It was rainin' hard in Frisco....

"A dog is  one of the remaining reasons why some people can be persuaded to go for a walk." ~ O.A. Battista

So, far, we haven’t had a lot of rain this Winter in San Francisco.  But recently, we had a few wet days.  When it’s raining buckets, we sometimes skip a walk or it’s a very, very short one; but if it’s a lighter rain, and not so windy, the boys may get a full walk around the bay or the neighborhood, at the very least.

I prepared for this when we first moved up here.  I bought a good rain slicker and rain boots and even a rain hat.  I purchased two umbrellas – one small one for carrying in my bag and one fancy-schmancy English, wooden-handled, BIG umbrella so the whole family could get under it.  Well, I figured out quickly enough that while trying to hold on to an umbrella and two 100+ pound dogs – rain or shine – it is not conducive to a pleasant walk.  So, I would have to go sans umbrella.  My handy rain hat would have to do.

As we ventured out into the rain, I was as dry as I could be with slicker and hat and boots; however, the boys were not.  They did not seem to mind getting wet and still went about their business.  They frolicked and sniffed and splashed through mud puddles as every decent dog would do.

When we got home it was a different story.  Wet, long-haired, soggy, stinky dogs were entering our home and were inevitably going to park their butts on the carpet or on the couch.  Not so fast!

I get the dog-towels and towel-dry them and lay down the towels on the floor or the couch.  That does not stop the wet-dog-smell though.  And so I looked into doggie slickers.  And, of course, found them.

Here are Walter and Henry donning their new rain slickers.  Don’t they look like super heroes?  

Walter and Henry in their super-hero rain slickers; although their eyes also look like "Doggies of the Corn".

 Well, maybe they don’t look that thrilled but I have to tell ya:  once we get outside, they could care less whether they are wearing slickers or sweaters and it keeps the water off their backs.  In a rainy town like San Francisco, that is something.  

Sunshine on the Water and Henry Scares a Cat

"Sunshine on the water looks so lovely." ~ John Denver

Walter, Henry and I went for walk around our favorite part of the bay today.  The air was crisp and dry and the sun spread its illuminating beams across the sparkling winter waters.  How perfect nature is as it reveals its magic to us!   

The city by the bay was in full, clear view today with some cottony clouds suspended in the pale blue backdrop.  The boys sniffed and explored every bush and branch as if they were all brand new.  They always want to greet every passerby - human and canine alike.  Most are open to their enthusiasm and give them a much-wanted pet; but, still, I wait to get the okay.  

The little clip-clop bridge we cross on our walk

We walked down to the floating dock where I have to hold on tight to ensure they don’t decide to take a leap into the tempting waters.  

After we headed back up the dock ramp, we walked to a great spot on a curve where we can take a rest by the bench.  From here, we have a perfect view of the city skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge.  Does it get any better than that?

Sometimes on the walk back to our house, I unhook Henry from the leash and let him walk solo the rest of the way home.  Henry is very obedient.  Walter stays tethered to me as I cannot quite trust him from wandering off and getting into mischief.  I tell Walter he is my special boy as he watches Henry roam free to sniff out interesting things off the beaten path.  He does not  seem to mind.  Today, however, Henry got into a little mischief himself.  I took my eyes away for a moment to capture the church steeple with my camera and that is when I heard Henry’s very excited barks.  

Pretty church standing against the blue winter sky

When I turned around, I saw him at the base of a tree barking and looking up at a very alarmed kitty cat.  Oh, Henry!  

Oh, Henry!

Poor, scared kitty!

Is it terribly mean that I actually took the time to photograph this event while that poor kitty remained in the tree shaking like a leaf  - all for the sake of memorializing my sweet little pup's behavior so I could post it on my blog?  Does this confirm that I am "dog person" more than a "cat person" even though I have been mother to a sweet little feline named Mac for the past two decades?  Oh, dear.

At home, I don’t think Henry even realizes that Mac is a cat and even if he does, he has no interest in Mac.  He simply ignores him.  But on every walk, Henry relentlessly hunts in bushes and alleys in search of a cat.  I have even seen him awestruck by a cat statue!  He will stop dead in his tracks and unremittingly stare at the inanimate kitty with fixed eyes and pointed tail.  What a hoot!  Henry is a gentle guy so I really do not know what he would do if cats did not run away from him.  My guess is he would sniff and eventually lose interest.  The whole thing was really quite comical to watch, albeit not so much for the terrorized kitty cat.  Just look at the poor little guy in the tree.  I sure hope it didn’t take too long for him to get over it.

We always go around the back way to our house on the way home.  Walter and Henry get to go over the wooden dock to our back deck door.  

We go through one gate

And then we go through another gate....Walter decides to take a rest while I take the picture

All the walks with Walter and Henry are eventful to me in some way.  These boys never cease to delight me with their endless curiosity and their sense of wonder. It is as if they are seeing everything for the first time, every time.   

Peace and a New Year

"We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Years Day." ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce


Another year gone by.  A new one begins.  I have always found New Year's Eve a little sad.  As I sit in my warm and cozy living room watching and listening to Coldplay on the TV, I hold up my glass of champagne and toast another New Year.  Even though Brian is already in bed fast asleep, I am not alone.  My boys are right here with me.  I reflect on the past year and of many years gone by.  Time for a brand new year to start.  


At midnight, Walter and Henry are sleeping.  To them, it's just another regular night.  No New Year's resolutions to think about.  No wondering what the New Year will bring.  No worries at all.  How lovely to look at them with such peace on their faces and more importantly, in their hearts.  

Walter, laying by his bowl

Henry (with his toy and rawhide)

Here's to a wonderfully happy and peaceful New Year!

Christmas Blessings, Christmas Cheer

  “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year.” ~ Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge - A Christmas Carol








The Christmas season may be hectic with shopping and decorating; mailing cards and packages; and of course, cooking lots of good food and treats; but it is a time of sharing and giving and embracing family and friends; it is a time for reflecting on the past year, appreciating what’s in the moment and looking forward to the start of a fresh new year.

Reflections of 2011 and Christmas Blessings:

Highlights

Moving to the San Francisco Bay Area and finding a home and employment; discovering and experiencing nature’s beauty every day with our beautiful boys in this very special place on earth:  the vast bays and the bridges; the redwood and cypress trees; the abundance of birds and colorful, fragrant flowers; the mountains and hidden streams; the vineyards, quaint little towns and beautiful beaches – all surrounding this glorious city by the bay.

Challenges

Losing our jobs and moving from warm and mild San Diego to chilly and foggy San Francisco; finding a place that would allow all of our beloved pets and downsizing our lives; and most importantly, dealing with Brian’s health issues. 

Our move, though challenging, turned out quite well and became one of our highlights.  Brian is getting the very best medical care and doing better every day.  For this, we are thankful and have great hopes for health and prosperity in the New Year.

Christmas Cheer

In the days leading up to Christmas, we decorated and we shopped and we mailed and we cooked but still found time to get out with the boys and see what Mother Nature was serving up during the Winter months by the Bay:  frosty mornings and chillier days; dimmer daylight and lower tides; shedding trees and some of the most spectacular sunsets we have ever seen. 

   

Our Christmas tree sits in the corner of our living room with a white angel floating atop.  I can’t help but feel that she is a symbol of the protection and blessings bestowed upon us this year.

Our first Christmas Tree in Tiburon

Decorating the doorway (Walter with his Reindeer antlers in the background!)

We had a quiet Christmas holiday – just the five of us watching lots of sentimental Christmas movies and listening to carols.  On Christmas Day, we all took a lovely walk around the bay at low tide.  It was peaceful and serene.  Walter and Henry and Mac enjoyed the festivities and delighted in the presents delivered by Santa! 

Henry says:  I love my new toy!

Walter carrying his new toy (of course looking away from the camera)

For Christmas Eve, we had a buffet-style smorgasbord of shrimp, bruschetta, cheeses, deviled eggs and other goodies.  For Christmas dinner, I prepared the ultimate Beef Wellington meal (courtesy of Tyler Florence) by wrapping a pan-seared choice beef tenderloin in puff pastry lined with thin slices of prosciutto and mushroom, garlic and shallot pâté.  I served it with a peppercorn sauce, a side of herb-roasted fingerling potatoes and wilted winter greens (wilted with warm Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette dressing).  I should have photographed the whole thing before slicing it - but I didn't - so here’s a shot of the whole meal après slicing:

Beef Wellington with roasted fingerling potatoes and wilted winter greens

Here, the boys are once again subjected to their mom’s silly antics.  Believe me, those hats stayed on only for the photo after which they yanked them off and proceeded to chew them like a stuffed toy.  Notice Walter has to be held in place by his dad (as usual) and Henry kicks back and relaxes on the sofa. Funny boys.

Here she goes again....let's get this over with

Oh, goody!  Another chew toy!

Macky, looking very un-thrilled about his over-sized hat.  Where is my little hat?

All in all, this year has been full of change and blessings.  It seems that the only constant we have in our lives is change so here’s to hoping we have the courage and grace to expect it, accept it and embrace it.  

Happy New Year!

 

GIVING THANKS

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." ~ Thornton Wilder

Our Thanksgiving Table

I do hope everyone had a memorable Thanksgiving Day.  It is an American holiday when we are reminded to give thanks for all the things that make our life worth living.  We celebrate with lots of food and sit around with family and friends and of course, our faithful furry companions.  It's great to have one day dedicated to being grateful.  I try to live by that every day and take the time to look around, appreciate the beauty and whisper some words of thanks for my good fortune.

It was only me and Brian and the boys around the Thanksgiving table this year, but still, I made a traditional Thanksgiving feast with the anticipation of leftovers and some creative meals to follow.  Enclosed are some photos of my Thanksgiving creations which were lovingly and happily prepared.

As we watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade on television, I prepared some appetizers:

Stuffed Mushrooms

Brie cheese with Kahlua and Roasted Pecans

I prepared an organic turkey which I stuffed with crusty french bread, celery, onions, cranberries, apples and pecans and seasoned with sage, thyme and rosemary.

Before

After

For the sides, I made traditional mashed potatoes and gravy, sauteed green beans with garlic and sliced almonds, raspberry dill carrots and yams with brown sugar and pecans.

Here you have a glimpse of my dinner plate, packed with a sample of everything on the table:

And last but not least, I made some homemade pies.  The banana creme pie is made with a cream cheese crust and filled with a lovely vanilla creme custard and organic bananas topped with freshly made whipped cream and sprinkled with organic coconut flakes and shaved Ghirardelli dark chocolate.  I forgot to take a photo before we cut into it but you can get a glimpse of it in the photo of the full table at the top of this post.

I did take some photos of the apple pie.  This crust was made with lots of cold butter and finely grated Gruyere cheese.  What a fantastic crust this was!  It was flaky and light from the butter and savory from the Gruyere cheese which incredibly complimented the sweet honey crisp apples that were baked with butter, brown and white sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves. I brushed egg whites on the crust to make it shine a beautiful golden brown.  Delicious!

Apple Pie BEFORE

Apple Pie AFTER!

Well, that's does it for this year's Thanksgiving Dinner.  I hope you all ate heartily and are as thankful as I am for the bounty in our lives!  Thanksgiving Day is only a remembrance of what should be in our hearts every day.

P.S.  The boys had a nice walk and some skinless turkey on top of their crunchies which made them very happy, too!