Click it or ticket!

 I remember a time when seat belts were optional when driving or riding in a car. When I started driving, I always used a seat belt. I think our drivers ed instructor made us wear it while driving and riding.  If you were in the car with some of those beginner drivers, you were happy to wear that seat belt. I clearly remember when this one girl in our group had to drive. I think it was her first time driving...ever. She pulled out of school onto a major street.  All the cars are driving the speed limit, 40mph while our driver was going 10 mph. I sat in the back seat with another girl, and we could see cars flying by us and coming up fast behind our car. We had our seat belts on and all we could do was pray silently.

A few years later, Illinois police officers started pulling people over for not wearing a seat belt.  This was the start of the "Safe Driver" program. I remember being in the kitchen and having my dad tell me that I should make sure I'm always wearing a seat belt when driving. Before I was able to answer, my dad proceeds to tell me a story.

My Uncle George was driving his car and was pulled over for not wearing his seat belt. He was given a ticket for 80 dollars. My dad said if I get pulled over for not wearing a seat belt, then I would have to pay the ticket.

At the time, $80 was a lot of money, especially when you are making $3.35/hour at a part time job. I decided to wear the seat belt and save myself $80.

A little side note. My dad was never a big fan of the seat belt. I'm not 100% sure he used it all of the time when driving, but, hey, that was his $80 gamble.

Fall is here!

 "Fall is here!  Fall is here!

It's my favorite time of year

Football games and falling leaves
I'll take mine with turkey please"

It's that time of year set aside to think about falling leaves and all things pumpkin!  Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice, pumpkin spiced latte, pumpkin potpourri, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies and just plain pumpkins.

Are you a pumpkin person?  A football person?  How about a Halloween person?

It's time to get your craft on and get into that Fall spirit!  Below are links to some of the Fall Halloween crafts and Costumes that I've blogged about in the past.  Some of these are great ideas to do with little kids and some are great to do with your Girl Scout Troop!


Halloween Crafts

Bat Pencil Cup  uses an empty can and construction paper

Extra Crafts - using construction paper, make owls, witch, ghosts and foam monsters

Mosaic Pumpkin - using paint chips

Mosaic Pumpkin - using construction paper

Owl - using construction paper

Pony Tail Craft - using ribbon (great for a Girl Scout Troop!)

Pumpkin and Ghost - using Popsicle sticks and paint

Pumpkin Magnet - using foam

Spider - using pipe cleaners and google eyes

SPIDER  using construction paper

Spider (under $1 craft)  using an egg carton, black paint and google eyes

Witche's Hat  uses foam and glitter glue

Pumpkin Soap


Have a party to go to and need a quick, easy Halloween costume?  Look no further! 

Costumes
Easy Halloween Costumes
Eye Candy Costume
Target Employee

It's also time to grab that apron and whip up some fall goodies!  Everybody loves pumpkin!  (well, at least I do!)

How about some Fall food ideas:

Vegetarian Chili
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin Pie (from a Pumpkin)

Halloween Candy Dessert 

The Great Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins 

Hope this inspires you to get into the fall spirit!  I think I'll go make some pumpkin cookies.

Enjoy!

My Weird Dog - Farewell

 One look at your picture online and I fell in love. You were so happy to see us when we met you. There was no way we would leave there without you (you made sure of that). I was the lucky one who held you on our ride home.

You had some "issues." Double Dew claw and fleas.  Luckily those were easily handled.

It was brought up that you might be part pit bull terrier.  I didn't know much about the breed and decided to look it up.  The first and only sentence I read, "Pitbulls are fiercely loyal." I looked at you and said, "Yep, that's you."

You were quite the entertainer for our family. Squeezing through our fence, only to find yourself on the outside, standing by the gate waiting to be let back into the yard. I learned that when I pointed, you ran around to the front door and I let you back into the house (the first of your many attempts to escape).

My all-time favorite was chewing the lower board of the fence (about 5-6" high) and squeezing through. I don't think RT was a fan (he had to fix the fence). I would have loved to watch how you made it through. You were pretty smart when it came to escaping, thus the nickname, "Houdini." You knew how to get out but, you always wanted back in. I think you knew how good you had it here.

We lovingly refer to you as our weird dog. Well, lovingly from me.  RT just thinks you're weird and that it's normal behavior for you.

Things that contribute to your weirdness: 

Fear of: 

Loud lawnmowers

Thunderstorms

Fireworks

Purple Squeaky bone

The tea kettle

The nail clippers

A new dog bed

Water bowls left out for dogs (poison water)

A few more:

Need company when you are eating.

Eats birdseed

Opening doors (especially in the middle of the night)

So many fun memories with you. Like the time you got skunked (OK, that wasn't fun at the time). You getting high for our long car rides (fun for both of us), getting excited to play in the snow with me and singing along with us on your birthday.

There was the time you went on vacation at Nick's and we found out that you love camping. There was the time RT brought you up to Michigan and you ran away from him. He drove all around in a panic trying to find you. He didn't want to be the one to tell me that he lost you. Luckily he found you (a block away).

So many stories.

So much weirdness.

So much love.

Thank you for being a part of my life. You will truly be missed.

Until we meet again on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.  Goodbye, my faithful friend.

*If you want to read more about Pippen, type in "My Weird Dog" on the search bar to the right. There are quite a few entertaining stories about him.

National Rescue Dog Day

 Over 3 million dogs enter shelters every year.  (THREE MILLION DOGS!)  Each dog is in search of a loving fur ever home.  

Most rescue dogs overcome extreme obstacles.  Some are abused or raised in poor conditions.  Most are abandoned and left to the streets.  With training, these dogs can provide comfort to people as emotional support pets, help people with disabilities and provide comfort to elderly.  People with autism enjoy the therapeutic benefits of comfort dogs while military personnel with PTSD get relief from anxiety and depression.

How to celebrate today:

Volunteer at a shelter.  

Shelters are always looking for donations.  Old towels and blankets.  Some even have an Amazon list of needs.

Consider adopting from a shelter for your next pet.

You can use #NationalRescueDogDay on social media.

I will be spending the day (like every other day) spoiling my weird dog rescue dog, Pippen.  

Sourdough Bagels - Vegan

 I'm still rocking my sourdough breadmaking era.  Lately I have been making bagels. Once you have a good, homemade bagel, you can't go back to store bought.  These remind me of the tasty bagels we had while visiting Boston.

Don't let the bagel making process scare you off.  The first time making these might seem a little scary. Especially the three risings, boiling the bagels and then baking them. The second time you make these will be a breeze.  Trust me. 

Here's the recipe:

Vegan Sourdough Bagels

ingredients:

1/2 cup Sourdough starter (that has been fed)

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup water

2 TBSP Sugar*

2 tsp salt

Toppings:  Everything bagel seasoning**, poppy seeds, sesame seeds

directions:

In large bowl, mix the Sourdough starter, flour, water, sugar and salt.  Mix the dough using a wooden spoon and knead with your hands for about ten minutes. (Electric mixer with dough hook for five minutes). Dough should be very thick. Place dough in glass bowl and let proof for 8 to 12 hours.

After proofing (about 12 hours): Remove dough from bowl and knead for ten minutes.  Place back into bowl to rise again for another hour.  Two rises will moisturize dough and make it airy.

Using silicone baking mat on cookie sheet, divide dough into eight equal parts. Roll them into disks and poke a hole through each one using your thumb. Put back onto baking sheet. Cover with towel and allow to rest for 1-2 hours.

Preheat your oven to 425F. 

Place a large pot with water onto the stove to boil.  Add the bagels a couple at a time and boil for a minute on each side.  When done, place them back onto the baking sheet. Sprinkle on toppings of your choice (I make sure to press them in a little so they stick).

Place baking sheet into oven and bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

*Sugar, maple syrup or honey.  Your choice.  If vegan, then not honey.

**You can make your own Everything Bagel Seasoning by clicking here.

***Silicone baking mat or parchment paper for the win. Makes clean up easier.

****You can use bread flour or all-purpose flour. I have tried both and they both work.

If you make the Vegan Sourdough Bagels, let me know what you think in the comments below.

Enjoy!

National Limerick Day

There once was a man from Nantucket

Who kept his cash in a bucket

But his daughter, named Nan,

ran away with a man-

And as for the bucket, Nan-tucket.

You guessed it!  Today is National Limerick Day!

This day celebrates the birthday of Edward Lear, an artist, illustrator, author and poet.  Limerick poems became popular after Lear's book, Book of Nonsense, was published in 1846. A limerick is a very short, humorous, nonsense poem.  It contains five lines with an AABBA rhyming pattern.

How to observe #NationalLimerickDay

Write your own limerick poem.

Share on social media.

Enter a limerick contest.

Read some funny limericks.

I thought I would participate by sharing my limerick.

There once was a woman who lived by the beach

she loved to brag about it to everyone within reach.

   She walked her dog there everyday

    went in the sand to play

but had to keep her dog on his leash.

Let me see your limericks in the comments (and try to keep them clean!).

National Dog Mom's Day

 I have yet to find the source for this holiday. I'm happy that this day is set aside for us weird dog dog moms.  We really need it. 

Some activities for dog mom's day:

Go for a walk.  Oh, yea.  Don't forget to bring your dog.

Treat yourself.  Oh, and the dog, too.  Go out for a special treat.  Maybe get matching t-shirts?

Some interesting facts about dogs:

They are as smart as a two year old (sounds about right).  They can learn up to 200 words.

They can hear four times better than humans.  Especially when you open a dog treat bag or peanut butter jar.  And when you quietly grab their dog leash.

Being a dog mom improves your health.  Obviously, the person who said this never spent time with my weird dog Pippen.  Bad breath in your face.  Staying up all night because of a thunderstorm.  Having to lug 50lb dog food bags up and down the stairs.

Being a dog mom helps you socialize more.  Again, this person never had to walk Pippen.  I have to avoid people with dogs so he doesn't attack them.  He makes me antisocial. 

Being a dog mom makes you more responsible.  Responsible for letting the dog out, taking him for walks, feeding him, protecting him from the scary thunderstorms and fireworks.

Happy Dog Mom's Day to you.

Oh, and I expect a card and a real nice gift, Pippen!