Straight Out of the Camera Sunday

I haven't done a SOOC in a while.  There two rules:  1) photo must be taken by you, and 2) no tweaking.

I love remanents of old houses.  I have no idea when this chimney and cistern were built but seeing them takes you back to a simpler life.   

For more Straight Out of the Camera Sunday photos, click here.

Until next time, God bless.

Homemade Yogurt

I've been eating plain yogurt with a teaspoon of cinnamon just about every day for the past few months.  Cinnamon is reported to help regulate blood sugar; and since I'm hypoglycemic, mixing cinnamon with yogurt a good way to get it.  Eating yogurt every day prompted me to get a yogurt maker.

I chose this machine because it comes with seven glass jars with lids.

The lids are neat.  The top moves to the day of the month so you can keep track of when the yogurt was made. 

Yogurt is safe to eat up to 10 days from the date it was made.

Making yogurt is very easy.  You bring milk to boiling, boil for about 2 minutes, then cool down to 110 degrees before adding in either a container of yogurt or freeze-dried yogurt starter and any other additions such as fruit.  You put the jars without lids in the yogurt maker for up to 10 hours, depending upon the fat content in the milk.  I used skim milk and the "cook" time was ten hours.  Milk with higher fat content takes less time.  Hmmm, go figure.  :D  Oh, yes, there is a compartment in the maker's top where the lids are kept until needed.

Here's this morning's breakfast.  You'll see as the weeks have progressed, I add a little more to the just plain yogurt and cinnamon.  For me, the consistency of the homemade yogurt is nicer than that bought at the grocery.  It mixes easier.  I've only made one batch; the second batch will be made within the next day or so. I'm using one percent milk and then on the third batch use two percent milk.  I'm happy with the skim but thought I'd experiment.  This bowl has strawberries, raspberries, a few walnuts, about 1/4 cup of organic cereal, a squirt or two of agavasweet, yogurt, and, of course, cinnamon.  Makes for a great breakfast loaded with phytochemicals.

If you love yogurt, take a look at making your own. 

Until next time, God bless.

Visitors

I think we may have a diva here.  Doesn't she pose nicely?  Tried to get more contrast between her and the vegetation but she is wearing her grayed, winter coat.

These ladies and fawn are just a few feet from the yard fence around the house.

I never tire of seeing wildlife around the place.  I always get a little thrill.  :D  Hope you do too.

Until next time, God bless.

Flu Shots

I haven't posted for about three weeks because I've been in a writer's slump.  :D 

On Monday I got a flu shot and a pneumonia shot.  I don't know if it was because I got two shots at the same time or not, but I have been really sick as if I have the flu.  Yuk.  I never had a flu shot until I got the flu in 1999.  I think I was a teen the last time I had the flu.  After the 1999 episode, I started getting flu shots.  I've always had a slight reaction, but this time at least for about 36 hours I had all the symptoms of flu -- headache, bones and joints ached, slight nausea, and the arm that received the shots felt like (and still feels like) it was kicked by a mule.  The arm is still very red and swollen. 

There was a lot of controversy about flu shots last year, but I haven't heard anything about this year's shot. So, if you plan to get a flu shot this year, may I suggest you ask your doctor about it or research it on the Internet.  :D 

Until next time, God bless.

Luc on Therapy Dog Training

Since I got away with posting yesterday and Mom is out doing the elliptical machine at the moment, I decided to do another post on this "therapy dog" training business.  Like I don't even know what it really means.  I do know I have to behave the entire hour+ while training.  Behaving means not kissing everyone in sight, not meeting and greeting other dogs, sitting for what seems like days but heard something about 1 minute, being in a down-stay position for 3 minutes, and there's new training equipment. 

This is called a gentle leader.  A leash attaches to the little ring hanging down, and where my nose goes, I go. This torture item restricts my over exhuberance greatly.  And, believe me, I know when it is on. It took less than 30 seconds to decide I hated it.  No more rushing over to greet another dog or person.  Sometimes when Mom is not watching, I use my dew claws to get it off.  Then I can go about my natural instincts to tear off, pulling Mom, to investigate any new smell, greet a canine friend or a new person, or old.  I'm not particular.  I love everyone.  Last Saturday, however, something strange happened; a squirt of water came out of nowhere.

I noticed this green bottle in the possession of Tuxon's mom.  I'm beginning to think she gave it to my mom because Mom was walking a little straighter, like empowered, and with more confidence at the training park as well as at Tractor Supply.  We stopped at Tractor's Supply for something on the way home Saturday from training; and as we were leaving, I spotted two of the most interesting black dogs.  Just as I started pulling towards them to introduce myself a small stream of water from out of nowhere hit my nose. Naturally, I jumped back and proceeded to ignore the black dogs as we were leaving the store.  I mean, how would you feel if some water hit you in the face when you wanted to make new friends?  I'm going to sniff around the new pack that holds my stuff to see if I can find a green spray bottle.  If found, I'll chew a few holes in it.

 

The bag is neat.  It has lots of pockets for treats, paperwork on various vaccinations and shots, clicker, water bowl, water, my toys, Mom's camera, wheels, a retractable handle, -- it holds just about anything that might be required for me.

I do have a small gripe which I've pretty much kept to myself. I like to mark terrority at the training park. Laura, the trainer, must have eyes in back of her head. She catches me just about everytime and scolds both me and Mom. Mom tries to keep me moving when we are inside the training area, but I'm quick to mark a spot. Well, as of the last week or so, Mom has to mark my "mark" with pink flags so the area can be sprayed with some solution. I mean, really, a pink flag! How humiliating to any red-blooded, handsome, male Labrador Retriever!

Mom will be coming back in soon so I'd better say my goodbyes; so until next time, God bless.

Luc Shows You How To Do Geometry and Algebra

My mom is outside doing the yard, so I thought I'd sneak in here to write my own blog entry.  It's been at least a year since I posted.  You know I've been in something called "therapy dog" classes.  I love to learn new things, but geometry and algebra are my most favorite subjects.

I don't mean to brag, but I'm quite good in calculating on the fly.  Allow me to show you how it is done.

 I am ready for the first problem.  BTW, the weather is deliciously cool for this type of problem solving.

Man, this is an easy one -- a softball throw.  I'm no pansy.

In for the kill, errrr, catch.

I got it, of course.

I just love problem solving that I have a hard time giving up the ball for another throw.  I particularly like to mouth it and sometimes Mom gets her finger in the wrong position and I bite down a little too hard.  No matter, no blood is drawn or even a skinned finger.  I try very hard to keep track of where she has her fingers on the ball but I get soooooo excited when its math time.  It's a lot more fun than therapy dog training.

I see it.

Stretccccch.........got it. 

The first two problems were easy ones.  What's up with Mom?  She knows I like a real challenge!

Time out. Grass bur.

Now she's cooking.  This looks like a good one.  Ok, calculating distance, speed, best angle and how high to jump.

Keep your eye on the ball and don't let anyone tell you that geometry, algebra or higher math is hard.  It isn't; stay focused.

Got it. 

I hope you have a better understanding of math calculations from this lesson.  Remember two things:  1) Stay focused, and 2) math calculations are not hard.  I've also been very lucky because I've not been caught at the computer.

As Mom says, until next time, God bless.

Straight Out of the Camera Sunday

It's Straight Out of the Camera Sunday time.  There are two rules:  1) photo must be taken by you, and 2) no tweaking (cropping allowed). 

Our weather seems to think it is Spring since we got 6 plus inches of rain in September. The flowers caught my eye as I pulled up to a stop sign along my regular route from my house to the highway.  I've never seen this wildflower before and did not notice the spider web until I focused in with the camera.  

Aren't these delicate and a delightful splash of color?

These too were below the pink flowers.

But to prove that we are entering Fall, these leaves were just a few inches to the side of the pink flowers.  :D  We here in Central Texas are not known for our beautiful "Fall" colors. 

For more SOOC, click here.

Until next time, God bless.