Garden to Table

Tiny Red Currant and Yellow Pear Tomatoes from the garden.

Olympic Fever - Call Me Maybe

US Olympic Swim Team lip syncs to Call Me Maybe

Skyscrapers

Daisy and Archie

We were lounging in the backyard of our cottage last night when we spotted eight little legs through the hedgerow.  Two of the cutest Jack Russell terriers had come to visit.

We checked out their ID tags and that's how we learned their names, Daisy and Archie.  It wasn't until later that Dad noticed that Daisy had a penis.   "Daisy has a dick," he exclaimed.  That's when the kids started calling her Daisy with a D.

Anyhow, we got the number from their tag.  804 Area Code.  Richmond, Virginia.  Summer dogs like us.   No answer when we called, so Sophie and Grace leashed Daisy and Archie so they couldn't continue on their way.  Fresh water and Milk Bones were served.

Eventually, we got ahold of the owners who were staying in a cottage just two blocks away.   Turns out that Daisy is actually Toby.   Daisy is their third dog, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  Toby was just wearing Daisy's collar.  They all escaped when the kids left the door open.  Apparently it wasn't the first time.  And Alex, their 12-year-old owner, confided that Archie has been peeing in the cottage.   Their neighbor in the cottage across the street popped out to say they are very bad dogs.   We liked them very much.

Sherpa in Summer

Champion Deep Acres Autumn Splendor

Running Errands With Dad

Gorgeous Boy

The Monarda (Bee Balm) is in Bloom Again

The Monarda is blooming around our patio.  Common names include bee balm, horsemint, oswego tea, and bergamot, the last one due to the leaves' fragrance resembling that of Citrus bergamia fruits. The genus was named for Nicolás Monardes, who wrote a book in 1574 describing plants found in the New World.

Several bee balm species (Monarda fistulosa and Monarda didyma) have a long history of use as a medicinal plants by many Native Americans including the Blackfoot, Menominee, Ojibwa and Winnebago. The Blackfoot Indians recognized the strong antiseptic action of these plants, and used poultices of the plant for skin infections and minor wounds. A tea made from the plant was also used to treat mouth and throat infections caused by dental caries and gingivitis. Bee balm is the natural source of the antiseptic Thymol, the primary active ingredient in modern commercial mouthwash formulas. The Winnebago used a tea made from bee balm as a general stimulant. Bee balm was also used as a carminative herb by Native Americans to treat excessive flatulence.  An infusion of crushed Monarda leaves in boiling water has been used to treat headaches and fevers.

Although somewhat bitter, due to the thymol content in the leaves and buds, the plant tastes like a mix of spearmint and peppermint with oregano. Bee balm was traditionally used by Native Americans as a seasoning for wild game, particularly birds. The plants are widespread across North America and can be found in moist meadows, hillsides, and forest clearings up to 5,000 feet (1,500 m) in elevation.

And Rufus, Grand Champion Deep Acres Fields of Gold, is blooming in the show ring.   Currently ranked #8 in all-breed competition, Rufi recently was invited to show at the Top 20 Invitational at the Tibetan Terrier Club of America's National Specialty show.  The following weekend, Dad showed him wearing jeans and t-shirt (Dad, not Rufus. It was 93 degrees after all.)  and Rufus took a  Group 3 placement.  Rufus is now on hiatus for a few years (we think) to enjoy his teenage years.  You are only 2-dog-years-old once, so we say enjoy it.  Sweating at dog shows is not so enjoyable.  Even when you go home with the big rosette.

Nasturtium Pesto

We have a bunch of nasturtium plants in our garden and in pots on the patio.  We like to use the flowers and leaves in salads.  Lately we have seen a number of recipes for nasturtium pesto and last night we substituted one cup of nasturtium leaves for the Italian Parsley we usually use.   We also added a 1/4 cup of raw pistachios to the pine nuts in the pesto.   We forgot to use the garlic called for, but we didn't miss it at all.   The nasturtium leaves give the pesto a savory peppery flavor. Here's a link to the Best Basil Pesto Recipe Ever.  Substitute away!

Our Newest Champ

Our girl, Pandora, who lives with her dad Toby in San Diego took Best of Opposite Sex yesterday in Long Beach and became a new champion. With Pandy's new champion title, Suddie and Toby can brag that a full one-third of their pups are now champions.