December...

...arrives tomorrow, Sunday, December 1st, 2013. We were blessed to have my sister stay at our home the past few days. The dogs love her and she laughs at their antics. Today I heard her "awww", Buster had given Carlee a kiss and she reciprocated. Rare occurrence and glad she saw it.

Small dog Christmas shapes

When Bab's Bites 'n Bones was given the okay by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture in October 2007, my sister and I baked many hours a day together. Today she offered to help bake treats, I accepted and we baked medium size in our popular flavors of Hearty Beef and Savory Chicken. They will be available at our upcoming fair on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at the 1st United Methodist Church, corner of Capital and Central, Pierre, SD from 9am to 4pm.

Quick finder of dropped treats

Claire bagged small treats in various sizes the night before, I stapled the label to the bags. Once in awhile a loose treat found its way to the floor. Our girl is quick as you see her licking her chops. We will be ready with small and big Christmas shapes, ornaments, our popular Barker's Dozen and various other size bags of treats. Great stocking stuffer's or just to purchase for treats when running low. Just a note, Bliss/Sweet Peas located in the St. Charles, Pierre, SD also carries our treats, both flavors, various size bags along with shapes and ornaments.

Our evening has been one of relaxing and napping, preparing for baking a few more batches tomorrow.  We hope to see you next Saturday, December 7th. Pick up a friend or two, walk through the warmth of friendly vendors. Have a great week and help those in need on the coming cooler temperature days.

A side note. We are helping Oglala Pet Project (OPP) with wish list trees. Thanks to Bow Wow Meow Animal Clinic in Fort Pierre, SD for decorating a tree. Stop in, choose a tag off the tree, choose an item or two to purchase, return the purchase under the tree and you can keep the decorative tag. Spread the word, another local vet clinic is in the works. Helping where we can, in hopes you will do the same. Thanks all!

Before Winter sets in...

Another beautiful day to wind up last minute Fall items in the yard. Today we retired the saw horses. They didn't see much action other than sitting behind the house looking at a different view. Wind was usually the culprit that put staining or painting on hold.

Weekends fly by more so with the shorter days, Buster likes to lay in a lap lately rather than the soft bed on the floor. When baking rolls around, the floor is warmer and quiet moments are captured. Soft beds that mold to their body's are great as bones age. As the temps have cooled outside, each is covered at night and sleep carry's into morning. They are the alarm clock with shaking of their tags hitting the metal ring on their collars. When one wakes, so does the other.

This weekend we took advantage of the weather, grabbed the leashes and headed out the door, piled into the car and zipped down the highway. Wind blowing his hair back made the noise of a playing card clothespinned to a spoke on a bike. You did that as a kid didn't you? Neat sound. We walked in the beauty of the Oahe Dam, walked the vast open prairie, rolled in things unknown and enjoying being out.


Before Winter sets in, we'll be out as often as we can. Take your kids for a walk in the warm sunshine, let them roll, run and jump. Then when another crosses your path and they need help, do what you can to help them home. In the season of hunting everything is on the move, in fear or lost. We're on the watch too.

Take care friends, enjoy your week!

Fair after fair.

Hello!
Zonta Holiday Fair was the past two days, we always do well. People are in a festive mood with stories to share of their dogs, breeds with no two names the same. Our proceeds go back into the dog treats from produce to feed permits and recipes with South Dakota Department of Agriculture.

People are amazed the length we have gone to make our treats, getting approval by the state office that approves large projects through the state of South Dakota. It's a big league and we have a part of it, the gold ring.

Our next fair is December 7, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church, corner of Capital and Central in Pierre, SD. A beautiful church, but the fair of course is in their Trinity Center, a gym with a wonderful kitchen that produces lunch not just for the vendors but all that walk through their doors.

We are running low on juice and our night will be early. Many treats in small, medium, shapes and ornaments were sold to many dogs, granddogs, neighbor's and their own where we will be baking November 11th. The day we thank our Veteran's now and those that have passed on, from nephew to uncle. Touching many lives, all of our lives.

Be thankful, enjoy the upcoming festive season and then make it part of your everyday life. Share it.
Blessings to you friends, help those less fortunate, human and animal.
Have a wonderful week!

Mid-October already...

Stocking stuffers

We've been busier the past 6 weeks preparing for the BIG holiday fair coming up November 9 & 10, 2013. We always do well, people are looking for stocking stuffers, treats for their granddog, neighbor dogs and of course, their own. Our treats have a long shelf life, so if you're purchasing for Christmas, keep in a cool dry place and they'll be fine, they also ship well.

We'll be at the Capital City Farmers Market this coming, Saturday, October 19th and for the end of market season,  October 26, 2013. Our human treat this coming weekend will be homemade egg noodles.

Ready for the dryer. 

My Mom's recipe. We grew up on  food made from love of her hands, egg noodles was one of many recipes. Mom's recipes were made so often, she knew them all. Measurements were for example: eggs, pinch of salt, some oil and enough flour to pull it together. Worked with it and they taste very similar to hers.
Her recipe was to cut up a slice or two of bread into cubes, brown
in butter and toss with drained noodles. It didn't make a good photo, but the flavor is a good memory. Our label sports this little story, ingredients and a Mother's recipe.

So if you're in town, driving through or need to stretch. Stop downtown Pierre, SD. We're across from Walgreen's, in the Free parking lot. Other vendors will be selling, rustic breads, last of the Summer veggs and local homemade meats.

Have a wonderful week friends. Help those in need when someone or animals cross your path and need a little attention.

Sunday's...baking and fall fairs

Growing up, Sunday was family day and we continue that tradition in our home. We are up and out early, the clocks in our home run on 4-legs. The alarm isn't set, we wake to the jingle of dog tags at 5:55am most every day...sometimes it's 6:05 am which is a real treat for the human. Let's get moving.

Flom Kuchen

We are baking and preparing for Fall fairs, but first we are going to be at the Capital City Farmer's Market several weekends in October. We will be bringing human treats here's a sneak peak if you haven't been down. Flom kuchen, a thin crisp, lightly salted buttery treat, homemade egg noodles, my Mother's recipe, fantastic in soups or with roasted veggies from the market and flaky

Homemade egg noodles

Blueberry lemon hand pies

pie crusts filled with Summer fruits, filled with wonderful juices that baked through the crust. A S'more and savory tomato onion rounded out our selection. Hand pies, perfect to eat as people strolled through the market and light enough for lunch. Warm caramel and cinnamon rolls were baked before market one Saturday. No time for photo's. All treats sold long before the market day ends. We make and bake Friday evenings, our oven is on long into the night. Labels of ingredients are attached and ready for the waiting customer when the market cowbell rings.

Our market has many baked goods to offer from rustic breads, desserts, fresh fruit crisps, sweet breads and so much more. If you  haven't been by on Saturday mornings in downtown Pierre, SD, do! Open 9am-1pm, free parking lot corner of Sioux and Coteau. Locally grown, fresh picked produce, farm eggs, South Dakota meats and of course, good for your dog-dog treats! Our growing business was established in October 2007 and we are people approved! We went the extra and are approved by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture. We have a feed license!

Time to wake the dogs from their morning nap, get out and stretch. Enjoy this day, we will. Have a good week friends and help those in need.

Spring to September

Living on a patch of prairie we look forward to each Spring as it brings new wild flowers. Progressing into the seasons Summer brings foliage deepening colors that only Fall can announce. Sunflowers exploded in the pasture, ditches and along the driveway.

Arms of the stalks so heavy they collapsed to the ground, shocking, as it happened while mowing past them.

Late Summer we removed the peonies and iris greenery as their season had arrived in full bloom and silently lost their petals.


Babe our 12 year old seedless cottonwood is beginning to sport yellow. Shorter days, less sun, soon brings Fall. Fortunately, we still have a few potted plants that live within sniffing distance. One of many past times.

 Enjoy your week friends. Stay cool, keep an eye on your critters and help those in need.

Capital City Farmers Market cowbell...

Jesse of Medicine Gardens

Kandi of  BurZack

B&G Produce

Hard working producers harvest their large gardens bringing you the freshest hand picked produce on Saturday's of the Summer weekends. Faces become familiar as they meet and greet people walking by. Quick click of the camera catches the smile before they greet the person strolling under their tent top.

Crowds come early to view and the familiar peal of a cowbell rings open the market at 9:00 am.

Robin's Rockin' Outdoors

Capital City Farmers' Market is backed by the Downtown Association for the last five years. We haven't moved from the area. The market name has not changed. Located at the corner of Sioux and Coteau, the Free Parking Lot, across from Walgreens, Saturday's 9am-1pm through October 26, 2013, downtown Pierre, SD. Some vendors have stopped and stayed, some have left and others have joined. Vendors will rotate out depending on the weather and crops that ripen and are ready.

Don and Mary of Bad River Pack

It's not all produce, other vendors have South Dakota products that are handmade and local, Bab's Bites 'n Bones is blessed to part of this family. Family friendly atmosphere, bring a friend, bring a fur friend which needs to be leashed. Waiting to greet you Saturday morning!

Have a blessed week friends. Keep your critters cool, water and shade if outside. Help those in need that stray close.  Take care.

Update: Adopted. Beauty and her pups...

Girl with 6 brothers

Keisha

July 2013 we helped answer a call and donated food to a beautiful mom and her pups. Tears couldn't help but well up and pray for these struggling lives. Trust and hope in human kind. Resilient. A week later they continue to thrive on

Pick me, pick me.

Lindy watches over...

Awake and listening.

New friend to rest on.

the love of their rescue and foster family. Growing quickly, they will soon need foster homes, be adopted and live a life they deserve. Loved and cared for. Do you have room at your home for an extra or two? We volunteer and donate when  we can and it is all called "amazing".  Mom, Keisha is beautiful. Her family is guessing a Basset Hound mix. The pups must be seen, held and in all honesty, cuddled with. We do the same to children, life is life.  Help where you can, tell a friend, share with your family. Who can help these growing pups that were born into a world that can only get better, abandoned is an awful start. Am I groveling? A little. Its always easier to look the other way in our fast paced world, not having time for what already is packed into our lives. You have a few weeks to think about it, apply and then you'll need to be approved before any fur ball comes to you. A good process for everyone. Are we good enough for them?! We went through the same process with our dogs. We were interviewed by several people from the local humane society, home inspection and how we treat our other animals. You can be denied. Thankful to be blessed with two of our own, we contemplate a third.
Be blessed and help where you can, Take care friends.

Shop local, purchase from friendly...

Purchasing local fresh picked produce from friendly keeps me going back to the same farmers market I've been attending the past five years in Pierre, SD. A staple of downtown Pierre, backed by the Downtown Association. Though vendors have stopped, some have gone, new arrive and several have stayed. A five year celebration is just good business!

Flom Kuchen

Bab's Bites 'n Bones has expanded. A treat for your dog, a treat for you! Market 2013 we started human treats. Thin, crisp, buttery and a touch of garlic salt. A family favorite and third generation recipe our family calls Flom Kuchen. It was a hit! We've brought fresh baked rolls, yes, baked market morning! There simply wasn't time to snap a photo of them, yes they were made from scratch, caramel and frosted rolls. Frankly, they sold like hot cakes! Finished taping ingredient labels to the still warm rolls when the opening cowbell rang! Our next round of human treats is a toss up. An idea or two are in the making, and will be trying out products on market vendors for approval. Our ingredient labels also have contact information and a disclaimer, state law for farmer's markets.

Just shucked!

Today, as a customer, I was able to walk through and visit a bit purchasing vendor goods. Garden produce doesn't grow on my rocky soil. Love purchasing fresh picked produce. I know where it was grown, who picked it and can visit with the vendor that's offering the sale. From sweet corn to red onions, the size of  my palm, red potatoes, herbs and rustic bread. Groceries for the week at a price less than the grocery store. Yes, really!

I got it!

We enjoyed supper adding our purchases seems Carlee got a little extra that dropped to the floor. She's the best vacuum we've ever had.

Growing up, our family joined two other family's, planting an acre of produce. At harvest we shucked pickup loads of wonderful sweet corn, picked up piles of potatoes, stacking 100's of yellow watermelons (the best), muskmelons and bushels of onions. All was stored in a cellar or canned for Winter months. On that note, with our fill from supper, it is time to venture outside and plant flowers given by friends in ground blessed with good rains this week.
Have a blessed week friends. Care for your animals and help those that stray close for help.

Autumn in July...

that's what it felt like early this morning, a low of 46 at 6am. Reaching for a blanket in the night and a dog snuggled in made for good sleeping. We have taken advantage of the cool, took a stroll and ride ending with a drive-thru at the Capital City Farmers' Market. Many, many people have seen their photo, heard of their antics so today we did a quick meet and greet. Carlee kept her distance and Buster greeted heartily.

Keisha and 7 growing pups.

Keisha, new friend.

This week we read a post on Facebook inquiring Pierre and local community for help for a Momma and her 7 puppies. A friend introduced us to a website that helps reservation animals when they are at their worse, have a team of fosters to help heal them and get into a loving home. They have rules like a humane society and since they were searching for local help, we called and offered our assistance. We purchased dry and canned food. I would deliver asking if I could meet the bundles of fur. Absolutely was the response. She helped haul inside the added food supply.

The foster Mom sat inside, picked up each pup introducing them and then came the Mom, her name is Keisha. She is on meds fighting infections. The medications work with nursing mom's and is safe for the pups. Sitting on the floor I was able to hold the pups, cradle, watch their faces fall asleep and rub Keisha's ear. They will all need home soon.

Little girl hangs around wildfire management site near Rosebud, SD.

Keisha is 2-3 years old mix bassett hound and maybe border collie. The pups are possible rottweilers and just plain cute. The puppies are 21 days old and growing quickly. Upon leaving, we were no longer strangers and a hug before going. More stops to visit.

Many hearts including ours go out to the lost and abandoned. My crew is protective but in hopes accepting because its part of their background, still nagged by past issues we work on daily.

Another photo noted last night of this little girl. When the call comes through for help, we will do what we can. It takes a village to raise a child, it takes that same village to care for lost and abandoned animals. Just want to scoop her up and tell her it'll be okay. Her ears have been eaten by nasty flies, she needs food and vet attention. A local gal that has a rescue called several places with recent update someone was going to look for her. Trust and hope little one, hang on, someone is on their way. If you are interested in the pups above, meeting or helping. Let me know and I'll give you the information that will put you in touch.

Blessings to you this week, hug your animals and help those that are less fortunate. Help where you can or call someone that will help. Thank you.

Knee high by the 4th of July!

That was often a statement made in our household as I was growing up. Farmer's wanted their corn knee high by the 4th of July! My Dad was a grain elevator manager, many nights our family would pack into the pickup and take a spin in the country looking at the various crops raised in the north central part of South Dakota. We learned the different crops back then, but I can only pick out a few when driving down the highway, other than wheat, corn and of course sunflowers.  A friend and I had taken a ride not long ago heading out past the Oahe Dam and I mentioned "knee high by the 4th of July!" She laughed and said, "Only farmer's know that saying." Good to know I'm part farmer!

Independence Day, let freedom ring! We need to individually thank everyone, including bomb sniffing dogs, that has served in any capacity of the armed forces and thank them. A ceremony will soon fill a local gym to send forth local troops into a far away land. Pray for them daily and their safe return to waiting families.

July 4, 2000

Thirteen years ago, 13 dozen cookies were baked on a hot 4th of July in a tiny rental apartment with the promise of the start of a new home, a view of the world with nothing but blowing-in-the-wind  prairie. That evening, sitting in the middle of the "great room",  fireworks were large in the sky from across the river. The next day work began, strong men and women showed up early and ready to tackle a puzzle. The puzzle was putting together a log cabin, people asked to help. The hottest weekend of the Summer. Cold bottles of water, wash clothes soaked in ice water and the cool of the basement were used considerably. It was a home raising party and our day began with prayer.

1st stain  August 2000

To this day, each day begins with prayer and ends the same. We are blessed to celebrate Independence Day, see the corn that is knee high this 4th of July and thankful for home. The past many years our family has grown and no different than others, we sit in our Great Room and watch the fireworks set off from across the river. The flash as big as the sky. Blessed.

Have a great week friends. Keep your fur friends cool, help others that stray and be blessed.

Rooster so to speak...

Early morning waker upper

This is our early morning rooster. You're right it's not a rooster, but a pleasant sounding meadowlark. He sits atop our front peak and begins to sing about 5:55am. We do enjoy early mornings, peace and surround sound of various songbirds that were displaced from the flood of the century. Few cars can be heard or seen traveling to begin their work day.

Iris opened June 06, 2013

Mid-week a pleasant surprise coming home, iris' that were transplanted from my parent's home. They have been separated and placed in corners near fence posts and smell wonderfully like lemon.

Hello pretty, meet handsome!

Our family Westie loves smelling flowers so we give him his own bouquet. He takes care of them watering daily. No real damage, his aim isn't what it used to be. We aren't complaining. He loves life, we all enjoy home and happy to be outside working.

Have a wonderful week friends!

God's time...

Several months ago looking at the work calendar I decided it was time to take a few days of annual so we could drive to the cemetery where family is buried, place flowers, visit while painting statues and visit friends with health problems. Just so happens that has touched closer to home.

Namesake of my Grandmother

Last week waking with horrible vertigo and migraine, lasting several days asking my brother if he would drive me to the clinic. As the days have gone by, the cemetery wasn't visited several hours away, flowers not placed, statues not painted. Rain had dampered the projects and family placed flowers for us.

Vertigo lingers, it off balances your body, you cannot wish on anyone. But our days of annual have given us much needed time for the dogs, napping, working in the yard, potting memorial flowers, being home when the storms roll through. Comfort for all of us. Our watch and jewelry are not worn at home, we are on God's time, warmed with His blessings, nourish and replenish our bodies, life and home. Needed. Faith will give us new direction and unnecessary anxiety will leave our body. We love early mornings, listening to the songbirds, planning for the new day and if it falls through it's okay. Less worries and that is our goal. Through Him all things are possible.

Blessings to you friends, enjoy your week!

Warm beds...

Comfort and Joy

Loves warmth

Many days people and domestic animals go without warm beds, full tummy's or a place to call home. There are some amazing rescue's with shelters for both beings. When I spotted each of my kids I let them know someday, they would live at our home. One was tied to a tree the other running from a demon no one could see. Rescued. Adopted. Blessed.

Several beds made from soft blankets scatter our home. As bones have aged and joints creek, we have purchased beds that mold to their body's.



They love'm. At times we wish we had done sooner. Winter was more comfortable for them, curl up and sleep. Each has their own, they share and sleep like, well, they sleep like a dog.

We pray for the lost and abandoned. Shelter from the elements, hope and trust in another to find home. Help where you can. We've had a few animals walk through recently, fortunately they accepted treats so tags from collars could be read and called. We pay for their safety, please keep that info dangling from their collar. Benefits all!

Have a good week friends!

Walkie talkie

Windblown walkie talkie

Growing up in small town South Dakota we had walkie talkie's, green and white boxes, a black button to hold when talked into and released to hear. They were fun. Over.  Do you remember them? The walkie talkie that lives here, seems to be the talkie to the neighbor dogs asking if they'll walkie over.

He doesn't have the familiar scratchy noise, no testing, test, test. It's his story until the door opens and he looks like this.

Yep, that's our boy. There's a smile in there. On that happy note. Wishing you a Spring like week.
Take care friends.

Routine, routine, routine...

...it's not just for Monday through Fridays. Buster is feeling old today. While making breakfast at the stove (whole wheat/toasted flax pancakes with light vanilla yogurt and fresh blackberries) the pan was hot and the fan was on. It is loud and he needed away from it. Leading him to the door, he rushed out and the inside door left open. He was shaking from the chill in the air when I went to retrieve him, he hesitated so I stepped outside, assured him of the sound, scooped him up and brought him in. Those ears are always, always listening!

Routine weekday put us in the chair at 7:30am, he's  on lap and newscasters are given little time to present the world to us. If the temperature is above 30 degrees they are given 20 minutes and if the temp is below 30 degrees they need talk fast, they get 10 minutes. Yes, the world in 10 minutes! It's about warming the vehicle so it's ready to hit the highway.

Spring weekends are our getupandgo days, hit the road for rides, greetings from Buster and a long walk. We know Spring is out there somewhere. We patiently wait. Today before we start our 1st batch of chicken treat dough Buster sits ready by the chair, we wrap in a soft, warm blanket, recline and watch Sunday Morning. Fear appears to be gone. Carlee goes with the flow, scratch of ears and in her line of sight. Family. Comfort and joy. Blessed.

Blessed week to you friends. We pray for the lost and abandoned, shelter from the elements, manna for food and trust for help and hope. Warmth from mama to the newborns, shelter from the elements to all.

Fairy Goddog...

About six weeks ago our Vet said, "Buster has some teeth that need to come out." His blood panel came back good, he had turned 12 in January. Twelve is getting to be an age where putting under can quickly slip into passing, hearts were torn. He hadn't been feeling the best, for quality life we knew pulling some teeth would be beneficial. While Carlee and I waited at home, we cooked up some chicken and carrots until falling apart soft. Chewing anything hard for a few days would be difficult. Those few days turned into a week.  

Pillow and sunshine!

He wasn't pretty when I picked him up, but he was ready to go. He wouldn't allow touching his head, but he talked all the way home. With meds and a weekend in front of us, we were set with pillows, soft blankets and the recliner. As the days grew into each other, his yawns grew wider and allowed a quick peek inside. Indeed three teeth in front and a molar in the back. Day 3 after his ordeal, he picked up his toy and dropped it at our feet. That's my boy! Blessed.

One morning I visited with Carlee. Her help was needed, asking if she would be the nurturing mom  she is and be Busters Fairy Goddog during the day.

"You want me to do what?"

She looked at me with her big brown eyes, then at Buster and sighed, loudly. They are friends, not best friends. Returning home, she always greets with great enthusiasm. She rushed to the room Buster had stayed or gone. That's my girl! Job well done!

Over the years, we have learned from each other. Dogs know a fur-ever home. Love is patient, Love is Kind. Amen.

A good week to you friends. In our current weather, keep an eye out for those in need of help and help where you can.

Spring snow...

...has left us shoveling, no matter which way we throw it, it quickly finds its way back into our face. Fortunately the winds have allowed us to be outside in intervals letting the dogs chase birds and with a little digging a field mouse. Carlee has the nose of a hunter and she produced her find. Not spotting until they just wouldn't leave a spot alone, I jumped, it died most likely from fear and frozen tundra. Normally we bury, but he was scooped up and flung into the prairie grass.

The neighbor dogs were buried, snow was blown into their kennel, we waited for barking. A sigh of relief as we heard barking this morning and eventually an area was dug out for them. The dogs with their spring cuts shiver in the house, we dry them up with large towels, a quick hug before they scramble away into warm beds.

This is the surprise for the newborn lambs, calves, goats etc and in hopes they receive help from the shelter of a barn. Granted this will blow over, it will melt in due time, but to be born into this world at this time is difficult. Imagine being in these chilly temperatures for 4-5 days, how long would we last?
Prayers to those that have long days helping their animals, warmth for all and life win out!

Stay safe friends.

Happy 1st day of Spring!

Spring has always been a favorite of mine, a renewal or rebirth from Winter. Friends and family are calving, soon the pastures will be filled with wobbly legs, hungry tummy's and frolicking with each other. I await for all field babies to appear. When out on rides, I point out newbies to my crew, smile at their antics and yes, still keeping our eyes on the road.

First day of Spring also brings emotion, my Mom passed away several years ago the first day of Spring. The Lord works in wonderous ways, I keep her close always, so remembering both are comfort and joy. She loved the warmth of the sun, the field babies and babies in general. Church was always a passing of babies to Clara, church rarely had crying babies. Patient, kind, loving and caring. Just a few things that come to mind.

We anxiously await to work on our "todo" list inside and out. We're looking at new backsplash ideas using vinyl flooring. I know, who knew?! It's time for contrast from all the woodwork in our home and I look forward to new ideas and creations. Our first outdoor project will be pulling up our brick sidewalk and reworking the brick work, hoping with frost coming out of the ground the area will be easier to work with. That's the hope.

Baths and Spring cuts are half done, Carlee so cute in her haircut, was spotted rolling and scratching her back in the dirt yesterday, not the first as she is a dust bunny again.  Buster is due for his trim/bath on Monday, in time for snow on the ground.  So today we celebrate the season, compassion, friendships, love of Easter and the warmth of the sun. We wish you a blessing of Spring today and enjoy each day with something new.
Take care friends.

Lonesome dove...

Outside is Buster's favorite and this morning something caught his attention. He walked out from under the stairs and gingerly walked across the snow inching and stopping, inching and stopping. The hunter instinct was still in him, then I saw his target, a dove. He quickly charged and the dove flew up to rest on a fence post. He lost interest and wandered back to his stoop but kept an eye on the bird. I let her rest, she may have stopped from a flight. I knew as soon as the door opened, she would take flight and she did.

Buster isn't our hunter, he befriends everything. Carlee on the other hand, is the hunter and had the roles been reversed this morning, the dove would have had a run for her money. We plant several birds throughout Summer.

We made a Valentine delivery yesterday to Bliss and replenished their wicker basket of Bab's treats. A charming store with glistening rings, earrings and handmade doll clothes for doll lovers, they also have fun wooden signs they create. We kept some seasonal shapes at home, preparing for Spring and fairs before market.

The sun shines, the winds have gone down and the eaves are running. We redirected water yesterday away from the house, if we hadn't we would have a pool, best to water the grass out past our fence and onto the prairie. While that was in progress, Buster spotted something brown, some distance away, trudging through deep snow and a buster pushing close behind. Neighbor dogs out for an adventure, whistling they both looked, with the look of  "caught". The brown Daschund always the fearful barker and his sidekick Rocky, a Westie,  the ever happy to come when called. Two more to keep a look over as there was blood on the tips of Rocky's ears. Sigh.

We'll enjoy the warmth of the sun today, in hopes you are able to do the same. Enjoy your week friends.

Twelve...

much younger than 84, but it's how old Buster turned this week. I don't have a current picture of him to post, but I do have a picture in my mind that our friend and Vet painted for us during his annual exam. As always I have questions and in turn she has answers. His eyes have cataracts and floaters. His teeth have some tartar build up and will need some work to keep his good health to better and  we've changed out pills to drops. All in all, he's doing pretty good. We will continue with our daily routine without much change. As he's gotten older he appreciates the warm hugs, whispers in his ears, greetings and scratching of ears and tummy.

Our prairie looking past happy hairy!

Today he and I walked to the mailbox to pick up the weekend mail and he wandered through the tall prairie grass, we ended taking the long way home, but it's only in dormant Winter time that we walk to the barbed fence where horses once greeted us. He poked his nose in holes that are sleeping and watered scat from animals that wander through and rest. He takes his time smelling, I remind him to pee on it so we can move on. He comply's and walks gingerly on the frosted foliage. He picked up only a few sand burrs and one he let me yank out from the soft of his paw. I see a few others he has chewed out and left on the floor for me to pick up before we crunch into carpet with slippered feet. He lays close by and snores. He's always snored, a comforting sound.

It'll be a quiet day today, yesterday we baked Love and Spring shapes for customers that enjoy just "shapes" of treats for their "loves". They'll dry over the next several days and most will be taken to Bliss, a storefront shop in Pierre that asked if we wouldn't place our treats in their shop. A convenience for customers and they discover more when walking through. A win for all of us. The sun has finally come out, it'll be a nap in the sun today surrounded by fur I'm sure. Just the way we like it here. Home. Family. Loves life.

Take care friends, have a great week!

Friends and more friends...

Christmas 2012

With Christmas over, our year has gotten busier than usual. It's best, after all we are home baking, warming our home while the brrr remains outside. With hot water brewing, our baking routine quickly returns. From making the dough, rolling, cutting individual treats and baking.

A few friends.

Buster lays on the red rug in front of the oven. The same spot he chose when he came home. He is 12 today, you wouldn't guess it,  we've changed out his food to help with his joints last Summer. World of difference, like he is 6 again! My boy. With much love.

Over Christmas we grabbed our Santa hat and ho, ho, hoped to see our critters at the door for their treats. Some were hung on tree's, some on cupboard knobs and some packaged in a box under the tree. Our reminder was to simply give the treats when packages were opened. Dogs are not just dogs, but parts of family, most eat in our kitchens, some sleep in our beds, many ride with us, lay on the bathroom rug while we get ready for work and sit and wait for our return as we leave for the day. Family.

Ready to go

Our ornaments appeared a few years ago when a Dad asked if we could do something special for his Polly for Christmas. We have all sorts of seasonal cutters, but the large bone worked best to make them "theirs". Polly's Dad was pleased, supposedly, so was Polly. For the customers of dogs that we know, over 60 were made this year, shipped and delivered. In hopes that our bubble-wrap, padded envelopes or small boxes keep the treats safe on their trip across country, we've haven't heard otherwise.

On that positive note, we hope you are well, healthy, wiser into this new year and warm in your homes. Help those that call for your help if only to direct them to those that can help more.
Have a great week friends!