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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Blowing the Cobwebs Off My Blog...

I think I have cobwebs growing on my blog...

My schedule has spun out of control lately, with my odd hours at the State Fair, followed by the start of school, which brings tennis practices and matches for the girls. Late suppers and irregular hours.
I haven't even turned the computer on at home in at least two weeks.
The dust and spiders are starting to build up...

I got a bit of a reprieve tonight when the tennis match was cancelled. So, we actually came home in time for a normal supper. 
Only, I didn't have anything out to cook! (Wasn't planning on being here!)
So, I punted and we did salad for supper. With lunch meat. And I refuse to feel guilty.

I'll be a little more inspired in the coming weeks, as a pair of Gooseberry Patch cookbooks arrived in the mail today. Over the next several weeks, I'll be cookin' and bloggin' some recipes from "Slow Cookers, Casseroles & Skillets", then giving a copy away to one lucky reader. Woo Hoo!
Don't you love a slow cooker? You'll have to pardon me if I get a little carried away with that part of the cookbook. 

It's part of the "In the Kitchen with GP" project for RFOA.
So, stay tuned. Let me know if you have any requests!


In other news, our dear puppy, Butter, is doing much better. Our Not-So-Free dog has recuperated from her ear surgery. She had her stitches out on Saturday, and finally acts like she's back to normal. She finally quit sulking around the house. Next thing is to identify her allergy sources and figure out a solution. I'm thinking:  Benedryl is our friend right now.

Meanwhile, I thought I'd join Everyday Ruralty for Chats on the Farmhouse Porch...

Questions for our chat:

1.  What was your biggest fear as a child?
A:  Whenever I was sick, I would have this recurring dream about blobs. And the blobs were mean. There were mommy blobs and daddy blobs. And I would always wake up in total terror, afraid to go back to sleep.

2.  How old were you when you learned to cook? Or how old will you be when you learn to cook?
A:  I was about 10 or 11 when I learned to cook. My mom was in the hospital on and off for almost two years, because of two back-to-back cancer diagnosis. As the oldest daughter, my dad decided it was my job to cook. So, I did. Nothing fancy. My mom had me well-versed in all flavors of Hamburger Helper in those days. And fried bologna.
Honestly, I didn't really start cooking for real until I got an apartment in college and picked up some pointers from my roommates.

3.  Did you have a favorite book as a child? What was it?
A:  When I was little, little, it would have to be "Go, Dogs, Go."  When I was big enough to read, it was "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry."

4.  What's the busiest time of year for you?
A:  August! I work a lot of odd hours at the State Fair, then school starts, along with the kids' tennis team, etc., etc... Hence the cobwebs growing on my blog lately!

5.  Have you ever won a contest?
A:  Yes! The first thing I ever won was a jar of candy corn in third grade. I ate it all by myself (as any selfish third-grader would do!). Now, I can't stand the stuff!
I recently won a basket of books from my local library. They called my house and left a message on the machine that I needed to call the circulation desk. That's all. Well, I drove my kids insane tearing the house apart looking for over due books. Why else would the library call me?!?
Well, come Monday, when I finally called them back, ready to face the music and a pay a huge fine, I was quite surprised and relieved! And, I owed the daughters an apology!

Friday, August 19, 2011

No Such Thing As a Free Dog

Heed my warning, all ye who may pass this way:
Do NOT believe anyone who offers you a "free" dog!
She may be cute. And cuddly. And sweet as a baby.
You have GOT to stay focused and repeat after me:
"There's no such thing as a free dog."
"There's no such thing as a free dog."
"There's no such thing as a free dog."

How, you might be asking, have I obtained such a jaded view of the world?
Well, if you haven't already, meet Butter...

I've never really been a mushy pet person. (People who know where I work in real life are probably snickering right now.) As someone who grew up with farm dogs that wouldn't have dared let a paw cross the threshold of our front door, I was a bit hesitant to welcome an indoor pooch into our house. But, let's face it:  I was sure to lose this war with everyone else in my family envisioning cuddling in front a fireplace with a dog. So I relented.

She came into our lives a few years ago, when her original family moved and couldn't keep her any longer. The dad loved Butter so much. In fact, we had to be pre-screened, then interview over the phone so he could make sure we'd provide a good home for his beloved pup.

Based on that, I'm sure you wouldn't be surprised to know that this turned out to be an open adoption, including visitation rights. Yes, the original family still comes to see her when they are in town visiting family. Oh, yeah. And we send pictures periodically, so they can keep up with how she's doing. (They really are great people, and we count them as friends now.)

Now, fast-forward a few years and I've really come to appreciate that no, Virginia, there is no such thing as a free dog.

During her most recent trip to see the veterinarian, as a result of incessant scratching of her ear that caused a hematoma, our dear Butter has been diagnosed with allergies.

Allergies?
In a dog?
Seriously?

Yes, says the DVM. Probably her food, but we need to figure out the source for sure.

Can't we just give her some Claritin or something? I asked.

The best approach is to determine the source of the allergies. We need to start with the food. Prescription food.

Yeah, new food. New food that costs a mere $3.58 a pound!!! Doesn't she realize this 86-pound canine eats about 45 pounds of food a month???? I can feed her boneless pork loin for less.
Seriously?
I don't spend that much on food for my kids.

I think it stands to reason that the dog would develop allergies, too. Since everyone else in the house seems to have increasingly bothersome allergies... including LittleD, who has developed an allergy to the dog!
Is it possible to find a winner in this situation??
Maybe Butter is allergic to the daughter...

So, I'm asking around and getting some other opinions and input for our options.
Meanwhile, poor Butter had to get that hematoma drained and stitched up
So now, she's looking a little pathetic with one ear bandaged to her head...


Poor girl's going to be miserable Cone Head Dog for a few days. I feel so bad for her. Poor thing.

That's what I'm thinking as I pay the bill at the front desk. That, and:

"There's no such thing as a free dog."



Wednesday, August 17, 2011

My Turn: In The Kitchen Gooseberry Patch Project

It's my turn!
If you haven't checked out the cooking series over at The Real Farmwives of America, take a minute and surf over and check out what's "in the kitchen with Gooseberry Patch".

A bunch of my blogging buddies have been cooking up recipes from a GP cookbook selected by a vote on the blog.
Well, it's my turn, and I need folks to vote on which GP cookbook I should use. Then I'll be posting 10 recipes over the next several weeks for everyone to try out. So, take a second and vote.

The good part? GP is going to bless me with a copy of the winning cookbook and one to give away!
Then, tune in, because I'm surely going to have that slow-cooker plugged in and ready to go!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Funny State Fair Photo

Been spending a little too much time at the Indiana State Fair lately...
So, the other day, while I was working my booth, I got a drive-by of a scooter.
Then another. And another. And, yes, lagging behind, another.
This just made me laugh, so I had to share:


Thursday, August 4, 2011

Roasting Hot Dogs in the Rain--This is What Memories are Made Of!

So this past weekend we had an unexpected--and welcome--reprieve from two consecutive weeks of dry and hot (90-degree+) temperatures:  Rain!

BabyD had some friends over for a last-fling-before-school-starts sleep over.

The girls didn't let a little rain hinder their plans for a weenie roast in the back yard.
They just adapted to the circumstances...
 With umbrellas!


It was a little silly, but the steady, light rain wasn't even enough to put out the campfire.

I'm the one who got wet. So, this 11YO better remember days like these in a few years when she thinks I'm the meanest mom in the whole-side world.


Smart and Trendy Moms


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Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: Enough of the Heat, Already!


The puppy has decided the floor vent is the only place to be... I think she's tired of the 90-degree days!