What’s On Your Plate Blog Challenge – Bingeing on Universal Yum Boxes Edition

On November 2, 2022November 15, 2022 By Widow BadassIn Adventures in Food, Because You Asked, What's On Your Plate39 Comments

Whoo boy! It has been a time since Donna and I reviewed a Universal Yum box, hasn’t it? Between my summer of endless moving/renovating and Donna’s summer of endlessly being away from home, I think we saw each other once in 3 months. The Universal Yum boxes continued to keep coming of course, and I managed not to lose any in all the upheaval. When Donna and I finally got together in August (briefly), we cracked open the May (yes, May!!!) box, which happened to be from the UK.

Now, I usually show pictures and writeups of each individual item when I do a box but not this time. Because I would be at my computer all day creating this post, and you would be on your devices all day reading this post and no one wants that to happen! Because gentle reader, there are 3 more boxes to come!!!

After all of hard work, we walked to my new “local”, for a pint (and a curry). In keeping with the theme, ya know 😉.

So, due to all the craziness of the past couple of months (moving, helping my sister move, more moving, hosting a friend for a week, still more moving…) I never did get around to posting the May in August box. Until now that is. Last week Donna and I were able to get together again for the first time since August, and I brought over the June, July and August boxes (and I still have September and October in my closet, with a notice to pick up November at the post office!).

Thailand, India and South America (June, July, and August).

Thailand scorecard. Me: The box only has 2 things in it! Also Me: Thank gawd…

India scorecard. Also several items *missing in action*.

South America scorecard. A complete box, at last.

Donna whipped up a delicious board for us to nosh on, afterwards. To balance all of the sugar. We forgot to take a selfie for the 3 boxes. Blame it on the snack overload. ~~I did.~~

Four boxes down and 3 more to go. I’m actually glad the subscription is coming to an end, even though I’ve enjoyed it, enjoyed sharing it, and enjoyed blogging about it. Seeing all those boxes pile up though…overwhelming!

If you’re dying to know about a particular snack, please let me know in the Comments and I’ll give you the deets. Otherwise, please accept this half-assed offering for this month’s WOYPBC!

Please share with Donna and/or myself what’s on your plate this month! I’ve cheated with this month’s post, and Donna has done the same (yet differently). Please check her out here! And here’s the Link Party, if you are so inclined.

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – I Helps

On October 30, 2022October 29, 2022 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer41 Comments

Oma is building a new bed for her ~~den~~ bedroom.

Oma says to ignore the big X through the “build it alone” cartoon. Where is the dog helper in these instructions, I wonders…

Oma won’t stop working even when *I know* it’s time for a break.

Finally! Oma joins me on the couch after bed frame is completed.

I try to sit on Oma’s head to get more comfy. Oma gets up after this and starts building the drawers for the bed.

Oma has the drawer building mastered by Drawer 2, so I moves on to other projects.

Oma did a good job, with my help of course.

I get to do this again when Oma’s desk comes (in boxes). Yippee!!!

I hope you are having a good weekend and maybe helping too.

Rock on,

The Bowz 🐾

The Sunday Schnauzer – New Bed at Oma’s

On October 23, 2022October 22, 2022 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer28 Comments

Hi everybody! Bowser here. Oma is really tired from all of her moving and renovating stuff and she said I could write another blog post. Yippeee! And she got me a cute little bed for when I am visiting. I jumped into it right away, as soon as I saw it. Oma didn’t even have to explain it was for me…that’s how smart of a dog I ~~can be~~ am!

I had to bring one of Oma’s old trail shoes into my new bed with me. I don’t know why.

Oh yeah! I remember why now. It smells very interesting!

I feel like Oma is watching me with disapproval.

Please don’t take *my precious* away from me (again), Oma!

And of course, she did take it away. She always takes away certain things from me. Luckily I have a den full of other things to ~~chew the shit out of~~ play with.

I hope you have lots of toys to keep you busy this weekend.

Rock on,

The Bowz 🐾

The Sunday Schnauzer – Dodd’s Narrows

On October 16, 2022September 29, 2022 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer, See the Beauty41 Comments

A few days before I was set to leave for the mainland to help my sister move, Bowser and I hit the trails. It was going to be such a gorgeous fall day, I was tempted to try him out on the longest walk yet in his young life: the Cable Bay Trail and Dodd’s Narrows. It ended up being about a 6K walk (and of course it was more like 8 – 10K for Bowz because I let him off-leash when there was no one around). He loved it!

Remember this photo, from the first time I visited this trail?

This time: *Battle of the Mustaches*. Who wore it better? 😜

Now with less trees…😄. Tide is rushing in.

Looking for sea life. We did see one sea lion, on the way back from the Narrows. Bowser was intensely interested, but thankfully did not run into the water after it, like he does for sea birds. 🤦‍♀️

Bowser demonstrating his nose grooming ability/agility.

A well-deserved nap on the couch afterwards (for both of us LOL!).

We hope you are enjoying a fabulous fall (if in the Northern Hemisphere – otherwise, Happy Spring!).

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Sharp-Dressed Dog; Teething Continues

On October 9, 2022September 24, 2022 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer35 Comments

Hi everybody! Bowser here. Oma is super busy ~~tired and cranky~~ so she said I could write this post. Lucky me!

First I want to show you my new haircut. Yup, I got my first “grooming” right before I went to the Vet for something? I don’t know what it was because I was so sleepy but I went home with a funny thing tied to my head. Anyways, that is gone now and I hope I never have to wear it again.

I look all grown up now. The groomer lady said I had the perfect coat for *stripping*. Whatever that means. I already know I am perfect. Huh!

I like to gather my favourite toys around me when I am playing outside.

I hope you find some favourite things to do this weekend. Happy Thanksgiving Long Weekend to my Canadian pack!

Rock on,

The Bowz 🐾

What’s On Your Plate Blog Challenge – Sushi with the Sisters Edition

On October 5, 2022October 4, 2022 By Widow BadassIn Adventures in Food, What's On Your Plate38 Comments

For those of you not up to date on/following my Sunday Schnauzer posts: right now I am in Grand Forks, British Columbia (a 2 hr ferry and 7 hr drive from where I live) helping my sister move to a new abode. My other sister flew in from Ontario to help as well, and this is the first time we three have been together since our mom died in December 2015!

Moving is chaotic and tiring but you still gotta eat, and lucky for us Grand Forks has a wonderful Japanese restaurant: Sushi Ocean Dream. Definitely stop there if you are in the area.

We were pretty tired after a productive first day of all 3 of us schlepping stuff from the old place to the new, but not too tired to have some fun with the menu.

From top left, going clockwise: Rock n’ Roll, Crazy Girl, Party Roll, and Gangster Roll. 😜

Us crazy girls went full-on gangster and had us a rock n’ roll sushi party! And then we went to our respective beds and rested up for the rest of the moving yet to come.

And now it’s Day 5 and we are coming to the end – the old place is empty and we are concentrating on making the new place “home” for my sister. Tomorrow is going to be a shopping day for some necessities so we need to leave town in search of some big box stores.

Please let Donna and myself know what’s on your plate this month! I may be late at getting to the Comments but I am definitely looking forward to reading and responding to them!

I’m just too ~~brain dead~~ tired to fiddle with the InLinkz thing this month (sorry, Donna) but Donna will have it on her blog if you want to join the WOYPBC party that way.

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Cone of Shame

On October 2, 2022September 24, 2022 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer37 Comments

When this post goes live I will be on the mainland (and Bowser-less), helping my sister move house. My other sister will already be there, also to help with the move. This is going to be the first time the 3 siblings have been together under one roof since 2015! ~~Hopefully we survive the experience.~~

That makes the summer/fall of 2022 officially the “moving season”. I have been moving carloads of stuff and helping renovate my daughter’s side since July 1, and renovating my own place since August (still in progress). And now, gladly helping my sister as well. And when I return to the island, I will hopefully have my flooring finished so that I can finally officially move my furniture out of storage and into my new place. Just in time to pick up my first houseguest from the airport for a week of adventuring! (My kitchen won’t be finished but we will just muddle through.) Whew…I am getting tired just typing all of this. 😂

Anywho, more in upcoming posts (including before and after photos) once the dust settles (Novemberish, perhaps).

Bowser is completely healed from his recent surgery and fun and feisty as ever. I can’t stop myself from sharing some shots of the Dog Wonder (aka canine flashlight) in his headgear. Enjoy!

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Wrasslin’

On September 25, 2022September 22, 2022 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer26 Comments

These pictures were taken pre-surgery (neutering). Bowser is currently not allowed to play with other dogs, lest he undo all the vet’s good work “down there”. He is healing like a champion though, and will be back to wrasslin’ with Good Neighbour Dog Hector very shortly.

GND (good neighbour dog) Hector has come over for some play time.

Hector gets ready to take the offensive.

And just like that, it’s over. For now….bwahahahahaha!

We hope you find a lovely playmate to wrassle with.

Rock on,

The WB

The Sunday Schnauzer – Teething

On September 18, 2022September 16, 2022 By Widow BadassIn Adventures with dogs, Bowser the Schnauzer40 Comments

Bowser is teething furiously these days. There is nothing safe from his jaws!

When not compulsively chewing, he has started pawing at his snout as well. Another sign of teething and tooth discomfort.

No amount of frozen washcloths and other teething aids can stop him beavering away at cardboard and pieces of actual wood.

As of the time this post goes live, he will be recovering from tooth extraction as well as “the” procedure, if you know what I mean 😉. While at the vet for the neutering, they noticed that the adult versions were coming in fast and furious yet some of the baby teeth were still solid as rocks (I had noticed that too, last week. Thankfully most of them are nice and wiggly). Tooth impaction is apparently a common thing with mini Schnauzers so his momma agreed to the extraction since he would already be put under and she wants to end the teething suffering as soon as possible. Believe me, we ALL do!

Oh, the indignity of this assault on his doghood from both ends! Hopefully we will be forgiven…

Rock on,

The WB