Wish List Wednesdays: Pendleton Mookaite Three-Strand Necklace

Autumnal items are beginning to make an appearance in catalogs and online.  Autumn is my favorite season, both in terms of weather and color palette, so I couldn't be happier!  The Mookaite Three-Strand Necklace ($165) from Pendleton has Australian jasper stones in fall shades at a comfortable 20-inch length, and would be the perfect accessory for the season.  It is versatile enough to complement almost any look, from casual to classy.  If I could only wear one piece of jewelry for fall,  this necklace would be it!

On the Homefront: Bugs (1982-2015)

Yesterday I had to put my wonderful old Appaloosa gelding down.  He was 33 years old, and since last fall his health had been declining.  He managed to get through the winter, but in early spring he had a badly abscessed foot that required much effort from both of us to heal.  Once again he rallied, and seemed to be doing well over the summer, but I noticed that he was having a harder time getting up when he laid down.  His back was rather long, and had been getting weaker over the years, but this year it seemed much worse.  A little over a week ago he got cast in his stall and cut himself up pretty badly.  HIs hind leg lameness also became worse, especially in the left hind leg, and it became even harder for him to lie down and get back up.  Last Sunday he had another episode where he struggled to get up, and yesterday the same thing happened, only much worse.  After over an hour, and with my help, he managed to get up once again, only to stumble and fall about 10 minutes later.  The vet had arrived by then and we had to make the decision to let him go, as once a horse can no longer get up it will deteriorate rapidly.  His will to survive was still so strong even at the end, but it would have been cruel to let him keep struggling like that, and so I had to say good-bye to this wonderful horse.

My Bugs was such an amazing boy.  I got him as the horse I could let anyone ride, and he did not let me down.  He was careful and considerate of novice riders, but would come alive for more advanced riders, full of energy and ready to move out.  He rarely spooked, and never with a rider aboard.  He was such a calm and laid-back fellow that it was a pleasure to just sit in the barn with him and watch him while he ate.  On occasions when I was feeling overly stressed I would sometimes do just that, and he never failed to bring me back to a calm state.  As he got older he needed more medical care, but never fussed about oral medications or injections.  He always seemed to know that I was only trying to help him, and he trusted me completely.  He dealt with pain stoically and had a remarkable ability to bounce back from so many ailments, from lameness to inflammatory bowel disease and even a couple of small tumors.

When he developed inflammatory bowel disease in 2003 I was told he would not live long, but he still managed to survive for twelve more years (most horses don't live much longer than two more years).  Unfortunately, there was not much we could do about his back issue except try to keep the pain and inflammation to a minimum with medication as it progressed.  Were it not for his back, he probably could have gone on for years.  I will miss my sweet boy, but I know it was his time, and he is together again with my old mare, his buddy from Colorado, both of them now pain free forever.

I will take next week off from blogging as I mourn my beloved Bugs, and will return the following week.
             

Foodie Fridays: Watermelon, Feta, and Kalamata Olive Salad

From Nigella.com

Emboldened by the success of my salad with strawberries last week, I decided to try another savory fruit-based salad recipe that intrigued me, namely Nigella Lawson's Watermelon, Feta, and Black Olive Salad.  This one was more problematic, as I have never really liked watermelon.  Nevertheless, I found the combination of ingredients so unique that I felt I had to give it a chance.  I have to say that I am glad I did!  This is now about the only way that I will eat watermelon.

Like strawberries, the sweetness of watermelon can be variable, but in this salad it doesn't really matter, as the other ingredients will enhance its flavor whether it is sweet or not.  Our local grocery stores carry pre-cut watermelon chunks, and I bought a quart-size container rather than a whole melon since I did not want to have leftover fruit after making the salad.  I am not fond of mint, so next time I think I will leave it out and possibly increase the basil instead.  I will also leave out the black pepper, as it often makes me choke and I did not notice that it enhanced the flavor of the dish at all.  This is a very quick, easy, refreshing salad that is perfect for the hot summer days we have been having lately, even for those of us who don't normally care for watermelon!

Watermelon, Feta, And Kalamata Olive Salad

1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 limes
2-3 C. watermelon chunks (triangular-shaped if possible)
4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled or cut into triangular chunks
1/2 bunch parsley
2 T. chopped fresh mint
2 T. julienned basil leaves
2 T. olive oil
1/3 C. Kalamata olives, halved and pitted
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Place the sliced onion in a small bowl and add the juice of the two limes. Set aside for 15-20 minutes until the onion becomes translucent and the lime juice turns pink.

Combine the watermelon and feta chunks in a large bowl.  Tear the parsley into small leaflets and add with the mint and basil.  Top with the onions and lime juice.  Add the oil and olives and toss the mixture gently until the salad is thoroughly mixed.  Grind on some black pepper and serve.  Serves 4.

This 'n That Thursdays: New Favorite Products for Dogs

So deceptively innocent-looking!

Getting a new dog always takes some adjustment time, and the arrival of Maddie in our household is no exception.  While she is a very sweet and loving girl, she is also completely untrained.  We are working on her issues, and I have found a few new products that make this transition time a little bit easier on all of us.  One of my favorite finds was very inexpensive and came from our local Walmart:

This ceramic pet bowl is wide, shallow, and hefty, which means it is unlikely to tip over.  It also has a slightly curved edge inside that makes it easier for dogs to get at the food (I have bought far too many dog bowls over the years that are so tall, narrow, and/or sharply angled inside that my dogs had a hard time eating out of them).  Unfortunately, this bowl is no longer available online, but your local store may still have some.  They are relatively inexpensive (less than $10, probably closer to $8 as I recall) and come in two sizes (for my 30- and 45-pound dogs I got the larger size with the 7-inch diameter and 2.5-inch height).  There were also four different color choices (white, blue, orange, and taupe), so if you are lucky you may even be able to find one in a favorite color!

From Affordable Pet Supply

To keep Maddie occupied requires a lot of toys!  If I really need her to stay quietly in one place, the best option I have found is a treat called the Himalayan Dog Chew.  They are not cheap (normally $8 each for the medium size at our local pet store, but I got mine on sale for $6 each) but dogs love them and you can make them last longer by limiting the amount of time your dogs get to chew on them.  They are made of yak milk, of all things, and are very hard, but a young and determined dog can finish one off in a few days if allowed.  That is way too much cheese, so it really is best to supervise and restrict chewing time!  I am thinking of ordering another chew option from this company called Ruff Roots.  They really are root tubers and they do not shatter like bones or wood, but break down into soft fibers.  These toys are supposedly extremely durable and great for keeping teeth clean, so I think they are worth a try.

One other item that is invaluable with an unreliably housebroken dog is a pet gate or barrier, and by far the best I have found is the Richell USA Elite 6 Panel Convertible Pet Gate (they were slightly less expensive on Amazon, but were out of stock, so I got mine online from Walmart for a little over $200).  There are so many options for configuring this gate, and the panels are easily added or removed to vary the size (you can even buy extra panels!).  The barrier is sturdy but not overly heavy, and the gate section is very easy to use.  My husband thought the locking mechanism for the gate was not dog-proof enough, so I added a little bungee cord to help hold it shut more securely.  There is also no way to attach the gate to a wall, but I read a comment from one customer who just used small hooks and eyes that worked perfectly for this purpose.  Otherwise I have never found a pet gate that is so versatile and easy to use like this one, and I heartily recommend it to anyone who needs to keep dogs away from certain areas.

I am sure that some day Maddie will mature into the perfect dog just like Ruby did, but until then a few gadgets that make life easier are greatly appreciated!

Such a perfect pup!

           

Wish List Wednesdays: Cawley Beverage Station

As far as I am concerned, the galvanized steel Cawley Beverage Station ($101) from Birch Lane is pure genius!  There are three sections for storing all of your party beverages.  The basin on top can be filled with ice for beer and soft drinks, the wine rack in the middle holds six bottles, and the shelf at the bottom can hold mixers and/or liquor bottles.  Complete the station with the matching ice bucket ($24.99) and serving tray ($25), and your party time beverage service is practically worry-free.  For a slightly higher price, the basin, ice bucket, and tray also come in a lovely copper finish, so you can choose the finish that suits your décor and party on in style!

             

Foodie Fridays: Chicken, Queso Fresco, and Strawberry Salad

Earlier in the summer, ads for Wendy's Strawberry Fields Chicken Salad were everywhere.  One of my favorite bloggers at Olla-Podrida even posted her version of this summery salad.  I checked out the Wendy's website and found that the ingredients were fairly simple and accessible, so I decided to try making my own variation.  I am not a big fan of fruits in savory dishes, but, surprisingly, the strawberries were excellent in the salad.  In fact, I would even say I prefer them to tomatoes, which is something I never would have dreamed would be the case!

Fresh strawberries are often very tart, so much so that sometimes the only way to make them edible is by macerating them in sugar first.  Their tartness makes them perfect for this salad, though, as the balsamic dressing has just enough sweetness to complement the berries.  I left out the bacon in my salad, but bacon lovers may prefer to leave it in.  Try making your own version of this salad and see what you think -- you may never go back to tomatoes again!

Chicken, Queso Fresco, and Strawberry Salad

Salad greens (I used baby butter lettuce)
2 T. balsamic vinaigrette*
1/2 C. diced chicken
2 T. crumbled queso fresco**
1-2 T. chopped pecans (or roasted sunflower seeds or pepitas)
5-6 medium strawberries, quartered

Place the salad greens in a shallow bowl.  Toss with 1 T. of the dressing.  Layer on the remaining ingredients, top with the remaining dressing, and serve.  Serves 1.

*I used Marzetti Simply Dressed Light Balsamic Vinaigrette

**The original salad is made with blue cheese, which you can substitute if you like.  Feta, goat cheese, or even fresh mozzarella would likely also work.
             

This 'n That Thursdays: Organization Art

From Things Organized Neatly

I am one of those people who suffers from a slight case of OCD.  Not enough to render me dysfunctional, but enough to make me uncomfortable in the presence of disorder and chaos (and I live with a dedicated hoarder, so you can just imagine my pain!).  Recently I discovered the wonderful world of organization art, which is truly a delight for someone like me (I had to change the name of this category slightly, because if you try to Google the original name, trust me, you will end up seeing some images you will fervently wish you could un-see!).

Photographer Emily Blincoe has compiled a collection of works based on objects she has meticulously arranged in a visually pleasing way.  All of the objects are everyday items easily found around the house, but her arrangements have elevated them to artistic status.  Take a look at some of her works, and if you too suffer from mild OCD be prepared to bask in a feeling of blissful calm:

Another example of organization art can be found in a book by Ursus Wehrli called The Art of Cleanup: Life Made Neat and Tidy (2013).  This work is a collection of before and after images showing disorder rearranged into various degrees of order, as shown in the examples below (I really am going to have to buy his book):

If you just can't get enough of organization art, check out the archives from the blog Things Organized Neatly, curated by Austin Radcliffe, who has been quoted as saying "Precision is beauty".  Amen to that!

From Things Organized Neatly