Lemon Olive Oil Cake

I just removed a Lemon Olive Oil Cake from the oven and the house smells terrific.  This is my second try with this cake.  Last weekend, I made it for a dinner party at a friend's house.  One of the other guests is a fantastic gourmet cook, and she asked for the recipe.  I sent her the link on Epicurious.  It was a pretty terrific sponge cake.  A word of caution:  only bake 35 minutes.

Since I am getting together for my monthly lunch with my girlfriends tomorrow, I volunteered to bring the dessert.  As you can see, it is a bare naked cake at this point in time, but after cooling, it will be topped with a lemon glaze.  This is one of those desserts that you want to have more and more.

I have been knitting, too.  I have gotten past the stumbles of my latest socks, and have something to show for it.  The first sock is complete and looks great, and the second sock is at the halfway point.  I will post as soon as they are a completed pair.

We dogsat for the traveling children this past week, and I must brag on the little darlings.  The two dogs have very different walking styles.  One likes to stroll and the other wants to go as fast as possible.  As a result, I took them out separately on alternate evenings.  Jemma (left) is so smart that she figured this out, and when it was "her" night, she was begging me to take her out at the walking hour.  How can I refuse? 

Kingston (right) waited his turn for the following evening. 

So that is how I have spent the last week -- baking, dogsitting/walking, and knitting. 

Lazy New Year's Eve

We spent our New Year's Eve dogsitting for the granddogs:

Sydney, a lovely miniature schnauzer, lives with daughter, Jennie.  She loves to play with her toys and go for walks in the neighborhood.  She is the top granddog.

Jemma is the darling of Jon and Sarah.  She is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a preference for her lapdog lifestyle, and is very effectionate. 







Kingston is the only male of the group and also the youngest.  He still has the energy of a puppy that he frequently demonstrates with his lightening fast cross-yard dash.

Husker and I shared the bed with all three of our granddogs last night.  They sleep very well in a bed with humans. 

Jones Family Christmas

The North Texas Joneses go their different ways for  Christmas, but we have our own get-together ahead of time.  Last night was the time, and Jon and Sarah's was the place.  We started a tradition of having a Chinese auction/white elephant type of gift exchange.  This usually results in some really interesting gifts (what is it?) to "stealing" someone else's gift until it is officially dead.  We eat too much, drink too much, and have a fun evening with family.  

Even the dogs get into the act. 

Then the official day of Christmas rolls around and everyone goes to their significant other's family home.  Adam and Caroline will go to her parents' home, Jon, Sarah, Cavaliers Jemma, and Kingston are going to her brother's home, we will go to my son's home, and Barbara, Jennie, and schnauzer Sydney,  have their own plans for the big day. 

Jon and Sarah will deliver Zach's Wallaby to him.  So it results that Zach will, indeed, get the promised sweater by Christmas after all.

Jemma's July 4th Weekend

Husker and I started our weekend on Saturday morning by picking up Jemma, Jon and Sarah's 11-month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  They would be away and we were the designated dogsitters.  (Yippee!!)  She is a loving, affectionate, perfect lap dog.  Jemma recognized us and was ready to go.  How could you not love that face? The weekend swirled around her.  

The weekend started with rain, which began anew while we were out for a walk.  There was a mad dash for the house and wet hair for both of us.  Not that Jemma minded the rain -- she loved the all-out run. 

The next day we went to my son's house for a 4th of July  cookout.  My son has 2 large dogs, his wife has a yorkie and a chihuahua, and one of their daughters has a chihuahua.  Also present were the assorted grandchildren and other family members.  With 6 dogs running around, a lot of cooking, eating, and conversation going on, it made for a fun filled day.  The children kept busy in the pool while the adults kept busy supervising kids-in-the-pool.  

Jemma was in dog heaven.  She had 5 playmates who were as amiable as she is, the children wanted their turns at petting the new member of the group, food was probably getting dropped here and there, and there was a big back yard to explore.  She was under the deck, into the playhouse, down to the barn, around the pool, with breaks in the house on the cool tile floor.   

After about 5 1/2 hours of fun, we finally departed for home, arriving home about 6 pm.  Jemma slept in my lap during the 25-minute drive home, then sprawled half on the floor and half in her bed and slept for 4 hours!  Periodically, she would wake up, move to Husker's chair or my chair, then later go back to her bed.  When we were ready for bed, we took her outside once more, and then she slept soundly through the night between us.  She was wasted!


Jemma has had a recent unhappy event in her life.  Her home companion was Jack, a lovable old boxer.  Unfortunately, Jack developed a twisted intestine, resulting in the tragic loss of his life.  Jemma has been grieving by occupying his favorite spots.  Today, however, things will definitely change.  Her humans are picking up another puppy today, a tri-color Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  Kingston is his name.  The two dogs are from the same breeder, but do not share the same parentage.  I know what you are thinking, but this will be a platonic relationship.  

Fast forward to 3 p.m.  Jon and Sarah arrived with Kingston.  Suddenly, Jemma seemed like a very big dog.  Kingston is adorable and Jemma was curious about this little bundle.  She seems okay with him.  How could she not be?  Isn't he cute?   


I think we will all be in love with him, too.  Aren't they cute?