an East Coast treat.  So I followed up with a question about whether anyone from other areas of the country grew up with this tasty treat.  YES!  California, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Northwest pretty much covers it, so I guess it's a favorite everywhere (at least in America).

My mom (a Depression baby) used to eat plain sugar and butter sandwiches for lunch when she was a young girl. I was in Kindergarten when she told me this and it fascinated me..........

JOAN 

A WILLOW MEMORY

One of WILLOW'S cute "LITTLE HABITS" when she was a puppy (not yet a year old)..........  

I kept my paper recycling in a paper bag in the laundry room.  WILLOW would gently pull one piece of paper or an envelope from the bag, then she'd SLOWLY SAUNTER across the room with that single piece of paper in her mouth, lie down on the carpet and SLOWLY tear it into a few pieces - GENTLY and DILIGENTLY. She never disturbed any papers on the counter or anywhere else - she KNEW she could take only from that one bag. 

She'd go back for another and sometimes another........  

One night I watched her work on 6 separate pieces, one after another, leaving a small pile of shredded paper on the floor while she'd walk back for another. I'd shake my head. 

Too funny. 

Too smart. 

I really LOVED that precious, little, darling WILLOW!!  And I miss her so.............

JOAN

AFTER MY EYE SURGERY

Well, THAT'S something I hope I don't have to do again.........  

THREE DAYS FACE-DOWN.  I was able to rent a chair that looks much like a massage chair, which came with a shelf and mirror to reflect the TV so that I could watch it with my face down. Naturally I had to put it together, but it was quite easy.

The same head piece was provided for the bed.  THAT was more tough to get used to, particularly because the right cheek pillow wasn't glued on properly and kept slipping off so I'd wake with my cheek on the metal bar.  

BUT, the GOOD NEWS is, the gas bubble they injected into my eye is almost gone. Just another day or two and then 3-4 weeks of additional healing and I'll be back to true normal. No more wavy lines and faces - like in the FUN HOUSE MIRRORS - it was kinda cool and kinda creepy actually. But I'm glad to say good riddance.

The reason I had to lay face down was because the bubble floats "up" and when I was face down, the bubble would float "up" to the back of my eye and keep the "repaired macular hole" (in front of the retina) flat. A miracle really. WHO was the first doctor to think this up? And WHO was the first patient? AMAZING.

It was a happy day when my neighbors, MONICA and LEX packed up the equipment to send it back!!

This past Wednesday, one week after the surgery, I was given the go-ahead to resume normal activities - even DRIVE - even drink WINE. WHOOHOO!! It took me a few extra days, but yesterday I intermittently read a PEOPLE magazine and then ventured out in the car - got a pedicure (only to find out that the owner sold the place and it was her last day - I don't care for the pedicure I received from the new owner, so the hunt is on for a new place - another CLEAN place!!). I then drove to the grocery store, but as I looked down into the refrigerator bins, the gas bubble was right in the center of my vision and it made me a bit woozy. Needless to say, it was a short visit.

Typing on the computer must still be short-lived too - floaters, gas bubble and glasses are still learning to "get along" simultaneously. I HAVE caught up on Seasons 3 and 4 of HOMELAND and am looking forward to Season 5 starting October 4th.  A few movies, and the Presidential Candidate Debate kept me satisfied in front of the TV - an activity I can do without any problem.

Before you feel TOO SORRY for me, take a look at the "DAY BEFORE SURGERY DECADENCE" that I enjoyed - a NORDSTROM CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE!! It was truly as good as it looks!

A shout out of THANKS to all of my FAMILY/FRIENDS/NEIGHBORS/BLOG FOLLOWERS who have wished me well and taken care of me. HOW could I have done it without each of you?! It was much appreciated and brightened my days!! You have no idea.

I have much to say about my trip to FRANCE and ITALY with the kids the week prior to surgery....... that's coming up.........

JOAN 

I'M STILL HERE........

Hello again,

The last few months are a bit of a blur as the days sped by with one thing after another.  Losing my precious 4-yr-old dog, WILLOW on JULY 6th hit me hard - I was literally left stunned by her sudden illness and passing.

Shortly after she died, I noticed some impaired vision in my right eye - right in the center - a bit like looking into the "wacky mirrors" at a "Fun House" - wavy, distorted and some blank spots. Needless to say I rushed to the eye doctor and she wanted me to get the earliest appointment with her retina specialist. Because the specialist wasn't available for 2 weeks, I asked a friend of mine if she could get me into hers. Lucky me. An appointment the next day!

He identified a "MACULAR HOLE", which CAN be repaired. The recovery he described was to lie FACE-DOWN FOR 10 DAYS!! IMPOSSIBLE!! I have "ants in my pants" as it is and can't sit still under normal circumstances! 

So I spent some time researching other alternatives. I found 2 doctors locally (at WILLS EYE) who have a "NO-FACE-DOWN" recovery. I was able to get an appointment with one of them within in the next 2 days. He said that the macular hole I have is small and I could probably get away with only 2-3 days in a face-down position. In addition to this good news, I liked his style and confidence. The facilities seemed cleaner and more up-to-date and the fact that this Doctor is Head of the Retina Dept. doesn't hurt either.........  

But just to be thorough I also saw the surgeon recommended by the first Retina Specialist. However, he didn't seem as "confident" to me, yet he did suggest 5-7 days face-down, not 10 days. 

I decided to go with the doctor at WILLS EYE.  My surgery is this WEDNESDAY.

While these appointments in July were happening, I was also searching for a puppy to fill the hole in my heart and the silence in this house!! My plan was to find "just born" puppies that would be ready to bring home in September, after my late August trip to FRANCE. 

Well, the UNIVERSE delivers when it feels it's best and CLOVER found me in the middle of my dog sitting a friend's Black Lab for a week. More about CLOVER in my next BLOG Post. She's ADORABLE!!

• My grand-niece NORA was here for a week of camp until JULY 17th
• CLOVER arrived on JULY 20th
• The following week, five high school girlfriends and I did a 5-day VIRGINIA WINE TASTING TOUR together.  We also hit some historical sites.
• Two weeks later TWO OUT-OF-TOWN FRIENDS visited for 5 days.
• Three days later I left for FRANCE (returning 3 days ago)........

So, please forgive my negligence in posting on my BLOG.......  BUT I'M BACK!!

All is good,

JOAN

ANOTHER CAMPER SPENDS THE WEEK WITH AUNT JOAN

My bright, beautiful and excited 10-YEAR-OLD grand-niece, NORA spent a week with me while she attended the UPPER MAIN LINE Y day camp. Her first time at camp AND her first time away from home alone for a whole week!!! I'm so proud of her.

You might have read a previous Blog sharing that her older sister GRACE was here for the same camp two weeks ago. NORA wanted to take "cooking" at camp too, but it was already full, so she settled for ART at camp and cooking dinner each night with her AUNT JOAN. WOW! I'm impressed with how well she did and how healthy she has learned to eat from her Mom.

NORA'S first bite of a CHOCOLATE CROISSANT!! (Not her Mom's choice, but her AUNT JOAN'S). She said "DE-LICIOUS!!"

NORA'S second day at camp.  Less nervous than the day before.........

On the way to and from camp we pass what NORA describes as "THE POLKA DOT HOUSE".

She had a GREAT second day in ART CAMP, came home with some wonderful creations and cooked salmon with rice and fresh green beans for our dinner. It was DE-LICIOUS!

So was her dessert - a mini CINNAMON BUN from WEGMANS!!  (AUNT JOAN!!!)

A relaxing dip in the pool - dog lover that she is, NORA gives this little guy great "confidence".

The next day, AUNT JOAN had a BARNES & NOBLE coupon burning a hole in her pocket, so we stopped after camp for a quick look around. AUNT JOAN bought HARPER LEE'S new book (out that day), "GO SET A WATCHMAN". NORA choose a story about a dog and a Blank Journal to begin capturing her memories of camp.

NORA got creative with leftovers and made a chicken and rice casserole for us for dinner.  YUM!!

When her sister GRACE was here, she baked a loaf of BREAD with AUNT JOAN.  

NORA chose instead to make our family recipe "COFFEE CAKE" (her great-great-grandmother KISTLER'S).

Our SWEET TOOTH'S are TRYING to leave some leftovers to take home with her for the rest of the family to enjoy.......

CINNAMON and SUGAR across the top before baking.........

Since AUNT JOAN is going to dog-sit 9-year-old Black Lab, SAMMIE for a week, a pre-visit was in order to learn the boundaries of the INVISIBLE FENCE here. 

NORA LOVES DOGS!! (and HORSES)

One of the fun ART projects at camp was creating a FAIRY HOUSE with a seashell roof. She added a ceramic FAIRY, live moss, yellow flowers and a LABELED STONE over the doorway when she got home. NOW IT'S COMPLETE!

Her second-to-last-day of camp was "up in the air" in the morning because NORA was feeling terribly HOMESICK. We've all felt that way, haven't we? MISSING OUR MOMMY?!!!

She toughed it out, enjoyed her day and decided to stay here overnight and not miss her LAST DAY of camp.

I couldn't be more proud of NORA this week and she was such great company for me after losing my precious dog WILLOW last week. I'm really going to miss her and hope that she'll decide to visit again for camp next year.  

JOAN

RIP - MY PRECIOUS DOG WILLOW

Some of you might remember when I found WILLOW in January 2011. Well actually SAGE and I both found her.  SAGE was a tad "dog aggressive" so I took her along to the breeder to see if she reacted well to any of the puppies. She had NO interest whatsoever in ANY of the puppies brought in to meet her.

Just before I "called it a day" I was invited to see the rest of the 3 litters of puppies downstairs. I knew I didn't want a pup from the first litter because the mother had a very masculine face. The second litter - the same thing. The third litter I had no idea because the mother was outside.  BUT the owner of the father was there and showed me a photo and he was beautiful. We all walked out to see the mother in her run - she was a long haired Shepherd, which I wasn't sure I wanted.  But she WAS on the smaller side and had a pretty, feminine face.

We walked back in to the puppies and they were all clamoring to the front to be picked up. All of a sudden, one puppy toward the back sat back abruptly, looked up at me directly and I literally heard in my head "PICK ME!!". I asked if it was a female. The breeder picked her up, said "YES" and took her upstairs to meet SAGE (on the off chance that something might click). SAGE licked her and licked her and wouldn't leave her alone. It was a match made in HEAVEN for all of us.

I mean look at that sweet little face!!  How could you not fall in love immediately?

SAGE did her job well as a big sister and taught WILLOW to be sweet, obedient and loving.  They were perfect together - I got the biggest kick out of watching them play and interact.

And WILLOW grew into the most beautiful dog I've ever had.......

And smart?!  She climbed right up over the ottoman one night during BOOK CLUB at my house as if she was supposed to be an active participant.  We were all shocked, to say the least.

I'm still stunned and completely heart broken that she's gone. Only 4.5 years old, WILLOW had just gotten to the age where she was still a little bit "puppy" but finally mature enough to be settled most of the time and ride in the car like a "grownup", if you know what I mean......  She LOVED the car! And unlike most of my Shepherds, she preferred the windows up and air conditioning on. Perhaps because she was born in the Winter - with snow and cold.

She really loved the snow. In fact, I think she would know when it was coming and would actually start to show excitement. Or was that me?

WILLOW LOVED the SNOW and also her FRISBEE!!

WILLOW listened intently to what I would say to her.  And you know, I really think she understood most of the time.  I LOVED that tilt of her head!!

Some of you will want to know what happened to take her so young.  You can read my PS if you're interested.  

I KNOW I need another Shepherd to share my life with and have begun to reach out to friends and breeders to identify my next companion. I trust that WILLOW and my other 5 GIRLS before her are working on a plan for me as I type........


JOAN


PS  What happened?? Basically on June 16th, the day I got home from Europe, I noticed WILLOW squinting her left eye just a tiny bit. Over the next 3 weeks we were at her Allergist, her Primary Vet and an Ophthalmologist and starting to see some improvement. However, on Friday night of July 4th weekend, she suddenly became blind in both eyes. I was panicked and took her to the VET ER. They did test after test over the weekend and merely speculated what the problem could be. 

On Monday, when the regular staff was back in, their Ophthalmologist took one look and said she thought it was cancer - confirmed by the Internist who saw lesions on her spleen and blood clots in her artery leading to her kidneys.  She hadn't eaten in several days, her kidneys were shutting down despite the IV fluids and she was blind.  

We said goodbye on Monday afternoon, July 6th (coincidentally, the same day we said Goodbye to our father 15 years ago) and I came home to a VERY quiet house. It's the first time in 30 years that I haven't come home to at least one dog in the house. It's been quite a challenge to get used to the stillness.  But I do have a feeling there won't be silence for long.........

MY WEEK ALONE WITH AN 11-YEAR-OLD

Well, if I can survive 8 HOURS ALONE WITH A 4-YEAR-OLD, wouldn't you peg me for A WEEK ALONE WITH AN 11-YEAR-OLD?

My grand-niece, GRACE spent this week with me while she attended the UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA day camp. She did the same thing last year when half of her day was spent at "COOKING CAMP" there. She loves to cook. So when the cooking session was already filled by the time she signed up this year, we decided that she would just have to cook HERE at the end of each day.

The first night she made LEMON-BUTTER-DILL SALMON, BROCCOLI and RICE - one of our favorite meals that I taught her last summer. Another night she made a CASSEROLE that my Mom used to make for us kids - a simple one that every kid likes, no matter how fussy. Last night we made a quick version of homemade CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP.

We have developed an easy, daily routine. Each morning, while I cook breakfast (she likes scrambled eggs with sausage one day, cereal the next, etc) GRACE packs a very healthy lunch for herself.  We made up a grocery list during our family weekend in W Virginia and I had all of her "LITTLE HEART'S DESIRES" when she got here. She packs a turkey or bologna sandwich, fruit, yogurt, vegetables with Ranch Dressing Dip, Sun Chips (or Chex Mix), Gatorade and a few treats from my chocolate stash....... she swears that she shares these chocolate goodies with her friends at camp........

Every evening when we first get home from camp we play a "VERY SPIRITED" round of "SPIT" - a card game that she taught me this week. We are both competitive and have had many "CLOSE WINS" with lots of SCREAMS and GIGGLES. I might also add that she's a VERY SAVVY card player!

Her little toes were painted for her SWIM MEET at PENN STATE last week - her AUNT JANE'S alma mater.  ADORABLE!!

After our dinner we usually played another round of cards and then watched a bit of TV. I introduced her to 2 new shows (I guess you all know that I LOVE SOME REALITY TV) - KATE PLUS 8 and THE LITTLE COUPLE.  She loved them both (as do I).

Before going to bed, GRACE prepared the dough to rise overnight for a loaf of bread she is going to bake the here the next day.

And overnight - VOILA!! 

A PERFECT LOAF OF BREAD!!!  GREAT JOB, GRACE!!!

I taught GRACE a simple game of SOLITAIRE that she can play while riding in the car. She enjoyed it on our ride to her last day of camp.

This traditional "DAY CAMP" visit won't happen for too many more years, but I just LOVE the private time that I am able to spend with GRACE now. I DO feel confident that there are still some great memories to create in our days, months and years ahead.......


AUNT JOAN