1500

Or rather 1507 to be totally accurate. What is 1500? That is how many blog posts I have posted since this blog began on blogger, on February 10, 2008. Woo hoo! Been a great run! Y'all tired of me yet?

BUSY WEEKEND- Marathons, dogs and water Oh My!

 Pretty busy weekend... on Saturday, we held our 2nd "Park & Bark", we (B-Town D.O.G.) are holding these monthly to show the need that we need an Off-Leash Dog Park in the city of Burien, so our four legged friends have some where to run and play! And on Sunday Yours truly volunteered to work a "watering station" for the annual Cove to Clover" Half marathon, 10K, 5K and "Wee Race". I think the dogs running was better, although my hats off to all those who chose to run in the C2C!

Some of the dogs and humans that came out to Park and Bark 

The cove to clover is a neat thing because so many charities benefit from it, including A.A.R.F. (Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation) the folks who let me adopt Buddy! And they where out in force as a running team

Here comes the Runners... Here is the water!!!

The TEAM AARF Running Team!

PARK N BARK- BEETCHES!!!!

Ok gang. You know that group I belong to... the one whose main wish is to get a dog park in Burien? Well tomorrow, in front of a Place for Pets in Burien, we will be helping them celebrate 8 years in business. And at 11A.M. across the street  we will hold our second Park N Bark, a monthly meet up of people and their pooches. If the weather is nice, we will have a coffee on Burien Press' Back Porch with our dogs. So if you are around south Seattle, be there or be square.

Pets Add LIFE!!!

Reasons to get a pet( From the PAL web page):

Pets Help to Reduce Stress. Walking with a pet helps to sooth nerves and offers instant relaxation. Studies conducted worldwide have shown that the impact of a stressful situation is lesser on pet owners, especially males, than on those who do not own a pet. (Josephine M. Wills, Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, United Kingdom)

Pets Help to Prevent Heart Disease and lower blood pressure. Because pets provide people with faithful companionship, research shows they may also provide their owners with greater psychological stability, thus a measure of protection from heart disease. (National Institute of Health Technology Assessment Workshop: Health Benefits of Pets)

Pets Help to Fight Depression. Pets help fight depression and loneliness, promoting an interest in life. When seniors face adversity or trauma, affection from pets takes on great meaning. Their bonding behavior can foster a sense of security. (Between Pets and People: The Importance of Animal Companionship)

Add joy. Pets are the best! They're wonderful companions for kids and adults alike. Just think, no matter how bad a day you had, your dog will still love you, your cat will still cuddle you and your fish will still relax you buy swimming in graceful patterns. From canines to cockatoos, felines to fish, tree frogs to turtles, geckos to guinea pigs, owning a pet can bring immeasurable joy to your life.

Add health. There's nothing like a wagging tail or a friendly paw on your knee to lift your mood. Pets are therapeutic and we have scientific proof! Seriously, research shows that pets really are good for us humans. They help us fight depression, lower our blood pressure, reduce stress and prevent heart disease. All of which helps to lower health care costs. So there you have it, pets are a daily dose of good health and happiness.

Add the right pet. Pets are big, small, furry and scaly. Some have lips, some don't. The point is, every animal has specific needs for feeding, grooming, exercise and health care. You may have an idea of the type of pet you'd like to own. But your choice might not fit your lifestyle. It's important to consider the demands of your career or your family before buying a pet. For example, if you're single, work 12-hour days and travel frequently, a dog wouldn't be the best choice for you. Before getting a pet, do your homework. Pet ownership is a huge responsibility! Don't become a pet parent unless you're prepared to take good care of your new baby.

Find your new BFF today at a Shelter near you. Need more info? Check the PALS Page or ADOPT A PET.com 

 

Dog wants a Kitty

And now for a word from our "sponsors"........
Adopt a shelter cat or dog today!!!

APRIL IS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH!

April is National Volunteer Month. Has been ever since since Nixon signed an executive order. ANd every president to follow has, well done a "tricky dick" and carried on this tradition. I myself, not really planning on anything to celebrate will be volunteering with the local "Cove to Clover" 1/2 Marathon. Because as I always say, Fat Boy don't run but he can volunteer.

DIY Business Card Holder

Ever need a place to hold all those business cards you aquire? Here is a simple idea... Take a book, (one you don't read anymore or like- or in my case an old contract book from 1999) fold the pages in half and fold them on towards the spine. Now you have something to grab that contractors number when you need to swear at someone. Could also be used as a recipe file, or a Baseball card file.

Peas, Pancetta and Pasta

This is one of my favorite treats from Trader Joe's. While loving it, I figured out how to make it at home from "scratch"

Pasta- Vermicelli, Fettucine, Spahetti or even rigatoni- whichever you desire Enough for two.

1/2 pound Pancetta - Bacon may be subsituted

1/2 cup to 1 cup of peas (I like to use leftover peas, frozen may be used)

Salt

Pepper

Water to boil. Cook some vermicelli, fettucine or spaghetti enough for two. In a fry pan, over med high heat, brown up Pancetta or bacon. Start the Sauce:

The Sauce

2 tablespoons butter  

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

1/2 Cup of cheese, cubed (I prefer Fontina)

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and stir until the butter and flour are well combined. Pour in milk, stirring constantly as it thickens. Add more milk depending on desired consistency. Slowly add cheese to melt!

In a bowl combine Pasta, Pancetta, and throw in 1/2 cup tp 1 cup of cooked peas (use frozen if you desire) Toss with Sauce, season with salt and fresh crack pepper to taste, top with grated parmesan. Serves two! 

Making a Squash Ladder

My neighbors, (the like minded ones) who like me put out stuff the no longer want on the side of the street, put out a broken Gorm shelf unit. Bless their hearts. You know who scooped it up. And since it was missing two of the support posts, I decided to hack the hell out of it and make a "trellis" for my pumpkins this year at the Community Garden. I took the shelves apart, used an old 2X2's for the back "legs", and re used some of the shelving material for supports (The rest I am going to use for a bucket project- using 100% instead of sending to the landfill!) I am hoping to get them (the pumpkins) to climb up the trellis, or ladder as I call it, making a bit more room. And I can hang my lettuce bowl in the middle! No slugs! Or if they make it that far more power to them!

Making my own Lettuce Basket

I posted the instructions on making a "Lettuce Basket" last week. Well the oppurtunity came to make my own! I was at dollar tree and they had hanging cage basket that match up with coco- fibre. Know ing a bit about using coco- fibre, I bought two. That is one difference between the Original and mine- they had used moss.

I soaked the coco fibre liner for about a half hour (seems to make it more pliable and "mold-able" and easier to poke holes in. Now one thing about coco fiber liners--- the are extremely porous, so I put a liner inside the liner- a plastic shopping bag. The holes you poke in the liner and the bag should allow enough drainage. So I proceeded to put eight lettuce plants in the sides at random, then filled with dirt (planting mix) and plant 4 more lettuce plants on top. This is the finished product:

Will it look like this?

Only time will tell- keep your fingers crossed!

PICNIC FOR EARTH

 I know--- Earth day should be Earth Year... yadda yadda. But the one good thing about Earth Day is it gives attention to the problems (and solutions) concerning our planet. The Nature Conservancy is suggesting you host or attend a picnic for Earth Day, April 22nd. And from I gather it could be a small family picnic or a large affair. The idea is to get out and enjoy nature. My idea is to have a picnic with the "boys" for lunch at one of our local parks, since it is a work day. You may want to eat dinner in the back yard or attend one of the sponsored picnics on this map. In any case, have a meal Al Fresco and enjoy the day!
Here are some Picnic Tips from the Nature Conservancy's Picnic For Earth website

If You Picnic for Earth, then You Need Green Picnic Tips!
 Choose a Location Near You Hosting your own picnic? Choose a picnic site close to home, and walk or bike to your picnic location instead of driving.

Look for a green space nearby — a local park, a sports field, a Conservancy preserve or a friend’s backyard!

Use Re-Usable or Compostable Serveware Instead of packing paper plates and disposable utensils, pack serveware that you can wash and use again and encourage your guests to do the same. If this won’t work, many brands are now offering compostable plates and silverware.

Bring Healthy Foods The lower a food is on the food chain, the lower its impact on the environment. For example, it takes about 634 gallons of water to make a hamburger. So, add more fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes to your picnic meal — those things are good for you and the planet!

Need a recipe? Pack Local, In-Season Ingredients Nothing ruins an eating-well high in the U.S. faster than seeing a sticker on your apple that says New Zealand (no offense, kiwis!). Prevent the shipping-around-the-world blues by picking up your produce from a local farmer’s market.

Lose the Napkins No one wants to walk around with mustard on her face, but paper napkins aren’t the answer. Use the picnic as an opportunity to use that cute gingham handkerchief that came with your cowboy Halloween costume five years ago. Or, you know, any old cloth napkin will do.

Compost and Recycle Your Trash: I bet someone at your picnic has a compost bin (Are you ready to give it a try? It’s easy!). Enlist that person to take home all the compostable scraps from the event, and another person to collect any recyclables.

Clean Your Picnic Site: A good picnicker is one that doesn’t leave trash at his picnic site. A great picnicker is one who picks up trash at this picnic site. Use the picnic as an opportunity to make your local green space just a little greener.

Enjoy Nature: Once your meal is over, take some time to enjoy your natural setting. Take a hike, go bird-watching or just sit back and enjoy the sounds of nature. Have kids in tow? Try this Nature Treasure Hunt.

Use Electronics Wisely: Picnic for Earth is about reconnecting with nature, but whether it’s to play some picnic tunes or send us your picnic photos via Twitter (@allhandsonearth), Facebook or Flickr, we know that your electronic devices will make an appearance. Be sure to unplug your chargers when not in use to avoid “vampire power,” which accounts for about 10 percent of household energy usage.

Pea Tendrils... An Early Season treat!

As your peas start growing and you start thinning, don't dispose of the thinnings! You can use the thinnings in the kitchen!
Pea shoots are the tiny, tender leaves and vines of young pea plants. Any type of pea will suffice, but sugar pod peas are the easiest types to grow for shoots and tendrils, since they tend to shoot up faster and stay light and crisp. Pea shoots and tendrils are tender enough to serve with no or minimal cooking. They are often tossed into salads or on top of soups. You can always add a few curls as an edible garnish. Pea shoots and tendrils are also a tangy addition to stir-fired dishes or simply steamed or sautéed as a side dish.
Wondering how to cook pea shoots? Here's an easy, quick and tasty pea shoots and tendrils recipe from Kim Knox Beckius, a blogger at About.com

Easy to grow Lettuce Basket

pic Rainyside.com

I am so going try this this year. Before too long, my entire garden will be hanging if I want. This is so easy to do, according to the instructions posted HERE, that a person has to try it to believe it! So maybe I will post some pics when I do it.

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, Rob Style

I found this recipe on a friends Facebook page, and you know me, I had to play with it. I think it is supposed to be a side dish, but I think it works also as an entree.

2 lb fresh asparagus, ends trimmed

12 slc bacon, uncooked

1/2 c light brown sugar

1/2 c butter

1 Tbsp. Worcestshire sauce

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

Mozzerella sticks

 Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

 Divide asparagus spears into 12 bundles (3-4 pieces each), with Mozzarella stick in the middle. Wrap 1 piece of bacon around each bundle, starting 1/2" from bottom of the tips. Secure the bacon-wrapped asparagus with a toothpick. Arrange bundle in a shallow baking pan.

 Combine brown sugar and remaining ingredients in a medium saucepan; heat mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Pour mixture over asparagus bundles.

 Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until spears have begun to wilt, cheese has melted and bacon looks fully cooked. Enjoy!!!

ADOPTING SHELTER DOGS "WORKS FOR ME"

I have two dogs whom I adopted from less than Ideal situations. First, Romeo, a “Cocka-Poo” (Cocker Spaniel/Poodle). He is my calming influence. A good natured happy guy with good manners. Always ready for a game of “ball” or “stick”, plays well with others, as long as they don’t do much “Biting” (he hates that). I adopted Romeo when a gal at work, who owns a boarding kennel, put an ad in our Intra Net classifieds. It appeared Romeo was boarded at the kennel, and the owner, skipped out on paying and skipped out on Romeo. Well first look at Romeo and I was in love. I recognized his calmness, and his love of riding in the truck almost immediately (His favorite place to sit in the Truck is right on the back of the seat- I am thinking so he can look out both front and rear windows. Anyway He is a good dog, one of the best I have ever had!

   

 Buddy, my little “Cocka-Tsu” (Cocker Spaniel/Shi Tsu) on the other hand, well if Romeo is my calming influence, Buddy is my “Let’s go out and ride that damn roller coaster” influence. He is my little comedian. And a great source of entertainment. And when I say “adopted from less than Ideal situations, he wasn’t abused or anything. He was a foster dog at A.A.R.F. and waited a long time for a forever home. People that would try him out, I’m afraid were not patient, expecting a perfectly mannered canine. And get sent back. And while his “foster parents” are all great people, that has got to mess up a dog’s confidence.  Buddy likes to bark and play. And if he is hurting will bite (nip) when you touch him. I can’t blame him for that – I am the same way. So I let him bark when he is hungry until it is dinner time. And it is fine. So with Buddy you have to practice patience.

  

 My adopted pets work for me. Maybe it’s because they have such opposite personalities. Maybe it’s because I think of them as children. All I know is adopted dogs that others have work for them. Sometimes you just have to wait it out!