Archive for ‘December, 2011’

Walking…aka “getting back on the horse”…

Bear…off leash…yesterday (Friday) afternoon.

It was a beautiful afternoon with blue sky, dramatic clouds and incredible (photographically speaking :) ) light.

Normally, photos of our walk – while beautiful to me…also somewhat normal.

But, at 5:20 a.m. Monday morning, I attached Bear’s lighted collar and opened the door. Typically he walks out just beyond the front porch and stands, watching. I pull on boots and jacket, pick up my coffee and follow.

Monday morning. My head was not in the moment. I was thinking about getting Bob and Bear fed, walked, situated and getting an early start to my work day. Between the bug and Christmas, I had missed nearly a week of work and was anxious to get back on track.

As I attached Bear’s collar, I noticed that he was unusually anxious to be out…skipping the normal “kisses of gratitude” that were normal for “we’re going for a walk”. When I opened the door, he immediately ran out and around to the back of the house.

I pulled on boots and jacket and followed…maybe 5 seconds behind. I was now anxious as I worried that the raccoon might be around. Raccoons are ferocious fighters when cornered.

I ran around the house listening and looking for the blue LED collar. Nothing, just dark – I looked in all directions. I then ran to the motorhome and started the engine. To not be able to see where Bear was…and all the unusual signs of the last 10-15 minutes in my head… In the week we’d been home as I’d been buttoning down the motorhome, whenever I started it, Bear came running and would not leave it until I shut it off and left myself. But this morning he didn’t come running.

Early morning, in Winter…it is the time that I am usually the most vigilant. It is the end of the night time hunting…when predators that have not found food might be at their most desparate. And this morning, I ignored all of the warnings that Bear gave that something was afoot.

Bear was missing for 52 hours. Thankfully, he was found by a neighbor. He was wet to his skin, hungry and tired but otherwise unhurt.

I am grateful beyond words to have him home safe.

I am grateful for the support of family, friends, co-workers who called other family and friends. A prayer chain grew rapidly and expanded to neighbors that I spoke to, who saw the posters I put up and the notes I put in mailboxes. My neighbor, who works for the county, spread the word among those that travel the county roads. My mail carrier passed the word to other carriers. A friend who is a realtor broadcast Bear’s info to the realty community. I felt buoyed by the prayers and positive thoughts of all and I feel sure that Bear did as well. The caring of those around me allowed me to stay mostly positive. I stood in the dark and pushed all the Love I had to Bear.

Wednesday morning, there was part of me that felt horrible despair – 2 nights gone… But a larger part that felt so very hopeful and sure that he would come home. A neighbor, that I had not known previously, phoned. Her 3 boys were upset at seeing the posters about Bear being lost and they wanted to help. Their house was in one of 2 directions that I suspected were the most likely. I drove to her house. She, her 3 boys ranging in age from 6 to 10, and their lab/shepherd mix, Abby – we set out through the woods on somewhat of a direct line from her house to mine. The boys were serious about tracking, calling, watching and listening. We found nothing, but their presence and positive attitude helped me tremendously. The boys sat on the front porch of my house and had a snack while Audrey and I walked my property and discussed options. We walked back to their house via the woods on “my” side of the road.

As we neared their house, shortly after noon on Wednesday, my phone beeped…not a call but a voice mail. For whatever reason the call went direct to voicemail. I listened to the message with the boys dancing around me: “My name is… and I have a black and white dog that answers to ‘Bear’…” The lost was found.

And yes, that first night and the next morning…we walked in the dark on leash. But Thursday at noon, in full daylight, we went out off leash. And that evening and the next morning – in the dark. Bear and I, we both got “back on the horse”. I don’t know what happened, what he chased or how he got to a place where he couldn’t find his way home and never heard me or the Jeep as I walked and drove the land around me..

But, once I felt he truly did not have any injuries and was “himself”, I felt it important to get back into what has been our routine. He is a Karelian Bear Dog – a northern breed dog, an independent thinking dog. As a team, we were progressing in trust and respect and I felt it was VERY important that we continue. I did not want him to feel as if I didn’t trust him and I also wanted his trust in return.

It is always a risk to let go.

But…I did add another tool to the arsenal.

The TAGG Pet Tracker. I’d looked at this previously, but since Bear was not out without me, I had delayed.

Bear was home by 1:00 on Wednesday. Immediately after a work meeting, I ordered the TAGG – approximately 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. It was in my hands at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday: $119.90 which was an extra $10 for the expedited shipping.

The TAGG uses the same GPS/cell technology as the navigation and GPS built into current smartphones…like my HTC Thunderbolt which I used as my GPS on my return from Colorado. There is an Android OS version of the TAGG tracking software.

As shown above, the phone app reports that Bear is in the vicinity of the docking station.

And he was.

The part that attaches to Bear’s collar does not interfere with Bear, or any of the other collars we use.

I’m still testing and learning and I don’t intend to depend on this device, it is simply another tool. My primary tool will be training and the bond between Bear and I and a continued teaching/learning of where we live.

We will walk and explore and give fear the heave-ho. All of life is a risk.

Brioche

So…Brioche!

The Brioche I made for my Christmas morning “sweet” was another recipe from the “Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a Day” book. I started making the high moisture/no knead breads over a year ago and have been using the formula to make a variation on Portuguese Broa, a Rye and a light whole wheat dough. I use those doughs to make mini boules, English muffins, Naan-type flatbread and pizza crust. I have not purchased bread since I started using this technique.

As Christmas approached…and I had eaten all of the Pecan sweet rolls that my mother sent home with me…I was deciding what to make for my Christmas morning sweet roll… I looked through the “Artisan Bread…” pastry section and didn’t get further than the Almond Bostock Brioche. I had Almond Paste that was fast approaching its expiration date so win-win!

The Brioche dough, like all of the high moisture/no knead doughs is a “dump everything in the bowl, give it a stir and let it sit for a bit” procedure… easy-peasy :)!

Above is the after “give it a stir” photo…

Oh…the complicated step…cover it loosely with wrap…

I put it on this little side table as there is a heater just underneath so it is a warm spot.

Meantime, I get on with my life for 3-4 hours.

Then…scoop the dough into a crock of some sort that can go in the frig. It needs to be NOT air tight. I use a ceramic crock with lid. The brioche dough is a bit different than the “flour/salt/yeast/water” doughs as it has eggs, honey and butter in it and as such, needs to be used within 5 days versus the other doughs that can go 7-10 days. I make a half recipe of all of the doughs and so far manage to use them up in the recommended time frame.

Continuing with the brioche…

To make the almond bostock rolls, I made an almond filling of almond paste, egg, flour and almond extract in my mini-prep food processor (recipe from the cookbook). The photo below shows the finished filling and the last bit of brioche dough that went into this morning’s batch of almond bostock:

The rollup…roll the dough into a 1/4 inch thick rectangle. Spread the filling within a 1/2 inch of the edge of the rectangle.

After rolling the dough around the filling, the resulting “log” goes in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to make it easier to slice into pieces for rolls.

Sliced log…into a pan thoroughly greased with butter and then sugar sprinkled…add a “crumb topping” of almonds, turbinado sugar and orange zest…

And you end up with gorgeous rolls that taste like bear claws with a bit of orange flavor. They are divine!!

In the background you can see a plain brioche with poppy seeds – cut open.

The plain brioche is a sweet bread with a wonderfully light custardy crumb and a crisp crust – YUM with butter and jam and a cup of strong coffee!

For the chocolate brioche – same procedure as for the almond bostock, except that a chocolate ganache (chocolate and cream) filling was used instead of the almond filling.

Seriously easy and the result is less flaky than a croissant but much flakier than a normal bread dough…a pastry that I enjoyed very much and will enjoy now and again and again!

Christmas Day

Almond Brioche to start the day…

…or a pig’s ear if you are Bear.

When I went out with Bear before bed on Christmas Eve, it was raining. My first outing this morning with Bob, it was clear and the sky was filled with stars. Fog dropped down, then sun.

But it was warm enough to entice Bob to spend some time on his pillow. And I turned on the dryer to give him a bit of extra heat – Christmas treat.

A second brioche – this one with a chocolate ganache…to celebrate the sun!

Not usual Christmas weather for this part of the country…

but beautiful and we enjoyed.

Baby back ribs with a teriyaki glaze, mashed sweet potatoes with fresh grated gruyere, steamed green beans and cranberry relish: Chrismas Dinner.

The dishes done, the kitchen clean, a walk taken with Bear as the wind came up…

And then a quiet cup of tea enjoying the end of Christmas day.

For Christmas night

David Archuleta sings Mannheim Steamroller’s “Up above the Northern Lights”

This year is the first I heard this song which has become a favorite…the melody, the words, the images it brings to mind.

Up above the northern lights on Christmas night.
Shimmering above the clouds dreams take flight.

Legends say that spirits dance across the sky,
children sing and sleigh bells ring reindeer fly.

Magic fills the air, spirits everywhere.
This is Christmas night, let your dreams take flight.

Up above the northern lights on Christmas night.
Traveling through space and time endless light.

You and I beneath the sky behold the light
quietly the mystery fills the night.

Magic fills the air, spirits everywhere.
This is Christmas night, let your dreams take flight.

Up above the northern lights on Christmas night.
Shimmering above the clouds dreams take flight.

the day before Christmas Eve day

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care :)!

The Christmas table is festive and bright.

It is the day before Christmas Eve day and even though there will be no presents to be opened, there is that excitement of anticipation….remembered childhood Christmases, shared times with family and the new traditions that I started and have kept for myself.

I have spent more Christmases with my dog and cat than with other people in the last years and it has always been a time filled with Joy.

This year has been even more relaxed than usual…I’m still taking it easy and trying to shake the last of this bug. But…the good news is that the bug MADE me take it easy and so I have enjoyed a time of ease that I might not have had I felt better. I’ve spent most afternoons lazing in bed watching a movie or tv show with Bob snuggled next to me. I’ve spent hours bundled up on the front porch or in my chair while Bear explores the woods or just sits quietly near me.

I’ve done a bit of baking, a bit of work, a bit of bookkeeping and a lot of resting. It has been a wonderful week shared with Bear and Bob….remembering Karl, Zack and Gus…but happy memories of outside times with each of them.

And then today, some very special Christmas visitors…

The Elk herd! …if you look carefully, you will see them among the trees.

Feasting on moss and grass in the woods.

A very special day before Christmas Eve Day at the end of a very special week before Christmas.