Happy , happy day . Received the best possible gift today. We were pretty sure we were going to lose 15 year old Roxanne. She became quite ill and seemed to be failing. She had two seizures last week and potty issues and was refusing food. We set up a crate with the top off in the living room so she could be close without us cleaning up so many messes. She did still continue to get up for water and to go outside. She went so many days without food that I got lunch meat and gave it to her like pills. I have been expecting the worst for more than a week. Yesterday she ate some rigatoni that she begged for and some dog treats at bedtime. Today she ate all her dry dog food on her own and wanted more at both meals. Also begged from our plates and seems like her old self. I never thought I would shed tears because a dog ate dry kibble! She is also getting up to bark when we go outside or it is time to eat. The sound that we previously found annoying and a nuisance is now beautiful music to our ears. Oh glorious day! Looks like we will have Roxanne to enjoy for a while longer.
The Kitchen Challenge
Cooking has its extra challenges around here. Most people just go into the kitchen and cook. Not us. Cooking in our home involves a multi-species audience. Our animals are eternal optimists. They are certain that we will share with them or at the very least that some morsel of food will fall. They are rarely disappointed.
Even the cats insist on getting their fair share. Above, Lacey waits her turn as Baxter eats his treat. Our animals will eat nearly anything. The cats usually prefer meat or cheese but sometimes will have bread or squash. The dogs will try anything we give them. Having this many bodies in the kitchen does make for some rather acrobatic moves as we try to maneuver from counter to stove to refrigerator and back.
Shelby is a very intense beggar. She takes it seriously and sees begging as a job.
At this point in my life I would find cooking alone without these challenges to be boring and lifeless. I love my life as it is with all my furry family members and the challenges and the joys that they bring.
Happy Harry London Day!
This was the 10th annual Harry London Day. What, you haven’t heard of that holiday? It might be because there are only two of us who celebrate it. It usually coincides with President’s Day. I have that day off from work and it is usually the first Monday after Valentine’s Day. This is significant. At Harry London’s they make delicious, fine chocolates. The original purpose of Harry London Day was for my daughter and me to go to the Harry London production and sales facility to procure many fine chocolates at discounted prices. All the chocolates from past holidays, namely Valentine’s Day and a few things that remain from Christmas, are 50-75% off. Pictured above is my haul from this year. This chocolate does last us for a long time which is good because that tin contains 6 lbs. of chocolate. My daughter and I have been celebrating this holiday since she was in high school and this was the 10th year for it.
The significance of this holiday has grown far beyond that of its origins. After the first couple of years it also became known as Mommy-Daughter Day. It is a day that is just for us. First we go to the chocolate factory, then we shop at World Market and look at exotic things. This is usually followed by a trip to the pet store and then a craft store. At this point we are famished and stop for lunch and to hang out for a while. The lunch location varies by year depending on what we decide will be fun that day. This year was IHOP for some more decadence. Raspberry, white chocolate chip pancakes for me and chocolate pancakes with chocolate chips for her. From that point we went back to shopping and as always ended up at the bookstore to rejoice in the magic that such places hold. And of course we take the gems we have gleaned from the shelves back to a table, and again hang out.
Once again, the significance of something in my life is about love. How fortunate I am! Something that 10 years ago started out as a physical pursuit, is about the love and enjoyment of time spent. When my daughter was still in high school, I offered one year to let her invite a friend along with us, thinking that it might make the day more fun for her. I was met with the response, “No, it’s Mommy-Daughter Day!” What a blessing. This girl (young woman now) wants to spend time with just me. And I wouldn’t trade it for the world either. Now we start the countdown months in advance. We plan so that we can savor the anticipation. Although it is still referred to around our home as Harry London Day, it is so much more. The chocolate is a nice side benefit but the real miracle is the love.
P.S. I notice that the tags for this post read Chocolate, Daughter, Love. Quite similar to Eat, Pray, Love. This day of the year does help sustain me.
Girls like to be Pretty
Phoebe is no different than any other girl. She likes to feel pretty. She loves her necklaces and sweaters. For Valentine’s Day she got a new necklace. (One dollar at Walmart. ) I held it up and she hurried over and stood in front of me so that I could put it on her. She also loves her sweaters. She waits for you to put those on her too. I don’t think it’s so much what she is wearing as the fact that she gets loads of attention when she is wearing it.
That’s ok, it’s as much fun for us as it is for her!
Nikki’s Visit
Nikki is a small, timid sheltie. I have to admit that she’s not particularly bright either, not for a sheltie. She is remarkably cute. And I’m learning that she does have priceless gifts.
I take Nikki with me to visit at a nursing home/assisted living facility. I started taking her because, being so small, she is easy for me to hold so that people in wheel chairs can pet her. I didn’t think she ever really liked it. She would just be still and tolerant while people petted her. Apparently I was wrong, she does like it. This week I took Nikki visiting and when we got there no one was in the lobby to visit with us. They didn’t get the message that we were coming and forgot to post the sign for people to gather. I know some folks look forward to our visits so I sought them out. One gentleman, Larry, visits with us every time. He never misses. So we found his room, knocked on the door, and entered at his request. He was indeed happy to see us. I put Nikki on his bed and she sat for petting as usual. Larry paused in his petting to talk to me. Nikki sidled closer to lean on him and get more petting. She was really enjoying it. She leaned into Larry even more and got the biggest grin on her face. And then Larry got the biggest grin on his face. It was such a “feel good” moment that it will last me for a long time.
This is the miracle of a therapy dog.
The Life and Times of Sassy Pants
Last picture with Sassy Pants.
Sassy went to her forever home this afternoon. It is always bittersweet when the fosters leave. They are loved and missed but they move on were they can be the center of attention. Sassy will have an 18 month old sheltie sister at her new home. The family has been eagerly planning for and awaiting this day.
Sassy was glad to see her new family when they arrived. (They had come to visit her once before. ) We talked for a while and when it was time to go they put the leash on her and asked if she wanted to go bye-bye. Sassy yipped and went to the door. Made me think “what are we, chopped liver?” Although chopped liver would be good in a dog’s eyes, wouldn’t it? Really I don’t mind that Sassy likes her new family so well. It’s terrible when they look back at you like you’re a traitor who is sending them away.
Sassy has a great life ahead of her and I’m sure I’ll get reports as to how she is doing. And of course the next foster sheltie is waiting in the wings. He is scheduled to come next Sunday. And so life goes on.
Leek Spinach Potato Soup
The leek is a wonderful vegetable. Very like its cousin the onion, but so much more. It adds a depth of flavor that is a pleasant surprise. The only fault of the leek is that it often has gritty dirt within its layers. You must carefully wash this away. It is easiest to cut it into slices first and then soak and rinse them.
Ingredients for the soup:
- Leeks (1 or 2)
- Spinach
- Potatoes
- Broth
- Salt, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper
- Butter, 1 Tablespoon
The amount of the ingredients used is not really important. Just suit your taste. The de-gritted leeks should be sautéed in the butter until soft. Then add the rest of the ingredients and cook until the potatoes are soft. The final step is to blend it all. I used an immersion blender. You can also blend batches in a blender or food processor.
Serve with some crusty bread and enjoy!
Still Life
This picture, taken on our side porch, speaks volumes about my life. In the foreground is dog paraphernalia. A leash with choker collar so those needle nosed rescue shelties can’t get away. An Elizabethan collar from two foster dogs ago. Baxter ‘ s frisbee is there. A tote bag for my library books. Plants that I brought in to winter over: a fig tree, a seckel pear sapling, a cutting from our ancient azalea. And behind that, catnip and thyme that are dry and waiting to be stripped from their branches and stored. Not to mention everything is on the table where we sometimes eat dinner in warmer weather. So much to be gleaned from an ordinary photo. Simplicity can speak volumes.
Dogs Just Wanna Have Fun
Dogs just wanna have fun. (Think the Cyndi Lauper tune here.) Not that they are never serious but they know when it is time to work and when it is time to kick back and let loose. You can tell from the expression on Baxter’s face that he is having a great time even if Shelby is the one with the Frisbee at the moment. He’s nice, he shares.
Here is Princess, one of our foster dogs from a couple of years ago. That girl knew how to have a good time. She would chase the Frisbee with Baxter and Shelby and the three of them got along like they had been together all of their lives. Sometimes I regret letting her get adopted. She was a perfect fit for our pack. But you can’t keep them all. Or so I am told.
Phoebe, the greyhound, also knows how to play when she can muster up the energy. Greyhounds are couch potatoes 98% of the time but when they decide that they want to play, look out! Tearing up mouthfuls of grass and flinging them in the air then running at full speed for about 30 seconds is one of her favorite pass times in the summer. Note this lasts 30 seconds. No need to get carried away.
We can learn a few things about how to have a good time from dogs. But at the end of the day, don’t forget to relax. And if you can do it with a friend, even better!
Spring Will Come
As I was driving to work in the morning I thought the midnight blue color of the sky was so pretty that I should take a picture of it to share. Later I looked at the photo and the view was pretty. But then I thought, I have already shared some winter photos this week. Let’s look forward in anticipation of how pretty and full of life spring is! So above is a picture of one of the flower beds, beside the house, from last spring. And, oh it is beauty for the soul. Knowing that we will see this sight again is enough.
This is the same bed from another angle. I love coming home and wandering around amongst all this lush greenery. Some see the start of the new year as a time for change. To me, spring is a time of re-birth and a chance for new beginnings. If life erupts from the dormant, brown beds, then new growth can erupt from me as well.
And this photo of the peonies is just because I love them so. They are my favorite flower. Their beauty is so pleasing to me that I go outside just to stare at them. And they are the most heavenly thing that I have ever smelled. When walking dogs on the paths at the cemetery near our house, I will smell the peonies along the way. Each variety has a different scent. Some are strong and clean smelling, others are soft and light in fragrance. And the colors are a feast for the eyes. The dark reds, the brilliant pinks, the pastel pinks, and the whites, some with pink centers. They come with blooms that are single or doubles. I love them all!
Sanctuary Acres 