The Contenders . . .

A couple of year ago I was asked to do some holiday baking for a friend of a friend.  I set out on my quest to produce for this nice lady a wide assortment of cookies, shortbread, squares etc.  In doing, i came across a couple of pretty tasty recipes that I think make good holiday choices for my upcoming Cookie Exchange.

Here is a list of possible entrants:

1.)   Chocolate Butter Cookies,  These, just like their sugary white cousins are also decorated and are delish !
2.)   Glazed Lemon Cookies,     These are lemon flavored cookies iced with lemony cream cheese icing also delish !
3.)   Not So Plain Marble Icebox Cookies,   Traditional icebox cookies light and impossible to eat just one !
4.)   Almond Macaroons Yep they are as good as they sound
5.)   Chai Tea Shortbread  these are spicy and irresistible !!  (Leading the pack right now)
6.)   Lemon Pie Cookies  -- I haven't made these yet but I do like Pie !!

The final entry is probably one of my favorite cookies though not because they are quick and easy to make.  My mom used to make these cookies (with my diligent assistance) for a yearly tea she held, when I was a kid.  They are just called my mom's tea cookies the recipe card they are on is tattered and worn and whenever I make them I have very fond memories.  These are like Oreo cookies on CRACK  insanely light vanilla wafers made with lots of butter and whipping cream ( how could that not be good) and filled with an always creamy iced filling.  I love these cookies, they are labor intensive and pretty tiny, but good things come in small packages . . . .right ?

So that is the list of contenders I have until Dec 9th to decide  . . .may be  with some help ?

Recipes . . . Where are the Recipes

As I have entered my first Cookie exchange I thought I should try out some of my possible cookie contenders out here in Cyberspace.   There is also the interesting sub-note that I have not posted a recipe in a long time on my blog.

Stay tuned for the full list of possible contenders . . . . .

Better Late than never. . .

I forgot, well that's not exactly true I just never got around to mentioning that I finished out my trialing year with another Win.  It was in the pro-novice class again  . . .but a win is a win.  Right !!?  Judy Finseth and I secretly took off to Lloydminster to compete in the Stockade Roundup.  after departing that the completely civilized our of 4am. we arrived in town shortly before I was due to run.  There were two heats followed by a final that was held that evening between the open heats. While not flawless, each run in the qualifying heats was good enough to get into the finals in second.  The finals Jed and I worked well together and ended up Winning.

A quick bite to eat and we headed home, arriving at the less civilized hour of 4am . . . .a successful 24 hour Turn and Burn :)

Jillaroo !!

Jillaroo !!

Jill is a Kelpie puppy that I have big plans for . . . that is of course if she stays away from Cosmo long enough for her to grow up.

Jill 10 Weeks old

No she isn`t supposed to be on stock YET !! 

Trialing . . . .for once

I certainly don't blog here as often as I used to. I guess I lost my sense of randomness as the weather closes in I guess it will return. I also seldom blog about my trialing adventures. I suppose that is because with few exceptions Jed and have struggled as a dog and handler team you'll note the word team, indicating that I am atleast . . .atleast 50% to blame most of the time.

However, this past weekend Jed and I travelled south to Oregon to the Fireridge Vineyard Stockdog trial. Mostly it was aln excuse to visit with my friend Dave, however, as there was a trial I figured I might as well enter. The first day, Jed, and I do mean Jed had it in his mind that he shouldn't listen to me so after a nice outrun/lift and fetch I retired at the drive away panels.

Frankly, retireing was a great move. Jed was pretty shocked to see me coming up the field and after a couple of wrecks I didn't feel like giving him the chance to work it out. The next day I sent Jed out lost 1 off my outrun 1 off my lift 1 off my drive an 3 off my pen for a total of 6 off and Final score of 84 (out of 90) . That was good enough for the win that day and my first pronovice win. The final day Jed ran very similar and were it not for a 7 point deduction on the drive which was all my fault, an some uncooperative sheep at the pen we would likely have done better than 76 . . . Respectable, but a four way tie with 80 points bumped Jed and I down to 7 th place .

Really happy with Jed and my performance the sheep were really tough, as evidenced by nearly half the field either retiring or DQ ing the first day. The field was also tougher than this picture demonstrates. Good time and I'll certainly go back.

posted from Bloggeroid

Ducks

I haz ducks now . . . . The NCR remains chickenless however.

posted from Bloggeroid

Lacamas

Nicest trial ever !! . . . . . . So Far. . . . . My first at lacamas is not going to be my last. I met some really nice people and really nice dogs. The trial field was smaller than I thought I would be, and Jed and I had a respectable first day. The seccond, day was not our finest hour.

It was punishingly hot, and just prior to the trial jed did something to his foot and wouldn't put any weight on it. Up until the first morning I was seriously considering pulling him. We were traveling with Dave and Trudy Viklund and they had magic pills that seemed to numb his pain. Given that I wrapped his foot and decided to chance it. It paid off the first day but like I said luck ran out on day two.

What really amazed me was how spectacularly well run this trial was. The number of spectators "WOW" I am posting everything an will sort when I get home.

This is the Parking lot in the main Spectator parking. . . .


Over Flow Parking . . . . OVER FLOW !!!!

Set out at the Prov Nov Field.

Just a really really well run Trial can`t wait to go back next year possibly Jed and I will do better !!

posted from Bloggeroid

On the Road

Well, before I shutter this blog altogether in my move to wordpress I thought I would post a series of blogs about our trip to the Lacamas dog trial.
Currently, we are on the road, having left at 9:30, a little later than we hoped but enroute, never the less.

posted from Bloggeroid

In need of a name . . .

I recieved a kitten. The kitten is going to live in the house and is very friendly, active, and as Billie would tell you Farty. All of that said I had chosen the name Dorion, as in Dorion Grey. (for obvious reasons) however, it seems not a popular name. Since I am not going to name him Stinky I am in need of a new name. Any ideas?

posted from Bloggeroid

Someday I'm gonna be a star !!

Taming the Demon is nearly complete

Fun times with friends

Fun at the farm

Kennel starting to take shape

I have been puting these kennel off for a while now. Finally, I have had enough of the muddy dogs.and what's more 5 dogs just seems like a lot of hair. So I have knuckled down and this is how far I am so far.

More updates to come as I finish.

Well garden

The pens for the clini

So I did up a couple of round pens for Viklund clinic a couple of weeks ago it rained pretty solid the whole time and generally underbrush into pudding they are slowly recovering

Mike on the daily walk

First fire of the year

The weather broke today long enough for friends to come over for bbq and campfire a good time was had by all

Limited blogging capacity

Well I think tweaky is going to computer heaven.  I am getting a new one today and the transfer will begin. Until then here are a few things that are new. Sorry about the weather but its the content that matters
So here I go.

Anyway that`s mike the Border Collie he is here while Scot us away trialing. Billie refers to his a demon puppy.   He is - in all honesty more than a little naughty.
I built Billie a garden around the old well . . .

It has yet to see its full potential.
Here is the remodeled fire pit.

Also I have a new mode of transport. New could be over stating it but new to me and I love it
Yep its an Argo not too fast but it really is allterrain

The Depths of my Dedcation

So there was a problem with my newest attempt to continue the blog there is lots new and I do indeed have lots to blog about however ....

once I get tweaky back together I will upload my newest posts

Starting up

Sometimes I take a lot to get things going. . .I have been really keen a few times but something has always come up. So no more excuses I am pulling out all the stops and re-doubling my efforts.

With some help and some luck 

I'll get this blog up and running lickety split

lots more to come

 Because some times it's worth the wait

Neglected !!

I have been a poor blogger. . .but that's not news.  Anyway in my efforts to not inundate anyone with pictures of lambs I have neglected the fact that  I have more than one now.

While I am still waiting for some ewes to finish their business, I currently have 6 ewe lambs and 2 ram lambs.  They are pretty neat to watch, and with little exception, the moms have been pretty good.

This Katahdin, was supposed to be dog food, alas as further proof of my poor shepherding skills she got knocked up and produced my two cutest lambs to date:

They constantly snuggle with each other and in general are pretty sweet.

Yep that's pretty much my lambing blog for this year. . . just waiting on two lazy ones to get their business done

Dry Spell

Or rather a Cold Spell,

It has been ridiculously cold, and frankly we all have suffered through this so I won't rant on and on about it here.  I really have just been waiting for something to blog about, something worthwhile, intriguing, etc. . . . . Well,  here goes.

On Sunday, Judy and  I had out sheep sheared, I was hoping when I booked it (months ago) that it would be warmer out, alas, it was was -26 out to greet my newly sheared sheep.  Luckily they have a barn with a ton of straw in which to seek refuge.

The lady who does the shearing has a real job as well but shears small flocks, llamas, and alpacas, whe did a great job and for $7 you can't really go wrong.  Turns out shearing is a family affair with lost of visitor coming and going to watch I can't say it was all that warm while we performed this task either, though we were in a barn and out of the wind.

The fruits of our efforts are destined for naught as wool is essentially worthless,

The main reason I wanted to shear my sheep was to examine just how far along my ewes were in their pregnancy. Turns out, pretty close Two day later Tuesday TODAY in fact,

I came home from and excursion for pie to find. . . my first lamb, he is a ram soon to be not so ram-ish.  He and his mother appear to be doing well.While the shearing went on we discovered that all of the ewes are pretty close this one is not the one anyone expected first.  

He's a little squirmy and wasn't that easy to photograph.

Anyway, finally really had something to blog about this could have been two but I thought I would economize.  

I believe I found it . . . .

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3966802457/

This is by far my favorite movie right now. . . It is AWESOME !!

Seriously !!!

Ok, I Have Seriously Had Enough !!! I am quickly approaching my limit before I embark on a murderous RAMPAGE !!!

Strange Time Friends Strange indeed . . . .

Rooster Stabs Man to Death at illegal cockfight. . . .
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/02/08/rooster-stabs-man-to-death-at-cockfight/

Fox Shot by man with own gun. . . .
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/01/14/fox-shoots-man-with-his-own-gun/

End Times are Nigh. . . .

More Dan

Dan and His Babysitter

Meet Dan

Hi !! My name is Dan the Man "Dan"  

I am an Australian shepherd, and I am only 10 weeks old.  My new house has lots of Rules that I don't like.  Additionally, there are 4 huge Dogs here that I am hoping to grow up and beat up.  For now I only play with them.  One is Way too cranky and doesn't like me at all. (Cosmo) One is to fat and Lazy and really not that much fun to play with. (Ozzy) One is WAY WAY to serious and has informed me that he will be interested in me when I "live up to my Hype. . . Whatever that means. (JED) and One.  One is Just Right.  

Gus is young, just like me he is slightly more serious than me and kida big and scary.  But he tolerates me and I really like playing with him. Sometimes he even lets me win.