Another Frozen Treat!

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!   The other day when I wrote my post about Prescription Diet Treats, Mom got to thinking - we do have some cans of my prescription food, so why not make treats out of some of that?!?  Sounded great to me!

Now, she learned a lot when Zimmie first went on a prescription diet - mostly from trial and error.  She did try putting small scoops of his canned food on a cookie sheet and baking it.  That lead to about 3 straight days of open windows, the exhaust fan going, and the oven door being left open.  All part of "how stinky goodness got its name", apparently.

That gave rise to the idea of using a food dehydrator outside on the deck, and that was a smashing success.  My canned food isn't sliceable like Zim's was, so unfortunately for me, that option is out.  (Plus the dehydrator was really stinky, so Mom got rid of it.). Anyway ... here's what Mom came up with for me!

"Hey!  What are you making!?!"
"Yeah!  Smells nice and stinky!"

Mom popped open a can of my prescription food and spread it into my personal Frozen Stinky Goodness tray!

Spreading the stinky goodness

Apparently, even though she had washed her hands before starting, she didn't want to use her fingers to spread the canned food around.  Probably concerned about cleanliness.  To make it nice and smooth, she used a little hand-held spatula:

All nice and smooth!

After that, she put the tray into a well-sealed zip-top baggie and stuck it in the freezer.  She said we'd have to wait a few hours!  That was really hard.  What to do with all that time on our paws?  We recommend a bit of this:

A round of CROG - Crazed River Otter Games

To watch on YouTube, please click here

Before we knew it, Mom had popped my new Frozen Canned Treats out of the tray and into a zip-top baggie.  Don't they look wonderful?!!?

Like a batch of chocolates!

I couldn't wait to try one!

"Yes, please!"

I LOVE these!  I even like them better than the other Frozen Stinky Goodness Treats - they have a little crunch to them, but aren't quite as hard.  Another culinary masterpiece by our mom!!!!

Being on a prescription diet isn't always easy - but when I have treats like this to look forward to and enjoy, it's a lot easier!!

Cammie!

Some Days

Hello, everyone.  It's me, Cammie.  Pickles can be tricky to deal with!  Some days, you have to grab them with both hands.

"Or paws.  Whatever."

As the Romans once said, "Carpe Pickle!"

Cammie!

Prescription Diet Treats

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  I know we normally do a serene post on Sundays, but what could be more serene than posting about treats?!?  ... besides eating them, of course!  So today, let's talk treats!

"Does it get much more serene?"

Several days ago, Maggie had a bath.  She was really good during the bath (shower, actually, but whatever) AND the blow-dry.  She and Mom thought she deserved a special treat afterwards!

"C'mon, Mom!  I was super-cooperative!"

Mom had a nice, big treat for Mags ... but what about me?  If one of us gets a treat, the other has to have one, too!  And I'm on a prescription diet now!!!  Fortunately for me, my prescription food does have a coordinating treat - but not all diets do!  Knowing that I'd be bored not getting something extra, Mom went into the Ao4 Digest archives and dug up a recipe she used to make for Zimmie!

Knowing how to make these might help some of you out, so we thought we'd post how Mom makes these again!  (You can read Zim's run-down of them at this link!)

First, get about a cup of your prescription kibble.  Pour about twice as much boiling or hot water on it, cover it, and let it sit until the water has soaked in.  You might have to add more water - you'll know!  Mush it up with a fork.

At this point, your Mom or Dad might start referring to this as "stinky goodness".  Trust me, it smells SO GOOD!!!

Put it into an ice cube tray or a special mold.  As Zim mentioned, your biped might want to choose a tray or mold that won't be used for anything else.  Ever again.  Fortunately for me, Mom still had a tray she used for Zimmie's!

Stinky Goodness, ready to go!

It's OK if some of the kibble is still chunky.  It won't look as pretty, but it will still taste REALLY good!

Put the tray or mold into a zip-top plastic bag, seal it really well, and put it in the freezer.  In an hour or so, you'll have Frozen Stinky Goodness Treats!!!

Mom made these ones in a special bone-shaped mold!

OK, the top doesn't look real professional or anything, but who cares what they look like?  Here's the flip side:

YUMMY and pretty!

Once the treats have frozen, you can pop them out of the molds and store them in well-sealed zip-top bags in the freezer.  They are a tasty, tasty treat -- Maggie even likes the ones made with my special kibble!

A few days after Maggie's bath, I also got to have one.  Guess what I had afterwards?!?

"I ❤ Frozen Stinky Goodness Treats!!!"

Mom also used to make Zim's Stinky Goodness Jerky Treats.  You can see the "how to" on those at this link, but here's the quick low-down:  Use canned prescription food.  Slice very thinly, using a cheese cutter - you know, the kind with the wire.  Set into trays of a dehydrator in a single layer.  If at all possible (these are my mom's words, not mine), set it outside to cook.  She says you'll thank her for that; I say what could be better than your house smelling like Stinky Goodness for a few days?!?! Use the "jerky" or "high" setting, and dehydrate until desired crispness.  It all depends on what the food is, how thick you slice it, how humid your area is, and how crispy you'd like it.  Mom cooked Zim's for about 4 hours or so.  Cool, then store in zip-top baggies in the fridge.  OH.  Right.  Well-sealed ones.

We hope this might help some of you who are on prescription diets.  My Frozen Stinky Goodness Treats give me something different to enjoy!  They're cold, they're crunchy, and they help me get more water, too!  Do your bipeds have any tricks up their sleeves to help you enjoy being on a special diet?  We'd love to hear about it!

Have a serene, treat-filled day!

Cammie!

Windy!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  Out here in the garden!

"Wowzers, is it windy out here today!"

"I think I can smell Nebraska!  ... or is that Colorado?"

Could be Wyoming.  I'm not sure.  I need to go ask Cam; she knows these kinds of things.

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Trail Walk

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  This morning, we got to take one of my favorite walking routes!  We go up the huge hill on the big road, then do TWO legs of the Hudson Trial!  I just love going that way!

The trailhead is at the top of that huge hill.  Mom took a couple shots of us posing on the big limestone chunks there.

"Smile, Mags!"
"Oh, come on and take the picture, Mom!"

Is it me, or does someone seem a bit grumpy in that shot?

"I love going this way!"
"Me, too!  Let's get going!"

On down the trail, Maggie spotted some pretty blue flowers!

"Check these out!  They match my left eye!  And today's harness!"

I gave them a quick sniff, but was anxious to get exploring!

"Come on, everyone!  Follow me!"

What a great walk - and a beautiful Spring day!  Thanks for coming with us!

Cammie!

Buckingham Palace

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cam!  Before I get started, remember when we had the Shark Cage in the Studio?  I liked that a lot; I could use that as a nice retreat.  Maggie really missed having 10 Downing Street in the bedroom, though, so Mom and Dad moved it back upstairs for her.  They said we could look into getting another den for me!

So ... the other day, Mom had been working on a small quilt in her Studio.  When she finished, she brought the quilt upstairs and Maggie and I both posed on it:

"This is nice, Mom!"
"Yeah, I like this side a lot!"

The side we're sitting on was Dad's rucksack cover from Desert Storm.  The other side is PINK!

The flip side!

I happen to love pink, but Maggie isn't too keen on it.  Rumor has it that Mom tried to get Maggie to pose on the pink side while they were downstairs, and she wouldn't.  You know - because it's pink!

The very next day, Mom said, "Let's hit the Studio, girls!" and there was talk of stuffed Pickles.  I ran downstairs and ...

"WOW, Mom!  Is this for me?!!?"
"Yes, Cammie!  Your very own den!"

I loved it immediately!

"This is the perfect place to play with my Pickle!"

For now, we have the desert camo side up, not the pink - but it is fully reversible.  I thought with the desert camo I might blend in really well and ...

"I wonder where Cammie is?  I can't even see her."
"Ah ... peace and quiet!"

I've decided since Maggie has 10 Downing Street upstairs, this will be known as Buckingham Palace!  It seems fitting, don't you think?

Cammie!

Wordless Wednesday

Cammie!
(And Maggie's ears)

I Could Have Sworn ...

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  I could have sworn Cammie said she'd do today's post!

"Yeah.  It was while we were having breakfast ...
or was it when we were on our walk ...
or was it during a CROG session afterwards?
I could have sworn ..."

Well, at any rate, she said I'm up today so here's a picture of me in front of our Old-Fashioned Lilacs:

"Get a shot of me here, Mom!  Oh, wait.  Is that the neighbor lady?"

My mom wasn't quite quick enough.  Nor did she have treats.

Have a great day!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

About Those Bunnies ...

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter!  I thought I'd do a little back brief on our photo shoot.

We started out just posing on the stair landing with the pysanky and the bunnies.  Like so:

"You want us to do what?"
"That sounds nice, Mom."
"You can do this, Maggie!"

Oh, sure.  Cam was all for it; anything to get out of having to do the Bunny Balance this year.  But then Mom said I wouldn't even have to do any Snooter Hanging if I'd just let her snuggle a bun and a pysanky up to me.  Without me trying to eat either one.  (Not that I'd do that.  Very often.).  But as you saw yesterday ...

"How's this, Mom?"

Yep.  I totally nailed it!  Cam did, too, of course:

"I like the little bunny."

But we ALL know Cam is rather special.  She does all kinds of stuff she's asked to do.  I'm starting to.  It's kind of freaky.  I mean, seriously.  I didn't try to eat the bunny or anything!  What's happening to me!?!?  First I willingly pose with Sock Monkey without destroying him and now the bunny?!?!

Was it really worth the treats I got?  Maybe.  There isn't much floof in those tiny things.  Sigh.

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Easter Blessings 2019

From all of us at Ao4 Headquarters ...

"Христос воскрес!  Christ has risen!"
"Воістину воскрес!  Truly He is risen!"

1 Thessalonians 4:14 "For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him."

God bless you all.  Happy Easter!
Mags, Cam, and our bipeds 

New Game!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  Yesterday, Cam and I came up with a new, really fun game!  Mom seemed to like it, too.  It goes something like this ...

I run up to the upstairs landing, then give a "ha roo!"

"Ha roo!"
"Ha roo to you!"

Next, I fly down the stairs to see if I can get past Cam and into the living room.

"She stopped me this time!"
"Gotta be faster than that to get by me, Mags!"

Mom was supposed to get shots of me zooming down the stairs, but she was way too slow on the trigger.

"Did she get me that time?"
"She was too slow!  Try it again, Maggie!"

Mom was very encouraging, and kept asking me to go again and again!  She must really like our new game!

"... and I'll stop you again, Mags!"
"You're a great goalie, Cam!"

Note there isn't a shot of me coming down the stairs.  Mom said I should go yet again.

"You're not getting tired, are you, Cam?"
"Just a little bit.  I still want to play, though!"
"Yeah ... try it again, Maggie!"

It's almost like Mom wanted me to get really tired!

"Almost.  Huh, Mom?"
"Oooh, I get it now.  Yeah, why don't you go again, Mags?!?"

What a great new game!  There seems to be something for everyone!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Photo Finish Friday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  After Mom did more painting in the garage yesterday, Maggie and I decided she had earned some backyard playtime.  After that, we thought we'd do some posing.

First, we posed over on the south side.

"Let's do our Serious Look, Cam!"
"I'm on it, Maggie."
"Girls?!  How about a nice smile?"

Maggie wasn't quite in the mood.  I gave a small grin.

"How about my serious 'I'm the Prime Minister' look instead?"
"I'm doing a Mona Lisa smile."

Mom thought we should move down a tier.  I liked it better down there.

"How's this, Mom?"
"Perfect, Cam!  Maggie?  Could you smile, please?"
"Could you give me a treat, please?"

It was a fair question - and Mom was packing!

"Oh, yum!  Thanks, Mom!"
"Yeah, th---wait!  What's out there?!?!"

What can I say?  We get easily distracted out there!

We moved back up to the top tier, under the Amur Maples.

"How's this?"
"I think we're back to doing our serious look..."

Mom was mighty happy with that.  I mean, we were sitting - and even looking at her!

We hope you enjoyed our garden poses!

Cammie!

We Helped!

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  Maggie and I helped Mom in her Studio yesterday.

"No need to thank us, Mom!  We're Siberians; it's what we do."
"So much help.  So very much help."

We helped. A. Lot.

Cammie!

Wordless Wednesday

Mags and Cam!

The Importance Of An Ottoman

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  It's important to have an ottoman around for when you're really tired and need to put your feet up.

"Zzz ..."

Or, in my case, your snooter.

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Scheduled Activities

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  Mom and Dad have been doing a big garage re-do -- taking everything out, cleaning, re-organizing, painting, etc.  Cam and I have been doing our very best to help out.  Today, we should be wrapping things up (hopefully ... almost), so I plan to do a lot of this:

It's been just exhausting!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Serene Scenery Sunday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  This week, I thought I'd show you a line up of some beautiful bushes we saw on one of our walks.

"Mags, sit and look at Mom."
"I don't think she has treats, Cam."

"I know.  But it's for Serene Scenery Sunday."
"Ohhh..."

"Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone!"
"Keep it serene!"

Oh, don't worry!  We were rewarded for our efforts when we got home!  

Cammie!

We're Ready!

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  Yesterday afternoon, Mom asked if Maggie and I wanted to help her in the Studio. We raced down the stairs and got into position right away!

"You brought our Pickles, right?"
"Stuffed with treats?"

It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it!

Have a great weekend!

Cammie!