Claudia's High Anxiety BC CD RN GN CGC

Claudia's High Anxiety BC CD RN GN CGC

U-CD Claudia's Never Ever BC CDX RE TD CGC

U-CD Claudia's Never Ever BC CDX RE TD CGC

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

NEW BLOG SITE

My new blog, Border Collies and Beads, is now at http://bordercollies3.wordpress.com/

Sunday, May 2, 2010

To Ellie and All Abandoned Puppies

Saturday, April 10th, I worked at a pet adoption event in neighboring Santa Rosa County and fell in love with a stray.  She touched my soul; four to six months old, all white with a brown spot on her head, sweet and happy to see everyone.  She was adopted at the end of the event to someone who seemed as if he was unaccustomed to owning a dog.  I cried in front of everyone and still cry.  She touched me to the core.  She deserves the best home of my dreams.  But how selfish of me.  Don't all strays deserve the best home?  I prayed to God to take care of little Ellie and give her a good life.  Fifty-nine animals were adopted.  This particular Saturday, I'm sure, animals all over the United States were adopted.  I dream of them living in loving, safe and comfortable homes.  But this one little Border Collie mix named Ellie-I will never forget you-a symbol of homeless dogs everywhere who greet each day with energy and positivity and go to their new homes with a wagging tail and panting grin. 

Sherry-Baked Garlic Shrimp

Did I mention I've become a vegetarian?  Fish is still on my menu so this recipe, a new one for me, will be repeated.  It is a very tasty dish.  I served it with Sweet Pepper Wild Rice Salad.

1-1/2 pounds large shrimp (12 to 18/pound), shelled, deveined, patted dry
1/2 cup oil, preferably olive
3 tablespoons dry sherry
3 large cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon crumbled thyme
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or to taste
Lemon wedges (optional)
Arrange shrimp slightly apart in single layer in greased shallow baking dish.  Mix remaining ingredients; pour over shrimp.  Bake in preheated 400 degree oven, turning shrimp once, 8 minutes or just until shrimp are pink, firm and barely opaque throughout.  Serve with pan juices spooned over.  Makes 4 servings.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

KFC Coleslaw Favorite

I found this gem while going through my mom's old recipes.  The next time I make it I'll reduce the sugar and add diced pineapple.

8 cups finely chopped cabbage (about 1 head)
1/4 cup shredded carrot (1 medium carrot)
2 tablespoons minced onion
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
Be sure cabbage and carrots are chopped up into very fine pieces (about the size of rice).
Combine the sugar, salt, pepper, milk, mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar and lemon juice in a large bowl and beat until smooth.
Add the cabbage, carrots and onion; mix well.
Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours before serving.
Serves 10 to 12.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

More Favorite Quotes

My husband said he needs more space. So I locked him outside. Roseanne



If love is blind-marriage must be like having a stroke. Danny DeVito from the movie, War of the Roses



Never try to outsmart a woman, unless you are another woman. William Lyon Phelps



Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative. Morecai Siegal

Friday, October 30, 2009

Border Collies and Books

The last couple of days have been pretty sweet, doing errands, going to the new library, the Lucia M. Tryon Branch, now located on Langley Avenue, and dog training. The temps are perfect, overcast and warm, but not hot. At the library there were only a few people, mostly men, not sure why, out of work maybe. The new book section yielded many books that I have been anxious to read:


A Little Big Life, A Memoir of a Joyful Dog – Dean Koontz

The Power of Respect – Deborah Norville

Knockout: Interviews with Doctors Who are Curing Cancer – Suzanne Somers

Half Broke Horses – Jeannette Walls (featured in Oprah magazine)

Multiple Bles8ings - Jon and Kate Gosselin

Hulk Hogan: My Life Outside the Ring

I have already finished the books by Hulk Hogan and Kate Gosselin. Both show a determined effort to look past all their troubles and believe in God’s continued wisdom and help.

Dog training today was nothing short of wonderful. I piled all the dog training paraphernalia into my Subaru and drove down to the Equestrian center to train. With Joanne Permowitz’ help, Levi and I are gradually mastering the Utility exercises. Levi is understanding the directed jumping exercise, a major breakthrough. Now for him to conquer the go-back. I put the target outside the ring barrier and he viewed that as an opportunity to dismantle the ring gate. He absolutely would not listen to my command to turn and sit. I may have to use a flexi. Thanks to judge Greg Feathers for his input on the glove turns I have a dog who fixates less on the gloves and more on the turn, until I give the direction to fetch a glove. Of course there is still the problem with Levi wanting to kill the glove, something we can learn aside from the Utility glove exercise. Signals are becoming fun for him. To see all these things finally coming together just about makes me want to cry for joy. Will it carry over to the ring, a place where his leader (me) is a bundle of nerves? Levi is so sensitive to my emotions. I must learn to be confident in the ring. We will eventually be a competitive team of two. Meanwhile we are having fun training together again and that has made all the difference to our time together.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Side Release Buckles on Training Collars

This is my improved version of a  Sprenger training collar.  I inserted a side release buckle.  No more fumbling with the prongs.  If you are interested in buying one contact me at clvangee2@aol.com.