Wonderful Wednesday

 Mom bought me the 2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Dog Harness and she likes it and it matches my furs to perfection!

I love my new harness and my paws are crossed that I NEVER have to wear that horrible head collar ever again!

Happy Wednesday!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Tasty Tuesday

 Mom had leftover buttermilk and wanted to use it up.  She found this recipe for Cinnamon Buttermilk muffins: 

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil*
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the streusel:

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons salted butter at room temperature
• 
  

• Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Spray 2 muffin pans with cooking spray or line with standard muffin cups. This will make 14-16 muffins.
• In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Whisk to break any clumps. 2 cups all-purpose flour , 4 teaspoons baking powder , 1 ¼ teaspoons salt , 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• In a separate large bowl, combine the oil, eggs, sugar, buttermilk and vanilla. Mix well. ⅓ cup vegetable oil , 2 large eggs, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup buttermilk , 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix just until combined.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon and butter, cutting it together with a fork until it resembles coarse crumbs. ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 3 teaspoons cinnamon, 3 tablespoons salted butter
• Fill 14-16 muffin cups half full using half of the batter. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture on over the muffin batter. Use the remaining batter to fill the muffin cups the rest of the way. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar butter mixture on top of the muffins. Coarse sugar also gives a pretty look!
• Bake for 5 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350ºF (without opening the oven) and bake for an additional 11-12 minutes, or until the center of the muffin bounces back when you touch it. If you do the toothpick test, there should be a few moist crumbs on the toothpick.
• Allow the muffins to cool for 5 minutes, then remove them from the pan and allow them to cool on a wire rack.

Mom uses a large muffin tin and we got 6 very large muffins and she baked them for 23 minutes. 

The only thing that she didn't like about these muffins was the streusel topping.    It was heavy and never resembled coarse crumbs.   

Gram used to make a Sour Cream Coffee Cake that was similar and her topping was 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 cup chopped nuts.   If mom decides to make these again, she will use gram's streusel topping instead.

They are moist and very delicious!

Good to the very last crumb!

Happy Tuesday!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Sunday's Walk on Monday

 Yesterday was cool, breezy and sunny - the most perfect day!

Mom spotted that double flowering pink tree up ahead and wanted a close-up of the flowers.

She needed a new pair of walking shoes and guess what color she chose?!

She can't seem to get enough of the bleeding hearts!

We found lilacs along our walk and you know she had her nose in them for a good long time!

Today is my 2nd Gotcha Day!

This was my arrival on my very first day here~

I can't remember if mom ever told you this crappy story but when we left my breeder's house in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, we had a bit of a drive before we got home.   The breeder told mom that I had pooped but by my actions, mom wondered if it was entirely true.   Missy stopped a couple of times to let me relieve myself but I couldn't and didn't. I just wasn't comfy.   Once I got to my new home, I unloaded several times all over the carpeting. There was poop everywhere!   Oops!   Mom and Missy drew the bath water and that was the first time that I got a bath!  The two of them still laugh about it today☺

Happy Monday!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

So Happy

 So Happy didn't win the Kentucky Derby but he was doing so well and the race was so exciting and we were so hopeful!   He's in third place at this point - where the arrow is pointing.

 

At the start of the race, the horse that won was way behind everybody else - in the group of three that are trailing.  

Who knew that he would come from behind to win the race!   That's the winner to the far left with the arrow.  

Congratulations to Golden Tempo!  We felt so bad that So Happy lost but Golden Tempo's trainer is the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby so that's awesome!

It was such an exciting race and we can't wait to watch the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore later this month!   We'll be rooting for Golden Tempo but keeping an eye on So Happy, if he races.  

Hey, Junie - do you want to join me?!

Happy Sunday!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

The Kentucky Derby

 I have decided that I am going with a very special horse with an awesome story.   His name is So Happy.      You can read about him here.

I'm going to enjoy my mint julep even though I'm a wee bit nervous.   I really want him to win!

Mom will be watching the Kentucky Derby from home.  She watches it every single year!  Mom and I both choose So Happy to win today!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Nature Friday

 We are joining Rosy this week for Nature Friday~~

So many trees are in bloom!

One of mom's favorites is the Redbud~

Their blossoms are so delicate and beautiful~

Our apple tree is flowering!   Maybe the deer will have yummy apples this year!

Who cares about the blooming tree, mom.   I want that birdie!

Our crab apple tree is in bloom~

The Cherry Plum tree along our walk is in bloom~

We found this gorgeous double flowering something or other too~

Happy First Day of May!

Mom can remember being in first and second grade and participating in a May pole dance!  

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Wordless Wednesday

 

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Tasty Tuesday

 Mom can remember so well going to Seattle for the first time in her life and meeting her friend, Miss Lydia.   Lydia had made a salad that was to die for and mom made it for us.

Mom found the recipe online for Orange Buttermilk Salad~

Ingredients

• 1 can (8.5 ounces) crushed pineapple
• 1 package (6 ounces) orange jello
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed

In a saucepan, bring pineapple with juice to a boil. Stir in the jello until dissolved. Remove from the heat; stir in buttermilk. Cool to room temperature. Fold in whipped topping. Pour into an 11x7-in. dish or 2-qt. bowl. Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.

OOPS~  We were supposed to take a picture before we sampled it and had to smooth it out☺

I am sure lucky to always be official TasteTester!

This salad is beyond yummy!

Yes, please - more please!

The salad is so simple to make and with summer coming up - it's the perfect salad to make for a picnic or for your family.

Happy Tuesday!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Silent Sunday Selfie

 

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Saturday Art

 Me and my Go Dog Furballz~

Happy Saturday!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Nature Friday

 We are joining Sunny this week for Nature Friday~~

We are loving our walk!  The Azaleas are in bloom~

Miss Dotty's Hyacinths are still blooming away~

Landlady Maryanne's Ornamental Pear is flowering~

Her Quince is in bloom too!

Isn't Spring glorious!

Happy Friday!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

A Chilly Tuesday Walk

 We had freezing temps overnight for the second time this week.   Mom and I were both dressed in winter coats and she had winter mittens and a winter hat on and she wasn't hot!

We are seeing lots of pretty tulips~

We are still seeing lots of daffies!

Mom was superExcited to see the Bleeding Hearts blooming!

We need to check at home and see if ours is in bloom too!

Happy Tuesday!

Love ya lots♥

Duke