I have been baking a lot of bread so we don’t have to place as many orders to the grocery store. By the way, curbside pickup is great.
The bread recipe I used made enough dough for two loaves, so I baked one and refrigerated the remainder of the dough for when we needed it. The rise time for the second loaf was longer because it started from the refrigerated temperature. I placed the dough in the bread pan and into the oven, and heated the oven to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, then turned it off. The dough raises for an hour normally. I had to reheat the oven and let it raise for additional time.
The dough time got away from and I let the dough rise a little too long. The dough draped oven the edge of the pan as you can see. I turned it out onto the rack upside down for cooling.
The overhanging dough isn’t really a problem, it just gave me a good chuckle. We are enjoying the bread just as much. With some butter and grape jelly, it is quite delicious.
I moved our bird feeder to the front yard this year, so we can watch the birds from the living room. Actually my main motivation was so that the cats could see the bird feeder.
In an effort to get the cats to be more active, rather than like this.
The woodpecker is named Woodrow. There is probably more than one, but we call them all Woodrow. Except for the time when it was obvious that a male and female came to feed. She was known as Mrs. Woodrow.
And yes, the cats did take an interest in birdwatching. So did Zekie!
I’m a little late in publishing my list for March, but here it is. And don’t worry, I’m still reading lots and will have a list ready for next month.
1. Hero Dogs-Wilma Melville (Audio Book)
Story told by the founder of the Search Dog Rescue group. Tells of working various tragedies with the dogs. Also, the story of finding the dogs for the program, as well as the story behind the dogs.
2. Wrapped Up In You-Jill Shalvis
A romance, as only Jill Shalvis can tell it. Ivy overcomes her rough childhood to establish her own business, overcoming her past and finding someone to share her new life with.
3. The Art of Racing In the Rain-Garth Stein
This is a good book, especially if you like a tearjerker with a happy ending. I found the book to be rather painful, as it deals with brain cancer and a custody fight. Definitely well written. It tells things from the dog’s point of view.
4. No Judgments-Meg Cabot
Bree escaped to a Florida island to escape a past relationship. She ends up taking care of the animals that people left behind after a Category 5 hurricane and finds a new relationship along the way. It was actually a light-hearted read.
5. The Girl Who Lived Twice-David Lagercrantz
This is a book in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series. You must pay attention to the details. It is another intriguing story with lots of action. Definitely not a light-hearted read.
6. The Dog I Loved-Susan Wilson
Rosie trains service dogs while in prison. She and the person for her first service dog become friends. Rosie is released and we follow the two on the journey through a part of their lives.
7. The Book of Gutsy Women-Hillary & Chelsea Clinton (Non-fiction)
Kind of like a history book about brave women who have the world a better place for women, as well as the rest of humanity.
Magazines:
Yankee-January/February 2020
Yankee-March/April 2020
It’s hard for me to pick a favorite from this list. They all offer something different. If I went with my gut, I would recommend #6. It covers subject matter close to my heart- the power of dogs to change our world for the better.
This was our Easter dessert made from what we had on hand since we are limiting trips out during our state’s stay at home order.
I had a box of yellow cake mix on the shelf. I added the grated zest from one orange before baking.
I had the ingredients for vanilla buttercream frosting. Butter, vanilla, powdered sugar and almond milk. I jazzed it up a little with some almond extract.
I took some orange marmalade from the fridge and used it as a filling between the cake layers. After frosting the cake, I garnished it with some strawberries from a local produce wholesaler. During this time of unusual circumstances, this seller will let you order and pay for produce on-line. Then when you go to pick it up, they put it in your trunk for you. No human contact!
And cake makes every day better. Hope your Easter was blessed.
Zekie has indeed found his calling. Our neighbor phoned again yesterday and said the geese were back and would I come over again with the dogs. It took us longer to walk next door than it did for Zekie to run the geese off! Baxter came along to supervise and leave extra canine scent.
As we approached the pond, I reached down and slipped Zekie’s collar and leash off. I don’t leave them on just in case he should get tangled in some weeds under the water. The birds were on the water swimming but Zekie immediately ran at them and into the water just far enough to drive one out on the opposite shore. Then Zekie got out of the water and sprinted to the opposite side of the pond. The goose on the shore and the one still in the water took flight and were gone, honking their displeasure as they left.
Zekie didn’t even go after them. He knew his job was done and he should stay near me. He check out a nearby shed but still stayed nearby. He looked so proud. He knows he was a good boy.
Zekie was a good boy yesterday. Here he is, resting up.
Zekie has a new job. He chases geese off of our neighbor’s pond! Our neighbor called on Thursday to ask if I could come over with a dog and try chasing the Canada Geese from her pond. My husband had spoken with her previously and suggested it. He knew I would be happy to give it a try. So, I took Baxter and Zekie over to see what we could do.
I knew that Baxter was the most obedient of the two, but Zekie had the intensity that I thought might be needed for the job. Both dogs enjoyed running the perimeter of the pond. I kept instructing them to “get those geese” and pointing at the birds.
Walking around, I could see why our neighbor wanted to be rid of the birds. That was a lot of poop! She had already tried a pair of swan decoys, to no avail.
The dogs seemed to catch on to the idea, but the geese swam into the water and kept away from us. The dogs both went in the water up to their ankles, but that was it. We finally gave up and went home. We reported to our neighbor that we didn’t have much luck and she thanked us for trying.
On Monday, our neighbor called and asked if I could bring the dogs back. Turns out that the geese left later on the day we had been there and the pond was goose-free for a few days. We thought maybe just the scent of the dogs had keep the birds away. So after lunch, I leashed up Zekie, and took him and Baxter for our second attempt at goose removal. Baxter doesn’t need a leash. He responds to voice commands.
Baxter didn’t have much interest in the geese this time, but he did enjoy running around the pond. When I let Zekie loose and told him “get those geese” and pointed, he began frantically circling the bank and jumped in the water up to his knees. I keep praising and encouraging him to get the geese. I could tell after a few repetitions that he had figured out what we were doing. Zekie kept running the shore to where the geese were and jumping in the water towards the birds!
Finally Zekie jumped in the water up to his shoulders and the geese took flight! Our neighbor was on her deck near the house and began clapping. The geese flew away toward the tree line and Zekie chased them the entire way. They crossed the tree line and flew out of sight. Zekie was still chasing them at a full sprint. Finally, he reached the trees, and realized I was calling him and turned to start back. He had the biggest smile of joy on his face.
I knew Zekie’s intensity would have a use. We only had to find it.
Not getting much done even though you have more time available with the self isolation and shelter in place that is going on across our country and much of the world?
It’s ok, just chill!
I have read that this is a natural reaction to the stress and trauma that is creeping across the world along with the coronavirus. It’s a common reaction.
I didn’t think it was affecting me much until I dropped a jar of yeast, breaking a tile in our marble kitchen floor, forgot something major, and locked us out of the house with my keys still inside. All within a few hours.
This is highly unusual behavior for me. I tend to be very precise in thought and behavior. Probably due to all those years of thinking like a scientist. Or maybe I’m just anal.
We all need to take it easy on ourselves right now. Life is hard and stressful enough. Cut yourself some slack.
Bake homemade bread. No need to go to the store to replenish stock! Just make your own. It’s tastier too.
This loaf is whole wheat.
I also made some of the dough into dinner rolls. I enjoy making bread and often do it anyway, so this was no inconvenience.
I enjoy kneading the dough and feeling how it changes from a lumpy, stick ball, into one that is pliant, stretchy and smooth. A little bit of yeast magic.
Sanctuary Acres 