Sichuan Pepper-Salt

On our trip to Napa a few weeks ago, we stopped at Whole Spice in the Oxbow Market. I knew I'd be walking out with the Sichuan peppercorns the instant I noticed they had some. As soon as we got back home to Los Angeles, I pulled out our copy of Barbara's China Moon Cookbook and looked for the Sichuan pepper-salt recipe.

It seemed like a fairly easy recipe, but I was still a little intimidated. Even though I never had the pleasure of meeting Barbara, her memory is still alive and well in the Rhoades family. This was one recipe that needed to be followed precisely, which is very difficult for me to do. If it didn't taste just right, I'd definitely hear about it.

Well, my attempt was a success, and I used the Sichuan pepper-salt on just about everything. I'm now running pretty low and can't survive without this stuff. It's that amazing! I made a second batch today, and it turned out even better than the first.

Sichuan peppercorns prior to picking out twigs, thorns, and leaves and roasting with salt.

The finished product... So delicious!

Many of Barbara's other recipes include what seem like an endless list of ingredients with extremely detailed instructions. She does highlight a few simple ones with which to start, so hopefully, my future attempts will be as successful as my first.

I'm A Terrible Blogger

There's been so much going on that I totally ignored my blog. I'm a terrible blogger.

It's time to catch up. I spent the last month or so working with clients, attending multiple birthday parties and dinners, visiting with friends, and traveling to Northern California. Andrew and I were hiking two to three times per week until the air quality from the fires became yucky.

Here are some pictures...

Andrew, Bart, and the dogs walking through the vineyard.

The ice cream was as delicious as it looks.

We took Andrew's friend from Chicago, Jerry, to Venice Beach and got this great shot.

Little Alique's second birthday!

View of the Station fire from Toluca Lake.

Cirque Berzerk

On Sunday, Andrew and I saw Cirque Berzerk in Downtown Los Angeles with my childhood friend Varoujan and his girlfriend Allison. Andrew said it perfectly, "Now I know what happens when you mix goths with Cirque du Soleil."

Here are Andrew and the Armenian brother he never had, Varoujan. Andrew is not actually putting his arm around Varoujan. I was just a little too late to catch the rabbit ears.


This is Allison and Vroujan in front of the big eyeball. I think she was trying to convince him that he had enough pictures of all the gothy people. By the way, that big eyeball shoots flame out of the top. We might have been standing a bit too close when it went off the first time.

Happy Mother's Day!

I decided to have a Mother's Day get-together yesterday in honor of my mom, sister, and Mila. It ended up being a Mother's Day BBQ with lots of delicious treats.


For appetizers we had feta and Armenian string cheese with lavash along with fresh veggies and a homemade sun dried tomato dip. The main course was hamburgers served with cous cous salad, baked beans, and roasted potatoes. Linda's macaroni and cheese contribution was a big hit. To round out the meal, we had mini cinnamon rolls, Armenian pastries, and fresh fruit. All in all, it was a very healthy and delicious lunch.

Whatever Andrew is talking about must be really interesting.

Here are the girls with their version of sharing.

Alique is taking some strawberry with her... on her shirt!

We even got to see Waleed. What a great treat!

My First Bikram Yoga Class

I took a Bikram yoga class this morning! The pain in my shoulder is practically unbearable, and I need to find a way to strengthen my back (which has it's own issues) without hurting my shoulder. I have a Pilates reformer to target my problem areas, and I like going to the gym once or twice a week for more intense cardio and weight training. I love yoga and the flexibility it provides, but there's a problem. The more traditional yoga classes use a lot of downward facing dog, which really aggravates my shoulder.

I'd love to be able to do this again soon.

Bikram yoga is different. It consists of 26 specific asanas (postures) which are done two time each and in a very specific order, and none of the postures are downward facing dog. It also needs to be done in a room heated to 105 degrees with 40% humidity. Actually, the way in which the practice is put together supposedly heals the body. I so hope that's true.

I've never been able to do this, but I'm still holding out hope.

I'm Eating the Pistachios Anyway!

As part of a string of errands yesterday, Audrey and I went to Sarkis Pastry in Glendale for some good old fashioned Armenian paklava (Baklava to non-Armenians). Armenian paklava is made with a sugar syrup not honey, so it has a different flavor than the typical store bought baklava.

I was never a huge fan of paklava (or baklava) growing up, but later figured out it was the walnuts I didn't like. Fortunately, Armenian bakeries make various types of paklava, including almond and cashew filled ones. Now that I know which ones to get, I enjoy going to Sarkis Pastry (the only place I buy paklava) and getting my four favorite types.

I thought it would be interesting for Audrey to tag along and see how it all works. She seemed to enjoy the experience and even got a small box filled with about seven pieces to take home. I purchased two boxes. One for tea with a friend in the morning. The other for Andrew to take to work. Audrey and I bought one cream filled phyllo triangle to share right then and there. All the paklava got an extra sprinkling of pistachio on top after it was packaged, and the cream filled pastry got a drizzle of syrup with pistachio sprinkles. Audrey and I devoured our phyllo pastry as soon as we got back to the car. It was delicious, and we were hungry. After getting home and getting settled, I discovered my friend wasn't going to be able to make it to tea in the morning after all. I was a little disappointed that I wouldn't be seeing her, but at least, there's paklava. I had one piece yesterday evening and another piece in the morning.

When Audrey came to work in the morning, she asked me if I had seen the news and heard about the pistachio recall. Well, I don't watch the news, so I hadn't heard anything. It turns out Salmonella was found in some pistachios traced back to a giant plant in California, and the FDA is asking people not to eat pistachios until further notice. Since we both had eaten the paklava and weren't sick, we figured our pistachios were probably safe to eat. Just as a precaution, I called and notified Andrew of the recall.

I rarely get paklava, so it's unfortunate the pistachio recall had to happen now. I think for the most part it will be alright. I'll keep the paklava away from anyone with a compromised immune system and warn those wanting some of the risks. I just had another piece paklava and am pretty certain it's worth the minuscule risk of getting salmonella poisoning (at least for me).

Sign of the Times

Yesterday, as Audrey and I were showing property to a client, my cell phone rang. Normally, I don't answer my cell phone when I'm with a client, but this was different. The caller and the client to whom we were currently showing property know each other. I said, "Hey, it's Jason. I wonder why he's calling."

Jason is a friend and a client. He purchased a lovely home in a nice pocket of North Hollywood. As soon as Jason started talking, it was clear he was not in as jovial a mood as the rest of us. He seemed a little anxious, so I knew something was wrong. He had an issue and he wasn't sure what to do about it, so he decided to call me, a local friend and his real estate agent. There was a beat up designer gym bag on his front stoop when he went out to get the mail that day. My first thought was if he felt comfortable opening it, he would have done so already and not called me. I said, "Call the police."

Jason seemed a little shocked by my immediate and direct advice. I told him not to call 911 or anything like that. Instead, I advised him to look in his yellow pages and call his local police station. I figured he could ask them for advice on what to do. I then asked him to keep me posted. Well, the police came, called the bomb squad, and evacuated some houses around the neighborhood. You can read Jason's account of events on his blog.


I got the sense that Jason felt a little silly about all the hoopla he caused, especially since it turned out there was no nefarious intent and the bag was probably dumped by a transient. It's important to note the police called the bomb squad after coming out and determining they did not want to attempt to open the bag themselves. If the police wouldn't touch the bag, it's a good thing Jason didn't either.

All in all, it was a exciting AND productive day yesterday. In addition to Jason's bomb squad adventure, we also wrote an offer (which looks quite promising) for our client.

UPDATE: It turns out the bag had some shoes in it that were dropped off at the wrong address by a shoe repair person. A man knocked on Jason's door late the next evening looking for the bag. Jason, who was still a little shaken up by the previous day's events, initially told him that he had not seen a bag. When the the man insisted, Jason said he would look to see if his gardeners had thrown it out. The shoes were retrieved from the trash and returned to the shoe repair guy.

Week One

Andrew's been back at work for a couple weeks now, and the first episode is due to air this coming Wednesday. It's difficult to go from seeing him 24/7 to not having him around at all. On the bright side, we spend less on groceries, and I get to lose some of those extra hiatus pounds I put on. Andrew tends to be a little grumpy during the run, so I try to stay out of his way as much as possible. In a few short weeks it will all be over. Andrew will be allotted one week recuperation time. Then, it's off to the gym and hiking and anything else I can squeeze in. Those extra hiatus pounds are not welcome anymore!

Things Are Moving Along

Audrey and me on my wedding day!

It's been almost two weeks since my friend and former co-worker, Audrey Rainbolt, starting working with me in my real estate business. It was a good time for her to start. We currently have three clients to whom we are showing properties. Plus, we have several strong prospects who can turn into clients at any moment.

Most people don't realize the amount of work that goes into a real estate transaction from start to finish. It's going to be nice to have some help, especially from someone like Audrey. We have slightly different strengths and complement each other very well. I'm so excited she actually LOVES to organize the office and set up files. I'm sure she's happy that I can store all kinds of little details in my brain so she doesn't have to.

Audrey is well on her way to becoming a full fledged partner. She'll be taking her real estate exam this month and might have her license as early as next month. Until then, she's learning the ropes by assisting me. Now, we just need a catchy team name with an available URL. We are real estate agents after all. Any ideas?

Vegan Ideas for Lent

The forty days of Lent are upon us! The last day of Lent is the day before Easter (which falls on the first Sunday after the full moon after the spring equinox). Today is the start of Lent, also known as Ash Wednesday. Wikipedia provides the following information on Ash Wednesday:

Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens (one of the sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptized), though some churches use ordinary oil. This paste is used by the priest who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross , first upon his own forehead and then on each of those present who kneel before him at the altar rail. As he does so, he recites the words: "Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

There are so many interesting rituals around Lent. Traditionally, people give up something for Lent. I know a few who abstain from eating any animal products at all, essentially becoming vegan for forty days. In honor of those who observe Lent in this way, here are some vegan friendly meal ideas.

Vegan Burgers, Vegan Dogs, Vegan Corn Dogs, Sweet Potato Fries, Potato Salad (Lemon Juice & Olive Oil Dressing), Pasta (Marinara), Pasta (Olive Oil, Garlic, Parsley), Mixed Salad with Chicken-Less, Curried Peas & Rice, Veggie Gyoza, Fruit Salad, Cole Slaw, Vegan Chorizo Tacos, Vegan Chorizo Tofu Scramble, and on and on...

I'll try to post some pictures soon!

Ouch, That Hurts!

Last night as Andrew and I were preparing dinner, I went to step over his foot and didn't quite make it. My little toe ran right into the side of his big shod foot. I heard a snap but thought it must have been something else. When Andrew said he heard it too, I wondered if my toe could be broken. It didn't hurt as much as I thought a broken toe should, though.

This morning, I was in a hurry to get ready for the gym and didn't remember the injury until I put on my shoes. I could feel pressure on my little toe in the shoe, but it didn't seem that bad. I didn't notice the bruise until I got back from the gym and took off my shoe.


It looks worse than it is. I'm sure it's not broken or anything and only hurts when direct pressure is applied. At least, the bruise looks good with my purple nail polish.

Crepes, Crepes, and More...

All our guests have come and gone. The house is almost back to normal. I love entertaining. Well, mainly, I love feeding people. Even though there wasn't enough time to prepare everything on the menu and I forgot to put out the hummus, I think everyone had enough to eat.


The crepes were the main attraction, and boy, did they taste delicious. Normally, I'd feel a little like one of those cooking show hosts tooting my own horn like that (you know who I'm talking about), but these crepes are so easy to make that I can't really take any credit for how good they are.

It's important to acknowledge two people who helped make this day a success. Audrey came early and acted as my sous chef. Anyone who has been around me before a party knows this is not as easy as it sounds. Andrew contributed his delicious pesto (with pumpkin seeds instead of pine nuts) and Famous (well, to me at least, since I named it) Andrew Salad with feta cheese, green apples, raisins, and pecans in a sesame, rice vinegar, and peanut butter dressing. I'll be sure to post the recipe soon.

I always like to provide a meat item for my carnivorous friends, so today we had Buffalo wings. I hear they were good (especially considering they come frozen from Trader Joe's) and spicy. Since we were serving Buffalo wings, we had to have Blue Cheese dressing (ranch dressing fans can look for my "Ranch Dressing Really Sucks" post soon to follow). Since I can't bring myself serve store bought dressing, I made it myself completely from scratch. The dressing turned out well. First I made homemade mayonnaise and then added buttermilk, sour cream, parsley, garlic, and Blue Cheese crumbles. Normally, I avoid mayo based sauces like the plague, but blue cheese dressing doesn't have distinct mayo flavor that I despise. In fact, it was so good that I served crudités so I could enjoy some of the dressing, too.

There was homemade chili con queso (btw, I found a trick that ensures the dip is never stringy), guacamole, and chips. I also baked a loaf of bread this morning to serve with a selections of cheeses. I also made a potato salad (no mayo, of course), and Audrey helped to put together a whole wheat cous cous salad. We finally got to use the beverage dispenser Neil and Christine gave us for our lemonade concoction with Myer lemon slices and fresh mint leaves. As usual, orange juice, mimosas, beer, and mixed drinks were available as well.

Zuzu and Fatboy, being social animals, seemed to have a great time interacting with all the guests. Imogen, however, was nowhere to be found most of the day, and the only news I got on her was that she bit Wonnie (not hard, probably a love bite). At least this time, none of the animals knocked a whole glass of mimosa into Nora's purse.

All in all, it was a fun time had by all, as the pictures show...

Kris has heard this one before...

What's in the cup, Lesly?

Eldon and Jennifer talking about eyebrow shaping or something...

Kimmie is just thinking about her upcoming trip to Palm Springs...

I wish I was in on this conversation...

Wow! Nice! Yum!

Paul is contemplating another crepe...

There's so much going on!

Dinner, Movie, and an Offer

Sorry, I still haven't gotten used to posting on a regular basis. I'm sure it will become a habit one day. It's also been pretty hectic, so there hasn't been much time.

Andrew went back to work a couple weeks ago. He still has weekends off, but doesn't get home until fairly late. He's off around 6:00 PM, and stays at work for an hour or so (playing WoW, of course) until traffic eases up a little. This means dinner is even later than usual, which is difficult for me since my body really wants its biggest meal around 2:00 PM and isn't all that happy about waiting as long as it already does to eat something substantial.

Right before the run started, Andrew and I went to Irori, a Japanese restaurant in Marina Del Rey, with a few of his co-workers after seeing Coraline (which was amazing). They all talked me into having people over for crepes before crunch starts, so I've been menu planning and shopping for that all week long. I can't buy too much at one time when Andrew isn't with me, since it's just too hard to get all those groceries up to our second floor condo. I'll be finishing up the shopping tomorrow. We are expecting around 20 people in our little condo. It should be fun!

Oh yeah, I wrote an offer a couple days ago. We tried to make it as strong as possible while still staying within budget. So far, it's going well. We won't know for sure until they accept or counter our offer. It was a foreclosure and banks are really trying to sell their properties, so they price them well and buyers end up in bidding wars. Believe it or not, we are seeing multiple offers (sometimes over 20 of them) for properties that are well priced. I try to avoid bidding wars (which usually drive up the price) and focus on finding properties that have room for negotiation. The seller might take less (sometimes even less than if it were priced aggressively) because nobody else is offering anything.

Valentine's Day at the Rhoades House

Last weekend was Valentine's Day, which at our house is pretty uneventful. I don't like dealing with all the crowds (and neither does my introvert husband), so we usually stay home and relax. Andrew has been warned to never by me flowers on Valentine's Day or else I'll have to divorce him for being fiscally irresponsibility. I don't have anything against getting flowers, and Andrew is more than welcome to buy me flowers any other day of the year. I just don't get paying more for something for no other reason than it was purchased on a specific day.

I made Andrew bacon and eggs for breakfast, and then we got a special surprise. Our friend Jennifer got her dates mixed up and showed up a week early to our crepetastic get-together. She had flowers with her, but I'm sure they were from Trader Joe's or someplace responsible like that. It was a great Valentine's Day topped off with Indian food at my mom's place for dinner. She did have two screaming grandchildren with her, but the cuteness overrides the screaming, for me at least. I don't think Andrew would agree.

Crepe Recipe

I just finished reading an article on The Huffington Post about how top chefs are hoping Obama's food habits will influence more Americans to eat better.

To help kick off this era of good food and transparency, I am posting the recipe for my buttery crepe which were served at my Obama Inauguration Party earlier this week. The crepes are so easy to make, you'll wonder why you didn't try to make your own crepes sooner.

My favorite way to eat crepes is with a squeeze of lemon and some powdered sugar. I also enjoy them with some fresh berries and whipped cream or Le Pain Quotidien Brunette (hazelnut spread) with Bonne Maman Four Fruits Preserves. Chocolate/Hazelnut spread and bananas are a traditional and much loved filling/topping option as well.

Included in the recipe are the exact ingredients I use. As long as the proportions are roughly the same, the brands and types of ingredients can easily be changed. I like to try to use whole wheat flour whenever possible. A little bit of white whole wheat (I use the King Arthur brand from Trader Joe's or Whole Foods) actually gives these crepes some needed texture. Too much whole wheat flour makes them tough, though. Experiment and let me know what you think. They really are easy to make.

Since I make crepes regularly, I purchased a special crepe pan (pictured above). When I am making triple and quadruple batches I have two of these pans going simultaneously which helps cut prep time nearly in half. You don't need a special pan to make these delicious crepes. A regular frying or omelet pan (pictured below) works fine. Just make sure it's non-stick.



Makes approximately 8 crepes

Approximate Nutritional Information (1 Crepe):
Calories: 106
Fat: 6g, Carbs: 7.5g, Protein: 4.5g
Sat Fat: 3g, Fiber: 0.5g, Sugar: 2g

Ingredients:
1/4 Cup All Purpose Unbleached Flour
1/4 Cup White Whole Wheat Flour
3 Large Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1-1/4 Cups Non-Fat Milk
1 Teaspoon Lemon Extract
3 Tablespoons Salted Butter

Tools:
Non-Stick Crepe or Omelet Pan
Whisk
Large Ladle
Silicone Spatula
Turner/Spatula

1. Melt butter on low heat. Set aside and let cool.
2. In mixing bowl, whisk together all the flour and eggs until mixture is smooth.
3. Add vanilla and 1 tablespoon of milk to the flour/egg mixture. Mix until thoroughly incorporated.
4. Slowly whisk in the remaining milk.
5. Mix in melted butter and lemon extract. Do not try to fully incorporate the butter into the batter. No matter how much it is stirred, the butter should stay separated and rise to the surface.
6. Heat pan on medium heat.
7. Stir batter with ladle and pour one ladle full of batter into pan. Swirl the pan around until a thin layer of batter covers the bottom of the pan.
8. Once crepe edge starts to brown, lift one side of crepe with silicone spatula, slide flipper under crepe and flip. Flipped crepe should look lacy.
9. Slide crepe onto plate and repeat process.

Any leftovers can be covered so they don't dry out and placed in the refrigerator. Microwave for a few seconds to reheat. Enjoy!

Yes We Did!

President Obama: Words for How We Feel Now from Emily Troutman on Vimeo.

Today was obviously different. Since when do people get so excited about a presidential inauguration? I even had people over for breakfast to share in the celebration. I don't even know if I've seen another inauguration, except in news clips.

Nelson Mandela, Former South African President:

"Your election to this high office has inspired people as few other events in recent times have done. Amongst many around the world a sense of hopelessness had set in as so many problems remain unresolved and seemingly incapable of being resolved.

"You, Mister President, have brought a new voice of hope that these problems can be addressed and that we can in fact change the world and make of it a better place.''

...............................................................................

Gordon Brown, British Prime Minister:

"He is a man of great vision, he is a man of great determination and energy and he is a man of great moral purpose. And I think all these qualities are ones that will stand him in great stead for facing up to the changes ahead of him."

................................................................................

Angela Merkel, German Chancellor:

"I believe today is a very special day not only for the United States of America but also a special day for billions of people all over the world. The fact that a black president is inaugurated and the fact that we are looking at an intensive trans-Atlantic co-operation is something that not only moves the heads and thoughts but also the hearts."

................................................................................

Nicolas Sarkozy, French President:

"With your election, the American people has vigorously expressed its confidence in progress and in the future, as well as its resolve to have an open, new, strong and caring America that you embody.

"As you are entering office, I should like to convey to you, on my behalf and on the behalf of the people of France, my very best wishes for great success at the head of the American nation."

................................................................................

Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister:

"I believe from everything I have seen, read and heard and from the conversations that I have had with him that the American people have chosen well in their new president."

Weekend With Liz & Mike

Elizabeth and Mike came to visit for a couple of days, and we had loads of fun. I wish they could have stayed longer, but they had to get back home and back to work.

Yesterday we went to the Getty Villa off of Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades. Driving down PCH on a 78 degree January day was a little surreal. The beaches were packed with surfers trying to make the best of the poor surfing conditions, and we even saw three people on surfboards with long paddles. They looked a little funny... more like gondoliers than surfers.
The Getty Villa is a spectacular place to visit. Admission to the center and museum are free, but there is a parking fee. The museum which houses Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities is architecturally in the style of a Roman villa complete with gardens. I was all ready to take a ton of pictures of my favorite people in one of my favorite places with my brand new digital SLR when I realized my backup battery was still in the charger at home and the only battery I had with me was almost out of juice. Well, at least I got a couple pictures before it died.

After going through the museum building, we had lunch at the villa cafe and then decided to check out the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Since it was Saturday the Promenade was filled with street performers, shoppers, and curious onlookers such as ourselves. As soon as the sun began to set and it started getting a little chilly, we head back to the San Fernando Valley. Along the way we discovered Mike had never been to BJ's or even heard of a Pizookie. We knew we had to go to BJ's for dinner and Pizookie. I ordered a pineapple and jalapeno pizza, my favorite. For dessert, Andrew and I shared a half triple chocolate and half chocolate chip Pizookie with all vanilla ice cream. I was in Heaven!

We decided to go to the Los Angeles Zoo today. Andrew and I are members, so we got everyone in for free. Walking up and down the hills is good exercise. Plus, we get to support our local zoo. The new gorilla habitat is wonderful, and I can't wait to see the expanded elephant enclosure once it opens. There is always a young giraffe (this time two) and baby koala. The lions, tigers, snow leopards, orangutans, and chimpanzees are a must see as well.

After the Zoo, we drove into Thai Town in Hollywood and had Thai food at Palms, famous for its Thai Elvis impersonator. When we finally figured out what we all wanted and placed our order, the server wanted to make sure we knew what we were getting into when we requested everything be spicy. We assured her we understood that the food would be very spicy, exactly the way we wanted it.

The dishes started coming out and the Basil Chicken (which I unfortunately couldn't taste because I don't eat chicken) was apparently extremely spicy. Andrew and Elizabeth concluded it was some of the spiciest food they'd ever put into their mouths. Mike took a short break until the pain subsided and then dug into the Beef Panang. Andrew said the Basil Chicken was by far the spiciest dish we ordered and at least twice as spicy as the Kee Mao Noodles which were spicy enough for me.

We rounded out our meal with Shrimp Cakes (my current favorite), Chicken Satay, Spring Rolls, and Coconut Soup with Shrimp. It was all quite delicious!

Here we go...

So, here's my new blog. I got the name from David Sedaris. His book Me Talk Pretty One Day is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good side splitting laugh.

On my fifth trip to France I limited myself to the words and phrases that people actually use. From the dog owners I learned "Lie down," "Shut up," and "Who shit on this carpet?" The couple across the road taught me to ask questions correctly, and the grocer taught me to count. Things began to come together, and I went from speaking like an evil baby to speaking like a hillbilly. "Is thems the thoughts of cows?" I'd ask the butcher, pointing to the calves' brains displayed in the front window. "I want me some lamb chop with handles on 'em."

It seems appropriate. Besides the obvious comparison of my ramblings to bovine musing, it's important for a Lacto-ovo-pesco-vegetarian like myself to know calf brains are even a possibility.

The goal is to take as many pictures of the things I enjoy and share them with anyone interested. That said...


The last few days have been consumed by Zuzu and her mysterious ailment. She's always been a strange dog with bizarre behavior patterns. When she started periodically trembling about a week ago, we thought it was jut a reaction to our being out of town without her for a few days. After all, this is the dog that runs away from me when it's bath time and shivers in the shower before, during, and after the entire process.

The trembling continued for three days, so we took her to the vet for tests. The tests were precautionary. We never expected them to reveal anything significant. The vet believes she is either responding to fear or pain. She is on pain meds and doing a little better. The trembling has decreased and her appetite is coming back. We try to make her feel safe and loved without encouraging bad habits or spoiling her too much. We'll know she's really feeling better once she starts playing with her toys again... which she hasn't done in over a week.