Weighing Priorities

Everyone in RWA knows that one shouldn't enter a manuscript in a writing contest till it's finished, but Fio thought it wouldn't matter if she broke the rule one little, teeny-weeny time. As you know, the improbable happen--the partial, Princess Redlander, finished third behind its prequel, Princess of Bosque Bend, in The Emily. But what you don't know is that Fiorella now has an agent interested who is reading P of BB and wants to see Princess Red.

So Fio's had to fess up and beg for a few days to get the first six chapters of Princess Red in readable form. It will take a couple more months of concentrated effort to write the rest of the story.

Guess we'll have to postpone Sonya's housebreaking.

Puppy Priorities

A new baby can be diapered, but a new puppy requires hours of watchfulness. Housebreaking also involves setting up patterns, and when those patterns are disturbed, disaster follows--Fio's paper towel consumption has doubled in the three weeks. But Sonya is doing better.

Now to persuade her not to eat the Christmas tree. Take the tree down, you say? Well, Fiorella hasn't quite gotten around to that yet. She's been too busy puppy-watching.

Day by Day

Sonya's having some problems adjusting to the family routine, partially because Daddy's been home sick all week and everyone's been sleeping late, partially because Mommy's hip has given out again and she's not been too agile lately, all of which resulted in Sonya's housebreaking going down the tubes (pun intended). Husband even had to give her crate a deep clean yesterday.

But today is a new day. Sonya let us sleep till 7:30, awoke Mommy with a couple of sharp yips, and, without a leash, trotted down the stairs behind her. Mommy hobbled over as quickly as she could to open the back door, but Sonya was quicker on the carpet. "NO," Fio thundered. Sonya stopped in mid-dribble as Mommy grabbed her by the harness and directed her out to finish in the yard.

Mommy was somewhat suspicious when she let Sonya back in, and rightly so--ten minutes later, Baby started to squat again, but on the concrete floor this time, a sure sign of what was to come. Fio hustled her outside again. After a little dithering between the yard and the stepping stones, which Sonya's puppy feet identified as concrete, she deposited in the yard.

Hooray for Sonya, who's learning. And hooray for Mommy, who, still in her nightgown, is sitting on the couch writing this blog with sweet Sonya sleeping by her side.

Adventures in Housebreaking

Housebreaking a puppy is not an easy task when your hip is giving you trouble and it's raining cats and...uh...dogs outside.

Yes, that rain the meteorologists told us wouldn't come again till spring is here. The skies are gray, the ground is soggy, and our Sonya is too persnickety to use the backyard when the vinyl mat in front of the kitchen sink does so well for number one and the dining room floor is perfect for the other. She's also pretty stealthy about it.

At least Fiorella knows where to look, the mat can be wiped up, and the concrete floor is easily cleaned.

But once Fio's hip is better, Sonya better mind her Pees and Cues.