They went to the vocational school yesterday and visited seven classes of 60 + kids each! John is with our hostess, Nancy. 

My guests went to our western restaurant for lunch yesterday to get some easy on the tummy food.  

At the teahouse last night, Maureen (Canadian), Joe, Belle, Claude, Jenny, Katrina, Goldie, Julia, and Nancy all came to chat with my guests from America. Yes, it's cold, so I am sporting my warm silk coat. Lady, John and I went to the market this morning to buy fruit. I got my designer sweater all muddy, not to mention the rest of me! So, you guessed it-Lady plopped me right in the tub! Well, at least I am nice and clean, and smell good for all our special events. My guests are going to be very busy, but today wasn't so bad. Lady made them scrambled eggs, banana nut muffins, and fresh fruit salad. If you want to keep up with my world through the eyes of my American University guests, keep checking my blog! 

See me peeking from under John's chair? Just checking for treats. I brought my guests to my adult Wednesday night English Corner. Katrina came, too. They all drank a lot of tea! 

A sea of curious students! 

There's John admist hundreds of interested students. 5,000 students attend this senior high!! 

Their first event in our city was a visit to Maureen's school for her English Corner. Over three hundred students came to see the foreigners and have a chat! 

My guests are preparing for their special events this week. I tried to help John paint, but Lady didn't appreciate it when I drug my blanket across the freshly painted snowman. Ellery is trying to keep me out of trouble. Candi and Lindsey are cutting out shapes.  

This picture is blurry, but maybe Candi's mommy will wonder of she is really here, so we posted it anyway. Yes, Jenny got a haircut. She sympathized with Lady's hair adventures lately.Maureen turned Lady's hair orange blotchy, so Jenny took her to the hairdresser's to get it changed. Lady came home with black hair instead of blonde. She cried. So, a week later, Jenny took her back. Jenny said it was ugly. Lady cried. But they changed it and now Lady has, well, I don't know what color it is but it is lighter and prettier than the last color, and she isn't crying anymore. Her students like this much better. They hated the dark color and Lady could see it on their faces. She wore a hat! I like Lady no matter what color her hair is.  

My friend John came back this year! He's good at using chopsticks! 

I'm looking for meet in my customary location, but I did climb into Candi and Ellery's lap! They love me already!. 

My new friends from America arrived last night. My adult English Corner group hosted them for their first in-country dinner at a restaurant in our 'hood. That's Margaret between Lindsey and Ellery. 

I just love my new Santa! What? This isn't how you're supposed to treat him? 

Are you ready for Christmas? I am. It is cold, so I have on my warm silk jacket. Maureen said that I don't know I am a dog, that I think I am a boy. That's ridiculous! Of course I know I am a dog! I know the difference. Humans obsess over clothing and their hair, collect too much stuff, insist on going into little rooms behind closed doors to teetee, depend on words to communicate, and often don't communicate what they really think, are too busy to smell the good stuff or just lie in a sunbeam and enjoy its warmth. They don't walk enough and are such picky eaters. They have to use utensils. They've forgotten that sometimes, just their presence and a warm touch is enough to communicate compassion and understanding. Humans need us dogs to remind them. Yes, I know I am a dog. I like my life. I love my human and her friends. More humans are going to come visit me from America for Christmas. And I will be a good host and take care of them.  

Now, why do you think this scene is making my Lady cry? All I know is I can hardly get around in the guest room because of all the boxes and suitcases on the floor. I just want to make sure I have my blankie, and don't get left behind. Already three big boxes have left our home, and LOTS of stuff went out the door with our friends. Just today, Jade and Gloria chose some old clothes and things to take away. Well, I am sticking close by Lady these days. Whatever room she is in, that's where you'll find me.And when she cries, I jump up in her lap, and lick her tears dry. Yep, that's what I do.  

Finally, they're finished! Jeremiah added his own special touch by sticking a jelly bean in the top! Be sure to scroll down to the beginning if you are just starting here. You can see how Jeremiah made banana nut muffins with Lady. I did clean-up as usual.  

Waiting is tough! 

Carefully put the muffins in the oven at 170 C or 350 F for 20 minutes. 

FIll paper-lined muffin tins 2/3 full with batter. 

Add the nuts and gently stir the mixture.