DOGS AND COOKIES

Hot off the press--or sewing machine--my sweet puppies in their new winter coats. I just finished Boomer's today (he's the black one) and had to have a fashion show. I can't say the pups were too excited. Smoocher stood stock still like he was frozen-it was hilarious. I thought the red plaid looked exceptional on Boomer with his black hair. Smoocher's gray, black & white coat matched his gray and white hair. I made them from fleece which is so soft and warm. Not that the little darlings stay out in the weather very long. And, after all, this is Tennessee, not Michigan! LOL Now, on to the good part of this post... Kitty was over yesterday and had a yen for chocolate chip cookies. She whipped up the dough and decided to make one BIG cookie like those you see in the mall bakeries. This one practically ran off the cookie sheet, but let me tell you, this is one good cookie. Very rich and full of chips. If you are a chocolate fan, this one's for you!

Couldn't even have get the whole thing in the picture. Wanna bite? Nerm

THANKSGIVING IS WHEN?

I heard a dirty rumor today...that Thanksgiving Day is three short weeks away! Please say it isn't so. Please. Oh, my!

Here is what my dining room table looked like this afternoon. Can't see it? Believe me, it's really under all that fabric. I had shared about a lap quilt I was working on before the Enbrel medicine fiasco cut me down in my prime! I have been back at it and finished all the blocks today. Now on to the sashing. I think it's going to be pretty.

More later on this project. Also I'll show you the table when it's cleared and decorated for Thanksgiving.

I can't show you a photo of poor ole Fluffarina. Her mats were worse than we thought and her entire torso is shaved. She is so embarassed that she adamantly refused to be photographed. Who could blame the girl? Have a great weekend. Nerm

LIFE GOES ON

The elections are over and whether your candidate won or lost, our country government will go on in an orderly fashion. I will pray daily for wisdom and guidance for the new leaders of our country. They have a very big job ahead of them and need God's help to accomplish everything set before them.

Here are some fall foliage photos taken in my back yard. We live in a subdivision with lots of common area which is nice when nature is at her best. Below is our dogwood tree which really looks a lot redder in person.

This is looking out the back across at my neighbor's. The sun was going down a little (I can't get used to the early darkness), but you can still see that wonderful blue sky. Fall does something to the sky and the blue-ness of it is breathtaking. Our weather has been divine, but I understand it's about to change.
Now here's some exciting news from the Nerm household. Below is Fluffarina who I've introduced before. She is 15 years old. Tomorrow we have told her she is going to have a "spa" day. She doesn't believe a word of it, being so old and wise. Problem is that since my mother has moved in with us, Fluffarina has adopted her. We turned the whole upstairs into my mom's apartment. Our master bedroom is downstairs. So Fluffarina stays up there most of the time.
My mother has spoiled her rotten, which is okay except she forgets to brush her. Now she has really bad mats and must go to vet and get them cut out. They will sedate her, but it won't be pretty.

Here is a side view-kinda lookin' like a porcupine, huh? We'll take a picture tomorrow after the makeover. She'll probably yell, "elder abuse!". ha, ha.

Have a good evening, folks. Nerm

SEAT WORK

Remember in school, when the teacher gave you seat work? You were supposed to sit quietly and do worksheets or questions or usually something boring? Well, as I am recuperating, I've been doing my fair share of seat work. Some is not finished, so I can't show you yet, but here are two of my endeavors so far.
I saw this Swiffer cover on a web site and thought how neat it was. It's made of Lily Brand's Sugar n Cream cotton yarn. Just put it on the Swiffer and dust or mop and toss it in the wash when you're done. No more buying refills and throwing them away. How Green can you get!

If you're interested in making your own go to sheep of a different color and click on patterns. They have instructions for knit and crochet. This one is knitted. I plan to make several more because they are so fast and easy.

Here's another baby blanket for the Weecare program at church for the indigent mothers. The colors aren't showing up very pretty, but its, pink, lavendar and white. Very soft.

This cutie is youngest grandchild, Morgan, who came to visit yesterday. She's very intent on watching Dora the Explorer. Isn't she sweet? She's all cuddled up in a quilt and cozy as can be.

And finally ... for those who say dogs and cats don't get along, take a gander at this! Boomer, my shih tzu and Lily, the cat all curled up in one bed for a long winter's nap. How cute is that?

I am going to try to start posting more regularly now that I'm feeling so much better. Hope your week is great and full of blessings. Nerm

MEET THE REST OF THE FAMILY

Not much going on around here, so I decided it's high time to introduce you all to the four-legged components of our family. Take a deep breath, there are alot of them. I guess we're kinda a little over the edge.
Here's Tanner loving hubby's dearly beloved Bella, our Newfoundland. She's very old now-about ten years old, which is elderly for such a large dog. (she's about 150 lbs)!!! She's very patient with all the grandchildren and other animals. The puppies do get on her nerves, but she's improving in that area.

This isn't the best photo, but shows Kitty loving her special girl, Fluffarina. She's had this cat since Kitty was in grade school Fluffarina is 15 years old, and now that Kitty is married and moved on, she stayed here with us. Now she keeps my mother company upstairs and begs for treats continually.
You've seen these cuties before--I got them for Christmas this past year. What stinkers! What little loves! Can you tell I love, love them. Smoocher and Boomer, take a bow!

I'm not sure you can distinguish between all the fur...In the foreground my two puppies are stuffed into one bed, while in the back cat Lilly is in another. Cozy. They all get along great!

Now here is Lilly. She walked up to our house about 9 years ago, a young cat who was very scared and hungry. Little by little we fed her until she would come inside. Now this cat lives the life of luxury. One funny note: Soon after she was 'tamed', we took her to the vet for a check up. After checking Lilly, he looked up and said, "Now, you know that Lilly is really Larry, don't you?" Since 'she' was young it wasn't apparent, but we still call her, er...him, Lilly. Habit, ya know! ha, ha

And, finally, In Memory...my beloved Muffin. She passed away right before Christmas after about 20 years! She belonged to my neighbor who died of cancer and asked me to take care of her. She became my cat and followed me like a dog. I still miss her alot. She was a beautiful calico cat.

Are you bored out of your skulls now? I don't think 3 dogs and 2 cats in one happy home is too much, do you? Hey, different strokes for different folks, eh? Luv, Nerm

"Adrianna"

This is Adrianna. I know I have posted pictures of her before but I love her so much I wanted to share her again. She is losing her winter coat right now so it seems that she needs to be brushed about every hour.

I love her fur though so I don't care that she is high maintenance. She makes me laugh really hard, sometimes just by looking at her and that flat little face. As you can imagine, she is very prissy. I always like to think that if she could speak, it would be with a French accent. I know that sounds silly but I have always had a vivid imagination!

She loves to watch me paint and will sit next me for hours. It's very sweet and I talk to her often while I'm painting. Like a good little friend, she just sits there and listens. haha. Anyway, hope all you think she's cute too. -Kitty

SPRING THAW!

This is what happens when the frost melts and the grass hasn't grown yet and the dog goes out to visit nature. What is supposed to be a pedigreed Shih Tzu becomes a rescue dog! Poor Smoocher-it's back to the groomer for you, buddy!

Actually this picture doesn't do him justice, but you get the idea. Just thought this was so cute, I had to share. Hope your day is as pretty as mine. Bye for now. Nerm

Short Note

Thought I would share this sweet picture with you. My "boys" went to the vet yesterday to be neutered (ouch!) and they were a little out of it last night. This is my mother (who lives with us) holding Smoocher. He's sleeping like a baby. Aw-w-w-w---how cute is that?

Something more substantial later, friends.

Adrianna--Kitty's kitty

This is Adrianna, my little kitty. I love her and although she is always into trouble, she is my dream come true. My husband gave her to me for Christmas back in 2002. She is truly a prissy cat and has such a personality. I once dressed her up as a fairy princess and for the most part she went along with it, for a minute anyway. haha. I will have to track down those pictures and post them.

I love to watch the food network (because I love to cook in addition to painting) and whenever I sit down to watch it, Adrianna jumps up on the couch, curls up and watches it with me. As soon as I'm ready to head to the kitchen, there she comes to keep me company. She just lays all the floor looking up at me, meowing every once in a while. She is a very loyal kitty who loves to put her two cents in! I have only been married over a year so I try to get ideas from different shows to cook for Tom (husband). My favorites are "Paula's Home Cooking" and "Everyday Italian". I can say some of my attempts have been successful but NOT all!! I have burnt my fair share but I'm learning and that's what counts.

Animal House

It's time to introduce important members of Nerm's household. The "boys" are they are affectionately called. They are shih-tzus which Big Tom gave me for Christmas. I was only supposed to get one, but they were littermates and were the last two in the litter. They were inseparable and ole softie Tom couldn't bear to see them separated. So I got two cuties for Christmas. They are comedians and certainly spice up our lives. The white one is Smoocher and the little black one is Boomer. They sure live up to their names.

This is Boomer trying hard to reach into Bella's bowl for leftovers. Stretch, Boomer!

Bella is our Newfoundland. She really doesn't want to be bothered with the boys, but they love her. She moves from room to room trying to get away and they follow her closely.

I must tell you the story of these dogs. For years Big Tom and I have had big dogs when all I wanted was a little white lap dog. First it was a Boxer (wonderful family dog), then it was a Bouvier des Flandres (funny, hyper) and then Bella our Newfoundland(sweet, patience and wonderful with children). But no little lapdogs. The year our Bouvier died, we decided it was time to get a new dog. We saw pictures of Newfoundland puppies on the internet and I said they were cute (which they were). So-o-o Big Tom thought (or dreamed) that I wanted one. So that year it was the family joke that Nerm wanted a little white lap dog and got a 150lbs. black Newfoundland!

Finally Big Tom got the message and this Christmas my boys arrived. See, patience IS a virtue.