Tasty Tuesday-Cheese Ball!!!

Every once and a while I like to make a dinner of appetizers for my husband and myself.  I'm partial to retro tinged classics like shrimp cocktail, sweet and sour meat balls, and of course cheese balls.  Then I can pretend our home is the setting for a glamorous vintage cocktail party.

 A few weeks ago I made a cheese ball so deliciously indulgent that after a few crackers worth I tossed it to prevent any further consumption, but it was totally worth it.

Delicious Cheese Ball

In fact it was so tasty that it got me thinking about a cheese ball for dogs.  I mean why should people have the fun.  If I ever do have a real cocktail party with guests and everything, unlikely, wouldn't it be fun to have appetizers for the dogs as well?  I think so.   Luckily my dogs tolerate dairy well and they all love cheese so my primary tax was defatting and simplifying the recipe.  I can't say the end result is healthy but its not terrible and the dogs sure loved them.

Canine Cheese Balls

Everyone loved the cheese balls even my big old guy Norbert who looks rather stoic in this picture.

 Now for the recipes, of course you can change up a cheese ball any which WAY you like by using different cheeses and seasonings.

Cheese Balls for Dogs

• 8 oz fat free cream cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded fat free cheddar 
• 5 baby carrots, diced

Stir the above ingredients in a bowl and form into balls with your hands.  Voila! cheese ball.

Amy Sedaris's Lil' Smokey Cheese Ball

Definitely half this, I should have.

2 cups shredded smoked Gouda cheese
16 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
2 1/2 tablespoons milk
2 1/2 teaspoons steak sauce
1 cup chopped nuts

Directions:

Bring all ingredients to room temperature.
Beat the Gouda, cream cheese, butter, milk and steak sauce together in a bowl until combined.
Chill overnight.
Roll the mixture into a ball.
Roll the ball in the chopped nuts.
Serve at room temperature with ritz or club crackers

In the end I'd really much rather spend an evening at home with my dogs then at any silly cocktail party!

Historical Hounds- Rags The WWI Hero

 

Image Source

Sunday marks an important event in canine military history.   On July 14, 1918 a small scruffy terrier mix named for his resemblance to a pile of abandoned rags was adopted as the mascot of the US 1st Infantry Division serving in Montmarte Paris during WWI.  Rags was found by an American soldier, Private James Donovan, who was serving on the front lines.   

Rags quickly charmed the soldiers with his cleverness and bravery.  Donovan taught him to salute the flag and perform other amusing tricks, a welcome diversion from the blood shed on the front lines.    Rags keen hearing meant that he could hear attacks coming before the soldiers and he would lay flat on his belly which warned the soldiers of the incoming artillery.  Most important, Donovan trained Rags to carry messages on his collar and the little dog delivered notes back and forth between the soldiers.  In July of 1918 Donovan's infantry was surrounded by Germans and Rags saved the day by sneaking out and delivering a message that resulted in Allied reinforcements coming to rescue the men.  Rags heroic rescue led to him being officially made the mascot of the division.

Sadly in October of 1918 Rags and Donovan where both injured in a German attack and suffered from gas poisoning.  They were treated in the same hospital in France and Rags made a remarkable full recovery, however Donovan was still very ill.  Eventually both Rags and Donovan where sent back to the US to Chicago where Donovan entered a hospital that specialized in treating victims of gas attack and Rags moved into the Fort Sheridan military base.  Sadly like many WWI soldiers Donovan could not recover from his injuries and died in 1919.  Rags continued to live at the base and was looked after by the many soldiers who knew of his bravery and special relationship with Donovan. 

In 1920 Rags was adopted by Major Raymond W. Hardenbergh, his wife, and two daughters who where charmed by the little dog.  Rags lived a remarkable additional 14 years before passing away in 1936 at the age of 20.   Rags was buried with military honors in Silver Srings, Maryland near Hardenbergh's home and a memorial was erected in his honor. 

Proof positive that a small dog can do great big things!

Victorian Bell Collars from Linden Line Designs

This product review is WAY overdue, and its a great product so I don't know what took me so long.  For Ping's 10th birthday in May we got her a lovely red Victorian Bell Collar from Linden Line Designs,  Tubby already has the sage green version.

The collars are modeled after the traditional bell collars worn by pugs during the Victorian Era.

 

The collars are frequently seen on antique pug figurines.

 

 Linden Line designs updated the collars for the 21st century and named the in honor of their adorable spokes pug, Skippy Wu, now sadly passed on.

The pugs are a fantastic piece of puggie history for any pug or pug lover.  Ping loves hers and she looks lovely in it.

A Pug on Poirot

Recently mom made a new discovery via the Roku box and net flix streaming, the show Poirot.   Its based on the Agatha Christie stories about the little Belgium detective and its dramatized by Clive Exton, the man who made the Jeeves and Wooster series mom is so nuts about.  Now Poirot came out in 1989 but mom is always a little behind the times and now she is totally addicted.  She particularly loves the costumes and the whole time she is watching the show she is talking about the gorgeous outfits and sighing over the dresses.   Then one day mom noticed this:

 Now of course mom started squealing and ran to get her phone to take a picture of the TV screen.  She thought the pug looked just like Tubby.   During all the fuss, we noticed something this fictional pug is significantly more spoiled then us!   I mean there his is sitting on his owners lap inside the restaurant of a fancy hotel, we get left at home when mom and dad go to restaurants, and even though you can't see it in the picture he is eating an eclair!  An eclair!  We have never had one of those.  We are keeping our paws crossed that mom decides to emulate this lady pug owner or to at least reenact this scene, since evidently we are suffering abominable neglect.

Ping's 10th Birthday

We were so excited when after a rainy Saturday and an a gloomy looking Sunday morning the sun came out for Ping's birthday party day.

 Ping got this adorable dress from Pugpossesed.  I think its her best outfit yet.


She also got a Linden Line designs Victorian bell collar 

 and this cooling mat, thanks to Dip Dip and the Bridge who wrote about theirs.

 We went on a bike ride in the park

watched TV

 and had a tea party with treats for dogs and people

 In other news I started a second blog, The Old Fashioned Way, its going to be about retro things, mainly vintage style clothing and old movies.   Its very much a work in progress and I don't really expect anyone to read it or to put to much content on it, but if you are interested in that kind of stuff you might want to check it out.  This will continue be my primary blog but I think it will be fun to write a little more about vintage.

Product Review: Bow Tie Collar from Rover Boutique on Etsy

I'm super behind in my product review.  The collar I am reviewing today was one of Weasley's presents for his first birthday, March 11!   A London Bow Tie Collar from Rover Boutique on Etsy.  

Rover dog is a Toronoto based company that specializes in shirts, jackets, dresses and collars from high quality materials.   Their products have a preppy, vintage aesthetic that I really appreciate. In fact if I one the lottery  one of my first acts would be to buy up the contents of their shop as everything is adorable.

 The company was started when the designer found a lack of classic, attractive pet gear while shopping for her own dog.   From their Etsy store bio: " The pet fashion market was saturated with frilly, glittery, and impractical garments that had little design value. Most pet clothing found in even high-end boutiques was poorly made with little attention paid to the quality of materials, durability and design. On the other end of the spectrum was the utilitarian clothing sold at outdoor and hunting stores that was certainly rugged, but far from fashionable. AnneMarie soon recognized the need for a happy medium: durable and well-designed clothing for dogs of all sizes and breeds."

I completely agree with AnneMarie I've never been much for the overly frilly dog dresses and glitter t-shirts, it doesn't match how I'd dress myself so I don't want to dress my dogs that way either.  On the other hand I love clothing and want my dogs to have stylish accessories.   For myself I gravitate towards vintage clothes or vintage reproductions and I love that Rover Dog has a very vintagey feel to its designs.  

I also appreciate that unlike many dog clothing boutiques,they really cater to male dogs, note the plethora of bow ties, and to dogs of all sizes (collars are available from in length from 7" to 27" and widths fo 3/4" or 1 ".  The shop will also custom make any other length or width you need.  Sadly the London print I got for Weasley is no longer in the shop but they have tons of other gorgeous fabrics.   Below are some more shots of Weasley in his collar.

If you are a children's book nut like me you might recognize the print on the fabric from Miroslav Sasek's classic  This is London. It is one of my favorite picture books and I was so excited to recognize the  art work in the fabric on the collar.

 Some of the pictures in the book.

Rover dog has excellent communication skills and good shipping times.  Their price for a bow tie collar is  $40.00  I'd definitely give this product a four paw review and recommend it to any stylish, classic loving pooch (or pet parent).

I should also add that this is my second purchase from The Rover Boutique. 
 Weasley also has an adorable tweed jacket that we love:

(Don't forget to enter Pings' 10th birthday give away here, to win a Himalayan Dog Chew)

The Urban Hounds Celebrate Fred Astaire's 114th Birthday

 Today we are participating in Sugar's see beautiful blog hop.   For mom old movies, particularly from the 1930s, are a think of beauty.



Did you know today May 10th is Fred Astaire's Birthday?

Weasley didn't and its an  important day around here.

Weasley: "Who the heck is this Fred Astaire?"

 

Norbert: "Fred Astaire is mom's favorite movie star.  He made 41 films, ten with his most famous partner Ginger Rogers.  These statues show Fred and Ginger from the film the Barkely's of Broadway."

 Tubby: "She has his autobiography Steps in Time and I know she had read it more then once." (Mom note: If you are for some reason interested the newer book The Astaires: Fred and Adele  is also really interesting, its all about Fred's early career and relationship with his dancing partner sister .)

Ping: "And of course mom has all the DVDs of his best films, and we will be watching them tonight!"

(Mom Note: Bulldog brother Bob did not participate in the Fred Astaire history lesson because he is not trusted with the figurines, he is a bit like a bull in a china shop, pun intended.)

In conclusion our favorite Fred dance from Top Hat

 Now if only Fred had been waiting around with an umbrella on Wednesday, during this beautiful rainstorm:

Enjoy your day, rain or shine!

Everybody's Going Down To Jersey (Pavoia Newport to be exact)

On Friday we visited the Pavonia Newport of Jersey City with Norbert and Weasley.   There are some amazing views of the Manhattan skyline in this area and we got some nice pictures.

  Now for the reason for the title of the post.  Did you know this was once a popular song in the 1920s its commemorated on a plaque in Pavonia Newport.

I could find no recording of the song but I think you will agree the lyrics are pretty great, here they are courtesy of the Halcyon Days Music website.  I particularly like the line about every kitchen being a brewery.

  First Verse
There's a certain little State No one thought was up to date Jokes about it made a lot of fun But folks are getting hunches Going there in bunches A mighty mob has started on the run Tho' small in size that state is wise nobody hesitates It's population soon will be the whole United States. 

Second Verse
People living there are fine Each one has a friend named "Stein" Anderson had better watch his step The cops are in a fury Each kitchen is a brewery They brew those hops that fill you full of pep From California Massachusetts, people far and near A train they take to join the wake, and gather 'round the 'bier' 

 Chorus
Everybody's on their way to Jersey Everybody's going there to stay And it's not the air That they're going over there There is something doing something brewing OH! BOY! buckets of joy Three and a half percent in dear old Jersey Is not the dividends the bankers pay Just hop on a train and tell the man that you want to go where they rush the can For everybody's on their way to Jersey.

Weekend Car Trip (and flea market finds)

This weekend meant a really long car trip to my mom's house in Saratoga Springs.  As my mom is not much for dogs we just brought Ping along and she was a very good little travel companion. 

 I got some nice pictures of Ping and me.   The tree in the second picture was planted when I was seven years old, makes me feel kind of old.

The hat I am wearing is from Adeline's Attic on Etsy I love that store and I love store owner Jill's fabulous style blog Tea With the Vintage Baroness she always looks like she stepped of the set of a 1930s film. 

On the way home we stopped at a flea market.  I really wanted to buy this push cart but I didn't have a lot of cash on me so we got a picture instead.

I did buy this vintage Maine state plate from 1955 for five dollars

 and this neat lab kit case, also five bucks.

I 

I love how it says its career building.  "Todays adventures in science will create tomorrow's America!"

I did feel very guilty about leaving the other dogs on Saturday so on Sunday we took a nice walk and brought Tubby and Weasley to the dog park, the other three are not much for the dog park.

 Everyone enjoyed dinner though, burgers.  Here is Bob hanging out on the deck while we grilled

Don't forget to enter Ping's 10th birthday give away and win a Himalayan dog chew, the winner will be announced May 12.