Winter Doodle Romp

See - I promised I would post photos from that doodle romp long ago.  Sorry for the delay, but here are the cute doodles.

Here's Harper looking slightly less cute when she is sopping wet.

Sticks were very popular on the beach that day.

This Aussie Doodle just happened to be on the beach and joined in on the fun.

Joyce and David showed up with all of Harper's best friends, so her afternoon got even better.  (Latte, above.)

This is their newest puppy, Popcorn.  He also answers to Poppy and Poopy.

Mochi looking distinguished, as always.

Joyce and David are in Maui at the moment, so we have all three of their dogs at our place right now.  It's a bit of a madhouse, but fun.

Popcorn had a blast digging endless holes.

 

Yes, this kind of thing just happens spontaneously.

After Joyce and David (et al.) left, Harper found a new cute doodle to play with.  I told you those sticks were quite a hit!  These doodles will create fun out of anything.

Snug as a Bug

This little bug is helping me get through my 10 hours of billing today.  Did I mention we started letting her on the couch?  She loves to snuggle in with all the blankets, and I love the company.

Drying Off

I honestly haven't a clue where her face is in this picture.

Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

We like to sing a little song in our house entitled "Mean Mommy."  It goes along to the tune of "My Buddy" or "Kid Sister" if you are familiar with those commercials form the eighties.

Mean Mommy
Mean Mommy
Wherever I go
She's gonna go
Mean Mommy
Mean Mommy
Mean Mommy and meeeeeee!

I usually break into this tune after I take away something Harper is very much enjoying.  Usually a toy she is destroying or on the brink of destroying or maybe her antler chew toy.  I usually try to replace what she was chewing on with something else, but I will be admit it doesn't really fill the void.

Luckily for Harper, now that I have a box of pumpkin dog biscuits in the fridge, what I'm most likely to replace her toy with is a homemade treat.

Granted, Mean Mommy doesn't just hand out treats for no reason.  So I hide it within a toy within a toy so she has to work to get it out.  That's Mean Mommy for you.

These are great treats for dogs (not humans - I tasted the batter and ick) - they love them and they actually have some healthy nutrients too.  Pumpkin is full of vitamin A and helps dogs who have upset tummies.  Cinnamon and molasses are high in nutrients too, surprisingly enough.  But really it's just fun to bake something for my favorite pup and watch her enjoy it.  Having a Mean Mommy has its perks sometimes.

Pumpkin Dog Biscuits
From The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook

1 c. oat flour
1 c. brown rice flour
1 c. pumpkin (canned or fresh)
2 tablepoons molasses
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all ingredients and mix until a cohesive dough forms.  Roll out on a lightly floured surface until 1/4 inch thick.  Use cookie cutters to cut into shapes and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.  The cookies can be placed very close together, as they do not spread.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.  Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Five Things

Harper had a week-long sleepover last week that thrilled her to no end.  Our neighbors went out of town, so we were taking care of Mochi and Latte for the week, and Harper couldn't have been happier.  Now that the Three Amigos have been separated, since our neighbors came back, Harper has been moping around the house and attempting to drag me to their place on every walk.  Apparently I'm not as much fun as Mochi and Latte to have around.

As a thank you gift for watching the dogs, Joyce and David brought us this huge box of cookies from Hong Kong. My favorites were the panda cookies in back, but the almond biscuits came in a close second.  Now I need to figure out a way to transport Paris pastries back to the U.S. to thank them when they watch Harper!

Last weekend I got to meet one of my heroes: The Alice Waters.  She was at Omnivore Books for a signing, and I couldn't miss the chance to meet her.  I didn't even know she had so many cookbooks - and I already have a lot of hers!  Naturally I needed copies of these previously unknown books of hers.  I got her to sign a few of her amazing cookbooks in her distinctive handwriting, and I walked away giddy.  She was very sweet.

Vintage food mill - score!  Per my request, my mom sent me her old food mill, in the box and everything!  Is that Italian, Mom?  I remember using this together in her kitchen to make homemade tomato sauce out of our garden's tomatoes.  Pretty much what I imagine doing with it again one day!

And last but not least - to my Wedding-Date-For-Life, John.  Weddings are a lot more fun with a wonderful man by your side.  

Carmel Doodle Romp

Yet another doodle romp on the beach, yet another million pictures!  Hope you don't mind the latest installment of the doodle romp chronicles.  (Izzy above is the same age as Harper and lots of fun.)

Here Harper goes chasing Harpo.  Confusing, much?

What a blonde beauty!

Harpo and Harper still at it!

Harper's best friend, Mochi was there, looking dapper as always!

Mochi's little sister, Latte, was the youngest pup there and wowed everyone with her cuteness.

Here's the whole group.  Most of the doodles are form Almond Blossom, a doodle breeder in the area.

Harper may or may not have stolen this little boy's bucket and made him chase her around for five minutes to retrieve it.  I was laughing so hard.  This picture reminds me of the old Coppertone ads - maybe that really did happen one day!

Three way tug-of-war is difficult to finagle, but they managed!

No one has as much fun on the beach as doodles!

All That's Missing is Goldilocks

Do you need something to cheer you up on a Monday morning?  I certainly do.  Nothing like three doodles and three bears to bring a smile to my face.  Harper joined her best buddies Latte and Mochi at their house on Sunday afternoon and got to meet the newest teddy bear addition in their household.  And just like any teenager, she's been whining every since about asking how come she doesn't have a huge teddy bear and telling me that all her friends have giant teddy bears.  Sigh.

Five Things

Our time with Cody is coming to a close, and we will be sad to see him leave.  This visit, in particular, he has been indispensable.  John and I are both so busy working that he and Harper can entertain each other with only the occasional "hey cut it out" and "leave it" from us.  The dogs don't even need long walks since they get plenty of exercise indoors.  Who knew that having a second dog around would actually make life easier?

My newest Trader Joe's snack attack item are these sesame honey almonds.  It's hard to describe how these taste, but I can guarantee they taste a lot better than plain ole almonds.  The sesame seeds provide almost a smoky flavor and make the almonds even more savory tasting.  Yum.

Since I post about doughnuts a lot on Five Things, I figured I should also include the current doughnut in my life - doughnut peaches.  This picture doesn't really do justice to how much these peaches resemble doughnuts, but if you've seen them in person you know what I mean.  Doughnut peaches have a slightly milder flavor than regular peaches and have less fuzz and acid.  They are delicious, and I highly recommend you eat this "doughnut" as your next.

Since it's cherry season, it's high time you went out and bought a cherry pitter.  These are necessary if you ever have any intention of baking with cherries.  Even with this little guy you have to do the cherries one by one, and I cannot fathom having to do all that with a paring knife.  After cherry picking last Saturday I convinced Natalie and Hilary to both get one, so now it's your turn!

Better early than late, right?  John and I were both convinced that LAST Sunday was Father's Day and only realized our mistake when John called his dad.  At least their presents arrived early...though I can attest that my mom has been hoarding mine - per my instructions - until the actual day (I am very fussy about opening presents on the actual day they were meant for).  Happy Father's Day, Dad!  This Sunday, last Sunday, and all the Sundays to come!

Inseparable

The first Doodle in our lives, Cody, arrived at our house on Thursday and is with us for ten days while his family is on vacation.  He and Harper have become completely inseparable during this visit, palling around like the closest of friends.  They take all their naps near one another, but mostly like to spend their time playing instead of napping.  I haven't managed to get a photo of it yet, but occasionally they lay down literally on top of one another.  I usually squeal with excitement whenever I see them do this, because it is simply too adorable.  When we get home from work it seems they are happier to see one another (they spend the day in different parts of the house, by our design) than to see me or John.  Hurmph!  Apparently the excitement over a friend is better than seeing her mom or dad.  Did Harper turn into a teenager on us?

Harper's First Haircut

Harper got her first haircut on Saturday, and John kept making fun of me for how nervous I was.  "Are you going to cry?" he asked?  I was pretty sure I wouldn't, and thankfully, I was right.

You might think I'm crazy to be nervous about it, but sometimes dogs come back from the groomer looking hideous and shaved down so short you can see their skin.  I didn't want my poor pup looking shorn all summer!

I could barely recognize her as my dog when we picked her up, other than her jumping all over us and licking our faces.  And luckily she still came out with plenty of hair.

I fully admit she looks a bit silly, but as far as groomings go, it could be a lot worse.

In a couple of weeks we will be used to it, and it will be curly again (I think).  Until then, we will crack a smile every time we see our short-haired teddy bear.