Thank you, Working Hands

No more red bearpaw manhands!  Actual human skin! Woo!
This stuff actually works, and isn't insanely greasy or overly scented. If your hands are cracked, it does sting a little..But, maybe that was just me being a wuss. ;)
I have a ton of product review coming up.. Tis the season!

Things to do with a box- DogBlog!

I have several "game for games" dogs, and one of them being a complete spastic mess as seen here.

Big, empty box, treats and some time to kill (and dog brains to wear out).

We treat for ANY behavior offered. This is all for fun, which IS training, and not teaching a specific behavior (which we also make FUN).

I crack up, the dogs tire themselves out while having a blast. Win all the way!

"You are slightly ridiculous, Human"

I do believe he's making faces

Strider, want to play!?
"Oh HELL no"

Draped over the box. Supercute.

And then shit went totally downhill and Voo went crazy, knocking an ottoman onto the Akita, and smashing the box...thus ending Things To Do With A Box.

I stopped mid-post to take the dogs out...and scoop the yard. Gross, but something you have to do as a dog owner.
Might I recommend my fave cleanup tool?

Since I am so classy, I refer to this as the Shit Claw. I know. Class.

This and a lidded 5 gallon bucket.  

I tried the little rake and scoop combo, but it's a pain to carry 3 items around the property. 

Bucket in one hand, ShitClaw in the other. That, and easy to clean boots.

If someone out there wants to send those boots, in green, size 9, for me to review.. I will selflessly devote the time and energy to do so.  ;)

Happy (granted, late) Thanksgiving!

A ton of wonderful things and people and LIFE to be thankful for this year.

No small part of what I'm thankful for:

I love my dogs :D

19...

I met Michael 19 years ago today, on his birthday.
I'm not usually sappy, so bear with me one day a year when get all gooey and teary-eyed!
I'll be sarcastic tomorrow. Promise.

This guy is more than my other half. I'm less-than without him.
I would be a different person.
Less.. hopeful, determined, affectionate, silly.
I wouldn't laugh as easily.
 I would be less fierce.

I have someone in my life that greets "I decided to grow all our vegetables" with as much enthusiasm as "I won the lottery!"...pretty amazing.

A man who makes it a goal to make me laugh my humiliating HYUH HYUH HYUH laugh.

Someone who loves ridiculous kneesocks (say, with a zombies and brains pattern) found true love with someone who happily wears a Captain America beanie.  

Take THAT, Romeo and Juliet.

Potato love

If you get really close to your monitor and squint, it's a heart. 

I am in need of comfort food today, so my bastardized potato gratin was on the menu.

If you don't eat cheese..or heavy cream...or butter..you might want to skip this post.
Wait.
I think you might want to skip this blog.
I believe in eating healthy, but that includes mental health- as in comfort food.

  Occasionally, our blogtalk turns to the sexy world of full fat.
Yeah, Mama.

We'll pretend the cheese is low fat cheese, if it makes you feel better.  We'll also pretend this is the full amount of cheese used, instead of just the topping.

If it makes you feel more comfortable...
 this is skim milk, instead of two cups of heavy cream, simmering with herbs and garlic...

The baking dish was NOT rubbed down with softened butter..it was that fat free/calorie free spray stuff.
Yeah...

I fully intended to post a photo of a fork full of cheesy, creamy, potato joygasm..but..well..
I ate that "test" fork.  And the next.
Quality control, dammit.

I'm not going to post photos of the massive, gorgeous steaks we're going to toss on the grill, lest you think I'm a hedonist.
I am.


So my comfort foods were taken care of (steak and potato, I'm a simple girl), when I get a text from Michael stating he's ready to run away from work and change his identity.

Hmmm...comfort food for Michael.
Got it covered!

Cream cheese/cheddar stuffed peppers..that weird sweet/hot variety that no nursery can ID..with an extremely crunchy panko breading.

If Michael sees this photo and asks where the little crusty piece of cheese (bottom right) went, I'm going to tell him those damned dogs took it.  Because that is what happened.  Got it?

At least they're baked, right?

I love...

ok, bear with me here. I'm feeling particularly hostile this fine evening, so instead of ranting..


I love:  (envision sunshine, rainbows and puppies, instead of my current sneer)

Beaver Creek state park, in East Liverpool Ohio.
Amazing views, excellent camping, challenging trails.
Close to home!

These dog collars.
They last forever, don't mat or discolor their coats and come in outstanding colors.  You can call and order the Soft Slip in quick release safety collars.  They are fantastic!

Hmm...what else, what else!?
I'm still bitchy!

OH!

I love THIS organization.
Hardcore people..in hardcore sports..against dog fighting.  Rock on.

Ack, what else!?  FOOD.  Food makes me happy and full of love.

"You love BLTs.  Except you wouldn't give me any.  I just got the L part.  Jackass."

I had the best BLT today..simply perfect.  Crisp bacon, cool lettuce and a sun-warm tomato.  I could go for another five one right now!

Homemade tortillas.  I love homemade tortillas.
(do you see where everything comes back to food with me?!)
And when they go stale, corn tortillas are perfect for tossing to groundhogs.
(ok, food and groundhogs)

And, if you have mad skill like me, you can do this!

"Did you seriously just toss something on my head?"

"I will effing CUT YOU"

"Oh!  You can eat these!"

"Hell, try to get me again!"

I think I need out of the house a little more often.  I'm losin' it here, folks.
The lettuce yesterday gave me Evil Ideas today...and now we have Tortilla Hat.
If she acted scared, I wouldn't have done it...so don't get all "omg poor humiliated baby" on me or I'm shoving a groundhog down your pants.  

"No one..is leaving..the PIG"

Gardening.  I really do love to garden.  Right this moment since I'm NOT gardening.
I pulled up a Parisian carrot today..I LOVE!
Serious gardeners should look away now.....
They are so adorable..teeny little orangey orbs!

My melons are busting out (HA! T, that was for you!) of their thigh-high stocking slings.  I need to replace the stockings tomorrow.

Michael has worked a hellish shift this week..he leaves early, while I'm working, and by the time he gets home, I'm ready to pass out.  It sucks.
He's off this weekend and I can't WAIT to have some downtime with him.

I'm far less bitchy..still somewhat, as it is a permanent condition..but I don't feel like Riverdancing on someones kidneys now! :)
Yay!