Doggie Treat Bake Day!

For the last several years around this time I make and bake dozens of dog treats. This year I was in the company of some great friends. Lots more fun in the company of other dog lovers. We got creative and silly, all while listening to some Christmas music, which made it more festive.

My dogs were hanging around smelling and waiting patiently, flour must have been flying everywhere since my little one ended up having flour all over her snout. It was a good time.
I imagine the cookies turned out good since the dogs all approved  :)

Biscuits à Jam

That's what we call them back home, or Thumb Print Cookies as they call it here.

I remember my grandma making these when I was young. I've always wanted to make these but just now decided to finally try it. What a treat! these are so good! Perfect for this time of year too.
I chose Strawberry preserves to fill. YUMMY!

Baby Bird

There's something rewarding about saving a baby bird.
This little guy flew in my window, but luckily no major damage was done but he was a little shaken. I took him inside and placed him in my fleece vest pocket for a little while to keep him warm. Then I brought him outside and opened up my hand and he sat there for a few seconds then bounced up and flew away.  :)  He did turn to me at first as if thanking me...  :) At least that's what I'd like to think.

This little guy is Arizona's State bird, the Cactus Wren  :)

Frosty is Coming to Town

Tonight will be the coldest yet, frost warnings throughout the valley, and plenty of snow up north just a few towns away.

Later today I will cover up my fragile veggies with blankets and sheets.I am concerned mostly about my chickens but I am told if they have shelter, they should be fine. I have noticed that they do huddle together and when they sit they cover their feet and hide their heads underneath their wings.

A Great Find!

Found me a nice long vintage couch at a yard sale. Very comfortable and sits nicely on my back patio. I love the fact that I can split it too.

Eventfull Long Weekend

I love the fact that I got everything done that I set out to do and more over the long weekend. I now have a fresh coat of paint in my kitchen, and managed to paint the concrete floors in the bedrooms too (while I wait to replace it with wood flooring) Looks much more attractive. That's on top of my regular household chores.

But I wasn't expecting to deal with my dog's bad luck. My old Fat Guy who is about 15 had what I think could be a mild stroke last week, partially paralizing his hind legs. I didn't want to rush to the vet instead, keep him comfortable in his own home with pain medicine and I carefully observed him.
Thankfully he got better within 2 days. I have no clue what happened or why, but at his age with arthritis and his obesity I can expect some issues.
And just as he seems like he had found his youth again he decided to catch a bee....and eat it! :(  his jaw swelled up quickly and within a half hour he had a severe allergic reaction to the bee sting which caused him to tremble and yelp. His eyes were changing, I thought he was going into seizures and die in my arms.
He kept digging his head into my side, as if demanding comfort. Poor old guy, I felt helpless until I remembered to give him allergy medicine and sure enough, within an hour he was fast asleep. He looked much more comfortable.
He woke up refreshed with a wagging tail. He also got his huge appetite back.
I guess I can be thankfull that this happened while I had the opportunity to spend time with him.
My hens were cackling up a storm too, the loudest they've ever been! I'm beginning to think that one of them thinks she's a rooster. But ohhhh what good eggs they deliver.
Yep, Eventfull 4 day weekend.

Brrrrrrrrrrrr

The cold has settled in. It was a long warm season this year, now getting into the beat of this crispness will take some time but I've been ready.
I brought out my winter blankets and warm clothes a few weeks back. I do love putting on my warm fleece jacket when I get out early in the morning to visit my garden and chickens  :)
The dogs enjoy this weather too, they run around the yard and play lots more. The hens also seem perkier. But that may be because they have started laying  :D
We got some rain yesterday and filled up my rain barrels once more :)
I am looking forward to a 4 day weekend for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Fresh Eggs

My First Egg!

Finally after much anticipation! I was thinking my hens were defective or something.
Late morning yesterday I was in for a big surprise. I feel so lucky I was there to witness it.
My poor hen sounded like she was screaming as if being tortured, I ran to the pen and saw her flying out of the coop poor thing, she must have been wondering what was happening to her!

I hurried to the coop and saw the prettiest little beige egg sitting there all alone!  :)  I was so excited I was yelling "I got an Egg!" several times...
I know the neighbors heard me.

I picked it up and snapped a quick picture before bringing it indoors.
This little egg was healthy with a strong shell. And it was yummy too!
Here's to the start of my egg collecting!
*UPDATE
This hen just laid another one this afternoon :)  I knew she was prepping because she was nesting in the coop looking quite uncomfortable just a little earlier.

About the Chickens

Well another lesson learned. Looks like the hens weren't getting enough sunlight, which is the reason they haven't started laying yet. The days are shorter, therefore I will need to place artificial lighting at least 2 hours before they go to bed.

I found out they need 16 hours of daylight, so I removed the bamboo shading and all this light is coming in the pen, they seem so much happier now since they can see the whole back yard  :)
Now lets see some eggs!

I Miss You Mom

Mom I love you and thank you for all you did for me
and I hope someday I make you proud for whatever comes to be
Wish you were here, I miss you so much
no one even knows what I would give for just one touch
Mom, I miss you so very much, especially today

Being Thankfull

We didn't do Thanksgiving growing up. We've always been thankful for being able to make time to be together, any time of year.

I give thanks daily for what I have. I am greatful for my wonderful family and all the little blessings that surround me.

Where's the Ghoulish Spirit?

Seems like Halloween has faded with the years.
When I was little, I remember Halloween being such a huge deal.

It was such an exciting time back then, with decorations everywhere, carved pumpkins by each doorstep, tons of kids were all over the streets with one of a kind costumes and the candy was the real deal.

Where's the creativity these days? The costumes today are just plain horrible! not to mention expensive.
Little girls look like (?!!!^%$#) and boys, whatever new action figure that just hit the theaters.
Where are the Witches,Pirates,Princesses,Draculas,and Ghosts?

I noticed older kids come to my door, some taller than me! and they come back for more! you don't see carved pumpkins much anymore, and if you forgot to bring your pumpkin indoors you will find it smashed to pieces all over the street the next morning :(

Kids are not allowed to wear costumes in school,and trick-or-treaters go to organized events more than door to door.
What happened? Have people become too paranoid?
Aren't parents ruining the fun for their kids?
Ok, we'd hear stories of tampered candy but it never stopped us from trick or treating! Our parents verified all our bags, today parents steal all the good candy!

Maybe I've lost my Ghoulish Spirit this year,maybe the overpowering Christmas Decorations in all stores has turned me off completely...

This year, I decided to leave everything in my Halloween Bin.
There won't be any treats at my doorstep. And No tricks either.
Maybe next year It will be different.

But I will NOT pass up the opportunity to bake some really good pumpkin cookies and roast some yummy seeds :)

* UPDATE.
I gave in. I did Halloween only because it was for the kids and I started feeling guilty.

Harvest Festivals

I have one memory that comes to mind around this time. On a crisp autumn morning going to the country to visit my mom and dad. It would take nearly 2 hours from the city; you had to drive through some small towns. I can almost smell the air, with the landscape already displaying fall colors. What a treat to see the rows of pumpkins from the road. I recall one place we'd stop at, An outdoor market full of fresh produce.
On special occasions we'd get mom flowers, and during the holidays a fresh cut Christmas tree.
There was also a fair we could go to, go visit the horses and other farm animals, sit on a pic-nic table and have a snack to eat.
I miss those days, and I miss the simplicity of it all.
You could meet the farmers and have a sample of their baked goods.
By the apple orchards you could help yourself to a bag of freshly picked apples and leave your money in a box.

The Harvest Festivals here just aren't the same, thousands of miles away.

Dried Sweet Basil

I love the smell of Basil :) Basil has done very well in my garden. I was a little sad to snip the stems but it was time. Parts of it had started to flower.
I cleaned them and laid them out to dry under a cloth. Its been several days now, and this morning it is ready to crumble.
Dried Basil, great for sauces, mixed with olive oil and Pesto! Yummy!

Heat Be Gone

Well this is the perfect weather! The heat has gone now and the veggie garden has come to life! My Lettuce and Endive look perky and happy. The extended heat wave and damaging winds with hail wilted everything a while back, and I was worried about losing them. But this morning It felt good to see everything bouncing back. Gets my day started in the right mood :)

Loving October

It's October now, some heavy rains and hail have come through the Valley in the last 2 days and did lots of damage. The bamboo covering in my garden has caved in due to the heavy hail, the baby veggies, flattened. The yard, flooded. There are pine cones and branches everywhere. What a mess! The chickens ran for cover poor things, they're lucky to have a nice place to keep dry.


Just as I was feeling a relief from the heat this had to happen :( My concern was my veggies mostly, but it's not as bad as it first looked. Hopefully they will recover, while the rest of the place dries up. I'm very happy about the rain though, my rain barrels over flooded :)

The dogs were definitely excited about running in the mud and bringing it all over the house....

Well at least there was no Major damage and all ended with a beautiful double rainbow :)

Seasonal Changes

It's looking like we are done with the triple digits, some relief at last! this will surely help in the garden. I have beans, tomatoes, corn, carrots, broccoli and brussel sprouts that will soon be ready for transplant. This weekend I prepped the garden beds and formed mounds. I am beginning to think that my veggies are doing better in containers, I am almost afraid to move them in their new home :( The last transplant didn't work. Crossing my fingers and toes here...