The little one

Last Saturday I was again planning a nice meal with ST. He was riding his bike, then coming over for lunch. After racing a bicycle for 45 miles or so, he tends to work up an appetite. I am trying to refresh my cooking skills, so it's a good mix.

The dogs dragged me outside for the second or third time around 10 am, and I ran into my neighbor who has the cutest little puppy. Maddie is now about 3 months old, and highly resembles a black, brown, and white powder puff. Her dog mom was looking frazzled, and I offered to take the little one for a while so she could get some work done at home. She was delighted, but worried about my home. I told her my home is decorated in Early Dog and there is nothing a puppy can do to it. I told her I needed a shower first, then I would collect the little one.

I took said shower, and fetched Maddie, even though my hair was still wet. I knew my beagles love puppies and they would all play. I firmly believe that a tired dog is a good dog. I could wear out three dogs without changing my plans for the day.

It was much fun for all of us. I could not tell when Maddie had to pee because she spent much of her time sniffing the carpet, which to me means, "Let me out to pee!" Finally she came over to the throw rug under my feet by the stove and peed on it. I smiled at her - I wish my dogs would use throw rugs when I can't let them out. She dashed off to beat the beagles up some more, then returned to drop a huge pile of poop on the rug. I smiled again, cleaned it up, and tossed the rug into the washing machine.

Maddie changed her focus from the beagles to my toes, and we had fun in the kitchen, her licking my toes and me trying again to make chicken without skipping a step or doing the routine in the wrong order. Lots of fresh mushrooms, and some mushroom gnocci tossed in too. I used oyster mushrooms, regular mushrooms (whatever they are called) and some nice baby bellas, too. I had no complaints on the meal. Maddie had no complaints on the toes, but I had to be very careful not to step on her. We have toys bigger than she is :-)

ST managed to get inside the home and visit with the beagles before he even noticed that one of the toys was running around licking my toes. He made friends with her, and we had lunch. The dogs got little tidbits and everyone was happy. Eventually, I didn't hear from Maddie, but the beagles were sleeping, so I figured she was too. She popped up later - she had been napping under the bed.

When it was time to return Maddie (about 5 hours?) I decided to make a cosmopolitan for my neighbor. I had already sampled the vodka liberally by that time. I made a cosmo, and spilled some on the counter. I drank what was left in the glass and made a new one. I held the glass while trying to leash up three dogs - and they jostled me and spilled then entire second drink on the floor by the front door. Laughing, I made a third, got the dogs saddled up, waddled them down the street, and presented the neighbor with her tired, sleepy puppy and a perfect cosmo.

Everyone was happy :-)

 

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