Ohhh, Tidings of Puppies and Joy...

Go ahead and sing along. I know you want to.
Well we have surpassed all known realms of puppy cuteness. Some potential puppy buyers/blog readers came for a puppy visit on Sunday. They have some mad photography skillz, let me tell you. Actually, their pictures can tell you.



The two pictures above are Dresden (AKA Grizzly), the top one with his new mama, Tiffany. Does she not look like she is in love? Yes, she certainly is, and it is something to behold.
Below you can view Adam, kissing poor Kodiak good-bye. He was the puppy NOT CHOSEN.
It was kinda like watching the Final Rose Ceremony on the Bachelor. (Not that I've ever seen it. Really)
But there is Adam kissing the poor puppy goodbye and assuring him that it was nothing that Kodiak had done, it was Adam's(or Tiffany's) fault, and he had to go with his heart, and Kodiak would find the right person someday....
But Kodiak took like a brave little puppy and Dresden has only rubbed his nose in about a dozen times so far.

There is lots more to say about Adam and Tiffany, but I have a feeling that we'll be seeing quite a bit of them and have many chances to post mean and/or funny factoids about them and the newest member of their family.(Like the fact that they went against EVERYTHING THEY KNEW TO BE INTELLIGENT AND RIGHT AND BOUGHT A PUPPY THE SECOND THEY WALKED IN OUR DOOR) But we'll let that go for now....

Some of you will mock...

But keep in mind that no animals were harmed or injured in anyway in the making of this post. At least not physically. Josiah says that Chopper lost his manhood.
I beg to differ. I say it takes a big man, er a big DOG to wear funny hats and still stand firm in their masculinity.
Chopper is one such dog.
As for Lila, well, she will do anything for some pepperoni. Or a muffin. Or some cheese. The list goes on.
So do not weep for my dogs. They simply have an overabundance of Christmas spirit. Yes they do. And I do. And Rod does. You can tell from the pictures.
(Notice that we do not make the dogs do anything that we would not do ourselves.)
P.S. Please remember that all puppy deposits are NONREFUNDABLE no matter what a freaky wacko I am. I will try to keep my crazy toned down for the holidays.
Thank you. And Merry Christmas.

The Wonderful Scents of Christmas.

It is just ludicrous how cute these puppies are. I swear, I am about to implode from the fuzzy perfection. Oh, and from the odor of the puppy poo that wafts from the other end of the house each morning. That is not so adorable. And the puppy poo odor mingles with the Christmas smells around our house, like sugar cookies, grand fir, peppermint and chai.
I actually bought a Glade Plug-In for the Puppy Suite, hoping that the Linen Breeze scent will fight and eventually win dominance over puppy poo.
Are you tired or reading about and/or imagining puppy poo? Me too.
Here are pictures of Puppy Joy that should wipe it all away. (No pun intended.)

Bowl 'O' Joy and Happiness

I didn't know this soup would fill me with such satisfaction, as I am not a huge fan of squash, although I do love my curry. Maybe the lesson here is : Curried ANYTHING is Delicious...Always. Kind of like the "Deep Fried Rule." Or the "Chocolate Rule."
Anyway, we served this soup hot, not cold, like Emeril suggests, (although we tasted it cold and were shocked and awed that , yes, it was chilly perfection in a bowl as well. Who knew?)
Also, we added the almonds, and didn't add the cukes for the finish, because we were serving it warm, and warm cukes didn't sound very good. Please enjoy our humble offering.


Curried Squash Soup Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2002





3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons curry powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
2 pounds summer squash, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 cups chicken stock
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sliced or slivered almonds
1/4 cup finely chopped, seeded cucumbers
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro

In a large, heavy pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, curry powder, salt, turmeric, cumin, and cayenne, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 45 seconds. Add the squash and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the squash is soft, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the heat.
With a hand-held immersion blender, puree on high speed. Add the cream, stir, and adjust the seasoning, to taste.


Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

The Running of the Bulls

That's right; they escaped. Four of the bullie puppies running pell-mell down the hallway and towards the kitchen and freedom. They didn't get very far and were put into lock down immediately. For their own safety, and so puppy poo will not need to be scraped up from the carpet.
Here are the pups in the penitentiary.




Here is Mama visiting her bad babies in the pen.

Now this is a little backwards, but I need to post some pictures that will show, beyond any doubt what bad puppies we have. Yes, I know that I am risking the deposits that people have given us by showing these pictures. I know that people who have made appointments to come and meet puppies will undoubtedly call and cancel. Or just be so disgusted that they just don't show up. (I have your phone #'s, btw)
But the truth needs to be told. So I present the following:
***********************Puppies First Meal*************************






Oh, the horror.
Let me bring us back to adorable puppy world and attempt to save the deposits.

Christmas, past and PRESENT

I remember when the kids were little and Christmas would make them literally tremble with anticipation of Christmas morning. They would wake us up before the sun even considered making it's daily appearance, shouting "Merry Christmas!!" so everyone in our neighboring states could hear.
Shopping for presents for them, and staying in a budget was always a challenge, but both Josiah and Amy were both always extraordinarily grateful for everything they got. And Rod and I used Christmas as a way to stock up on socks, underwear and pajamas for the kids. We just wrapped them up and put bows on them and the kids would "ooh" and "ahh" over them every time.
The last few years, the tables have turned a bit, and the kids, now adults, seem to take great joy in buying Rod and me presents. But I don't just "ohh" and "ahhh" over these gifts.
I cry.
I gush.
I bawl. (One year when Josiah was deployed I accidentally hung up on him as we were opening presents because I began crying as I read the what he'd had inscribed on the back of the iPod he sent me)
The kids grew up and get us things that are thoughtful and very meaningful. Last year Amy got Rod his bible to read through in a year, in the translation that she knew he wanted. (He is accomplishing that, by the way)
But it is a weird thing we parents go through when our kids grow up and start buying us stuff. Hey, we're supposed to help them out, buy them stuff, not the other way around. So we are a little uncomfortable when they get us gifts. Especially big gifts. Like this one that Josiah got us for Christmas this year.



Yeah, I know.
It's a 42 inch, HDTV. It barely fits in the room and we had to get rid of the entertainment center to fit it in there.
But I have to say, Dr. Phil even looks good on it.
We've all been enjoying it.
Here is Rod, trying to get comfortable with the fact that Siah spent too much $$$ on us for Christmas, when he should be saving for bills, a house blah blah blah. Football helps Rod get comfortable.




And, of course, the bullies enjoy the new TV. Here is Chops getting to know Martha Stewart's dogs. Chopper LOVES watching other dogs on television. Even cartoon dogs, I kid you not. He loves Scooby Doo.



So, our kids have surpassed us in generosity and thoughtfulness. It is still a weird feeling, but I'll go watch Dr Phil and try to get over it. (Thanks Josiah...Love you lots and miss you so much. Come home safe.Mama)

Seriously cute puppies, and their parents

We had to post more pictures of the ChopMaster and Delilah, SuperMom, before we get lost in the wonder that are their puppies.
Brenda and Eric picked out Rachel Ray as their puppy. Barb is getting Murphy(previously known as Kodiak) and Jaslene has a wonderful home to look forward to, so that leaves Tyra-puppy as our only female left. She is the one that is fierce(okay, sweet, but fierce sounds cool) and has a signature walk, in case you forgot. We also still have Grizzly and BigRed available, both outstanding little cutie-pies.
Here are the promised updated pictures of the pups. I won't say anything else because, frankly, they are too cute for words.

Snow quads....and puppies,of course. part 1

Snow is fun. Quad riding is a blast. Bullmastiffs are a neverending source of joy. Put them all together and what do you have?
A super way to start the day.
I'll put pictures of the puppies on next, but my camera battery needed to charge. I think it got too cold. Like me. I need a cup of coffee about now. Starbucks Christmas blend. Ahhhh.

Christmas in my heart

To be truthful, I haven't been feeling so very Christmassy. I wanted to, and I planned on it, especially after being so full of the Thanksgiving spirit, but I felt no joy. Just the worries of needing to rush and get things done. Things like shopping, getting the house decorated,(and believe me, I am NOT good at that chore) responding to the needs in the community that we hear about this time of year. And the list goes on.
How sad is that? Christmas reduced to a series of duties to be checked off of my to-do list? I feel burdened and joyless with my list of things overwhelming me, and my perceived expectations of others weighing me down. I must be a barrel of monkeys to hang out with.
I need Jesus desperately, and I have felt distant from him for weeks.
So this morning, I turned on my new Micheal W. Smith Christmas CD, got my bible and my journal and sat in my chair to sit awhile with God.
Reading through Colossians, my heart began to dethaw.
"We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Christ Is Supreme
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together."

Amen.
Those living, breathing words of life flowed through me and filled me to the rafters with love for my savior this morning. Those words made me cry.
THIS is why we celebrate Christmas! Thank you, thank you Lord for renewing a right spirit within me. (And my family thanks you, too)
The Christmas music from the Micheal W. Smith CD isn't just music for my ears, but for my heart and soul as well. Just like gingerbread smells remind you of the season, this CD bings you to the place you should be at this time of year. It filled me with an anticipitory joy for the Christmas season and the astounding gift of Jesus and for his ultimate return. I felt like breathing a huge sigh of relief as the Lord spoke through his Word and through the music to gently, but firmly take me where I needed to be. In his presence.
Now I feel I can tackle my projects with "endurance and patience" belting out "Joy the World" the entire time, while wearing a red and green elf costume and slogging down egg nog.
(Never mind the costume and the egg nog)
Joy to the world. Really.