Friday, December 17, 2010

I Love Those J-I-N-G-L-E Bells



Deep Acres Farm Wishes You the Happiest of Holidays!

Roxie, CH. Deep Acres Apple of My Eye, is planning to have pups this summer. Either Roxie (Little Apple) or I will start up the puppy blog again at that time to give the pups' new families a peek at their formative days here at Deep Acres Farm.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Grooming Your Tibetan Terrier: An Update

Above: Angus at play

Now, you may remember, we made a an instructional video showing Angus being groomed and posted it on youtube. Now the video has had more than 2000 views. Not exactly Paris Hilton, but not bad.

The video has also elicited some interesting comments. And, again, NO Angus is not sedated. He is just a very good boy, and, I guess, the planets were all lined up just right that day. Start grooming your TTs very early, when they are pups, before they even need to be groomed, and you will have good luck with grooming. That's my experience anyway. Of course, every dog is different.


Viewer's Comments:

Thats all very well on how to groom, but, how do you stop the fighting when they dont want to be brushed?. We have to put ours on the ironing board to keep her still, and it takes two of us because she struggles all the time. !

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Absolutely Fabulous

I was zooming around the internet when I came across this adorable 3.5 inch fiber art sculpture of a Tibetan Terrier. It is the creation of a Canadian artist by the name of Mandy who sells her work through Etsy, which I believe in an online store for crafty people.

Now Mandy tells me, "Needle felt, for me, is a total expression of the body. You have to really have a feeling of appreciation and creativity to make a sculpture that represents a treasured piece of someone`s life." And I'm picking up what she's putting down. If you know what I mean.

Needle felting is the technique of taking unspun wool and poking it hundreds of times until it matts and starts to make shapes. From there, you make the beautiful sculptures you see here. It is a very involved process. According to Mandy, "Extreme care is taken to make sure you are completely satisfied with your sculpture."

The little Tibetan Terrier pictured here is made from sheep wool, bamboo silk, mulberry silk and tussah silk (whatever the heck that is). He also has a hand-sculpted polymer clay nose and realistic brown glass eyes.

If you provide Mandy with photographs and/or a description, you can forever be immortalized in silk and wool. At least until the moths have their way. In the end they get us all. She has created sculptures of a wide variety of breeds. I think they're all pretty darn cute.

Anyway, I know what I am asking for in my stocking. A 3.5 inch mini me rendered in silk and wool. Now, mind you, these little sculptures are not cheap. Nothing good ever is.

For more info contact Mandy at fibreheart@yahoo.ca

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Sweet Something

So, I really wanted the Moravian's super secret recipe for sugar cake so I hustled back to Old Salem today. First, I looked up and down Main Street to make sure no one was looking and then I spied in the window at Winkler's Bakery and I think I got it. I really think I got it.

Moravian Sugar Cake
Ingredients:
2 (1/4 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup water (110 F)
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons non-fat powdered milk
1/4 cup instant mashed potatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup melted cooled butter
2 eggs
3 cups flour
butter

For Topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup melted cooled butter

Prep Time: 3 hrs Total Time: 3 1/4 hrs

1. Sprinkle yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar into the 1/2 cup of warm water.
2. Set aside until yeast bubbles, and mixture is foamy.
3. Add the next 7 ingredients, and about 1 cup of flour.
4. Beat with a wooden spoon.
5. Add remaining flour or a little more if needed, until bread dough consistency.
6. Place in a greased bowl and turn it to coat.
7. Dot dough with butter, and let it rise until double in size, about 1 hour.
8. Then, punch dough down, and place in a greased shallow baking pan (about 17 x 12 inches) Let rise 30 minutes, then sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.

Note: I heard a newcomer in the kitchen say, "The 3 cups flour became about 7 to make it a workable dough. Must be an error in the recipe" But one of the old gals, an experienced sugar cake baker, explained there is no mistake in the recipe; this is a cake with a soft dough, not a bread. The term "workable" does not apply here; the soft dough will rise right in the pan. This is not a bread where you are continually kneading it into something that must be shaped. Simply pat it into the pan and let it rise in the pan it should have been fine.

9. Now the fun begins.
10. As if you're playing the piano, punch your fingers into the dough making indentations.
11. Pour on remaining 1/2 cup of butter, and let dough rise another 30 minutes.
12. Bake in a preheated 375ºF for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown.
13. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Then it was back to our dear friend Katherine Smith Reynold's house where Rufus and I played on the lawn for awhile before going inside for nice warm baths.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Beyond My Wildest Dreams!

Well not really. My wildest dreams generally involve a German Shepherd, a Schipperke, a bull whip and a blind fold. But, we traveled to the Christmas Classic dog show not expecting a thing. On the first day, Rufus (Deep Acres Fields of Gold) took Best of Opposite, a four point MAJOR and became a CHAMPION. You probably don't remember, or really care, but Rufus was selected as Best Puppy in Show at the Tibetan Terrier National Specialty show this year. On Saturday and Sunday at the Christmas Classic, we moved him up to his new champion status and he took Best of Breed on BOTH DAYS!! That was quite a SURPRISE considering all the great Champions, and a very nice Grand Champion, who were in the ring. Even a very beautiful girl, Abby, the number 12 TT in the country was there.

Well, you are really not going to believe this, but we took Group 1 on Saturday which, for all of those of you who don't give a hoot about dog shows, means Rufus was judged to be the very best non-sporting dog in the ring that day. He beat a total of 178 dogs. Rufus then went on to the Best in Show competition with the other six top dogs from the entire show. And, the sugar on our strawberries, on Saturday and Sunday Rufus earned two of three majors needed for his grand championship right on the heels of earning his champion title. Not bad for my little boy who has been in the ring for less than six months and who just became a Champion on Friday.

After the show on Friday, we went to an Airstream trailer in the middle of a Christmas tree lot to celebrate. The place was called Krankie's and they served delicious sandwiches filled with brie and apples or asparagus with smoked gouda and aioli. The young proprietor, Jesse, served up special tiny biscuits for Rufus and me. We all reveled in the delightfully funky holiday scene and Rufus' new championship status. Then it was off to the K-9 Doggie Bakery and Boutique where we indulged in fresh baked goods and found a special Tibetan Terrier holiday ornament that we just had to have for our tree.

On Saturday, while Rufus was resting up for the group competition, dad and I snuck off to Winkler's Bakery in Old Salem, a historic Moravian community, for sugar cake. Sugar cake is a traditional Moravian treat that starts as yeast-raised dough, then is rolled out and topped with a combination of cinnamon, pure butter and brown sugar, then baked until golden brown. Dad gave me just a pinch and it was DELICIOUS. We met a horse named Billie and some very fine folks in a horse and buggy before we headed back to watch, much to our surprise, Rufus triumph in the group ring. It was a very yummy day.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Is This the Little Boy I Carried?

Sherpa sent me the official pic from the day, a few weeks ago, when he became a CHAMPION.

Could this handsome man be my sweet little boy?

Is this the little boy I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember getting older
When did they?
When did he get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall? (but well within the breed standard, of course!)
Wasn't it yesterday
When they were small?

All this and then I came across this video called "The Gift of The Ordinary Day." Us mothers, we can be quite the martyrs can't we? I mean there's like one pic of the dad in this entire reel and it seems to be all about the mom and her perception of everything. As it should be. I have to admit it did make me a bit weepy. I'm a sap for shit like this. But it also makes me think, maybe, I should ship the pups off to California to spend a few years with their dad so I can develop some outside interests. Like, perhaps, gluing small plastic figurines and glitter to smooth flat stones I collect. Just like Grandma Frannie did.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

One Less Bell to Answer

A Mother's Lament
It's the holiday season and I have to admit I'm feeling a bit melancholy. You see, this time last year our house was filled with my pups. I have to tell you I'm missing them quite a bit right now. So, to express my feelings, I put together a schmaltzy video montage. I do have to say they are beautiful pups and so good too. I wish them and their new families the happiest of holidays.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

A Very Happy New Year


I received my 2011 calendar from the UK Tibetan Terrier Association. And, I have to say, I am now really looking forward to 2011. I mean the calendar is just that GREAT. Each month there is a new adorable/gorgeous/enchanting TT to pass your days with. I must say that Miss September is Angus' favorite. But, pray tell, who is that hunk/hunkess gracing the month of October?
If you're interested in ordering a calendar, just click the following link (they accept paypal) so you can order via email if you like. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO I ordered two and they arrived in the US in no time.




Monday, December 6, 2010

Female Tibetan Terrier Lost in Edgard, Louisiana

I just found out Phoebe, a Tibetan Terrier, is lost in Edgard, Louisiana. Linda, her owner, just posted this message, but it appears she has been missing since October. The following information is provided by Linda. Please share/post/email this to help get the word out and find this adorable TT.

Message from: Linda McCormick Caire LMCaire@themccormickcompany.com

We lost her while she was staying with my in-laws (who are 81 and 85) on River Road in Edgard, LA on 10/4. She is a 7 yr old Tibetan Terrier 20 lb a beauty. She probably was looking for me but I was in New Orleans moving into to our house.

The area is very rural in Edgard with 8,000 acres of sugar cane behind their house. I have put out 300 flyers, listed her on Petfinder, Craigslist and visited all the shelters. I have spoken to the police who have not seen her or picked up any dead dogs like her.

I have driven River Road and all the surroundings fields and walked all the ditches. With all this said, I feel as though someone picked her up. She is very pretty and sweet. I am a huge animal lover and this is probably one of the toughest things I have been through and I really want her back… dead or alive.

Contact:

Linda McCormick Caire
443 994 1686
LMCaire@themccormickcompany.com


Sunday, December 5, 2010

Keira Knightley's Bra and Panties

Above: Keira Knightley without her bra and panties

You know when I stay in LA, I have to stay at a cottage at the Chateau Marmont. Sure sometimes we stay at the Bel Air or the Beverly Hills Hotel when we want to hang old school or even the new Montage right smack in the middle of Beverly Hills. But the Chateau is the place for me. The last time we checked in, our cottage wasn't quite ready yet so we were given another cottage that dad didn't like for some reason so they moved us to a cottage with a lovely, tiny balcony overlooking the outdoor ping pong table. On a table in the living room of this cottage with the tiny, lovely balcony, dad noticed a fruit plate and a bottle of wine and a ziplock plastic bag filled with a bra and panties and such. This was all topped by an envelope addressed to Ms. Knightley. Well, dad was tired from the long trip and, obviously, wasn't thinking when he handed the bag and envelope to the bellman who was helping us get our dog beds and bowls in order. As he handed them off, dad said, "I think this room was setup for someone else." Dad? What were you thinking? Do you know how much we could have gotten on ebay for Keira Knightey's under things? At the very least I could have sniffed them and dragged them into my lair. Or you could have put them on me and taken pics and THEN put them back in that little ziplock bag and delivered them to the front desk. I think I might like wearing Keira Knightley's panties. Who wouldn't? Or, if you were thinking, you could have called the front desk in a RAGE due to finding a woman's bra and panties in our cottage. OUTRAGE!!!! Surely that would have been good for a stay on the house or at least a complimentary drink in the lobby.