I'm a baker, you're a baker, we're a baker all....

It's baking time! Though the weather doesn't necessarily say so here in New England, the holiday season is in
full swing. I have been spending all of my time preparing for the Crafty Rumpus- which is coming up this very Saturday. I have very mixed feelings about the whole thing- excitement and anticipation for my first craft fair- but also trepidation and a healthy dose of fear as I don't know how my products will go over. Because I put so much love into my goods, I hope others will like them also. Time will tell.

This past Saturday I planned to bake the day away. I ran some early-morning errands and came home to find the power out at our house. Three cheers and heartfelt thanks to my sister-in-law Erin who not only let me come and bake at her home but also spent the afternoon with me. It was so much fun to just bake and chat. :) I think I've made some great progress- I just need to make more dogscotti, sample biscuits to hand out, and some holiday cookies.

Now. I came home this afternoon with all intentions to bake my little heart out yet again. This being said, I don't think I can possibly bake a thing tonight. I can't stomach to work with flour right now. You see, I came home to the following sight:

Ok, before you panic, that is flour all over my kitchen floor. Ten pounds of it. Oh, excuse me, a little less than ten. Some is still in the bags. It was an easy process to narrow down the possible suspects and figure out who not only 1. dragged ten pounds of four off of a shelf but also 2. ripped through plastic, broke open both bags, consumed flour and also tracked it through the entire house.

Exhibit A for your consideration:

Floured paw-print on the couch.

And Exhibit B:

The nose of a certain black lab.

Might I add that there was dough all over the flour. It seems Tucker got a little thirsty (geez, no?!?) while he dined on piles of flour. Though I have swept and vacuumed, I had to leave the kitchen for a little sanity break before I head back in to scrape the tiles and then mop. Tucker is currently laying next to me on the couch. I am keeping a close eye on him- I have no idea how much savory flour he consumed...I'm guessing he has to have a bellyache. He doesn't look bloated...like I said, I'll keep an eye on him. Perhaps he just wanted to help me bake for the Rumpus? I have named my company after him.

Ah, 'tis behavior only a lab lover could know.

Oh, Tucker, how I do love you.

Carrots, Not Kibble!

Lucky dogs and cats? I prefer deserving.
For a few years now I have been trying to figure out what is the best food to feed my furry companions. I have heard all sorts of horror stories about kibble and the pet food industry. We currently feed our dogs a holistic kibble, which has been wonderful for our dogs, including our epileptic, highly-allergic Sherman. That all being said, I have always been uncomfortable with the idea of feeding my best friends pressed, manufactured, highly preserved dried food- the same food- every day. Who is to say that the little brown nuggets, served with a dash of warm water, provide the nourishment and nutrients these beautiful creatures need? Ah, the billion-dollar pet food industry, that's who.

These thriving companies have not always been around. Prior to this booming industry, what did people feed their pets? Table scraps. Whatever the family was eating. Not "food" that has been processed and processed and processed in a factory somewhere, with ingredients from as far reaching as China. My disgust and shock with the pet food industry has grown with successive minute of research I do. Oh, the "ingredients" we have unwittingly fed our pets!

I feel it is time for a change. For me and my furry companions. Luke and I have been long talking about decreasing our carbon footprint, and supporting local, organic farms. This summer we started by buying a farm share with a local organic farm a mere ten minutes from our home. It was an incredible experience that we plan on continuing. We have also been trying, whenever possible, to buy our meat from a local, free-range farm. So why not the same for the four-legged members of the family? Indeed! I pulled out my doggie cookbooks. As I have amassed a bit of a collection, there was quite a selection. I decided to start with a chicken stew recipe sent to me by a friend.
I found the process of cooking for my dogs both gratifying and easy. After chopping and prepping, I put all of the ingredients into a stock pot. I walked away, leaving it to simmer for two hours. When all was said and done, I had a pot full of healthy, balanced, homemade stew for my dogs. A small portion went into the refrigerator for the following day- the rest into the freezer. Then I made a beef based meal, and did the same with that. Some in the fridge, the rest in the freezer. Over the past few days, I have been adding more stew to the dog's meals, and easing up on the kibble. Eventually I hope to wean them off of the kibble all together. I am being careful to be sure that every meal is balanced- protein, carbohydrates(usually some type of grain, such as brown rice), and veggies and fruits.
So far so good. And now, along with all of the homemade doggie treats I make, I am now making savory REAL meals for my pets.

Oh! I forgot to mention that I began cooking for my cats also. They are currently enjoying a pureed chicken, brown rice and carrot meal. They too, are being weaned off of their kit-cat kibble. Hooray for healthy friends!

I am currently reading FOOD PETS DIE FOR: Shocking Facts About Pet Food by Ann N. Martin. You care about your pets. Pick it up. You'll want to know what Ann knows...perhaps you too will begin cooking for your fuzzy friends.

It's going to be on my floor...it might as well look good laying there.

The other day I was at the fabric store. (Ah, yes!!) As I stood at the counter, waiting for my brightly-colored fleece choices to be cut, I chatted with the clerk about my projects. As I described the pile of dog scarves, crate blankets and toys I I was about to make, a woman approached. Having overheard my conversation with the clerk, she looked at me and asked, "Do dogs like synthetics?"

"Geez, I don't know. I haven't known them to complain" I responded.

"I would think they would prefer natural fabrics, and not those made with- what is it- spun milk bottles?" she laughed.

*groan*

I shrugged my shoulders and continued on my way.

Since purchasing my seven yards of synthetic happiness, I have made multiple rope toys, a few scarves, and I am about to embark on a journey of crate blankets.

I wish I knew the phone number of the lady in the fabric store, so I could tell her that my dogs LOVE their fleece rope toys. I made a long rope toy for my fuzzy friends who have spent a good deal of their time playing with one another. They seem to like the feel of the fleece in their teeth. It wasn't tough or abrasive on their gums as they wrestled and tugged with all their might.

It also goes without saying for all experienced dog owners out there- that it is a pleasure to not have to worry about pieces of rope from a rope toy being ingested and caught in tummies...which, generally speaking, ends up coming out the other end of the dog- but only with assistance from the nearest and least squeamish human. Blegh.

I will be selling these fleece rope toys at the Crafty Rumpus Artisan Fair at The Center School on December 5th, 2009.

Hikes and Scarves

What a day. Lucas took Tucker on a bike ride, after which Tucker took off into the woods. I think he was inspired by being back in the woods behind our old house, reunited with the smells, sights and sounds of his old stomping grounds. Needless to say, Lucas came home, collected me, Bpui, and Sherman, and off we went to hike old familiar trails in search of our lab.

The was little to no searching for our Tucker- for he came bombing out of the woods to see us when we walked up the backyard to where the grass meets the wooded trail. Panting and tired, smelling of earth, Tucker ran up to us with a giant doggie smile on his face. Reunited with his humans and canine pals, off we went for our hike.

There is nothing like hiking through the woods with my husband and our dogs on a crisp fall day. Conversing with Lucas, watching Bpui bound through the woods, Sherman put-put around, and Tucker sniff every great smell around is enough to put a smile on my face. And it did.

*********************

Later in the evening I sat down to make so new doggie gear. I have been thinking of ways to create a dog scarf, but until today couldn't quite come up with an idea that I liked. I thought of a way to simply loop the end of the scarf through an opening instead of tying it, and I rather like the way it turned out. I'm thinking I'll call them "Barky Scarves."

I put them on our unsuspecting dogs to test drive them. What little models! I was surprised by the results. After I put my first Barky Scarf on Bpui, she didn't shake, paw at the scarf, or roll to try and get it off. She walked around in it, played ball in it, and went about her business looking, I might add, as cute as ever. Tucker didn't like to wear one as well, but as I type, he is napping on his bed next to me...wearing a brushed cotton Barky Scarf. I plan on making many more and selling them at the Crafty Rumpus on the 5th of December. And if your pup is a friend of ours, and he or she has been good, perhaps Santa Paws will bring one his or her way....

Dogscotti

Hooray! It is November second and the holiday season isofficially upon us. I am beside myself with excitement, I love this time of year so.
It is time to start pulling together
ideas for doggie treat gift baskets.



Every year I bake my little heart out.


Every year my husband complains. (Playing of course, playing.)


For my baking endeavors benefit not him but our dogs and the dogs of our family and friends. I don't know what it is, but I have always found my enjoyment in baking for my four-legged buddies. I don't quite know what it is, but to each her own, yes?


Tonight I baked some "dogscotti"- a crowd favorite here at casa de three dogs. I decided to take out the peanuts and add some carob for a little twist. Tucker, Bpui and Sherman did not protest. I have to say that the smell of chocolate filling the air was pleasing and warm. Ahhhh....



This new chocolate dogscotti recipe is a keeper indeed. I will have to add it to this year's "Woofman's Sampler" that I gift to our hound friends.










Sherman, Bpui and Tucker wait somewhat patiently for their carob dogscotti.


In other news, I will have a table at the
Crafty Rumpus Artisan Fair this year. The Rumpus will be held Saturday, December 5th at the Greenfield Center School. I will be selling homemade doggie treats, dog 'bling' for collars, and baby burp cloths and snuggle blankies.
My mother and I attended last year and there were some really cute things for sale. My hope is that folks will think about their doggers during the holiday season and treat them to something special. I am even going to sell the goodies in snazzy packaging with our very own speical labels! (I had my first graders draw pictures of dogs- I am going to pick one for the labels. I'll post the winning artwork later!)

If you are in the area on December 5th, stop by!