i love Lucy

My Mom has a little bone shaped plaque in her kitchen which reads, "Dogs are just children with fur". In our family this is absolutely true. On Tuesday my sister Karen's dog-child passed away. Lucy was her first born, my first niece, the first grand-dog...it has been a tough couple of days for our family.

Lucy was our family's "original" dog. When Karen got Lucy it didn't take long for all of us to fall head-over-heels for her. We were lucky that Karen shared her with all of us. Lucy's arrival in our lives soon led to the arrival of Gus, my Mom and Dad's dog, and Mazzy, our sweet puppy (who died at 3 yrs old). But, she never lost her spot in our hearts...like I said, she was our "original" dog, and we loved her.

Lucy was one, sweet dog. When she wagged her tail her whole hind end would wag. There wasn't one occasion that I saw Lucy that her tail wasn't wagging. Even when I saw Lucy a few weeks ago on her 11th birthday, when she was barely able to walk due to her worsening spinal degeneration, she greeted us with her little, waggy bottom. Lucy loved her people, and I was lucky enough to be one of her people...to be on the receiving end of that waggy bottom.

And, as hard as it is for us...as sad as it is for us...my sister Karen and her family have it the hardest. Lucy-dog was an important member of that family. Nana dog to Lillian, Jack and Eva...they have never known a world without her. She has left them with wonderful memories and was a true gift in their lives.

All dogs go to heaven...and Lucy-dog is, no doubt, running about with Mazzy chasing rabbits...but never catching them.

Lucy Rosebud

define suck...

My BFF Sarah, who just sold her house in Des Moines, is headed to Tennessee tomorrow to hunt for a new house...

there...

to which she will be moving...

soon...

sad but true

I'm back to work this week...

...and this is how we feel about it!

new favorites

First, I must acknowledge that these new favorites came from two of my favorites...my sister Karen and my BFF Sarah.

I admit, willingly, that I am (most of the time) a follower. Not very often will you find me putting myself out there with new ideas unless I am really comfortable in the environment. Now, it's not to say that I never try a new recipe/food or beverage on my own...and, perhaps it's laziness...but if it's been "pre-tested" by one of my trusted co-horts and they serve it, or suggest it, then I'm gonna try it. And, lets be honest, my sister Karen is a cooking genius...I couldn't keep up with her if I tried. And Sarah gets out a lot more than I do...and she's way more hip than I am, so she fills me in on her new favorites.

That being said...YUMMO! The first new favorite...avocado and mango, together, as a salad from the gods! Maybe you've tried it and I am the last to know. Whatever. But if you haven't...trust me, it is heaven in a bowl. I cannot get enough. Which leads me to a question...can you eat too much "good fat" so that it becomes bad? Hope not. I keep reminding myself that mango and avocados are really good for you! (*and, in case you didn't know, avocados are a berry and are loaded with potassium...way more potassium than a banana. So I'm sticking with the really good for you!)
Now, on to the not so good for you (if you overindulge)...which has probably been on the radar for all of you, but that I'm just hearing about now. Sarah and I have always enjoyed the old Corona, but I guess it was getting old for Sarah because she tried Stella and informed me that we had a new beer. (yes, if Sarah told me to jump off a bridge I probably would!) Seriously though, she keeps us up-to-date and honestly Corona was getting old for me too but I'm the lazy follower, remember? YUMMO numero dos! (yes, I'm a bi-lingual counter but I cannot spell...I don't think.)

So, there you have it! All five of you can take this information and enjoy (although, 2 of you are Sarah and Karen so... :) oh well...)

Hello Sunshine!

Eden - 9 weeks

For Sarah

Happy Easter everyone! (and very typically for me it's only 2 days late!)

Sarah here's your pic of Eden the bunny...

Spring Break

Colin had spring break this past week which, of course, was shortened due to all the snow days we had this winter (...yuck!). Thank goodness winter is OVER!! We managed to make it to my sister's house in Omaha for a brief, but fun, visit. LOVE seeing our cousins Lilly, Jack, and Eva! (Auntie Karen and Uncle Mike, too!) We don't get over there nearly enough!

Remember how fun childhood was? Some days I miss it...the feeling of pure joy with absolutely no worries swirling around the back of your brain...no "to do" lists bombarding your thoughts...on second thought, I miss it all the time!

We also got to spend some time with dear, old Lucy dog who happened to be celebrating her 11th birthday, and who is struggling with a degenerating spine which keeps her from running around, but not from wagging her tail and smiling! She is happiest with all her people around...especially my sister, Karen. We love our Lucy dog!