We had such a busy week this last week that I didn’t even have time to update my blog!

First of course there was Christmas. Not that I had much work to do because we were invited by Doug to come over for brunch at their place again around 9 am.

We made some Russian Tea or ‘brew’ for the occasion which was a recipe from James’ Mom. It’s a delicious fruity and spicy drink, served hot, made with several (fresh) juices, rinds and cinnamon. Perfect for any ‘wintery’ occasion.

The food was delicious, especially Brenda’s French toast made from home made cinnamon bread!

The pics were taking with my cell phone since we managed to forget the camera again, and they came out looking terrible. I 'doctored' them as good as I could in Picassa but they're still pretty lousy.

The week leading up to Old Years I was working my butt off at the office. No slowing down this year around the holidays!

The computer connection between mine and the one at Doug’s still has problems. To say it’s driving me nuts is an understatement. I’m ready to blast the bloody things into a thousand pieces! I don’t know what it is but computers bring out the worst in me.
Or maybe it’s because I’m not sleeping very well since I’ve started to ‘enjoy’ some of the ‘perks’ that come with hitting 50 if you know what I mean? Think ‘night sweats’ or ‘hot flashes’. I wake up 5 to 10 times a night and don’t always fall back to sleep that easy.
No more monthly 'inconveniences' but I don’t know what’s worse?!

Sadie is worrying me too. She’s still very itchy and I’ve thrown anything at her that I could think off or find on-line so far.

She has no fleas, it doesn’t look like ringworm and I finally gave her some Ivermectin (heart worm medicine) that is supposedly taking care of mites that cause mange although I don’t think she has them either.

I’ve sprayed her with peroxide and a peroxide borax mixture, apple cider, used gold bond medicated powder, tea tree oil, Neosporin and a horse wound spray and I bathed her with  oatmeal shampoo.

She also gets benedrin 3 times a day and she still itches, it’s driving all of us nuts!

My last resource is changing her diet so I bought an outrageously expensive brand of dog food for her that contains no corn, no wheat and no soy. Supposedly those cause most allergies.
If this doesn’t help it’s of to the Vet!

Sadie and her Christmas present

                      

James had lots of fun this week in Doug's yard. He was most of the time up to his eyeballs in the mud because of the steady rains and I even found him in the pond one day! He reminded me of the guy in the add for Ocean Spray Cranberry juice!

It’s looking good though:

New Years day we celebrated with our dutch neighbours and as always James baked oliebollen. It’s a dutch treat traditionally eaten on this day and they were delicious this year! Because there’s yeast involved you never know quite how they’ll come out but these were perfect. Well done honey!