Bottomline… wear a helmet:  every ride every time.  I’m glad I had my helmet on when I took a tumble in April 2009!

CHA on HELMET FIT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJW8ZjJ8Hkg

Get a Troxel helmet with free shipping (Order by 3.31.10):  Visit http://tinyurl.com/yh8nzxx or call 800-225-8827

Dressage pro Heather Blitz has launched a campaign among dressage riders to don a helmet when they ride.

My friend, Julie Goodnight, let me know today about a special offer by her sponsor, Troxel, making it a little easier to buy a helmet to ride in.  Troxel is offering FREE Shipping on helmets through March 31, 2010 at http://tinyurl.com/yh8nzxx or 800-225-8827.

Troxel offers riding helmets in Western and English styles in pricepoints for virtually every budget.   If you need a helmet,  click the link and place your order.  It’s important, folks.   If you’re riding wear a helmet: every ride, every time.  Child or adult!

Sources: 

http://tinyurl.com/yh8nzxx  (Troxel offer)

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=15942

http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2010/03/049.shtml

While Lula greeted her brethren, Butters really tried to not step on them. The coordinator, Nancy, was the picture of calm as eight basset hounds and one “John Wayne All*American Dog” (Butters) swirled around our feet entangling us in a web of leashes.  (Incidentally, if you need something lashed down really well, basset hounds may be the best ropers on the planet!)

Over the past couple months, I’ve met some really neat folks who work with bassets. Among them are Nancy who organizes the basset hound meet ups, and Dawn who runs Daphneyland, home to 100 bassets eagerly awaiting their forever homes.

The upshot is this. If you have dog, find other folks who have the same breed of dog. If you have an independent breed, like a basset, or a particular breed type, like a giant breed or a sight hound, it helps to know you’re not alone.  Whatever the breed or breed type you have, you can learn from each other, get training tips and more.

I LOVE:: the basset hound folks who help make Life with Lula even more fun!

Learn more about the Orange County, CA Basset Hound Meet-Up here: http://www.bhrsc.info/

• 1 c apricot preserves
• 2-3 Tblsp soy sauce
• 2 -3 Tblsp of water to help loose the apricot preserves or not.
• Add 1/2 c dried apricots chopped
• 2 Tblsp of brown sugar or 1 Tblsp honey.
• a couple shakes of Tobasco or a little cayenne (this will add another layer of flavor. If you don’t care for spice, you may leave it out or substitute cinnamon for a REALLY different flavor.)
• pepper

So when it was time to collect Butters, I took Lula with me. She was quite animated while we waited for Butters to appear.  When he rounded the corner, still a bit dazed from the anethesia, she scampered over to him and greeted him with the enthusiasm once reserved for meeting loved ones at airline gates in the days before 9-11.

We returned home. Butters was out of it. If you ever have had a dog receive anethesia, you may have heart them whimpering as the effects wear. Lula was very concerned. She walked between Butters and me. She would look at him while he whimpered. And when it was dinner time, she did the talking since he wasn’t in the mood to remind me.  Usually they sleep apart. Tonight they’re sleeping rather close.  It’s sweet.

I love that my dogs have bonded and look out for each other.

“The Animal Legal Defense Fund is working to ensure that convicted animal abusers are exposed and prevented from harming new victims by promoting model legislation to establish an animal abuser registry in every community across America.”

FOLLOW THE LINK TO ADD YOUR VOICE AND LEARN MORE!  http://www.exposeanimalabusers.org/

So, I was watching Food Network and Melissa D’Arabian made Tunisian Meatballs. Well, I thought I’ll bet I could do the same basic thing with chicken. I found that it’s a good recipe to have in your arsenal to use those ground spices and rotate them out of your cupboard.  Truth be told, I didn’t measure, so these amounts are best guesses. I also left the grated ginger out of my version, but it was fine. You’ll need to adjust the cayenne to your taste.  I layered the spices throughout the recipe and just shook the spices into the dish, eyeballing the amounts.  I’m also going to break my recipe giving rule and just list the ingredients in the actions.

If you’re tired of Italian, go south to North Africa for a night by adding this to your International Dishes. The key is the spice mixture.  So here’s my recipe:

RAID YOUR PANTRY AND BLEND THESE TOGETHER IN A BOWL. You’ll use this as a rub on the chicken and to flavor your sauce.

1 Tblsp Cinnamon

1 Tblsp Cumin

1 Tblsp Paprika

1/2 tsp red pepper (Cayenne) (adjust to your liking)

1 Tblsp brown sugar

1 tsp salt (I use sea salt)

1 tsp + of black pepper

(If you have leftovers and need to store this, store in an airtight container)

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

Heat a large skillet and add 1-2 tblsp olive oil to it. I used a brush to disperse the oil around the pan.

Season boneless skinless chicken breasts with the rub (I added poultry seasoning, too) with the dry mix and place in pan.

You’re going to just brown both sides of the meat, but not cook all the way through at this point. The chicken will finish cooking in the sauce.

Move to a separate plate.

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

MAKE YOUR SAUCE

Add a little olive oil to your pan. Saute:

1/2 large onion diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp fresh ginger grated (if you must use dried only use 1/2 tsp. Dried tends to be more powerful than fresh.)

When the onions start to soften and look a little carmellized, add some of the  remaining spice mixture (You can reserve some to adjust at the end)

Add 1/2 c white wine

Add 1/2 c. chicken broth or stock

Add 14.5 oz can of crushed or diced tomatoes

Lemon zest and juice

Add chicken back to pan. Cover. Let simmer for 5 minutes covered. Then remove lid and let the sauce reduce and get thicker. 

About 2-3 minutes before serving add 1 Tbsp dried parsley; if you’re using fresh, add it at the very end.

WHAT TO SERVE IT WITH: D’Arabian served her dish with couscous laced with chopped dates and glazed carrots.  The same would work here, or I was thinking some sliced cucumber would cut the heat just a bit.

When I finally did wake up, I noticed crumbs on Lula’s ears as I pet her this morning. Then, I walked into the kitchen for my morning coffee and noticed a shredded bag  on the floor. Upon investigation it was a bag of cashew/almond/pumpkin seed clusters that was behind closed cabinet doors the night before when we went to bed.

So without the benefit of caffeine, I found myself needing Jessica Fletcher to help piece together this mystery:

How does a little basset hound open a kitchen cabinet door, extract a bag of cashew clusters and CLOSE the cabinet door?

Lil Lou may be laughing at my futile attempts to thwart her world domination plot.

She’s resting now… or is she really lying in wait — waiting for the opportune moment to unleash her next plot?

I’m looking for the perfect vehicle for me and my pets.  I think the US Auto Industry could save themselves buy developing pet friendly add-on packages.  According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA) — yes, there is such a thing — the pet product industry grew last year (2009) by $2 billion.  That’s $47.7 billion in 2009.  We Americans love our pets! 

So why haven’t Ford and GM caught on to this?  I’ve been developing my wish list.  Here are the features for my dream pet mobile:

• Pet friendly interior fabric
• An integrated ramp
• Optional lift platform for infirm pets or heavy objects
• Automatic lift hatch
• Crate anchors, like baby seat anchors.
• Bowl holders
• Leash tethers for use with halters
• Rear A/C
• Automatic venting when the car temp reaches 70* to create a comfortable and safe environment (Law Enforcement K-9 vehicles are equipped with this type of feature.)
• Interior temperature gauge that’s visible from the outside
• All-weather floor mats for muddy days at the park or stable
• Cargo holders to keep things like buckets, towels and carrot supplies in place.
• Run flat tires
• Incorporate dog parks, vets and pet stores/services into Sync

It looks as if pets are here to stay. We need our vehicles to consider them, too.  I WISH: Ford Motor Company would develop a pet package for their vehicles… specifically the Explorer.  (Butters, Lula and I will gladly test it!)

White chocolate and carob dipped dog biscuits. (Remember: Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Butters' got into chocolate one Christmas and had to have his tummy pumped. Not cheap!)

I love:

• Dave and Marilyn, the great couple who live on the edge of the park, because they don’t mind when their border collie brings home a few friends and runs them through their freshly remodeled home.  
• The Dogfather (not a typo) who knows all the dogs and their people and helps damsels in distress.
• Auntie Tracy, who spoils my dogs silly.  Case in point: She’s sent Butters white chocolate dipped milkbones for Valentine’s day and overnighted a box of canine chicken jerky.
• Dawn, who rescues basset hounds regardless of their circumstances and finds them forever homes.
• Friends Sonia & Kim who bring their dogs to the park and make me walk with them
• Great neighbors who enjoy my dogs as much as I do and help me when I need it
• Great neighbors who think a basset hound howl is music.
• A great vet
• A compassionate chiropractor who gave me another 12 months with Mr. Finley and rescued a lovely pitbull who thinks she’s my lapdog
• Good friends who force you to bust out a dog in need
• The folks who help find homes for Baghdad Pups
• People who help us understand our dogs better
• Great groomers
• Dog-friendly businesses

I love :: people who love our canine companions.