Rose's "Third" Christmas

Blogging Friends.... I hope that you all enjoyed yourselves a wonderful December 25th!! I most certainly did!! This was, for me, a Christmas of surprises, as I only received two items from my wish list!! Two!! Which, was quite fine!! Surprises are the best kind of Christmas gifts!! Oddly enough, both my Mom and sister thought alike this year regarding my gifts as though they planned it!! But, since these two women have so much in common, it was not surprising!! From Mom: My stocking contained this set of adorable metal dog-shaped cookie cutters!! A black paw print. One white bone. A red doghouse. And one light brown sitting puppy. As a gift from my sister was this dog treat cookbook!! Expect some recipes posted on here in the near future!! As a gift from Mom--and Dad!!--was this cute clear plastic container with black paw prints painted on its outside. Do I detect a theme here? Hmmm....

I love Christmastime!! From reflecting on the miracle of Jesus' birth. To seasonal festivities. To shopping for gifts. To singing songs both traditional and new. To ingesting home-baked cookies. There must be something in the air at Christmastime for me, something joyous, and cheerful!! I just cannot help but be happy this time of year!! I get almost high on Christmastime--perhaps due to the chocolate!!--and then once it is over, I'm experiencing huge withdrawals because those songs that we sang are still within my head!! Stubbornly so!! It is the same experience for me every year!! Seriously!! Not to state that I am a Grinch about this magical season for 365 days, I'm just "in the moment"!! Because around here, Christmas is over!! We have been celebrating with gusto ever since November 1st. Now it is over!! Time to move forward. Enough said. Rose had a merry little Christmas--yes, that song has now randomly appeared in my head!!--perhaps even better than mine!! I filled her fuzzy red/white stocking with chicken-flavored Rachel Ray "Just 6" crunchy dog biscuits, "Beggin' Collisions" bacon/peanut butter treats, a plush Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer--I'm trying very hard not to hum that song!!--and this holiday-themed stuffed Lamb Chop toy!! Plus, I gave Rose my "Santa Paws" home-baked "cookies", as well!! Those are nearly gone already!! I attempted to fill Rose's stocking on the other side of our house, but she bounded toward me before I could even finish!! My girl enjoyed her "Just 6" biscuits. They are vanilla wafer-sized, so I allowed Rose two!! She also enjoyed her "Beggin' Collisions". The inside of its package smells like peanut butter!! I split one and gave her half!! As for the toys? Well.... Lamb Chop was a pain-in-the-butt to pull the "I squeak!" sticker off of her fuzzy body. Ugh. I do not understand why dog toy manufacturers even apply such stickers to plush critters!! Do they think that we are all stupid idiots? If you want to see if some dog toy squeaks, then press it!! I do!! With nearly every dog toy I pick up at stores to the annoyance of those around me!! But then again. I do the exact same thing with boys' superhero action figures!! I have all of Iron Man's electronic "lines" memorized!! So. As I hunched over our great room table, my fingers tried to pull that sticker off. In vain!! All the while tossing Rudolph to an impatient Rose!! Finally, I found a pair of scissors, and ever-so-gently cut that sticker off!! Guess what? Lamb Chop is now Rose's very favorite toy!! I do not blame her. She did have to wait for it!!

                   Merry Christmas, Rose!!                   

Merry Christmas and Happy 2013!!

Mary Did You Know?

Written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Green

Mary did you know that your Baby Boy would some day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.
Mary did you know that your Baby Boy would give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your Baby Boy would calm a storm with His Hand?
Did you know that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
And when your kiss your Little Baby, you have kissed the Face of God.
Oh Mary did you know
The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the Lamb
Mary did you know that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your Baby Boy is heaven's Perfect Lamb?
This sleeping Child you're holding is the Great I Am

Merry Christmas, and a happy 2013 to you, Blogging Friends!!

 

Apple Chunk Treats

"He's making a list, he's checking it twice, he's gonna find out who's naughty or nice....". So the well-known song's lyrics go!! Interestingly enough, we all have lists of our own to make, and check twice this time of year!! Gifts purchased. Cookies baked. Tree decorated. Cards sent out. Check, check, check, check. On December 20th, I completed my Christmas To-Do List 2012. I baked Rose a batch of dog biscuits!! This time--unlike last year when I was ill-prepared for my cookbook's Christmas recipe--we baked their holiday treats!! Score!! I was "ahead of the game" as that phrase goes!! These treats are intended to be reserved for Christmas morning. However. Rose followed my every move, watching me closely with her colossal brown eyes, telepathically begging for one!! Who can possibly resist? Not me.... Once cooled, I allowed Rose a candy cane-shaped biscuit!! She also sampled some dried apple, which my food-lovin'" girl very much enjoyed!!

Rose would rate this recipe four 'paws' way, way up!!

Santa Paws
SERVE THESE YUMMY YULETIDE GOODIES WITH THE "BEG" NOG. (They were quite yummy. Sweet-tasting!!)
2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup pecans (I chopped them!!)
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup dried fruit*
*your choice: apricots, bananas, apples, pears (We used apples, which I sliced!!) Caution: raisins are toxic to dogs
3/4 cup milk
4 tablespoons margarine (I used butter. We like the real thing around here!!)
1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine dry ingredients and gradually (I never follow the "gradually" rule. Because I am a rebel!!) add milk, margarine (Butter!!) and egg. Knead until a dough is formed. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. (I do not follow the exact "1/4 inch" rule anymore. It just makes me crazy-er!! Instead, I cut our dough. Then I flatten the shapes out with my hands, while molding them. I have been doing that for several recipes now!! My goal is to attempt at making each shape evenly flat!! It's less OCD that way for me!!) Cut with cookie cutter (I used adorable holiday shapes, such as a gingerbread man, candy cane, gingerbread woman, Christmas tree, snowman, and stocking!!) and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 35 minutes (I baked nine at a time for 28 minutes!! Watch to make sure those dried apple slices do not burn!!) at 350 degrees. Makes 1 1/2 dozen. (I baked eighteen!!)

The dough was, for whatever reason, very crumbly!! But I had myself a "trusty glass" nearby. It was about half-full of water. I definitely needed that "trusty glass". Because I kept adding more and more drops to my dough along the way until at last we could work some "Christmas magic" with it!! Speaking of Christmas magic. While baking these treats, I was listening to festive holiday music on our radio. And singing, plus humming along!! One of the songs they played was Bruce Springsteen's fun, rocking version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"!! Excitement immediately brewed within me. There is something about The Boss' version of that classic song!! It makes me smile my cockeyed smirk. I laugh, soon "ho, ho, ho-ing" along with the late Clarence. I dance as though nobody is watching. I crank it up. And I rock out!!

Sing with me now!!

[Spoken intro:] (Clarence laughs) It's all cold down along the beach, the wind's whipping down the boardwalk... Hey band! (Yeah? Hey, babe!) You guys know what time of year it is? (Yeah!) What time, huh? What? (Christmas time!) What? (Christmas time!) Oh, Christmas time! You guys all, you guys all been good and practicing real hard? Yeah? Clarence, you been, you been rehearsing real hard now, so Santa'll bring you a new saxophone, right? Everybody out there been good, or what? Oh, that's not many, not many, you guys are in trouble out here! Come on.


Yeah, you better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
He's making a list, he's checking it twice
He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
You better be good for goodness sake
[Clarence:] You better be good for goodness sake
Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho!
He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
You better be good for goodness sake
[Clarence:] Better be good for goodness sake
Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Yeah, Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
[Clarence:] Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
Alright!
Santa Claus is coming to town, yeah
Santa Claus is coming to town, yeah
Santa Claus is coming to town, whoa
Santa Claus is coming to town

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh!! I Forgot!!

Blogging Friends.... First, I would like to apologize for Friday's depressing, non-dog related post. And thank you, dear Blogging Friends, for your comments. Secondly, I thought that I should elaborate some on Tuesday's shooting. Here are the statistics. It occurred in a shopping mall. Two people were killed, one critically injured, the suspect committed suicide. Meanwhile, hundreds of shoppers and workers were left traumatized by that hell. Then Friday's elementary school massacre happened.... It is too much.

On a more joyous note, yesterday was an awesome one!! Happy and triumphant!! For I finished my secretive writing project yesterday!! Did I devote one month or two on it? I do not remember.... Now, I am just going to lay low, enjoy the holidays, read/comment on Blogs, maintain Beautifully Unique, and edit later!! Unless. My creative "brain juices" conjure up anything else to add!! Now is the time for that!!  

Premature short term memory loss. I suffer from this unwanted learning disability, as I've freely expressed on my Blog. Like Dory, the blue and yellow fish character in Disney/Pixar's "Finding Nemo". I always have. I always will. Thus, there are several times when I am reminded--whether mentally, or by someone--to partake in certain mundane activities. This is a near daily occurrence. Then I admit, with sincerity in my voice: "Oh!! I forgot!!" When my Mom was hospitalized for an appendectomy last month, a dear friend blessed her with this lovely red poinsettia plant. It sits displayed on our great room floor near the illuminated Christmas tree. Everybody knows that poinsettias are poisonous to canines. If ingested. So, while I was wary of the poinsettia's location, a reassurance entered my mind that Rose has never--never--noshed on plants!! Some canines eat flowers. This I know. But Rose prefers food products!! I do not even think that I've ever seen my little girl nibble on fresh green grass!! So she has ignored that poinsettia, which helps eliminate my worries, at least!! However, when we leave home, I place the cheery plant upon our great room table, far from Rose's reach. Temporarily. Better safe than sorry, as that phrase goes!! Unless I forget. Which, I admit, has happened. Twice. Such was the case Sunday morning. We attended church. And, while sitting in the chapel, singing Christmas carols, what site did my eyes witness? A cluster of cheery bright red poinsettias!! Oh!! I forgot!! was my dreaded mental response. But what does a concerned Mama do in such situations? We were thirty minutes away from home!! Literally!! If Rose were going to commit suicide by ingesting that plant, she would have already done so. Correct? Oh, it was such a helpless situation!! So what did I do? I panicked. Then I said a silent prayer asking God to protect Rose from that poinsettia. And suddenly, I felt this sense of peace that everything was fine at home. Everything was fine. Just fine. Homemade chocolate candy, which is plentiful this time of year, was either contained or put away, out of Rose's reach. Because, after all. Rose has a problem. She is my chocolate addict!! But the poinsettia was not out of Rose's reach!! We returned home, and I immediately inspected that plant. It was untouched!! God answered my prayer....          

Merry Christmas?

Blogging Friends.... This has not been a good week. Throughout literally three days, there have been two events that I am aware of which involved shooting and murder. Two. One worse than another, both equally tragic. They occurred on opposite ends of America. I have been closely following one shootout for days, reading articles, and sending late, late night prayers upward toward God to everyone involved. Everyone. Especially the killer's mother. My heart breaks, for families of these lost loved ones--in both locations--who will never again be able celebrate Christmas with them. Just breaks. So, sappy as it may seem, I want to dedicate this song in honor of every family member and friend who is hurting right now.         

 "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"

 Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Let your heart be light

From now on,

our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Make the Yule-tide gay,

From now on,

our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,

Happy golden days of yore.

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Gather near to us once more.

Through the years

We all will be together,

If the Lord allows

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.

And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.

 

 

 

The Beagle Ornament

Blogging Friends.... It is two weeks from Christmas!! And I have some holiday-themed queries to ask. Every year, Santa Claus writes a "Naughty & Nice" list. Behavior-wise, I have made some cosmic positive life changes in 2012 alone. But I still falter. Does that earn my name on Santa Claus' "Nice" list.... Or "Naughty"? How does Saint Nick feel about a "work in progress" like me who is obviously still "in transition"? Truly others can relate!!     

Grief is an interesting concept. It's weird. Grief is unique, depending on the individual walking that path. Some people are emotional to the extreme. And that is okay. Others are seemingly strong. And that is okay, too. In my experience, once you think grief has passed, every feeling and every emotion resurfaces itself. As though progress was never even made. I always think about and miss Shadow Sunshine, my Beautifully Unique "blond" furred German Shepherd/Golden Retriever cross, at Christmastime. She was euthanized on June 15th, 2010. I have an entire decade's worth of Christmas memories spent with Shadow. Of filling her stocking. Of purchasing treats and dog toys. Of celebrating December 25th with my mutt. I recall as though it was yesterday our final Christmas together. Shadow had been showing inevitable signs of aging: Deafness, stiff joints, senile behavior. I somehow knew within my heart that this would be our last. I could feel it. So I made our final Christmas count. Every moment of it. And boy, did I create a lasting Christmas memory!! It is one that will remain within my psych forever. Shadow no longer played.... Spending money on tennis balls seemed irrelevant somehow. Instead, I filled her stocking with treats, treats, treats and more treats. Nothing else. Because, although Shadow was never a "food-lovin'" girl like Rose, throughout her final years, she loved treats. If memory serves me, I purchased pizza-flavored Canine Carry Outs, Snawsomes twists, and salmon Yummy Chummies. It turned out, that my "maternal" intuition was correct. Less than six months later, Shadow died. We would never enjoy another December 25th together again. And, during Christmas of 2010, three months after adopting Rose, I was still struggling with grief. Still. It came upon me suddenly, like an ambush during some far-away war. 2010 was already a Christmas of firsts. Colossal firsts. My oldest brother no longer lived with us. For he married his lovely bride in May. It was my first Christmas with Rose. It was my first Christmas sans Shadow. I bought Rose a fuzzy red and white Christmas stocking. I purchased her gifts. Yet somehow, the memory of Shadow's last Christmas haunted me that year. I missed her so much!! It felt selfish and wrong somehow to be experiencing such a palpable longing for Shadow.... When I have Rose!! But, nonetheless, there were tears, sorrow, and heartache. One Saturday, we drove downtown to do some Christmas shopping. I was feeling really depressed. I wept in an antique shop while looking at merchandise. Wept. And, although I tried to hold those tears within me, they flowed anyway. My eyes were "leaky". For lunch, we ate fast-food at Jack-In-The-Box. I ordered my usual favorite. The Ultimate Cheeseburger--minus ketchup and mustard--plus onion rings. While awaiting our meal, I walked toward a restroom to compose myself. I then stared in their mirror and attempted bravery. I'll be okay. I'll be okay. I'll be okay. Later that day, we discovered this quaint little store. It was decorated for Christmas. Everything looked so lovely!! On display, there was this small artificial tree. So festive!! Hanging on its branches were various glass dog breed ornaments. Naturally, I felt drawn to the Golden Retriever, which is "half" of Shadow. No. I thought. Move on. Time to move on.... Be in the "now". Walk away from that tree!! Walk away I did. Then suddenly, I felt God softly whisper in my ear. He said: Go back. Go back. Look for the Beagle. I walked over to that artificial Christmas tree once more. And.... There it was!! A glass, glittery brown, black and white Beagle!! Oh, "she" is absolutely flawless!! The ornament may as well have been custom-made!! Black on its back, a white chest, this adorable brown-colored furrowed forehead.... Just like Rose!! I purchased the ornament. How could I resist? Its tag read: Beagle: Dogs selflessly give humans their unconditional love and loyalty. Beagles are one of the most popular scent hounds because of their energy, willingness to work and sweet dispositions. They make great family pets and truly enjoy their status as "man's best friend." Wow. Minus the "energy (and) willingness to work" part, that describes Rose spot-on!! Loyal. A sweet disposition. Loving. I will treasure forever that sparkly glass Beagle ornament. Because one glance at it reminds me of so much. That first Christmas without Shadow. My emotional meltdown. Healing. Plus everything that Rose blesses me with!! She is an incredible one-of-a-kind, friend to me!! My four-legged "kindred spirit". Rose is different, like me. She's amiable, submissive, and easy to train. Sneaky, strong-willed, plus sometimes naughty. I love it all!! She is Beautifully Unique!!

 

Nativity Story

Written by me!!

 

Dear Blogging Friends....

May this Christmas season bring you an abundance of joy!! And, if your celebrations are Hanukkah, Solstice, or Kwanzaa instead, then my wish is still valid!! We celebrate Christmas around here, however, I respect that many do not....  

 

An angel came to Mary;

Said you're having a baby!

And she was shocked by his news;

But God's found favor in you.

Joseph had lots of doubts;

Now their plans won't work out;

Then an angel came in his sleep;

This wonderful wife you should keep!

Soon they had to move away;

Since the couple couldn't stay;

They left their old town;

For Bethlehem renown.

Suddenly, a feeling;

Our Baby is coming;

But every room was full;

Except for this stable!

Some poor shepherds watched sheep nearby;

When an angel flew from the skies;

While scaring them badly;

He told of the Baby!

And a host came, announcing;

Glory to God, Newborn King!!

 

 

National Mutt Day

Blogging Friends.... I know. I know. I am still "missing in action" around Blogville!! I hope that everybody is well and healthy. I miss all of your Blogs, but, between working on my secretive writing project, overcoming this cold, plus somehow managing to give Rose much-deserved attention, life seems a bit hectic right now....

I had plans for today. Huge plans. I thought about it all year long. I knew, exactly, how I wanted this Blog post to look like. Why? Because today is December 2nd, also known as National Mutt Day!! So, my plans. I had snapped pictures of twain Beautifully Unique mutts over the course of our Summer. Which was not at all easy!! Because neither canine cooperated!! So much for being a pet photographer!! I quit!! Not that I had any aspirations in that area.... Moving on. So, today is National Mutt Day!! Wait. What?

This information is posted on their recently updated Website: http://www.nationalmuttday.com/ .

National Mutt Day was created in 2005 by Celebrity
Pet Expert and Animal Welfare Advocate Colleen Paige,
and is all about embracing, saving and celebrating mixed breed dogs. The biggest percentage of dogs euthanized in the shelter each year are unwanted, medium to large mixed breed dogs, due to the constant over-breeding and public desire of designer dogs and pure bred puppies that are sold to pet stores supplied by puppy mills that often produce ill and horribly neglected animals.

National Mutt Day was created to raise awareness of the plight of mixed breed dogs in shelters around the nation and to educate the public about the sea of mixed breed dogs that desperately await new homes. Mixed breed dogs tend to be healthier, better behaved, they live longer and are just as able to perform the duties of pure bred dogs - such as bomb and drug sniffing, search and rescue and guiding the blind.

There are millions of loving and healthy mixed breed dogs sitting in shelters, who are desperately searching for a new home. One of the county's most famous movie dogs is Benji, is a mixed breed Terrier.

So please visit your local shelter and find a new friend today! (Sorry. But I would not recommend adoption this close to the holidays!!) If you can't adopt a mixed breed friend on December 2nd, please donate at least $5 to your local animal shelter, as they all need financial assistance and every dollar counts!

You can also volunteer to walk a dog, donate food and other supplies needed to your local animal shelter or make a donation in the memory of a loved dog who has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Our goal is to save 10,000 Mutts this December 2nd from coast to coast!

ADOPT A MUTT

PLEASE SPAY & NEUTER
YOUR PETS

 

So. About my plan. Uh.... Yeah. The pictures are in my camera and I do not know how to retrieve them!! Hmmm....How about using a plan B, instead? I love "Plan B's"!! Pictures of the two Beautifully Unique mutts who God has blessed my life with!! Abundantly.

 

Shadow, my first mutt, a German Shepherd/Golden Retriever cross, is on top.

 

And Rose, my "Mystery Dog" is below her.

 

 

Adopt mutt. Because, 75% of canines who enter shelters nationwide are mixed breeds.