The Perfect Winter Drink!

On snowy days like today, the perfect drink for me is Mexican hot chocolate. I always buy the Abuelita brand because the taste reminds me of Mexico. There’s a little cinnamon flavor with the chocolate. I don’t know if the Aztecs added that cinnamon kick, but chocolate is definitely a gift.

Keep reading and you’ll learn the best way to make it….melt a tablet of Abuelita in a couple of inches of water (depending on the size of the pot). Keep the heat low enough to keep it from burning, of course. When the chocolate is melted, add a can of condensed milk and regular milk to taste. That can of condensed milk is what makes the difference.

Best hot chocolate tablets ever!

Best hot chocolate tablets ever!


Thanks to Mary for my super cup!

Thanks to Mary for my super cup!

The Chicken Chick

YUM!

Bela said she really liked Stacey’s chili, so I got the recipe and made her some—finally. Chili is not a normal dish for me since I don’t eat it. 🙂 Now I have added it to our family cookbook much to Bela’s delight.

Bela's chili was even served in a heart-shaped bowl made by our school's art teacher.

Bela’s chili was even served in a heart-shaped bowl made by our school’s art teacher.

Stress and Scenery

Ysabela and I went to Kearney Friday so I could take my Master’s comps with two ladies (Valerie and Linda) in my online classes. (I am praying we all passed.) We left home super early and arrived in time for me to do some last-minute studying. Bela was great at map reading and helped me navigate to the right parking lot. I didn’t know she had that skill. In the parking lot, I told Bela to look at the squirrel. She thought I was over-stressed and seeing things because by the time she looked up, the squirrel was out of sight. I do, however, have photographic evidence of that squirrel.

I told her there was a squirrel!

I told her there was a squirrel!

I wrote for almost three hours while Bela got the royal treatment. Heather, the secretary, made sure Bela was hooked up to Wi-Fi in a small classroom used for video conferencing. She was such a happy camper that she didn’t want to leave UNK!

My advisor, Dr. Jochum, and Dr. Tracy (another of our instructors) took us to a Mexican restaurant called San Pedro’s for lunch. It was an enjoyable end to a stressful morning. Then it was time to head home. I meant to hit Highway 30, but somehow we ended up on 40. That must have been because Bela didn’t have a road map of the area. I stopped at a vet clinic to get directions home. Fortunately the vet was familiar with the roads and our small town. He got me turned in the right direction. On the way to Highway 2, we did pass one small rest area. It was so unexpected, we had to turn around to get a photo.

We were glad we didn't need the facilities!

We were glad we didn’t need the facilities!

Dog Tired

This is what happens when the babies spend a night away from home. They must have played and barked and carried on all night just like kids at a slumber party. I was as excited as they were when I picked them up to come home, so they played, barked and ate supper. After a trip outside, they became couch (and chair) potatoes!

Chance, guardian of the chair!

Chance, guardian of the chair!


Boxita, keeper of the couch!

Boxita, keeper of the couch!


Jinx spent her first night at doggie daycare.  I'm sure she made new friends.

Jinx spent her first night at doggie daycare. I’m sure she made new friends.

The Chicken Chick

New Clothes

Everyone knows that women love shopping. That extends to our little Jinx, too. She went in for a nail trim today at Koko’s Palace, and she ended up with a new coat. She was stressed by the nail drill, so Jordan made a good call—let her rest and de-stress so she can finish tomorrow.

Jinx looked so adorable in her new jacket that I had to take some pictures, of course. It just wasn’t fair that Boxi and Chance have jackets if Jinx was cold!

Lil Devil had to check out Jinx's new jacket.

Lil Devil had to check out Jinx’s new jacket.