A memorable moment…when Miss Sam and I developed a case of the giggles while watching an episode of Rurouni Kenshin. We both found it rather hilarious that a ‘manslayer’ would be wearing a ‘pink’ kimono. It was an episode that kept us in stitches well into the afternoon.

I am grateful…for all the blankets I purchased when they went on sale before Christmas. It’s going down to below freezing AGAIN tonight (and y’all know how I feel about that!!)

I laugh…because I ‘simplified’ my life a little too much yesterday and DID NOT get the bookcase put together. Oh well.

I love..our dogs. Have I mentioned that before? Although I fought bringing another dog into our ‘perfect’ family for years, I cannot tell you how awesome it is to have Snickers in our lives.

Something new….what, another book?????? Yep. While waiting in line at the Publix deli (where they so conveniently place a Christian book rack – because they know how long you will be standing there in line)…..I found the book Fireproof. Although I have not seen the movie ( I would rather read the book first), I heard that it was awesome.

Also new is a new photo (finally) over at my Flickr page. Mr. John and I went out this morning to the river to check out the new and improved boat ramp and of course I took my camera. Still working on the professional website.

A joyful picture from this week:

Who says you can’t teach an old (nine years) dog new tricks? Snickers has learned a lot from Marbles’ example. She has learned:

• to whine to go out to pee and poop (praise the Lord!)
• to bark to be let back in
• to sleep through the night
• cuddle with us while watching TV

Now Marbles has been a wonderful mentor for our ‘little grasshopper’. But how has she rubbed off on him? Well……Marbles has learned from Snickers to:

• dig holes
• and chew on rawhide sticks. Ever since Marbles was a pup, when you gave him a rawhide chew he would go outside and bury it. In the early years when we had no backyard he would find an indoor plant and bury it in the pot!!!! Well this morning our old dog learned a new trick. Snickers loves chew sticks. At night when I go to bed to read (go figure!) I always give her a chew stick to occupy her before bedtime (Marbles – the old man that he is, is already asleep by this time). Anyway, this morning, I gave them both a chew stick. Marbles, true to form – took his outside and buried his…..then he came back in and stole Snickers’ chew stick and began chewing it!!! For the first time in all his nine years!!! It was amazing. Snickers of course was less than thrilled and immediately went outside and dug up his chew stick and brought it back in and went to town on devouring it.

Today’s Around the Square: is April from Whimsy.  I love visiting April…not only because she does some fun and ‘whimsical’ things with her template, but also because she is funny, creative and incredibly honest. You never know what you’ll find at her place on any given day but you can be sure that whatever you find it will be a treasure.

Today I am grateful for: being able to take a nap in the afternoon. I have a cold (it’s this dang crazy weather we are having here….8o degrees one day……27 degrees the next) and I spent last night on the couch sleeping (or trying to) sitting up (my nose was stopped up and I was out of Breathe Right strips…you can bet I stocked up today..and the only way it would stay semi-unstopped was by either walking around the house or sitting up). Anyway, needless to say I did not get much sleep last night but the nap was awesome.

Today I will simplify my life: by eating the leftover soup I made yesterday and not worrying what everyone else will eat. I used this recipe as a template and modified it by using already pre-diced carrots,pre-diced celery, frozen peppers and onions and minced garlic in the jar. It turned out fabulous. I used 2 cups elbow noodles instead of small pasta…I will change this next time to one cup as there wasn’t much broth to soak up with my french bread…but it was delicious and quite soothing (did I mention I have a cold??)