Elsa Unleashed - The "Shy Dog" on FIlm

Hooray!!! For our followers, this is a huge victory!!! Actually, she has been off the leash for quite a while. But if you love the shy dog (we love all dogs!!!!) Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. If you are a homesteader, this is a heartwarming clip of a hunting breed (the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever), behaving as the Good Lord intended. If you just really love dogs and/or really wish you were homesteading, this clip will warm the cockles of your heart. By the way, what are cockles????

At any rate, this is what I observed tonight, and this is pretty much what we observe every night, bless Elsa's heart. Tomorrow I promise to present a tutorial on a useful recipe, so thanks to our recipe readers to bear with us on our dog rescue victory tonight. Thanks to all of you for bearing with us whilst we brag on our canine offspring. Okay, it might seem lame for those of you who choose the pick of the litter with great care. But for those of us who choose the neediest....this film is bloody freaking AWESOME!!!

Good Night, Friends

Isaiah 26:3  says l shall keep him in perfect peace,Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You

Good night friends. 

Babies - Best Picture Ever!

OK -- I'm sure it's probably just me.  But I was ecstatic today to get a flattering picture of the babies -- the pack.  OK -- there was some turkey involved...but I'm sure their hopeful, optimistic faces were only as a result of their love for their mommy/grandmamma....

OK, I know it's a little blurry, but hey, have you ever tried to take a picture of three puppies while holding a piece of turkey in one hand and a digital camera in the other???  LOL!!!

Miss Elsa Magee - Please Help Us Name That Breed!

I'm guessing mostly Brittany Spaniel.  She points now.  Frequently.  And quite well, truth be told.  But she's got that triangular smart-ass kind of face, and freckles on her paws.  Any constructive input?  She was determined "golden/sheltie" when she came into care.  LOL!!!  That was 20 pounds and a lifetime of growth ago.  It really doesn't matter what percentage of which breed she is, she's 100% ours!

As an aside, isn't little Tuffy totally COVETING that bit of pork?????

Well I'll Be Dang Burned - This is a New One - Even for Me!

I was awakened at around 2:30 am this morning by a strange sound.  Something I had never heard before.  I asked Big Steve "Did you hear a sound?"  "Yes," he said "I coughed".  "No!  Something different!!!"  We were silent.  I heard it again!  We immediately got up to investigate.  In the dark, Elsa tore out of the dining room, through the kitchen and back to her bed, nearly knocking me over.  What greeted us is below -- that dog had actually been digging up the rug!!!

I'm still scratching my head on this one.  What would possess a dog to get up in the night like a thief and start digging up a rug?  It's just a good thing we haven't started the renovations on the downstairs yet, and our rugs are still of the, um, let's just call them the easily replaceable variety.

Kids these days!  They will somehow always find a new way to get in trouble!!!

Staycation - Haney Place Style

It's the end of the summer numbness, alongside the overwhelming reality of the garden coming in IN SPADES.  So Big Steve and I are taking a NINE DAY staycation.  Thank you Lord!!!  We'll blog daily about the goings on here -- Fall cleaning along with bringing in the garden.  It seems like just yesterday that we were putting those dear little seeds into yogurt cups of dirt...you plant, you sow.

At any rate, we'll leave you with this tonight.  This dog looks EXACTLY like our little Miss Elsa Magee!!  It is absolutely incredible.  This dog featured here, however, allows her owner to "dip" her.  If you have met our Miss Elsa Magee, you would know right away it was not our dog.  Anyway, put it on full screen, turn your volume way up, and enjoy!!!

She Really IS Making Progress

I never thought our dear Miss Elsa could come so far in such a short time.  She came to us in February, more of a wild animal than a house pet.  Ruled by her fight or flight responses.  Always on the ready, always on the watch.  She only ever slept fitfully in a tight ball -- a horseshoe actually -- covering her belly.

So tonight, after about 15 minutes of bunching that blanket up, she's sleeping softly and quietly, her belly fully exposed.  I'm not saying she's fine -- I'm just saying she's more comfortable than I've ever known her.  Such a blessing!  I am DEFINITELY going to disturb her so that we can all go "night nights" very soon.  I wish to be sleeping as soundly as she is!

At Some Point, Patience "Might" Cease to be a Virtue

It was not a happy homecoming today.  Miss Naughty Pants, aka Elsa, took advantage of the fact that we forgot to make our bed inaccessible to her today.  So she busied herself with digging a hole large enough to bury her kong.  In the mattress.  Again.  Another hole in the mattress.

So I'm very unhappily sewing up the damage tonight in my 2 day old lovely 600-thread-count sheet set.  Grrrrr....  I'm really tired tonight and would much rather be sleeping on these sheets than repairing them...

It's a good thing that love means we never, ever give up on those we hold dear...

Oh dear...It's a Good Thing Ricky Loves Lucy...

Big Steve fixed the dryer yesterday...that is a very good thing!!!!!  HOWEVER, whilst he was upstairs making said repairs...Little Miss Elsa was downstairs making her own...um...renovations.

If you have ever wondered what those confounded springs in your mattress look like, here's your chance to have a gander.

So last night, there was a trip to a department store for a new set of sheets to replace these BRAND NEW sheets, a project of restuffing and attempting to screw that spring back into the mattress, and of course, a stern word or two to little miss naughty pants.  It was not lost on us, however, that the dear girl really is doing wonderfully in terms of overcoming her shy behaviors.  She smiles broadly most days, wags her tail in our presence, she has even barked a time or two recently.  Hooray!!!

Yes, it's really a good thing Ricky loves Lucy here at the Haney Place!

All is Calm, All is Bright

For those of you who are following our shy dog, Elsa, this post is an update.  Elsa is THRIVING.  She has grown by leaps and bounds.  She smiles, she plays, she pounces, she runs.  Today, I observed her playing a very aggressive game of tug over the rawhide toy with our other dog, Tuffy.  They yapped and growled at each other all evening, but it was all in good fun.  Tonight they are both worn out, and sharing a bed.  Silent night, indeed.

We DO Love Her

This sight greeted us upon our return from work today.  We DO love her, and actually celebrate the "naughtiness" as progress out of her "super shy" self.  At least today, it was her own bed and not our mattress, as it was a few days ago!!

Please note the sweaters, socks and other personal items she retrieved from the dirty laundry to comfort and amuse herself with. 

Cooking Class at the Haney Place

We took a somewhat drippy, soggy walk after dinner tonight.  It's not horribly cold out, but we all got wet and a tiny bit chilled.  We returned home to a warm and inviting kitchen, smelling wonderfully of oregano, among other things.  After a thorough toweling by big Steve (Elsa loved it but HAD to behave as if it really freaked her out) we are settled in for the evening.  And it's not quite 8 pm!!!

Tonight's evening meal was gluten free pizza, Stiva and I being all alone in the place and all.  I was surprised at not having any pizza sauce in the pantry, once having made and instilled in the pan the (Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Flour) gluten-free crust.  Once I started making the light marinara, can I tell you that there was immediately a classroom in the kitchen.

Sooooooooooooooooo....if you would like our recipe for gluten free pizza, you are welcome to consult my students:

It's REALLY Spring!!!

I think my batteries died in my camera -- I'm so tech unsavvy that I'm not even sure if that's the problem.  At any rate, it REALLY is Spring, and for that I am so thankful!

Here is the fresh oregano, which replanted itself from last year.  It's all ready to use in the kitchen, in fact, the more I use, the more that will grow...there is already fresh thyme as well, and we used that this week in the black eyed pea jambalaya, but the camera died before I could shoot that...

Here are the peas coming up about Stiva's lovely framework.  There will be fresh peas still in the shell for salads, and later, peas for freezing for the winter.

Here are the lilacs, purple and white.  Again, I just wish we had smell-o-vision!

And most importantly, here is Stiva retilling part of the garden to get ready for everything else.  And there is little Elsa, literally having the **** scared out of her (if you want to come over and see for yourself, that little tiny tiller literally scared the **** out of Elsa, but I digress...

Wherever I Go -- It's in a Cloud of Puppies

It certainly doesn't hurt that I'm in the process of reducing sauce for a roasted duck...

Waiting for Something Good to Happen

If a picture paints a thousand words, this one paints a thousand hopeful words.  Little shy Elsa wears this look more often than not these days -- ears forward, hearing a sound and believing something very good to be connected with it. 

The Free Replacement Warranty -- Part Deux - AND LAST!!!

So -- OMG -- This is the second time.  Or so...  I am not quite sure what to say to defend her, other than this is the second time we have been GRACED by a no-questions-asked replacement policy and I am so thankful for that.  At this point, everyone's patience and understanding (except mine) has completely worn thin.  And if this was a human child, there would be a terrific scolding ensuing (not that she wasn't thououghly scolded).  BUT....dang burn it....she's trying us by being a total poop-head!!!

Stiva and I went out early this morning and did errands (BJ's and Deli Warehouse, to bring provisions into the house for the week ahead).  At any rate, when we returned home, after one hour, and AFTER LEAVING THEM BOTH SOME SERIOUSLY AWESOME RAWHIDE TOYS, NOT TO MENTION THE PEANUT BUTTER FILLED KONG TOYS FOR BOTH OF THEM (but I digress).....the SIRIUS remote control for the second half of the house had been chewed and destroyed by Marley Oh, I'm sorry Elsa.  It was all in her bed, and for the love of God, she had even started chewing through the batteries, as well.  Thank God, everyone is well, and SIRIUS is sending us a new remote at no charge, given the fact that we are long time customer.

So......here we go....

Comments, please!!!

Ode to the Shy Dog -- And Just DOGS!

Our dear little shy girl, Miss Elsa Magee, has grown by leaps and bounds.  She has actually turned into something of a little poop-head, not that I'm complaining! 

Recently, her brand new cousin, Jasper, came to visit with his family (my son Anthony and his dear one Destiny) and as a result, we attempted to capture the moment in a portrait of the three of them.  Of course, chaos ensued, and you can view the results yourself!!!  The confusion and peepee sniffing speaks for itself, methinks!

A Horseshoe Nail???

I thought this was elementary prose, but I had a hard time tracking it down.  At any rate, please appreciate the inspiration -- our horseshoe dog!!!

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.


For want of a shoe the horse was lost.

For want of a horse the rider was lost.

For want of a rider the battle was lost.

For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.

And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

Maybe He's Not Al Martino, But She Is Certainly Daddy's Little Girl

You're the end of the rainbow, my pot of gold,


You're daddy's little girl to have and hold.

A precious gem is what you are,

You're mommy's bright and shining star.



You're the spirit of Christmas, my star on the tree,

You're the Easter bunny to mommy and me.

You're sugar you're spice, you're everything nice,

And you're daddy's little girl.



You're the end of the rainbow, my pot of gold,

You're daddy's little girl to have and hold.

A precious gem is what you are,

You're mommy's bright and shining star.



You're the treasure I cherish so sparkling and bright,

You were touched by the holy and beautiful light.

Like angels that sing a heavenly thing,

And you're daddy's little girl.

And she has a BONE BOW!!!

Ahhh....things are certainly different for daughters than for sons.  Nuff said!

Well, She's Our Girl Now, and the Prettiest One This Side Of Halifax

You will understand the caption if you love Anne of Green Gables as we do. But if you just love us, you will understand our future plans and know what "this side of Halifax" means.  If you don't, you probably don't know us at all.

But she's our girl now, and I can't tell you what that means to us.  Maybe you will understand, if you have been following this blog.  Today, Elsa had her "spay" procedure.  I was dreading it for a few weeks now.  I've had dogs all my life, girl dogs even, but it has been a long time since anyone has had to be "spayed".  Ugh.

At any rate, bless her heart, this means her adoption can be final, and we can finally say "She's Our Girl Now, and the Prettiest One This Side of Halifax".  And we mean it!

For tonight, she's just plain pooped.  And who can blame her???