Archive for ‘May, 2011’

Sunday drive

I’m not big on just driving around and looking at the scenery. Funny, as the scenery around here is pretty spectacular as far as I’m concerned. But for whatever reason, to just take a drive loses its appeal in about 15 minutes and I just want to go home.

But today, I took Bear and headed out for a Sunday drive. Bear gets very excited over ANY animal…cows, horses, other dogs, deer, squirrels – you name it, if it has 4 legs, he wants it. Even in the car when it is cows or horses in a pasture some distance away. I don’t know if he didn’t get out much or it is just everything new and changed or what, but my hope is that if I don’t react and he gets used to seeing this stuff, he’ll NOT react. And I hope this happens while I still have some hearing left…a beardog barking up a storm in a Jeep Wrangler…loud!

So, off we went.

Oh, I did take another tool to try…the electronic collar. I have one that has a paging feature. “Page” is vibration only. I can turn off the “shock” part. I had no intention of using any shock, but thought I’d see if a bit of vibration was distracting enough that he’d quiet and hear me. He did. So sometimes I used the page, sometimes just a firm “Leave it” and by the end of the drive, it was voice only and sometimes even that was not needed. I don’t think one drive is going to do it, but every bit of training and success builds – his confidence in himself and in me as the leader. We had a good time. I talked about the cows and horses and the pretty day. And for the first time, Bear kissed me in the car – in the past, whatever has been out the window has been too exciting. Today, there was a bit of “Isn’t this fun?” between us.

And it WAS a beautiful day for a drive. It has finally turned serious green and it is that vibrant Spring green that speaks of new growth.

A bit hazy again as a new front swirls up from the southeast, but some sun and some blue sky and the mountains have new snow from this latest cold storm.

We arrived home to see Bob on the front porch.

“Did you happen to lose that dog while you were gone?”

“Yea, I thought not.”

***Actually, we had a small breakthrough this morning. Bob’s and Bear’s “visits” have been mostly calm lately. This morning, Bob was on the bathroom counter…higher than Bear…so I took Bear in and it stayed calm and they seemed interested. Bear sniffed Bob’s tail, Bob turned but seemed curious…I gave Bear enough room to touch noses – they did! Bear then backed up, so I turned him and left on a high note. It is only 2 weeks since Bear has been part of the family. I think we are all doing very well :)!

These boots were made for dog walking

It has been on the wet side here….

Wet grass,

Wet dog,

Wet hat, wet coat, wet boots.

Those boots! I have my friend Kris to thank for finding out about Bogs Boots. She bought a pair in the Fall…I’d been looking at them. This Fall I bought and returned 6 pairs of boots…kept 3 pair but it was the Bogs that I wore most. I put a pair of Uggs sheepskin insoles in them and wear the boots barefoot as I do my Uggs. And although I do the same with all 3 pair of winter/rain boots that I kept, it is these that are not only easy on/easy off but were warm at -10 and not uncomfortable now when I’m wearing them with shorts – that I wore and wear the most. They are tall enough to protect my legs from scratchy weeds and pokey downfall sticks and the soles have great traction whether on snow or wet grass and rocks.

These boots….these boots were made for dog walking.

***I got mine from Amazon :)! Bogs Black Classic High Handle Boot

The Road Home: Bear was there

We had a cold front whoosh through yesterday bringing the snow level down to about 4500 feet. Although flurries were predicted to the valley floor, it remained rain, even at my house 100 feet above the valley floor.

But, today, as Bear and I ventured out and back, mid-afternoon, the snow was low on the mountains.

And from my usual vantage point, turning 180 degrees: big sky, green grass and pasture…

And Bear was there…on the Road Home.

Let me eat cake

FRIDAY!! – a week of long days of work, working and playing with Bear and Bob and avoiding yard work…the grass is nearing the 1 foot level :(

My sweet tooth is not large and I’m not much for cake but every once in awhile a piece of cake sounds good. And then I saw this sweet recipe: Texas chocolate sheet cake for two. Perfect! Even though I am one, cake for 2 is a better size than a cake that serves a crowd.

For my international readers, don’t despair – I didn’t know what “Texas” sheet cake was until I googled it and even the google results were mixed as usual. However, the majority of entries agreed that it is a rich chocolate sheet cake topped with a chocolate-pecan “frosting” when the cake is warm so that the frosting is kind of absorbed into the cake.

The frosting part was too much sweet and too much chocolate for me, but the tiny cakes – right up my alley!

The recipe mixes up and is in the ramekins in about 10 minutes. 30 minutes to bake, another 10-15 to cool and there is cake. I did fancy up one of them with some frosting, coconut and dried sweet cherries…

Oh, boy! Let me eat cake!