I know that blogging has been light, but the next book, my first fiction novel, is getting closer to publication and there's a lot "behind scenes" going on with publication and marketing plans as this one is going to be in bookstores around the planet, not just on Amazon.  

Hopefully, we will return to our usual programming in December.

On a Dog's Love

You know how they say your dog loves you unconditionally. Trust me, there are times where your Dog is as annoyed with you as you are with the rest of the world.  :-)

Fight Song

The pianist in this group, Jon Schmidt (The Piano Guys) had his 21 year-old daughter, one of five children, go missing in the Columbia River Gorge last week. I know the trail, it is both beautiful and treacherous and she was hiking alone on a day hike, without camping equipment. Unfortunately, her roommate thought she was camping with family, and she wasn't report missing for several days after storms moved through the area. The search and recovery efforts were called off today with no trace of her but one last cell phone ping in the area on the 16th, her car abandoned at the start of the trail. Just saying a prayer for the family as I listen to this wonderful piece.

On Landings

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Partner in Grime got 98% of the paving down for the steps he put in   I like that they are pitched half of what the old ones were, given I'm missing a meniscus in one knee which hurts like tax season, on any given day.

I don't envy him the dirt dug out and the dirt that has to be "redistributed" but he got his favorite casserole and a loaf of homemade bread with beer for dinner so it wasn't all so bad.

On Perspective

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

- Edmund Burke

This stone sits on a small shelf behind a desk, there in the shadows.  Only a couple of individuals have recognized what it was. What most of us see depends on what we really look at.

Those that see it don't look at it closely. But it speaks of so much that our present generation has forgotten.

Perspective. Recognition. Redemption.

On Longing

From Abby, who is over two years in her forever home after being dumped by her family at a high kill shelter, heartworm positive.  She is so happy now and with that, some words from Abby on longing.

Wishful longing  (I wish I had some bacon)

Anticipation (I know if I'm quiet and good, I'll get some bacon)

Happiness  (There's bacon on the counter, and it's for me!)

Wanting  (It's been so long since I've had bacon)

Reality  (The bacon is ignoring me and  is going somewhere other than my bowl.)

Let Down  (The bacon is gone!)

 Disbelief (I didn't even get a real  goodbye).

Sadness  (I miss bacon)

Loneliness  (Everyone in the world has bacon but me!)

Hope.  (Someday, there will be the perfect piece of bacon, and I will find it, if I just sit patiently by the counter).

OK, just a little piece, Abby.

You just had to be patient.  God had a plan, you just had to wait until He was finished making it.

Accessories for your Pet you May or May NOT Need.

There are so many toys and accessories for your animals, it's hard to find one that's really unique  So I  have taken the time to do a little shopping for you.

First up, the cat bonnet.  A modest cat keeps those ears covered and you know you're going to have SO much fun putting this on your clawed best friend.

You don't have to drink alone anymore.  Catnip wine!  Now the cat and you can curl up and watch the latest Lifetime movie while relaxing with some vino.

Poop Freeze.  Who cares about our carbon footprint, use some propellant to freeze your dog's poop.  Add a trebuchet and an annoying neighbor and you have a whole evening of entertainment.

Never touch your pets again, the automatic pet petter.  I'm betting Fluffy has that thing eviscerated within 10 minutes.

The leopard print bra dog toy.  Sure it's embarrassing when Fido drags out one or your unmentionables in front of company. Just distract your pet with this.  Your guests will be uncomfortable but you don't.

Can't wait to sleep with your eye open from now on - the cat Tierra, their look says it all.

The horse head squirrel feeder.  So your neighbor gets a restraining order - think of the fun you'll have.

 The mullet wig.  Your dog missed the 80's, now he or she doesn't have to!

 The dog treat Pez dispenser.  Holds six treats.

 Nothing says good nap like a bed shaped like a hamburger.

 The humping USB device.  Impress your friends AND your boss.

The Kim Jong Un cat scratching post (only $7300 on the internets) handmade by genuine political activists

The Nasty Dry Crap mat.  Barkey had one of those, and it just makes me smile. 

 The Super Mario Brothers cat play center.

 Give your cat a new reason to feel renewed disdain for you.  The cat pirate costume.

 Every cat has aspirations on being a tiny pilot.  Please be responsible and spay or neuter so no "mile high club" action results in a surprise litter.

So, the mailman says he's not afraid of dogs.  Just put on this lion wig and see what he says NOW.

Every dog needs a pair of plaid pajamas.  Mom has one like that.  She calls it "warm", Dad calls it "Scottish Birth Control".

You can't take too many selfies.  Use this handy app to get your pet's attention.  Or be a cheapskate like me and tape a treat to the phone.

 Every dog park needs at least ONE stegosaurus.

Have a horse, add a unicorn horn.

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Tired of people you don't know coming up to pet your dog without asking first?  Just put on the werewolf dog muzzle and there will be no more of THAT.

DIY Time - Buying Tips and Burritos

With storms in the forecast, I did my grocery shopping early.  I shop at a small family-owned grocery. It's not tiny; they have an in-house butcher and baker, but it's MUCH small than a chain grocery, probably a sixth of the size.  But I like that I can wander down EACH aisle looking for things marked down that may not be in their flyer.  I can't do that at the little hell on earth that is Jewel-Osco on a Saturday morning where you almost need a Sherpa to find everything as they are constantly moving items so you have to HUNT for them (oh look, while I'm on this aisle spray cheese for $8!)

The food on the table is one week's worth of groceries and household supplies, for which I paid less than $65. I don't know how many times I've stood in line behind a couple buying food for themselves for one week and it's close to $200, the cart FILLED with prepackaged, pre-prepared food and junk food.  Today at the store they were selling little aluminum containers of fresh cut up stew vegetables for $14 and young people were buying them.  I bought my veggies for this week's stew for $3. Because you know, dicing is so hard.

The only splurges were the extra large pizza, on sale for $6 and some beer. The jars you see are my sourdough starter which was drained to start the week's loaves of bread going and the other some homemade canned sauerkraut which will be eaten with dinner one night.  The sourdough starter was used to make this week's bread (no pricey yeast!) both sandwich and breakfast muffins, and then will then be refreshed daily and by next weekend will have enough to make more bread. I probably save $700 a year baking my own bread  and muffins as opposed to store and coffee shop prices and if you figure in bartering it with friends who have produce or eggs, even better. I got enough fresh garden tomatoes from my friend Birgit (I know Brigid and Birgit - we sound  a dyslexic law firm) to make pasta sauce for several months with just some homemade banana bread and beer bread. Sweet!

There was TP on sale, but I've learned to make my own laundry soap and I clean with DIY vinegar products so I save a bundle in the "home cleaning" aisle.

Wild Yeast Sourdough Beer Bread

There is only one large roast but last week there was a "buy one get one free" on pork tenderloin and the family pack of chicken, which will give me enough for other meals. The cheese this week was "buy one get one free" so that extra package will go in the freezer. There's fruit and fresh veggies for salads and green smoothies, and I have other veggies canned in the basement as side dishes or to make pasta sauces, as well as bulk rice and beans. I did buy a package of brown rice for less than a buck as in our long-term stores we just keep white rice, brown not keeping NEAR as long in prepping supplies. I also bought some canned pinto beans for .75 cents a can on sale, to use some of the canned beans in our supplies that are nearing an expiration date.  That way we make sure what we have stored is cycled through.  I had eggs, but these were .49 cents so I figure I can make a pie crust and use up the leftover veggie and cheese bits to make a quiche with the older eggs for lunch next weekend.

For lunch, Partner likes sandwiches with a piece of homemade pie or cookies so I picked up some fresh cut deli meats, which, when taking advantage of products they've marked down are cheaper than pre-packaged.  With it being super busy, the last couple of weeks I had been toting an Amy's Organic burrito to the office, as it's quick and nothing around work is cheap to eat at.  That with a cookie and an apple I'm set as they are very filling.  Then I realized, I was spending about $40 for lunch for two weeks and they are high in sodium, as is most processed food. I can DIY that.

So my goal today was to come up with a healthy, low sodium, high protein frozen burrito

Start with cooking up 3/4 cup of dry rice in 1 and 1/2 cup water.  In the steamer, brown rice needs about an hour, white only 40.  I used some of the liquid from a can of Rotel to replace the water.

While that cooks, get out your seasoning.  I addTablespoonepoon each of Penzey's Adobo seasoning, cumin and

• Scoville Brothers

Cowboy Crooner Hot Sauce to 3 cans of drained and rinsed pinto beans which I had simmering with 1/2 cup water, 1/2 a chopped onion and some fresh garlic (optional, use bell peppers if you don't like garlic and/or onion).  Simmer til the beans are softening and the liquid is gone. On medium heat about 15-20 minutes. Note:  The Cowboy Crooner is the mildest of all the Scoville Brothers sauces - if you use a hotter sauce reduce amount ofhot  sauce to 1 teaspoon.

 When the rice was done, I put it in a bowl to cool faster.

And then I added a can of Rotel tomatoes and chilis and a small splash of lime juice.

Using some store brand generic whole wheat tortillas (fajita sized) I started assembling when the rice and beans were cool to the touch (so the tortilla doesn't get soggy) using a generous 1/3 cup each of beans and rice and about 1/4 cup sharp cheddar. You can add a bit of green or red chili sauce, but I kept mine simple so it didn't drip on my desk while I work.

Don't use so much filling you can't roll it up and tuck the ends under.  You're not going for a Burrito the size of your head but a protein filled, healthy meal or snack.

I ran out of tortillas before I ran out of filling so I used a half dozen leftover smaller Sprouted Grain Tortillas from when I made soft tacos one night.

 To those,  add some scrambled egg and some salsa for a breakfast burrito.

In a little over an hour, most of which was rice cooking time, I had eight lunch sized burritos and six smaller breakfast burritos.   The cost was less than $8 and most of that was the tortillas which can easily be made as well. Buying the same amount of Amy's burritos would have been $56 at our nearest health food store price.

The larger burritos are about 400 calories with close to 20 grams of protein and very little sodium since I used low sodium beans and rinsed them thoroughly.

These will go into the freezer.

To serve, unwrap, wrap in a  paper towel and nuke from frozen for 2 to 3 minutes for the larger burrito and about two for the smaller (may vary depending on your microwave.)

This had a great taste and a nice bit of heat without "reach for a glass of milk" heat.

DIY - not because you have to, but because it feels good to do something yourself and have money left over the important things (like good single malt scotch and a ready supply of ammo)