BlogHer Conference

I've decided to do something fun for myself. I'm going to the BlogHer Conference in San Diego in August. I do a lot of technical writing for work and enjoy the outlet that keeping this blog gives me. I know I can do a better job here, and I'm looking forward to finding out ways to make this blog better. I'm not interested in doing this for a profit - just increasing my readership. I like that I don't have any ads on here now and that the content is family friendly.

I have all of my ducks in a row: airline ticket - check, hotel reservation - check, BlogHer Conference registration - check. Are any of you thinking of attending? If so, I may be willing to share my hotel room at the convention hotel. I made sure I reserved two double beds. I'm not adventurous enough to open that invitation to all of the bloggers going to the conference, but I might be willing to share with a fellow pet lover - especially one that reads my blog.

It's exciting to think that I'll be traveling for something for me for once rather than work. I'm hoping big things come out of this.

Visit to the Lucky Lab

Portland, as a whole, is pretty dog friendly, but it's still challenging to find places to go and things to do during the winter with the dog. We could take Kendall to one of the many dog parks in the area, but that means a trip to the self-serve dog wash afterward - something we don't always want to do. On Sunday we were looking for something to do to get us and Kendall out of the house. I had a haircut scheduled on the east side, so we packed up Kendall and her stuff and headed out to the Lucky Lab Brew Pub on SE Hawthorne. They have a covered area that's partially enclosed outside and it has heaters. It's a great place to go have a good beer, a bite to eat, and take your dog along during these wet winter months. Their other locations are dog friendly, too, but this is the driest and warmest of the bunch during the rainy season.

When we got there, there was only one other dog there.

I think this was Porter

Then, a big 1 yr old Saint Bernard came to join the party. His name was Griswald. You sure didn't want to be in the way of his slobber when he shook his head. He is a really sweet dog.

The dogs all got along really well.

Kendall wanted those treats up on the table

A little later a few more dogs showed up to join the party.

All in all, it was a great way to spend the afternoon.

Homebaked Dog Treats

I had to bake some cupcakes to take to a potluck dinner yesterday and decided that it was about time I made the dog treats using the mix that Kendall got for her birthday. She received a Ball jar full of all of the dry ingredients needed to make dog treats, and there was a bone-shaped cookie cutter tied on.

There was a cute dog on the lid.

The directions for baking the dog treats didn't come with it, so I winged it. I added a little bit of honey and then added water until it seemed to be the right consistency. I mixed it with my hands until it was just wet enough to hold together and be able to press out flat so I could use the cookie cutter. I put down some corn meal on the wax paper and cut out the treats. It made quite a few.

All cut out and ready to bake

 

 

I baked them in a 325 deg oven for an hour and then turned off the oven. I left the treats in there until this morning so they'd have a chance to get as dry as possible. And here they are...

I think next time I'll poke holes along the treats so that the insides will get a bit crunchier. They are kind of big for Kendall, so I'll keep my eye out for a smaller cookie cutter.

Waiting in anticipation

 

 

Kendall really liked them. They weren't too hard to make, and I like that I know what went into them.

Good to the last crumb

We ran into Ryno's parents at the potluck. Ryno was at Kendall's birthday party last summer in Carnation, WA. I sent a dog bone home with them for him. Hopefully we'll get to see him out camping this summer.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Valentine's Day

While I may be far away from my sweetie and my favorite Cavalier this Valentine's Day, I am in the "Sweetest Place on Earth." It was much sweeter last year when my husband came on this business trip, but I did get to have lunch with a couple of my best friends from college. You know the type of friends - the ones you don't see for a year or two but pick right up where you left off. They're always there for me, as I am for them. I hope everyone has a chance to form at least one friendship like this in their lives.

Hugs and Kisses from Kendall

Meanwhile, Kendall's at home hanging out and sending Happy Valentines wishes your way.

Saturday Pet Bloggers Blog Hop and some Overdue Maintenance

It's Saturday, and I'm sitting here with a long layover in the Chicago airport. Some may think that's a bad thing, but it makes it possible for me to do some long overdue blog maintenance. Thanks to Miz Kodee and Miz Becky over at Bark 'n About, I was able to update the list of Cavalier blogs in the side bar.

It also means I have time to join the Saturday Pet Bloggers Blog Hop.



I have three more hours in the Red Carpet Club at O'Hare to visit all of these great pet blogs. I can't think of a better way to spend my time.

I Can See you Peeking

C'mon, spring. I can see you just around the corner. Come on out and join the party. The buds on our plants are popping out left and right in the yard - and it's only February! We've had a pretty mild, yet wet, winter here in the Pacific Northwest. As I watch the national weather maps showing storm after storm hitting the rest of the country, I'm thankful that all we've had to put up with is a little rain.

A witch hazel tree

We have this great little tree in our front yard that usually blooms mid-March. As you can see, it's now in full bloom.

The buds on the bushes are pushing out, too. I can't remember what kind of bush this is (I'm not much of a gardener), but it smells wonderful when it's in bloom.

Chinese paper plant

Pretty soon this will have nice little yellow flowers on it, too. I went out to prune our lilac bush and found that I was too late. The buds and the flowers are already pushing out.

So, those of you stuck in 0 degree weather and feet of snow, don't worry. Spring is out there lurking. It'll be here soon.

Wordless Wednesday

The Year of the Rabbit

We take a break from our regularly scheduled mundane winter weekends to wish you a Happy Chinese New Year. It is the year of the rabbit, so, with that in mind, here's Kendall sporting her best impression of a rabbit. She looks thrilled to be participating, doesn't she?