One Big Difference Between A Baby And A Puppy

This is a post about one puppy, two or three pizzas, and many photographs---mostly of food.

I have had little time the past two weeks to devote to my photography.

I did, however, complete the book cover commission. I created five different cover images for the author. And she wrote to me: "Bravo, Bruce. I knew you'd nail it."

Most of my time, though, has been spent with Freddy:

The instructions from the breeder are quite clear (abbreviated here):

• 6:30 am: wake up, go outside to potty
• 6:30--7:00 am: breakfast and then potty outside again
• 6:30--9:00 am: playtime/a few minutes of training, with potty breaks when needed
• 9:30--12:00 nap in crate
• 12:00--2:00 pm: potty, lunch, play/train, potty breaks when needed
• 2:00--4:00: nap in crate or tethered to you or desk if you are sitting at it
• 4:00 pm: potty, play/reinforce good habits
• 5:00 pm: dinner, play, potty (crate while you eat dinner)
• 8:00 pm: we remove all water 
• The evening is a good time for playing and snuggling, though he will probably take some naps also. Always keep your eye on your puppy and watch for signs of needing to potty as well as chewing in appropriate things. It's a good time to show him what he can chew and what he can't.
• 10:00 pm--11:00: potty, then crate for bedtime
• 3 or 4 am--outside for potty? (Only did this for first few nights. Freddy as been "sleeping like a baby" through the night.)

"This schedule is just a guide, adjust it to your lifestyle."

When we last chatted, you and I, it was Susan's birthday. For breakfast I made her Pear Whole Wheat Bread French Toast with Prickly Pear Syrup:

 And for her Birthday Dinner, I made Lamb Biryani:

One day it rained, but I don't remember when:

And one morning, I did have time to read a few Gary Snyder poems, which made me think of this photo:

There was Shetland Salmon one night for dinner, which I served with Mashed Red Potatoes and Roasted Green Beans with Red Peppers and Pine Nuts:

Many nights we had pizza. We had pizza because we were simply too tired from training and playing with Freddy to cook. I put Shiitake Mushrooms, Red Peppers, Speck (Smoked Prosciutto), and Fresh Sliced Tomatoes on this one:

On another night, with the leftover Salmon, I made Salmon Cakes, which had Diced Red Pepper and Corn in them. I served these with a Red Potato and Green Bean Salad:

 And day by day, Freddy is growing and getting slowly but surely bigger:

HA! But not quite a big as the stick he lugged around the yard! 

And when Freddy wasn't playing with the sticks in the yard, he was looking at himself in the mirror. "Yikes! Who is that?" he seemed to be thinking!

  
One morning I made my self a Poached Egg, which I had with the leftover Potatoes and Green Beans--I turned them into home-fries. YUM!

Susan and I feel very blessed. It is as if an angel brought us Freddy, a little bundle of joy!

On Sunday, I roasted a chicken (And I made chicken stock!):

And on Monday, we enjoyed Chicken and Sausage Chili!

On Tuesday, we gave Freddy his bed:

For breakfast, I enjoyed a Whole Wheat English Muffin with Cream Cheese and Olives, which always made me think of my Mom as she would often send me off to school with Cream Cheese and Olive Sandwiches!

And this morning, Wednesday morning, we woke to snow:

 Freddy had a blast running around the backyard (He is sleeping in his crate right now, which is giving me the time to  write this short update.):

And I said to Susan: "You know Susan there is one big difference between a baby and a puppy and that is we do not have to put a snow-suit on Freddy."