We're On Holiday

Blogging Friends.... I'm back!! I have returned home from "our" cabin in the woods. We had a nice relaxing time together as an entire family. {My parents, oldest brother, sister-in-law, niece, sister, youngest brother, Rose, and I!!} Twain beautiful things occurred during our trip. One. When you awaken every morning to pine-scented trees and a rushing creek, mood swing-infused pity parties are simply not welcome!! I didn't expect that!! See, I kept awaiting their inevitable return. For I know all too well that my negative feelings/emotions are unpredictable. But then again. I did leave home feeling grateful, humble and happy!! Which I think truly helped!! And two. Inspired by my niece, Little Munchkin, I wrote a short, cute children's story!! In, like, one day!! That beat the time I devoted to writing my Life Story!! Which was, perhaps, eight freakin' months!! And yes. You may read Little Munchkin's inspired story, my dear Blogging Friends!! Eventually!! That is a promise!!

Experts say that when you spend time with someone, you'll soon begin talking like them. Whether it be your significant other. A sister. Or your longtime best friend. And experts are absolutely correct, for this very fact I have observed. But, does it count when you've never even met your Friends in person, because they reside "across the pond", as that phrase goes? Does it? Because all week long, I kept saying--without even thinking--"we're on holiday"!! And then, I would make this comment. "I'm talkin' like a Brit!!". {Sans the accent. See. When I attempt to speak with a British accent, I'm afraid that I mock English people!! It is that bad!!} Well, Rose seemingly decided that she was on holiday, as well!! Because, not only did Rose lazily lounge around the cabin. But, she refused to eat dog food!! That's right. Rose, my food-lovin' Beagle cross refused to eat her own dog food!! Which, as per usual, I packed more than we even needed!! I do that!! I would repeatedly walk Rose into the mudroom where her dog food was located, and encourage my mutt, but it was for naught. Every time. No, Rose wanted to have whatever we were eating. Because, dog food? She can have that any day. So, I did spoil Rose and allowed her some of our food. With one rule. It had to be okay for her. Nothing containing raisins, onions, and, of course, chocolate. So, along with our now-traditional home-baked chicken broth cornbread biscuits, Rose ate a few cheeseburger bites, plus one tomato slice on the first night. Which, I dumped into her dog food. And she stubbornly picked the cheeseburger bites/tomato slice out!! Go figure. The following morning, her stomach was growling, sounding like some puma's cry, each second growling louder and louder and louder. Louder and louder and louder. Little Munchkin, being one, is quite the messy eater!! She will drop more food on those wooden floors than what makes her mouth!! So. If Rose cannot--or shouldn't--be employed as Little Munchkin's living breathing canine vacuum cleaner, then I cleaned up after my niece. Gladly!! Well, the second night, Little Munchkin was not eating anything that Rose couldn't. Hamburger. Corn. Bacon strips. Organic plain yogurt. So, I deployed my vacuum cleaner with the long, pink tongue!! Perhaps Rose was still refusing her dog food. However. Rose did eat an entire meal that evening courtesy of Little Munchkin!! The following morning, her stomach was growling once again, sounding like some puma's cry, each second growling louder and louder and louder. Louder and louder and louder. What? I am supposed to feel sorry for Rose? {I did, anyway!!} On our last morning, there were scrambled eggs left over. So we fed them to Rose, once again dumping it into her dog food. The same thing occurred as with those cheeseburger bites and tomato. She stubbornly picked the scrambled eggs out!! What can I say? Rose was on holiday!! Consequentially, she only had one bowel movement {But zero accidents!!} which occurred on Tuesday morning. Even though I packed way too many plastic recycled newspaper bags!! See, Rose has struggled with minor digestive problems. Nothing serious or worrisome. When we first adopted her, Rose also suffered from separation anxiety. Those twain issues combined caused Rose to have accidents whenever we left her home alone. Of the poop variety. Mostly. Then, my neighbor, Deborah, a seasoned dog owner, and Rose's friend, Sophie's Mom, suggested pumpkin. Yes, it is a natural dog laxative. I had never heard of such a concept before!! Huh!! They certainly did not write about pumpkin being a dog laxative in my reference books!! Wow!! I was alone, head-over-heels in love with this mutt, and desperate. Sans drugs, I would try anything!! Plus, I knew and trusted Deborah as a friend. So. I began feeding Rose a spoonful of pumpkin every night, she was placed on a regular pooping schedule, and, bada-bing, our problems were solved!! However. Occasionally, I am on what I call "poop watch". Like some patrol officer. Okay, not really!! And, all throughout our holiday, I was on poop watch!! Rose did not have any bowel movements until Friday morning. Once we were home, no longer on vacation, and she was eating her dog food. Yes, three days later!! According to one of my dog reference books, this means that Rose was very, very, very constipated, even though she showed zero symptoms. However. This has occurred before. At least on two other occasions. Thus, I was not very worried. Oh. But I was worried!! I mean, what's a Mama to do? I should have known that withholding herself from dog food would mess everything up in there. I should have known. Lesson learned!!