Farmer's Market

So much to Espresso's joy, my parents came up to visit. Espresso does dearly love my mom, but it's really all about getting to see Brandy.


Today we had breakfast at Crepeville and then while my parents walked around the Farmer's Market, I held the two beasts AKA napped next to Brandy on the grass while trying to keep children away from Espresso.

All was fine and good until while I was having a small alien aka child pet Espresso on the back to try and acclimate her, my 13 year old Labrador suddenly decided she HAD to go see this other dog approaching. I ended up flat on my back in the grass but did catch her leash mid air and not drop the dachshund.



At least the people watching is super fun. The doggies agreed.

Toys, Toys, Toys

Espresso's version of Lady GaGa's song Boys, Boys, Boys is Toys, Toys, Toys.

That is my family's living room. Those are all Brandy's toys, pulled out individually over the last 2 days, by Espresso.

Yes, Brandy does own a lot of toys. It's a thing in my family. Espresso owns just about as many back at my apartment. But she really really loves playing with all of them. And so our living room has been taken over.


She seems quite proud. Even a victorious look on that little face. Ruling over a dominion of stuffing and squeakers.

On the Road Again...

So even though shes a little monster who eats paper, poops inside, and must be monitored for mischief constantly, she actually travels quite well.
Today was one of the many journeys as of late going to Carmel. I always try and remember a pillow and blanket to make the beast's ride more comfortable.


And yes, don't get me on the doggy seat belt issues. Basically there is no good answer for a dog as small as Espresso, except for crating her. And maybe I am a moron, but I don't have the heart.
She just cuddles up for the long haul and sleeps for the vast majority of it.

Except when she does try and give me a heart attack and jump into my back seat, leaping from pile of things from pile of things to get all the way back into my trunk (see my latest facebook status regarding all the stuff you can find in my car to understand how she can do this).

Yet it always makes my drive more pleasant to look and see that.

However, she is too small for me to trust sticking her head out the window without someone to hold her, but looking out of it is also pretty good.

Plastic is my choice...

So my dog really, really has a fascination with bags.

She loves to investigate them. But then proceeds to get her head stuck in them and walk around the apartment looking pitiful.



"Mommy, please help me" is the look shes giving me. Yes, that is indeed my dog's head in the handle of a plastic bag.

It is so cute and I always take it off asap, but had to snap a photo first this time. She does this ALL THE TIME with ANY bag she finds.

Paper or Plastic?

My dog is insane.

Last night I sat working on my MIC 102 lab report on the sofa. I hear rustling coming from the dining area and then I see my puppy running full pelt past me with the remnants of a plastic bag. She proceeded to run laps around my apartment for a good ten minutes, bag in tow.

Today, she played with the spoils of her hard work last night.


Because life is so much better when you are in a plastic bag.

Becoming Espresso's Mom

We counted down the days till bringing her home. I skipped an afternoon class so we could leave even earlier to pick her up on that Friday.
On the way home, with my 3 lb charge in my lap, I was completely terrified and completely in love. I know I sound like a new mother. But really, I had become one that day.

Luckily puppies > babies.

Why?
1. You can leave them in a crate while you are gone.
2. They aren't picky eaters.
3. They never learn to talk.
4. The keeping you up at night phase lasts a week or two tops.

So completely in love, I brought my new baby puppy home. I have virtually no pictures from the first months of her life. Long story short, two days after bringing her home, David cut his hand open and I spent the next months taking care of him, transporting all three of us places, doing the house work, dealing with the new puppy...basically I had no time for photos.

The only photos from that first day of being her "mom" were cell phone shots my friends later sent me.

She literally fit in one hand.

I am so thankful for these. Why? Because I became Espresso's mommy that day. I was terrified of the title at first. It bothered me. Scared me. But now its my favorite title.

Study Buddy

So Espresso is pretty much the best study buddy ever.

This is a prime example of Espresso helping me study.



I personally credit my 100% on the weed section of my viticulture exam due to her help.

And by the way, by best study buddy ever, I mean it's kind of amazing I can pass my classes at all.

1. Espresso has a NEED to be in my lap AT ALL TIMES. If I am sitting down, sort of seated, or any other way that exposes my legs, she NEEDS to be sitting on them. This as you can imagine becomes very difficult when I need to type on my laptop.

2. She IS SO DISTRACTINGLY CUTE (see previous post).