The Mighty Maple

Just trying to figure out how to blog from the iPad.

Thank you Mother Nature for letting me hang onto my leaves until

a vicious windstorm brought them down and blew them around the yard 

necessitating a FOURTH raking of the yard in sub zero temperatures.

Baked Parmesan Caesar Chicken

It's been awhile since I posted a recipe and this one is a keeper. I first starting using creamy Caesar dressing and Italian as a marinade this summer at the suggestion of a friend. Then I was invited to a delicious lunch out and another friend used the marinade base and added the breaded topping and it was delicious.

Here's the recipe if you want to try it yourself:

Baked Parmesan Caesar Chicken
6-8 boneless chicken breasts (I cut them in half)
1/2 cup creamy Caesar dressing
1/2 cup zesty Italian dressing
1 cup shredded Parmesan (the fresh kind)
1 cup bread crumbs

Combine dressings in one bowl, combine cheese and crumbs in another bowl.
Dredge each breast in the dressings and then roll in the crumb mixture. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment and bake at 350F for 30-40 minutes or until chicken is done.

Lions Dog Guides

My posts have been a little heavy on the dogs lately. I have been making some cards and working on some other stuff but it's pretty much dark when I leave for work and darkish when I get home so maybe now with the time change, I will have some time to get the items photographed.

Last weekend, the Lions Dog Guides hosted their bi-annual Open House in Oakville to showcase their programs and to allow the public to view their facility and of course, meet the stars of the show, puppies and dogs in training.

Dog Guides offer 6 programs;Canine Vision, Hearing Ear, Seizure Response, Service,
Autism Assistance and Diabetic Alert. It was very interesting to hear how the dogs are trained for the different programs. Did you know that there are breath donors for the Diabetic Alert dogs? People donate their breath when they have a blood sugar low and these are frozen and used to train the dogs to "alert".

Look at the tail wag on this Lab. They really love to work!

 We were greeted by Bev who is completely blind and her Yellow Lab. She is on her 7th Canine Vision dog. The dog was not working so he could enjoy lots of pets and praise from his visitors.

The poodles were adorable. Most likely heading towards a career in Hearing Ear. They were about 12 weeks old.

This little girl was looking for a foster home. Tempting but I think 2 is plenty for right now.

The Farley Foundation

October is Farley month. Many vets across Ontario carry on fundraising events to raise money for The Farley Foundation. I took this opportunity to give a generous donation from the funds raised at our Scrapbooking Crop to this organization via Kingsdale Animal Hospital. Dr. Hinsberger has been a valued support for Lindor from 8 weeks of age, through 2 litters of puppies and so on. He is very thorough and their Clinic also helps to support clients with limited means.

 Now that I have adopted Lindor and am paying for 2 dogs, it is even more apparent how beneficial this Foundation is to support people on fixed incomes, senior citizens and disabled individuals who value the companionship of their pets.

Nicole, their receptionist was very happy to add our pawprint to their wall. And the mascot is pretty cute too.

Farm Fresh Vegetables

Like everyone else, I was in my local grocery store yesterday picking up supplies for Thanksgiving dinner. It was so busy. I needed some broccoli so I picked up 3 heads and put them in my basket.
I had my doubts about them but I didn't want to make another stop. They were so tired looking with brown spots, I just couldn't justify making the purchase so I changed my mind and  put them back. I long for the old days when you could eat the produce fresh from the garden.

I was lucky enough to get this work of art from an organic farmer last week. What a difference in quality and taste. It was so lovely, I just had to take a photo of it and post it on my blog.

This is an orange cauliflower. You should see it in person. Not a blemish on it and fresh from the garden. I will be getting a few more items in the near future. Off to prep for Thanksgiving dinner.

Fat Beagle

A lovely story from Kismutt Small Animal Rescue, one of the groups that we support. A puppy mill dog survives a life of misery and has a happy ending. The story is called An Unlikely Pair. For Dog Lovers everywhere.

Daneathon

In the spring and fall, Danes in Distress host Daneathons on a private property just outside of Breslau. It's a large acreage with some ponds, well set back from any road so these magnificent animals can stretch their great long legs and play with others their own size. I was able to sneak in a smaller doggie version (Maya) and we had a pleasant walk with the big guys.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get their photos to re-size so you'll have to go to their website to see these gentle giants cavorting. I was able to get a couple photos of the boys with Morgan, the world's tallest living female dog. She's in the Guiness Book of World Records. What a sweetheart!

Unfortunately. a lot of people get these adorable dogs as puppies without doing proper research into their medical issues and taking into account the high cost of vet care, not to mention dog chow. It's a good thing there are organizations like Danes in Distress that are knowledgeable and passionate about this breed and work diligently to educate and re-home these gentle giants.