Maisie

I have been thinking a lot about Maisie, the TT in London that needs a home, and so has my new friend Ella from the Isle of Skye.

Dear Suddie,

We looked at the post about Maisie but my mom, Linda, thought it would be a bit rough for her here as she thinks Kat and I are a bit too boisterous. We took the pic etc to Grandma who really could do with some company and Maisie sounded perfect but Grandma said "No." Grandpa died recently and she just wants to be on her own. I wish she would change her mind but hopefully Maisie will find someone to look after her, after all that is what we all need... someone to love us.

Love from,
Ella X

I love this pic of Ella and Kat enjoying the view out their window. I hope that Maisie finds a good, loving home soon.

Bobcat Attack

Oprah likes Tibetan Terriers. A TT girl that I know named Sydney (I first met her at a dog show) is featured on Oprah's website as one of the inspiring dogs that competed at this year's Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

Here's Sydney's inspiring (and scary) story:

On December 15, 2007, three days after her second birthday, Sydney was badly mauled in a near-fatal attack by a bobcat in the fenced yard at her home in Maine. She underwent two emergency surgeries to save her life and her front left leg. Beating all odds, Sydney survived, but the prognosis for her leg was not good. At best, she more than likely had suffered severe nerve damage and would either walk with a bad limp or drag the leg altogether (which would eventually lead to amputation). Her show days were over as far as everyone was concerned, but she was alive and healthy.

In late January 2008, she was allowed to finally have all of her bandages removed and go out into the yard where she had been attacked more than a month earlier. After a few very tentative steps, Sydney broke out into a full zoom around the yard, finally collapsing in a heap 20 minutes later. Against all odds, she returned to the show ring in September 2008, finishing the year in the top 20 after competing in only nine shows and winning a group along the way. In 2009, Sydney was the winner of multiple groups and group placements and finished the year as the number two Tibetan Terrier bitch and number five Tibetan Terrier overall in the country, earning an invitation to Westminster.

You go girl!

I Love Maisie

I was twittering the other day and found this story about a homeless TT named Maisie. It made me feel so sad. I hope Maisie finds a good home. I love her.

Hello, my name is Maisie
I am an eight year old, female Tibetan Terrier. I am a very special dog who was found abandoned on the streets of London. I have been severely neglected most of my life and lost a leg at a very early age. When I arrived at the Mayhew Animal Home I had to have all my fur shaved off because it was so matted, the photo of me here is after my temporary shave to make me feel more comfortable. I’ve now had a professional clip so look much prettier. I am now in a foster home and my foster mum says that I am a placid and undemanding girl and so quiet that you could almost forget I was there. I spend a lot of my day snoozing on the sofa and like a lot of elderly ladies I can be quite forgetful but I always remember when it is mealtime because I love my food. I am very clean in the house and have already worked out how to use the cat flap to get out into the garden for a peaceful potter around. Although I only have three legs, it doesn’t stop me from enjoying my walks. I can comfortably manage an hour of gentle exercise a day although I need to take it in 30 minute stretches as I can get quite tired. I love being in the park and despite being quite deaf I can be trusted off-lead as I always stay close by. I don’t pay any attention to other dogs but have settled down nicely in my foster home with my doggy housemate Alfie and Lucy, the cat. I am really no trouble and I can manage to get up and downstairs by myself. I can be left alone for a couple of hours without any problems and travel well in the car curled up on the back seat.



I am now looking for a safe and secure forever home with special people who will simply enjoy having me around and will give me plenty of time to build a bond as I am an independent little soul and don’t like a lot of fuss. Although I am good with everybody and could live with children providing they did not pester me, I am not for a busy noisy household. My ideal owner would probably be an older person or retired couple. I could live with another dog if they were gentle with me and I would not mind sharing my new home with a cat. As I am on medication for a heart murmur, which costs between £20 to £30 a month, my new owners would have to be financially secure. So if you have a little room on your sofa and in your heart for a brave little girl, please come and see me soon.

Beamer and Bunky

I received this nice message from a woman named Bunky after I started following her on Twitter:

Suddie,
These are my kind of pooches! I saw that you are following me on Twitter. It may because we have a Tibetan, too! He is black and white and his pics are on my blog http://bunkycooks.com. They pics are under "Things I Love". Your dogs are beautiful! TT's really are very special. We love ours like crazy! Have a great day!
Bunky

I had to go check out Beamer, her TT, and here is what I found under "Things I Love":

This is my 8 year old Tibetan Terrier, Beamer. As most “parents” would say, he is the cutest and sweetest dog. He is a wonderful companion to us and extremely loyal. (He knows where the food and the treats come from!).


There is not a bed, sofa, chair or pillow that he has not made friends with over the years. Can’t you just hear that snoring? I can!

I also discovered that Bunky is a finalist in the the Great American Baking Contest for her Oh My Ganache! cupcakes. They look great even though I can't eat chocolate. I'm a dog you know. I may make them for my dad. He loves chocolate and raspberries and booze.

I thought you might enjoy Bunky's post and recipe:



THIS RECIPE IS A FINALIST IN THE GREAT AMERICAN BAKING CONTEST IN ATLANTA! Judging is March 11 at The Cooks Warehouse!

I decided to do some baking and enter the Great American Baking Contest in Atlanta. This event and bake sale help to support efforts by Share Our Strength to end childhood hunger in America. This year marks the 3rd anniversary of the bake sale in Atlanta. The actual event is on Thursday, March 11th at Cooks Warehouse in Midtown Atlanta.

My hubby and I will attend so that we can get to taste all the goodies, support the effort and see who wins the best dessert in all the categories (professional, amateur (that would be me ) and child baker.

I had been thinking about trying to create a cupcake that combined all my favorite things – dark chocolate, raspberries, mascarpone cheese and a little booze! Well, this is the winner!

I have baked a dark chocolate cupcake, filled it with a raspberry filling, glazed it with a dark chocolate ganache flavored with Chambord and topped it off with a decorative touch of mascarpone icing! There is nothing better than getting a bite of the cupcake with all the chocolate, raspberries and ever so slightly sweetened cheese. Oh, yum!

There are so many recipes for chocolate cupcakes out there. I know one of the favorites is Martha Stewarts’s One Bowl recipe. I say use whichever you prefer and then add the other goodies. I start with a recipe adapted from Cooks Illustrated. I add a little espresso powder to really bring out the flavor of the 2 types of chocolate. I prefer this one since it only makes 12 cupcakes and I know I certainly do not need to have more than that number in my home!

Be sure to check these cupcakes for doneness at about 15 minutes. You want to underbake them just a bit!

Oh My Ganache!
Makes 12 Cupcakes

Cupcakes
8 tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into 4 pieces
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate , chopped
1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa (1 1/2 ounces)
3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (3 3/4 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 large eggs
3/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder
3/4 cup sugar (5 1/4 ounces)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/2 cup sour cream (4 ounces)

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position; heat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard-sized muffin pan (cups have 1/2-cup capacity) with baking-cup liners.
2. Combine butter, chocolate, and cocoa in medium heatproof bowl. Set bowl over saucepan containing barely simmering water; heat mixture until butter and chocolate are melted and whisk until smooth and combined. Set aside to cool until just warm to the touch.
3. Whisk flour, baking soda, and baking powder in small bowl to combine.
4. Whisk eggs in second medium bowl to combine; add espresso powder, sugar, vanilla, and salt and whisk until fully incorporated. Add cooled chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Sift about one-third of flour mixture over chocolate mixture and whisk until combined; whisk in sour cream until combined, then sift remaining flour mixture over and whisk until batter is homogenous and thick. DO NOT overbeat the batter.
5. Divide batter evenly among muffin pan cups. Bake until skewer inserted into center of cupcakes comes out almost clean, 15 to 18 minutes.
6. Cool cupcakes in muffin pan on wire rack until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Carefully lift each cupcake from muffin pan and set on wire rack. Cool to room temperature before icing, about 30 minutes.

Raspberry Filling
1 10 oz. package frozen raspberries with sugar
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Thaw raspberries and drain. You should have almost 3/4 cup liquid/juice. Put liquid in a small saucepan and combine with sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice. Cook stirring constantly until mixture comes to a boil and is very thick. Let cool. Stir in raspberries without the extra juice that drains further (you want the filling to be thick). Fill cupcakes by removing a small piece in the middle of the cupcake, fill hole with about 1 – 1 1/2 teaspoons of filling. Trim the piece you have cut out and place back over the filling in the cupcake. You can also pipe filling into the cupcake, however, this is pretty thick, so it is more difficult.

Chambord Ganache
3/8 cup heavy cream
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 teaspoon Chambord

Bring cream and butter just to a boil. Pour over chocolate chips. Let sit for 5 minutes. Whisk until glossy and smooth. Add Chambord. Let mixture sit 5 minutes to set before frosting cupcakes.

Mascarpone Frosting
4 ounces mascarpone cheese
3/8 cup confectioner’s sugar, sifted
1/2 cup whipped heavy cream

Beat together mascarpone cheese and sugar until smooth. Gently fold in whipped cream until combined. Place in a decorating bag and decorate tops of cupcakes as desired.

Rock Star

I found the following (and the pic above) posted on a website called Tibetan Life.

I AM a ROCK STAR!

Tibetan Terriers: Canine Equivalents of Rock Stars

The Tibetan Terrier Dog reminds me of a fashion model. Like the highest-paid models, the Tibetans have beautiful hair (fur?) that can be styled in various ways, thus presenting many different looks.

Some prefer to look like Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers, but fellow Tibetans are not crazy about that look. Their guardians like it less, offended if people are not wise enough to know the difference.

Some prefer the terrier-sized sheepdog look (but in different colors). It might have worked in the 60s and 70s, but doesn’t work well today.

There are some modified military-style cuts for summer, and labradoodle look-alikes for walks in the park.

Mostly, though the Tibetan Terrier Dog is adorable no matter if they are having a good or bad hair day.

Tibetans are loyal, very happy, extremely loving dogs with minds of their own. That, combined with how cute they are, makes them irresistible. The surprising thing is that there are not more of them in the United States, although that’s probably the choice of the breeders. They’re not for everyone, but those of us who know them wouldn’t want to adopt anything else.

Tibetans like my friend Sherpa have great personalities too. He is very communicative with his bark, letting his guardians know if he’s being ignored, or if they’ve waited too long to let him out, or if he’s just bored. It sounds like “woo-woo-woo,” and he can hold those notes for a long time until he gets what he wants.

The first time I saw the Tibetan Terrier playing in the snow on a terrace in New York will stay with me forever. Expressions like “kid in a candy store” came to mind, as he frolicked, jumped, buried and unburied his toys and then came up with myriad of new hairdos as the snow stuck to his fur. He burrowed under the snow, leaped over snowbanks and rolled in it. His big front legs grew exponentially as more snow stuck to him, and he started to look like a hockey player wearing big gloves.

If Tibetans could talk, I’d ask them if they know how darn cute they are. I think they do. They pose and preen, and the camera loves them. You kind of feel sorry for all the other breeds and mixes. They pale in comparison.

That’s another thing Tibetan Terriers have in common with fashion models. They’re members of exclusive clubs of great looking characters, and that’s not a bad way to live

The Poop

You know I wasn't even going to write about this. It was so traumatic for me as a mother. I am sure you can relate. Many of you have probably sent your kids off to camp for the first time.

Well, you see, it wasn't my idea. Dad had the bright idea of using some new handlers to show Angus and Roxie at the International Kennel Club show at McCormick Place in Chicago and to send Roxie and Angus off to live with the handlers for the week prior so that they could bond and practice. The handlers called it Puppy Camp and dad seemed to buy into that. I don't know why. He hated the swim camps his parents sent him off to every summer when he was but a wee child. He told me one of them wasn't really a camp at all. He just stayed with a host family in Florida and they dropped him off at the pool every morning for a horrible day of intense training under the watch of some supposedly brilliant coach. He HATED it.

I, on the other hand, wasn't so sure about this whole camp thing. You might know that Roxie and Angus and I have never been apart, really, since the day they were born. I tried to tell myself it would be a growth experience for everyone involved. It wasn't so bad for me because I was visiting Iowa and had my little Rufus to keep my mind off my other pups, but I did miss them horribly.

So, after a week, dad and I traveled to Chicago to the International Kennel Club show at McCormick Place in Chicago. The show was a regional specialty for Tibetan Terriers so there were beaucoup TTs. We had to watch all the pups in the sweepstakes competition before the Best of Breed competition. There were lots of cute pups there. A sweepstakes is a competition that is typically held for puppies and veterans (over 7-years old) that doesn't count toward a championship, but it is prestigious to do well at a regional specialty or national specialty show sweepstakes. At least in our narrow little world it is. The sweepstakes winners typically take home a small cash prize and some sort of tchotchke. Like a wall plaque with a TT plastered to it or a tea set decoupaged with frolicking TTs. Angus and Roxie are too old for the puppy sweepstakes and they are champions. Roxie took Best of Opposite Sex at a regional specialty sweepstakes when she was a pup. Angus took Best of Winners and Best Puppy. Now that they are young champions, they were set to compete in the Best of Breed competition.

After what seemed like forever, the sweepstakes were concluded and it was time for the Best of Breed competition. While waiting. I smurfed around McCormick Place and met a cute TT named Tadpole.



Anyway, Roxie came around the ring first with the girls and she was looking pretty fine. Angus soon followed with the boys and after he rounded the first corner he put on the breaks and took a HUGE poop. His handler seemed quite surprised. As someone was bringing some tissue to pick up the mess, I noticed that Roxie was in position and was taking an equally LARGE POOP in the opposite corner. Well. This stopped the competition dead in its tracks as a clean up crew in what looked like HAZMAT suits entered the ring. I didn't know what to make of all of this. Soon order returned and the TTs began to move around the ring again, but as soon as they got started Angus took another BIG poop. The clean up crew returned and while they were still in the ring he took a third LARGE poop. It wasn't like he was sick. I mean these were nice well-formed specimens. You become an expert in these things when you're a mom. Well we might as well have left the ring after that. But, as I'm sure you know, the show must go on. Thank goodness that was the last of the poops from my kids. But as Angus took his last swing around the ring, he stopped dead in his tracks again and took the longest pee I have ever seen. He closed his eyes and looked like he was in some sort of trance and seemed genuinely relieved after he was finally done. Needless to say, we didn't receive any awards of merit.

The International Kennel Club is a benched show which means that all the entered dogs (and bitches) have to stay there all day in their crates. The idea is that people can come and see the different breeds and learn about them. I decided most of these dogs prance around the ring just cause they are so darn happy to be out of their crates for a minute. But what do I know? I do know that Roxie and Angus and I are used to lots of freedom and good, long walks and lots of fresh air. As Roxie and Angus and I were leaving McCormick Place, Angus took another large poop and Roxie took one soon after. I don't think they had pooped in 10 days. That's when I decided NO MORE PUPPY CAMP for my kids. Dad agreed. I think he felt like a dog.

Fields of Gold

When I was in Iowa, I spent quite a bit of time with Rufus, Deep Acres Fields of Gold. We took long walks in the snow together, rough-housed, and I got to love him up quite a bit. He seemed to like that. I even got to give him a bath. I just have to share a pic of Rufus after he had his bath. Do you think he looks like a Snoucher (?) when he is wet. I think he is adorable.

I love the song Fields of Gold. I heard that Sting wrote it after he bought a house in a barley field. It is one of Sting's wife's, Trudie Styler's, favorites.

Here are the lyrics:

Fields of Gold


You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we walk in the fields of gold

So she took her love
For to gaze awhile
Upon the fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold

Will you stay with me, will you be my love
Among the fields of barley
We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we lie in the fields of gold

See the west wind move like a lover so
Upon the fields of barley
Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth
Among the fields of gold
I never made promises lightly
And there have been some that I've broken
But I swear in the days still left
We'll walk in the fields of gold
We'll walk in the fields of gold

Many years have passed since those summer days
Among the fields of barley
See the children run as the sun goes down
Among the fields of gold
You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in the fields of gold
When we walked in the fields of gold
When we walked in the fields of gold

It's so beautiful. Just like Rufus.