Welcome Home, Ozzie the Pug

We are so excited that Ozzie has come to live with us. He is the cutest little thing. We went to the breeder's home on Sunday afternoon to pick him up. We were lucky enough to be able to see Ozzie's litter mates and his dad. Goodness, it's no joke, Ozzie really was the beefcake of the bunch. He was half again as big as the next biggest puppy. His dad is one handsome fellow, very strong and sturdy and squarish looking. Ozzie rode home in the carrier provided as part of the purchase package. He whimpered a little and slid around, and then he finally just found a spot and sprawled on his back the rest of the way home.Here's Ozzie in the yard at home. He is a silly boy who loves the outdoors. Nothing like a romp in the leaves. I love you, Allen.
Shannon got to meet her little fur buddy Sunday afternoon too. Big day for a big pug puppy!
After his first day at home, what's a pug to do but snuggle in for a nap on me. Sweet, sweet.What's this?? Oh-oh. Allen had to work in Decatur Monday through Wednesday this week. The first two days were probably long for Ozzie, and I guess he cried some, but today when Allen got home in the afternoon, the Wizard of Oz had escaped. He jumped and struggled so much that he tore open the stitching and let himself out. Allen went into the bedroom to put his things down on the bed when Ozzie came flying out of our bathroom. He figures Ozzie went into the bathroom to play with the throw rugs and fell asleep there, napping happily until he heard Allen come home. Shannon to the rescue -- she brought over Louie's old smaller cage that they'd borrowed for Spike The Cat. Just try to escape from that, Mr. Oz.After a day of adventure, Ozzie is asleep on the couch cuddled against Allen's leg.Look at those sweet, innocent little crossed paws.
Meanwhile, yes, we are loving the finished kitchen. Shannon brought me a little "kitchen warming" gift, a monogrammed tea towel. We still have a few little finishing issues that Lowes has promised to take care of, but at least we are finished enough that we can enjoy having our newest family member at home. We both keep stumbling and calling him Louie, but Ozzie is certainly his own little self. He is a pug, for sure, but we can already see a special, different personality. Stay tuned for the Adventures of Ozzie.

Getting Ready for Ozzie

After school, I zipped home to be here in time for the plumber who was scheduled for any time after 3:30. When someone knocked on the door at 4, I assumed it was the plumber, but no, it was FedEx. Oh wow! I ordered this a good while ago from , but it was on backorder. A Gees Bend inspired quilt by Windham Fabrics. It came in its own muslin bag tied with fat string. It's kind of like Christmas.Inside, look at the wonderful hand dyed fabric. This will be just such fun to do. Now I just need my fabric for the block of the month quilt, fabric I needed last month for October's work. Maybe soon.

I was totally impressed that the plumber from Lowes, Benny, reinstalled our microwave even though it wasn't on our work ticket. Allen had talked to Installed Sales about it, but it didn't make it to the work order. Even so, after a day at work and after finishing the plumbing on the sink and dishwasher, he installed it without a complaint. I recall how when we first got married and microwaves were new on the market, we couldn't quite imagine what we would use it for. Silly us.
At last, water and a new dishwasher. We got a Bosch. The plumber says it is exactly what he has for his house too. That seems like a good thing. I didn't sleep well last night, so after he left, I am just useless, so I haven't run a load of dishes yet. Who would think doing dishes would be such an exciting prospect. Now for the sorting and putting away and throwing away and giving away. We need to be efficient and pretty speedy to be ready for Sunday. Why? We get to go pick up Ozzie!

Quartz Counters

New quartz counter tops! The sink is just set in, but the plumber will come tomorrow to install that and the dishwasher. We will get a new faucet too. The caulk is wet, and everything has to just be left alone tonight. The installer said it is dirty and that it will take a couple of washings with just soap and water to get off the packing grit.
We re-topped the island. Guess if it has to set, I can't dance on it tonight.
And then the little pieces by the stove. We are getting there.

Making Progress

Not much is together or ready to go at our house. With the kitchen in progress, we have dishes and pots and pans and cleaning supplies and pictures and pottery and you name it everywhere. It is mostly all dusty and disorganized. A Mess. However, I did finish this quilt and it is ready to go. I am planning on using it on the kitchen table, but I can't try it out because the kitchen table is buried in mail and old papers, hardware for the cabinets, the old bulletin board, and and and. At least this quilt is ready to go though, and I hope it looks like what I think it will when I can dress the table with it.
This little quilt was finished last week. I bought the fabric and pattern at the Country Living Fair and started it in the hotel in Columbus. I sewed all of the trianges together by hand and then did the rest by machine. It just fits on the rocker for now. It's another little piece of quiet in our topsy turvy house.Here's the laundry room yesterday morning. Allen has the window wall painted as well as the rest of the room. Only one yellow wall to go. He moved the washer and dryer and crawled around behind everything before we went to Shannon's to watch the game (ROLL TIDE), and then he finished it this morning and moved everything back so I can at least do some laundry and get to the utility sink. No more yellow! We're excited about the new (still empty) cabinets that will work better with the washing machine lid. No more pinched fingers.
Here's the stove with the missing microwave and missing countertops. Who knows when the microwave will be re-installed, but the new cabinets look good to us. The stove top has become the main kitchen prep area without any other space to set things.
And here is the kitchen sink and dishwasher. The glass cleaner is sitting on the edge of the island without its top. We decided to put a matching counter on it as well, so it is prepped and ready for installation. Allen repainted everything in the kitchen (except for a little bit of trim work that I did last weekend), and he installed the new switch plate covers and the new blinds. Wednesday, I have a holiday for Veterans' Day, so that is when the counter comes, and then the new dishwasher and sink will happen Thursday. I'm pretty ready to put things back together.

Speaking of together, Happy Anniversary to Allen and me! Thirty-four years. I love you, Allen.