Borador Goes Out the Door

     The new puppy actually had no name for several days - we could not agree on one and figured somehow or other, he would earn it. Then I thought of a television series that Pop adored called The Highlander, whose main characters were Duncan and Connor MacLeod. After pointing out that Duncan was also Gaelic for dark warrior, Pop was convinced and puppy was christened.

     At seven weeks, Duncan lived up to his name as he braved the outdoors for the first time. Our dark warrior sniffed the new territory and took tentative steps over the sliding door track. A lone leaf captured his attention before he made a gigantic leap down the first step

Then another new wonder on that first step - a stick!

And a few short minutes later, we've had enough outdoors and make the giant leap, or rather climb, back inside the house for a nap. After all, warriors need rest too.

Puppy Love: Duncan, the Borador

     Just shy of six weeks, Duncan Connor MacLoed, was adopted from a farm in rural Illinois. His mother was a mostly white border collie and his father was a black laborador retriever. Adorable, as most puppies are, he was especially vulnerable and endearing because he was very young. However he was weaned and the owners were anxious to find homes for the ten pups, so with one look we were hooked on all three pounds of that little Borador.

     The hook sank deepest into Rissy, who begged to visit quite often during those first couple of weeks. Puppy Dunc was showered with lots of attention and presented with an array of sleeping and carrying options, even a bread basket (above) that had heretofore been used on the dinner table. Rissy informed her mother that when she was sixteen, she was going to get her own puppy (mother responded in the affirmative - that a puppy would be much cheaper than a car!)

Birthday Yummies - Kid Cuisine

     A family party for Rissy's eleventh birthday included these French Hot Dogs which were a little more elegant than dogs in a bun and very easy to prepare. Loaves of french bread were sliced and "cored" with a knife. Slices of Velveeta were poked into the holes and then a halved frankfurter. Soft butter was spread over the tops of the sandwiches which were placed close together on a baking sheet and covered with foil. Twelve minutes in the oven at 350 degrees  with the foil and then two minutes without it produced an unusual but tasty version of the ordinary dogs, which were served with the usual condiments of ketchup, mustard, etc. for dipping.

     Since it is still early spring, frest fruit is available but not very sweet yet. Rissy loves fruit and salads, so I included a platter of lovely red romaine leaves topped with pear halves and a bowl of green grapes.

     And of course, a birthday has to have cake. Rissy loves QT slushies so I created mini-slushie cupcakes in her honor. The strawberry cakes were topped with vanilla frosting and sugar sprinkles and slipped into computer-generated QT wrappers. Straws of halved licorice twizzlers were inserted for effect. These were so cute we forgot to put candles in them!

Renovated Kitchen - the Thrifty Way

     Although the kitchen was redone two years ago, it still feels new every time I walk in the door. After the oven was replaced because the doors wouldn't close properly anymore and the new floor was laid, I decided it was time for the cabinets to get a facelift. With a limited budget, paint was the obvious choice for the pine cabinets, which were original to the fifty year old house, but in very good shape. It was daunting to begin such a project while working full time so I compromised on a time frame: every week I removed a  set of doors or a drawer to the basement, where it was sanded and painted with three coats of white semi-gloss enamal latex. Thus the paint project took nearly a whole season but the kitchen was never out of commission entirely. At that point, since I was having trouble deciding on the color and compostion of a replacement counter, I was in no hurry to continue, which turned out to be a lucky move.  During a chance inspection, the old stovetop was declared by the local gas company to be unsafe and therefore unusable (two days before I was to host a large Easter brunch) so a quick decision had to be made. The time was opportune to place a new counter along with a new stovetop.

      At first, I missed the lovely stainless steel appliances which were classic and easy to clean, but the white is proving equally easy to maintain and is so bright and cheerful. And the original ceramic wall tiles, in a pleasing terra cotta color that I have always loved, are popular again hence they will remain indefinetly. The laminate countertop with its rolled edge, is simulated blue granite which adds a tone of sophistication. My kitchen is not large but with the soaring cathedral ceiling, the big beautiful window over the sink, and now the gleaming white cabinets and appliances, this hard-working room is a delightful place to indulge in cooking, baking, eating and even clean-up!

Rissy's Rolls

     The dough had been mixed, kneaded and was in the unheated oven for its first rising. Rissy decided, after perusing a set of photos depicting different options, to form knot rolls, an unfamiliar but interesting shape. The dough was easy to cut, roll and twist into knots, and after another rising, were popped into a hot oven. When Rissy presented the bread basket later at the dinner table, she proudly announced, "Would anyone like one of these? They are knot rolls!"

     Quick as a wink, and to Rissy's consterantion, her father answered, "If they are not rolls, what are they?" However, in the end, the warm, soft buttery knots were enjoyed by all and pronounced a great success.