Merry Christmas friends

Our elves have been busy hanging out around the oven the last week, waiting for human treat morsels to fall. We stopped shopping years ago, all our presents are baked in our oven or stove top for siblings. One size fits all. They can certainly exchange with each other, but no returns!

Caramels.

Mom's morsels are tasted in the making, packaged and sent, carried by postal sleighs landing Christmas Eve. From savory to sweet, more to make and why dog treat baking is taking a backseat until January 2015.

Flom Kuchen

We are happy that our paths have crossed this past year, we love your dogs and happy to meet them. Blessings to you and your family now and into the New Year!

As always, help those that cross your path that need extra help and we will continue to do the same. Take care friends and we hope to see or hear from you soon.

Fall back...

Fall back only in changing time on your clocks. Where did the Summer go? Rounding the corner is Thanksgiving and soon Christmas. We don't wish our days away, but we look forward to Spring already. The first blast of Canadian air has overstayed it's welcome. This is January weather, maybe, just maybe our January will bring us November temperatures. It is in the power of prayer, but we all need to participate.

November 11, 2014 - Snow fox

Our crew has enjoyed the snow, but ready to come into the warmth of home. We work hard at continued good health. Playful pups they will always be and good sleepers at night. With the shorter days they eye the door as a friendly face appears in the window at afternoon's end.

Carlee has hearing like a hawk, swooped off the bed with a bark sitting in front of the door recently. Buster ran to the door, looking through the window, "Let me through, let me through." I told the man to "wait there", when getting shoes on and outside, he had left. The crew bounded out the door to check on the 'situation'. Unfound.

Oct. 28, 2014 - Lunch crew.

We will soon be done with Fall fairs, looking forward to reading a pile of books that has grown and relaxing in chair's under blankets and dogs with no need to travel.  We already gather new recipes for 'human treats' for the 2015 farmer's market. Welcoming the warmth of home, we wish you and your critters blessings of warmth and good health. We also ask that you help those that cross your path in need of help. We continue to do the same.

Take care and enjoy your week.

Puganese

Found...Puganese

It's a first for us to hear this mix breed. She's beautiful and full of life except when she wouldn't move from the middle lane (my lane) of a busy street. Honked and stopped. Couldn't leave her, offered help and with her trust, we tooled down the road. Her tie out had broken. She was curious enough to explore, where she could see best.

Without a phone (did I hear a gasp), we headed to a local radio station. They place lost and missing animal information on the air. No charge.  She enjoyed the attention of all that stopped to visit with her.

She was promptly given water and food. Offering a treat, she automatically did cute tricks. She was someone's family pet, but she had no tags. For the cost of those tags, use them, attach them to the metal loop on the collar and ID tag or info on the back of the rabies tag (name and ph#) is helpful.

1

Cool gal

For the 80 degree unusual October day, the shade and cool of the sidewalk and grass were welcomed. We are always willing to help those that are in need.

She is home and we hope her new tie out is new and that she is well-loved as an indoor dog. Blessed to be in the right place at the right time. Just long enough to become attached, but the goal is always to help find their way back home.

Enjoy your week friends. Help where you are needed. We will continue to do the same.

Dog tired.

Pumpkin toasted pecan w/ maple

Small bed, three bodies, plenty of room. Sister spent time in our home the past few days. The kids and I pitched camp in the living room. He in crook of an arm and she at a knee. No better sleep than surround warmth tucked in with a bit of love.

Eye spy

Baking rolls for last of the farmer's market weekends. Our home smelled like Mom's kitchen early, early Saturday morning. Baked Pumpkin Pecan Cinnamon Rolls w/ Maple Icing. Sound good don't they, well, they were. We bagged, tagged and was good to have an extra set of helping hands.

Pleasant evening with friends and legends on a music disc of duets of various artists, dinner music to pleasant conversation, laughter and savory comfort foods. Just a bunch of girls.

Full of  licker for yogurt

Savoring last licks of Sunday morning breakfast from a yogurt cup. Time ticks quickly away as our weekend wraps up, getting back to sleeping dogs and working in the cool of the day.  Our baking schedule will continue tomorrow, a nap is in the near future. North winds have picked up and Buster is ready to head outside for a looksee.

Enjoy your weekend friends, love your critters, every day is extra treat day. Happy Thanksgiving to our friends to the North. Love wonderment, good music, friends and family.

Safe travels and take watch for those that cross your path that may need a little extra help and we will continue to do the same.

August...where did it go?!

Summer is slowly disappearing and we still have much to do in and around our home. Labor Day weekend plus a few extra days, we escaped from the world. Short list of "need to get done in two days" was whittled from the bigger list. Life as we know it, is good. Outside is our favorite. Cool Summer breeze have the dogs standing into the wind smelling the best air, eyes closed, hair straight back. Ruff life and good.

Dear Ragamuffin

Our ragamuffin turned 10 years in July 2014. You wouldn't know it. She is spry, full of energy and wakes with springs in her feet. But she's ours and we continue to be thankful that she chose us so many years ago.

Buster

Now that September has snuck in, we have pulled on the flannel sheets, switched our fans and even kicked in the heat to take off the chill.

This weekend we'll be baking dog treats so we can return to the farmer's market on September 20, 2014. Working on our human treat, taking samples to friends tomorrow.

Until then, time has run out on us today. Buster snores and Carlee is most likely curled up on a pillow, not hers.  Enjoy your week friends. Help those that cross your path needing extra help. We continue to do the same.

Home

Home. Family.

Always a love for dogs. Strangers. Travelers of miles, unlikely to meet, until they came home. Blessed.

Please help those that cross your path. We will do the same.

Have a great week friends.
Stay cool and your critters too.

It just so happens...

we did have a small dog visit our home late July 4th about 2am. Thoughts raced, where was our kennel? How would we catch in the middle of the night? Would he/she come to us? Did he smell our dogs? Was the dog a visitor of neighbors? Then prayed the dog would lie down near tall grass and wait til day break. Then we heard nothing. Prayers were with this little friend that had called for help. Rest was depleted.
Fireworks were plentiful and all creatures were looking for a place of safety. Ground shook from the big BOOMS of the display. Imagine fear.

Big boom display from our home

Up at 6am as usual, we were out looking and listening for our early greeter. With a soft whistle we heard a bark. Third time was the charm asking him to come to us...he did. Out from a neighboring pasture of tall prairie grass walked a small dog about Busters size (Westie). Walking and softly talking towards him with food and water, phone ready to call the owner. Hearing no tags, he saw me, he walked through the neighbors yard and headed up the hill. I didn't take chase, the dog knew us for a bit of comfort, but fear was evident, after all the dog didn't know us. Contacting neighbors about the dog, giving description. Unable to photograph, a description was necessary turning to an online "group" through Facebook. Baking dog treats, often going out calling for the dog. The heat was horrible, placing cool water out under a shade tree, in hopes that the dog would return.

Checking our post often, we got a hit about 4:30pm. The dog, if it was the same one, had been running for two days, just 3 hours after the dog was placed in a local kennel, fireworks scared the dog and off he took. He's from Iowa and could I call a family at a location. We did, they were just down the road and at our home in minutes. Showing them the path taken early morn, I had gone in for a container of cool water and found them calling for their dog atop the hill. When the dogs girl called again did I spot a bobbing head running through the tall grass. Disbelief crossed their faces. Water given, happily drained by a very thirsty pup. The dog father said he didn't have tags on, but the leash was still with him. He had run for several miles, across a busy highway, not getting caught, that we know of,  from the loop of the leash. His name is Ledger. Family united. Offer of thanks and hugs, dog hopped in the van and stayed. He wasn't going anywhere but home.

Devastating as it could have been, someone is always watching over us. Heart lifted, we choose to help and someone connected. Blessed all around.

Have a great week, help those that come looking, from phone call to dish of cool water. Lets get these critters to safety. Thanks.

Our recipes...

...were created in our kitchen in early 2007. People ask if we really do bake our own. Yes, we do! We bake for the greater good of our dogs and yours! Health of our dogs is important, best quality of life we can give them. We did the leg work of getting approval of the SD Department of Agriculture and nutrition label through a South Dakota laboratory testing our ingredients.

Eat treat is hand cut.

Each popped out of the cutter.

Carefully placed in palm.

Placing each treat on the cookie sheet.



We  researched our ingredients. Using only the best ingredients
 with the fewest ingredients. We've said it before. Our dogs are worth it, we think yours
are too!  Our treats really are, made with Love.

Farmer's market popping up soon

Capital City Farmers' Market opens on Saturday, May 24, 2014 with new hours of 9am-noon. A variety of vendors will be setting up tent tops, unfolding tables covering them with an array of new ideas waiting to catch your eyes. First market is exciting for everyone!

Waiting to be potted and ready to travel.

Bab's Bites 'n Bones will begin the market on Saturday, May 31st. With Memorial Day being early, we pack potted flowers and tool down the highway to meet up with family. Time really does fly, 30 years is a lifetime. We pack lunch, pots of flowers, water and bricks. Flowers are carried to various graves, from cousins, great grands, grands, aunts, uncle's that fought in WWII and parents.

As usual our home has been busy, baking treats, delivering and taking Spring shapes to a store in town. A convenience for those just wanting to stop and shop for other wonderful items and picking up a bag or two of dog treats. Store owners tell us how their dogs "love your treats!" Always heart-warming to hear. We must be doing something right, established in 2007.  It's the great dogs and their people that get to know our treats and us as humans, making natural, healthy treats. We display ingredients and a nutrition label on each bag. We believe in the wholesomeness of our products. Know what you are treating your dog, ask what's in them if not labeled. Your dog might have an allergy.

We have new items that will be shared at the market from dog treats to human treats. We often bake fresh rolls early Saturday morning, come early, they are a limited edition!

Enjoy Spring and as always, help those that cross your path looking for their family, fresh water or simply need help. We continue to do the same. Take care friends.

Ready to roll!

Spring Zonta fair is our bump into Spring and rolls us into what lies ahead in May, the Capital City Farmers' Market. It really is the place to be on Saturday mornings, downtown Pierre. Going on the 6th year, great vendors that love to talk about their product. All local, they get their hands dirty and grow the best tasting produce. First few weekends get everyone started with starter plants to feed your gardens, dog treats to feed your dogs and wonderful baked goods to feed you and those that came along for the ride.

Until then, the dogs are enjoying the first taste on sweet blades of green grass that has sprouted. We have walked prairie and picked up some sticky critters including sand burrs and prairie cactus. Jack, our little red buggy, has been dusted off and zipped into Spring. Buster can still jump up and in without help and loves windshield time greeting everyone!

Crew of two

Our crew of two has aged or will age another year, he has slowed, she wakes with a bounce. A little like Pooh Bear and Tigger. Love animation, we have much in our home, dogs are good entertainment. If you don't have one and want one, we can put you in touch with local rescue's, humane society and for a small price (because no animal is every free of cost) a fuzzy critter that is looking for a loving home. Family.

Don't know where the weekend has gone, but we wish you a great week! Help those that cross your path that need a little extra help. We do the same.

Take care friends.

Kennel up...

our dogs haven't ever like the enclosed space of a kennel. Afraid and they let you know it. They may have had no choice in their early lives, but our home isn't like other homes. Carlee doesn't like tight spots and rarely goes through a door half open. Each needed potty training when they came here, 3 months to the day of arrival. Zip forward six years. Several months ago this human heart felt love for another dog, white with brown ears. Discouraged by several people, we made a few changes. Respect others and they will respect you. The Golden Rule. We made changes that worked better for us.

March 15th the dogs hopped into Eli and we were on our way to meet a little white dog. Deep fear with the little girl, pretty white teeth that snarled with a growly voice attached. Carlee returned the bark and Buster wanted nothing to do with it. Her Mom talked, this one listened. My head said no way, the heart said yes. After 45 minutes, we were all shivering. Carlee and this little girl began to play a little. Buster greets with nose in face and by mid-day had an owie. His ego deflated. Hugs, talking softly, helps most everything.

Little white dog.

Her Mom had a few tears and see you soon good-bye leaving her in the house. After a few minutes, she was let outside and searched everywhere for her Mom. She had a sad day, stuck close and her leash was stepped on occasion for a reason. Her Mom, gave all commands she knows and "kennel up" for bed. Holding two treats I said, "Kennel up" she saw the treats and in she went. Curling the leash up inside, the door was closed, lights off, prayer and sleep came quick for everyone. Kennel up works great, keeping her kenneled keeps her safe and gives ease to the other two.

A new day, up at 6:00am, sent the kids out and our friend was ready to come out and stretch. Greetings exchanged, doing more routine things and waiting for the sun to come back out. The recliner gave boost to our friend for a sit and lookout spot. Time.

Have a good week friends. Help those that cross your path that need extra help. Stay warm, meet new friends and love the ones you have, somehow it works, even for awhile to help out.

Early Spring mud...

that's what we walked in and through today. We took advantage of this early Spring weather day, Jack, who turned 18 years old on January 12th was itching to hit the highway. Tires looked a little low but after adding a little juice to his gas tank and a 10 minute warm-up, he was ready and so were we.

Windows 1/2 down, tooling down the highway, Buster greeted everyone that passed by (it's his favorite!). We walked from pavement to prairie, following deer paths where he rolled onto his back half expecting the ground to move for him. Deer scat is sure to be one of several black spots brought home. Hills were walked, water ran creating small streams and lovely mud, splashed and walked through. Carlee tried her best to stalk several robins landing to far away.

Dog tired.

Several hours had passed, he had slowed, us girls too. We stopped several times looking at our view, smelling fresh air and knowing Jack wasn't far. Shoes and feet were wet and muddy leaving behind clumpy footprints. Buster didn't make a sound all the way home, she quietly watched through the windshield and eventually collapsed on the co-pilot seat.

Needs assurance, okay to nap.

From the driveway, they spotted a pickup with a little white dog inside and their energy was quickly replenished but as day turned night, harnesses off, supper had, two small balls of fur on separate beds are curled up and asleep. Always on the first day out we walk to far, scents to smell, places to roll in and mark. It's all new again. We may be a bit stiff tomorrow, but we'll be back out on another patch of prairie with as much mud and Spring to bring home and leave perfect paw prints on our needing to be cleaned wood floors. Spring, we made it and we couldn't be happier.

Have a great week friends, enjoy the warmth of the sun, longer days and more time with your favorite furry family members. As always, help those that cross your path that need a little help, some days, we can all use a little extra.

Spring clean...

We got a small jump on Winter and then it reared its head and said no, but we went ahead anyway. Our prairie does us well in Winter creating the first prints in the snow.

We were given little notice, but we completely understand the decision made. Our groomer is taking time off and caring for an elderly parent. Many children, now grown adults make the choice of caring for their aging parents. Transition indeed and rewarding. So with Carlee we learned of their decision and then Buster's turn was fit into the following day. From Winter to Spring, makes for quick in and out trips.

Winter coats

to Spring cuts..in February 2014!

Stay warm friends. Keep your critters well, help those that need extra help, we'll do the same.

Promoting Bab's Bites 'n Bones

We were so worried that January would be so long and now it's gone in hopes it kept the deep chill with it. The week of -25 temps was crisp. The dogs stepped out within tail's length of the door and hustled back inside. We wrapped their beds in flannel sheets and covered them with blankets. Thankful.

Afternoon nap

Today, February 1st, (Happy February 1st!) the sun made its debut and Buster wanted everything to do with outside til he shook of the ground from the chill. He LOVES outside, giving every opportunity on weekends. After all these years, we will look at investing in a doggie door. A late birthday present for him. January 21st he turned 13. He loves a warm lap, ear scratches, rides, walks, story time (we do daily) hugs and treats, of course! He LOVES our Savory Chicken treats and she LOVES both flavors.

Quick to catch dropped treats

As of recent, we have been promoting Bab's Bites 'n Bones page. We are boosting posts, getting hundred's, tipping the 1,000 mark with people looking at who we are and what we have to offer! Brings smiles and thankful words. A small monetary value has captured much attention. We are sending treats to new fur faces and their owners. It is nice to see the number of LIKES go up, with the informational content we provide about our treats that has spread the word to new eyes and shared with friends. Simply, we're tickled.

The sun has long left the sky, a new day is about to approach as we hit the midnight hour. He lays close by waiting for a warm lap that will have to wait until morning. He will sleep in the doorway of our room on a warm blanket, a spot he has chosen the last many months. Sleep well sweet prince.

Have a wonderful week, stay warm. Keep your critters warm and an eye on those that cross your path needing help. Take care friends.

Yea for longer days!

Sunrise from kitchen window Jan 01, 2014

Really, if you haven't noticed you soon will, Tuesday January 14, 2013, days will get longer on both ends. Since January 1st our days are longer by about 10 minutes. Most people go about their days not noticing. Watch at the 5 o'clock hour.

Setting Jan 01, 2014

Our deck lights have been adjusted to turn on a half hour later, 5:40pm. The last many years at time change, shorter days waiting for the return of more light has been a fascination that came from my Dad. Maybe the long days of harvest coming to a close.

Our day is coming to a close, both kids have made their beds comfortable to them from scratching to adjustments of blankets. Soft snores and typing of keys are the only sounds that fill our home and then dreaming begins.

Sweet dreams to your critters. Safe, sound and loved. Help those that cross your path that need a little extra, we continue to do our part too.
Take care friends. Watch the longer days appear.

First few days...2014

Dr. Laura at Bow Wow Meow

Can it be already? The new year snuck up on us and it's packed with things to do. Today we picked up Oglala Pet Project (OPP) Angel Tree donations at Bow Wow Meow Pet Clinic in Fort Pierre. Many dogs will have food to fill tummy's and blankets to nap and keep warm. Had it not been for the willingness of All Creatures Pet Clinic in Pierre, Bow Wow Meow and friends sharing on Facebook, this wouldn't have been possible. Many people opened their checkbooks, donated money and items to dogs they haven't met and most likely won't meet, but it's human nature to help those less fortunate. Since so many of us have dogs and cats in our care, it's only natural to comfort all. If you don't know much or anything of the Oglala Pet Project, please read about them. A handful of people do so much with little, but the attention grows stronger and people donate to help. A wonderful organization.

Jess with All Creatures (and
bags of food  behind the tree)

Blur of fur

We hope Christmas was good to you, it's not about the meal you place on the table or presents received, it's about celebration of the day. Reason for the season. Christmas Eve, each dog received treats in their stockings and a toy. St. Nick left a new pastry sheet to roll out our treats, he knew we needed a new one.

So, Happy New Year! We don't make resolutions, haven't in years. We try and do more for those less fortunate when we can and ask others to do the same. We help the strays that cross our path and thankful for each day. So, stay warm, take care and help where you can.
Enjoy your week friends.