New Pupster!

My long awaited new pupster is here!  I'm so excited! 

Meet Paisley Skye.  Isn't she gorgeous?  She 14 weeks and long-haired.  She a little love.

Now, you really astute people will notice that she looks nothing like the pup I showed you a few weeks ago.  And you're right.  You see, Dixie was lucky enough to have a few of us fall in love with her.  Her new mom is a lovely lady who I happen to think is pretty cool and I graciously stepped away. 

It's actually a blessing in disguise.  Paisley (formerly known as Destiny) was the first girl I picked up and for some reason we didn't connect right away.  Well, she now puts her paws on my face and gives big kisses. She is sweet and patient and has quite a personality! I do truly feel that she's the one that Meadow, Beckett and I are meant to have join our family. 

Oh...and a little more news. 

Meet Brady.  No, he's not mine.  But he is my VERY FIRST foster pup!  He's one of Paisley's litter mates. Brady boy isn't on our adoption website quite yet...but he will be soon.

Prepare for a litany of puppy pictures in the coming weeks.  I apologize in advance!  {No, I actually don't apologize... Heeheehee!}

Also, if you have any tips on best practices to acclimate existing fur-kids with new fur-kids, I'm all ears. Meadow and Beckett are behaving well, but I could always use some sage advice on how to make the transition easiest on all of us!

3 on Thursday - Summer "Musts"

Hi Ladies!  Sorry I'm not my usual posting over-achiever by getting the post up by midnight.  Wednesday was a busy day in my tiny household.  I got my new puppy and my very first foster puppy!  Official announcement complete with pictures on Friday.  :-){Note: Andrea is having a busy spell as well, so she won't be co-hosting this week. So do a girl a favor and make me look good by linking up!}

&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;center>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;a <span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">href</span></span>="http://<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">allthesmallstuff</span></span>-<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">cole</span></span>.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">blogspot</span></span>.com/" title="3 on Thursday">&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">img</span></span> <span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">src</span></span>="http://i909.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">photobucket</span></span>.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">BlogDesigns</span></span>/Buttons/3ThursdayButton.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">png</span></span>" alt="3 on Thursday">&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;/a>

Anywho...this week's topic is:
What are your 3 summer-time must do things (trips, family traditions, etc.)?

First, it isn't summer without a trip to Peaceful Meadows.  Seriously the best ice cream on the planet!  I really think getting to see the cows that the milk comes from make the experience that more special.  Just um...do yourself a favor and if you're going into the cow barn to visit the cows...go early enough that the barn doesn't stink yet.

Fireworks!  I love 'em.  My dogs hate them.  I can understand why...but they're just so darn pretty! I've gone into Boston to see the fireworks a handful of times and it's quite the experience.  There's a reason that our city's celebration gets televised every year...that's for sure!  However, I'm just as happy with a really small display that friend or family organize. :-)

Whale watching. I'm blessed enough to live very close to water - and have a natural affinity for it.  I just love boats, the beach, lakes, etc. The whale watching off of Plymouth is some of the best in the country in my opinion.  There never seems to be shortage of majestic whales just waiting for the tour boats!

What about you?  What's on your summer list?

Tuesdays At The Table - Strawberry Poppyseed Cake

Happy Tuesday!  Despite all the rain in the last few days, my strawberries are growing like gangbusters.  This may sound like smalltime news to you - which I totally understand - but this is my first year growing strawberries, so I'm so excited!

I've found a bunch of great recipes for strawberry breads/cakes in my mom's recipe drawer, and I think this is the one I'll be trying first.

In other news...the new puppy will be joining my family Wednesday night.  I'm so excited.  There's a chance that I'll have a foster pup to show off to you all too!

Strawberry Poppyseed Cake

1/2 cup butter, softened

2/3 cup sugar

1 egg

2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons poppy seeds

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sour cream

FILLING:

2 cups sliced fresh strawberries

1/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

GLAZE:

1/3 cup confectioners' sugar

2 teaspoons 2% milk

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and lemon peel. Combine the flour, poppy seeds, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition.

Transfer to a greased and floured 9-in. pie pan; spread batter slightly up sides of pan, forming a well. Combine filling ingredients; spoon into the well. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

In a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and milk; drizzle over cake. Serve warm.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

May Book Club - Before Ever After

Rumor has it, that I wasn't the only one that read this month's book.  *Fingers crossed*, that's true.  I know that so many of you read - and I WANT to make this book club work.  Below is a list for the June book.  Please give me initial feedback and I'll put a poll up to make our way to a final choice.
If you did read this month's book and are linking up, I officially love you.  Seriously!

Three years after her husband Max's death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day. That is, until the doorbell rings. Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max; same smile, same eyes, same age, same adorable bump in his nose; he could be Max's long-lost relation. He introduces himself as Paolo, an Italian editor of American coffee table books, and shows Shelley some childhood photos. Paolo tells her that the man in the photos, the bearded man who Paolo says is his grandfather though he never seems to age, is Max. Her Max. And he is alive and well.

As outrageous as Paolo's claims seem; how could her husband be alive? And if he is, why hasn't he looked her up? Shelley desperately wants to know the truth. She and Paolo jet across the globe to track Max down; if it is really Max and along the way, Shelley recounts the European package tour where they had met. As she relives Max's stories of bloody Parisian barricades, medieval Austrian kitchens, and buried Roman boathouses, Shelley begins to piece together the story of who her husband was and what these new revelations mean for her "happily ever after." And as she and Paolo get closer to the truth, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to.

1. Did you like the book? Why/why not?
I got about 50 pages into the book and had a few moments of "Oh, crap.  How do I get out of reading the rest of this book?!" Something about it just didn't click for me at first. But, I pressed on.  The more I read, the more I liked it.  By the end of the book, I was quite emotionally engaged with the character of the main plot and sub-plots. I genuinely wanted to know what came AFTER the author's chosen end to the book.

I will say that this book led me to think a bit on immortality and reincarnation.  Is it something that I would willingly choose? Would I want my family, friends, etc to know that I'm still alive as they age/die/lose their health or mental faculties? How many lifetimes would it take before I got it "right"?

2. Do the characters seem real and believable? Can you relate to them/ do they remind you of people you know?
Shelley and Paolo seemed quite real and believable.  Shelley's grief at certain points was palpable.  Max (in all his incarnations) was funny, sweet, entertaining and quite fascinating. These characters don't remind me of people I know in real life...however, I've met some real characters while traveling and I can just imagine running into this crew!

3. Is the ending satisfying? If so, why? If not, why not...and how would you change it?
As a romantic, I did enjoy the ending. Shelley never wanted to be immortal - she just wanted her happily ever after with Max.  I can understand that.

4. If you could ask the author a question, what would you ask?
I'm a history buff and could easily wander through Europe like they did, all willy nilly.  I'd like to know what stories though history sparked this novel.  Did the characters of Shelley and Max come first - or did the history come first and the characters just kind of showed up?

5. How do characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story? If so, how/why?
This is the hardest question to answer.  Max doesn't change per se...but we learn all the lives he led before this. The parts of history that made him "Max". Getting to wander through his different identities was enjoyable and when added together made for quite an interesting man.

June book suggestions:
Just Like Me, Only Better by Carol Snow
The First Day of the Rest of My Life by Cathy Lamb
Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
How I Planned Your Wedding by Susan and Elizabeth Wiggs
The Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston
Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse Book 12) by Charlaine Harris
Friendship Bread by Darien Gee

3 on Thursday - Weird Foods

Thanks for coming back to spend a little quality time with Andrea and I.  We both appreciate you participating (and commenting!) on our humble little link-up.  :-)  Have topic ideas for upcoming weeks?  Tell us!

This week we're talking about weird foods...or at least foods you eat that others *might* consider odd/strange.

I'll level with you, I've eaten a LOT of weird food.  Most of it is stuff that was a once in a lifetime culinary experience. Here's a short list of things I've consumed...but will never do it again:

• Haggis. During my first trip to Scotland at 16 years old.
• Rocky Mountain oysters aka bull's balls.  I blame my dad for not telling me what I was eating. *gag*
• Seal flipper stew. I blame my dad's mom's Newfoundland family for that one.  AND...In my defense I was 3 years old when I ate it.
• Cow's tongue.  Note: Always ask the ranchers in your family exact what they are feeding you. I thought it was corned beef.  Wrong!
• Snake. This was during a work trip to Arizona a few years ago.
• Alligator. A burger at "Fast Eddie's" about a decade ago.  And, NO it does not taste like chicken.

&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;center>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;a <span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">href</span></span>="http://<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">allthesmallstuff</span></span>-<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">cole</span></span>.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">blogspot</span></span>.com/" title="3 on Thursday">&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">img</span></span> <span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">src</span></span>="http://i909.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">photobucket</span></span>.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">BlogDesigns</span></span>/Buttons/3ThursdayButton.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">png</span></span>" alt="3 on Thursday">&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;/a>

 Three foods you eat that others might think are strange/weird.

Calimari.  I love me some seafood, squid included!  I much prefer the round "body" of the squid than the slightly rubbery tentacles.  So tasty though.  In sixth grade, a science specialist came through and we did a dissection of squids.  It gave me a much better appreciation for where they come from...and how juvenile 6th grade boys are with ink sacks.

One of my favorite midnight snacks is pretzels and Nutella.  I personally, don't think it's too weird.  But I've been told that it is, so I'm counting it!  The combo of salty and sweet just can't be beat!

Sometimes, I'll put a scoop of ice cream in my coffee instead of milk and sugar.  What?!?!  It's all the same right?  It adds great flavor, adds a nice foam to the top and gives the drink a little extra body!

Time for you to share!  Link up! Visit my adorable co-host Andrea, and the other kids too.  :-) 

Tuesdays At The Table - Dragon's Breath Dip

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend full of cookouts, relaxation and fun!  I'm also hoping that you all got to thank a soldier for their service.  Many of the important people that I wanted to thank are in different states, so Facebook posts had to suffice.  :-)

Sorry for no Monday post too...  I've been battling a migraine all weekend which means I didn't get to have much fun or be on the computer too much.  On the bright side, I did get some good puppy cuddles in!

Also because of the headache, I'm going to cheat a bit and revisit a popular recipe from the summer of 2010.  It's a crowd-pleaser.  I mean, as long as you don't plan to kiss anybody!

Dragon's Breath Dip

2 heads garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 oz. Brie cheese
1 (3-oz.) small pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash or two of fresh cracked pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut top 1/2" off the top of the garlic heads and remove some of the loose papery skin, leaving the heads intact. Place each on a piece of aluminum foil, drizzle each with the olive oil, and wrap tightly. Bake at 350 degrees 50-60 minutes, until the garlic is very soft and begins to brown. Cool until easy to handle and squeeze each head to remove the soft roasted cloves.

In a food processor, process Brie cheese and cream cheese with the salt, pepper, and garlic cloves. Refrigerate several hours to blend flavors. Serve with melba toast, crackers, crustini or the like.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

3 on Thursday - What Won't You Do?

Welcome back to the day Andrea and I come up with fun questions!  This week is one that will let you go wild - see below.  :-) Really, have fun with it!
Drop by and visit my super-momma of a co-host, Andrea! Her kiddo is so cute it's ridiculous and I have a serious case of envy when it comes to her nail polish collection. Seriously

&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;center>&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;a <span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">href</span></span>="http://<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">allthesmallstuff</span></span>-<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">cole</span></span>.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">blogspot</span></span>.com/" title="3 on Thursday">&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">img</span></span> <span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">src</span></span>="http://i909.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">photobucket</span></span>.com/albums/ac293/munchkin_land_designs/<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">BlogDesigns</span></span>/Buttons/3ThursdayButton.<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">png</span></span>" alt="3 on Thursday">&<span style="background: yellow;" class="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">goog</span>-spellcheck-word"><span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span></span>;/a>

What 3 things will you absolutely not do?

I will not bungee jump.  People, I'm afraid of heights! PETRIFIED! The prospect of plunging to my death just gives me the heebie-jeebies.  However, I would skydive and I love rollercoasters.  Irony, thy name is Cole.

Smoking is way out of the question too for a number of reasons.  Your breath stinks! I've seen a pair of lungs from a recently deceased smoker. I'm premature, so I have small lungs AND I'm asthmatic. {Please know I'm not trying to offend anyone that smokes!}

This one is going to sound really stupid.  I don't dance in public. I did tap, ballet, jazz and modern dance from age three to sixteen and then again in college.  I love structured dance...but I don't sway well to the music and I'm really self-conscience.  Go ahead and laugh!

What won't you do?

Please remember to visit Andrea! You'll love her as much as I do. If you are linking up, please include our button or a link to our site. Link to your blog post and not your blog home page. Please visit your fellow participants to say hello. And all that jazz… you know, the usual.