tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61696236475214198572024-03-04T22:12:17.840-06:00Simplicity CottageSimplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-2039388124613836462011-06-13T18:49:00.021-05:002011-06-13T22:30:42.265-05:00It's CrAzY HoT...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9a9hXUn00-aUoZfe3RzhZLjzdas-cxXjnYMU5oqHN7DgGoWzfobqkhHZHct0TbNLaeqvApXK3xVX_-WKlpJZAKeqyxyV4MrO_V_AwjSXBPvqIvWpUoJM7eTSOrGOePWBr9ETjc0uXV7s/s1600/sun.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617875694558549234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9a9hXUn00-aUoZfe3RzhZLjzdas-cxXjnYMU5oqHN7DgGoWzfobqkhHZHct0TbNLaeqvApXK3xVX_-WKlpJZAKeqyxyV4MrO_V_AwjSXBPvqIvWpUoJM7eTSOrGOePWBr9ETjc0uXV7s/s400/sun.png" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">It's too dadgum HOT in TEXAS to be working outside from sun-up to sun-down! But what's a girl to do when she's got a ton of upcycling to do before the end of the week? I'm up against the wall (and it ain't the first time!)...gotta get 'er done before Saturday and I can't have a heat stroke in the meantime...sure don't have time for that kind of nonsense! </span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617879278462195026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxEEbl4GKYqkqHZlLaFCGClTP-K9Wl4yV8q5ppcb1np5LEbfMtNx_R0ZDqaMtYxF-1bk8jp43uPF0XMAUr2F8LcRwPgc8w8sLU11CyFmM3PUpVzE2BuTPH930kJlDoQqqFa4cMk3dP20/s400/paint-can-with-brush.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">You see it's time for the annual Junke & Disorderly Sale at Winnie & Tulula's. We're plannin' on takin' a big ol' trailer full of goodies for our customers junkin' pleasure. </span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617876465738079346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfA-SzSTc5Q6jkBEY7dQWV4k0M7XgbvnJ_MdhQnpQ65nqMVFxj9SAjgV_t1jnCva0H46oqaY1fdH9PJXrghoCB1mGSQT6h27PB2l0E9S0ET82p4NGAsfijDOpTBbzF6ESTMa6-iM5EpU/s400/junkanddisorderlysale.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">We have a little bit of everything from apples and grapes to tables, chairs and baseball stadium seats...vintage wooden apples, grapes and bananas, that is! Wooden bowls for the wooden fruit, as well. And the motherlode: a set of three NUMBERED baseball stadium seats from the upper east side of New York...with original paint!! Did I hear an OMG! out there in blogland? Just wait 'til you see this baby...and by the way, you wouldn't if I had room for 'em in our little cottage! THREE WORDS: "To die for"!!</span></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Here's just a smidgen of a sneek peek...</span><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">before:</span></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617866323638931778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlldACtbQCapYWtSzR-NNSzSpfpMF8Uv0mSaHfnY_xF8MPuMFCUQiVG2Fy7OCDo1EBIa3yGxVMjG9lYTLW8qomWm7JYNBhLWFcriSRZxIUgaHT7naK3F9Rp4ZJ-pyaYo5GcqtmsrOKPW4/s400/projects+before.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#663300;">after:</span></strong> </span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;"></span></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617868876427171810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYunxUSyHT2IYVe5dQl_hQ8qIkd9Mv-Ww584m-gtMS1YHSRk7qQAAVkrrz7BY4qXZHV6FI49R-j_J-6txQUoagboXGHSCdb4cPBMz94vDA73ILN4YIXtyzHtus8o0sgGrn5puxFSnngI/s400/projects+after+2.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">So...what do you think?</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">All this and soooo much more will be at the Junke & Disorderly Sale at Winnie & Tulula's in Athens, TX. Mark your calendars and come on down! Do some shopping ~great bargains to be had~ Joei and I are doing "Let's make a deal" and no reasonable offer will be refused! Grab a hot dog on-the-go from Gloria's Hot Dog Wagon or have a fabulous lunch at the Sweet Pea Bistro...inside, where it's cool.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617890332992527218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTS8PqqEdNT-KDC_BDq9XNCoKO4qVwrFGhEc9CS2YXxjUFto4CIQ8tjOGZKX0sFH6X4uXRHJnKb9dXdfXxhbhYFj-7h65-MUkMIuHmUpvdO5m_karH79LE1yFdBsDenngGl7F5PcUzw5w/s400/janddsale.jpg" border="0" /> </p><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Come see us Saturday!</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;"><strong>Winnie & Tulula's</strong></span></p><br /><p><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Sweet Pea Collection & Bistro</span></strong></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;"><strong>119 East Tyler St.</strong></span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;"><strong>Athens, TX</strong></span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;"><strong>903 677 6868<br /><br /></strong></span><br /><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;"></span>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-70713695409678210772011-06-08T19:30:00.016-05:002011-06-08T22:07:26.318-05:00Shades of White...<span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Love Love Love all shades of white...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EayfIFbvLVB7Z0Qz7w6_NavQwIBCIgl3c8TfHtKq213wd76iwW8k2TF03B1fC14okYvyOQYIId8yG9-MsxYCnCgR6zXn7eB9KIOyoR9m8ZOcYuUJ7lO1uM0-Qlw75rONy5W_aXMaeMk/s1600/white5.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616026282080187106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EayfIFbvLVB7Z0Qz7w6_NavQwIBCIgl3c8TfHtKq213wd76iwW8k2TF03B1fC14okYvyOQYIId8yG9-MsxYCnCgR6zXn7eB9KIOyoR9m8ZOcYuUJ7lO1uM0-Qlw75rONy5W_aXMaeMk/s400/white5.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Check out my cute little ruffled tote...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9R-HJ0sc2Qrpkn6khXl8BRinMh_QZrAEtPajvl6kyGvO_wGBs7cU7y7qaL7YK-_skZxmXuTKv8Y3xccA0VmAdEUbS1X15friHYIvbC-Z3gWBaq6dBjd6WK4Kd-P6J8Eo_foxgg8MlmeU/s1600/cute+tote.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616022546021973986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9R-HJ0sc2Qrpkn6khXl8BRinMh_QZrAEtPajvl6kyGvO_wGBs7cU7y7qaL7YK-_skZxmXuTKv8Y3xccA0VmAdEUbS1X15friHYIvbC-Z3gWBaq6dBjd6WK4Kd-P6J8Eo_foxgg8MlmeU/s400/cute+tote.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Different shades of white all mixed together...</span><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKQB7uki92SdEdq-opzMoV4G_TQHw6Pxzkzb1su75oIhCOSdYxCmSheRb6GcCl3BpeHhSKmwRibGEB1z8fovtfkIorv1XxO-V_ma8O5l6DD7dTQA1YphAw0F3hdCiK06HnkgsPAC5_6k/s1600/white4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616012787766582034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKQB7uki92SdEdq-opzMoV4G_TQHw6Pxzkzb1su75oIhCOSdYxCmSheRb6GcCl3BpeHhSKmwRibGEB1z8fovtfkIorv1XxO-V_ma8O5l6DD7dTQA1YphAw0F3hdCiK06HnkgsPAC5_6k/s400/white4.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">My daughter and I are <em>junkologists</em>. We love yard sales, garage sales and estate sales...any kind of junk sale...we're there! Look at some of the great stuff we have come across in the last few weeks. Pretty cool, huh?</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Some of our yard sale finds take some real elbow grease to make them white again. I live in a tiny cottage so most of it ends up in our booth at Winnie & Tulula's in Athens, TX. BUT it's not unusual for me to find something I love and <strong><em>cannot</em></strong> live without...so I recycle something out of the cottage and up to the shoppe to make room for my new (vintage, of course) treasure. We also refinish/upcycle vintage furniture to sell in our booth so the furniture around here changes often, as well. Love it!</span><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBf6AnW0zkhoBbNVZopryCOaDlGsy-GGNKSpYo7yWiG66a4vC-eYvh5DGfMEAecKdNmj1_h-S8xXELJKbIPmN9pcFLsIaaA-pV21n4d-OVSL5-tsfOHnBGeijmwN5cunMeau04yW7duI/s1600/white1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616011960525235810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBf6AnW0zkhoBbNVZopryCOaDlGsy-GGNKSpYo7yWiG66a4vC-eYvh5DGfMEAecKdNmj1_h-S8xXELJKbIPmN9pcFLsIaaA-pV21n4d-OVSL5-tsfOHnBGeijmwN5cunMeau04yW7duI/s400/white1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">See the cute little ruffled tote on the right side? Got it from Sharon at Sharon's Wannabe Cottage. Don't you just love it? I do! Check out the second photo...it even looks cute just "hanging around". Ashlei already tried to sweet talk me out of it...I don't think that's going to happen! Sorry Ash...it's mine!</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I've been away from blogland for more than two years so all this "linky" stuff is new to me. I'm going to try my best to link up with Faded Charm for White Wednesday...wish me luck! Here goes...I hope nothing blows up!</span><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-81510720554212539712011-06-07T08:04:00.005-05:002011-06-07T08:15:20.803-05:00I'm BACK! Welcome...<span style="font-family:verdana;">I'm back to blogging! Many things have changed and I'm going to tell all about it! Stay tuned...</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCzS6E-FZzhirZtA47Ea-hBymqrMU_D6oP7ABQDZzAVobfLAwWW7OURF4B4iIgEoGyWONlUw4FnWSbXi-p0_XEKr2n6la-4Vd5j7UPDRFkrxfKsphPkutKE54xi9vawNaTSKi1EDyBko/s1600/front+door+and+trellis.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615464201763192658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCzS6E-FZzhirZtA47Ea-hBymqrMU_D6oP7ABQDZzAVobfLAwWW7OURF4B4iIgEoGyWONlUw4FnWSbXi-p0_XEKr2n6la-4Vd5j7UPDRFkrxfKsphPkutKE54xi9vawNaTSKi1EDyBko/s400/front+door+and+trellis.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-16396666444995415932009-03-15T20:27:00.002-05:002009-03-15T20:37:27.872-05:00Any Home Remedies for Chronic Coughing?<span style="color:#000000;"></span><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Thanks so much to all of you who have stopped by and wished me well. If only I could stop coughing. I'm getting over the flu but have a secondary sinus infection now -- ugh! I have tried everything I know to do to stop coughing and nothing is working! Any advice or home remedies?</span></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-fVigv1UHMonCkxSSoyWWC8Ag9TBU3lYetZ3BWHc0OUGLMqVdd2PNr2p7svhrRh-gSC2U1blJCLBnv4aC403ijbSMW05Td8rQ_d0-um1np2a5QYEBn8-Uy-aVt6q7xWLIw3SC771RX8/s1600-h/cough.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313591382648155762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-fVigv1UHMonCkxSSoyWWC8Ag9TBU3lYetZ3BWHc0OUGLMqVdd2PNr2p7svhrRh-gSC2U1blJCLBnv4aC403ijbSMW05Td8rQ_d0-um1np2a5QYEBn8-Uy-aVt6q7xWLIw3SC771RX8/s400/cough.png" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="color:#000000;">I'm sorry that I haven't been by to visit my blogging friends...As soon as I can manage the cough, I will be back...</span></strong><br /><div></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-57966982262370325992009-03-06T20:37:00.003-06:002009-03-06T20:56:52.640-06:00Tylenol Flu...Take Me Away!<div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#999900;"><em>It</em> started late yesterday afternoon...I tried to make myself believe that I had just snorted way too much dust at the thrift shops and junk stores...I tried to run, I really did...because I don't want <em>it</em>...but <em>it </em>caught me later today...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310272796796409282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 345px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hj4lIhb9FqeLbTCsFfTnPiPRiYKDaJVqH1A5F6meJKXs-SOmzwQEw4DOodRhVbsg4eWN10SisJpStLz0Jzs0wGgn9uCjdQ78mToarXuoZFAVz9OUWBsryLzEgex1t2R6PYimoB-boEc/s400/UndertheWeather.jpg" border="0" /></span></strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#999900;">The nasty bug has got a grip on me...Joei and Aiden, too! We'll be spending our weekend with Tylenol and tissue...</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#999900;"></span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#999900;">Please have a good weekend and do something fun...for me!</span></strong></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-2531064420171102632009-03-05T20:25:00.005-06:002009-03-05T21:10:03.509-06:00I Need a Massage!Ahhhh!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309895420047438322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 248px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLKR9hP1c1mdzQULSOM7iIlcz5Z32cMI9wjAyUmYJgItUjuE65lfOJd_ejCB3bMoSS5Q-GGC5Jp2-_LLTzijQ16ktzDTWUBPJas6zIjhD0bnLxrvNN5gU3IF9Vn5MuHpDbyN13LdmhWo/s400/massage.jpg" border="0" />This afternoon I mentioned to my dear daughter that I needed a massage...<br /><br />Less than five minutes later, Joei was telling me that she made an appointment for me to have a massage at 6:00 tonight. Her treat!<br /><br />I've had lots of massages...lots! Some good, some not so good...<br /><br />I like to feel my muscles being manipulated...I don't want a skin rub. I like a deep tissue massage...the kind that relaxes you to the point of having to be poured off the massage table...<br /><br />I got the BEST massage I have ever had -- EVER!<br /><br />Anyone living in the East Texas area needing a massage...I have the masseuse for you! She has her own table and supplies and comes to your house. Her name is Misty and she is the by far THE BEST!Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-4753122866717410832009-03-04T10:52:00.024-06:002009-03-04T22:40:43.089-06:00** Complete 'n Crazy Randomness ** Cottage ~ Kids ~ Grandkids ~ Dogs ~ Granddogs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFw1xbW0xFCtpAR25ebJbXJ02kB8ouPW6T32ZtqrF8xfzyv5egjsCCZWgmLKlmGzWk4YH2bSCCJ4wFadgzh0JFvLpghh207BfPW_qyz9OOpYim_l642zXuTMCxnu50nMWDJEobF2dGc00/s1600-h/random21.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309432684879846274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 234px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFw1xbW0xFCtpAR25ebJbXJ02kB8ouPW6T32ZtqrF8xfzyv5egjsCCZWgmLKlmGzWk4YH2bSCCJ4wFadgzh0JFvLpghh207BfPW_qyz9OOpYim_l642zXuTMCxnu50nMWDJEobF2dGc00/s400/random21.jpg" border="0" /></a> Snippet of the Living Room...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgr6UsmsskNUlU1jyhXXzkf2aUU_LiRWaNznxrG1oI6NiVoDSd8bUUsNCfHZDeMu4PscOUU_qKxSsK0kU8rWAqhLHssx_hN54z_xzQPxllbOa6kZzLfQczTYYsiDeaT1fac8ndwGOrKEI/s1600-h/random2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309431919849492834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 337px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgr6UsmsskNUlU1jyhXXzkf2aUU_LiRWaNznxrG1oI6NiVoDSd8bUUsNCfHZDeMu4PscOUU_qKxSsK0kU8rWAqhLHssx_hN54z_xzQPxllbOa6kZzLfQczTYYsiDeaT1fac8ndwGOrKEI/s400/random2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Punkie Brewster sitting in my lap...watching TV...Animal Planet, of course!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Iv2dQfvhsks9Q3YL1O2zS79ssRx0omqq3v4iAlRcPff9OA4mJAZbrn3tU1FLxo9C6ewtAYfhV1GE3GmJYdEuerj0TOIRezKGmtssYIijrtNmFwnrXzB1MuIN06yXooeNO1arKdk2dsc/s1600-h/random1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309431469084309538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Iv2dQfvhsks9Q3YL1O2zS79ssRx0omqq3v4iAlRcPff9OA4mJAZbrn3tU1FLxo9C6ewtAYfhV1GE3GmJYdEuerj0TOIRezKGmtssYIijrtNmFwnrXzB1MuIN06yXooeNO1arKdk2dsc/s400/random1.jpg" border="0" /></a> Maggie Mae being attacked by the Bullies, Chloe and Punkie...Maggie looks serious...look at those eyes! BACK OFF BULLIES!!!!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs3jfjKRK2WORi_WXGzNPhgFa-cgR-NRkRpCTBmD4m079_ui5vrGgN4NGdKxFlq8y30aX1vLCrIRktc80jKxqt6obWx-3KFcPSnEXiY6L3bwHGxAMpE7r3zv2ZfoI2kdE_4KRjgrhMFc/s1600-h/random3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309431199996130306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs3jfjKRK2WORi_WXGzNPhgFa-cgR-NRkRpCTBmD4m079_ui5vrGgN4NGdKxFlq8y30aX1vLCrIRktc80jKxqt6obWx-3KFcPSnEXiY6L3bwHGxAMpE7r3zv2ZfoI2kdE_4KRjgrhMFc/s400/random3.jpg" border="0" /></a> Our sweet Aiden Man blowing a kiss! His mom is our daugher...they live next door! We love it, too!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvyat3gxIwT1Z14ougOk56M3mYcZlk90JVSN0OW0qwl2SVjEERv0DZqMlr5N-X1V2S5EVCrU9bpD_eQlzL9yWbZAbcgjVbpi-bzG-o4GexFxhtsQYgBYC6yJB1eQk3jluS1XwezRRmb8/s1600-h/random5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309430908210032978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 313px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvyat3gxIwT1Z14ougOk56M3mYcZlk90JVSN0OW0qwl2SVjEERv0DZqMlr5N-X1V2S5EVCrU9bpD_eQlzL9yWbZAbcgjVbpi-bzG-o4GexFxhtsQYgBYC6yJB1eQk3jluS1XwezRRmb8/s400/random5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Aiden - Hollywood Style... </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgm2ZtpQsTLIUnV4S_Xb7fV-oIZ3YgkvRBIROqZDMsn4cJGt4TdQ_jg0r_wYW5S0av47Vnu8ltyPTZalk6UqG8mhHU1hae-7RV2THmjCEaKvymwJC6PV4-zxtTmV7hNLkWXjJ3R1IfEM/s1600-h/random6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309430714273535282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 351px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgm2ZtpQsTLIUnV4S_Xb7fV-oIZ3YgkvRBIROqZDMsn4cJGt4TdQ_jg0r_wYW5S0av47Vnu8ltyPTZalk6UqG8mhHU1hae-7RV2THmjCEaKvymwJC6PV4-zxtTmV7hNLkWXjJ3R1IfEM/s400/random6.jpg" border="0" /></a> Toby Tucker our Granddog loves Poppy...glad we don't have to feed this one! He's just visiting the cottage today...He belongs to our son.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6YGWMSszDja6YVGRAWRD7A1e_HnwOp2mFbONwxkpVBY3ySW6KwB630LPpAHL_eo1VMtt1ooUaAx-eCB9JK3YM5JPPSdB3Cq4YExbXEppQu-VSPj0RA7DWtBq_gYBvDeN9vS9tWfd76A/s1600-h/random8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309430509919004226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 139px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6YGWMSszDja6YVGRAWRD7A1e_HnwOp2mFbONwxkpVBY3ySW6KwB630LPpAHL_eo1VMtt1ooUaAx-eCB9JK3YM5JPPSdB3Cq4YExbXEppQu-VSPj0RA7DWtBq_gYBvDeN9vS9tWfd76A/s400/random8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Maggie Mae and Toby Tucker taking a nap...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzlkn-XWS2i86D9CswxDjvXiVp8TccrqlIi70IwS4FsAFft4rzJHcF-9QpLgfAAiEcY9WlxfII9mU1dKa4uW8pnl51ox-uPZnr_LRDRaXWRKSVd9bMJs4ZlXpWCH-JS64Jp-elfSPqwQ/s1600-h/random9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309430297633838994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 228px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzlkn-XWS2i86D9CswxDjvXiVp8TccrqlIi70IwS4FsAFft4rzJHcF-9QpLgfAAiEcY9WlxfII9mU1dKa4uW8pnl51ox-uPZnr_LRDRaXWRKSVd9bMJs4ZlXpWCH-JS64Jp-elfSPqwQ/s400/random9.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Shhhhhh! Baby Sleeping...Maggie and Toby aren't the only nappers! </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsc00ClHsYVQDJEB2KT_0_TfADQitRuoFZMjjk_Nj40Y-j2o0jTXJHLlhGZxHEU9lla5HuipGBdWiFlOlh_rEOnk63TlhtUa34igM7Q-eIcXGnXDfT5aP7oGeJSdo0qbZhRetL_Gbvhg/s1600-h/random10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309430062581515170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsc00ClHsYVQDJEB2KT_0_TfADQitRuoFZMjjk_Nj40Y-j2o0jTXJHLlhGZxHEU9lla5HuipGBdWiFlOlh_rEOnk63TlhtUa34igM7Q-eIcXGnXDfT5aP7oGeJSdo0qbZhRetL_Gbvhg/s400/random10.jpg" border="0" /></a>Yeehaw!! Poppy a.k.a. Mr. S always has quarters in his pocket when we go... Aiden loves to ride the bull at WalMart...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dL32JbTj4IhIWBdUSAr7WovySFNTSPZHM2KLIfEsbwTIiR2eI6jLycteKv8ZMRm-kCm101t1i6cy4pMAaOvMQk59TRtF51fPijQQbS1Ix_LmybUx8Rw94BbFKdX8QZ-m0AFjgC9VazQ/s1600-h/random11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309429807010913058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 359px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dL32JbTj4IhIWBdUSAr7WovySFNTSPZHM2KLIfEsbwTIiR2eI6jLycteKv8ZMRm-kCm101t1i6cy4pMAaOvMQk59TRtF51fPijQQbS1Ix_LmybUx8Rw94BbFKdX8QZ-m0AFjgC9VazQ/s400/random11.jpg" border="0" /></a> OK...help me out here! To PAINT or NOT to PAINT??? Should I or Shouldn't I???<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaKmRmg37DJwqS7mbvT9pwCoa7ufdGectoA1pQ1TGAPwVkH6qQV2XF4WQsaWJUpK7u7FZxy99rELqsDli_QWNtvCKBIccjG6G-De6-Iq3OoiQS2kaG-y89_7Eny_02w5CfTyYWhiVbXE/s1600-h/random12.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309429490652612514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaKmRmg37DJwqS7mbvT9pwCoa7ufdGectoA1pQ1TGAPwVkH6qQV2XF4WQsaWJUpK7u7FZxy99rELqsDli_QWNtvCKBIccjG6G-De6-Iq3OoiQS2kaG-y89_7Eny_02w5CfTyYWhiVbXE/s400/random12.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The ALIENS are attacking! Alien Aiden and companion Alien Chloe...I think they were hiding under the bed or maybe they came out of the closet! *this is how the photo came out. i didn't do anything to it...weird, huh?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8rAsiFD9MU_TvstUmE0JsI7LY43szUawkpqBorBfQlFiAK8b9QTECkpvHWLj0R0CBQZZya8o5ecLm3f6ICmJtvj8pRtoF2s6o6QSq8O_a7hgh5liD7Ebflrn6dklSN8-eoSpKA0sWKA/s1600-h/random14.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309429281835447602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 296px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8rAsiFD9MU_TvstUmE0JsI7LY43szUawkpqBorBfQlFiAK8b9QTECkpvHWLj0R0CBQZZya8o5ecLm3f6ICmJtvj8pRtoF2s6o6QSq8O_a7hgh5liD7Ebflrn6dklSN8-eoSpKA0sWKA/s400/random14.jpg" border="0" /></a>A snippet of the cottage office/studio...only a snippet because my desk is a mess!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBM_NmVpeU995CVbmHud2njMRp5sRkN8nt4rL-BqOHXosjjY6dcgu48hUATdw_z80jLYKMwd8E23ikyJlsGKiAXZ3wsDi8GDpxTNZDW8OIDT89620nzCB8fbXbRwxigHAC5MdUAeTUzg/s1600-h/random16.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309429091975405458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 106px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBM_NmVpeU995CVbmHud2njMRp5sRkN8nt4rL-BqOHXosjjY6dcgu48hUATdw_z80jLYKMwd8E23ikyJlsGKiAXZ3wsDi8GDpxTNZDW8OIDT89620nzCB8fbXbRwxigHAC5MdUAeTUzg/s400/random16.jpg" border="0" /></a> I love my English platerack!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTclI9W30st3BKfR7RKftlkBDlOArR33IYNIFZxD6v6lA51rcgsNUiBeiooe2aT8PN4ID9U8I4b9bLp1vaIghHi6Zw-q2n0yksrpWLnZtiziLV_7ChoB40L9RVIMnaPwhCgVogjPQeC8/s1600-h/random17.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309428894378851474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 323px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTclI9W30st3BKfR7RKftlkBDlOArR33IYNIFZxD6v6lA51rcgsNUiBeiooe2aT8PN4ID9U8I4b9bLp1vaIghHi6Zw-q2n0yksrpWLnZtiziLV_7ChoB40L9RVIMnaPwhCgVogjPQeC8/s400/random17.jpg" border="0" /></a> Guest bathroom...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBTuraY5PjpbUR1-FqCmFDMpJVDgrl4MkcZ5SKtCpsqq0dekzjm4EOyvtlbVvB56a0yDz2__7Di0FmYEhiKLgg-tV7NM0mZsYFC2iZSw6HWMcLnhH5JI1v7nGAU9Sv5I4g_g2S8HQkdk/s1600-h/random19.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309428651490525298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBTuraY5PjpbUR1-FqCmFDMpJVDgrl4MkcZ5SKtCpsqq0dekzjm4EOyvtlbVvB56a0yDz2__7Di0FmYEhiKLgg-tV7NM0mZsYFC2iZSw6HWMcLnhH5JI1v7nGAU9Sv5I4g_g2S8HQkdk/s400/random19.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000000;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Our <span style="font-size:180%;">BIG</span> 'n <span style="font-size:180%;">TALL</span> super <span style="color:#339999;"><strong>handsome</strong></span> son...Mr. S Jr.</span><br /><br /></span></span><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDaCg2BYgkskK7aJ3V_NTOtaTfywKJwcmBgbEEi9uACyxcGbjk0ThwhYNlZwvYVjcQvIg91tQXPI4v58rcqFDqPo9Wyw843YbP96sh7nGesIO89L2Sx1g4mqccMt8VTujALbwua0Hxcw/s1600-h/random18.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309426908970328354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDaCg2BYgkskK7aJ3V_NTOtaTfywKJwcmBgbEEi9uACyxcGbjk0ThwhYNlZwvYVjcQvIg91tQXPI4v58rcqFDqPo9Wyw843YbP96sh7nGesIO89L2Sx1g4mqccMt8VTujALbwua0Hxcw/s400/random18.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"> <span style="font-size:100%;">Guest Bedroom Bed...mostly pillows!</span><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaGa-zNPmHDMOC-HXprm9LvnmdRt2P4xtB7Cdd9u0-eKCDzXaBui0OuGVaXdCAMVPmzFKiGEx0i5FKFvef_ZfLAnvPmi-ywzEUNyNzCIxRBTxPpnf6krUiE84Z_D4g89kkdh00-pQi1M/s1600-h/Picture+008.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309377897654576306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaGa-zNPmHDMOC-HXprm9LvnmdRt2P4xtB7Cdd9u0-eKCDzXaBui0OuGVaXdCAMVPmzFKiGEx0i5FKFvef_ZfLAnvPmi-ywzEUNyNzCIxRBTxPpnf6krUiE84Z_D4g89kkdh00-pQi1M/s400/Picture+008.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"> We gotta go now...we promised the cottage crew a trip to the park! </span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-87039844093707591212009-02-25T23:33:00.008-06:002009-02-26T00:52:53.282-06:00Sisterly Love ~ and Thank You...My Friends<span style="font-size:130%;color:#00cccc;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#00cccc;"><strong>Best Friends and Sisters, too ~ Ms. Maggie Mae is giving Punkie Brewster a sweet hug!</strong></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbprvVkMRrd3usc3MQbqBO7hY-Ae-yYsaNuuuE1W2_a_MEh1SCIBMydjRfqgIdAi_wBhseXcIgbNAdPsntXyQ-_E4gHDBVeKO8GoG3WBeA5Qu4I2CczC1iWI2EYcejyqOkasczSgBIlY8/s1600-h/sisterlylove.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306975791589793298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 284px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbprvVkMRrd3usc3MQbqBO7hY-Ae-yYsaNuuuE1W2_a_MEh1SCIBMydjRfqgIdAi_wBhseXcIgbNAdPsntXyQ-_E4gHDBVeKO8GoG3WBeA5Qu4I2CczC1iWI2EYcejyqOkasczSgBIlY8/s400/sisterlylove.jpg" border="0" /></a>My Sweet Sally is gone but not forgotten...We've shed a pool of tears this week but are doing better with each passing day. We miss Sally so much but had expected that she would be leaving for the Rainbow Bridge soon. Sally was about 13 years old and had a heart murmur. Her little heart was just worn out. She had trouble breathing for the last week. It was so hard watching her struggle for each breath. She was such a trooper. If you didn't know it, you would have never known she was an old girl with a bad heart. She still played like a puppy and never lost her appetite. She was a little beggar and always managed to get her way when it came to getting an extra treat or a scrap of something off my dinner plate. We miss her but are relieved that she is not suffering any longer.<br /><br />Thank you sweet blog friends for all the heart felt comments about Sally's passing. We read each and every comment. It is so heartwarming to know that there are so many animal lovers who felt our pain and expressed sympathy with such benevolence. The compassion that each comment expressed was overwhelming. Thanks to each and every one who showed such sympathetic kindness. I'm happy to call you my friends...<br /><div></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-62849098800950351292009-02-23T10:37:00.005-06:002009-03-01T20:15:37.202-06:00Heartbroken...My beloved Sally died in my arms yesterday evening. She had grown old and had not been well for the last week. I miss her...She is waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnGwLI8cofYStV4R0_VeMWV4T0R5gpYpkC55MBM2sp2xKade9Y8CFSg-1NM2rzv9U3CtL7W-tAE-S1Q3Do1YKzYmi-hXNRxrPtIVrLW48ctPq9cz6l_covzY71zxJFUjRjRAnBHfGJHA/s1600-h/POEM_Gate.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306033256094677938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 298px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnGwLI8cofYStV4R0_VeMWV4T0R5gpYpkC55MBM2sp2xKade9Y8CFSg-1NM2rzv9U3CtL7W-tAE-S1Q3Do1YKzYmi-hXNRxrPtIVrLW48ctPq9cz6l_covzY71zxJFUjRjRAnBHfGJHA/s400/POEM_Gate.jpg" border="0" /></a>My Sweet, Sweet Sally ~ August 20, 1996 - February 22, 2009<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306035554554902418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7-63c9kqpKpTdhb9oh4o_nhwuDBflZt8qx5UjEjQczt0l8oS2mL6gKu5-PcrV8s2g2VjO3NEuPLHGdOweBvYJHB1uEae9OeDJr4maA7q8-o-DlK6l6jzoDcidFLYVFlh23d8xk7YzV8/s400/sally.jpg" border="0" />Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. </div><div></div><div><br />When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.</div><div><br /></div><div>All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. </div><div><br /></div><div>They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. </div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Author unknown</div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-27317013191979613152009-02-21T11:14:00.020-06:002009-02-21T14:38:00.154-06:00Dreaming in Color...Spring Colors!<span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoGOxp0wnroELeC44mEOIuQCsgiYiMF-VyqlwVorLqjmO6IiuD1PQkHkwgjmb68TU77ovpx9q2c0jZ0ZL3veS9yPnKU9OFP9TgiX3bKFV9sAiIam6rQD55dOX7CHZ6UxRZhr3htDU-nY/s1600-h/robinbylake.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305309963726877906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 346px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 304px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoGOxp0wnroELeC44mEOIuQCsgiYiMF-VyqlwVorLqjmO6IiuD1PQkHkwgjmb68TU77ovpx9q2c0jZ0ZL3veS9yPnKU9OFP9TgiX3bKFV9sAiIam6rQD55dOX7CHZ6UxRZhr3htDU-nY/s400/robinbylake.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"> The first sign of Spring is Mr. Robin, right? Hmm, but I think these colorful birds stay in East Texas year round. So we went looking around for more signs of Spring...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;">Yesterday was beautiful! Spring like! Today is another story...cold, drizzling, cloudy...we are having a light freeze tonight...brrr! But alas, there are many signs of an early Spring here in East Texas... </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yVqHODU3HFDYtuBEfWf6AAaJXg5xqqoomP1GmPCrf4sHHGg_9s296cP_zIA-5GXFdL9jE9wcxCe-HW546Rz3Wzu3Iey2V2fppCdTxopiCGX5CyixnsEyEBmXqGNWzMgeeVWTqA6NQNY/s1600-h/redbud.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305305419073236466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yVqHODU3HFDYtuBEfWf6AAaJXg5xqqoomP1GmPCrf4sHHGg_9s296cP_zIA-5GXFdL9jE9wcxCe-HW546Rz3Wzu3Iey2V2fppCdTxopiCGX5CyixnsEyEBmXqGNWzMgeeVWTqA6NQNY/s400/redbud.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"> Can Spring be far behind when the Redbuds are blooming?<br /></span><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wNRhgRJSs_HkU8elVUYYG1uWtIwTKKKgAbDnPdNS0s8DsXDWHniT5ycF0V-ySH0dIpukxLEyjnykGQQ8ZhUVKMEIXqluLHwj_L4rA3SzZvr4_r1EEEzphvVbCHJu9Y8MMNUgtJWI5Gk/s1600-h/pear+tree2.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305305196868229378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 230px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wNRhgRJSs_HkU8elVUYYG1uWtIwTKKKgAbDnPdNS0s8DsXDWHniT5ycF0V-ySH0dIpukxLEyjnykGQQ8ZhUVKMEIXqluLHwj_L4rA3SzZvr4_r1EEEzphvVbCHJu9Y8MMNUgtJWI5Gk/s400/pear+tree2.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"> The Pear Trees down by the lake are in bloom...a sure sign of Spring! </span><br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_gzRtucydZWgTza6V35OIFe9TNbJixNj6fUyjlIvGESCYLs6djS82e59016SeQ0BrOfZLQMW8EM8qTW-ejpxfYF_8KOp5M0JATwwcyVstR4IIvFmpBJGlOZ9M0SM8e0WdZRUCUmfbQw/s1600-h/flowers.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305304732623685058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 396px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_gzRtucydZWgTza6V35OIFe9TNbJixNj6fUyjlIvGESCYLs6djS82e59016SeQ0BrOfZLQMW8EM8qTW-ejpxfYF_8KOp5M0JATwwcyVstR4IIvFmpBJGlOZ9M0SM8e0WdZRUCUmfbQw/s400/flowers.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"> The Daffodils are blooming all over my sister's yard, just across the street from us! </span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPd4uG9QJjN3swJmIkw5JuSE3d_Hy3ib1CoIRbBZSbYgGijUlg-QFFz8mMH5KuT8wQSjiWPO8ZCeJiL6TIWbCt_yMl0fx-cPtPuG71wfcBRXlhjSCO-MK8_IljSOfqIq-j-Lh-j8BaTs/s1600-h/budding+trees.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305304457526533922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPd4uG9QJjN3swJmIkw5JuSE3d_Hy3ib1CoIRbBZSbYgGijUlg-QFFz8mMH5KuT8wQSjiWPO8ZCeJiL6TIWbCt_yMl0fx-cPtPuG71wfcBRXlhjSCO-MK8_IljSOfqIq-j-Lh-j8BaTs/s400/budding+trees.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"> Some of the trees in my yard are beginning to leaf out ...while others still look bare. </span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"><br /></div></div></div><div><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305309048967728338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2G8qutnSst5CZnFrR06HHZpirA7_2BtpNTnp_Kz23WSVXK6pZCGrI6vokZLhzmBzBSpP_EDSYR7SbCwG2ubICPsxNdtL6zweOmM1O2fJ5DScL4VyOeV2K5fWr7mvm02b-JVksHyXv7uo/s400/joeisvw.jpg" border="0" /> We took advantage of the warm weather yesterday...we spontaneously decided to do a little garage sale~ing. Joei drove her cute little VW. The decision was made to take her car. We rationalized that since it has a small trunk, it's perfect for cottage-size shopping trips! We further surmised it would put somewhat of a curtail on our purchases! Hey, we need all the <strong><em>help</em></strong> we can get when it comes to putting a quietus on what we bring home...small trunks included!</span><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;">We rode around town from sale to sale...windows down!</span></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305329936816669186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 232px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 186px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7rbWzmScxT0rYyZDUJo4hPQFdpOozDu8q9hy4pEzbITN3oSE8ySSyC1OsbMSDojoaaS1UI3Xjv4IWIDJ8Etyvo5bDFsQUfQLBh_Pw40hAFH3gfWqu-8X4LiRxY7J_L63naJ4ZQQE8G0/s400/gdaisy.jpg" border="0" /> <div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;">After stopping to peruse the goods at one of the sales, we returned to the car only to find that we had a little visitor...an <strong><em>unwanted</em></strong> visitor but nonetheless a visitor that is a sure signal of spring! A honey bee sipping nectar from the little daisy in Joei's car! </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305322596941105314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihT5ruMWrSeneu_8giAH7R_cXRIpT9K6jiFEIS8IGNBXuGHzUsmBlfrdg7cf7tUArGIoE8vIzkZglnSWncm73KSRZtBF8vERgAyqlMSUr7U9PU28h_A6XMpKBlmzzCRiwVoLF_EqnwVqc/s400/swing.jpg" border="0" />C'mon Spring...I'm so ready to go to Lowe's and buy a beautiful green fern and some blooming begonias for my little planters on the porch. I'm ready to decorate the front porch and relax on the swing...day dreaming while the sun warms me.</span><br /><br /></div><div><div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;">Our porch is an extension of our cottage. It is considered to be another room...and I lovelovelove to decorate it for the seasons...to welcome the anticipated visitors...here at the cottage, warm weather signals the beginning of many weekend visitors. </span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305303816489988370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8mrediURwdcCf2jAaOTJjkZUiMZKlm0ibaTB4C4qg_bhr8T6_k2-NekW_FWxIFoXtXAb0V_LZpSL15U3E9seNBZxTuDpQSNTuywyDabtZnte0gK3XSQ9WhhSKRPowKMbhq76D5QSMrE/s400/front+porch+2008.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#339999;">We painted our front door<span style="color:#ff0000;"> </span><span style="color:#ff6666;">RED</span> because red on the front door is a cheery way to greet guests. In feng shui, red is a recommended color for the front door, as it is believed to invite prosperity to the homeowners. Prosperity can have many definitions...When it comes to family and friends, we are very prosperous...</span> <div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#339999;"></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-71582840376436287532009-02-19T17:24:00.015-06:002009-02-19T20:51:56.725-06:00Before & After...<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">This is a photo collage of my little kitchen when we were just coming to the cottage for the weekends. These photos were taken in August 2006. I gave up the corner of the kitchen (where the windows are) for a breakfast nook which consisted of a small round table and an "L" shaped banquette...piled high with pillows made from vintage tablecloths and linens. I also had the sink skirt made from vintage tablecloths.<br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLNoiLX4kguH-4bp8LTUOzup9R4RU1ttSNmfKIsVt2NvW-cMHheJJTNGJpnYc6iZSzL3sE_EjNExcrWkB-1EzqwCiICWlRJbRVUmkZs_Y8CePybXcmEDvC5jwSrW-uGKi3jO-F0nZqxo/s1600-h/august+2006+kitchen2.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304662405744488946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 398px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLNoiLX4kguH-4bp8LTUOzup9R4RU1ttSNmfKIsVt2NvW-cMHheJJTNGJpnYc6iZSzL3sE_EjNExcrWkB-1EzqwCiICWlRJbRVUmkZs_Y8CePybXcmEDvC5jwSrW-uGKi3jO-F0nZqxo/s400/august+2006+kitchen2.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br />See the little round table in the photo above? That's where the "L" shaped banquette was...behind the table. We used to sit there and have breakfast or when the grandkids came, they would eat at the little table. Mr. S and I usually eat (very informally) sitting in our favorite chairs...sometimes with a TV tray...sometimes sans the TV tray.</span></div><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304653853591778530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1ASRiGRCTCy4BMd6eniZt1ht04nft2U2dBH9cMQBbBLQUhs7sDbndI5caBGFXgFbaHmT56Q8lVqiSeCw_AyI5TIe4VNwrFUGsFL3_wjSEDXHn-X6LFzHBeGOhmOQTMoPvGD70D84zYk/s400/august+2006+kitchen.jpg" border="0" />It didn't take me long to decide that I loved being at the cottage much better than in Dallas. As a matter-of-fact, after spending the first weekend here, I was hooked on country life! Mr. S encouraged me to stay since I loved being here so much (he only had to twist my arm for about two seconds!) Mr. S is still working in Dallas and <strong><em>didn't</em></strong> want to commute 150 miles each day. He continued living in our Dallas home and "visited" me at the cottage on holidays and weekends. A few months ago, Mr. S decided Dallas was not for him either. The end of January, we decided to put our Dallas home on the market. I know! It's not the best time to put a house on the market but we did and much to our surprise we got several offers in the first few days it hit the market. And we got our asking price! Woohoo! We close on the house February 26! Yippeeeee! Mr. S lives here now...commuting 150 miles a day! Country life is GOOD...very addicting! He couldn't stay away...we are HOOKED! I don't miss Dallas...not even a little!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">When we were building this little cottage, I thought that I could live without a dishwasher...wrongwrongwrong!! After about 6 months of no dishwasher, it was time for a kitchen <strong><em>redesign</em></strong>! We had an "L" shaped section of lower cabinets built and an upper cabinet designed with slide out trays for our appliances. And I got the cutest li'l dishwasher drawer...I love it! Just the right size for a cottage kitchen. With the kitchen island chest and the addition of the cabinets, I have unused cabinet and drawer space...can you believe it? Oh...but not for long...I'm always looking for vintage dishes to fill the empty space. See my little dishwasher drawer below? Cute, huh?</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIXL6t8nUKWuNAdUgtriCXAgWHJw20gVb76w2J91RPvDHQ1C9lZeHbqtRWuUtEnvqrnc2OSKWCnrmHLtjTcdKNlv0bKX9ZFSYkpM3K2O1XbVT-fKSMLu24vNQcfsb3C14s2evnQFR2jg/s1600-h/dishwasher.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304661303274316274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 329px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIXL6t8nUKWuNAdUgtriCXAgWHJw20gVb76w2J91RPvDHQ1C9lZeHbqtRWuUtEnvqrnc2OSKWCnrmHLtjTcdKNlv0bKX9ZFSYkpM3K2O1XbVT-fKSMLu24vNQcfsb3C14s2evnQFR2jg/s400/dishwasher.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">The photo below shows our little "dining area". It's plenty of room for about 6 when both leaves of the table are up. My grandkids love the cute little slipcovered bench...It will seat 2!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304677918580928850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 354px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pD6j84MEjgtLaLm-DWA0Sy8Ejf4F1Yv5equoh7gRtHFdVWi4mFpjPbYJ1ylfxT0wQiDzUWb2lw53Y9jSX_PnEd4rLORYLkVyWBTGBpdoQ4hn9nCoNMUIOuKYSbrHOGIgfbyHwaB4ass/s400/lr.jpg" border="0" />When you live in a little cottage, you have to make use of every square inch of space. I have learned to live with less. And I have learned that less is more...</span></div></div></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-59384258872025247852009-02-18T15:23:00.040-06:002009-02-18T20:32:27.677-06:00IT's ReaLLy NO BiGGie...<strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;">For real! It's a teeny, tiny kitchen...just like I like it!</span></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304277925947846530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFXFdyW9YP2eRpURVeZIe2g_7uMrr8JED-sXYNDrPD1D2aLkgmi6w85tBRIa7qS1E0bln7b5C4mCFRKp0o0Au0A_iOgBVnqjNCYS2R0GW94aM4QwUzkgaXw_HdKELcrCo5qIJKoJKz8A/s400/houseandpunk+084.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I think the photo above is the one that piqued some interest in my kitchen. I've had several requests to show more. I hope you won't be disappointed...there's really not much more...It's an itty, bitty cottage kitchen</span>.<br /></span><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAD3TRQ7R28MsOfNSyHDuX093-rR6Y2JqLxy7eGIqiR5tK8aL9ENwNIdUtYhskQw2WD8Rz12TgWynV7bJJ4DcmQyKuthGAyJsnBOVqxHwk0zu4pqk3iTXLzptmMxEqhplcCp_kJcu8RM/s1600-h/random+kitchen+2+102.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304273151075464850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAD3TRQ7R28MsOfNSyHDuX093-rR6Y2JqLxy7eGIqiR5tK8aL9ENwNIdUtYhskQw2WD8Rz12TgWynV7bJJ4DcmQyKuthGAyJsnBOVqxHwk0zu4pqk3iTXLzptmMxEqhplcCp_kJcu8RM/s400/random+kitchen+2+102.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="color:#33cc00;">This photo was taken standing at the end of the kitchen island...this photo shows 90% of the kitchen...hmm maybe 95%...I told you it is isty bitsy!<br /></span></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304261235689731506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRrKfkSCViH8_7IYGymKstw1qR_isXC1B033rcSEu5r_YEeDrtoUcPBWW-ahRfEmNPo4kkU1eMyIyA5RILpMagaMLShxL_j3GdYctGCzCuasnfN1rm5Ogfb8RJkhR9JKFbHoAN043fd8/s400/random+kitchen+2+055.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;">This photo was taken about 2 baby steps forward from the last photo. This vintage chest has been my kitchen island in my last two homes. The drawers are the best! You wouldn't believe how deep and wide they are...I can get tons of kitchen stuff in there! I bought it many years ago in the Design District of Dallas. It has the original old paint on it. I wax it with bee's wax twice a year to protect it and seal the old paint which probably has lead in it!</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304276557358384850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 238px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnCi6xvG8i4mmTFazxCYRE8CqxhL0k1c8GZ7mxLXpxW18E41pUb_GgKJVeEhUs0AGb5W8puqI95Mc6pxcikp2udppjV5e5qDkXejG0FZBsuBz33z-bWncKJKzjiMjDyaJl-QUSxR8e7o/s400/random+kitchen+2+098.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;">These are some of my favorite things. A Lloyd Loom hamper, a vintage picnic tin and a cute framed cottage litho with a thermometer! This trio is at the end of my kitchen, next to the French doors that lead out onto our grilling deck...we love to grill and wanted a deck close to the kitchen for our smoker and bbq grill.</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9gz9M3wqU-lEqWEE6mTXKzns0owh5vCl661LhVMcHpyw_VJ_V_d5F0aNLXNEatLSRqiCq97du99QcHytiK7jJcbQCxY-rU7FBpsmVqLODUtoCkPWIaOxCU2d9C3lSlkjwCzzyTSj5Vw/s1600-h/random+kitchen+2+096.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304270900152229490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9gz9M3wqU-lEqWEE6mTXKzns0owh5vCl661LhVMcHpyw_VJ_V_d5F0aNLXNEatLSRqiCq97du99QcHytiK7jJcbQCxY-rU7FBpsmVqLODUtoCkPWIaOxCU2d9C3lSlkjwCzzyTSj5Vw/s400/random+kitchen+2+096.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304281818631086178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 259px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZIUNoQW_9UCC1hB3lqqG61NLeuzhTpu9suwsOHNvjq7k5AugIG_JUrsNMkZHe8Eku-C0y3mhvhcTuLX3UQwj0XAy_Md6C-VYn0YNRAiGo2JiMeSajpNg2kz3cke7M8zDI2MxZPlidPU/s400/randomkitchenoil.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;">The photos above are of the other end of the kitchen island. See my cute little cook stove? It does just as good a job as a big one! I love big ol' ironstone trays...especially this one. It holds all my cooking oils, salt 'n pepper and other often used spices.<br /></span><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21fjwQTDvf__c13d30btFNW3FC0AmcTZ4vG7NI013ZIPz6b3tADphI8KA_PJNOok91xMsRcfnFEKr-j21yK6Uhuj_lt2Zl4pC2zYslIe79Cbut2cnBNZXG1jY9W1CfdtOaixYeVgOfeA/s1600-h/random+kitchen+2+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304269496417143234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21fjwQTDvf__c13d30btFNW3FC0AmcTZ4vG7NI013ZIPz6b3tADphI8KA_PJNOok91xMsRcfnFEKr-j21yK6Uhuj_lt2Zl4pC2zYslIe79Cbut2cnBNZXG1jY9W1CfdtOaixYeVgOfeA/s400/random+kitchen+2+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#33cc00;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">I wanted to show this photo with my Ikea lights turned on. I saw these lights at the Frisco, TX Ikea right after they opened a few years ago. I loved them but had no idea where I could use them. I didn't even live at Simplicity Cottage then. We were still in Dallas (ugh!) The next time I went to Ikea, they were calling my name! I bought 2 of them not having any clue what I would do with them. I just knew I loved them! They were in storage for a long time. One of those sleepless nights...you know what I mean...we ALL have them. Anyway, it came to me...the next morning, I measured and it was a perfect fit! </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;">Oh, almost forget to mention the upper cabinet. I purchased it from the Canton Flea Market. It came out of an old General Store in Ohio. I got it for almost nothing...love it in my kitchen! I love the glass sliding doors!<br /></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304278972597393698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 382px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-j40f-vK3D-2QysH0T6GUK03B5JpUq-nyoua1ZoSrgTtoL7LkMrLZT0Ov1iARybM30Kq5VitFgHtb1iC33qD3BWzMdFu4aehOFku0HZDA3BqbfIL9cez_Xe6s6ZzgpgGsMjlq-mKPRk/s400/random+kitchen+045.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33ff33;">I bought an old red door several years ago...got it out at the Canton Flea Market, too....don't ask me why I bought it...the chippy, peeling paint probably! It stayed in our garage for the longest time. I don't know if you noticed, or not but I don't have much wall space in my little kitchen...I decided to wash it up and bring it in...more bee's wax, I'm sure it has leaded paint, too! I slid it in right between refrigerator and the farmhouse sink. VOILA! extra wall!! I hung my paper towels, a towel ring, a hook for hot pads and my favorite old dime store print on the old door. And don't you just love the color?</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMp4Fd8pa3cHCR9GTJ2X0hStRxzThyS_nrql0b8FeElEKbENJpkXvMVZN4lTWpd3S0xCTfIQB5OcHYX6OsCplTHw-prfkSZMNKtloEqyUvybfqdOjL-ZjjyUu3yDfBrq1I3IaiKI6erCQ/s1600-h/random+kitchen+2+093.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304267667296363282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMp4Fd8pa3cHCR9GTJ2X0hStRxzThyS_nrql0b8FeElEKbENJpkXvMVZN4lTWpd3S0xCTfIQB5OcHYX6OsCplTHw-prfkSZMNKtloEqyUvybfqdOjL-ZjjyUu3yDfBrq1I3IaiKI6erCQ/s400/random+kitchen+2+093.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;">This is the counter top area right next to my old sink...dish soap, pot scrubbers, hand lotion, etc...on top of an old brown and white calico platter.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304257580783757426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxqvyL-V8is0FzpezIoFo7X0vEYohRQEzDMFUoQUGrME8Lj0GzwC6O2xgFiv_Y0KYYs65fNdVequEbvvK6sxeZ7S_Bq69C5U3mhtyBo9rrwdKpqFW_iYBP2BIoOl7u859pgJjDnBJmvs/s400/random+kitchen+001.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304298177972033458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIZ6fWDwCEH9q4F0Wiq-zIMGPrHNdXTDp9DNNHSANiuhoC-SaJjZ6xXwBzl-iCMlBv6oZVcNR2nI0kdpL2_wL_ezxKWqKabXqDHXm6c88kkGVx_3g2r_wYjLlbPUUCXFYz3TD1N3JRi8/s400/random+kitchen+2+087.jpg" border="0" /> <div><div><div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;">Now you know it's hard for me to go without talking about those dogs o' mine. Just check out this cute old Staffordshire dog cookie jar...it stores doggie cookies for good li'l pooches! </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhos8p-XKlEzz4isEnJZ1fWuqvMkY2D78c37XrjcOAmImVX223LCFAmNIcYGpf63kGtRNhQmmfCTqgX72ujz5BK2_iErJc8jLwI-_0M83W8Kt-ZkibPQh1uwmATjegB3qKvKRVnbYByFnY/s1600-h/random+kitchen+2+088.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304265500939590690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhos8p-XKlEzz4isEnJZ1fWuqvMkY2D78c37XrjcOAmImVX223LCFAmNIcYGpf63kGtRNhQmmfCTqgX72ujz5BK2_iErJc8jLwI-_0M83W8Kt-ZkibPQh1uwmATjegB3qKvKRVnbYByFnY/s400/random+kitchen+2+088.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;"> This is my favorite corner in the kitchen. The little pine plate rack is from England. I didn't have a wall it would fit on. Mr. S had a fix for that! He "MacGyvered" it to fit in my little corner between the two kitchen windows.</span> <div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304287922559111506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilh-m6tyQKEkHTOPRiBcjJJeqFokKQpfah7tHKhHUinPfIRVE2l_bsuQc8-3wZxga6M4PCvAR0z7pIDNLKJ7lirDeYtj8OVZgkdV7p-C2gj7Sv5JnCm_fMpTNo1vpLv4H1cp3zVSqiRLw/s400/random+kitchen+2+042.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;">This is a view of the other side of the kitchen...in front of the other window. This window is next to the upper cabinet...</span></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304279600757621362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoTxI3SnVgn7PARZq3N1RY1aexHywBY8HzuorTq-B5pscV8FShOtWAEsmGHT75QEthrdBXIveGZNE81sLe0OkpJr4RUjVa5tVtJjufJriBnW4r8a2WOzaLW0xt4IKlG3zClE0OTtZrfw/s400/random+kitchen+2+086.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;">This is just down the counter from the little corner plate rack. The cabinet above holds our microwave and toaster. We also keep paper plates, napkins, paper towels, etc. in this cabinet.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304266095999159426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-RHr0_M93nQHqkWhMF0X1_A2OCYxth_nQgr47qiNdbDHGveSfY6Hsa8Budeopq_T9stMjm9ns7edJx2J9RmT67fTSZiypWG_as41HmprxjqQdjKJAvCZnS5FLbfShQUfA8YOY7fXZGw/s400/random+kitchen+2+082.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#996633;">More of my favorite things...old ironstone and brown transferware...love 'em!<br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304275391811484226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 244px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JuneUnvnu1sdVv_xJdwxRMnLSwcSmjVO95IwqjT-Y3cehMF5xM7sRGaOKYcdFa-kEodEXETwGXvHUSeTUw_YCoaXF58DoAlQlbr3ywOdxLIi99JMAv-GYdzfAS9NpQfzxR2_1lEj1FA/s400/random+kitchen+maggie.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;">Oh...and here's Maggie on the 'fridge reminding me what "not" to feed her! Ashlei made the heart for me several years ago for Valentine's Day! Another of my favorite things!</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;">Ok...now for the last two photos. I am crazy for farmhouse sink skirts. The skirt that I have on my old sink is REVERSIBLE. I had it made with a Fall/Winter side and Spring/Summer side. I am so ready for Spring...I've already changed the skirt to the Spring side. Look at the photos below and tell me which side you like the best...OK?<br /></span><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6jUnn6GfVjWWa_1V_nPTgUNNOvRiFQpqXTttADimBFYDHe3NDrLmUvoiC04Xs31KCHTlV6Ch1OIN9OUH3BIp7C_vlCwCLHa2gAJrEmlh4_M-AsW8yI8OlzpFHw-hxZ2A3QWMzWJO_No/s1600-h/houseandpunk+079.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304251858815272450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6jUnn6GfVjWWa_1V_nPTgUNNOvRiFQpqXTttADimBFYDHe3NDrLmUvoiC04Xs31KCHTlV6Ch1OIN9OUH3BIp7C_vlCwCLHa2gAJrEmlh4_M-AsW8yI8OlzpFHw-hxZ2A3QWMzWJO_No/s400/houseandpunk+079.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;color:#33cc00;">Spring/Summer?<br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304256706943764130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeHHDPG6dlQmk9tOsqFIYST9gI4REqIQ1Kt29xxpP72S9xYL-uzyndRleH3tMFwY9NiemTLC4Vq7HfoDmxIlK13oF57XI0gjf1Y40ymcp3yWiiOxydwvBF5Dny2mGkea_2CXbxj5Ge04/s400/Picture+094.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:180%;color:#663333;">Fall/Winter?</span></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#663333;"></span></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#33cc00;">Are you a Spring/Summer or Fall/Winter?</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-49427164934717969592009-02-18T09:49:00.006-06:002009-02-18T10:29:37.981-06:00The Clock is Ticking...<span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6666;"><strong>Yes! It is ticking...it works! This is my "<em>new"</em> vintage kitchen clock. Another eBay find! The description read: <em><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#339999;">This is old, it is large and guaranteed to run perfectly. And yes, it needs some paint. But this is a fortuitous listing for someone out there, so don't be afraid to bid. The diameter of this nice wall clock is a full 18 inches so people can see it from a distance. There is no reserve on this clock, and a low opening bid.</span> </span></em></strong></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENx1XRL-nNF0_aePBrTp3By_19IO8CuUVjcy8yuszlbTEyJ25MAzK37k4_mJ0bUWjpWZRQvfdNJDxq1-ohi8VZSTfYMitamOkJGZhFSCWriO13PA34aI-kdvTr6YXtPQdGiJG1s30z2w/s1600-h/old+clock.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304165317171108338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENx1XRL-nNF0_aePBrTp3By_19IO8CuUVjcy8yuszlbTEyJ25MAzK37k4_mJ0bUWjpWZRQvfdNJDxq1-ohi8VZSTfYMitamOkJGZhFSCWriO13PA34aI-kdvTr6YXtPQdGiJG1s30z2w/s400/old+clock.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6666;">Needs some paint?? I don't think so...I love it just the way it is!</span>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-61523216233016234612009-02-17T23:26:00.006-06:002009-02-17T23:43:42.065-06:00More to come when the sun is shining ~ or Ashlei gets home from school<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMH9pHt-89Ct9B8nuqs_dd5QxGmsxI-36sT-_m_L0CXELjAa0KP-9Q5IrTo9bdou1mWjg2EfGUepyVEPKcEkZQZoeU7gjZADDDzixWm34Qj44Rh2mrudZixoB55ha2-Ayk2Oad3V1LRY/s1600-h/random+kitchen+fixed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304005753992654818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMH9pHt-89Ct9B8nuqs_dd5QxGmsxI-36sT-_m_L0CXELjAa0KP-9Q5IrTo9bdou1mWjg2EfGUepyVEPKcEkZQZoeU7gjZADDDzixWm34Qj44Rh2mrudZixoB55ha2-Ayk2Oad3V1LRY/s400/random+kitchen+fixed.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#339999;">I started to do my kitchen post but when I commenced taking pictures, there was a glare on everything because it is dark outside. I'm going to take some pics tomorrow when the sun is shining and I can turn off my flash!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#339999;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#339999;">Ashlei just came over...she decided to spend the night with me...she took some photos that are great (dadgum 13 year old!) but it's past her bedtime and her mom would not approve of her being up at 11:30 pm helping MeMe with a blog! Shhh! Don't tell Joei! Oh yeah, Ashlei's mom would yell at both of us!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#339999;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#339999;">I will post more kitchen photos tomorrow...Good night!</span></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-90737853376367617252009-02-16T12:42:00.012-06:002009-02-16T15:49:09.737-06:00ThE NeVeR EnDiNG TaSk ~<div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#339999;">L a U n D r y T o D a Y ...</span></strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303471786504440034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 285px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjz4oLnRsQHR3iTGVmqCMUA8ofYmDIRl1Q8bWusJaAmcIBzw4R2rXAh13HNXlARF8NO0dohuKLfFHYbFIZ4q1aYn3p_rklUC40ZcjQYjcRGaaBIPInQC23rQGQi8RrQaYr6A9kYJSLc_A/s400/laundry-web.jpg" border="0" /> <div><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#339999;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#339999;">o R N a K e D </span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#339999;">T o M o RR o W ! </span></strong></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-84294209319148321112009-02-14T11:52:00.007-06:002009-02-14T12:03:44.519-06:00~~~ HaPPy VaLenTines DaY ~~~<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcTmfBwo11MgvLsf6HS9Pk4Qls5bAQGLc5pekDibH0MWp68sRj494iTQ7To2Zyqsc_eZoATZ1I6xqzgYOisEM_cf8Kt8b0jv8UmAiP5XvvfKae-x7W7KHOoZthijkgzfGnamdP3D3r-I/s1600-h/valentines+banner.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302713090321158450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 171px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcTmfBwo11MgvLsf6HS9Pk4Qls5bAQGLc5pekDibH0MWp68sRj494iTQ7To2Zyqsc_eZoATZ1I6xqzgYOisEM_cf8Kt8b0jv8UmAiP5XvvfKae-x7W7KHOoZthijkgzfGnamdP3D3r-I/s400/valentines+banner.png" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;">Do something you love to do today~</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;">With somebody you love.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;">It doesn't get any better than that!</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;">XOXO ~ Donna</span></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-69559799798673170442009-02-13T13:53:00.002-06:002009-02-13T14:18:57.535-06:00"B" is for BuLLdoG...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJZsu8xSx2AcfAytsfkuXTl7spot3qYFYGbGxjEiREmj71AYgL1JwI48SyMGpNSu-I87UyoV8m69ZN2b4dwBCMOZi04IuiJslD4chplVbz53gGMdtYuGCEQR1WRvjxXk6VM53TXWmeLw/s1600-h/bulldogtice.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302372915933294402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 296px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJZsu8xSx2AcfAytsfkuXTl7spot3qYFYGbGxjEiREmj71AYgL1JwI48SyMGpNSu-I87UyoV8m69ZN2b4dwBCMOZi04IuiJslD4chplVbz53gGMdtYuGCEQR1WRvjxXk6VM53TXWmeLw/s400/bulldogtice.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33ccff;">I know! I know! After a full week of "Bulldog" blog, you're probably thinking I need to get a life! A real life...one that hasn't <em>gone to the dogs...</em></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33ccff;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33ccff;">I just had to show what I won on eBay! Isn't is sooo cute? It's from a vintage children's book. The artist is Clara Tice. It measures 8" x 11"...very suitable for framing! I think I'm going to dedicate this weekend to finding the perfect vintage frame for this cutie!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33ccff;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33ccff;">Next week, my kitchen...I promise!</span></strong>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-64517708538267872992009-02-10T22:38:00.026-06:002009-02-12T21:30:48.863-06:00Karma, Cliches, The Golden Rule and Justice...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7ZIr1EcZ5Nye5ro3ckiY0eDY47vVeSc3I3Gl29UhLjR10ynlUZuCdjwiM1BvTYazM0rB6tE2THjY7hbqlvLcUk-1PSs3wF91Y3xHRZOQd48FgAWlD0f8T0LmZnubkkj3aaffLQC4yZM/s1600-h/1karma.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301417465683766898" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 122px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7ZIr1EcZ5Nye5ro3ckiY0eDY47vVeSc3I3Gl29UhLjR10ynlUZuCdjwiM1BvTYazM0rB6tE2THjY7hbqlvLcUk-1PSs3wF91Y3xHRZOQd48FgAWlD0f8T0LmZnubkkj3aaffLQC4yZM/s200/1karma.png" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#33ff33;">Karma</span> is a law in Hinduism which maintains that every act done, no matter how insignificant, will eventually return to the doer with equal impact. Good will be returned with good; evil with evil. </span><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#33ccff;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhO_wzadnSItkwu57NdBx1BsRd8h7echgDh9FzVzphgRjXTOJf1fN2a1YgPPCeZVYYT53Nnov1afOX1361ipsojNTtjnonSDLkS8wqWvBlj238XJ4a3ElUn82mvKFcRf4iF1xIbIJyx8/s1600-h/WHAT%20GOES%20AROUND%20COMES%20AROUND.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301416855951374370" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhO_wzadnSItkwu57NdBx1BsRd8h7echgDh9FzVzphgRjXTOJf1fN2a1YgPPCeZVYYT53Nnov1afOX1361ipsojNTtjnonSDLkS8wqWvBlj238XJ4a3ElUn82mvKFcRf4iF1xIbIJyx8/s200/WHAT%2520GOES%2520AROUND%2520COMES%2520AROUND.jpg" border="0" /></a> What comes around goes around</span> is a cliche that means you will get what you deserve.</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ah8m7AhFWS1ciJMbxSC8Dl3cfUylw4cXhKyV_qX1czgcUgyiusFK-mps5dbDmb_1S6kfjGs8e5wJGMMbGWxPb-CCsluXcd84KG_q4pVSLevq0mpnBQELZmcprOxDea6dmzC9IilJERU/s1600-h/reap.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301415680690026082" style="WIDTH: 166px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ah8m7AhFWS1ciJMbxSC8Dl3cfUylw4cXhKyV_qX1czgcUgyiusFK-mps5dbDmb_1S6kfjGs8e5wJGMMbGWxPb-CCsluXcd84KG_q4pVSLevq0mpnBQELZmcprOxDea6dmzC9IilJERU/s200/reap.jpg" border="0" /></a>You reap what you sow</span> is the basic nature of God's justice.</span></div><br /><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ff6666;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4y3B66Ww1AkR2ZwBAQi-t2xZojzfwjLLDOscFc0cqq6nngvWqDEfrOE5wwedP-eXH0UCj_OP33De8oWItKVurtoY9lVyGGQ0vKNuChZs-pGsnkiN6CIxOxke9v_lvxvNsgU_yFWp5F5M/s1600-h/golden+rule.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301415382736633250" style="WIDTH: 171px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4y3B66Ww1AkR2ZwBAQi-t2xZojzfwjLLDOscFc0cqq6nngvWqDEfrOE5wwedP-eXH0UCj_OP33De8oWItKVurtoY9lVyGGQ0vKNuChZs-pGsnkiN6CIxOxke9v_lvxvNsgU_yFWp5F5M/s200/golden+rule.bmp" border="0" /></a>Do into others as you would have them do unto you</span> is The Golden Rule. Many religions promote this as a rule to live by.</span></div><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXS3wYoBCpbu0AAAm8Pzhyphenhyphen0MmocZFnwNrlq5_IZrQXqEU_n3Z3TWyqZpHSRsNwisDYvd8RfFKzqtZ4F2eMg5fpYp6vHnpjpXfRGfJsjpfFhtMY7Igar7QnPOtbfjJfebqkYA93rKXPVg/s1600-h/goldrule.gif"></a>I would never wish anyone ill will. I do believe in living life by following the Golden Rule. I believe in Karma. And I believe in God's justice.</span> </div><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">This is actually the final part of my story about imported puppies and puppy mills. I don't have much to say about how bad I think these people are. I am convinced that the people who import puppies are driven by greed. And greed is bad. Greedy people are bad. Greed makes good people do bad things.</span><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">There are many sickly puppies being cared for by families who have purchased puppies from these puppy mill puppy importers.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">There are many puppies with genetic problems which will lead to an early death or a painful life because of the unscrupulous puppy mill breeders and importers who do not care to breed for a better, healthier puppy. </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">There are many families who are heartbroken because their puppy died after doing as much as possible to get a sick puppy well.</span> </div><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">There are many sad stories. I have read most of them...and when I do it makes me feel sad, very sad.</span></div><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">Many of the people who purchased sick puppies from "D" filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau, The IC3 (Internet Crimes/FBI) and the Texas Attorney General. </span><br /></div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">There are several lawsuits pending against "D" and her family, which includes her husband, sister and sister-in-law. I will be testifying against "D" in a lawsuit filed against her by the Texas Attorney General. I will also be testifying against her in a civil suit filed by an Austin, TX attorney. I am not the only witness, unfortunately there are many. </span></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">I am going to attach a newspaper article below regarding the lawsuit filed by the Texas Attorney General. I am doing this to spread the word about purchasing puppies from greedy people. The article is from Courthouse News:</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;"></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">September 18, 2008</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">State Busts Bulldog Sellers Charging Abuse</span><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">FORT WORTH (CN) - The State of Texas accuses a married couple and the wife's sister of running puppy mills, misrepresenting the diseased bulldogs they sell for $2,000 to $3,000 apiece, falsely claiming to have bred the dogs themselves, and refusing to replace dead dogs with healthy, live ones. The defendants are Kristy O'Neal dba EPuppyPro aka EPuppyPro.com; her husband, Charles O'Neal, also dba T.B. Elite Marketing LLC dba EPuppyPro.com and Lobopuppies.com; her sister, Melody Edwards dba Lobopuppies aka Lobopuppies.com; and Vickie O'Neal Alvord, an officer of T.B. Elite Marketing and epuppypro.com and lobopuppies.com. The O'Neals operate out of North Richland Hills, Texas, Edwards out of Hurst. </span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">The state alleges: The defendants misrepresented the health of at least four sick puppies, claiming they had been checked by vets; one died the day after arrival; another one died soon thereafter; one has "two genetic disorders which left it unable to walk or stand." One puppy the defendants sold was ill on arrival and died within 6 weeks. The defendants advertise their dogs with alleged testimonials from customers, but at least one such customer "made no such statements and remains dissatisfied with his or her purchasing experience."</span> </div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">The defendants use AKC and other trademarks to advertise their dogs, but refuse to provide AKC papers when requested. The defendants misrepresent themselves as the dogs' breeders, but the dogs have tattoos indicating they were imported. One puppy, which Kristy O'Neal misrepresented as bred at her home and "her kids' favorite" went to the purchaser "straight from the airport immediately after being imported." </span><br /></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;">The state demands penalties of up to $20,000 per violation.</span></span><br /></div><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;">If you must have a specific breed and/or you want a registered puppy...I can understand that. Just do your "homework" before you buy. Better yet...adopt or rescue a dog from a shelter!</span> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">If you would like more information about imported Bulldogs, go to <a href="http://www.bulldogsvoice.com/">http://www.bulldogsvoice.com/</a> or <a href="http://www.thewrongpuppy.com/">http://www.thewrongpuppy.com/</a> </span><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#00cccc;">On a happier note...</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#00cccc;">Many of my blog friends have commented on my kitchen and asked for more photos. I plan to take some photos this weekend and do a post on my <em><span style="font-size:78%;">little, teeny, tiny</span></em> cottage kitchen next week.</span></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-84194264182939992052009-02-10T11:18:00.013-06:002009-02-10T19:09:30.509-06:00From Russia with BuLLdoG Love Part 3<div><div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Punkie Brewster! Look at that cute freckled tummy!<br /></strong></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIWVqVe_4_FacLt6JVQ3IL22vkP2LgaicFWN8yIHh7J8333uPToKwQXRP7Y-hdbFt2Rk1ZSfhB-qSKTo-q_kO-E_5cVAzoG9gYCmyuBC5i_XSbQeLbvXyiBZKn1KEma3WKKdQTZ1AOv0/s1600-h/Picture+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301327819348118146" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIWVqVe_4_FacLt6JVQ3IL22vkP2LgaicFWN8yIHh7J8333uPToKwQXRP7Y-hdbFt2Rk1ZSfhB-qSKTo-q_kO-E_5cVAzoG9gYCmyuBC5i_XSbQeLbvXyiBZKn1KEma3WKKdQTZ1AOv0/s200/Picture+017.jpg" border="0" /></a> I have NEVER for one minute regretted getting Punkie. It was meant to be. She knows that I "rescued" her...she's my baby! You may be wondering why I call her "Punkie Brewster". I added "Brewster" when I discovered that she is kind of an orphan. We call her Punkie most of the time but she'll come to P.B., Punkie B, Punkie-Punk and Chunky Punkie! She is chunky!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIaJN0-1HKnJcPlQoERdC_MC-BMrNF6mwwHkHwF6u7rGpiGe5k5UtN9BGfOW1HUP9ZTvWouUp-rR64_HP3EuZXJrRZRgQkm1mB-P5vIp36AaTlxWRRENwR85TxTz8vVVmhMxMF_UlExI/s1600-h/1213719481-97716_full.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301338311826656674" style="WIDTH: 171px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIaJN0-1HKnJcPlQoERdC_MC-BMrNF6mwwHkHwF6u7rGpiGe5k5UtN9BGfOW1HUP9ZTvWouUp-rR64_HP3EuZXJrRZRgQkm1mB-P5vIp36AaTlxWRRENwR85TxTz8vVVmhMxMF_UlExI/s200/1213719481-97716_full.jpg" border="0" /></a>Punkie takes medicine like a trooper. Ummm...especially when it's coated with peanut butter or covered with cheese or even wrapped in thin sliced lunch meat. Punkie loves to eat. And it shows! She also loves her yogurt...she has DanActive yogurt with immune booster in it every day.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWNJHwTOGyrKumFeRri5euh9SYLCXEhKIOT7EZ3JF5nJBKKUh7xhSLH8eDtLzv8hyphenhyphencU-SAM0BMsa9pF5bVmGCkaEJb9pTJiX8kFnrOjXrRE3oXtexA2xSjk1Jv1nIEAcjFxY69juLt7M/s1600-h/P1XRA.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301328205273213042" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWNJHwTOGyrKumFeRri5euh9SYLCXEhKIOT7EZ3JF5nJBKKUh7xhSLH8eDtLzv8hyphenhyphencU-SAM0BMsa9pF5bVmGCkaEJb9pTJiX8kFnrOjXrRE3oXtexA2xSjk1Jv1nIEAcjFxY69juLt7M/s200/P1XRA.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynHRGqFXhmBVKkk9KDJ8fm5yESAGkOHxmlXeZ6WkUj-tlu1IQtE6cyeNeI0ENodx2yHVt15YyOB00qbG90fgzOJ9QwpyGVriy_6M0CW3pH0WOmVQZIEzZDUtG5WUxR3206GLgAm-7_3Y/s1600-h/pb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301324719574824018" style="WIDTH: 94px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 131px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynHRGqFXhmBVKkk9KDJ8fm5yESAGkOHxmlXeZ6WkUj-tlu1IQtE6cyeNeI0ENodx2yHVt15YyOB00qbG90fgzOJ9QwpyGVriy_6M0CW3pH0WOmVQZIEzZDUtG5WUxR3206GLgAm-7_3Y/s200/pb.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJ_ZIJ1PKPmRCC_j1L-EOEzxEt87lwDwCfwC20v03qbqdNM-w10mGN_CmFRgydEVo1IaFZCVayeEtPalTcwNAu1AU5MxfQhmQEjDOxALPvtKsCjw2r_w8F-KPDe8G59UL2lqI2G-SLmc/s1600-h/EasyCheese.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301324967348154114" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJ_ZIJ1PKPmRCC_j1L-EOEzxEt87lwDwCfwC20v03qbqdNM-w10mGN_CmFRgydEVo1IaFZCVayeEtPalTcwNAu1AU5MxfQhmQEjDOxALPvtKsCjw2r_w8F-KPDe8G59UL2lqI2G-SLmc/s200/EasyCheese.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>When puppies are taken from the mother dog too early...before they are naturally weaned, their immune systems suffer tremendously. And it can affect them for the rest of their life. Immune systems are very important! Punkie's immune system continues to be weak because she was taken from her mother at such an early age.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcqPDwscTQzJsYxqND0Cf3DpTq2iC6dBoaqL0kYZnFHHOc0TlJpNVA8HnMVdnTeg4t4UEjGo1grODbG6X35KLi0NSc3zutFaEdrgYNNHdA7w-eL8IcP7MgaUf3VmebcP1wc8JWjWmPWo/s1600-h/nursing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301327078441631458" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcqPDwscTQzJsYxqND0Cf3DpTq2iC6dBoaqL0kYZnFHHOc0TlJpNVA8HnMVdnTeg4t4UEjGo1grODbG6X35KLi0NSc3zutFaEdrgYNNHdA7w-eL8IcP7MgaUf3VmebcP1wc8JWjWmPWo/s200/nursing.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><br /><div>After taking almost two weeks of the prescribed antibiotics, immune booster and respiratory treatments, Punkie was still sick. A little better, but not making the progress that Dr. C was expecting. Dr. C and Dr. S had me bring her in for an examination and more tests. After they examined her and read the results of the new tests they consulted with each other and came up with another antibiotic "cocktail". They explained that sometimes bacteria becomes tolerant to some medications. If you change antibiotic, it "confuses" the bacteria and gives the new drugs the opportunity to grab hold of the bacteria and gain control of the host's system.<br /></div><br /><div>Never losing faith that Punkie would get better...I had new hope. Punkie and I got into the car with a bag full of new medicine. Punkie talked me into stopping at Burger King for a kids meal. Punkie loves cheeseburgers -- cut the onions! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9CCGFK34ts_An0vWtAZO4hVbHEYH5-Qo69RuWREPQzYPsxtEXVdR5nuiP95oqym5fl7BVtxcRLIjSuMKno-a-7inyVIJlcpwHhuDPJQ3qnzRpS8jIa-7ZQoKs6bdgsr4X-4CtmAAhoo/s1600-h/burger.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301339792333195410" style="WIDTH: 107px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 88px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9CCGFK34ts_An0vWtAZO4hVbHEYH5-Qo69RuWREPQzYPsxtEXVdR5nuiP95oqym5fl7BVtxcRLIjSuMKno-a-7inyVIJlcpwHhuDPJQ3qnzRpS8jIa-7ZQoKs6bdgsr4X-4CtmAAhoo/s200/burger.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Punkie took her new medicine just as prescribed and we continued with her respiratory treatments. The docs told me that it would take 24-72 hours to see a change...after four days...no change. I'm not losing my faith...Punkie WILL get better. I kept convincing myself that we just haven't found the right antibiotic concoction.<br /></div><div>I started researching on the Internet and reaching out for help from other people who had purchased puppies from "D". I found several women who were happy to help. They put me in touch with their vets, emailed me with the name of medications and faxed me reports from surgeons who had performed tracheal washes on their puppies to identify the strain of bacteria causing the illness.<br /></div><div>I called my wonderful vets and scheduled another appointment for Punkie. They wanted me to come right away. I put all my research information together and we took off. The docs poured through the information and even phoned one of the other vets. Yeah, my vets ROCK!<br /></div><div>They explained that there is a new drug...not recommended for puppies but it is a kick-butt full spectrum antibiotic. They feel sure it will work. It could make the bones in Punkie's legs sore but that would be the worst side-effect she might have. They had to warn me that it is not approved for use in puppies under a year old...but they recommend that we try it.<br /></div><div>Zeniquin. A magic bullet...Yes, we will try it.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqNH3lx9iY2XVxThnEmFkopMtpBjKyx0UUPwIG2jCjn_QN6Ri6JkzeUvOpIhDX3R_UO8sK3v0QSG0WPEdjnzE4l_QvD2hUmW22VoL3YEO8LK-kuJul91_rlRZNJrvTxA346lpR2JAmjM/s1600-h/zeniquin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301324501616268338" style="WIDTH: 116px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 117px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqNH3lx9iY2XVxThnEmFkopMtpBjKyx0UUPwIG2jCjn_QN6Ri6JkzeUvOpIhDX3R_UO8sK3v0QSG0WPEdjnzE4l_QvD2hUmW22VoL3YEO8LK-kuJul91_rlRZNJrvTxA346lpR2JAmjM/s200/zeniquin.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>The good thing about the magic bullet is that it has been proven to be effective within 72 hours. I was hopeful, yet skeptical.<br /></div><div>After the first day, I thought I could see improvement but I kept thinking that it was wishful thinking. Second day, I thought...yeah, I'm almost sure the Zeniquin is working...it hasn't even been 72 hours. I remain reserved in my thoughts but remain hopeful that she is improving. By the middle of the third day, I am no longer skeptical, reserved...and the wishful thinking has turned to positive thinking. Punkie is better! For the first time, she is not coughing, her breathing is no longer labored, no snotty nose...Punkie is getting well!<br /></div><div>That night Punkie slept through the night. I put her into our bed and she slept in the same spot until the next morning. She had never slept through the night because she would have to get up and move around many times throughout the night because she was having trouble breathing.<br /></div><div>I called her vets that morning and reported that the Zeniquin was working. The full recommended dosage was for 14 days. They reminded me to make sure she took the whole prescription. NO reminder needed, she will take all the magic bullets for sure! We were ALL so happy.<br /></div><div>Punkie continued to show improvement all week long. After she finished ALL her antibiotic, we went back for more blood work...it came back clear. Punkie is well...she has been off antibiotics since the end of October 2008. It took three months to get her well!<br /></div><div>Punkie suffers from an occasional skin problem or ear infection, but the pneumonia and upper respiratory infection - gone! She also has a couple of genetic problems that we "deal" with. All-in-all she is healthy. Punkie has been medication free since the end of October 2008. Yippee! She is my constant shadow. Where I go...Punkie goes! She even gets in the walk-in shower with me!</div><div>Ahhh! Bulldog Love... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRc1smGymmbGxhs6dKTa7xK4s05dOYhCFQgQ-20iLYpb5JHbw-7xJ7nX9IhnY-efPhOHdmgkbS8iAhW4q137Pdf1qXRORWdU64hEiC5_eIZOU0A3xm1mdge5eYt1xWMd5CSO-_qh9el-s/s1600-h/v555df4.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301338634054219794" style="WIDTH: 137px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 137px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRc1smGymmbGxhs6dKTa7xK4s05dOYhCFQgQ-20iLYpb5JHbw-7xJ7nX9IhnY-efPhOHdmgkbS8iAhW4q137Pdf1qXRORWdU64hEiC5_eIZOU0A3xm1mdge5eYt1xWMd5CSO-_qh9el-s/s200/v555df4.gif" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-14048318131031797312009-02-09T09:41:00.024-06:002009-02-09T16:40:49.991-06:00From Russia with BuLLdoG Love Part 2<strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Rosebud</span> </span></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk8vjLzH3jgQznGddGWHDWDntnTFV1gapGipYjeyst2Y4_RkXu2meFl3XE9dUH0l-Bwockf2oxC0QWSJ75ToKlHhn5-QIFma_JPeq_epH6JGkIGb4QW-41OzU31w1S0kfRYrp-yFl-0Y/s1600-h/rosebud.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300894742373841122" style="WIDTH: 152px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk8vjLzH3jgQznGddGWHDWDntnTFV1gapGipYjeyst2Y4_RkXu2meFl3XE9dUH0l-Bwockf2oxC0QWSJ75ToKlHhn5-QIFma_JPeq_epH6JGkIGb4QW-41OzU31w1S0kfRYrp-yFl-0Y/s200/rosebud.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">My puppy's Internet name was "Rosebud". Her name was very contradictory to her odor! All the way home, while trying to ignore the smell, we tried to think of a good name for her but we just couldn't come up with the <em>perfect</em> name for her. However, the name "Stinky" was mentioned more than once! Since we really didn't know her yet. We would see what kind of personality she had and then we could come up with a suitable name...<em>the perfect name for the perfect puppy.</em></span><br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Back at the cottage with one stinky puppy to bathe...stinkystinky puppy!</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-Ic9NqyDyMixbhC8UmhJb0Mh0RXzBQZypAswERIajtEfiq0FUmWNrhXN0gR20OJ0l0hPYIJ6rZJg-w_ebmEWgosc-c90MKXicfIikqI0NTxtajDcCAsXWhV54uY6ajeYSDq-1heQQiw/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300892862266316338" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 132px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-Ic9NqyDyMixbhC8UmhJb0Mh0RXzBQZypAswERIajtEfiq0FUmWNrhXN0gR20OJ0l0hPYIJ6rZJg-w_ebmEWgosc-c90MKXicfIikqI0NTxtajDcCAsXWhV54uY6ajeYSDq-1heQQiw/s200/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Joei pledges to help me bathe our new furbaby. So we run some nice warm water into the bathtub, close the door and wait for the bathroom to warm up a bit. Armed with medicated dog shampoo, coat conditioning rinse, washclothes, towels and one stinky bulldog. We tackle this mission head on. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizlfJrjiJcRybS-3RMAkNZTAvGrxMWKFhsVBo6u0Oec201sNbj52EnS34ubmvgSXC_suk5d7h7hH6HLURdvFtG6q707ZfUj8VziIv9ZluVVu0G2SaFCeY6h-rrfYUhHYCXy7Ncwv-zeo/s1600-h/bubble-bath-bubbles-724937.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300893293311086146" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizlfJrjiJcRybS-3RMAkNZTAvGrxMWKFhsVBo6u0Oec201sNbj52EnS34ubmvgSXC_suk5d7h7hH6HLURdvFtG6q707ZfUj8VziIv9ZluVVu0G2SaFCeY6h-rrfYUhHYCXy7Ncwv-zeo/s200/bubble-bath-bubbles-724937.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkP8eWD_ndhhalA8z0OcGlz62FxapBX8CV3DFQ5JWwuKRfqNuU5T4XUxyfWj4m4hYL0A8Zwn2kIcsTNQqaTzcit1jkoC9N7zVER0AoF0J7zwRZU49JoiGg7oRWVX9KmGBEIl_NvlleVE/s1600-h/Bulldog6Bath.jpg"></a></span></div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSElS7KkNlfFW_7TJM4tdRWDn4JU-yfiUzJsBnujn4GzB6QeRF6qz1bhBC5wASZ3GvvKZzFaeJGk59RevjBImR7rbJ2tQQr5QqelhfNyNWGEdc2cWtiDMsJSxtROaI_e5y1llxzJ14E0/s1600-h/fourth-july.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300897541686683698" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 98px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSElS7KkNlfFW_7TJM4tdRWDn4JU-yfiUzJsBnujn4GzB6QeRF6qz1bhBC5wASZ3GvvKZzFaeJGk59RevjBImR7rbJ2tQQr5QqelhfNyNWGEdc2cWtiDMsJSxtROaI_e5y1llxzJ14E0/s200/fourth-july.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Remember, it's the <span style="color:#ff0000;">Fourth</span> of <span style="color:#3333ff;">July</span>...it's over 100 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTuK4I5o-ZE6ZCDEX1RGbpjkVMrwOoSm4Ij0wSRtyJcLbzUlb5ISxOywdVn1TRGHh3FIkMGxp4mnAzWY4yO4SKh7kdpgdw2gLmcr4GMdDfwQTc4qnL1Ha4LMG24J2yU-D_nimEoPeJl4/s1600-h/bubble-bath-bubbles-724937.jpg"></a>degrees outside and we are in a HUMID bathroom with a stinky puppy...I'm thinking it's cooler outside in the sun than it is in this bathroom! It was HOT and oh, so humid and steamy in that bathroom!</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCM68XrzPX6BVPc0mrpGJ2yAAvA7g-KXMFe63coHgpY1Nz58PNeOd-V6eLWLjo0tI7f7lwQ4WVEnKt9oA8vJiBivUHIPjO7Xs0CI2JM2UTywpFHvRIJBP1lGb3LoQkMNt4A55rcvKDEts/s1600-h/752-A-052-V7875.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300894831590030802" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCM68XrzPX6BVPc0mrpGJ2yAAvA7g-KXMFe63coHgpY1Nz58PNeOd-V6eLWLjo0tI7f7lwQ4WVEnKt9oA8vJiBivUHIPjO7Xs0CI2JM2UTywpFHvRIJBP1lGb3LoQkMNt4A55rcvKDEts/s200/752-A-052-V7875.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">It was my baby's first bath. She was really enjoying the whole bath experience...she even drank some of the bath water! She was loving it! While bathing her, I noticed what looked like a tattoo on her fat little freckled belly. After the bath, we towel dried her and then used the hair dryer to get into all the deep nooks and crannies of her cute mass of bulldog wrinkles.</span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">After the bath, all fresh,clean and dry she felt so good...and smelled so good! Like a puppy should!</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">She was running around, checking everything out. She made herself right at home. It was as if she knew this was home! <span style="color:#ff6666;">Home Sweet Bulldog Home</span>! She was sooo happy! We found out very soon that she is a yapper! She was one gabby little girl! Hey, "Gabby Girl"...we will name her "Gabby". Great! She officially has a name. The name "Gabby" was ephemeral. You see we have a sweeter than sweet Boxer named "Maggie". </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Every time we called sweet "Gabby"...sweet "Maggie" came, too. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HbVnjmhLGID_Qrh3flJbNZ1drv1DpfCA59vXaEj5H4Ecsd8Y7uTlpcMA_JIBWeZHF9hIl8sSNzrcFGzWPfknqmAZ4afQC0jxfnYyMcGjuCffAjKzQIPycrzeuhiOxN5BPfJ39CjTxV4/s1600-h/Picture+091.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300899646914286658" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HbVnjmhLGID_Qrh3flJbNZ1drv1DpfCA59vXaEj5H4Ecsd8Y7uTlpcMA_JIBWeZHF9hIl8sSNzrcFGzWPfknqmAZ4afQC0jxfnYyMcGjuCffAjKzQIPycrzeuhiOxN5BPfJ39CjTxV4/s200/Picture+091.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Maggie was confused...poor Mags! OK...back to the "name game". The name "Gabby" is OUT! </span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663300;"></span></strong><br /> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Back to the tattoo on her tummy. After "Rosebud" had checked everything out and put the the other dogs in their place, she was one tired puppy. I picked her up and held her. Ahhh...she smelled so good...like fresh cut lavender. She gave me some of the sweetest bulldog kisses ever! We had bonded. Soon she was falling asleep in my lap. I rolled her over on her back and she fell sound asleep...sleeping and snoring in my lap. The series of letters and numbers on her tummy was indeed a tattoo. Why would someone tattoo a puppy?</span> </div><div><br /> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">I continued to be skeptical about the whole puppy deal so I called "D" the seller. I asked about the tattoo on her tummy. "D" told me that it had something to do with her microchip. It sounded strange but who was I to say it wasn't. I also asked "D" about the cough and the spots on her skin. "D" told me that she had not noticed the spots on her skin until she picked her up to put her into her car. She told me that she had medicated her for the skin problem and it was absolutely nothing to worry about. She assured me, the puppy is healthy. The cough..."probably stress". Yeah right, this is one stressed puppy...in my lap, belly up snoring! I wish I were stressed like this!</span> </div><div> </div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">The "name game" continues...We had noticed that she was quite a little punk to the other dogs! She is after-all a bullie! And it seemed she was out to prove it! In less than a couple of days she had become ruler of the roost, queen of her castle, diva of the dynasty -- a bossy little bullie! A little punk! "Punkie", yeah that's a good name, right? We started calling her "Punkie" and she came. Maggie didn't. It's was official..."Punkie" it is!</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">The holiday weekend came and went...Punkie was settling in just fine. Making herself right at home and punking out all the other dogs...living up to her name!</span> </div><div><br /> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Monday, I called and made a vet's appointment for Punkie's initial check-up. They couldn't get her in until Thursday. All day Monday, Punkie seemed to be sleeping more than she had slept over the weekend. Her coughing was a little more pronounced, as well. Being the worry wart that I am...I was a little concerned but I kept reminding myself that she had an appointment on Thursday morning.</span> </div><div><br /> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Late Monday night into early Tuesday morning, Punkie began wheezing, felt feverish and started to have a nasal discharge. It's the middle of the night...I am worried sick. The wee hours of the morning...2:00 am...2:15 am...3:00 am...3:30 am...the minutes are ticking by sooooo <em>s-l-o-w-l-y</em>. Each minute seems like an eternity. I just want it to be 9:00 am. I want to call the vet! Finally, I get in touch with the vet and they tell me to bring her right in. They will take Punkie in front of scheduled appointments and treat her as an emergency. YES!</span> </div><div> </div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">We get right in...I love "Dr.C" and "Dr.S"...they are such wonderful vets! But they don't have a wonderful diagnosis for Punkie. The cough is because she has pneumonia. The runny nose is due to an upper-respiratory infection. The doc goes on to tell me that they cannot rule out Distemper which there is no cure for. At this point, the tears are welling up...</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">The spots on her skin is a serious staph infection. The tattoo on her fat tummy is an import number. She also has a very rare gastrointestinal bacteria, Spirochetes not usually seen in the USA.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Dr. C goes on to say that more than likely, Punkie is from a Russian puppy</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">mill.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1AyKKYNxtY8dWcswFL4Y_gJzyPN8v9rIVxdxz1zbmVPAjhG7WSF8MIW09svI0tr1VR7eb21fACFMiFyokYbDZQjhAj1if5ULgZx23Fxx844XRp9DE3_2gPfzJPVJ1aFU_BCbPPnn7iE/s1600-h/Stop+Puppy+Mills.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300907741774392818" style="WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1AyKKYNxtY8dWcswFL4Y_gJzyPN8v9rIVxdxz1zbmVPAjhG7WSF8MIW09svI0tr1VR7eb21fACFMiFyokYbDZQjhAj1if5ULgZx23Fxx844XRp9DE3_2gPfzJPVJ1aFU_BCbPPnn7iE/s200/Stop+Puppy+Mills.gif" border="0" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Oh no, this can't be happening. I would never support a puppy mill by buying a puppy that came from one of those horrid places! I bought this puppy from a reputable breeder...Punkie was home bred and raised! "D" the puppy seller told me so...it says so on her website. But she also said that all her puppies are the healthiest you can get...Punkie has a One-Year Health Guarantee. This can't be happening!</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">OK...I must get a grip! I have to deal with this and not panic...I have a very sick puppy to take care of. Dr. C prescribes two different antibiotics to be given twice a day for 3 weeks, a medication to boost her immune system, and instructions for respiratory treatments. I've already started giving her DanActive for her immune system. I started DanActive on day one when I brought her home...Dr. C tells me to continue with it. Overwhelmed, I drive home. In tears!</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">A box of Kleenex in hand...wiping Punkie's nose and drying my tears! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEEa07EqVtZ2fAITnq5KZmWorFmpbtEj-68pXn9SpVqoC-fO2MKlSUwARG3wpViqMY8IGPm7E7aD27TehiXyYsDq5mSmqR7ZVa8NQ9nDSLzWrKphKZmaskWvHgj9TZiwcpzkiqAWvAE8/s1600-h/kleenex.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300916141858609490" style="WIDTH: 158px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEEa07EqVtZ2fAITnq5KZmWorFmpbtEj-68pXn9SpVqoC-fO2MKlSUwARG3wpViqMY8IGPm7E7aD27TehiXyYsDq5mSmqR7ZVa8NQ9nDSLzWrKphKZmaskWvHgj9TZiwcpzkiqAWvAE8/s200/kleenex.bmp" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">When I get home, I regain my composure. Somewhat. Well, at least enough to do what I should have done BEFORE I bought a puppy on the Internet. I googled "Epuppypro.com". I was aghast! I was reading one horror story after the other...about puppies that had been sold by "D" on her website as well as "D's" sister on "LoBoPuppies.com".</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">I could not believe so many people had been "scammed" just as I had been. It was confirmed...my Punkie came from a Russian puppy mill. I was heartbroken thinking about what she had been through in her short little life. Poor, poor baby...</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Many of the puppies who had the same upper-respiratory infection and pneumonia didn't make it through the illness...even with the same treatment that I had just started Punkie on. I was devastated! But I was determined that Punkie would pull through this regardless of what it would</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">take. I was committed. Punkie will make it...</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCvKxicwkhGIHg0B7LFOzB_64ZGv7xb05nrOUzQ3R8o0joc-XGnLMZvHktZzKLHzOtqD7b2A6MAYNrAp7mrcMZhlJLIPCQK1QUV6dHcHysu3iUVEVQ59gjhrZBVfAD1vHe5-hXx5p2bM/s1600-h/houseandpunk+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300918425325048018" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCvKxicwkhGIHg0B7LFOzB_64ZGv7xb05nrOUzQ3R8o0joc-XGnLMZvHktZzKLHzOtqD7b2A6MAYNrAp7mrcMZhlJLIPCQK1QUV6dHcHysu3iUVEVQ59gjhrZBVfAD1vHe5-hXx5p2bM/s200/houseandpunk+028.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#663300;">Punkie says "bye-bye" for now. "Mom has to start dinner. Mr. S will be home soon. I like to sit in the kitchen...Mom always gives me a bite when she's is cooking. Will you come back tomorrow to find out the rest of my story?" Please do...</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-48858813238540759972009-02-03T13:39:00.028-06:002009-02-09T01:15:41.645-06:00From Russia with BuLLdoG love...<span style="font-size:180%;color:#33ccff;"><strong><em><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#33ccff;"><strong><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">These are cute...</span> </em></strong></span><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QwH8avm7oi8wLVQiVRlhyphenhyphenPsOa-bC4eBXwVIKI1DpD3a-SGKl-et3tURR4_cEnvhUhx4dNoVu2I9RJNFXhC6mdubOyCIbkGAsO17-fqNY8xYTb42_VSbKCxHe3lUVy-RHVvKozzb6lwY/s1600-h/v555df4.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298658906522192498" style="WIDTH: 137px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 137px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QwH8avm7oi8wLVQiVRlhyphenhyphenPsOa-bC4eBXwVIKI1DpD3a-SGKl-et3tURR4_cEnvhUhx4dNoVu2I9RJNFXhC6mdubOyCIbkGAsO17-fqNY8xYTb42_VSbKCxHe3lUVy-RHVvKozzb6lwY/s200/v555df4.gif" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-URJgyMDkPRjgOUE-ZjAPm5LdcRDxTHvp1GqqHR86K0vGYs5Va9wATnl2q330VEJy9_N05xko5tQX5u3OKLFWohTlCQaPmSEkR4Njx-7uxK0uaafObvJhLSin9KpgM-K7e3LAdPRokE/s1600-h/kjh.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298664559307112658" style="WIDTH: 95px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-URJgyMDkPRjgOUE-ZjAPm5LdcRDxTHvp1GqqHR86K0vGYs5Va9wATnl2q330VEJy9_N05xko5tQX5u3OKLFWohTlCQaPmSEkR4Njx-7uxK0uaafObvJhLSin9KpgM-K7e3LAdPRokE/s200/kjh.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriVi5EVplxPTZTodNyIEB8L3x7Y4Y6d_FRF40Y2FJrlb1NOnQuD-8TZSo7cd07QrBv-Pr5D1_JxoRJYLeV8XN7NX39wuwXXYVtG4dAY84BBqSQYcq42UdR_DLkvN6oqd3kCojm2HChZ8/s1600-h/bullysleep-left.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298768086950186386" style="WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 90px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriVi5EVplxPTZTodNyIEB8L3x7Y4Y6d_FRF40Y2FJrlb1NOnQuD-8TZSo7cd07QrBv-Pr5D1_JxoRJYLeV8XN7NX39wuwXXYVtG4dAY84BBqSQYcq42UdR_DLkvN6oqd3kCojm2HChZ8/s200/bullysleep-left.gif" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>These are <em><span style="color:#00cccc;">CUTER</span></em>...all gussied up in their finery.<br /></strong></span></span><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wwsUQLn4rwbZhPcuaT66kyUzDAwujRe7L8ic8a4UIp2Gadn6p1J88qCzNuFYnl9FjemeJfEVLYkbwv4J_qdYQ5e4VuPHk0oG93UTozSk-dbOUWYjhujrOCBlJFSjDQlodn0ZIGWew4s/s1600-h/fashionable+dog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298666699613262802" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wwsUQLn4rwbZhPcuaT66kyUzDAwujRe7L8ic8a4UIp2Gadn6p1J88qCzNuFYnl9FjemeJfEVLYkbwv4J_qdYQ5e4VuPHk0oG93UTozSk-dbOUWYjhujrOCBlJFSjDQlodn0ZIGWew4s/s200/fashionable+dog.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAYju7QwzA6f6pEgZY1lrA2V9ng9-Ao3MDUXmEMu_HoCxREgP2fDSEBTmWTz_2o_si6hkunW4aN6hUArUV6VnnsEdNtyGwW4ILV_qF_nYqEDarUHOd5FbirHzdKQuxjnYRTDvHQHx64w/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298758498256989378" style="WIDTH: 137px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 107px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAYju7QwzA6f6pEgZY1lrA2V9ng9-Ao3MDUXmEMu_HoCxREgP2fDSEBTmWTz_2o_si6hkunW4aN6hUArUV6VnnsEdNtyGwW4ILV_qF_nYqEDarUHOd5FbirHzdKQuxjnYRTDvHQHx64w/s200/images.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6pIdjf_sahEv0K3eR6QOo0uZCMKQZNMMKZkwgendhiPP8CfYDmJufZKn-inum9KrGgTKfCZhJfp4jZgNbIJE_a28pHfGNtz_0xzzwlzg2A72I2jd8OkWdcFAwD6fM0jdobLnlTVr5D8/s1600-h/cute+dog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298665830566735474" style="WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 98px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6pIdjf_sahEv0K3eR6QOo0uZCMKQZNMMKZkwgendhiPP8CfYDmJufZKn-inum9KrGgTKfCZhJfp4jZgNbIJE_a28pHfGNtz_0xzzwlzg2A72I2jd8OkWdcFAwD6fM0jdobLnlTVr5D8/s200/cute+dog.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhe15bUDjaG1ayo9uziUF_VpNfut7GyB94IJI6djmw3kSzx3QyVUwm3eSXoz8QT-fiX1xQDQvh7WZ5YquQhyphenhyphenTFbGDMojxnJsq7KCCTfaR9EOZucuAx8ePi0_js7wRS9HdnyMcv4fZcSDg/s1600-h/bullie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298666465353153266" style="WIDTH: 137px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 81px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhe15bUDjaG1ayo9uziUF_VpNfut7GyB94IJI6djmw3kSzx3QyVUwm3eSXoz8QT-fiX1xQDQvh7WZ5YquQhyphenhyphenTFbGDMojxnJsq7KCCTfaR9EOZucuAx8ePi0_js7wRS9HdnyMcv4fZcSDg/s200/bullie.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></em><br /><em><span style="color:#6633ff;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>There's nothing cuter than a litter of Bulldog Puppies.</strong>..</span></span></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pNXnkqDtsbErhR6difZYgLG5ZN3AjL2uYz_iLySGeg4D4CueVzY45XjLbmhPG8qaKC5fAtr90SP4gcrI801s0rZDjNEQKZbgskxvTqb417w_Cj8b1GuxMyAIXeHKuoZhd_4fqNcUO_E/s1600-h/baby%20bulldogs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298665923024639730" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pNXnkqDtsbErhR6difZYgLG5ZN3AjL2uYz_iLySGeg4D4CueVzY45XjLbmhPG8qaKC5fAtr90SP4gcrI801s0rZDjNEQKZbgskxvTqb417w_Cj8b1GuxMyAIXeHKuoZhd_4fqNcUO_E/s200/baby%2520bulldogs.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#3366ff;"><strong>Ahhhh...look at those adorable mugs! Too cute, huh?</strong></span></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3366ff;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#00cccc;"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="color:#00cccc;"><span style="font-size:180%;">In my eyes and heart this is the cutest and sweetest, most lovable Li'l Bulldog...EVER...she's my baby! I love her so much.</span> </span></em></strong></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTQOEPUfUpUMS8r7LMDh-mo1_WwXB72kTjo54vGHhXG4kttVJt-eupUqQ5vic2HEE5TyfSSGNAnFhRH3YxdnuZ0eiNai4hR2Y5tg6X7IVeW5YJum6rw02MCXs2QGFGAE1Vh4dAWHHh9Q/s1600-h/Picture+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298761118817029026" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTQOEPUfUpUMS8r7LMDh-mo1_WwXB72kTjo54vGHhXG4kttVJt-eupUqQ5vic2HEE5TyfSSGNAnFhRH3YxdnuZ0eiNai4hR2Y5tg6X7IVeW5YJum6rw02MCXs2QGFGAE1Vh4dAWHHh9Q/s200/Picture+040.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>This is a sad story about a sweet little bulldog who came all the way from Russia...</div><div></div><div>On July 1, 2008, as I was checking my email, I opened an email and saw the faces of several beautiful English Bulldog puppies. My interest was piqued immediately. So before I realized what I was doing, I was clicking on the link to a Bulldog website.</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>OhMyGosh...I saw her sweet little face on the website. She was adorable! The website claimed that they had the healthiest, home raised, champion bloodline puppies puppies to be found. I "found" her on the website on July 4, 2008. It was ~<strong><em>Bulldog LUB~</em></strong> at first sight! I couldn't stop thinking of her. </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>So...I walked over to Joei's house and told her to go to the website and look at the puppy named "Rosebud". She did! And it was on! She did exactly what I knew she would...she convinced me that "we" should go get the puppy! Joei has an English Bulldog, Chloe and I love her and have wanted my own since Joei got Chloe. OK! The easy part is over...Joei and I decide we are going to get the puppy.</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Now all I had to do was convince Mr. Simplicity that I must have this puppy! The thing is...I wasn't convinced myself that I needed another puppy...I knew I didn't, but I couldn't get her sweet face out of my head.</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>I just happened to remember a little conversation I'd had with Mr. S a few weeks prior. You see had recently purchased a fancy,shiney, new motorcycle. When I mentioned that he didn't need the motorcycle...his response was something like, <em>it's not always about need, sometimes it's about want</em>. OK...Time for me to try this "want" thing on him...right?</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>After a lot of talking...<em>the beggin' and pleadin' kind of talk</em>...and reminding him that<em> it's not always about need</em>...I finally convinced Mr. S that I should have this sweet puppy. He finally gave in...hmm...actually he really never came right out and said "yes" but he had stopped saying "no". And that was good enough for me! It was all I needed to run next door and tell Joei to get ready..."we are going to get my puppy!" The puppy was about 80 miles from us. We were so excited...so off we went. ~~~ZoomZoomZoom~~~<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKyoG-j6NKcSzaIev_kOXBLuC4gRgBPFjCfkIwxcQyVMDzRwLCBTJH2UTeUATAx11qd_2eeYi9A2sUKr-HbH6JHCV8oiHzzWauuBJ8No6U0rEInF8CTRhxeGDEj2Q5vrKE4RtIMDpeqA/s1600-h/houseandpunk+099.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298762493123597010" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKyoG-j6NKcSzaIev_kOXBLuC4gRgBPFjCfkIwxcQyVMDzRwLCBTJH2UTeUATAx11qd_2eeYi9A2sUKr-HbH6JHCV8oiHzzWauuBJ8No6U0rEInF8CTRhxeGDEj2Q5vrKE4RtIMDpeqA/s200/houseandpunk+099.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We had made prior arrangements to meet the seller at a park to see the sweet puppy "in person". OhMyGosh!! I knew she was the ONE before I even picked her up. It was truly LUB at first sight! She was an adorable, bouncing butterball...so darn cute! We made the deal on "Rosebud" (her name on the Internet) and hurriedly got back into the car and started the trip back to the cottage. It was so hot on the day we got her, over 100 degrees in the shade...after all, it was July 4th! The trip home was long and <strong><em>stinky</em></strong>! "Rosebud" needed a bath in a big way! Not only did she need a bath, she was coughing a bit and her skin had little sores on it. Hmm, thinking to myself...is this really a healthy puppy??</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>It was on the way home that I started second-guessing the honesty of the lady I had gotten this poor, sweet puppy from. But I am a skeptic...however, I kept thinking if I were raising puppies in my home, there is NO way they would smell this bad, they would be clean! There were other little things that kept gnawing at me but I let them go because we were getting close to home and I had a puppy to bathe...</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div><em>Tune in</em> tomorrow for part 2 of this story...</div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-3443363493677786152009-02-02T18:03:00.033-06:002009-02-02T22:24:34.112-06:00All the way home...I don't remember if I've mentioned before that our daughter, Joei lives next door to us. That means Ashlei and Aiden live next door, too. How lucky are we to have two of our grandkids right next door? I know...it's a good thing, huh!?! Oh! And my sister lives across the street from us! I love it!<br /><br />Chef Joei!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9BZVkj6YPXjb9Tqf6cdAdfRpaOCdcDjZSdKMAOlxeBKtHcsy8q8WPxus7IwmkwkzlwxcNYwXTJayY7aS5-K4R1RvlvUmWbqaiXoUDuxgQ6sPZnrKpJJ0Phs4PQkG6_3n5oxGZSr5H7o/s1600-h/joei.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298375964603104354" style="WIDTH: 113px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9BZVkj6YPXjb9Tqf6cdAdfRpaOCdcDjZSdKMAOlxeBKtHcsy8q8WPxus7IwmkwkzlwxcNYwXTJayY7aS5-K4R1RvlvUmWbqaiXoUDuxgQ6sPZnrKpJJ0Phs4PQkG6_3n5oxGZSr5H7o/s200/joei.jpg" border="0" /></a>Last night we strolled a few leisurely steps next door to watch the Super Bowl and have a delicious dinner prepared by Joei. She's a fantastic cook! Of course, she learned from the best -- <em>moi</em>!<br /><br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMvxRwy6JG-kw37NhcxPI_mwOmt6zYyAWZ9dq_0m93RvHyOJzBhVN_sz4JyzU3tLtW4cuU4QZM5z-23hRMsa6q7ue6Wl9yhss0rONsiPh6p2LYlf77BCa4IoxTl77RWw-MzKxmiT1m3M/s1600-h/menu+sign.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298356943412902754" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 149px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMvxRwy6JG-kw37NhcxPI_mwOmt6zYyAWZ9dq_0m93RvHyOJzBhVN_sz4JyzU3tLtW4cuU4QZM5z-23hRMsa6q7ue6Wl9yhss0rONsiPh6p2LYlf77BCa4IoxTl77RWw-MzKxmiT1m3M/s200/menu+sign.jpg" border="0" /></a>Joei whipped up a fine dinner! Joei does everything... <em><strong>fast</strong></em>! It would've taken me hours to make our dinner. Not Joei...forty-five minutes from start to finish! She does it fast but it is NOT fast food! It tastes like she spent hours in her kitchen...</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>First, she served up a tasty mix of fresh salad greens topped with grape tomatoes, red onions, croutons and some zesty <em>homemade</em> Ranch Dressing. I lovelovelove salad...I could have, uh... should have stopped with the salad. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOt4OwOfxXk2ZG5AW2mxEaYgfmX0TVpjj7CAWk1p5iSEYmEdRON3XRbNcJdjqFG1HQhNPDc9rTOvcLFMA0BkgX1HqjPZM51Wz3BvfZWSuiuAh-YsKRIGdzaA9uWsMS5RKTnMSKl1R0ZE/s1600-h/green_salad.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298368077341512610" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOt4OwOfxXk2ZG5AW2mxEaYgfmX0TVpjj7CAWk1p5iSEYmEdRON3XRbNcJdjqFG1HQhNPDc9rTOvcLFMA0BkgX1HqjPZM51Wz3BvfZWSuiuAh-YsKRIGdzaA9uWsMS5RKTnMSKl1R0ZE/s200/green_salad.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It was so yummy though...good enough for me to consider it "the entree". Did mention that I LOVE salad? Mmm! so, so good!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Then we moved on to the main course...OMGosh! So DELICIOUS! This is just plain good ol' southern-style cookin'. A Texas-style dinner like this just cannot be beat! The epitome of comfort food for sure!</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEZpItwONI6AShwR1kk90uiOsR4fYVOpMTgiBg6_UqpOOL1ISoLPivYiB-AQ6lKO7gLboFBSHSSHcswLDNsY-p26sKAeSk7yOPe6VbLuDNHFZ3UO8DEzWz_jJuxZ1lNTPQv_rw52qrzs/s1600-h/cfs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298367100334274098" style="WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 171px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEZpItwONI6AShwR1kk90uiOsR4fYVOpMTgiBg6_UqpOOL1ISoLPivYiB-AQ6lKO7gLboFBSHSSHcswLDNsY-p26sKAeSk7yOPe6VbLuDNHFZ3UO8DEzWz_jJuxZ1lNTPQv_rw52qrzs/s200/cfs.jpg" border="0" /></a>Mr. Simplicity is from up north. Before he moved to Texas back in the 60s, he was clueless when it came to southern-style cookin'. Huh?...Chicken Fried Steak?...what's that? He was clueless! He actually thought it was some kind of chicken! He had been raised eating everything "boiled or baked" -- his words, not mine! It didn't take him long to learn that he had been missing the boat when it came to eatin' up some darn good vittles! I'm dating myself here, (again!) but the hubby has been chowing down on Chicken Fried Steak for well over forty years now! And it shows! OK that wasn't very nice of me, was it? He <em>had</em> a very athletic build until I got hold of him. I put some meat on those bones with some good ol' fashioned home cookin' -- southern style, of course! His mom still boils and bakes...and nags! Yep, she nags relentlessly, that he should lose a few pounds. Sorry, MIL... I admit, you do <strong><em>bake</em></strong> the best pies I have ever tasted! Joei learned about pies from my MIL, her MeMe Joan...she does make the best pies ever! Well, maybe except for my dear Granny...I miss her so.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Joei got this for Christmas last year...</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuuDFE3TIk3eNCZexFXMnVX5TyAcGJqH_7RbDthujudXEtLQEjfoWGkBIJjwnxHpL01kYvRSqpBPJ9cgELrK_s-kQFErLHJ651_DdU9omnG4q0I9jBIV5yInwBtxG1gji-4FAB2t_nlM/s1600-h/mixer+for+pie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298419789748156834" style="WIDTH: 115px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 115px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuuDFE3TIk3eNCZexFXMnVX5TyAcGJqH_7RbDthujudXEtLQEjfoWGkBIJjwnxHpL01kYvRSqpBPJ9cgELrK_s-kQFErLHJ651_DdU9omnG4q0I9jBIV5yInwBtxG1gji-4FAB2t_nlM/s200/mixer+for+pie.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />so she could make this...</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bGyEsFfxBQ8lkiRsYwkjYpgW2UAb-2JVdIFRI25qwI5_PpxKQfTU-HqBg_DjXjqMW1QVUrY_r-iMqu96qHGhJKifDU8BfTn-Sd4rZMkL00QZ4CahA52Qn7XTkmwgLSWplsmx0CW9p9w/s1600-h/pie+crust.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298382866257508514" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bGyEsFfxBQ8lkiRsYwkjYpgW2UAb-2JVdIFRI25qwI5_PpxKQfTU-HqBg_DjXjqMW1QVUrY_r-iMqu96qHGhJKifDU8BfTn-Sd4rZMkL00QZ4CahA52Qn7XTkmwgLSWplsmx0CW9p9w/s200/pie+crust.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0c5r7vlmnmKX8uIuwD801YkVAOaD7f84v8rzFN7XQgdbIcoHjrAGhWisEs2Q6yzBl_MuAIVP8dvidHqlnfmlNgKUbtao3QUKi057kBNZh3FpVj89hmrrsZUqV3F00mu2H1HviqGP09K4/s1600-h/homemade+crust.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298382578681473714" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0c5r7vlmnmKX8uIuwD801YkVAOaD7f84v8rzFN7XQgdbIcoHjrAGhWisEs2Q6yzBl_MuAIVP8dvidHqlnfmlNgKUbtao3QUKi057kBNZh3FpVj89hmrrsZUqV3F00mu2H1HviqGP09K4/s200/homemade+crust.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPxOs4wQvfXYH1sn3OGyGS1Cq8BmBVpNJ3hqFf48bjpxkeVfHs9OtKJl55ib30xqzJ38OiQfGygMSCQr0aWCHOalaJN4BRCFwP8YsyhG8u4COtVk-xVNgagJ4jOSLNGXe6wDHlH_jD88/s1600-h/crust.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298385736949533202" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPxOs4wQvfXYH1sn3OGyGS1Cq8BmBVpNJ3hqFf48bjpxkeVfHs9OtKJl55ib30xqzJ38OiQfGygMSCQr0aWCHOalaJN4BRCFwP8YsyhG8u4COtVk-xVNgagJ4jOSLNGXe6wDHlH_jD88/s200/crust.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJHGjb9qX2bxLJLpheiKQwHLEfl0kH3PGaSeB14J-sMhb0HsOdNkPW3NVDGvB9Pnw66zMwXmNyq_y39ZzqjP8ei32GPGnYcbSFYrzDNQan97aqVzx4LIQBljgJ_r3Cyxn5Hj3oRi6Wlw/s1600-h/pudding.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298385926468226786" style="WIDTH: 115px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 79px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJHGjb9qX2bxLJLpheiKQwHLEfl0kH3PGaSeB14J-sMhb0HsOdNkPW3NVDGvB9Pnw66zMwXmNyq_y39ZzqjP8ei32GPGnYcbSFYrzDNQan97aqVzx4LIQBljgJ_r3Cyxn5Hj3oRi6Wlw/s200/pudding.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Flaky homemade pie crust + Homemade chocolate pudding =</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhZm1qtf-xfc1h-E-mPe4s3p4G0bSyDa3LjJO0eU_-0Dg-JaQCKUdsyYUmtGH6FKkdgsbFsAvg-UsxSnxhEGZIwC4MXrthjXQUET7psDcVKBBpyhDMTiH0PZy9foWSGLzKp0g0pazm3c/s1600-h/chocpie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298385813313307778" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhZm1qtf-xfc1h-E-mPe4s3p4G0bSyDa3LjJO0eU_-0Dg-JaQCKUdsyYUmtGH6FKkdgsbFsAvg-UsxSnxhEGZIwC4MXrthjXQUET7psDcVKBBpyhDMTiH0PZy9foWSGLzKp0g0pazm3c/s200/chocpie.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>The best, absolutely heavenly chocolate pie. It's delish!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And of course, it's not finished without a little whipped cream...</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgET92plDkY4ErIOErfe76jJuLbCG_LdKscApYSWRs3tw8dFa3P3_JSdsBLBfZzRhNF_ye1JT12rtyfGq_TiUPUVsJQHA7uKny_MwbXKm3iblWbV5G7teAaeBedu88pEKk3pBJq6_3HLMY/s1600-h/whipped+cream.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298386040103505490" style="WIDTH: 46px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 139px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgET92plDkY4ErIOErfe76jJuLbCG_LdKscApYSWRs3tw8dFa3P3_JSdsBLBfZzRhNF_ye1JT12rtyfGq_TiUPUVsJQHA7uKny_MwbXKm3iblWbV5G7teAaeBedu88pEKk3pBJq6_3HLMY/s200/whipped+cream.jpg" border="0" /></a>OMGosh! Too good to put into words! Thanks Joei! Everything was fabulous! What's for dinner tomorrow?<br /></div><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>After a delectable dinner, a mouth-watering dessert and another dadgum Dallas Cowboy~<em>less</em> Super Bowl --</div><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>we had to <em>walk <span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:180%;">ALL</span> </span>the way home...</em></strong></span></div></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-20100978117083642212009-01-30T10:57:00.044-06:002009-02-02T16:07:45.713-06:00This CoTTage is goin' to the DaWgS!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZwNLkuDj0vT3jDY7zyFHvlBMUAiZhlIDkZFJiQaNvhbxoIBg76_b_jK3V5kv8492BjPxDALp6gZGRpYRyvoyIgle61PdQX-Kp-gl2iFUC7nvKF8YEXP05TUbGGhYNRey6l86u_GuY8k/s1600-h/adorable1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297151239552497426" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZwNLkuDj0vT3jDY7zyFHvlBMUAiZhlIDkZFJiQaNvhbxoIBg76_b_jK3V5kv8492BjPxDALp6gZGRpYRyvoyIgle61PdQX-Kp-gl2iFUC7nvKF8YEXP05TUbGGhYNRey6l86u_GuY8k/s200/adorable1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><em>Oh! My! Gosh! How cute is this?!? </em></strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Awwww!! A~D~O~R~A~B~L~E, huh!! We had a visitor come a callin' yesterday! Look at that face! Precious! I could get attached to this little fella pretty darn quick. What a sweet snuggle-bug! He is a baby Shih-Tzu and couldn't weigh more than a pound and half of his weight is fur!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCUplJwK1eLSKNNh52GBEDfKXTduYcEO8VsitFTiALOffFc2ivALReKibBMAkk2cy0cOxDHDq4NW433qWXFTXXHuPFDrZvBRfXaK078ZTV4JTjwpLKW_C6jvMBjULE9qYwy3Ou4ktS_I/s1600-h/adorable.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297148092037735426" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCUplJwK1eLSKNNh52GBEDfKXTduYcEO8VsitFTiALOffFc2ivALReKibBMAkk2cy0cOxDHDq4NW433qWXFTXXHuPFDrZvBRfXaK078ZTV4JTjwpLKW_C6jvMBjULE9qYwy3Ou4ktS_I/s200/adorable.jpg" border="0" /></a></span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">I think my furbabies know that their "Daddy" has told me, "<strong><em>No more dogs, honey</em></strong>". </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">OK, it's actually more like<em><strong>...</strong></em></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><em>"<strong>No, Donna!! You CANNOT have another *@#*^`@ dog</strong>!</em>" </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">When Mr. Simplicity calls me "Donna", I know he means business!</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">I have to agree with him when it comes to this...the dogs outnumber the people in our "pack"! </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Punkie took one look at li'l bit, she was not happy that a <em>real</em> lap dog had the very nerve to sit in my lap! Punkie Brewster is my <strong>55 pound</strong> lap dog! Punkie is a bit needy because of her "<em>past</em>" -- I will blog about that later!</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">The Boxer is my sweet Maggie Mae. She wanted to mother the baby -- she was in protect mode.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz5Q5N_xyJRf6C6_3Q4j3NpX60Dia95nfapRIANoq2ZqD43mXsM9EBSiVHGNDJSteNK2ef6syi15vhhu3sTEeJ5xvGgHbfkJDKRPnFhbghqmB-6bsKY-uD9klKOXz5nkpHK40-C3a9xM/s1600-h/maggie+punkie+lil+bit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297152751885006562" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz5Q5N_xyJRf6C6_3Q4j3NpX60Dia95nfapRIANoq2ZqD43mXsM9EBSiVHGNDJSteNK2ef6syi15vhhu3sTEeJ5xvGgHbfkJDKRPnFhbghqmB-6bsKY-uD9klKOXz5nkpHK40-C3a9xM/s200/maggie+punkie+lil+bit.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Verdana;">This sweet puppy is from a litter of four -- three boys,one little girl. My niece, Candi brought them (yes, the whole litter!) over for a visit. I'm sure she had an ulterior motive...she knows that I am a fool when it comes to animals...OK, my whole family knows it -- it's no secret! Heck, all the strays know to come to my house and they will be fed and brought in out of the cold until I can find them a forever home.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqY8n1C-1fi3oHkIhd5zQx8LQcqCZXlmwz1Xj9uZM4ilEEEvveVCqkegh0outvN8FJF27ULAjv-OmCfkJzVkF3PvMOU1DPDJBpzCbXhNuhrmVog4__aH4Bi2zHbDR193DyYi4Vz0GxrGY/s1600-h/toomany.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297154189502797074" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqY8n1C-1fi3oHkIhd5zQx8LQcqCZXlmwz1Xj9uZM4ilEEEvveVCqkegh0outvN8FJF27ULAjv-OmCfkJzVkF3PvMOU1DPDJBpzCbXhNuhrmVog4__aH4Bi2zHbDR193DyYi4Vz0GxrGY/s200/toomany.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Three members of our <em><strong>pack.</strong> from left to right: Punkie Brewster, MaxieMan, and Maggie Mae</em><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I haven't learned how to "just say NO" when it comes to critters. We've had three strays come here since we moved into the cottage. I have found homes for them all. </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9cZ2RzC9Yv-C5-PT8yUa0SymkpZANBYLgBvDrxNIagi9xXfV0uQ-lug0SskybpbXcPsfE_GxB8VRWLOLtC0BiMPsWS9CrwCaS_2Z-RdIg4N0spew9hwQ0Q1sJFkTrsQXfm1VVt6nLvc/s1600-h/maxieman.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297174922386681778" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9cZ2RzC9Yv-C5-PT8yUa0SymkpZANBYLgBvDrxNIagi9xXfV0uQ-lug0SskybpbXcPsfE_GxB8VRWLOLtC0BiMPsWS9CrwCaS_2Z-RdIg4N0spew9hwQ0Q1sJFkTrsQXfm1VVt6nLvc/s200/maxieman.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The little black and cream chihuahua warming-up by the <em>fire</em>, is a rescue dog. His name is "MaxieMan". I got him from Operation Kindness, a no-kill shelter. His "momma" passed away and he was used to sleeping "in bed, under the covers with his mom". There was a story about him on our local news station. I went and saved him because I didn't want him to go a single night of not sleeping under the covers with a mom!</span> We've had him 6 years now!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fIf8QNY8JImYXy8hUdg1imuUnNACi6TVkie7LLy6ctBDVhFcjFgtTR3h0o-3ntOWaCN0V0_051HEqaWbXhKJda5x9h6W1qTQM5teiUsRQreWlqD6M1YFGE7YnjH2bzWFkZpil-4Mumo/s1600-h/go+home+now+lil+one.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297155620013066770" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fIf8QNY8JImYXy8hUdg1imuUnNACi6TVkie7LLy6ctBDVhFcjFgtTR3h0o-3ntOWaCN0V0_051HEqaWbXhKJda5x9h6W1qTQM5teiUsRQreWlqD6M1YFGE7YnjH2bzWFkZpil-4Mumo/s200/go+home+now+lil+one.jpg" border="0" /></a>Punkie Brewster is NOT happy! I think she might be saying, "OK Buster, enough is enough! You need to find your way back to <em>your</em> home, this is <strong>MY</strong> home! <strong>MY</strong> mommy does NOT have room for you in her lap...it's <strong>MY</strong> lap!"<br /><br /><br /><br />Old Girl a.k.a OG<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaYs7VPcOXSZLOLYKK0VIWqfjmhIoZHU8lH50pP6Ytqkb6UHou2EGrNWajE0yc2e_SvHAnpC1zcwlCdxBdz9JEL5J1EDnMIZOi2dWQJJSAjTP1IaVpgbNSep5jYeY57qJi0qHGh84pv8/s1600-h/oldgirl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297164351364994562" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaYs7VPcOXSZLOLYKK0VIWqfjmhIoZHU8lH50pP6Ytqkb6UHou2EGrNWajE0yc2e_SvHAnpC1zcwlCdxBdz9JEL5J1EDnMIZOi2dWQJJSAjTP1IaVpgbNSep5jYeY57qJi0qHGh84pv8/s200/oldgirl.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Verdana;">My daughter, Joei lives next door and Old Girl (OG), the first stray who came around lives with her now and has for more than two years. Sorry the pic is so dark but OG prefers to nap with the lights <em>OFF!</em> I think OG is part Wolfe. She is the smartest dog ever! I really believe that dogs sense when you come to their rescue -- they are grateful and show it in various ways. Do you think animals can rationalize something like that? </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XzY9_pbGtS-MGopAlrmGOqxY4tf2qgUVPb2ip_L8gGgNcXopUIGjDQ6Z2ttF8k9hyvb7RsTsNFx2p5Bm9VoYSjV9k2YZFhzsar8ploagwI94jS3sgbo9Y5SsKivtJJrh1RmazokhgBM/s1600-h/chloechlo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297165110366191986" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XzY9_pbGtS-MGopAlrmGOqxY4tf2qgUVPb2ip_L8gGgNcXopUIGjDQ6Z2ttF8k9hyvb7RsTsNFx2p5Bm9VoYSjV9k2YZFhzsar8ploagwI94jS3sgbo9Y5SsKivtJJrh1RmazokhgBM/s200/chloechlo.jpg" border="0" /></a>Oh! And this is Chloe. She is the snob, diva, queen bee, princess of the palace! You see, nobody has told her she's a dog! Shhhhh! She belongs to my daughter, Joei...or maybe I should say, "Joei belongs to Chloe". She just stuck her tongue out and blew us all a big fat <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"><strong>RaSpBeRRy</strong></span>!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMm9jPo0WrkduMImVS0N08VRwfs2ZehrtPXn-VB_cl5OPGejQB564I6fsoziJrOE-PfihQk2JXJxc5MxkrQV8UQGFj-jT4Bic7vTPL7QfXDIJ5L1-9Gt6N1E8fvJjT68XXdbfqFDWIic/s1600-h/punkraspberry.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297169292648230802" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMm9jPo0WrkduMImVS0N08VRwfs2ZehrtPXn-VB_cl5OPGejQB564I6fsoziJrOE-PfihQk2JXJxc5MxkrQV8UQGFj-jT4Bic7vTPL7QfXDIJ5L1-9Gt6N1E8fvJjT68XXdbfqFDWIic/s200/punkraspberry.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Punkie followed suit with a big ol' <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"><strong>RaSpBeRRy</strong></span>!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3Aqxc8cErUMEjOznfpRuKAKljgV-HFTcyFKFGDUHXBGYGMHxllDWePdQ87HdOodNStZn0nbuCILs0WdXI9XQfjugzKYWx3AYv_ijemIFWkK_CeLzj9uAyW63f3__aSk3kkFOdIvZjL0/s1600-h/chloesleeping.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297168186570438754" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3Aqxc8cErUMEjOznfpRuKAKljgV-HFTcyFKFGDUHXBGYGMHxllDWePdQ87HdOodNStZn0nbuCILs0WdXI9XQfjugzKYWx3AYv_ijemIFWkK_CeLzj9uAyW63f3__aSk3kkFOdIvZjL0/s200/chloesleeping.jpg" border="0" /></a>Chloe was not in the least impressed with our sweet li'l visitor...<br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Puhlllleeeeease, turn off the lights...this party is OvEr!</span></em></strong> </span>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-56400914288913364792009-01-27T18:06:00.016-06:002009-02-02T16:13:21.068-06:00Birds, Squirrels, Tree Frog and the Cold Duck!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaDBX9J2tTIKrOP8siQ5Cj-5U7oy_9aeMSHUZF6lC-FhQlKTOcQQglGwvJpLTT4KPnklY3ZoYCxBQZGYRzECqNCHc0uS51GbcP85wJjC_vvqVOJqz86hXxso9OCJOM6JPDfI9IFf6Tq4/s1600-h/duck+at+cedar+creek.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296172543528993762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaDBX9J2tTIKrOP8siQ5Cj-5U7oy_9aeMSHUZF6lC-FhQlKTOcQQglGwvJpLTT4KPnklY3ZoYCxBQZGYRzECqNCHc0uS51GbcP85wJjC_vvqVOJqz86hXxso9OCJOM6JPDfI9IFf6Tq4/s320/duck+at+cedar+creek.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;">It's so cold here!</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;"> </span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;">I've got ice forming on my grilling deck! It's hard to believe that less than a week ago we had spring weather. </span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;"></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;">If anyone from the Pacific Northwest or even folks just north of the Red River reads this post they will laugh at this Texan...but our little part of the world is a frigid 28 degrees (brr!)...the drizzle is coming down...the newscasters are announcing business and school closings for tomorrow. In comparison to the weather the northern states have experienced thus far into 2009, 28 degrees would seem absolutely balmy to those poor folks! </span></strong></div><div> </div><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;">Don't get me wrong, I love the changing of the seasons but I prefer observing the cold from the inside out...it makes me a shiver when I look out and see a thin layer of ice forming and more precipitation is headed our way!</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;"></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;">We did have to venture out earlier this afternoon. Errands! The trip into town was a must. We were out of coffee. Not good! As we went over the bridge towards town, I saw the ducks swimming in the lake. How can the ducks get in the cold water and swim around as if it were the middle of summer? How do they do that?</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;">Back home with coffee in tow...feeling the warmth and comfort of my little cottage surround me, I sit in my favorite chair and watch the birds and squirrels at the feeders in my yard. As I sit mesmerized, losing track of all time just simply watching the squirrels scurry about the yard picking at the cobs of corn while the birds flutter around the bird feeders. Chickadees, cardinals, wrens, finches, brown sparrows and even the occasional wood pecker, all of them just waiting for their turn at the feeder. Watching this is a simple pleasure that I never tire of. </span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;"></span></strong></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxapZsc6frIY9J8TYudncADkSBhP0wTVdZvXLRUkEWVEVPwk88V3EmZWaRl7GiFLnp-_Tdm32PBvxU2NEX4sIQdLzARkZbA9aNiqRtQtjFm3d48rQqf4Db-EbTlxk9E-gsfzBKfzAf5I/s1600-h/our+tree+frog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296172727572299922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxapZsc6frIY9J8TYudncADkSBhP0wTVdZvXLRUkEWVEVPwk88V3EmZWaRl7GiFLnp-_Tdm32PBvxU2NEX4sIQdLzARkZbA9aNiqRtQtjFm3d48rQqf4Db-EbTlxk9E-gsfzBKfzAf5I/s320/our+tree+frog.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;">We have a tree frog who lives in one of the planters on the front porch. Sometimes when he comes out on a warm night, he gets on the french doors on the front porch. His little lime green feet have cute teeny tiny suction cup toes to help him maneuver vertically. His cute toes suction to the glass of the french doors. As he moves slowly up the glass panes in the door towards the porch light, the lake bugs are already swarming the light fixture. The little tree frog moves slowly with anticipation of his next meal. Finally, the little frog arrives close enough to the fixture. With a lightning-quick flick of his long, pink tongue...dinner is served!</span></strong><br /></div><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;">I love all animals -- domestic or wild -- I love them all.</span></strong> </div><div> </div><div></div><div><strong><span style="color:#999900;">This cold weather is making me long for the warm nights when the tree frog visits my front porch!</span></strong></div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6169623647521419857.post-73370971410618073392009-01-26T22:28:00.011-06:002009-02-02T10:53:59.675-06:00Banner Love ~<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggajx_j7SyiUauyzNvOQV88ToCWlJ5GWS9a6UWK5dELbnnLBhRDChp8UFKCpkwjma_pSZ9P20XQygYEZmA8MXABNEPMmOBdoW_NJnbDFRBqKvzVErFe321W5Mrz6YTere1dqeOX4Cz4gI/s1600-h/ash.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295833060869751570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 307px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggajx_j7SyiUauyzNvOQV88ToCWlJ5GWS9a6UWK5dELbnnLBhRDChp8UFKCpkwjma_pSZ9P20XQygYEZmA8MXABNEPMmOBdoW_NJnbDFRBqKvzVErFe321W5Mrz6YTere1dqeOX4Cz4gI/s320/ash.png" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>I'm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lovin'</span> my cute little ~banner~</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>I'm still learning all the ins and outs of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">blogland</span>. Some of it is easy~<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">peasy</span> but some of it is just downright mind <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bogglin</span>! I tried to figure out how to do my <em>own</em> banner...it was w~a~y over my head! My 13 year old granddaughter, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ashlei</span> was over tonight and I casually asked her if she knew anything about blogs, banners, etc. I was amazed when she said "SURE" just like that-- no big deal! She also told me that she has her own blog and went on to ask, "Are you on Blogger, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">MeMe</span>?" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Ummm</span>, I guess...</div><div> </div><div>I asked her if she could help me with a banner. In a few minutes, she walked back through my front door and started snapping photos. I was sidetracked in deep conversation with my daughter and not really paying attention to the little shutterbug.<br /></div><div>The next thing I knew she was asking me which photos I liked the best. She had actually taken several photos of our family room and my little studio/office area. She went on to make a "vintage looking" background for the banner and added the two pictures that we decided on. Next, she was muttering something about HTML...whatever that is!<br /></div><div>She played around on her laptop for a few minutes and the next thing I knew she had picked up my laptop and handed it to me...VOILA! New banner!! I love it!<br /></div><div>Kids! They are just too smart these days!</div>Simplicity Cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06676394997937031789noreply@blogger.com3