Wednesday, May 01, 2024

MID WEEK RAMBLE

 


Right, it's a lovely day, so I'm off to Cambridge for an FGB walk again.

ABOVE:  It's a 'Social Walk' today, not an Urban Challenge walk.  So basically we are walking 20 minutes in one direction, then turn around and head back to the start.  We can also go at our own 'pace' on this one, so that's good.  NOT that I'm interested in speed walking!  Just a decent pace.

I'm sure there will be a 'coffee stop' somewhere along the way as well.

So it should be a nice morning.

ABOVE:  The Inpatients in the back garden are doing really well, they add a lovely splash of colour.

I picked our last tomatoes yesterday afternoon, so I have to think about what to put in our vege pods now.  I might not even put anything in them, except compost over the next few months.  Have them ready for summer season with lovely rich soil.

Alright, probably time I got moving, and make a start on me day.

ONWARD... 

7.43 am. I just looked out the window to see... massive black clouds. Bugger. This could mean today's walk is canceled.  An hour from now I should be heading over to Cambridge.....

Well, it rained here in Hamilton, but not Cambridge.  So off I went for the walk.

It was supposed to be a 20 minute walk to the coffee shop, then stop for coffee and walk back. But some of us got there in about 13 minutes, so we went around the block to add some distance and time.

ABOVE:  It still ended up being a shorter walk than 'normal', but the pace was OK.

ABOVE:  Because we were a disjointed group, no group photo was taken.   So ya just get me!

BEFORE I left Hamilton, I gassed up my car.  Used my EFTPOS Card.

Got to the supermarket on my way home and BUGGER!  NO CARD.

So I went back to the petrol station in the vain hope someone might have picked it up, cos that was the ONLY place it could have fallen out of my wallet.

NO LUCK THERE.

So I then had to go to the bank and cancel my card.

My new one won't arrive for two weeks.

Lucky I have a 'spare' one, that isn't connected to the one I cancelled. 

ABOVE:  My new card is so pretty!  I can't wait to get it.  

I am now baking cookies!  Yeah I know.  I shouldn't be ... but I am.  I've wanted to try making soft oat and raisin cookies forever.  So today is the day.

I just got the first tray out of the oven.  WHOOPS.  A bit overdone by the look of it.  My existing oven is A HOT OVEN.  I forgot.  They are probably OK, just a bit too dark on the bottom.

Next lot will be taken out sooner.

Before anyone asks:  https://www.recipetineats.com/oatmeal-raisin-cookie-soft-chewy/

I just tried one of the 'overdone' cookies.  It was OK, a bit firmer than I wanted.  But still edible.  The next lot are in... fingers crossed for a better result.

ABOVE: The recipe called for them to be baked for 22-25 minutes.
22 minutes = overcooked
18 minutes = not bad
16 minutes = PERFECT.
Bearing in mind MY OVEN is a very hot oven.

I've had two.  Might not have any more today.

6 pm:  And HERE COMES THE RAIN!  It's been raining on and off all afternoon, but now it's freakin' pissing down.

My afternoon has been just lovely.  I took the girls for a little walk around the block, which they loved.  I didn't, as they get tangled up so easily!  If only Coco wasn't such a scatter brain and just walked nicely like Marley.  But no.
She dashes here and there, stops for a thousand piddles and hops, skips and jumps like a mad dog.
I can't take just one dog, or the one left at home pines.  So it's not something I do too often I must admit.
Just as well they are perfectly happy hanging out with me at home most of the time.

We are now settled in for a quiet evening.  I have a big basket of washing to fold and put away... so I'll do that, then the dishes.
Housework never stops.

8 comments:

  1. Ohhh my favourite biscuit…..now I want some 😋😋

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  2. Hahaha I want the cookies too

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  3. Kiwionholidays8:22 PM

    As usual lovely photos
    It’s that kinda weather here this afternoon as well so enjoy your rest and quiet night with Stew
    Cheers 🥂

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous9:22 PM

    If both of them did not know how to walk on a leash, it would be a lot. But since it is just one, I think you could still teach her.

    I would practice every day. Several times a day, short walks.

    I think the starting place is a very very short leash so she has to stay right by your side. Treat her with tiny tiny treat every time she walks nicely. (Give the other dog a treat at the same time too).

    Ours naturally each have a side. So if she has a side prefers, train for that side. Otherwise just decide which side you prefer. Make her stay on one side. Praise her, talk to her, treat her.

    Our neighbor rescued a 5 year old golden retriever who is a very big boy and had never been leash trained. (Her own dog is a beautiful walker. So similar circumstances.)

    She was able to teach him. She worked in very short intervals, many times a day. I think she played fetch with him in the yard first, to wear him out, that helped a lot.

    Since you have your front fence, you could also practice with just her, walking back and forth or in a circle.

    This would be a very good project for you.

    As much as you walk, it would be lovely for you to be able to take the dogs.

    You also could drop one off to Bex, so at least the good walker could go with you, but I suppose it is the wrong dog.

    Our two (about 55 lbs each) go everywhere they are allowed with me. Car, stores, outdoor markets, etc. It is very fun to take them. They have beautiful manners. They are lots of company.

    I walk with them many times a day, every day. I feel comfortable going by myself since I have the dogs.

    Vickie

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    Replies
    1. Marley is 6 and walks BEAUTIFULLY. Coco is 14 and is 'the problem'. But in saying that, I would never want her to change! She is a real delight, watching her hop, skip and jump all over the place! She's hysterical. LOVES jumping in super long grass, getting all wet and having a whale of a time. She loves life. As she is now 14 years old, I don't want to try and break her of her exuberance for life. Perhaps leaving her with Bex when I really want to walk Marley would be a good idea. Coco is not a happy girl when I leave her at home alone, she takes risks to get out of the pen, and I don't want her to get hurt. I can leave Marley at home on her own and she's just fine.

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    2. Anonymous9:37 PM

      Then if Bex will have her, leave her and take the good one, absolutely. At least one dog will get walked. You will have company.

      Our dogs have a very rich life by being able to mind and go every where. It absolutely does not diminish them. It is just like training a child to be able to mind/behave in public.

      But I understand at 14, probably not feasible.

      Vickie

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  5. Nice walk. Better than I do unless I go to an indoor track. Heading for a coffee shop with friends would help. Now I want a cookie!

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  6. The cookies look yummy. I like oatmeal cookies a bit chewy too. Your flowers are gorgeous. Great job with walking. I know I have to keep moving especially at this stage in my life.

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