Walkies Wednesday

Hi again. Dad, mum and I went for a walk today. You haven't seen this walk yet, so I thought I'd take you along.

Here's the beginning of the walk. Mum's bringing up the rear with the flashy box.

I am pausing to make sure mum gets a photo of the little pond for you.

Pond. Sometimes there are duckies swimmin' in here.

Now you can see us and the pond.

Come on ma, we're waiting!

Another angle for you. This pond is actually a catchment of stormwater run-off from the housing area.... went it is raining hard this ravine takes excess rainwater out to sea. We are fairly close to the coastline and beaches.

These are some of the houses in my neighbourhood.....across from us and the pond.

Here the path meets the road....this road is pretty new.....maybe a year and a half old....it used to be an old disused train line from the south into the city. My mum and dad had a great view of it being constructed. It is only about 1.2km long and it connects our suburb directly to a expanded and developed shopping centre (that mum loves).

We are off the path now and are going cross country...mum and dad want to show you something.

See some action at the end of this track?

A bit closer.

There. We have reached the edge of an expanding residential development. Mum and dad are thinking of building my next house. They like where we live, but would like to get even closer to local pubs, facilities and shopping. This place fits the bill. Won't it be exciting to design and build a house to order??! And I will get a say in the yard and stuff!

Turned around and heading back along the path.

Down we go into the ravine and back towards home.

Uhhh, boring mum, no one wants to see photos of PLANTS!! Urcchh!

My doggie friends want to see my wildlife...... like this cricket that tried to jump across the path in front of me!

I was playing with it, and kinda slowed him down with my paw.  He didn't look too happy at the end of my play.

Back home now.... boy that was a tiring walk....might need a nap now.

Hope you enjoyed my "walkies Wednesday!!"

Let's Hear About Your Peeps!!!

Hi again!

My mate Sarge is having a fun event over at his blog. It is designed to allow all of us to learn more about the peeps (people) that are behind the blog of your favourite furry friends.

It's gonna be fun ( and we can totally dish out some fun dirt about our Peeps!!  He he he....) You need to do your post between Friday May 27th and Monday May 30th.

Here's the button..... and in case I've done something dumb.....and it doesn't work...... check out Sarge's blog for full details.

So go on - talk your peeps into participating.......

And let's all have a little laugh together!!!!!!

Yay - We Are Back!

What a week we've had.

First mum was completely preoccupied on a little "health situation" she has had and done NOTHING about for ages and ages.

Then blogger went bumbkum and we lost dozens of comments that we put on all my mates blogs!! She said GGGrrrrr!

Then one day we all had to get up in the dark.... real early...... and dad and I took her to this big building called a hospital.... and she stayed there for half a day. Dad got a phone call when she was ready to be picked up.

When she came home she didn't feel like playing "tennis balls" or going on walks with me.

However, things are looking up - she is playing "tennis balls" with me today...... and she's even turned on the computer so I could give you all an update!!

Thank goodness she is gonna be okay - dad needs her help to keep me in check around here. Oh, and I have to help her with eating her food. QA an' all.

Come on ma..... throw this ball for me ....... again!!

Mother's Day

Hi everyone!

Today is Mother's Day. I didn't know what to get for my great Ma....... (having me is enough of a present, no?)

I put on my "thinking cap" and came up the ideal gifts.

First I picked her some flowers from my garden...... always a "hit" with Mum

Then I presented her with a special bit of blue paper......

She seems really pleased with the blue paper..... I think she thought we would NEVER graduate from Grade 1 !!!! ( oh she of little faith )

This morning was our session in Grade 2 Obedience Skool! I really rocked it I think. We did lots of stuff I am good at, then we had to do a 2 minute stay in a dropped position..... and I made it to 1 minute and about 40 seconds before I cracked and had to sit up. But she was happy with me because that's the first time doing that for so long.

Now we must conquer Grade 2 ( I wonder how long that's gonna take??) 

Anyway...... Happy Mothers Day to all doggie mums out there in Blogville!!!!!!!   

RECIPE TIME: My First Birthday Cookies

Along with my Pawsome cake (see previous recipe post) - my mum also made me some Birthday Cookies:

Here are the Carob Hearts

 Zoe already lickin' her chops in anticipation!

And here are the Yoghurt Teddies.

Gimme Gimme Gimme!!!!! Hand it over human!

BIRTHDAY COOKIES

2/3 cup Skim milk powder

1/3 cup Wheatgerm

1 and 1/3 cup Spelt flour (you can also use all purpose or wholemeal)

1 egg

1 jar baby food puree (we used beef and vegetable casserole )

1 and 1/2 Tablespoons Duck fat (you can also use margarine or olive oil)

Put milk powder, wheatgerm and flour into a bowl. In another bowl put the wet ingredients together and beat them up a bit with a fork.

Put wet ingredients into dry. Combine with a spatula.

Tip out onto your work surface and bring together to a dough. Feel free to add extra flour (or a little water) to get it to the right consistency. Flour your work surface and rolling pin. Roll out to a  5-7mm thickness.

Cut out cookies using your favourite cookie cutters. Place onto baking trays lined with baking paper and bake in 180 degree C oven (350 F) for 20 min or so. We turned off the oven and left them in to get nice and crisp. Keep an eye out in case they get too brown.

Once cold - you can "decorate" them.

CAROB ICING:

Melt about 2 tablespoons copha. Add in carob powder until it reaches icing consistency. Mum dipped a cookie in and used a second cookie to "dap", so that both had icing and it was not too thick. Decorate the cookies with chopped dried paw-paw for wow factor effect.

YOGHURT ICING:

Melt unsweetened yoghurt buds/chips gently. (Source yoghurt buds from a Health Food shop).  Paint onto cookie with pastry brush. Sprinkle with cake decorations ie. hundreds and thousands, sprinkles.

Great Baking/Cooking makes a Great Pawty!! We even got away with being naughty at the table!

RECIPE TIME: My First Birthday Cake

Hi everyone! Thankyou for all your terrific comments and "Happy Birthday" wishes. It was a pawsome day!

As promised - here are the secrets behind the cake mum made me:

You guys remember this don't you - Number 1 YUMMERS!!! Yup - that is my nose and woozle you can see!

500g each of Beef mince and Pork mince. Plonk into a bowl.

Two large carrots and one medium size zucchini......grate both finely

Small bunch fresh thyme (parsley would be good too) chopped, one egg, and a cup of breadcrumbs. Add into bowl.

Mix like mad. Mum gave up on the spatula and used her hands. Line a 22cm (9 inch) springform cake tin with baking paper. If you look in the shadows - you will see me snoopervising.

I then snoopervised the sides of the tin becoming lined with baking paper. One always needs tennis balls in ones kitchen basket!

Mum then filled the tin, and pressed in the ingredients fairly firmly. Take no prisoners.

Cut a circle of alfoil and cover the top - this will prevent over browning during the first bit of the cooking. Cook this in the inside of the oven for 45min at 200 degrees ( 400 F).

Lift off the foil. Place back into oven for an additional 25-35min. During the cooking process there may be the need to tip off built up fats out of the tin.

This is what it looked like when finished cooking. Nom Nom! It smelt pawsome too!

Once cold, mum topped the cake with low-fat ricotta cheese for the "icing". Then she got creative with sliced sausage, parsley petals, carrot slices and cherry tomato bits. But she says you can decorate with almost anything! Make up your own rules. Don't forget the candle/s!!

This cake was much loved by all three of us schnauzers - and, not to mention, the leftovers!!!!

 So now humans..... there are no more excuses...... get cooking!!!

Welcome to my FIRST Birthday!!

Hi! Yesterday I turned ONE! Initially, I wasn't that excited because I didn't know what a birthday was...... but I soon "cottoned-on"!

Here is an "official First birthday" photo portrait.

My day was a beautiful and sunny day - and improved when my pawty guests arrived - Scarlet, Zoe and uncie. These are my Birthday presents..... a duckie stuffie (that honks), 1kg bag of chicken flavoured milk bones and a poop-a-doop bag dispenser. That last one is more for my pawrents.....they are in charge of my poop-a-doops!!

And check out the amazing doggie on the packaging from the duckie!! Schnauzer approved!

Ooooooooo! ...........I spy with my widdle eyes..........

I do believe that I see my homemade Birthday Cookies!!!!!!

We got to nom the carob hearts............

And little Zoe got up on her back legs to get her yoghurt teddy!! Yummers!!!!!!

After our cookies......we got into more bitey face and general growling and playing with each other!

Let the PAWTY begin!! CHECK OUT MY BIRTHDAY CAKE!!!!!! Mum made it for me!! It's even got a candle on it!

ZOE: I don't really know what's going on here - but there is one thing I know - I'm not happy with the HAT!

Hey Scarlet!  This cake of mine smells really good...... do you think that's ricotta cheese??

SCARLET: Yup Rubie, I believe that is ricotta cheese, and I can also smell vienna sausage!

Yea - Yummers! And if you chomp down past the ricotta - you get to the MEATLOAF!

ZOE: I don't care about my hat now...... check us out!

Hey - girls don't shake your heads with these things on!! See what happens!!

This was my Birthday Dinners...... it was a BIG HIT with the 3 of us! Scarlet and Zoe got to take some "leftovers" home with them. My bowl is the one with the "Happy Birthday" thingy in it!

It was such a great day.....we had a ball! I'm happy I could share my Birthday with all my readers too - pity I couldn't send you all a slice - but trust me......it was GOOD!!!!!!!! I'll try and get mum to post the recipe so there can be no excuses from your pawrents!