Happy Winter!

Winter here has arrived right on time with the winter solstice. The ski area received 11 inches of fresh powder. Our Economy here depends on the ski area in the winter.  Tourism is our main industry here.  Plus, good snow pack up in the mountains  helps with the fire danger in the spring This was a really wet snow so it should help with the drought as well.  

This time of year is really busy.  Not as busy as before I retired, but still busy.  Sometimes I wonder how I ever got everything done while I was working.  Don't you hate it when work gets in the way of your leisure time?  Sometimes, work gets in the way of life in general.  I sometimes miss going to work every day, but then I remember all the papers that needed to be graded and grades put in the computer, and report cards, and the endless meetings!  Yeah, I don't really miss it all that much any more.  

This Christmas is going to be a bit different for us.  First, it will be the first Christmas without my mom.  We usually go there at least a day or so.  Also, son and daughter-in-law won't be able to make it here and daughter only gets one day off so she can't come either.  What to do?  We pack up and go to Silver City for a few days.  Couldn't be more perfect.  Three people, two dogs, Christmas presents and food all in a 32 ft. travel trailer.  

So, began the task of cooking.  I usually make the same things every year in the way of treats.  I then pack up samples and give it away to the neighbors, the mail lady, people at school.  Who ever looks like they could use some sweets.  Normally, I make peanut brittle, english toffee and fudge.  I wanted to try something different, so the first thing I made was Turtle Fudge.  This was labor intensive, but so so so good!  Basically, it is a layer of dark chocolate fudge, layer of caramel and pecans and then another layer of chocolate.   It was so good, in fact, the two of us ate it all!  Not the plan, and not really good for the waist line either.  So, in keeping with tradition, I went ahead and made peanut brittle and toffee to give away as well as some peanut butter fudge and some divinity.  I do love to cook and love to bake, but if I ate everything I made, I wouldn't be able to fit through the door.  

After delivering all the sweet stuff to everyone (and saving some for us) I had to cook the turkey and dressing to take with us.  Tiffany's little oven really isn't big enough for a lot of big things.  I got a turkey breast so there wouldn't be a lot of leftovers.Tiffany was going to make the mashed potatoes and green beans and some rolls after we got there.

Time to pack everything up and go.  We sold our Jeep to our son and daughter-in-law.  So, we are left with taking either the Chevy Aveo or the Toyota Echo.  Neither are very big cars, neither have four wheel drive, but the weather should be good.  We decide to take the Toyota because it has better tires.  We had to take all the golf stuff out of that car and put it in the other car, put the seat protector on for the dogs and pack the food in the cooler.  We were able to fit the cooler, all the presents for Tiff and our luggage and all the dog stuff in the trunk.  All set, right?

Notice all the snow in the picture.  Under the snow was dirt.  As the snow melted, that dirt quickly became mud.  Cooper loves the mud.  He was not even the same color.  He had mud from head to the tip of his tail.  Sadie was a bit dirty to, but the Princess doesn't really like to get her feet wet so she wasn't too bad.  There is no way those dirty dogs are going to ride in a car with me!  So, a quick grooming on both and we were off!

We had a great time.  We got there just in time for Tiff to be off work on Christmas Eve.  We ate and watched our family Christmas movie, "Die Hard."  It takes place at Christmas doesn't it?  Christmas Day, we got up, leisurly opened presents and drank coffee It was nice and relaxed.  The dinner was great and we were all full, but decided to go to the movies to see "47 Ronin."  The nearest movie theater is about an hour away, so we crated the dogs and hit the road again.  On the way there, we saw something we almost never see here.  We saw two Javelinas.  These were big pigs!  We whipped a u-turn and went back to get a better look and they took off.  They could really move!  The littlier one stopped in some tall grass and looked back at us.  So wish I had my camera with us.

All in all, Christmas this year was great.  There really was no stress or rushing and we were all very relaxed.  I think everyone got what they wanted in the way of presents.  We got Tiff a laser keyboard to use with her iPhone.  We got Tim and Cece a Kitchen Aid mixer Baldo got a great watch and a new chain saw, and I am getting...drum roll...a new Jeep! More to come on that subject.  We ordered it so it isn't here yet.

I know this isn't the best of pictures, but it is the best you can do with a phone. This is the smaller of the two Javelinas. 

Massive Keeshond Rescue Underway

The following post is copied with permission from Dee Wingfield.  This is a serious situation than needs all the help it can get

I'll give a brief overview of our Karing Keeshond Kristmas aka 101 Kees Rescue. By brief, I mean it won't be the 10 pages that are required to really be up to speed. 

In early October, I learned of a situation in NY will a well-known high volume breeder (puppy miller). This person has a kennel which is non-compliant with even very minimal NY laws, but not bad enough, according to NY laws, to warrant seizure of the dogs or forced closure of the kennel. However the breeder indicated she wanted to stop breeding. She could not make her kennel compliant with the laws at that time. She is a senior citizen; she has some elder issues, some hoarding issues.

A local vet tech and animal advocate offered to help with her dogs, at the time, some Huskies, some American Eskimos and MANY, MANY Keeshonden, over 200. This vet tech is working with the NY state inspector to facilitate the kennel closure and release of dogs. However, this is NOT a mandatory shutdown. It is voluntary.

The vet tech, John, has been working daily to pull these dogs from the kennels (large pens 40x40 housing packs of sometimes 25-30 Kees), get them vaccinated, neutered and treated for the most urgent issues. The girls can only be spayed if they have places to go, because going back to the kennels with the pack will be a death sentence.

To make this story as short as possible, after talking with John for several weeks, and coming to believe in everything he is trying to do, I decided to do everything I could to get these Kees out of this mill. I contacted several agencies and groups, but no one wanted to tackle this job. So, I did.

Fast forward even more, we have built a solid network of experienced foster homes, coordinators, fundraisers, transporters, donors, networkers...worker bees one and all. To date, volunteers in the U.S. and Canada have rescued 20 Keeshonden from this mill. Today, 2 more are scheduled to leave. Tomorrow, 6 more. Saturday, 6 more. Sunday, not confirmed yet, but, possibly, hopefully, as many as 50 more.

At this time, today, 10 AM December 17, there are around 81 Keeshonden still at the kennel. By Sunday, that number COULD be drastically reduced. However, a slew of plans and schedules must fall into place for that to happen. If not Sunday, then it will happen when it happens, but very soon.

We have approached National Mill Dog Rescue about providing a transport truck, a specially-outfitted Class C RV, for us to be able to transport Kees to the Midwest and Southwest. Theresa Strader at NMDR readily agreed. Readily agreed, because of Ziva. http://nationalmilldogrescue.blogspot.com/2012/09/five-days-of-freedom-tribute-to-ziva.html

We have the truck, we need the funds for fuel and costs, probably $2,500 or so.

We have many ways you can assist these dogs. First and foremost pray for them. They have little shelter. They're in a cold NY climate. They live on crumbling concrete with frayed tarps as protection. Many are shaved; if they're not shaved, they're matted. They are dirty and smelly. They are unsocialized. They are young, under a year old. They are 3 and 4 years old. They are maybe a little older, like 6 or 7. They all need our help. Only WE can do it.

If you love Kees, you will show it. It's as simple as that. If you do nothing. I KNOW you do NOT love this breed. I don't care what your excuse is. There is no excuse for doing nothing. Everyone can at least network, right? You ARE reading this. But every person who has been involved in any way has been blessed. This is a worldwide effort. Ask us how to help.

I know we'll be posting the ways to donate. We have generous donors from around the world. We have volunteers waiting to be able to get their hands on the dogs. We have works in progress. We have John, the vet tech in NY who is amazing and working under the worst kinds of circumstances. He is a hero to our breed. And then, there's me. I'm committed (or maybe I should BE committed?). They're coming out. The end.

National Mill Dog Rescue: Five Days of Freedom - A Tribute to Ziva

That last picture says it all. Despite her horrible life, she found love and happiness and she was blessed to have those last days happy and free. You saved her and I am confident she felt safe and pampered and adored those last hours. Thank you for all you do for these pups, I hope to be able to vi...

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