Dirty Vegan, Vegan Cookies, Vegan Blue Cheese, Pink-Headed Warbler, & BFF Chi's!

Let the next round of Vegan Cookbook Chatter BEGIN!  I know I posted on last week but I received the rest of them in the mail today and I hope to spread them out over the next week or two along with some other FUN stuff!

The Dirty Vegan is one of 8 more on my list to share with you!  Just by thumbing thru it I saw a lot of Vegan Comfort Foods and what I would call 'cheater' recipes that might use store bought vegan items within another recipe but this book also has some really great from-scratch solutions that are quick and easy if you don't want to buy the storebought version of some ingredients!

Here is the other mini-pack of cookies I grabbed while at Mustard Seed Market over the weekend.  They were SO VERY RICH I could only eat one at a time.  This pack had 2 cookies - whereas the Thumb Prints had 3 cookies.  These were Chocolate Cookies with Chocolate Chips in them.

Both cookie options were pretty tasty!  Especially for someone who doesn't eat a lot of sweets.  It was a nice few-and-far-between or once-in-a-blue-moon type of treat.

This is another past-find I had yet to blog about!  I found it at Wegmans a while back and it's vegan Blue Cheese!  It was pretty yummy!  I, personally, would LOVE to find a chunky Blue Cheese but this is good in the meantime.  I do like the texture of Daiya's a bit more than this one but the price was more impressive on this one for the size difference. 

This is quite versatile and I really hope I can find some of the other flavors I have seen online of WayFare's Vegan Cheeses!  Have you tried any of them yet?  If so - what did you think!?

For about a year - I have received the Bird of the Week from the Audubon Society.  It has become a weekly 'thing' with DH and I an now my dad's in on it!  When I get the bird of the week I forward it to them!

This was last week's Bird of the Week!  Isn't the Pink-Headed Warbler AWESOME?

Last night when I finally sat down and started relaxing (after a failed Carrot Soup attempt) I looked over and saw Cricket jump up and sit right next to Paco.  They were cheek-to-cheek and I don't mean their faces! LOL! 

I have to pick Paco up every time he wants on the sofa and Cricket usually don't get THIS close to him - but I'm glad he did!

Spring Leftovers & Napping Furkids

This is how I fell asleep the other night!  With Cricket & Riley laying on my legs right next to each other.  Paco sleeps in his pen area for safety reasons and his immune issues.  We would hate for him to try and jump up on something and injure himself.  He doesn't seem to mind it - I think he actually prefers it - it's his own space that no one else can invade!  But aren't these two so sweet?  Cricket is certainly sweet when she wants to be and other times she's the instigator!





In other news...Spring has sprung!  And here are some leftovers that are popping up on their own from our Rooftop Garden/Container Garden.

2 kinds of chives!  They look better than ever before!  They are mostly onion chives but I think one is a garlic chive, too!  In this background of this photo you can also see some Lavender as well!

This is a close up of our Rhubarb that is start over for the season!  How exciting!  Can't wait to see what else progresses!  I do know that we need to start planting seeds to see what happens with those soon, too!

With my full time job as of late - I have been doing a lot of local speaking for high school students and organizations.  It's been fun!  I'm also highly considering joining our local chapter of The League of Women Voters!

Recap of the Week

TGIF!  I'll get the not-so-great-news out of the way, first!  This past week Paco (our Chihuahua who has immune issues) had a puffy nose and I took him to the vet and they are thinking it's tooth related so long story short...they are going to do dental surgery next Thursday.  Because of his immune issues and those issues having to do with clotting and NOT clotting properly they have to treat this a bit differently.  I'm hoping all goes well.  Please send positive thoughts, prayers, vibes our way!  In other crazy news...my Fiat needs 4 new tires!  Blah!  Plus...I'm still without a dishwasher!  AND...our gutter fell off the house...so...YEAH...it's been a rough go-around!

Anyways...on to more positive things...such as FOOD...First photo is part of my lunch from Monday.  It's a Red Cabbage Crunch Salad of sorts.  Raw...carrots, cabbage, onion, pumpkin seeds, parsley, sunflower seeds, etc...

Next photo is simply Oil Roasted Brussels Sprouts with herbs!

I got both of these at Wegman's which are clearly marked whether or not they are vegetarian, vegan, or otherwise.  Why can't every eating establishment be that obvious!?

I was able to meet up with my sister for lunch that day since I was in her neck-of-the-woods.

Not too long ago I made this Pimento Cheese.  It turned out super YUMMY!

Silly me...I didn't save the recipe!  I can tell you that it has Cashews, Pimentos, Nutritional Yeast, SeaClear, and more in it, tho!

I've been into more comfort and convenience foods as of late and need to throw in more grains.
I hope to do more casseroles, one-pot-meals, and thrown-together-bowls in the near future, too!

So  many vegan food combos - so little time, eh!?

Last night I did this Plant-Based Cheese and once again I don't have the recipe with me.  It is in need of some tweaking, first, so it might be for the best that I don't post it now but I will tell you that it had potatoes, carrots, cashews, almond milk, nutritional yeast, minced garlic and onion, and a few other little things thrown in.

It turned out ok but I felt it was missing that last little something-something.

Something else I should mention that was pretty awesome this week was that it reached 72 degrees the other day!  Yes...in mid-march...in the snow belt!

Last week I stopped in at a semi-local produce market.  I say semi-local because it it still about 40 minutes away from my house but since I am traveling up that way for work at least once a week now I am able to stop in and see what they have.  It's also one of the few places of its kind that is open year-round in this area.

I found these Honey Tangerines on sale 2 for $1.  I also found Honey Bell Oranges that you can see in the next photo.  The Honey Bell Oranges were 79 cents each.



This might not sound like a deal to some of you in sunny Florida or California where citrus is plentiful but here for this time of year the price was right for me.

So these 4 items made up my lunch that day!

I'm still waiting for a semi-local restaurant to re-open.  It's a vegetarian and vegan restaurant that has been under construction for well over a year.  The owner is doing all the renovations himself so I understand the delay but I won't lie...it's nearly killing me! LOL

I will leave you with this photo of Cricket.  She's doing well and still a crazy lady that is for sure!  Riley is doing good, too, and so is Charlie the feral cat we have!  Here's hoping all goes well with Paco's dental surgery on Thursday!

I will say I have been tempted to adopt another dog from a local shelter...his name is Tipper.  I think 3 dogs is maximum capacity for our house but I will tell you that this specific dog has been 'haunting me' for WEEKS.  I have been visiting him at the shelter and smuggling in treats for him.

Vegan Thanksgiving Foods, Furkids, and Vegan Ranch Dressing

I took a few days off from the 'net' and now I'm back!  Kicking things off with some of the Vegan Thanksgiving Foods I gobbled up last week...from top the clockwise...Garde'in Holiday Roast, Acorn Squash, Wildtree Stuffing, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole, and in the center are Sweet Potatoes!

My attempted at the Tater Tot Casserole was a last minute discussion but turned out pretty good.

Wildtree makes a boxed blend of Stuffing Mix and my mom made it for me.  It's heavy on the rosemary but it totally works in the blend for the stuffing!

I have to say this year has been the first year I have ever had Leftover Vegan Turkey Sandwiches.  With Just Mayo on top - it was YUMMERS!

One thing I did this past weekend was re-do my cookbook sections.  I have a slew of old vegetarian cookbooks in another section that I don't really use much but didn't want to throw away.  These are my newer ones, my all-time favorites, and such.  I'm so glad I did this!  Now I have to jump in and try something I haven't tried yet from them!  There are many of my favorites missing from these shelves...ones that I have borrowed time and time again and SHOULD probably add to my collection.

Cricket has been pretty high strung lately perhaps it's the change of season (not sure).  Regardless I can't stay mad at her long...I mean...LOOK at this...could you?

She's still only 4 or 5 pounds and doubt she will get any bigger than she is now because she IS 2 years old.  We and other vets and shelter people thought that we was a chihuahua and rat terrier mix but I think because of her size she's probably more like a toy rat terrier and chihuahua mix.  Regardless we adore her!

The cuteness doesn't stop there...

Look at the brothers!

Paco and Riley were bonding more than usual this past weekend, too!  Paco continues to do well and we are VERY thankful for that.  Riley is in the middle of another ear infection but we are used to that happening and always have medication on stand by.

Charlie has been pretty good with the exception of him biting me the other day.  This isn't out of the ordinary for him...he's moody because he was a feral cat.  Again...we LOVE him regardless!

I know this isn't a great photo nor does it look overly appetizing but I had to share it with you and will definitely be doing it again and again so hopefully at some point I can get a better pic!

What you see here is Vegan Ranch Dressing that I made and it's my BEST attempt to date!

1/2 C Just Mayo
1/2 C Coconut Almond Milk
1 tea Onion Powder*
1 pinch Garlic Powder**
1 tea Dill***
2 T Nutritional Yeast
Black Sea Salt to taste

*I used Wildtree Absolutely Onion which is now Organic and Vegan (the old version contained Whey Powder this version doesn't)

** I used Wildtree Garlic Galore

*** I used Wildtree Dill Dip Blend

Cricket, Hair, and Such

TGIF!  Just doing a quick post for today as I plan to switch gears starting next week post-Vegan MoFo.  Remember you can still sign up for the MoFo Off Season Community just click on the first graphic at the top of my sidebar for full details.  Today I thought I would share some photos of Cricket.  These were taken a few weeks ago when we are camping.  I brought her the one day and she really loved hanging out!

That first photo - I swear she's going to start speaking English or something - look at the LOOK on her face!  In the 2nd and 3rd photos she was looking out the window.  And the 4th one was one of the days I took her to work.  She walks around the office like she owns the place - I swear!  I will have near future posts and updates on the other furkids very soon!  Thanks to those of you who always ask about Paco (who has ongoing immune issues)

Here's a silly photo of me - a selfie - after getting my hair done.  It was LONG overdue.

Tonight is my husband's 25th High School Reunion.  I have some ideas as to how the events might go down but I will save it for a post next week!

It's sure to be a brew-haha!

The weather is REALLY cooling down RAPIDLY.  I will for-sure have to wear layers tonight to the reunion.

This week has been a week of QUICK MEALS, Convenience Items, and Comfort Foods.  Next week I will be changing that.  My goal is to start in with more warming soups next week and I want to get back to veganizing world foods, too!

This last photo is of one of the vegan white sauces I made for pasta this week.  Its base is Pine Nuts.  It was quite good but still me I don't think I wrote down the recipe!  Eeeeek!

Question of the Day: Tell me about the last sauce you made from scratch!

More WINNERS and More Pics!

Hi gang!  The 7 days of giveaways has come to a close and I have a few announcements to make...

1st Announcement...the winner of the MyKind D3 Vegan Spray was Deborah!

2nd Announcement...the winner of the GRAND PRIZE Prize Pack  of 7 additional Garden of Life Products was Ashley!

CONGRATS to you BOTH!

If you didn't win or even if you are new to my blog be sure to stick around because I have more contests and giveaways coming soon!  Including one later this week!

You are going to LOVE it!

Now...on to some pics!  These were taken this past Sunday I went over to my parents house and their neighbor wanted to see Cricket and snapped some pics and sent them to me.

Due to my job/title change I don't wear jeans as much anymore so it was nice to wear them over the weekend.  I was also sporting one of my many Bob Marley T-Shirts!

Cricket was playing SHY for some reason!  I also took her to the fair grounds for about an hour and one of the guys there called her The Cricket Monster.  I think I will be calling her that when she does her 'zoomies' around the house!

I will most likely have two posts today because I want to share some of the goodies I got in the mail yesterday and today.  So be on the lookout for that!

Thank you all for participating in the giveaways last week!  It was FUN!

Meet Cricket!

Meet Cricket!

Well, the local shelter was calling her Layla.  Her name before that was Skye.  She doesn't respond to either name.  We were trying out names on her and she acknowledged Cricket.  I think her full name is going to be Cricket Chaka Khan Bliss.

Yup!  We are fostering her.  But I really think that that foster situation is going to turn into an adoption situation.  She's amazing!  And the other 2 dogs are getting a long with her well, too!

She's listed as a Chihuahua Mix.  I'm convinced she's mix with a tad of Rat Terrier...but...she has SO MANY Chi tendencies!  She looks way bigger than she actually IS in this photo.  She's only about 4 pounds.

I've taken her into work with me the last two mornings.  She LOVES riding in the car.  She also likes toys.  She's about a year and 7 months old.  She's been at the shelter for 7 months approximately.

Paco's old puppy vest fits her great!  She's very friendly, answers to just about anyone, and doesn't mind crate time for bedtime.

I'm hoping everything continues to go well because I'm already falling in love with her - she's AMAZING!

On Sunday I took her over to my parents house and they have a nicer neighborhood to go for walks in.  The drivers in the area are more cautious and slow.  Where I live they treat the street like a race track.  I felt safer there not knowing how she would react quite yet.

Check out this photo!  That's Lexi - my parents dog - on the left and Cricket on the right.  Lexi is a Border Collie/Rat Terrier Mix.  We were calling Cricket - Lexi's Mini-Me because of the marking.  They got along GREAT, too!

With Paco's health issues I can't really take him on walks.  Riley is VERY choosy when it comes to men...he only likes my husband and his brother.  So it will be great to have a walking buddy!

Isn't she the CUTEST?

Paco ~ Update ~ ITP Sucks!

I know I have been hit and miss lately but things have been crazy at home with losing Suzie and a few other things as well as at work.  Today's post is an update about Paco who is still battling with ITP.  Yup!  ITP Sucks!  We lost Suzie on Saturday and Monday we had a scheduled vet appt for Paco and after his blood work the vet told us he was relapsing.  They wanted to see him again today.  After doing more blood tests - the results were still a little 'weird looking' but with his white blood cell and platelet counts being where they should be they said to keep doing what we have been doing.  This is technically GOOD NEWS at the moment that I am VERY grateful for as I don't think I could have dealt with the loss of 2 furkids in a matter of days.  We have to take him back AGAIN next Wednesday.  We we learned from all of this - this past week - is that he will have to be on some sort of medication for his immune system for the rest of his life.  However, because the steroid he's on right now causes him to have stomach/GI ulcers - we will probably have to change the med he is on at some point but because of the issues we will have to do that over time and carefully.  In addition to that med - he's been taking a med to coat his tummy to prevent ulcers - which apparently wasn't working on it's own.  We added over the counter Pepcid as well as a liquid twice/day - twice/week (Tuesday/Friday).  

Outside of the ITP issues he has developed what looks like small bruises in a few spots - near his hip - and now on his tummy - which I thought was part of the ITP - but his vet thinks its separate - and a skin issue.  So tomorrow he starts a pill for that, too.  This poor little guy is on SO MANY pills at the moment!  Eventho he's dealing with all of this - he's dealing with it VERY WELL.  His spirits are up, he's vocal, he's playing, etc.  Eventho we did get some GOOD NEWS today - it's going to be an ongoing struggle from here on out.  Some days better than others, I guess.  I'm just grateful to still have him in my life.

I was reading that "Chia" means "Strength".  Since he's a Chihuahua we've often called him "Chia" as one of his many nicknames.  Now that I know it means "strength" it just seems even more fitting.

Thank you for all of the kind words about my last post on Suzie.  It really means a lot.  Thanks again!  Ongoing positive vibes for Paco - always appreciated, too!

For The Love of Music & Furkids

Furkids can be so funny!  Paco's been extremely cute as of late!  Here are several photos over the last week or so of some of Paco as well as my parents 'kids'.

These first couple are Paco from last night!  He's been LOVING the pillows - ever since he ate one - he's been much better about them - and sleeping on them at night...usually above my head...but this was before the rest of 'us' got tired and he buried his face in one of them!  He was TOTALLY in deep - DEEP slumber!  He didn't even move when I took the photo!

He did wake up for a little bit - but then went back to sleep soon after that.  Here's a photo of him in between two pillows on the sofa.  What a goof, eh!?

At least he's back to being GOOD - he was a little hell-raiser for a few weeks!  He must have just been excited about Christmas, right!?  YEAH...that MUST be it!

Like I said...he's been doing this for a week or two and this was one of the photo's I captured in the middle of the night!  I woke up and there he was - just like this - staring at me - it was so funny!

It made me laugh - out loud - with no one around!

It's been kind of rough since Suzie's surgery.  Riley and Suzie have not wanted to go back to the bedroom to sleep - but - at the same time - they don't want me up there unless they are with me - but they won't let me sleep - so I have been sleeping down stairs for the most part since DH has to get up around 3am for work.

It just works out better that way - I guess.  I think our next purchase for the house, tho, might have to be a pull-out bed/couch or a futon, tho!  It will make things much more comfy!

Paco's been much more happy because he stays out with the other 2 dogs and me at night when I'm downstairs.

The cats have been doing well, too!  Gabby's still LOVING her chair and Charlie has ALWAYS loved his!  Most of the 'kids' in our house hold are getting older - Paco's the youngest - but then we jump to 9, 10, and TWO 14 year olds!

A few days before Christmas I visited my parents house and they had some surprises for me including some "healthy snacks" that my father got from a salesman.  In addition he received a Holiday "Tripi" Truck with snacks that he divvied.  Afterwards - we put the cardboard "truck" on the floor and their beautiful Orange Fluffy Cat - JETER - yes, named after Derek Jeter - of the New York Yankees - decided to jump inside and play "Truck Driver".  It was so cute!

Then some one just curious - or jealous - or both and went over to get nosy!  This is Lexi - the puppy that my parents recently adopted!  She's amazing!

Her and Jeter get along well.  Her and the other cat Bernie...well, they tolerate each other.  No major problems, really, tho!

In other news...

Some of you may know that my husband is in a local/regional band.  It's a Bluegrass Band and since he had a few days off last week he was able to attend an open jam with other members of the band in a nearby club.  It was FUN.  They were able to see some old friends they haven't seen in a while.

Here are a couple of photos from that night!  A few of the members of the band as well as some of the other guys who came to the jam session that night!

Here's another pic of Tom - on the left - the band's mandolin player and my husband in the middle.  The other guy on the right was another jam session member I didn't know very well...but he seemed nice.  Tom's wife Nicole and I were at a nearby table 'catching-up'.

Mini Cleaning & Reorganizing (of the Kitchen)

Just thought I would share a mini cleaning project over the long weekend...

In the corner of my kitchen is this little section here.  For YEARS I had it filled with stacked Veg*n Cookbooks!  I decided to move them into the Dining Room area - that we don't really use as a dining room per say but as a spot where we do our 'bills' and have the dog food Rubbermaid tub as well as Paco's Pen area, where we keep our Vacuum Cleaner and Steam Cleaners, and a few other things.  I more specifically moved them to the closet area where we have some shelves inside.
It was so nice to see a few shelves free of clutter for once!  I then lined up all of my Protein Powders and mixes as well as the nuts I have on the bottom shelf and then put my boxed items on the other shelf.  Some of my husband's stuff is on that shelf, too, including his popcorn.  Once I open the other Freekeh and Veggie Noodles I will store them in Mason Jars.  I haven't found a Mason Jar the correct size to store Rice Noodle yet.  As you can see I have quite the collection started of my Garden of Life Products.  I wanted to see all of them and have better access to them.  Before doing this I had them in a cupboard and wasn't thrilled with the set-up.  Now I am!  Another little fun thing this past weekend was this signing and dancing Chihuahua that my mother found for us.  It's too cute!

The Chi & Me

Since Suzie's Surgery - all 3 dogs and I have been camping out on the sofa and/or the floor for nearly a week!  I think the happiest camper of them all is Paco.  He's been VERY good thru it all!  I'm somewhat surprised.  After all, he's the youngest and the most playful.  But on the other hand he's very emotional, too!  I know he's been worried about Suzie and trying to be on his best behavior.  In addition to the 4 of us 'camping out' on the living room floor...Friday and Early this morning we've had snow.  So that means it's Blanket and Sweater Time!  Paco LOVES both!  Here you will see him curled up in a blanket on my lap over the weekend.  This is the most snuggly blanket we have in the house, I think!

He's been just too darned cute as of late!  BUT...with the cooler weather...it's not really helping his teary eyes.  It doesn't really seem to bother him tho.  He's been fairly good with his baths and his nail trimmings, too!  MUCH better than Suzie and Riley are.  I don't bath Suzie as much, tho, because her skin gets dry.  She gets baths a little less than Riley and Paco.  Riley is such a wimp when he gets bathed or anything else for that matter!  I'm sooooo NOT a fan of winter, snow, or the cold weather than goes along with it!  Uggg!  BUT...I'm trying to pick out some positives about the upcoming months of COLD...one would certainly be when the furkids snuggle more than usual.

I'm not even joking...Paco TOTALLY does this all by himself with the blankets!  He sure knows how to burrow in there!  Here's a photo of him in one of his sweaters! 

We've also been trying to catch up on some of our Netflix and Hulu+ Shows over the last couple of weeks since Hubby hasn't been moving very fast because of his stomach issues.  We've found that Paco is a fan of Bones as well as SNL and Jimmy Fallon.  Riley likes Nashville - we watch that after Hubby goes to bed.

Here's another photo of Paco sporting one of his favorite sweaters.  He ROCKS the Argyle.

In other news - my mom, sister, and I attended the Lake Erie Wine Trail Holiday Harvest on Saturday and we were at Noble Winery and it was CRAZY busy!  We did really well!  We have a few private parties coming up in the next couple of weeks as well.  One is a tasting, one is a book party, and the other will be our Holiday Open House that we do every year.

What have you been up to recently!?

Veggie Stew, Farmers Market Close, Lentil "Cream Cheese" Spread, Fall Weather, & Smoothies

WOWZA!  What a week!  And it's ONLY Tuesday!  The main reason that I have been 'few and far between' on my posts for over a week has mostly been because I have been running non-stop!  Hubby was in the ER - twice in 5 days - as well as the doctors office - twice in those same 5 days.  He has 2 Kidney Stones, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and Colitis...he might also have a Urinary Tract Infection.  He's been on the BRAT Diet for the past week and he's NOT loving it...the meat eater he is!  BRAT stands for Banana, Rice, Apple Sauce, and Toast.  So far he hasn't done the Apple Sauce but has done the other items on that list.  He's feeling a LITTLE better but meets with another doctor today and Thursday has an appointment with a Urologist for the Kidney Stones.

In other news...and there is LOTS of other news...I have some foods to share with you...some great attempts and what I consider a FAIL with Apple in a Soup.  You don't know unless you try, right?  Anyhow...in the first photo above...you will see a Gentle Veggie Stew I made last week.  I usually LOVE intense flavors but this one was VERY Gentle.  In this Veggie Stew...I used the following...6 Small Potatoes, 4 Small Tomatoes, 1 C Kale, 1 C Chickpeas, 1 Small Onion, 1 Red Pepper, 1 Green Pepper, 1 tea Garlic Powder, 3 to 5 squirts of Braggs Liquid Aminos, 2 C of Water or more if needed.

This past weekend was the last weekend of the season for our local Farmers Market.  I wasn't able to go this weekend but I went the weekend before.  I'm so sad to see this season end!

One of my FAVORITE Dip/Spread Attempts I have done in a while was this Lentil "Cream Cheese" Spread that I made with 1 C Red Lentils (cook those so it will be more) and 2 hefty Tablespoons of Daiya Cream Cheese so that it melts along with a tiny splash of Garlic Dipping Grapeseed Oil.  (Or you can use Garlic, Sea Salt, your choice of Oil).

This was AMAZING!  I did more of it last night but mad it thinner and might even thin it out even more and use it for a sauce on pasta or rice soon!

Another lovely food attempt last week was a smoothie I made using Cashew Milk, Sun Warrior Chocolate Protein Powder, and about 8 Frozen Strawberries.  I topped it with Hemp Hearts/Hemp Seeds.  It was tasty.

I have been tinkering with a LOT of smoothies lately and will report back with my creations!

Yes...it's been cooling WAY DOWN here and I am NOT LOVING it.  The warmer the better for me.  Don't get me wrong...I LOVE the seasonal veggies and colors of the Foliage but I would take the warmer weather that is for sure...and lets not even discuss SNOW...eeeek!  Anyhow...the Coats/Jackets are out and being worn.  Paco's sweaters are now back in use, too!  This is one of his favorites!  I think I will end this post for now.  I just remembered a bunch of other pictures I have to crop and post about.  In addition to everything else from last week we had some phone issues and I ended up getting Hubby's iPhone 5 and he upgraded to an iPhone 5 S so I will mention that in my next blog post as well!

Paco's Pouting, Suzie's Scratching, The Rouse is Rockin', and Sassy Cheesy Salsa

It kind of looks like Paco is pouting here.  I took this picture over the weekend - in the evening - when we were comfy on the sofa.  I believe this was Saturday Evening.  This was before I was so RUDELY Awakened by Suzie at 5am Sunday Morning Nailing just below my left eye as she jump off the back of the sofa and did her best impression of a Guard Dog while seeing something she questioned outside of the Living Room Window!  She woke me out of a dead sleep with that nail-scratch and I'm certain it will scare.  I've been putting Aloe on it a few times each day in hopes it will help in the meantime.  I don't usually wear make-up but I am trying to 'rock' the cover-up today while at work to try and hide it.  WOWZA!  Did that hurt for most of yesterday! 

Suzie knew she 'got me' and was trying to 'butter up' to me the rest of the day yesterday - her way of apologizing.  Of course I couldn't stay mad long.  I mean...LOOK AT This!  I sometimes call her my 'lil pot belly' cuz she lays on her side and shows her belly like a baby pot belly pig.  She cracks me up!  Yeah...so I couldn't stay made long even tho the scratch is clearly visible to everyone I come in contact with.

In other Weekend News - Saturday - during the day we went to Youngsville, PA, for the Rouse Summerfest with our Wildtree Stock.  Rouse is a local historical name known for quite a bit around here.  Now the Rouse Name is known for the Rouse Home/Estates.  It's a Retirement Home/Nursing Home/Transitional Care/Day Care, among other things.  It was a fun time, the weather was cooler than it has been, there were a few bands playing Bluegrass, Oldies/Beach Music, etc.  It rained a little bit but held off until almost the end for the heavier rain.  We didn't do awesome business-wise but we didn't do awful, either.

At the end of a busy weekend and headed into the busiest week of my work year I needed some comfort food and noticed I had some Daiya Cheese I needed to use.  I wanted an EASY sauce type thing for Corn Chips so I added the remainder of the Daiya Shreds into a splash of Almond Milk and melted it down and added a half of a jar of Natural Salsa - Medium - to it.  It's VERY tasty and I have lots to get me thru this week!  I think I might thin a bit out for pasta early this week to stretch it a bit further.  Rice mine work well, too!