I'm scanning fondue recipes

for information and instructions in preparing fondue for Rosey's birthday dinner. She wanted to go to the local fondue restaurant, a nice place that serves very good food. But, alas, it is pricey; I can neither pay for our dinners and those for friends, nor ask friends to pay for an expensive meal they might not otherwise select.

The result is friends are coming over and I'm preparing fondues. Fondue is not difficult to make; the concept is simple and, if you follow instructions, the dishes should be successful. As I prepare my shopping list, though, from the recipes I've reviewed I can see that this may be a less expensive meal, but not an inexpensive one.

But, since there were times when I could not have prepared a meal of this sort with the quality ingredients recommended, I'll not complain further. And I think it'll be fun.

Last week I finally fulfilled a wish I've had for nearly the entire 20 years I've lived in this house. The sliding glass door in the basement has been replaced with a wall and a basic exterior door. AND, because I have two roomies requiring egress and ingress without my assistance, a pet door was included in the wall beside the big door.

Now if only both dogs would use the pet door. The Chihuahua is okay with it; the Corgi-mix does not like it. She eschews any change and seems pretty put off by the new door. I say this because I've not seen her go out of the house, nor have I seen her in the yard when the outside door was closed.

I'm thinking I need to go into the basement and see if she's left me any presents. There may be more lessons ensuing regarding use of the new pet door.  Rosey and I put her through the door twice, once going out and once re-entering. She did not like it. Eventually she'll have to use the door. Right?

Summer is back in force. I should not complain; we do not have forest fires that are scorching miles and miles of land around us; we're not being flooded by a storm stalled off-shore. But it's hot dammit. And it hasn't rained in weeks.

My solution, of course, is remain inside, read books, watch movies. Following this precept, I've completed couple of books this past week and watched some interesting programming I recorded from PBS and Smithsonian channels. Between my 'to read' list and movie queue, I will be occupied for years to come.
What a life.