Happy Thanksgiving

Miss Vivien and I went on a walk with a group of other Senior dogs called the Tofurkey Trot. We walked with the group a sort of short distance and then after the group picture this Vivien and I walked about two more miles. 

Only got home after relaxing a bit and watching my favorite Thanksgiving movie Free Birds, I took out my vegan Thanksgiving dinner that I bought from a local store. It was very good although I started to continue to not feel well. 

Until tomorrow...

9/21/2024

I got up early for the garage sale. I packed the car yesterday so I would be ready to go. I took Miss Vivien Butterfly with me to visit her foster parents and their dog. 

Vivien was not too social with their dog. She sat right by the door the whole time and then when they let her out in the backyard, she found a hole and ended up in the neighbors yard. 

I sold a few things. My big thing was the camping chairs. It was a fun event. 

When I got home I had to wrap the chocolate samples that I made. 

Until tomorrow...

9/1/2024

Miss Vivien Butterfly and I drove to a location where there was a restaurant having a vegan brunch. I pictured a restaurant with outdoor eating having a quiet brunch. Instead we got there and there was a street fair going on in the block where we were eating. It was very chaotic busy loud. I wish I had not brought Miss Vivien Butterfly because I don't think that she had much fun. Not to mention, it was rather hot. 

I brought a box of my Vivien's Vegan Chocolates to show the group. I also brought 26 chocolates and came home with 5. The chocolates were a hit. People were asking where they could buy them. I had to explain I'm not quite ready but will be soon. 

Until tomorrow...

8/30/2024

I stayed up late today in order to put together a website for my vegan chocolates. I think it looks good for a first draft but it will need some work. I can't figure out how to make the logo small enough to put on the website. 

Miss Vivien Butterfly went for her monthly allergy shot. She's such a good girl. She gets shots because her feet itch and her eyes are watery. The shots seem to help. 

I worked on my second English project with my ex-foster child. He needs help with some of his English, spelling and grammar. I admit I did a lot more than I expected on his first English project but on this project I'm making him take a first shot at doing the project before I look at it. 

Until tomorrow...

HIKING & CHOCOLATE

No, I did not take chocolate hiking. Vivien and I woke up and decided to go for a hike. We went to a sort of local park, that I've only been to once, to do a two mile hike. It's a very cute park with a little lake and woods. Miss Vivian was having a grand old time sniffing everything along the path. She also met couple of little dogs that she got along with. The only dog she didn't like was the puppy who kept barking at her.

When we got home I started making candy again. I've been working on what goes inside the chocolate. Since it's vegan it's a little more complicated than just buying caramel and putting it in the chocolate. There are items like vegan heavy cream, aquafaba, coconut milk and coconut cream. How to make it vegan, sustainable and quick. That's what I'm tough to do. I think I'm almost there. 

Friend is having a birthday party this coming weekend and I volunteered to make a lentil salad. As soon as I agreed, I went on Instagram and there was this amazing lentil salad recipe. That is what I'm now going to make. 

Until tomorrow...

GREAT HIKE

Miss Vivien Butterfly and drove to a park where we hiked. It was a three mile hike through a forest. Miss Vivien did much better on the trail this time even though she wanted to dive into the brush to catch some animal. But we saw other dogs on the trail and she was very good about wanting to be introduced. We ran into two women with a big dog who walked in us for a while. It was funny because Miss Vivien acted like the dog wasn't even there. Behaviorists say this is a good thing when they ignore each other. 

Miss Vivian had some things in her fur afterwards but with a quick review I could pick it off. There's mostly birds and just plant life. 

I did okay. I wore a sort of like girdle on my knee to  helps support my knee. I'm debating on whether calling the doctor or waiting to see if it gets better on its own. I've tweaked this name numerous times over the last 20 something years. Each time it bounces back. So I'm going to wait it out. 

It was a good day. I also got all my invoicing completed. 

Until tomorrow...

ANOTHER VET VISIT

I had to take Miss Vivien Butterfly to the vet again for the third time. She is has a weird sort of cut under her bottom lip on her chin. I thought she hurt herself but it turns out it is an ingrown hair that was infected. I need to put a balm on the spot for a week or so and it should go away. 

Until tomorrow... 

BACK TO THE VET

Today I had to take Miss Vivien Butterfly back to the vet. She that's this weird mark right under her bottom lip that looked puffy. So I took her into the doctor could look at it and she thought it was like ingrown hair mark. She gave me some gel to put on it. It's weird though because I thought it was a cut or scrape or something. I would not have thought that it was like an ingrown hair. She said that it wasn't the ingrown hair necessarily but the bacterial infection that caused the mark. 

Until tomorrow...

AI AND OLD CARS

Today was a busy day. First I got up early and went to a local old car show. My neighbor is part of it with his old restored cars. There are some very pretty old cars. It was near the beach so I brought along Miss Vivien Butterfly. I am not sure that she has ever been at a beach. She loved the sand and all the smells but was not too thrilled about the water. So we spent the time with her sniffing around the sand. 

Then I dropped Miss Vivien Butterfly off at home while I went to a conference/event where my brother and sister-in-law were. I entered into a world that I don't know much about. There was AI, robots, 3D printing, cosplay and so much more. It was incredibly fascinating to see so many people with such creative ideas and such passion. I ended up spending hours there including having lunch with my brother and my sister-in-law. It was a great day. 

Until tomorrow...

GOT MY CAR!

Today I picked up my car. It is exciting! Also the fact that they give me a car without paying for it. I do have a contract. 

I brought Miss Vivien Butterfly with me. She just loves her car seat. 

I went through the abbreviated training and off I went. 

I took lucky to her first dog park after picking up the car. She is the mayor of the dog park. There is a term for it but I can't think of it right now. She had such a good time running after dogs. Meeting all the people and meeting all the dogs. She was just incredibly adorable at the dog park. Her personality really came out. 

Until tomorrow...

MISS VIVIEN BUTTERFLY'S FIRST VET APPOINTMENT

This morning Miss Vivien Butterfly went to her first vet appointment. She was all excited to get in the car for the drive to the office. I got there early so we could walk around. Other than a little crying she did well at her appointment. It turns out she has some allergies on her paw, ears and buttocks. The vet thinks it was probably a bit of fleas in her previous home. She was so matted she had to be shaved. He gave her some medicine for her ears and a shot for the rest. She also had to go back in the cone to keep from licking. 

I was happy to hear she was in excellent health for an 8 year old pup. 

I've been a bit down after my trip. Even planning a new trip is not helping. I'm not depressed but just let down. We'll see if it passes. 

Until tomorrow...

FIRST HIKE

Miss Vivien Butterfly and I got up early and after breakfast, we went for a hike. I was prepared too only go a short distance, but Miss Vivien Butterfly had other ideas. She is a walker. A little Energizer dog. The hike was almost 2 miles and other than two water breaks, she walked the whole way. Okay I had to put her in "air jail" for a short stretch because she kept wanting to go on protected lands where there were foxtails. With her long hair, foxtails are no joke.  She saw the ocean for the first time, probably, in her life. 

After the hike, Miss Viv wanted to walk more. I needed to find a bathroom, so we went home. She collapsed once we got inside. 

I had the gardener come by and clean up the backyard after my month away. 

I watched a live broadcast of Kinky Boots on Broadway. That was fun. Great theatre without leaving you couch.  That is one thing I miss from the lockdown. I enjoyed seeing productions, movies and other things from my home. No driving or taking transportation. No losing your ticket. No running late and hoping they will still let me in. No overpriced food. And, I have my own snacks, food and drink choice. 

Until tomorrow...

MEET MISS VIVIEN BUTTERFLY

Miss Vivien Butterfly has found her forever home. Her foster mother dropped her off. She is the sweetest girl. She reminds me of Happi, my dog who died right before COVID lockdown. I can pet her anywhere, pick her up and I get kisses from her. 

I spent the day with Miss Vivien Butterfly. I wanted her to feel comfortable. We went on four walks and, boy is she a walker! I was told to take it easy with her but she kept walking. 

At night I let her up on my bed for a little bit for pets and snuggles. Then I put her in her bed. Next thing I hear is a noise where my shoes were. She was trying to get closer to me and my shoes were next to the bed. I moved my shoes and put her bed next to my bed. She snuggled down and went to sleep. 

I am happy she is here. 

Until tomorrow...