Tzeli Monster

It was Thanksgiving break back in 1999 when I went to go look at dogs for fun. I came home with Tzeli. We all know you can never "just look." Our first night together, she snuggled under my armpit and slept all night long. She came back to ECU with me and lived with Teresa and Laura, my roommates. When I had swim practice at 6am. I would bring her in Teresa's room so she had someone to snuggle with. She met her sister Mia that year even though Mia lived in another household for a few years after that before returning to us . (long story!) She had a lot of "Aunts." She spent my Senior year with me and then got to live with her Aunt Sloaner. Sloaner loved Tzeli and gave her, her very own PP (Princess Pillow). (Just a pillow that Tezli would perch herself on) She enjoyed eating Sloan's underwear, along with many of mine and ate through a tapestry as well. She got a virus that year and had to spend the night at the vet. That was the first time I cried over a pet thinking she would die. She bounced back and saw me graduate in December 2000. We then made the trip back to Virginia.
Tzeli went through everything with me. She saw me through 2 boyfriends (the only 2 I really had), saw me start my career as a teacher and had the honor of staying with her friend Kayleigh during the day so she wouldn't be lonley. She was there when Mia got to come home forever and then she got to meet her Daddy, (Kevin). She then took in her brother Zeus who was 10 times her size, yet still always showed him who was boss. Tzeli had a "reading" at our wedding and then moved to a new house.
Over the years Tzeli has welcomed her two brothers JT and Jonah. She has had to say good bye to her beloved sister Mia. She sat by the rug by the door for 2 weeks after we had to put her to sleep. Jonah who was afraid of dogs when he first came home, spent the day today kissing her over and over again.
For some reason, Tzeli has lost an extreme amount of weight in the last 3 weeks. She is peeing all over the place and licking it up. We know she probably has cancer and Cushings disease but we have already done lots of blood work and don't find it necessary to bring her back to vet. She is dying and there isn't anything we can do about.
We have tried to prepare JT for Tzeli's journey to Doggie Heaven and he understands that Mia is there waiting for Tzeli at the pearly white gates. We haven't made the decision of when that will be and I am just hoping she will pass in her sleep while at home. We both know that probably won't happen but we will try to hold out until we can come to finally say, "It's time."
We have been through this before. I talk about Mia everyday and I wouldn't go with Kevin to put her to sleep. Only because she was a hyper beast and I couldn't bare to take my hyper, crazy dog, who happened to be very sick and put her to sleep.
Tzeli is very ill. She has no energy, yet still eating and she got to live almost 12 great years. She slept in our bed, usually in between our legs every night. She had a great life and the best thing about her was that although she was only 15-20 pounds, she thought she was 150 pounds and acted like she would kill anyone who tried to hurt me. She was a pain on walks and annoying every time someone came over or rang the doorbell, but we love her. She was my first baby. Even though everyone knows Mia was my favorite, I do love my Tzeli Monster and we have a lot of memories and history together.
We love you Tzeli. In the meantime, we hope your last days are comfortable and happy for you.



Helping Mia celebrate her birthday.




Tzeli waiting for JT to come home from the hospital.



Cake Pop Mania

The new in "thing" these days are cake pops, for those in the baking world. They have them at Starbucks and bakers are now really getting into them. I am no baker, that's for sure. But, I am anal, detail oriented and love sweets. Back in my college days, I took over our apartment and the refrigerator and started making chocolate molded lollipops. They were delicious, beautiful and very detailed. They also took a long time to make, because of my detail and then I couldn't sell them for anything over $1 because it was really just a chocolate lollipop.
I started making  cake pops in the last few weeks. They are divine and beautiful, I might add. I am still working out the kinks, like the dark chocolate and milk chocolate dry so fast, I have a hard time getting the decorations on there. The white chocolate is very easy to work with. Some pops are fancy, some are cute and some are just plain. I have baskets and vases that the pops can be put in for a center piece. You could just put them in a bowl or even get a lollipop stand. Oh, the options!
I am having an Open House for those in the neighborhood and friends. I am not the best sales person but these things are great for birthday parties and any holiday. Hopefully my little business will take off.

Starbucks Pops-  plain, simple, small- $1.50

My Pops...... also $1.50 and bigger, I have a small and large size. The large is $2.50.

Ethiopian Cuisine

We are lucky enough to have two Ethiopian families within our little neighborhood. One of the ladies I am good friends with and is a walking buddy of mine. The other lady I met last year and told her how were would be bringing Jonah home soon. I don't see her often but the other day she caught us as we were taking a walk. She met Jonah and asked me if I make Ethiopian food for him. I didn't want to tell her that I can't stand the food and the smell of the spices makes me nauseous. So, I held back the details and just said, "No, not really." Then she came right out and asked if I liked the food. Well, you know me, I had to come out and just say, "No, I don't really like it." She laughed and said her husband doesn't eat it either but wanted to know if she could make some food for Jonah to eat.
Obviously Jonah ate Ethiopian food for at least the last 4 months he was in Ethiopia and he loved it. She said she would come by and drop off some food for him. She went on to say that she would love to make him food and that her mother, who lives with them, would be in heaven if she could make food for Jonah. I told her to come by whenever she wanted.
The next day, right at lunch time, she appeared at the house with containers full of food. She also had injera (Ethiopian bread, sort of....) She asked if she could stay and feed Jonah. JT and I enjoyed a nice grilled cheese sandwich while Jonah enjoyed his Ethiopian cuisine. JT was offered it by the way. Jonah loved the food, as did the dogs. They waited patiently to get anything that would fall on the floor.
She has now come by again and dropped off another batch of food. The good thing is that it's free food and who doesn't love that! The bad thing is that my child spells of Ethiopian spices and garlic. I am trying to embrace the culture and ignore my sensitive nose.