Introduction: The Brew Before the Storm
As a dog mom of three and a Western romance author, my mornings aren’t exactly tranquil. Picture this: three dogs racing around the house like they’ve just discovered they have four legs and they work much faster than their human's two legs, and me, desperately clutching my first cup of coffee like it’s a lifeline. I’m not just brewing coffee; I’m preparing for the daily rodeo that is my life. But when does that sacred coffee moment morph into the workday, especially when you work from home? Read on...
The Alarm Clock Doesn’t Bark, It Howls
Forget a gentle alarm; in my house, the day starts with the dogs deciding it’s time for a good morning potty break. Or breakfast. Miki, my 13-year-old dreamer, barks softly in her sleep, while Maddie and Gus are fully awake, already plotting their next strategic moves. Maddie, the stubborn queen, refuses to go out if it’s raining, which usually means we start the day with a game of “convince the dog that an umbrella is their friend.”
Meanwhile, I’m stumbling around, trying to remember where I left my shoes for the trek through doggy landmines, and more importantly, how soon I can get to my first cup of coffee. The dogs are a blur of excitement and energy, and I’m navigating their chaos like a seasoned cowboy on a cattle drive full of ornery longhorn steers.
Coffee Machines and Dog Stare-Downs
Finally, I make it back to the kitchen, where the coffee machine awaits. But, of course, nothing in this house happens without an audience. Gus is on perpetual patrol, peering out the window to ensure the neighborhood remains free of butterfly invasions while still keeping one eye on me.
The coffee pod goes in and it starts to sputter and spit. That means I have approximately two minutes to myself before the dogs realize I’ve failed to give them their welcome back inside after potty break carrot. They quickly track me down, and now I’m dodging tail wags and wet noses while trying to avoid a coffee catastrophe. The morning has officially begun, and I’m already in the thick of it, balancing dog mom duties with the need for caffeine and the march upstairs to work.
Pod Choices and Canine Critiques
With the dogs momentarily distracted by their snack, it’s time to choose my creamer. This decision feels monumental, as if the entire day hinges on whether I pick vanilla hazelnut or sweet cream. Meanwhile, Miki is back in the kitchen, snoozing near my feet, occasionally dreaming of chasing squirrels (or whatever 13-year-old dogs chase in their dreams).
I decide today it's sweet cream and I swirl in the sticky sweetery into my coffee and wait. Soon, the dark brown brew turns into beige goodness. (I do like a little coffee with my creamer. Don't judge.) Success! The first cup of the day is within reach. But the dogs, sensing my victory, decide it’s time for round two of their morning antics. Maddie starts her usual barking wanting to go outside, Gus is back on patrol, and Miki is, well, Miki—lost in her own world. It's probably calmer in there than it is out here.
Finally, the First Sip—and the Chaos Resumes
My morning routine involves taking my laptop and my coffee to the screened in back porch and check my eight million emails I've received since yesterday's clearing house of emails. That's when I get that first glorious sip of coffee. It’s not perfect, but it’s mostly warm, it’s caffeinated, and it’s mine. I sit down, propping my bedazzled laptop on my lap hoping for a brief moment of peace before the workday starts. But of course, the dogs have other ideas.
Gus, ever vigilant, spots something moving outside and lets out a bark that could wake the dead. Miki follows her little brother out into the yard in case big sister's help is needed to conquer any roaming squirrels out of their territory, and Maddie, still annoyed at the weather, glares at me as if I’m personally responsible for the rain.
From Coffee to Cowboys—The Workday Begins
The transition from morning chaos to work isn’t a clean break when you work from home. It’s more of a gradual shift, like easing a reluctant horse into a trot. It's painfully bouncy at first, but when you finally find your rhythm, it's marvelous. I take my laptop and coffee upstairs to my desk, where a half-finished manuscript waits. That sexy hero, isn’t going to wrangle himself, you know.
But just as I’m getting into the flow, the dogs decide it’s time for a mid-morning romp. Maddie whines at the door, Gus gives his patrol report (more squirrels, fewer butterflies), and Miki is awake, demanding attention with the kind of silent stare only a dog with blue eyes can master along with her head resting in my lap. Seriously? Now who can resist that?
The Afternoon (and Dog) Break
By afternoon, the dogs have settled down—mostly. Miki naps under my desk, Maddie has grudgingly accepted the rain and is asleep in her over-sized cat bed, and Gus is still on high alert, watching over his domain from the second story window. I only allow myself one cup of coffee because caffeine is not conducive to creative juices, at least, not for me. It's more like a cleaning, dusting, fuzz-bunny picking sort of adrenaline. So, in the afternoons, I switch to tea with low caffeine. Don't ask me why. It just works.
As I sip, I reread the morning’s work. Luke and his love interest are finally getting somewhere, and I’m feeling good about the day’s progress. But just as I’m about to dive back into writing, Gus sounds the alarm—there’s a delivery truck outside, and it’s his sworn duty to protect the house from all who approach. That's Maddie's cue to wake up her sister and together all three of them are making sure that delivery man knows he's been spotted.
When Does Coffee Time Become Work Time?
For a work-from-home dog mom, the line between coffee time and work time is as blurry as the edge of a spilled coffee stain. The day starts with chaos, transitions into a somewhat organized mess, and somehow, through the power of caffeine and cowboy romance, work gets done.
So, when does morning coffee morph into the workday? Somewhere between the second spill and the third bark, I suppose. But that’s the beauty of working from home—every day is an adventure, and every cup of coffee is a small victory in the battle to stay focused, stay sane, and keep writing. I wouldn't trade it for any other job in the world.
All our best to you and yours,
Peggy and Nikki
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