My phone is rapidly filling up with photos of Mr. Adorable aka Bowser aka my grand-doggy so what’s a blogger to do? Create a weekly photo dump post of some of my adventures in dog-sitting, I suppose! I’ll start out with a post of the pup in his quieter, non-bitey non-crazy mode: THE NAP. Let sleeping dogs lie and all that 😁.
Here’s the progression of a nap from the week before last:
Here’s how it started.And here’s how it ended.
Another day, another nap:
Now that the weather has finally heated up and we’re a bit older, this is the preferred nap strategy:
I am on high alert, waiting for Bowser to roll off the couch. My other grand-dog (back in Ontario) broke a front leg when just a pup by leaping off a couch, and I don’t want a repeat. No rest for Oma!This seems marginally safer…This started out as a stretch, but then he just stayed that way. Weirdo.The head must hang off the end of the couch, always.
Hey Humans! Oma said I could write on her thing called a blog, so I guess that makes this a dog blog or a pup post or something like that. I want to tell you about my exciting day today! Last week I discovered something very interesting under a big leafy plant Oma called a hosta…Oma said the very interesting thing I found was a worm. I had so much fun throwing it around and chewing on it that I’ve been on the hunt for more ever since. And today I hit the jackpot!
Not only did I find a worm, but it was dead! Oh boy, oh boy…what a day! What a time I had with my worm!
This is my precious the worm I found. Isn’t it great? It smells so good I just can’t get enough of it.I had to roll and roll and roll all over it.Part of it was still in the ground. I had so much fun pulling it out so I could chew it and throw it around and roll on it some more.Best Day Ever! Amiright???Just a dog and his worm…the good life!This is a picture of Oma watching me play with my worm. I bet she wishes she had one too. She looks kinda jealous to me.
Maybe next time I should share my worm with Oma? What do you think?
Rock (and roll…all over your worm, if you get one) on,
I have a new grand doggy in my life. Bowser is an 8 week old Miniature Schnauzer puppy. He was named after the first Vancouver Island community his new Mom and Dad moved to. Plus it’s gotta be because it rhymes with schnauzer, doncha think? I am looking in on him during the day, while his parents go to work to keep him in toys and treats. Here’s a few words (and pictures) from His Royal Cuteness:
I am trying hard to be a goodest boy. Oma says I am a work in progress.I love my new bed but……not as much as I love Oma’s lap.Oma says she feels trapped but I know she loves it.I love being outside too. Oma is always nearby to make sure I don’t get snatched up by an eagle or owl.So many sticks and fir cones to chew on. Oma says bite these, not her please.I am getting so good at walkies.I walk best with my tongue out, just a little bit.Walkies can be tiring. Oma says good!
A few short days ago the second anniversary of me moving to Vancouver Island came and went. May 28th, to be precise. The day itself was damp, cloudy and cool (like most days this spring) so I didn’t do too much to celebrate. But TODAY my friends, was another story. Sunny and 20C by 9 in the morning?! I was off like a shot, to Neck Point Park…one of the first places in Nanaimo my daughter and son-in-law took me to, two years ago.
I know I’ve shot this view many times already, but I just never tire of the composition…
I should probably mention that I injured the IT bands on both legs a few weeks back, and am seeking treatment from a physiotherapist to help resolve the issue. The issue being burning pain on the outer sides of each knee area when I kneel down, and just very grouchy “touchy” knees in general. Knees that tire quickly and ache, especially after a hike. I am getting “dry needling” done as well as ultrasound treatment, and I am doing daily exercises at home, to help strengthen my knees and heal my IT bands. I’ve had to stop my exercise program as well as working towards the deep squatting goal (the most likely suspect) for now. And, also this –
Physiotherapist: You need to avoid walking on uneven surfaces for the time being.
Me, today:
I’ve tried to be good, I really have! But. The. Weather!!!
And this:
The “neck” of Neck Point, revealed by the outgoing tide. I really shouldn’t walk on all those slide-y stones and I really, really shouldn’t climb the rocks.Umm. Somehow I managed to end up here, anyways. 🤷♀️
Other cool stuff I saw this morning:
I seal you! Lots of these guys basking in the sun and slowly cruising the waters today.So many shades of blue.Thimbleberries in flower.Native trailing blackberry too.Salal is flowering.Blue camas is almost done flowering for this year.Saskatoon berries still need some time. Rocky shores.A mackeral sky speaks of rain on the way. Quelle surprise!Looking south.I was enjoying the fine views and weather. Knees be damned.Nootka rose and bee.Poppies.Typical Vancouver Island east coast shoreline.One of the stunning views from the trail.I might be icing my knees tonight, but I’m all smiles for now. Please don’t tell my physiotherapist.
It was so worth it, to get out to Neck Point Park today and check on all the plant life I encountered on my very first visit. Because of the cold spring, the berries aren’t ready for eating yet like they were two years ago. But I remembered where they all are, and will be back again in the weeks to come.
You might not be able to count on my knees, but you can count on that!
Gentle readers, do you remember our last Snack Box adventure? The one where Donna treated me to a wonderful chicken shawarma lunch? I enjoyed that lunch so much that I decided I had to try to recreate it at Chez Badass. There was just one teeny tiny problem. I couldn’t ask Donna for the recipe she used to create her slow-cooked shawarma because…
Waiting for the ferry to take them to the airport
…I had recently dropped Donna and Richard off at the ferry terminal, where they were about to start their journey to Prince Edward Island for their Canadian Camino adventure! You can (and should!) read all about it at Donna’s blog, here.
So I scoured the interwebs (as one does) for a suitably similar recipe. I didn’t find the exact recipe (it’s here , I found out later) but this one caught my eye and I had all the ingredients already in house so I was off to the races. I prepared the chicken in its spicy yogurt marinade and let it do its thing overnight in the refrigerator. Then the next day I slow-cooked it for 4 hours on low…counting the minutes until I could shred it up and assemble my pita!
Ready to go! I decided on only one condiment to go with the chicken and the veggies: my new favourite – baba ganoush. Hummus or tzatziki would make delightful additions as well.
I had spent the previous week scrubbing down and tidying up my balcony so I was ready to enjoy a meal outside at the first opportunity. And this was it!
So lovely to be able to comfortably sit on my balcony again. It’s been such a cold, damp spring here on the island.Closeup of all that fresh deliciousness!
It’s hard to say which version of the slow cooker chicken shawarma I prefer, dear readers. They each have their merits. The yogurt marinade made the spices more mellow (I decided not to add back in more dry spice blend after cooking as the recipe suggested) and the chicken was very moist. Donna’s recipe had more of a punch, spice-wise…and was dairy-free (for those that would prefer this). Whichever recipe I use again, I think the next time I make slow-cooker shawarma I will make a double batch, and portion some out for the freezer as it is a quick and easy fair-weather meal. And very portable too!
I’m all by my little lonesome this month for WOYPBC as my co-host Donna has gone walkabout (see above!). Please let me know what’s on your plate at your house, in the Comments section. InLinkz hates doesn’t like me or my blog so I am not even going to try to set that up, for this month. Sigh…I am sure it is a case of user error again. Isn’t it always? 😉
