A Friday Buffet
No. 032 A walk in the [dog] park and other joys of June.
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Hello!
In between busy work days, frequent walks with Pepper, and our new daily trips to the dog park (more on that shortly), I wanted to make sure I reached out to you and said hello! I know we missed our catch up last week, but life is anything-but-boring these days. My time to pause and type away feels limited, which in some ways is a good thing, but it’s not moving to the back burner. I’m still here!
So as I was saying, this June is off to quite a busy, but very lovely start. Pepper is pretty much settled in our house and has no problem expressing herself. She has discovered barking! And it’s loud. We’re working on solutions to quiet this newfound mode of expression as it seems to only happen when she’s bored or extra-urgently needs to go out (not surprising).
Apparently, the best way to train her and have the barking stop is to ignore it which is way easier said than done. Updates coming soon on how this is all progressing. Overall, we’re all doing well and Pepper is a very pleased, spoiled pup - as she should be!
In other excitement, my parent’s celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last week! Amazing! They are a truly incredible pair and I was so happy to celebrate this stellar milestone with them. We surprised my parents with flowers (see above), cake, and all of the joy; it was a really special time and I know they loved every minute of the fun. Here’s to the next 50! :)
Over in our yard, we’re in the process of having the whole space enclosed with a fence so that our time outside with Pepper can be a bit more “free” for her. Since she is a dog that prefers endless outdoor time, having a fully-fenced space will allow her to explore and us to relax since she won’t be able to escape. And we won’t have to go for multiple-mile walks every few hours. ;) I’m looking forward to this project being complete as it will be a thrill for Pepper! She loves to lounge in the grass and smell the roses. #lifegoals.
Speaking of exploring new places, this week we bravely ventured to the dog park. Low and behold it was a major success! Pepper absolutely loved the big, open space with plenty of places to run and sniff. She did incredibly well meeting countless dogs of all sizes and was on her almost-best behavior for the majority of the time. After all, she is a dog! No canine, or human, is perfect, but she does charm everyone with her puppy joy and constantly-wagging tail.
On the people side, it is so nice to meet so many other dog owners! Everyone is so friendly and very knowledgeable about their pets; they also give us grace when it comes to Pepper’s puppy-related antics. I’m always embarrassed when she acts out or does something ridiculous (read: unnecessary barking); apparently it’s not a problem for anyone else which is excellent.
Pepper is often the youngest in the group and the big dogs (and people) are trying to teach her the ropes of dog park etiquette and fun. She now looks forward to our daily visits and can most certainly recognize the route once she’s in the car - dog park days are the best!
Pepper is a (big) ball of fluff, energy, and pure joy. Sure, she has her moments of not-the-best behavior and we’re working to get rid of those, but it’s pretty hard when her general look is just so cute! I hope she never loses that Glow of Puppy or her general happy outlook. Her toys are everywhere, she makes our bed feel tiny, and sleeping in is no longer possible, but she’s the best addition. I’ve definitely said that to you before and will continue to say it every week. :)
A [gluten free] food note…
I was recently gifted a whole box of Kane’s gluten free doughnuts and omg they are delicious. Such a treat! I highly recommend visiting the Saugus location where the GF doughnuts are made; there are a dozen different flavors and each one is great. I’m partial to the cinnamon sugar, plain chocolate frosted, and plain glazed. Yum! They all pair perfectly with coffee, the weekend, a weekday, an afternoon…
Is there a sweet treat you enjoy besides doughnuts? I’d love to know!
A Buffet for Today: 6/9/2023
That wildfire smoke here in the Northeast this week was wild..and extremely unhealthy.
Definitely picking something from this list for my brother-in-law (and new dad!) for Father’s Day.
How are we feeling about a capsule wardrobe? I am the worst offender - I love options - but I appreciate the concept…
This fajita burger recipe is meant for kids, but I’m considering it for our dinner table next week.
Looking for more veggies, a Parmesan Tahini Kale Salad (with chickpeas!) is a strong contender for a weeknight meal.
Speaking of protein, we made Alison Roman’s Frizzled Chickpeas this week and they were superb.
Debating this pair of striped linen pants for hot summer days that will return next week.
Love the blue and cream stripes on this Clare V clutch. Screams summer to me!
Cheers and joy,
Mollie
