Fancy Shmancy ribbons

I put together Ptera and Koira's title ribbons with miniature portraits I had painted of each of them. The portraits are meant as Christmas ornaments, but they ended up fitting perfectly on the ribbons. And, of course, they are simply amazing paintings as well. The artist does amazing larger work as well (I have pretty much no where to display artwork, but keep trying to figure out a place to put a larger painting so I have an excuse to order something larger). When NAFA finally gets around to sending title pins for Ptera and Koira (they only just sent certificates for titles earned in July, so not holding my breath it will be any time soon) I plan on adding those to the ribbons as well. I'm debating if I should add Koira's FM pin as well as her FMX pin when it arrives (or her U-Fli title pins?), but don't want to make the ribbons look too cluttered.

Ptera's FM ribbon, and Koira's FMX ribbon, with custom miniature paintings done by Before the Bridge Fine Art. https://www.facebook.com/btbfineart

I'm sure the artist isn't taking any more orders for delivery before Christmas this year (her work is amazing, and painting takes time), but I think she has gift certificates available if you are still looking for the perfect present for someone. I paid full price for these ones to be done, and would happily pay again. I am sharing her work only because it is amazing, and works so perfectly paired with the ribbons my dogs and I have worked so hard to earn.

One last thing, if you are ever the one in charge of ordering ribbons for a dog event, choose bridle hooks on the rosettes, instead of cord. The bridle hooks make the ribbons easier to hang, and easy to hook to the dog's collar for a ribbon photo. Bridle hooks all the way!

Wordless Wednesday: Post Racing Photos

Pallo won Best of Opposite Sex in his group.

Koira came in a solid second every time, but didn't earn a ribbon

Pallo's FM title ribbon

I neglected, after our last flyball tournament, to take Pallo's picture with his huge shiny ribbon. We lucked since most of the tournaments in our region don't do ribbons for placements or titles, but Pallo hit the big Flyball Master (FM) 5,000 point title at one of the few tournaments with ribbons!

I love getting ribbons. The title certificates a nice, and I keep all of them, but the ribbons are so much easier and prettier for hanging on the wall.

Koira didn't want to be left out of the picture session this morning. She did get a new title at the tournament, but they weren't giving titling ribbons to titles lower than 5,000 (so Pallo just barely squeaked in there).

I was using this morning to try out a new winter photo set up. The light was really bad today though, since it is very overcast and dark outside, so even with the south facing window, the white backdrop (wrapped around to help reflect the light back into the middle) and both the over head light and the stand lamp on, a lot of the pictures were really grainy or blurry. And, my camera has about the harshest flash ever (though it ended up not too bad to use if I put a piece of cardboard in front of it to reflect the flash up).

Hoping we get some sunnier winter days, or else the blog is going to be sadly lacking in pictures.

Meal Plans and Pumpkin squares (And Lure Coursing pictures)

We are off to a flyball tournament this weekend, so that means stuff like cleaning the house, cleaning the car, and packing all have to happen as well. Luckily (or unluckily, monetarily speaking), work is super light for the next week, so I'll have plenty of time.

As requested, the recipe for the pumpkin bars I posted last week:
Make pumpkin cream cheese (1 package cream cheese, 1/4 cup canned pumpkin, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, 2 T brown sugar).

In a greased baking dish, lay out one layer of crescent rolls (I just used the off-brand package of them, and did a small pan, which took one tube). Pinch the seams together. Spread with Pumpkin Cream Cheese. Lay the other half of the crescent rolls over the cream cheese, pinching the seams together. Top with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon, and scatter a few small chunks of butter across the top. Bake at 350 until golden brown and flaky (about 15 minutes in my toaster oven).

Slice and serve. They are great warm out of the oven, or cold the next day for breakfast.



Meal plans for the week:

Lunch/Dinner meals: 
Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches: a roast was on sale, which I got for the dogs, and cut off my own portion of the meat, plus I have two bell peppers to use up still, and some onions, and a few hoagie rolls left from the apple butter meatballs last week, which I ate as hot meatball subs.

Fajitas: with the same mix as the cheese steak, minus the cheese and plus fajita seasoning and a tortilla

Chicken/corn chowder: Plan is to cook a chicken quarter in the crockpot (after removing the skin/extra fat). I'll remove the meat from the bones and brown up the meat in the pan, then make my normal corn chowder, adding the chicken in. The bones from the quarter, along with some vegetable scraps like onion skins, will get made into chicken broth the next day, in the crock pot.

Quesadillas: Since I have tortillas, this is one of my fall-back foods. Made in a cast iron pan, please, as I can't stand a soggy tortilla from the microwave.

Pumpkin French Toast: Because it sounds amazing, and I am still trying to use up all that canned pumpkin. I really need to just freeze it into an ice cube tray next time to use in small amounts as the need comes up.

Cheese Sandwich: A cheese sandwich, made on five seed bread, with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, apple slices, sprouts (alfalfa/radish/clover/chia mix), and sunflower seeds. Because I used to get this at a coffee shop down the street from my college, and its an amazing sandwich. Might have this a few times, to use up all my sprouts and fully solve my craving.

*Shopping list: Milk, eggs, maple syrup, Halloween candy (my contribution to our team potluck over the weekend, along with some blackberry liquor)

And, here are the dogs with the two Qualifying ribbons each, from the CAT yesterday (check out yesterday's post for videos)

Dog meals for the week:

As I mentioned above, we are gearing up for a flyball tournament. Which for my dogs means a week of no organs, slightly more bone, and consistent meals. Last thing I want is a dog suffering from too much organ meat, too little bone, or a new-food reaction at the tournament (or stinking up the car on the drive).

Monday: Chicken Quarters (Yes, out of the same bag as I am feeding to myself. Its the benefit of buying meat at the grocery store for the dogs.)
Tuesday: Beef heart
Wednesday: Beef heart
Thursday: Chicken quarters
Friday: Beef heart
Saturday/Sunday (at the tournament): Chicken quarters, with a small portion of beef heart in the late afternoon after racing is over.

It is about two-days-worth more bone than I usually feed to my dogs. Bone firms up stools, so I feed it a bit more heavy for tournaments and traveling as a dog with the runs is 1) not feeling their best, 2) not pleasant to be around, and 3) likely to soil in the ring, which I DON'T want to continue our reputation of. This is the same reason I omit organs in the week leading up to a tournament, or any new/rarely fed protein source.


I will also be freezing some tuna juice into ice cubes to add to the dog's water if they aren't drinking. Koira barely drank at all at the last tournament, and the dogs need to stay hydrated.

For more meal planning and recipe tips, visit I'm an Organizing Junkie and StoneGable.

Ribbons!

I know a lot of dog sport people get tired of all the ribbons. Many people have huge buckets full of ribbons they never look at, and some people just toss them straight into the trash.

I love ribbons. And, the tournament this past weekend gave out some ribbons! So I had to have the dogs pose for some pictures.

They are both wearing their red flyball collars (a collar with a loop handle on it) for the pictures. 

This ribbon is technically Pallo's, for his team coming in second in their division. Koira's team came in fourth, so got single ribbons instead of rosettes. But she ran amazing, and deserved a rosette picture.

Pallo was super confused at this posing-for-a-picture in the back yard. We rarely take photos in the yard.

And, of course, enjoy the Saturday blog hop!