In the Doghouse

I feel like I should be banished to the doghouse! I haven't even been keeping up my end of this blogging thing! But, hey! I've had a busy weekend! Going all the way back to Friday, mom, dad, sister and me -- we went for a nice walk in the woods around the golf course. I got to ride in the car to get there!! WooHoo!!! Once we were there, mom was kinda itchin' to go a bit faster, so me 'n' her took off. Actually, I didn't like that much. Finally, when she wouldn't listen to me, I just sat down and REFUSED to move another inch until I could see Dad and Sis again! Then we were cool and we took off again. This time we ran, but did I tell you, Mom can outrun me?!?! We had to wait AGAIN for those slowpokes to catch up and then I was good to go again! Anyway, after that I got ICE CREAM!!! Actually, Dad said it was a kiddie scoop of yogurt, but I don't care, it was GOOD!!! Saturday, I was so busy. There were kids and people EVERYWHERE in the great outdoors behind our house that needed to be greeted! I LOVE people! The sunshine makes me so happy! I found the coolest stick, too. It's getting splinters everywhere because I'm such a strong Dog! Today, for now, I'm taking it easy. I thought I should at least tell you a bit. I found this cartoon today, though, and thought you might like to see what I would be like in the business world. This, I'm ashamed to admit, is EXACTLY how it would be!

Weekend Ponderings

Boy do the days just seem to FLY by when I'm not looking! How did it get to be Monday morning already? After the post on Saturday morning, we headed out for breakfast (none of those delicious things were smellin' up my house!!) and a day in the sorta-sun (but definitely nice and warm!) Seattle day! Tiana was feeling quite nasty with either the biggest case of seasonal allergies or a minor cold. We were actually invited to lunch, but she started feeling so bad Friday that we canceled in the event it is a cold. We did a couple of errands before we headed out to the Japanese Gardens. Once we got there, my new digital camera got quite the workout! We will definitely have to go back when the trees are in full bloom and with all of their leaves! Following that, we took a fun little trip through some neighborhoods along the coast of Lake Washington (places we've never in 18 years been!) and then up and over the hill into downtown Seattle. Did find the neighborhood that we mistakenly turned off of I-90 into when Mom and Dad first brought me out here to live! A very late lunch was had at our favorite little Russian restaurant in the Pike Place Market (Cafe Yarmarka). From there we walked down to Pioneer Square, looked around a bit there, found some underground galleries and shops and walked back to our car near the Market. I hope you'll enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them!



The Full Album

What goes with coffee?

What are you having with your coffee this morning? Or maybe later this afternoon? After dinner with friends? Here are a few recipes you might want to try!


Easy Breakfast Rolls
Begin these the night before.

1 small box regular butterscotch pudding (NOT instant)
1 package frozen white dinner rolls (20-24 rolls)
½ c. brown sugar
1 stick butter, melted
½ c. chopped pecans or walnuts

Grease 13x9" pan. Put frozen rolls in pan and distribute evenly (I often only use 12 rolls). Pour melted butter evenly over rolls. Mix pudding powder, sugar and nuts in small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over rolls. Place in cold oven overnight. Bake in the morning for 30 minutes at 350º. When rolls come from oven, immediately turn out onto cookie sheet.

Chocolate Shortbread

1 c. butter
1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa
2/3 c. powdered sugar
dash salt
1½ c. flour

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy. Blend in remaining ingredients. Chill one hour (I've successfully skipped this step before!!). Drop by rounded teaspoons 2" apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 300º for about 20 minutes or until the cookies are set.

Chocolate Nut Pudding

1 c. sugar, divided
1 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
½ c. unsweetened cocoa, divided
¼ c. butter or margarine
½ c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
½ c. brown sugar packed
1½ c. cold strong coffee (I recommend Starbucks Caffe Verona for this!!)
½ c. pecan halves
½ c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

In bowl, combine 3/4 c. sugar, flour, baking powder, salt and ¼ c. cocoa. Melt butter and add, along with the milk and vanilla, to dry ingredients. Mix just until blended. Pour into a greased 9" square baking dish.
Mix the brown sugar, remaining ¼ c. sugar and remaining ¼ c. cocoa. Sprinkle evenly over mixture in dish. Pour coffee evenly over all. Sprinkle with the pecans and chocolate chips. Bake at 350º for 40 minutes. Cool slightly and serve.

Today, I also want to recognize a good friend and my cousins from Montana who have just or are currently competing in their local Special Olympics games. Good Luck to all of you involved!!!

Ahhh, what a good day! Started off with a FABULOUS walk by the river with my friends, and then home to spend time with one of my favorite little people, a customer's daughter. I got to spend a whole lot of fun time with her, photographing her, playing at the park and creating a one-of-a-kind Mother's Day card for her mom! I did NOT cook tonight (hides face in shame) but did bake a pan of Toffee Topped Bars. Haven't tried them, yet, but they SMELL great! Kent just mowed the lawn, Coda spent lots of time barking at a woman looking for donations and Tiana set up her own blog! What a busy night here at our house!

A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my mom today!!!

Good Morning everyone! Since I have the most time around this household, AND I tend to be a great sniffer, let me help you sniff out the goods on my pack! Oh, wait!! I sniff a squirrel... No, it was the neighbor's chickens, but anyway.... My mom is arguably the best because she feeds me the most. Dad's pretty cool because he takes me on walks every night! WooHoo!! Get the leash and we're outta here! Oh, I digress. Then there's my sister -- she's ALWAYS singing! She and mom are practicing a song for her to do at a solo festival. At least, that's what I get out of it! Oh, and you should have seen her over the weekend! She was jumpin' and hollerin' because she was invited to be a part of the National Junior Honor Society!! To hear mom and dad talk about it, it's a pretty big deal. Apparently she hasn't always liked school and hasn't done that great, but Middle School seems to be good! Oooh, hold on... Had to check who'd been in the backyard.... So, back to my sister, she LOVES to talk on the phone. If she's not talking, she's texting! I can't do that -- no thumbs. I can talk, though, just come hang out here around 9pm and you'll understand very well, that I want to go for that nightly walk with Dad! I tell him ALL about it! Sometimes Mom takes me for a walk. Sometimes even when my favorite girlfriend Jolyn comes over!! Ooh, that's so fun. But, I have to be a bit honest here, they can out walk me ANY day! Give me a mile and I'm done, but those girls -- they go on and on and on and on...-Do ya get my drift? <yawn> Well, time for my morning nap. My food bowl's empty (guess where that went in a hurry?!?!) and so my eyelids are heavy! Hope you'll come and see me soon! Oh, hey, could you scratch me right there? Yeah, behind the ears! Ooooh, that's good! You're my new best friend!

Alright here goes! We're stepping off in to the great unknown world of blogging. We love to take a walk through your lives, and hope we'll have something fun for you, too! Just watch your step -- Coda lives here too!