That's One Happy Dawg

Uhhh, I'm a happy dawg.  Can you tell?

    
      I've never been a dog person.  I didn't dislike dogs.  And, I wasn't particularly afraid of them.  I was just always a cat person... Had at least one feline friend all my life.  And, still do.
     Then, along comes Moxie.  If you've read my blog before, you know that we adopted Moxie from friends of ours "back home".  Now, I've known a few dogs I liked - dogs that belonged to friends and family.  I've even "dog-sat" for Puppy, my mother's little dog.  But, I've never really, really, REALLY known a dog like I know Moxie.
     Moxie should've been a rock star.  Or a movie star.  She is so special.  She is a giant teddy bear when we lay on the floor to watch old TV shows on the computer (Netflix is great!). She is a watch dog. She is a nursemaid if I'm not feeling well - won't leave my side.  She is comic relief (see photo above).  She's friends with all the chickens and with CassPurr.  She's Moxie The Wonderdog!!!
     And, so, here I am.  A certified cat person; and, what did I do all afternoon?  I made homemade organic dogfood and dog biscuits.  Here is the recipe for the dog biscuits, adapted from a recipe I found on Bullwinkle.com.  Maybe I'll write my recipe for organic dogfood another day.

                                          Homemade Dog Treats

                                     1 Cup rolled oats
                                     1/3 Cup shortening (I used rendered chicken fat)
                                     1 Cup boiling water
                                     3/4 Cup cornmeal
                                     1 Tablespoon sugar
                                     1 Chicken boullion cube (you could use beef flavor, if desired)
                                     1/2 cup milk
                                     1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
                                     1 Egg, beaten
                                     2 Cups white or wheat flour

          Preheat oven to 325. Grease cookie sheets.  Combine rolled oats, shortening, and water in large bowl; let stand for 10 minutes.  Stir in cornmeal, sugar, boullion, milk, cheese and egg.  Mix well.  Add flour 1 cup at a time, mixing well.
          On floured surface knead dough, adding additional flour as needed, until dough is smooth and no longer sticky.  Roll out dough to 1/2 inch thickness' cut with cookie cutter.  Place on cookie sheets.
          Bake 45 minutes, or until golden brown.  Store, covered, after they are completely cooled.
          For me, this made 2 & 1/2 dozen large bone-shaped treats... enough for one-per-day for a month! My hubby made the bone-shaped cookie cutter just for Moxie.  Like I said, she should've been a movie star... and we could be her entourage.

Putting Everything in Perspective

     Ugh.  I have a cold.  A head cold and just the beginnings of a sore throat.  Taking Fenu-Thyme for the congestion and plain ol' Aspirin for the headache.  Despite feeling "yucky", I managed to get the house cleaned (see yesterday's blog), and even help with the screened-in porch project - we are turning it into a greenhouse for the Winter.
     I guess I could feel sorry for myself for having a cold, but, no.  Putting things in perspective, a cold isn't much to worry about.  You feel a little low for a few days.  If you're lucky, you lie low for those few days.
Take it easy.  Watch a few movies.  Read.  Play games on the computer.  And then, you're feeling better and even more thankful for good health than before.  Funny how we take things for granted until they are gone or at least threatened...
     Putting everything in perspective,  I would say that life is pretty darned good.  I have a very appreciative Hubby, a happy cat, a really happy dog.  The chicks spent most of the day out in the sun  (in their cage, on the porch).  The Winter crops are growing extremely well. The house is clean.  And I have a full box of Kleenex!
            Shalom Y'all - Twyla

We're All Little Children

          Yep. Regardless of how fearless we try to appear, how grown-up we try to act, how sophisticated we try to present ourselves as being,  we all are little children.
          What do children need to be happy and well-adjusted?
               #1: Love.  Everybody needs love.  And, we don't just need love; we need to know that we are loved.  We all need to love and be loved.  We all desire to be told we are loved and shown we are loved.  And, we want to be able to express love, without fear of rejection.  What happens when these things are missing in life?  Depression, fear, lack of trust, disrespect for authority, inadequate relationships...  to name a few.
                #2: Attention.  Someone who will really listen.  Someone who spends time, invests time.  Someone who will just hold you when you're tired or sad.  Everybody needs somebody.  Without attention from other human beings, life is empty and lonely.  Babies in orphanages have been known to die due to lack of human touch. Sick elderly people give up if they are lonely as well as physically ailing.
               #3: Discipline.  Yes, discipline.  We all need rules to live by.  Most of us do better if we have somewhat of a schedule - eat meals at about the same time every day, get up around the same time each morning, etc.  Children desperately need structure in their  lives and to be told what is right and wrong. The older I get, the more I realize that I desperately need these things as well.  I find that the more disciplined my life is, the closer I feel to God.  God is a God of order, not confusion. What does your inner child need?  Try to find out; then, fulfill it. You're only young once - now!

Me, many moons ago, with my parents.

                                                               Shalom Y'all,   Twyla