The (mis)Adventures of Sage

Puddles, Puddles Everywhere

sagechronicles — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:49:11 +0000

It’s been raining quite a lot here lately, but yesterday turned out pretty nice, so off we went to 1000 Acres (I was due for a bath anyway). We met my buds, Caly and Tucker, and found another new furiend named Bradley just waiting for some fun. Bradley is a cute, cute Cockapoo and was all into running with us.

You know, when we first get there, we have to work off some steam and build up a sweat. It always turns into some bitey face, but I know these guys, so caution is gone with the wind! Mom took a little movie of us….she needs to bone up on her movie making skills, but you’ll get the idea!
So, I know what you’re thinking….mud, mud, glorious mud….all just waiting for my arrival. Well, guess what? It rained so much that the mud was all hidden under a whole bunch of puddles. BIG puddles. So, what do you do? Or, maybe it’s: “What do I do?“

Sit and ponder what to do next. Tucker was giving me some ideas and Bradley was ready to start running.

We decided a little more bitey face was in order.

: We were getting with it and Bradley was taking it all in. He was ready to get a move on! “Come on, let’s run some more, guys!”

So, we did. It was a good day for running and Bradley kept up with us..I was impressed!

There were an awful lot of holes around. I tried to figure out what was down them, but nothing popped out. Probably a good thing, huh? We did see some little garter snakes and lots and lots of puddles.

All I could manage, though, was getting wet. I guess the mud will have to wait ’til another day!

Am I Cautious?

sagechronicles — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:31:08 +0000

I bet you’re wondering what that’s all about? Me? Cautious? Well, yes, I guess I am, or at least that’s what they say. When I was just a young lass of a pup, I’d romp and play at the dog park. My favorite one was Fido’s. But then a two-legger who worked there walked funny at me–sorta like a monster–and it scared me. And a German Shepherd jumped me and all these dogs rushed up to the gate when I went in with Mom. I decided that place was NO FUN anymore. Mom took me over there to get my picture taken last week and I was so scared all I could do was shiver. GET ME OUT OF HERE. So, we did. I won’t go in that dog park for anything anymore.

A couple of months ago, at our neighborhood park, a dog bullied me. He just wouldn’t leave me alone. Mom tried to get him away from me, but he was having no part of it. I just can’t stand another dog yelling at me all the time. So, I left and now I won’t go back.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There are LOTS of dog parks that I love. We play ball, I find mud puddles and I get to run and run. But I don’t like big dogs rushing up at me…I go sit by Mom until the dog goes away. I also love, love, LOVE agility. I can’t wait to go to my lesson every week. And I love going for walks and going to stores and lots of other stuff–especially if there’s a ball or a mud puddle. And I have some really good furiends that I play with, but I’ve known them for a long time and they don’t scare me.

Yesterday, Mom and Dad took me to a new/old place where dogs go and play. That’s where I went to school when I was young. Nothing bad ever happened there–I LIKE that place. They talked to the man while I played ball–Mom said he’s a certified behaviorist. While I played ball, the man brought in some dogs. First one, then two, then a whole bunch. We all met and I was happy. The man was happy too.

Mom said we’re going to go back to school there, next month, so I can get my Canine Good Citizen certificate. If I do really well, she said I was going to take some more schooling and see if I can be a therapy dog. I really like people (better than some dogs, that’s for sure!).

So, am I cautious? You bet. But there are other places to go besides dog parks. Sometimes they just aren’t for me.

Have you ever felt like that?

A Message to K

sagechronicles — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:42:04 +0000

We heard one of our buddies, K, over at Romping and Rolling in the Rockies is in a tough fight with one of the worst dragons of all…cancer. We know about dragons hereThey can be sneaky, mean and hard to fight. But, let me tell you, K, I’ll add my paws to your Pillar of StrengthI’m cleaning off my armor and ready to join the army to help you fight that nasty dragon!

Bacon!

sagechronicles — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:52:08 +0000

Do you like bacon? You’d better believe I do and Mom was cooking some the other day. I was standing by for some pieces that just might happen to fall on the floor.So, what was Mom making this time? Well, she has this new cookbook her daughter, mother of Poppy, wrote. You can read about her and this book here or here.

But back to the bacon…really, Mom? My mouth is watering..is this something I can eat? Maybe a bite, please, please, please? A bite’s OK with me….bring it on!

Patience, Sage. Patience? What’s that?

So what’re you going to do next, Mom?

I’m going to mixed up a bunch of stuff and put that yummy bacon you are lusting after in it and then cut out all these little circles.

(Mom didn’t have a small biscuit cutter, but an apéritif glass worked well.) Then what, Mom?

Well, I put the cut out pieces on a parchment lined sheet and put them in the oven.

And, here they are–a whole bunch of bacon and cheese scones all for me!Oh, you’re taking them to a brunch. Well, before you go, I need a bite…just a little one.

YUMMMMMMMMM. That was sooooooooo good. I’m in bacon heaven!

Bite-Size Bacon and Cheese Scones

3 thick slices applewood-smoked bacon

2 cups (10 oz/315 g) all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 cup (4 oz/125 g) grated Asiago or Gruyère cheese

Pinch of kosher slat

1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup (4 oz/125 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks

1 large egg

3/4 cup (6 fl oz/180 ml) heavy cream or whole milk

Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400 F (200 C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a frying pan, fry the bacon over medium-low heat until lightly crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and finely chop the bacon.

In a food processor, combine the flour, baking powder, cheese, salt, and pepper and pulse briefly to mix. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and cream (I used 2% milk) until blended. Pour the egg mixture into the processor and pulse just until the dough comes together.

Dump the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead in the bacon and then bring the dough together into a ball. Using a floured rolling-pin, roll out the dough to 1/2 inch (12 mm) thick. Using a 1 1/2-inch (4-cm) biscuit cutter, cut out as many scones as you can. Gather the scraps of dough, roll out, and cut out more scones.

Space the scones evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the scones are golden, about 12 minutes. Remove from the pan and let cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.

(recipe from Home Baked Cooking by Kim Laidlaw)

Pee Ess: Mom said to tell you they were a HUGE hit at her brunch! If you’d like to order this book, you can do it here. Let me tell you, if you like to bake, this is the book for you! Me? I’ll take some more bacon, please…..

Best Laid Plans

sagechronicles — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:33:14 +0000

I like to “go to the store” with Mom. Sometimes I actually get to go in and other times I wait in the car. Today was one of those wait-in-the-car days. BUT, Mom had a surprise! She found a park near the store that had a pretty nice off-leash area. One we’ve never been to, but we’re always open for new things. Especially when she says “Let’s play ball!“And we did! She pitched and I raced. Up in the air and back to Mom. Time and time again. (Well, with a little time out for some sniffs…after all, it was a new park.)

Even though it was only 40 degrees F outside, I was hotter than a pistol. And guess what I found?

A wonderfully glorious bone-chilling puddle!

Do I look happy or what?

There's no better way to cool down than a puddle of water. Especially if there's mud involved.

I don’t really know why Mom was shaking her head…do you?

Mom: I do! Remember? Meeting. No bath.

Sage: “Ha! Fooled you!!

Mudless Ball

sagechronicles — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:34:09 +0000

Mom found a new place not too far away where we can go play ball and I don’t get muddy. I sure don’t know what’s wrong with getting muddy, but it has something to do with some meeting Mom has to go to and a bath. Maybe she’s going to have a bath at the meeting. Or maybe the meeting’s about baths. I don’t know…it just sounds too complex for me….

Sage. No. You have it all wrong. I have to go to a meeting and there is no time to give you a bath! Got it?

Um, yes, Mom. No mud puddles….no 1000 Acres…no bath. Can we show a re-run, like they do on TV?

How about we play ball for a bit, then we’ll talk about re-runs. How does that sound?

OK, I'm in position. Pitch that ball!

Here it comes...my eye's on the ball!

Good thing I'm agile, Mom. You threw that a bit off there....

Deep throat?

Or nose butt?

And all without mud……

It’s been a bit boring….

sagechronicles — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:05:18 +0000

Yes, I have to admit it. I was so bored this week with all the rain and Mom going here and there that I had to make my own race course in the house. And, I’ve played a lot with Raccoon. Yes, it’s still in one piece–well, sorta. I chewed off one of the squeekers (I don’t like them very much). Then, we started playing a new game called “find it”….at least it’s sorta new for me. That was fun and I got to find some really good treats.

Toby was able to play that game with me…he can’t do much anymore. We go for a walk every day, but he can only go around a block or so before he starts dragging behind. Sometimes he falls in the house…I run over to help him, but he tells me not to. (I think he’s trying to be too macho, but Mom says it’s OK, so I guess he can be macho if he wants.)

Thailing loves him and is always giving him head rubs. She doesn’t love me like that…maybe it’s because I chase her?

It’s suppose to be nice today, so I’m campaigning for some ball chasing.

Mommmmmm! Can we go play ball? Please, please, please????

Not So Muddy Monday

sagechronicles — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:17:40 +0000

As weekends go, this one wasn’t too bad! Did I ever tell you Mom won’t give me a stuffie? I guess it’s because I destroyed all the ones they gave me when I was a puppy. And then I ate the end of one of Maggie’s favorite toys (we called it T-Bone, but it didn’t taste like one) and had I to go to the emergency vet. So, I was really surprised when Mom brought home Racoon!
It’s a stuffless stuffie, whatever that means. I don’t care WHAT they call it, it’s almost as good as a ball. Now, you need to notice I said “almost”. But, it’s been 24 hours and my new non-stuffie is still intact! Pretty good, huh?

We’ve had some pretty nice weather here in the Pacific Northwest, and Sunday was no exception. I thought that called for a trip to my favorite mud-hole place in the whole world–1000 Acres. (Oh, right. What else is new?) But this time my very first BFFs in the whole world went too (that would be Toby II and Macy)! I was SOOOOOO excited. We raced and raced and, then, there it was…my favorite mud hole.

I hope you notice there’s not much water. Geez, what’s a dog to do?

Me?

I rolled in the grass and dirt just to see if I could add a bit more…what’s with this drying up mud business? Do I need to learn how to do a rain dance? I think I have a spot of mud on my nose.

Can’t have that–a girl has to keep up her appearances. At least that’s what I think! A trip to the nearby pond got most of the mud off, so on we went!

My buddy Toby II is out there waiting for me. I heard him say: “Get a move on, Sage! Let’s run.” Darn, that ball was just too interesting. Sorry, Toby II–catch you on the bounce!

Hope you had a good weekend. I sure did!

Enjoying the Sun

sagechronicles — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:43:06 +0000

What do you do when it’s a lazy day and the sun is beaming in the window? Well, lay in it, of course!!

Thailing has a special bond with Toby….not so much with me. She spent some time checking Toby’s ear and rubbing on his head. Maybe she thinks he’s a genie and she can wish me away? I don’t know why she thinks that. She runs. I chase. What’s wrong with that?

She did some sneaking past me this time.

I don’t know why she was worried. I wasn’t giving up my sun spot for any goofy cat!

Wordless Wednesday: Playing is Hard Work!

sagechronicles — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:43:02 +0000