Saturday, August 31, 2013

Cow Dog Song: Dog Song Saturday

It's Saturday, so time for a dog song at Talking Dogs.

Today's feature is a classic Sesame Street song segment from 1974.  The film was produced, directed, scored and sung by Fred Wardenburg.  Though this song is sometimes called Hard Working Dog, it's real title is Cow Dog Song.

Grab a dog.  Sit.  Stay.  Relax and let this cow dog tell you about his job and how he's a hard working dog in the Cow Dog Song!

Fetch more dog song music videos at Talking Dogs.  You'll be surprised at how many we've collected over the past few years!  And be sure to scroll down below today's featured dog song to explore some barking good blogs in today's Pet Blogger Hop.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Dog Day | Wordless Wednesday

 Rudy & Jeffie waiting for treats.
 Rosie, Jeffie & Rudy playing tag... or was it keep-away?
 Jeffie & Rosie taking a break.

Celebrating National Dog Day at For Love of a Dog

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Tasty Tuesday | Cheese Grits Recipe


The recipe I'm sharing today is one of our favorites:  Cheese Grits.  Not just a side dish, these cheese grits are perfect as a breakfast entree, plus are wonderful for a brunch.  

I like to pair them with homemade buttermilk biscuits with some honey butter.  A slice of cantaloupe on the side is yummy, but so are the blackberries I added yesterday.

Yes.  Our dogs have tasted these Cheese Grits and love them.  When he was alive, Tucker used to hover close in the kitchen when we were making them.  They were one of his very favorite things - in moderation.  We don't usually allow our dogs any corn products.

Quick, easy and delicious!


Cheese Grits

1 cup uncooked regular grits
1 (16 oz) Velveeta, cubed
1/2 cup butter
6 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt

  1. Prepare 1 cup grits according to the package directions; remove from heat and stir in cheese and butter until blended.
  2. Whisk together eggs, milk, and salt.  Gradually whisk about 1/4 of hot grits mixture into egg misture;  add to the remaining hot grits mixture, shisking constantly.  Spoon mixture evenly into a lightly greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
  3. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes or until set.
Leftovers?  No problem.  These heat up well in the microwave.


We're joining the Tasty Tuesday blog hop today.  This is a blog hop that celebrates good food, sponsored by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Kols Notes.  

Monday, August 26, 2013

Rosie's First Ice Cream Cone | Monday Mischief

Though I think Mother Nature has been the real mischief maker this summer with her crazy ideas about the weather, I suppose I was the one making mischief at our house yesterday.


I recently confessed that we give our dogs nibbles and tastes of all kinds of people food.   Birthdays are celebrated with trips to the DQ where the dogs share a bowl of ice cream.  Yes, they eat very nicely from a spoon and know to take turns.   Plus, there are some trips to the vet that just have to be rewarded with a sausage biscuit from MickeyD's.

If you disapprove and are wearing your judgey-pants, just move along... nothing to see here!

Yesterday I realized that Rosie had never had an ice cream cone.  

Years ago my mom turned me on to these itty bitty, mini ice cream cones.  Pretty cool!  Each dog just gets one and, the truth is, we only do this once in a blue moon.  After all, Rosie's been with us 8 months and this is her first.


 The plate shown here is a small dessert plate - these cones are little!


Jeffie knows what's coming and this is very serious business!



I think Rudy is watching to make sure the cones are equal in portions.


 
Rosie is clueless... except we're in the kitchen 
which always means something good will be coming her way.

 
Jeffie sniffs first, then gobbles.



 
Rudy works fast, hence the very blurry photo.



Rosie carefully takes her ice cream cone from the dog daddy.


More, please....


Thank you to Snoopy’s Dog Blog, Alfie’s Blog, and My Brown Newfies for hosting Monday Mischief! 

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Adopt Wanda a Bloodhound Dog


Wanda is looking for a forever home...  is it with you?

Wanda (formerly known as Daisy Jolene) is a gorgeous purebred Bloodhound that was picked up as a stray in Montgomery County, VA and taken to the local shelter. 
How could you say no to those magnificent ears?
She was infested with fleas and a blood test revealed that she was anemic because of the infestation. After several baths and vet care, she is on the road to a speedy recovery.
A sweetheart named Wanda.
Wanda was pulled for rescue by Bandit's Place which is located in CT, but has foster homes in several states.
Wanda says:  Please help me find my perfect forever home!
Wanda had a temporary foster home in Elliston, VA so that transport could be coordinated to the rescue in CT.
Wanda just released from the animal shelter and on her way to her temporary foster home with a snazzy new collar and leash.
She is estimated to be around 2 years old, but is full of puppy love. She weighs a little over 70 lbs and is the biggest and happiest clown to have around the house. She is very food and treat motivated. She is also crate trained and house broken.
Wanda loves to play!
Wanda's dreaming of a forever home with lots of dog toys, good eats and love.
Wanda gets along very well with other dogs and is on the submissive side.
Wanda getting acquainted with some of her foster siblings.
She hasn't been tested with cats or kids, but she's so laid back that she would probably do well with children. Just be careful with the little kids because Wanda loves to play and might knock them over!


If you're interested in adopting Wanda, visit the rescue's website and fill out an online application.
Please share me so I can find my forever family!
Bandit's Place is a federally recognized 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing homeless animals and placing them in loving, forever homes. It matters not where they've come from, but it matters greatly where they go. Needy animals are pulled from pounds across a wide area from Connecticut to the southern United States' over crowded high kill shelters and, when room provides itself, from individuals needing to surrender their pets.  Follow Bandit's Place on Facebook to see more of their adoptable pets and foster opportunities.

Note:  Special thanks to Kristi Austin for providing information and so many photos of the beautiful Wanda.  Kristi and her husband, Glenn, provided temporary foster care for this lovely girl.
On Tuesday we'll be participating in the Tuesday's Tails blog hop hosted by Dogs N Pawz.  This is the blog hop that features shelter pets.  Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us!  Please help spread the word about these beautiful animals via social media and let's find them forever homes!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

I've Got a Dog with Dwight Yoakam | Dog Song Saturday

It's Saturday, so time for a dog song at Talking Dogs.  The song I've Got a Dog was written and produced by Sandra Boynton and performed by Dwight Yoakam on Boynton's album Frog Trouble.

This official music video was created by Boynton using 97 photos of some great dogs, chosen from hundreds of photos submitted to her by their owners.  If you watch closely, you'll see a fleeting cameo appearance by Dwight Yoakam.

Grab a dog!  Sit.  Stay.  Relax and enjoy I've Got a Dog.  Then fetch more dog song music videos at Talking Dogs.  You'll be surprised at how many we've collected over the past few years!  And be sure to scroll down below today's featured dog song to explore some barking good blogs in today's Pet Blogger Hop.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Follow-up Friday: Cooties, Adoptable Pets, Christmas, Farm Stories

I'm happy to be joining Heart Like a Dog in the follow-up Friday blog hop this week.  This is the blog hop that lets you wrap up your week and leads you right into the weekend.  Hosted by FUF creator, Jodi at Heart Like a Dog and co-hosted this week by JoAnn at Sand Spring Chesapeakes.

Rosie's nose fungus is improving according to our vet.  She's very tired of having her "cootie" treated and I'm tired of not being able to kiss her snoot.  I think she's developing a complex, since every time her nose gets near us, we pull back.  Poor thing!
 
Nope, no cooties, but an awfully good Rosie-nose-shot!

Thanks to my For Love of a Dog jewelry business, I've already been thinking about Christmas for quite some time and I'm excited about two different "blogville" events.  This year I'll be participating in Kolchak's Advent Calendar for Dog Lovers and The Lazy Pitbull's Holiday Gift Guide.

If you missed last week's Dog Song Saturday, you really should fetch it now. Old Dogs is an original dog song by Larry Garrett.  Read the lyrics and take a little walk down memory lane because you'll be thinking about your own sweet best friend.  Tomorrow's dog music video is a great official music video featuring an original dog song, I've Got a Dog by Sandra Boynton.

Adoptable pets - This week I featured both a beautiful black cat, Bagheera, and a gorgeous black Pitbull, Barkley, in the Tuesday's Tails blog hop.  If you haven't already shared them... please do!

Currently in foster care, Wanda the Bloodhound is looking for love.

And be sure to check out our adoptable dog this Sunday.  Wanda is a Bloodhound dog pulled from an animal shelter and on her way to a rescue in CT, Bandit's Place, where she'll be waiting to find her perfect forever home. Don't miss this post - great photos!  (And yes, it will be linked to Tuesday's Tails blog hop.)

We have a book giveaway winner - Congratulations to JoAnn!  She was selected via Random.org as the winner of a copy of Crazy Bitch - Living with Canine Compulsive Disorder by Peggy Tibbetts.

Mrs and Mr Peeper gave up motorized transportation due to trauma.

Chauffeuring Mr and Mrs Peeper, my most recent farm story provoked a lot of comments and I did pretty well - at first - responding to them.  
Emma, no one was hurt!  However, this incident gives you a good idea of why my glasses always need repair/adjusting.  
Yup, we got pictures, Pam... which is exactly what caused this chaos!  
I hooted at Dawn's comment:  Too bad they don't make seat belts for geese. 
Jackie, I wish I had some photos of all of us keeping cool down at the big pond.  Better yet, video footage of my tripawd Bennie, rolling off his float to chomp, chomp, chomp after the geese. 
Linda is right!  If only I could invent a gigantic windshield wiper thingy that parks and gold courses could use to discourage geese.  Just think of the money!

I have rough drafts or outlines of other farm stories:  my heart horse's foaling, raising my cattle herd from day old bottle calves, haying with the draft horses, plus some dogs-on-the-farm stories.  Preferences, anyone?


Thursday, August 22, 2013

Thousand Points of Love Dog Photo Campaign | Cardinal Pet Care

Every dog makes a difference in someone’s life; so imagine what a thousand dogs can do! With the help of their human companions, these dogs can create a generous donation to a great cause, at no cost to those pet parents.

Cardinal Pet Care will be donating $1,000 to the Crazy Pet Children’s Foundation (CPCF), that’s $1.00 for each photo of a pet dog emailed to the company for use in its Thousand Points Of Love campaign. CPCF will award a grant in that amount to Canines for Disabled Kids. The 1,000 dog photos will be ‘photoshopped’ together to make an enormous heart-shaped poster that demonstrates the loving bond shared between people and pets.  

Pet lovers can email a photo of their dogs (one per pet) to news@cardinalpet.com.
During the campaign, anyone can see progress reports as the heart get filled with pet photos by clicking (www.cardinalpetcare.com/heart).

Participation in this project is open to anyone who owns a dog. The first 1000 owners to email Cardinal Pet Care photos will have their pet immortalized in the collectable poster.  It’s free to contribute, but sending in a photo will still make a difference in donating to this great cause.  Replicas of the completed poster will be available to be downloaded at no charge from the Cardinal Pet Care website.

Barbara Denzer, vice president of Cardinal Pet Care explained why the company initiated this fund-raising project.  “We wanted to give our customers a chance to contribute to this great cause without asking them for a monetary donation.  Photos of their pets are a far more personal and emotional donation. The project is a great way to support the Crazy Pet Children’s Foundation and Canines for Disabled Kids and it gives us a chance to connect personally with our customers and their pets.”

The Crazy Pet Children’s Foundation’s Grant program was established in 2009 by Cardinal Pet Care CEO Tony de Vos to support groups that teach children about pet care and strengthen bonds between animals and youth, or promote the training of pets.  The CPCF understands the importance of youth learning to care for animals, in helping them develop sympathy, empathy and caring.  It also creates respect for people and animals and helps children develop confidence. 

Learn more about Cardinal Pet Care, a solar powered company “Devoted to Pets, People and the Planet” at http://www.cardinalpet.com/ 

Learn more about the Crazy Pet Children’s Foundation and make a donation, or apply for a grant, at http://www.cardinalpet.com/foundation/  

Crazy Bitch Dog Book Giveaway Winner

Drum roll, please.  We have a winner!
Congratulations to

She's won a copy of Crazy Bitch - Living with Canine Compulsive Disorder
 by Peggy Tibbetts!

Missed our book review and want to know more?

Didn't win, but would like to purchase your own copy?
Crazy Bitch - Living with Canine Compulsive Disorder is available for purchase on AmazonBarnes and Noble, and wherever ebooks are sold. 



New Adopt a Dog Jewelry at For Love of a Dog

My latest jewelry creations celebrates one of my favorite things:  dog adoption.  Nearly every single dog in my life was a rescue or adopted from a shelter.   

Choosing to adopt, rather than shop at a pet store or online, is my personal choice and a cause near and dear to my heart.  I find it easy to spread the word when I'm wearing one of my Adopt of Rescue bracelets.  Compliments lead to conversations that can change the life of dogs.

My own dogs are my true blue friends and that's also part of the theme of these two new Adopt a Dog bracelets.

Shown here is an Adopt a Best Friend dog bone bracelet in sky blues with a bit of cherry and pink.  Lots of sky blue and pink crystals surround the handmade porcelain blue dog bone proclaiming ADOPT.  The hand crafted lampwork beads have a cherry base with raised flowers in pink and blue.  Don't miss the sweet Best Friend silver heart charm that dangles from the dog bone and the cute paw print lobster claw clasp.  Another one of a kind dog lover bracelet from For Love of a Dog.




The bracelet shown below is gorgeous in royal blue and one of a kind.  Genuine lapis lazuli gemstone beads, plus a hand carved heart dangle, coordinate perfectly with the royal blue ADOPT porcelain dog bone.  Again, you'll see I added a silver Best Friend heart charm with a pierced dog paw.  The lampwork beads have a royal blue base with lovely raised flowers in pink and red.  Lots of crystal bead dangles make for fun sparkles!


Fetch my pet rescue jewelry for more ways to wear your advocacy for animals.  You'll find necklaces and bracelets themes of rescue, black dogs, spay and neuter and more.  It's a fun way to wear your values and make beautiful gifts for special friends.

Be mindful as you shop For Love of a Dog that most of my jewelry are one of a kind items.  Though you'll see some variations on a theme, there will never be another exactly like it.  Shop now for best selection and enjoy fast, free standard shipping. 

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Adopt Barkley a Black Pit Bull Terrier | Tuesdays Tails

 
Barkley is an adorable young Pit Bull Terrier mixed breed dog who's looking for a loving forever home.  He's a looker with that beautiful shiny black coat!

Animal shelter staff and volunteers at the Humane Society of Missouri report that Barkley is a smart young dog.  He already knows "sit" and "down," plus he walks pretty well on a leash.

Barkley would love an active home with people who could challenge him with more training and to play with him.

Have a look at Barkley's adoption video, then give the HSMO a call at 314-951-1562


Talking Dogs is participating in the Tuesday's Tails blog hop hosted by Dogs N Pawz.  This is the blog hop that features shelter pets.  Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us!  Please help spread the word about these beautiful animals via social media and let's find them forever homes!

Monday, August 19, 2013

Mischief Monday: Chauffeuring Mr and Mrs Peeper, a Farm Story

I'll give you the moral of this story right up front:  You can lead geese to water but you shouldn't put them inside your vehicle with the windshield wipers on.

And I'll leave it to you to decide who was making mischief in this farm story.  

I chose two White Chinese goslings at the hatchery before I knew that domestic geese could live well into their thirties.  

The dog daddy was not too thrilled at that news since he hated geese. When he was a little boy some geese chased him into an outbuilding at his grandma's house and wouldn't let him out. 
 
Mr and Mrs Peeper

While they were still young, they lived in our fenced yard in a wire enclosure that could be moved around for fresh greens.  This way I could keep a close eye on them, plus they and the dogs could get used to one another.
Mrs and Mr Peeper
Our yellow Lab mix,Sherman especially loved baby creatures and Mr and Mrs Peeper were no exception.

The Peepers and Sherman
Sherman having a chat with Mr and Mrs Peeper

Once grown, they moved into their own permanent digs.  They roamed at will during the day and were locked into their house at night for protection. 

Mr Peeper

We had a number of spring fed ponds on our 150 acre farm.  The closest was about 1/4 mile from the house.  The geese never ventured far from the house and barn, so I used to lead them to the pond for a swim.  I didn't herd them, I'd whistle and sing to them.  They'd follow me anywhere.

The peeper piper leading the peepers.
They definitely enjoyed it.  However, it was small, pretty muddy little pond, so I'd just sit on a rock and watch.  Sort of a zen time of relaxation.


Mr and Mrs Peeper (White Chinese) with Peabody and PeeWee (Grey Toulouse)

Swim over, I'd lead them back up to the house and barn yard.




Of all our ponds the one we referred to as "The Big Pond" was the best for swimming.  During the wicked heat and humidity of summer, that was where we all headed for some fun and to cool off.  I'd throw the inner tubes, floats, a cooler of water, and towels into the back of the old farm pickup.  In the dogs would hop.

I'd tried leading the geese to "The Big Pond" on foot.  However, it was too far away for a hike.  I was afraid if I put the geese in the bed of the pickup that they'd fly out.

So I decided to just throw the geese into the pickup cab with me.  Worked like a charm.  They seemed to enjoy the ride and they loved going to the pond with us for a swim.

My dogs, Benji and Sherman, alternated between relaxing on floats, drifting around the pond, and swimming after Mr and Mrs Peeper, chomp, chomp, chomping... thought they never seriously tried to snatch them.  The geese would shriek and sometimes turn around and chase them!  It was a like a game of tag.

There came a day when the dog daddy came home from work in time to join us as we prepared to head for the pond.   He thought it was hilarious that the geese road with me in the truck and had the bright idea to take some pictures.

He snapped a few photos, but pronounced the windshield too dirty for them to be any good.

"Turn the windshield washers on!"  he shouted.  

I did.

The Peeper chauffeur reeling in shock and trying to avoid goose wings.
All hell broke loose.  The Peepers, sure it was an attack of some kind and their lives were in danger, began screaming honks, flapping wings and, in general, trying to escape the confines of the truck. 

Poor Peepers trying to escape the windshield wipers while their chauffeur laughs hysterically.

Our days of swimming at the pond were over.  

They refused to ever get in the pickup cab again.

Thank you to Snoopy’s Dog Blog, Alfie’s Blog, and My Brown Newfies for hosting Monday Mischief!