Happy Birthday Murph

Dear Murphy,

From the day I saw your picture, I knew that you had to be with me. I probably should of asked questions about your background your life, but you didn't ask about mine, so it didn't matter. You needed a home, I needed you. 

Driving to pick you up I was nervous. Would you like me? Would you want to be my friend? What kind of shelter was I going to anyway? We're you still sick?

Pulling up to the home-shelter, I knew that I was leaving with a dog. There was no way that my heart could walk away without one. Too many dogs with one sweet lady doing everything she could to help a struggling community deal with mistreatment. I still don't know how she did it all, but I'm eternally grateful because she saved my Murph.  She didn't have to pour all that money into your treatment, but she must have seen me, needing you.

I knew that you had Parvo, recently well, but life had been traumatic for you already...You were so little, but it had been rough on your little paws. That was just fine with me, my life had been rough on me too. I figured that we could just travel this rough, crazy world together...A weird, scared, dysfunctional, silly, but awesome team. 

I might have picked you online, but you picked me on that day in that yard. In theory, I don't believe in "love at first sight," but in my life, well, you are the epitome of that. Love, pure and simple...and needy. :) but we both had a hole to fill. My heart had a big one, but your paws were the perfect filler. 

When life was rough and I struggled to go into the world, you were eager and determined to get me out in it. When I felt like sobbing, you just snuggled in and let me. But thankfully, you always found a way to get me out of my sadness. It must have been that goofy face. Or crazy antics. Or boundless energy. Or...it was just you.

It is said that everything happens for a reason. I'm not sure what all of the reasons are or if everything is really needed...But if I had to endure all of it to get a best friend like you Murph, then I'd do it again. You're it. And so worth it. 

So thank you Murphy for letting me be your human.  People may call you my dog, but we both know the truth. You're the healer of my heart and you made me sparkle again. 
Thanks buddy...I needed that.

Happy 4th Birthday! 

All my heart, 

Your Girl 

Thanksgiving & Poker

The holidays...it's a difficult time of year for so many people.

Memories of the past, good, bad, or indifferent 

seem to spring to mind when the thermometer dips and the air is cold,

Maybe it's the longer evenings, 

maybe it's the bunking down that we do in our homes...

whatever it is that causes the memories, they flood in.

What makes Thanksgiving a favorite in my mind, 

is that there isn't an expectation of commercial excess. 

(The commercialism drives me crazy.)

Sure, people stuff themselves silly, 

but the only thing that's abundant is food and hopefully love. 

Though traditions vary, one thing is consistent...

It's a time when families and friends gather.

As far back as I can remember Thanksgiving was for food and cards. 

Yep we're a gambling family and we bet BIG.

But we'll let anyone to the table with two dollars...

See it's big money. ;) 

Nah, it's just big fun.

As soon as my nieces and nephew could read numbers and tell the different colors, 

then they could play cards.

Poker is the game.

We're old school.

But we don't just any any poker game, 

it's all about a game called Michigan Poker.

As a kid I remember being terrified the first, second, 

and well, every time I sat down with my aunts and uncles to play after the meal.

They meant business.

This wasn't a time to mess around.

When they played cards, they PLAYED CARDS. 

You really had to pay attention and move quickly.

No "fiddle-farting around." (As my Grandma would say.)

Just pay attention and call out your cards.

If you haven't played, well, you should. 

It's really fun and takes no real poker ability.

There's one true poker hand at the start.

That's it.

When I first started out, I was a little secret weapon.

See I had been playing cards with my grandma since I could hold them.

Most people look at me and think that I don't know anything.

And sure, I play along with that...for a bit.

But, then the gloves come off and the poker face is on.

I teach middle school.

 I know how to not laugh even when I really think what the kid did was funny.

Yeah, I've got a poker face.

It's just fun and I look forward to it every year.

Plus, you learn a lot about people.

Their tells, their bluffs, the way they handle winning and losing...

always good lessons.

So this Thanksgiving, spend time playing games.

Actually, just play...anything really that doesn't involve a TV, phone, or video game.

Don't plan or even think about Black Friday.

You don't really need it.

Just hang out with those you love.

Talk and laugh together.

Reconnect and remember why the character of people is important.

And it is the most important thing to me...

Be kind, be loving, and be generous.

You'll get more in return then you ever imagined possible.

Cheers to you and those you love.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lori and Murphy

Gina and Chloe need space to run!

Just 2 gals running around in the country, until things changed.

Meet Gina.  (Chloe is in the picture below in the kennel.)
She was such a doll and immediately made herself at home in our vehicles.
Don't you love those floppy ears?!

Country life is a little different than living in the city.
A slower pace is standard,
but to those not used to this way of life, things may seem a little strange.
See, growing up in the country, our dogs run free.
They visit neighboring  fields and friendly dogs all around.
They run!
Acres and acres of space to run, and dogs just love it.

But what happens when those acres are sold and new homes are built?
Country dogs don't understand why people yell at them for running through fields that they ALWAYS run through.
This is what happened to Gina and Chloe.
These two beautiful German Shepherds have always run free,
but the new neighbors don't understand that element of country life.
So these two gals got in trouble.
No more running free for them.
Their lives became very small, and they became very unhappy.

But, no worries, because their human contacted us at Fences For Fido!
And there is nothing that we enjoy doing more than un-chaining pups and giving them their freedom back.
It's what we do.
And these gals didn't disappoint with running fast and free.

You know that you're a FFF volunteer when you laugh while pulling ground wire.

Yes, we make any activity fun.  Of course, being with your friends does that every time.

What a crew! This was a large build.

And Gina was so funny! 

She would be mesmerized by the shadows on the ground 

and follow them around.  

Silly girl.

While Gina kept us entertained, we worked on completing her fence.

I even tried my hand at hammering.

Hammering, hammering, hammering...but when you stick out your tongue it's much more effective.

Even as we finished up the fence, Gina and Chloe were already 

running, playing, and exploring their new space.

And boy did they run fast!

Before we left, all of the volunteers made sure to give Gina and Chloe felt our love.

We played, petted, and hugged...it's my favorite part of the day.

And, boy do we love our Fido's. 

I'm pretty sure that the Fido's know how much we love them too.

Do you want to help unchain more dogs around Oregon and SW Washington?

Go to Fences for Fido and donate.  

Remember that every dollar counts.

Or better yet, come out and volunteer with us! 

Who wouldn't want to cuddle a Fido and change their life?

Vegan Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies

Espresso, it's a beautiful thing to smell in the morning.
I remember as a kid, knowing that morning was nearing
because the smell of coffee would be in the air.
Prepped the night before,
so that my dad could greet the day with a cup
already in his hand before his feet hit the ground.
In our house, coffee meant a new day.
A new start.
So when I was thinking about the next cookie to bake,
it was natural to look around my kitchen to see what
ingredients to make and see my canister of coffee.
Now, I'm not as picky as some, but I love my coffee.
It's like a warm hug in the morning.

Do you know what else is a hug?
Yep, you guessed it.
A cookie.
Cookies are love in my world.
If I give you cookies, I'm giving you a loving hug.
Can't you feel it?
So to me, blending coffee and cookies is a perfect pair.
And according to my taste-testers is a delicious pair too.

Vegan Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies
Recipe adapted from my mom's cookie classic
Serves a hungry group of Fences for Fido Volunteers

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) vegan butter
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg equivalent of Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacer
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 & 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 or 2 tsp of finely ground coffee or espresso
1 & 3/4 cups flour
1 cup semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
3. Cream together all ingredients, except flour and chocolate chips.
4. Add flour and mix well.
5. Scoop cookie dough onto the lined cookie sheet. I use a medium-sized cookie scoop for perfect cookies.
6. Bake cookies for 10-13 minutes.
7. Let them cool for a couple minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring to a cooking rack.  Then take them to your favorite activity and share with your friends.  

This recipe is a slight adaptation of my mom's chocolate chip cookie.

It's fabulous just as it is, but with espresso it can be considered a breakfast food.

Cookies can always be breakfast. Right?!