Tag Archives: pets

The Memory of a Dog

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“Dogs are often known for their loyalty, intelligence and maybe even their short attention spans. But a study published in Current Biology found that a dog’s memory may be better and more complex than we previously thought.” Global News

I just read an article on Google that couldn’t be more appropriate.

Bosty is a happy dog who loves to play with friends.

He was due for a grooming appointment at the same place where his mommy has been taking him for four years.

Professional dog grooming comprises the cleaning and hygienic care of a dog, including bathing, hair removal, nail trimming and ear cleaning. Good groomers also check for signs of health problems by looking out for swelling, parasites, heat, cuts and thrush. Regular dog grooming helps a dog stay fresh, keep calm and enjoy a coat that’s free of tangles and fleas.

Bosty is always happy to go out, whether walking or riding in the car to run an errand with his mommy.

Today, when the car stopped in front of his usual pet groomer store, Bosty stared through the window and barked. His mommy opened the door for him to jump out. Instead he shook his head, backed up to the other end of the car and cowered on the floor, whimpering and refusing to move. There was no way to make him move from his corner. His mommy gave up and returned home.

It turned out that at his last grooming, the tech cut near his ear by mistake, a tiny cut that must have hurt him, although his family didn’t notice and the store didn’t report it.

Now Bosty will go to a new dog groomer.

FREE on March 19 and 20 (today and tomorrow)

IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS: A Romantic Comedy: Can Sylvia turn her life and career upside down for Baby Clementine and for James who wants her to stay with him for reasons he has trouble explaining?   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077B78S4D/

Sweet and Sassy in the Snow

on Count Down Deal 3/24 to 3/29

Spirit me away from icy loneliness, shelter me with warm hugs, and cover me with soft kisses!

Find forgotten (or new) passions in this box set of winter and snow-themed romances by award winning novelists. From Navy aviators to bad boy escorts, lawyers and park rangers to exotic dancers, join our troupe as they battle betrayals and kidnappers, strong emotions and challenging weather to survive and find comfort in each other’s arms.

FAKE FIANCEE:

A sweet Romance and Romantic Suspense

Her German shepherd is her only friend until a senator’s son refuses to take advantage of their fake engagement and teams up with her dog to protect her. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAW3TRE/  

It’s National #LoveYourPetDay #Cats @Jacqbiggar @mgtab

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Pets are a staple in nine out of ten households, and while dogs and cats are popular choices many families cherish a variety of other creatures such as chickens, llamas, bunnies, birds, gerbils, and even mice!

Above is a photo of Harley, our nine-year-old calico. She grew up with a German Shepherd for company and consequently thinks she’s our protector. We had to put a sign out front, Beware of Cat, lol.

People get a kick out of seeing Harley going for a walk by leash. She enjoys the time out of the yard and a good back scratch on the rocks!

Summers are spent outside soaking up the sun and watching the hummingbirds flit around our yard.

Lately, she’s taken to sitting in this odd way- funny girl 🙂

In response to this month’s Becky’s Squares challenge theme of ‘Odd.’ See more responses here.

And finally, this is our sweet Annie.

The man who owned her was going to have her put down because she was the rut of the litter and was extremely skittish. Bob couldn’t let that happen, so he brought her home and spent two days laying under our lilac tree in the backyard trying to gain her trust. She was just six months old, skinny, and frightened, but slowly, he won her over and she became his shadow for the next eight years.

We lost her near Christmas in 2019.

My grandchildren’s favorite meal

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My children and the extended family children and grandchildren started eating cannelloni at a very young age, and grew up calling it their favorite meal. I usually prepare it in advance, freeze it, and do the final cooking just before serving. It’s always a winner at family reunion and big holidays.

Cannelloni  Recipe

  • Prepare the mix:
  1. 3 eggs
  2. 1 ¾ cups of 2% milk
  3. Tsp of butter 1 cup of flour

Mix together in a blender or mixer. 

 

 

  • Prepare the pancakes (or crèpes)
  1. Use an electric skillet or any other type but adjust the stove temperature to 400o  
  2. Melt ½ a Tsp of butter in the skillet at 400o 
  3. Measure ¼ cup of the mix and pour over the melted butter 
  4. Spread evenly in the skillet 
  5. Remove when cooked and slid in a plate 
  6. Repeat until the whole mix is made into pancakes
  7. You usually get 10 big pancakes with one dose of mix.
  8. I like to cut all the pancakes in half.
  • Prepare the filling
  1. 1 lb of ground beef 
  2. 1 small onion 
  3. 1 tsp all spice 
  4. Salt and pepper 
  5. 1 cup Ragu tomato sauce

Darken and cook the ground beef, onion and spices, until well cooked. Add the sauce and simmer till the meat is done. Set aside.

  • Rolling the cannelloni
  1. Use a clean plate. Arrange one half pancake on it.
  2. Transfer a Tsp of ground meat over the pancake and roll it over to form a cannelloni.

Repeat with the rest of the pancakes. With this dose of mix you can prepare about 20 small cannellonis or 10 big ones.

 

  • Cooking

    The tomato sauce and sprinkled parmesan cheese still needed to be added when this picture was taken.

  1. Spray the the pan with Pam Brush the bottom with tomato sauce.
  2. Arrange the cannellonis in a 9×13 pan in two rows.
  3. Pour enough tomato sauce to cover each cannelloni
  4. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese or Romano cheese.
  5. Bake at 300o for 20 minutes.

Bon appétit.

Here is Bosty, my grandchildren’s dog waiting for Grandma to have him taste whatever she’s cooking that smells so good.  

I use some of my recipes in my romance novels, whenever I have a grandmother of Italian or Greek background.

 


On sale at Amazon. Cozy mystery. Book 2 of The Senator’s Family Series.

FAKE FIANCEE:   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAW3TRE/ Joshua Dutton’s lifestyle and tabloids pictures threaten his father’s senatorial campaign. His parents insist on finding him a sweet temporary fiancée to repair the damage.
With only her German shepherd for friend, Emma Cassiero struggles with a heap of problems. Attraction sizzles between her and Josh, but no one mentions the secret deal made by her stepmother and the Senior Duttons. When the truth comes out Emma is devastated. Were Josh’s kisses part of the charade? Has Josh lost her or would he be able to team up with her German shepherd to love and protect her?

On sale at Amazon. Cozy mystery. Book 8 of The Senator’s Family Series.

HALF A DOZEN WITH LOVE  https://www.amazon.com/DP/B08HKQSRYC

When a tragic accident deprived Tammy Fletcher of her loving parents at the age of nineteen, she pledged to take care of her five brothers and sisters, ranging in age from eight months to sixteen years. But she’s up against her greedy step-aunt who wants to get her hands on the children’s trust fund, and the CPS caseworker who insists on putting the children in the foster care system.
Dr. Jack Conan, the orthopedic surgeon treating the children’s grandmother, is both impressed by Tammy’s efforts to keep the family together and irresistibly attracted to the gorgeous and so-serious young woman. Determined to help her, Jack goes out of his way to solve her dilemma. Will his unorthodox solution only complicate Tammy’s problems—or bring her into his arms?

 

New Releases

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Years ago, when she was a college student, my daughter and a friend were having lunch at the fast-food place, Wendy, on a rainy spring day. When they left, heading to their car, they noticed the tiny orange kitten following them. They brought it back to the door of the restaurant and returned to the car. Despite the rain, the kitty rushed after them and meowed. Once more they took it back and asked the manager about its owner. They learned that the mamma cat had a litter a few days ago and abandoned it in the morning. The kittens had been adopted by patrons except for this last one.

My good-hearted daughter couldn’t leave the kitty that looked at her with beautiful golden eyes. She took her to her dorm room, only to realize that her new kitten was about to trigger an asthma attack for her. The next day, our daughter drove four hours from Cleveland to Cincinnati, and paid us an unexpected visit, claiming she had a lovely gift for us, a third kid. With her asthma condition, she couldn’t keep Wendy. We adopted the adorable kitten that grew up to be our spoiled baby.  

Wendy would go out in the morning when we left for work, and waited for us in front of the garage door in the evening. She cleaned the neighborhood of mice, chipmunks, and birds. She was so sweet and extremely well-behaved, and would never climb on chairs or tables. Every kid in the area knew Wendy and played with her.

Wendy’s story inspired the beginning of my newly released book, His Son, Her Daughter.    

JUST RELEASED, available in Kindle Unlimited

His Son, Her Daughter: High school sweethearts reunited after twenty years by their young children. Their conflicting baggage prevents them from fully trusting each other. Yet what wouldn’t Daniel do for his son and her daughter? http://bookShow.me/B08HKPNRWH

His Son, Her Daughter:

Remember The Parent Trap is a 1961 Walt Disney Technicolor romantic comedy film directed by David Swift. It stars Hayley Mills (in a dual role), Maureen O’Hara and Brian Keith is a story about teenage twins on a quest to reunite their divorced parents.

And The Parent Trap 1998. In this update of a 1961 film, twins Annie and Hallie (Lindsay Lohan) are strangers until happenstance unites them. The preteen girls’ divorced parents, Nick (Dennis Quaid) and Elizabeth (Natasha Richardson), are living on opposite sides of the Atlantic, each with one child. After meeting at camp, American Hallie and British-raised Annie engineer an identity swap, giving both the chance to spend time with the parent they’ve missed. If the scheme works, it might just make the family whole again.

On PreOrder, coming on October 10th.

Sunshine Over Snow: When his children manage to ruin his second wedding, Brad is caught between a furious fiancée and an offended ex-wife, both determined to keep him and make him pay for his mistakes. https://www.amazon.com/DP/B08HHNSSSK

Sunshine Over Snow:

Coming soon on October 6:

INVINCIBLE DIVERSITY: Eight unique and unusual love stories that tackle the tough issues we face everyday – racial acceptance, differing religious views, sexuality, family and social values, and so much more.But whatever struggle they face, whether it’s alone or with their friends and family, they stay strong and push through showing how invincible they are.