It's Me Izzy

Dear Mom,

It's me...Izzy.  

I have taken over the writing here for a moment, I have some things I need to say.

Dear Mom...Why do you call me Princess Izzy Pants?

 Dear Mom...Why do you call me Isabella Rosalinni?

 Dear Mom...really...do I need to even say anything about this photo?

Dear Mom...you always take pictures of me...even when I am having a bad hair day.  Just look at my eyes...I begged you not to take it.

Dear Mom...Remember when you and Dad took me to Steamboat Springs and all the other kids had to stay home.  I got to stay in a "dog friendly" hotel and had a queen-sized bed all to myself.  That was awesome!

 Dear Mom...I'm too sexy for my scarf...enough said!

 Dear Mom...Why is the brown one always pulling faces in photos?

Dear Mom...Thanks for taking me on a walk all the time.  Did you know I love it?  Sorry I make you pick up my poop in the pink baggies.  But sometimes, you just have to go!

Dear Mom...everyone thinks it's unfair that my crazy sister Kenya lives outside and I live inside.  We don't care, just make sure that we get to play together every day...a whole bunch....OK?

Dear Mom...I love going to the Teenager's lacrosse games.  I get tons of attention!  Sometimes the humans almost forget to watch the lacrosse games because they are so interested in me!

Dear Mom...Remember when you took me to puppy school and I graduated at the top of my class?  That's because I'm a genius!  Puppy class was so easy I might have gotten a little bored.  Also... remember when my friend Charger the other golden doodle was naughty and peed on the floor when he got nervous? That was really funny!

Dear Mom...Why does my nose go pink in the winter and black in the summer?  Huh?

Dear Mom...I hate going to the groomers.  They always put ridiculous bows in my hair.  This time I even had a stupid necklace with a spider glued to it.  Don't worry, I had Kenya help me get rid of it.

Dear Mom...why does Dad always call me Stoop-Stoopie?  And why does he always sing "Will the original Stoop-Stoopie please stand up...please stand up."  I love being his office partner when he isn't on travel though.  But don't tell anyone...he feeds me more human food than anyone else.  He is pretty much a softy!

 Dear Mom...Must everyone in the family always pick me up?  And why do you all speak to me in the Old English Dog voice?  I asked the blond one and she said because "Day wub it days do."

 Dear Mom...I must protest...I am not a reindeer at all!

 Dear Mom...Thanks for letting me sleep in the sun and I wub it!

Dear Mom...I had a great time on the hike to Mt Timpanogos this summer.  Let's do it again next year.  OK?

Dear Mom...DON"T LET DAD HOOK UP A DOGGY CAM TO MY HEAD AGAIN!  I HATE IT!!!  And all you did was laugh yourself silly, you're no help at all.

Dear Mom...more bones please!

Dear Mom...really...is this necessary?

Dear Mom...I miss the red one...I know you do too!

Dear Mom...I love to go outside and roll on the grass.  I also enjoy steeling things from the neighbors, like socks and binkies and gloves and food and...and...and!

Dear Mom...Thanks for taking me skiing every Saturday in the Winter.  I don't even mind waiting in the car while you guys take some runs down the mountain.  It's worth it when you come back at noon and I get to sample your lunch.  But please...don't let that Joe guy feed me any more hot dogs through the car window.  I do have my standards, plus the hot dogs didn't sit so well in my dog tummy, as you well know!

 Dear Mom...Since you love me so much, I could use more treats in my life!

Dear Mom...It's really tough being a pooch these days...cut me a little slack once in a while will you?  And sorry about my muddy paws, I just had to dig that hole in the yard.

Dear Mom...Do I have to go take a bath?

Dear Mom...Don't tell Dad how I sleep on the couch when he's on travel.  And don't tell him how I sleep in his spot on the bed...on his pillow...don't tell him OK?

Dear Mom...I love it here!  Thanks for making me part of the family.  

Love, Izzy   aka Princess Izzy Pants


PS...Did I mention more treats?

Amuck, Amuck, Amuck

Here at the Garlick Press, we are steeped in great traditions... and Halloween is no exception.  

Halloween sugar cookies are first on the agenda for the day.  The teenager likes to have lots of sprinkles with his frosting.  Evenings are spent watching classic films like Hocus Pocus, "I put a spell on you, and now you're mine." We can probably quote half of that movie.

A barfing pumpkin is always a classic jack-o-lantern choice at our house.

Let me hear three cheers for The Saints who are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Halloween night.  

Luscious Halloween stew has been brewing all day filling the house with that rich smell of roasting goodness.  You should taste these freshly baked cheese scones for stew dipping.

Oh no, is that Cat Man Boo and Wanda Witch staring at you.

Wicked Witchie-Poo's best features are her stringy hair and lop-sided sagging chest.  Oh what an absolute riot Jill and I had making her a few years ago.  .

  Every now and then I like to create something new to add to our traditions.  This quilt hangs in the usual quilt spot to hauntingly say Halloween Hellos to all that enter.  

Excuse me...I'm Mr Beer Can Chicken.  I've been smoking on the Cuban (smoker) for dinner tonight on All Hallow's Eve.  Beer can chicken (minus the beer and actually cooked on a Dr. Pepper can with apple juice inside) is so tasty and tender.  Thank you Dean for bringing the Cuban home to expand our Sunday dinner menus so deliciously.  

 Newest tradition this year...our granddaughter Olivia, trick-or-treating as a little green dinosaur.  She is positively the sweetest part of the new Halloween traditions at the Garlick Press.   

HALLOWEEN! At the end of a delightful Halloween weekend a new treat...Creamy Pumpkin Custard Pie.  Will this pie be on the Pie Night Menu this year...stay tuned!

Snow

The view from my window in between the first snowstorms of the season.

Since the first snow is here, happily the ski season will be close behind.  So here are the top 10 ways to prepare.



#10 Go to the closest McDonalds, stand in the longest line, order a     
       cheeseburger and insist on paying $10.00 for it.

#9   Buy a new pair of gloves and immediately throw one away.

#8   Ask your favorite grocery store if you can pay $90 to sit in the walk-in 
       freezer for an hour. Afterwards, burn a $50 bill to warm up.

#7  Fill a blender with ice, hit the pulse button and let the spray blast your 
      face. Leave the ice on your face until it melts. 

#6  Go to your closet, pile on 10 of your warmest, puffiest layers, and then go 
      jogging.

#5  Soak your gloves in water and store them in the freezer.


#4  Clip a lift ticket to the zipper of your jacket, get on a motorcycle and ride 
      fast enough to make the ticket lacerate your face.


#3  If you wear glasses or contact lenses, start wearing them with glue 
      smeared on the surface.


#2  Buy a pair of army boots that are 3 sizes too small for you, line them with 
      crushed ice, and then tighten a C-clamp around your toes. 


#1  Throw away a hundred dollar bill - RIGHT NOW!


The mountains are calling...

Ready Or Not

There is something in the air...can you feel it?  Most everyone is talking about it... although not all are thrilled!  The forecast is calling for SNOW tomorrow. Dun dun dunnnnnn!

Ready or not...here comes winter! 

It seemed that Fall had a tight grip on our little valley and just wouldn't let go.    

We have been soaking up the last colors of fall before they fade away into the many months of cold ahead.

The burning bushes in our front yard have exploded into crimson flames.

If you were waiting to get out and enjoy the Fall weather...you are most likely too late.  For I can hear Old Man Winter wildly throwing raindrops at my window and my toes are already cold!

A Fond Farmers Farewell

I can hardly believe it, but it's time to say farewell to our local little Farmer's market.  I don't know what we are going to do with our Saturday mornings...well until ski season...then we'll be busy!

 The winter vegetables have all been harvested and are tucked away for yummy soups and stews to warm the cold months ahead.

The Garlick Press is especially fond of this farmer's garlic selection.  He has varieties like Italian garlic and Red garlic.  

And sadly...there will be no more "Hip Mama's Lemonade"...blended with sweet cantalope or watermelon or freshly squeezed lime...with a lovely mint leaf!

And dear Flower Lady who makes a fresh bouquet of flowers special for us each week.  Early in the market season she asked us what we were doing with the bouquet we bought each week...we told her they were for our Jocie girl at the cemetery...it's getting easier to answer those questions.  Now she anticipates our arrival and gathers her favorites into a bundle that we'll love.  We will miss Flower Lady this winter...she is so colorful standing barefoot around her buckets of gorgeous blooms. 

 Papa looks like he is dodging the paparazzi or something.

Vibrant wool yarns spun from freshly shorn sheep woollen, makes me wish I was a knitter...like I need another addictive hobby...somebody stop me!

And just like that it's time to put the Farmer's Market to bed...sweet dreams...we will be dreaming of your Spring Peas and Tender Lettuce until next year.