A few days ago a delightful young couple from Texas stayed with us. They had come up to Kansas to purchase a Wirehaired Griffon puppy and while they were here got engaged! They just sent me these pictures of them and their new “baby” … an 8 week old boy. So cute. Congratulations and good luck to Cory, Abigail and Judge! What happiness!
Category Archives: Gone to the Dogs
Weekly Photo Challenge: Movement
I love getting action shots of our dogs playing. Here, Abbey and Penny enjoy a game of tug.
Remembering Ginger 1995-2012
This is a portrait that I did of our Boston Terrier Ginger as a present for my husband a few years ago. Ginger was a Papa’s girl and, even though we have loved all of our dogs, Ginger was Bill’s favorite. She had a wonderful and long life. Even for a small dog, 17 is quite old. Ginger loved to play more than any other dog I have known. When I took her to puppy classes, I had to reward her with a tennis ball rather than with dog treats. Her favorite game was frisbee. When Ginger was a younger dog, Bill took her to the park to play frisbee once or twice everyday. They even played in the snow. Bill used to take her on vacations to see how many states the two of them could play frisbee in. He says he didn’t take me because I don’t play frisbee. When Lucy game along, Ginger taught her to play frisbee too. Ginger liked her throws fast and long – she was all about speed – while Lucy liked lofty lobs that she could jump to catch. People driving by used to get out of their cars to watch Bill and the two little dogs play.
Ginger enjoyed the company of her five Boston Terrier “sisters” over the years. Millie was an old dog by the time Ginger came along, but the two of them played chase, tug, and jump over Mommy. We got Lucy to be a buddy for Ginger when Millie no longer had the energy to keep up with Ging. We always say that Lucy and Ginger played like little maniacs when they were young – and we mean that in a good way. They were best buds even after Ginger started going blind. Lucy used to help her older companion find her frisbee until Ginger just couldn’t play the game anymore. We got Abbey to play with Lucy when Ginger lost her eyesight, but the three of them were all friends. When Lucy passed, we got Penny. Then a few months ago, we took in a rescue dog named Peachy. Ginger enjoyed having her new and younger siblings snuggle with her. Being blind, it was important for her to have lots of physical contact.
Over the years, Ginger entertained many guests at the The Morning Star. She had a way of turning absolutely everything into a game. Guests who have stayed with us repeatedly over the years will surely be saddened that Ginger is gone.
Bill and I shall miss our little Ginger, but are thankful to have had her for so long.
I’ve Been Inspired by … Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is rather exotic for this part of the country. So before now, I have not tried growing it in Kansas. Through her gorgeous photographs of these plants, Sofi from Arabica really got me thinking about how much I miss tropical bougainvilleas. When I lived in California, I loved seeing these colorful plants climbing in all kinds of places. So last week I purchased a petite specimen called Bengal Orange at one of our local garden centers. Bengal Orange supposedly only gets to be 18 inches tall but can grow up to 8 feet wide. I planted it in a terra cotta pot and am going to try to train it to grow along our “back porch” – a tiny space off my office where I do container gardening. The bougainvillea is a bright and cheerful addition. Thank you Sofi for the inspiration! I’ve since come across several other posts about bougainvilleas that I have “liked”: Smell the Flowers, Ramblings by Robin Scanlon, Gardening in the Lines, and The Make Shoppe. Here are a few photos of Bengal Orange. Oh, and since pretty Penny was keeping me company while I planted it, I had to include a picture of her too.
Happy Birthday, Penny!
Today is our Boston Terrier Penny’s 2nd birthday. We’ll celebrate the happy occasion by making snacks and going for a long walk. Penny loves people and one of her pastimes is watching out the window to see if guests are arriving … that and spying for squirrels, bunnies, and other scoundrels. Here is one of my favorite pictures of Penny playing look out.
After Snacks …
After snacks, it is time to play! Our Boston Terrier Abbey invites her sisters for a game of ball.
Bacon-Spinach Snacks … For Dogs
Our “girls” love getting treats, especially homemade ones. It’s a good life here!
Bacon-Spinach Doggie Treats
Makes about 50
1 c. oat flour
1 c. brown rice flour or corn flour
1 1/2 c. clean spinach leaves
2 strips cooked bacon, chopped
1 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1 lg. egg
1/2 c. cold water
(1) Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
(2) Combine the ingredients in a food processor until a dough forms. Scoop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto baking sheet.
(3) Bake for about 25 minutes or until cookies are cooked through and lightly browned on the bottom. Allow to cool before serving to your canine pals.
Abbey & Penny sitting prettily for treats. (Come on, Nicole!)
Carob Brownies for Dogs
Abbey, Penny & Peachy approved!
1 c. brown rice flour
3/4 c. quick cooking rolled oats
3 T. toasted carob powder, sifted
1/2 c. creamy low sugar peanut butter (without artificial sweeteners)
2 lg. eggs
1 T. unsulphured blackstrap molasses, optional
about 1/2 c. cold water
(1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8″ square baking pan with vegetable oil.
(2) Combine all of the ingredients, except the cold water, in a large bowl. Beat in enough water to form a soft but not wet batter.
(3) Press batter onto bottom of baking pan. Bake for around 15 minutes or until firm to the touch. Cool on a wire rack and then cut into squares. Place left-overs in zip top bag and freeze.
A Taste of Morning 