Maggie Getting Fresh

Back in the day, about 2.5 months ago, we used to buy 'healthy' bread. We were committed for Oroweat loaves, better known as Brownberry to you Easterners, because it is the most healthful and least junky. My kids and husband liked it, fact is, even my doggy liked it. But one day, I was reading the back of the plastic (ugh) bag and saw they were putting high fructose corn syrup into the 100% Whole Wheat bread that we were buying! I was aghast, I felt betrayed and I knew I could do better and for much less than $4.99 a loaf.

Ever since that day we've been making our own bread at home. It's not been easy, especially in our family where we buy very little prepared foods or 'snack' foods. When the kids come home from school, it was easy for them to grab some bread, toast it and spread something on it to hold them off until dinner. Now, it's a little more complicated, takes lots of planning and take about 4-hours to make a single loaf. But it's worth it because I put in only organic ingredients that I buy in bulk, no fillers, no preservatives and certainly no high fructose corn syprup. Of course, now Oroweat no longer uses high fructose corn syrup and is still readily available for purchase at any supermarket.



Anyway, the bread is really enjoyed by the kids. We have trouble slicing it with our bread knife and it's a bit of a process to get even pieces to everyone in the morning for their toast. Take this morning, I cut off a piece for little BeanaMaria, put it in the toaster and then left the rest of the loaf on the counter because I thought Tovey might want some in a little bit. I brought Annike's to her and then took care of a few things in another part of the house. When I came back to the kitchen I saw my Maggie wrestling with something outside, a big puddle of drool forming underneath her face, and Tova trying to get out the doggy door while shouting speci-al epithets at the top of her baby lungs.

It turns out that Maggie, who is shaped a bit like a strech limo, likes the bread quite a bit. She has no qualms about helping herself.

Here she is working on the last 1/4 of the loaf, having already devoured a 1/4.

I always thought dogs were carnivores.

She's got a tongue like a frog.

Sensing me watching her, she rushed to grab the rest of the bread and flee.

No remorse.

Maybe just a little guilt.

Guard Baby

Sheesh. I almost forgot my password, it's been so ding gone long since I had anything to say.


'Anything' may be the wrong word. Usually I have lots n lots to say. Fact is, I was having a material problem. Bloggable material, or the inspiration to turn into into bloggable material was more precisely the problem.

You know when you're a working mommy with small children and everyday seems like a miracle? Like, for example, you got to work without crashing the car while applying lip gloss. It's a big deal! Certainly seems important, but when you set down in the Gramma Room cum Office to say sumpin' about it, I don't know -- the magic just goes away.

So then, like, my mom came because Nanny McHope went to go visit family back in CT. Phew, does my mom keep us busy.


Then Lars left. I was alone in this huge 1600 sq foot house, all alone. Except my kids. They were here, too. And Maggie. She's no good, though. Strangers come in the house and she rolls straight to her back for them to rub her belly. Her bark is absolutely fierce.


Anyway, it was right before my mate went away that we established a new security system at our house. We fondly call it the Guard Baby Protection System. Freaks everyone out when they walk up our front steps. Don't even think about breaking in, you'd be a fool!

He's watching you . . .

Yep, so that's what we've got for when my burly husband is in St Louis. A genuine guard baby. Beat that!