Saturday, November 16, 2013

A Noteworthy Case


Meet Sherlock & Watson.

After these two inquisitive detectives finished working on a special case at the Peace Plantation Animal Sanctuary in Walton NY, they headed over to North Shore Animal League America to investigate the possibility of a new place to call home. 
After Sherlock’s deductive reasoning proved successful – Sherlock & Watson now reside in Flushing Queens – with me!
 

 

 


 


 









Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Farewell Sweet Angel


Last night I said goodbye to a dear, sweet angel – my dog Maggie.


She was the silliest, sweetest, best little friend anyone could ever ask for.  She celebrated her 17th birthday this past April, and loved me no matter what . . . hopefully she felt the same love in return from me until the very end of her life.

The very beginning of her life began looking a bit uncertain.  She was not only given a chance at life but I was also given a chance to experience a love that was so precious from this cute little puppy.



I will hold onto so many precious memories of our years together – below are some favorites:

- her never-ending wagging tail
- the way she greeted me whether I was away for a minute dumping the garbage, or away on vacation
- the way she jumped down running around when I asked, “Where’s your toy?”
- how she shook that toy while it “fought with her” and then finally brought it to me
- when she heard the elevator bell ring in my hallway she got excited because someone might be visiting
- her disappointment when she heard another apartment door close – knowing they were not visiting us
- when someone did ring our doorbell - for some reason she first ran after the cat - chasing her down the hall - then ran back to the door
- how she carried a stick, head held high, prancing while we walked around our neighborhood
- she got excited when she got a new leash, collar and harness - such a girl loving the wardrobe!
- how she waited in front of the stove, sniffing for hours, whenever I made homemade tomato sauce
- how much she loved a treat of macaroni & sauce with her food
- her strange obsession with toast – plain ol’ toast – and would get so excited while I was toasting bread
- how she danced around the kitchen anytime I made popcorn – and then shared some with her
- how she would run back & forth barking under my living room window – and when I looked down 6 stories – I would see someone calmly & quietly walking their dog
- how she constantly followed me from room to room whenever I was busy running around my apartment – always lying down directly behind me
- how such a small dog could take up so much room in a queen sized bed

There is so much more . . . but most of all, I’m amazed at how much of my heart she captured, how deep in my soul she reached, and how blessed I am to have had her in my life. 

Farewell sweet angel.



Monday, November 4, 2013

BAM!

Oh how I LOVE TO COOK!  How I LOVE TO SHARE A MEAL!  And oh, how I LOVE TO EAT!

Get a bunch of friends together to cook some favorite, delicious meals for a pot luck – and BAM – it’s an International Cook Off!

I shared a dish that I had made with one of my friends at work, and as she was eating it for lunch, two guys sitting near her asked what she was eating.  She told them I made a special dish for her and I was now being approached and asked, “Where’s ours?”

I promised that I would include them in my next shared dish, but after awhile, with further discussion – we all decided to each bring in a favorite dish and have a pot luck lunch.

The taste buds were tingling – the questions were being asked, “What are you bringing?”  The choices were all over the place.



After awhile – and with growing appetites . . . the day came and there we were – at our 1st International Cook Off!
 

 


Lisa’s Curried Chicken





Manny’s Crispy Fried Shrimp


Stan’s Korean Chap Jae Noodles & Kimbap
 
 

Nancy’s Cajun Jambalaya

 
Maddie’s Brazilian Feijoada
  

Jenna’s Quinoa with Butternut Squash

   with Goat Cheese & Walnuts
 




 


Emmogene’s Spaghetti Aglio E Olio with Pancetta

 

Bob’s Baked Ziti & Meatballs


Special guest appearance with additional treats:
 

Verna’s Homemade Cornbread
 

Janet’s Ice Box Cake
 
 
BAM!  This was amazing!