Chewie in my heart

I seem to fall in love at every fence build.
Normally I don't fall in love quickly,
but when they're pups, it happens very fast.
Instant love.
Look at this sweet face?!
And today,
this sweet face will have a space to run and play,
free from a chain.



Do you see that chain? 
Well today it's history...though the cuts on my legs from that stupid chain may be there for awhile, they are worth it to set this boy free.  Plus, the cuts are good reminders of why we sweat and toll in the sun, and rain, and cold...because the cuts are temporary, but the freedom we give is eternal.

 That alone is priceless.

But first, we needed to clear an area for his fence.

Good thing we had two expert brushcutters on site. :0)

 

 Amazing how a field was tranformed into a fence yard in just a couple hours!

While they brushcut, we prepared ground wire, brought in his new house, pounded stakes,

stretched wire, and secured the area for our Chewie boy.

 He couldn't wait to get through the gate. 
Tug and pull...tug and pull.
After living on a chain,
he was anxious to start his new life.
And we were ready to share the adventure with him.

Chewie was so thankful for his new shady space to run and play,
that he went around to each and every volunteer to show his appreciation.
He thanked each of us will snuggles and kisses.
Perfect love and joyful appreciation.

 Nothing fills my heart with joy like an un-chained dog.

Freedom is a joy like no other,

and I'm thankful to be a small part of each release.

Things that make me smile, today...

 Some days are easier to handle than others. 

Lately, I've had a few things that have tried to chip away at my sparkle.

Dampen it.

Life can hit you a bit sideways at times,

and in those moments I have to find little ways to bring my sparkle out.

It really doesn't take too much to make me smile.

In fact, my favorite things are so simple,

yet make a profound impact in my mood.

So here are a few of my smile sparklers!

Sparkle in unique locations

Comics in the newspaper

Baby Anything. Puppies, kittens, ponies, (otter) whatever it is, they are adorable and make me insta-smile.
Not setting my alarm clock.  Nothing says good morning like the sun rays slowly welcoming you to the day.

Two words...yoga. pants.

Fluffy bunnies-seriously.

First sip of coffee

Strutting like you're wearing sassy pants,

and Somecards.

 

A girl and her dog...her most trusted friend.

A tongue hanging out of an animals mouth and any adorable animal in sweaters. 

How cute are these mini's?!

And last but certainly not least, this little girl. 

She's so excited!!

Despicable Me-It's so Fluffy

Oh man, I almost forgot this one!

I definitely feel better now.

Cherry Chutney

I really love cherries, but there are only so many cherries that one person can eat!  So I wanted to save a little bit more summer and enjoy the beauty that is the Oregon Cherry. But I didn't just want to make jam.  Yes, people love my jam, but there are only so many sweet things that people want to eat! That is where this lovely chutney recipe comes into play. 

What is chutney?  Good question!
You see it on your plate in restaurants all the time, but the name is weird....chutney. Actually, I think that the name throws people off from it, but it's a fun way to flavor a dish. Basically, it's a fancy condiment that is used to enhance the flavor of meat or cheese dishes.   Instead of marinating the meat, the chutney is used as a topping.  Plus, did I mention that it's delicious?

 

 

 

Cherry Chutney

Recipe found online, but I don't remember where. Though, it's definitely not mine.

3 cups pitted and stemmed sweet cherries(about 1 1/2 pounds)

1 1/2 cups cider vinegar

1 cup chopped onions

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup golden raisins

3 tablespoon minced candied ginger

1 tablespoon mustard seeds

one 4-inch cinnamon stick (so that the chutney didn't darken.)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon each ground allspice, ground cloves, ground nutmeg

1. Combine all ingredients in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, one hour.
3. Uncover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes more.
4. I processed this recipe for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath in half pint jars. OR Remove from heat and let cool at room temperature. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

*Good with grilled chicken breasts or roasted/grilled pork.

 

Makes about 3 cups or 5-6 half-pints of chutney.
This is a fun switch on preserving fruit for the winter, and even better because it's really tasty.
One of my dear friends loves to use this in her baked brie.  Delicious!