C'mon Over!

Stella says Hello!

Do you remember when my Mom wrote about statues and she said she wished to have the Ronald McDonald statue in our front yard greeting peoples.  We couldn't quite get that but we do have him on our header!  We have adopted him and changed his name to Ronald McKnight!  He keeps his hand on my head! 

Jo says:

We want to thank Kathy from Kathy Goes A-Rambling for letting us move him over here.  Kathy takes wonderful pictures of her home area (East Texas and Louisiana) so be sure and visit her blog.
Ann Adamus of Zoolatry got the picture all tidied up and placed the pets with Ron, she does the best job of anyone I know.  If you want to buy a new look for your blog, Ann is the one to do it!

Since its the weekend (hear that Thundering Herd?), I am going to offer you a terrific recipe called Cinnamon-Sugar Popcorn, the adults might like it even better than the kids.  I don't know how old or new it is, but its brand new to me.

Cinnamon-Sugar popcorn

1 cup of unpopped corn
1/3 cup of butter
2/3 cup of white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:  Preheat oven to 250 degrees (120 degrees C). Pop the corn using an air popper according to mfg directions. (I used 2 bags
Jolly Time Crispy n'White natural flavor microwave popcorn). Place in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Stir in the sugar, cinnamon, salt and vanilla cooking until thick and bubbly.  Pour over the popcorn, and stir until the popcorn is evenly coated.  Spread the popcorn out into large roasting pan.

3.  Bake in the preheated oven 10 minutes, then turn heat off and allow the popcorn to stay in the oven 20 minutes longer.  Remove from oven, and cool completely before serving. 
One person mixed mini marshmellows into it and another drizzled white chocolate over it.

We are having very cold weather for spring (55 degrees, 40s at night), so if you are too, just find a good book or movie and have a nice weekend.

We will be back next week with a very small contest.  We would like to get all of our readers list up to date and it will have to do with that.

All best wishes for a good weekend.

Jo, Stella, Zkhat and Ronald McKnight

Loving Dogs

The pup on the left is my late dog, Otis the Scottie.  A most rare and wonderful character who was a whole lot like the guy on the right, the late Tsar of the Porties .  After Otis died at age 17, I missed him so much and when I "met" Tsar, I thought they might have been brothers, they were so much alike.  They were both their own dogs.

They did as they pleased, had good manners about things but none the less, did as they wished. 

They were both solitary gamesmen, Tsar with his stick and Otis with a favorite ball.  Our pack never got bigger than 3 dogs, and Tsar was one of ten, but that didn't matter to either of them.  They both liked a routine and expected things to happen at a certain time of day.  They both liked to "keep watch", making certain every one in their pack was OK.  Otis never had much faith in my ability to take care of myself, which is why I think he lived so long. 

Both Tsar's family and mine were blessed indeed to have these dogs in our lives.  They were both one of a kind and very much loved by their friends and families.  Getting along without them is the hard part.

Love and good wishes to all the loveable oddballs out there who are not much like the rest.  I'm talking about you, Phantom, for just one.

Jo, Stella and Zkhat

Someone Special

Today we want to honor someone special . . .

When there is an animal in need ~ it comes to Marg's door.

When there is an animal lost ~ it seeks out Marg.

When there is an animal wanting loving care ~ it will find that with Marg.

 

A special lady who never turns away any animal ~ the cats, the dogs, the goats, the donkeys,

all are welcomed by her.  None are special ~ all are special.

 

Marg is always doing for others, organizing and running auctions to

raise funds in support of others in need, never asking for anything in return.

~ ~ ~

 

AND MAY YOU HAVE MANY MORE  HAPPY BIRTHDAYS IN WHICH TO DO YOUR KIND WORK FOR THE ANIMALS!

FROM FRIENDS YOU HAVE YET TO MEET,

JO, STELLA AND ZKHAT, RESCUES ALL!!!!

 

Public Art with a Smile!

Jo here . . .I have lived in some big cities with some great public art, and now I live in my home town where we have public art with a smile.  Its mostly a little town's claim to fame, and they have special days around whatever it is.  Let me show you a few:

This

is the Vergas, MN loon (state bird).

Up above is Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.

You will find them in Bemidji, MN and also Brainerd,

Here is the World's Largest Pelican from Pelican Rapids.MN

     Here is another famous guy, Smokey the Bear & cubs from International Falls, MN.  He and Paul Bunyan have gone on to greater glory.

Here is the Black Duck from Blackduck, Minnesota.  Don't think I have ever seen a black duck in person.

If I were to have a piece of art at my home, say, sitting in an Adirondack Chair , greeting my visitors this is the one I would choose.  He was photographed by Kathy Goes-A-Ramblin', who takes great pictures and kindly allowed me to use this one! 
His name is Ronald and he always has his hair just so and a big smile for you.  So someday if you are driving around in Minnesota, and see him sitting outside a white house, stop by and say hello before you go visit all the other statchews!

Cheers,
Jo, Stella and Zkhat