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10 Legs in the Kitchen

~ Food. Dogs. Life!

10 Legs in the Kitchen

Monthly Archives: August 2017

Minus Four

26 Saturday Aug 2017

Posted by Stacey Bender in Ginger + Buddy

≈ 22 Comments

PS_big nose

The patter of Buddy’s paws beneath his bull-legged stance have always been a musical note to us.  They came in to our house, fast, making a quick tckckck sound as they scampered over the wood floor, onto the wool carpet and landed smack in the middle of Ginger’s bed.

PS_ginger's bed.jpg

…yet clearly not the last time he would plop there.

The bed was one of many, but a favorite of hers that sat prominently at the end of our, then, glass coffee table in the living room.  There was a sunbeam on the pillow that particular afternoon and Buddy took to it as if it were his own.

Everyone took a breath to see the other shoe (paw) drop, so to say.  Ginger, who was also ten years old at the time, had been an only child since coming home and was never very accommodating to other dogs.  She saw him claim her bed, walked over and sniffed him (sniff, sniff, sniff) then, matter-of-fact, turned and walked away.  No drama.  No drama, yet.

It wasn’t long before his little legs were walking beside her on a tandem leash around the neighborhood and then back home where he planted himself on the kitchen rug, a place he frequented often, mostly because I was there, and so was the food.

tandem.JPG

The sound of Buddy in and out of the kitchen always stayed near me as if I had a shadow, a shadow I was most happy to have.  It took him years to realize that if he stayed on the couch while I was cooking, I would still come to him offering samples.  Ginger of course, had figured this out long ago and sat on the back of the couch next to Tom, watching Buddy and my every move.

Scampering to and fro.  A yelp first, quietly using the inside voice, moved quickly to the bark.

That signature, all in, loud, ear-shattering bark.  He knew how to be heard.  No wall flower, that one, little pee-wee that he was.

But his insatiable hunger for the morsels on my cutting block, in my pan or in the oven were frantic.  He wanted it all, and then he wanted more.

PS_holding buddy 1.jpg

Especially as of late, he was frequently carried around the kitchen in my arms.

PS2_buddy holding in scarf.jpg

And I started to realize that we were soon one, rather than two.

But on the ground he had four legs.

They were always in the kitchen, with me.

They will always be in the kitchen with me.

Though the kitchen will never be the same again.

PS_5

When there were 10

Our dear, sweet boy, in his beautiful, frail body, let go of the physical world Wednesday night,* August 23, 2017 at 5:51 pm.  A perfect gent to the end, complete with a sunbeam on his silken head, resting on his favorite blanket in our laps on his favorite spot on the deck after, moments before, having spent time in that same sunbeam while resting in Ginger’s favorite bed.

bed on deck

“Thanks for sharing your bed Ginger”

pals

Pals forever on “our” BuG bed

smile for the cover

“Life with you has been unforgettable!  I am a happy boy!!!”

PS_kayak buddy.jpg

“Thanks for the incredible journey…”

the ride

“…and the incredible ride!”

Good bye Buddy, I love you!

beach log willows inn.JPG

“I’ll always be near…”

buddy_RIP.png

 

*Rest in peace Laura’s dear Amber on the same day three years ago.

Sweet & Sour (summer beverages & other life moments)

06 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by Stacey Bender in Beverages, Ginger + Buddy

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

#flower world, #Stop to smell the roses, #summer cocktails

drink 1

Life is precious!

We all know that I realize… but sometimes it is worth mentioning out loud.

We often take for granted the things that make us breeze through life without (much of a) care.  And then we don’t, because we are no longer breezing by.

Rather than letting life get you down, take a moment to breath in that air, especially when it is no longer breezing by.

Excuse me for a moment, for being slightly cheeky and perhaps even mouthing off something a little cliché, but let me just say, it really is thyme to stop and smell the roses, and the hydrangea, lavender, tomato plants, rosemary, basil and sage.

It is thyme to pour yourself a cocktail, drink in the summer air and wash it down with a big handful of gratitude, for the here and now.  Tomorrow is another day, but right now, it is what we have before us that makes us happy at this moment.

Yesterday, is gone.  Buddy is not.  From here, we are taking it day by day.

buddy 1

Happy Summer (from our lil’ garden gnome).

drink 4

Serves 2 (up to 4 if more of a cooler with more spritz and less kick)

From the garden:
A sprig of thyme (for more time)
A few small basil leaves (because I said so)
A few lavender leaves (for calm) with a couple flower sprigs or leaves for garnish (yeah, so sue me, it’s pretty & smells nice)
6-8 blueberries (for gentle color & sweetness)
Wedge of lime (a little bite & zest)

Put garden contents above in stainless steel shaker & muddle with just a splash of vodka for mixing the contents.

Fill 12 ounce hi-ball glass or double-walled Bodum glass (to prevent condensation and ice from melting) half full with ice.

Put a few ice cubes in shaker to cool, add vodka as desired (a few glugs to half of shaker) and add lemonade to make remaining liquid 3/4 of shaker.

Shake and pour into glasses, it’s ok for the ice to fall into glasses as almost all of the ice is already in them.

Fill glasses about 3/4 full and top with lemonade for more juice/citrus or soda for less sweet and more fizz.

Squeeze and garnish with thin, fresh, lemon wedges on top or hang over rim.

Add a sprig of lavender flower for garnish, if you can sacrifice from your plant, but you can just enjoy looking at it in its container/garden from your deck or patio instead if it is just starting out.  We’re all striving for longevity you know.

Buddy and Ginger in jungle

Life can be a jungle…

Buddy and Ginger with cart

…just remember to keep on truckin’,…

BUddy and Ginger 2.jpg

…stay close to your family,…

buddy and ginger 1

…they usually have your back!

buddy nap

It is perfectly acceptable to take a nap!  Rest, rejuvenate…but do it in the shade!

Ginger has my back

That looks like a good nap, Buddy…

 

buddy shade

…Shhhhhh, Ginger, I’m Earthing… zzzzzzzz

butterfly

In dedication to everyone’s furry family members, past, present and future; life would be sour without ever meeting.  And to our fellow pet lover and blog friend, Rachel’s beloved Butterfly, who passed away last week, but is still smelling life’s flowers.  Rachel, he will always be with you and play happily in everyone’s hearts he touched!

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