I know you're not in a position to get a new dog anytime soon, and this guy would probably not be a good fit for your household anyway, but I saw him on the Humane Society website and I thought he'd be a dog I'd check out (if I were still looking, which I'm not, either, I just troll the available dogs from time to time because I'm insane.) I thought I share this with you, since eventually you will be looking for dog #2, and here is an example of how I approach this.....

http://www.petango.com/Adopt/Dog-Retriever-Labrador-Viszla-Smooth-Haired-18949805

 This guy first of all looks cute and friendly. And his write-up says all the right things--like balls and tugs (so we know he enjoys toys and probably enjoys games with toys--he could be easily persuaded to do a deadball retrieve with enthusiasm), but will give up the ball easily (so not too obsessed). Sounds like he's got a lot of energy, but there's a hint that he settles well, too (so as long as a person is willing to run him into the ground a couple of times a day, life in the house with him would probably be not too crazy). He's not dog aggressive. And in the full-body picture, his structure looks promising (but it's impossible to tell from pictures, so I almost never rule out a dog based on structure that I see in a photo). Also, the breeds they think he is (lab and viszla) are good athletes. He's a good age (I wouldn't go any older than 3 years old, and it's possible he's younger than that.) WHS seems pretty good with their write-ups about dogs--they do a nice job of accurately assessing and describing, from what I've seen, so all the good things they're saying are especially encouraging.

My next step, if I were actively searching...which I'm NOT (grin), would be to go visit him. I'd bring a tug, balls, and cheese. I'd check out his structure, see how he was about being handled & touched, see how focused he could be on me (vs. every other thing in the world)...does he want to sniff and disconnect or does he pay attention to me and is he more interested in what I'm doing than anything else (within reason, of course). If that were all promising, I'd start up a game of fetch, rewarding each retrieve with a tug or treat, whichever he prefered. If he were willing to tug with me, that would be a very good sign, too. I'd watch his movement as he ran and trotted and walked, from all angles if possible: away from me, to me, from both sides. Does look smooth, or is there something wonky going on there? Stiffness? Any hit of favoring one leg/paw/side over another? I visualize other successful flyball dogs, even with different running styles, and I'd try to see how he compares...does he run like Rogue, Trix, Wyatt? Ruben runs slowly, but he is very smooth and agile--he's put together well. Raffy used to move beautifully, even though he's a boxy little thing. Neena's knees are straighter than I'd like, but her front and rear are at least proportional, and she moves very well.

If all that went well, and once I'd gotten some of the excitement burned off him, I'd try a little bit of training. Will he sit, down, whatever? Is he wanting to hang in there with me--again, I'm watching for the focus and his willingness to stay "connected" with me. Is he actively trying to figure out what I want, or is this a struggle?

And finally, am I falling in love while all this is going on? Do I want to stay and play with him, am I sad to leave? Or is there something about him that bugs me and I just...kinda...don't...like...him? I'm adopting a family member first, a flyball dog second. I've got to fall in love. I'm not going to be one of these people who endures a dog just because they run fast at tournaments...eventually they won't be able to run at tournaments, so what happens then?

If it's all good, then I box up my excitement and wait to see how it goes when he meets our other dogs--that could still be a deal breaker. And in that meeting, I'm looking for much of the same thing as in the first meeting. Do they get along, of course, or do they want to kill each other...but in addition to that, how is his focus on ME when there are other dogs around. When I was looking for the dog who turned out to be Wyatt, I had my heart set on this other little Aussie boy first. But when we brought our other dogs to meet him, I couldn't get his attention back to me to save my life! He just wanted to play and hump the other dogs--literally, it was like I was invisible. And I knew from training Raff what an uphill struggle that is, especially for flyball where there are so many dogs around all the time. So when I met Wyatt and he ignored all the other dogs around him, that was a good thing!

His Own Personal Best

On April 25 & 26, we had a Flyball tournament in Canby, OR. All the dogs were really on fire, and Wyatt even ran a 4.01, which shaved .19 of a second off his previous best time. They had a professional photographer there (Nina Sage), and so I ordered these prints of the Wy-man, puttin' his thing down. I love the look on his face--he is having a BLAST!

At the tournament, I was completely surprised by his increased speed. I felt like he had simply cranked it up a notch, for no apparent reason. But in calmer moments after the tournament, I realized that I shouldn't have been surprised at all. There were some very specific things that contributed to his running like a bat out of hell to the box, and then returning to me, all pants-o-fire:

1. I ran him without a harness. I first tested this in Abbotsford in December. On day 1 of the tournament, I ran him with his harness. But after hearing about a former teammate's dog running 4 seconds that day, I asked what she'd done to improve her dog's times. Among other things, she'd starting running her w/o a harness. On day 2 of the tourney, I tried that, and Wyatt's times were as good that day as they'd been on day 1 (and usually he slows down on day 2, understandably.) I made a mental note to run him w/o a harness at our next tourney...which I did, with very happy results! Some dogs need to run in a harness--they're hard to control or hold onto, they pull on their collars and choke themselves, etc. But Wyatt is perfectly fine w/no harness, so from now on at tournaments, it's off!
2. I had cranked up his conditioning. Again, this was something I'd implemented so many months ago, that I'd actually forgotten about it. But I had noticed that in our evening game of frisbee, Wyatt was more often than not getting out ahead of my throw, with enough time to turn and face me to catch the disk. I changed the timing of my throws so that he has to really haul a$$ to catch it--which has apparently improved his acceleration and his endurance. Yippy!
3. We were running against faster dogs. Our team was running in Division 2, but we ended up racing Division 1 teams quite a bit. Mr. Competitive, Wyatt loves to race the dog in the other lane. And he ran as start dog for the entire tournament, so each time, he could clearly see his competitor in the other lane...and in that situation, Wy-Wy will do whatever he can to beat the other dog to the box.
4. I found a better toy. I've been working constantly, since we started competing in tournaments, to find a reward toy that Wyatt is crazy for. I keep tweaking it, knowing what he likes and doesn't like, and each time I get a little closer to Wyatt's perfect reward. It's an important thing in Flyball, since you have to find something they like better than the tennis ball, but not so much that they completely lose their minds over what you have, to the point where it ruins their performance. A fellow teammate found a way to secure a Cuz dog toy to a tug, by squeezing the Cuz into a Hol-ee Roller, then tying a fleece tug onto the Hol-ee Roller. He LOVES it!

All that, plus his box turn, made him a pretty formidable opponent. It was so much fun! But believe me, I know how temporary and precious this time is...he's in his prime now, and he loves this game. That won't last, so I am feeling beyond grateful to be able to play like this now.

Front Yard, April

Here's the front yard today, April 6, 2009. Doesn't look like much, but there's a lot of potential! On the far left is some bush that someone probably knows the name of...it's blooming. And on the far right, in shadow, is the lovely daphne...wonderfully fragrant. I love my daphne.

If you look closer, you can see my rose "garden". Okay, it's three rose bushes. The far left one was here when we moved in. It has deep red blooms. In the center is a Marilyn Monroe--peachy, pretty blooms. The far right is a First Prize, which has bright pink blooms. I pruned them all not long ago (when the forsythia out back started blooming b/c that's when my friend the internet said to prune your roses.) But all three have a healthy amount of new growth coming on.

Also making an appearance early in the season is my single peony. It's pink. I moved it from the backyard b/c it didn't do very well, being run over by dog paws all the time. It made a nice showing last year (its first year since being moved), so I'm hoping that this year it comes back even stronger.

California poppies (orange) are also coming up. Actually, they never went away. Even in the snow, they just kind of hunkered down, like the determined little green weeds that they are.

And speaking of determined weeds, my echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower) is already poking its head up. I planted these from seed last year, but got them out too late in the season for them to do much. More hope for a better show this year. The last time I had one of these was when we lived in Shoreline. I found a large specimen on sale, so I brought it home and put it out in the front yard. The following year we adopted Smokey (Keeshond)...imagine my horror when I looked out the front window to see him trotting around with my gorgeous echinacea hanging from his jaws like some downed gazelle. That horror was matched only by my delight the following spring, when I saw that every little piece of echinacea root that had been left in the ground began sprouting a new little echinacea plant. Instead of one large plant, Smokey's puppy destructiveness had left me with dozens. (Nevertheless, my current echinacea crop is safely tucked in the FRONT yard.)

And my shasta daisies, also started from seed last summer. They also have stayed low and green all winter long, but I think they're starting to feel it's safe to rise up a bit. Can't wait to meet them in full bloom!

And completely hidden from view are all of my dahlias. I love 'em to death, but we won't be seeing them anytime soon. Whimps.

This shot is from 13 months ago. I want to point out the "beforeness" of the grass, vs. the "afterness" in the shot at the top of this post. All that raking, moss killing, and de-thatching seems to have paid off.

Little K

K for Komfort, little for 17 feet. Meet my pride and joy, Little K:

I drove DH's truck, pulling Little K for the first time today. DH drove us over to the community college parking lot (just down the street), and then I took the wheel and practiced driving and backing up.

Given that the backing up a trailer thing is 100% counter-intuitive, I struggled quite a lot. But DH was very patient (and I was patient with myself), we didn't keep at it for too long, and we never felt the need for a divorce attorney. It was a good start. So I'll just practice a lot and hopefully I'll get the hang of it by the first part of June, when I plan to drive the rig (tee-hee...I have a "rig"!) up to Canada for a Flyball tournament.

Just picture it...me, Wyatt, and Raff, rolling down the road, on our way to barking mad fame and glory. We'll stay in comfort (er, I guess that should be Komfort) in the parking lot at the tournament arena, with all the other Flyball die hards.

Wyatt can sleep under the dinette, and Raff can sleep wherever he likes. Probably on my head.

I am very excited. I am not a huge fan of traveling...okay, I hate it to the point of give-me-drugs-now anxiety. I can only handle going to Flyball tourneys because I can bring a dog or two along. But for the most part, the thought of leaving my hearth and home is completely abhorrent to me. Now, however, I'll never be without my home again.

From now on, my travels will all be done BYOH...bring your own home.

Spring and updates

Looks like spring is definitely here...although in this part of the country, waiting for spring is not as "iffy" a prospect as it used to be in Northern WI.

Today is a wet, cold day, but the plants and trees still know that April's just around the corner. The forsythia is busting out in the backyard, and our daphne is stinking (in a good way) up the whole front yard.

The pear tree and the cherry tree have tons of blossoms just ready to bloom. In another couple of weeks, everything will be completely gorgeous. My drive to work, my walks with Boca, even crossing the yard to get into the car every morning will be amazing.

Nothing wrong with that.

Spring also means that I'm busy at work--hence the lack of recent blog posts. Apparently, whatever brain-energy I have for updating the blog is also used for my job. That's fairly unfortunate, but it won't last forever. And these days, having a job is something to be grateful for (although, given a choice, I still prefer being grateful for lilac bushes.)

DOGS: I've started teaching the new dog class for our Flyball club. It's a good group, and so far, I'm enjoying it. I also have to miss the first Flyball tournament in months because of my JOB. Not bitter...no, not me. Not bitter at all. Fine with it. No problem.

FOOD: Sad to say, I've been eating everything in sight. That ends up being the last bargain I can make with myself, to coax myself to do the work that I get paid to do. But that won't last forever...it's already getting old.

DIRT: I managed to prune the rose bushes out front, and I've made plans for a green chili patch in the backyard (the small area still fenced off from the dogs).

Cake in a Mug (Low Carb)

The other day I was winging about wanting cake and not having cake and obsessing on cake and where the hell is the cake (etc., ...you get the idea...), when my friend and co-worker suggested that I could make a low carb version of "Cake in a Mug" when I got home. To which I replied, "A who-in-a-what?" And so she sent me the link: Cake in a Mug.

So tonight, still jonesing for some CAKE, DANG IT, I tried it, modifying it for my low carb world. I also added a dash of salt (because I'm me) and threw in some yummy chocolate chips b/c just cocoa with Splenda can be a bit sad. And it worked! It was absolutely fabulous! Cake craving totally handled, thank you very much!

LOW CARB CAKE IN A MUG

1 well-beaten egg
3 T milk
3 T oil
4 T almond flour
4 T Splenda
2 T cocoa (sifted)
dash of salt
small handful of chocolate chips
1 large coffee mug, empty

Beat egg in mug (my pal, Tiny Whisk, to the rescue again). Add milk and oil, mix well. Then add dry ingredients, mix well. Toss in the chocolate chips, stir, and then microwave for 3 minutes on high. Cake will rise out of the mug while cooking, but that's okay, it won't spill over...it's baking. Turn out the baked mug cake onto a saucer, let cool a bit, and then EAT IT. Be very happy. Make mental note to thank Shanan again and again and again.

Freshly baked Cake in a Mug, just turned out onto a saucer.


If you break it apart, it cools faster, and so you can eat it sooner!

Really, you could do this recipe for almost any dietary restriction. DH is about to make one using regular sugar and rice flour (since he's not worrying about carbs, but needs it gluten free.) So handy, so quick, so satisfying.

The Wonderful World of Slipcovers

With the previously discussed dog paws and muddy backyard, and given the fact that the dogs have the run of the house and are allowed on the furniture, you can probably imagine that keeping the furniture in any sort of presentable state is quite challenging.

Years ago, we started using slipcovers...an obvious solution, since stuffing a whole couch into the washing machine is not very practicle.

But slipcovers have always had their drawbacks. Sure, they look nice and tidy, until you (doG forbid!) sit on them, and then your whole living room looks like an unmade bed. And all that endless tucking and tucking and tucking! How many fingernails have I bent backwards, all in the name of creating a rumple-free appearance for ten fleeting seconds?

Enter the modern age of slipcovers and the latest in slipcover technology: stretch fabric and the separate seat slipcover! As a long-time slipcover aficionado, of course I receive the Sure Fit, Inc. catalogue. Imagine my feelings of delight and awe when I first saw these amazing products.

A year ago, I bought two sets for the L-shaped couch in our living room. Long experience taught me how to select the color: shades of dog fur and dried mud. I ordered swatches that (from the on-line pic's) seemed promising, and when they arrived, I laid them out neatly on the dirtiest part of our old, floppy, wrinkled, once-cream-colored slipcovers. The Stretch Pique in taupe was the winner. It was light enough to hide the white dog fur, dark enough to hide the black dog fur, and muddy-colored enough to allow us weeks or even months between washings. Happiness! I paid full-price ($130 each...ouch), but they were worth it!

That left the loveseat by the sliding glass doors in our dining area/family room. Underneath, it's a hideous, stained yellow-ish thing...which is covered with a sloppy, baby-s**t brown-gold-ish slipcover. It's a favorite hangout for dogs (who tend to hit it as soon as they come in from outside--it is next to the sliding glass doors, afterall), and humans alike (I sit there every morning to drink my tea--I've switched from coffee to tea, but that's another story.) Its popularity means it's always both mussed up AND filthy. Awesome:
I didn't want to go with the taupe again...I mean, some variety is called for, isn't it? Also, I just couldn't stomach laying out another $110 (the price-break they give you on the smaller loveseat covers) on home decor, when I could use that same $110 for a hotel at a Flyball tourney, or 5 1/2 months Flyball dues, or a new dog crate, or some other worthwhile expense.

So it must have been fate that made Sure Fit, Inc. send me an email, just after I'd finished our income tax returns (refund, cha-ching!), which featured a 20% off coupon that was usable on clearance items...and there, when I clicked on the clearance tab, was the Stretch Elegance Separate Seat slipcover for a loveseat, in gorgeous mocha. One American Express card and 9 calendar days later, this beauty was mine, for half-price--including shipping!

It's darker than is truly practical for white dog fur, so we will have to be a little more studious about fur removal (I'm thinking one of these once a week might do the trick). But the price was right, and it really neatens up that area.

I get a feeling of...I can only describe it as relief, when I see a tidy space where there was once a distressing mess. My eyeballs just go, "aaaaahhhhh." I love that feeling.

Easy Crockpot Soup!

This is my method for making soup in the crockpot. Prep time is pretty minimal, the meat turns out fabulously tender, and the broth is tasty and wonderful. I think I came up with this method on my own, but I could have read about it somewhere, then forgot about it, then had the latent memory resurface, which allowed me to think I made it up. In that case, apologies to the actual creator.

First, get all of your materials in order:

YOUR HELPER

MEAT IN CROCKPOT

(note, you don't have to thaw OR brown the meat...just throw it in)

this is 1 pound of stew meat, crockpot has been sprayed w/non-stick stuff

SEASONINGS

for beef soup, I use:

Tamari (1/4 c?)

Olive Oil (1/4 c?)...also depends on how much fat the meat has on it

Kosher Salt (1 T?)

Fresh Ground Black Pepper (1 t?)

Measurements have ? marks b/c I kind of just eyeball it.

VEGETABLES:

3 carrots

3 stalks celery

1/2 an onion

1/2 can (16 oz) tomatoes

1 c? frozen green beans, cut to bite size

2 t. minced garlic

Of course, you can use any veggies you like. Add mushrooms. Add potatoes. Whatever.

NOW PUT IT ALL TOGETHER:

I add the seasonings, olive oil, and tamari to the veggies, and mix that up well, then dump the lot over the meat in the crockpot. Then put the lid on, set it at LOW, and walk away for 8 hours or so. When you come back, the whole mass will be cooked.

(Note: you have not added any other liquid!)

Once the whole mass is cooked, stir it up, break up the meat into smaller pieces if you like, and NOW, only NOW, do you add extra liquid.

I pour in hot water until the broth tastes like I want it to taste.

GO SLOWLY...DON'T WATER IT DOWN TOO MUCH.

Sometimes I have to add more salt, sometimes I add a bit more beef broth instead of just water.

Whatever makes it taste the way you want.

CHICKEN VARIATION

Skip the tamari,

add a teaspoon? of poultry seasoning instead

3 frozen, skinless, boneless chicken breasts

use a bit more olive oil (1/3 c?) since the chicken has so little fat

cook on high for 1/2 the time or less

Pssssssst! I have something to show you!

Look....

There, on the forsythia!

Do you see it?

A bloom! Spring is coming!

Anniversaries

It's been a year since I started eating low carb as a lifestyle (vs. my previous dieting fits and starts of all kinds.) I lost 15 pounds, only to gain back about 8 from October - December...by eating everything in sight. Since the holidays, I've lost 4 of that, so I'm happily back on track. I'm glad I didn't regain ALL the weight I'd lost, and I'm glad to be able to get back in the saddle. That adds more to the "lifestyle" feel of this, vs. being perpetually on a diet.

It's been about a year since I started this blog. It's been a lot of fun.

In March, DH and I will celebrate our 21st anniversary. Not bad for a couple that got married thinking, "What the heck--we can always get a divorce!"

And this very weekend marks the anniversary of our moving to Salem. We'd been in self-imposed exile in Santa Fe, NM for 4 years--and for 3 years and 364 days of that, we knew we'd made a mistake in moving away from the Pacific Northwest. In the land of sunshine, blue sky, and desert air, the longing for green and gray and moisture was like a constant ache. We tried to make the best of it, but as soon as a resume-appropriate period of time had passed, we got the heck out of there.

I moved to Salem first to start my job, while DH stayed to finish selling the house. I stayed at a co-worker's house for 6 weeks...I'm still amazed by her generosity, when I think about it. During that time, DH flew up for a one-day marathon house-hunting expedition. Fortunately, we found one we liked, put in an offer, and it was accepted.

In March of that year, I flew back to NM to help with the final bits of the move. DH and I drove separate cars, packed with 4 dogs and enough belongings to get us by until the moving van caught up with us. We left NM with a fierce snow storm snapping at our heels--they were closing I-25 behind us, but fortunately we squeaked through first. I had the feeling NM was reluctant to release us from its clutches...a feeling that was strongly reinforced by the fact that as soon as we crossed the AZ border, the storm ceased. Hmmmmmmmm.

But our first few years here were, let's face it, pretty horrific. Here's the Reader's Digest version:

In July 2005, Smokey, who was essentially our first dog and who got us hooked on Keeshonden for life, and who was riddled with serious illnesses (epilepsy, hypo-thyroidism, Cushing's, arthritis) died. Then Peeka, our other Keeshond, was diagnosed with lymphoma in September, and she died in December. They were both only 8 years old.

DH's father died in October of that year. And I lost my mother in November that year.

2006 stayed uneventful, and was even pleasant for quite a while. We had adopted Raff in August of 2005, and then in April 2006, we adopted Wyatt. I started playing Flyball. All good stuff...until that fall, when calamity struck at work. The financial aid budget was overpsent by $2 million. While I was able to demonstrate, with hard data, the causes for that (underbudgeting combined with a higher need population), the administration was still understandably upset and wanted a fall guy. I spent the entire fall semester justifying my existence and defending my position.

In January 2007, just when it seemed that I was going to be able to keep my job, I got a call from Human Resources, telling me that one of my employees (whose name was kept anonymous) had accused me of financial malfeasance and of creating a hostile work environment, and that there would be an audit and an investigation. Those words are not designed to enhance anyone's calm. I started buying wine by the case, and DH and I "went to ground." I spent every evening holed up in our cave (what others might call a living room), drinking wine and watching Firefly DVD's...this was every evening for months, mind you. You do what you have to.

Fortunately, the investigation showed that there was no hostile work environment (and I will now express my eternal gratitude to the wonderful women in our office who rose to defend me with stunning ferocity). The anonymous employee quit. And the financial audit showed no evidence of financial malfeasance, so that issue was resolved as well.

By July 2007, I had been cleared of all charges, and I also had a new boss who had faith in my abilities and had no desire to fire me. Things were looking up...finally.

The rest of 2007 and pretty much all of 2008 were good. More than good. They were great. Everything I'd dreamed of, while in the depths of my despair in NM, came to pass. I played. Played and had fun! I played with dogs until my knees ached. I played in our yard and took steps to make our little home a little prettier. I played in the kitchen and found a way to eat without constantly doing damage to myself. My biggest challenges this year have been facing Sheila's retirement, accepting Raff's temporary lameness, and dealing with gaining 8 pounds. Oh, boohoo!

It's a fundamental truth of the universe that bad times will always be followed by good times...only to be followed by bad times again...but then there will be more good times. And so on. I find it easier and easier as I grow older to cherish--relish!--the good, and then lean in with my shoulder to muddle through the bad, recognizing the alarming temporariness of it all.

Down Shifting Dog Sport

Well, Raff's limp went all the way back to really bad, just like he was in October. We suck. He can walk around, but no running, jumping, etc. Needless to say, Flyball and Agility are off the table.

But I hate the thought of doing absolutely nothing with my Raffles. I mean, I think he's just too dang cute to leave at home!

So, I'm thinking Rally. I've done Rally w/Sheila (she has her Rally Novice title.) And Raff can already do most of the Rally Novice exercises...we just need to work up to doing them outside of the backyard, and without treats on my person. It's not as exhilarating as Flyball or Agility, but it's still pretty fun. Raff's breeder is teaching a Rally 1 class on Monday nights, and she said we could join them for the last three sessions, so we'll give it a go.

Speaking of Dirt...

There's a reason why the local Flyball team is name "Muddy Paws A-Flyin'". We live in the Pacific Northwest, where the rain and the earth collide with startling, frequent...and seemingly endless...regularity. Add a few high-drive dogs that require daily, hardcore exercise, and you too can have a backyard that looks like this!

Everyday, we play fetch in the backyard. And so everyday, dog paws get muddy. Raff and Sheila attract a normal amount of muck, as you can see here (Boca doesn't play fetch, and so her paws, naturally, remain pristine.)

But I never knew muddy paws--and underbelly and everything in between--until I met Mr. Wyatt.

And this isn't even a bad day. This is a bright, sunny, pleasant January day.

Everyday, rain or shine, I hose down 12 dog paws, wipe them with old towels (which get laundered twice a week), and even with that effort, I have to sweep the kitchen/dining room floor every day, just to keep us from living in complete squalor. I'm sure most dog owners in this neck of the woods have their own ways of dealing with this...it's just a way of life.

Thinking about Peonies

With two dogs down (Raff started limping again, so I think I've pushed him a little too far, too fast from his hip flexor injury, and Wyatt has a scratched cornea...probably thanks to his sister Sheila's sharp, pointy teeth), and with no almond flour in the house, I'm left with just dirt to ponder.

Last year, I concentrated mostly on dahlias. I bought this collection, plus a few individuals, and they did really well despite the fact that I put them out at the last minute.

Now I'd like to focus on peonies. They bloom early (vs. the dahlias, which are late summer/fall), so they'd be a nice addition. I have one peony plant now, but I'd like more.

There's a peony farm here in Salem, Adelman Peony Gardens. I'll definitely be visiting them when they're gardens are open to the public in May, and these are a few of the ones I'd like to pick up.

Chief Wapello

White Sands

Nippon Beauty

Charles White

Madame Butterfly

Coconut Flour Crust - day 2

You know how meringue pie is kind of gross on the second day, with the crust having gotten all soggy from the weepy meringue and filling? Well, not with the coconut crust! It is as firm and fabulous on day 2 as it was on day 1. Guess those moisture absorbing properties are a blessing, ultimately!

Low Sugar Lime Meringue Pie with Coconut Flour Crust

This turned out pretty well. There's one teaspoon of real sugar in it (which doesn't add a lot of carbs but does help cut the "Splenda-y" taste) and, of course, fresh squeezed lime juice. With the sugar, corn starch, and rice flour, it certainly isn't no-carb...but if you can tolerate some carbs, you might be able to get away with this.

First, start singing: "You put de lime in de coconut...."

Coconut Flour Crust
1 c. coconut flour
½ c. butter, soft
1 egg
1/8 c. water (approx.; enough to make the dough hold together)
Cut butter into flour until you have lima bean-sized lumps. Mix in egg. Add water until it is pie crust consistency. (Note: coconut flour absorbs liquid like crazy, so just get it to the point where it will pretty much hold together—it’s okay if it’s still be a bit crumbly, since we’re not rolling it out. Better too little water than too much.) Press crust into greased pie or torte pan. (Greasing might be unnecessary, but I took that precaution b/c coconut flour tends to stick like a s.o.b.) Bake at 375 degrees for 8 – 10 minutes—and watch it b/c it can burn fast! Let cool before filling.

Lime Filling
1 1/2 c. Splenda
1 t. sugar
2 T flour (I used brown rice flour, given DH's celiac-ness)
1/4 c. cornstarch
1/4 t. salt
1 1/2 c. water
4 egg yolks
1/3 c. fresh squeezed lime juice
1 T. butter

Meringue topping
4 egg whites
1/4 t. cream of tartar
1/4 t. cornstarch
1/2 c. Splenda
1 t. vanilla extract

Mix Splenda, sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt in saucepan. Add water and mix well (whisk, if necessary, to eliminate lumps). Whisk egg yolks, stir into water/Splenda mixture. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is quite thick. Remove from heat, add lime juice and butter. Mix well (I ended up with some lumps, so I used my whisk to get rid of them...that's the beauty of rice flour!) Pour filling into pie crust. Allow to cool while preparing the meringue.In medium sized mixing bowl, beat egg whites until frothy. Add remaining ingredients and continue beating until slightly stiff peaks form. Swirl over pie filling, making sure to touch the edges of the crust all the way around.Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool before serving.

The Party's Over...

Holidays are done, which is actually fine by me. The tree, indoor and outdoor decorations--all gone. Good. They get a bit wearing after a while, and once New Year's has past, I'm impatient to get back to normal life.

But, sadly, a big part of normal life is going back to work. I've had two wonderful, restful weeks off. I was able to lose track of what day of the week it was, at any given moment. I didn't have anywhere to be and had nothing in particular to do. I woke up each morning without looking at the alarm clock and mumbling "f**k".

And I did accomplish a few things:
I cleaned out my closet.
I started knitting a throw for the bedroom (that's gonna take a while to finish, so nobody hold your breath.)
I read (The Secret Life of Bees, and #6 in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series).
I cooked.
I played with dogs a LOT, even took Raff back to Flyball (he did very well again last night, btw. Just baby steppin'.)
Sent off Raff's entry to an Agility trial, which will be Feb. 14 & 15. (This is in the spirit of "not quitting our day job"...he's showing promise in Flyball, but let's be realistic.)
Played a lot of computer games (my current personal favorite being Flight of the Hamsters...thank you, Shanan!...a close second is Gold Miner.)
Watched a lot of TV (marathons of That 70's Show, NCIS, True Blood, CSI, and movies.)
Other than battling a bit of cabin fever and my back acting up (probably from the TV marathons), I've truly enjoyed myself. I am going to make a fabulous retired person.

Tomorrow, and for the next 20 years or so, I'll be up at 5:25am. I'll let the dogs out, then make coffee, feed the dogs, sweep the laundry room/kitchen/dining room area, and make my lunch while the coffee brews. I'll take 10 - 15 min. to drink the coffee while staring off into space and petting any dog that happens to be within reach. Then I'll shower, dress in "dog clothes," and hit the backyard for three-way fetch with Wyatt, Raff, and Sheila for about 10 minutes. After that, it's time for Boca's 20 minute walk around the neighborhood. When we get home, I change into my "school clothes" and head off to work. Oh joy, oh rapture.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends....

(Whispering)...I took Raff to Flyball practice last night.

I made special treats for him (recipe below), and fed him almost no supper before practice (he got maybe 10 kibbles, just so there was something in his bowl while the others ate.)

And at practice, he actually did pretty well. My ability to keep his focus on me is no longer an issue. I can even have him loose, off leash (as long as I'm paying attention to him every second.) So that's huge progress in and of itself!

We had the fencing between the lanes, and during the first round, there was just another green dog in the other lane, and we alternated running them. So he was pretty much running by himself, and he was fine. His turn totally went to hell when he got tired, but he did many (apparently too many) successful full down & backs.

In the second round, a teammate volunteered to have her seasoned dog run in the other lane, opposite Raff. Now THAT was another story. I foolishly started him too far from the box, so the first thing he did was run up to the fencing and start barking at her dog in the other lane. I said his name in the death tone, scooped him up, and took him down to the middle of the lane to try again. More confusion and anarchy, but he did a little better.

Third time, I wised up and took him to right in front of the box (which is what I had TOLD myself I was going to do in the first place, even before we left the house, but I didn't do it when we got there because...I'm a complete idiot?? Yeah, theat must be it.) He was still very distracted by the other little dog, and his turn was utter crap, but he did make it to the box, he did get the ball, and he did bring it back to me. We ran several more times, each time successful (but crappy turn, even w/a box jump), each time backing up a bit further from the box. We got all the way back to the third jump from the box, and my teammate was starting her dog from there, too. So by the time we were done, he was starting with another dog right by his side in the other lane, and he did his job. Woo-hoo!

I've accepted that his turn may just be spotty at best. It could be when he gets used to the distraction of the other dogs (IF he gets used to the distraction of the other dogs), his turn will recover. And I can certainly work on his conditioning more, so getting tired shouldn't be such a factor. And during the week, I'm going to try to have him do a few turns here and there, with the clicker, so I keep reinforcing what is a correct turn. We'll see.

For the moment, I'm going to keep him in Flyball. May doG have mercy on our souls!

RECIPE:

Raffy's Chicken Parmesan Re-Treats

*1 chicken breast, boiled, then pureed in a food processor w/enough broth to make it the
consistency of canned dog food
*2 eggs
*1 t garlic powder
*2 T parmesan cheese
*1 1/2 c whole wheat flour (more, if needed, to make the dough stiff)

Mix together well. Press into greased 9" x 13" pan. Bake at 250 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes. Cut into desired size pieces and refrigerate or freeze.

Sugar Free Lemon Meringue Pie

I like a lemon meringue pie for Christmas dessert. It's a bright, cheery dessert...a nice reminder that we are past the shortest day of the year, and that the sun is with us (however imperceptibly) a little bit longer each day. Afterall, isn't that what these mid-winter holidays are for? To get us through the winter doldrums, to help us cast our thoughts forward to spring?

And those thoughts, along with the meringue, remind me of my mother. She always looked forward to the shortest day of the year because it gave her hope during those hideous Wisconsin winters. Meringues (not pie, just meringues, usually with strawberries and whipped cream for toppings) were one of her signature desserts at Christmas time.

I found this recipe on-line, but I'm not linking to it b/c it's the single worst written recipe I've ever come across. The ingredients are listed in an indecipherable jumble...not in the order of preparation, and the directions are worse--no differentiation of when to use the duplicated ingredients. And then there are the two ingredients mentioned in the directions, but not shown on the ingredient list at all. Gotta love it.

At any rate, here's the recipe, translation by Patty:

Filling
1 1/2 c. Splenda
2 T flour
1/4 c. cornstarch
1/4 t. salt
1 1/2 c. water
4 egg yolks
1/3 c. fresh squeezed lemon juice (not fresh is okay, but as always, fresh will be MUCH better)
1 T. butter

Pre-baked 9" pie crust, cooled.

Meringue topping
4 egg whites
1/4 t. cream of tartar
1/4 t. cornstarch
1/2 c. Splenda
1 t. vanilla extract

Mix Splenda, flour, cornstarch, and salt in saucepan. Add water and mix well (whisk, if necessary, to eliminate lumps). Whisk egg yolks, stir into water/Splenda mixture. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is quite thick. Remove from heat, add lemon juice and butter. Mix well (I ended up with some lumps, so I used my whisk to get rid of them.) Pour filling into pie crust. Allow to cool while preparing the meringue.

In medium sized mixing bowl, beat egg whites until frothy. Add remaining ingredients and continue beating until slightly stiff peaks form. Swirl over pie filling, making sure to touch the edges of the crust all the way around.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool before serving.

Merry Christmas, everyone. Now let's start planning our gardens!

Schutzhund...er, Pschutzhund Sleeves

Sheila, my lovely Sheila, was apparently separated from her littermates far too soon, and after that, she was never around other dogs...at least, for the formative months. That is to say, she never learned bite inhibition. Yes, bite inhibition can theoretically be taught to a dog who didn't previously learn it from its littermates, but I never did it. So shoot me.

And Sheila loves to play wrestle, but no sane dog will play with her because she's way too rough. So I play with her. And I've got the marks to prove it. My arms are always littered with a number of bruises, in various states of healing.

Now that I'm on break, I've decided to do something about this. Oh no--not TRAIN her. Goodness. How silly. No, I'm going to make a pair of Schutzhund Sleeves. Or, since she's not a working breed dog, and these are only going to be Pseudo-schutzhund Sleeves, I'm calling them Pschutzhund Sleeves. Tee hee.

It being the end of the month, I'm going cheap on the materials (I may regret this, of course. A real Schutzhund sleeve, the cheapest, costs about $70).

*Old pair of blue jeans (note the holes)

*Fleece

*2 oven mitts (from the Dollar Tree)

I cut a length of fleece, 26" x 10".

Fold that over, and sew a seam on the long side.

Turn that right-side out, in half upon itself. Oh, just look at the picture.

Fold back the outer layer, tuck the inner layer inside the oven mitt, by about an inch.

Smooth the outer layer back over the outside of the oven mitt. Hand stitch fleece sleeve to oven mitt, taking care that you're stitching through all of the layers. This is your inner padding for the ultimate finished product.

The outside covering of the sleeve will be the denim. Using the sleeve/mitt as a pattern, trace sewing and cutting lines on one leg of the blue jeans. Take care to account for the seam allowance around the thumb...I "moved" the whole thing over about 1/4 inch for this (as you can see by the multiple tracing lines I left in the attempt. I'm also using the existing outer seam of the jeans for one side. Cuz I'm lazy.

Sew the outer cover, then hem it.

Stuff the inside in the outside. Is it good? Darn tootin'! Doin' the Big Fig Newton! But I digress. You're done! Now make another one and try them out!

DISCLAIMERS! DISCLAIMERS! DISCLAIMERS!

If you're stupid enough to think that you won't get hurt using $2 Pschutzhund Sleeves when playing with a dog that has no bite inhibition, then you're an idiot. You WILL get hurt. Don't blame me if you do. See, here's the video to prove it.

So, how do I rate this project? A qualified success. The bite pressure was definitely lessened (i.e., I didn't feel like my bones were being crushed); however, she was still able to grab and pinch some skin, so it wasn't a pain-free experience. Also, the blue jean material is no match for her teeth...the sleeve suffered damage in our first and brief encounter. Nevertheless, we were still able to play longer and more roughly than we ever could with just my bare arms.

What's that you say? It's stupid to encourage a dog to bite hard? Well, duh. So don't do it.