Canines and Cuisine

Unconditional Love

2012-02-18T21:46:00.000-08:00

Unconditional: without conditions. absolute.

"To give and not expect return, that is the heart of love." ~ Oscar Wilde

On my walk with Walter and Henry today, we saw lots of seagulls and birds walking on the bay in low tide. Canadian geese seem to be everywhere we look. They are always in pairs. I think I read somewhere that Canadian Geese mate for life and may only take another mate when widowed. I think Orcas do the same. How lovely and romantic to know they are so fiercely loyal. Again, animals never cease to remind me of the demonstration of unconditional love.

Here's a shot of the little cove at our apartment complex. Way in the back are two geese. My iPhone didn't get the best shot, but they were cuddling there, in love, forever.

Henry and Walter stood on the dock and watched intently while I took the photo. They know love when they see it.

Henry's Feet

2012-02-12T13:06:00.000-08:00

I have heard it said by some, that dog feet smell like salty snacks.

In our house, we refer to it as Frito Feet.

These are Henny's cute little feet. He crosses them when he sits on the couch. Looks like he's wearing fluffy slippers. I call them his Fancy Feet.

Does anyone else like the smell of their dog's paws? There's something strangely appealing about it! (Hee hee).

Walty's back in the Hood....

2012-02-05T18:33:00.000-08:00

"Dogs love company....." J.R. Ackerly

Hey, Dude! Do you dig my Hood?

Walter managed to scratch his face again into a bloody mess. An ear infection and other allergies seem to get the best of him. Our lovely Vet, Dr. Lisa, managed to do a great job shaving the area and cleaning his wounds. She gave us some antibiotics to drop in his ears and rub on his face. His face is itchy and he wants to scratch it all the time. He tries to rub his face on the rug. I have to constantly watch him to ensure he doesn't scratch it open again. A cold compress seems to give him some relief but he is back in the Hood..

Sometimes I get the feeling he may even kinda like the Hood.

Lately, Walter has been climbing into our bed and stays there for hours on end. I guess he feels safe and comfy there. This is new behavior for Walter as he generally likes to sleep on the floor. Now he barks for me to come in and help him up the doggie-stairs and into the bed. The whole point of the doggie-stairs is so the boys are able to climb up on the bed all by themselves! Henry climbs the stairs on his own; but not goofball Walty. He only puts his front paws on the first step and I have to lift his 120-pound butt up those stairs. HA! Gotta love the Walty. Now he is in our bed almost all day and night, only to emerge to eat and go potty. He has even missed a couple of walks because he doesn't want to leave the bed. Is he just so comfortable or is he depressed? My poor, sweet guy!

While Walter is in the comfy bed sleeping away his troubles, Henry is alone in the living room. Usually always cheerful and upbeat, Henry seems a little down in the dumps as well. Is he feeling bad that Walter is in the Hood again? Does he know that Walter is uncomfortable and feels bad? Perhaps.

Henry - looking a little lonely today :(

I think he just misses his best buddy.

It was rainin' hard in Frisco....

2012-01-28T17:58:00.000-08:00

"A dog is one of the remaining reasons why some people can be persuaded to go for a walk." ~ O.A. Battista

So, far, we haven’t had a lot of rain this Winter in San Francisco. But recently, we had a few wet days. When it’s raining buckets, we sometimes skip a walk or it’s a very, very short one; but if it’s a lighter rain, and not so windy, the boys may get a full walk around the bay or the neighborhood, at the very least.

I prepared for this when we first moved up here. I bought a good rain slicker and rain boots and even a rain hat. I purchased two umbrellas – one small one for carrying in my bag and one fancy-schmancy English, wooden-handled, BIG umbrella so the whole family could get under it. Well, I figured out quickly enough that while trying to hold on to an umbrella and two 100+ pound dogs – rain or shine – it is not conducive to a pleasant walk. So, I would have to go sans umbrella. My handy rain hat would have to do.

As we ventured out into the rain, I was as dry as I could be with slicker and hat and boots; however, the boys were not. They did not seem to mind getting wet and still went about their business. They frolicked and sniffed and splashed through mud puddles as every decent dog would do.

When we got home it was a different story. Wet, long-haired, soggy, stinky dogs were entering our home and were inevitably going to park their butts on the carpet or on the couch. Not so fast!

I get the dog-towels and towel-dry them and lay down the towels on the floor or the couch. That does not stop the wet-dog-smell though. And so I looked into doggie slickers. And, of course, found them.

Here are Walter and Henry donning their new rain slickers. Don’t they look like super heroes?

Walter and Henry in their super-hero rain slickers; although their eyes also look like "Doggies of the Corn".

Well, maybe they don’t look that thrilled but I have to tell ya: once we get outside, they could care less whether they are wearing slickers or sweaters and it keeps the water off their backs. In a rainy town like San Francisco, that is something.

Sunshine on the Water and Henry Scares a Cat

2012-01-15T17:18:00.000-08:00

"Sunshine on the water looks so lovely." ~ John Denver

Walter, Henry and I went for walk around our favorite part of the bay today. The air was crisp and dry and the sun spread its illuminating beams across the sparkling winter waters. How perfect nature is as it reveals its magic to us!

The city by the bay was in full, clear view today with some cottony clouds suspended in the pale blue backdrop. The boys sniffed and explored every bush and branch as if they were all brand new. They always want to greet every passerby - human and canine alike. Most are open to their enthusiasm and give them a much-wanted pet; but, still, I wait to get the okay.

The little clip-clop bridge we cross on our walk

We walked down to the floating dock where I have to hold on tight to ensure they don’t decide to take a leap into the tempting waters.

After we headed back up the dock ramp, we walked to a great spot on a curve where we can take a rest by the bench. From here, we have a perfect view of the city skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. Does it get any better than that?

Sometimes on the walk back to our house, I unhook Henry from the leash and let him walk solo the rest of the way home. Henry is very obedient. Walter stays tethered to me as I cannot quite trust him from wandering off and getting into mischief. I tell Walter he is my special boy as he watches Henry roam free to sniff out interesting things off the beaten path. He does not seem to mind. Today, however, Henry got into a little mischief himself. I took my eyes away for a moment to capture the church steeple with my camera and that is when I heard Henry’s very excited barks.

Pretty church standing against the blue winter sky

When I turned around, I saw him at the base of a tree barking and looking up at a very alarmed kitty cat. Oh, Henry!

Oh, Henry!

Poor, scared kitty!

Is it terribly mean that I actually took the time to photograph this event while that poor kitty remained in the tree shaking like a leaf - all for the sake of memorializing my sweet little pup's behavior so I could post it on my blog? Does this confirm that I am "dog person" more than a "cat person" even though I have been mother to a sweet little feline named Mac for the past two decades? Oh, dear.

At home, I don’t think Henry even realizes that Mac is a cat and even if he does, he has no interest in Mac. He simply ignores him. But on every walk, Henry relentlessly hunts in bushes and alleys in search of a cat. I have even seen him awestruck by a cat statue! He will stop dead in his tracks and unremittingly stare at the inanimate kitty with fixed eyes and pointed tail. What a hoot! Henry is a gentle guy so I really do not know what he would do if cats did not run away from him. My guess is he would sniff and eventually lose interest. The whole thing was really quite comical to watch, albeit not so much for the terrorized kitty cat. Just look at the poor little guy in the tree. I sure hope it didn’t take too long for him to get over it.

We always go around the back way to our house on the way home. Walter and Henry get to go over the wooden dock to our back deck door.

We go through one gate

And then we go through another gate....Walter decides to take a rest while I take the picture

All the walks with Walter and Henry are eventful to me in some way. These boys never cease to delight me with their endless curiosity and their sense of wonder. It is as if they are seeing everything for the first time, every time.

Peace and a New Year

2012-01-01T00:36:00.000-08:00

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Years Day." ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Another year gone by. A new one begins. I have always found New Year's Eve a little sad. As I sit in my warm and cozy living room watching and listening to Coldplay on the TV, I hold up my glass of champagne and toast another New Year. Even though Brian is already in bed fast asleep, I am not alone. My boys are right here with me. I reflect on the past year and of many years gone by. Time for a brand new year to start.

At midnight, Walter and Henry are sleeping. To them, it's just another regular night. No New Year's resolutions to think about. No wondering what the New Year will bring. No worries at all. How lovely to look at them with such peace on their faces and more importantly, in their hearts.

Walter, laying by his bowl

Henry (with his toy and rawhide)

Here's to a wonderfully happy and peaceful New Year!

Christmas Blessings, Christmas Cheer

2011-12-29T12:01:00.000-08:00

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year.” ~ Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge - A Christmas Carol

The Christmas season may be hectic with shopping and decorating; mailing cards and packages; and of course, cooking lots of good food and treats; but it is a time of sharing and giving and embracing family and friends; it is a time for reflecting on the past year, appreciating what’s in the moment and looking forward to the start of a fresh new year.

Reflections of 2011 and Christmas Blessings:

Highlights

Moving to the San Francisco Bay Area and finding a home and employment; discovering and experiencing nature’s beauty every day with our beautiful boys in this very special place on earth: the vast bays and the bridges; the redwood and cypress trees; the abundance of birds and colorful, fragrant flowers; the mountains and hidden streams; the vineyards, quaint little towns and beautiful beaches – all surrounding this glorious city by the bay.

Challenges

Losing our jobs and moving from warm and mild San Diego to chilly and foggy San Francisco; finding a place that would allow all of our beloved pets and downsizing our lives; and most importantly, dealing with Brian’s health issues.

Our move, though challenging, turned out quite well and became one of our highlights. Brian is getting the very best medical care and doing better every day. For this, we are thankful and have great hopes for health and prosperity in the New Year.

Christmas Cheer

In the days leading up to Christmas, we decorated and we shopped and we mailed and we cooked but still found time to get out with the boys and see what Mother Nature was serving up during the Winter months by the Bay: frosty mornings and chillier days; dimmer daylight and lower tides; shedding trees and some of the most spectacular sunsets we have ever seen.

Our Christmas tree sits in the corner of our living room with a white angel floating atop. I can’t help but feel that she is a symbol of the protection and blessings bestowed upon us this year.

Our first Christmas Tree in Tiburon

Decorating the doorway (Walter with his Reindeer antlers in the background!)

We had a quiet Christmas holiday – just the five of us watching lots of sentimental Christmas movies and listening to carols. On Christmas Day, we all took a lovely walk around the bay at low tide. It was peaceful and serene. Walter and Henry and Mac enjoyed the festivities and delighted in the presents delivered by Santa!

Henry says: I love my new toy!

Walter carrying his new toy (of course looking away from the camera)

For Christmas Eve, we had a buffet-style smorgasbord of shrimp, bruschetta, cheeses, deviled eggs and other goodies. For Christmas dinner, I prepared the ultimate Beef Wellington meal (courtesy of Tyler Florence) by wrapping a pan-seared choice beef tenderloin in puff pastry lined with thin slices of prosciutto and mushroom, garlic and shallot pâté. I served it with a peppercorn sauce, a side of herb-roasted fingerling potatoes and wilted winter greens (wilted with warm Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette dressing). I should have photographed the whole thing before slicing it - but I didn't - so here’s a shot of the whole meal après slicing:

Beef Wellington with roasted fingerling potatoes and wilted winter greens

Here, the boys are once again subjected to their mom’s silly antics. Believe me, those hats stayed on only for the photo after which they yanked them off and proceeded to chew them like a stuffed toy. Notice Walter has to be held in place by his dad (as usual) and Henry kicks back and relaxes on the sofa. Funny boys.

Here she goes again....let's get this over with

Oh, goody! Another chew toy!

Macky, looking very un-thrilled about his over-sized hat. Where is my little hat?

All in all, this year has been full of change and blessings. It seems that the only constant we have in our lives is change so here’s to hoping we have the courage and grace to expect it, accept it and embrace it.

Happy New Year!

GIVING THANKS

2011-11-25T14:20:00.000-08:00

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." ~ Thornton Wilder

Our Thanksgiving Table

I do hope everyone had a memorable Thanksgiving Day. It is an American holiday when we are reminded to give thanks for all the things that make our life worth living. We celebrate with lots of food and sit around with family and friends and of course, our faithful furry companions. It's great to have one day dedicated to being grateful. I try to live by that every day and take the time to look around, appreciate the beauty and whisper some words of thanks for my good fortune.

It was only me and Brian and the boys around the Thanksgiving table this year, but still, I made a traditional Thanksgiving feast with the anticipation of leftovers and some creative meals to follow. Enclosed are some photos of my Thanksgiving creations which were lovingly and happily prepared.

As we watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade on television, I prepared some appetizers:

Stuffed Mushrooms

Brie cheese with Kahlua and Roasted Pecans

I prepared an organic turkey which I stuffed with crusty french bread, celery, onions, cranberries, apples and pecans and seasoned with sage, thyme and rosemary.

Before

After

For the sides, I made traditional mashed potatoes and gravy, sauteed green beans with garlic and sliced almonds, raspberry dill carrots and yams with brown sugar and pecans.

Here you have a glimpse of my dinner plate, packed with a sample of everything on the table:

And last but not least, I made some homemade pies. The banana creme pie is made with a cream cheese crust and filled with a lovely vanilla creme custard and organic bananas topped with freshly made whipped cream and sprinkled with organic coconut flakes and shaved Ghirardelli dark chocolate. I forgot to take a photo before we cut into it but you can get a glimpse of it in the photo of the full table at the top of this post.

I did take some photos of the apple pie. This crust was made with lots of cold butter and finely grated Gruyere cheese. What a fantastic crust this was! It was flaky and light from the butter and savory from the Gruyere cheese which incredibly complimented the sweet honey crisp apples that were baked with butter, brown and white sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves. I brushed egg whites on the crust to make it shine a beautiful golden brown. Delicious!

Apple Pie BEFORE

Apple Pie AFTER!

Well, that's does it for this year's Thanksgiving Dinner. I hope you all ate heartily and are as thankful as I am for the bounty in our lives! Thanksgiving Day is only a remembrance of what should be in our hearts every day.

P.S. The boys had a nice walk and some skinless turkey on top of their crunchies which made them very happy, too!

Homemade Pizza, Anyone?

2011-11-13T10:32:00.001-08:00

"You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six." ~ Yogi Berra

3 cheeses with caramelized onion and roasted garlic

Nothing is better than pizza, right?

Brian and I are pizza fanatics. Even bad pizza tastes good. We have a really good delivery place here in Mill Valley called Rocco's (what else?) and we often order it for something easy on on Friday nights. We even eat the little frozen pizzas or the store-bought-rise-in-the-oven-style pizzas. But lately, I decided to make my own pizza. With my handy bread maker (that I have used for over 20 years thanks to my mom who gave me a great one!), I can whip up good pizza dough; and with plenty of tomato paste on hand I can make a delicious pizza sauce. We usually have a variety of cheeses and fresh veggies in the frig so there you go - all set for homemade pizza night (or day)!

Here are two recipes for pizza dough. If I am in rush, I make the no-yeast dough but if we have some time and patience, I make the (better) pizza dough the proper way - using yeast.

No Yeast Pizza Dough – makes crust for one large pie or two small pies

2 cups all-purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoon Olive or Vegetable Oil
3/4 cup luke-warm water
Set bread machine on white dough cycle in bread for machine for first 15 minutes only and then remove
Dough will supple and smooth and easy for rolling out with a rolling pin
Roll dough out flat over a pizza stone*

Pizza Dough Using Yeast (and the better of the two) – makes a thin crust for two large pies

2 teaspoons yeast
3 cups of all-purpose flour (Sometimes I use half bread flour)
1 teaspoon salt
2 TBS sugar
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 cup plus about 2 Tablespoons luke-warm water
Set bread machine to white dough and go through the entire cycle (about 1 hour and 50 minutes)
When bread machine beeps and dough is done, divide into two halves and roll out on pizza stone*

*I brush about a teaspoon of olive oil on the pizza stone before rolling out the dough for a beautifully browned crust.

Delicious, tangy pizza sauce

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon shopped garlic
1 small onion, chopped
1 6-ounce can of tomato paste
6 ounces of warm water
2 Tablespoons of honey or one Tablespoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of anchovy paste (this is optional and does not have to be used)
¼ teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon dried marjarom
1/8 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
1 Tablespoon of butter
2-3 Tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese

Cooking Instructions:

In a medium sauté pan, cook onions and garlic in 1 TBS olive oil on medium heat until soft and fragrant

Turn the heat down to low and add tomato paste;

Fill the 6-0z can up with warm water and add water to the sauce and stir until combined

Add the honey and anchovy paste and stir in

Add the spices and Parmesan cheese and stir in

Add the pat of butter and stir in until melted

Spread half of sauce on one pizza dough with a ladle, starting in the middle and out to the edges

Now put your pizza together – be creative!

Add your favorite toppings such as mozzarella cheese or any other cheeses you have in your frig. Some dollops of ricotta cheese on top of shredded mozzarella is yummy. Add sliced tomato, pepperoni, onions, tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms….whatever. I love to roast a head of garlic until soft and sweet and squeeze the caramelized cloves on top of my pizza. It’s so delicious!

Before - half pepperoni & sausage & half cheese and tomato

Bake your pizza in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and crust is golden. Use a pizza cutter to slice. Be careful not to burn the roof of your mouth if you eat it right away! I can’t tell you how many times I have done that and end up with a nice blister the next day .

After!

Next time you have a hankering for homemade pizza, just look in your pantry and frig and chances are you have the ingredients to create your own. It's a great little meal while watching a Sunday Football game. And it's fun to make!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2011-10-30T15:18:00.000-07:00

Eat, drink and be scary! ~ Author unknown

Mac decided to be a Black Cat this year!

Walter, the French Painter

Henry, the Mad Scientist

The Boys's Scary Pumpkin

All the boys want to wish everyone...

A SPOOKY AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

A Day with the Boys at Crissy Field Beach

2011-10-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

"God took the beauty of the Bay of Naples, the Valley of the Nile, the Swiss Alps, the Hudson River Valley, rolled them into one and made San Francisco Bay." ~ Fiorello La Guardia

It was the most perfect day in San Francisco! Bright, blue skies and sunshine with a warm breeze....Summer in San Francisco begins in the Fall! WOW!

We headed out in the Jeep with the boys in tow, plenty of water and plastic bags. We drove south on the 101, over the Golden Gate Bridge and headed towards The Presidio. We wanted to check out Baker Beach so we found our way to Gibson Road. It was packed with tourists and locals; anyone and everyone who was out enjoying this spectacular afternoon in the city by the bay. We drove around and around but could not find parking. Bummer.

Then Brian decided to head over to Crissy Field to see if we could find a place to take the boys for some fun. We drove past all the old military barracks (they are so cool - many of which have been restored into apartments and office space) and lo and behold, we found a perfect parking spot right across the street from Crissy Field, a restored grass aircraft runway and now a Golden Gate National Park.

What a breathtaking spot! We crossed the street with Walter and Henry on a leash and once we stepped foot on the grassy park, we let them run! .

The boys get to romp off leash

Soon, like magnets to to metal, Henry and Walter dashed down to the beach. Henry was in the water in a flash with Walter right behind him. This place was too good to be true! Views, views everywhere! We looked up to see the Golden Gate bridge, suspended above us in all its stunning glory....we looked ahead and had a bird's eye view of Alcatraz and Angel Island floating in the bay and turned around to the right where we had a full snapshot of the San Francisco skyline. You can't get much better than that. Where else can you be on the beach with all these incredible views? Not anywhere I have ever been! And all the while, the boys are romping on shoreline, swimming in the tide and having the time of their lives!

The boys having a blast on the beach

Walty follows Henry into the bay

When the boys were wet and worn out, we drove north back over the Golden Gate Bridge toward home and took another detour through the artsy and charming town of Sausalito. As we rounded the corner onto Bridgeway (the main drag), we we came upon a surge of strollers, shoppers, bikers and al fresco diners. It seemed as if every human and animal alike was out and about on this glorious Fall day by the San Francisco Bay.

What a joy it is to live in this magical place.

Pit Bull Awareness Day

2011-10-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

Today is Pit Bull Awareness Day.

These poor, lovely souls are so misunderstood. So many people think that all pit bulls are mean and aggressive and unadoptable. But these people are mistaken. These dogs need love and caring just like any other dog and will give love back a million times over if just given the chance. They seem to be the number one abandoned dog and there are many bad owners out there that train their pit bulls to fight and abuse and then abandon them in droves. It is a tragedy.

I have a dear friend who has rescued two delightful pit bulls found wandering the streets of L.A. with no home and no loving family to care for them. You can read about their stories on My Life with Tommy. Tommy was the first pittie that warmed his way into Susan's heart. Then came Louise. Unfortunately, Tommy and Louise are not a match made in heaven and so Susan finds herself having to make a difficult choice. She also has two cats that need her attention. Alas, she has to put Louise up for adoption. After all, Tommy was there first.

I am posting a photo of the beautiful and loving Louise. You can read and see more about her on Susan's blog My Life with Tommy. If you know of anyone who would like to have this expressive, well-behaved little pittie as a part of their family, please, please let Susan know.......she wants to find a great forever home for this lovely girl.

Just look at her!

We must give these misunderstood pups a chance at a great life!

Birthday by the Bay

2011-10-12T21:53:00.000-07:00

God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well. ~ Voltaire

I worked from home today which I am fortunate enough to be able to do once a week. I usually telecommute on Wednesday. Today is Wednesday and it also happens to be my birthday.

My husband gave me a Kindle as a birthday gift. I was very pleased as I read every day during my commute time to and from work. I sometimes lug very thick hardcovers in my bag along with my computer which makes for a heavy load. I was reluctant to switch to an electronic book because I didn’t think I could give up the real thing. I love the smell of and the feel of the pages. But, alas, I don’t have the room anymore to store all my books and have been donating them to the library little by little. The Kindle really is the perfect solution for my commute as it is sleek and lightweight and can easily slide into my purse.

But that is not what this post is about; I just thought I would mention it because it was a lovely, thoughtful gift!

Guaymas by the Bay

Since I worked from home today, I was able to go out to lunch in my neighborhood as a treat!. Brian took me to a delightful restaurant called Guaymas down by the Tiburon pier. “The restaurant is positioned after the fishing village of Guaymas in Mexico on the Sea of Cortez. The menu is inspired by the traditional Mexican foods of celebration and focuses on farm-to-table ingredients, duplicating the flavors of the small coastal village for which it is named.” It sits right at the water’s edge by the port of the Tiburon ferry.

We sat outside on the patio. The sky was as blue as a robin’s egg and the sun was buzzing with summer warmth and autumn light. It was a glorious day.

Lovely patio setting

Our view of the Ferry Pier and Angel Island

We were served three different types of salsas and all had authentic and unique flavors ranging from spicy to salty to sweet. The tortilla chips were homemade. I would have eaten the entire basket of tortilla chips but wanted to save room for my entrée (and maybe even dessert!).

Aren't they beautiful?

I ordered prawns with a sweet chipotle glaze and served with homemade guacamole. What a delight it was to bite into those succulent charcoal grilled beauties!

Brian ordered chicken enchiladas. They were beautifully prepared with chunks of fresh chicken and a light sauce. The rice was warm and fragrant and the black beans were healthy and tasty.

Lovely Enchiladas de Pollo

I also sipped on a Top Shelf Margarita on the rocks which was prepared with fresh lime juice and a splash of Grand Marnier – just the way I like it. It was a delicious, relaxing and enjoyable lunch.

And at the moment I was contemplating an order of the ice cream taco or the cinnamon churro for dessert, the server brought out a complimentary homemade flan topped with a birthday candle!

Happy Birthday to me!

I felt so fortunate today. To me, birthdays are a celebration of life.

And I have a lot to celebrate.

Room with a View

2011-10-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

"Tell me what you feel in your room when the full moon is shining in upon you...~ Henry Frederic Amiel

The Buckeye Roadhouse in Marin County

Brian and I decided to have lunch at the Buckeye Roadhouse today. It’s a great little Marin County restaurant located off Highway 101 between Mill Valley and Sausalito. With its Aspen lodge-like ambiance that features vaulted ceilings, a river-rock fireplace and a cozy, rustic bar area, Brian and I felt our Colorado roots tugging at us the first time we stepped foot inside the place.

The food is prepared with fresh, local ingredients - which is something I adore about dining and food shopping in the Bay Area. There is a wholesome goodness to every bite – even if indulging in a burger and fries. The burgers are pure organic angus beef and the fries are, well, fries, but pretty close to perfection. Have you ever had garlic-herb French fries? If you haven’t, try them at the Buckeye Roadhouse - you are in for a treat. Brian had a grilled Santa Fe chicken sandwich on a sourdough bun topped with avocado, jack cheese and chipotle mayo – another one of their delicious sandwiches. We have been eating low carb, healthy meals and salads for weeks and this was indeed a treat well worth waiting for.

Now for some clarity on the title of this post: “A Room with a View”. The Buckeye Roadhouse doesn’t provide the views you might expect. I think most folks would agree that one dines at the Buckeye Roadhouse for the food, the ambiance and the wonderfully friendly service - and not necessarily the view.

Today, however, we sat in a booth that faced the bar. Right at the moment I began to sink my teeth into my perfectly grilled, juicy burger, I noticed that I indeed, did have a view! Lucky me!

I could not resist: I placed my burger down on my plate and in a flash, with iPhone in hand, undetected, took my best shot.

Ready?

Ta da!

Half Moon?

Yep, right there on the bar stool in front of me – for the rest of the meal - this was my view. It brought a whole new meaning to the slogan " Just wait'll we get our Hanes on you!"

Where is Michael Jordan when you need him?!

Summer in September (and the boys take a swim!)

2011-09-18T17:27:00.000-07:00

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

The path around the bay - we call it The Pond

San Francisco is not known for its warm summers. This funky fog shrouds the Bay Area and makes for cool mornings, occasionally sunny afternoons and chilly evenings. It took some getting-used-to as we lived through our very first summer in San Francisco.

I have been told – by many natives – that September and October promise to be the best weather months in the Bay Area and that Summer arrives late in San Francisco. The first couple of weeks in September seemed to prove these optimists wrong as the weather remained foggy and chilly and windy with little sunshine or warmth. Oh dear, it seems we moved to Seattle!

Then it happened. Yesterday, Saturday, September 17^th – it was glorious. Clear, blue skies from early in the morning throughout the entire day just like the fourth of July. A warm breeze whispered lightly through the leaves on the trees. And today, on Sunday, Mother Nature repeated her performance.

Walking around the bay with the boys, I could actually hear the buzz of the sun and the water was as still and flat as glass. A rogue duck glided by slowly and silently, leaving tiny ripples in its wake. We were all alone on the little dirt path that winds around the bay. The boys were stopping and sniffing at every bush and I was taking in the sights. The San Francisco skyline was clearly visible today (I love that!) and some of the trees are starting to display their bright autumn colors.

It was high tide today and the bay water looked cleaner than usual. Happy sunbathers were jumping into the water from a floating dock and Henry and Walter wanted to join in on the action. It was so warm, I decided to give in and let them swim. I unhooked the leash and SHOOM! – They were in! Good thing I had my camera today. It was a photo opportunity.

The boys wading in The Pond

Walty only stands in the water

Henry swims!

It was a good day. We had a blast and now it's time to cook some delicious Opah for dinner and watch The Emmys. Looking forward to some more summer weather this week!

The Hood

2011-09-15T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Understanding your dog and knowing how to control him, develop his potential and resolve behavior problems, emotional conflicts and frustrations are no less essential than love and respect." ~ Michael W. Fox

Poor Walter. He is like the boy in the plastic bubble - except we don't have a bubble for him.

We have The Hood.

Walter Wears the Hood in the Car

I purchased The Hood (Comfy Cone) for Walter a long time ago and it sure has come in handy. It is much better than those shameful and inflexible plastic lampshades. How embarrassing and mean those things are!

We have had several allergy tests done on Walter because he often gets itchy skin and ear infections. Turns out, he is allergic to so many things such as weeds and plants and trees and certain foods and even cats! It is impossible to keep him away from all of these allergens - unless, of course, we place him in a plastic bubble like Tod Lubitch. And so he will go through periods of itching and scratching. The poor guy is itchy, yes, and he takes medicine and he gets oatmeal baths and rubdowns with oils and other soothing potions but still, he scratches and bites and bites and scratches until I have to, once again, put on The Hood.

In addition to Walter's allergies, he also displays some OCD tendencies. Yes, that is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and dogs have it, too. Water cannot bear it if something is out of its proper place; if it is, he barks and moans. If he is taken out of his daily routine and doesn't do the same thing every day, he barks and moans. If we leave some new or different object in his path, he barks and moans. He digs holes in the dirt over and over and over again. Then, there is the obsessive scratching, biting, chewing and licking that he will do for hours on end even long after the itching has stopped. It can be destructive. Because he scratches or chews on one spot over and over, eventually it causes a bloody, open wound; and therefore, he must surrender to the The Hood.

It does appear that Walty might even be fond of The Hood. It can be folded all the way up (his peripheral vision is blocked but he can't scratch or bite anything on his body) or it can be folded back in a fashionable, rain hat sort of way (as seen in the photos) which is the way he wears it most of the time. It still keeps him from scratching his face and ears. I do have to remove it during mealtimes as it impedes his ability to effectively eat his food and causes his bowl to slide across the floor. Then he barks. It serves as a lovely pillow when he sleeps and he seems to be quite comfortable. Look at how peaceful he is - he doesn't even know I am photographing him!

Walter Wears the Hood When he Sleeps

Gotta love the Walty. He is one of a kind and pure love despite his little OCD tendencies.

Henry Hides my Scarf

2011-09-05T11:06:00.000-07:00

"The greatest fear dogs know is the fear that you will not come back when you go out the door without them." ~ Stanley Coren, dog psychologist

I wear a scarf almost every day. I used to wear a scarf during only the cooler months of the year but now that I live in San Francisco where warm Summers are pretty much non-existent, I wear a scarf every day. Good thing scarves are en vogue these days; otherwise, I might look a bit daft with my long scarf wrapped two or three times around my neck in the middle of August. Although I have quite the scarf collection, I do have my favorites. There is one scarf that I received as a gift quite some years ago. I wear it often. It is a long scarf and so it wraps around nicely and protects my neck from the cold and damp fog that hangs like a curtain over the Golden Gate Bridge almost every morning and rolls out like a carpet through the streets of San Francisco. I like this scarf and should it go missing, I would mourn its disappearance.

Brian and I have gone out to a couple of music concerts recently. When our boys are left alone, they are generally well-behaved. They do seem to get lonely when we are gone for several hours at a time since someone is regularly home with them day and night. Henry, surprisingly, has the most separation anxiety when we are not around. When he was a baby, he would chew things. It was always a frightful sight when we came home to chewed up shoes, books and even furniture. Thank Goodness, he grew out of that. Henry is a true retriever and he likes to bring me stuff. He likes to feel useful. He will bring me shoes and clothes and towels - whatever he can grab at that moment as if to say: "You'll need this, Mom."

The other day, following a night out, I was ready to go out the door to work and went to grab my favorite scarf. I could not find it in its usual place. I searched everywhere but no luck. Finally, I succumbed. I realized it must have fallen off while I was on the ferry or the bus or maybe just as I getting out of the car. I was bummed out.

A few days went by and as I was cleaning up the area around "Henry's couch" (yes, the couch is his and he lets you know it), I noticed something peeking out from underneath the cushion in his favorite spot, and after taking a closer look - lo and behold - it was my scarf!

Henry must have stolen it the night we went to the Jeff Bridges concert. Did he miss me that much that he needed an article of my clothing near him while I was away? Or was he being a rascal and getting back at me for leaving him alone for so many hours?

Whatever his motive, I was happy to have my scarf back. And just to show him I was not sore at him for stealing my scarf, I let him borrow it.

Beautiful Beef

2011-08-27T11:38:00.000-07:00

“The feeling of friendship is like that of being comfortably filled with roast beef; ....” ~ Samuel Johnson

There are lots of reasons people don't eat meat - or beef, in particular. Red meat seems to be the evil enemy these days and I have to admit that I sometimes have a pang of guilt when I prepare and eat beef. But the guilt doesn't last for long when I look at an organic beef tenderloin roast. I'm sorry all you vegetarians out there, but it is a thing of beauty.

My favorite way to make this special cut of meat is to slightly sear it in a pan and then roast it until medium rare and serve it sliced with a horseradish sauce. The roasted beef practically melts in your mouth and whether a mouthful is paired with a dab of spicy horseradish, a bite of a perfectly roasted potato or a sip of full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, it is simply delicious.

I roasted the beef with green onions, garlic and a sherry-mustard sauce, carved the meat into 1 inch slices and served it with mini herb-roasted potatoes and asparagus.

Check out some photos:

Chopped green onions and garlic are sauteed and combined with sherry, mustard and soy sauce

Lovely mini gold potatoes combined with olive oil and herbs and roasted in the oven

Fresh, organic asparagus spears, roasted in foil with a dab of butter and sprinkled with tarragon leaves

Finished tenderloin, roasted to a perfect medium rare:

Check out the recipe for this Elegant Roasted Beef Tenderloin

Happy Eating!

Weekend Meals and Stretchy Pants

2011-08-07T13:55:00.000-07:00

“One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.” ~ Luciano Pavarotti

My goal on Friday evening was to pick up a two-pound beef tenderloin roast for Saturday Night’s dinner with friends. I had a little extra time in the Marketplace so I visited the San Francisco Fish company again and grabbed a couple of six-ounce Sea Bass filets and a bag of Bay Scallops. I thought, instead of Friday night pizza, we could have some fresh fish. I knew I had some fragrant imported Italian lemon pasta in the pantry and thought how luscious it would be mixed with some garlic Alfredo sauce as a cradle for the fish.

Well, it turned out we were not very hungry on Friday night and opted for some cheese and crackers and a glass of crisp Chardonnay. It also turned out that our Saturday night dinner guests canceled on us, so we were left with the sea bass, beef tenderloin and scallops all to ourselves for our weekend meals. Hmmm. I thought we could handle it.

I threw the scallops in the freezer (even though I hate to freeze fresh fish – after all, isn’t that the point – to eat the fish when it is fresh? Oh, well.) But I wasn’t going to do that with the sea bass so I decided to make that our Saturday night dinner and save the beef for Sunday night.

I prepared the fish by seasoning it with a lemon-garlic rub and salt and pepper. I squeezed a little fresh lemon juice over the fish filets and dusted them with flour for optimal browning on each side in a grill pan with olive oil.

In the meantime, I melted about 2 TBS of garlic butter in a shallow baking dish by placing it in a 325 degree oven (you can make this butter yourself by mixing about a stick of softened butter with minced garlic, shallots, lemon juice, fresh parsley and salt and pepper or you can buy it prepared.) Once the fish was nicely browned on both sides I placed them in the baking dish with the melted butter, added two more TBS of the garlic butter to the top of each filet and roasted the fish for about 15 minutes until cooked through, flaky and delicious.

While the fish was cooking I made the pasta. This lemony, thick spaghetti-like pasta is so fragrant - it is as if you are boiling a bag full of lemons! Once drained, I mixed in enough garlic Alfredo sauce to nicely coat it (I sometimes make my own sauce but this time I used Paul Newman’s Garlic Alfredo Sauce in the jar – it is quite good!) Once the fish was done, I placed the filet on top of asparagus and a heap of limone pasta and served it hot with some fresh Ciabatta bread. I know - I really know how to turn a healthy fish meal into a wickedly decadent dish. My husband Brian told me it was outstanding! I have to admit, I agreed. It was very yummy. Here's a photo:

Roasted Sea Bass with Lemon Pasta

A couple of weeks ago, I prepared delicious Chicken Parmesan using thinly-shaved real, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese with the Alfredo sauce and capers (instead of mozzarella and tomato sauce) served over Pappardelle and received similar accolades from Brian. Check it out:

I write about our more vibrant meals as the rest of the week we try to eat salads and lighter fare. It’s not as much fun to illustrate those!

The weekends in our house call for jazz on the Bose, great movies, cooking up a storm and s~t~r~e~t~c~h~y pants.

I’ll be back to tell you how the beef tenderloin and baked scallops turn out. Stay tuned.

San Francisco Fish and Golden Gate Meat: Magnifique!

2011-08-04T16:42:00.000-07:00

“To eat is a necessity; to eat intelligently is an art.” La Rochefoucauld

How wonderful is it to have so many fabulous fresh food choices under one roof? Let me tell ya.

I have written about my discovery of the Ferry Building Marketplace and my utter delight in surveying the shops and food stands. Even after months of meandering through this merry market place, I still marvel at the menu of meats, fish, pasta and cheeses.

Lately, I have been dropping in on some very special people in some very impressive companies. Those would be the San Francisco Fish Company and the Golden Gate Meat Company.

When my bus delivers me on time at the Ferry Building each evening after work, I have enough time to stroll in and grab some fish or meat or a bag of imported Italian pasta and pesto for dinner.

The San Francisco Fish Company has a variety of fresh catches including Pacific Halibut and Atlantic and Scottish Salmons, to name a few. The the other night I picked up some mild and delicious Sea Bass and baked it in lemon, butter and garlic and served it with fresh asparagus and crusty, rustic French bread. Heaven.

Another night I selected some organic filet mignon steaks from the Prather Ranch Meat Co. - a company that raises, distributes and sells humanely-raised and very flavorful meat products. I grilled these little beauties to pepper-crusted perfection; and finally, last Sunday, I roasted a stunning pork loin from The Golden Gate Meat Company and topped it with apple cider gravy. It was so succulent and tender, it practically melted in our mouths. Tout était si bon!

I am going to pick up a lovely beef tenderloin roast for Saturday night's dinner. I plan to roast this tender piece of meat in the oven with garlic, green onions, mustard and sherry. Elégant!.

Hopefully we will have friends join us so we can share the love.

What are you having for dinner?

Walty Surrenders

2011-07-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

A dog is the only thing on earth that will love you more than you love yourself. ~ Josh Billings

Poor Walter. He is so incredilby camera-shy, it is bewildering. I have no idea why he is so afraid of the camera. Even if I pick up the camera, before I even turn it on, he flees the scene! The weird part is, he even knows that my iPhone is a camera! Even when he is sleeping and I try and sneak up on him, somehow, inexplicably, he opens his eyes and bolts before I can get a shot! And it's not the flash - even without the flash, he is out of sight at a mere glimpse of the camera or what he believes to be a camera. Hmmmph.

This evening, I was determined to get a shot of Walty or this blog will be filled with only photos of Henry - as cute as he is. Henry has no problem with cameras.

So, this evening, I cornered Walter in a room and asked him to sit (which he did - good boy), I grabbed hold of his face and took my best shot! I forced Walty to surrender to the Nikon. Bless his heart; he loves and trusts me so much and I betrayed him.

As soon I let go of his sweet little face, he ran out on to the deck and would not come back in. Sigh.

Henny's Little Tuft

2011-07-23T13:05:00.000-07:00

Cowlick: A cowlick is a section of hair that stands straight up or lies at an angle at odds with the style in which the rest of an individual's hair is worn.

How cute is this cute little boy with his cute little cowlick? Cute beyond words!

Lizzie Takes a Spill

2011-07-16T23:03:00.000-07:00

"So go ahead. Fall down. The world looks different from the ground."
~ Oprah Winfrey

As I wrote in a previous blog post, Brian brings Walter and Henry down to the docks in Tiburon to greet me as I get off the ferry boat every evening after work. Walter and Henry are very excited when they spot me coming down the dock and as I get closer to them, Walter lets out a little bark to say hello and Henry smiles and wags his tail. It is charming. Brian takes my heavy bag and hands me the leash as we walk to the car. People walk by and smile at the dogs. It's always the same routine.

Except for this past Friday evening. On our walk back to the car, a little Pug stops to sniff and say hello. We veer around others on the sidewalk and head up and over the lawn.

Suddenly, Walter decides to drop and roll in the grass.

He does that kind of thing all the time with no warning. There also happens to be a big hole in the lawn of which I am oblivious since I am chatting away with Brian.

In a flash, I am falling.

I land right on top of Walter and all I am thinking about is that he will be hurt. I do not even think about what will happen to me! Next thing I know, I am face down on the ground.

What the heck just happened? I hear Brian’s voice; he is asking me if I am okay. He sounds worried. I am okay. I am not hurt, just stunned. Sweet Walter broke my fall. I get my bearings and look up.

Yes, things certainly do look different from the ground.

Henry has a Crush?!

2011-07-06T18:43:00.000-07:00

Crush: Cuz we were like “woaaaah”, and I was like “woaaah” and you were like “woaaahh…”~Quote from Finding Nemo

Henry’s Got a Crush?

Can it be that my sweet little boy has a crush on someone other than his Mommy?

We recently moved into a new apartment at The Cove. It is only a few blocks away from our old apartment in the same complex but has lots more room and a little fenced-in yard for the boys. We also have a large back deck where we have a nice view of the canal where there are boats and kayaks moored to floating docks. It’s lovely.

View of the canal from our deck

The only problem is the back of our deck also directly faces a neighbor’s windows and sliding doors and we can see right into her living room and kitchen. Although this is awkward for us at times, Henry seems to love the view. Not only are there a couple of cats across the way who wander out on the neighbor’s deck and taunt their canine onlookers, there is a pretty blonde woman prancing back and forth in Henry’s line of sight from his perfect perch on the couch. He is mesmerized. He sits there with a smile and watches her every move. I am not sure how she feels about Henry’s ogling stare day in and day out, but I have to say I feel a little jealous. LOL. My baby has eyes for another girl?! What to do?

Our full view of the neighbor's windows and doors

Henry on the couch looking at the pretty blonde neighbor

Henry's view of the neighbor's kitchen

For the Fourth of July weekend, Brian and I went to the local nursery and purchased some potted wax privet trees and a couple of citrus trees, thinking they would provide some privacy for us when we sit out on our deck or walk around our living room with the blinds open. The trees are not fully grown but will grow into a nice privacy cover eventually. They do help with blocking the bird’s eye view of our blonde neighbor’s activities. I am sure this gesture provides some comfort to her, too. And, maybe Henry will turn his attention back to his jealous mom.  HA!

Our new trees

Still, I think we need more trees. Back to the nursery.

Another Late Night Romp for Walty

2011-06-05T00:24:00.000-07:00

In dog training, jerk is a noun, not a verb. ~ Dr. Dennis Fetko

Friday night it was pouring buckets of rain in Tiburon. I keep hearing how unusual it is for so much rain this time of year in the Bay Area. Huh. Nevertheless, it was wet, wet, wet all day and night. That usually means we are cooped up in the house and the boys get bored.

I went to bed around 10:30 p.m. and was sleeping soundly until I was awakened by the sound of a moan and a little bark. I know by now that is Walter and he needs to go outside to go potty.

At first I am a little confused because I think it is time to get up for work. So, I get out of bed and open the front door to let Walter out (like I do every single morning); but as I glance at the clock on the table by my side of the bed, I realize it is only 1:38 a.m.! UGH. Another one of Walty’s middle-of-the night potty runs.

I do not like when Walter does this because he has a tendency to wander off sometimes. I didn't want to go out in the yard in the rain so I just stood on the deck and watched him. It was raining so hard that I think he will just do his business and come right back in.

He finishes, turns around and heads back to the front deck steps so I turn around and head to the door. Good boy. When I get to the door, I turn around, and realize that Walter is no longer behind me. In an instant, he is gone.

Oh, crap.

I walk back out to the front deck and peer out into the teaming rain and do not see him anywhere in the front yard. I whisper his name over and over (I cannot call out loud since it is now almost two o’clock in the morning and I do not want to wake the neighbors.) No sign of him. Oh, man, I have a bad feeling about this. It was only a few weeks ago that I was climbing over a neighbor's deck into their yard to retrieve Walter in the middle of the night. Not again.

I go back inside and put on my raincoat, rain boots and grab the umbrella. I head out past the front lawn and onto the sidewalk and look up and down the street. Nothing. I call out his name again in the loudest whisper I can muster and still nothing. I start to walk down the street and start looking in the usual places. Nothing.

Next thing I know, Henry is by my side. I guess he decided to come out and help me. Henry is extremely protective of his mommy and he also likes to feel useful. So, Henry and I start walking down the street together in search of the very naughty Walter. I am NOT happy!

I wonder to myself: Why is Walter misbehaving so much lately? Maybe he hates our small apartment as much as we do; but at this juncture, I am having a hard time feeling bad for him. I am thinking to myself: What a jerk he is! It’s two o'clock in the morning and I am standing outside in my pajamas in the pouring rain, AGAIN - frantically trying to track him down.

I squint through the sheets of water and mist and think I see a white flash a long way down the road by the entrance to the beach area. Could that be Walter? I squint again and say to myself: Yes – it has to be him. A big, white flag-like tail is sticking out from behind the wall by the deck that leads to the beach. I can’t believe it.

He is way down there? I am ready to scream but I cannot.

I am praying the gate to the beach is not open because I am in no mood to be heading down to the beach - which is right off the deep, dark woods of the bird sanctuary. Oh, God, please don’t let the gate be open. I do not want to go down there in the middle of the night - in the rain - in the dark.

As Henry and I head down to the end of the block, Walty peeks out from around the corner and spots us. I try not to show that I am upset with him because if I do, I know he will bolt again. So I say: Walty, come here good boy! He starts to walk toward me but at a very slow pace. He's meandering now?! Serioulsy?! He's got to be kidding!

I call his name in a loud whisper again and tell him to come. He does. When he reaches me, he runs past me and bolts back to the house. I turn and run after him, with Henry still loyally by my side. Walter must know he is in trouble because he bounds up the front steps, into the house and into the bedroom. Henry and I follow him in and I close the door.

Warm. Dry. Safe. Ahhh.

I don't even have to tell Walter to lie down - he is already down. I tell him that he was very naughty and to go to sleep. I shed my rain gear and climb back into the soft comfort of my bed. Then it hits me that it is Saturday and not a work day! I am so relieved but so tired that I must have fallen asleep in five seconds flat because I remember nothing after that.

I cannot wait to move into our new place with the little fenced yard and the doggie door.

Two more days.