Sweet, Handsome, and Old Mr. T

T-bone is a good ole' boy.  He wouldn't hurt a fly.

He lives for treats........ and scratches behind the ears.

It scares me that he is getting up there in years.  

I notice that he doesn't move as quick (not that he was ever quick).

I notice grey hairs on his muzzle.

I notice that he is sore after laying down for a period of time.

Sniff....... sniff........

As much as I complain about his slobbers, I sure do love this old man.

Doggie Duds

T-bone is a good sport.

He's patient with 9 year old girls who love to play dress-up.

He sucks up every ounce of his integrity.

He is such a good dog.

Pond Critters

Last Fall we noticed that our cat-tails were disappearing.  Strangely enough, a tidy den of cat-tail reeds was being built beside where they once stood.  Upon further inspection, we concluded that it was a muskrat den.

Muskrats are nasty vamits.

Muskrats are large rats with tails.

We have noticed them swimming in the pond this week.  From a distance, of course.  

Please note that I said "them".

There are two rodents!  To protect the privacy of those accused, I will call them "Chip and Dale".  However,  I bet that Chip is really "Chip-ette".

Sooooo, I had the bright idea to sneak down to the pond (camera in hand) to snap a few pictures. 

Since T-bone is my protector, I asked if he would tag along.

 

Me: "T-bone, I'm going to the pond.  It may be dangerous.  I need a protector.  Will you go?

Me: "Plllleeeassseee T-bone, will you go?  I would feel much better having you there with me.  Muskrats have large teeth, and wild claws.  I'm certain this is going to be a dangerous journey. 

 

 Me: "T-Bone, you are not a very good protector"!

Congo said he didn't want to go either.  Someday I will have a pet that will be a loyal and fearless companion.  

 

So I begin my short trek to the pond.  I noticed that I am surprisingly stealthy.

I am very close now.  This photo shows some of the very few cat-tails that remain near our pond.  

I begin seeing evidence of our little rodent.

More evidence.........

Then, out of the nowhere, Chip appears.

He emerges out of the water, but soon discovers his stalker.

Then as quickly as he appeared, he disappeared.  I saturated my backside while sitting quietly on the bank, hoping that he would return.  However my patience is short.  After 20 minutes I decided to do a walk-around.

No Chip.......... no Dale!

No T-Bone............. no Congo!

THE END

p.s.

This is a muskrat home.  This isn't Chip (ette) or Dale's Home.  I found this in Wikipedia.  

3 posts in 1

Because my mind flitters from here to there in less than .05 seconds, I am combining several topics into one post.  I'm doing this mostly because I'm lazy, and that's how I roll!

 It's been frigid outside this week.  And since I have a soft spot for T-bone, I've been letting him inside off and on.  He has enjoyed the spoiling and makes himself at home.  Smack dab in the middle of my kitchen work space!  Sorry about the distasteful camera angle in the above photo.  I tried to edit it, but finally decided......... IT IS WHAT IT IS!!!

  There is no chance of working with this road block.  Especially when Gus decided that he didn't like T-bone getting all the camera shots.

 So, Gus stood on T-bone's gut until he got up.  That was the end of that!  

switch of subject matter warning:

Tuesday was Ian's holiday concert.  I must confess that he was NOT thrilled by the idea!  He wasn't thrilled that he had to wear his Dad's pants....... shoes........ and socks.  He was especially NOT thrilled when I told him he MUST tuck in his shirt!  It wasn't an option!  

My...my..my!  Ian, you look so much like your Daddy, it scares me!  

This is how Ryan entertained himself during the program.  

The last switch of subject matter:

The 16th of December.......... WOW!

It seems so cliche' to say, "How time flies?".  I guess that it is said for a reason, time DOES fly by.

I'm still trying to understand how I can be in my middle 30's 20's.  (he he)

It was yesterday that my children were born.

I look in the mirror and see creases that weren't there the other day.  (thank goodness Rick is going to a botox seminar in Feb.)

Either way, here we are,  December of 2010.  Smack dab in the center of another Christmas season.  The words hustle and bustle seem too fun.  I wonder what people would say if I shouted, "I'm in the lunacy and craziness of Christmas!", instead of hustle and bustle.  After all, I looked up the definition of bustle and it says, "briskly energetic activity".  Who the heck is energetic?  I'm not even close.  Then I went out on a limb and looked up hustle.  It says very similarly, "to work energetically".

Nope, not me.
I'm tired (in case you're curious, the definition for tired is), 1. exhausted in strength, endurance, vigor, or [my favorite] freshness.  2. lacking in freshness or originality [as my blog readers often discover]  3. having one's patience, tolerance or pleasure exhausted [no comment].  




 Just so you don't get the wrong idea, I LOVE CHRISTMAS!  I love what it stands for!  I love being busy!

Yesterday was our annual Christmas Dessert Buffet at church.  It's our biggest meal of the year and people have come to expect an amazing spread!  In order to get everything done in time, we make several things the day before in our own kitchens.  I made the cheesecakes below.  (click on the links for recipes)

 Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

Frosted Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

I ALWAYS use a water bath for my cheesecakes.  I find this makes a moister cheesecake with no cracks.  Make sure to surround your spring-form pan in aluminum foil first.  This prevents water seeping into your pan.

Many of our desserts came from the TASTE OF HOME Cheesecakes and More magazine.  You can purchase yours at most retail stores or here.  

 There it is!  3 posts in 1.  Didn't think it could be done, did ya?  Doubted my ability, didn't ya?  Don't really care, do ya?  (he he)

We Love You Too T

 Sometimes I think Mr. T gets jealous of the attention we slather on Gus.  So, I shall devote an entire post to him.

 T-bone LOVES being around us (even if he is in the way).  I give him a treat every time Gus goes potty.  This is his reward for not taking Gus to the pond for a soak.  We have a unwritten rule.

NO POND = TREATS

POND = NO TREATS

Sometimes the urge to rebel is greater than the reward not to.  So....... they disobey........ and go soak!!!

T-bone ALWAYS knows when you are disappointed in him.  He sulks!!!  His face nearly falls to his paws!!!

Gus, on the other hand, doesn't care.  He has sin in his heart.... and NO desire to repent!

As I'm writing this, I'm thinking, why is Gus the favorite?

Oh yeah, I remember why.  T-bone slobbers, Gus doesn't.

I do love you T-bone.

1.  I love when you aren't wiping your drool all over my leg.

2.  I love when you race my car down the driveway.

3.  I love that you quit every time I pass you.  You're just like the monkeys, you'll play as long as you win.

4.  I love that you scare salesman away.

5.  I love that you wouldn't hurt them if your life depended on it.  

6.  I love that you would hurt them if they hurt your family.

7.  I love that you sleep on the steps in the garage.  You don't feel the need to move when we walk out of it.  So........... we step over you.

8.  I love that you wear a man's belt for a collar.

9.  I love that I don't have to bathe you when you get in the pond.

10. I love that you are afraid of thunderstorms, Congo the cat, and gun-shot.  (I don't love that you're afraid, it just seems funny that you are)