Updates, Bullet Points and Whatnot...

I'm hauling out the bullet points...hang on, it's going to be a random post!

• Meadow is getting better!  She's still on an assortment of meds, but I'm weaning off the pain pills.  Fingers crossed - she continues to get better and we don't have to battle the IVDD monster again for a long, long time.
• Are mushrooms growing in your yard?  They are in mine!  Brady found one last Thursday and got really sick really quickly.  We went to our regular vet, who diagnosed him with mushroom toxicity and made me rush him to the emergency vet.  Lots of tests, pukies and a large vet bill later - I brought him home.  The boy is back to normal, just has a few more days of meds to protect his liver and kidneys from any residual side effects. {See...I knew fungus was bad!!}
• Please tell me that I'm not the only one that can't wait until the election is over.  People are getting NASTY on Twitter and FaceBook!  I respect people's opinions...just wish that certain people thought before they spoke. Know where your candidate stands on issues that are important to you before you start the virtual mudslinging.  Or better yet - PLAY NICE!  Neither candidate is perfect.  You choose the one that you think will screw up the country the least... In related news - if you don't vote on election day, I don't want to hear you bitch for the next four years.
• I've started trying to plan my fall TV viewing schedule.  Yikes, my TV/DVR is going to hate me!
• Someone please remind me that leaving my knitting down where the twin terrors (aka Brady and Paisley) can reach it is a dumb idea.  :-)  I've only started the same cowl four times now!
• My brother is winging his way down to Atlanta to see one of his Army buddies.  I'm so happy he's getting to go away for the weekend...but a little jealous.  I love his friend and wish I could see him (and his new puppy) too.
• Time to start choosing September's book club selection.  The poll is in the top left corner... Vote please!  Oh, and if you read this month's book, link up with Mrs. Jones and I tomorrow!
• Lack of responsiveness seems to be spreading like wildfire lately.  I have a handful of people that I keep following up with and they don't seem to like to respond to emails and/or voicemail.  How frustrating!  Has anyone else been experiencing this?!

OK...if you've made it to the end, you deserve a puppy picture! {Yep, these were already shared on Instagram, but you forgive me, right?!}

Paisley is learning how to drink from a straw.  Seriously.  Meadow does it all the time and is teaching her... Don't come to my house and think your drink is safe.

 

Brady, Paisley and Beckett are waiting for my parents to walk in the door.  Sure, they look calm...but this was taken about 30 seconds before they started barking and full-body wagging!

Tuesdays At The Table - Chicken Bruschetta

I know I said this last week - but THANK YOU for all the kind words of encouragement and prayers for Meadow.  She continues to heal and sends you all doxie kisses.  :-)  Right now, she isn't my own little patient.  Apparently, there are mushrooms growing in my yard and Brady found one.  He got REALLY sick, really quickly and was diagnosed with mushroom toxicity. {See, I knew I disliked mushrooms for a reason!} He's pretty much back to normal now, just taking some meds to protect his kidney/liver.

OK...on to the food!  I love, love, love bruschetta.  I've found that putting it on chicken instead of toasted french/italian bread makes a pretty good meal!

Chicken Bruschetta

4 chicken breasts (about a pound)
1/4 cup of sun dried tomato salad dressing
1-2 large tomatoes, finely diced
1/2 cup grated mozzarella
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped OR
1 teaspoon dried basil

In a large storage bag, marinate your chicken breast in salad dressing.  {Depending how strong of a flavor you want, it can be between 30 minutes or 8 hours.}

In a 9x13 casserole pan, bake your chicken at 350 for 25-30 minutes.  Evenly distribute the mozzarella, tomatoes and basil over each chicken breast and finish cooking for approximately 10 minutes.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

Suggest A Book!

Happy Monday!  The lovely Mrs. Jones and I will have a poll up in the next few days for September's book club selection.  If you have any ideas/suggestions on what we should read in September, please let us know!

Quick reminder - this month we are reading:

There's still time to read and link up with us this Friday!

A Pupdate on Meadow...

I know that some of you don't view dogs as fur-kids the way I do, so I won't take any offense if you skip this post.  :-)

Now, on the the pupdate...

We're hanging in.  We've spoken to multiple vets at my regular practice and at the emergency practice.  Everyone is quite confident that we can get Meadow to heal using non-surgical means.  HURRAY!

Our biggest hurdle is pain management.  She is now on a sedative, two pain relievers, a stomach acid reducer (pain pills are NOT easy on the tummy) and an anti-inflammatory.  Because she's so uncomfortable, we aren't sleeping and she refuses to be put down.  To say that my arms hurt from carrying her 24/7 is an understatement.

This morning I did crate her so I could start some laundry.  She immediately started yanking on the bars and got both her upper and lower jaws stuck in the bars.  I got her out in a matter of seconds - but she has a bump on her muzzle and upper right lip.  I feel like a horrible mom...

Despite all of this - she does seem to be healing.  We're now up to 3-4 steps before she crosses her back legs and the ataxia takes over.  PROGRESS!

While she heals, I'm accepting all offers of chocolate, coffee and wine.  Not necessarily in that order.  :-)

Tuesdays At The Table - Strawberry Lemon Bars

First, a huge THANK YOU to all of you that have sent Meadow your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery!  Your comments and good thoughts have meant so much to me. I'll do an update post on her tomorrow (hopefully).

I'm all about the bar cookie lately.  Most of the bar cookie recipes mix up quickly, clean up fairly easily and are just plain yummy. :-)

Strawberry Lemon Bars

2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons lemon zest
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 egg
1/2 cup diced fresh strawberries

In a medium bowl sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of your electric mixer cream sugar and butter together.  Mix in egg, lemon juice and zest.  Slowly add in flour mixture. Fold in diced strawberries by hand.

Line an 8 x 8 baking dish with foil.  Press dough into the bottom of the pan.  Bake at 350 for about 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.

Let the bars cool before cutting and glazing.

Glaze
1 cup of confectioners sugar and the juice of half a lemon. Whisk together and pour over cut and cooled bars.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

Prayers For Meadow

Hi everyone.  I'm hoping that you can send my little Meadow some good thoughts/prayers.

She has "gone down in the back".  That's dachshund speak for exhibiting signs of IVDD - a disk problem that is common with my little loves and other long-bodied dogs.

Wednesday my parents came over to visit and she kind of slid off the couch.  No injury - but I think that's what ultimately sparked the IVDD.  An hour or so later, she had one stumble step and quickly recovered.  At midnight potty time, she started going downhill quickly.  I rushed her to the vet around 3:30- 4 o'clock.

We're home and on "crate rest".  However, Meadow HATES the crate, so I'm holding her at all times.  Hopefully, with the cocktail of medications that she's been put on and me as her personal pillow, she'll be back to normal soon.

Hug your pups (and kittehs) for me!

Wordless Wednesday - Nap Edition (And A Poll)

Yep, it's a collection of my sweet snuggly pups.  As you can see - my dogs love my couch and my bed as much as I do.

I swear Beckett smiles every time I call him a pillow hog!

Meadow knows she's pretty.

Brady and Paisley.  She sleeps on her back most of the time. WEIRDO! :-)

Group snuggle!

Brady snores.  Like a semi rolling through the house...

Alrighty, dog mommas.  I think I want to host a pet related toy/treat swap in late September/early October.  Would you participate?  I'm putting up a poll.  Please vote in the next week.  :-)  Once I know for sure if the swap will happen, details will follow!