Mid-Atlantic Hoosier

I loved reassuring the little white ball of fur on my lap as we drove home. She shivered, not knowing where she was headed or who we were. This is the puppy we had put off acquiring for years. She wasn't the 10- or 12-pound poodle I wanted, nor the extra-large Irish Wolfhound longed for by my husband. But, we both agreed to feed her, entertain her, take her through puppy classes, and raise her to be a healthy canine citizen.  Only a few days before, my husband was petting the new black, male puppy next door. I ambled over and he said, "We need one of these!" I was a little surprised but confirmed with him that he would invest full parental care, rights, and privileges in a dog estimated to weigh just between 15 to 20 pounds. He was smitten! Who wouldn't be with a furry small hamster, puppy, or kitten? They capture your heart. When we drove to choose a puppy, it was in the next town, out in the country. We turned into a long gravel driveway and parked in front of the s

Falling Energy and Sighs Have you planned for a holiday or special meal only to be disheartened when something dreadful happens? You sigh. You wish things weren't the new reality! Years ago, I prepared a lovely lasagna in a glass dish, and lifted it out of the oven onto the stove top. Not realizing the electric burner was on! In about one minute, there was the so und of bursting glass, with red sauce, beef, mozzarella, a delicious ricotta mixture mingled with glass all over the stove and flung across the floor. I was deflated. Thankfully, my husband came to the rescue and I kept thanking him as he cleaned up the mess. I sat down to regain my energy. I got beside myself (sighing and irked)* again the day before Thanksgiving. I'm pretty sure I was at fault for not closing the downstairs freezer door all the way. What did I find amiss? The oddest assortment of slightly thawed things and persimmon pulp half thawed. I finished thawing the very top of two bags of shrimp, tossed them