December 2007

Season's Greetings!
The POO and I don't engage in gift giving at Christmas but we appreciate any occasion to
eat a Special meal. Fact is we are "foodies".
POO saves food. If I give him something particularly good he will eat as much as he can and
use anything handy to cover the rest. And if it includes anything moist I will go right behind
him and put it in the garbage. I don't think he understands but he watches and seems
content to let me put his food in another place. He knows that the refrigerator contains
good things. He is just tall enough to sniff the bottom edge of the crisper bins and wag his
tail. I keep his homemade treats in there.
I was in hospital for a while and POO stayed with his Vet. We both came home a little worse
for wear but better off than when we went in. I was bruised and battered but relieved that
test and treatment was helpful. One of my neighbors rescued me before they could put me
on the psych ward-- I told them not to give me steroids!
POO didn't have any voice. It took me over three days of carrying him around from place to
place and person to person to get any response. Thank goodness and a special prayer for our
friend Shelia. He couldn't make much of a sound but when he got to her he got his little
mind back again.
So this for the POO pals in this world.

POO Cookies:
1 Pound boiled chicken gizzards.
1 Can Mixed Vegetables
2 Large eggs
1-1/2 C Oats.

In bowl of Food Processor -
Gizzards + Vegetables
Puree
Add Eggs
Puree
Add Oats a little at a time and scrape the sides of the bowl.
Should be a stiff dough.
Place in a bowl and cover and let rest 1 hour.
Should be very stiff dough.
I scoop rounded Tablespoons and make a ball and place on non stick jellyroll pan.
Pat each ball 1/2 thick.
Bake at 350 degrees turning every 20 minutes for about 1 hour.
Cool completely.
Refrigerate.
NOTE: POO can have only 3 at a time with plenty of water.
tow-

Thanksgiving 2007

We have come to another Thanksgiving and I'm thankful that this year is coming to a close as it has been a hard one for us.I can only hope next year is better.

I did accomplish one thing and that was to place a PC with someone who didn't have one.
I'm collecting parts to build another one. Just need a hard drive, combo drive and Case.
Got everything picked out, need to get the money.
I have been spending as much time as possible at my favorite PC shop getting some hands on experience.
I will have to make some tools to help with my handicaps.
It was a big thrill to be part of installing the motherboard in this one.

Now for the good part, FOOD.
This year it will be baked pork loin with Onions and Carrots.
Cornbread Dressing.
Onion gravy.
Spinach.
Blacked eyed peas.
Chocolate-Orange Pie.
Alabama Sweet tea.

I will place a double layer of rough chopped Onions and Thinly Sliced Celery
and Carrots on the bottom of my greased Roaster and place my Boneless Loin medallions on top of them and cover the Loin medallions with more vegetables.
Then I will add enough water to cover the top layer of Vegetables by about 1/2 inch.
It is important to Not Let the surface of the Loin medallions become dry.
No seasonings at this time.
Cover the Roaster tightly with Foil with one tiny hole for steam to escape.
I will Roast at 325 degrees according to the Weight of the Meat.
The Low-Slow Moist Roast will make for a more tender outcome.
When the Roasting time is reached I Cut into one to Check to see if it is done.

Remove cooked Loin slices to a container and refrigerate.
Toss the Vegetables and a little of the Pan juices in a Food processor with some Chicken Bullion and Puree.
Taste for flavor.
Use this with more of the Pan juices to make up your Dry Dressing Mix.
I like Sage and Rosemary so that is how I flavor my Dry mix along with Salt and Pepper.
I use whipped eggs and Baking Powder to help the Dressing Puff.

When Dressing mix is ready to bake place one half of the mixture in your cleaned greased Roaster and place the Cooked Loin medallions on top.
Spoon the rest of the Dressing mixture over each of the Medallions being sure to cover.
Remember that this is now an "Egg" dish and Bake at 350 degrees.
The time will be determined by the amount of Dressing.
I Start mine off covered and finish off with a little time to just color the top.
Everything is cooked but the Eggs so time it and check for doneness as for any Custard.

October

POO and the Snake:
POO is getting along in years and like a lot of older fellows he needs to
"go" often. He came to me preconditioned to meet and greet the public
while doing his work. He also came Paper Trained.
Still, he enjoys going outside to take a "hike".
When he was young it was his way to sniff every blade of grass and smell every flower and
eventually decide to lift a leg. Now-days he exits the door with one leg up and ready for business.

This morning I heard a baby bird in the shrub POO was headed toward but didn't worry because he is not interested in birds.
I saw the parent birds diving but thought they were diving at POO.
I was wrong.
POO doesn't have much height but he does have distance and while his left leg was up a black zig zag of lighting made it's way diagonally across the yard and disappeared under another shrub.
By the time I looked back at POO he had his right leg up to finish business.
My first thought was "SNAKE!!".
My second thought was POO wasn't hurt or he wouldn't be taking his time.
I didn't count on POO being POO.
I called him to me but he put his little nose to the ground and followed the exact path of the snake, zig by zag, across the yard to the base of the other shrub.
POO could smell the snake but the shrub was too dense for him to get in and too low to the ground for him to get under.
So POO couldn't get to the snake and he couldn't beg it enough to get it to come out to play with him.
Sooo...the boy-dog part of POO took over and he started where the snake went under the shrub and hiked his leg there and every 6 inches all the way around the 4 foot by 4 foot shrub.
And while he is doing that I am standing at the back door screaming every obscenity I can think of at him for being disobedient.

Yes, the baby bird made it back to it parents. POO hiked every 6 inches around the "Snake shrub" for a couple of weeks.
When the grounds keepers came by I had both shrubs cut back.


ONE CRUST POT PIE
***Special Note to my Student Friends with only a Hot Plate and
Toaster Oven.
You can just buy a can or 2 of Meat and a can of Mixed
Vegetables and a Package of Frozen pre formed Pie Crust in it's own
bake pan.
All you have to do is remove the Pie crust from the pan and break off
the Edges and Sides and Crumble them in small pieces and Brown them
in the Oven at 350 degrees for a few minutes.
Save the Center on a Paper towel.
Then All you have to do is open the Canned foods, drain them, and mix
in the pre baked Crumbs.
Dump everything in the Pie Pan and slide your
hand under the paper towel to lift and flip the Center Crust to the
middle of the pan.
Poke a couple of holes in the middle of it and bake
until it is over 165 degrees.
I go for at least 170.

It's back.

Well, it's back and I'm not too worried about it running hot since I removed the side of the case and have a 16" fan blowing on it.

As I have come to expect, I had to shake out the loose screw and find out how to plug up the hard drive.

The HUGE LCD monitor that came home with it does make my meager furnishings look pricer.

I plan to rip the PC's guts out and put in something I can respect.

I may try to use the odd-ball mb and the CPU to run my older stuff.

I plan to re-do this one with Intel.

I like this case because it has DVD, CD/RW, and a Floppy.

I'm not ready to give up my floppy.

And I do not like combo DVD-CD/RW drives.

I've started to collect parts and have decided on the type of PCs I want to build.

We have a small budget so it will take some time.

During the horse trading with David, who is a Stand Up guy if I ever met one, POO cut his foot and was very sick. He is stoic and by the time he gives a sign that something is wrong it is bad.

I managed to get his temperature down and with daily care he has healed little by little.

The first week POO was too sick to make much of a fuss he just trembled when touched. He lost his pride last week and started holding that hind leg up while running but that didn't last but a few days because he would get excited about going to see our neighbor and put the foot down so that he could stand on his hind legs and get petted. Keeping the foot flexed and a good toe nail trim along with extra green beans has got him back to riping around the apartment and running off if he gets outside again.

Booties for POO are next on the "Needs" list.

I almost "dropped" several times while he was down but he is back to looking after me again.

Ah, well, it's late and POO has been fed but I'm hungry.

SUMMER SQUASH

2 Quart Baking Dish--Mine is a round and has a glass lid.

Yellow Crookneck and Green Zucchini Squash

Yellow Onion(s)

2 Eggs

American Cheese ( White Apple pie type)

Milk

Cracker crumbs--You can use smashed Croutons, old bread...whatever.

Salt

Black Pepper

I start with the Onion because this is an Onion Flavored dish.

I rough chop it and toss it in the Food Processor, then put it in the Covered Dish and Microwave until Tender.

Save Cooked Onion and Cooking Liquid.

Clean and prep the squash by cutting the necks of the Yellow Squash into rounds about 1/4" thick. Remove all seeds, even immature ones, and slice the rest of the Squash 1/4" thick.

Split Zucchini and remove all seeds and slice 1/4" thick.

I keep cutting Yellow and Green Squash until I have filled the 2 Quart bowl, put the Lid on and Micro Nuke until tender.-- Stir every 5 minutes.

You will have cooking liquid and there is probably something good-for-you in it so keep it.

( I have been known to discard it)

Dump the Squash and Onions in a bowl.

Clean out the Cooking Bowl and Rub the Insides of it with Solid Shorting...Who do I think I'm fooling?... I use softened Butter. Put some Crumbs in the bowl and try to coat the Sides and leave some on the bottom.

Put it in the Refrigerator with the Lid on... Put the Lid on the Bowl, not the Refrigerator.

Must be latter than I thought.

Crack the Eggs in a Bowl and Beat the Daylights out of them.

Add Milk ( Cream is good too ).

Whip well.

Add Salt and Pepper.

Dump the Egg/Milk Mixture in with the Squash/Onion Mixture or go the other way if you think you need a bigger bowl.

Add 1/2C or so of Crumbs.

Stir to mix all.

Find your Cheese and make sure it is Grated or in small pieces.

Reserve 1/4C Cheese.

Find rest of Crumbs.

Bring your Baking Bowl back and remove lid.

Spoon enough Squash Mixture in Bowl to cover Bottom.

Sprinkle some Cheese over Squash.

If think your Mixture is too wet add a few Crumbs.

Spoon another layer of Squash, Sprinkle Cheese and so on until you reach the top.

Don't Sprinkle Cheese on Top.

Sprinkle Crumbs on Top.

Cover with Vented Lid--Aluminum Foil with a hole punched in it.

Bake at 350 degrees as you would any Custard.

If you have used a wide shallow bowl it will be done sooner.

Knife inserted in Center is the traditional test for being done.

I take it's temperature.

Turn off Oven.

After it is done remove the Lid and Sprinkle reserved Cheese.

Return to warm oven until cheese melts.

Not good Browned.

Enjoy!

Yes, I enjoy Pimentos, Parmesan, Sage/Rosemary, Dill, ripe Olives, Tomatoes but this is my Second Place Celebration of Summer Squash.

First Place is straight from my backyard garden and cut up in a bowl to be dipped in a little good salt.

I will not experience that again.

Putting back

Ran up on a tropical fruit sale at the grocery store a couple weeks ago. Been canning, freezing, going back for more supplies.

Got a lot of good ideas about Low and No sugar preserving from the Internet.
Also found an easier Yogurt making recipe than I have been using.
Couldn't find Plain Yogurt at the store so got a couple of small containers of No Sugar-Vanilla flavored with live culture. Made up a quart of the Milk mixture and added 3 Tablespoons of Starter. Sure enough I had a good mild flavored Yogurt in a few hours. I like it because it isn't obscenely sour like some of the commercial brands. It makes a good base for Curry and Vindaloo sauces.

BTW: I found an interesting and useful tip about Flavorings while Surfing...Packages of Unsweetened Soft Drink Mix powders ( you know, the "KOOL" Pitcher guy ) are ideal to keep on hand for a "Pinch" of Fruit flavor for Dry Herb and Spice mixes as well as flavoring Sauces. I used Lemon with Curry and it worked well.

Heating Pad Yogurt

Heat Proof Surface
Heating Pad
Big Pot-- You know the one I mean, Dutch Oven.
Candy Thermometer -- Instant Read is better
Funnel
Strainer
3 Heat Proof Glass Quart Jars with Lids
Iced Tea Spoon

This needs to be properly Refrigerated until use.
2 Cups Dry Milk Powder dissolved in
6 Cups Water*
*I don't care if you use 6 Cups of Milk
6 generous Tablespoons Plain Yogurt**
Don't plan on adding the Yogurt until you are ready
for the actual making to begin.


TRIAL RUN FOR TEMPERATURE:
Set up your Heat Proof Surface--
Put Heating Pad in Place and make sure you can see and reach the Control.
Place Pot on Heating Pan
Measure 2 Cups of water in each of your Quart Jars.
Place Jars in Pot
Carefully add 110 degree water to pot until the "Pot" water equals the Jar water.
Turn the Heating Pad to LOW.
Make a NOTE OF THE TIME.
Check every Hour until Jar water is 110 degrees.
You want to keep it under 120 degrees.

When you are at or between 110 and 115 sustained temperature
put 2 Cups Milk in each of 3 Clean Jars.
Add 2 Tablespoons Yogurt Starter to each Jar and Stir Well.
Place the Lids on the Milk mixture.
Take the "Water Jars" out of the Pot and put the
Milk/Yogurt mixture in the warm water.

I usually do a 2 Hour initial heat and after that do a 1 Hour ON -- 2 Hour OFF.
I wrap a Towel around the Pot while the Heat is OFF.
Remove it when ON.

How Long Does It Take??
Depends on:
Richness of Milk and Freshness of Yogurt Starter.
Controlled Temperature.
Check at 8 Hours.
Use your Iced Tea Spoon to scoop a little from one of the Jars.
If it is FIRM -- WAHOO!! You are good to go.
If not, keep checking.
Refrigerate.
Clean Up.
Don't worry if you see Clear Liquid on top of Milk mixture.
That is Ok, you can drain it off after the yogurt is made.
Now, you have my permission to dump the Yogurt out
of 2 of the Jars and Divide and Flavor it.
Hey, it's your food.
I would keep at least a Cup of Starter for the next batch.

I make Buttermilk and Yogurt because it is convenient.
It's a weekly event at my house.
Next time,
towwad

My rebuilt PC reaction

I'm in a Snit

This has been a beautiful spring...minus the much needed showers. We have droughts and wildfires.
The courtyard birds seem happy enough with the weather and probably the fact that there has been no sign of our resident hawk this year. Only one pair of squirrels are make the rounds this year. We usually have several pairs of them.

Last Autumn my next door neighbor and I watched and laughed ourselves silly as the local squirrels banded together to harass a few crows. One squirrel would get in front of the crows and chatter and flick it's tail while the others positioned themselves behind the invaders. Then just as the crows started to ignore the squirrelly in front of them the ones in the rear would rush forward chattering and flicking many tails. This caused the crows to flap their wings and jump up and resettle a couple or three yards away. Well, that wasn't good enough for the locals so the squirrels repeated the same maneuvers over and over until they had moved the crows the entire length of the courtyard or about a city block. There was nowhere left to retreat so the crows finally left.

I'm not happy with the results of my PC Motherboard replacement. I've been looking at some barebones kits and may go that way later this year.

At least I'll know that if I plunk down $160.00 + 9% tax, just for the motherboard, I'll be getting the brand I want! Before I got my first computer I knew that I wanted to know how to build them.

POO and I made a run on the grocery store this evening. They have new buggies and they are a dream to push. I just needed to grab
a few necessities so we didn't have to stand around long. Got some of the new postage stamps with the bell on them.

I'm getting back into the work of makeing my own bread. Normally I use my
food processor to make yeast breads but this is an easy one bowl-one-spoon-no-knead
bread.

Everyday Yeast Bread (Down Home)

**3 C Anybody's brand of dry Buscuit Mix.

**1/2 C Bread flour, if you have it.

** 2 or 3 T Quick rise Yeast...Note: I use the Yeast more for flavor than anything, it is a change from baking powder biscuits and cornbread.
** 1 C Dry milk powder.

**1 C or so of very warm water.

**Personal decision time: You can add any of a wide variety of flavor enhancers at this point. Raisins with fresh Lemon, Orange or Grapefruit Zest and/or Cinnamon, Vanilla make an ok Sweet Bread. Add some nuts if you like.
I use Dill and Caraway seeds with ground Dried Onion to make an herb flavored bread.

So, set the Heating Pad to LOW and toss everything but the water in the bowl and stir to mix.

Add the water and use the spoon to mix until all of the water is absorbed.

Put the dough in the pan.

Put some tap water in the bowl and stick your hand in it to wet it.
Use your wet fist to pound the dough out to fit the pan and smooth the
top.

Place the Pan on the Heating Pad and cover with the Cardboard Box.

Set your Timer for 30 minutes. You don't want the dough to rise to the top. Try for about 1/2 " from the top.

I heat my oven to 400 degrees and bake the bread at 375 for about 30 to 35 minutes.

I use the "Bounce Test" to see if it is done... that is, I hold the pan by the sides and bounce it up and down. If the bread is done it will turn loose from the bottom of the
pan and bounce up when I "Bounce"it.

Then I turn it out on a Rack to cool. It needs to be on a Rack to keep
the crust crisp.
Use your Bread Knife to slice this.

Did I mention I'm really down about the PC Motherboard replacement?

Altitude and Attitude

POO and I marked his 7th birthday last week. He got all of the green beans he wanted every time he went to his plate and extra treats. He has, but does not play with, toys. I've tried to teach him to play but he just isn't a "Fetch the ball!" kind of dog. And because of his special place in my home he is not allowed to have anything that he considers his personal property. I must retain the authority to reach for anything he finds interesting and he must give up the item with good grace. He has been with me since he was 4 months old and we haven't had a significant problem....well, there was that thing with my pillows, but we worked it out. I think we do very well considering the difference in the way we perceive the world.

You see, I measure 5' 4" at the top of my head. POO stands 10" at his shoulder. That is a significant difference in point of view. Sometimes I will lay my head down so that he can sniff my face. He is very nice about it and immediately rolls on his back kicking all four legs. Then he is ready to run around making a throaty sound that remind me of a wind up toy. Every morning when I'm at my PC reading the news he sits up against my left shoulder and gives a good imitation of surfing the 'net too.

I mention this because many of the strangers we meet think he is a spoiled pet. If there is anything he is not it is spoiled. His whole life has been in service to me. My life depends on him. Compared to the pets in our neighborhood he has nothing but the right to go in public places with me. That is part of his job and he knows that his little harness means "Work!". The only thing he is allowed to receive is a kind word.

Sometimes we have different agendas but I'm willing to negotiate a settlement to our disputes. He will run away if he gets the chance so in addition to his work leash I have 2 others and he may not like it but he must be leashed. Oh, don't worry about him, one of them is 50' long. Sometimes he will eat half of his food and come to me...I will stop what I'm doing and sit in his favorite chair and hold the plate while he sits in my lap and finishes his meal. Then he is off to ignore me until he thinks he is needed again.

**************************************************************************
The towwad's Attitude:
This is an imperfect world.
I am an imperfect person.
I live each day trying to be the best I can be.
I may not live up to your personal standard of excellence.
Because my aim goal and ambition is to try to be the best I can be I am always a success.
If you can't appreciate me, that's your loss.
If you don't like being a loser, you can try to change your perspective.
******************************************************************************
Down and Dirty Rice:
** Chicken, Turkey, Duck, ( Anything flying low or slow enough to catch. )--skinless, boiled and cut into bite sized pieces.
** Oysters
** Shrimp--shelled and cleaned.
** Bay scallops.
**Boil, save cooking water and mince. No, not the water, just the meat and seafood.

** Fish fillets poached---save cooking liquid.
**Flake fish in big pieces.
** Smoked Sausage (Cut in bite sized pieces and boil, discard liquid and brown)
** Center cut ham. Dice and brown.
**Gizzards are perfect for texture. Just boil them and chop in food processor.
**I use Chicken Livers because I like the taste. Boil them in water with juice of half a lemon. Discard that cooking liquid.

**Anything else you can scare up short of roadkill.

**Chopped parsley
** Diced onions
** Diced celery
** Diced green bell pepper
** Chopped mushrooms
**Garlic, separated into cloves and skinned. ( Simmer whole skinned cloves in water until soft then puree. Reserve cooking liquid.)
** Salt
** Black pepper
** Cayenne pepper(optional)
**Boil in reserved cooking liquid until tender. Add water if necessary. Reserve any cooking liquid.

**Combine cooked items and store covered.
** If planning to use later this can be refrigerated over night or frozen and reheated in Microwave.

**Use reserved cooking liquid with water to prepare**6 c. hot cooked rice (can increase amount of rice for company)
**Stir in ½ lb butter.

** Frog legs.
**Dust with flour and deep fry.
Ok, say you don't have Frog legs, double up on the Smoked Sausage or Ham and use half to place on top of the finished dish.

Combine Meat, Fish, and Vegetables with buttered rice and place one pair Frog legs on top of each serving.

**A side dish of boiled Collards or Turnip Greens.
**Plenty of Green Onions.
**I like a skinned, reseeded tomato and peeled reseeded cucumber salad with this.
**My beverage of choice for this is a tall cool buttermilk.
**Southern cornbread is perfect for the greens and salad.

Spring Fever

I have Spring Fever with headache, earache, runny nose, cough, sore throat...even my eyes hurt. My mouth is sore so I've been subsisting on soft easy to eat foods which have given me a case of Rumble Tummy. My Rumble Tummy includes indigestion, gas, the need to answer fast and furious nature calls, and of course the watery pharts! Having a bad coughing spell with a case of Rumble Tummy...not good!

*Got my broken PC back home last week. Not happy with it just yet. Got to cram a couple GBs memory in to get it going.

*'bout the only thing working right around here is the POO. He keeps leading me to my bed and jumps up on it and invites me to have a nap. A nap is about as long as I can sleep at the moment. He is keeping me on schedule with my meds and eating. I can't think of anything to ease my suffering but to Pray and be patient.

*Simple eats tonight.Egg Salad:
Boil some eggs. I don't care how many. That is your business.
Do whatever it takes to get them cooled enough to remove the shells.
I have a set of nesting bowls with round bottoms. Yes, they are "Nesting" but they have been here for years and haven't laid an egg or hatched anything yet.
The round bottom and high side help keep the eggs in the bowl when I use my handy-dandy pastry cutter---Pastry cutter, that thing with a handle on top and wires, or in my case blades, on the bottom. If you don't have something like that then you can just use a fork to hold the egg and mash it with another fork.
Or just throw the whole batch in the food processor bowl and let 'er rip.

Once the eggs are chopped you need to make some personal decisions.
I only use salt, pepper and just enough mayo to make a paste.
You can add sweet or sour pickles, onions, fresh peppers, celery, any spice or herb you like.
You can add hot sauce or go for the imitation seafood taste with a little ketchup.
I usually leave out the salt when I plan to eat it with crackers.
The POO and I never have leftovers.

Our Spring

So, it has been a busy spring for us.
Actually, things started going down the toilet the first of February when I received notice from our new apartment manager that she intended to make a housekeeping inspection and collect my yearly financial records for my annual re-certification to live in this rent controlled apartment complex......within the next 4 days.

No way I could scrub 7 years of depression dirt and grime away in 4 days time so I left a voice message suggesting that we reschedule to my usual time in April which would give her the information she needed before my May 1st anniversary-move in date.
Well, she called back and we settled on my birthday in mid-March.
I wouldn't have made the effort but she didn't mind POO.

I started collecting cleaning materials and went to work. My dust bunnies were jack rabbit sized and while the floor is mopped just about every day it had not been waxed. I asked everywhere I went about floor wax and we ended up at a huge hardware store where I got two large bottles of something that promised to make the floor shine.
I used to be a do-it-yourselfer and with POO on his rug riding in the kiddy seat of our buggy we wandered around and I lusted for all of the tools and fixtures I saw.

I was sick and thought I felt bad because of moving furniture and the ceiling-walls-floor cleaning.
POO started sticking his tongue out and drinking a lot of water so I took him to his doctor and he had a problem with his teeth.
So I spent the next 3 weeks shoving an eyedropper down his throat to give him antibiotics.
Good thing I decided to practice the procedure with water first because the first time I tried he managed to twist sideways enough so that I "doctored" his right ear instead of his mouth.
Next try he bunched up his tongue and the contents of the eyedropper sprayed back in my face. After half a glass of water and a lot of trial and errors I managed to follow the Vet's instructions and slip the eyedropper between his back teeth and hold his head still long enough to get the job done.
POO will not bite but if he doesn't want to do something he can wiggle and twist and turn enough to discourage me. You would think that an averaged sized towwad could out smart a toy poodle but it is his job to be the boss here at home and he doesn't care for me doing things to him.

After 3 weeks of at home treatment POO goes in for the teeth cleaning procedure while I go to my doctor and show her my mouth problem. I get prescriptions and submit to enough xrays to make me glow in the dark.
I drop off the prescriptions to be delivered the next week and rush to see about POO.

His Veterinarian walks him out and said that things went well but when we try to put POO's harness on him he gives up and lays down. He is still snookered from the anesthesia. Another client in the room is feeling so sorry for POO and POO is feeling no pain and is limp drunk and letting it all hang out.
The harness is a necessary thing because he has a problem with his throat that causes severe breathing difficulties and pressure on his neck is harmful. He was also paralyzed for a short while with a back problem when he was a year and a half old. His throat and back problems along with kidney stones and those big beautiful round eyes are the reason why that in spite of his Mister Personalty trait is POO will never be a proud papa.
Once his harness is on and I snap the leash and say the magic word "Walkies" he gets up and staggers out the door and to my car.
I help him climb up on his seat and he goes to sleep.

When we got home I helped him out of the car, he made a nature call and staggered his way to the door to wait for me. I let him inside and unsnapped his leash and hurried to make a nature call of my own. He didn't wander into the bathroom as usual but all of a sudden I heard whimpering which turned to loud crying and blood curdling howls. I couldn't stop what I was doing and decided that if he could howl he was breathing and that was good. By the time I could go to him he was silent and I almost overlooked him. He had made it as far as his cushion beside my bed and had a totally lost and abandoned look about him. You see, there is one thing POO will not tolerate and that is being alone. He is happy to leave me and go with other people or animals...just don't leave him alone.
[ I tried that recently while I helped a neighbor. POO had a self-righteous toy poodle hissy fit and could be heard a block away. ]
So I picked him up and placed him on one of his pillows in the living room. I was in and out of the room but that wasn't good enough for him so I ended up holding him in my lap for over 4 hours until he was alert. And just as I expected he had a bad choking spell and I had to work on his throat a while to get him through it. After that he was back to being his spunky self again.
He is as playful as a puppy in spite of the fact that he will be 7 the first of May.

There was a snafu with my medicine and by the time it arrived I was wandering around moving furniture and not eating and sleeping only an hour and a half at a time and the other side of my mouth was sore. I knew that I wouldn't be finished with my apartment rearranging and cleaning by the time the new manager arrived so I had the happy inspiration to shove all of the living room furniture to the middle of the room and tell her that I was "Rearranging this room.". Don't know if she believed me but after finding some housekeeping faults she sat POO on her lap and sang "Happy Birthday" to me.
Ta-da! I'm 62!!

Next day I decided to stay in bed. Banging on my door!!! I would have ignored it but it is POO's job to alert when someone knocks on the door and he gets loud about it. I stagger to the door and it is the manager with the pest control people. I have a hissy fit. They are nice, I just wasn't up to it.
Durn-it, I was sick and tired.

With medicine and rest I got better and then call my doctor's office to report my progress as directed. Couldn't make myself understood so I got an email address and just sent the info that way.

Wonderful things, computers and the internet.My favorite computer had been run hard and heavy for 5 years and started acting weird. I thought it was a software problem and checked every application and everything about my OS. Finally I got out of my wheelchair and put the PC tower in it and rolled it out and loaded it in the car. POO and I take the PC to the shop and when the case is opened the problem is easily seen. It has over heated and the capacitors have popped their tops. Motherboard is dead. At first I was just going to save my hard drive and buy another computer and run my hard drive as an secondary but I discovered that my motherboard can be replaced and I particularly like the features I have with this tower. So as I write this I'm waiting for my "Big baby" to be repaired and using this 98SE laptop.

We changed started shopping at a different grocery store and I don't have to walk so much to find the things I need. POO didn't have any problem with the transition. But a lot of the customers haven't seen a service dog this small before and I've been fighting the women off with some stern words. NO PET!!!
I will stop and speak with any child or young person because I can help them grow up in a world where a lot of people need different things to help them get through life.
The people who aggravate me and cause me stress and harm are the adults with camera phones wanting to show me their pets and demand to pet "Your Baaaby".
They don't want to take no for an answer.
The reason they can't pet the dog is it is minding it's business which is to be present for My Needs. I'm pretty sure that these people wouldn't take someone's walking cane out of their hand to examine or pull someone out of their wheelchair to take it for a joy ride.

Now that I can afford meat again...
Meat Loaf:
1/2 or 2 pounds lean ground chuck or better
Any body's brand of dry Onion Soup mix
1 or 2 eggs depending on amount of amount of meat
1 to 1 and 1/4 Cup Vegetable juice...I use the one whose name starts with a V.
1 Cup of fine Saltine cracker crumbs
1 Minced Green sweet pepper
Black pepper to taste
Ketchup

Mix together the Dry Onion Soup, egg(s), and Vegetable juice/Green pepper/Black pepper.Add Saltine cracker crumbs
Cover and refrigerate half hour. If mixture is to dry add more Vegetable juice. If too wet add more cracker crumbs.
Bring out the meat and put it in a large bowl and break it apart as if you were going to scramble it.
Add the Soup/egg/vegetable juice/cracker mixture.
Make sure that everything is evenly distributed.
At this point I let my mixture rest in a tightly covered bowl in the refrigerator over night.
In a pinch you can do with an hour in the frig.
I shape mine in a traditional loaf and make 2 rows of Ketchup along the top.
I don't mind if you shape yours in a circle or triangle or make itty bitty balls...Hey, you have to cook and eat it.
I use a square baking dish, not my loaf pan, because it let's the little bit of fat drain better.
I start it off at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes and then 359 for 35 minutes and take it's temperature.
When I decide it's done I turn the oven off and I remove any fat from the dish and return it to the hot oven for 15 or 20 minutes.
So that is that.
The new grocery doesn't have frozen biscuits so I have to wait until my other PC is home to get me recipe.

Something fishy this month

Fish Cakes
I use 15oz cans of water packed Sardines for these.
First one:
Plain fish cakes.
1 - 15oz can Sardines. Drain and discard liquid and remove bones.Mush up the fish so that it is flaky. -- No you are not going to hurt it, it's already dead.( Don't tell anybody I save the bones in a cup and munch them while the mixture is resting.)
Juice of 1 Lemon. Save the rind to remove the fish smell from your hands.
2 eggs. Beat the daylights out of them as that will help the cakes "puff" a little.
18+ saltine crackers. Crackers need to be crushed fine.
I mix this with my hands.
Place the flaked fish in a bowl.Add whipped eggs.Mix eggs with fish so that is evenly distributed.
Ok, if you are sensitive, use a spoon to mix the eggs and fish.
Gradually add crushed crackers and check the consistency. -- Too few crackers and the mixture will not hold a shape, too many will make small cakes dry and not hold together during cooking.
I divide the mixture into 7 portions.
Scoop up a portion and shape it in a rounded patty. If it will not hold together you may have too many crackers and can cheat by beating up another egg and forcing it through the mixture.Don't worry about beating the eggs, they will not fight back.
Sooo... shape the cakes and place them on a plate and cover tightly then refrigerate an hour or more to let rest.
I suppose you could bake these in the oven but I like the stove top method.
Weird but works for me.
Rummage through your stuff and find 2 long handled things you can use to turn the little cakes.
Find your 5qt dutch oven...that's usually the big one with a handle on both sides.
If it isn't non stick you are on your own here.
I lightly oil the bottom of mine and place 1 cake in the middle and the others around it -- try to keep them from touching. After all of the mashing and beating they just want to be alone.
The fish and crackers are "cooked" so we need to address the eggs.
It is fine with me if you want to make small talk to them but they will be busy.
Your stove top burner is MEDIUM.
Set the big pot on the burner and cover.
Wait 5 minutes and remove cover being careful of the stem.They may have puffed slightly.Try to gently lift and turn one of the cakes. If it sticks give it another minute.
It should have firmed up.If it breaks..oh well...turn the pieces.
When you have them turned they should be nicely browned on the top.That is what we want on the bottom.They will cook faster now but don't rush them.
Lift and check and poke a stick in one of them to see if it is "done".
Serve fresh cooked.I've never had leftovers to cope with.

Second:
Toss a hand full of ground Sage and a half teaspoon Rosemary along with some coarse black pepper in with the cracker crumbs in the original mixture for a Sausage like flavor.

Third:
Add ground Fennel to the Second mixture and use for meatballs for spaghetti.

For my favorite Pizza friends

Flat Bread

Jelly Role pan -- Oiled
Oven -- 250 degrees
Food Processor -- Blade attachment in place
Cooling Rack
1) Place in Food Processor bowl
1&1/2 to 2 Cups Bread Flour - Now don't go using any "All Purpose" stuff here!
1 Tablespoon or 2 packs Quick Rising Yeast
3 or 4 Tablespoons cold cubed Butter - Use the real stuff, not imitation.
Run the Food Processor until the mixture is Very fine grained - No lumps.
While Food Processor is running -Add 1C Hot water -- You are looking for a very slack or "Wet" mixture.
2) Dump the mixture in the Jelly Role pan.Oil your hands and spread it evenly.
TURN OFF OVEN
Place Jelly Role pan in Oven and close door.
3) Spend the next twenty minutes happily slicing 2 or 3 Cans of drained Ripe Olives vertically - I use a dull knife.
**Collect all of those "Just can't leave it alone extra ingredients."
I know what you are thinking, uh huh, I do...
4) Remove Jelly Role pan from oven and place on heat proof surface.
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Do be careful with the pan and don't burn yourself.
5) Leave 1" edge around each of pan and start placing Olives, cut side up, side by side.
**If you must have the Goat cheese, hide small bits under the Olives here and there.
6) Sprinkle a little salt along the outside exposed edges of the bread dough.
7) Bake - mid oven rack. I start checking after 20 minutes -- it will shrink slightly and pull away from the sides of the pan but that can be hard to see.
8) When you decide it's "done" remove it to a heat proof surface.
9) **If you must have Roasted Sweet Peppers, just plop 1" pieces here and there Over the Olives.
10) Set oven to Broil
11) Use a wide spatula, as a guide,
and sprinkle 2 Pounds of shredded Mozzarella cheese over Olives.
12) Place mid-rack under broiler and watch carefully that cheese just melts and does not brown.
13) Remove from Oven and carefully slide bread from Jelly Roll pan on to the cooling rack.
This is tricky, don't get burned.
Let rest 5 to 10 minutes for bottom to crisp.
Use Kitchen Shears to cut bread. Never a knife.
This is best served warm or slightly warm.
Use common sense to store and reheat.

February

Still cold here.
Easy winter food:
A cabbage chopped and steamed tender
Cooked rice
Butter
Salt and pepper to taste.

Mix and serve.
Yes, thePOO likes cabbage.