Harley

It's hard to believe that six months ago this little dog wasn't even alive and I had no clue he would be joining our family. I worried about getting a third dog. How could I love him as much as my sweet  Oscar and precious Dixie?
I don't know how he did it, but he's stolen part of my heart too. It could be that I see nothing but love in his eyes. It could be the way he runs up and down the hall for long periods of time or the way he plays fetch with the toddler down the road.
His bark is different from the others, but just like Oscar and Dixie he adores Fluffy the cat. He likes his snacks and cuddling. He's growing so fast-he's larger than Dixie now, but he's kept his dark red color.

Seven years old

 So my youngest nephew turned seven. It comes as no surprise that he can sing this song word for word:

Once I was seven years old, momma told me
Go make yourself some friends or you'll be lonely
Once I was seven years old

And he did.  And he did flips:

Jumped for joy:

And blew out candles on a cake:

I should mention that his mom made the cake and it looked fabulous.

Murals in Austin

Austin has tons of murals
This one means good trip.

I ain't havin it...Harley and the snow

Harley was not a big fan of the snow we got. In fact, it took quite a while to get him off the porch.

He learned he had to walk through it.

 Some times he had to use both feet.

 You can tell he's not a happy camper.

Oscar found an ideal place to "go" outside.

It's time to go back in

Slaying those New Year's Resolutions

I'm not good at New Year's resolutions. I don't think I'm as bad as Lee, but they're not something I'm good at. My biggest most aggressive resolution? To take down Christmas lights before Valentine's Day. I'm done!
And I've lost three friggin pounds. Dwight has lost 18. Told you I wasn't good at them.

Remembering

I had my own notion of grief
I thought it was the sad time that followed the death of someone you love.
And you had to push through it to get to the other side.
But I'm learning there is no other side.
There is no pushing through.
But rather,
There is absorption.
Adjustment.
Acceptance.
And grief is not something you complete,
But rather, you endure.
Grief is not a task to finish
and move on,
But an element of yourself-
An alteration of your being.
A new way of seeing.
A new definition of self.
I didn't write that, but I wish I had.
A million years ago my parents were married on this day. Their marriage didn't last but their friendship did. They also managed to create me and my three amazing siblings.

A new salad

Broccoli Salad is a new found love of mine. So here's the recipe I'm using-please don't tell me it's unhealthy.
Makes 3 servings
2 cups chopped broccoli florets
1 cup halved seedless grapes (I like red)
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup light mayo
1/3 cup chopped red onion (ok I leave the onion out a lot)

so that's my January recipe.