The Triple Good Bar Saga

As many of you know, and I am finding out, Momma loves to bake.  We are heading out to a Rally in Eustis on Tuesday and Momma promised to whip up a batch of Triple Good Bars for Steve, who has fallen madly in love with the delicious, 'savor every bite' treat.  At least that is Dad's story.  I think the true story is DAD LOVES them and wanted to be sure he had some available to snack on. How can you go wrong with raisins, oats, nuts?  Dad says it's health food. 

 Now I say, just don't forget my dog bones and all will go well on this trip!!

Well, it all began in an organized fashion.  Momma purchased all the ingredients a head of time so she would be ready to bake the day before departure, ensuring fresh, tasty Triple Good Bars.  Dad even questioned Momma to be sure she had checked off all the ingredients called for in the recipe.  Yup, either Dad is looking out for Steve's interest or his own.  Which do you think?

Baking day arrived, Momma dumped the butter and sugar in the bowl, grabbed her mixer and ......things began to go downhill.  The mixer didn't sound quite right to me....as it was making a grinding noise....and then I noticed that only one beater was turning.  Oh no!!  Things aren't looking good for the Triple Good Bars. That mixer just doesn't have the high energy that I do.  But it does have lots of age on it...unlike me at only 10 1/2 months.   Maybe Momma will go out and play ball with me and forget the Triple Good Bars.  I LOVE to play ball or frisbee. And I have growing bones and muscles to tone.  You don't have to ask me twice to run and play!!   But Momma didn't let the old mixer interfere with her baking.  She unplugged the unhealthy mixer, zipped out to the 5th wheel and snatched up the travel mixer to use.  Ah, butter and sugar being creamed nicely.  

Now baking also means a pile of dirty dishes....and that's another issue.  Momma started to reach for the handle on the dishwasher and I had to remind her of that message waiting for her when we returned home.  "PF"  Momma said that means Power Failure and she hit cancel.  Well, not only did it cancel the PF from the screen, it cancelled any life at all.  I told her it looks like PF really stands for Permanent Failure.  The dish washer, unlike the old mixer is NOT all that old.  I guess it just resented not being used for 7 months, just waiting around for us to return.  Ted was telling us about how Cold Water cleans dishes.  The dishes may still be a bit greasy, but Cold Water licks them clean of any leftover food particles.  I told Momma I bet I could do that as good as Cold Water but she said Cold Water was an adult dog and I'm still a puppy.....which means no people food for my digestive system.  Pooh.  I was willing to sacrifice myself....those smells are so enticing.....but Momma wasn't having any of it.

Hurry up and finish those dishes so we can go out and play.  

And now it's nap time.

Don't forget to pack my toys......
I'm Chloe

My new job

October 10, 2018
Lenhartsville, PA

I have been sooooo busy with my new job that I haven't had time to blog.  Dad has appointed me the chief stink bug scout. They began to appear in the outside of our rig in NY and then.....they began to appear on the INSIDE of our rig.   I have superior vision and I am good at alerting Dad whenever one invades.  I have even been napping with one eye open.  Now I am blogging with one eye on the lookout, but the sightings have been few and far between lately.  I think all this eye strain has caused a bit of a problem.  Momma noticed matter appearing in the corner of my left eye so today I had another adventure.  I got to meet another super nice vet here in Pennsylvania. The waiting room had another friendly looking pup that I chatted with.  He wanted to play as much as I did but we couldn't figure out how to escape the short leads and get together.  Then a HUGE St. Bernard came in and boy was he mouthy.  He acted like he wanted to be in charge.  
Well, now I have drops that Doc said should be put in my eye for conjunctivitis.  Not my favorite experience of the day.  Those darn stink bugs are a pain in the eye for sure!! 

Anyway, for those of you who have been asking if the leaves are turning.  Here's the answer.

Momma says a picture is worth a thousand words.   I think I just saved 4 thousand words.

There is a meat store just down the road from us.  Momma and Dad came home with a bag full of goodies, but they didn't purchase a sample of everything the shop had to offer,

but if anyone has a good recipe for cooking brains or cow tongue, I know where to purchase.

I have to admit...brag a bit even.  I'm really getting good a snagging the Frisbee out of the air. 

It sure is a fun game that I LOVE.  I try to talk Momma or Dad into playing as often as I can.  

It really makes my day!!

I'm Chloe

Withdrawals

October 2, 2018
St. Johnsville, NY

Oh my, I am having serious withdrawal.  I just had a fantastic week in Fort Ann, NY at Aunt Janice's house (Mom's sister) with their lab, Ciar, who was friendly but not real playful

and ....more fun yet.... with their daughter's pup, Cali, a silver lab that they were dog sitting.  

Cali loves to play as much as I do so we played, and played and played some more!!  I have to admit, I slept soundly every night!!  So did Cali!!  Boy do I miss her 😜

We 'camped' in their driveway with the mountains in the background.   I got to explore all that green grass off lead for a change.  Dad and I got to try out my latest toy. It's called a 'Chuck It'. 

Dad chucks the ball with his wand and I retrieve the ball so he can chuck it again.  I'm trying to keep Dad in shape.  LOL

This is apple season which equals cider donuts and apple pie.  Hick's orchard makes cider donuts daily and Aunt Janice said they are at their best when eaten warm and to prove her point, she took Momma and Dad right to the donut maker at Hick's orchard.

The donuts are dropped in the oil, cook as they are traveling to the other end of the donut making machine where they hop on a conveyor dumping them next a huge bowl of cinnamon sugar. 

Momma used the apples they brought home to whip up a couple of apple pies.

I'm not sure if Dad's smile was bigger than Uncle Robin's but I know they both licked their plates.

The fields in the area are looking pretty bare, except for the field that must be getting ready for the senior's corn maze.  Do you think you could handle the maze with ALL those cornstalks?  Hee hee  I mean, why else would you see a huge field with only 3 stalks left standing?

We departed Fort Ann in rain, arrived in St. Johnsville in rain and we are now in our second day of rain....which means.....no Chuck It time or frisbee time for me.  Yep, more withdrawals. 

Rain, rain, go away.  

This puppy needs a day of play.

I'm Chloe

Back in the USA

September 23, 2018
Pumpkin Patch RV Resort
Bangor, Maine

FANTASTIC!!  The fenced in dog run has been completed and I can't get enough time in the yard.  I've played with my Frisbee. I've played with Duke.  I've played with Tick.  And I want MORE.  Come on Dad.  You can wash the truck later.  It's playtime.  They were constructing the pet area when we stopped here on our way north.  I am happy to report they have done a marvelous job!!

  I LOVE this campground💕

Dad and Momma took off for a bit this morning.  They went to an Agricultural Fair in nearby Unity, Maine and watched a sheep herding demonstration.  Those border collies had their moves down pat and those sheep and goats were herded right where the rancher wanted them.

  The fair really focused on organic farming.  Of course there were more animals than the sheep. It was a good sized fair with areas on textiles and wool, energy and shelter, organic gardening and of course a food aisle.  Lots of handmade items for sale made by woodworkers, jewelry designers, weavers, honey growers, etc.  And boy was it well attended!!  Dad couldn't believe how many cars filled the adjacent fields.  He told Momma it was a good thing they arrived in the morning or they would have had to walk a good mile to get to the entrance!!

Momma and Dad also got to visit a neat museum in Moncton, New Brunswick before we departed Canada.  It was a history museum.  There was a map of Moncton painted on the floor.  There were carts on wheels that you could push around on the floor.  If you stopped on a big red dot, the screen on the cart played a video with the history of that particular intersection. 

It may have been a video of the old railroad or the old fire station.  Too cool. Of course there were lots of artifacts on display as well. Momma loved the old Victrola. It was so colorful.

I have to admit, our border crossing sure was quick!  What is your citizenship?  Where are you coming from?  Do you know your license plate number?    Have a nice day!  They totally ignored ME!!  Of course I'm such a good traveler.  I just sack out in my crate in the back seat and you don't hear a peep out of me...until it is PLAYTIME of course.  

Okay Dad, I'm ready to go back to the dog yard. I think Dad likes to go so he can socialize and chat.

Later folks...It's time to romp and play....

I'm Chloe

It all began with a postcard

September 18, 2017
Pine Hills Campground
Harrington, PE

Back in the 1980's a Dad received a post card from his daughter and today, Dad has passed on but his Bottle Houses and beautiful gardens live on as a popular tourist attraction.

 Inspired by the post card he received,  Edouard Arsenault began collecting bottles from local dance halls, restaurants and the dump...no recycling at that time.  He spent the winter cleaning and removing labels and when the weather broke, he used 12,000 bottles and built his first building: The Six-Gabled House.

It was just a hobby he enjoyed in his 60's but the response and enthusiasm from neighbors and friends encouraged growth.  He added The Chapel and The Tavern. 

It was a misting, cloudy day.  I imagine the bottles would give off a symphony of colors and light on a sunny day making the houses even more impressive.

The gardens have a wide variety of plants and flowers as well as a goldfish pond.

There were even some bottle trees made with recycled components. 

It was an awesome attraction that concluded ...as most attractions do....with a gift shop. 

The Bottle Houses are located in Cap-Egmont.  The route taken wound through the agricultural fields of PE.  Lots of potato fields, corn fields and dairy farms.

  And there was even a hint of leaf color change.

  We are getting a cold front sliding in over the next couple of days.  I wonder if I shouldn't have a warm coat to put on in addition to my beautiful fur coat?  I run so fast the cold won't have time to get me!!  I'm not concerned.

I'm Chloe