My Menu for the Week

Cooking, , , , , , , ,
Menu
Menu for the Week

Like so many of you, I enjoy cooking, but the real problem is deciding what to make. So, after my trip to the grocery stores yesterday, I decided to come up with a menu for the week. And yes, that is grocery stores, as in multiple. I have three that I frequent to take advantage of the sales and the best products. One store may have a better price on some things, while another store may have a product that I consider to be of better quality. By the time I drive into town, hit all three stores, and drive back home, it usually takes me about two hours. Then add in my others stops that vary by week such as a trip to the library, the dollar store, or a thrift store and I’m looking at three hours. (Don’t tell about the stops I make at Dairy Queen for a Blizzard! The Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Pie Blizzard is my new weakness.) On to my menu, and these are in no particular order. I pick whichever I am in the mood for or have time to make.

Hamburgers, Sweet Potatoes, and Salad
This is one for an evening when I am pressed for time.
-I keep a bag of hamburger patties in a bag in the freezer. When I buy a bulk package of beef, I form all of it into decent size patties and freeze. I freeze it all this way, knowing that if I want beef for something else, I can just thaw out as many patties as I need and use it for something else like chili. I never buy ground beef that is less than 80% lean. I feel like, what’s the point because there is so much loss of grease. (I have a veggie patty for myself because I don’t eat meat aside from seafood.)
–For the sweet potato, I may just microwave it, or I may peel, dice, and boil, then add butter and brown sugar with a pinch of salt.
-I think the salad is self-explanatory. I like to buy bags or tubs of salad mix from the markdown shelf and then extras to them.

Stir-fry with Shrimp, Jasmine Rice, and Egg Rolls
-I start with a bag of Asian medley vegetables from the freezer section and add other veggies of my choice to bulk it up and add more flavor. I prepared this item from the menu for last evening’s dinner. Always I start with a clove (or two!) of garlic and an onion. Yesterday, I also added quartered fresh mushrooms, a container of Napa cabbage, and some sliced peppers of assorted colors. I added in the bag of Asian medley last. Sometimes I’m not so creative and just use a frozen bag of broccoli to bulk it up. I do try to stick with vegetables grown in the United States because we have more regulations regarding the safety of food as it’s grown than some countries.
-When I make stir-fry, I use Jasmine rice. It has a more delicate flavor than regular long grain rice. I keep three types of rice on hand that I use with different dishes, because I notice the difference and do not think one rice suits all. These are: long grain rice, Jasmine rice, and brown Basmati. These cover most of my needs.
-For the egg rolls I almost always use fresh or frozen pre-made ones. I have made them from scratch before and they are just too much work. We don’t always have egg rolls with our stir-fry but it does make the meal seem fancier.
-The shrimp for this meal was frozen, breaded from the supermarket. I could bake it along with the egg rolls which helped with time. If I cook the shrimp from fresh or use chicken, I cook it in the pan and set it aside, before sautéing the veggies.
–Usually, I make my own sauce, but this time I cheated and used orange ginger sauce from a jar.

Pasta with Mid’s Spaghetti Sauce, Meatballs, and Cheesy Bread
-This is another easy one. Cook pasta of your choice.
-Heat jarred sauce. We really like Mid’s.
-I keep purchased meatballs in the freezer, ground beef and vegetarian. I just put them on a plate and microwave them.
-What really jazzes this meal up is bread from the bakery. They make a cheesy Asiago bread that is amazing!
-We also always have a block of Romano cheese in the refrigerator for grating on top.

Chili with Cornbread
-Just canned tomatoes and beans (either kidney, pinto, black beans, or a combination), garlic, onions, peppers, and spices. Sometimes I add in corn or hominy, and a square of baking chocolate really adds a depth and richness. At this point I split it in half and add ground beef to half and vegetarian crumbles to half.
-I love cornbread! I use a recipe from my mom’s church cookbook. I make it with Bob’s Redmill medium grind cornmeal as I like it to have some texture.

Chicken Breast, Oven Fries, Green Salad with Grapefruit, Avocado, Pecans, and Cheese
-I keep a homemade breading mix in a Ziploc bag in the freezer. I coat the chicken and put it on a baking sheet. For myself, I pull vegetarian “chicken” from the freezer.
-I make oven fries from whole potatoes that I cut into wedges, brush with olive oil and add to the baking sheet. I salt them when they come out of the oven. I can taste the salt better that way without adding extra. Truth be told, I will be using prepared frozen potatoes from a bag this week, because one of our grocery stores had them on sale for 99 cents a bag. Not as healthy but too good a deal to pass up!
-I bought an entire bag of grapefruit recently so I got on Pinterest and looked up grapefruit recipes. I found this one with greens, grapefruit, sliced avocado, pecans, and cheese that looks good. I’m making just one change. My husband is not a big fan of the goat cheese that it calls for so I will substitute mozzarella. And I may toast the pecans, because after splurging on them, I want them to be as tasty as possible.

Pierogies with Peppers, Onions, and Chicken Sausage
This is by far my easiest meal of the week. Boxed perogies, with sautéed onions and peppers. The chicken sausage will be cooked with the peppers and onions, then the perogies thrown in for a little browning. Grated cheese on top gives it a little pizazz.

You may notice that this is only six meal choices for the week. That’s ok. There are bound to be enough leftovers from all these meals to have for dinner one evening. I also try to make enough food that we have leftovers for lunch the next day. If we run a little short for lunch and only have enough for a side, I just throw in a quesadilla or a fried egg sandwich. We also have desserts which I usually make, but that’s for another time.

I hope you are able to glean some meal ideas from this list. I don’t always make a menu list, but it is nice to be able to hand it to my husband as dinner time approaches and say, “pick one”. It’s easier for me when I don’t have to think about it as well. Happy cooking. And happy eating!

What’s on My Mind This Morning

Thoughts On Life, , , , ,
Portrait

What’s on my mind this morning? I’m afraid it’s nothing good. We were sitting around discussing the state of the world over morning coffee. One of my thoughts was how people in general, don’t seem to treat each other with respect anymore. Now maybe that makes me an old griper, spouting “Back in my day…”, but I’m going to share just one of the ways that I don’t think we treat each other as kindly as we could.

Often, when I am out in public, the grocery store parking lot, or a sidewalk downtown, I hear people cursing. And not just at each other, although that happens too. They are using curse words as adjectives, and frequently. The swearer doesn’t care or even seem to notice if there are children present, or anyone else who may be offended. They are sometimes in their own little world talking to their companion and don’t have a clue who is nearby. Other times, I think the person is using public swearing on purpose, because they think it makes them look cool and gives them a certain status. It does indeed give them a certain status in my mind, but I’m pretty sure it was not what they were going for.

Now lest you think me a prude, let me state that I too curse. I do it when I am angry, or to make a point. I curse with intent! And I do not curse in the presence of children or when I am representing someone else like an employer or social group. I try not to curse when I am in public in case, I may offend someone. And I do not want to be known as someone who randomly blurts out curse words instead of using words that are more descriptive and better suit my purpose. I was taught that people who use curse words are not intelligent enough to find other words to express themselves. This may make me old by the standards of today’s world. Those of you reading this who disagree, will at least know why some of us are offended by the everyday use of curse words. And no, I don’t think all of you who curse are stupid. The times have changed along with the generations as is the way of the world.

Our actions and our words set the tone for how others in the world see us. It’s not a bad idea for all of us to do a check on these and think about how the image we are presenting to the world aligns with the one that we want to present. Are we fostering the persona of who we want to be? If yes, you’re good to go. If not, maybe you want to make some adjustments. I know that I for one, always have room for improvement.

Peace be with you.

Books I Read in October and November 2023

Books & Reading, Dogs & Other Animals, , , ,
Claire and PeeWee enjoying the snow.

Hello Friends, I hope this new year is treating you well! Here is another double installment from my reading list in the hopes of getting up to date at some point.

My Book List from October:

1. Wait for It-Jenn McKinlay

Annabelle Martin moves to take a job across the country with her best friend’s firm in Phoenix. She is escaping to a new life away from her ex-husbands. She lives in a small house at the back of her reclusive landlord’s property. He uses a wheelchair and never comes outside so she assumes he is elderly. This turns out to be far from the truth. Annabelle struggles with sabotage at her new job, makes new friends, and gets to know her landlord. Quite well. Loved the book.

     

    2. Follow the Blue Blaze: A Guide to Hiking the Buckeye Trail-Robert J. Pond (Non-fiction)

    A summary of Ohio’s Buckye Trail. The book provides general information as well as information about various sections of the trail. The book does not give detailed trail maps. Those you must purchase from the Buckeye Trail Association.

     

    3. The House in the Cerulean Sea-TJ Klune

    This science fiction tale surrounds an orphanage for magical children. There are sprites and a wyvern, among others. Linus Baker works for a government entity that checks on such things and is assigned there for a month to monitor the living conditions. He learns about how special each child is, including the director of the orphanage, and his life will never be the same. Thank goodness. A very enjoyable story about acceptance.

     

    4. Milk Street Noodles-Christopher Kimball (Cookbook)

    I learned a lot about different types of noodles and the recipes look delicious. Most however, require one or several ingredients that I don’t have, and my kitchen is fairly well stocked. Back to the library it goes.

     

    5. The Ultimate Guide to Painting from Photographs-Markle & Vanover (Non-fiction)

    This is a step-by-step book for specific types of paintings and beyond my skill level at this point. I skimmed the book and learned some handy tips.

     

    6. The Simple Art of Rice-JJ Johnson (Cookbook)

    I never knew there were so many kinds of rice! Tiara Purple, Poho Flattened, Bhutanese Red. Lots of info and recipes. I can’t decide what to make because so many look good.

     

    7. Livid-Patricia Cornwall

    Dr. Scarpetta is a witness in a televised court case. The judge in the case is Scarpetta’s college roommate and friend. Things become even crazier when the judge’s sister is killed at home. Another glimpse into the life of our favorite forensic medical examiner.

     

    8. Must Love Flowers-Debbie Macomber

    Joan Sample has trouble dealing with the fact that she is a sudden widow and an empty nester. So much so that she rarely leaves the house. When the homeowner’s association sends a letter complaining about her yard, things must change. At the suggestion of her sister, she tries counseling and even takes in a young boarder. There are more bumps in the road, but Joan’s life starts changing as she takes control of the reins again.

     

    Magazines: Dogster (2), All Recipes-Fall Recipes, America’s Favorite Pumpkin Recipes, Bella Grace, Country Living

    My Book List from November:

    1. The Door to Door Bookstore-Carsten Henn

    The story takes place in Germany. Carl Kollhoff has spent his career working for a bookseller. He specializes in doing in person drop offs of requested books. He is suddenly joined by 9 year old Schascha and he has no idea why. Carl loses his job and his purpose. It will take the power of books and friends to overcome. I found this book to be a little slow paced, but it has a good message.

     

    2. Summer Reading-Jenn McKinlay

    Samantha Gale spends the summer at her family home on Martha’s Vineyard to take care of her 14 year old brother while her father and stepmother take a vacation. Sam is a chef who has just left her job under unpleasant circumstances. It will be nice to hang out with her best friend. Turns out it is nice hanging out with the town’s interim library director too. Only Sam is dyslexic. Hello, awkward! Can she win over the librarian, her brother, and find a job? I always love McKinlay’s books.

     

    3. What It Takes to Save a Life-Dr Kwane Stewart (Non-fiction)

    One man’s struggle to overcome tough times and become a veterinarian. What a great book. He goes on to volunteer treating the pets of the homeless in addition to his regular job.

     

    4. The Twelve Dogs of Christmas-Susan Wiggs

    Brenda Malloy dislikes cold and snow, and most especially Christmas. Even more so once her dog has to go to the emergency vet after eating another woman’s panties. So, of course she finds herself helping drive a load of shelter dogs north from Texas to the Catskills to their new homes for Christmas. She meets paramedic Adam Bellamy and everything in her life changes.

     

    5. The Little Book of Hygge-Meik Wiking (Non-fiction)

    This book explains why Danes are continually voted the happiest people in the world. Includes lots of survey results and ways to apply the answers to your own life. Also, the book itself is enjoyable.

     

    6. A December to Remember-Jenny Bayliss

    This book is a little different than the other Bayliss books I have read. The others have been romances. Although this one has romance, I think it is more about families. It took me a little while to get sucked into the story line, and I’m glad I stuck with it. Three estranged half-sisters go back to the village of Rowan Thorp for the reading of their Father’s will. They must work together to earn their inheritance.

    Magazines: Woman’s Day (2), Down East, Forks Over Knives, Entertain & Celebrate Autumn

    My top picks from these lists? If you’re going for fun, always read the Jenn McKinlay books. The one that made me think, long after I read it? The House in the Cerulean Sea. It made me feel good in addition to making me think about acceptance.

    I hope you all stay warm and safe from the snow we are having today!

    Goals for the New Year

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    Journal illustration
    Happy 2024!

    Now that all the hubbub from the holidays is dying down, it is setting in that the new year is upon us. I am looking forward to this year being a better one for us as 2023 was rather difficult. And I intend to make it a better one.

    I titled this article Goals for the New Year since I have never been a big fan of making New Year’s resolutions. I always looked at it as a poor excuse not to set goals during the rest of the year. I would make New Year’s resolutions like, “Eat more chocolate”, as my form of protest. I know, what a rebel I am. I have set three goals that I plan to work on this year. We’ll see how far I get. Something is better than nothing, right?

    Goal #1 “Daily writing/journaling for a calendar year perspective.”

    The photo above is the inside cover page of my journal. The journal was a gift from my daughter last year and I can’t think of a better use for it. I have wanted to do some writing and following my life through a year seems appropriate with how tied to the weather our lives are here. What we do each day is very weather dependent. At this time of year, we hike. We check the weather forecast to see when the warmest temperature occurs during the day. We also check the predicted precipitation times. The goal is to stay warm and dry. During the warmer months, this flips, and we look for the cooler hours. The elements also play a part in our choice of trails for the day. Will this affect how muddy the trails are? Does the weather increase the chance for flies? How does this impact which shoes I wear? There is a bit of science to it. It’s not a good idea to just put on sneakers and run out the door.

    The weather affects our daily decisions and when we do what during gardening season too. I suppose we make our daily plans somewhat like farmers do. Infact, maybe we are a sort of farmer, except for our own enjoyment and not for profit. When it’s hot, we work outside in the mornings as much as possible. I try to limit afternoon chores outdoors as I am a baby when it comes to enduring heat. Sometimes it is necessary. Certain tasks can’t wait. If it’s been rainy, you mow when it’s dry, even if it’s 90 degrees.

    Not all of my writing will be about these physical things. I also like to ponder thoughts and emotions, and pretty much anything. Like, why do I sometimes dream that the university is coming to take my college degree back? I once had someone else tell me that they’ve had this dream too. So far, I have missed one day of journaling. Not a biggie. Onward!

    Journal illustration
    Journal illustration

    Goal #2 “Meditate each morning on: being kind AND, how can I spread joy today?”.

    This has been going pretty well. During the brief meditation (I am starting with just two or three minutes), I focus my thoughts on drawing in peace to be stable enough myself, to be able to project positivity to others. Followed by several thoughts of a “Be Kind” mantra. Then I thought about something I might be able to do to spread kindness as I am going about my day. I plan to extend the length of this meditation as the year progresses.

    If I have trouble falling asleep at night, I have begun thinking the mantra of “Be Kind” then too. If I am awake anyway, I may as well put my time to good use. I don’t know if this goal is having any impact on my life or those around me yet. I find it hard to believe that there won’t be at least a few positive experiences from it. I believe kindness makes the world a better place. And we definitely need our world to be a better place right now.

    Goal #3 “Get another one of our dogs certified as a therapy dog.”

    This goal is totally different from the other two, but I still deem it a very worthy one. Shelby is still certified with Therapy Dogs International and works occasionally. I don’t work her very often because she will be 14 years old next month. She is still very happy to be working with mom when I do take her on a visit. I used to have hopes that Zekie would be my next therapy dog, but his anxiety never receded to a level where I can trust him to be reliable to my commands. He is very obedient, and I believe he could probably pass the test tomorrow. That still does not mean he would be a good therapy dog. He is obedient to my commands, but I must give him commands all the time. If I did not anticipate an inappropriate action, it could be a problem.

    I think the next dog I will try to train to pass the test is Claire. She will not be an easy dog to train for the required exercises, but I think we can do it. She is slow to respond to training. She is not stupid, she just doesn’t seem to understand what she is told. Either that or she just doesn’t want to do it. We will get there. One of my biggest qualms about using her for therapy work, or anything else, is the fact that she gets car sick if we drive more than about six miles. That’s why I don’t take her to my brother’s or my daughter’s homes. She would be well behaved once there but would get sick along the way. Claire also has a penchant for waiting until we are pulling into the driveway of our destination and get sick as I put the car in park. Other than hiking the only place Claire gets to go is grandma’s because it’s not very far.

    We have a storm heading our way and I see giant snowflakes out my window. The winds are starting to kick up and I’ve received an email from the electric company on how prepare for possible power outages. I should see about making dinner now. Just in case.

    Happy belated New Year to you all. May your resolutions, if you make them, be going well!

    Therapy dog
    Shelby spreading joy at an elementary school while we read to the kids.

    Foster Fail!

    Dogs & Other Animals, Rescue Happenings, , , , , , , , ,
    Sheltie
    PeeWee

    What is a foster fail you may ask? Well, this picture sums it up. To be more precise, a foster fail is when the dog you are fostering does not leave the foster home. He is adopted by the foster family. We failed and PeeWee is home!

    sheltie
    PeeWee is being a gift with his Christmas morning bow!

    On Christmas day my husband picked PeeWee up, put a bow on him, and said, “Here you go, Merry Christmas. This present is for you and Claire.” Best gift ever! Claire is one of our other shelties and the reason the gift was for her and me, is because she loves PeeWee. She seems to think he is her puppy. She plays with him throughout the day, every day. He can take bones from her mouth, and she rarely complains. When PeeWee is not looking, Claire just takes them back. They can do this for quite a while. Also, when we are out for walks or hiking, Claire keeps an eye on where PeeWee is and gazes adoringly at him every few seconds.

    We knew it would be hard on Claire if PeeWee left for another home. As for me, I realized that I was attached when he started hiking with us. He did so good for a little dog that had such emotional challenges to overcome from his former life. He just fit. And this past year has been such a rough year for us with losing Baxter, our 14 year old lab-Rott mix, in the spring and then losing our 12 year old cat Morty right after Thanksgiving. We had some other trying issues too. PeeWee has brought such joy and laughter into our home that thinking of it without him is a very sad thing.

    Rest time for some of the pack.

    I like to think that we have made PeeWee’s life happier too. He was a timid dog, who spent a great deal of time hiding under the bed in his last home, and when he arrived here, would only eat at night when no one was around. He has been here four months and now smiles, plays with us and the other dogs, and is so happy to see us in the mornings that he gets the zoomies. And he gets so excited to go on hikes now that he whines and yips with anticipation when the leashes come out if we aren’t fast enough to get out the door.

    Happy New Year to all of you, my faithful readers! Things are looking up for 2024 to be a much happier year around here as we welcome PeeWee as a permanent member of our family. It’s hard not to be happy when there is such an adorable, eager face looking you in the eye.

    sheltie
    Nap time. Or king of the blanket mountain!

    A Good Bridge is a Beautiful Thing

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    Cassius & Claire ready to cross a bridge.

    We have been enjoying the trails since we resumed hiking this fall after a summer hiatus. Quite a bit of our hiking has been on sections of the Buckeye Trail. The Buckeye Trail is a gem that has been in our “backyard” all along that I have just recently become aware of. Several sections of it are within 5 miles of our house! One of its features that I enjoy from an aesthetic view, as well as a practical standpoint are the bridges.

    Some of the bridges are purely functional. And I am oh so grateful to the volunteers that expended the time and energy to put them in. I’m sure blood, sweat, and toil was involved, not too mention all the time someone gave to make hiking more pleasant for me. Their efforts do not go unappreciated.

    Others of the bridges are things of beauty, at least in our eyes. We sometimes pause on our walks to enjoy the engineering feats that someone created and constructed for the benefit of all trail users. (Ok, sometimes my husband pauses for the purpose of letting me catch up, but we still appreciate the view of the footbridges.) A bridge that we can walk over in seconds, took hours and in some cases days for one or more people to build.

    The Zippy Twins figuring out a bridge of parallel logs.

    Bridges like the one above, are downed tree trunks that someone took the time to cut into sections, shave one side flat and install on opposite sides of the stream banks. I am always thankful for these, but especially when it is cold out. Wet feet in freezing temperatures is no fun and can be dangerous.

    This bridge appears to have been here a long time. I think the moss adds to its beauty and character. Zekie thinks the moss and leaves are an added bonus that keep his paws from fallling through.

    Above is probably the longest bridge we have encountered to date. The ground is dry underneath, but I am pretty sure this will not be the case after heavy rains and snow melt-off.

    Some bridges are nothing more than a bunch of tree trunks in a row. These are still great for keeping your feet dry and your boots mud-free. The dogs don’t know quite what to make of these when they encounter one and usually just walk around them. If it is particularly muddy, we will make them use the trunk crossing to avoid washing paws later.

    The weather has been particularly nice for this time of year lately. I hope you have the opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy it!

    Books I Read in August & September 2023-Catching Up!

    Books & Reading, , , ,
    These flowers were in bloom in August when I read these books!

    Hello friends! I hope everyone enjoyed time with friends and/or family. I certainly did! Whether you had turkey or something else, the important thing is that it was shared with love. I am way behind in reporting on the books I have been reading, so this post is a twofer. I’m sharing two months of titles. Then I will technically only be one month behind because November isn’t over yet!

    Books I Read in August 2023:

    1. Pineapple Street-Jenny Jackson

    I picked this book up because it got good reviews. It centers around a very wealthy family from old money in New York City. To my mind, the family is a bunch of whiners who don’t know how good they have it. I guess that could describe many of us. And maybe that is the point. Some of the family members change by the end and some do not. It was an ok book.

    2. Almost Everything-Anne LaMott (Non-fiction)

    Anne LaMott writes inspirational prose, mostly from personal experience. This book is an inspiration and at the least, makes you think. Always a good thing.

    3. The Backup Plan-Jill Shalvis

    Alice receives an inheritance of one third of a Wild West B & B. The other shares go to her once, and now estranged, best friend and her high school crush. They have one month to get the inn into shape. Can Alice overcome her past demons before the month is over? Not Shalvis’ best book in my opinion but still fun.

    4. All the Days of Summer-Nancy Thayer

    Heather’s marriage is dead, and her son is graduating from college and has a serious girlfriend. She decides it is time to discover what makes her happy and rents a cottage on Nantucket for the summer until her divorce is finalized. It turns out that’s where her son and his girlfriend will be living, and working, with her very wealthy parents. It looks like Heather followed them and she has to assure the spoiled Kailee that she did not. Heather manages to build a life for herself but what will happen at summer’s end?

    5. Start Painting Now-Emily Powell & Sarah Moore (Non-fiction)

    This book is about the creative process rather than about painting techniques. I can apply a large percentage of the content to my writing since it is also an art. And who knows, maybe I’ll give painting a try!

    6. The Dinner Party Project-Natasha Feldman (Cookbook)

    A fun take on inviting people over for dinner. Has organizational tips and recipes.

    7. 100 Days of Adventure-Greta Eskridge (Non-fiction)

    This book is from the kids ‘section. I checked it out thinking I might find some fun things to do with my nieces. The lists were pretty basic and mostly things I had already thought of. Still, it’s a cute book and might be especially good for those who are home schooling.

    8. The Sweetheart List-Jill Shalvis

    Have you figured out yet that I pick up everything this author writes, lol. Harper Shaw moves west to the Sierras to get a fresh start on life. She soon encounters a hunky guy she isn’t interested in and takes in a runaway teen. All while opening her own bakery and acquiring a cranky new friend. Another fun read.

    9. Dog Tales: The Book-Luann Stuver Rogers (Non-fiction)

    This author wrote a column in our local newspaper for a number of years. The book is a compilation of the weekly articles. I read most of them at the time and am having fun reading them again. The tales feature the author’s numerous dogs consisting of two greyhounds and a bevy of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. They feature dog sports as well as everyday life.

    Magazines:  Best Friends, Country Living

    A September photo for you from the time I was reading books on this list.

    Books I Read in September 2023:

    1. Death by Chocolate Marshmallow Pie-Sarah Graves

    I enjoy the books from this series for a multitude of reasons. Maine. Baking. Chocolate. Cozy mystery. Jake’s best friend Ellie is accused of murder when the shop owner across the street is found shot. He had just opened a shop that competed with theirs, selling chocolate baked goods at a lower price. Jake is run ragged trying to find the killer and keep order at her own home when her perfectly healthy father decides to move him and his wife to assisted living. Things go humorously wrong on all fronts.

    2. Earth’s the Right Place for Love-Elizabeth Berg

    This is the prequel to The Story of Arthur Truluv which was a wonderful book. The story is about Arthur and his family and how Nola comes into his life. Nola is the love of his life and future wife. It is a very real feeling story.

    3. The McCullagh Inn in Maine-Jen McLaughlin

    This is a quick read at just 137 pages. Chelsea O’Kane is on the run from an abusive husband. She runs to an inn she inherited in Maine where she encounters her first love Jeremy Holland. There is a lot going on that is not revealed to us until the end of the story. This made it a less than satisfying read for me. I was also disappointed that Maine life didn’t play into the story, it really could have been anywhere.

    4. Viayia-Anastasia Miari (Cookbook)

    The title of the book means grandmother in Greek. These are traditional Greek recipes. There are as many write ups about grandmas as there are recipes. I enjoyed reading about the different Greek islands and the stories of the women even more than the recipes.

    5. The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley-Courtney Walsh

    This book is not for me. I got about 50 pages in and still waiting for something to happen. Back to the library it goes.

    6. The Clutter Remedy:  A Guide to Getting Organized for Those Who Love Their Stuff-Marla Stone (Non-fiction)

    I hoped this would have lots of organizational tips but it’s the same old stuff. Clean, sort, purge. Does address emotional reasons for holding on to things.

    7. The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly-Margareta Magnusson (Non-fiction)

    The author shares advice about gracefully. This is told mostly through tales of her life with the chapter titles summarizing the point.

    8. The Stand-Stephen King (page 747-1153)

    I finally finished! I found this last quarter of the book to hold my attention better than the earlier parts. In it, society is starting to rebound from the mass deaths. The Dark One still needs to be dealt with and a few heroic, average people take up the challenge. I found this book to be so distressing because the happenings are a little too real. Especially since Covid.

    9. To Catch a Treat-Linda O. Johnston

    Carrie Kennersly owns a bakery for dogs as well as a bakery for humans. She is also a part time veterinary technician. In between jobs, she still finds time to look for a killer so she can clear her brother’s girlfriend. The crimes center around dog napping so there are plenty of canine themed plots.

    Magazines:  Country Living, Best Friends, Better Homes & Gardens Fall Recipes, Cooking Light Mediterranean Diet, Cottages & Bungalows Christmas Issue

    Hiking the Wild Cherry Trail

    Country Life, Dogs & Other Animals, , , , , ,
    Cassius, Claire, and Zekie enjoying the view.

    We have done lots of hiking in the past month since the weather has cooled down. Much of it has been on sections of Ohio’s Buckeye Trail near our home as I reported in past posts Exploring the Buckeye Trail. We do hike at other places in the area too.

    We recently explored a park trail at West Branch State Park that I had only been on once before called the Wild Cherry Trail. It is only a mile loop from the parking lot and back. Don’t let that deceive you. It is one of the more difficult trails I have been on at the park. Lots of up and down, steep hills, and tree roots in the path for most of the hike. The views are worth it though. I am happy any time I get to hike near water and this trail does not disappoint. I took Cassius, Claire, and Zekie, one afternoon when I was home by myself. We didn’t encounter anyone else which made it very peaceful. Also, I could take my time as I am a slow hiker.

    View from Wild Cherry Trail.

    There is lots of woods to enjoy also. Many more old trees with large girth than we see in most other areas of the park. It does look like heavy winds brought some trees down. They look almost like fence rows the way they lay parallel. This was taken last week when the trees still had some color. The water in the background foreshadowed grander things to come.

    View just off the Wild Cherry Trail

    The level of the reservoir is very low. The area you see is usually underwater, clear up to the tree line. It has been low for some time because there is grass and weeds sprouting, there are lots of deer tracks, and the surface is dry enough to walk out on. This made for interesting views that aren’t normally available.

    More views just off the trail.

    Here is another view taken from an area that is generally underwater. The sound of the waves is so peaceful. I just stood there and listened. After a while the dogs became impatient and we moved on. There was only access to the shore from one area because the drop off from the tree line was too sharp and tall in most spots.

    Shells on the shore.

    The new shore had many empty shells on it. Most were small, but some were larger. I had no idea there were any bivalves this big in the reservoir. That’s what I love about a trail that is new to me. I always learn something that I didn’t know before.

    Map of a few trails in the area.

    Here is the trail head map. It lists several trails in the area including the Wild Cherry. We have done short parts of some of the others, but not the whole trail. Sometimes it is too wet to proceed very far. I don’t always have the correct footwear on for the conditions we encounter. And I tend to be whiny when my feet get wet. We will get to all of these trails though!

    I have pictures from some other new hikes we did on the Buckeye Trail, but I will save those for another day. I hope you have been able to take advantage of the autumn beauty, my friends!

    Foster Pupdate!

    Dogs & Other Animals, Rescue Happenings, , , , , , ,
    PeeWee

    PeeWee the foster dog did make it into the house after spending his first night here in the workshop to ensure that he was flea-free. (Read about his arrival here. First Foster Dog This Year!) I waited until late afternoon to move him inside, when I had time to scrub his crate again, and wash his bedding to prevent transfer of any flea dirt to the house. Although the adult fleas appeared to all be dead, I didn’t want to take a chance on any flea eggs making their way into the house. Nothing strikes fear into my heart like the sight of a flea. I think most people with multi-pet households feel the same way. Especially when you are old enough to remember the days before there were all the flea killing options available today.

    That first evening was uneventful. PeeWee was afraid and withdrawn. I let him spend the first night in his crate to decompress and see what our home was all about. Every time I took him outside in the fenced yard to do his business, he was on leash. He examined the fence slats to see if he could fit through them and looked for other routes of escape from his leash. I found the only way to get him to do his business was to stand still and let him walk around me and not make eye contact with him. We continued to do this little dance every time he needed to go outside for the next couple of days.

    PeeWee also ate most of his food at night when the rest of the household was in bed. He ate a few bites during the day, but that was it. This is typical of dogs that come from puppy mill type situations. His symptoms of the puppy mill variety are mild though. He soon readily took food and treats from our hands. He does continue to eat most of his kibble during the night. This drives Zekie crazy because he knows that food is in the crate, and he cannot reach it as hard as he tries.

    PeeWee spent the majority of the next day in his crate too. I brought him out to join us during the day for a few hours at a time but kept him attached to me by a leash. Otherwise, he would run off to hide. The first time I let him in the living room without a leash, he decided to hide behind the couch, and I had to move it to get him out. After that, he stayed attached to me or the coffee table by his leash for the better part of three days.

    PeeWee has been with us for two weeks today. He goes outside for potty duty in the fenced yard with the other dogs and does his business quickly. I stand outside with him every time, so I can keep an eye on him. I do still consider him a flight risk should he find a way to get loose. He is still a timid dog although he is gaining in confidence every day. He follows us around the house and sits beside us on the couch. He follows me to the bathroom but does not come in just in case I decide to give him another bath. I did bathe him again at the end of the first week when I found residual flea dirt on him. He sat beside me on the couch as soon as the bath was over, so apparently, I am no longer The Evil One.

    Banana time!

    PeeWee has learned to join the others in begging at their favorite time of day. Banana time! He takes his portion so gently! Our dogs love few foods more than bananas. Each dogs gets two bites. Everybody gets one bite and then there is round two where each dog gets a second bite. Cassius the greyhound can count to two and lays down once he has had his second bite. The others are eternal optimists and never give up. Daddy only ever gets to eat half of a banana due to the popularity of this routine. Woe be unto me if I let the banana supply run out!

    Sleeping with the big dogs!

    We are learning more about PeeWee every day as his personality emerges. We didn’t hear him bark until two days ago. I told my husband, be careful what you wish for. The range of things he barks at is increasing rapidly, from the coffee bean grinder to someone leaving to me sneezing. He learned that last one from Claire. I am not allowed to sneeze or Claire barks at me. I guess I do it wrong. He is my buddy in the evening when I sit down to read. He lays beside my legs on the couch and relaxes until bedtime.

    I wonder what changes will be next? Time will tell.

    First Foster Dog This Year!

    Dogs & Other Animals, Rescue Happenings, , , , ,
    Sheltie pup
    Introducing PeeWee FurMan!

    This is the first foster pup we have had at our house since last year. We did do short-term fostering of three dogs last year. We had Bodhi who was turned in at 6 months of age. He was cute and had such a great personality that he went to one of our previous adoptive families within a week of his arrival. (Foster Puppy! Bodhi, Part I) And we fostered Max and Pitusa for less than a week. They already had a home lined up as soon as they came into rescue, just needing a place to stay until their transport was set up to a neighboring state. (Fostering is Rewarding) That’s all we fostered last year because, well, I discovered that since I am retired and home with the dogs all day, I become attached, and it is just too hard to let the fosters go. That’s how we added Claire to our pack. To be fair, Claire came here shortly before the Covid lockdown hit and we ended up having her for six or seven months before a serious adopter inquired about her. We didn’t feel safe having any contact with people in the early Covid months.

    The number of dogs coming into our rescue slowed down for a while after Covid. Those days are over and turn-ins are picking up again. And, we are seeing dogs with more behavioral issues than we used to see. All those “Covid adoptions” never had an opportunity for socialization and they are paying the price for it now by losing their homes. Rescues all over the country are experiencing the same thing. That’s how we ended up with our new foster. All rescues have a limited number of foster homes available that are willing to take on dogs with behavioral issues. Particularly dogs that have nipping problems. Our rescue already had two other dogs with these types of issues come in within the past month. And then we heard about this one who was being rehomed because of growling and snapping at the children in the home.

    That’s what lead to me receiving a phone call asking if we could foster. After putting in place a plan for this little guy to have a timeline for when he would leave so I didn’t get too attached, we said yes. I think I can probably foster for a couple months and still let the dog go. Six months is just too long. Don’t worry, he won’t get kicked to the street when his time here is up. If need be, he will transfer to another foster home within our rescue until his final adoption.

    And so arrived PeeWee FurMan. That was not his name before. It is one that evolved after his arrival because he is so small compared to our other dogs. Another member of our group discovered PeeWee for sale on Craigslist and made contact with the owner. The fate of dogs for sale on Craigslist is not always good. The owner realized this and gave him to us for the cost of a shelter pull fee, rather than what she had been asking. She wasn’t a bad person; she was just in over her head with a dog that needed a more experienced handler. PeeWee had snapped at the groomer and would growl and eventually snap at the owner’s granddaughters who lived in the home. He came from an Amish family and exhibited behavior of a puppy mill dog, preferring to hide under the bed rather than play with the girls. He also would not take food from anyone’s hand. These are all behaviors we have seen before in dogs that came from puppy mills.

    The other issue that had to be dealt with was that PeeWee was coming from a home with a severe flea infestation. This was the most concerning part to me because we have four dogs and three cats of our own. I made plans to meet the owner at a Pet Supplies Plus that had an in-store self-dog wash that was halfway between our homes. I flea treated all our own animals before picking PeeWee up. The owner was to wash him before the transfer. I am unclear whether she did or not. He was clean but flea covered. The other reason for meeting at the pet store was so I could buy a Capstar which begins killing fleas within 30 minutes and lasts for 24 hours. I had the Capstar purchased and ready to go when they arrived. I asked the owner to administer it so he wouldn’t bite me since he had a nipping history. She held the pill in her hand and expected PeeWee to pick it up and eat it. I knew that wasn’t going to happen, so I finally just pilled him myself to get that medicine working. The woman filled out her paperwork and quickly drove away with only a quick pat. In her defense, she was on her way to the hospital to see a family member who was having surgery.

    That left me and PeeWee alone in the parking lot. Our relationship got off to a rocky start. My next move was to take PeeWee inside the pet store for a bath. He was afraid. Luckily, I had him on a choker which is standard protocol for all our incoming shelties because they are notorious for backing out of regular collars with their small heads and pointy noses. I also had a small muzzle with me because I wasn’t going to be the next groomer that he tried to bite. The bath did not go well. I had my leash and choker on him as well as the two snap-in collars attached to the dog wash bathtub. PeeWee fought and struggled, certain that I was trying to drown him. Especially when I had to wash and rinse his ears and head because they were covered with flea dirt and that was where all the fleas were crawling to get away from the water and shampoo. At one point, he slipped the muzzle because it was a little on the large size for him. He bit onto one of the collars from the dog wash and I couldn’t get it out of his mouth for a while because he had clamped on so hard. I finally got the muzzle back on, and after letting the shampoo do its work for a while, I rinsed PeeWee and then used the dryer on him. This was also a traumatic experience for him. I’m glad he only weighs around 17 pounds or things could have gone much worse.

    Then it was back to the car. We drove part-way home and then I stopped to read my book for a short while, giving the Capstar more time to work. We got home an hour and a half later. I got PeeWee out of the car and began a flea check. There were still fleas actively crawling on him! I started picking them off and squishing them. I quickly realized the futility of this and called my friend and our rescue intake coordinator who has dealt with the arrival of many dogs. She said she had never had Capstar fail to work and suggested I call my vet to see if they could do anything for me. It was good to hear her calming voice at that point to ground me a little bit. I was told my vet was with another client and she would call me back. I was nearing that freak out point that only those who have dealt with fleas in a multi-pet household can relate to. I called my veterinary office again and learned that they do not board dogs, particularly ones harboring fleas. The advice from my vet was that the fleas should be becoming at least sluggish because of the Capstar. Capstar is what they use on fleas infested animals that come in for surgery to keep the clinic pest-free. I was also advised to give a Simparica Trio (it kills heartworms, fleas, ticks, and other pests) to PeeWee in addition to the Capstar. I was not concerned about giving him this medicine because the previous owner did have him heartworm tested, and it was negative. The label says Simparica Trio begins killing adult fleas in three hours and kills them all within eight hours. This lasts for 35 days. I must commend the woman who answers the phone at my vet’s office. She stayed calm and managed to talk me down from my flea paranoia. Thank you, Marie!

    PeeWee did get yet another bath out in the yard with the hose. Sorry it was cold Little Guy, but I was not carrying those fleas to our bathtub. Oh, and he also got sprayed with Wondercide herbal flea and tick spray. He spent his first night here in the workshop, which I feel bad about, but better safe than sorry. All this did result in his viewing me as The Evil One, but rest assured, it didn’t last.

    More about PeeWee’s integration into the household soon!

    PeeWee hanging out with daddy.