COOKIN' WITH BAREFOOT

My 'Pages and Memories' altered book

2012-02-06T12:55:00.007-05:00

Yes, I know it's been quite some time since I've blogged. I think sometimes I'm just too busy or just forget. Recently, I've been working on an altered book. Kinda fun and lot's going on with it. It has lots of vintage pages and pages with foreign language, children book pages, map pages, ledger pages...I guess you get the picture. I've lots of folded pages and places to write or hide secret things to find. I've tucked away a little love note from my husband in one. On that page, I put an index tab with the word "special" on it. That way I can find it easily. I've still things to put in it, but is a very fun little book that I've got going on.

This is the front of my little book. Notice that I have put in some fibers with danglies to make a permanent bookmark in the spine of the book. I don't want to lose my place!

This is the book opened all the way up...

Here is the spine, done with a pamphlet stitch.

The handles are made from recycled chicken feed bags. One is in the front and another is in the back.

Lastly, my danglies. A pair of sewing scissors, handmade bead and a crucifix with 3 beads from a recycled rosary.

Now, off to add memories to my little treasure!

Man In The Spoon

2011-05-12T14:01:00.000-04:00

Well, it has been some time since I have blogged on here and I need to start back up again. In the past, I have done some altered cutlery. Recently, at a private art site, I am hosting an altered cutlery swap. I have posted pics of some of my pieces and mentioned one in particular with no photo. The spoon is of adult nature, so as to not offend someone I didn't post a picture of the piece on the site. Some have been wondering what my spoon looks like. For them, here he is,'The Man In The Spoon'. Now you know where the title came from...

Weston Is Home

2010-06-18T15:26:00.006-04:00

After losing Hannah in December, we knew we wanted another German Shepherd Dog. I found a breeder in New Hampshire whose lines I wanted to purchase a puppy from. After a bit of time and the flight Gods with me, I have him home. On Wednesday I flew out of Atlanta at 10:25 am, then to Philly, then on to Manchester, NH. I had about 40 minutes to get off of the plane, go down stairs, collect the puppy, check him in, go through security and then back on the plane. As luck would have it, all planes were on time and I flew back to Philly and then home to Atlanta and arrived a little before 5:00 pm, with an hour and a half drive home. I flew him under the seat in the cabin with me and he was really quite good, I do have to say.

The puppy's name is Weston and he has adopted me as HIS human. He follows me everywhere and is just as precious and loving as he can be. He was definitely worth my wait.

He won't fit under the furniture much longer!

Chicken and Broccoli

2010-05-16T14:20:00.005-04:00

Odd title isn't it? At first you think it is something that is going to be cooked. NOT! Poor June's eggs didn't hatch for whatever reasons. I tried to find some Bantam peeps to put under her at night and take the eggs away so she would have babies to raise, but couldn't find any peeps in my area. Had to take her eggs away from her. She was M-A-D!!!

Now, Harriet has been laying and I've left her eggs alone. She has 11 eggs under her and is setting again. Some will be too old to hatch, so we will see how it goes. Should have peeps around June 2nd if all goes well.

Now for the broccoli. I started a straw bale garden this spring. I now have broccoli that is about ready to eat. So very cool to do! Raise your own food. I also have lettuce in the bales that I have been harvesting for salads, but the birds have had their way with my strawberries. Need to do something about that. For the meantime, here is my first head of broccoli...

Flat As A Pancake and Motherbound

2010-04-21T07:49:00.003-04:00

I'm on the edge of my seat. Waiting for June to hatch a couple of eggs. Any time now I should be hearing little peeps from under her. She is a Buff Japanese Black-tailed Bantam, so she is small. Hopefully I can catch her and the little ones to bring them inside until the peeps are big enough to meet the rest of the chickens. June is a bit flighty, so it should be a challenge. She really doesn't appreciate me popping in and looking at her sitting on her eggs. Just keeping my fingers crossed here!

Enjoying Children and Books

2010-04-19T08:11:00.003-04:00

Pia sure does love children and loves books and being read to. Can you tell?

The Paper Trail

2010-03-03T06:25:00.004-05:00

You know, sometimes you should be mad over things, but sometimes you just have to laugh! I left my sewing room door open yesterday when I went to do something in the other part of the house. I know better than to do that! When I walked back into the bedroom, I found that a culprit had gone into my sewing room and had stolen my paper towels. Hmmmmm....wonder who?

All I could do was laugh. When Pia steals things, she likes to bring them and hide them in Darla's bed. No hiding this time!

And The Winner Is...

2010-03-02T16:30:00.002-05:00

I had fun with my give-a-way. I wrote all names on sheets of paper, folded them, put them on my ironing board, looked at the ceiling, mixed them up and mixed them up and finally pulled out a sheet of paper. Sharon is the name of my winner! Congratulations Sharon and thanks for participating. I'll be sending your pin along shortly.

Thanks also to everyone who participated, I do appreciate it!

Altered Key Giveaway

2010-02-17T15:10:00.005-05:00

I want to celebrate something with you, my blog readers. A friend of mine, Mar (you can check out her blog on my side bar), designed a blog page for me with my work on it. I love my new blog look. To celebrate my new look, I am hosting a give-a-way, the first I have done. For those who respond to this post, I'll put your name in a bowl and pull a name as the winner. What are you giving away you ask? Well this altered key pin of course. It is titled 'Adore' and I think it is appropriate because I adore my new look.

Deadline to respond is February 28. I will pull a name on March 1 and post the winner.

Oh, and make sure I have your email addy so I can contact you for your mailing addy if you win!

Westminster Kennel Club Show

2010-02-16T12:31:00.006-05:00

Pia and I were talking about going to the garden. I told her she had to be an AKC Champion of record to enter and participate. I also told her it would be a long trip from Georgia and it would probably be a lot of fun. Do you know what she said to me?

"Yes, I know I could go..."

"But you know what? I think I'd prefer to lie on the couch..."

"And take a nice nap..."

Oh well, I guess she knows where she has it good! We'll just sit on the couch together and watch it on TV...that is if she lets me have a spot!

This Old House

2010-02-10T10:36:00.021-05:00

Many of you know that we live in this old 1800's farmhouse and are in the process of restoring it. Sounds romantic, doesn't it? An old farmhouse with original heartpine wood walls, ceilings and a lot of history with family that grew up in it who lives nearby to tell you what went on here from the time their parents bought it to now. Many tales and memories that have been had here. Many dreams fulfilled, and some lost. Tales of buried bodies from ages past and the little man that lives upstairs (he passed away years ago and only bothers those he wants to). It is tucked away on a small acreage. A little rural area where the house is not easily seen from the road in the summer unless you are looking for it. A place to have farm animals and to usually enjoy a quiet life.

We have a Pecan tree so large that you couldn't begin to tell it's age, but by looking at it you know it has been here for ages. The owner that bought the property said it was huge when she and her husband bought the property in 1947 (along with 332 acres) and the Pecan was quite large at the time. It is home to racoons, squirrels, wood peckers, mason bees, a black snake, an host of others. It is also a roost for vultures, crows, Robins, Cedar Waxwings and other birds that are flying by and need a high roost. The picture below is of 'The Great Pecan' that was taken one morning as the sun was rising. You can see the dead vines we had purposefully cut from the tree that were strangling its life.

We have torn down the original wood ceiling in the den/dining area. Parts were beyond restoration, so the best thing was to take down the wood and use it in other areas and then to replace (with wood) what was there. As we tore down the ceiling, you could see the attic space above and the original wood that was hand made.

This is one of the roof rafters that holds up the ceiling. Notice that is is a real tree!

This is what the beam looks like that is attached to the wall. Notice the marks on it from the hand work...

The nails that were recovered from the boards in the ceiling...

Yes, sounds romantic doesn't it? Now picture this...winter...below freezing...15+MPH winds blowing outside (might get gusts to 50MPH) and you can see the outside through the cracks in the walls. You want a breeze? Just hang out in the dining/den area that is adjacent to the kitchen. You'll get a breeze alright. Heat? What heat? Heat doesn't help much, and at 10:00 in the morning you can still see your breath in that living part of the house. If this is romance, someone else can have it!

Calgon, take me away!!!

Peace In The Valley

2010-01-27T10:05:00.003-05:00

Well, as some of you know I had 3 guineas (a roo, One Toe, and two hens, Two Toes and Geraldine). The chickens and guinea's were all raised together and roosted together in the evenings. The guinea's followed me around where ever I went and never roamed out of the back yard.

It is spring and breeding season. The guinea's were 4 times the size of my bantams and began to pick on the bantams unmercifully. Poor Ozzie got bloodied up one day and I put my foot down and had to put my big girl panties on and make a decision that I didn't want to make. I had to send the guinea's to freezer camp. I called the neighbor who gave them to me and he came to get them. I can't process them or eat them (especially when they were my pets) so they went to my neighbors freezer camp.

Now there is peace in the valley once again and my chickens can come out and play safely. I took them some tomato treats this morning and everyone enjoyed their special time. The lightest one in the front of the photo is Gordon, the little peep that Harriet hatched (September 18) and raised. So lucky that she turned out to be a little hen. Harriet still knows that Gordon is her peep and takes care of her, never letting anyone bother her special Gordon. Everything is good in the chicken world here. Ozzie takes care of his hens, Harriet keeps June in line and Gordon, well, lets just say she runs off the yard birds...

Try A New Meal For The New Year

2010-01-01T06:51:00.025-05:00

A SPECIAL NEW YEARS MEAL

Try something new for the new year. Here is a meal that will make memories and impress your guests.

Today on the menu is:
Asparagus with Hollandaise sauce
Pommes Anna
Ocean Perch with orange slices, butter and rosemary in Papiotte

A PICTURE OF OUR FINISHED MEAL

FIRST GATHER YOUR INGREDIENTS

CLARIFIED BUTTER

This will be needed for both the Hollandise sauce and the Pommes Anna. It can easily be made in the microwave. You want clarified butter because the burning point is much higher when used in cooking. I usually keep some in my fridge for when I need it. It will keep well for a couple of weeks.

You will need:
3 - 4 sticks of unsalted butter (not margarine) cut into cubes and placed into a microwave safe dish.

Place in microwave on low heat and gradually melt butter a little at a time. It will separate and look like this from the side after it has cooled.

The top will look like this.

Once cooled, gently ladle the fat from the top and discard.

After, pour the middle section (the clarified butter) into a separate container for use, being careful not to pour in the bottom section of the butter.

HOLLANDAISE SAUCE

You will need:
1 cup clarified butter, warm
1 T water
2 egg yolks
2 T freah lemon juice
Salt to taste
Dash of Cayenne pepper

Place egg yolks and water in a stainless steel bowl and beat well.

Hold the bowl over a hot water bath and continue to beat until tick and pale yellow.

Take the bowl off of the heat and slowly beat in the warm butter using a wire whisk. Add the butter, drop by drop in the beginning. Once you see an emulsion forming you can add the butter faster. Beat in the lemon juice and seasonings. Taste and adjust seasonings to your taste. Keep warm.

ASPARAGUS

You will need fresh asparagus for this dish. I prefer the little one's because of the tenderness.

Hold the asparagus by the spear and the cut end. Where it bends and snaps is the separation point from the woody tough end and the tender end.

Place in a steamer and steam until slightly tender. It is best when it still has it's beautiful bright green color and not mushy. It will have a lovely and flavorful crunch to it when eaten.

POMMES ANNA

You will need:

Potatos, peeled and stored in water before slicing
1/2 c. clarified butter
Salt and pepper

Slice the potatoes very thinly. Do not soak in water after sliced. In a heavy saute pan or cast iron skillet, spread half of the butter. Lay out the potatoes in a spiral covering the bottom of the pan with a nice design. Season. Here is a picture of the start with a slice of potato in the center.

Spread out the rest of the potatoes evenly and season. Put the rest of the butter on top of the potato cake.

Cook the potato cake on top of the stove until it begins to brown. Finish cooking in the oven at moderate heat (about 325 - 350). When the potato cake is vooked all the way through, remove from the oven and carefully invert onto a plate or sheet pan.

Allow to cool and then cut into wedges. Heat in a hot oven just before serving.

TO MAKE THE OCEAN PERCH EN PAPIOTTE YOU WILL NEED:

Ocean Perch (or other firm fleshed fish)
Fresh orange segments
Salted butter
Rosemary sprigs
Wisked egg white
Parchment paper

Fold a piece of parchment paper and cut out a half heart shape. When you open it, it will look like this:

Now place your fish on one half of the paper and layer it with the orange segments, butter and rosemary.

Next, use your egg whites to brush around the edges to act as a glue to hold the parchment paper together.

Begin at the top of the heart and brush with whites and fold over the cut/open edge.

Continue until you go around all of the open/cut edge.

Now just give a light brushing to secure the open/cut edge.

Bake at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes. The packets will rise with the steam. Serve the parchment packets to each guest and allow them to cut open their packet and enjoy the steamed flavors. Make sure to let them know ahead of time that the packet will produce steam once opened.

I hope you give these dishes a try this year and enjoy them. I wish for all of you a delightful and prosperous 2010 with many happy endeavors. HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ME TO YOU!!!

2009-12-06T09:55:00.009-05:00

The three L’s: Life, Love and Letting Go

For some time now, my beloved companion, Hannah (a German Shepherd Dog) has had some problems. It started with a limp last year and after X-rays, we found that she was having a degenerative problem along her vertebrae (neck and back) as well as some joints. We knew that her body would gradually give in to the degeneration. Not what we wanted to hear, but had to deal with and unfortunately Hannah had to live with.

In January, Hannah tore a cruciate ligament on her left knee and had to have that knee repaired. After the surgery it took some time to recover. It was a struggle, but she was a trooper, never complained and her knee healed nicely and was in good working order.

Last month (November) she tore the cruciate ligament on the other knee and had to have that one repaired. Not really a surprise, since this knee had to bear the weight of the other during the healing process. She was a very active dog. This knee was beginning to mend nicely.

Last Tuesday evening (December 1) I had a really bad night with Hannah. Upon coming home that evening, my husband was on the floor with Hannah and told me that she had gone down and couldn’t get up. She couldn’t use her front legs to walk. Hannah wasn’t paralyzed, she could move her front legs, but from the pasterns down, her front legs didn’t work. The next day wasn’t much better, the vertebrae problems in her neck had come to a head.

My husband and I knew this day would come, yet we avoided the conversation in hopes that it would not rear its ugly head. It had now knocked on our back door and we had to answer it. This knock happened much sooner than anyone had thought and it was loud.

I asked my vet come out and evaluate the situation. We decided to try a steroid treatment to see if we could get her joints to work again, if at least for a little time longer. It was the time that we so desperately wanted. We had 24 – 48 hours to keep our fingers crossed, pray for a miracle and hope that the drugs would work.

I slept on the floor in the evenings and either sat or lay next to Hannah during the day to be by her side. I tried to let her know that she was unconditionally loved and to make her worn out, deteriorating body comfortable. This was for 3 days and 3 nights. I tried to keep a constant vigil for her. If I got up for any length of time, I made sure to be close so that she could see me or have my husband sit with her so she wasn’t alone. As time went on and as fate would have it, she would gradually lose the use of different parts of her once able body.

At one point, when I was lying beside her, she was dreaming and I could see her legs move. I know she was dreaming of running. I hope she was dreaming of catching a squirrel or running off the vultures or crows as she used to be able to do. She was always the fastest dog in our house, with the speed, agility and athleticism of an Olympic champion and could catch a squirrel in a heartbeat. She was also a master guardian to my goats.

Through Hannah, I have learned the selflessness, devotion and love that a dog has for its owner. No one has said it more eloquently than George Graham Vest in a speech he made to a jury in 1870 in Warrensburg, Missouri. He lost a beloved Foxhound, Old Drum, from a neighbor viciously shooting it. The dog was more than a hunting dog to Vest, he was a family companion. Vest took the neighbor to court and won. Originally Vest was a lawyer and later became a senator. Here is his closing speech. I think it is worth a read:

SEPTEMBER 23,1870
Gentlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it the most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog.
"Gentlemen of the Jury, a man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert he remains. When riches take wing and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies, and when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death."

When I would leave Hannah’s side for more than a few seconds, she would try to gather her broken body to follow me. She didn’t want to leave my side, even though her body failed her. All she wanted the most in this world was to be at my side. As her body became weaker and couldn’t lift her head, she would lap water from my fingertips to drink. In her last hours, I realized that I could steady her head up on my knees to offer her bowl to drink by herself so she could feel a sense of normality. She still wanted her water, food and treats and we gave them freely.

In the end, her mind was solid, her spirit was strong as was her love and loyalty. All she wanted was to be by my side, and since her body wouldn’t let her, I brought my body to her as she would have done for me.

We lost the battle, but know that we took every avenue we could. On Friday evening, I placed Hannah’s head in my lap and my husband and I, along with our caring vet, peacefully let her go. We all told her that we loved her, and I do feel that she felt she was surrounded by the unconditional love that she gave in this world.

Hannah was born December 31, 2002. She was a Christmas puppy. I decided to wrap her in a green Christmas themed blanket that had reindeer and Christmas trees on it. When we have had to bury dogs in the past, I have wrapped them in special blankets and had flowers in the yard to place on top of them in their grave. Some might think it morbid or silly, but I want them to leave with beauty surrounding them. It is something that eases the pain of my loss. I didn’t have anything in bloom this time of year so I went out and purchased a beautiful novelty Poinsettia to place in her grave with her. I carefully cut the flowers and leaves from the plant. I thought it would be perfect for her. My husband reminded me that we had a Christmas cactus and that it was starting to bloom. I looked at it and there was one single bloom. The rest were blossoms. I decided to pick the one full bloom to represent her life and some blossoms to represent her life cut short and not fully realized. She is now surrounded by them and is resting peacefully.

In memory of Hannah, instead of giving her a solemn funeral, I decided to celebrate her life. I bought my husband a brand of ‘dog’ labeled beer and myself a bottle of ‘dog’ labeled wine. I didn’t care if we liked it or not, it was going to be in celebration of Hannah’s life, and how we came to love her along with all of her special attributes. I told my husband that when he opened a bottle of beer, he had to say one thing that he remembered about her that he loved. The same thing went for me. If I poured a glass of wine, I had to say one thing that I loved about her. It made our loss, the loss of a beloved companion a little easier to process.

For my special Hannah:
Run as fast and swiftly as you can my beautiful girl as you used to be able to do, and continue to catch squirrels while you wait for me to cross over the rainbow bridge with you by my side.

An early Christmas gift from me to you

2009-11-29T08:32:00.003-05:00

I'm trying this for the first time. A giveaway collage sheet. I've made it on a Corel Draw program and think I have it figured it out on my computer so I can send it in an 8 X 10 sheet to you. It is all from a Palmer's Method handwriting book. Each piece that I have on the sheet is handwriting that are practice samples. My goodness...lots of practice for me to become this good at handwriting. Back in the day, it was very important to have beautiful handwriting because everyone wrote letters and notes by hand. Now we just type in letters in our computers and we are done. No more handwriting skills for us. I thought these might make some neat backgrounds in artwork.

If you would like a copy of this sheet, please respond to this post and let me know your email addy and I'll send it to you. All I ask is that it isn't sold by you (shame on you if you are so tacky), but is used in your artwork to trade. You can contact me at barefoot (dot) chef (at) yahoo (dot) com to privately give me your email addy.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T06:59:00.005-04:00

May your cauldrons be full and for those of you goolish gosties out there, witches and wicked pumpkins, as well as things that go bump in the night, I wish you a safe and happy Halloween. As for us...Darla is just going out as Underdog and fighting all of those who rob and plunder...

Let's Get Cookin'

2009-10-21T09:17:00.013-04:00

I've not posted any cooking recipes and I like to cook. Shame on me! Today we will cook a dish from the 'Gumbo Shop' in New Orleans. You can substitute shrimp for the crawfish if you can't find them and use your favorite ham instead of the Tasso.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Tasso, it is a very spicy piece of pork. According to Wikipedia, Tasso ham is a specialty of Cajun cuisine. It is a spicy, peppery version of smoked pork made from the shoulder butt. In this case, "ham" is a misnomer, since tasso is not made from the hind leg of a pig. This cut is typically fatty, though leaner cuts are often used and have a great deal of flavor. The butt, which will weigh 7 to 8 pounds, is sliced across the grain into pieces about 3 in / 7.5 cm thick. These are dredged in a salt cure, which usually includes nitrates and sugar. The meat is left to cure briefly, only three or four hours, then rinsed, rubbed with a spice mixture containing Cayenne pepper and garlic, and hot-smoked until cooked through.

Tasso is not typically eaten on its own. It is used in dishes ranging from pasta to crab cakes, soup to gravy. Appropriate to its roots, tasso is most often found in recipes of southern or Cajun/Creole origin, such as jambalaya.

This is a dish that I made and served at my wedding...and yes, I used crawfish and tasso...

PASTA WITH CRAWFISH AND TASSO

1 pound pasta, preferably imported Rotini or Fusili
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 pound tasso or smoked ham
1 1/2 cups shallots, chopped
4 cloves garlic minced
2 cups heavy cream (whipping cream)
1 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 pound peeled crawfish tails
1/4 cup parsley

First, gather your ingredients:

Cook pasta according to package directions, being careful not to overcook. Rinse in cold water and set aside.

Melt butter in a large skillet. Cut tasso in a 1/4 inch dice. Saute in butter until lightly browned. Add garlic, stir and cook for one minute. Add shallots and cook until tender.

Add cream, white pepper, cayenne and salt. Bring to a boil and cook about one or two minutes, or until slightly thickened, stirring often. Add crawfish (or shrimp) and parsley. Stir and cook for 2 or 3 minutes. If using fresh shrimp, make sure the shrimp are cooked through. This is what it will look like before adding the pasta:

Add pasta*, mix in well and cook until pasta is heated through. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 - 6 entrees or 8 - 10 appetizers.

*The sauce will thicken when the pasta is added and should also be slightly spicier before adding pasta.

Enjoy!

Oh, and I did post about 'Chicken Creole' here: http://barefootchef.blogspot.com/2008/07/feel-like-cooking-lets-try-chicken.html

She Had A Secret

2009-10-16T06:28:00.007-04:00

Yesterday was a scary and mixed emotional day. While doing some dishes I looked out and saw Mr. Fox about 30 yards sitting and eying my chickens. I ran out the door yelling and screaming and he ran off. He was really quite a beautiful animal. A deep rich red with a beautiful thick bushy tail and the striking white tip. But the fact is that foxes and chickens don't mix unless you want the fox to have a fresh chicken dinner.

It was a rainy kind of day with the rain starting and stopping. My husband went out during one of the dry times and then came back in to get me. He couldn't find June anywhere. She was nowhere to be found. I went out with the special chickey bread that they all love and called. Only the guinea's and Ozzie came. No June. I looked and looked for her. No sign of her. I finally gave up knowing that the fox got his dinner. Poor June. What a horrible fate for her. My heart was very heavy.

I kept going out and looking for the fox to show up again. As I was looking out my back door watching Ozzie and the guinea's hunt and peck, from out of the garden area sauntered June. WHAT? She just waltzed over like nothing was wrong. I yelled and told my husband and he wanted to know if I was sure. Um, yes, I do know what June looks like. He came over to see her and asked where she came from. I told him I didn't know, just from the direction of the garden. I had looked over there but never saw her in the garden. I went out to give her some chickey bread that she had missed out on and then went to my sewing room to do some work.

I got to thinking...I bet she had started laying, after all, her waddles and comb are a deep red, indicating she is ready to lay and she has been giving me the "I'm going to have an egg" talk and then the "I've had an egg song". I kept telling her she was lying to me. After all I had looked for an egg and never found one. And when she didn't come for the call of a favorite treat, something was up.

I put on my muck boots and went to the garden. It is grown up now and is in desperate need of attention. What do you think I found? Not one egg, but 8. Yes, you read that right 8 eggs! I have the picture here to prove it.

You can see the one clean egg. That is the one she was laying while she went missing. The others are dirty from the rain and mud. I can't believe with all this rain, she lays there. I need to come up with a plan to get her in a better area if she will cooperate. I'm not sure if she is laying every day, every other day or what. For now, I took the fresh egg and put it in the fridge. The others are still there. I think I'll take an egg out and put a golf ball in it's place each day. Maybe that will trick her and the eggs don't go rotten and smell there. Hopefully she won't try to go broody on me this time of year.

At least for now, we still have our little June Bug. All is right in our world. Here is a picture of a young June.

In The Eye Of The Beholder

2009-10-11T18:19:00.004-04:00

Beauty, that is. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in this case...this is beautiful (to me) or comical, whichever the case may be. This is One Toe, my male guinea at 3 1/2 months old. He really is quite comical to look at and along with my two guinea hens, they are the three stooges and comical relief around here. One Toe's waddles just shake and wiggle as he wanders around the yard looking for bugs. You just have to shake your head and laugh at he and the other guineas following my little bantam chickens around. I don't know if they have really figured out if they are guineas yet. I'm not sure if I'd like to look like One Toe or not, but I sure would love to have his eye color!

Now here is a video of the silly young man taking a dirt bath. Notice how lovely the dirt makes a white bird look...

A Mothers Love

2009-09-21T07:12:00.008-04:00

Well, Harriet finally did it! She hatched an egg and became a mom. My husband named the egg before it was born and the name he chose was Gordon. Not sure if this is a girl (pullet) or boy (cockerel), but it sure is cute. This is a picture of Gordon peeping out from the warm comfort of his/her mom's wing. Mom has been busy keeping Gordon warm and trying to teach how to eat and drink and this little peep catches on fast. Amazing how nature works. Yesterday I offered Harriet her favorite treat of crickets and little Gordon dived right in. Harriet helped break up the cricket and Gordon was a little pig, loving every bite. Gordon is all of 2" tall when standing upright so is a tiny peep. We certainly are hoping this little peep grows up to be big and strong, just like his Bantam parents.

Here is a picture of the egg Gordon came out of next to a quarter for reference...

She Wants To Be A Mom

2009-09-03T15:50:00.004-04:00

Well, guess who thinks she might want to be a mom? My special little Harriet! That little hen just has my heart. I never thought I would ever be so in love with a chicken!!! I knocked her crate over while she was laying the other day with her in it and she didn't leave. Her little pet carrier (crate) is on top of a plastic milk carton and I was in a hurry, trying to cover her to protect her and her eggs from the rain. She has fussed at me over the last two eggs she laid. I didn't realize that she was beginning to be broody (wanting to set her eggs and be a mother). She has never fussed at me before. She has been staying with her just laid egg longer and longer and then when she leaves has been coming back once to sit on her egg for a while. Yesterday she only had her golf ball and got on it for a long time. I realized that she probably wanted her eggs to take care of. I had 3 in the house I was saving for the neighbor's incubator to try and hatch and I took out the golf ball when she took a break (it was totally warm from her!) and gave her the 3 eggs she had laid. She stayed on her eggs all day and when I brought out crickets that she loves so much, she wouldn't leave her eggs. When she did take her little break to potty, drink and eat, I brought crickets out especially for her. After a little stretching of her legs, she went back to her eggs. We brought her carrier (now bungeed to the milk crate that I knocked over) and put it in the pen where everyone roosts for the evening. I wanted her to be safe, or as safe as she can be. It goes back out in the morning and we will up her up in the evenings. She never moves while we move her crate! I don't know if she will/can hatch all, or one or none, but I am giving her the chance to be a mom. She want's it, and I want it for her. Just think, I could be a chicken grandmother!

Here is a video of her and what she does all day long...

Finding Harriet

2009-08-20T15:11:00.004-04:00

As you saw in my last post, Harriet is quite small. She is an every other day kind of girl in the egg department. Today was the other day. Here is a photo of her egg by her golf ball. Yep, her golf ball. The golf ball gives her a hint that this is where she is supposed to lay. It helps so I don't have to play the Easter egg hunt game around the yard.

Now to finding Harriet. Not a problem, instructions are simple. 1. Go to the yard. 2. Ask, "Where's Harriet?" and call chicky-chicky-chicky. Here comes Harriet. Just tell her to run and hurry. She'll be at your beck and call in no time flat. Oh, and you'll get Ozzie and June along for the fun.

Harriet and Me

2009-08-20T06:49:00.007-04:00

Just thought I'd share a picture of my best girl Harriet. She is fully grown and just a delight to be around! She comes running when I call (I always ask "Where's Harriet") hoping for a treat and when she is getting ready to have an egg, she comes and tells me. If I think it is about time and I am outside, I just pick her up, put her in her box and she has it. I can carry her around like I am holding her in the photo with her legs dangling. When hubby is under the hood of the car I bring her over so she can give her advice and recommendation. She actually looks under the hood like she is checking things out. This was her photo op after giving a consultation. Gotta love her!

Mason Bees

2009-08-06T09:46:00.004-04:00

Mason bees are delightful little pollinators. I understand that they are easy keepers and don't sting. If you want to collect honey, they aren't for you, they don't produce honey, just pollinate. They are slightly larger than a fly and smaller than a honeybee. They will take up residence in Woodpecker holes in trees. I found some outback on the wild Lambs Ear (at least that is what I call it) and have taken some photo's and a video of them pollinating. Please excuse the video for being a bit blurry in some parts...I need to learn how to work my camera/video taker. I have an old Pecan tree (photo is at the bottom of my blog) nearby and think that is where these are living. If you'd like to learn more about them just type in Mason Bees in your search engine.

Early Morning Riser

2009-07-30T08:18:00.003-04:00

They say that the early bird gets the worm, but in this case, it is the early worker bee that gets the pollen! I was out feeding the outside animals and saw activity on a plant that seems to be a false lambs ear. The pic here is of a honey bee. Notice the pollen sac on her rear leg. She is going to take this home so her colony can pack it away and use it as 'bee bread' to feed the young larve. This certainly makes for happy bees and a happy family!

Trying To Get There

2009-07-23T07:24:00.008-04:00

We have been working on putting tile down in the laundry/pantry area as well as the kitchen. It has been a slow and frustrating process. Dust everywhere, the refrigerator in the den area, mortar and grout getting stuck in the cracks of the tiles, things piled up on the counters with no counter to be seen in site. It is a rewarding process in the end, though still isn't finished. I still need to seal the grout, paint kickboards, find a home for the stuff on the counters, but it is getting there. Things are looking better and we are trying to get to the next project... Here is a during the process picture and an after the process picture. Notice that the fridge is now back where it belongs!

Doe In The Woods

2009-07-19T08:27:00.005-04:00

Wildlife abounds around here. We live in a rural area and have woods surrounding two sides of our property. Saw this little doe grazing around the outside of our horse pasture and got the camera to video her. Wish I could have been closer. I couldn't believe it when she squatted to pee! She pee'd! I guess I didn't really think about it much. I see deer poop all around, but to actually see her pee was quite amazing for me. I guess I am easily entertained.

There is another doe around with two fawns that is around here. Now if I could just catch her on video...

Meet June

2009-07-13T10:58:00.004-04:00

Well, I went and did it again. I went to the same place that was having yet another yard/tag sale where I bought the Nelsons and bought another chicken. This one is a 12 week old Buff Black Tailed Japanese Bantam pullet. I call her June (as in June Cleaver). Harriet and June are having some issues, but things are working out. June just can't get near Harriet or between Harriet and Ozzie. If that happens, Harriet yanks the dickins out of Junes feathers and sends her running. Harriet is becoming a little more tolerant of June and June is beginning to learn the ropes around here. Bless her little chicken heart...she is trying hard!

Well, I guess I've started my flock of mini chickens and I'm hoping the hubster won't ban me from more yard sales...

He's A Big Boy Now

2009-06-22T08:39:00.003-04:00

Chickens can really be funny some times. This morning I put my stainless steel garbage can out on the patio so I could clean it later. I didn't think anything more until I went to feed the goats and horse. Low and behold Ozzie found himself in the stainless steel and thought it was an intruding rooster. He had to protect his territory and Harriet and it was really quite comical. Harriet sat on a patio chair watching her hero protect her. When she finally got down, Ozzie pushed her away from the intruder with the down wing position, herding her to safety. After all, she is his alone, isn't she? He has been doing this to her all morning. I guess he needs to let her know he is the boss and she goes where he tells her. No other boyfriends for her! Funny thing is...she follows him around everywhere. He doesn't have to do a thing. I finally had to pick the can up and put it in the house so he wouldn't hurt himself.

Meet The Nelsons

2009-06-07T16:47:00.010-04:00

Not just your ordinary couple. This is Ozzie and Harriet. They are a pair of Fawn Duckwing Bantams. I went to a yard sale yesterday (in some area's they are known as tag sales) and saw this couple and fell in love with them. I'd been thinking about getting some chickens, but not sure if they would work out here. At the moment, they are in a dog exercise pen that is covered. They have their water and a place to roost, a place to nest and even their own umbrella to shade them when the sun is overhead. I can take them out, let them roam around and then catch them to put them up. I saw them mating yesterday and am hoping to find some tiny eggs soon!

Look how they love to pose for the camera...

Ozzie is on the left, Harriet is on the right.

Apitherapy News: Video: Bees Swarm, Take Over NYC Sidewalk

2009-05-26T08:22:00.002-04:00

Apitherapy News: Video: Bees Swarm, Take Over NYC Sidewalk

Click on the link above and check this out! Bees in NYC. Can you believe it? So glad that a beekeeper came along to get them to safety!

Here We Go Once More

2009-05-12T09:13:00.011-04:00

Well, the new window came in for the bathroom. Now that there was a wall where the opening had to be cut to put the new window in. Another mess in the bathroom. At least Darla was having a good time looking out!

Here is the new window waiting to be trimmed in...

Now on to getting the bathroom done!

Baby Bluebirds about to fledge

2009-05-03T11:44:00.003-04:00

Yes, I have been watching them. There is a family of Bluebirds that have taken up residence in an Alabama shaped Bluebird house that is close to our house. There are two youngsters. The dad seems to be the one who feeds and cleans up after them. Here is a video of the second one fledging today.

Oops...they did it again!

2009-05-01T03:05:00.004-04:00

Oh my. I've not been in my hive to check on them to see how they were doing. Apparently they were doing too well and needed more space. The girls swarmed today. I was outside working in the yard and heard an all too familiar whir and buzz that was coming from the apiary. I looked, and sure enough the girls were swarming. Bees were everywhere flying madly about. All I could do was to stand and watch to see where they would decide to take up temporary residence. Luckily, it was on a low branch. I got one of my neighbors to come over and help me collect the little bundles of joy to put them in a new hive. Hopefully, they will like their new digs and stay put. I'll find out in a day or two.

Now here is a closeup of the little darlings...

Jackson

2009-03-22T17:56:00.008-04:00

My goats can be a lot of fun. Jackson is a purebred Nubian and is my first goat. He was raised as a bottle baby and was raised in the house. He thinks he is special. We took naps on the couch together. He never pottied in the house. I can go into the pasture and pat the ground next to me and he will lie down to get pats.

If you go to my YouTube site http://www.youtube.com/user/badbarefootchef you can see a video of him. Although he does lie down with me, the camera is just too much of a curiosity for him to deal with.

Funny boy he is!

Spring Is In The Air

2009-03-08T17:23:00.002-04:00

Wow, what a difference a week makes. Last Sunday we were pelted with snow and today it is 74 and sunny. I guess that is the way spring goes. It certainly is nice to see some of the flowers made it out from that blanket of white. Hopefully, the white stuff will take a hike until winter is back.

The Opportunists

2009-03-06T09:24:00.005-05:00

We've had some really strange weather here this winter. Warm one day, then freezing the next. It is really hard on the bees. I lost one of my colonies during the snow. I took out all of the frames to clean up the hive body and super. The frames had capped honey in them, so I took the ones from the supers and harvested them and then left the hive body frames with the capped honey out for my other colony to clean up. They sure did love it as you can see in the short video. I went into their hive box before they found what I left for them to see if they were doing ok, and sure enough they are going like gang busters. The hive is full of bees and they have started building comb on top of their super so I went ahead and put another super for them to fill. This one will be for me. March is the time that our bees get going here in Georgia and hopefully this colony will do well with their honey production this year.

Oh, and by the way, this colony is the swarm I caught last year.

Snow In Georgia

2009-03-05T06:09:00.008-05:00

You wouldn't believe it is March here and spring is around the corner. We had snow for several hours on Sunday. It was a light wet snow and the flakes got to be the size of a quarter. No light dusting this time. We got about 7 inches. In the photo, I took the picture the next morning after the snow was starting to pack and melt. We were fortunate that we didn't lose power like a lot of folks around here. Here in the south we aren't prepared for snow. In my county, the schools were out for 2 days. I took this short clip during the afternoon. If you go to my YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/user/badbarefootchef , you can see more short clips that I took of the snow.

Meet Hambone

2009-02-27T14:47:00.011-05:00

Well, a month ago I went to get my mail and a dog was in the road by my mailbox. I always shoo stray dogs because I don't want them on my property. I have some really irresponsible dog owners around me who just let their dogs run loose. I don't want someone else's dog on my property to chase/upset my goats and I certainly don't them here bringing disease. Not to mention tearing into my trash, pooping in my yard and me having to pick up after someone else's pet.

At any rate, I tried to tell the dog to 'get'. He rolled over in the road and stayed there. I could tell he had a soft temperament and was an older dog. I went back to my house and he followed me. What can I say? I took him in (named him Hambone because that is what he looks/acts like). I called neighbors and they told me he had been seen for at least a week running around. I called animal control, the local humane society and all of the local vets as well as putting ads in local papers and Craigs list. I even had him checked for a micro chip. No one was looking for him. Seems as though someone just dumped him off. What a pathetic thing to do.

He is sweet, gets along with other dogs, housebroken, heartworm free and an all round happy fellow. Who could do something like this to him? At one time he was someones loved pet.

I called my vet and she works with a local group that is a no kill shelter. Most animals are being fostered until they find a forever home. I have been Hambone's foster home. This is a great group. They take care of all of the animals health care and food. Hambone not only got a fecal, he was tested for heartworms, he got his shots, teeth cleaned and microchipped at their expense. This group sets up at PetSmart every Saturday to show off the adoptable pets. They require a 3 page application to be filled out, a home inspection (for 3 reasons, one to see that there is a home at the address given, two to see that they actually have a fenced in yard with four sides and a gate if they claim to have one and three to make sure that they are not hoarders, meaning they don't collect dogs/pets because they feel sorry for them and have too many). There is also a $200 adoption fee which is really cheap when you consider the price of spaying/neutering, heartworm check, fecal, worming ect. I took Hambone there and on the first Saturday, someone fell in love with him. It has taken a few more weeks for paperwork to be filled out, a home inspection done and tomorrow Hambone will go to his new home. He will be a companion to a new family and a 13 year old boy who wanted him to love. I would say that this is a good ending for this delightful fellow!

Yet Another Try

2009-02-20T13:36:00.003-05:00

Set aside some time to try another plum blossom on a more appropriate paper. It does take a good amount of practice. It is fun to watch brushstrokes become something familiar. I do like this one better and will keep trying...

My First Attempt

2009-02-02T17:51:00.002-05:00

Ok, I've tried to attempt some plum blossoms with my Chinese brushes. It wasn't the correct paper (didn't absorb well), and was only an envelope that I used to paint on. I however did use the black inkstick and tried to copy some colors with the watercolors I had on hand. I didn't have a seal, but used a stamp that was supposed to be a Chinese coin.

Hopefully this first attempt (after practicing) isn't crummy. I know what I need to do differently and I think with practice and time I will get better.

She Doesn't Deserve It

2009-01-23T11:48:00.003-05:00

As many of you know, I don't have children, but I do have dogs. Many don't know the love of an animal, and the love you have for them along with the bond you create between the two of you. I spend many hours in training for various AKC titles, and when you spend this amount of time with the dog/animal, you form an extremely close bond with the dog/animal you are working with. You learn to notice little differences in body language when working with them, and learn to read their body language. My relationship with Hannah is no exception.

Hannah is a German Shepherd Dog. She just turned 6 years old on this new years eve. She is brave, protective, a guardian of my small goat herd, a friend, companion to all other dogs here, and a loyal friend to me. She is always good natured, happy and delightful to be around. She is very loved.

Last year she began to limp on one of her back legs and I took her in for X-rays. Her hips seemed fine, so I chalked it up to pulling something due to the fact she loves to run so hard. I kept her inside with R&R for 2 weeks. A couple of weeks later, it happened again. I just thought she had once again pulled or sprained something. When it happened again a few months later, I took her in and requested more X-rays. We redid her hips along with her back and neck. Low and behold, she had compression going on in her neck and spine. Not only did she have compression, but little spurs growing out of several of her vertebra. She was in severe pain. She had been for some time. We put her on pain killers and steroids to relieve the inflammation. She was also put on 'bed rest'.

A couple of nights ago, she ran a bit and then began limping. After a vet's visit, she was diagnosed with 'Ruptured Cranial Cruciate'. She has torn a ligament in her knee. She will now be going to have surgery on Monday to try and repair it. While recuperating, she might be using her other leg/knee so much that she will damage it and have to have surgery on the other knee.

She is such a sweet and good natured dog. She always tries to please you and do whatever you ask. Throughout all her pain, she has never been the least bit snippy. She doesn't deserve this. This whole time all she does is wag her tail and give you kisses.

The photo I have posted is when she finished her AKC C.D. title.

A Delightful Gift

2009-01-07T03:01:00.019-05:00

For Christmas, I received this lovely Chinese brush, ink stone and ink stick set. My stepdaughter purchased in China and thought that I might be able to use it. How wonderful is that?

In the upper picture you can see the ink sticks on either side of the case. They are beautiful and ornate. They are so lovely that you almost hate to grind them down to use. The lower picture is of the ink stone with the lid removed. It too has a wonderful ornateness to it. It is heavy as well.

Chinese brush painting is supposed to be therapeutic and relaxing. When slowly grinding the ink stick on the ink stone, you are to meditate and contemplate about what you are going to paint. The grinding process also relaxes and loosens your hand and wrist muscles. A friend of mine, Stewart, who lives in the UK does this type of work and says "you can smell the charcoal of the pine forest from which it (the ink stick)was made." Wow, smelling the forest/tree from which it came! That would certainly make one slow down, reflect and enjoy the wonder of the ink.

For a little history in Chinese brush painting, go here.

This is a neat website that has some lessons in Chinese painting.

If you google Chinese ink painting or Chinese brush painting, you can learn more about it. I can't wait to get some nice paper now to give it a go.

Altered Domino Ornaments

2008-12-27T07:58:00.012-05:00

Finally finished up some Christmas ornaments. They are altered dominoes for Lucia and Isaac and all have to do with their wedding that was in August. Most have danglies at the bottom and all can be hung by the fibers that are attached to the top.

When Lucia and Isaac announced the date, they sent out a delightful postcard with a picture of them together when they were younger and then made a photo to look similar of them now. The two pictures were put one on top of the other on the front of the postcard. I thought it was really special and surely had to use the picture on one of the dominoes. They made their own invitations, so of course the invitation is on one. On the flip side of the invitation, they drew themselves biking, so that is another domino. There is one with a photo of the church and one with a wedding photo that I have surrounded by music that was sung at the wedding. There is also one of the invitation to the rehearsal dinner and one of the front of the wedding program.

I think all will have a special meaning for them, as it is their first Christmas together as husband and wife. They are not done in Christmas colors, so can be hung anywhere and anytime.

Just wish I had time to make more...

A Piece Of Me

2008-12-07T07:17:00.004-05:00

A friend is hosting a swap where she sent out a puzzle of 9 pieces to 8 people and we are to alter each piece of the puzzle to represent us as an artist. She will be the 9th person in the swap and will alter her pieces as well. We will return all 9 pieces to her and she will mix them up so that each of us has a puzzle piece of the other that makes one puzzle when they are connected together. The outside pieces can have chunky pieces on the outside of them.

I have altered my pieces with a picture of an Avatar that I sometimes use. It is a 'Zetti Me'. On the outside of this outside piece, I have added fibers and if you look closely, there is a little sewing machine and a pair of scissors. The colors in the photo aren't accurate, they do match the Avatar much better in person.

I can't wait to see the returns and the finished 9 puzzles. I am sure they will be amazing!

Trying Hard

2008-11-14T13:12:00.003-05:00

I'm not very good at collage, but am trying very hard to do a decent job. I have a long way to go, but am willing to work at it. I've collected numerous pictures over a period of time and have enlisted a fellow artist to make collage sheets to use. Here is my first start using a sheet that she made. Don't laugh, my printer stinks and puts strips across the images. I'm just trying to get started with what I have.

Don't Worry Bee Happy

2008-10-28T12:44:00.008-04:00

This morning I took the opportunity to bottle the bit of honey (only a little over 8 - 1/2 lbs) I collected from my hive. It has been strained from the comb and carefully poured into the jars. I wish I had more of the little jars because it is fun to give little gifts here and there. I still have to design my label, but that will come with some thought and time.

In the meantime, the hubster has put in his order for the number of jars he wants to give his colleagues for Christmas.

Guess I'd better get started early in the season next year to get these girls in gear so they can do what they do best...make honey and bee happy!

Good Girls

2008-10-27T12:16:00.005-04:00

As some of you may know, I have bees. I really haven't worked them to harvest honey for one reason or another. This year I put a pinch of effort into it and am rewarded with the nectar of the gods! Not really much, but it is an offering. In January 09, I need to get myself in gear and start working with the girls to help them produce the best they can.

In the photo, I am using a crush and strain method of collecting the honey. It is a cheap way to process your honey that anyone can do. Right now, my kitchen is smelling of honey and I can't wait to bottle my golden pure sweetness.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

2008-10-20T11:15:00.006-04:00

You know, I have lived in this old house now for 6 years with the hubster. Gotta love the man, but P-L-E-A-S-E, doing something over and over again is too much. For him, doing something over and over (usually 3 times) is what works. Doesn't seem to bother him, and I guess it is because he is doing it. Sometimes it really puts my will to love life to the test.

This old house was built in the mid 1800's and was/is in desperate need of work. We remodeled the bathroom when we first moved in.It was our first project.

It was a Thanksgiving weekend when the hubster decided to begin the work. Didn't seem to be a problem, at least not at the time (now I wish I had known blogging and had been blogging each day). It was going to be a small project, just fixing a few things to make it more livable.

To spare you a long story...3 layers of flooring was removed to reveal a subfloor that needed replacing...so, all was removed, new joists were put in, new pluming was done, new electrical wiring, walls were ripped out, tub/shower stall removed replaced by a 4' clawfoot tub that we restored, outside wall was ripped out, repaired...so on and so forth. During that time we had to bathe in the kitchen (uninsulated) and to potty? Well, let's just say it wasn't fun walking across the floor joists with the potty to put it where it needed to go to use it.

Oh, and did I mention that this house has only one bathroom?

Ok, I lived through all of the above and more. Everything was finished and was quite lovely. We HAD a nice bathroom!

The hubster began working on the outside wall recently. He has decided that the outside wall doesn't match the rest of the back of the house and that it would be better to tear out the wall and replace it along with the window. Ok, I knew the window would be replaced, but the ENTIRE OUTSIDE WALL???? Yep, you read right! Now the outside wall is gone and my dear sweet hubster has torn out the ceiling as well. Seems as though he isn't happy with that either. It is October now and was 45 degrees at 10:30am. Do you know how it feels to take a bath in that temperature?

When will this times remodeling be done? Who knows. One thing leads to another here and nothing is for sure. We'll see and I'll just pray for warmer weather.

I keep trying to remember that what doesn't kill us will make us stronger. I just hope that I can find that strength sooner rather than later!

Oh, and the pics? They are looking at the inside view and outside view of my bathroom this morning.

New ACT's

2008-10-17T19:30:00.004-04:00

Well, I got myself in gear and finished up two new ACT's for a swap at MAW. It is called 'The Painted Page.' These cards are made of distressed book pages, watercolors, acrylics and thread painting. They were quite fun to do!

Tracking

2008-10-03T11:42:00.005-04:00

Well, for a bit now I have been working two of my dogs for tracking. Tracking is when a dog follows a particular scent. Any dog can track. The challenge is to get the dog to follow one scent that they are told to follow. Tracking is not something that is taught to the dog, they already know how to do that. If you have ever had a dog that follows a cat's trail, a squirrel's trail or something else, you know that the dog has the ability to track. All do. When you train for tracking, you train the dog to follow the scent that the handler points out to the dog. I train my dogs to follow a particular human scent and to indicate something that the person has dropped along the way. At the moment mine are trained to indicate something leather or cloth.

This past week, both my Shorthair and Shepherd did a very good job. I am proud of the both of them. Hannah (Shepherd) didn't miss a beat and stayed on each turn exactly where it was. Darla (Shorthair) did a delightful job and was fun to watch checking out what she thought was "dropped" by the tracklayer. She'd go over to what she thought was an article/drop, realized it wasn't and kept going until she found what she should.

On Monday, I'm going to be a track layer for an AKC test. My job will be to walk with the judges and draw out the "track" that will be laid on Tuesday for the test. We will put out flags to indicate turns and drops on Monday. Tuesday morning I will re-walk the track, picking up the flags. For the exhibitors who are entered in the test, they don't know where the track goes. Only where the start is. I know they will be nervous, as will I. It is a pass or fail test. Not many do pass. This is one AKC event where everyone pulls for the person and dog doing the work. I so hope/pray that the dog that get's the track that I laid passes.

I am also hoping to get my Hannah (Shepherd) ready for her test in December. She is so soft tempered and doesn't have the confidence that she should. We are working hard at the moment. She is very sweet and deserving, but she must do her best job and prove that she can do what she has been taught to do...track and follow the human scent that I tell her to, and to indicate anything that the person has touched and left behind.

The pictures here are of Hannah and Darla. Such great companions!

Oh, Hannah has her C.D and R.N. Darla has her R.N. and is a registered therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International. Darla is currently working on her C.D. and doing some of her C.D.X. work.

Got it done!

2008-09-24T15:10:00.007-04:00

Well, I finally finished it. I've completed an article and submitted it for an online art Zine. It is the first of two parts. My article is about thread painting and will be in the October issue. In this photo, you can see the ACT that I give step-by-step instructions for making.

I actually had it done, mostly, but had to put the pictures in order and make them small enough to send and large enough to look decent. This I am not good at. The editors were very kind to work with me. First, I didn't finish editing my own writing quickly and then I got busy with things and forgot to email all of the pictures for the article!

For the sequel...I will be doing it shortly. I don't want to be "last minute Annie" again!

Oh, and when October arrives you can visit: http://www.arttradermag.com/ to see what I did. Or you can click on the link to the right side of my blog. Art Trader Magazine, check it out.

Her 50th Visit

2008-08-29T18:29:00.005-04:00

Today Pia made her 50th therapy dog visit. It is a great thrill, for me and just fun for her. It is a milestone. I can now send in paperwork to show that she has made 50 visits. She will receive her own pin (which I will put on her identification card holder, not on her) to show her accomplishment. I know she doesn't know it is a special accomplishment, but I do.

The Completed Guest Book

2008-08-27T08:27:00.010-04:00

Finally home from the wedding and trying to get caught up on sleep and housework. The picture is the front of the finished guest book. It has a page for photo's and a page for both the bride and groom to journal in. I was pleased with how it turned out. The guest book is layers of lace and beads. It is closed by a pen that is run through ribbon. You can click on the picture to see it up close and personal.

The wedding was filled with beauty and art, dancing and delight. Such a joyous day that was shared by friends and family that will live on in memories, pictures and video's. Now the couple will start life anew as one. There is something special in being married. Something sacred. Something that goes beyond being a couple.

When you wed, you promise eternity on this earth with that special person you love. You promise it in front of God and everyone. It is not a promise that is taken lightly.

Marriage isn't always easy. You endure hard times, bad times and hurt that you sometimes throw each others way, whether you mean to or not. Yet, you get through it and still love that person next to you, and your love grows into a depth that is unexplainable. A love that is ever enduring, faithful, and trusting.

For the newly wed couple, I wish you a lifetime of happiness together. Hold onto each other in the good times and in the bad. In the end, your love will grow stronger, deeper, and enrich your lives.

Understand that feelings can sometimes be hurt easily, and that harsh words can never be taken back.

Never sleep on the couch at night, no matter how mad you are. It only creates a distance between you two.

Never own any thing bigger than a full sized bed. Sleep closely and always snuggle at night. Let your bodies become one by always touching each other…let your legs tangle together. In this, you know when you sleep that your love is beyond boundaries and that you are always together and that you comfort one another.

Always remember to say thank you, even for the smallest gestures. Everyone wants to be appreciated.

Compromise at every crossroad. You don’t always need to be right, even if you think you are. A compromise is working out a situation that you disagree on, but know that in 5 years it didn’t really matter in the first place.

Love is a two way street, it is give and take. Always try to give more than you take.

Never hold a grudge or bring up past mistakes, it isn't healthy for your relationship.

Wake each morning with a smile upon your face and a happy heart, for the one you love is laying right beside you. It just doesn't get any better than that.

One more thing done

2008-08-19T03:22:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I got the eyelets that I wanted and started printing and gluing things together to finish my sign in pages for the wedding. I think that they are very unique and special. All I have to do now is to bind them with fibers in the book and yes, I do need to complete the book...talk about stress! The good thing is that I know where I am headed with it. The bad thing is that I am behind on things here at home to get ready. Right now it is the middle of the night and I just had to get some work done.

The photo is the page I have written about. I have also included a page where the couple can put photos of their special day and a page where each of them can write about the experience.

Today's work

2008-08-17T15:18:00.005-04:00

I've been working today on the wedding guest book. I have the silk paper I made bonded to the spine of the handmade abaca papers and all of the lines on the pages stitched in gold metallic thread. I've even added some lace to the edge. I really want to find some smaller gold eyelets to complete them so will be off tomorrow to see what I can find.

In the meantime, I am working on the cover. What I have in the photo is silk fabric with the word love, machine embroidered on it. I've embellished it with silk ribbon embroidery, fresh water pearls and a couple of hearts that someone gave me. This is just a portion of the front.

Back to the sewing room for now...

A Special Wedding

2008-08-14T15:06:00.010-04:00

As some of you know, my stepdaughter is getting married at the end of next week. She has kindly asked me to make her guest book. Both she and her fiance are really into going green so I enlisted a fellow artist, Dana Driscoll, an expert in making paper, to hand make the paper for the guest book. The sign in papers are sustainable harvested, organic abaca fibers and cotton linters. They are also ph-neutral. Very lovely indeed! I am making silk paper to bind the edge that will go in the book.

The picture here is the introduction page. It is embroidered on silk with added lace, silk paper edged where it will be bound an has two rows of gold stitching to help hold the silk in place. It is bound by a satin stitch in sulky thread.

Not quite perfect, but I think it is a very special page for a very special couple on a very special day!

Oh, and if you are in need of special hand made paper, Dana is listed on the right hand side of my blog under my favorite artists. Contact her for all of your hand made paper needs.

A Rainbow Bridge Story

2008-08-12T12:17:00.009-04:00

My Capricious Delight

As Capri, the Afghan Hound, strolled along enjoying the beautiful fields and wonderful shade trees, she realized she felt better than she ever had before. Everything also looked much brighter and clearer than it had in years. “My goodness” she thought. “I feel like a young puppy again!” She was amazed by the beauty of her surroundings and the peacefulness she felt inside.

All of a sudden she heard a familiar voice.

“Hey, Capri you’re late,” exclaimed Kashmere.

“Kashmere, my old friend, I haven’t seen you in ages. What do you mean, late? I’m not late. Late for what?” Capri replied.

“Oh yes you are late! We’ve been waiting on you here. I wanted you on our team to play fetch. You are a great fetcher and we needed you.” Kashmere retorted back. “Do you know how many games you could have made a difference in?”

“I said I’m NOT late...what in the world are you talking about?” was Capri’s reply. She couldn’t understand why her old friend would be so insulting about her timing.

“Well” Kashmere replied, “You were supposed to be here exactly 14 1/2 years, 3 hours, 2 minutes and 45 seconds ago!”

“What are you talking about? And hey, didn’t you get hit by a car?” asked Capri. “Everyone was talking about it you know?” “Pretty gruesome I heard.”

Kashmere’s face became contorted. She looked at Capri and asked, “Do you know where you are?”

“Well, as a matter of fact, no, I was just wondering about that!” Capri said with a curious look on her face. “It is really beautiful here, and I feel so at peace and comfortable. Something I have never felt before.”

“I didn’t think you had a clue! Did you ever wonder how come a dog of your age feels so good? How a dog with cataracts could see so well?” Kashmere smartly replied.

“What is your point my old friend?” Now Capri was curious and confused at the same time.

“How do you think my mangled legs have straightened out so? Did you hear how many of my bones were broken by that car? Look at me...I am the picture of health!” Kashmere was proud to reply.

“Well,” replied Capri, “I was wondering about that. I thought maybe it was only a rumor I heard and that maybe you had been sent to a new home. Everyone knew how difficult you could be.”

“Hey, I was sent to a new home alright. This one. That car did me in. And let me tell you, it is the greatest place to be! None of us here want for anything. Anything that is, except for our special humans” Kashmere now had a hint of longingness in her eyes. She was thinking of her special human that she missed very much. “Capri this is where we wait...we wait for our special humans to cross over the Rainbow Bridge. Look...it is just over there.

“Wow!” exclaimed Capri. “This is really it? I can’t believe it. I made it here. When is my special human coming to get me?”

Kashmere replied, “We don’t know the answer to that question my dear friend.” But I can tell you this. Our wait will be comfortable and enjoyable. We want for nothing here.

As Capri looked around she began to have lots of questions about her new surroundings. “What is that?” Capri asked her old friend.

“Oh, that is the “Goat Dog” yard replied Kashmere. “Those dogs are the ones that didn’t listen to their owners and chased and killed goats in their lifetime. They never realized that what they did would eventually have consequences.” Those goats in that luscious green field with trees that forever have leaves for them to eat are waiting for their owners to come. In the meantime, the dogs that took their lives on earth are there and will be forever chased by the ones they harmed. One must pay for the injustices that have been done on earth.”

“Oh my,” said Capri. “I’m so glad my owner kept me from doing things like that! I can’t imagine the humiliation of being chased by a goat!”

Kashmere just nodded and replied, “There are all sorts of places here like that for bad dogs. We must pay our dues for the bad things we did. There are places here for chicken killers, cat killers...you name it, it’s here!”

Pointing to another area, nosy little Capri asked, “Who are those animals over there?” She had so many questions to ask and was curious about all of her new surroundings.

Kashmere smiled and said, “Oh those animals are the ones that were unwanted by their humans on earth. They will get to go to people who couldn’t have pets before...you know...like the humans whose companions forbade them to have pets...those who wanted pets but were unable to pay for their care...no animal goes without love here! It is a wonderful thing. Someone will come for them and they won’t have to spend eternity alone.”

All of a sudden Kashmere got the grandest smile on her face. “Oh and just wait until you get to meet the big boss...he is the main man behind the golden gates after you cross the
Rainbow Bridge...he is really nice, you’ll like him. Sometimes he will come and sit with us, bringing us our favorite treats. He talks with us and gives us pats. When he pats you, you are just overwhelmed with love. He loves all of his animals very much and you can just feel it when he is here. A very gentle man he is. We all enjoy his company very much. You will never experience a touch quite like his.”

Suddenly Capri was overwhelmed with emotion and seemed to realize what was going on. She realized that she had a purpose in life. She turned to her old friend Kashmere and said, “No, my dear friend, I am not late in my arrival here. I now realize that I have had a job to do on earth. A very important job. More important than a ball game with my dear friends.” Capri now had a very serious look on her face. “That job was to teach my human owner compassion and to respect life. She needed to learn that a little hard work can bring a lot of love and joy into your life. Heck, if she hadn’t have saved me, she wouldn’t have learned that lesson! My life would have been without meaning. I had to teach her unconditional love for the smallest and sickest of animals. It sure was a struggle for me, I didn’t know if she’d pull me out of it sometimes, but hey, it was well worth it!” Now Capri was beaming with joy...the joy and pride of having a purpose in life.

All of a sudden Buddy, a Golden Retriever, suddenly stopped in his tracks. He had a glow in his eyes that nobody had seen before. He stood erect. His ears were upright. His tail had a wag in it that nobody had ever seen before. All of a sudden he ran as fast as he could.

“What is going on?” asked Capri.

“Shhhhh”, said Kashmere in a whispering voice, “That is Buddy’s special human. They have come for him and the two are going to cross over the bridge together.”

There was a joyous tear in everyone’s eye. All of the animals stood for a moment in silence out of respect...respect for the love of a human and their animal and of having an animal get to meet their special human and cross the Rainbow Bridge and be together forever. It is a reverent response that each one gets in this beautiful waiting place.

After watching Buddy and his owner crossed the bridge together everything resumed as it had been before. All games were being played, grass eaten, frolicking just for the enjoyment of it...naptime whenever and just for the fun of it...everything that is, but with a brighter light within each animal. The light that left each one knowing that their special human would be coming for them and they could cross the Rainbow Bridge together and never be apart again.

The photo is of Capri at 10 months old. This is a partial true story. The story is about Calisso Capricious Delight, a puppy that I bred that unfortunately was born with her intestines out. A puppy that some breeders would have not considered saving. A puppy that some veterinarians told me they wouldn’t have tried to save. This puppy after having her intestines put back in came up with septicemia, a blood infection that is serious. I carried her under my shirt for 4 1/2 weeks fighting for her life. This puppy lived for 14 1/2 years. She was the dominate force in the household. No one could over rule her. She dictated when it was time to eat, time for treats and when nap time was. She loved to nap with her head upside down on her favorite chair. When she met my soon to be husband’s then 6 year old Shepherd (and Capri was 10) she made sure that the Shepherd understood that she COULDN’T play in the house and the Shepherd obeyed! At her 14 1/2 years she still ran up and down the stairs to sleep with us and be by our side. I had her put to sleep in my arms after her kidneys and liver quit working. She is cremated and her remains are in a brass urn and with me today. She was very special to me and I hope to cross the bridge with her by my side. I still miss my Capricious Delight.

We all have to look out for each other

2008-08-11T16:34:00.003-04:00

A cute story that I thought I'd share...

The Mouse and The Mousetrap

A mouse looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package. What food might it contain? He was aghast to discover that it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard the mouse proclaimed the warning: "There is a mousetrap in the house, a mousetrap in the house!" The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Excuse me, Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it." The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house, a mousetrap in the house!" "I am so very sorry Mr. Mouse," sympathized the pig, "but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured that you are in my prayers." The mouse turned to the cow. She said, "Oh My, Mr. Mouse. A mousetrap. As if I would be in grave danger. I do not think so!" So the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well and a few days later she passed away. So many people came for her funeral, that the farmer had the cow slaughtered, to provide meat for all of them to eat. So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when there is a mousetrap in the house, the whole farmyard is at risk. Author Unknown

Message In A Spoon

2008-08-08T09:39:00.008-04:00

Inspired by an article on 'Spoon Books' in the May/June 2008 CPS magazine, I decided to host an altered spoon swap on Mail Art World (link on the side of my blog to it) and I titled it 'Message In A Spoon.' The idea was to alter a spoon and to use words to give a message in it. What a fun and exciting swap it was! I can't tell you how beautiful the spoons were that came in. I think everyone who participated will be happy with their returns.

In the swap, I received many spoons as a hostess gift, which I didn't require, but was certainly appreciative. I also made spoons and swapped for other spoons that were sent in. I actually kept one of mine. I rarely keep any of my art work, but thought I would just for this occasion. Talk about a about a beautiful collection! Now, how do you display these wonders?

As luck would have it, I was at a garage sale looking for silver plated silverware to alter. I came across a couple of small souvenir spoons and snatched them up quickly. They are great for art pins. The person holding the yard sale pointed me in the direction of a spoon rack to display spoons that you have collected. I told her I didn't collect spoons, but thank you. As I drove off, I had this feeling that I needed to go back, so I did.

I inquired about the 'spoon rack' and looked to see if it would hold regular sized silverware. By golly, it did! I picked it up and went home happy.

At first I was going to alter it, but after placing my altered cutlery there, I didn't think it would work. I just didn't want to take away from all of the lovely pieces that adorn it. The pieces speak for themselves as they should. On the bottom is a tray and I'm not sure what I will put in there, but just wanted to share this beauty of a collection.

Oh, and if you'd like to alter a spoon/fork/knife and trade me, just let me know. Altered cutlery is my newest passion!

Nice day for a ride

2008-08-02T14:49:00.004-04:00

I have some friends, Judy and Tom, who own two Portuguese Water Dogs Max and Maggie. They show them in AKC performance events such as rally obedience, formal obedience, agility, tracking and they also work their dogs in water events. I see them at our obedience class and we go tracking a couple times a week together. Their dogs are also registered therapy dogs that visit a couple of places that I do.

I've been wanting to go and watch them do their 'water work' and yesterday I got my opportunity. It was a beautiful sunny day, so I got my jeep (Miss Scarlett)ready for a little trip. I took my doors off, the back side windows out and rolled up my back window. I left the top on because of the intense heat from the sun. I don't know how people can ride in convertibles. The sun beating down on you can just ruin a ride.

I got up early, threw my hair in a baseball cap, gathered up some water in an ice chest and headed to the lake. The hubster was home, so he was in charge of looking after the animals while I was away.

The drive took longer than anticipated. It was about an hour and a half away. When I arrived, there were several people with their Portuguese around the water with their dogs, buoy lines, buoy balls, miscellaneous equipment, row boats equipped with platforms on the back for both handler and dog and everyone was taking turns working their dogs in various exercises. They all were at different skill levels.

I really wish I had brought my camera. To watch these dogs do what they were bred to do was amazing. For one exercise, I got to watch Max take a buoy ball (has a short line on it) away from his boat until his handler told him to leave it. He left the buoy ball and returned to the boat. It was approximately 40 feet away from the boat where he left the ball.

How delightful to watch these dogs jump off of the back of the boat on command, swim to shore and retrieve a buoy line and bring it back to their handler on the boat The handler would then help the dog get back on board. Of course there were lots of shakes to wring the water out of their coat.

There was also another advanced exercise where the dog was instructed to jump in the water, where a good 30 yards away were two floating things (can't remember their names). The dog was instructed which one to retrieve. When they did, the handler took it from the dog and instructed the dog to go back and get the other. How neat.

There were other exercises I got to observe and what a great opportunity to get to see these dogs work. There is a lot of time and effort on the handlers part to get these dogs ready for competition, as in any dog performance event.

After everything was over, we headed to Tom and Judy's for a bite to eat. Boy does she make a spread! We had lobster salad, tuna salad, chicken salad, pasta salad, sliced cucumber and tomatoes with poppyseed dressing and feta cheese and an individual wonderful chocolate cookie cake for dessert. The Portugese were there and had some doggie ice cream, compliments of Judy. Max was having a birthday the next day, so we were all having a celebration and no one was left out.

If you ever get the opportunity to go to watch someone train dogs, take it. You will be amazed at how much time and effort goes into it, the dedication they have for it, and you will walk away with an appreciation for what both the handlers and dogs do!

She had a hard day

2008-07-28T19:13:00.004-04:00

Poor Pia. Sometimes life is rough for her. Today was no exception. She had to get groomed and then make an appearance at the local library to do an interview with the local newspaper for her work there and get pictures made. She had to meet people, get petted and admired. She was so exhausted that she came home and had to get comfortable and have a long nap.

GAWD, I so wish I had that life...

I don't feel like it!

2008-07-27T19:44:00.011-04:00

You know, there are just some days that you don't feel like doing what you need to do or have to do. You are just in one of those moods. On Friday last week that is just how I felt. I didn't want to do anything I should be doing.

I needed to groom one of my therapy dogs , my Afghan Hound, for my Friday visit at the local hospice house and then a visit to the adjoining retirement village. It isn't that I don't enjoy visiting and trying to put a smile on someone's face, even if it is for a moment, I just didn't feel like it. Grooming the dog would take 3 hours to get her ready and I should have done most of the work the day before. I sat thinking that I really didn't want to groom and go, all I wanted to do was stay at home and do things around here. The more I sat and thought that I wanted to stay home, the more I wanted to stay home, and thought, "Why should I go today, I am only a volunteer and I am not getting paid to do this. I don't HAVE to go?"

All of a sudden, another thought and a realization came to me. Those people that are in the hospice house and their families don't want to be there. Those people that are residents there don't want to be dying or in pain. Those families don't want to see their loved ones in the last stages of life, or dealing with pain issues. I'm sure that the residents that are there would love to know they had at least a few more years ahead of them, and so would their families.

Those people in the retirement village don't really want to be there. They would rather be in their own homes taking full care of themselves and their lives. They would like to prepare the meals that they would like and eat when they want. They would love to have a car to drive to the store like they were used to.

All of a sudden I felt guilty. I felt badly that I could choose the options that I wanted, I had everything that they wished for and I was trying to choose not spending a few minutes with someone that needed a little smile for the day in the face of sadness and grief. I felt guilty because just a few minutes with someone who was lonely and just needed someone to visit with made them feel good.

I felt as though I was letting someone down, even though most at the retirement home don't remember me from one week to the next. They always say how beautiful the dog is and most want to pet her. Some love for her to come and sit next to them on the couch while they stroke her long hair and ask the same questions about how long it takes to groom her, does she have a special diet, does she stay inside and all sorts of others. There is one that giggles with delight every time we show up and wants to have the dog all to herself.

At the hospice house things change from day to day so you don't know if someone is still going to be there, if someone new is there, if they like dogs or not. It is always a pleasure to go into a room and put the dog on a chair next to the patient so they can see them and pet them. Sometimes you have to take the patients hand to help them pet the dog. When they get a smile on their face, you know you have done something good.

One time at the hospice house, a patient that I had seen while he was very coherent, fell in love with my other therapy dog that is a German Shorthaired Pointer. The gentleman had had hunting dogs and had a picture of his dogs on his windowsill. We had some great visits and talked about hunting dogs. He took a fancy to my Shorthair especially because she was a hunting breed. He told me that she had good thick ears that wouldn't get torn by briars. He told me she had good feet that could go through the briars easily. He also told me she had a good nose for trailing. The daughter told me how much she appreciated me visiting and that her dad hadn't spoken that much in a long time. I told her that if she wanted a special or extra visit to let hospice know and they would give me a call. 3 weeks later, I got the call. It was on a Thursday. They didn't think he was going to live through the night, he was unresponsive and the family asked if I could come in a day early, because he loved dogs so much. I got myself cleanded up and my dog cleaned up and headed over. The family was so kind and grateful that I came. I asked them to put the bed in the lowest position, which they did. I brought my Shorthair over to his bedside and got her to put her head on his bed. I took his hand and helped him pet her. I don't know if he knew we were there or not, but the family was smiling. They even took a picture of what was going on. I thought of this day, and my guilt grew stronger.

I got my attitude in check and began to groom. Yes, it took me a good 3 hours to get the Afghan ready and then time to get myself ready, but I was committed and realized that even though I didn't feel like it, the people I was about to visit didn't feel like doing what they were doing even more, and to boot, they had no choice in it. At least I had the choice.

I'm so glad I went! I had one of the busiest days visiting with patients and families at the hospice house, mostly family members. They need a smile too. It is nice when you walk by a room and see someone with a grim, sorrowful look on their face and they smile, just because you are there. They forget for just a few minutes where they are and go into a happy place.

When I got to the retirement village they were doing a sing along. When the lady that wants my Afghan all to herself saw us, she stopped singing, pushed her walker away and called us to come over. She was giggling just like a child would! Now THAT put a smile on MY face!

I think I have figured out that no matter how much I sometimes don't feel like it, what I do is for someone else. I can give something special to someone else who just needs a few minutes of my time.

At the moment, I have to groom the Afghan for tomorrow morning. The local newspaper is going to come out to the library to do some photos to advertise the reading program that I do there. I don't feel like it, but...

Feel like cooking? Let's try 'Chicken Creole'

2008-07-24T15:30:00.005-04:00

Are you ready to cook a Creole dish that is sure to impress your friends? Want to learn how to make a roux? Well, let's get started. I'm going to teach you how to make "Chicken Creole' today. You can easily substitute shrimp or tofu for the chicken. I'll give you substitutes as we go along. Nobody misses out with this dish! This is a recipe from The Gumbo Shop in New Orleans.

First let me say that I apologize for putting this in separate posts. I'm just learning this blogging thing and am winging it at the moment. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it sooner or later.

Now, let's gather our ingredients...

6 T peanut oil (very important to use peanut oil)
6 T all purpose flour
2 c. chopped onion
1 c. chopped celery
1 c. chopped bell pepper
1 c. chopped green onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
16 oz. tomato sauce
1 - 16 oz. can tomatoes, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 t. black pepper
1 t. white pepper
1 t. thyme
1 t. basil
2 t. salt
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
1 T Worcestershire
1 c. shrimp broth, chicken broth or vegetable broth for vegetarians
3 lbs. peeled raw shrimp, cooked and cubed chicken or tofu for vegetarians.

You might find that you would like more or less of any of the ingredients, after all, it is your dish to enjoy!

(see post below)

Chicken Creole Continued

2008-07-24T15:29:00.002-04:00

I like to gather all of my chopped vegetables together in one bowl to have ready when they are needed. Place your minced garlic in a separate bowl.

(see post below)

Chicken Creole Continued

2008-07-24T15:27:00.004-04:00

Now you will start your roux. Just remember that a roux is nothing more than a glorified brown gravy. A roux is usually darker than most gravies and the color will dictate the flavor of the dish. Put a heavy skillet/cast iron pot on medium heat with the oil inside. When you can put your had over the oil and feel the heat you are ready to add your flour and whisk well to blend.

(see post below)

Chicken Creole Continued

2008-07-24T15:25:00.002-04:00

Now in this picture, our roux is just starting to brown. You will need to stir often to keep it from burning.

(see next post)

Chicken Creole Continued

2008-07-24T15:24:00.002-04:00

You want your roux for this dish to be the color of milk chocolate. I have used a Reese's peanut butter cup as an example of the desired color. You will notice that in this picture, it isn't quite ready.

(see next post)

2008-07-24T15:23:00.002-04:00

We are almost there. Stir constantly to ensure that your roux doesn't burn.

(see next post)

Creole Chicken Continued

2008-07-24T15:21:00.003-04:00

As soon as your roux is the color of milk chocolate, stir in the chopped vegetables. This will stop the browning process of the roux. Make sure to keep your face away from the top of the pan. The vegetables hitting the roux will steam profusely. You will saute until the vegetables are limp, stirring often. Add the garlic and saute for another 30 seconds. Do not over cook your garlic.

(see next post)

Chicken Creole Continued

2008-07-24T15:19:00.002-04:00

Add the tomato sauce, tomatoes, bay leaves, black pepper, white pepper, thyme, basil, salt ans cayenne. Cook for 15 minutes. Add Worchestershire and broth then bring to a boil.

(see next post)

Chicken Creole Continued

2008-07-24T15:17:00.002-04:00

Now you will either add your raw shrimp, cooked chicken or tofu and simmer for about another 20 minutes.

(see next post)

Chicken Creole Finally Finished

2008-07-24T15:14:00.003-04:00

This dish improves after resting overnight. Serve heated over warm rice along with some French bread (or even your favorite bread) and your favorite beverage. A lovely one plate dish to share with friends and family. I hope you have enjoyed this and will give it a try. If you have any questions, let me know.

Good food = good times!

Struggling Today

2008-07-23T09:56:00.000-04:00

Well, now that I've started a blog, I'm trying to learn how to use the thing. I am so terrible at this and really do struggle. Now to try and add images and image links. I'd like to add my artwork, give some cooking demo's share my day and everyone and everything around me. Life can be busy, and can also be fun.

I'm going to try and pop up a picture of my 'Chicken Creole' to see if it works. It is a photo of the finished dish. If it does, then as I get time, I'll share the recipe and give you a photo by photo of how to prepare it. You can use shrimp, but when I cook for a crowd I always use chicken because of seafood allergies. You can also substitute tofu if you are vegetarian.

So for now,

Bon Appetit!!!

Cookin' with barefoot? What is that?

2008-07-22T12:30:00.001-04:00

You know, as I whirl about the internet, I always go by barefootchef. Notice that there is a small cap b and it is one word. That is me, and who I define myself as. Barefoot, for being casual, chef because I like to cook. Not that I am a professional cook, although I have taken many courses in cooking in a culinary art school as well as classes that you'd take from a chef that you sign up for. The casual cook. I like making difficult dishes as well as simple ones, just depends on the day and the mood. The casual person who likes to cook. That is who I am.

I also dabble in the arts. I love to sew, weave, spin and knit. I've actually taught sewing since 1989 when I was in New Orleans. I had someone ask me to teach with them at the local Clothworld stores and was hooked. Didn't think I knew enough to teach, but found shortly after beginning that I did and would love it! I also found that you learn a lot from your students if you listen to them. At the moment, I only teach private lessons by appointment.

A few years ago I became involved with ACT's. Most of mine are done in fabric and thread painting. I have branched out to do fabric journal pages, some collage and as of late, altered cutlery.

So for now, I'll leave you with a thought...

We are all like angels with one wing and can only fly by embracing one another!