Pies and Pups and Peppermint, Oh My!

Doesn't it look like he's giggling? I love this guy.

The addiction to Rusty Taco continued with breakfast tacos

I got over 10,000 steps for the first time (since I've had my {Fitbit})

Buttermilk Pie made with {this recipe}

 

My last peppermint mocha K-Cup from Nikki

2013 Second Simple Goal: Explanation

I think dogs are the best thing that God ever made. I love them. When I give to charities, they are almost always dog-related, but I really want to get serious this year about making a standing, recurring donation. There are two charities that I feel a strong connection to: {Kane's Krusade} and {St. Francis Rescue}. 

I love all dogs, but bully breeds hold a very special place in my heart because they are so often victims of abuse and neglect and, on top of that, are maligned by the media. It literally makes my heart hurt when I think about it. 

Kane's Krusade is an amazing (I'm not using that word lightly) education and outreach group up in my homeland of Springfield, MA. Check out {their Facebook page} to learn about the work that they're doing. Kim and the volunteers that work with her are nothing less than angels that work miracles for {misunderstood dogs}.  

St. Francis is a pit bull rescue group closer my current home in East Texas. Pit bull fear, neglect, and mistreatment is an issue everywhere, but I feel it strongly here. Maybe it's just because I'm more sensitive to it now than I was when I lived in other parts of the country, or maybe it really is worse here; I don't really know. But I do know that here in East Texas we are in desperate need of bully breed advocacy and rescue groups, and the people at St. Francis (and the Nacogdoches Animal Shelter, with whom they work closely) are in the trenches. They deserve all the help and support they can get. 

When I am overwhelmed by the sadness and evil that I see in the world, people like the folks at Kane's Krusade and St. Francis remind me that there is more good than bad in the world. Like my high school science teacher, Mr. Vennell, used to say: There must be more love than evil in the word, or we wouldn't still be here. 

2013 First Simple Goal: Explanation

Back in the spring, we signed up for a new homeowners insurance policy and, not a month later, they kicked us to the curb because they said we had a vicious dog on our property (as you all know, we don't; remind me to post the whole story later). Anyway, they dug their heels in and wouldn't relent because Custer is a Chow mix and Chows are on their list of "dangerous breeds". This makes me so mad for so many reasons, number one being that they have a list of dog breeds that are considered inherently dangerous. But, also, because Custer is the biggest people-loving dog that has ever graced this planet and is the best behaved of all my furkids (although they're all pretty darn sweet). I mean, look at this guy! He's made out of fur and gentleman.

Anyway, we didn't bother trying to reason with those jackasses and just moved on to an insurance company that doesn't have a dangerous breed list, but it's been in the back of my mind that I should get the Big Guy {CGC certified} just in case we have to deal with this kind of stupidity in the future. I looked over the {test "questions"} and I think he'd pass most of them with flying colors, but I know he could use some basic manners and listening help, especially when other dogs are around. So I found an obedience club that offers a 6-week course to help prepare dogs to take the CGC test. Classes start March 12th. Fingers crossed!

*Bringing in 2013*

Lazy, laid-back, perfect New Year's Eve and Day. The best way to bring in 2013!
(By the way, Clyde wasn't available for photos because he was snoozing under a blanket all day...)

Yesterday, I was over at one of my favorite daily reads, {A Beautiful Mess}, and I saw their {4 Simple Goals} challenge from September. I think it was a seasonal goals thing, but it felt like a perfect way to set a few tangible resolutions for myself for the coming year. One of the rules they laid out for the challenge was that the goals should be quantifiable. So I thought of some broad, theoretical goals and then I tried to pin down some hard and fast ways to quantify my accomplishment. I'll write a little more about each of them over the next few weeks, and then add updates on my progress as it's made.

Thanks to {Emma and Elsie} for a great way to set some realistic resolutions for 2013!

Christmas 2012

Chris got me a really great little camera for Christmas. I am so impressed by the quality of pictures that it takes! Here's a sampling of them (untouched) from the wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we spent with 

my mom, my dad, Chris's mom, and Chris's sister. 

And of course, our furry sweethearts, including our furniece, Miss Macy. 

Above, Clyde-dog stuns the camera with his beauty. 

We got to use our wedding china for the yummy lasagna we had on Christmas Eve.

So many stockings on the mantle warms my heart. 

A mantle full of stockings means a house full of family and love. 

Mom relaxes with her Kindle in our newly decorated dining room. 

I finally tackled getting that space looking prettier, thanks to her encouragement. 

Chris's Grandma's antique bar, decorated and ready to serve drinks!

Christmas Eve vino.

Macy does her best blue steel.

Whoa. This stuff is goooood!

What's a family holiday without Skip-Bo??

Chris read the Christmas story from Luke to the family on Christmas Eve. 

Then, to my dad's delight (sarcasm), we sang Christmas carols. I loved it! 

Of course, I have quite a terrible voice, so there may have been some ears bleeding...

Candy cane place settings and pretty table for Christmas dinner. 

The Nug looks distrustful of the camera in her face. 

A beautiful new angel (Celia) and creche for my Nativity scene, care of my mom and dad! 

I love that the angel has a cat and a dog; she's my kind of gal. 

Snowy Christmas scene in the ornament that June sent us. 

Hound-doggie gettin his snuggle on in the fleecy blanket. He is so happy right now. 

Custer wants to know why I'm taking photos of him instead of going over to the cabinet to get him one of the Beggin Strips his Grandpa got him for Christmas. 

Happy birthday, my love!

Happy 40th birthday to the original Widgapae!

There aren't really words to describe how much I love this guy, so I'm not even gonna try. I'll just leave you with a photo of his cute mug :-)

I love you, Widgie!