Ricky Pickles gherkins removed. Getting ANOTHER JRT !

Last Monday Ricky Pickles went under the knife and they took out his little gherkins. He wasn't happy about being at the vets. After thoroughly giving the nurse Holly all the Hell he could muster (wagging his tail the whole time) he allowed her to take him to "the back".
I hate the sound of that. You know back where all the "stuff" happens.

We dropped him off at 8 am. and I called at noon to check on him. He was awake and Holly told me she had never seen a dog look sadder than when he woke up and we were not there. She said we could pick him up after 3:30.

We both went in to get him, although I am the only one who did the dropping off. I think it was a guy thing. Larry did not want to be in on sending Ricky to "the back".

When we went into the "sleeping it off" area, there he was, in a cage, sitting on a blanket. Looking like he did not have a friend in the world. Then he looked over and saw us and his little face lit up.
He slept the whole way home just about and Jack and Mikey were very glad to see him.

Yesterday was a bad day though, he threw up the night before and laid around all day. I called the vet and she said it might be some gas buildup as he was crying a little when he would go up and down stairs and when I went to put him down off my lap. So we gave hime a tiny bit of pepto and he is a lot better today. Ran after his teddy bear about 10 times through the house.

So while I was talking to the vet I mentioned that we have the 3 of these guys and she asked if we would want one more......ACKKKK!!!!!
I said "my husband would kill me, tell me more". She said "Teddy" is a short legged JRT that has a little problemo with small children. And is 10 months old, White with red hair on his head, neutered, short haired, a total sweetie that loves to give kisses. His owners have a small child and just did not have time to help him get over the jealousy thing.
I said I would mention it to Larry but I could make no promises.
I kiddingly said to Larry "well, the vet tried to pawn another dog on us, but I said you would kill me if I said we would take it". And I started to walk away......
"what kind of dog"?
"oh, a jack russell, very sweet she said, I'm starting dinner now".
"wait a minute, how old is the dog"?

Well it went on from there, and we are picking him up tomorrow. Good thing we just bought 250 feet of new fence.
These are pictures of Teddy from the rescue site. His owners brought him in and asked that he be put down if the vet could not find a home for him.

What Our Boys Eat - Recipe

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When we first got Jack he was a mess. Scared of everything, would pee himself in his sleep, would not go to Larry when we would come home from being off until Larry would sit down, seemed a bit depressed.
We got him from a couple that have a few Jack Russells for sale now and then and we had originally called them about buying a pup. When we got out there, Jack was in a fenced area along with a little puppy. Jack was older almost 2 and they said he had been brought back from the previous buyers.

We brought him home. We knew someone would take the cute tiny puppy, but we were not sure Jack would get a home.

His coat was very coarse. And he smelled a bit. Even after a bath.
So I started making his food. And after last years scare over pet food from China making pets sick and even killing some pets...well I'm really glad I make the boy's food now.
So I thought I would write what I do. I also make treats for them. And the next time I get out the cookie cutters and roll out the dough, I will post that also.

But here is their basic every day food.
I feed them twice a day. They are very high energy dogs so they get their main meal in the mid morning and a bit more when we eat dinner. I really believe dogs view us as a "pack" and I think it is important that when Larry and I eat our dinner we eat it as a "pack", I think this helps us in the bonding with our boys. (No we do not all sit at the table together, we all eat on the floor...kidding)

Turkey and Brown Rice with Vegetables

2 lbs of ground turkey, browned in 1/2 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cup of dried soy beans (soaked in 2 cups of water overnight) - or you can use 2 cans of great northern or red beans or chick peas
2 lbs brown rice, I never use white rice for anything
1 lb of carrots- cut into bite size pieces. You can also use brocolli, zuchinni,spinach.
Enough broth or water to cover everything

Heat olive oil in large pot.
Brown turkey in oil till just done.
Add rice and stir till coated with oil.
Add dried beans if using dried. If using canned put in at end.
Add enough broth or water to totally cover all about 5-6 cups.
Bring to a boil, cover turn down heat and simmer about 20 minutes, add veggies and simmer 20 more min.
Keep an eye so that water does not evaporate and so that rice does not burn. Add more water if needed.
When time is up, stir in canned beans if using canned. Let cool and bag up to freeze.

I also stir in a spoonful of cottage cheese when I put the food into their bowl. This helps in digestion, plus they are cheese freaks and love it. I also add a sprinkle of nutritional yeast when I feed them.
When I make soy milk I save the pulp and use that instead of the dried beans.

Our boys have bright eyes, soft shiny coats and play all the time. They are muscular, but not fat.
They love their meals. And Jack, well Jack is the most well behaved, loving sweet boy. He no longer cries in his sleep,doesn't pee in his bed, actually smells pretty good, have a soft shiny coat and acts like a young pup.

Ricky Pickles checking the soy bean bin.

SNOW DAY Pictures !!!

Here in southern Ohio we did get a bit of the white stuff. Just took a few pics out in the yard today. A pretty lazy day which has afforded me time to make more rounds of the blogs participating in One World One Heart blog event. There are about 1000 bloggers signed up now. So go to the post below enter my giveaway so I know you've been here then click the link or the poster and check them out. So many great blogs, I get lost in some....next thing I know I've been there for at least 15 minutes to an hour.

I love St. Frances of Assisi
Total SCORE from Big Lots for 3 bucks.
The trail to our back woods. I love how this looks with the archway.
Old rusted springs from box springs. Going to brace up and plant morning glories on this year.
My clothes dryer...works good. Well, depends on the day. Not today so good.
Across the road from us. Anyone want to buy it and build a house there? Any Artsy, earth lovin', bonfire drummin', from scratch cookin', growin' yer own damn food person wanna? Move HERE... PLEEESE.
Turn out of our place, turn right.
Head out of our place and turn left.
One big mess o' dogs. Poor Larry was trying to hold them while I snapped pictures.
This is looking up our driveway, that is a workroom/exercise room in front of the truck. Over behind the fence you can see part of the house.

Little Ricky Pickles 1st Snow

Little Ricky has gotten a name addition. My daughter said he looks like a "Mister Pickles" so we started calling him Ricky Pickles.

He is now believed to have some retriever somewhere along his lineage as he brings you all his toys to throw. He will start with his little teddy bear, if he gets no response from you he will then go get an old necktie that has a bunch of knots tied into it. If you still do not respond he will start bringing the raw hide bones, I think these are to bribe you into playing.

All of a sudden, you'll look down and there will be toys and bones all around your feet and he's sitting there, with that infamous Jack Russell stare. As soon as you look at him a big bark comes out and he grabs a toy and lays it in your lap. If you do start throwing, be prepared to be in it for the long haul.
His favorite game is you throw, he retrieves, you go to throw but he does NOT let go and a great time is had engaging in tug-o-war until he lets you have it. Then it starts over. He's a great growler and sounds extremely ferocious. Kind of a cross between Wolfman Jack and the Tasmanian Devil.

It snowed quite a bit here last week so I got him out in the yard and took some pictures.





He keeps us all laughing.

Some pics

Have not felt like blogging lately but wanted to post some catch up pics.

This is some flowering tobacco that smells so sweet. Hard to believe its tobacco. I'm planting a bunch of it next year for an all white, silver and blue evening garden.


These are some Glad bulbs I got from Bulbs Direct. They have some great deals and free shipping. Their bulbs are always good ones.



I kept this little guy alive and in leaf all winter and it bloomed so nice this summer in the greenhouse, in constant bloom. Tuberous Begonia.


I kept this Lantana alive all winter in the house. I love it, the colors are gorgeous.


Cukes,tomatoes and yellow squash in the greenhouse.


3 Very Good Boys


Dahlia from Bulbs Direct



Castor Plant I'm planting a lot more of these next year. I have not seen a mole tunnel in 2 months. And I love the way they look so tropical here in Ohio.


He is getting bigger. And he is totally crazy. Non-stop. Loves to play and drives Larry nuts, grabbing his feet and the bottom of his pant legs. He loves to eat and goes into a frenzy when fed. I have to feed him in bites or he wolfs it down and gets the hiccups. We call him 'little ricky' now. Well, we had "Jackee and Mikee", so "Rickee" just fit better. He knows his name. He can come in the pet door but is reluctant to go out it, so I have to push him out, then he pushes his nose against it to come back in.

Busy time of year

We have been pretty busy around here with the greenhouse, the yard, the house and the dogs.
We've also added a new addition to the family, Cracker. That makes 3 Jack Russells now, all male. (he is very independent and not afraid of anything except being alone...we all got 3 hours of sleep last night).
I have a bunch of pics to post and things to catch up on, so I will be back very soon.