Our Little Golden Girl

Somehow it only seems like yesterday when Andy, my sister and I went to look at the two week old puppy that would be ours as soon as she was old enough to leave her mother. 

It was love at first sight for all of us. 

We drove home that day tossing lots of names around, some really cool however she was a Molly for me, right from the start. (Who knew that every 3rd lab we came across would share the name; yet it doesn't matter because she is such a Molly.)

She was even more adorable when we brought her home after our honeymoon at ten weeks old :) 

Although she was a typical lab and loved to chew everything in sight, she tried very hard to be a good girl; and succeeded most of the time. 

What a brilliant dog she grew to be. She is such a good girl with just the right amount of quirkiness to make her personality shine. 

Today, she turns 9. That's apparently 63 in dog years which puts her at a similar age to my mom - a bonafide senior. However like my mom she shows minimal sighns of slowing down and is still very active. A few times a week she still gets 'her crazy on' - when she races around in circles at full speed, teasing and wanting to play some more. Long may it continue as she enjoys her golden years. 

Quite frankly, she is incredible. 

Happy Bithday to our old girl. You will always be the best gift I have ever received. 

The Rundown

I thought it was high time I dropped you a line to say that I'm still around and that no, I haven't completely given up on this whole sharing a component of my world with you just yet. I wish I had the drive to post a bit more often and this time round I don't even have a good excuse. Well that's not completely true. I have been extremely busy reading other blogs, mainly of the culinary variety. Lately I've been on a real baking kick, ever since St Paddy's Day (which was ironically my last post).  Work has been busy too, especially as I missed a few days due to a bad cold, however in reality I'm just making up excuses. 

Seriously though. Here is the rundown on what's been keeping me preoccupied: 

1. Trying to replicate pretty but tasty recipes I've been finding from some amazing food bloggers

 

  Neither of these were nearly as pretty as the original's but they were tasty. 

2. Going on a few hikes with Andy and the dogs (we've had Carter to stay a few weekends this spring. 

During our 9.5 mile hike through the surrounding villages last weekend, we came across the neatest little 'lending library': 

3. I have cheerfully been getting the house sorted for spring and of course Easter, which I love. We have a busy weekend planned over the holiday for a number of reasons, including Jayden's 2nd birthday. I know!  I don't know where the time has gone. I will make sure to pop back before the month is behind us to share photos and a tale or two.

I love the abundance of tulips this time of year brings.

Oh, and I almost forgot... There is one thing that is proving rather distracting; some of you need your fix from medical dramas, The Bachelor, hell maybe even some version of Housewives of who cares. Me? Well my fix for the next month or two is... Masterchef. 

If I'm not back before the weekend, Happy Easter!