Farm Living Is the Life For Me

My, what a lovely pup!  Max (aka Rufnit Ulysses and Maxie) enjoys his own special sofa on the back porch of our new home, Sugar Pea Farm.  After a long remodel, the farmhouse is close to ready - close enough for us to move in, finally!  A Tennessee girl all my life (except one odd year spent in Macon, GA) I feel like this is home!  The next question is, how will Maxie handle the chickens? And goats?  Dear Readers, I will keep you posted...

A Simple Message

LET. ME. IN.

The official logo of the new farm. The three of us cannot wait to get settled in! Hopefully it is just around the corner! We've met lots of our new neighbors are are ready to settle in to a rural lifestyle.

In the Doghouse

Max (Rufnit Ulysses) tries out his new kennel and doghouse at the new farm. Designed and constructed by husband P, this doghouse is quite the feat of engineering! Made from sawmill lumber reclaimed in home renovations, this doghouse even has a angled, shingled roof complete with hasp for easy cleanouts. Since Max still enjoys making mincemeat of any and all fabric, including 1680 denier nylon, we are using hay from our pastures as bedding insulation. The barn red paint matches the goat/ horse barns - though the green lettering was my own special touch. Somehow, I don't think Max or P really thinks the personalization adds much - but I think it's lovely!

9 months

http://www.youtube.com/keysa71#p/a/u/0/5oBwey38Dw0

Blogspot was having video upload troubles so click the link above for the latest video until I get it posted correctly....

Max is enjoying having fun outside in his new home. This isn't the highest quality video since it was taken on a cell phone but you get the idea! Max loves having lots of space to run, roam, and explore. Some unplanned explorations have led to a seriously smelly dog - but dogs will be dogs! He is also learning to use his nose like a bird dog - he sniffs out wild turkeys that live close by and loves flushing butterflies! Many new people are in and out of the house on the remodel projects so he has many new human friends!

Crickets in my blog!

Loyal Readers,

It's been quite the month remodeling a home on our new farm, but Maxie is in heaven! I promise to try to get some great pics of him tomorrow to share! If it lets you know how things are going, Maxie accidentally got a snootfull of drywall mud yesterday. I was terrified but he licked it up and went back for more - needless to say that did not happen, but boy is he a rambunctious fella! Bear with me and I'll post loads of pics!! If this is just a hint of where we are in the process, here is the master bathroom as of today.

Max Attacks!

I love my retractable leash. Really, I do. I recognize the inherent dangers and am a responsible leash user. Really, I am. I know a less than 30 pound dog is easily managed and I scoff at those who cannot manage their smallish dogs. Really, I did. I stand, slightly hunched over to one side with loads of large bandaids, corrected. A vast right side conspiracy, I call it. As in the right side of my body from tip to toe is scratched, bruised, lacerated or otherwise maimed by the lovely small dog. I'd post a picture but I'm far too embarrassed.

Perhaps a pic later today, Max frolicking about in his new digs. Much more fun!

More tasties!

Yummy in Maxie's Tummy! Doggie Cookies
3	Sm. Jars baby food meat variety	2 1/2 oz. Size
1/4	C	Powdered Milk
1/4	C	Wheat Germ
Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Roll into small balls and place on well-greased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with a fork. Bake in preheated 350 oven for 15 minutes or until brown. Cool on wire racks and store in refrigerator, also may be frozen. Critical tip: if meat baby food grosses you out.... pick another recipe!

Rufnit Ulysses aka Max

Well, it seems that we will soon be moving to our little farm in East/ Middle TN. And Maxie LOVES it - I'm just hoping that it isn't the goose and chicken poo that he loves...

Maxie will have a nice sized, very safe backyard to run and romp and play, as well as being allowed inside plenty. I suppose the good thing about having no human kiddos means that we can spoil Max and the other animals to come!

So then, goats and chickens, perhaps cows/ bulls? Email me and let me know if you have sage words for me. Oh, wait... not Sage flyrods - we have those handled....

Scooby Snacks! Cheddar Dog Treats!

A very easy recipe for homemade puppy treats - Max goes wild for them. They last about a month in a sealed container at room temp - will last for two months if you keep in the fridge.

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 tbsp butter

3/4 cup milk

Grated Parm for topping

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Put flours and cheese in food processor. Pulse to mix. Add butter and milk. Mix well. Turn out on to floured surface and roll out to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. Poke with tines of fork and sprinkle Parm. Cut dough with cookie cutter. Place on baking sheet covered with greased or non stick foil. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Your dog will love you.

For those Ertsgaards, Haugens, and other Norwegian/ Scandinavian types: use the lefse rolling pin for these treats. The dough rolls quickly and the texture of the pin allows the treats to bake quite nicely and makes a crispy scooby snack.

Next post will be the pupsicle recipe - a COLD summer treat!