Treat dispenser

So I am tired of:
1. Opening a bag of treats
2. Certain people in my house liberally, and for no reason, giving the puppy treats

So..... I made a treat dispenser out of 2 jars and a miniature wooden drawer set.

You need:
2 jars
2 small pieces of fabric
1 drawer set
Super glue
Dremel

1. Trace the lid of the jar on top of the drawer set
2. In the center dremel out a hole
3 superglue the fabric to the back of the drawer and then the other end to back wall of the drawer set. This serves as your blocker of the dispenser when the drawer is opened.
4. Only use the 'o' part of the jar. Glue it to the outlined hole so that when you screw the jar on the jar is upside down.
5. Done

Irie the Black Russian Terrier!

Dear Marina, 
Irie is doing great!
We made it home at about 2p our time. 

Me at 5a ready to Drive!

Woke up around 5a to prepare every last detail for my trip and headed out at 615a. 

Right outside Bellingham, Wa

What a gorgeous drive to Canada. Made it over the line no problem and into your beautiful country! Had no problems getting there and in fact was there early so I had a moment to breath while i waited for her to arrive at the pick up spot.
The gentleman went to go get her for me and i could see her cage but couldn't see her. I said, "Irie. Baby girl." and then i saw her head poke up and look my way as he carried her towards me. I lugged the big girl in the 'big girl' cage to my car; and, Marina, you weren't kidding she is not a small one. 

I looked at her in the cage for a moment and she looked back at me. I don't know what I was looking for. Maybe I was looking for Marley's eyes. I opened the cage and we continued to have this silent moment of recognition as though we were saying, 'is it really you?' Then I gently pulled her out and checked to see if there was a mess for me to clean...honestly she was still very clean. Still very very clean. I wiped her down and then fed her. Then there was another silent moment, 'mama, I gotta go potty and i am not gonna go in this car." I put on her leash and helped her down. she must have really needed to go because she only walked about 10 feet before she decided sniffing might take to long to find a spot....she might as well just go. ha. 

We walked in circles in this little grassy area before we decided to head out. I was putting all the stuff in a bag when she was sitting in the back seat (her crate was in the back. I have a station wagon.) when I noticed her scaling the seat and then....there was another silent moment, "mama I can't get in my crate; the door is shut." Yes, she loves her crate. She loves it very much. I don't think any animal i have ever known has liked a crate. So i set the passenger seat reclined and set the crate up, door open, so that she could climb out and get on the seat or get on my lap if she wished. 

Well, needless to say she decided it was time for a nap and climbed in her crate to sleep the rest of the way out of Canada. I think the longest part of the trip was when I was waiting to get checked through the border into the U.S. One Hour....I looked over....Irie is sleeping. Time is ticking....I looked over.....Still sleeping. The car in front of me was searched. But I was smart, Usually I am looked at suspiciously being that I have tattoos and dreadlocks. In fact on my way back into the states from Costa Rica years ago I was searched, why? Because I had dreadlocks and I had to use the restroom. So back to my story, I was smart. I put my hair up into a bun and when it is like this no one can really tell that I have dreadlocks; I also, wore a cardigan to cover my ink. So when It was my turn the only comment i got from the officer was, "what is this?" as he referred to my marriage document.
"It is my marriage certificate showing that my name has changed"
"Anything to declare?"
"I bought a dog in Canada."
"Ok, ma'm, have a nice day."
He didn't even ask to see her paperwork! And i was through. Made plenty of stops to stretch my legs and let Irie out to use the bathroom. The last stretch she sat the whole way on my lap with, her head in the crook of my arm, asleep. 

When I arrived home the boys were thrilled. I had already briefed Post on the how we talk to Irie, Play with Irie, Love on Irie. He was prepared and honestly I am very impressed with the care and love he shows her. 

He talks soft, he doesn't run, he brings her her toys (all of them in a mountain!), and gives her fresh water, he asks if she needs to go potty. This boy has missed his dog. He asked me tonight if Irie was gonna get sick and then go see her Oma (our word for grandma). I told him no she is all better as long as we are loving and kind to her. I think somewhere inside he thinks maybe, because he was younger and couldn't quite grasp all of Marley, if he is mean or not well behaved then 'Marley' is going to leave him again. Poor kiddo. He will understand one day that she was here for the time that she needed to be. He was about to have a conniption before bed if we didn't read her a train book.
Xire, now that he is older, is so loving and adorable towards Irie. he sweetly pats her and kisses her and throws her ball. These children are so thrilled about her toys and that they can play with her with them. Including, the fact that that is ok. =) WONDERFUL!
Irie ate a full day's meal and, probably, then some. She has played her little heart out, used the restroom, multiple times, napped heavily.....is napping on my feet while I write this. She has taken to her 'den' (her crate) well and knows i won't leave her in there for long. She has taken a bath and took it like a pro. I noticed she sits on command, comes, and understands a gentle but firm no. Bravo!

She is much more calm versus Marley. Not so excitable. She is a bit shy at first and stays close to measure someone up, Doesn't jump right into the action like Marley. I think Marley was having trouble for a while in the beginning and I didn't see it and this made her distant. She didn't like to play fetch like Irie. She did like to run a lot and she loved to jump face first into the English Ivy. She was different. But all of her love and everything she put into and got out of this family is there. I see her energy shining all over Irie like 'Fairy Dust' (literally) and it puts me at peace. And she is showing me that I can love again and that she wants it to be for Irie.
I love this wonderful soul. I love how my children love her. I love you both for helping her come into this world.
Thank you, I am forever grateful!
Love, Heidi

Vertical Garden!

vertical garden 2 weeks after turning vertical

Ok I have done it and it is going ultra successful!
Back in March I decided I needed to start sprouts to go in my vertical garden. Being that i don't want to rip up my property and I actually want to enjoy the beauty of my vegetable garden where I can see it daily.... i decided to go vertical.
Note on Starting sprouts. Mother Earth works the way it does on purpose. Not all of the sprouts came up the first time I planted them. In fact, some i had to replant in the same container and they still didn't come up. When the majority of them were ready i transplanted and then pulled out the heating pad and moved the containers under their humidity dome to the window.
WHAT?! what is this? Sprouts.....nothing of this business came up under the grow light or the heat pad. Why?
Because they wanted something closer to the real Deal.
In April I started to harden my sprouts to prepare them for the vertical gardens and the pots I was going to plant for my Warm Warm plants like pumpkin and tomato. Then May hit and my family came out and helped me plant all my sprouts and lift the 100+ lb. Vertical garden into the raised planter I had built.
In the raised planter I have planted Strawberries and Carrots. In pots I have: Chamomile, Tarragon, Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary, Hyssop, French Mint, Chocolate mint, Dill, Tomatoes, Lemon Cucumbers, Watermelons, Pumpkins, Summer Squash. In the Vertical Garden, Arugula, Cilantro, Basil, Green Onion, Garlic, Beets, Spinach, Kale.

My vertical Garden I up-cycled a Wooden Pallet. Backed it with wood, surrounded the sides with doubled Landscaping paper, Set a Wick Self-watering system made from up-cycled liter bottles and synthetic strips of material, and filled with dirt. I did run into unforeseen problems like my wick systems amount of let down and dirt moving. Both were easy to fix. The wick system I just secured the caps over the wick to slow the amount of water dripping so now instead of instant let down I get about 6-8 hours for the bottle to empty. The movement of dirt i fixed by holding some dirt in place with a piece of cardboard stapled into the pallet. it worked and it can decompose. Once the roots establish the soil wont move much.
The planter base is about 4.5 feet by 2 feet and i quick easy built that bad boy and slung it on some cinder blocks. Home Depot's recycled wood part in the back near the saw is handy dandy.
So here are some pics:

planter base built

the idea of the set up

strawberry planted

The beginning of hardening

squash, pumpkin, cucumber,  watermelon

Post's sunflowers in egg shells

wick system in and soiled laid

second batch hardening

Plants in and vert up

wick system holding water

less than a week and kale is already biggggger and cardboard holding

Morel

It's Sunday and I had to go back to where I had spotted a group of Yellow Morels. Surprisingly enough I expected to see the ones from last week extinguished, not the case. As I searched the outline of the trail I found 2 medium morels about 3-4" high and decided this was going to be a long hike better not take a bunch.

came home and dried them. Morels are bettered dried and aged....don't drink alcohol with them!

to dry:

slice thin and put them on oven sheet in a warm oven (oven set on low) and wait until totally dry while enjoying the aroma of mushrooms.

Here are the Chantrelles from this fall we gathered

 

Oh! the Places You Will Not Go!

The City of Pho

So I think most people in King county and the surrounding area would agree that Pho is the soup of Seattle. This being said there is more Pho places than there are Starbucks....and we know how ambitious Starbucks is.
Black Pepper Pho in Boulder, Co is still the best Pho i have ever had. The broth is flavorful....and I stop here to note that here in seattle there are enough places for there to be really weak pho broth....could have pulled it from my toilet and it might, just might be better.
Pho is easy to make and even easier is Pacific Naturals Pho Broth. So when I don't feel like being disappointed with my Pho I make it at home the easy way, cuz let's face it, I have kids and most times its not gonna get done if it ain't easy.
So medium sauce (middle child) wanted to have noodles and i wanted Pho. Bang! Pho for dinner. And this was a couple nights ago. Small serving between a 3 year old and a mama that night, and we had Pho broth left over......
which inspired.......
this beauty!

Today was getting-there-hot at about 3p so a fresh light dish was in the mix. Didn't know what my mind was going to birth but I was so pleased with the outcome and medium sauce ate the kiddo version (that recipe is at the end)

Coco-Saki Soba
Pho broth
Soba noodles
Frozen California Vegi mix (broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots)*
2 T Coconut oil
1 t sesame oil
1 T Soy sauce
1/3 c Saki, and then some
Cilantro
shredded, unsweetened coconut
Siracha

1. Make your Soba noodles in Pho broth versus water.
2. In a frying pan, heat your oils over med-high until melted.
3. add vegis (frozen) and cover, cook until liquid is halfed. Remove cover and add soy sauce.
4. cook uncovered and add saki, cook until there is about 2 T of liquid in pan.
5. serve over noodles garnished with cilantro, coconut, and siracha.**


*I do about a handful per serving/ person
**I add a splash of saki on top of mine.

Kiddo version: coco-noodles
 Noodles in a bowl with coconut oil to separate them. a couple vegis and more soy sauce.

Went to the park and big brother decided to do a cute big brother thing: Push Bugs on the swing! Love'n it!

Spring air hang up

First off this is hilarious:

"What you know 'bout purple drank?" Family Joke after reading a rap/ hip hop decoder book we gave to a friend of ours.....guess the lil guy picked up on it. ha!

It's time and I am stoked. The sun will be out all week. This means we can do all types of things I love to do. Cloth diapers, hang laundry, garden, sleep in the sun, watch birds.... Today my laundry is happy! It gets to stretch its winter seams on a tight rope under the blazing sun! Oh and that means saving energy and water and being thrifty.

Another thing i am most happy to be about is that my baby girl, irie, will be arriving in my arms in a little over a month. We have been getting pictures and videos of her all week and since the day she came into the world. I can't wait!

Marley's soul is in her!