Springtime & Mr. Squirrel

Hey all!  Big Dog here.  Spring has finally arrived, with lots of great new outdoor smells and MUD! Not only do I live for smells, I am even more alive for MUD! I can roll around and play in it ALL DAY LONG! It's also  time for Marcus & Miss Mary to spruce up the house and grounds. All winter we have been watching Mr Squirrel sitting on the Big bird feeder out back, happily munching away. And what did we see lying on the ground the other day?



The suet feeder laying on the ground!

Marcus ran out into the back yard. Look, Mr. Squirrel jumped on the feeder and broke the wire. Yikes!


Not a problem. Let's break out the tools and get to work!  So with me supervising of course, I tell Marcus to get a ladder and a saw.  We have to cut off a few branches so Mr Squirrel cannot jump on the feeder again. Well, actually I say "we", but I let Marcus do the work and keep a close eye on him!

 Time to put up some new wire to hang up the suet feeder again. The woodpecker birds really love suet, and they are going to be very happy to have their favorite treat again.

OK, the suet feeder is up, and we are re-hanging the Big bird feeder with a longer wire to keep it away from the tree and MR. SQUIRREL!

The Big bird feeder was hanging here before. See the branch right over it? Mr Squirrel would jump right onto the bird feeder from the branch, and sit right on it eating all the birdseed. He thinks it is a squirrel feeder!

Hey Marcus,  look inside to see if the Big bird feeder needs some more birdseed.

Yes it does!  It is easier to take it down and pour the seed in while it is on the ground.

 Now that's better!  The Big bird feeder is now full of birdseed and ready for all our bird friends.

We have to put a longer wire on the Little bird feeder so Mr. Squirrel will not jump on it too!

 Yup, just the right length.  Good work, Marcus!

 

Got to fill up the Little bird feeder too!

 All filled up ready to go.  Come on, bird friends!

Now Marcus is filling up the bird feeder that has its own special hanger in the side yard. Our bird friends are going to be so excited that Mr Squirrel will not be eating up all their birdseed anymore.  But don't worry,  Miss Mary has been feeding him peanuts in the shell which he takes and buries in the ground immediately. Must be a treat worth saving!  Thanks for reading everyone. Marcus says I have to write this blog every Thursday. So check back here or look at his FB page.  Peace & Love & Hugs, BIG DOG!!!

BIG DOG CUPCAKES

 Every so often I reach a point where I simply must have a cupcake. This happens a lot!  So the other day I summoned Miss Mary to the kitchen and declared, "Time to stock up!"  She definitely has her own baking style, but in regards to creating BIG DOG CUPCAKES she is willing to take my suggestions.

 We have gathered the required ingredients, bowls, utensils, and cupcake trays. All systems are  GO!
Step one: Into the bowl goes the dry mix. Lots more cool things will soon be added.

OK, Miss Mary.... we need some eggs.

 Yup,  crack 'em open and let 'em drop.  Nice technique!

 Now comes the cooking oil, please measure carefully in the measuring cup. Looks good!

 Next step;  add water.  (The chemical formula is H2O.)  I love the way Miss Mary pours stuff!

 This is the magical cupcake potion that must be mixed in a contemplative state of mind, to reach its utmost potential.  Notice the eggs submerged just below the surface, ready to become one with the other ingredients. 

 The electric mixer sure comes in handy. I am waiting for the correct shade of chocolate and that's IT!

 Place the psychedelic cupcake liners in the tray.

 Now we are making progress. Into the liner goes the batter....hmmmmm, smells good!

 Presto!  Tray filled!

 Miss Mary, perhaps you'd like to send that spoonful of batter my way for a quality control check!

 Did you know BIG DOG CUPCAKES have a special cream cheese batter on top?

 I am growing more excited with each passing second!

 Now lets put a drop of chocolate on top for some visual flair.

 And for the crowning touch, chocolate chips of course! Now into the oven they go.

 Baked to perfection! Take my word these taste as good as they look!

And finally my reward; a BIG DOG CUPCAKE, after a long hour of supervising in the kitchen. Yummmm!!!
Check back soon for more adventures!  Peace & Love & Hugs,  BIG DOG!!!

Chef Big Dog and his Double Baked Potatoes

Greetings everyone!  The other day Miss Mary & Marcus were dreaming up a menu for a cold March day,which included baked potatoes. I exclaimed, "Come on let's zest it up!" So I cracked open my favorite cookbook and what did I find? Double Baked Potatoes!  Not too much work, and well worth the effort.

Just take your baked potatoes, cut them in half and scoop out like so.

Put the scoopings in a bowl and mash 'em!

Looks half mashed to me!

Big Dog to the rescue! Got to apply some serious muscle to properly mash potatoes.

Next, fry up some sausages to a deep golden brown.

Yup, these puppies pass inspection, and smell divine.....Yummmmmm!!!!

Now prepare the mushrooms and blue cheese to add to the ground-up sausage. Just mention blue cheese and those taste buds come alive!

 

Miss Mary places this stuffing mix (potato scoopings, sausage, and blue cheese) into the hollowed out potatoes. Requires the skill of a real culinary artist, way too delicate for big pawed Big Dog.

 

Here are the stuffed taters ready to go in the oven, hence the name "Double Baked Potatoes." What you don't chow down right away you can freeze and heat up for a future dinner party. And I might add they were indeed scrumpcious!  Check back soon for more adventures.         Love & Hugs, BIG DOG.