Deep Acres Farm

A Day That Seemed as if It Would Never Come: Uncle Chichi’s Last

2012-01-22T20:46:00.000-08:00

Uncle Chichi, a toy poodle whose unusual longevity led to fame and an appearance on “Good Morning America,” died on Tuesday after a yearlong battle with cancer. He was 26. Or 24. Or maybe 25.

The imprecision over his age led to debate over whether Chichi, or the Cheech, as he was sometimes known, had been the world’s oldest living dog.

He was remarkably old; that much was agreed upon by veterinarians, his owners and the animal shelter in Charleston, S.C., that offered him for adoption more than two decades ago.

But when his owners considered seeking a place for him in Guinness World Records in 2010, after he had had a brush with death, the proof required — like puppy photos and veterinarian records — turned out to have been lost to the ages.

Chichi began showing signs of advancing age more than a decade ago and suffered from cataracts, glaucoma and a corneal ulcer. After treatments at the Animal Medical Center on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, he always bounced back to promenade down Morton Street in the West Village, where he lived. He continued to fetch — even though he could not see or hear — and even attended his owners’ wedding in Croatia in October 2010.

When the cancer became too advanced, Chichi’s owners, Frank Pavich and Janet Puhalovic, said they had no choice but to euthanize him. They notified friends of the news in an e-mail on Sunday.

“We just feel completely empty; the whole apartment’s empty,” Mr. Pavich, 38, said in an interview. “That little 10-pound guy fills up not just your apartment, but your life.”

He was adopted from the John Ancrum Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Charleston 24 years ago, Mr. Pavich said. Shelter officials indicated at the time that the dog was between 1 and 2 years old.

With Chichi ailing in the later months of his life, Mr. Pavich, a television producer, took him to Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, Germany and France. They snapped souvenir photos in Gruyères, Switzerland, the birthplace of the pungent cheese, Chichi’s favorite indulgence.

“There was so much bonus time,” Mr. Pavich said. “It’s weird because the more time we spent with him, the more and more we loved him. We didn’t know that was possible.”

While the dog seemed unfazed by fame, others benefited from his star power: after Mr. Pavich revealed on “Good Morning America” that Chichi was particular to a dog food called Spot’s Stew, the manufacturer donated 10,000 meals to the Charleston animal shelter through the charitable site Freekibble.com. Chichi presided over the ceremony.

In December, Guinness’s official oldest living dog, Pusuke, a 26-year-old Japanese mutt, died. Representatives from Guinness did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the identity of Pusuke’s successor.

Mr. Pavich was not concerned. “He wasn’t your average dog,” he said of Chichi. “He kind of transcended that.”

Digger the Tibetan Terrier has been found

2012-01-17T05:45:00.001-08:00

According to the Cambridge New in the UK, a puppy which ran away after its owner’s car was involved in a crash on the A10 has been found safe and well.

Digger the Tibetan terrier became an overnight internet sensation and families across Cambridgeshire have been giving up their time to try and find him.

The crafty pooch was found on land at the AmeyCespa recycling plant in Waterbeach at around 7pm last night (Monday).

Mark Hardy and Karyn McNeil, from Witchford, were on their way to meet friends at Milton Country Park on Saturday morning with their 2-year-old son Alby and Digger, when they were in a crash on the A10 with a tipper lorry and a driving school Vauxhall Corsa.

Despite their Volkswagen Golf being written off, they escaped with cuts and bruises.

But as Karyn was getting out, Digger bolted.

Mark said Digger was found by a group of local women who had joined in on the search for him.

He said: “We cannot thank people enough for what they have done. The support and help that random people have given has been overwhelming.

“Digger is now home and despite being in need of a good bath, is lazing around quite happily.”

Green Dog

2012-01-11T06:31:00.000-08:00

Sherpa on Monday

2012-01-09T15:12:00.001-08:00

Sherpa texted another pic today. He really is a DOLL!

Sherpa on Sunday

2012-01-08T13:46:00.001-08:00

Sherpa, my 2-year-old boy, texted me this pic from Connecticut today. SO GORGEOUS!

Cooper

2012-01-04T15:28:00.000-08:00

My grandson Cooper just texted me a pic from Connecticut. So HANDSOME! So VERY SMART! A six-month-old STUD! I LOVE YOU COOPER!

Max

2012-01-03T17:39:00.000-08:00

Max, now 6 months old, sent me a holiday pic.

...And a Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

Sherpa rang in the New Year in Boston

Deep Acres Farm wishes you a very happy new year.

Happy Holidays from Deep Acres Farm

2011-12-21T17:19:00.000-08:00

Rufus in Paris

2011-12-17T07:24:00.000-08:00

You probably know that I have a gorgeous son named Rufus. Well it turns out there is another gorgeous tibetan terrier named Rufus and he lives in Paris.

Rufus' mom, Sarah Hay, is a thirty something English fashion journalist living in Paris where she reports on fashion shows and cultural events in the city for magazines such as UK GQ Style, i-D magazine, Financial Times Style and edits www.theswitch.fr which is an online micro-magazine for W Hotel Paris that's opening in February 2012. Rufus is a nearly eight year old TT who likes to walk around Paris and the forest of Fontainebleau. He likes to eat raw carrots, dislikes mushrooms and enjoys socialising with packs of dogs in large green spaces.

Sarah on Rufus:

My dog, a Tibetan Terrier called Rufus looks cute but he and I both know that he’s not an ornamental toy, he’s an everyday, hard working guy. I’m a freelance fashion and culture journalist who has no qualms about spending endless hours and days at my computer writing, researching and thinking; it’s my dogs job to tell me when it’s time to get away from the screen, go for a walk and engage with the real world again, which he does twice a day. Because he needs to eat, pee and exercise, he’s really the one who reminds me to do the same for myself. Before I met my dog, I’d be surrounded by towers of pizza boxes during deadline. I’m proud to say, since meeting Rufus, those days are over.

Sarah, centre, between Alban Adam from Mugler and DJ Mimi Xu

A huge part of my livelihood comes from attending opening parties, socialising and knowing what’s going on in whichever city I’m living in and during my twenties I had a lot of fun. It’s no secret that drink and drugs are present around the fringes of media and entertainment industries and now in my thirties, I have a few friends who went through the painful process of finally reaching AA or NA which fortunately I never had to do but my dog has played and continues to play a part in that too. Since I got Rufus I’ve never gone out and come home two days later, I have somebody waiting for me now, I have a responsibility to a little dude who’s a lot of fun to be around, he keeps me grounded and shows his love for me in ways that are so clear as to never be misinterpreted. You could argue that this eight kilo bundle of jumping fur has saved my life.

So how did Rufus and I meet? By accident. I had just moved to Paris, was looking for an apartment and went to see an English girl who was letting go of her place. She had rescued an adorable if eccentric dog that looked like a Lhasa Apso but had a big character, we got on right away but he was a handful for his owner. Rufus constantly yanked on his lead, he was too insecure for his owner to even go to the toilet in a restaurant, he didn’t care to be petted and was known to bite. The dog was a bundle of nerves and the owner said that she had a new job where she would be travelling. To cut a long story short I took the apartment and the dog too. I moved out of that apartment a few years ago but Rufus and I are still together! He's come a long way from the lost dog that he used to be.

I don’t know if Rufus is a pure Tibetan Terrier but he definitely has the character of one. He’s an agile guard dog. My understanding is that the breed, nicknamed Little Lion by Tibetan monks, was raised to possess a bark that, when heard from behind doors, suggests that the dog is bigger than it actually is. Tick that, his bark is certainly sharp and deafening. Tibetan Terriers are naturally happy, playful and comical little dogs and Rufus is certainly that too. He’s the little joker in the pack and since being sterilized he’s never had one single fight with another dog. I always tell nervous dog owners in the street or in the park that even if their little terriers, Chihuahua’s or Jack Russell’s growl or snap, it’s no bother to Rufus, he moves too quickly to get nipped and just carries on with his own business; that of being happy.

This quality is another part of his “job” as the life of a freelance journalist comes with a rollercoaster lifestyle. A huge high can be followed by a deep plunge and it’s priceless to have a presence around you that’s impervious to all of this. His mood is constant, his needs are grounded and simple and he really doesn’t care if I’m late because I’ve been interviewing Angelina Jolie, Karl Lagerfeld or Justin Timberlake, these excuses and these people don’t mean anything to him. He doesn’t care how I look, he doesn’t really care if I’m feeling lazy and don’t feel like walking either. All Rufus cares about is that I’m there, we’re together and we’re going for a walk, preferably for a run in Vincennes, the forest and lake that lies to the south-east of Paris. Everything else is boring to him, he’s not interested. That said, if Jolie, Lagerfeld or Timberlake had pieces of cheese or chicken in their hands then that would be a very different story – this dog has a lot of love and energy to give, especially if you’re packin’ cheese.

Oranges and Cloves for Christmas

2011-12-16T11:02:00.000-08:00

Can you believe we are taking oranges and sticking cloves into them? Dad tells me it is an old European Christmas tradition. We used clementines instead of oranges cause that's what we had around the house. It turns out clementines are actually better for this project as their skin is not as tough and easier to poke the cloves into. After the pic above was taken, we rolled them in cinnamon and placed them in a wooden bowl. I must admit they do smell great.

I got to wondering about this "old European Christmas tradition" so I sniffed around a bit.

In Renaissance times, both exotic spices and citrus fruits were not commonly available nor easy to come by. Fruits were only available in a particular season and only for a short span of time. The technologies to support year-long agriculture, specialized storage (refrigerators and the like), mass harvesting, and cross-country (and cross-continent) delivery were all many decades away. During the time, simply possessing such things as citrus fruits or exotic spices was a sign of wealth and prestige and what better way to get the attention of a paramour than to give some of that wealth to them?

As with any gift, it is always polite to thank the giver for their generosity. A kiss was often all a demure young lord or lady could part with, so thus began (in theory) the practice of the kiss in return for the presentation of the cloved fruit!

Like that story? It's totally fabricated, but it sure does sound like it could have happened that way! Historians assure me that during Medieval and Renaissance time periods a lot of things we take for granted were wholly absent. As the new world had yet to be exploited, all new world flora and fauna were as yet unknown, so medieval Europe wouldn't have known what an orange was even if a sparrow dropped it right upon their heads. Although I assure you, were that to happen, they would have cloved the strange ruddy round object immediately. Really.

It turns out that cloved oranges are also know as pomanders. The first pomanders were made from gold or silver. They were shaped like balls and hung by a cord from the waist. They were filled with sweet smelling herbs and spices, and used as perfume. They were also thought to keep one from getting sick.

The most likely actual use of a cloved fruit was as a pomander and worn on one's person as a type of human air freshener or left in places where one might wish to disguise odors. While giving one's paramour 'primitive deodorant' might seem a little crude by today's social mores, it might have been perfectly acceptable in time periods when personal hygiene was a bit less advanced.

Are You Starting to Look Like Your Dog?

2011-12-14T05:30:00.001-08:00

Perhaps a makeover is in order!

A Makeover for a Dog Lover who Looks Like her Dog! by Leashes_and_Lovers

Dancer as Walker, Baker, Reader

2011-12-11T07:18:00.000-08:00

The first time she performed the role of Dewdrop in “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” with the New York City Ballet, Ashley Bouder was 17 and made a memorable entrance: she fell on her face. Now 27 and a principal dancer for the company, Ms. Bouder is in her eighth season as the Sugarplum Fairy and her 11th as Dewdrop. She will perform that role in a live City Ballet broadcast in movie theaters on Tuesday and on the PBS program “Live From Lincoln Center” on Wednesday. Ms. Bouder lives on the Upper West Side with her boyfriend, Matthew Dibble, 35, now touring in Twyla Tharp’s “Come Fly Away,” and their dogs: Scout, a Beagle; and Enid, a Boston terrier. On nonperforming Sundays, she unwinds with the dogs, naps, posts to Twitter and has a big dinner.

LATE RISER I sleep until between 10 and 11; I would sleep longer, but I know I have to get up and walk the dogs. They’re angels; they sleep with me. I put the coffee on, feed the dogs, and jump in the shower.

WALK, THEN TWEET I grab a cup to go and take the dogs around the block, come home, and drink a few more cups while I watch NY1 and catch up on e-mail and Facebook and Twitter. My family and friends are on Facebook; it’s a nice, no-pressure way to connect. Three years ago my friend Daniil Simkin, a soloist with the American Ballet Theater, told me I had to do this thing called Twitter because it’s like “one big status update.” Twitter has become a little overwhelming. I follow 164 people and they tweet all the time!

FAVORITE TWEETERS I recently began to follow Ricky Gervais — he’s really funny. I used to follow Will Ferrell but I don’t think he’s funny anymore. Barack Obama, for links to his speeches. I was an Artist for Obama in 2008.

LUNCH WITH A BOOK When the weather is nice, I take a book and sit outside at Bella Luna at 88th and Columbus. I’ll have soup, a glass of red wine and the linguine with meatballs. I got a Kindle a month ago, but I do love real books — I just finished Jock Soto’s autobiography and Alison Weir’s “Eleanor of Aquitaine.” If it’s awful outside, I cook a big omelet with bacon, cheddar and broccoli. And I’ll eat Greek yogurt while I’m making the omelet.

A WALK AND A NAP After lunch I take the dogs to either Riverside Park or Central Park. If we go to Central Park, we might walk for two hours; my hound likes to smell everything. Then we go home and everybody takes a nap on the bed. During the season, I often have rehearsals or performances on Sundays; when that happens, Monday is my only day off.

COOK, MAYBE BAKE If my boyfriend is away, I’ll stay home and cook myself something I really want, broil a steak and make a salad with everything in it, or make one of my mother’s recipes, like pork chops with mushroom gravy and potatoes. It’s a substantial meal, and I of course feed the dogs some, but I have a small stomach, so it takes me forever to eat it. On my day off sometimes I’ll bake. I don’t have a sweet tooth, but I like pumpkin, so I make pumpkin muffins or pumpkin banana bread. It doesn’t last.

TV AND STRETCH I take the dogs out around 8; I like to walk them three times a day. Then I’ll watch TV or Netflix — nothing special, my TV night is Wednesday for “Modern Family” — and drink a glass of wine or two, mostly pinot noir. When I’m watching TV at night, I’m not a couch potato, I’m always stretching and exercising. I’ll put tennis balls under my back or feet. I might be on the floor doing the splits. Or I have the heating pad on. I have a machine called the Reflex Roller; it massages my legs and calves. I’m learning a new ballet, “DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse,” by Christopher Wheeldon, so everything aches.

BEDTIME I go to bed around 11:30 and probably read for a couple of hours before I fall asleep.

Random Licks by Glenn Close

2011-12-07T05:33:00.001-08:00

Did you know that Glenn Close is related to Marjorie Merriweather Post? She is a great dog lover and has her own blog, Random Licks. Here, she posts about another great dog lover, Lauren Bacall. Thanks Glenn!

It's a supremely daunting challenge to write an introduction to a woman who has been declared one of the American Film Institute's top 25 film legends of the century. So I'm not even going to try. In this era of sound bytes, spin and packaging, Lauren Bacall defies categorization. She is feline and ferocious, bawdy, beautiful and brilliant. She is my neighbor and friend, who happens to be totally in the thrall of her spectacular Papillion, Sophie. When I approached Ms. Bacall about doing a profile of her and Sophie, she told me that she wanted to be interviewed in person and invited me to her home in the venerable Dakota on New York's Central Park West, where I had the great pleasure of spending the afternoon with Sophie and her handmaiden, Lauren Bacall - surrounded by extraordinary art and artifacts, pictures of family and friends and evidence everywhere of an amazing life and career. It is an afternoon I will never forget. As fall starts creeping into the trees around Sheep Meadow, the Great Lawn and down the paths of Strawberry Fields, we are planning to walk our dogs together in the park. Or should I say they are planning to walk us.

Glenn Close: When and how did you become a dog lover?
LB: I was always a dog yearner. I didn't have a dog growing up in the city with a working mother. As an only child, I yearned for someone to talk to. When I was sixteen, we got a champagne-colored Cocker Spaniel and named him "Droopy". He was very male. From the first moment, he was very possessive of me. All my dogs have been possessive of me. We eventually mated Droopy and kept one of his girl puppies---Puddle. I went to Los Angeles for a screen test when I was eighteen years old. My mother followed me out later. The dogs came, too.

In LA, Droopy was killed by a hit-and-run driver. There was a place in the valley where a nutty woman had a funeral parlor for dogs. I went to pay my last respects to Droopy. All the dogs were there in open caskets. Droopy was resting his head and paws on a pillow. It was terrible.

Bogey and I had Boxers. We were married on Louis Bromfield's farm in Ohio. Louis had Boxers that would fight under the table at dinner. He gave us a week old Boxer puppy for a wedding present. We named him Harvey, after the invisible rabbit. Harvey was really smart. He knew he wasn't allowed to get on the furniture so he would only put two paws on at a time. He would sit between us if we had a fight. Harvey died six months after Bogey. I went to see him at the vet's and said goodbye. Five minutes after I got home, I was told that after I left, Harvey had eaten his dinner and died.

Video: Join Glenn Close in Lauren Bacall's apartment to meet Sophie.

GC: I know that you are devoted to your Papillion, Sophie. If she were a human, what kind of car would she drive?
LB: A Mercedes coupe. A perfect two-seater: one seat for her and one for me.

GC: What is Sophie's pet peeve about you?
LB: She doesn't like it when I'm on the phone. She doesn't like to be made to leave the boudoir when she is all curled up. She doesn't like it when I don't get out of bed when she wants me to.

GC: What is your pet peeve about Sophie?
LB: She dictates. I'm her slave. She barks when I'm on the phone. She doesn't like it when my back is to her.

GC: What musical instrument would Sophie play if she could?
LB: A trumpet.

GC: What does Sophie think about cats?
LB: She doesn't like other animals, especially white dogs. She barks at every dog in the street. Every dog that sees her wants to kill her---Labs, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds. They think she is a snack.

GC: What excites Sophie the most?
LB: A diversion, like when my son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren come over.

Also, she has a stuffed Shar Pei that she humps. After she goes for a walk, she runs into the bedroom and humps her Shar Pei. Then she has a long barking conversation with it.

She has her own chair with a cashmere throw on it. She always has to rest her head on a pillow or a stuffed animal. She loves soft toys. Her first love is her Shar Pei but she also has a soft pig, and some bears.

She loves the country. She will sit for hours at a drainpipe waiting for a chipmunk to come out. She also loves chasing squirrels.

GC: What is your favorite thing to do with Sophie?
LB: Snuggle. In the morning I have breakfast in the kitchen and I pick her up and hold her and her little body warms my chest and makes me feel so good. (Actually, she'd much rather be on a man's lap than a woman's.) She knows life is all about her. She's spoiled.

GC: What would be Sophie's favorite movie?
LB: Well...she doesn't watch television, but I think she would like Now Voyager. She would appreciate Bette Davis. She would be attuned to the hallowed moments.

GC: What is it about you that makes Sophie most proud?
LB: When she's just had her bath and looks beautiful and when she behaves well. But I still wouldn't want to cross her. I'm afraid of her!

GC: What is Sophie's idea of perfect happiness?
LB: To be in a gondola with me in Venice. Just as long as we're together.

GC: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
LB: When there is no one in the house and the phone stops ringing. (Of course, if it stopped altogether, I'd panic.) Happiness? I've tried the two-legged ones, and the four-legged ones win.

The Mutts

2011-11-30T06:48:00.000-08:00

We just have to go see The Mutts at the Yacht Club. We just have to.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by Spencer Eldridge, Larry Fortunato, Kevin Grover, Jacques Olivier and Eddy Sill, The Mutts became an influential garage rock group during LA's post-punk period and played on bills with many popular acts of the era, including The Go-Go's, The Bangles, Adam Ant, The Dickies, The Minutemen, X, Fishbone and many others. Fishbone debuted as an opening act for the band at Madame Wong's in LA's Chinatown. The group released two EPs on local independent labels, "Fire Hydrant" on Music Rage Records in 1984 and "The Mutts" on Shanghai Records in 1985, but the combo wouldn't come into its own until Grover and Sill took over as frontmen after singer Eldridge and guitarist Olivier left the group in 1986.

The band received widespread notoriety when their only major release, "Stinko's Ranch" Loud/WEA, debuted in late 1992. The album received an A in Entertainment Weekly, and the single, Emilyn, became a top-5 hit on P-1 (million+) radio markets in North America. The group appeared on the cover of BAM Magazine, and the late Eric Douglas played the bartender in the video for "I Live With a Cat." The owner of the WEA-distributed record label, Rick Laudati (Loud), mysteriously vanished into thin air the day after the album was released, and this threw the album into a hopeless legal debacle, which wouldn't be resolved until 1994. The band continued to play in Los Angeles until their famed rehearsal hall and party house was leveled to accommodate a Home Depot in 1996.

And...now...they are playing at the Yacht Club this Friday!

Don't Forget National Dog Show Today on NBC

2011-11-24T06:16:00.000-08:00

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Thanksgiving Dinner for Dogs

2011-11-24T03:30:00.000-08:00

Winning ways with leftovers

Dogs love turkey and sweet potatoes, too. Cook this meal from scratch or use up the leftovers—either way, your chow hounds will chow down with gusto! Remember, don't stuff your dog on Thanksgiving and read A Safe Thanksgiving for Dogs before your overindulge your furry friends.

Nutritional Information

Per 1-cup serving (approximate, depending on ingredient substitutions)

Calories 321

Protein 44 g

Carbohydrates 16 g

Dietary fiber 1.9 g

Fat 7.7 g (with gravy; less if omitted)

Facts (Vet’s View)

This is a moderate-carb recipe suitable for healthy adult dogs.

Portion Size

For small dogs, 3/4 cup; medium dogs, 1 1/2 cups; larger or more active dogs, 3 cups.

Calcium

Add 400 mg calcium per 1-cup serving (600 mg if using bone meal).

RECIPE

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Makes: 9 1-cup servings

Ingredients

3 lb/1.3 kg skinless turkey pieces (light and dark meat)

1 cup (about 6 oz/175 g) oatmeal (cooked)

1 lb/450 g sweet potatoes, cubed

2 tbsp cranberry sauce

4 tbsp turkey gravy (optional; to reduce the fat content, omit the gravy or substitute olive oil)

Directions

Use turkey leftovers or roast the turkey:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Lightly oil a roasting pan.

2. For boneless breast or thigh, cook 30–45 minutes; boned breast or thigh, 45–60 minutes; whole turkey, 1 1/2–2 hours or until the meat juices run clear when pierced with a skewer. Let cool.

3. Remove all the bones and dice the meat into large pieces.

4. If using fresh sweet potatoes, roast with the turkey for about 25–30 minutes or until tender. Let cool, then peel and dice.

5. Meanwhile, cook the oatmeal according to package instructions.

6. Mix together the turkey meat, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce. If using gravy or oil, add it now and mix thoroughly. (If your dog is at all prone to pancreatitis or other fat-related upsets, omit the gravy.)

Liza Minnelli Breaks a Leg and There's a Dog to Blame!

2011-11-22T09:22:00.000-08:00

Liza Minnelli was being pushed around New York in a wheel chair this weekend ... after breaking her leg in THREE places -- but according to the singer, it's all her dog's fault.
video platform video management video solutions video player

Eye Opener

2011-11-19T03:30:00.000-08:00

Cornelia Guest is one of my favorite people. She's lovely. She cares deeply about animals. She designs beautiful handbags using no animal products. She even bakes cookies (again using no animal products). And she's on the board of the New York Humane Society! A portion of her cookie sales go to support the humane society. And they are SO GOOD!!

Cornelia Guest's Eye Opener

"A little over ten years ago I noticed that my dogs were getting strange diseases. Breathing problems, cancers, lumps and bumps that I don’t remember them having when I was growing up. I decided to stop using any pesticides or poisons anywhere in my home. At first it wasn’t easy but we just went back to basics. I asked around and with a little research (I love to collect books) I found some great old fashioned cleaning methods.

Then my mother got cancer and I really started to read… The China Study — a real eye opener– Dr Dean Ornish, Dr Neal Barnard, Kathy Freston, Skinny Bitch: all talked about how a plant based diet helps fend off and reverse disease. Then I read Gene Baures Farm Sanctuary. It is one of the most beautiful and inspiring books I have ever read. I guess on some level I always knew that factory farms were pretty horrible, but I learned that the suffering and torture these animals go through to be our food is just disgusting and not something I wanted to be a part of. I am not an expert on any of this but I am constantly overwhelmed, like most, about how to be green, organic… the list is endless. So I have chosen to educate myself and live in a way that is conscious to all two and four legged beings, and our amazing planet.

Just a few weeks ago the NY Times Sunday front page had an article about a beautiful young girl who is now paralyzed. Why? She ate a hamburger and got E Coli. The article spoke about the horrors of factory farms and how a hamburger is made and the process of processing meat. Read it, and I promise not only will it make you want to vomit but you will look at a hamburger very differently. Then a few days later, the Times had another great article on ” Atrazine” a weed killer that the EPA has now decided might be a little more dangerous to humans than they thought!! Thank you New York Times!!!

I have been eating a plant based diet for about 2 years now and have never felt better or been healthier. Knowing that step by step, I am learning to be responsible to our planet and all its wondrous creatures. It is just one step, and I intend to do a lot more!!!!"

"I am Ruled by My Passions" - Elizabeth Taylor

2011-11-18T03:54:00.000-08:00

Well, that is certainly something I have in common with Elizabeth. Along with my smoking hot looks. Yes, often have I been told that I look like Elizabeth Taylor. Perhaps it's my eyes or, maybe, my dark tousled hair. No, I am quite sure it is a keen primal intelligence that we have in common. And I do love the bling.

Film Star. Humanitarian. Fashion Icon. Elizabeth Taylor's legacy will be celebrated in a landmark series of events, exhibitions and auctions this Fall at Christie's. Here, see some of the highlights from her legendary collection of jewels, couture, fine and decorative art and memorabilia.

To view the video on Christie's website click here.

A Safe Thanksgiving for Dogs

2011-11-17T03:45:00.000-08:00

There's enough for people to worry about at Thanksgiving. "Oh no, not Aunt Edna's greasy gravy." "My brother's bragging is going to drive me to drink." "I can't believe I ate the whole thing." But we can't just think of ourselves over this food-focused holiday: We have to look after our best friends, too.

Dogs enjoy the revelry at least as much as humans, with bits of this and that dropping on the floor, and delectable smells wafting around the house. But Thanksgiving mustn't be a free-for-all. Just because we try to pack away all we can doesn't mean our dogs should. And there are certain items your dog really needs to avoid.

"Veterinarians experience an increased number of office calls due to digestive problems after the holidays because humans invite their animals to celebrate with high fat meals (ham, gravy, turkey skin), chocolates, bones , etc.," warns Casandria Smith, L.A. Animal Services Chief Veterinarian, in a PetFinder article.

Here are some tips that will help your dog get through Thanksgiving safely and with a smile on her snout.

Stuff Your Turkey, Not Your Dog

It's easy to want to give your dog a big fat bowl of turkey, mashed potatoes, and whatever else you think she might enjoy. But that's a bad idea. Overindulging in fatty foods can lead to an upset stomach, diarrhea, or a life-threatening condition called pancreatitis. A few strips of turkey on a dog's normal food is fine, but don't overdo it, no matter how she may plead with her "I'm STARVING" eyes. Keep in mind that turkey skin can wreak havoc with a dog's digestive system, so make sure she gets skinless, boneless turkey.

Stuff Your Dog's Kong, Not Your Dog

Here's a great way to keep your dog busy and happy during your meal. Put a bit of your dog's regular food in a Kong, and then stuff a little boneless turkey, sweet potatoes, gravy - just a tad, mind you - in the Kong. It's not much food, but it will keep him occupied for a long time.

Get Her Pooped

A dog who has been on a big walk or fetched the ball a zillion times will be much more likely to run out of energy during the feast than a dog who's been inside all day. A tired dog is a good dog on Thanksgiving. Make sure your pup gets plenty of exercise before the festivities begin.

Make no Bones About It

Cooked turkey bones can be a danger to your dog. They're sharp, and potentially very dangerous. You may not know a dog has a turkey bone lodged in your dog's digestive system for days. Don't leave plates with bones lying around. Ditto for the turkey carcass. Hungry dogs have been known to run off with the remains of a carved turkey. It can happen in the blink of an eye. You notice the turkey is gone. You notice the dog is gone. With luck, you find their hiding place before anything happens. Put plates in an unreachable area if you can't dispose of everything properly right away.

Know this Sage Wisdom

Sage and some other herbs have essential oils that can cause tummy upset and central nervous system depression if a dog eats them in large quantities. Most dogs aren't going to nosh on a fistful of sage, but keep herbs out of reach just in case. See: Poisonous Plants and Foods for Dogs.

Don't Cry Over Onions

Onions are toxic to dogs. They can lead to a dangerous form of anemia that may not be detected for days. Make sure your dog stays away from the pearly whites, and yellows, and reds. See: Poisonous Plants and Foods for Dogs.

Don't Give Her the Raw Deal

Unless your dog is already on a raw diet, we wouldn't recommend plopping a piece of raw turkey in her bowl (the change from her regular food might cause an upset stomach). But more importantly, keep your pup away from the uncooked dough for bread or rolls. What helps make dough rise? Heat. If a dog eats raw dough, what's it like for the dough in the dog's stomach? Warm. The dough rises in the dog's stomach, and if the dog has eaten enough, the swollen dough can cause pain, vomiting, and bloating -- conditions that can send you to the doggy ER on Thanksgiving.

Avoid Yappy Hour

Some dogs seem to enjoy alcoholic drinks. Walk away from your drink that's set on the coffee table, and Lulu may get lit. Dogs and booze are a bad mix. Your dog may not do anything embarrassing she'll regret in the morning, but she could become disoriented and quite ill. Too much alcohol can even lead to a coma, and death. Watch where you - and others - put their drinks, especially if you have a curious pup.

By following a few basic tips, your dog will enjoy a fun, safe Thanksgiving. Now if only you could avoid Aunt Edna's gravy...

Joe T's

2011-11-16T00:17:00.000-08:00

So... Joe T. Garcia's is my favorite Mexican restaurant ever. Located near the stockyards in Fort Worth, Joe T's was named one of Gourmet magazines favorite "legendary restaurants." The restaurant opened before the mag debuted in 1941. (Joe T.'s opened in 1935.) They share the mention with other luminous old timers like Galatoire's in New Orleans, Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach and, of course, New York's The "21" Club.

And they have the best frosted-pink-sugar cookies in the world. We always go across the street to the bakery run by Joe's daughter, Esperanza, to get these. They sell Esperanza's cookies at Joe's, but they are cheaper at Esperanza's. And boy are they yummy.

But, wait, there something else I want to share with you. I met a woman wearing a skirt that was made up of her husband's old neck ties. We went to see a stage production of To Kill a Mockingbird at the new Wiley theater in Dallas and there she was sitting right next to us in that necktie skirt. Not really in the same league as the Galleon headband designed by Monsieur Gaultier. But, I would categorize both as conversation pieces. Wouldn't you?

All About Izzie

2011-11-15T03:58:00.000-08:00

This is my formal portrait....I had to behave!

Today Izzie's mom, Rhea Ann, sent me lots of great photos.

"My Izzie girl....you know the cross between a pug, standard poodle and belgian malinois and siberian husky......hmmmmm, maybe I should do another test!"

-Rhea Ann

Turns out Rhea Ann is an artist. We love her work. Take a gander at her website: rheann.com

In the meantime enjoy these adorable pics of Izzie, my look alike who isn't a Tibetan Terrier. They say everyone has a twin somewhere. I think I've found mine. And we both have VERY LONG tongues!

A Pug?

2011-11-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

Rhea Ann and Darcy with Izzie, who is definitely not a Tibetan Terrier.

Well, we are in Dallas for the opening of the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. You know, he is the guy that designed those cone-bra-bustiers for Madonna. It is an amazing exhibition with hundreds of outfits on display. And the mannequins have animatronic faces that move and blink and twitch and burp. I don't know if they burp, but they might. The moving faces are actually video projections on the faces of the mannequins from tiny video cameras suspended from the ceiling. It was a fun show, but the real reason we always visit DFW is to visit Joe T. Garcia's.

Before I go any further, I want to let you know we were walking on the Katy Trail yesterday when we met what we thought was a very nice rangy Tibetan Terrier named Izzie along with her owner Rhea Ann and friend Darcy. Rhea Ann, herself, thought Izzie was a Tibetan Terrier when she first brought her home. That's what the folks at the animal shelter told her. It turns out that Izzie is actually a Pug! Well....a pug and a Belgian Malinois and two other breeds that look nothing like Tibetan Terriers. You see, Rhea Ann had one of those genetic tests done that told her exactly what breeds Izzie is made up of.

You know, they say the whole is the greater than the sum of its parts. I think that is SO TRUE in Izzie's case. I mean that girl has my head. It was like looking in a freak'n mirror!

I guess, I'll have to tell you about Joe T's another day. I'm exhausted.

What Happens at the Dog Park...STAYS at the Dog Park

2011-11-11T05:41:00.000-08:00

So we took a little trip to the mile high city, Denver, this past weekend. We met a very nice service dog named Jazz, a small labradoodle, and his very cute friend Mylae at The Edge, the restaurant at the Four Seasons hotel. Very nice hotel by the way. We had a two bedroom suite and THREE BATHROOMS. I love to sleep on the cool tile floor in the bathroom.

Just around the corner on Larimar Square is a very cool dog boutique, Dog Savvy. I tried to get Dad to buy me a hat. He ended up buying one for himself at the western store down the block instead. All I got at Dog Savvy was a refrigerator magnet.

Wedding Belles

2011-11-09T10:29:00.000-08:00

Now, you probably didn't know that my dad is from the Cereal City, Battle Creek, along with the Kellogg's and the CW Post's.

I know this doesn't seem to have anything to do with dogs. But, then, neither does Mushroom Lasagna.

One of Marjorie's Schnauzers photographed by Alfred Eisenstaedt

But, wait, there is a connection. You see, Marjorie Merriweather Post's granddaughter, Ellen Charles is a dog fancier and raises and shows the most amazing Standard Poodles. And Marjorie herself loved her Miniature Schnauzers beyond reason. You can see one of their canopied dog beds at her Washington, DC estate Hillwood. And there is a very elaborate cemetery under the trees out back where all her pets take their final rest.

Although we haven't seen Ellen is quite a while, Dad used to be on an advisory group at Hillwood and they once spent a very fine day touring some beautiful DC area gardens together. The last time we saw Ellen was in New Jersey, of all places. Dad, Angus and I and Ellen and her poodles were all out for an early morning promenade in front of our hotel before a dog show. I don't remember much about the conversation, but I do remember Ellen remarked about how fine Angus is. I never forget things like that.

The Best (Mushroom) Lasagna Ever

2011-11-07T02:31:00.000-08:00

There is this guy at our local farmer's market that grows the best, freshest, cleanest mushrooms you have ever seen. Perfect for a delicious mushroom lasagna.

Are you ready for a lasagna that tastes really rich, but is actually quite healthy?

First, a few notes:

We use Gia Russa No Bake whole wheat lasagna noodles and white whole wheat flour for the bechamel. White whole wheat flour is the best. Great taste, consistency, and texture. We use it for everything. Don't use anything else.

Also, you can ignore using cheesecloth to drain the mushrooms. We do. We just use a colander to drain them.

Enjoy!

The Best (Mushroom) Lasagna Ever

This lasagna tastes very rich, even though it really isn’t. It combines an olive oil béchamel with a simple mushroom ragout and Parmesan cheese. I prefer no-boil lasagna noodles because they’re lighter than regular lasagna noodles.

For the mushrooms:

1 ounce (about 1 cup) dried porcini or shiitake mushrooms

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2 shallots or 1 small onion, finely chopped

2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced

1 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced

Salt

1/2 cup fruity red wine, such as a Côtes du Rhône or Syrah

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

Freshly ground pepper

For the béchamel:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons minced shallot or onion

2 tablespoons sifted all-purpose flour

2 cups milk (may use low-fat milk)

Salt and freshly ground pepper

For the lasagna:

1/2 pound no-boil lasagna noodles

4 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup)

A few leaves of fresh sage (optional)

1. Place the dried mushrooms in a glass measuring cup and pour 2 cups boiling water over them. Let soak 30 minutes, while you prepare the other ingredients. Place a strainer over a bowl, line it with cheesecloth or paper towels, and drain the mushrooms. Squeeze the mushrooms over the strainer to extract all the flavorful juices. If using shiitakes, cut away and discard the stems. Then rinse the mushrooms, away from the bowl with the soaking liquid, until they are free of sand. Squeeze dry and set aside. Chop coarsely. Measure out 1 1/2 cups of the soaking liquid and set aside.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add the shallots or onion. Cook, stirring often, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir together for about 30 seconds, then add the fresh and reconstituted mushrooms and salt to taste. Cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms begin to soften and to sweat, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and turn the heat to high. Cook, stirring, until the liquid boils down and glazes the mushrooms, 5 to 10 minutes. Add thyme and stir in the mushroom soaking liquid. Bring to a simmer, add salt, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, until the mushrooms are thoroughly tender and fragrant and the surrounding broth has reduced by a little more than half, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in some freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt.

3. Meanwhile, make the béchamel. Heat the oil over medium heat in a heavy saucepan. Add the shallot or onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes, until smooth and bubbling, but not browned. It should have the texture of wet sand. Whisk in the milk all at once and bring to a simmer, whisking all the while, until the mixture begins to thicken. Turn the heat to very low and simmer, stirring often with a whisk and scraping the bottom and edges of the pan with a rubber spatula, for 10 to 15 minutes, until the sauce is thick and has lost its raw-flour taste. Season with salt and pepper. Strain while hot into the pan with the mushrooms.

4. Assemble the lasagna. Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Oil or butter a 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Spoon a thin layer of béchamel and mushrooms over the bottom of the dish. Top with a layer of noodles. Spread a ladleful of the mushroom/béchamel mixture over the noodles and top with a layer of Parmesan. Continue to repeat the layers (I get three layers in my pan), ending with a layer of the mushroom/béchamel mixture topped with Parmesan. Cover with foil and place in the oven. Bake 30 minutes. Remove the foil, and if you want the edges of the noodles crispy and the top lightly browned, continue to bake uncovered for another 5 to 10 minutes. Serve hot or warm.

Advance preparation: The mushrooms can be cooked up to 4 days before the lasagna is assembled and baked. The béchamel can be made a day ahead. Whisk well and reheat gently before straining into the mushrooms and assembling the lasagna. The assembled lasagna can be tightly covered and refrigerated for a day before baking. Leftovers will keep for 3 or 4 days. Reheat in a low oven or in a microwave.

Readers are Leaders (Literally)

2011-11-03T04:56:00.000-07:00

Nicole reads to Bandit at Paws for Reading at the Montville Township Public Library

We like this Montville, New Jersey reading program.

The Montville Township Public Library's first Paws for Reading session was held Wednesday evening in the Pio Costa Auditorium, with children ages 6 and up reading to therapy dogs for 10 minutes at a time.

For an hour, children took turns reading to Jersey and Bandit, two therapy dogs brought in by their owners. Montville Township residents Chelsea Ritschel and her mom, Jackie Ritschel, brought Jersey, a black lab. Township resident Marcia Lederman brought Bandit, a Tibetan terrier.

Chelsea Ritschel, a senior at Montville Township High School, and Lederman are certified to use their dogs for therapy by St. Hubert's Animal Shelter.

Library director Allan Kleiman and children's director Amy Resnikoff said the program is designed to help kids learn to read aloud in a friendly environment, boosting children's literacy and confidence.

I want someone to read to me!

Beamer's Mom is bunkycooks.com

2011-11-02T16:36:00.000-07:00

Beamer

Yes, that's right, bunkycooks.com. I know, I've said it before, but I am going to say it again. I LOVE BUNKYCOOKS.COM. And I love Beamer too.

Well, we are usually pretty good with recipes, but Dad kinda messed up this amazing Clementine Bundt Cake from Ms. Bunkycooks. We love clementines and we love cake. How could we go wrong?

Well, the recipe called for a 6-cup mini-Bundt cake pan. Dad saw a 9-inch one at the local TJ Maxx and thought that must be a mini one. Come on Dad! Did you think a regular size Bundt pan is like 18 inches?

So we were a bit concerned when the batter only filled the bottom third of our Bundt pan, but we stuck it in the oven anyway. Luckily we checked the cake about 15 minutes before it was due to be done and found that it was ready to come out. And, guess what? It looked pretty darn good. It was just a bit more horizontal, less vertical, than the cake pictured on bunkycooks.com. It actually looked quite elegant, we thought. And it was so nice. Just like Ms. Bunkycooks said it would be. A subtly clementine-y delight. We highly recommend that you try it. We will be baking up another one real soon. We added a bit more zest and clementine juice to the cake and more juice to the icing. We love it clementine-y. Bring it on!

Grace, dressed as an Indian Maiden for Halloween, serves the Clementine Bundt.

clementine and spiced rum bundt cake

Yield: 1 6-cup bundt cake
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

This perfectly sized 6-cup bundt cake is great for smaller families of parties. The subtle citrus and rum flavors make it perfect for fall and winter gatherings.

ingredients:
For cake:
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, organic if possible, at room temperature
1 teaspoons finely grated clementine peel
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons spiced rum (I used Captain Morgan)
1 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup whole milk

For glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
3 teaspoons fresh clementine juice, maybe more until desired cocnsistency
3 teaspoons spiced rum (I used Captain Morgan), maybe more until desired consistency

directions:
For cake:
1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy; beat in the eggs, clementine peel, vanilla and rum. Combine flour and baking powder; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk.

2. Pour into a greased and floured 6-cup bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. (* Be sure to check the cake at 40 minutes. The cake does not need to be brown to be done.) Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool.

For glaze:
1. Combine the confectioners' sugar, juice and rum until smooth. (* I had to add a bit more liquid to get the desired consistency.) Drizzle over the cake.

And....guess what arrived in the mail today? A 6-cup mini-Bundt pan from Ms. Bunky. We love you Ms. Bunky and Mr. Beamer too!!

Pomodoro Cotto

2011-11-01T04:15:00.000-07:00

So, I told you, we were going to be making a simple Pomodoro Cotto sauce to dress our 100% Whole Wheat Petit Pasta Nests from The Pasta Shoppe. First. let me say, don't be afraid of whole wheat pasta. When done right, it is delicious. The Pasta Shoppe does it right! With their whole wheat petit pasta nests you get perfect hearty, not heavy, pasta with none of the guilt that comes with consuming a typical flour pasta. Think of all that dietary fiber scrubbing the cholesterol from your system. No. Don't think about that. Pour yourself a glass of red wine and whip up this easy and molto gusto dish.

Pomodoro Cotto

Ingredients:
Salt (we like Sea Salt)
6 TBLSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 Box Pomi Chopped Tomatoes
(If you haven't tried Pomi tomatoes, you must. Pure tomato package in a waxed box, not a noxious can. DELICIOUS!!)
Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and fresh basil leaves for serving.

Bring 6 quarts of water to boil in a large pot. Add 3 tablespoons of salt.

Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in another large pot over medium heat until hot. Add the garlic and cook until lightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste and remove from the heat.

Drop the pasta nests into the boiling water and cook until just al dente. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

Add the pasta and about 1/4 of the reserved pasta water to the tomatoes and stir and toss over medium heat until the pasta is well coated (add a splash or two of the pasta water if necessary to loosen the sauce). Stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil and serve immediately, garnish with grated Parmigiano and basil.

Happy Halloween, A (Much Needed) Apology to Dogs and Cats

2011-10-31T07:56:00.000-07:00

What's a Girl to do With a Butternut Squash?

2011-10-28T05:33:00.000-07:00

It's butternut squash season. I love butternut squash. Dad usually gives me a bite or two when he bakes them in the oven. I always beg for more. The other night he gave in. I later threw up on the oriental carpet in the dining room. But, now that I think of it, it might have been the bowl of oatmeal he gave me earlier in the day. It did look a bit like oatmeal. I love oatmeal.

Now, this new recipe is definitely not for dogs. It is a fresh take on butternut squash and it is light and fresh and really easy to make. Except for peeling the butternut squash! Who wants to peel a butternut squash? So Dad just cut off the ends and cut it in quarters and grated it. Being careful not to grate in any of the peel.

Raw Butternut Squash Salad With Raisins and Ginger

1 butternut squash (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled, seeded and grated

1/2 cup raisins

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 to 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, or to taste

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

Salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Combine the squash, raisins, oil, vinegar and ginger in a salad bowl; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to several hours.

Yield: 4 servings.

Ryan and Grace's Boston Lettuce and Radish Salad

2011-10-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

Ryan and Rufus

So, Ryan and Grace surprised everyone by preparing a very delicious dinner. Not that we didn't think they had it in them. We just didn't think they would want to. Moral of this story: never underestimate the capabilities of bored youngsters. They created the menu, set and decorated the table, and served the meal with flair (Sophia helped). I helped too. I licked the plates clean.

The menu consisted of a very elegant Boston lettuce and radish salad and eggs en croute (more about that soon).

The Stage Was Set

Ryan and Grace's Boston Lettuce and Radish Salad

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 bunches radishes (about 20)—tops reserved for another use, radishes very thinly sliced
3 heads Boston lettuce, outer leaves discarded and tender inner leaves torn

In a large bowl, whisk the extra-virgin olive oil with the sherry vinegar and Dijon mustard and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the sliced radishes and Boston lettuce to the bowl, toss well and serve right away.

Grace and Rose

Dogs Love Pasta

2011-10-21T05:07:00.000-07:00

If you've been reading my blog, well then, you know that Suddie Loves Pasta. No. Make that Suddie Loves, Suddie Loves, Suddie Loves Pasta.

Well the people at The Pasta Shoppe came across my blog and decided to send me some of their Dog Lovers Pasta. It's really intended for humans, but the pasta is formed into little paw prints and bones. It's really, really cute. They also sent me a boat load of their other pasta products including both 100% Whole Wheat Petite Pasta Nests and Spinach Basil Garlic Petite Pasta Nests.

We are going to be sampling them all over the next month or so and reporting back to you. First in the pot will be the 100% Whole Wheat Petite Pasta Nests made with a simple and delicious Pomodoro Cotto sauce. Check in next week to see how it goes. In the mean time, check out The Pasta Shoppe website, pastashoppe.com. As they say, the world is full of pastabilities!!

Who Will You Be This Halloween?

2011-10-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

Well...I already know that my grandson, Cooper, is going to be the cutest bumblebee ever!

You see, he already buzzed around in a pet parade near his home in Connecticut and was even asked to participate in a picture contest at his local pet store. Isn't he the cutest!! Four months old now.

As for me, I haven't quite decided what I will be this Halloween. Grammie Jill gave me all sorts of good suggestions and, while we were in Columbus weekend, I tried on all sorts of costumes. So far, I think I like Suddie Panda Bear the best. What do you think?

Bloomin' Rose

2011-10-17T06:08:00.000-07:00

My grandaughter, Rose, at 4 months.

You Say Tomato, I Say Beagle

2011-10-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

Beamer is a Babe

2011-10-13T05:42:00.000-07:00

Do you remember my friend Beamer? You know from my post Dogs of The Corn!! If you don't remember, check it out. You'll find a really great recipe for Creamed Corn if nothing else. But you will find something else cause there are more pics of Beamer and he is a HUNKSTUD!

You know... they say you can tell a lot about a boy by the way he treats his mother. I don't go in for that cause I have the BEST BOYS and they don't call, they don't write, and they hate to talk on the phone.

But, anyway, Beamer is so sweet with his mom. But then she is BUNKYCOOKS of bunkycooks.com. You know what that means? Lots of good food all the time. What's not to like? You see she is like this real famous, but down-to-earth, food blogger.

The Sexy Chef, Colin Bedford

In addition to great, easy-to-follow recipes and great sexy celebrity chef interviews, BUNKYCOOKS has THE BEST giveaways ever. I am always entering to win one of these great kitchen-related items. Well, guess what, I finally won!! And it is a fabulous Magimix by Robot-Coupe Vision Toaster. It is an amazing toaster with a window that allows you to watch your toast toast. What could be more fun? Watching paint dry? Oh no! It is very cool. It has this great feature that allows you to toast only on one side which, as BUNKYCOOKS points out, is great for Bagels:

"One of the features that I really like about the Magimix Vision Toaster is the bagel toasting option. You can toast one side of the bagel so you don’t end up with an overly crisp bagel that nearly breaks your jaw when chewing it. I always opt out of toasted bagels at restaurants for that reason. With this toasting feature, you can have slightly toasted bagels on one side and still have them chewy on the other."

It also has a defrost setting for toasting frozen bread. It's great! I love it. Thank you for BUNKYCOOKS!! Do you believe I've developed a taste for lightly-toasted biscuits? I won't have them any other way. Magimix, you have CHANGED MY LIFE.

Now, you really can't go on about MS. BUNKYCOOKS without sharing one of her recipes. Here's one that's sure to make you drool.

bourbon bread pudding with ice cream and caramel sauce

Yield: 8-10 servings Prep Time: 1 hour Cook Time: 40 minutes Total Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

This rich and elegant dessert can be made ahead of time and refrigerated before baking. If you use a softer brioche (I used a pullman brioche loaf), you may only need a 1 pound loaf. The pullman loaf has very heavy crusts that are removed before cutting into 1/2 inch pieces.

ingredients:
1/2 cup raisins
1/3 cup bourbon (I used Woodford Reserve)
1.9 pound brioche or egg bread loaf, crusts trimmed and bread cut into 1/2-inch cubes (I used a pullman brioche loaf) * See note above
8 large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups whole milk
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup bourbon (I used Woodford Reserve)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Homemade vanilla ice cream or very good store bought vanilla ice cream
Homemade caramel sauce (or your favorite recipe)

directions:
1. Place raisins in a small bowl. Pour bourbon over the raisins, stirring occasionally to be sure they are all thoroughly soaked in the bourbon. Soak at least one hour and longer, if possible.

2. Once raisins have soaked, place bread cubes in 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan and sprinkle raisins over the top of the bread cubes. Whisk eggs, whipping cream, milk, sugar, bourbon and vanilla extract in large bowl to blend. Pour over bread cubes and raisins. Let stand 30 minutes, occasionally pressing bread into custard mixture. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake until pudding is set in center, about 40 minutes. Cool slightly.

4. Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.

Runyon Canyon

2011-10-09T01:49:00.000-07:00

A nature enclave in the midst of Hollywood?

In Tinseltown, anything is possible, even a place of blissful peace and quiet. 1,320 feet above the City of Angels lies Runyon Canyon, a 160-acre haven where you can stroll, observe a variety of wildlife (deer, raccoons, birds), and relish in the scent and sight of diverse plants (black sage, elderberry, wild buckwheat).

Yoga Classes offered daily on the grass in Runyon Canyon Park

Formerly called "No Man's Canyon" due to vacancy, rather than a gender restriction on hikers, there is evidence that this was a seasonal campsite for local Gabrielino Indians before being sold to a string of millionaires. There are still ruins of the former mansion, tennis courts, and pool-house where Errol Flynn once stayed. When you enter on Mulholland Drive, walking clockwise is the easiest path to the most incredible views stretching from downtown LA to Beverly Hills to the beach. With points named Clouds Rest and Inspiration Point you’ll wish you had HD eyes.

The Honor System Snack Bar at the lower park entrance even offers dog biscuits

Sweat your way up the steep, deserty trails. The highest point in the park offers a great way to get a free cardio workout, and stellar views of the city below. Dogs are allowed off-leash in most of the park. But the best part is the people watching: celebrity sightings are a daily occurrence and beautiful people sightings happen every two minutes.

I mean they were all there. Orlando Bloom with his dog, Derrick Hough getting a workout (and a tan), Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel wearing hats and looking serious, and Matthew Mcconaughey getting all giggly while his wife chased him down the hill. And there are dogs...so many dogs. But did I get to go? No, of course not, I was left at the Chateau. Dad said I would get filthy on those dusty trails.

Dad hiked Runyon Canyon every morning very early. Hiking on the 2nd day, he noticed a simple trash can about halfway up the canyon just covered with stickers. Once he saw it, he knew he had found the perfect spot for our bumperpet.com sticker. What could be better with all the dogs, celebrities and beautiful people who pass by each day. So on his way up on our last day in Hollywood, Dad stuck that bumperpet.com sticker for the very last time on that trash can halfway up the trail at Runyon Canyon. Dad told me later that he could just imagine how those first astronauts must have felt when they planted that flag on the moon.

Sprinkles Cupcakes for Dogs

2011-10-08T00:45:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Sprinkles Cupcakes of Beverly Hills makes cupcakes just for me. Not that I need the calories! But we have been hiking everyday in Runyon Canyon during our visit to Los Angeles (I'll write more about that soon).

Sprinkles Cupcakes sells its all-natural doggie cupcake for $2.50. The ingredients in the cupcakes for dogs are unbleached flour, eggs, honey and vanilla. The cupcake is topped with a yogurt "frosting." You can even order them online: Sprinkles Cupcakes for Dogs.

bumperpet.com

2011-10-07T01:43:00.000-07:00

So....we read about this new online service....bumperpet.com. We were intrigued. You see on bumperpet.com you can create these great re-moveable stickers from your favorite photos. You can add words and even silly images like Santa's hat (how great for the holidays) to your image too. So we just had to order one. We used a photo of Angus and we added our website and in a few days a GREAT re-moveable sticker arrived in our mailbox. We weren't quite sure what re-moveable meant so we just had to ask. It seems that these stickers are designed so they are easily removed without leaving a big gunky, sticky mess. It doesn't really mean that they are designed to be stuck one place and then peeled off and then stuck somewhere else. But we just had to try.

We received our bumperpet.com sticker just the day we were headed off to stay at the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood and, we couldn't help ourselves, we stuck our sticker all over the Chateau. And they were right, it didn't leave a big gunky mess. We stuck it on the wall at the pool smack in the middle of the life preserver and next to the phone that you use when you need a pool boy pronto. And on the door of our bungalow so the paparazzi would know just where to find us. Even on the pot of the plant outside our door. On the door of our funky old refrigerator and vintage stove. Angus looked so handsome in our minibar. And finally in the lobby bar at 2:02 AM where I rolled on the floor with Rosie Perez.

But we weren't done. We weren't sure yet. Where best to make our mark with the help of bumperpet.com?

bumperpet.com - Online Slideshow Maker

To create and order your own just click on the following link: bumperpet.com

Like Sugar on Strawberries

2011-10-06T09:33:00.001-07:00

Introducing Deep Acres Summer Solstice and Deep Acres Like Sugar on Strawberries

Rin TIn TIn - THE LIFE and the LEGEND

2011-10-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

What we are reading now.

Rin Tin Tin from Susan Orlean, the author of The Orchid Thief, charts the amazing life of this WWI hero and television and radio STAR.

After Filing for Bankruptcy, One of the Few Things She Still Owns is Her Tibetan Terrier

2011-10-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Patricia Kluge appeared for years to be one of the nation’s wealthiest divorcees, with a breathtaking Virginia mansion known as Albemarle, an ample jewel collection and a river of cash from her ex-husband, the late media magnate John Kluge.

After filing for bankruptcy in June, she has a day job.

Not an ordinary job though. She is working for Donald Trump, who scooped up the winery and vineyard that she had built on the Virginia estate — a high-risk venture that drained all her money until she had to seek protection from her creditors in court.

And she is living no ordinary life. Instead, she rents a 6,000-square-foot home with a swimming pool and five bedrooms decorated by a celebrity designer, David Easton, in what was intended to be the first house in an exclusive gated community down the road from her old mansion.

Her vision for an estate and business and gated community was certainly outsize. But the undoing of Ms. Kluge (pronounced KLOO-gy, with a hard “g”) was not so different from that of many Americans who maxed out their credit cards and their home loans during boom times. She borrowed heavily. It’s just that she had so much more to leverage.

While her financial straits have been documented as banks closed in on her, she is speaking publicly at last about her bankruptcy, sounding resolute, reassuring herself about the future — without the liveried servants that once attended to guests at her hunting parties.

“I loved the life I lived at Albemarle. Are you kidding? But it does not define who I am,” she says, dressed in cotton slacks and a T-shirt from the Mount Kenya Safari Club. “If you can get a job, you can build another fortune,” she adds. “That is what I focus on.”

For now, Ms. Kluge, 62, and her husband, William Moses, 64, will make about $250,000 under a one-year contract to work for Mr. Trump at the winery. She handles winemaking, bottling and marketing, and Mr. Moses oversees legal and other matters part time. Roughly a third of their money goes to rent.

Lest anyone think that Ms. Kluge’s worries are entirely over, her lawyer points out that the future is unclear. “They are walking out of bankruptcy with nothing,” said the couple’s lawyer, Kermit A. Rosenberg, a partner at Butzell Long Tighe Patton. When they filed for bankruptcy, the couple listed $2.6 million in assets and $47.5 million in liabilities.

From her living room, she points to the few items that are hers: the photographs — her son in St.-Tropez two decades ago and her 2000 wedding to Mr. Moses — and her dogs, a Labrador retriever and a Tibetan terrier.

“No one should feel sorry for us,” Ms. Kluge added later. “I have a great family, a wonderful marriage and loving children and friends. We are not looking at this bankruptcy as if our life has ended. We see this as an opportunity to recreate ourselves.”

In business, she says, she went down a familiar path learned from Mr. Kluge. During the 1980s, he sold his highly leveraged media properties to a variety of buyers, most notably Rupert Murdoch, for more than $3 billion. “John was a huge borrower,” Ms. Kluge recalled. Her strategy was similar, attract equity investors to pay off the debt, make the business cash-flow positive and then sell.

Over a decade, she bet more than $65 million, using her own money at first and then borrowing more, on the winery, a notoriously risky and capital-intensive business. When the economy turned down, she could not make her payments, and the banks forced her to sell her estate, her winery, her jewels and the land she had acquired for the gated community. The jewelry and home furnishings raised nearly $20 million in a pair of auctions.

“It is Shakespearean in that Patricia aimed so high and did not make use of the kind of financial advice that would have increased the chances of making the vineyard work and minimized her financial exposure from the outset,” said Les Goldman, a business adviser and former partner at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

She shows signs of strain from years of battling creditors and countering barbs about what could she possibly have done with so much money. Many reports in the press overstated the windfall from her 1990 divorce. A year ago, when she called Mr. Trump for a meeting, he told his staff that they would be seeing a woman who made out very well in her divorce settlement. “I had always heard she got the income on $1 billion,” Mr. Trump recalled telling them.

But after a three-minute meeting, he said that he knew Ms. Kluge was in “huge financial trouble.”

Outright, she received about $25 million in cash in her divorce settlement from Mr. Kluge, according to several people with knowledge of the terms, as well as Albemarle, an opulent mansion of eight bedrooms and 13 bathrooms over 23,000 square feet she had built during their marriage. (Earlier this year Bank of America bought it out of foreclosure for $15 million.)

Mr. Kluge also agreed to pay her close to $1 million a year for life, those people said. But as the banks closed in, she sold off the rights to future payments for just $5 million, money that went to Farm Credit of Virginia, which was owed about $35 million, according to Bill Shmidheiser, a lawyer for the bank. Ms. Kluge declined to comment on the divorce settlement and the sale of those rights.

Plenty of widows and divorcees have suffered greatly from poor investment decisions. Ms. Kluge stands out because she lost so much in a business venture that she began herself and that carried enormous risks, said William D. Zabel, a lawyer who has handled numerous prominent divorces.

Back in 2008, Rothschild, the investment bank, valued the Kluge wine business at $75 million, as her husband is quick to point out. Mr. Trump paid $6.5 million for it earlier this year.

“I buy a lot of very high-end distressed properties, and over the years, I have worked with many people who have lost their fortunes,” Mr. Trump said. “They have almost never wanted to see again what they lost or where they came from. Patricia is unique because she is still so deeply involved with the vineyard.”

As general manager, Ms. Kluge now works closely with Mr. Trump’s son Eric. “She has created some of the best wines in the country,” Eric Trump said, noting they have been served in elite restaurants and at Chelsea Clinton’s rehearsal dinner. Ms. Kluge is experimenting with new wines and eagerly presses a visitor to taste an aperitif she is developing. Some wines will continue to carry the Kluge label, while some others will bear the Trump name.

The daughter of a Scottish-Iraqi mother and a British translator, she grew up Patricia Rose in Baghdad. When she was 27, she met Mr. Kluge, then 62, at a Manhattan dinner party.

The hostess, Gigi Fisdell, still recalls the 1976 dinner. “I had some records with Arab music,” she said. “Patricia came with a friend. She was half Iraqi and very exotic with a cascade of long dark hair. John was there. I put the music on and she started belly dancing.”

They were married in 1981, and he supported her social life in Charlottesville, New York and even Scotland, where they had a hunting lodge near Queen Elizabeth’s estate. Weekend guests at Albemarle were instructed about wardrobes for weekends that included hunting and fishing and elaborate dinner service with liveried servants followed by dancing and entertainment.

Her social ambitions were short-circuited in 1985 when she was preparing to entertain Prince Charles and Princess Diana in Palm Beach, Fla. Reports surfaced of her earlier marriage to the publisher of Knave, a British girlie magazine, as well as her appearance as a belly dancer in a pornographic film, “The Nine Ages of Nakedness.”

After her divorce from Mr. Kluge, her first business venture grew out of her son’s passion for collecting baseball cards. Recognizing the popularity of soccer in Europe, she began buying rights for trading cards on soccer teams there. In 1991 she traded those rights to Merlin Publishing for a stake in the company. When Merlin was sold to the Topps Company in 1995, her 40 percent stake was worth $20 million, she recalled. Then came the infatuation with a vineyard. “I did a lot of research and found there was an opening in the sparkling wine market, and we expanded from there,” she recalled.

By 2008, the couple had increased production to 30,000 cases of wine. Then the economy spiraled downward. Sales plummeted to just 13,561 cases. “We grew too fast,” Mr. Moses conceded.

Ms. Kluge and Mr. Moses say they believe that the vineyard could have weathered the storm if the Farm Bank of Virginia had been more cooperative. For the loans, Ms. Kluge had given personal guarantees.

A prospective investor emerged in late 2008, according to Mr. Moses and Mr. Goldman, the couple’s business adviser. But after the bank sent out a letter saying the wine business was in violation of loan covenants for failing to meet sales projections, hope was lost. “We had to say that we are in default,” Mr. Moses said, “and then why would anyone invest in the company?”

Michael McCarty, who runs Michael’s Restaurants in Manhattan and Los Angeles, has carried the Kluge wines and speaks highly of them, as well as Ms. Kluge.

“Trying to sell a Virginia wine is tough,” he acknowledged. “If you make it a cult wine, it can work if you make a very small quantity, but when you make a quality wine in the quantity that she was making from a new contemporary wine-growing region like Charlottesville, as she did, it becomes more difficult to sell.”

Get Me Out of Here

2011-09-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

My sweet girl, Pandora, took Best of Winners on two consecutive days this weekend at the shows in Santa Ana, California.

Rye and Rose

2011-09-23T05:31:00.000-07:00

After going to our first dog show in a long time this past weekend, Dad has decided that it is much better to go to these things DRUNK. We are convinced that this is what some of the judges must do. And, really, who can blame them.

So, I must tell you, Dad has a new favorite drink. It's called Rye and Rose and it goes like this.

Rye and Rose

Equal parts Rye Whiskey, freshly-squeezed lemon juice, freshly-squeezed lime juice, and rosemary-infused simple syrup.

If you're a measuring kind of person, I'd say one overflowing large jigger of each.

Advance Prep: Combine equal parts water and sugar to make the simple syrup. Bring to a boil and then simmer until a nice syrupy consistency. Let cool and then pour in a jar with several sprigs of rosemary (be generous). Place the jar in your frig and let the infusing begin. The syrup should infuse for a least a few days before use.

Combine ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker, shake and pour into sugar-rimmed glass.

Now, wait, don't drink it yet. It isn't quite ready.

Drop one egg white into your cocktail shaker and shake vigorously until frothy. Pour frothy egg white evenly over the surface of your cocktail,

Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary and three cherries on a skewer.

Everything is all better now!

2 Treats + 2 Treats = Not Enough Treats

2011-09-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

We were visiting Madison. Wisconsin the other day so we just had to stop by our favorite shop, Bad Dog Frida. And. You know what? They didn't disappoint. I mean the window display alone was worth the trip. But, of course, we always find something cool at Bad Dog Frida. This time it was the dog duvets from Molly Mutt. Beautiful duvets in great designs that you fill with your old worn out clothes and rags to create a very stylish doggy bed.

Dad, please don't wash your socks before adding them to the mix!

Bony Babies

2011-09-18T05:39:00.000-07:00

You know, my dad hates rawhide bones and pizzles and bully sticks (we hear they are actually cow penises, is that true?). No pig's ears for us. And it really doesn't have anything to do with the fact that he is a vegetarian. He just thinks they are messy and gross and bad for our stomachs and sometimes they can lead to aggressive behavior when we become too possessive of them. Pretty much all the things we love about them.

That's why we were surprised when dad brought a Bony Baby home to us. It looks like a very cute stuffed toy, but it's so much more than that. You see these ingenious folks came up with the idea of cramming a rawhide bone inside of a loosely constructed stuffed toy. It is created just so we can tear it up and get to the good stuff inside. Although Dad only lets us chew on the bone for very limited times before he puts it up.

He brought us Oscar the Dog, but there is also a Trixie the Cat Bony Baby and a Osama Bone Laden Bony Baby. Click here to order your very own Bony Baby.

How to Lower Your Vet Bill

2011-09-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

Advances in veterinary medicine mean more extensive, and expensive, treatments are available for animals, but even ordinary costs such as flea and tick protection can add up quickly. Here are some ways to curb those costs while still giving your pet the best of care.

To learn more, read the full column, “Containing Costs for Pet Care,”

Postcard from Cape Cod

2011-09-08T08:21:00.001-07:00

My boy, Sherpa, visiting Cape Cod.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

2011-08-31T13:11:00.000-07:00

When LIfe Gives You Lemons, Make Lemon Pasta

This is one of our favorite pastas at Deep Acres Farm. So easy and so delicious.

Lemon Pasta

1 lb spaghetti

3 tblsp. kosher or sea salt

4 lemons

1/2 cup good parmesan

6 tblsp. olive oil

4 tblsp. butter

Zest and juice 2 lemons and set aside in a small bowl.

Carve the meat out of two additional lemons removing any pith and seams and place in a separate small bowl.

Combine olive oil, butter and lemon juice/zest mixture in a pan and heat just until the butter melts. Remove from heat.

In the meantime, cook spaghetti noodles. I use Barilla's whole wheat spaghetti. Cook in a pan of boiling water with 3 tablespoons of salt for 7 minutes.

Drain pasta, but first collect 1/2 cup of pasta water. Return drained pasta to its pan and add prepared lemon sauce and 1/4 cup of pasta water. Cook under medium heat until sauce coats pasta.

Transfer spaghetti to a large bowl and add lemon meat and parmesan and mix thoroughly. Add additional pasta water if needed to coat the pasta.

(Note: You may add lightly cooked peas or green beans if you like, but we like this pasta naked).

Serve with additional grated parmesan on the side.

YUM!

Water Dog

2011-08-30T04:48:00.001-07:00

We love the lake!

My Favorite Spring

2011-08-28T09:52:00.001-07:00

Suddie's favorite spring in Harbor Springs.

A Dog Mourns

2011-08-27T04:33:00.000-07:00

A video of a dog apparently mourning the death of his owner at a funeral has gone viral, prompting an outpouring from viewers around the world.

The footage was captured by a woman whose cousin Jon Tumilson, a member of a Navy Seal team, was killed in Afghanistan when his Chinook helicopter was hit by enemy fire on Aug. 6. A funeral service was held for Mr. Tumilson in Rockford, Iowa, last week and attended by 1,500 people.

But also in attendance was Mr. Tumilson’s loyal Labrador retriever, Hawkeye. The dog wandered over to his owner’s flag-draped casket and lay beside it throughout the service.

Struck by the gripping image, Mr. Tumilson’s cousin Lisa Pembleton took a picture and shared it with relatives. The image was published in local newspapers and quickly went viral on the Internet, capturing intense interest around the globe. A video of Hawkeye beside the casket was also shown on nightly newscasts.

Ms. Pembleton told one media outlet, Home Post, a blog about military life, that Hawkeye was her cousin’s “loyal son.”

I hadn’t planned on taking any pictures other than with family. However, from my seat at the funeral, I felt compelled to take one photo to share with family members that couldn’t make it or couldn’t see what I could from the aisle. This is that photo.

Stephanie LaFarge, a psychologist and senior director of counseling at the A.S.P.C.A., said that while no one can know for sure simply by looking at the image, she believed that the dog was aware that his owner was in the casket. Many dogs go through a grieving process similar to what humans experience after the death of a spouse or friend but with some differences, she said. Some dogs have been known, for example, to stay near or return to the places where they last saw their owners, in many cases their grave sites.

“There are famous stories of dogs returning to a grave site every day for five years, and you can’t account for that by saying he can smell the body there,” she said. “In fact, dogs return to the grave sites of their companion dogs and animals that they grow up with.”

As the video and picture of Hawkeye spread, many viewers reached out to Home Post with concerns about the pet’s well-being, along with many offers of adoption. A friend of Mr. Tumilson’s later said that the dog was taken by a good friend of Mr. Tumilson’s, who often kept Hawkeye when Mr. Tumilson was deployed overseas.

Dr. LaFarge said that while concerns about a pet that shows signs of mourning are normal, dogs and cats do not typically grieve to the point where it causes harm, for example by withdrawing or not eating for long periods of time.

“In other words, they do not get depressed and stop responding to life in normal ways,” she said. “Animals can generally miss and grieve and be upset and be sad for the person that they don’t have in their lives and simultaneously live a good quality of life, enjoy life, do all the things they would normally.”

Dr. LaFarge, who runs a free pet-loss hotline, said she often gets calls from people concerned about a dog or cat after its owner or companion pet has died.

“Their questions quite often are along the lines of, ‘One of my dogs just died, what’s going to happen to the other one?’ Or they say, “My husband just died and I’m worried about what’s going to happen to his dog,’ ” she said.

“This comes up all the time,” she added, “but rarely is it captured in such dramatic fashion. I think the power of the picture is what’s really interesting. It really tells us something about human beings, that what we see in this picture is what we treasure about animals, especially dogs, which is that they’re devoted to us. We’ve bred them to be that way. It didn’t happen by accident.”

Pandora Rules

2011-08-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

My girl, Pandora, entered the ring and took Best of Breed at Summerfest in California.

Big Dogs

2011-08-04T20:25:00.000-07:00

Big Dogs in our Summertime Town

Fresh Laundry

2011-08-02T02:28:00.001-07:00

Morning Smile

2011-08-01T04:35:00.001-07:00

Roxie and Child (or I'm a New Grandma Continued)

2011-07-31T05:13:00.001-07:00

Roxie's Braid by Olivia

2011-07-28T04:56:00.000-07:00

Stanley

2011-07-26T04:35:00.000-07:00

Some friends from Tibetan Terrier Rescue let us know about poor Stanley. Stanley needs a home, but first he needs some health care. TT Rescue has raised over $1200 for Stanley's surgery, but are still $1000 short.

My dad will contribute $200 if someone will match his donation. Won't you help?

To donate: http://ttrescue.chipin.com/stanley

Here's the info from TT Rescue's website:

Sweet 2 year old Stanley was found wandering the streets of Maynardville, TN. Lacking any sort of street savvy, animal control was surprised the little guy had managed for what appeared to be substantial time. The shelter took him in and the staff were immediately captivated by Stanley's sweet and loving nature, and his playful disposition. The held onto him, knowing that his owners would be desperate to get him back, citing some sort of horrible accident where Stanley got lost. That never happened. So, the staff painstakingly cleaned up his long white locks and trimmed out all the mats, knowing that his coat was no ordinary coat :) They noticed during this time that his hips seemed to be bothersome. When they anesthetized him for his neuter, they took x-rays of his hips and heartworm checked him. Horrible news. Stanley has substantial arthritis in his poorly formed hips and is heartworm positive. The vet said that Stanley would need a bilateral FHO to have any reasonable expectation of a life where his pain can be managed long term. Also, of course, the heartworms would have to be treated. This was horrible news for Stanley, and for the staff that had come to love him. Southern shelters can't adopt out dogs with such special needs and Southern rescues are bubbling over with dogs, getting a rescue to take a pup who needs $2,500 worth of surgery and treatment is near impossible. Stanley was slated for euthanasia. The day came and went, but the shelter just couldn't do it. They added him to the schedule to be put to sleep a week later...it never happened.

Stanley is now in foster care and a donor has sponsored his heartworm treatment. He has been evaluated by an orthopedic specialist, who agrees that Stanley needs surgery on both his hips. The rescue price for such elaborate surgery is $2,250. We desperately need help raising the funds to save this sweet boy. Won't you please help us help Stanley?

To donate: http://ttrescue.chipin.com/stanley

I'm a Grandma

2011-07-25T11:41:00.001-07:00

One on my new grandchildren

Tom Ford on Dogs

2011-07-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

"Dogs don’t have guilt, dogs don’t have insecurity complexes, dogs don’t think that they need a bigger house than the other dog. Dogs are just completely themselves. They’re very in touch, they’re not thinking about their death. They are just rolling on their back, enjoying what that feels like. I think that is sort of the appeal of animals in our lives; that is what’s important." - Tom Ford

Meeting Uncle Angus

2011-07-19T10:19:00.001-07:00

One of Roxie's new pups meets Angus

Dog Food Recipes: Cool Treats for Warm Weather

2011-07-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

Lots of fun in the summer sun makes for hot and hungry dogs. Here are two treat recipes that are sure to be pup-pleasers. Look for organic and/or free-range ingredients and you’ll double the benefit.

Frozen Sunrise

An icy treat to be enjoyed from sunrise to sunset.

Ingredients

2 cups fruit juice (apple works best)

1 mashed and puréed banana

1 cup plain non-fat yogurt

1 cup puréed strawberries

Directions

Combine all ingredients and whisk thoroughly. Pour mixture into small disposable cups (three-inch bathroom or kitchen paper cups work best). Freeze until solid (at least four hours). To pop out the treat, push up on the bottom of the cup.

Total calories: 540; divide by the number of servings for individual calorie count.

Jerky Turkey

A gentle-on-the-tummy treat—grain-free and low in fat.

Ingredients

1 pound raw ground turkey (or chicken)

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh herbs such as thyme or parsley (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 200°. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and purée the mixture. Line a jelly roll pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper (it makes clean-up easier) and pour the mixture into it. Spread evenly.

Bake two hours with the oven door slightly ajar to allow the moisture to escape. Remove from oven and, using a pizza cutter or knife, cut into small, individual-sized portions. Place pieces back in the oven, flipped over, and bake an additional one to two hours, or until the treats are dry and leathery. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Total calories: 794; divide by the number of treats for individual calorie count.

Chocolate Chip Cookies with an Orange Twist

2011-07-16T01:00:00.000-07:00

Yummy. But not for dogs, of course! Recipes makes about 4 dozen cookies. Feel free to cut the recipe in half.

Chocolate Chip Cookies with an Orange Twist

Ingredients
8 ounces unsalted butter at room temperature (2 sticks)
6 ounces granulated sugar (about 1 cup)
6 ounces brown sugar (about 3/4 cup packed)
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed juice from an orange
9 ounces cake flour (about 2 cups)
4 ounces bread flour (about 3/4 cup)
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 ounces 100% cocoa bar, chopped fine
4 ounces 70% cocoa bar, roughly chopped
4 ounces 60% cocoa bar, roughly chopped
4 ounces Pecans (1 heaping cup whole), roughly chopped
4 ounces Walnuts (1 really heaping cup whole), roughly chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons zest from an orange

Instructions
1. Preheat a conventional oven to 375F or a convection to 350F.
2. Cream the room-temp butter and sugars together in a bowl. The
mixture should be light and fluffy.
3. Add each egg one at a time, mixing well after adding.
4. Add the vanilla and juice from an orange. Mix well.
5. Add the flours, salt, baking soda and cinnamon to the
bowl and mix until the batter comes together.
6. Before adding the extras, mix the nuts, chocolate and zest well
in a bowl. This ensures the orange zest is even distributed.
7. Add the extras (nuts, chocolate, zest) to the batter and mix
in until it is evenly distributed.
8. Place tablespoon sized blobs of cookie dough on to a baking
sheet lined with baking paper.
9. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes until the cookie is golden.

Brand New Pair of Roller Skates

2011-07-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

Presenting Roxie's, CH Deep Acres Apple of My Eye, new pups. Almost 4 weeks old. Papa is ICH Alilah Jackanory bred by prominent UK fanciers.

Grilled Bread and Marinated Tomato Salad

2011-07-14T11:31:00.000-07:00

Enjoying all the local foods this summer and this recipe is a perfect summer meal.

Grilling the bread for this panzanella (bread salad) adds a slight smokiness and crunch. Marinate the tomatoes ahead of time so all you have to do is grill the bread and assemble the salad to serve.

Grilled Bread and Marinated Tomato Salad

1 (or 2 or 3) garlic clove(s), smashed
Salt
2 pounds heirloom tomatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
Freshly ground pepper
1 loaf country bread (12 ounces), sliced 1/2 inch thick
2 bunches arugula (6 ounces each), stems discarded
5 ounces ricotta salata, crumbled (1 1/4 cups)

On a cutting board, using the flat side of a chef's knife, mash the garlic clove to a paste with a pinch of salt; transfer to a large bowl. Add the tomatoes, onion, vinegar and the 3/4 cup of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Let the mixture stand at room temperature, stirring a few times, for at least 1 hour or up to 2 hours.

Light a grill. Brush the bread with olive oil and grill over high heat until toasted and lightly charred in spots, 1 minute per side. Let cool slightly, then cut into 1/2-inch cubes.

Add the bread and arugula to the tomatoes along with the ricotta salata and toss to combine. Serve right away.

Beautiful Mushrooms and Tibetan Terriers

2011-07-13T12:47:00.001-07:00

Sherpa, CH Deep Acres Autumn Splendor

Were you wondering at all what we did with those beautiful morel mushrooms?

Well, before I tell you I just have to share these beautiful pics of my boy Sherpa, CH Deep Acres Autumn Splendor, in the the ring at the 2011 national specialty show.

Sherpa strutting his stuff

Now as for those mushrooms, we made fresh pasta. It was delish! A beautiful-hearty stew-like pasta.

Homemade Pasta with Morel Sauce

Pasta:
2 cups AP flour
Dash salt
6 Tblsp. water
1.5 Tblsp. Olive Oil
5 large egg yolks
water for boiling (6 quarts)

Sauce:
Olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced thin
1 shallot, sliced thin (we used wild ramps!)
3 cloves garlic, minced
large handful fresh morel mushrooms (about 1.5 cups) cleaned and halved
1 tsp. dried thyme
pinch of fresh grated nutmeg
salt & pepper
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 cups vegetable stock
toasted pine nuts and parmesan for serving

combine flour and dash of salt in food processor (we used the KitchenAid mixer with dough hook and finished combining with our hands/paws). combine water, olive oil and egg yolks and stir well with a whisk. with processor running, pour egg mixture in through the chute, processing just until dough forms a ball. turn out onto a lightly floured surface, knead 5 ties. shape into a disc, wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

pat dough into a rectangle approx. 8" x 3", 1 " thick. Divide into 8 equal portions. working with one portion at a time (cover remaining dough to prevent drying), divide dough into 14 equal pieces. Roll each piece between your palms to form a 2 inch strand. put strands on a well floured pan. repeat with remaining dough.

boil 6 quarts of water. Shake excess flour off pasta and add to boiling water, cooking until done, about 1.5-2 minutes. Drain.

heat olive oil in large skillet over med. high heat. Add onion, sautee for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. make a clear spot in pan, add garlic and thyme, cook for about a minute, then add salt & pepper. Add morel mushrooms, reduce heat, cover and cook for about 4 minutes. remove cover, and cook about 2 minutes until liquid almost evaporates. clear a spot in the pan, add tomato paste, cook about a minute, then stir tomato paste in with mushroom mixture. Stir in 1 cup of veggie broth. cook for 8 minutes until very thick. add rest of veggie broth, cook for 4 minutes more until slightly thick. Turn off heat and toss sauce with cooked pasta. serve topped with toasted pine nuts and grated parmesan.

Enjoy!

What It Feels Like For a Puli

2011-07-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

My new look for summer

Their Place in the Country

2011-07-07T07:33:00.000-07:00

Eliot and Alexandra Angle, interior designers from Los Angeles, built a wood-shingled house inspired by local barns in a remote corner of Nova Scotia. The share the cottage with their daughter, Elefe, now 3, and their Tibetan terriers, Sturtevant and Augustus.

Michigan Morels and Ramps

2011-07-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

Morels to make Martha Stewart proud

Ramp tops

Alert: Please Leave Pets At Home In Hot Weather, Not in Your Car

2011-06-23T07:59:00.000-07:00

Overheating Kills

With summer upon us, temperatures around the nation have been rising and nothing makes me more mad me than discovering a helpless pet locked in a hot car on a warm day - even if the windows are open. WHAT IN THE HECK are these people thinking!?!

Point Number One: Even on a relatively milld 85 degree day, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of your car to reach 102 degrees - even when the windows have been left open an inch or two. Within 30 minutes a car's interior can actually reach a staggering 120 degrees. Your car is now an oven.

Point Number Two: Even if the temperature outside is a pleasant 70 degrees, the inside of your car may be as much as 20 degrees hotter. Parking your car in shade does not offer protection on a hot day because the sun moves.

Point Number Three: While humans have sweat glands all over our bodies that help regulate our body heat, dogs cool down mostly by panting, which is much less efficient than sweating. In only a short amount of time, a dog with a high body temperature can suffer critical damage to his nervous system, heart, liver and brain.

Can't Help Myself

2011-06-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

Can't help myself from
sharing these pics of Rufus,
Grand Champion
Deep Acres Fields of Gold,
in the ring at the 2011
National Specialty show.

XO
Suddie

DOGLAND

2011-06-08T07:13:00.001-07:00

So...we are headed today to Dogland, La Petite Hut, our cottage in the north woods near a most pristine bay. Can't say we're sorry to go. It's been beastly hot here.

Summer will be filled with walks and swimming and...PUPPIES.

Roxie has been dragging a bit carrying all that extra cargo in this hot, hot weather. I know she will be much more comfortable in the woods.

So...I am signing off for the summer. I will miss you, but I am sure I will haves lots of news when I return. If you need to be in touch: deepacresfarm@mac.com

Oh...and one more thing before we shove off, I just received this official pic of Rufus, Grand Champion Deep Acres Fields of Gold, from the Invitational of Top Champions. Pretty boy, isn't he?

PS. We don't actually live at Dogland. We just love the sign. We stay down the road a bit and love to walk by nearly every day.

New Film Realistically Portrays How We Live with Dogs

2011-06-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

Christopher Plummer, left, and Ewan McGregor with their canine costar, Arthur

It’s a rare film that offers a realistic portrayal of the human-dog bond, but writer/director Mike Mills does just that in his new, very personal, movie, Beginners. Ewan McGregor stars as Oliver, who’s not only navigating his father’s final years (Hal, played by Christopher Plummer) but also a burgeoning love affair in the company of his father’s Jack Russell Terrier, Arthur — portrayed by the incredibly charming Cosmo. Oliver and Arthur’s relationship is just one aspect of this understated tale of self-discovery, love and loss, which — with the help of trainer Mathilde De Cagny and enhanced by McGregor and Cosmo’s natural chemistry — shines as an honest view of our lives with dogs.

How a Dog Drinks

2011-06-05T20:55:00.000-07:00

Late last year, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology used high-speed photography to describe the elegant way in which cats lap up liquid with the tip of the tongue, seemingly defying gravity. Dogs, on the other hand, form a cup with the tongue and scoop up liquid, the researchers said, spilling quite a bit of it.

Not so, according to Alfred Crompton, a zoologist at Harvard, and Catherine Musinsky, his assistant, who used high-speed light videos and X-ray videos to demonstrate that dogs and cats actually use the same mechanism to drink. They report their findings in the current issue of the journal Biology Letters.

“Dogs are just a little more exuberant and messy in their drinking, so it looks like it’s being scooped up,” Dr. Crompton said. “But they do it the same way as cats.”

Both animals reach into liquids with the tips of their tongues, pulling up a long column. Before the liquid drops back down, they open their mouths and pull it in.

But the dog tongue tip penetrates the liquid a little more deeply than the cat tongue, causing a messy spray around the tongue during withdrawal, Dr. Crompton said. This gives the false impression that dogs use a scooping motion.

“The video shows that all the liquid that was so-called being ‘scooped up’ falls right back out,” he said.

The test subject in the study was Dr. Crompton’s dog, Mathilda. Once the liquid was in her mouth, they saw that it was held in ridges called rugae on the roof of the mouth before it continued down her throat. This intermediate location for the liquid allows Mathilda, and other dogs, to lap continuously and pull in another column of liquid without losing the previous one.

Momofuku Milk Bar

2011-06-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

Ryan and Angus hanging out

We recently visited Rufus in Iowa. While Ryan and Angus were hanging out, Dad ate all of Sophia's Cap'n Crunch. Which reminds me...one of our favorite places in New York, Momofuku Milk Bar, makes ice cream from cereal milk. You know the milk that you love to drink straight from the bowl after you finish your Cap'n Crunch or Fruit Loops or whatever.

Well, Momofuku also makes the most delicious pickled strawberry jam which is made with vinegar and salt and corriander and other fine stuff. Sounds weird, but it is FANTASTIC. And since Sheryl isn't sharing her secret preserve recipe, we just have to share this one. It goes great on Dan's Mountain High Bread and biscuits too. We have been making our biscuits (and nearly everything) with white whole wheat flour these days. We don't want to use plain old white flour anymore. That's unhealthy old school.

Anyhoo, we make a batch of pickled strawberry jam nearly every day. It's too simple. Just prepare and let cool in the frig for about an hour. Nothing better!

Pickled Strawberry Jam

Time: 20 minutes, plus cooling

1 3/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon powdered pectin
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups strawberries, hulled
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
5 coriander seeds
1 cardamom pod.

1. In a bowl, whisk the sugar, pectin and salt to combine. If a seedless jam is desired, purée the berries in a blender and strain through a fine-meshed sieve. Otherwise, leave them whole, or cut large ones into quarters.

2. In a medium saucepan, combine the sherry vinegar, rice wine vinegar, coriander and cardamom. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and immediately remove from heat. Remove and discard the coriander seeds and cardamom.

3. Return the saucepan to medium heat and add the sugar mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon until blended; it will be dry at first. Add the strawberries or strawberry purée, and continue to stir, crushing the berries with the spoon, until the mixture is liquefied and comes to a boil. Continue to boil, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 3 minutes.

4. Pour the jam into a heat-proof bowl and let cool completely. Store it, covered, in the refrigerator. The jam can also be frozen for up to six months.

Yield: 3 cups.

Serving suggestions: Spread the jam on toast, use it as a filling for crepes or cakes, or swirl it into sweet buns or coffeecake. Mix it with an equal amount of cream cheese to make a spread. Or it may be mixed with an equal amount of butter for spreading or baking, or for blending with confectioners’ sugar and a pinch of salt to make a frosting for cake or cinnamon buns.

Mountain Men

2011-06-03T01:20:00.000-07:00

I know you remember my sister-cousins in Montana. Well, Dan, he makes the best bread you ever done tasted!! And Jesse he likes to help out. They both like to don getups!

I just know you want to try Dan's bread recipe. And I am sure you want to try his sister-wife's, Sheryl's, preserves. But, as of yet, she ain't giving that recipe out. No, no. Even Gwyneth Paltrow has tried to put the squeeze on. To no avail.

Dan's Mountain High Bread (as transcribed by sister-wife Sheryl)

3 cups of flour (bread flour is best-Sheryl) (whole wheat is better- Suddie)
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon of dry yeast
1 1/3 cup of cool water
corn meal for dusting

medium bowl, stir flour, salt , yeast, water...stir for thirty seconds, sticky mess dough will result.
cover bowl with plastic wrap.
let sit at room temperature until surface is dotted with bubbles, overnight 18 hours is best
12 hours, still works
scrape onto a board in one piece of glob
tuck edges in towards center to make dough round. do not knead the dough
use a linen or cotton tea towel...dust towel with cornmeal, liberally
fold towel around dough.....
let sit for one to two hours. dough is ready when doubled....(this is the second rise)

1/2 hour before, heat oven to 475, oven rack in lower third of oven.
heat heavy pot in the hot oven , with lid, during the 30 minutes preheat.
take the empty pot out, dust with cornmeal.... and roll the dough into the hot pot, place lid on top,
bake thirty minutes at 475 degrees.

remove lid after thirty minutes and bake until bread is nicely browned. remove,
from oven...let cool, if you can wait..you can wipe the top of the loaf with butter and a paper towel.

Now if you can follow that recipe you're a better dog than me.

Fond memories of Montana.

A Note From Rachel

2011-06-02T03:22:00.000-07:00

Angus and Me by Rachel

Dear Suddie:

I am so excited to get my very own puppy! I hope Roxie is doing well. I think about her everyday and sometimes daydream about the new puppy in school. I'm so glad school is almost over only two days left.

You said you match the puppies by their personality. I should let you know a little about my personality. I am cheerful, bright, caring, loving and I love dogs.

I finally got my book "Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses." Did you know the smallest dog in history was a Yorkshire owned by Auther Marples in Blackburn, England? It was 6 cm tall and only 9.5 cm long and weighed 4 oz. I also read dogs can tell the difference between blue and yellow, but can't tell the difference red and green. So if you throw a red ball in the grass it might take your dog awhile to find it. I'm going to get my dog a blue ball. I recommend this book.

Sincerely,
Rachel

Dog Blankets Anyone?

2011-06-01T04:37:00.000-07:00

They were not selling like hot cakes. And dog people, they love funk like that. But it was 95 degrees in the shade.

We were at the Cincinnati Kennel Club Show over the weekend and it was a scorcher. Little Rufus was burning up the ring. He received a group placement.

Made me want to bring out this video of brother Angus in the ring.

Dogs Get Sunburns Too

2011-05-30T06:38:00.000-07:00

I hope my man, Toby, applies the SPF before hanging poolside in Cali

Humans and dogs alike can suffer from sunburn; long term exposure can result in skin damage and skin cancers. Like humans certain factors make some dogs more prone:

dogs with white or light colored coats
dogs with a very short coat or no coat at all
dogs that have suffered coat loss from allergies or other medical conditions
and of course dogs that are outside during the hottest part of the day.
What steps can you take to prevent your dog from getting a sunburn?

1) Keep your dog inside in a cool room, or if they are outside, in a well shaded area or adequate shelter during the hottest parts of the days.

2) Use sunscreen on the parts of his body susceptible to sunburn. These parts include: nose, ends of the ears, around the mouth, eyelids and the underside or your dog- belly, groin and inside the legs; these areas are particularly at risk. Make sure you use a pet sunscreen because products for human use can contain ingredients that are toxic to your dog. Remember to regularly reapply the sunscreen. Pay particular attention to areas where little coat is covering and where the skin pigmentation is low or light in color.

3) Believe it or not, there are bodysuits designed to protect your dog from UV rays as well. It's best to ask your veterinarian about which bodysuit is best suited for your particular dog. They can be a good option if your dog is continually out in the sun or you live in higher temperature regions.

4) If during the summer months you have your dog groomed, think about leaving his coat a bit longer so the coat offers some protection. Talk to your dog's groomer or veterinarian about clipping your dog, some dog breed's coat's are designed to insulate the dog from the sun's heat. If you clip too much off your dogs coat, you may be doing more harm than good.

Summer is just around the corner, so make sure that you and your dog stay happy and healthy during summer months. If you do happen to see any signs of sunburn such as red skin, fur loss and/or sores, please contact your local veterinarian and make sure you seek medical advice.

The Seven-Year Bitch

2011-05-29T01:55:00.000-07:00

Celebrating with Angus and Rufus

Yes, that's right. I turn seven-years old today. Can you believe it? Seems only yesterday I was carefree, rolling around in deer poo. Wait a minute. I was rolling around in deer poo yesterday.

I received all sorts of best wishes from Tibetan Terriers all over the world. I loved them all, but I think my favorite was:

"Happy birthday you old tart! Hope you have a great day. xx"

Ou La La

2011-05-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

Sherpa traveling in style in the back of the Range Rover

My boy traveled to the Tibetan Terrier National Specialty show and picked up a certificate or merit.

When he returned home his dad made him a grand breakfast of French toast and farm fresh eggs from Doris Duke and the other old hens he lives with at Green Acres Farm.

Sherpa it was great to see you and your dad. You are beautiful and we love you.

I'm Special, So Special

2011-05-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

Rows and rows of champions at the US Tibetan Terrier National Specialty Show

It was great! Lots of butts to sniff. Lots of old friends and lots of BS. My kind of show!

Two of my boys, Rufus and Sherpa, were there. Based on his AKC ranking, Rufus was invited to participate in the Tibetan Terrier Club of America's Top 20 Invitational held during the Tibetan Terrier National Specialty. It was a fancy affair with lots of preening and way too much hairspray. Rufus took home the biggest ribbon I have ever seen. During the week he also received two certificates of achievement. My beautiful boy Sherpa traveled all the way from Connecticut and also received a certificate of achievement. And I didn't walk away empty handed. I received a Register of Merit as "Brood Bitch" for producing so many champion pups. Can you imagine? Who would have thought? And after only two litters.

The pic and description below were featured in the Top 20 Invitational Evening of Champions program

GCH Deep Acres Fields of Gold, "Rufus"

Deep Acres Fields of Gold is the youngest Grand Champion in the history of the breed. He began his show career as Best Puppy at the 2010 TTCA National Specialty and ended the year as the youngest member of, and the only new champion in, the Top 20.

Bad Dog: A Love Story

2011-05-17T22:11:00.000-07:00

Ever since her bulldog bit a fox terrier in the elevator last spring, Liz Weston has been forced by her co-op board to use the freight elevator at her Sutton Place South building. She doesn’t think that it’s fair. After she apologized and paid the $600 veterinary bill, she sent a note asking how the terrier’s little tail was healing. She got back a letter from the co-op board’s lawyer demanding she move out.

“We’re all living in the same building in close quarters,” said Ms. Weston, whose dog, Theo, happens to be certified to visit hospitals as a therapy pet. She sued her co-op board in February. “Dogs are dogs,” she added.

The dog fight at Sutton Place South is not an isolated incident. High-end hounds and pampered canines seem to be acting out everywhere these days, in doorman buildings, the gated homes of Los Angeles or on manicured Hamptons lawns. And like their tightly wound owners, they can be lightning rods for lawsuits and bad publicity.

Lindsay Lohan, was mortified last year when the news media learned that her bulldog, Cadillac, had attacked and killed a tiny Maltese at her West Hollywood apartment building.

During New York Fashion Week in February, Thakoon Panichgul had to go on Twitter to deny that his tiny Yorkie, named Stevie Nicks, snapped at interns.

And when Elizabeth Taylor died last month, obituaries made gleeful mention of her canine cohort, in particular one that treated the floors of friends as fire hydrants.

Bad dogs can bring bad publicity, as Carl Paladino learned when his pit bull attacked another dog on the campaign trail for governor in New York last year.

They can be real estate deal-breakers, too, barking and growling at potential buyers. “If you’re not a dog lover, it can be very off-putting,” said Robert Browne, a senior vice president at Corcoran, who recently showed a $3 million home in Greenwich Village with a nasty Rottweiler running loose.

Dogs in banks. Dogs in yoga classes. Dogs in wedding parties. They have even invaded luxury boutiques. At the Manhattan offices of Marchesa, the delicate gown line designed by Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, office dogs are known to get into savage fights. “Sometimes it’s funny, but other times it can get pretty violent,” said Edward Chapman, the company’s president, whose Yorkshire terrier, Lottie, is often the instigator.

Are these dogs getting an unleashed sense of entitlement from their owners? Yes, said David Reinecker, a Beverly Hills dog trainer whose clients include Maria Shriver, Kirk Douglas and Teri Garr. “The elite are extreme personalities,” he said. “Some come home from a day at the office of controlling armies of frightened people and then let their dogs rule their lives. On top of that, the mega-rich and powerful can be very insecure.”

That might have explained Trouble, the Maltese that belonged to Leona Helmsley. It was known to attack the harried staff. “Leona wanted everybody to love her, but she knew nobody loved her,” a housekeeper of Ms. Helmsley was quoted as saying in The Daily News in 2007, when it was learned the dog was to inherit $12 million. “This dog replaced that love.” That may explain why both seemed so neurotic.

But then, the life of cosseted canines can be harder than it appears. Snooty co-ops have etiquette rules about barking and dog-on-dog interactions in lobbies and elevators. Some buildings even require that dogs be carried on elevators and in lobbies. (Carrying dogs, according to experts, makes them more neurotic because they are happier on their feet, just as any person other than Liz Taylor in “Cleopatra” might be.)

In addition, second and third homes in the Hamptons or Sun Valley, Idaho, can be disorienting for older dogs that don’t like learning new tricks, like finding the urine pad in a new mansion or not attacking the strangers who trim the privet.

A big domestic staff can make obedience confusing, too. At cocktail parties, canapés are a temptation, as are mink coats draped on couches and expensive shoes that look like toys.

Then there are the women who use dogs as security blankets and take them to red carpet events like arm candy. Paris Hilton’s Tinkerbell was known to snap and bite. “Little dogs sense their owners’ fear of strangers and paparazzi, so they growl and snap at them,” said Mr. Reinecker, who as a trainer has found that there’s a bull market in bad dogs right now.

Making matters worse, he said, is the fact that owners don’t discipline the dogs themselves. Instead, they throw money at them, expecting a specialist to fix the problem.

“The rich are less hands-on,” said Pat McGregor, the founder of Vancouver Dog Training in New York, who said that she has worked with the difficult dogs of Bette Midler,Robert De Niro and Blaine Trump. “You can’t blame an animal for not behaving like a person. But just like us, every dog has its own issues because there are no perfect dogs.”

And there are no perfect owners, even when they are as gracious and unassuming as Ellen Crown, a youthful Upper East Side mother of three children and three dogs. Her problem pooch was Kiwi, a terror of a Yorkshire terrier. “Kiwi bit people on the street all the time, and I’d be mortified,” Ms. Crown said. “My mother-in-law got bit once.”

Kiwi also ruined expensive rugs on a regular basis. “My poor stepfather is the owner of ABC Carpet,” said Ms. Crown, who is married to Daniel Crown, a lawyer whose family also runs the Little Nell hotel in Aspen and helped found the Aspen Institute. “He told me that I’m the most expensive stepdaughter he could possibly imagine.”

In addition, having a biting dog around with her youngest and his little friends (and potentially litigious parents) was a minefield. So after several failed attempts with trainers, Kiwi was given away. But not long after, Ms. Crown got another miniature poodle that was almost as bad.

No home, however stately, is immune. That includes the White House. The pit bull of Theodore Roosevelt was known for ripping the pants off a French ambassador. And although Bo, the Obamas’ Portuguese water dog, is incident free for now, recent presidential dogs in the dog house included Buddy, the Clintons’ cat-attacking Labrador retriever, and Barney, the Scottish terrier of George and Laura Bush, who bit a journalist.

Size is also irrelevant. Small dogs, so often owned by the wealthy, do seem to cause big problems. A 2010 New York City Health Department survey shows 3,609 reported dog-bite incidents, with just as many involving Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas and miniature poodles as pit bulls and Rotweillers.

Breeding, especially the intense behavior of some purebreds, seems to make a difference, too, as the writer Martin Kihn learned the hard way. He adopted a giant Bernese mountain dog, a breed sometimes called “the Little Bear of Switzerland.” The dog “was a status symbol and harder to get from a breeder than getting into Yale,” Mr. Kihn said. But the dog, whose name was Hola, seemed hell-bent on wreaking havoc.

While walking past Lincoln Center,Making matters worse, he said, is the fact that owners don’t discipline the dogs themselves. Instead, they throw money at them, expecting a specialist to fix the problem.

“The rich are less hands-on,” said Pat McGregor, the founder of Vancouver Dog Training in New York, who said that she has worked with the difficult dogs of Bette Midler, Robert De Niro and Blaine Trump. “You can’t blame an animal for not behaving like a person. But just like us, every dog has its own issues because there are no perfect dogs.”

While walking past Lincoln Center, Hola accosted a perfectly coiffed doyenne and left two big paw prints on a beautiful white dress. “That was the last time I took her to the opera,” said Mr. Kihn, whose new memoir, “Bad Dog: A Love Story,” offers a wry tale of canine rehabilitation. “I really got her because I wanted to be seen with her, that’s all.”

It’s a good thing Mr. Kihn wasn’t asked to bring Hola to his Riverside Drive co-op board before moving in. “We just lied and told them she was medium-size and mellow,” he said.

Others should have it so easy. To get past highly selective co-op boards, the desperate turn to Elena Gretch, founder of It’s a Dog’s Life, an upmarket training service. She usually requires six sessions (at about $175 a session) to prep dogs for interviews.

While some slip dogs Valium, she keeps dogs sober, training them not to bark during the dreaded doorbell test and helping them understand that elevators and lobbies are not powder rooms. And, of course, an elaborate bath before the interview is de rigueur.

“Co-op boards are about controlling their environments, and they expect dogs to behave like well-trained little people,” said Ms. Gretch, who faces all kinds of challenges daily. Recent clients included an Upper East Side dermatologist who wants to train his feisty pug puppy to be calm in his office, a type-A lawyer turned fitness entrepreneur whose basset hound had to be prepared for a Hush Puppies shoot, and a financier who wanted his Chesapeake Bay retriever yacht-broken for a cruise to St. Bart’s.

But all of it that, she added, is nothing compared with the scrutiny of a high-strung co-op board. “When you have to charm so many people, it’s really intimidating,” she said.

It’s a good thing dogs don’t have to apply to private schools. Hola accosted a perfectly coiffed doyenne and left two big paw prints on a beautiful white dress. “That was the last time I took her to the opera,” said Mr. Kihn, whose new memoir, “Bad Dog: A Love Story,” offers a wry tale of canine rehabilitation. “I really got her because I wanted to be seen with her, that’s all.”

It’s a good thing Mr. Kihn wasn’t asked to bring Hola to his Riverside Drive co-op board before moving in. “We just lied and told them she was medium-size and mellow,” he said.

But all of it that, she added, is nothing compared with the scrutiny of a high-strung co-op board. “When you have to charm so many people, it’s really intimidating,” she said.

It’s a good thing dogs don’t have to apply to private schools.

Drinks and Dogs in Buenos Aires

2011-05-09T05:42:00.000-07:00

Well, my dad is back in Buenos Aires. Working, he says. From the looks of this video, I'm not so sure. Is he a dog walker?

I do think he misses me, but I'm not so happy to see my canine competition in the land of Evita.

Although I must admit I do like that fawn colored fellow in the red harness.

Thanks for the video dad, but come home soon.

Happy Mommy's Day Grammy Jill

2011-05-08T03:21:00.000-07:00

Well, it's Mother's Day so I have been thinking of Grammy Jill.

Dad once read me a poem he wrote for her on this day many years ago. I emailed Grammy Jill to see if she still had it. She sent back a poem, but it wasn't at all the one I recall.

Mothers are as total as the sky:

Older than the earth and more enduring.

They're rooted in our hearts like ancient trees.

Halfway down to seething lava seas:

Emblazoned on our sail, and on our mooring.

Returning home, we dwell within their sigh:

So maddening, so rich, so reassuring.

-Nicholas Gordon

I don't remember much about the poem I'm thinking of, but, Grammy Jill, this definitely isn't it.

I only remember a few fragments of one or two lines of the poem I am trying so desperately to recall.

How do you thank someone for a lifetime of work

Who's a (something, something, something), a saint, and a jerk

I do recall another line.

The cleaning, the cooking, the vodka she drank

Not a clue what the rhyming verse was. What rhymes with drank? Clank? No. Stank? NO! Dank? I don't think so. Plank? Perhaps. Tank? Could be. Bank? That's a good possibility.

Grammy Jill, center, exchanging experiences of Saturday night's icy thoroughfares. That's how the newspaper caption read. That's Barbra Streisand behind her.

Grammy Jill came and stayed with me for a month to help with my first litter of pups. Yes! A month! Thanks Grammy Jill.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY GRAMMY JILL!!!

In honor of Mother's Day, I am sharing Mario Batali's mother's blackberry pie recipe.

Marilyn Batali's Blackberry Pie

While walking in Galicia with Gwyneth Paltrow, Mario Batali spotted a bush full of ripe blackberries, his "favorite fruit in life," and recalled filling the back of his parents' station wagon with buckets of blackberries when he was growing up in Seattle. After getting his mother, Marilyn, to e-mail him her recipe, Mario prepared this luscious pie.

ACTIVE: 30 MIN
TOTAL TIME: 3 HRS PLUS COOLING
SERVINGS: MAKES ONE 9-INCH PIE

CRUST
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup solid vegetable shortening, chilled
5 tablespoons ice water
FILLING
2 pints blackberries (1 1/2 pounds)
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
MAKE THE CRUST In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar and salt. Add the shortening and, using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut it into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the ice water and stir with a fork until the dough is moistened. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and gather it into a ball. Knead the dough 2 or 3 times, just until it comes together. Divide in half; flatten each piece into a disk. Wrap each disk in plastic and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 375°. Let the dough stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Working on a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to a 12-inch round. Transfer to a 9-inch glass pie plate. Roll out the remaining dough to an 11-inch round.
MAKE THE FILLING Meanwhile, in a bowl, stir the blackberries with the sugar, flour and lemon juice, lightly mashing a few berries; scrape into the prepared pie crust and sprinkle the butter cubes on top.
Brush the overhanging pastry with water and carefully set the top crust over the berry filling. Press the edges of the dough together and trim the overhang to 1 inch. Fold the edge under itself and crimp decoratively. Cut 4 slits in the top crust.
Bake the pie in the center of the oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the bottom crust is golden and the fruit is bubbling. If necessary, cover the edge with foil for the last few minutes of baking. Let the pie cool for at least 4 hours before serving.
MAKE AHEAD The baked pie can stand at room temperature overnight.

Laker's Coach Phil Jackson and a Talking Dog

2011-05-07T03:36:00.000-07:00

Phil Jackson was watching a talking dog video.

You would think if the NBA's all-time playoff genius was looking at a video, it would be to find a better way to stop Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki. Or Jose Barea, whoever that is.

But Phil was watching some talking dog, and no, I'm not talking about any of the Dodgers who were playing earlier Wednesday.

He says he was looking for "comic relief," which raises the question, Why wasn't he watching the Dodgers, or talking to Ron Artest?

Phil says he wanted his team "to be a little more light-hearted," so he found the dog on the Internet. It would have made more sense, of course, had he said he found the dog in some monastery in Tibet.

Jacques Pépin's Favorite Pound Cake

2011-05-06T05:39:00.000-07:00

The French call pound cake quatre-quarts ("four-fourths") because it is made with equal parts flour, sugar, eggs and butter. Jacques Pépin's mother, aunt and cousin all have their versions. He likes to fold in candied citrus peels to make a French fruit cake; he also loves plain slices dipped in espresso.

Jacques Pépin's Favorite Pound Cake

ACTIVE: 15 MIN
TOTAL TIME: 2 HRS PLUS COOLING
SERVINGS: ONE 10-BY-5-INCH LOAF

MAKE-AHEAD
VEGETARIAN

2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 large eggs
1/4 cup milk, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups cake flour

. Preheat the oven to 325°. Butter a 10-by-5-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with a strip of parchment paper that extends 2 inches past the short ends of the pan.
. In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter with the sugar, vanilla and salt at medium speed until fluffy, 3 minutes. Add the eggs, 2 at a time, beating between additions. Beat in the milk. Sift the flour over the batter and whisk it in until smooth. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface.
. Bake the cake for 1 1/2 hours, until it is cracked down the center, golden on top, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then unmold the cake and let cool completely.

MAKE AHEAD The cake can be kept at room temperature, covered, for up to 3 days.

I LOVE RUFUS

2011-05-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

Grand Champion Deep Acres Fields of Gold

Glamour Grrrrls

2011-05-05T04:45:00.000-07:00

Mallory Before....

After head-to-paw makeovers, these NYC shelter pooches are no longer ruff around the edges

...and After

Like any model, Mallory, Heart and Myrtle adapt easily to the mood of a typical NYC fashion shoot: Mallory tries to snag a pink tulle number off the stylist’s table, Heart won’t come on set until all the other models leave the room, and even timid Myrtle gets distracted when the pace slows.

But in truth, these are no ordinary models: They’re shelter dogs, who with the help of doggie stylist Dara Foster, get the ultimate makeover.

Foster, a passionate advocate for shelter animals, hopes that these makeovers will help the ordinarly unkempt pups get adopted quickly. “My job mixes fashion with creativity,” says the pet style expert and author of “Now You See It! Pup Style” (Scholastic). “But mostly I love that I get to help rescue dogs.”

First, Mallory, a 1-year-old shih-tzu/poodle mix, was spritzed, trimmed, blow-dryed and air-brushed with an easy-to-wash-off, vegetable-dye “tramp-stamp." Doggie stylist Dara Foster then dressed her in a bright coat to keep her dry during spring showers.

To do that, Foster brought a suitcase and two totes — full of doggie wigs, tutus, mini-hats and collars donated by Poetic Paws — to Animal Haven shelter so she and her team could transform three scruffy, homeless dogs into princesses for a day. Her super-connected band of stylists includes go-to celebrity dog groomer Jorge Bendersky who keeps Ralph Lauren’s pups looking polished.

“When you dress your dog, you really want to think about the environment: where you’re going, what season we’re in and the temperature,” says Foster.

As the dogs get primped, the stylists’ squeals of delight over each over-the-top outfit and tiny accessory appear to encourage Myrtle and Mallory to prance a little prouder.

Asked what to do with a dog that doesn’t like dressing up, Foster remains optimistic: “If a dog freezes like a statue, give her a few treats and see what happens. If she still freezes, take the outfit off — it might not fit right. Then find another accessory and try again.”

Visit animalhavenshelter.org for info on adopting Mallory, Heart, Myrtle and other dogs.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Cholesterol Away

2011-05-04T03:14:00.000-07:00

Well, it kinda looks like an apple

Apples may be a "miracle fruit" for individuals who have received unhealthy cholesterol test results, according to a new study from researchers at Florida State University. Their findings show that an apple a day not only keeps the doctor away, but it also results in dramatic decreases in bad cholesterol.

Bahram H. Arjmandi, who led the study, said that apples are full of antioxidants and fiber, both of which have been shown to benefit heart health. In addition to reducing cholesterol levels, these nutrients have been shown to bring down inflammation in the body, which is a leading cause of chronic diseases.

For the study, researchers asked a group of 160 women between the ages of 45 and 65 eat either one dried apple or a comparable amount of dried prunes every day for a year. They administered cholesterol tests throughout the study.

By the end of the investigation, women who ate apples every day saw a 23 percent reduction in LDL, or "bad," cholesterol levels. They also experienced a dramatic reduction in C-reactive protein levels, which are a marker of inflammation. No such gains were noted in women in the prune group.

Is Your Pet Right Or Left Handed?

2011-05-03T05:08:00.000-07:00

To the surprise of pet owners, scientists have discovered that cats, dogs, parrots and even fish are right or left-handed.

Psychologists played with 42 pet cats for several weeks as part of the research, according to a report in the New Scientist.

The researchers from Queens University said:

"Male and female cats differ in their behavioural patterns, for example hunting styles and parental care, and it is possible that these place different demands on motor functioning."

Apparently, female cats are more likely to be "right-handed" while toms favour their left paw.

The same preferences occur in dogs.

Parrots have a dominant foot to pick up food and other objects with while toads are mostly right-handed.

When fish dodge a predator they tend to veer to one side more consistently to the other.

Talking to Buddha

2011-05-02T06:27:00.001-07:00

My beautiful boy Sherpa, now 18-months old.

Are Girl Dogs Smarter Than Boy Dogs?

2011-05-01T03:47:00.000-07:00

Above: A very smart girl named Pandora

Shout out to my bitches!

Turns out female dogs might have a leg up on males when it comes to detecting the unexpected.

In an experiment designed to mess with their furry heads, females took note of a surprising outcome while males apparently remained oblivious.

The team designed an experiment to test whether the dogs would notice a ball that inexplicably grew or shrank.

In some trials, for instance, a tennis ball-sized ball would roll behind a screen, and after a short wait, a larger ball would appear on the other side. (Young babies don’t seem to notice this violation of how the world normally works, but start to react to the weirdness during the first year of life.)

The researchers can’t tell if males really don’t perceive the difference, or do detect it but don't care.

Whether a dog had been neutered didn’t seem to make a difference in the experiment.

One neuroscientist noted that females need to effectively nurture offspring, and that might have provided very strong pressure to set up this behavioral difference.