Golden Friday

If you're happy and you know it clap your paws...

A few days ago mom was tagged to write about what makes her happy, so today we are going to write about what makes us happy.

Samantha: Swimming makes me furry furry happy

June: Chillin' out at camp makes me happeee

Samantha: Sunbathing on the deck makes me happy

Both: Playing in the snow makes us happy

June: Sleeping on my bed makes me so very happy and comfy

Samantha: Fetching for ball or stick or kong or frisbee makes me happy happy

June: Playing with Jack makes me happy

Cheesecake and Swimming Dog

A few weeks ago I posted that I wanted to make some jams and liqueur. Here's the update:

1) Made 6 jars (8oz) of cherry jam.

2) Made 6 jars (8oz) of double-berry (Blueberry & Raspberry) jam.

3) Prepared 2 pint size jars of each Cherry and Red Raspberry for liqueur. Will be straining the fruits out this weekend and add sugar to the vodka. Then let it "age" for 6 months and I'll have Cherry liqueur and Raspberry liqueur.

Also made a cheesecake using the Blueberry & Raspberry jam 2 weeks ago. It was delicious! Here's the recipe for the cheesecake, it's really a very simple recipe from kraftfoods.com. This is my "go to" recipe for cheesecake and I always add different things to it to "spice" it up.

Double-berry Cheesecake

Ingredients:

1 premade graham cracker crust

2 pkg (8oz each) cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 - 1/2 cup blueberry-raspberry jam

A handful of fresh blueberries, crushed

Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add in eggs, 1 at a time, mix well. Scrape sides of bowl. Add vanilla.

3) This next step is totally up to you: you could mix the jam and the crushed blueberries in with the cream cheese or you could pour 1/2 of the mix in the crust and mix the other 1/2 with jam and blueberries.

4) Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool and refrigerate for at least 4 hrs before serving.

Now go make this cheesecake and your family will love you even more! :)

I will leave you with a video of Samantha, taken during our June camping trip.

I'm It

I've been tagged by Samantha at The Long Haul.



The rules are:
1. Mention and link back to the person who tagged you.
2. List 6 little things that make you happy.
3. Tag 6 other bloggers and let them know they're "it".



Here are 6 little things that make me happy:

1) Seeing hubby happy makes me happy, plain and simple.

2) Watching my girls make me happy.

3) Looking at pictures of my little niece Grace makes me happy. By the way, I got a copy of one of those artworks from her! I cried. 4) Relaxing at camp makes me happy. 5) Gardening makes me happy. I love to plant the seeds and watch them grow. I remember planting some vegetables when we were younger but we never had a big garden.

6) Baking, Cooking, Making Jams make me happy. And of course seeing hubby enjoying them makes me even more happy(not so much if he didn't like the end products).

What little things make you happy? If I didn't tag you, please also share a few things that make you happy in the comment section.

These are the "tag, you are it" person:

WVFarmGirl

Down A Red Dirt Lane

Sleeping Dog Bakery

THE ADVENTURES OF MAXDOG

Being a mother....a lifelong journey

A Tribute

My sister wrote a very nice tribute about my Ah Kong. She also posted some photos of his last moment and his casket, for my sake.
http://yeongshong.blogspot.com/2009/07/week-of-mourning.html

Thank you all for your comforting words and prayers.

Golden Friday (Please Give Dakota A Chance)

I'm posting Golden Friday today.

I realize this post might be controversial but still I chose to post it because in my mind I think Dakota should be given a chance.

Here's a summarized version of the story but you can read the full story here or here . I'm sure some of you may have already heard this news about this family dog named Dakota who had taken a newborn baby from his crib and the baby is now in critical condition. The baby's father said that Dakota snatched the baby from his crib and went into the woods. The baby had a cracked skull and cracked ribs and had one collapsed lung and one partially collapsed lung. The dog is being quarantined at the Jessamine County SAVE Center in Nicholasville, awaiting decision from authorities.

The baby's father has said he does not want Dakota destroyed. He said she cannot return to their home, and he hopes someone will adopt her. He also said that Dakota has NO previous signs of aggression.

So, I really hope the authorities will investigate thoroughly before jumping in conclusion and just destroy the dog. If Dakota has no previous aggression, there has to be a reason why she grab the baby from the crib. Perhaps she was trying to comfort a crying baby? Who knows? She will most definitely not suitable to be adopted by a family with children but there are other families out there who might be able to give her a home. We know we certainly will adopt her in a heartbeat.

Any suggestions of what we can try to do to gave Dakota a chance?

Also, I found a link to sign a petition to save Dakota: http://www.cafemom.com/group/416/forums/read/9428154/PLEASE_sign_the_petition_to_help_save_Dakota_the_dog

I signed it, proudly!

Sad...

My AhKong(grandfather) passed away yesterday. His funeral is this Sunday in Malaysia. Unfortunately I am unable to attend. I cannot afford the plane ticket and I do not have any required travel documents(it's a long story).

Ah Kong lived a good life. He was over 94 when he passed! He suffered a stroke more than 15 years ago that paralized his entire right side but he survived and lived for many more years. He lived to see not only grand children but many great grand children. He will be missed...

AhKong,
You will be missed terribly! Rest In Peace...

Lots of words Wednesday

I received this email a while ago and had accidentally deleted it. Recently Allison at Reflections of a Dog Mom posted it at her blog and I was glad that she did.

A Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.


I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.


The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion.

We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.'' Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.


He said,''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued,''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''



Oh another note, WVFarmGirl presented me with an award. For this award, I would have to first link it back to the person who gave me the award and then share 10 things about me that are true. Thank you WVFarmGirl! I am honored!

1) I love dogs, Golden Retrievers are my favortite but I love them all.

2) I cry easily. I cry while watching a sad part of a movie, I cry while reading a sad part of a book, I cry while watching the ASPCA commercial, I cry while reading about someone losing their dogs...

3) I am a loner, well, kinda. I would actually prefer staying at home than going out with friends.

4) I hate clothes shopping at the store. I see it as a waste of time because I usually can't find anything that I like.

5) I talk to my dogs all the time.

6) I used to hate cheese but now I love them!

7) I don't get drunk in public. I always have a fear that I will do something stupid or get in trouble so I will not let it get there.

8) I used to speak 3 languagues: Mandarin, English & Malay. But now I am only fluent in English and getting a bit rusty in Mandarin.

9) I heart camping.

10) I don't eat veal.

Ok, I am suppose to pass it to 10 bloggers. It is so hard to pick because I think everyone deserves an award.

My Home Among The Hills

The Little Dog Shelter in The Holler

Being A Mother

The PawPaw Patch

Moms from Khyra Khorner, Golden Samantha, Dog Tails: The Diary of a Distinguished Dog, paco e milo...i nostri amori, Two Goldens and a wannabe, NY Bully Brats