The Dog Clapper

It sure does seem quiet around here. Well comparatively quiet anyway. It can only get so quiet with 10 dogs in the house. But right now all the pups are sleeping. They all crawled in their crate after lunch. But first I took them all outside to do their business. They did a pretty good job too. Especially since this is the first day we are starting to introduce them to the concept of going outside. I mean we did start taking them outside last week but that was more for the fun of it and to slowly introduce them to the big world. Of course they would go while they were out there but it wasn't that purposeful if you know what I mean.

Today dad had them all out there bright and early and again right after lunch. It didn't matter that it is raining out and a bit cold. Every time a pup would head over to the newspaper side of the crate and start sniffing, dad would scoop them up and take them outside. He only missed once but that was because someone called him on the phone and distracted him. The pups seemed to like the rain at first. Mucking around in it. They were captivated by the water coming out of the downspout splashing on their heads. But soon enough they got a bit chilly and were ready to head back inside. Yesterday it was bright and sunny and we went for two extended romps outside. All of us. Roxie and Angus and Sadie and me and all of the pups. It was so much fun.

Sadie and the last of the relatives left this morning. I think that even Roxie misses Sadie even though she sometimes gets a little bent out of shape when Angus pays her too much attention. That's a picture of Sadie and Angus above. They were sitting by the table where all the relatives were playing some dumb game called Quiddler. We love to hang out at the relatives feet. Dad said it felt like an English hunting lodge with all us dogs about. Grammy Jill is really good with the pups. Whenever they would get a bit rambunctious she would clap her haps together sternly and all order soon returned. My parents call her The Dog Clapper. Last time I had puppies Grammy came and helped me out for a month. I'm glad that this batch got to benefit from her good nurturing skills.

Below are some pictures from our time outside yesterday plus a few of the pups right after they came back in.

Busy Keeping Busy

You are probably wondering what has become of me. Or maybe you figured, correctly, that I have been busy with the relatives. The last of them are leaving tomorrow so hopefully I will have a bit more time to chat after that. We took the pups outside twice yesterday. It finally stopped raining. We are going to take them out today too. In just a few minutes. Sadie is really good with the pups too. I think I told you her buzz cut is growing out and now she has what looks like a puppy cut. Here she is with one of the new pups.

And here are a few pics of two of my new pups. More soon. I promise.

We Are Family

Well. It's almost Thanksgiving Day and the relatives have already started arriving. And yesterday one of my girls from my first litter, Sadie, arrived. She looks great. Her hair has grown out from the buzz cut that she got last summer. The new pups seem to like her a lot and she is hanging out in bed right now with Roxie and Angus. I haven't had to make any Whiskey Sours yet. So far the relatives seem content to raid the wine cellar.

On Sunday, the pups' six-week birthday, I took some pics. I thought you might like to see them.

New Horizons

Yesterday was the pups' six-week birthday so we celebrated. Everyone had a swig of wormer (it was time for their second dose) and we ventured outside for the very first time. The pups hesitated at first, but soon were enjoying the garden party.

Are you there Dara? It's me Suddie.

I was beginning to wonder and then I received this email the other day.

Dara wrote:

Hi Suddie,

I just looked at the blog and all the slide shows and videos. You are up to your asses in DOGS. The puppies are adorable. It's impossible to pick a favorite, but I do love the one with the completely black face. The way they walk makes me laugh out loud. Seeing Roxie and Angus greet them was very sweet. Angus' top knot is very chic. You did a great job, Suddie. They are certainly full of vim and vigor. Watching them cavort made me need a nap. I hope you are feeling well and getting your figure back, Suddie.

Take care,
Dara

Girl! Getting my figure back? Well! I think I am skinnier than before I got preggers. All of this milk production takes a lot out of a girl and burns a lot of calories. I'm pretty much done with feeding the pups now. They're getting teeth and their nails are sharp! Ouch! But the day before yesterday I was getting really swollen up with milk. I thought I was going to burst. So my dad made me get in there and nurse the pups just to release some of the pressure. I feel much better now. I think I am starting to get some of my usual energy back too. Although I am milking it a bit just to eek out a little extra pampering. My parents keep promising to send me to a spa when this is all over and done with. I'm pushing for Canyon Ranch or Miraval. Oprah really like Miraval and Grammy Jill went there. She got to walk around on stones in a really warm pool. I could use a really good massage.

I did find this place called the Lap of Luxury that provides warm water therapy in a hydrotherapy pool built just for dogs. I guess pet owners bring their dogs to Lap of Luxury for a variety of reasons, Some dogs have physical ailments, others are just learning how to swim and some are training for upcoming competitions. They also work with senior dogs that aren't able to take long walks or exercise normally. I'm holding out for Miraval. If it's good enough for Oprah, it's good enough for me. My dad used to see Oprah working out early in the morning at the East Bank Club back when he lived in Chicago. One day Oprah said somehting witty to him about sweating and lycra. He can't really remember the particulars. Now dad wasn't wearing any lycra. Oprah was. Dad also used to see Steadman in the locker room, but never in the gym for some reason. Dad says that Steadman used to walk around the locker room in his white boxer shorts and and the longest black nylon socks he had ever seen. I think, maybe, they were knee highs. I never hear anything about Steadman anymore. Now it's just Gayle, Gayle Gayle. Speaking of love, there is a whole series about training dogs with love on Oprah's website.

I'm following Oprah's advice and giving the pups lots of love. Yesterday we moved them downstairs to an expanded ex-pen that has a crate attached. Dad covered the crate with a towel and the pups love to go in there when they are sleepy. It's their little den. I think the pups like being downstairs surrounded by all the activity. If it's warm enough we might even take them oustide today.

Sweet n' Sour

Sometimes at the end of the day it's really nice to kick back and relax. For this purpose, my dad has taught me how to fix him a superb Whiskey Sour. Don't tell him I'm sharing, but here's the recipe:

1 small lemon wedge
Turbinado sugar, for rimming glass
1/4cup bourbon, preferably Maker's Mark
1/4cup freshly squeezed orange juice
3tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1teaspoon granulated sugar, preferably organic
1cup ice cubes
1slice Orange

1. Rub the lemon wedge around the rim of a 12-ounce rocks glass. Place turbinado sugar in a shallow dish. Dip the rim of the glass in the sugar to coat; set aside. 2. In a large cocktail shaker, combine bourbon, orange juice, lemon juice, granulated sugar, and ice. Cover, and shake vigorously until all ingredients are well combined and cold. Pour into prepared glass, and garnish with orange slice.

I get to make a lot of these over the holidays as dad finds it's best to keep the relatives a bit loose.

The pups are doing well and their puppy teeth are starting to come in. Dad got them some special chew toys that are designed just for teething puppies. One you stick in the freezer so it really soothes my pups' tender gums.

Before you bring a new pup into your home you might want to watch this "Welcoming Your Puppy Home" clip from Eukanuba. I think it offers some good tips. I know I want to ensure the transition is as easy as possible for my little ones.

Pups on Parade

The pups are growing up. Check out my 4 1/2 week old babes.

Turning Point

Have you ever seen the movie The Turning Point with Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft? You know it's the one about two former promising ballerinas that chose different paths in life. One gets married and gives up her career in dance and the other dedicates her life to the dance and becomes a star. I haven't watched it for a long time, but as I recall the two main characters meet up again later in life and both regret the road not taken. Lots of drama, name calling, and bitch slapping ensue. Well I kinda felt a bit like the Shirley MacLaine character (she's the one that gave up her career for a man) when I had to forgo my chance to star in Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 this fall because I was with pups. Are you listening Toby?

You see I came across this casting notice:

Rich King Casting is looking for purebred, talented pups for “Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2.” They’re seeking dogs with the looks and the talent to make it in Hollywood. “Here is your chance to show off (to the world) your best friend. The scene is the Beverly Hills dog show and your purebred could be part of the movie. No talent too big or too small! If interested, please email your name, contact info, a video of your dog and its talent, a picture of you and your dog, breed, and any miscellaneous information to dogshowfilm@gmail.com. Casting will start the week of September 21, 2009, so send in your submission as soon as possible.” More information can be found on their website.

Well, of course, I'm purebred and I have tons of star potential. I would have been a shoo-in. Life and all it's regrets. Well, perhaps they'll make Babe 3. I can play a pig no problem. I AM an actress.

Do you know the origin of that term "shoo-in?" I actually thought it was shoe-in, but it's not. It's shoo-in. Well, as I understand it, it has it's origins in horse racing, where a shoo-in was the winner of a rigged race. It comes from the verb shoo, meaning to drive a person or an animal in a given direction by making noises or gestures, which in turn comes from the noise people often make when they do it. Do you think I could play a horse? National Velvet 3? Or better yet a remake of Black Beauty. I was born for that role.

Did I ever tell you about the time I ran into Shirley MacLaine in Palm Springs? You see my parents and I were having breakfast on the terrace at The Parker Hotel. That's the hotel that was formerly known as The Givenchy, owned by one of my favorite talk show hosts Merv Griffen. It's much cooler now that it's The Parker. It was redesigned by Jonathan Adler, you know the guy that started out making really cool pottery and now has a whole line of stuff for your very hip home. The Parker is very dog friendly. The hotel was even featured in a reality show of the same name. On one of the episodes, hotel management was thinking about banning dogs from the property which made Mr. Adler extremely upset as he is a devoted pet owner and pooch enthusiast. I have no idea how that all turned out. I have a very busy life. But let's get back to Ms. MacLaine. Shirley, as I now call her, was also taking her breakfast on the terrace at The Parker. She was probably actually staying there. We had much finer digs. We were staying in the guest house on Donna Reed's former estate in the Las Palmas neighborhood. Fabu! Well, anyway, as we were leaving, my parents approached Ms. MacLaine and said hello. She was very nice and launched into some whack story about Snoop Dog. But you know what, she didn't even notice me and she is supposed to be this BIG DOG FREAK. I think she even wrote a book about it. I think the title is Out on a Leash. She even has this whole page on herbs for dogs on her website. And another page just filled with pet stories where she claims, "We all love those dear fur people we call pets." Puke!

Maybe she'll come back in her next incarnation as a dog. You know she believes in all that. See how she likes staring at everyone's ankles all the time. No, better yet, a pig. Now, she, she could definitely play a pig. I like this picture of her. This is exactly how she looked that morning at The Parker when I didn't meet her. In fact, I think she was wearing this very same wig. And that's how I came to be on first name basis with Shirley. Are you impressed Toby?

All A Twitter

I don't know if you know this but puppies need to be dewormed at four weeks. So yesterday dad went to the my vet and picked up the wormer. The wormer is a milky-looking liquid and it comes in what looks like a cough medicine bottle. Dad administered a small amount of the wormer in each pup's mouth with a small syringe while I watched over everything. It must taste pretty good because the pups all drank it down and did not appear to suffer any ill effects. We will re-administer the wormer in 10 days. After that, we will take the pups to see my vet at seven weeks for their first immunizations. The second set of immunizations will take place approximately 4 weeks later when the pups are with their new families.

Did I tell you where my pups are going to be living? Two will live with families in Massachusetts one is going to a nice home in Connecticut. Two are going to Iowa and one to Virginia. And I think I already told you that one of my girls is going to live with her dad, Toby, in California. They won't be leaving for awhile now, but I know the time will be here before I know it. The days go by so quickly what with all the activity around here. And, as Grammy told me they would, the days, months and years go by even more quickly as you get a bit older. I don't know where the time has gone, but I am trying to enjoy every minute with the pups.

When the pups are napping, I like to get on Twitter. I think I may be addicted. I don't know why. It's really kinda annoying and I haven't quite figured out how it works. Or maybe I have and there really isn't much to it. But darn I want to find out if their is. So I keep tweeting away. You see on Twitter you can follow other members' updates if you find them interesting and they can follow you. You can also block them if you don't want them to know what you're up to. I have already blocked two of my followers. This guy who was trying very hard to sell me some Viagra and this woman who appeared very heavily involved in the marketing of porn from the Czech Republic. But I am following all sorts of folks. For example, I am closely following Jaclyn Smith. You remember, the lovely dark-haired lady from Charlie's Angels. I have often been told that I bear a very strong resemblance to her. I want very much to keep up with her comings and goings. And, let me tell you, so far it has been very useful. You probably recall that TT's blow their coats after they deliver pups. I, unfortunately, am no exception as far as this is concerned. Well, on Twitter I discovered that Ms. Smith has a line of clip on hair pieces that are easy and fabulous. Now that's just what I need. And guess who is following me. The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan. He even sent me a private message which on Twitter are called direct messages. He tweeted "Stay calm and assertive." Well, I didn't know what The Dog Whisperer meant by that. So I just tweeted back: "Thanks Cesar. That means a lot." I am also following a woman with the handle SugarBoobs. I mean with a name like that she just has to be nice. I'm also following Oprah (even though she's no Tyra) cause her profile pic is of her and a very cute puppy. I'm also being followed by and following a bunch of dogs like GizmoDog, BarttheDog, and LordOscar. There are lots of cute ones out there. I'm definitely following sprinklesmobile. You know Sprinkles is the Beverly Hills cupcake shop that Oprah is always raving about where you have to queue up for hours just to get in the door. Well it appears they have a mobile cupcake van and they Tweet their location so that you can find them: "Sprinklesmobile has arrived at Grand Avenue between 8th and 9th! The first 10 people to whisper "downtown" receive a free cupcake!" My dad loves cupcakes so I definitely need to follow this in case he ever takes me back to California. I like to treat him sometimes.

Speaking of treats. My dad whipped up a trial batch of Pumpkin Pie Biscuits in anticipation of Sadie's Thanksgiving holiday visit. I haven't tasted them yet, but they sure smelled great baking in the oven. I think it must be the maple syrup. So don't forget your furry friend this turkey day. Here's the recipe:

Pumpkin Pie Biscuits

These biscuits make your house smell like Thanksgiving! Pumpkin is a great source of fiber. You can add any leftover pumpkin to your dog's food, if you'd like. (BTW, I like to eat pumpkin right out of the can when I have an upset stomach. It seems to help.) The added spices and syrup make these treats sweet and aromatic.

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 egg


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. Blend together the broth, pumpkin, oil. syrup. and egg with a mixer. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix together with a spoon. Using your hands, incorporate all the flour into the dough. Roll out onto a floured surface. lightly sprinkle flour on top of the dough, keeping it floured so that it won't stick to the rolling pin. Roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut out the biscuits with cookie cutters and place on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until brown. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Gobble. Gobble.

Cyber Pooch

I guess I'm what you might call a cyber pooch. I mean I have my blog and my website (www.deepacresfarm.com) and yesterday I tweeted for the very first time. All my dogs (and bitches!) can now tweet me on twitter @DeepAcresFarm. I am not alone. There are tons of dogs (and bitches!) on the internet. I already have quite a few doggy followers on twitter. Think of the possibilities!

I like being a cyber pooch and thought I probably coined the term. But, on no, Sony introduced a $2500 robotic dog called Cyber-Pooch in 1999 that can go for walks and wag its tail and do tricks. When it first came out it sold out in 20 minutes. At the time, a survey was taken to determine the reason for its popularity. Here are the results.



I also came across a website (www.foopets.com) where you can adopt the world's most realistic, interactive virtual pet. The website even claims that you can "mate your FooPet with your friend's FooPet and make FooPet babies! Watch out — puppies and kittens are a lot of work!" Yeah. Right. Tell me about it. I must admit that the FooPet beagle is kinda cute.

Well the best thing about all this cyber stuff is that I found another Tibetan Terrier blogger. His name is Wigglebutt Duncan and he is VERY cute. He refers to his blog as musings and deliberations of a spoiled, but lovable TT. Roxie has her eye on him. Yesterday, Wigglebutt posted a list that I want to share with you.

The 10 things I Like Most About Being a Tibetan Terrier

1. I've made friends all over the world with other Tibetan Terriers and their owners. I'm on Facebook; you can even Google me (WigglebuttDuncan) and I have 2 whole pages devoted to me! A TT!

2. I've convinced my humans that I'm smart (and that's not just about my breed trait).

3. I'm forgiven for my willful, independent disposition (because my humans believe it's a breed trait).

4. Most people forgive my misbehaving because they think I'm a terrier and it's "terrier behavior," even though I'm NOT a terrier.

5. I get tons of extra special treats for doing stupid things in training. I even get cooked special foods as rewards where I reward my mom intermittently for listening to what I want her to do.

6. It's OK for me to have ADHD; in fact, it's expected.

7. It's OK for me to have notoriously bad recall; in fact, it's expected.

8. Everyone who knows me thinks I'm cute and I know how to maximize it in order to get invited into people's homes (Thanks, Aunt Karen and Uncle Fred).

9. There are very few of my breed around, so I always get LOTS of attention from everyone asking me what kind of dog I am.....

and, finally .....

10. My mom and dad love me so much and think I'm so special, that they actually do something dorky like blogging about me!

For the Birds

Did you notice Roxie singing in the video that I included in my last post? TTs like to sing. We are known for it. Among other things! We sing when we're happy. It feels great and I think more people (and dogs) should sing. I know you want to. I think everyone wants to sing like birds sing not worrying about who hears or what they think. My dad sometimes sings to me and the pups. Ramblin' Rose is a current favorite. He doesn't like to sing in front of most other people though. Not even at birthday parties.

I have a friend who helps others overcome their fear of singing (www.thebirdsings.com). She's a trained vocal coach and leads workshops all over the place. Now, I'm not afraid to sing. I'm just too tired to right now. My dad is afraid to sing, but he would never go to anything like a singing workshop. Oh no!

I think I mentioned that we recently introduced Roxie and Angus to their new siblings. They are really sweet with the pups. I won't say that I'm surprised. I didn't quite know what to expect. Today I shot and cobbled together a video of my older kids with the pups.

Movin' On Up

My pups are now a month old. Can you believe it? Yesterday we moved them out of the whelping box and into a more spacious ex-pen so that they have lots of room to romp and play. As you can see, the move wasn't too hard on them and they find their new accommodations quite comfy. The ex-pen has a raised gate that allows me to come and go, but keeps the pups safe inside. They even have a cardboard box to hide out in. Who could ask for anything more? And there's a little puppy bed in case they do. And toys. Lots of toys. The kids are now noticing and playing with their toys. Although they find the edge of the box just as interesting. In a couple weeks we will move the ex-pen downstairs and add some panels to make it even larger. It will grow as the pups grow. And downstairs it will have easy access to the backyard so I can try to get them thinking about the great outdoors as a great big toilet. We'll see!

You probably know that during housetraining it’s helpful to confine the pups to a small area with hard flooring while you are at home. You can use a gate or, if you can’t use a gate to confine your pup to, say, the kitchen, you may want to buy an ex-pen. You can put a vinyl flooring remnant (usually readily available at stores such as Lowes or Home Depot) under the ex-pen if you have carpet. JB Pet Wholesale has relatively inexpensive ex-pens (www.jbpet.com) that can be expanded with add-on panels.

At night and when you must leave your pup for any period, I recommend that you remove their ID collar and place them in their crate. It is unlikely that they will have an accident in their crate. Immediately take your pup outside upon releasing them from their crate and allow them the opportunity to relieve themselves. I find this crate training to be highly effective in house training my pups. The crate is also a safe and secure refuge for your pet and they are likely to feel more secure confined in their crate when you must leave them alone.

Either a vari kennel type airline crate or a wire crate will do. My parents like the wire at home and at shows when the weather is hot. The airline crate is safer for travel in a vehicle and some dogs prefer them as they make them feel safe. I use a wire crate, the Midwest Lifestages 1630 (30” x 21” x 24”).

Despite all this serious business I did get outside today to shoot this video. Angus and Roxie are definitely ready for their close ups Mr. De Mille.

Shining Like The Sun

My Super Troopers. 3 1/2 weeks old.

I Feel Pretty

Pretty tired that is. Just like MeeMaw.
That woman is always tired. Then again she is old as dirt. But you see, in addition to tending to the little ones, I've been walked up the hill and back down. Let me tell you it's a long, tedious walk. Day after day after day we go on this same blasted walk. And, you know what, I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've plodded up and down these stinking stairs. For the coup de grace, dad cajoled me out of the house to play catch with Roxie and Angus. Well, he only threw the tennis ball a couple times for me. I think he thinks I'm going to hurt myself with all this milk I'm carrying. Darn straight!

I'm still better at frisbee than Roxie and Angus. They're young you know. I put Angus' hair in a pony tail. Otherwise he can't see the frisbee at all. Now I must admit it's good for me to get outside and clear my head. It also gives me some quality fun time with Roxie and Angus. I feel a little bad that I can't spend as much time with them now that I have seven other pups to care for. But, you know what, I think they really understand. I must admit that I was a bit worried about what Roxie and Angus would make of these tiny pups, their new brothers and sisters. They hadn't seen them at all until two days ago, but they knew something was up. So the day before yesterday dad carefully introduced them to the pups one at a time. They were surprising calm and gentle. Especially Roxie who has been nuzzling them and even turned over on her back like she wanted to nurse them. Now wouldn't that be nice.

I'm so glad that they are all getting along so well and I look forward to the day when we can all go out in the backyard and play together. It is so good for the pups socialization to safely interact with other dogs and people from a young age. Grammy Jill is coming for Thanksgiving and she is bringing Sadie so that will throw another friendly dog into the mix.

If you ever bring a new puppy into your home, I strongly recommend that you enroll in a group puppy socialization class as soon as possible. This is a great way to learn basic tools for working with your new pup and it is good for their socialization as well. I also believe it is important to actively introduce your puppy to dogs, people, and a variety of situations to aid in their development. These introductions should be practiced both off-leash in a safe, enclosed area and on-leash in a variety of settings. This will help ensure that your pup becomes comfortable both off- and on-leash approaching new situations and meeting new dogs and people. Praise all positive behavior and quickly correct any negative behaviors. Ask your training class instructor to demonstrate appropriate methods to praise and correct your pup. After completion of your puppy training class, continued group training classes and socialization activities through your pups first few years promote optimal behavior. You know what they say. Pretty is as pretty does.

Gourmet or Gourmand?

I looked it up. My dictionary defines gourmet as "a person who knows a lot about food and drink and is good at choosing what should be combined together" and a gourmand as "a person who eats too much, esp. one who is more interested in the quantity of food than its quality".

I asked a very smart TT over in England named Mo Mo (www.tibetanterrier.me.uk ) and she explained gourmand as "greedy feeder, glutton" and gourmet as "connoisseur of table delicacies; judge of good food."

Well my question is is it possible to be both a gourmet and a gourmand? I guess it is. I mean I know it is because I love delicacies, but lots of them. When it come to my pups I only want the best. I guess I'm thinking about this because it's getting time for me to think about weening the pups. I mean "the girls" can only take so much. For about a week now, my parents have been giving the pups plain whole fat yogurt on the tips of their fingers and they have been lapping it up. I mean really lapping it up. And today, we tried just a little bit of a puppy formula that is used to transition the pups to a more solid puppy food. Again, my parents put the puppy formula on the tips of their fingers and the pups seemed to enjoy it. I got the leftovers and I REALLY like it. Gourmand? We will give them a little more each day until they are ready for puppy food.

The pups will be raised on the dry (moistened, at first) and can formulas of Holistic Select for puppies. Holistic Select wet is chicken based. The dry is an anchovy, sardine, and chicken meal recipe. It is protein rich and contains probiotics, digestive enzymes and Omega 6:3’s. It is a high quality food that my puppies deserve. I believe it promotes superior brain and body development. Visit www.holisticselect.com to find a supplier near you. By the time they are ready to go to their new homes, we will be feeding the pups three times a day, at 6 AM, noon, and 6 PM, usually feeding the can variety at one feeding time daily. Keeping the pups on a schedule helps with housetraining. Angus, Roxie, and I prefer Wellness Core over other brands such as Eukanuba, Iams, and Innova. Wellness Core and Holistic Select are both made in the USA by WellPet.

If you ever decide to transition your puppy or dog to a new food at any time, please do so gradually. At first add just a small amount of the new food to the existing diet and over at least a seven-day period slowly increase the proportion of the new food included in their daily diet. I don't recommend that you change a puppy’s food in the initial transition period when they are introduced to their new home.

Since I am going on about food today, I guess it's as good a time as any to share my dad's oven roasted tomatoes recipe. They are great as a side with eggs or anything for that matter. Sometimes my dad spoons the tomatoes over pasta when he's craving a healthy and easy meal.

Dad's Oven Roasted Tomatoes

2 28 oz cans of whole plum tomatoes
1 tablesoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Combine sugar, salt and pepper in a small bowl and set aside. Lightly coat the bottom of a large baking dish with olive oil. Drain the tomatoes in a collander and discard the juice. Cut the tomatoes in half and and place cut side up in a single layer in the baking dish. Sprinkle evenly all over with the sugar-salt-pepper mixture. Cook for 1 to 2 hours or more until the tomatoes are well cooked and a bit carmelized. Remove from oven and cool. Dad likes them best at room temperature.

Oh, dad just reminded me, after sprinkling the sugar-salt-pepper mixture on top some people like to dab just a teeny tiny dob of butter on top of each tomato before placing in the oven. Gourmands I would guess.

Autumn Leaves

Toby, I was listening to Pandora (www.pandora.com) today. Do you ever do that? You know the internet radio station. It's kinda cool cause based on your listening and song preferences it will suggest and play other songs that it thinks you will enjoy. You probably think I'm so lame. I mean you're a Cali boy. Always one step ahead.

Well, I was listening earlier today and they played this song called Autumn Leaves. Do you know it? I have heard it before but it really hit me today. Maybe because it's full-on Autumn here. Falling leaves everywhere. The song is so lovely. I couldn't help thinking of you. You're lovely too. I know we may see each other at the Nationals in the spring, but I miss you so much today. I don't mean to complain. Really. I just want you to know how much I think of you and if I can't share my time with you right now, at least I can share this song with you.

Autumn Leaves

The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall

I think I'm heading the way of Grammy Jill's sister, Aunt Joan. You see Aunt Joan just LOVES to watch and order baubles and trinkets and warm fuzzy slippers off of HSN, the Home Shopping Network. Well, I don't actually watch HSN, but I did buy something on ebay today. You see there was this listing RARE TIBETAN TERRIER BOOK. How could I not be interested?

The book was described as follows:

THIS IS A RARE "HOW TO RAISE AND TRAIN A TIBETAN TERRIER" PAPER BOOK WRITTEN BY ALICE W. MURPHY. IT CONSISTS OF 64 PAGES. THE BOOK IS IN GOOD SHAPE FOR ITS AGE NO PAGES MISSING. WE OWNED TWO TIBETAN TERRIERS FOR ABOUT 14 YEARS AND FOUND THIS BOOK USEFUL. THE BOOK IS PROBABLY ABOUT 35 YEARS OLD.

I know they say you can't judge a book by its cover, but it's the cover of the book that I fell in love with. So with 21 seconds left in the auction I bid $9.99 and now the book is mine. No one else even bid. Can you imagine? I am really curious to see what's beneath that cover. I can't wait until it arrives. It shouldn't be long. Joan, the original owner sent me the dearest email. I want to share it with you.

Joan's email:

Dear Suddie,

I can tell from your blog that you have a houseful right now. Our first Tibetan Terrier we purchased at a pet store about 35 years ago for $35.00. The owner had died and his TT ended up in this pet store. Unfortunately, he was killed in the road in front of our house. We were heartbroken and immediately found a breeder and she suggested we purchase two. We had a black and white female and a golden male. We had them fixed so we never had any puppies. Since we owned our own business, they went to work with us every day. They lived to be 14 and 15 years old. Oh, we had a fence put around our property this time. We are too old to have dogs now, but they remain dear to our hearts. They were both put to sleep together in 1992 or 93. Enjoy your new puppies. I am starting to read your blog, but it is hard to look at the dogs as they look like ours. They had a wonderful life as we had no children so they were spoiled. It sounds like you and your pups are spoiled too with all those hand made treats.

Regards, Joan.

Let them Eat Biscuits

So my dad made me another batch of Dog Bones with the recipe from the Four Seasons Boston. This time instead of using the rim of a small round glass to cut out circle shapes, he used some bone-shaped cookie cutters that he purchased online. While he was online he also purchased the You Bake'Em Dog Biscuits Cookbook. The book has recipes for all sorts of yummy treats from simple cheddar biscuits to meatballs to fancy liver puree. All the recipes are relatively simple and the author's husband is a pastry chef-instructor at the Institute for Culinary Education in New York City. I would guess she consulted with him on some of the recipes. I think the pumpkin pie biscuits sound so good. I love pumpkin. And I think around the holidays I will definitely volunteer for a little taste testing if my parents make the red and green christmas cookies for our doggie friends. I don't think we will be making any for Wink (remember, the one-eyed Chihuahua) though. You see, we were on our daily walk up the hill the other day, on Halloween, when we ran into Wink's mom Martha. My parents said hello and exchanged pleasantries. I don't know where Wink was. He is usually out running back and forth along the fenceline barking his fool head off. Not today though. Anyway, during their brief conversation my parents asked Martha if she was ready for Halloween and Martha kinda sheepishly replied that she had a few treats that she could scrounge up for the kids (I, of course, think she was referring to the dog treats my parents made for Wink way last Christmas). Well my parents being the anti-social beings they are laughed and said they were going to leave all the lights off and read by candlelight to discourage little ghosts and goblins from visiting. It was only then that Martha admitted that she was planning to do the same. Not a very friendly or festive street I thought. Martha (needlessly) went on to explain that she had the "dog people" over the night before and that was her Halloween celebration. Well! Excuse me Martha! First of all, I'm a little confused as to what dog people are exactly. I think I do remember an episode of Bewitched where a spell was cast that turned Darren into a cocker spaniel. I may, however, be confusing this with a similar plotline from Lost in Space. In any case, if there were ever dog people it would have to be my parents. Thanks for inviting us said dad. And that's why I think Wink is not going to be on our Christmas list this year.

Well, as I see it, Wink's loss is Suddie's gain. You see I can't get enough of biscuits and treats and don't really get the point of sharing. Except maybe with Toby. Wink looks a bit bloated in my opinion. Simultaneously tiny and bloated. Which reminds me that the cookbook has a chapter for pudgy pooches with items like Herbalicious Biscuits and Oatmeal Garlic Cookies. After throwing the Dog Bone Biscuits in the oven my dad decided to try the Cheddar Biscuits from the new cookbook too. The recipe calls for a food processor, but my dad just kneaded everything together by hand and they came out just great. We also changed the name to Parmesan Cheddar Biscuits because they contain Parmesan as well as cheddar and it just sounds fancier. That's important in case my parents decide to serve them at a little impromptu cocktail party or what not. And they just might. They sure ate enough of this batch. You know. If there aren't any crackers in the cupboard why not just eat Suddie's Parmesan Cheddar Biscuits (I just decided to add my name to the recipe title too). Well, I guess they really are just crackers shaped like dog bones, but, I mean, haven't you guys ever heard of Triscuits?

Here's the recipe.

Suddie's Parmesan Cheddar Biscuits

Dogs love cheese. Any type of cheese will do for this recipe, so if you don't have cheddar on hand, try mozarella, Swiss, or any other cheese you have in the refrigerator. People love crackers. So if an unexpected guest arrives with a bottle of wine and the cupboard is bare, let them eat biscuits.

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup milk
Grated Parmesan cheese for topping

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Put flour and cheese into food processor. Pulse to mix. (My dad skips the food processor and just mixes and kneads everything together). Add butter and milk. Mix well. Turn out onto a floured surface and roll out to a 1/4- to 1/2- inch thickness. Poke with tines of fork and sprinkle with finely grated Parmesan cheese. Cut into shapes with cookie cutter. Place on baking sheet covered with greased or non-stick foil ( I didn't know there is such a thing as non-stick foil, but my dad skipped this part too. He did lightly oil the baking sheet with canola oil). Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

On second thought, let them eat crackers. I'm saving these biscuits for myself. They're cheesilicious.

Toby

Did you see the sweet note from Toby? Still not mushy enough for me, but a note all the same. It's not that being a mommy 24/7 is making me question my allure, but right about now I could benefit from a few sweet nothings.

He did send some pics. But that just made me miss him even more. I mean, isn't he adorable. I love the one where his cute little face is resting on his paws. But hasn't he heard of quid pro quo? I post bathtub pics, but not one pic of him in the shower? Oh no! Maybe he's getting shy on me? Maybe he's pissed that I'm posting bathtub pics on my blog? Maybe he's too busy lounging by the pool to give a rip?

Well, at least, I got to see him getting toweled off.

But seriously Toby, you would be so proud of our kids. They are getting quite active and moving around, albeit a little tentatively. And their little personalities are starting to show. They are adorable, sweet and sassy. Sometimes I see myself and sometimes they remind me of you. I know that you miss sharing all this with me, but I am fine... and oh so busy.

Toby wrote:

Hi Suddie,
Great getting the news from you this way. I liked getting the pictures of you, Angus and Roxie in the tub. Strange as it may seem, today was my day in the shower. They seem to like to give me a shower, rather than a bath, don't know why. But I don't like either that much. But, I do enjoy the activity after they get me all clean. First I have a good time rolling on the nice warm towels and play tug of war with the towels between me and my Dad. I never seem to win. I would love to run all over the house shaking the water on everything, but they keep me confined to the deck or other small area until I am almost dry. Then comes the blow dryer treatment. On cool days it feels so good, but in Palm Springs it gets so hot I don't like the hot air blowing on me.Today, after the bath/shower and drying I got loose and found a lawn sprinkler going, and I love to drink from the sprinklers. They seem like a special drinking fountain for dogs. Well my Dads didn't much like that because I got all wet in my face. I have some pictures of the before, after and, during the bathing procedure, but I don't think I can send them with this comment. Maybe I will have my Dad sent them by email. You sure are cute when you are all wet in the tub. Do you have any new pics of the pups? They must have their eyes open now and getting more active. The third week birthday is coming up soon. Sometimes I get very sad thinking of you there with all the pups and my not being able to be by your side to help. You take care and hopefully I may be able to see you next year at the Nationals.
Love TOBY