Mom-In-Law

I have two funny stories to share about my mother-in-law who occasionally reads this blog. Two things to know about my MIL: her favorite colors are white and black (gray is also acceptable), and she has a new Maltese puppy who is very pampered.

So first up...my MIL has decorated her current townhome and her lake house in shakes of white, gray, and black. The lake house is accented with red. She and my FIL have recently purchased the house across the street and plan to completely remodel it for overflow or particularly private (or demanding) guests. Well, I'd bought a black comforter for my upstairs guest room and decided it didn't go. I asked her if she'd like to have it as it was a very good price and it was black--'nuf said. In an email, she told me no thank you, she was thinking of going with different colors for the new house.

Different colors?? My eyes bugged. What on earth could she mean? I shared this little tidbit with my husband, and he was similarly curious and incredulous.

So a couple of days later, she visited, and obviously I asked her what colors she was thinking of. Her answer? Brown-black, cream, and reddish orange. I find this pretty darn hilarious. There's going to be a bizarro-lake house right across the street from the current one. Different colors! Hah!

Next up: the dog. I have been charged with taking care of the little Maltese for a week while they go on vacation. I've been wondered about this for some time--how it will go with him being so spoiled and me being so unwilling to spoil him... So we were at the lakehouse last weekend, and she was making his breakfast. She calls me out of the bedroom where I was reading a book to show me how to make his food. Here is the procedure:

1. Grate some frozen liver roll onto a plate
2. Add a handful of dry dogfood pellets
3. Mix in a third of a jar of baby food--that day was Mac & Cheese
4. Mix in a quarter teaspoon of Angel Tears so that his fur does not get stained
5. Slide the plate into the microwave and heat for 15 sec.
6. Offer him the food and give him fifteen minutes to eat it.
7. If he doesn't eat it, refrigerate and offer it again in 1-2 hours.

I should note here that she always feeds him one spoonful with a baby spoon so that he knows what's on the menu.

I joked with her that his time at my house is going to feel like a concentration camp compared to what he's used to. I actually think she's a little concerned. But what can I say? That's almost more effort than I expend on my own dinner. Maybe my husband and I should just have frozen liver roll for dinner...