trying out a new way of connecting up my blog and twitter

Things My Dogs Are Trying To Teach Me
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* Bedtime is bedtime, it doesn't matter if there's work to be done or deadlines looming. It's BEDTIME.

* Cats are shifty and not to be trusted. Especially anywhere near the carpeted stairs.

* Field mice, voles and birds are fun toys.

* Ground squirrels are evil and will invade the house if not protected against.

* Strollers and bikes are devilish machines bound to cause trouble if left unperturbed.

* Liver is one of the most delicious foods on earth. Your shoes are another.

* Showing proper appreciation for a beloved toy involves chewing on it. No matter how much money was paid for that piece of electronics.

* That's not garbage. That's a potential nest. It just needs shredding and spreading in a circle in a corner.

* Children need to be sniffed, watched very carefully and occasionally hidden from. You just never know what they're going to do.

* Pizza is the greatest food in the WORLD.

* Leaving the house for meetings or shopping is highly overrated.

* At -9F it's too cold to go outside for ANYTHING.

Can the weekend really be over? It's been kind of a surreal day, so I felt the need to touch base with... virtual reality? I don't know.

First of all, I spend my Sunday mornings corrupting the minds of youth. That's right, I'm a Sunday School teacher. Of the most impressionable age - 18 months to 3 years. Whatever you tell them now sticks in there and sticks good. Well, the bits that stick do. We had a long conversation today about Daniel in the lions' den, and the part they liked best was that the mean guys got eaten. That was met with howls of delight and giggles. Love these kids.

But boy do they wear me out. I don't know how mothers do it.

I got a short rest at home and a walk with the dogs, then I went to go facilitate a seminar about how to do genealogical research. It went fine, and the group was visiting over cookies and punch when I was starting to feel like my day needed to be over. I was tired and my social capabilities were being overtaxed. I was frankly wondering how to end the party gracefully so I could go home.

Then someone popped their head in the door and told us President Gordon B. Hinckley had died. The end of an era. I mean, he was 97, but you get used to people who are around giving funny, brilliant advice for your whole life.

Yeah, that cleared the room pretty quick. It wasn't on my list of possible methods, either.

When I got home, I had a message from my oldest brother repeating the news. Good to know our family grapevine is in working order. There was a second message also. A grandmotherly woman I know has decided there's a nice young man she wants me to meet, and wants me to call her to get details.

What a day.

So, here's a funny dog story. Yesterday I went to the pet store and found a couple of cheap rawhide chews. I wondered which one my dogs would like better. So I bought one of each and brought them home. One - yay, big hit. Then I opened the other one. It's rawhide wrapped around peanut butter. So you have to chew through the rawhide to get at the yummy yummy treat.

And holy cow. That one was apparently THE BEST. They traded it back and forth all day, each one making a little more progress and eating a little more peanut butter. By today, they were down to just the rawhide. No more peanut butter. But apparently, it's still the greatest little piece of rawhide ever.

Tonight, Duke was sitting on my lap, happily licking and chewing on it. Duchess apparently saw this, went over to the door and scratched to go out. So I got up - and Duke had to get off my lap, of course. And he follows me everywhere, so he came along. When I went over to the door, Duchess turned around and went back to the couch. She picked up the piece of rawhide, and went to the fire to chew it.

Duke hadn't realized what was going on, and was patiently waiting by the door to go outside. (Duchess, so tricksy!) So I put his leash on him to take him out.

Duchess heard the door open. She watched Duke go out, and came over to me to get her leash on too. She still had hold of the precious rawhide.

She took it outside and buried it. Duke peed. Duchess dug up the rawhide and buried it again. (In the snow, we've got about a foot out there right now) Duke saw what she was doing. She dug it up, moved to another spot, and buried it again.

They both came back inside.

Five minutes later, Duchess needed to go back outside. (right, but I was curious to see where this was going to lead.)

So both Duke and Duchess went outside. They both went back to the first spot and dug. And dug. I couldn't help it. I said, "Duchess, it's over there." She looked at me, looked where I was pointing, went over and started digging. She found the treasure, and came back inside.

Duke followed. I turned my back at one point, and when I looked up - Duke had the precious rawhide. Duchess was looking lost and confused.

She went to the door and asked to go out. I put the leash on and let her. She went back to where she found the rawhide a few minutes ago and started digging. And digging. And digging.

Finally, I coaxed her inside. I found another toy they like a lot. Now that there's no more peanut butter, apparently the new bone was better. Now Duke is watching Duchess chew her bone while he nibbles at the rawhide.

Hee! Now he's barking at me, like I'm supposed to fix this situation. Funny dogs!

Yes!! I have achieved something I've been trying to do for almost twenty years. It'll sounds strange when I tell you, but here goes.

The lunch lady back in high school used to make the most amazing cinnamon rolls. They had a gooey caramel topping and weren't adulterated with nuts or raisins. They were just amazing, and I've been trying to duplicate them for years and years.

I think I'm finally close. The dough just needs a little tweaking now, but I've finally got the topping nearly right.

Frosting is for lightweights. Carmel with some substance to it is truly the way to go. Heavenly!