SnackDay

Do you like beans? I found a recipe from my cousin that she would make for company. Now I'm not sure how healthy everything else in it is, but this sure is a tasty option for football season!

Black Bean Dip
1 can black beans
1 can refried beans
1 can of diced tomatoes (just plain- no spices)
Sour Cream (I don't measure, just kind of dump some in, do it to taste)
1 small can of sliced black olives
Some 4 cheese Mexican cheese
Put a layer of the shredded cheese on top- heat it up until melted- then stir that cheese in, then put another layer of shredded cheese on top and heat until melted again

We Will Never Forget

Please take a moment today to remember the events of September 11, 2001. Remember the nearly 3,000 people lost that day, remember the 3,000+ children who lost a parent that day, remember all the babies who would be born in the months after who never knew their father. Remember the 343 New York firefighters and paramedics killed when the towers fell, remember that people from 115 different countries died in the attacks, remember the courage of those aboard United 93 as they fought back, remember the hospitality of tiny Gander, Newfoundland, a town of 10,000 that suddenly had nearly 7,000 guests as a result of diverted planes. It was indeed the worst of times, but it was also the best of times in displaying unity, goodwill and dignity in our response.

A Crane Visit

This past weekend I was in Wisconsin once again trying to hike, but the threatening weather kept us from venturing out into the wilderness too far. So instead, we went to Baraboo to visit the International Crane Foundation. They have cranes that they hope to reintroduce to the wild, but people don't really get to see them so the cranes don't imprint on people. But they have pairs of a variety of cranes that we got to see, and visitor birds, too.

A Shout Out to Py

Just wanted to give a little shout out to Pyrite the Puggie and her bloggie http://pyritethepug.blogspot.com/ Py is a cutie and her daddy is coming back from Mongolia in three more sleeps! So if you get a chance, go on over and say hi to Py!

A Visit with the Pugs (and their Peeps, too)

Last week Tuesday, I had an appointment for a very special visit. I got in my blue beastie and headed north (and a little bit west) into the next county -- to Stubby's house! Stubby was having a special visitor coming over and was all excited. I was excited because I was going to meet the special visitor, too! After greeting Stubby and making sure he didn't overdo things with his elbows and angry disc, a car pulled in the driveway and the visitor walked in the door. It was Salinger and his mom all the way from Indy! Stubby's dad made a Popeye's run and soon we had a yummy lunch! OMD did the puggies love the Popeye's! Even though Stubby was having a slow time walking due to his angry disc, he knew there was Popeye's in the house and made sure he hung around the table. And Salinger who never had Popeye's before quickly decided it was pretty good stuff! We even had these awesome chocolate cupcakes (for the peeps not the pugs) from Salinger's mom! OMD, can you say chocolate coma?

Before long, Salinger and his mom had to leave to make their next appointment which was with those Elgin puggies! The Salinger World Tour continued! Thanks, Stubby, for hosting this leg of the tour and thanks for getting a chance to meet you Salinger!!

A Rainy Update

The other day, just when I had decided that I wouldn't try to contact Rainy's new family anymore since it has indeed been a while since she's been with them, I received an email from her mom with some pictures. And while I still miss her so and know that it was *me* and not her that wasn't ready for this, I know she's happy with her brothers and having other puggies around I think has made all the difference for her. I know that I'll be looking for another dog probably in the early spring next year (or maybe a bit before even) and I know I'll be more ready then. But Rainy will always be in my heart.

A Trip to Acadia

We started a long weekend trip to Bar Harbor, Maine by going to Acadia National Park. We climbed Cadillac Mountain overlooking the Porcupine Islands, finding the geodetic marker at the top, climbed the Bubbles and went out to Bubble Rock, went to Schoodic Point to watch waves crash on a shore that is rocky and craggly and everything you think of when you think of a Maine coast, took a boat ride out to the Cranberry Islands and saw seals and an ospry (in addition to the many gulls who followed us around) and ended our last day there with a sunset on top of Cadillac Mountain, where we met a puggle named Stella. I think she was enjoying the people more than the sunset. In addition to days of hiking there were evenings of enjoying the wonderful seafood of Maine. Lobster stew the first night at the Bar Harbor Inn was the absolute best ever!! I even tried (on a dare from my friend) lobster ice cream which was being served at a local ice cream parlor, Ben and Bill's, in town. We even got to watch the conference championship clinching game (Blackhawks vs. Sharks) in a restaurant in town the day before we left.