mary, mary, quite contrary . . .

how does your garden grow?

really, i'd like to know - any tips are most welcome!

we have sprouts! and pumpkin flowers! and itty, bitty tomatoes!

about a month ago, i was e-mailed that my spot on the waitlist for a community garden put me next in line for an open plot . . . as these lists were known to be long, i accepted the plot {2x the size i wanted, and the farthest garden i had applied for} in hopes that being in the system was the way to go.

the plot looked like this:


during the next week, i got it to look like this:

at which time i was told that another plot had become available, this time in full sun. it looked like this:

so rather than clear 100 sq.ft. of compost and have a plot in the shade, i took the second plot:

in the second plot, i found 2 canvas tarp-type things 20'x4' in size {rolled up in the photo above}, raspberry seedlings, onions, garlic, strawberries, and potatoes . . . all in all, it seemed like it could work.

after planting lettuce and corn, i received notice in the mail that my name had come up for a smaller plot in a garden closer to myself- so i went to check it out . . . and it looked like this:

being the third plot i would be clearing, i turned it down {thinking i was ready to plant at the second plot}

optimistically, i purchased some veggie starts and began turning over a section of my garden to plant them . . .

well, all i seemed to turn up was plastic - as in garbage bag-type plastic . . . about 50-75 sq. ft. of it . . . no end and no beginning . . .so i called the garden office to see if they had given my other plot away . . . LUCKY ME! . . . they hadn't : ) and lucky me in another way- my father-in-law, who arrived the day i switched gardens, was excited about helping me clear and plant the new plot!

here are some progress photos . . .

and my baby flowers + tomatoes!

can't wait for beans + basil + broccoli + carrots + beets + lettuce + squash + tomatoes + cucumbers + pumpkins oh my!

{though i'm still hesitant as one of the tomato plants has spots . . . sigh . . . we shall see}

mid-years resolutions . . .

recently, someone i 'know' online mentioned that she was making mid-years resolutions . . . although she might have different reasons for making them than i have, it sounds like a great idea! {especially as i never felt like i was starting my new year with a fresh start}

so here goes nothing . . .

embrace_family, friends, health, experiences, possibilities . . . as times have gone to an unfamiliar place, sometimes it is hard to have faith and stay positive. this year has been a doozy- turning 3-0, my aunt was diagnosed with cancer, unemployment . . . on the bright side, thus far, well, i'm still thirty, but my aunt has finished chemo {we hope}, and i've started my own business. let's hope everything is falling into place with whatever path is out there for me.

maintain_health/fitness, relationships, environment . . . as in the usual exercise and healthy eating . . . as well as connections with friends and family- which are especially dear being so very far away from many of them . . . and hopefully, for my honey's sake, improve my laundery skills at home {really, i'm pretty bad!}

live_without worrying about a plan, money, who i am, what i've missed or could have done . . . knowing things work out in the end and trust in that {in reality, this has been true for the duration of my life . . . i think it's a good strategy, for now . . . if only i can have such faith!}


while these 3 words are just that, 3 words, they encompass a realm of tangents that i think are steps in a direction to being happier with myself and who i want to become for my family!

me = bad blogger . . .

sigh . . . to say it has been busy is certainly an understatement!

since i last wrote, sleep has been reduced (as well as internet time) and the biz has made a giant step forward :)

back in february, i applied to the portland farmers market. soon after i lost my job, i found out that the market was full so i applied to beaverton . . . somehow (esp. as a first-year vendor) i got in on an on-call basis . . . this was fabulous news, but not much of a reality util may arrived . . . then it was all about logistics!

ok- so i usually enjoy logistics - and all the gory details that come with it- this time, however, they almost got the better of me . . . from pricing and packaging to labels, tags, all of the designs and farmers market booth set-up . . . phew!

as it is tuesday, how did the market go? it went ok . . . pretty good, really . . . sure i didn't sell out- but in many ways that is ok as i spent 2 weeks making everything - and i'm not sure i could maintain that schedule the entire season- one thing i'll say is that many of our friends stopped by to say hi- and that was fab! and, i wouldn't have been able to do it without my hubby- he helped with money, errands and the frequent chuckles :) how lucky i am to have such a supportive partner in my life! and in this adventure!

now it's time to catch up at home (yup - that laundry i started 2 weeks ago needs put away) and get ready for a visitor! oh- and back to my jogging :)

i hope to continue to update about various things and biz updates, too (hopefully with pics!) - but it likely won't be as frequent as many bloggers - guess i'm more of a people person - but for those peeps not here with me - i'm still here :)

CONGRATS!

to my honey - he took his last exam of 9 architectural registration exams this week! he has been studying his little butt off since this time last year - and successfully has passed 8 for certain- i'm guessing he passed this last one, too - but we have to wait until the computer checks in with its supervisor and reports the scores . . . so yes, computerized test - results in 2-5 weeks!

these tests are required of architectural interns to officially allow them to be called 'architects' - and not only that, they are now liable for their projects and with that comes potential to be sued - yay! but really, it's a good thing and i am sooo proud of him.

now to think of something to do for him to celebrate . . . see, i had this idea that i would surprise him with a trip to new york city - well, that was before i lost my job- and as i am working with fewer funds and will potentially be busy on weekends with the market- i feel i should think of something else (not to mention i spilled the beans when i was tipsy one night in san fran - but in that light, he was also tipsy and probably doesn't remember!)

hmmm . . .

can i just say . . .

how excited i am to finally be able to get my capris out from the bottom of the pile?! actually, i can, and i will . . . it has been such a glorious weekend, finally, after so much rain . . . although it hasn't been the rain i've minded as much as the cold . . . it is also good timing as i need to do laundry - now i'm saving that for a rainy day, which means maybe it won't rain for a few more days!

things on my end are perking up a bit . . . i have a meeting with another coffee shop that wishes to carry my biscotti this week - so that is exciting . . . and i've had my first real etsy order - real as in not a friend or my husband :)

this week i have a couple of tasks of high importance . . . i have to purchase packaging materials - for etsy and the Beaverton farmers market . . . i need to edit my trial contract and client contract . . . finish my business card design . . . work on labels and pricing for the BFM . . . and file the tax-exempt business tax form . . .

baking-wise . . . i've been experimenting with more marshmallow flavors - which is also why i need to keep jogging! right now, i can add chocolate, coconut and cinnamon to the mix . . . yummy! next up is to test out different coatings for the mallows - like toasted coconut and such . . .
beyond my current list of offerings, i also made hazelnut macaroons last night. i think they are tasty- though a bit hollow - haven't made any filling- may try that tonight, or just use some chocolate hazelnut spread my friend ekta got me : ) (think nutella, but better!)

buy 'a little bit of sweet' online!

who knew you could sell food on etsy?! well, i discovered this sometime near the end of last year and it has since been in the plans to create a shop once the kitchen to rent was found . . . and it is now here!


it is still a work in progress, but looks to be a good start :) right now, there is just got a sampling of items listed to get the hang of it . . . and there will a post about what's available coming up!

in addition to the items listed on etsy, there is an 'alchemy' option that allows people to request bids for custom projects. this would be great for anyone looking for handmade, edible wedding favors {hint hint!}

while etsy will be a great online venue for sales, one minor detail is that everyone needs to sign up and become a member . . . this is great for the handmade community, but there are worries that it may discourage some from making a purchase . . . well, let's hope for the best!

WOW!

{a little bit of sweet :: age, 1 day!}

i'm back! (well, sort of . . . )

ever feel like you've been plowed by a train?

(ok- just had to watch ross the intern on leno- i think he is hysterical!  always have since his first time on the show years back - but tonight was quite good : )

so where was i? . . . oh . . .  yeah . . .  it seems it is 2009- and the 14th day of the year no less!  i've missed a few things- such as new years, resolutions, my b-day . . . blah blah blah- well- those events are not gone, nor are they forgotten- and they will be remembered blog-style, soon- sadly- i was out of town for 2 weeks and since i returned, i've been sick - until now- well, mostly, anyway- still have a bit of a cough and more often than i'd like headache- but i'm optimistic- esp as i can finally doing things besides lay on a couch under a blanket!

more or less- this is a hello to the few friends and family i have who peruse this blog- and as check-in for myself reminding me of my goals i have in recording such events and memories : )

really, be on the lookout for fun things- including blogs i follow and enjoy, maybe some architecture, a post from the pooch, and potential baking endeavors!  oh- and i think i need to officially put my resolutions in writing- maybe then i'll feel more obligation and start keeping tabs on myself- 

anywho- thank you blog for being patient- and this year i hope to design you even better!

merry + bright . . .

hello, hello!

happy holidays to all : )  the posts have been few and far between while my list of desired posts keeps growing . . . i suppose that's what happens when work and snow attack- in full force!

at least i was able to catch up a bit yesterday and finish my goodie tins . . . 

this sampling includes tasty cookies and candies from biscotti to the {flaming} soft caramels, and chocolate covered cherries tucked below . . . so all in all considering- quite a bit- the other items i didn't get a chance to make, i'll try out in january : )

now the real question is why i am still at home and not in nevada . . . well- that would be the result of father winter . . . seems he felt a need to give us holiday presents early- as in millions of snowflakes . . . 

the pac-nw is pretty well covered with snow and the like . . . as in 8 inches in metro portland yesterday . . . our balcony flamingos began above the snow, yet they have slowly become covered - head to toe in one case!

tomorrow we will try again to begin our holiday road trip after we shovel out our car and chain the tires- yay!

all of this is probably ok, as this week was extremely busy at work for a deadline we had friday- here's a sampling of that project . . . 

as the holidays approach and we take to our coche- i bid to all a happy and wonderful holiday!  i am looking forward to relaxing, esp with my honey, and just resting up before the new year comes upon us . . . and that thirtysomething event . . . 

there is very little chance of other posts this year, but i intend to start anew with my list . . . from baking adventures to wedding recaps to general fun finds (which are aplenty via holiday shopping!) as well as an infamous start to my thirtysomething lists . . . really, they are coming!  oh- and maybe progress in the start of baking for a living : )

thanks to anyone out there reading this journal of a blog of sorts- sometimes i get disappointed that i've not been able to write more, but it's a start and i'll get better : )

i leave you with a link to the animated version of our holiday card from work that illustrates the construction of our gingerbread fire station . . . until next year . . . 

: )

where there's smoke, there's fire- really! (a.k.a. '08 baking part 1)

this evening, i had the pleasure of listening to our smoke detector not once, or twice, but three times!  (*sigh* yes, courtesy of myself . . . )

so really, anyone reading this probably wants to know why- esp as i also mention baking in the title . . . well as you have it . . . there's a reason most recipes for caramel involve either sweetened condensed milk or evaporated milk- because if you use whole milk and cream- there's a great deal of moisture to be removed - so {a} it takes forever and {b} it it likely to boil over . . . though it probably didn't help that i made 125% of the recipe since i wanted thicker caramels : ) . . . *sigh* bit of a brain lapse- but at least the fire was tiny (even if it scared me to pieces as it's probably one of the only things in the kitchen i'm afraid of . . . well- more like oil fires- but fire none.the.less can be frightening) and as it was caused by the overflowing sugar-milk syrup - it burned out rather quickly . . . 

and luckily the mess under/in the burner wasn't as terrible as i expected (once i transferred 1/2 the mix to a second pot and continued to cook for 15 more minutes - leaving charred sugar- yummy) . . . once i was done pouring the caramel in my pan, i thought to myself- that was probably THE MOST difficult recipe experience i've done- probably ever! . . . so what did i do?  well- i licked the spatula, well, nibbled, rather, and rejoiced as it was all worth it- now for reals- yum yum!  i must admit- next time i will have to stick to 1/2 the recipe or buy a bigger pot!

also, while i'm at it- i think i'm moving towards 3 for 3 in my attempts this year-

first- there were the cherries . . . 

second- we've got marshmallows . . .

and third- (hopefully once i cut the slab-o-sweet wonderful goo tomorrow) - we have caramels!

(p.s.- a thirtysomething goal is to be able to sell all these delectable treats - so be on the look out for more info!)

now for the weekend- yay!  tomorrow has a huge to-do list- from finding cocoa butter + x-mas shopping + picking up my new glasses (yes, they're in!) and chocolate ganache and nougat : )  (and maybe a run if it's not terribly cold out - i've got 7 miles down (i think) - and am moving up to 1.5 miles (even though i still count those as 1) . . . hopefully next week i can check off 3-5 more miles . . . 

and we thought portland had it bad . . .

this is the european lifestyle at its finest . . . taking everything in stride and with a glass of wine!

venice is recovering from aqua alta, the high water that is typical this time of year, however, this year's height is a record out of the last 30-ish years . . . being about 5 feet in some spots . . . 

(image found here via stream of consciousness blogging from {frolic!} to ink & peat to housemartin to black eiffel . . . and in the meantime, i found fun on these sites, too - more ways to waste time + whorange.)

it's hard to believe the weekend is gone!  and there's so much still to do and december is already whirring by . . . some progress has been made in that i've decided what goodies to make + create this year as part of my edible gifts . . . currently set to include some standbys - truffles, biscotti and marshmallows - and new recipe experimentation - peppermint patties + nougat + macaroons . . . tonight i made fondant from scratch - the sugar base that is used for peppermint patties and chocolate covered cherries - and boy did my arms get a workout!  so far, though, i think it turned out well!  it takes a boiling sugar syrup from the very warm (as in don't touch if you want to keep your fingertips) to an opaque solid lump via a marble slab and dough scraper . . . and oh, about 20 minutes of working with the goo . . . every time i work with sugar i become more fascinated with it!  sometimes i'm not sure if i prefer working with sugar or chocolate more, but regardless, i just love the entire process : )  hopefully during the evenings of the coming weeks i'll still have the energy to finish what i'm starting!

oh- and in regards to other updates- i'm hoping to compile that first {thirtysomething} list - which is looking to be blogs/websites i enjoy/frequently visit . . . in an effort to beef up my own blog with fun links that others might enjoy, too . . . and as far as wedding posts go - after reading posts on snippet & ink, and seeing the 'daily wedding' features, i'm hoping to create just 2 posts . . . one with my inspirations and the other documenting the big day : )  now all i have to do is find and transfer all the idea images from my hard drive (since i had to completely wipe my laptop) and pick my favs from vicki's pictures . . . maybe by next weekend . . . work-wise- we're building basswood models of a few projects - my job has been the assembly of tiny pieces using tweezers - and i'm loving it (for the most part) - and hopefully around the 15th- i'll have pics to post . . . oh- and that running goal?  well- sadly, only 5 miles down and 25 to go- but i'm hoping to go on my lunch tomorrow and 2x more this week- i can still hit 30 by 30 - but that whole  weight # probably won't change- esp with the holidays - and candy quality control ; )

happy monday to all . . . and stay tuned . . . 

doing our part . . .

you can't say we're not helping the economy!

so we've taken a few plunges . . . some larger than others, though most planned ahead (from 1 year to more than 4 years!)

(images from here, here, here, + here)

hb and i in some part needed to make a few purchases, and in other parts were putting budgeted $ to good use . . . 

purchase {a} - 'i am not a paper cup' . . . designed by james burgess and being taken by storm by the general public, this eco-friendly ceramic cup will allow me to take full advantage of one of our wedding presents . . . the espresso machine!  (and since i purchased it, i have had yummy lattes for a fraction of the cost i would pay at the coffee shop in our office building : )  did i mention it is both microwaveable and dishwasher safe?  personally, i like that it washes easily- esp when my favorite drink is a latte- i.e. contains milk - and its design is simple and understated . . .

purchase {b} - our new mac - besides being on hb's wishlist since before he met me, friends and family wanted to assist with our purchase as wedding presents- and i must admit- it has been a fabulous present : )  as my 3 1/2 y.o. laptop has decided to be mean, and hb's is just plain slow (and old, too) - we are both enjoying its use (my other 2 cents - the only sales i've seen at a mac store are on black friday and iphoto rocks! - not to mention the books you can create!)

purchase {c} - this one's a biggie- but, it had been on the list since we made our cross country move 18 months ago . . . and with additional excursions in the future it seemed like a good decision . . . however, this meant hb had to say goodbye to his beloved 'honky' (i was sad, too) that treated him quite well over the last 10 years . . . we hope this one (unnamed as of yet) will be just as kind and hopefully for just as long . . . and did i mention it has a panoramic sunroof?!

purchase {d} - here's the most recent - and something that had been in my budget all year (pre-tax work benefit!) . . . and as my current pair is over 4 years old, i'm not feeling overly guilty . . . beside, as i begin to create my thirtysomething wardrobe- the frames will be a nice addition!  (and gasp, they are red!  well, one pair is red, the 2nd pair i got free is a bit more tame / modern : ) - craziness and fun!)

now it is back to holiday shopping for others : )  which i truly enjoy . . . and holiday baking / candy making!

happy turkey day!

i hope a wonderful day was held by all!  we enjoyed ourselves, sleeping in, bumming around and i got to spend time in the kitchen - yes, i enjoy such things : ) - 

here's an exert of the eats of our day . . . our first as a married pair!

in case you might wonder, what are the goodies?

. . . we woke up to amish friendship bread muffins (thanks to my friend kristi), then hors de oeuvres included cheeses, crackers, olives and seafood bites . . . 

dinner was a turkey breast, accompanied by stuffing (though hb refers to it as dressing), green bean casserole - one of my favs, carmelized shallot mashed potatoes, cranberry orange relish, and biscuits (cook's illustrated) - oh and we also had ocean spray cranberry gel as a hb-family tradition!

lastly, after seeing the image on sarah's blog (and knowing my hubby's fondness for caramel), i had to try this caramel pumpkin pie recipe with homemade whipped cream!

while all this seems like the day revolved around food, in some ways it did, but in other ways- we had a chance (maybe me more than hb) to do things we enjoy and just relax for the day . . . as our families turkey day feasts were all in ohio, and as we're saving for our x-mas trip back, turkey day was lo-key and on our own for us this year, though i look forward to future years when we are able to share the day with family!

. . . in reference to food, growing up, my family always enjoyed getting together for holidays and we often gathered around food and drink . . . so in that way, it is very much my way of maintaining that tradition : )

and while we are so very fortunate to have been able to make such a wonderful dinner and spend the day together, we also shared the many things we are thankful for - from each other and our love, amber our pooch, our families and friends, health, our home, jobs, freedom, individuality and many, many more things . . . we are SO very lucky!

weekend update . . .

the weekend's gone?

insanity . . .

here's few pics and thoughts on the few days that seemed to fly by . . .

while portland has its share of rain and fog, friday morning was by far one of the most amazing mornings i have seen since living here . . . riding the bus into the city from the east, i could see buildings, then fog, then more buildings backed by a beautiful blue sky . . . all with the beams of the sunrise . . . my picture here is about 20 minutes after i had gotten to work (following our firday a.m. meeting) and some of the fog had cleared - but boy did i wish i had the morning off to follow the sun and fog . . . or even that i had my film camera with me . . . one can hope for a second chance . . .

while the day flew by, it ended with hb and i celebrating his most recent exam with 'raw, parasitic fish' as he calls it : )

then came along saturday . . . and with it a new drivers' license (new last name so i can fly to the in-laws in december - since i booked that flight pre-wedding with the new last name) and a 14-hour gingerbread fire station extravaganza - and i mean extravaganza!

imagine:

tootsie roll stockings

caramel carved into a turkey

fruit roll-up fireman coat

a tootsie roll dalmation

and . . .

a candy flower pot about an inch and a half tall (including 4 flowers)!

here's a sneak peak . . .

this is for our company's holiday card- displaying each discipline in the construction of the gingerbread fire station - it will be a video of the photos taken (every time something was placed or if it moved an inch) and should be super fun! i will try to get it on the blog once the video man finishes it in a few weeks - so stay tuned!

happy 2 months to us!

(another fab image by Look!)

wow- it actually seems like so long ago . . . not sure why other than we've just been busy with work and his registration exams (#5 tomorrow) . . . which makes me look forward to next weekend even more as we'll have 4 days off -woo-hoo!

we are somewhat trying to celebrate our mini-anniversaries each month - either with fun dinners or evenings out . . . due to the exam- we're going out for sushi tomorrow night, which should be yum! (though most sushi afficionados would claim that i don't eat sushi- as i typically stick to shrimp and veggies- but hey- i've only been eating cooked fish for 2 1/2 years! what i do like is the combo of flavors and textures, that it's fun to eat and the bit of a kick by the wasabi :) - oh and sake's pretty tasty, too!)

as far as general updates . . . i've only 3 miles down and 27 to go (sadly rain and work have prevented further jogs during the week) . . . a thirty-something list is in the works . . . additional wedding posts are also in the works as are a mish mosh of other random musings . . . oh- and i hope to start my official list of the blogs and websites i read : )

my very own personal Bond . . .

oh how handsome is he!

photo by LOOK photography

while i have yet to truly recap our fabulous day, in honor of our recent viewing of the new bond flick, i wanted to show off one of the ways my honey participated in our wedding : )

his attire, as well as the groomsmen and our fathers, was selected by him with me agreeing with him by his side . . . and i think he did a swell job! (and of course, i'll illustrate this in due time with pictures of the entire wedding party of which i think all look fab!)

oh- and how does his attire relate to bond? well- initially we thought about getting him a tailored bond-esque dinner jacket- but ultimately we went with the shawl collar on the ivory tux jacket with brown tux pants . . . the finished look, though, still resembles what i envision as 'bond' style (as well as some aspects of the show 'mad men' of which i have yet to see -as we don't have cable- however, from what i have gathered from various sketches on other shows- snl and treehouse of horror) . . .
anywho- he has introduced me to bond, from the design and style of the characters and settings of the stories to the many movies . . . while i never thought twice about it in the past, i have become quite entertained by the character and the world that surrounds him!

oh- and i will soon try to make links work in the post to direct curious parties to the website of our wonderful photog(s), vicki and her hubby tom of LOOK photography. (Thanks to Kelly i have working links! yay!)

30 before i'm 30!

woo-hoo! i have started running again! as i'm soon approaching my next big birthday (2 months and counting down) - i want to continue the physical journey i started for the wedding- i feel like i reached my goals for the big day- however, now that i am in a better spot than i had been, i see how much further i can still go . . . not that i feel large or even chubby (well in comparison to my past) - i do know i can feel better - and as lazy as i've been since the wedding - i have a bit of catching up to do- so my next goal is my birthday - since saturday i've run twice (the second time hb joined me!) - not very far, but much further than nothing! while i'm not sure how far i'll take this . . . i'm going slow for the sake of my knees . . we'll just have to see- i must say, though, it was so great to run with my hubby- you see- he was a runner in high school and seems to have a knack for it- and while i won't ever get him to step foot into a gym- running may be a way for us to exercise together : ) so i'll be keeping a running tally (silly 'ha ha' in honor of hb) - but 2 miles down, 28 to go!

as i approach my 30th, i look forward to reminiscing about my first 30 years with all kinds of 30-something lists (wow- has anyone else heard of that show?!) . . . from 30 things i've done to 30 things i hope to do and everything in between! although these reflections will be a way for me remember my youth, they will also give you a bit more of a glimpse into who i am . . . i hope you enjoy and definitely feel free to comment!

here we go-cco again!

although planned from the time we found our gocco on craigslist, it is nice to have finished another diy project-our thank yous- and since they will be in the mail tomorrow- here's a sneak peak . . . close up images will be posted later this week as well as my final wedding gocco project : ) it was quite fun to participate in our wedding in such a personal / creative way - it is just sad that gocco supplies are no longer in production after this year- my suggestion- snag one for yourself if possible and a handful of screens for that rainy day printing project!

peculiar pdx . . . (well, oregon)

happy election day! today marks the first time i'm voting oregon style a.k.a. by mail . . . this is one of two things i find a bit unique about living in oregon- you see- all voting is done by mail (in non-postage paid return envelopes- which seems a bit silly) and has been for some time . . . so while i had intended to post this note on election day, pre-results- my computer wouldn't let me - but as it is now post-election, i suppose i'll share my 2 cents . . .

election night and the results (which by the way were much sooner than i anticipated- guess that's an advantage to living on the west coast!) were quite intense at times and even emotional - and while i am proud once again to be an american, i'm also not counting any chickens just yet . . . there's such a transition from talking to walking and our country has been in a downward spiral that will take some digging out . . . granted i'm extremely hopeful and optimistic, i really just look forward to a time when i'll be proud to pass this country and this earth onto our children . . .

oh- and the other unique thing about oregon- you can't pump your own gas . . . i suppose it's a luxury, or maybe because of the rain, but we almost kind of miss it! (yes we're weird)

tony . . .

ok- so our pooch has a fetish . . . with latex . . . yes- i know this sounds very bizarre . . . but it is so true! now hb and i found this out a little while ago- as she has been particularly interested in various latex things from whoopie cushions to elastic resistance strips . . .and of course . . . balloons! luckily latex passes, however that time it takes can be nerve-wracking as a doggie-mom . . .

back to whoopie cushions- besides the material and puffs of powder, she goes nuts over the noise it makes! it's like catnip for cats! she'll spin circles, try to bite it, run from it, and start all over again!

now for halloween, our office was open to the kids of employees for trick or treating- and the desks with candy were marked with balloons- at the end of the day, i collected my balloon to take home for amber- as soon as we walked in the door- her eyes grew as big as saucers and she started jumping up to try to smell / touch the balloon! she spent much of the night staring at it as it rested on the ceiling and whimpered for it- once in a while mommy and daddy would step on the ribbon to the balloon to allow her access where she would bump it with her nose . . . we think she wanted to grab the tied end, but more often she would miss because the balloon was too big for her mouth . . . through the course of the weekend she missed many naps and tony (as we called it in honor of our viewing of "the shining") was put in a bathroom at night so she would sleep - though not without her whimpering at the door -

sadly . . . sunday afternoon tony popped . . . and poochie was sad . . . her mourning lasted though the night and most of the next day - we were actually worried that something was wrong with her - though our other conclusion was that she missed so many naps we thought maybe she could just be tired . . . sigh . . . it's no wonder owning a dog relieves stress!