The Sunday Schnauzer – Glow-up

On May 28, 2023May 26, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer41 Comments

Someone is a shaggy mess.

I’m shaggy and I like to lay in dirt. So what?!

Someone is heading to the doggy spa.

The magicians at the dog spa have their work cut out for them.

A few hours later…

Back home again…

We hope you make time for some self-care this weekend.

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Where’s His Head?

On May 21, 2023May 20, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer38 Comments

It’s been unseasonably hot here on the island this past week. Bowser and I retreat to the coolest, darkest room in the house during the heat of midday, when there is little shade to be found outside.

Where did his head go???? (*Bettie Page the Kitchen Aid* is on the floor because I had to clear off the counters so my kitchen backsplash could be ~~FINALLY~~ installed. Still no baseboards. Another project for another day…)

Yep. There’s his head. Bowser likes to hang it off of the bed when he sleeps. Weirdo.

I always rest easier when his head is firmly placed on the day bed. Mommy is taking him to the groomer next week for a long awaited *doggy spa day*. Hoorah!

We hope you are beating the heat (if it’s hot where you are) and staying warm (if it’s not). Enjoy the long weekend if you’re lucky enough to be having one. We are.

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – I Still Like Big Sticks

On May 14, 2023May 5, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer34 Comments

Bowser here. Oma said I could write another dog blog since she’s been busy with a friend from The East (where Oma lived when she was a pup and where she had her pups).

We had just come back from walkies and Oma took this picture because she said I looked especially cute.

Oma and Mommy were talking outside, so I went to find myself something to do.

I found this great stick. So I dragged it to where Oma and Mommy were sitting so I could ~~listen in case they were talking about m~~e protect them from ne’er do wells.

Even though I am a big dog now – with big dog teeth – I still love to chew, especially on wood or cardboard.

Pure bliss.

I hope you find your bliss this weekend.

Rock on,

The Bowz 🐾

The Sunday Schnauzer – Sleepover, Again?

On May 7, 2023May 5, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer33 Comments

Bowser invited himself over one night, after his Mommy and Daddy were back from their trip.

Suddenly he was at my patio door, in the dark and in the rain. Of course I let him in.

Make yourself at home, why don’t you? I see you brought a friend in as well.

I texted my daughter to let her know that her dog showed up at my place. Then about an hour later, I texted her again to say he was still here. She asked me if he was going to stay the night. So I asked him. And the answer was yes, apparently.

The next morning…

Sometimes your house guest just doesn’t want to leave. Luckily Bowser seldom wears out his welcome.

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy any unexpected guests that drop in.

Rock on,

The WB

What’s On Your Plate Blog Challenge – When You Don’t Have Time Edition

On May 3, 2023April 29, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures in Food, What's On Your Plate52 Comments

I probably should have titled this “What’s In My Glass” as there is nothing to put on a plate in this post, but here we go…

I have been pretty busy lately with my backyard. Buying and assembling together patio furniture; buying patio stones and sand; buying plants, mulch, soil and wood chips…and now I am at the stage of implementing my grand vision for the space. And this involves a lot of dirty, sweaty labour. That means I don’t feel like spending much time in the kitchen. But a gal’s gotta keep her strength up, ya know?!?!

Bowser supervises my work in this garden bed.

It’s protein smoothies to the rescue! I am no stranger to protein powders – been using them for years – however I have never found them to be all that good at keeping my hunger at bay. But recently I tried a pre-mixed protein drink and it’s ability to keep me satisfied for hours and “going” in the garden has been nothing short of amazing to me. Thank you, Premier Protein!

The basic start to this protein smoothie.

Today’s add-ins: frozen baby spinach, collagen powder (for my aching joints 😉), Vitamin D oil (for my sun-starved hide), peanut butter (for my soul and taste buds 😁).

I like to pack in as much spinach as I dare.

Sometimes I add some ice to make it thicker and colder. Using ice from the cute silicone cube tray I scored as a freebie at Ye Olde Libations (Liquor) Store.

Blending it all together. Please excuse the state of my manicure. Yard work…what can I say? 🤷‍♀️

Finished peanut butter shake – Delicious! (With a many-year’s-old bubble tea straw I kept and keep re-using.) I don’t taste the spinach. Just a salty sweet peanut buttery glass of refreshment!

This ~~meal drink snack~~ drink is a lifesaver for when you can’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen for whatever reason. Back to the garden-in-progress!

That’s it for me for this month. Please check out Donna’s post where she presents a feast for the eyes, from her recent trip to visit her son in Hong Kong. Looking very much forward to your comments!

Here is the link to the the InLinkz party:

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schauzer – Snugglebug, Part 2

On April 30, 2023April 8, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer23 Comments

The first couple of nights that Bowser’s parents were on vacation, he would not sleep in my bed. I think because he was waiting for them to come over from their place and take him home. He slept on either the couch or the daybed, or in his doggy bed. The 3rd night (and every night thereafter) he decided finally, that it was OK to sleep on my bed.

Yes, he had to bring a squeaky ball to bed with him.

Then, in the morning the snugglefest began.

Eventually, I had to drag myself away from all the cuteness and start the day.

Well, at least one of us started our day! 🤣

We hope you are enjoying a lazy weekend.

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Snugglebug, Part 1

On April 23, 2023April 8, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer29 Comments

I found out when caring for Bowser full-time just how much of a snugglebug he is in the mornings. I’d be at the computer and he would beg to be picked up and held. Of course – your wish is my command! 🤣

Note to self: run a damn comb through your hair first next time, OK?

Wait, says Bowser. Let me answer one more email!

I decided to mimic his yawn AND take this picture. Not sure why.

Heavy is the head that wears the doggy crown.

So many cute closeups of my pal! Makes my blogger’s heart very happy.

Have a happy weekend!

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – April Showers

On April 16, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer35 Comments

The Easter weekend was mostly a rainy one. But we didn’t let that stop us!

Bowser is off and running, leash in mouth.

Bowser says: Try and keep up, Oma!

The trails were…ahem…a delight. 😉

Bowser was not the only one getting soaked.

Home again, and ready to dry off and put the kettle on!

We hope you are staying dry and cozy, no matter the weather!

Rock on,

The WB

p.s. I just upgraded to the newest version of WordPress and now my images don’t seem to allow captioning anymore. 😩

Because You Asked – What We Put In Our Canadian Snack Box

On April 11, 2023April 9, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures in Food, Good Times70 Comments

How’s it goin’, eh? 😁

After spending last year enjoying my Universal Yums snack box gift subscription (and blogging about it), Donna and I were inspired to dream up a Canadian version.

We started with this list and then added some items of our own. I present to you, dear reader, our Canadian snack box:

From top left: All-Dressed chips, Hickory Sticks, Ketchup chips, Kinder Surprise Egg, Crispy Crunch bar, Kraft peanut butter, Butter tarts. Missing: Macintosh’s toffee (chilling in the fridge).

Donna created a score card for us too (isn’t she talented?!)

But first, we sat down to a lovely Canadian lunch, lovingly prepared by Donna:

Now for the contents of our Canadian “Yum Box”:

Firstly, I retrieved the chilled toffee bar from the fridge and gave it the *de rigueur* “whack” across the counter’s edge to break it into pieces. *Way to be bilingual, eh?* 😉

Now this is how I serve a MacIntosh’s toffee bar!

Next up was the beloved (by Canadians, anyways) Crispy Crunch. I think the American equivalent is called a Butterfinger bar.

Mmmmm…I had forgotten how good these were.

I was surprised to learn about the Kinder Surprise Egg being banned in the US because the toy within is thought to present a danger to children. ~~Insert snarky comment about assault rifles and school shootings here.~~

The danger involved makes it all the more appealing 😉.

Inside the egg. Note the few escaped hickory sticks on the board as I forgot to take a picture of them outside of the bag.

Inside the capsule were these adorable spinning tops, that actually did spin very well!

Next up: the infamous Ketchup flavoured chips! I remember this flavour being introduced when I was a schoolgirl. Oh, the excitement of a new flavour of chips!!!!

Now as an adult, I feel kinda “meh” about ketchup chips. Pretty much the last flavour I would pick.

The former It chip, known as ketchup-flavoured.

Mover over Ketchup, there’s a new sheriff in town: All-Dressed chips! Side note: I had thought these were also known as “storm chips” but apparently storm chips are something unique to the east coast*.

I always thought these chips came about as a happy accident when someone at the factory decided to use up all the leftover bits of various seasonings on a batch. But I can’t find anything to support that notion, so I must have just dreamed it up.

They are pretty tasty, but no exploding tastebuds were sacrificed by either Donna or myself. I think I speak for both of us when I say we prefer a perfectly salted, kettle-cooked plain chip.

Working steadily down the list, we come upon the Hickory Stick. I have not tasted a hickory stick since I was a child, and I remember not liking the hickory smoke flavour very much back then.

These are really good! Why have I been depriving myself of their tastiness all these years?!?!

Would it be a Canadian Yum Box without the Butter Tart? We think not!

These grocery store “buttery” tarts can’t hold a candle to a real bakery or homemade butter tart BUT they taste very much like the butter tarts of my childhood (my mom was not into baking) so the nostalgia factor wins these for me.

There is a great Canadian debate on which is best: a runny butter tart or a solid-centred one? Solid ones are definitely easier to eat but there is something about a runny one…I dunno. My all-time favourite butter tart comes from a bakery in my former home town – Dee’s peanut butter butter tart is the perfect combination of salty and sweet (and runny to boot) – butter tart perfection! Argh, I just found out Dee’s is no more 😫…RIP, Queen of Tarts Dee Miller.

Speaking of peanut butter (of which I love all things made of and associated with this product), Donna informed me that Kraft Peanut Butter is uniquely Canadian, so of course it was added to our list!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_QnNAncVw8

Dark roasted is my favourite, but Donna’s choice is tasty too. My question is: what did they replace the fat with? I suspect carbs.

Our finished scorecard.

Just 2 Canadian *hosers*, standing outside in their toques and flannels…😂 (Donna is wearing a toque in the colours of the Newfoundland flag…before they joined Canada).

We hope you enjoyed this Canadian snack box post as much as we did creating it.

Now take off, eh! Good day!

Rock on,

The WB

* actual photo of storm chip run on the east coast 😉

What’s On Your Plate Blog Challenge – Easy Breakfast Edition

On April 5, 2023April 3, 2023 By Widow BadassIn Adventures in Food, What's On Your Plate53 Comments

My lovely co-host – Donna – has ~~abandoned me~~ taken a short blogging break so it’s just me this month running this show. It’s spring on Vancouver Island and I am out of doors as much as possible, gardening and walking/playing with my granddog, Bowser. This means I need a quick and hearty breakfast to power me through till lunch. Steel-cut oats to the rescue!

I came across an online recipe years ago for cooking steel-cut oats in the pressure cooker. I know the recipe by heart now, so forgive me please: I’ve forgotten the source.

I apologize in advance for how boring this post will be, photographically-speaking (if not in its entirety).

Here goes (serves 5):

1.25 cups steel-cut oats

3.75 cups water

Pinch of salt

Place in electric pressure cooker. Stir to mix. Close lid. Cook on high for 13 minutes. Let the pressure come down naturally. Open lid. Stir and serve.

That’s it.

JUST KIDDING. Of course I add all kinds of stuff to this recipe!

Oats plus embellishments before adding the water.

This time I added raisins, cinnamon and nutmeg. In past versions I have added embellishments such as dates, apricots, apples, nuts, tumeric (thank you Jonathan for that tip!)…you are only limited by your imagination! Ooooh – what about shredded carrots for a carrot cake oatmeal?!?!

I scoop out one serving for the day’s breakfast into my bowl, and put the rest into a container and then into the fridge for future breakfasts.

Breakfast is served! With even more embellishments: fresh berries and peanut butter. You can add whatever you like to your bowl – in the past I’ve added other items such as Greek yogurt, milk, maple syrup, honey, fresh fruits in season, protein powder, ~~that almond butter that you are so over~~ etc., etc.

And the next day, when you are in a hurry to get outside?

Now, doesn’t that look better than ripping open a packet of instant oatmeal? I think so. And it tastes better too. Dare I say it’s better for you?

Well, dear readers – I look forward to your comments and seeing what’s on your plate this month. Before she went on break (literally seconds before), Donna did the InLinkz thingy for me as I ~~am so over it~~ refuse to fight with it any longer. Fingers crossed (as usual), that it works for you.

Rock on,

The WB