Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Spring Break

It's been an eventful week.  We brought Poppy home last Wednesday night, just as my spring break was starting, and that proved to be good planning. I can't imagine dealing with the first few days of a new puppy in the house while going to work! I still have the rest of this week off, and things are already settling down a little bit. 

Poppy is a real delight so far. She's super smart, sweet, and incredibly playful. Having never gotten a dog this young, this is all new to me. Also, I need to give my George a big shout-out. He's been incredibly patient with the puppy. She follows him around, dives on him, brings him toys to try to entice him to play, and he usually just lets out a heavy sigh and ignores her. Every now and then, when she jumps on him once too often and attempts to bite at his ears with her needle-sharp puppy teeth, he issues a quick but stern correction. Ginger used to do the same thing to him when he went too far! In fact, Ginger helped us raise him, and now it looks like George will do the same thing with Poppy. He already seems to accept the fact that she's going to be living with us now. What a good boy!

Puppies are tiresome.




We had a pretty good Easter. I cooked a ham, deviled eggs, rice served with glazed ham drippings, green beans, and fresh salad (lettuce and radishes) from my garden. I picked enough salad from the raised bed that I was able to share two big ziplock bags full with Ms. Luella next door. I can't wait to harvest some carrots--they're not quite ready yet.






Did I mention that I'm growing some potatoes in a large container as an experiment? It's the method of growing potatoes where you slowly add layers of soil around the plant as it  grows until you reach the top of the container. (You start off with a thin layer of soil in the bottom). Here's what my potato bush looks like as of this morning.


The only other thing of note going on this week is that my seasonal allergies have gotten so bad that my asthma has been kicking in. I had two or three nights of wheezing and getting short of breath despite using an inhaler, and I haven't been sleeping well. Yesterday I decided that if I had another restless night I'd call the doctor and go see her today. I feel a little better, though, and slept fairly well last night. I'm hoping a trip to see the doctor can still be avoided. 

All in all, it's been a wonderful spring break so far! A new puppy, a thriving garden, sunshine and nice weather--even the crabapple stick tree we planted in the front yard has put out its first tiny leaf buds! The chickadees nesting out back obviously have babies right now, given how often they're flying in and out of the nestbox. And on Easter Sunday I saw the first hummingbird of the year--about 15 minutes after I hung the feeder up for the first time!
It's a really nice time of the year to have a vacation. 

33 comments:

  1. George is a real trooper! Your Easter feast looks delicious!

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    1. We're actually amazed at how well George has done. He's such a good boy.

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  2. I love your George and Poppy photos. I'm not a gardener, but I am tempted to try potatoes.

    I am now a big proponent of allergy shots. Although I don't have asthma I had horrible allergies all year long. Even with taking two oral meds, and two different nasal sprays, I was still coughing for months on end. It took over a year for the shots to have an effect but now two years in I have no coughing and have really cut back on the meds. Hopefully once the high allergy season is over I can even taper off on what I still take. I don't know if you have tried the shots, or if they have been recommended, but I thought I'd share my experience. It does take a long term commitment!!

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    1. I appreciate this comment so much! Thank you Susan! I've wondered if allergy shots might be helpful and you've confirmed that it's something I should speak to my doctor about. For the last couple of years my allergies in spring have progressed to the point that I start to wheeze and it's hard to breathe. I only got through yesterday by loading up on Benadryl and that's not a long term solution.

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  3. Puppies are a ball of energy that's going to last for about 2 years. The food looks great! Fresh from outdoors! It's still way too cold up here to do any planting.

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    1. She really is a ball of energy! Just go, go, go, and then CRASH! Fast asleep!

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  4. Yay for the doggies adjusting to each other! Those radishes are beautiful. I really wanted deviled eggs and green beans for Easter but there were none to be found at my brother's. Perhaps I should just make them for myself!

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    1. Do it! Making deviled eggs for yourself instead of a family meal is the best, because you don't have to share them!

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  5. This all just looks and sounds splendid! Except, of course, for the allergies and asthma which sound dreadful.
    I am so proud of George. He is being a trooper, isn't he? How is Marco treating Poppy?

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    1. Marco is fascinated by Poppy. He started off calling her "Hey Baby", then called her "Ginger" for a couple of days, and now he doesn't really call her anything....he just watches her carefully. We're trying hard to be constantly vigilant when he's out of his cage around Poppy until we're absolutely sure it's safe. Marco doesn't have enough sense to not dive onto her head if we're not careful!

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  6. I love that puppy 'stance' of toy in mouth, bottom up in the air - clearly saying - come out to play.
    Your ham and salad look a sheer delight.

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    1. Me too! Friends of ours have given her (and George) two big baskets of new toys and treats. The purple toy in that picture is her current favorite.

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  7. Enjoy your break! I'm back at work this week. Funny how our breaks don't line up.

    I'm glad George is being patient with young Poppy! What a relief!

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    1. We're on a kind of modified year round schedule. Since we just had a week off at the end of February, they put off our spring break until after Easter rather than before.

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  8. This post makes me so happy. The food looks delicious. George is a sweetheart who will be made younger by the adorable Poppy.

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    1. I'm hoping George will soon start to actually like Poppy. Right now he tolerates her, but she annoys him no end! And follows him everywhere!

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  9. Good job George for being a great big brother! Poppy is so cute and just like all children she is understandably full of energy. You will have so much fun with her! Sorry to hear about your asthma. I sure hope it improves. I have a lot of trouble with allergies but luckily not asthma. With a new puppy in your household I bet it is full of fun and happiness!

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    1. It's been a circus around here! But fun! :) Now if I could just feel better things would be peachy. I had another bad night with my asthma.

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  10. That Poppy face??? Oy, what a punum on that dog!

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    1. She's already the queen of the side-eye when she doesn't like something! Haha!

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  11. Glad the new puppy is working out for you! Hope your allergies settle down soon. Your garden pickings look fabulous! And your Easter dinner looks yummy! Well done!

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    1. Thanks Ellen! We still have a lot of leftover ham, and we're both tired of ham.

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  12. I've grown potatoes that way, very successfully!
    I figured George would pile in and teach Poppy how to be respectable.

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    1. He's doing his best to bring her in line. She aggravates him to no end, mostly by following him around!

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  13. I had a free minute to check in! Glad to hear all is going well Jennifer. Poppy is a cutie, I'm sure they will be good friends soon. The Easter dinner looked delish too.

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    1. Maddie! It's good to hear from you! I hope everything is going well.

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  14. Like Pat, I love that photo of Poppy, she looks so, so playful there, a fun-loving bundle of energy!
    Everything about your spring break sounds wonderful, apart of course from your allergies. Those radishes look like a work of art, and I bet they taste as good as they look.
    George is great for Poppy, and vice versa.

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    1. Some of the radishes that got extra big are extra spicy!

      Poppy is FULL to the brim of energy. Keeping up with her will be a challenge.

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  15. Pretty coloured radishes and pretty new puppy. Life will be a joyous romp for all of you!

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    1. Joy in the springtime! Haha! :) Thanks Thelma.

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  16. I LOVE the 'Poppy has a toy picture'! That is adorable. George deserves a special treat. What a good boy!

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  17. that plateful of food looked delicious...and your braver than me getting a puppy..I don't do puppies or kittens any more..they are destroyers till they are about 3...

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  18. It's good to find you in a bright, positive mood Jennifer. I think that the third picture could be an award-winning one. So cute. Regarding your descriptions of the food you prepare, they leave me slavering upon my keyboard so please stop - I am running out of tissues!

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