My previous assessment

What do you get when to add one 9 month old IG, one bag of kitty litter, a large kitchen, and approximately 1.5 hours to work with?

A DISASTER.

In my last post I had indicated that I was ecstatic to have two Italian Greyhounds...that assessment might have been premature. Especially when thinking about the path of destruction that was torn through my kitchen last night.

We had to run to the grocery store and then two the barn to dispense love and cookies on our horses, who have started to wonder if we're figments of their imagination. The dogs had been walked, fed, had bedding, and more chew toys than Santa could possibly supply. Setting up the gates, we told the dogs we'd be back "shortly", the key word for a few hours. They had the TV to listen to and light.

Bob and I returned in about 1.5 hours. I walked up to the door and saw my beloved pup, sitting on the oriental carpet in the kitchen with her "happy" face. Her tail started wagging at me as she watched me as I looked through the door window. My face was blank as my mind attempted to work over exactly what I was looking at...this odd blue stuff scattered on the floor. I knew they'd gotten into something...but what was it? Then in DAWNED on me. She realized it at the exact same moment and disappeared around the corner of the island.

OMg! The Carnage... Revenge Poop, the shredded training pads, the eviscerated remains of the cat litter bag; its blue "gore" sprayed across the pristine tiles of the kitchen as if a tiny Sweeney Todd had slashed his way through.

Needless to say, the blue of the litter wasn't the only thing being spewed!

It took me an hour to clean the kitchen. What a mess!

Another year older...

*sigh*

Just found out that Circle R isn't currently taking orders for side saddles. The fuster (treemaker) is redesigning the tree. So, I have no idea when the saddles will be available again. Very frustrating. I may need to talk to our historical saddler and see what he can do. He's made side saddles before and has been a saddler for over 30 years. So it might be time to do a fitting and just have him go ahead with the "project".

On the bright side of today, Bob's taking me out for my birthday. We're going to try out a new Japanese restaurant that opened in our area.

And this weekend, we'll have our new Italian Greyhounds. YAH!!!

Belt Buckle... delayed

The girdle buckle is still being made. The craftsman had a very busy holiday and then suppliers and other folks took off for the holidays. So needless to say I'm still waiting for my buckle. However I knew that they really wouldn't get started on it until close to the end of 2007.

Here is the beginning of it. It's the little piece in the upper left corner. It will be two of those pieces tall to conform to my girdles 5.4 cm width and will have the back plate. Somehow I don't think it will look exactly as I had imagined it, but we'll see.

So far, most viewers probably are not overly impressed. It's not far enough along for me to "panic", so I reserve judgment at this time. His other work is fantastic, so I'm going on faith here.

.

Happy New Year... belated

The last week of 2007 and into the first full week of 2008 has been really busy. Before Christmas, Bob and I had been in contact with the East Coast Italian Greyhound Rescue. We wanted to adopt some Iggy's, as they are affectionately known. We'd been thinking about it for a long time and when we visited the adoption page, we saw her, little Evie. She is the cutest blue/fawn greyhound. Right now we're waiting for her to finish healing from her spaying before we can bring her home.

Due to the holidays, things were kind of slow and in the last week, we've signed applications, discussed our goals, and had a home visit to make sure that our home is the proper fit. We also adopted an 8 year old male named Brady. His owner was forced to give him up because he has a serious medical condition. He loved his three dogs, so we hope he will take some solace that Brady is coming to a home that will love him and take care of him. Evie and Brady had clicked really well, so we decided not to separate them. Brady is apparently good with puppies, Evie is 8 months.

On Sunday night we were given the green light and in two weeks our two Italian Greyhounds will be coming to their forever home.

Bob and I can't wait.



.

Wishing you the Joy of the Season

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them,

"Do not be afraid I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:8 - 11)

Religion was such an integral part of the medieval persons' life and I've always loved this particular work, St. Columba Altarpiece (central panel), c.1455, Alte Pinakthek, Munich, by Rogier van der Weyden, one of the 15th century Flemish Masters. It reminds me of the joys in my life and the sacrifices that have been made.

Whatever your religious beliefs, may you be moved by the spirit of the season and may your lives be filled with joy, love, and prosperity.

"God Bless us every one" Tiny Tim, from "A Christmas Carol in Prose, being a Ghost Story of Christmas " by Charles Dickens

.

What's New

... Not a lot. Things have been busy with the holidays here in the States. Thanksgiving was very nice. Spent time with Bob's Mom and his Aunt. My folks retired down South so we won't see them until Christmas at that time we'll also be visiting with my brother and his family.

Currently nothing new on the side saddle front. I've made a few inquiries to a maker in Canada, but have yet to hear back from them. I'm not sure if it is an email thing (junk filter) or that they are slow to respond. I was planning to have one made for Normandie since he has the correct back for it, just to ride and stay in practice.

I've added a bookstore to my regular web site that primarily deals with Charles the Bold and various Burgundian connections in the XVe century. I also have affiliates in the UK and France.

One of the Equestrian selections is featured on this page. While not historic in a XVe century context, it is a fun way to ride. :-)

.

Lucky Number 13

Well, Bob and I celebrated our 13th Anniversary last night. We really went all out. We had a romantic dinner at the Café Escadrille; the gourmet room.

We arrived at 5pm and were seated in a lovely booth of red and gold fabric. The linens were white and well pressed.

Our waiter was Paul, a very nice man dressed in a tux and a good conversationalist. He prepared several of our dishes table side. His mad culinary skills come from the school of life rather than a traditional school of culinary arts. His passion shows in his cooking skills and timing. He loves what he does and it shows.

Before dinner, we made a wine selection. It was a lovely Red Zinfandel from the Rombaurer vineyard in the Napa valley. 2004 vintage. It was a full bodied red, fruity with a hint of vanilla and blueberry. It went very well with our dinner and was never acrid.

Brought to the table was a basket of assorted breads and a dish of butter.

Next, we ordered our hors d'oeuvres, Lobster ravioli in a lobster bisque and Escargot Bourguignonne (French helix snails in a Burgundy butter). The ravioli was very tasty, however this was a test as this was the first time either Bob or I had ever tried escargot. Lucky me, I had the escargot placed before me. Since I had never tried it, I examined the escargot tongs that were attached to the escargot plate. Remembering the dinner scene from the movie "Pretty Woman" with Julia Roberts, I decided to take my time and learn the finer points of this implement so as not to have a "slippery little suckers" episode. It was quite simple. With snail fork in my left hand and tongs in my right, I was off and running.

The snails looked very dark in the dimly lit room, almost black. I removed the first snail from the shell and took a bite. Interesting texture, not unlike calamari. Little on the bitter side. Basically two chews and a swallow. Bob was not overly thrilled with the taste; over chewed I think. It wasn't a bad experience and I'd probably try it again. Even Bob agreed that he'd be willing to give it another go.

I think Paul was surprised. He thought I'd had escargot before given my mastery of the tongs and fork. Nope, first time.

"So, what made you try it?"

"Well we'd been watching Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern on the Travel Channel along with Samantha Brown, and figured we'd give it a go."

"So you watch the Food Network and such"

"Yes we do."

"So do I."

Paul has found over the course of his culinary career that he's seen it all. Adults dumbfounded by dining objects, people placing fat from a steak right on the table cloth instead of a plate. EW.... I wouldn't even do that in the privacy of my own home. Gads!

So anyhoo, some interesting conversations...

Next was our Warm Spinach Salad. This was cooked table side. The dressing was a bacon vinaigrette of butter, brown sugar, and a few other odds and ends with caramelized onions. It's sweet, but not overpowering.

Our palate cleanser was a lemon sorbet with a sprig of mint. It was a delicate lemon, not overpowering and when eaten with the mint leaves...Trés bien.

Our entrées arrived. Bob's was a variant on "surf and turf", a cut of sirloin with a Maine lobster tail. Accompanying his meal was a side of artichokes and sauce Béarnaise and a baked tomato half with a "piped" squash filling.

I had a three pound Maine Lobster served "lazy man" style. For those that may not be familiar with this term, it means that they take the lobster meat out of the shell. My favorite sea dweller came ornately displayed in a delicate butter sauce. I savored every sweet, succulent bite. I guess I had shown my prowess with the snails, that I was not offered a bib. According to Paul, folks make quite the mess. I am happy to say that I wasn't one of them.

The sides that we ordered, were sautéed button mushrooms, these things were to die for, they were so delicious, and asparagus with Hollandaise sauce on the side.

It was about 6:45pm and Bob and I were finally joined by other couples. Since 5pm, we'd had the entire gourmet room to ourselves. So the entire wait staff seemed to be ours alone. It was nice. Our "bus boy" was a very nice French gentleman. I think he was delighted that we'd actually use some of our limited French. We spoke to everyone. It was just a lovely experience.

For dessert, it was Bananas Foster. Fresh sliced bananas flamed in a dark rum with Crème de Banana liqueur and brown sugar and butter. It is served over vanilla ice cream. It was delicious!

We paid our check and ate our after dinner chocolate. It was topped with an espresso bean-- very good.

We left at 7:15 pm with our bottle of wine. They re-corked the bottle and heat sealed it in a bag.

It was a fantastic evening. A great way to end our special day.


--- This just in ---

While Bob and I were dining last night, 4 gentleman came in around 7pm. As I looked at one fellow, I kept thinking to myself that he looked like Mike Lowell of the Boston Red Sox... turns out that it was!
.