Going Vegetarian with Homemade Veggie Bones
Posted: September 19, 2017 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: BONE Appetit, Dogs, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, Healthy Dog Treats, Homemade Dog Treats, Pet Photography, Pets, Thek9harperlee, Treats, Vegetarian, Veggie Bones 7 Comments
Yesterday, Tallulah and I joined our human mommy/personal chef in the kitchen to whip up a batch of Veggie Bones. Tallulah supervised as Mommy assembled the ingredients:
- 3 cups minced parsley
- 1/4 cup finely chopped carrots
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella or parmesan cheese (we went for the parmesan, and Mommy gave it a fine chop)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2-3/4 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 tablespoons bran (we used oat bran)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 to 1 cup water
In one bowl, Mommy combined the parsley, carrots, cheese, and olive oil. In another, she mixed the whole wheat flour, bran, and baking powder. Then she poured the dry ingredients into the veggies, gradually added 1/2 cup of water, and mixed to make a moist but not wet dough. If you’re trying this at home, you might need to add a little extra water. We eventually used just a bit over one cup.
Then came my second favorite part of any dog treat recipe: cleaning the mixer beaters.
I even let Tallulah get in on the action. When we’d finished, Mommy could have put those beaters right back into the drawer . . . but she didn’t, opting instead to let them take what Tallulah and I thought was a totally unnecessary spin in the dishwasher. But back to the actual baking process.
Mommy kneaded the dough for about a minute and put half of it onto a surface sprinkled with some whole wheat flour. Then she rolled the dough out to 1/2-inch thickness and cut it into little bone shapes before placing the cut-out treats onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. (Mommy wrapped the remaining dough in plastic wrap, sealed it in a ziplock bag, and popped it into the freezer so that we can make more treats another day.)
At this point, I will admit that I was super excited that I do not have opposable thumbs. You see, if I did, I might have had to do the whole kneading, rolling, and cutting thing. Instead, I enjoyed a nice little nap. I even left the pre-baking quality control duties up to Tallulah. She seemed pleased with the work that our mommy had done and gave her the ok to place the cookie sheet into the oven, which was preheated to 350F. Then my little sister and I sat back and waited about 20 to 30 minutes for our Veggie Bones to come out. We knew they were ready when they were browned and slightly hardened.
Remember just above when I told you that cleaning the mixer beaters is my second favorite part of any dog teat recipe? Any guesses what my favorite part might be? Yep . . . it’s tasting the final product. After the Veggie Bones came out of the oven, we let them cool and harden just a bit more. While I was happy to let Tallulah cover pre-bake quality control, I took full responsibility for guaranteeing the quality of the post-bake product. After all, being the older sibling does come with some advantages. And my verdict? Simply superb! If you’re looking for a healthy homemade treat, these Veggie Bones are just the thing. BONE appetit . . . and try to keep the drool to a minimum. 😉
Minty Fresh Breath Treats
Posted: August 15, 2017 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: BONE Appetit, Dog Treats, Doggy Breath Mints, Dogs, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, Healthy Dog Treats, Homemade Dog Treats, Pet Photography, Pets, Pinterest, Tallulah, Thek9harperlee, Treats 27 Comments
Someone in our family has dog breath. (I’m not naming names, but if you lean into your screen and sniff, I think you can figure it out on your own.) So my human mommy/blogging assistant/personal chef turned to our friends at Pinterest in search of a tasty remedy. She found quite a few recipes. Some were for frozen treats. They looked super yummy and perfect for summer. We’ll definitely try them another time.
But we wanted something we could share with our friends, so Mommy and I settled on DIY Doggy Breath Mints from SkinnyMs.com. The list of ingredients is simple:
- 2-1/2 cups of old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup of fresh parsley finely chopped
- 1/2 cup of fresh mint finely chopped
- 1 large egg (substitute 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce for dogs with allergies to chicken products)
- 1/4 cup of water plus 1 teaspoon
- 3 tablespoons of coconut oil (olive oil may be substituted if you can’t find coconut oil)
While Tallulah and I watched, Mommy added the old-fashioned oats to the food processor and let the machine do its thing until the oats had the consistency of flour.
Then she combined the chopped parsley, chopped mint, egg, water, and coconut oil in a medium bowl and whisked them all together.
Under Tallulah’s watchful nose, Mommy poured the processed old-fashioned oats into a large bowl, made a well, added the whisked liquid ingredients into the well, and then blended with a spoon. (She added a bit of water to get the consistency she wanted.)
At this point, because I am the senior dog in our family, I did the quality-control taste-testing duties. I pronounced the treat dough perfectly perfect. I would have been totally happy diving into the raw dough, but apparently actually baking the treats is important to humans, so Mommy continued with the process.
She rolled the dough out to about 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch thickness and cut the treats into bone and heart shapes. (You could just use a knife to make little squares. Trust me, dogs don’t care.) Then she placed the hearts and bones onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet, popped the cookie sheet into the oven, which she had preheated to 325 F, and set the timer for 35 to 40 minutes. Tallulah and I decided that this would be a good time for naps.
Boy am I ever glad we woke up in time to taste these minty fresh breath treats as soon as they came out of the oven. They are yummmm-meeeeeee!
And they’re good for us, too. Here are some of the health benefits:
- Old-Fashioned Oats–Oats are high in protein, soluble fiber (the kind of fiber that keeps cholesterol low), and levels of iron, manganese, zinc, and B vitamins. They’re low in gluten and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Oats act as a digestive aid to calm the intestinal tract and they have anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties. They have a calming effect, so they’re a good addition to the diets of nervous dogs. Finally, oats strengthen the spleen, pancreas, bones, heart, and immune system.
- Parsley–In addition to fighting bad breath, parsley is an anti-inflammatory, which can benefit dogs with arthritis and cancer. It’s also a diuretic so it’s good for dogs with urinary issues. Parsley boosts kidney function, which in turn helps the heart, lungs, and other organs. Parsley also helps with GI issues because it strengthens intestinal muscles. One word of warning: Parsley should not be given to dogs during pregnancy because it stimulates the uterus.
- Mint–Mint can sooth upset stomachs and reduce gas. It also reduces nausea, so it’s good for travel sickness. And mint is a natural breath freshener.
- Egg–Eggs are a great source of protein. They help build muscle, strengthen hair, and repair tissue.
- Coconut Oil–Because coconut oil contains antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents, it helps to prevent infection and disease and may even reduce the risk of cancer. It regulates and balances insulin (which can help to prevent or control diabetes), promotes normal thyroid function, and increases energy levels to help control and reduce weight. Coconut oil builds strong bones and helps decrease arthritis discomfort by reducing inflammation. It also helps to improve bad breath.
So here’s to good health and good breath. . . and really good treats. BONE appetit!
“Slobbr”ing Into the Weekend with Wellness
Posted: August 11, 2017 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: #BlogPaws2017, BlogPaws, Dog Treats, Dogs, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, Healthy Dog Treats, Pet Friendly, Pet Photography, Pets, Slobbr, Slobbr.com, Tallulah, Thek9harperlee, Treats, Wellness CORE Freeze-Dried Treats 25 Comments
When Tallulah and I traveled with our humans to BlogPaws 2017 a few months ago, we learned about a new app that connects dog lovers with dog-friendly places all over the United States. It’s called Slobbr, and we love the tagline: “Live Life With Your Dog.”
Slobbr allows you to enter a zip code and then find nearby dog-friendly spots. It’s been a little hot and humid unbearably miserable lately here in New Orleans, but I suspect Tallulah and I will be using Slobbr more when the temperatures start to cool . . . in about three months. We also think this would be a great app to use on road trips, and you know we love a road trip.
And here’s the best thing about Slobbr: Every time you use the app or your browser (at Slobbr.com) to check in at one of the suggested dog-friendly establishments, Slobbr will donate a half-cup of kibble to a pre-selected rescue or shelter. This month Wellness is doing the honors and the New Hampshire SPCA is the recipient of that goodness. Our BlogPaws 2017 swag bag just happened to include a bag of Wellness CORE freeze-dried beef treats.
You want to know what’s in these treats? Beef. Just beef. No grains. No artificial flavors. No preservatives. Just 100% freeze-dried beef. Now that’s slobber-worthy. So whether you’re checking out a few dog-friendly spots using the Slobbr app this weekend or enjoying some slobber-worthy treats (or doing both), Tallulah and I wish you good times and good cheer!
Do you have any big plans this weekend?
Hemp Is Hot for Dogs
Posted: July 12, 2017 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: #BlogPaws2017, Amazon, BlogPaws, BlogPaws 2017, CBD, Dog Treats, Dogs, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, Healthy Dog Treats, Hemp, Marijuana, Pet Photography, Pets, Tallulah, THC, Thek9harperlee, Treatibles, Treatibles Pumpkin Grain-Free Dog Chews, Treats, True Hemp Chews, True Leaf Medicine International Ltd., True Leaf Pet 21 Comments
When we unpacked our BlogPaws 2017 swag bags a few weeks ago, my human mommy noticed a couple of treats containing hemp. This made her curious (it just made me hungry), so she decided to do a little research. Turns out hemp is the hot new thing in pet care. Here’s what you need to know:
HEMP IS NOT MARIJUANA–Hemp and marijuana both come from the same plant–Cannabis sativa–and they both contain two major cannabinoids–THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). But the similarities end there. Marijuana contains higher levels of THC, the psychoactive chemical that causes a “high.” Hemp contains a higher level of CBD, which reduces the psychoactive effects of THC. So, if you humans were thinking about eating hemp dog treats to get a little buzz, forget about it. Hemp treats won’t get your pets high and they won’t get you high either.
WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF HEMP?–It’s important to note that peer-reviewed research is lacking, so information about the benefits of hemp for dogs is largely anecdotal. That said, the following anecdotal benefits of hemp seed oil for dogs have been suggested:
- strengthens the immune system
- boosts skin and coat health while reducing flaking and shedding
- boosts energy and supports a healthy weight
- supports healthy organ and heart health
- supports healthy brain functions
- acts as an anti-inflammatory
- aids healthy growth and development
- produces positive effects on fertility/reproduction
- reduces anxiety
- lessens the associated side effects of chemotherapy
Enough of Mommy’s type of research, Tallulah and I were ready to do our own sort of science: the taste tests.
First we sampled the Treatibles CBD pumpkin grain-free chews. The ingredients list reads like something you’d find at the finest healthy human bakeries: hemp-derived phytocannabinoids (CBD, CBN, CBG), gluten-free oat flour, pumpkin, peanut butter, organic coconut oil, brown rice flour, apple sauce, organic coconut nectar, organic hemp seed oil, turmeric, vanilla, cinnamon, xanthan gum, and potato starch. Coconut oil is an antioxidant that is good for our coats and skin; pumpkin helps digestion; and peanut butter has high levels of protein. Plus, the treats are gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan. Here’s what the Treatibles website says about the source of the hemp the company uses in its chews:
The non-psychoactive cannabinoids used in our proprietary formula are sourced from hemp grown in Colorado. It is a full plant extract which contains terpenes and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids such as CBDA and CBDV. This extract contains no THC.
But best of all, they taste great! They come in two sizes: small-to-medium for dogs up to 50 pounds and large for dogs over 50 pounds. Tallulah and I tasted the small-to-medium Treatibles chews . . . so we could eat a few extras. The Treatibles website offers a store locator. A few specialty pet shops in my area carry the products. You can also use the site to purchase online (a bag of small-to-medium pumpkin chews–roughly 36 Treatibles–is $24; shipping for orders over $40 is free). By the way, Treatibles was established in 2013 and is based in California.
Next we tried True Leaf Pet’s True Hemp chews in the health support for dogs formula. (Seriously, this photo part is so tedious. When does the tasting start?) These treats contain ground hemp seed, hemp oil, DHA (an Omega 3 source derived from whole-cell algae that supports cognitive health), polyphenols and pomegranate, salmon, buckwheat flour, yellow pea flour, sunflower seed oil, blackstrap molasses, vegetable glycerin, natural fish flavor, citric acid, and mixed tocopherols. The back of the bag lists the following benefits of hemp:
- one of nature’s most balanced and richest sources of fatty acids
- contains Omega 6 and Omega 3 in an optimal 3:1 ratio
- one of the few plants containing GLA (gamma linolenic acid, known to fight cancer, reduce joint pain, and improve skin and coat)
- naturally supports the body’s response to inflammation
- contains tocopherols, a natural antioxidant
I don’t know about the back of that bag, but Tallulah and I can certainly attest to the tasty nature of what’s inside the bag. The True Leaf pet website offers a store locator option. Sadly, there are no retailers near my house, but my sleuthing human mommy did find their hip-and-joint and calming chews on Amazon for less than $19. You can also order directly from the website. The Canadian company is a division of True Leaf Medicine International Ltd., which was established in 2013 for humans. True Leaf Pet was started in 2015 and here’s what the website says about the source of its hemp:
The hemp used in our proprietary formula is grown in Ontario, Canada. This extract contains no THC and in non-psychoactive.
Tallulah and I are pretty excited about the new treats we’ve discovered, and our human mommy is equally excited to have discovered the health benefits of hemp. If you’d like to read more, she suggests the following sources:
- FAQ: What You Need to Know About Hemp and Dogs from Veterinary Practice News
- The Benefits of Hemp See Oil for Dogs! from K9 Instinct
- Hemp for Dogs: Should You Use It? from Dogs Naturally
- Benefits of Hemp for Dogs from Keep the Tail Wagging
A Couple of Sparklers for Your Fourth
Posted: July 4, 2017 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: Blueberry Ice Dog Treats, Dog Treats, Dogs, Fourth of July, Frozen Strawberry and Yogurt Dog Treats, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, Healthy Dog Treats, Homemade Dog Treats, Independence Day, Pet Photography, Pets, Tallulah, Thek9harperlee, Treats 36 Comments
Happy Independence Day! My little sister, Tallulah Bee, and I have had a pretty great day so far . . . except of course for having to put on silly outfits and have our pictures taken. That part was slightly torturous.
But we cooperated because we got a couple of our favorite red, white, and blue treats. Mommy froze whole blueberries in our star-shaped ice-cube tray and then dumped the frozen treats into our outside water bowl. I was a dainty drinker.
Tallulah, as usual, lacked restraint . . . but definitely had a good time.
Next we headed inside for some frozen yogurt and crushed strawberry bone-shaped delights. After a challenging-but-successful “Leave it!” command, Tallulah and I dove in like a couple of hotdog-eating contestants at Coney Island.
Sending you sweet kisses and best wishes for a safe and happy Fourth of July!
BONE Appetit: Country Breakfast Two Ways
Posted: June 21, 2016 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: BONE Appetit, Bubba Rose Biscuit Company, Dog Treats, Dogs, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, Healthy Dog Treats, Homemade Dog Treats, Pet Photography, Pets, Tallulah, Thek9harperlee, Treats 15 Comments
Audubon Park Willow Tree // May 30, 2016
My sister and I are city girls. We love our visits to New Orleans’ Audubon Park, but most of our outdoor adventures involve leash walks along busy urban streets and evenings at boisterous dog-friendly establishments. So we were both super excited when our humans told us that we would all be spending a weekend in the country. They said the location would be a big surprise, but the preparations for our getaway would start in the kitchen . . . which I think is the all-time best place to start preparing.
Mornings in the country need to begin with a hearty breakfast–for dogs and humans–and any hearty country breakfast needs to include three key ingredients: eggs, bacon, and cheese. My human mommy turned to The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook from the Bubba Rose Biscuit Company, and that’s where she found a quick and easy breakfast treat recipe with just six simple ingredients: oat flour, rice flour, shredded cheddar cheese, cooked bacon, eggs, and water. You’ll notice from the photo above that the bacon we used was 100% natural with no preservatives. My human mommy must admit that she has never ever made this healthy choice when preparing bacon for humans. But the people from Bubba Rose suggested it for pups and people and, Mommy said, nothing is too good for Miss Harper Lee and Tallulah Bee.
Mommy combined all the ingredients . . .
. . . while Tallulah and I watched. I was well-behaved and supervised from a respectable distance. Tallulah was a little more . . . shall we say . . . eager.
We let Mommy roll the dough and cut the treats into pretty flower shapes. Tallulah and I would have helped with this step, but our lack of opposable thumbs and need for a little mid-morning doggy nap prevented our assistance.
Tallulah and I had a tiny taste test, and let me tell you that we definitely approve of these bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast treats. Mommy quickly stored them in an air-tight container and told us that we’d get to enjoy more on our country getaway. The anticipation nearly did us in.
And for everyone who thinks that my human mommy only makes doggy treats when she’s in the kitchen, I present to you a human breakfast treat that she made for our country weekend: Breakfast Bake Recipe. She used the leftover ingredients from the dog treats she made. Wait a minute: Don’t the dogs usually get the leftovers? Not at our house. 😉
Here’s the human breakfast recipe:
4-1/2 cups seasoned croutons (about 10 ounce)
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 jar (4-1/2 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
8 eggs
4 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1/8 teaspoon pepper
8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
- Sprinkle the croutons, cheese, onion, peppers and mushrooms into two greased 8-inch square baking dishes. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, salt, mustard and pepper. Slowly pour over vegetable and sprinkle with bacon.
- Cover and freeze one casserole for up to three months. Bake the second casserole, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
- To use frozen casserole: Completely thaw in the refrigerator for 24 to 36 hours. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
Yield: 2 casseroles (6 to 8 servings each)
So you’ll just have to wait to see the human breakfast casserole finished product . . . just like Tallulah and I had to wait until we got to the country to enjoy the rest of our doggy breakfast treats. Any ideas where we went for our getaway?
HL Does NOLA from A to Z: S is for STREETCARS & SISTERS
Posted: April 22, 2016 Filed under: Dogs I Like, Places I Like, Things I Like | Tags: #AtoZChallenge, Birthday, Blogging, BONE Appetit, Dog Treats, Dogs, Harper Lee, Healthy Dog Treats, Homemade Dog Treats, New Orleans, New Orleans Streetcar, NOLA, Pet Photography, Pets, St. Charles Avenue Streetcar, Streetcar, Tallulah, Thek9harperlee, Treats 10 Comments
S is for streetcars and sisters. Today our tour of New Orleans takes a little detour. This is my sister Tallulah Bee’s first birthday. Woo hoo! So we’re throwing a NOLA-sized party . . . and in a city that’s known for partying, that’s a pretty big party. The pictures above were taken when Tallulah was about four months old. We were spending the afternoon in the Warehouse District (which is also called the Arts District) and Tallulah decided that she wanted to take a streetcar ride. Shhhh . . . don’t tell her that it’s just a bench made to look like the real thing. Streetcars in New Orleans date back to the 1830s, and at one time they ran from one end of the city to the other. (You can read more about New Orleans streetcar history by clicking here.) But buses began to overtake the streetcars in the 1960s and–with the exception of the St. Charles Avenue streetcar–the lines all but disappeared. Today the New Orleans streetcar is having a renaissance. There are several lines operating throughout New Orleans, with more lines being added. The streetcar (which is run by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority) is a great way to see New Orleans. You can buy a pass–called a Jazzy Pass–that allows you to take multiple trips on the streetcars (and buses) over a set number of days. Check out the streetcar lines and schedules here and click here for more information about Jazzy Passes.
Now back to my sister, Tallulah Bee. She looks like she’s ready to get this birthday party started, doesn’t she. (Or maybe she looks like she’s already been partying a little too much. It’s hard to tell.)
Because no birthday party is complete without a birthday cake, we joined our human mommy in the kitchen to do a little baking while our human daddy served as the official party photographer. As you can see, Tallulah is a little rule breaker. I know that feet are not allowed on the countertops, but sometimes she “forgets” this rule. We both know that licking the beaters is the best part of baking, and I will be the first to admit that Tallulah showed great restraint as Mommy decorated the cake.
And here’s the final product. Trust me, it didn’t look like this for very long. If you’re interested in the recipe for this dog-friendly cake (made with banana and peanut butter . . . yum!) and the dog-friendly icing, click here. I promise you it will be a hit!
So happy, happy first birthday sweet Tallulah Bee. You’re a little rule breaker, and sometimes you’re a whole lot of puppy and a really huge pest, but you’re a precious little girl with a heart of pure Golden love. We’re so happy that you’re a part of our family . . . and we wish for many, many, many more happy years to come. Love you, Tallulah Bee!
This post is part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Please click here for a link to the challenge homepage and a list of the bloggers who are participating.
BONE Appetit: Back in the Kitchen
Posted: March 15, 2016 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: BONE Appetit, Bubba Rose Biscuit Company, Dog Treats, Dogs, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, Healthy Dog Treats, Homemade Dog Treats, Pet Photography, Pets, Photography, Tallulah, Thek9harperlee, Treats 21 Comments
It’s been a little while–to say the least–since I’ve spent quality time in the kitchen with my human mommy making tasty treats for my puppy dog friends. Wondering why? Well just take a look to my left. Mommy and I have both learned that little sisters take a lot of time and effort, and their presence is not terribly conducive to kitchen activities. But Tallulah Bee is now almost 11 months old, so we decided to give her a chance . . . and she passed with flying colors.
With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, we turned to one of our favorite cookbooks–The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook from the Bubba Rose Biscuit Company–in search of the perfect recipe. Can you imagine anything more appropriate than Irish Wolfhounders? The ingredients made me lick my lips: oat flour, brown rice flour, spinach leaves, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, rosemary, oat bran, one egg, and just enough water to form a dough. Our friends at Bubba Rose offered this interesting little tidbit about the benefits of rosemary:
Rosemary is an excellent antioxidant. . . . It is a natural antibiotic and antiseptic and is known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and anti-fungal properties. It supports immune system functions and defends against free radical damage.
And I thought these treats were just going to taste good.
While Tallulah and I watch (and, I’ll admit, drooled a bit), Mommy processed some old fashioned oats to make the oat flour.
Then she packed the spinach leaves into the food processor . . .
. . . and processed away. Look at that beautiful green color. Things were starting to take on a festive St. Paddy’s Day tint. Tallulah and I would have been happy to take care of all the processing. But in order to reach the switch, we would have to put our paws on the countertop, and that’s not allowed. (Someone needs to remind Tallulah of this rule because she tends to forget it . . . a lot!)
Then it was time to put all the ingredients into a bowl . . .
. . . and combine before adding the water a little at a time to make the dough.
This was the point in the process when Tallulah lost interest.
And I’ll admit that I snuck in a quick little nap too. Let’s face it, this is the part of baking that’s better left to humans and their opposable thumbs.
So Mommy rolled out the dough and started cutting out little doggy bone shapes. The cookbook recommended using a shamrock-shaped cookie cutter, but we didn’t have one. I seriously doubt that my friends will care.
Mommy cut out a lot of little bone-shaped Irish Wolfhounders and then popped them into the oven.
And that’s when Tallulah and I popped up for our most important contribution: clean-up crew. While Tallulah licked the bowl, I took care of the spoon. Cleaning the spoon takes way more skill, so it’s better left to big sisters.
Mommy has packaged most of the tasty treats. She’s already mailed some to our far-away friends, and over the next couple of days we’ll make special deliveries to our local friends. I think they’re going to have a very happy St.Patrick’s Day!
52 Snapshots of Life: Week 10–Mischief
Posted: March 12, 2015 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: 52snapshots, Blog Hop, Dog Treats, Dogs, Harper Lee, Healthy Dog Treats, Homemade Dog Treats, Mischief, PBSG, Pet Photography, Pets, Thek9harperlee, Treats 14 Comments
Remember how excited my human mommy was when she read that the theme for last week’s 52 Snapshots of Life would be purple? Well, multiply that by approximately 100 and you’ll have some slight inkling of the dread she felt when she saw this week’s theme: mischief.
I am not a mischievous girl. I have been a well-behaved dog since Day 1. (Yes, Mommy is fully aware of just how lucky she is. And yes, she also realizes that because she has been so lucky with me, her next dog will probably be a total wild child.) In my almost six years on this Earth, I have only had one moment of true mischief. I was just a few months old and I was “assisting” Mommy while she planted some pretty new rose bushes in the garden. Mommy glanced up and saw me running around the yard like a crazy girl with something in my mouth. At first she thought I had picked up a branch that had fallen from a tree. But then she couldn’t figure out why that branch had such beautiful red leaves in spring. And then she realized that I had grabbed one of the newly planted rose bushes and created my very own Rose Bowl Parade . . . crazy puppy style. I don’t recall exactly what Mommy said to me when she finally caught me, but it certainly convinced me that mischief would not be tolerated.
Which brings us to this week’s challenge. Yesterday I received a package from my Florida friends Sully, Murphy Brown, and Carter. (They are @rowdyretrievers on Instagram.) It was filled with fabulous surprises, including this bone-shaped mold. I gave Mommy a look that clearly said, “We need to use that thing now,” so she combined a little fat-free plain yogurt and some peanut butter and started spooning the mixture into the mold. Before putting the mold into the freezer, she let me have a little peek. I couldn’t help it, friends. Yogurt and peanut butter are two of my all-time favorite treats. And yogurt combined with peanut butter? Well, I just couldn’t control myself. I had to take a little lick.
And do you know what? Mommy let me keep licking, and licking, and licking. It might not seem like much to you, but to me it was a moment of mischief . . . and Mommy and I both loved it. Oh, don’t worry. We refilled the empty mold and popped it into the freezer, so I’ll have lots of bone-shaped frozen yogurt-peanut butter treats to enjoy. Who knows? Maybe I’ll bury some of those frozen bones around the house . . . under a rug, beneath a sofa cushion. This mischief thing is pretty fun!
Today I’m linking up with The Lazy Pitbull for the 52 Snapshots of Life photo challenge. Click the link below to join the fun and visit the other participants!
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Shopping Around the World Goes to the Dogs
Posted: February 27, 2015 Filed under: Things I Like | Tags: Bananas, Bark Box, BarkBox, Blog Hop, Dipped Dog Bones, Dogs, Frosty Paws, Golden Retriever, Harper Lee, Perio Support, Pet Photography, Pets, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Dipped Dog Bones, Shopping Around the World, Thek9harperlee, Treats, VetriScience Laboratories, White Chocolate Dipped Dog Bones 14 Comments
This month Shopping Around the World is going to the dogs . . . at least for me. Take a look at the February list from my friends Bacon and Fozzie, our Shopping Around the World hosts:
- Random condiment of your choice
- Random frozen meal of your choice
- Random dessert/something sweet of your choice
- Random fruit of your choice
- Random item of your choice
Do you see these three magical words–of your choice? Well, this month I got to make my choices, and my choices are totally about the things that I like. So let’s grab a cart and hit those aisles.
Random condiment of your choice–VetriScience Perio Support; $32.00 for 16 ounces on Amazon.com: Technically I guess this isn’t exactly a condiment. It’s actually a daily support formula for dental health and hygiene (that’s what the container says). My human mommy sprinkles this on my dinner every night and it has a super yummy scent and taste, so in my book it’s a condiment. I started using Perio Support about six months ago after I had my teeth cleaned. (You can click here to see my embarrassing photos from that exciting experience.) So far, so good. My teeth are a beautiful pearly white. And about that price . . . Mommy had a choice between the 4-ounce container for $16.00 and the 16-ounce container for $32.00. Mommy’s not a math wizard, but even she knew that the 16-ounce container was a much better deal . . . and she says that it will probably last at least four years!
Random frozen meal of your choice–Frosty Paws; $4.29: As much as I wish that I could make a meal out of Frosty Paws, I know that it’s actually a treat, but humor me here. Frosty Paws are found in the ice cream treat section at the human grocery store. Each box contains four little cups of the most divine frozen creaminess you’ve ever licked. Mommy tends to buy these, put them in the freezer, and forget that they’re there. I think I’m going to have to start giving her some gentle reminders.
Random dessert/something sweet of your choice: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Dipped Dog Bones; $14.25 for a box of 12 on the website: Two of my favorite humans–Miss Gaye and Auntie Meredith–surprise me with these extra special treats, and I love them for that. This is what the website says about these sweet treats: “Our dog bones are dipped in a white chocolate flavoured confection which does not contain cocoa bean products or theobromine and are therefore safe for dogs.” This is what I say about these sweet treats: “They’re fabulous!”
Random fruit of your choice–Bananas; 59 cents per pound: To say that I love bananas would be an understatement. I am totally and completely and absolutely mad for bananas. My human mommy and I have made a number of special treats with bananas: Banana-Peanut Butter-Yogurt Frozen Treats, Bow-WOW Banana Biscotti, and Banana-Oat Cookies to name a few. But my all-time favorite way to eat bananas is with my human daddy in the morning. By the way, you might have noticed the beautiful green leaves and bright pink flowers in the background. Daddy and I finished off the bananas earlier this week, so Mommy had to use an old photo. I hope this glimpse of spring made you smile.
Random item of your choice: BarkBox; $72 for a three-month subscription: This is an unnecessary extravagance, and my mommy knows that. I don’t need to receive a BarkBox every month. I have more than enough toys; and I couldn’t begin to eat all the homemade treats that Mommy and I bake, so I share with all my friends. But I get so excited when my mailman, Mr. Leroy, rings the doorbell and delivers my special box every month. In fact, I’ve started to think that every box delivered to our house is mine. So, Mommy will continue my BarkBox subscription . . . at least for a little while.
Photo from Bacon
That concludes our little shopping spree this month. I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing some of my favorite items in each of the categories. If you’d like to see what other bloggers around the world bought and how much they paid, click here to connect with Bacon’s blog or here to connect with Fozzie’s blog. Until next time, friends, I have some Frosty Paws to eat.
thek9harperlee 