“Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.”
The sun appeared for a few minutes then went into hiding behind the clouds. The day is overcast but still light, none of the darkness of the last few days. A damp chill is in the air and a breeze is blowing. It’s an okay day.
Gracie’s panting was so heavy that she shook the bed and woke me at 1:30. She was gulping so I knew her stomach was upset. It happens every now and then. We went downstairs, and I let her out to hunt for grass to eat to settle her stomach. She came back inside about 20 minutes later, and we went back to bed. In not too much time, the bed began to shake again so downstairs we went and out she went. She came in and we went to bed but she kept moving around as she was unable to get comfortable and then came the panting. By this time it was 2:30, and I had yet to fall back to sleep. I went upstairs and brought down a sheet and pillow and went to try to fall asleep on the couch. Gracie joined me. Neither of us slept. She started panting again. This time she was out so long I went out on the deck to make sure she was okay. It was around 3:30. When she came back in, I fed her some fronds from the spider plant. She ate everyone and then went back outside. When she came in this last time, she went into her crate and stood looking at me. That is the universal sign for a treat so I gave her one which she ate then another. Gracie was just fine. It was 4 o’clock when we both went back to bed.
My dog Duke, when he was pretty old, got into a horrible dog fight with the huge dog down the street. Duke got the worst of it. He had really bad wounds on his neck where the dog had grabbed him. This never happened when Duke was in his younger days, when he was the scourge of the dogs in the neighborhood but age had slowed him down. My mother wanted him brought to the vets; my father said he’d be fine.
In those days, my dad worked on the Cape all week and came home only on weekends. We were moving there but not until after school was finished for the year. When my dad left the Monday after the dog fight, my mother brought Duke to the vet who took care of the bite wound with a few stitches and a shot or two. By the time my dad got home at the end of the week, the wounds were well on their way to healing. My dad checked out Duke when he got home and said to my mother, ” I told you nature would take care of it.” None of us ever mentioned the trip to the vet’s.
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August 19, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Who is “supervising” Graciewhen you are gone ?
Maggie cannot bear to be separated from Mrs MDH, so we are lucky enough to have someone who will house sit with her, although upon our return Maggie makes her sentiments quite clear.
Suitcases have to be hidden until the last moment
August 19, 2012 at 1:09 pm
My Dear Hedley,
Miss Gracie and the Misses Fern and Maddie are getting a new sitter. They have had the same one each time but she is unable to stay so long. It is actually a good thing as she worked and had to hurry here at lunch to let Gracie out of her crate (Gracie refuses to let go of her crate). The new sitter doesn’t work except on Saturdays so she’ll be here all the time. She is Brazilian and speaks little English. Her son is one part of my cleaning couple, both of whom are the most wonderful people. Lu, my sitter, worked my cocktail party a couple of years ago. She was a delight. Lee and Rosana, my cleaning people, are bringing Lu next Friday so they can translate when I explain what she needs to do. My neighbor is Brazilian so I’ve asked him to check on her every now and then.
August 19, 2012 at 12:52 pm
Having my morning coffee and reading the coffee, I should of made this to go with it all
Country Apple Coffee Cake
Ingredients
COFFEE CAKE:
2 tablespoons margarine OR butter, softened
1-1/2 cups chopped peeled apples
1 (12-ounce) can refrigerated flaky biscuits
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1-1/2 teaspoons whiskey(optional)
1 egg
1/2 cup pecan halves OR pieces
GLAZE:
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 2 teaspoons milk
Instructions
To make Coffee Cake,using 1 tablespoon margarine, generously grease a 9-inch round cake pan OR 8-inch square baking pan.
Spread 1 cup apples in greased pan.
Separate dough into 10 biscuits;cut each into quarters.
Arrange biscuit pieces,points up,over apples.
Top with remaining 1/2 cup apples.
In a small bowl,combine remaining 1 tablespoon margarine,brown sugar,cinnamon,corn syrup,whiskey and egg;
beat 2 to 3 minutes or until sugar is partially dissolved.
Stir in pecans.
Spoon over biscuit pieces and apples.
Bake in preheated 350-degree F. oven 35 to 45 minutes or until deep golden brown.
Cool 5 minutes.If desired,remove from pan.
For Glaze,in a small bowl,blend together all glaze ingredients until smooth,adding enough milk for desired drizzling consistency.
Drizzle over warm cake.
Serve warm or cool.
Store in refrigerator.
Yield: 8 servings
August 19, 2012 at 1:03 pm
morpfy,
Another recipe for the files! This one is so easy and sounds delicious. I love using the biscuits as the base.
Thanks!!
I’m thinking of a brunch for my friends when I return and this will be on the menu!
August 19, 2012 at 1:31 pm
You’re Mom gave the best “how to handle your husband” advice. Choosing your battles was one. I remember griping to her about an argument Jamie and I were having where he wanted to tear the porch off the house and build a garage and I wanted to keep the porch. She said to just agree that it’s a great idea. He won’t ever really follow through with it. They just get crazy ideas sometimes. So I agreed with him. And the porch remained until we sold the house. I follow that advice regularly now. It’s alleviated much stress. I love the Duke story! Everyone’s happy. 🙂
August 19, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Erin,
My mom definitely had it down pat. My favorite was when she’d get home from here. She’d go in with a couple of bags. After my dad left for work the next day, she’d empty the trunk!
My father never did find out!
August 19, 2012 at 1:40 pm
We didn’t get as much sunshine as they said we should but the day was warm and nice anyway. The few remaining annoying flies did what they could to me while I was mowing the lawn though.
I hate when that happens during nights! Most times I don’t hear it because all my dogs goes downstairs to the hall way, I think they know that it’s best to do it on a floor where there’s no carpet 🙂
I once had two dogs, Sickan and old Erna that had to have a huge fight every year. Blood flooded and sometimes I had to go to the vet. But they never started a fight when I wasn’t at home and it went a year until the next one 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
August 19, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Christer,
The flies want to make hay while they can! We didn’t get any sun either. It is at least a coolish day.
Gracie didn’t get sick. She was just feeling sick. The only thing was she was leaving drops of saliva. Fern is the one who throws up and usually in the worst places.
I remember Old Erna! I guess once was enough to get it pout of their systems.
August 19, 2012 at 1:55 pm
Last night we got more rain and my two dogs didn’t want to leave our patio to go and do their business in the grass. Instead they now want to be walked in the neighborhood after the rain has stopped. The newest addition, Sherlock, has been teaching our older dog, Cowboy, some new tricks, such as peeing and pooping in the house, barking at anyone who is at the front door and not listening. Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?
One of the best things every new husband should practice saying before the wedding is, ‘yes dear’. Constant use of that phrase whenever the wife asks a question will result in a long, peaceful and happy marriage. Example, “Honey, we need to buy new furniture for the living room”. “Yes, dear” is the preferred reply or “I will get the car keys so we can go shopping”. Or, “Honey, (__ fill in the blank)” should also be answered the same way. This method will lead to peaceful coexistence and regular sex. 🙂 Men generally have to find a mistress if they want irregular sex. 🙂
August 19, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Bob,
Cowboy probably figures if Sherlock can, why can’t he! Gracie is not big on the rain either, but at least she’ll get off the deck and go under the backyard trees. Sometimes she looks so beaten by the drops I just let her in figuring she’d go if she really had to.
How old is Sherlock?
My mother and father were both amazing, but my mother was cagier than he. She also paid all the bills and managed to put money away to surprise him with a trip or two. The last thing she’d want would be for him to shop with her. He went to the grocery store a few times and drove her crazy. “Get this one. It’s cheaper,” was his mantra. “You won’t eat that one,” was usually her answer but he’d insist, she’d buy it, and when it was served, he wanted the one she usually bought instead. He learned not to go shopping.
August 19, 2012 at 4:55 pm
We think Sherlock is about three or so years old. He was found abandoned on the street and was suffering from heart worms. My wife rescued him from the local no kill shelter while I was in Brazil. That way I didn’t have to go through the ‘yes dear’ gambit.
My father always got the one that was cheaper even though he didn’t like it as much. But he would convince himself and everyone else that it was just as good as the nationally advertised brand. He hated the thought of paying for advertising.
He spent his entire retirement buying marked down meat in all the neighborhood grocery stores. He knew exactly which day and hour each store’s meat department reduced the price and he would be standing in front of the meat counter waiting for the butcher to mark down the meat. They were both products of the Great Depression and saving money was in their blood.
August 19, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Bob,
My cats are from the shelter as well. They were five when I adopted them. I figured I’d always had kittens so this time I’d adopt the hard to find a home for cats.
My dad was quite generous with money. Once he gave all of us $500 to buy Christmas present, not for ourselves but for each other. He gave my sister and me $100 as a going to England gift on my sister’s first trip there.
On the flip side, he hated to spend small money or things he thought he could do. It was weird as he was inept doing stuff.