Mama Dog

Dogs dogs dogs. All I ever write about these days. I love Mama Dog Circle. I had been stopping in daily to visit my favorite Professor and staying for all of these cuties.

You can plainly see how easy it is to lose yourself here. Taking the time to say hello to each of these fuzzy souls and you've stayed an hour or two without realizing.

Of course I have fuzzies at home too. My little loves, Woofs and Ivy & the sweet foster pup Lucy waiting for me at home. Love when they all rush to the door to say hello with wags and licks.

Cookin' Cleanin' and Cryin'

Made the most fantastic kitchen-sink curry yesterday, with sweet potatoes and about 15 other things. All of my curries are loosely based on the curry recipes I would use from Sarah Kramer's cookbooks. Way back in the day, when I first started learning to cook vegetarian, her cookbooks were my go to. Now, I very much enjoy cooking without a net.

I am busy as a bee this week. I think we're finally over the knock-us-on-our-ass germ fest that comes with the boy getting an education outside of the home. My mind is always elsewhere though.

Yesterday something happened to me though, something that reminded me to hang on tight to everyone I love. Something that reminded me, that the good that we do in the world really makes a difference. Every compliment, every good deed, every random act of kindness makes the whole world a better place.

Here's to the sweetness in life.

Puppies!

Well, dogs. Dogs, cats. and dog people, and cat people.

 

This is Leo. He was sweet enough to keep me company this morning at the APAC Yard Sale & Bake Sale.

Over a year ago, we were not looking for a dog. We had recently said goodbye to our little Tykie. He was such a great little dog, a terrier mix. He lived to a nice old age, had a very full life. He was born in Rhode Island, traveled with Dave and I to live in Texas when we were married. He was our Bug's first doggy. It was so hard to say goodbye.

So I was not looking for a dog. I was looking for some hamster supplies. Outside our local petshop there were 10 beautiful little puppies. Gorgeous, fuzzy, white puppies sleeping in piles, toddling around and just generally being adorable. I melted before I even got out of the truck. I was *not* looking for a dog. I could not stop thinking about them. The store didn't have the item I was looking for, I went back out and looked at the puppies. I couldn't leave. They were gorgeous, sweet little things. I crouched down and asked them 'who wants to come home with us?' and Woofswell jumped in my lap and licked my face.

So naturally I had to bring her home. I fell in love with her immediately. Dave, who definitely did not want a dog, just melted at her little face. How could you not?


Since she was fostered, she was a breeze to house train. She fit in our little home, right away.

That was my 1st introduction to the APAC. I admit I didn't know a thing about them when I adopted her but the application was impressively thorough and I was happy to see that all of the dogs available for adoption were spayed, neutered and up to date on their vaccinations.

The more I read about the APAC, the more I knew that I wanted to be involved. Not just to give back for the wonderful dog they were able to connect us with, but to help with the very real homeless pet problem in my area.

Today, I was lucky enough to be able to volunteer at the Yard Sale & Bake Sale in Salado Texas. What an amazing group of people and a sweet bunch of animals! I have been saying to Dave, for a while now, I need to find a way to hang out with dogs & puppies more often.

Leo, the sweetie, with his freckles, & gorgeous eyes

Bear, the hero. He recently saved his foster sister from a snake! This guy is so sweet, mellow and yes looks just like a bear. He has had a tough life but is with a fantastic foster family right now and will find his forever home soon


Miss Crystal, she is a love. Gorgeous, slim girl with wild hair and a huge smile. She soaks up the attention like a thirsty sponge
 
This little fella, I didn't get a chance to hang out with him much, but he was fun to photograph


I had such a good time today, taking pictures, playing with puppies and talking to adults (which is kind of a rarity in my life)I am so thankful to everyone from the APAC for the opportunity!

Cold~Front

Yesterday the heat was brutal, 105 indoors. Someday soon we'll get our AC fixed, but for last night I dragged the big mattress out to the living room & the kids & I camped out with the dogs.

It's so much nicer having a mattress where the rug normally is. After the boy got off to school, I snuggled up with my best girl and we took in a little sesame street.

 

It was fascinating, for about 5 minutes. Dave and I reminisced about a time when Buggies was all about the 'Em~mo', Izzy had some nums and snoozed.

Notice the long sleeves? It's cooled off considerably low 70s-low 90s. Time to make some vegan stew & bust out the hoodies!

Chicken-Fried Brownies

Yesterday afternoon, at his play kitchen, sweet David made his baby sister one 'chicken-fried' treat after another, until he ran out of chicken-fried sugar.

School is good to him. He's learning about all sorts of new things, like meats, friendships & football. We are most definitely in Texas. This week he was proud to announce that he had "tried meat for the very first time!" well, what did you think? "It was...cold. It was...not very good. There was lettuce though!" Oh yeah? "Yeah! That was...not very good either. But there was cheese, I like cheese" Well what else? "Green beans! They tasted...different." Different? "yes...like...not like your's taste...not very good"

I suppose I am a bit flattered and just a tiny bit happy that is isn't fond of the meats.

He also spends a good deal of time working on his 'tough' image & playing with the 5 little girls from across the street. Five new friends! We are too lucky!

They have a hamster too!

Izzy wants to walk. I can see it in her eyes. I can see it in her busy feet when I set her down. I am thinking a little baby push cart would be just the thing. Yesterday she & I scoured every thrift & consignment shop in a 10 mile radius. No luck. Back to the hunt on Monday, or maybe she'll find her balance tonight.

Dave is in the process of 'whispering' the dogs. "I am whispering the crap out of these dogs lately" Ivy responds the best, of course she is the one who needs it the most. She wants to be good, she really does. Right as soon as she's finished burying the hand towels in the yard, then she wants to be good.

wicked awesome banana blueberry muffins

I made these up for Bug's lunchbox in the morning & tested one to make sure they're okay.

ingredients~
dry
1 1/3 c flour
3/4 c oats
1/3 c sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

wet

1 mashed up (smallish) banana

3/4 c 'milk'
1/4 c oil

good stuff
whatever you haven't eaten from the pint of fresh blueberries
zest of 1 lemon

PH oven to 375 (f) & hit the tins with some cooking spray

Mix dry, mix wet separately. Add wet to dry until just mixed. Fold in the good stuff.

divide evenly into the prepared tins, 12 of them.


Bake for 18-20 m, until the toothpick comes out clean

Cranberry Nut Muffins

One of the [many] reasons that I love vegan baking, is that I can freely eat the batter without worrying about getting the salmonella. Dave says uncooked eggs are totally safe, I disagree though I am admittedly quite a bit irrational when it comes to the salmonella. Enough about salmonella.

These are some tasty muffins.



ingredients~
dry
1 1/3 c flour
3/4 c oats
1/3 c sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

wet

1/4 c applesauce

3/4 c 'milk'
1/4 c oil

good stuff
1 c walnuts
1 c dried cranberries

PH oven to 375 (f) & hit the tins with some cooking spray

Mix dry, mix wet separately. Add wet to dry until just mixed. Fold in the good stuff.

divide evenly into the prepared tins, 12 of them. Sprinkle the tops with turbinado sugar if you have it. I don't, Dave used it all up for his coffee

Bake for 18-20 m, until the toothpick comes out clean