Wednesday Dog of the Week

we went out to the rescue the other day and met this little charmer...they call him Bobble.....and he's just a pup..about 6-7 weeks old...I fell in love with him...when I picked him up, he gave my ears a good cleaning..what a sweetie....he is a terrier/chihuahua mix and as cute as can be....he's going to be tiny, probably less than 10 lbs.....right now he has the run of the office, a typical puppy with lots of energy, healthy so don't worry, he's not in his kennel much.....he's make a great Christmas present..but I wouldn't recommend him for young children as he's a little delicate.....you can find out about the rescue here...the only no kill rescue in the Menifee Valley....donations are gratefully accepted.......
For my new readers...my son manages the Sun City K-9 Rescue .....he's always loved all animals and this has become his life's work.......you can find out alot more by clicking the above link.......

News Flash!....the American Fence Company has donated all new fencing for the rescue! plus a local landscaping company has donated 18 palm trees.....the same company is working with our son to create a large exercise area for the dogs.. and a pet memorial park ......they are bringing in a professional landscaper to do the work........the place is hopping right now.....If you'd like to help...right now they need to bring in a large dumpster for removing alot of refuse, and for remodeling of the barn......and need about $150.00 for the dumpster rental...Don is working to move most of the small, medium sized dogs into the barn at night...its getting quite cold here in the evenings, below freezing! You can donate through Paypal at the above link and just mark it for re modeling or dumpster...its a tax deductible donation.

Wednesday Dog of the Week

This is little Lucas...he is a Poodle, Toy/Bichon Frise mix...another senior at 8 years old..how old is that in doggy years....54? he is very healthy and had to be given up as his owner could no longer keep him.....the man brought him in crying as he loved him so.....times are tough...the first few days in the shelter are tough on the dogs too as they are confused and scared...most new comers are kept separate from the other dogs, given comfort and attention...if you think you'd like to help financially or as a volunteer or are interested in Lucas...please go to Sun City K-9 Rescue
I follow quite a few blogs...and one I am very fond of is Johanna Parker Design..she is a wonderful artist and I know you will enjoy clicking on the link and visiting her blog today.....very festive..I'm not going to say more, just go over and see if I'm right.......all I needed was some eggnog and holiday music to go along with me....
I am resisting the urge to start decorating this blog for Christmas...I will have to use all my self control to wait but did cave in on my other blog, Daniv's Newsletter..I posted a great video on there too, about candy cane making in a small town.......

Wednesday Dog of the Week

Scooter is a new rescue from the shelter..he's a Jack Russell/terrier mix and quite the fellow...6 years old and a very dapper guy..turned in as the family couldn't care for him anymore...fairly well behaved, house trained and ready for a new family..with Scooter, the lucky family will get a month of free pet insurance...you can find Scooter at the Sun City K-9 rescue

You are probably wondering what is going on here. Yesterday we went to Signal Hill to finish re keying an apartment house and stopped at the Home Depot......this was going on in the parking lot..what are they doing? well, drilling for oil, of course.....in the parking lot no less....
Signal Hill has one of the most productive oil fields in the world..there are oil wells everywhere here...in back yards, tucked behind gas stations, etc....here is a photo I found online of what Signal Hill looked like back in 1923....There are many small old cottages scattered around and we figured they were built for the oil workers during these days......Signal Hill was named as it is the highest hill in the area and the local Indians used it to signal fires that could be seen all the way to Catalina Island...
Before oil was discovered, this area was used for outdoor locations for the Balboa Amusement Producing company, a early movie studio, and such stars as Buster Keaton and Fatty Arbuckle
filmed movies here....a interesting history...Signal Hill is just about surrounded by Long Beach.
we also stopped at the local cemetery..it was an old one with wonderfully carved tombstones..Alan took alot of photos of some of the more spectacular ones which I will share another day....we doubted many people visited any more as most of the people there had been born in the late 1800s...

While we were waiting at a red light, a trolly came by.



It was another long drive..after 3 days of driving, I am ready for a day at home..but Alan is off again, jobs and work..which we are very thankful for........he had one job here early and then off to Carlsbad, ca for a job, back here this afternoon for one here in town again.....we have jobs booked for Friday and next Monday also so things are looking up.....thanks be to God!

Wednesday Dog of the Week

This is Bella..she is a 3 year old Jack Russel Terrier mix......maybe chihuahua? sometimes its hit and miss guessing the mixture..she is very active like most terriers and very friendly...she was found as a stray....sorry the photo isn't very good...she likes to wiggle...hard to keep her still....she was rather excited...loves attention........you can find Bella and many others at the
Sun City K-9 rescue..the only no-kill rescue in the Menifee valley......please check out the website, my son designed and developed it..he also has a list of all the dogs that have been adopted.......

yesterday evening I made homemade macaroni and cheese......the men in the house were delighted, they quickly finished it up...Don came home and took the rest back to his trailer.....
he had dental work done and couldn't eat much but as this is soft and creamy, it fit the bill.


I posted the recipe once before but its been awhile........this is the best mac and cheese I've ever tasted so wanted to share again...

Company Macaroni and Cheese

1 pkg. 7 oz. elbow macaroni 2 t. spicy brown mustard
6 T. butter
1/2 t. salt
3 T. flour
1/4 t. pepper
2 c. milk
3/4 c. bread crumbs (Panko)
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
2 T. minced parsley
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, melt 4 T. butter in a large saucepan.
Stir in flour until smooth...gradually add milk. Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat, add cheeses, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir until melted and smooth. Drain macaroni and add to cheese sauce and stir to coat. Transfer to a greased (I use Pam) shallow pan. Melt remaining butter, toss with bread crumbs and parsley. Sprinkle over macaroni..bake, uncovered at 400 degrees for 15 -20 minues or until golden brown and bubbly...serves 6.. or in our house, 4..3 of them hungry men.
I usually serve this with a green salad, and steamed broccoli or green beans....plus some kind of fruit dessert...Don had brought home some wonderful purple seedless grapes.

Our local Target supercenter gives away day old bread, and produce...he brings us home some great things...yesterday we got a head of cauliflower, a pint of blueberries, the grapes and two cans of Mandarin oranges (sugar free)..last week, Don came home with a sugar free angel food cake, and alot of breads...most of which I froze....This morning I used the blueberries and made muffins.

Wednesday Dog of the Week +

This little "dude" is named Bolt...he is a mixed breed terrier, a little bit of a mystery..perhaps part chihuahua (ears)? He is only 4 months old, a puppy and very bright...housebroken already and is learning tricks....one of the Don's favorites....great personality and adores people, cats, and other dogs.....he is up to date with all his shots, healthy and just needs his family to come for him..could that be you? His coat had to be shaved as it was in bad condition, he feels so much better now but he has a medium coat when grown out...he is an active puppy and lots of fun.

They have gotten in quite a few new dogs at the rescue + one cat...I kinda wanted to adopt him but Alan nixed the idea, two is enough he says....he's probably right!
You can see Bolt, the other dogs and Kiki, the cat at Sun City K-9 Rescue



Yesterday, we harvested lots of tomatoes...have got a good bounty......Don came home so I stocked him up with some .....both red and yellow types....we have a few larger ones that are about ready to pick in a day or so....Alan says it feels good to see this on the counter..he remembers the summer days when his mom would can and the kitchen would smell so good when he came in the door.....


The parmesan chicken I spoke about yesterday was absolutely delicous..so I thought I'd share that recipe with you...its easy and good.

Parmesan Chicken

4 -6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (I used frozen)
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
2 cans cream of mushroom soup, condensed
1 1/2 cups evaporated milk (I didn't have it, used low fat instead)
1 cup apple juice
1 cup converted white rice, uncooked
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Place chicken breasts on the bottom of a greased slow cooker. Mix all other ingrediants (except cheese and pepper) in a bowl, mix together well and pour over chicken...Add pepper and sprinkle cheese over top. Cover and cook on high 4-6 hours or on low 8-10 hours..makes 4-6 servings.
Serve with green salad and crusty bread....we had harvested some fresh corn so had that too....and jello with fruit for dessert.

have a great day and remember....

Wednesday Dog of the Week - Ernest

Ernest is a Basset Hound/Beagle mix...he's small and rather calm for a beagle.....good with children and young, about a year old. A mystery dog as he was found wandering the street but doesn't seem to have been abused..no one has claimed him so he is looking for a forever home...
the vet says he is healthy and has gotten all his shots.....his eyes are compelling, aren't they?
You can find him at Sun City K-9 Rescue, they are the no-kill shelter in the Menifee area and run off donations so if you can help, please do......they take Paypal and all the information is on their website. When a dog finds his way here, he finds a safe haven.

They also had a wonderful first time ever, Adoption Reunion Picnic......all the volunteers were honored, and there were many donations from local business for the raffle......

Wednesday Dog of the Week....Dixie Lee

This is Dixie Lee, a mixed breed Papillion...she is about 4 years old and needs someone who will be patient with her as she is distrustful of strangers but very loyal to her family....probably not for a family with children, but for a single person who needs a loyal companion, she would be a faithful friend...she is small, about 8 lbs or less.....I met her on Saturday when I was at the rescue...she barked when I first entered the patio...but showed no real aggression....stood off when the other puppies piled on me and I could see she was curious but wary....very pretty little dog...just like people...some of the rescue dogs have special needs....Dixie is one of those.
You can find Dixie and many other rescued dogs at the Sun City K-9 Dog Rescue




Yesterday I did some dead heading of the roses and picked some for the house...these are from our climbing rose bushes...I think they are gorgeous....the bushes are just loaded right now...I did feed them with some epsom salts earlier and I think it really helps them to bloom.....

I wanted to also share what our vegetable garden looks like.....thought you may like to see its progress...Cabbages, beets, and yellow crook neck squash

Corn

Tomatoes and peppers

We went to the town meeting last night...they had a contest for the new town seal..Alan had put in a entry...so was invited to come for the announcement of the winning entry....here is our new
Menifee town seal.....

No, its not his but nevertheless very colorful and does reflect Menifee's rural background..this entire valley was once all farm land and there are still wide open areas. We still have barns, tractors and sheep.....many houses are on large plots of land.
well, that's about all for today....if you want to see what kind of crafts I've been making, please check out my other blog...the link is on the left...or click here

Wednesday Dog of the Week - Ally

The dog rescue often gets pure bred dogs and this very nice German Shepherd would make a wonderful pet for a family......her name is Ally and she was found as a stray...no one has claimed her...she is about a year old...the person who found her, kept her for a few days trying to find her owner...he says she is very sweet, quiet, doesn't hardly bark, and loves children. He said she is house trained also..can use a doggie door, and dearly loves to cuddle...Ally did need some surgery, she was found with a broken knee....but that has been done.....if you'd like to meet Ally or any of her friends, she can be found at the Sun City K-9 Dog rescue
if you'd like to help with her vet bills, they do accept Paypal and just mark it for Ally.......
I met Ally personally and she is very friendly.

Don told me that they have Chihuahua puppies now so I will try to get some photos for next week......he asked me why I wanted to see them....I am just like a little girl when it comes to puppies, or kittens for that matter......I think we all have a little children inside, don't you? I think one never grows old, if we keep that little child fed occasionally...with a little bit of silly fun, a little fantasy and imagination.

Wednesday Dog of the Week

I had briefly mentioned this this wonderful pure bred Pomeranian last week, but as he is such a nice dog, thought I would feature him today...his name is Ford and this photo was taken before he was groomed...he has a nice haircut now....he weighs about 15 lbs. and believe it or not was found as a stray....no one has claimed this friendly family friend so he is waiting for his new home....
I also thought you might like to be introduced to the staff.....of course, you have seen our son before, Don who is holding one of pups, next to him is Elizabeth, the owner (90 years old this year!), then Kim and Glen, a retired couple. There are many volunteers also that come each day to walk and play with the dogs....there is no want of love here!
Right now they are trying to raise funds to buy a new micro-chip scanner...when each dog comes in, they are immediately scanned and if they are chipped, the owner is contacted...the old scanner is showing its age and needs to be replaced....a new scanner costs about $250...they accept Paypal, and also can take any gift cards you may not be using. You can find out more on the Sun City K-9 Dog Rescue site.
A few of the dogs are fostered out and they are always in need of more foster parents...the rescue would supply all needed food and vet care.

I found the Agricultural committee site where the bill #875 will be discussed...the link is here
Gov.Track is a great site and is written so that the average reader can understand it most of the time.....it keeps track of all the bills, has links to all the members of Congress, etc. if you are interested in our government, please bookmark it at Gov.Track US you can also see the statistics on every congressman or woman, and I am definitely checking them the next election we have..we all should to see if they live up to the 9 Principles and 12 Values of the 912 Project I think if each member of congress knew that they were being closely watched, they may be more responsible...
Us baby boomers and seniors may not be able to do as much physically as younger people, but we can write, call and email. We can influence and we can pray.
Again, this is totally bipartisan....both parties got us in this mess...and regardless if you are liberal, conservative or moderate, we all want the "business as usual" to stop.

Wednesday Dog of the Week

This is little Daffy, who was found wandering the streets....notices were put out but no one has claimed her...she is a sweet Rat Terrier about 1- 2 years old...a little shy but friendly..love the ears! Don says the rescue is "full up" right now with so many out out of their homes and unable to care for their animals....its really sad and these poor innocents suffer the most, being abandoned from their families. If Daffy is the one for you and you live in the area..please visit!

If you can help a little in caring for these little ones, please visit the Sun City K-9 Dog rescue, they take Paypal and its tax deductable...every bit goes into their care, food, shelter and vet bills....the vet they have often gives them reduced charges but it still costs as each dog that comes in, gets a complete vet visit - physical, shots and either spayed or neutered. Some times dogs come in who have been hurt, and need more intensive care. (remember Snuggles?) and of course, heavy coated dogs, need grooming on a monthly basis like this pretty Pom whose name is Ford.....

Any amount is very gratefully accepted and if they could talk, they would thank you too.

Wednesday Pet of the Week

This is Lily...a nice little girl..a terrier mix, less than a year old....she is ready for her forever home...loves kids and uses a puppy pad so is getting housebroken...she is a smart girl too, knows how to sit already on command....
A new Pet Co. has opened here in Menifee and the Sun City K-9 Dog rescue will have dogs there every Saturday and Sunday...our new mayor visited the dog rescue and wrote a nice paragraph about his visit in our local paper...Don says they got alot more visitors and also more donations since then, thanks so much....times are tough and they are getting alot of dogs in because of foreclosures...people leave their beloved pets and leave crying..Lily is one of those..but its a safe place and they know it...unfortunately, there is a limit to the dogs they can keep..they are only licensed for 20.
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I know many have woke up this morning with mixed feelings about the election. The people have spoken and Barach Obama will be our new President...I know in his speech last night he was gracious and spoke to those who didn't vote for him asking for support. At the same time he was speaking, two neighbors down our street got in a fist fight over the results, someone called the sheriff and it was a real brawl for a few moments, sirens, police cars, flashing lights,....lots of high feelings...all quiet here today so perhaps the worst is over....
I know we all have prayed for the Lord's will and I believe that God places who He wants in power as it says in Romans 13-verse1
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."
Time will tell if President Obama will be a good leader or not..as we have nothing to go by...he will certainly be tried and his true character will be come out. I hope he will be up to the challenges facing him and make right decisions, he needs our prayers.
It also looks like Prop.8 is going to pass and our state constitution will have marriage as between a man and a woman. We are glad for that as what a slippery slope it would be otherwise.
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On a lighter note, I tried a new recipe this morning, Applesauce Muffins, and they are really good....
This recipe makes 8 large muffins or 12 regular sized ones..
3/4 c. canola oil 2 c. sugar (I used Splenda)
2 eggs 1 t. vanilla
2 c. unsweetened applesauce 4 c. flour
2 t. baking soda 1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. allspice 1/2 t. cloves

Preheat oven to 350. In a large mixing bowl, put oil and sugar together and cream. Add the eggs and vanilla. Stir until mixed well. Gently fold in applesauce. In another bowl, sift together dry
ingredients. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the applesauce, sugar mixture just until moistened throughout. I added a cup of raisins and 1/2 chopped walnuts at this point. Spray your muffin pan with cooking spray and pour each cup 3/4 full. Bake 20 minutes or so.
These were really tasty and would be great split with some soft cream cheese.

Its alot cooler here now...we haven't put the furnace on yet and hope not to have to for some time...we got rain yesterday, not a lot but it feels like fall.

Wednesday Pet of the Week, Prayer Requests,

This is Sassy, she is a sheltie mix and is microchipped..very nice dog and great with kids, she is 4 years old and loves to go on walks....would be a wonderful loving pet for a family..I don't know her background but possibly given up because of the financial situation so many are having...she is housetrained also.....you can find her at Sun CityK-9 Dog Rescue
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No worries here on the fire situation....its far from us now.......thanks for the concern. Please pray for all the firefighters, rescue workers, police. and the people who have been evacuated from their homes, Red Cross workers too.....
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Speaking about the financial situation in this country.....there seems to be some sloppy thinking about redustribution of wealth...the Democratic candidate wants to tax the wealth and corporations and give it to the middle class and poor...a kind of social experiment...but when I put ourselves in the place of the wealthy or corporation...what would I do? I'd have one of several options...first, find loopholes to hide some of the money, downsize and let workers go to get to a lower tax base, quit, or depending on how big the company is, move overseas.
Did you see the conversation Obama had with a plumber? he tried to tell the plumber that it was a good thing for him to be heavily taxed, it was patriotic...it didn't go over very well.


I'm sure the poor are going to create jobs, aren't you?

I am trying to find a halloween type background forthis blog but all the pumpkin type ones are too bright and glaring.....this will have to do..I went through about 6 of them......good news is I found a really nice one for the holidays.

Further Pet Aventures

Donny brought home this tiny puppy today...he is very young and should still be with his mother but somehow found his way to the rescue....Donny is bottle feeding him and he will go back to the rescue tomorrow...there is no one there at night to bottle feed him and he didn't want to leave him...the puppy is half Chihuahua and half toy poodle so he will be tiny when full grown.
I was just noticing that the last few posts have all been about animals! Just what we are going through right now I guess....
we got Boots ashes back and they packaged them so nicely, they even took a paw print for us in plaster...

I am planning on framing a photo of Boots and attaching the pawprint to it somehow...
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We are discovering Bandit is quite the Diva.....she has Smoky a little buffaloed and sits on the back of the sofa like Queen of All She Surveys...she will let you pet her for a time, then lets you know that the Queen no longer needs your service...LOL...
I made an appointment at the vet for a checkup for her tomorrow....we get one free checkup visit so why not take advantage?
Another hot day....so far the lettuce seedlings are holding their own....

Wednesday Pet of the Week

This is Max, a purebred American bull dog puppy..he is about 3 months old and a happy guy...he is growing fast and will be about 75-80 lbs when full grown so needs a big yard or lots of walking.
American bulldogs have much the same temperment as their English cousins...loyal to their families, stubborn, and a little silly sometimes, at least the one we had growing up was but so loveable...Max was given up as his family was moving and they couldn't take him with them.
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If you get the Animal Planet, and haven't watched the TV show, "Its either Me or the Dog", please check it out...Victoria Stilwell is the trainer and much of what she says makes sense. Depending on where you are, you may find this show on another station, you can also find episodes on YouTube
she does have her detractors, but all in all, she is good....depends on what type of dog training method you go by....the Dog whisperer, Cesar Millan is good too
which is on the National Geographic channel and there are episodes here on YouTube
I think you can get good information from both trainers and if I had a dog that I was training, I would watch both.
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if you are interested in Max or any of his friends at the Sun City K-9 Dog rescue, you can find out more by clicking. This rescue is the only nokill rescue in the Menifee/Temecula valley, donations are gratefully accepted and are tax deductible..you can donate through Paypal on the website...thanks for all that are helping, last month they were able to get needed vet care and supplies through Paypal donations alone...

Wednesday Pet of the Week

Today's rescued dog is very rare and unusual....if you've never seen a Chinese Crested dog, they can be somewhat of a shock.....they are basically without hair on much of their bodies, with some hair on their heads.
I looked up this breed and here is what was said about their temperament:
Chinese crested are sweet, lively and playful. They are exceptionally loving and like to hug and smile.Affectionate with children. But children need to be taught to be careful as they don't have hair to protect them like most dogs.They are an intelligent companion and very alert. They are not barkers. They tend to get very attached to their owners and have difficult adjusting to a new one. They crave constant companionship.
There are two types, Chinese Crested and Powderpuff Chinese Crested.....
Introducing to you, Beauty, a Powderpuff Chinese Crested who was found wandering in the construction zone of our new large marketplace center here in Menifee which will open in late September. and no, her eyes are not yellow, that is just a flash reflection...she is tiny, only weighs about 8 lbs.

Donny says she is one of the sweetest of the dogs that have been rescued and wants to sit in your lap constantly....the vet gave her a clean bill of health....they are very clean and have no doggy smell or are troubled by fleas, great for someone with allergies....they do tend to lose their teeth at a young age for some reason...and I know, she probably would be in running in an ugly dog contest but her personality would make up for her looks.
You can find Beauty at the Sun City K-9 Dog Rescue at 951 679-6444

Wednesday Pet of the Week

This is Polly...she and her two litter mates were dumped on the side of the road, and found by some kind people. It is unknown what mix she is, or how old but she looks to be about 7-9 weeks....She is such a sweet puppy who needs a family to love her. Her litter mates are Annie and Katie. No dog or puppy deserves to be dumped on such a way, these puppies were fortunate to be found and rescued.


This is Annie

Sun City K-9 Dog Rescue is the only non kill rescue in the Menifee Valley.If you are interested in Polly, Annie or Katie, please give the nice people at the rescue at call at 951-679-6444.
They do wonderful work and have found homes for over 500 puppies and dogs in the last year. My son has been working at the rescue for almost 3 years and finds it very rewarding.






This is Katie..
They accept any donations, pet supplies, old blankets (nights can get cold), food, etc. Volunteers are always welcomed.
Good News! My son informs me that they will soon be accepting Paypal donations!

Double Pets of the Week!

This is Teenie, our first pet of the week....he is a tiny Chihuaua , only about 5 lbs and a darling little guy....about a year old and found abandoned. Sweet, and good natured, he would be perfect for single person. a family with older children or a senior...he is in good health, and ready for his forever home...
our second pet this week is Ben,



Ben is a doberman mix..again, rather shy and sweet, his family moved and couldn't take him with them, he is under two years old, likes people but takes a little while to warm up as he's timid....he needs a person who are gentle and quiet to gain his trust...leaving his first family was hard on him. He will give back far more in love and faithfulness to the right person.
You will find both Teenie and Ben at the Sun City K-9 Dog rescue.

Our weather is warming up and is nice today..the sun is out and I am planning on doing a lot of gardening today, plus work on my embroidery....also going to make some zucchini bread..the recipe is on Cora's blog, Hidden Riches in Secret Places, of course, our version will be sugar free...
Alan got several calls so he is out early working......
Tomorrow preview----- Blueberry Walnut Muffins...sugar free and delicious!