Stella's first trip to the garden center

Stella took her first trip to Sloat Garden Center on Saturday. She rode in the cart and everyone asked about her.

Outfits for all moods & occasions

Do I think so because I'm her mom or is Stella actually the cutest puppy in the world?

All shots are done! Yesterday was Stella's first day as a free woman!

First crop in the Earthbox: lettuce

The green planter contains all the extra plants I over-bought because I didn't read the directions first. We're going to see if they grow for a while and then eat them. In the meantime, it's a test between the Earthbox and my method of stuffing in as much as I can.

This is so disturbing.

It makes me want to throw something away.

Oakland woman found under junk pile.

Play time!

Stella in the garden

Nap time!

Advice on selecting fluffy pets

As you probably know, we have two fluffy pets. Lexi, our indoor cat who won't even step over a puddle during her rare trips outside is self-cleaning and BROWN. Stella, our fluffy dog who loves to go outside and dances in puddles, requires baths and blow-drying. She's WHITE. This is not the ideal situation. Anyone considering a fluffy pet, think about this.

Good move!

Obama overturns Bush policy on stem cells
By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – Reversing Bush policy, President Barack Obama on Monday cleared the way for a significant increase in federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research and promised no scientific data will be 'distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda.'

Obama signed the executive order on the divisive stem cell issue and a memo addressing what he called scientific integrity before an East Room audience packed with scientists. He laced his remarks with several jabs at the way science was handled by former President George W. Bush.

'Promoting science isn't just about providing resources, it is also about protecting free and open inquiry,' Obama said. 'It is about letting scientists like those here today do their jobs, free from manipulation or coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it's inconvenient especially when it's inconvenient. It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology.'

A new ride for Stella

Stella's pink and black carrier is really cool and well designed but it's sized for adult Stella, not the 3.8 lb. puppy I'm taking everywhere whose feet can't touch the ground.

Stella's first trip to the beach

We took Stella to the beach for the first time today. Apparently, the salt water kills viruses so you can take little puppies to the wet sand and play with less risk. She really liked it and had fun running around in the wind.

The intersection of house breaking and gardening

Stella and I spend a lot of time outside in the garden sniffing around and thinking about peeing. The other night, we came back in and I noticed that Stella had slugs all over her nose. Yuck! I keep trying to remember to grab my pruning shears on the way out of the house so I can prune the lavender bush while I'm waiting for Stella to pee or poop.