Day number 2 with Cole

Cole slept in the kids room last night in his kennel. He had a little whimpering at first, but the kids just talked to him and he was off to sleep in no time.

6:45am he was up and wagging his tail to go out. No accidents! Yea!

8:30am Matthew, his mom Erin, and his German Shepherd Cocoa met us to go on a walk. It was below 32 Degrees, snowing and blowing wind. COLD! The children had fun walking their dog with their friends dog and then we let them play at the school BOY that was FUN to watch! The boys ran around, the dogs ran around and everyone had FUN laughing at their antics!

The boys played with Cole most of the day, and allowed him to sleep a little. All the neighborhood boys came over to meet Cole too! I swear our door bell rang every 30 minutes or so today. Cole was a trooper and never even rushed the front door. He just sat back and watched until he was called. GOOD DOG!

About 5:30pm tonight we decided to take Cole on some field trips so he could get used to the car some more. Brandon and Tyler talked to him while we drove to the dog park, and he seemed to do pretty good....no FARTING this time!

The dog park was a hoot. Brandon and Tyler read all the rules posted, then let Cole into the first enclosure gate. All the dogs came over and sniffed through the gate, then after a few minutes I let Cole in on-leash. He was submissive and interested in the other dogs, but no adverse behavior so I let him off leash. POW! He was off like lightning! I swear he must have some Greyhound in him! I have ONLY seen racing dogs run that fast, he was in heaven! The other dogs tried to keep up, but he literally ran circles around them and then picked up a large stick. From then on out, it was the stick-game. First with the other dogs, then Tyler got in on the action when the other dogs went home. Little Tyler tried to keep up, but Cole was just WAY faster!

Being the Mom that I am, I periodically called Cole to me and took the stick for the children to throw again. Cole was great and came when he was called, then delighted as the boys threw it again. GOOD DOG! He drank like a gallon of water before we got back in the car. All that running had made him thirsty.

6:30pm we got back in the car and went over to PetSmart to let Cole pick out some toys, and to get dog-tags with his name and address on them in case all that running got him into trouble one day. The boys led him through isle after isle of toys and treats trying to entice Cole to THIER favorites. Meanwhile Children as young as 18 months kept coming up and wanting to pet Cole. I told them to ask their parents, then Brandon and Tyler taught each child how to approach Cole. It was so sweet. The random children were delighted because Cole has such a soft coat, and Cole was patient and submissive to even the littlest baby who pulled his hair. He never even flinched! GOOD DOG!

We decided to take Cole around the store and see how he did with other animals. He just sniffed curiously, but stayed right by our side. The cats didn’t even seem to notice his presence, and he was very good with them. Just looking, but not TOO much!

We checked out of PetSmart and the boys conversation lead to their delight in seeing their new dog do so well in all the different situations.

Anyway, I had called her earlier to see if there was anything we could do to HELP Loua succeed as a life-long therapy dog and she said, ‘No - she will make someone a really great rescue-pet!’

Then I talked to her about the dog we just rescued, Cole and his wonderful disposition with different situations, noises, distractions, dogs, and people. She was very interested to meet Cole and US, and perhaps teach him and US to work as a therapy team in hospitals, group homes, and nursing homes in Fargo.

The animals are taught basic obedience, and then skills to help them interact with people in appropriate ways. They are exposed to lots of different smells, sounds, people, and medical equipment before they are sent into ‘interaction’ situations so that they react appropriately and have good manners.

The graduation for the current therapy dog enrollees is May 17th if anyone wants to go with us! This graduation is for shelter dogs who have been trained by prison inmates and at-risk youth. By pairing these groups of people with shelter-dogs, they are able to evoke kindness and healing. What a neat program! This is a news story from the local TV station on the TriPAWd program:

Man's Best Friend
Jennifer Hoff
KTTC TV

ROCHESTER, MN -- It's a story of at-risk teens trying to turn their lives around by saving abandoned animals.

Jennifer Hoff introduces us to the power of this four-legged friendship.

The dogs - Pepsi, Riley, and others, visited the residents at Madonna Towers Thursday afternoon.
They are friendly, lovable, and well-trained.

Allison Sullivan of TriPAWd says, "They are shelter dogs and hopefully through some obedience training they can go back to the shelter and be adopted quickly."

The training comes from detainees from Olmsted's county jail.

And they're part of a new program called TriPAWd.

Allison says, "It has potential to not just strengthen the community, but change it. You have detainees that in learning to train a dog are learning employable skills and parenting techniques and not to mention giving back to the community."

Hank Pernu, detainee says, "I've learned a lot of knowledge on dogs; it even helps with parenting I believe."

Allison Sullivan, the founder of TriPAWd, says, it's helping at-risk kids learn the power of unconditional love and responsibility.

Not to mention commitment; for seven weeks, boy and dog train for two hours, three times a week.
As a working team, they visit nursing homes and hospitals.

Hank says, "These dogs remind them of their own dogs, of other pets they've had, some of them just like the companionship."

Together, bringing man's best friend, leaving laughter, happiness, and smiles behind.

Research has found, along with other therapy, animal assisted therapy can increase social and verbal interactions and decrease loneliness and depression.



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That about sums it up. What a good DOG!

SPEACH!

Are you a blog fanatic?  Do you love to keep up with everyone through the blogs?

Do you have a MAC computer?

Quick multi-tasking tip:  

Turn up the Computer volume to an acceptable level

Highlight the text you want to read (its ok if it has pictures in it too)

Click on the 'SAFARI' button on your menu bar

Scroll down to 'SERVICES'

Scroll over to 'SPEACH'

Click on 'START SPEAKING'

Just sit back and listen as the WHOLE blog entry is read to you while you cook dinner, do a hobby, nurse the baby, whatever you want!

There are ways to change the voice that reads to you too.  If you want to know, just email me and I'll walk you though.. Way FUN!

Happy Blogging!

And then there was Cole Lua Noffze

Today I did as I promised and waited for the boys to get home from school so that we could go pick up Cole from the local shelter.  That’s them to the right of the stop sign at a FULL RUN once they saw my car!

When we got to the shelter we had leash and collar in hand for Cole, and had LOTS of paperwork to fill out.  The boys occupied themselves by reading the 'to be adopted' boards and telling the people in the waiting room all about the dogs (since they had walked quite a few of them).

Once the paperwork was complete one of the staff went to get Cole and another staff member gave the boys the honor of writing Cole’s name on the adoption board.  They chose to split his name in HALF and each write two letters so that it was ‘fair.’

Brandon got the first two letters ‘c’ ‘o’ and of course wrote them in BLUE (his favorite color).  

Tyler wrote the remaining letters ‘l’ ‘e’ and chose GREEN as his colors.

Hmm, number 18 for Cole, coincidence or NOT.  Number 18 is the boys’ favorite player on the Colts Football team, Peyton Manning!  Too funny!

Then the moment...the one they had been waiting for.  They were handed Cole’s shiny new red leash and he was THEIRS.  Of course, what did Mom do, I cried when I saw my boys overjoyed awestricken faces.  There was such joy is was overflowing and all the staff came out to watch the reunion between these two little volunteers and their first dog, COLE.

After hugs and kisses to Cole from the staff, and well wishes, and long goodbyes, we were out the door ready for our new life's adventure with the newest Noffze member.

Cole had a little trepidation in the crate and much to the boys LAUGHING surprise....he FARTS when he’s anxious.  They thought that was hilarious!  I just kept telling myself it was a SHORT ride home. 

Next, according to dog expert Caesar Millan, was the LONG walk.  We took Cole on a FREEZING rain 2 hour long journey around our neighborhood with NO affection, just rules, boundaries and limitations.  Cole is very smart and picked up on them in short order.  He learned quickly that he could not pull and his place was at our side.  We met two dogs off leash on our walk and Cole did great.  He greeted them in a submissive posture and instantly made friends.  Good dog!

We made it home free of traumatic events and we even ran across, a rollerblader, thunderously loud cars, cyclist, dogs, pedestrians, mud-puddles and rodents and NONE of them fazed Cole! Yea!

Next was the home coming and INSTANT bath.  The poor dog had never been bathed and at 10 months, let me tell you, it was TIME!

The water was pitch black just like the dog and we washed away all the shelter left in him right down the drain.  Figuratively and Literally!

He tolerated brushing, hair-drying and the like, and soon, it was off to start the LOVE phase of Caesar's plan.

He got his dinner hand fed by the boys and I to establish hierarchy, then a tour around the house to areas in which he could roam.  We played many games of fetch, and then started eating dinner ourselves.  He tried one time to come into the kitchen to see what we were eating and was “CHT’d” back out of the kitchen right away.  Like I said, he’s a smart one.  He stood two feet from the invisible boundary we had established and never tried again to interrupt our dinner.  Good DOG!

10:30pm the last bathroom break, and into the crate to go to sleep.  

WOW what a first day with Cole!

Crab Pasta Salad

Crab Pasta Salad - A McLimans Summer Favorite!

1-2 pkgs flaked crab (imitation works well)
3c cooked Rotini spiral noodles
1 c chopped celery (chunky)
1/2 red onion sliced
1 can sliced mushrooms
1 can whole black olives
1-2 head of broccoli broken into bite-sized pieces
1 c grape tomatoes (optional)

1 bottle of sweet Italian or Italian dressing

Mix in large bowl and refrigerate 24 hours before serving. This recipe is especially crowd pleasing for large gatherings and keeps well when it’s out for several hours.

YUM!

Puppies!

Today we were back at the Animal shelter and it was raining.  We walked in to an unusually quiet sounding kennel and were baffled that there wasn't the typical barking sounds.

I went in alone to get a dog to walk, and saw people in the kennels WITH the dogs and again, very little barking going on.  I asked one of the volunteers why there were orange tags on the cages.  She said it was 'alteration day'. Oooooh, OUCH!

One of the staff asked us if we would mind sitting in a kennel with the dogs who had been altered that day, (There were more than 20 done in the SAME day) so that the dogs would remain calm and have some human contact while they were recovering.  I went back out to ask the boys and they were thrilled!

Hmm, two little boys, one mom, in a dog kennel....we chose the 6 very cute 3 month old Rat Terrier puppies.  For an hour we just comforted them and tried to keep them from jumping.  Very hard to do when the puppies saw the boys.  All they wanted to do was PLAY!

It was so much fun, just cuddling the slow to recover ones, and petting their romping siblings.

The boys renamed all the puppies according to their unique personalities.  There was Westley after Westly Snipes, Dumbo with Big ears, Killer the rebel rousing dominant male, Chestnut, Frosty and George.  Just because there always has to be a George!  he he he

When it's raining buckets outside, cold as an Alaskan morning and gloomy, there is nothing like a little puppy love to bring out the FUN and warm your heart!

We had SO much fun!

Giving back and getting SO much more in return!

Well, the boys have wanted a dog for several years now and we have been waiting to complete residency before getting one. Since we are SO near the end the boys are just beside themselves with pining for a dog!

In order to help them stave off the desire to bring that puppy in the window home, and to help give back to our Rochester community, we decided to become volunteers at the local Paws and Claws animal shelter.

This week was our first hands-on training course with the dogs and the boys couldn’t have been more thrilled! I don’t know who’s tails were wagging faster, the boys tails or the dogs tails!
The boys decided to be dog walkers at the shelter and with that responsibility comes a minimum of 3 hours of walking per month. They have been SO ENTHUSIASTIC that they have already walked for 2 1/2 hours in the last TWO DAYS! Enthusiastic, ha, yeah, VERY enthusiastic! But it is neat to see them give back and get so much dog-lovin in return!
In their walks they have found a couple of favorites.

Bubbles was a little Pomeranian and the boys decided he was too small to be considered for their dog, but he was kind of fun to walk because he had little tinker-bell steps.

Ravioli was a wild walker, but a lover type when she calmed down, with (the boys declared) too much hair to brush!

Chance was a good walker and stayed by your side, but LOVES to run when you run! The boys really liked him a lot!

Lucy was Chance’s sister and crate-mate, a very submissive female. A little leash shy she was more comfortable following behind the boys rather than walking beside them. She was admittedly fun to pet, but a very shy, shy dog and will need lots of loving to come out of her shell.

Cole was next in line and the boys discovered that he liked sticks. After carrying a stick all the way through the park during our walk the boys found a nice ball for him to play with and we went to the play room to let him off leash. Definitely a good friendly family dog with just the right of energy for two growing boys and really good at fetch! Hmm, how many more months to go? A few, just a few!

This experience has been so good for them, the dogs, and the community. In a way this has been better than getting our own dog, because instead of only doting-on one dog, so many benefit from the boys love and affection! For those of you out there who don’t prefer animals in your home, but DO enjoy their company, I would definitely suggest volunteering at your local shelter. It’s teaching the boys compassion for animals and it’s a great FREE way to spend some quality time as a family!

Just in case your wondering the boys have a ‘green -level’ of dog they are allowed to walk in order to ensure the safety of the dog and the child volunteers. As you gain more experience as an ADULT and go through training classes on dogs, you move up levels, but the children are only allowed with green level dogs. Smart!

Green Dogs - Docile, Family Friendly Dogs
Purple - Timid or High Energy Dogs that need more attention
Orange - Injured or Physical-Needs Dogs
Red - Dogs with Manageable Aggression issues who are being trained

Here’s the public service announcement part:
If you’d like to learn more about the shelters in your area, go to petfinder.com and click on the ‘shelters’ button an it will lead you to a shelter in your area.

 http://www.petfinder.com/shelters.html

Happy Volunteering!

Leftover Ham & Potatoes Au Gratin

Leftover Ham & Potatoes Au Gratin

1 1/2 c. diced cooked ham

3 c. diced cooked potato

4 tbsp butter or margarine

1 med. chopped onion

3 tbsp flour

2 c. milk

Salt & pepper to taste

1/ 2 c. grated sharp Cheddar Cheese (or more to taste)

Layer the ham and potatoes in shallow 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Melt the butter in sauce pan. Add onion and cook till golden. Blend in flour; add milk gradually and cook, stirring constantly till thickened. Season with salt & pepper. Pour over ham/potato mix and sprinkle with cheese. Dot with remaining butter. Bake at 400° for 20-25 min. Serves 4 generously.

If you could be a Superhero...

A girlfriend sent this to me:

If you could be any superhero whom would you choose to be?

KIM POSSIBLE

Why?

Ok, way cute figure with red hair and killer thighs AND she’s got unlimited ‘trouble radar’ and a band of merry teenage helpers to do all the techno stuff.

What’s your special Superpower?

Knowing when her family and friends are in over their head and being able to dig them out, day or night.

I tag, Britt, Jean, Natalie, Dene, Rachel, Erika & Jen to reveal their alter super-heros!

Mom Moments

So we are at a dinner party last night and my son Brandon comes running up to me, grabs my hand and pulls me over tward a print on the wall.

He says to me: Mom, MOM they have Vincent Van gough's Starry Starry Night.

It's THE Starry, Starry NIGHT!

In short order he lets go of my hand and goes over to the painting.

He sat there studying it forever.

Like a fly on the wall, I sat back and watched Brandon get engrossed in this fascinating piece of art. I watched as his eyes followed the colorful swirling wind and his finger traced the brushstrokes.

1. He's 10

2. I taught him about the artists Vincent Van gough last year when we went to the art museum in Florida, AND HE REMEMBERED. Way cool Mom moment!

3. He knew the name of the painting and recognized it on sight.

4. He studied it, he actually took time out of the dozen children running around him and STUDIED the painting.

5. He told the hostess how much he enjoyed her painting.

6. Again, he's LIKE 10!

Hugh....

Lest the wonder and awe go on too long over this ponderance, as soon as the words

"X-Box 360 in the basement" were picked up by his game-radar bat ears....he was off in a dash to play with all the other children!

Dene's Tortilla Soup

This soup is the BEST comfort food. Yummy. I have to warn you that it makes a lot, but it is great to freeze and eat later or share with friends.

 TORTILLA SOUP

 6 TBS. oil (I used olive oil)

4 chicken breasts (grill or cook in crock pot and diced)

3 corn on the cob grilled (or 1.5 cans)

8 corn tortillas cut into small pieces

14.5 cups (yes, cups NOT oz.) chicken broth

6 crushed garlic cloves

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

2 TBS. cumin

1 TBS. chili powder

1 medium onion diced

1 cup chopped cilantro

4- cans (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes

3 bay leaves

 Sauté onion, cilantro, tortilla and garlic (in a little oil) for about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and seasonings. Then add everything else. I like to let it simmer for a while so that all the flavors mix and the tortillas dissolve in the soup.  

Serve with chips, cheese, sour cream and avocado on top! Superb.

Herb-Crusted Pork Roast

Herb-Crusted Pork Roast
Serves 4-6

1 Boneless center-cut pork loin roast, 2-3lbs
1 C breadcrumbs
½ C Parmesan cheese, grated or shredded
1 medium shallot, minced (abt 3tbs)
4 TBS, plus 2TBS Olive oil
Fresh ground black pepper
1/3 C packed fresh basil leaves
2 TBS minced fresh thyme leaves
1 Tsp minced fresh rosemary leaves or ½ teaspoon dried
1 ½ tsp minced garlic (1 lg clove)

1. Lightly Score top of pork loin making ¼-1/2 –inch crosshatch pattern. Cut pocket into porkloin middle for stuffing.
2. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 325 Degrees.
3. Combine breadcrumbs, 2TBS parmesan, shallot, 1 TBS olive oil, 1/8 tsp Salt, 1/8 tsp pepper. Using fork toss mixture until crumbs are evenly coated with oil.
4. In food processor, add basil leaves, thyme leaves, rosemary leaves, garlic, 6TBS parmesan cheese, 3 TBS olive oil, 1/8 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper. Process until smooth (about 12 seconds).
5. Heat 2 TBS olive oil in skillet on med-high heat. Sear all sides of pork roast caramelizing outside with a brown crust. Transfer to plate and allow cooling for 5 minutes.
6. Open pork loin and fill with ¾ of herb mixture and ¼ bread crumb mixture.
7. Spread remaining herb mixture into the cross-hatched top of the pork loin and finish with the rest of the bread crumb mixture.
8. Cover a baking sheet with foil. With another piece of foil make a ‘grate’ or raised drip surface by crumpling up the same amount of aluminum foil and placing the pork tenderloin on top.
9. Insert meat thermometer into the thickest portion of the meat and bake 40-70 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 145 Degrees.
10. Remove pork loin from oven and let rest on rack for 8-10 minutes until internal thermometer reaches 150 degrees (it will continue to rise in temperature out of the oven). Slice into 2 inch cross sections and serve immediately.

Side Suggestions:
Rice, Steamed Vegetables

Where do you come up with them?

Several people in the last week have asked me, "Where do you come up with all the ideas for your jewelry?"

Well...

When I meet someone new, or I'm inspired by something my creativity turns it into a piece of jewelry.  Yeah, it's ODD, but it's an artist mind at work.

For instance, I was window shopping at a mall downtown the other day while Michael was getting fitted for his suit.  This is the window display I was captivated by at Counterpointe. 

 I must have sat there for a good 20 minutes studying how the colors were proportioned, how the different hues played off each other, what gemstones that color palette would entail.  (I told you I was ODD!)  I grabbed the camera from my purse and took a picture so I could study it some more when I got home.  

Then I saw this piece of artwork:

That was it, I started pulling gemstones and playing with different design options until "Window Shopping" was created.  Baubley, Beautiful, and inspired by everyday objects in my every day life.  Nothing really miraculous, it just kind of happens.

Another example:

We are selling our house and I was kicked out in the middle of doing laundry so that someone could come by.  No biggie, but I had NO MAKE UP or civilized clothing on to be seen out in public.  What do I do....call a girlfriend of course!  Erika welcomed me with open arms and much to my surprise when I stopped over she was watching a little baby girl for another friend of hers.  Grace.

Baby girls are so CUTE!  So, I get back home in my 'homely' clothes and bare naked face, I sit down and create, this piece.  I named it "Gracie".  See, not rocket science!

Finally, I saw theese pieces of art from different artists.   They were vintage feeling, yet progressive, fresh colors and very unique!

Again, I couldn't resist.  I wave of creativity washed over me like a river and out of that inspiration came, "Just like ME!".

So for all you wonderer's out there, that's it!  I'm inspired, I imagine it in my heart, and I create!

There is just a little artist in all of us....what inspires YOU? :)

Turn your Blog into a real BOOK

http://blurberatiblog.com/

A girlfriend just emailed me the neatest link.  Blurb.com allows you to put your BLOG into a BOOK.  OK, how cool is that?  It has free software associated with a free account.  You just pay for the actual books.  I haven't tried it yet, but it looks like FUN!

Enjoy!

Brandon's Art Brick

Brandon: Hey MOM see what I made. Isn't it COOL!
Mom: That's wonderful Brandon, what's it made out of?
Brandon: Clay and paint, THUNK (as he puts it on the table)
Mom: WOW that's heavy!
Brandon: See there's even a hole in the back so you can hang it up.
Mom: Gee, that's G-R-EAT....We'll have to find a spot for it in the Next house.
Brandon: OK (as he dashes out of the room to play)

As a MOM, everything is precious from clay painted brick masks to the coating of orange, blue and purple paint that now lines his brand new shirt that he wore to school this morning.

Hmm, ok perhaps precious and another 'p'd' word as well. But I smile because when I look at this precious little brick I'm reminded of Brandon's heart and his ever present enthusiasm for life. The shirt, well it's replaceable, but this square-toothed hand-carved smile on the brick...not so much. I would give a 1000's shirts for that outlook every day of my life! Love you kid! You made your Mom's day!