Good thing she's cute. Good thing she's cute. Good thing she's cute.

One of us was in the mood for baking today. Okay, it was me.

I am on the second day of four days in a row off. I felt like experimenting with some recipes. I have a nice amount of home made marzipan left and I had allowed it to dry and then grated it. A few of my friends at work really love my cookies and especially Belgium cookies. Those are the shortbread kind with jam between two cookies like a sandwich and then a white icing on top. They are the very favourite of one particular girl that I really enjoy working with.

Well, I think I wrote how Emma tried to pull the oven mitt off the last batch I made and that she knocked them on the floor. I thought I traumatized her enough for that. Apparently not. She was basically good while I was making this batch. Sitting by me and not taking her eyes off the table. Eventually she laid down. I got the cookies made and in the oven to bake. I then decided to make some biscotti and had it all ready to go in the oven for first baking. I had them sitting on a tray about 32 inches off the ground. I was in the other room putting the jam between the first batch of cookies and suddenly heard a noise that sounded like some one licking their chops.

I ran out to the kitchen to find that she managed to stretch herself far enough to get at the corner of the loaf. I LOST IT ! !

I caught her, showed her the damage, told her 'no' several times and put her outside. I came back, finished the sandwich cookies and let her back in. I needed some place for the cookies to set so I decided to put them at her level so we can sort this out now. She was very good until I turned my back. She grabbed a cookie and put it on the floor to eat. I grabbed her by the scruff of the neck the way her mother would have to carry her. She looked mortified, helpless, scared, guilty and several other emotions that I can't put my finger on right now.

I told her that she was a very BAD dog and that I was going to send her away for medical experiments. She went to her pillow with her tail between her legs and laid there looking guilty. Now you need to see her face and I know she is 'just a dog', but she can sure express sadness and joy with those beady little black eyes of hers. Gawd, I was feeling guilty. And they were my cookies! ! ! ! !

Its amazing what she chooses to remember and what she can forget. She learned the stairs in no time flat. She knows sit, and come, and that she can't touch my yarn any more. but she is such a little piggy. I don't know when I'll get through to her but its like playing a chess game with Bobby Fischer or Boris Spassky.

I really love Sidney.

Teaching Emma to behave.

First off, I'm beginning to suspect its not possible.

She was just starting to settle (a tiny bit, but I'll take it) and she has reached adolescence. That means she is the equivalent of a rebellious teenager. With all the not listening, misbehaving, forgetfulness, deafness, stubbornness,etc.

I have to keep looking at what an intelligent little face she has or I will send her for medical experiments. (not really, but I have to have something to threaten her with). I keep telling her that her looks are all that keeps her alive at this state.

I haven't heard from her breeder in quite a while. The cynical side of me could think that she has gotten rid of the hound from hell and she can sleep at night with both eyes closed. We can't. I'm afraid with the brain that she has that if I piss her off too much she may string a rope across the top of the stairs. So we always sleep with one eye open and her in the crate. I am just not sure when she'll have the catch on the crate figured out.

I really don't know how so much energy can be inside one little dog. My brothers were saying that its like she should have a AA battery in her but someone put in 4 D's. My husband thinks she doesn't know when to stop running around. We'll have her out for the morning at the park, bring her home and she is still going like wildfire. Finally I get sick of her bugging (again and still) Sidney and put her in the crate. Within minutes she's crashed.

Seems she came with only two speeds: on or off.