If Only Riley Could Talk

 

My dog Riley has not been himself lately when we go to get exercise up at the high school. Usually going to the high school is one of Riley's favorite things to do. He leaps out of the car and runs and runs then walks with me and runs and runs some more.

The first time he wasn't himself  was last week. He ran across the field chasing ravens then came back to me, sat and wouldn't move. I tried to get him to walk with me. He was panting, shaking, and wouldn't budge. He wanted to get back in the car. He didn't get hurt, but something made him act different.

Next time we went to the high school it happened again. He ran up the hill then came back and had the same behaviors. I moved to car closer to the bridge thinking he would get out and walk with me. I couldn't get him out of the car. He was again trembling and panting.

Yesterday I took him to a different place. He was the Riley I know and love. He ran, rolled on a dead animal, found a deer bone and carried it around, He ran until he got tired.

I wish Riley could talk. What happened to him at the high school parking lot? Did he smell something that scared him? I just don't know. I am going to try it again tomorrow to see what happens.

Again, he didn't have an injury and when he is home he is the window watcher, early bed goer, bone lover, and snuggle boy like always. If only Riley could talk, he could tell me what was going on at the high school. Any ideas dog owners?

Keepers From the Recipe Box: Week-End Breakfast Favorites

Labor Day Week-end marks that time when school starts again, mornings are cooler, and days are getting a bit shorter. It is also a time for a last trip to the lake, camping with friends, or enjoying a backyard BBQ with family and friends. No matter how people  spend this first week-end in September, everyone  always eats breakfast. Here are some of my breakfast favorites for any week-end. 

These Sausage Biscuit Bites are easy and delicious. That is a good combination.

These biscuits are super easy to make. Take some breakfast sausage and combine it with cheddar cheese. Divide the mixture into 40 balls. Take refrigerated biscuits and split them into two rounds each. Place the biscuits in a mini muffin pan. Press the sausage ball into the biscuit and bake. I was worried that these biscuit bites would be greasy, but they weren’t.

• You can roll the sausage and cheese into balls ahead of time and assemble the biscuit bites when you are ready to bake them.  

• I use Tennessee Pride or Jimmy Dean sausage.

• You can substitute turkey sausage for the pork sausage if you prefer.

• This recipe uses the smaller refrigerated biscuits. Look for a 12-oz can or 6-oz can of biscuits. They will have 10 or 5 biscuits per can.
• find the recipe here: https://www.plainchicken.com/sausage-biscuit-bites-football-friday/

I just love this Vegetarian Breakfast Casserole. It is a nice change from the tradition breakfast meat casseroles. You make it ahead. It stays good for a few days and you can freeze it. Find the recipe here: https://www.wellplated.com/vegetarian-breakfast-casserole/#wprm-recipe-container-44530

Block Island Fog

Rhode Islanders have voted "coffee milk" the official state drink -- and they adore any variation on it. This punch, with its triple dose of coffee flavor, is a nod to this fondness for coffee.

Ingredients:

2 c. coffee liqueur

1/2 c. vodka

5 c. espresso or strong black coffee

3 pt. high-quality coffee ice cream    

Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Serves 16 . Serve chilled. Find the recipe here: https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/recipes/a1319/block-island-fog-3429/

Enjoy the week-end!  

Silly Things I Can't Live Without

 There are certain things I am fortunate to have. Shelter, a car, food, water, a devoted pet, family close by, and a special circle of friends near and far.  Below are silly things  I can't live without. 

I can't live without kitchen scissors. Remember the good old days when you pulled on a plastic wrapper and you could open it with your own strength? These days I can hardly pry open the thick plastic wrapper on a carton of ice cream without kitchen scissors. It is amazing how we lived through childhood purchasing ice cream with no wrapper or heavy plastic. I use kitchen scissors to cut bacon, cut strips of lettuce, and snip parsley.

I also can't live without an inside outside thermometer. We first purchased one when we had our greenhouse so we could monitor temperatures, especially in winter. Now I am obsessed with inside and outside temperature. So obsessed I have one in the living room and one in the bedroom.

I know Wite Out is a no-no in a classroom, but I can't live without it. I am constantly whiting out a date on the calendar, or a mistake I made on a greeting card. Mine has to be the liquid type with the brush, not that tape stuff.

I can't imagine life without a cocktail jigger. Enough said.

I have found so many uses for Mason jars. Obviously I can't live without them for canning,  A Mason jar works do well as a vase, drinking glass, a vessel to shake up dressing, a container to hold baking ingredients, and so many cute crafts.

The last silly thing I can't live without is a pen, but with me it is a certain kind of pen. Even though I am not teaching now I am very picky about the type of pen I use. I know, it is silly.

The Good News

 

It is tough to be surrounded by bad news. Families trying to survive a hurricane by heading to their attics, soldiers coming home in coffins draped in American flags, wildfires continuing to burn up more of our precious land.  As I pray in earnest for sick friends, for a woman who just lost her mother, and for people close to me dealing with personal issues I search for something positive. Then I remembered this poem and it reminded me of its message. 

There is always good news. Find a special edition. Do it today.

The Good News

They don’t publish
the good news.
The good news is published
by us. We have a special edition every moment,
and we need you to read it.
The good news is that you are alive,
and the linden tree is still there,
standing firm in the harsh Winter.
The good news is that you have wonderful eyes
to touch the blue sky.
The good news is that your child is there before you,
and your arms are available:
hugging is possible.
They only print what is wrong.
Look at each of our special editions.
We always offer the things that are not wrong.
We want you to benefit from them
and help protect them.
The dandelion is there by the sidewalk,
smiling its wondrous smile,
singing the song of eternity.
Listen! You have ears that can hear it.
Bow your head.
Listen to it.
Leave behind the world of sorrow
and preoccupation
and get free.
The latest good news
is that you can do it.

– Thich Nhat Hanh

Women Who Inspire Me: Erin Benzakein

 

This is my third installment of my series Women Who Inspire Me. In 2017 I was in a gardening section of a bookstore and her book "Cut Flower Garden" jumped out at me. Imagine that! Erin Benzakein is the founder of Floret Flower Farm and is one of the nation's leading "farmer florists". I was also excited to see that her farm was in the Skagit Valley of Washington State. 

Her path to becoming a nationally recognized flower farmer didn't come easy. She started out growing flowers in her garden and made bouquets with her extra flowers and gave them to neighbors and friends. She always heard heartfelt stories about how gardening and flowers held special memories for these people. It struck a chord with her.

A farm florist is a farmer that grows flowers and fillers that are in season and creates bouquets using the bounty from the garden all four seasons. Her newest book "A Year in Flowers" guides readers how to do just that. I am reading it now and already making plans for my garden plots for next year.

When I started seeing ads for the new Discovery+ streaming service I saw her advertising a launch for Magnolia Network.  I got a free subscription through Verizon. As soon as I checked out the new Magnolia Network, there was Erin. I just watched season one of "Growing Floret". It is a series that starts at the beginning of what she wanted to do when she grew up to how she has made a huge business that includes workshops, a blog, an Instagram account, three books, and a seed company. She has thousands and thousands of fellow gardeners that follow her on social media.

She inspires me because she never gave up. She kept researching, learning, leaning on others for help, and persisted. I want to be Erin when I grow up. Even if you are not a flower farmer or don't like to garden, her story is worth watching and reading about.

I am just sad about one thing. Her gardens are not open to the public for tours. Since it is her own home she doesn't feel comfortable having people walking around the property, plus her team of employees are always busy. 

You can find out more about Erin on social media:

Her website: https://www.floretflowers.com/

Her blog:https://www.floretflowers.com/blog/

Her Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/floretflower/

Her series on Magnolia Network, Discovery+ Growing Floret has four episodes.

This is her third book:

During the winter months when you are dreaming of spring and gardening, visit these sites or check out her books. She could convince anybody to raise flowers!  Now I am ready to purchase her seeds for next year. 

Signs That Autumn is In The Air

People either can't wait for autumn to come or they love summer so much they aren't ready for autumn. There doesn't seem to be a group in the middle. I love it when signs of autumn are in the air.

First sign is that the nights are cooler and I don't have to spend hours watering every day. I love that.

Another sign is leaves are turning. Part of this is the dry conditions, but there are some 

pretty fall leaves already.

The cats are coming in more in the evening instead of doing whatever it is they do outside all night.

I feel like turning on my oven and baking again.

The sunrise is later and the sunset is earlier.

Apples are getting ready to pick.

It is craft time with friends. We always find so many fun crafts to do in autumn.

I need a blanket when going outside to drink my coffee.

Pumpkin flavors are everywhere. People are ready for pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkins for autumn decor, pumpkin cream cold brew, pumpkin beer, and pumpkin pie.

For those of us that are retired teachers the signs of autumn in the air are no first day of school nightmares, no busting the budget on school supplies for the classroom, but a quieter, slower season to sit in the garden, sip a hot beverages, and watch the leaves turn.