Cello was the featured dog on PointingDogs Instagram account today (her second feature of the day!!)
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Featured Dog on Gundogs_huntingforever Instagram Account
Earlier today, Hooch was featured on gundogs_huntingforever Instagram account. Now Cello was featured also!
Featured in the German Shorthaired Pointer Pack Newsletter
This week Cello was Featured in the German Shorthaired Pointer Pack Newsletter! Visit the Pack and see Cello’s profile on Pack
Featured on PackDog.com’s “Best of Pack” Instagram Account
If you love your dog, visit the Pack! On Instagram? Follow bestofpack! 
Brotha from the SAME motha… Windy Spot’s Homemade Hooch
See Hooch’s Canine Parents HERE!
Watch Hooch Grow HERE!
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Windy Spot’s Homemade Hooch
“Hooch”
German Shorthaired Pointer
Birthday: May 24, 2014
“Our Little Nugget”, “Hoochie Coochie”
When we found out that Limoncello’s mother had another litter, we could not help but go visit her, and see the puppies.
On May 24, 2014, Cello’s Mom, Shoal Branch Ladybird (“Lady”) gave birth to 10 puppies… we are now the proud parents of one of them!
Cello and Hooch’s mom, “Shoal Branch Ladybird” (Lady)
Hooch’s Dad, “FC Sky High Regardless”
Introducing “Windy Spot’s Homemade Hooch!” (Hooch for short!):
Why “Windy Spot’s Homemade Hooch?” When we bought our log home, Brian was able to search back to the original deed of the home and find the first owner of our cabin, which was built in 1927. Brian google-searched the man’s name for the heck of it, and his search brought up a link for the English Setters Club in Medford, NJ. The first owner of our home owned an award-winning GSP (which is how we ended up wanting a GSP), and Windy Spot was the name of that first dog and award winning GSP that lived in our home. We named our cabin Windy Spot, after that GSP, before we even met Cello. Read about our story here!
Hooch climbed right into Brian’s lap…and the rest is history!
Puppy Kisses:
The name “Windy Spot’s Homemade Hooch” … Incorporates the name of the first dog/GSP that lived here, and also refers to Limoncello being the “Hooch” that we make here at our cabin, Windy Spot… AND connects his name to Cello’s too 🙂
Welcome home, Hooch!
Banana Biscotti
A week or so ago, I saw this yummy recipe on Dog Treat Kitchen. Tonight I decided to bake these treats for Cello. Cello is currently on a grain-free diet, so I knew I had to alter the ingredients a bit. I decided I would exclude the rolled oats in the original recipe, and substitute Buckwheat flour for the whole wheat flour also listed in the original recipe.
At the same time I was preparing to bake some treats, I also decided to boil my usual batch of hard-boiled eggs for my breakfast, and for Cello’s weekly dinner additive. Perhaps doing two things at once was not such a good idea!
…Figuring I was being super-productive getting the eggs and biscotti done simultaneously, I was too focused on rushing, and was not attentive enough to the biscotti ingredient preparations! After I had already started boiling the eggs, I reviewed the ingredients for the biscotti. …OOPS! …
The recipe called for 2 eggs – and now I was all out. I Google searched what I could substitute for eggs, and was pleasantly surprised to find that 1/4 cup of applesauce could be substituted for each egg in most backing recipes. As luck would have it, I had some organic, unsweetened applesauce in the fridge (PHEW!!)… turns out, my mistake blossomed into a blessing…the biscotti turned out great!! They were nice-and-sweet with the added apple sauce!
Ingredients:
- 2 medium organic bananas
- 1/4 cup organic peanut butter (organic, so salt or sugar added)
- Be sure that the peanut butter you use doesn’t contain xylitol)
- 1/2 cup organic, unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 1/4 cups organic Buckwheat flour (may need extra to add, depending on the consistency/level of stickiness you are comfortable with)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350° F
- Place the peeled bananas and peanut butter into a large microwave safe bowl.
- Microwave the bananas and peanut butter for 30-60 seconds, to soften.
- Thoroughly mash the bananas while mixing in the peanut butter.
- Mix in the applesauce.
- Stir in the water.
- Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the banana mixture.
- Using a fork, stir together the wet and dry ingredients until completely combined. If needed, use your hands to mix together the mixture.
- Lightly spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
- Turn out your dough ball onto the prepared baking sheet. Gently press the ball into a rectangular loaf shape about 1 inch thick. Try to make your shape as uniform as possible for even baking.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Let the banana biscotti loaf cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
- Cut the loaf in half, lengthwise.
- Cut strips about 1 inch thick.
- Place the slices, cut side down, and bake for another 20 minutes.
- Turn biscotti pieces over (flip), and bake another 20 minutes.
- Turn the oven off, and let the treats cool completely in the oven.
Cello and Hooch approve…hope your pooch does too! “Bone” Appetit !
Tommy D’s Limoncello: Our First GSP
Tommy D’s Limoncello (“Cello”)
Why a GSP? …Brian and I bought our dream home in April of 2009. A log cabin on a lake… only it didn’t quite “look” like a log cabin – – and, it wasn’t quite in “dream-home” state when we bought it (see Cello’s Cabin page). Our goal is to restore this historic log cabin to its original state, and to fill it with decorations and mementos of the great town we live in, as well as items that would be relevant to the cabin and it’s history. Brian works in the mortgage industry, and was able to research back to the original deed of our home. Brian was able to find out that the log home was built in 1927, and also discovered the name of the original owner. Out of curiosity, Brian Google-searched the man’s name. Low and behold, he came up in the search! The search result that came up was linked to the English Setters Club, a local and nationally known club that conducts field trials that are open to all pointing breeds. The original owner of our home owned a German Shorthaired Pointer, named “Windy Spot,” who won many awards at the club for field trials. I called the club to see if I could get more information on this dog and his owner, or a picture of them that we could hang in our cabin. When the man from the club called me back, and I explained my story, the other end of the phone was silent. When I asked if he was “still there,” he asked me to repeat where I lived – what street – what house, etc… come to find out, this man I was speaking to was a direct family member of the man who built our log cabin back in 1927!! Needless to say, it was quite an interesting conversation! Brian and I immediately researched German Shorthaired Pointers online, and fell in love with the GSP breed, and all their characteristics. We knew a GSP would be the perfect addition to our lifestyle, our family, and our log home. We have named our log cabin “Windy Spot,” after the first dog that ever lived in our home!
Brian and I were visiting a family member in West Creek, NJ on Memorial day weekend 2011, when they mentioned that they saw a post at at the local hardware store that there was a litter of German Shorthaired Pointers available not far from us. This litter was born on March 14, 2011, on a South Jersey farm in the town of Chatsworth. Brian and I became lucky parents of Cello on Monday, May 31, 2011 (Memorial Day), when decided to stop to talk to the man about his litter and knowledge of German Shorthaired Pointers. When we pulled up to the property, the owner opened up the barn doors, and out came 3 of the most adorable GSP puppies! One of them jumped right into Brian’s arms – we knew immediately she was coming home with us!
Can you pick out Cello in this pic?!
Cello is the ultimate water dog! If there is water in site, Cello must find her way into it…! Her entire body shivers with excitement with the site of water to jump into or lay in! Luckily we live on a lake, so she gets plenty of swimming and dock-diving time! We also keep a baby pool in the yard for her to lay in when she is not in “lake-mode.” She is also obsessed with soccer balls!! She has an outstanding personality, bringing smiles to people’s faces everywhere we go!
Why “Cello”? (pronounced CHELLO) …Cello’s full name is “Tommy D’s Limoncello.” Tommy D was my Italian grandfather (my mother’s father), who passed away in 2007. He was quite the character to say the least, and was “famous” among his family and friends for his homemade Limoncello, with his “secret” recipe. Before he passed, “Pop Pop Tommy,” revealed his “secret” recipe. Brian, as well as other family members, have been carrying on the tradition of making homemade Limoncello ever since. Read all about Tommy D’s Limoncello HERE!
Tommy DiRenzo
Jenny and “Pop Pop Tommy”
Cello’s first day home:
Chill Out … The Dogs Days of Summer Are Here!
The Dog Days of Summer are here… How will you cool off your pooch?
(Pic from BringFido.com)
The Dog Days of Summer are upon us! With the onset of the heat and humidity, I’ve been asked recently by several different people where they could take their dog swimming to cool them off on hot summer days. This question got me thinking 3 things right off the bat:
(1) I need to appreciate where we live a bit more:
Cello is very lucky to have direct access to our lake to take her daily swims:
…and to play in the water alone or with friends…
…and to do what she loves most – dock diving!
(2) Just where in New Jersey CAN you take your dog to cool off if you do not have access to a pool, or other safe, clean body of water that is also in a dog friendly area?? Luckily, our good friend, and fellow GSP Rescue of NJ buddy, Ally, had done some of the work for me in a post she included on the GSP Rescue of NJ FaceBook page (Thanks, Ally!!)
…and …
(3) What can you do to keep your dog cool on a daily basis during the heat of the summer?
Before I include some suggestions for some dog-friendly swimming holes in New Jersey, and how to keep your pup cool in the heat, I wanted to share just why people say “Dog Days of Summer.” Being a dog-lover, I began to wonder why people chose this particular phrase. If you thought it was just a made-up saying like I did, think again! Thanks to The Weather Channel, and a little research, I found out what this term REALLY means, and where it originated. This term dates back to ancient times! “diēs caniculārēs,” or “days of the dogs” / “days of the dogs,” was what ancient people referred to as the period from the first week of July, to the second week of August.
Now that explains where the phrase originated, and when it started…but one still might ask, “Why dogs?” …Ever hear of the constellation, Orion?
Orion is often referred to as “The Hunter,” and is a noticeable constellation observable throughout the world. Close to Orion is the constellation Canis Major, which is Latin for “greater dog.” According to constellation fables, Canis Major is one of Orion’s hunting dogs.
Located within Canis Major is a star named Sirius, also known as the “Dog Star.” With the exception of our sun, Sirius is THE brightest star detectable from Earth. The vivid, blue-white star’s name originates from the Greek word for “searing.”
Because Sirius is so intense, it was effortless to trace, even for primitive astronomers. During April and early May, Sirius is evident in the southwest skies only after sunset. However, by the time mid-summer arrives, Sirius rises and falls with the sun. This would cause Sirius to “get lost” in the daytime skies. Nevertheless, the our ancestors knew that the “Dog Star” was still present in the sky, along with the sun, during the hottest time of the year. These primitive astronomers reasoned that since Sirius was so bright, and present in the sky with the sun, it must be contributing to the heat to produce the hottest time of the year.
Now what the ancient astronomers did not know, is that although Sirius is very vibrant, (according to Dr. Jon Nese, Penn State University professor, and former storm analyst for The Weather Channel, “Sirius is very luminous; if it suddenly replaced our sun, daylight on Earth would be about 25 times brighter than it is now)”… it’s energy (heat) does not affect Earth as much as the sun. Also, in spite of it’s brilliance, Sirius is also about half a million times farther away from Earth than our sun. As it turns out, our ancestors were not exact in their reasoning, but sure provided us with a cool saying for the hottest time of the year…and hey, it has to do with dogs – what’s cooler than that ?! 😉
OK, enough of the astronomy lesson, and onto WHERE you can bring your pup during the Dog Days of Summer. New Jersey is well-known for its beaches, so thanks to rescue pal, Ally, and the sweet, gorgeous Eve (a senior rescue!) here is a list of dog-friendly beaches in New Jersey in case you are vacationing at the Jersey Shore, or live close enough to drive to one of the beaches.
Eve enjoying a day at one of the dog-friendly beaches in New Jersey:
If you are not fond of the beach, here are two dog parks that I know of that also have a creek or lake for the dogs to swim in:
Timber Creek Dog Park, located at Chews Landing Rd and Somerdale Rd in Blackwood, NJ:
and Freedom Park, located at 86 Union Street, Medford, NJ:
Can’t get to a beach or other dog-friendly swimming area? Cello has some hot summer tips to keep cool during the Dog Days of Summer:
- Find innovative ways to cool your dog!
- Try a Cool Pet Pad (Available at The Green Pet Shop) – now being product-tested by the GSP Rescue of NJ!
- Try a cooling dog vest, or collar.
- Let your pup have fun with a sprinkler, or mist them softly with a hose! (Dogs cool from from the bottom up, so be sure to mist Fido’s paws and stomach, not just the top of the dog. Also, a cool, wet towel on the ground for Fido to lay on does a great job too!)
(Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
5. Buy a baby pool! Cello loves hers!
- Exercise your dog in the early morning, or late at night. These are the cooler parts of the day, and will make a walk or jog more comfortable for both you and your dog. If you just can’t walk your dog during the early or late hours, pick up a pair of doggie boots. Just as they prevent damage to the dog’s paws in winter, these boots also protect Fido’s paws during the summer on hot surfaces like concrete or asphalt. Dogs absorb and release heat through their paws, so do Fido a favor and pick up some boots at your local pet supply store, or on-line.
- Supply plenty of fresh water for your dog. Different dogs have different needs when it comes to keeping hydrated and beating the heat. Keep in mind that darker coats absorb more heat than lighter coats, and overweight dogs are at higher risk for dehydration.
(Flickr/bigbirdz)
- Provide a shady area. Dogs rely on panting and resting in a shady place to keep cool in the heat.
- Look for signs of dehydration: Dogs don’t “sweat” like us humans. They cool off by panting. An overheated dog will pant excessively, have a dark pink-to-red tongue, have a dry/tacky mouth, lift feet to avoid hot surfaces, will slow down on a walk, vomit, become lethargic, and its eyes will be bloodshot.
- Let your dog dig! (I know, I know) – this is a behavior we normally try to s avoid, and if my husband, Brian, reads this post he will be screaming inside his head, I’m sure! Dogs dig for many reasons – a big one being frustration – but one reason is to keep cool. IF possible, (and IF your dog is not digging to escape, or out of frustration) maybe allow Fido to have a “special digging” spot in a shady area. Cello has been known to dig large holes in our yard and lay in the them to keep cool (sorry, Bri!) 🙂
- NEVER, NEVER, NEVER leave a dog in a vehicle on even a warm day.The sun can heat a car to more than 110 degrees on a 75 degree day in no time…Even with the windows rolled down…so imagine the heat index inside a car on a really HOT day. The interior heat could rise over 40 degrees in an hour, and reach over 120 degrees in a matter of minutes. Dogs can sustain brain damage, or even die from heatstroke in just 15 minutes in that kind of heat. Think parking in a shady spot will help keep the temperature in your car down? – think again! Dogs can get heat stroke even when the car is parked in the shade. Forget the AC too… leaving the air conditioner on is no guarantee- not only could the air conditioner break, but you also run the risk of noxious fumes building up inside your car. Your dog’s life is never worth leaving them in the car for even a few minutes. When in doubt, leave Fido home!
If you see a dog left alone in a hot car, write down the car’s color, model, make, and license plate number. If the car is parked outside of a store, have the owner paged in the nearest buildings. If you cannot locate the owner immediately, call local humane authorities or police. Have someone keep an eye on the dog, and don’t leave the scene until the situation has been resolved. If the authorities are unresponsive, or too slow, and the dog’s life appears to be in imminent danger, find a witness (or several) who will back up your assessment, take steps to remove the suffering animal from the car, and then wait for authorities to arrive. Each state’s animal protection laws are different – get to know your sate’s laws HERE.
Most of all – don’t let these Dog Days of Summer get you or your pooch down…take advantage of the heat and spend some time cooling off with Fido, and doing some fun, bonding activities (like swimming) with your pup! Have fun, and keep cool!
Know any dog-friendly swimming areas in your state – or have some tips on how to keep dogs cool during the Dog Days of Summer? Please comment and share!
Codorus Blast, Hosted by Keystone DockDogs, Hanover, PA
This weekend Cello participated in Codorus Blast dock diving event, in Hanover, Pennsylvania, hosted by Keystone DockDogs. This event was held in Codorus State Park.
This dock was set up right in the Lake Marburg!
This was an especially exciting event for us! Cello set a new personal best – not once, but THREE times this weekend as she soared 23′ 1″ then 23′ 6″ then 23′ 7″ !! How awesome is that?! These were all Elite jumps (one division higher than her current Master division title). Elite jumpers jump between 23′ and 24’11”. She even qualified for the Elite Division Finals, and finished 4th against some HUGE jumping dogs! We are so proud of her! Brian and I were recapping our weekend, and we were just amazed at Cello’s improvement since her first-ever dock diving event just 9 months ago.
We had a great weekend hanging out in our little “tent city” with great people we have met through dock diving! Lots of members of Chesapeake DockDogs and Keystone Dockdogs were in attendance.
Uncle Johnny and Aunt Joyce even came to cheer on Cello!
Cello in Slo-Mo!
Cello’s results from Codorus Blast:
Friday:
20′ 4″ 23′ 6″ First Place Division Elite Medal **Her FIRST Elite Division Medal and new personal best!!!
Saturday:
21′ 3″ 23′ 1″ First Place Division Elite Medal
23′ 6” 22’11” First Place Division Elite Medal
23′ 0 23′ 7″ First Place Division Elite Medal **New personal best!!
Sunday:
22′ 8″ 22′ 9″ Third Place Masters Division Medal
22′ 0″ 22′ 0″ First Place Masters Division Medal
Finals: Cello was in her first Elite Division Finals!!
22′ 8″ 22′ 3″ Fourth Place Elite Division Ribbon
Cello and her Codorus Blast Bling:
Although we missed them dearly at this event, our friends Lisa, Ryan, Millie, and Addison had an amazing weekend as well! They attended an event in Maine, were Millie (Marvelous Millie, as I like to call her!) not only won 1st place in the Elite Division finals with a HUGE jump of 24’7 – but Millie and Ryan also got an invitation for the World Championship in Iowa in November! We are SO happy for them, and so very proud of them both!!
What a fun and exciting weekend!!
Codorus State Park and Campground, Hanover, PA
For Cello’s Codorus Blast Dock Diving Event, we camped at Codorus State Park in Hanover, PA. Located in York County, this park boasts a gorgeous 1,275 acre lake, where many come to fish and picnic. Codorus State Park also offers many other recreational activities such as horseback riding, swimming, scuba diving, boating, hunting, and disc golf.
This park was big, clean, gorgeous, and the staff was more than friendly. The sites were level and spacious, and included a fire ring. The facilities were very clean, and within walking distance to our site.
Prince William Forrest RV Campground, Dumfries, VA
While participating in the Celebrate Fairfax dock diving event, Cello camped at Prince William Forrest RV Campground.
This campground has paved sites, restrooms, shower houses, laundry facilities, a playground, and a pool. There is even a Giant chess/checkers game in the campground!
If you look at the map, we stayed on site F14
The bathrooms were extremely clean, and the staff was more than friendly. If you stay at this campground, be sure to ask about fire rings – some sites have them, and others do not.
Capitol City Brewing Company, Arlington, VA
In honor of both Cello and Millie earning a new personal best, Team Millie invited us out to celebrate at Capital City Brewing Company in Arlington, Virginia.
Capital City Brewing company first opened in 1992 in our nation’s capitol as Washington DC’s first brew pup since prohibition. We visited the Arlington location, located at the Village of Shirlington, on Campbell Avenue in Arlington, VA.
We enjoyed some of Capital City’s signature beer and some delicious food from their menu, as we toasted to Millie and Cello!
Cello, Addison, and Millie hanging out at Capital Brewing Company:
Celebrate Fairfax Festival, Hosted by DockDogs WorldWide Fairfax, VA
Cello’s first National dock diving event was held this past weekend at the Celebrate Fairfax Festival in Fairfax, VA. Celebrate Fairfax is Northern Virginia’s largest community-wide celebration. The festival was held at the 25 acre Fairfax County Government Center.
It was a great event! Lots of people we have met over the past year were also in attendance, and we had a blast hanging out together! Also, Cello jumped a NEW Personal Best of 23′ 2″ (YAY!!!) This jump placed her in the Pro Division Finals, jumping against some of the longest jumping dogs in DockDogs!!
Our Dock Diving Diva in action!
Here are Cello’s results from this event:
Saturday:
21′ 7″ 21’7″ First Place Masters Division medal
23′ 2″ 21′ Third Place Elite Division medal (***Cello’s new personal best and first Elite Division jump and medal!)
19′ 8″ 20′ 10” Second Place Masters Division medal
Cello with her first ever Elite Division Medal for her 23′ 2″ jump:
Sunday:
16′ 7″ 21′ 11 First Place Masters Division medal
21′ 1” 20′ 9″ First Place Masters Division medal
PRO Division Finals:
22′ 6″ 22′ 3″ Sixth Place Pro Division Medal
Cello with all her “bling:”
We are so proud of Cello!
Friends Jaycee and Duke, members of Chesapeake DockDogs, hung out with us throughout the weekend.
Cello gives “kisses” her new boyfriend, Phantom, a Dutch Shepherd:
Both Jaycee and Duke jumped Phantom this weekend.
Jaycee and Phantom:
Duke and Phantom:
We also got to hang out all weekend with Keystone DockDogs friends, Ryan and Lisa, and their dogs (Cello’s girlfriends), Millie and Addison. Addison may just be Cello’s new BFF! 😉
Addison and Cello’s shenanigans in between jumps:
Girlfriend Millie FLEW off the dock this weekend, and impressed us all:
Millie earned herself a new Personal Best this weekend of 24′ 8″ (WOW!!!). She placed 3rd in the Pro finals also! GO MILLIE!
We also had the pleasure of seeing fellow Delmarva DockDog members Joan and Dee this weekend! Here they are in action:
Joan and Georgi Girl:
Dee and LuLu:
We saw so many other DockDogs members that we got to know at the last event, and other past events – and even met more people at this event. We have met so many nice people since we have been involved with this sport! We are really excited to see everyone at future events!
PuppyPalooza, Detour Winery, Granite Hill Campground, and The Mason Dixon Line!
Cello participated in the PuppyPalooza Dock Diving Contest Hosted by Chesapeake Dock Dogs at Detour Winery in Keymar, MD.
For this event, we stayed at Granite Hill Campground in Gettysburg, PA, as this was the closest full-hookup campground to the winery.
Granite Hill is located on a 150 acre Civil War Era farm.
The campground had a cute “Red Shed Cafe” that offered breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Cello crossed over the Mason Dixon Line to get to and from the PuppyPalooza dock diving event!
Detour Winery is located in Keymar, Md. We drove on some really beautiful country roads to get there. The winery provided free tastings of their wines for the dock dogs participants, and offered wine by the bottle or glass for sale. They were also selling a really cool wine “sippy cup” that I just HAD to have…!
This was the first contest that we have attended where the dock was set up into a pond instead of a pool.
Although it started out as NOT Cello’s weekend, she wrapped it up nicely with a spot in the finals, and earned Second Place in the Masters Division Finals with a jump of 22’8″, just one inch shy of her personal best.
Cello’s results from PuppyPalooza were as follows:
Day 1, Saturday, May 31
19′ 11″ 18′ 8″ Cello did not place in this wave.
17′ 7″ 19′ 6″ Cello did not place in this wave.
18′ 9″ 20′ 8″ 2nd place Masters Division ribbon
Day 2, Sunday, June 1
21′ 19′ 11″ 4th place Masters Division (no ribbon)
21′ 6″ 21′ 4″ 3rd place Masters Division ribbon
Masters Division Finals
22′ 22′ 8″ 2nd place Masters Division Finalist (ribbon, prize bucket, $50 cash prize)
Cello and her proud PaPa accepting their awards:
The Masters Finalists 6th place to first place, Left to right:
Congratulations, Cello and Brian!
2nd Place Masters Division Finalist, 21′ 8″
The Rusty Nail, Cape May, NJ
The Rusty Nail (“The Nail”, as it’s known by the locals) is a well-known legendary surfer bar that dates back to the 70’s. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner at The Nail, and of course, host an incredible happy hour with live music. Kids meals are served on a souvenir Beach Shack Frisbee, creating something for the little ones to do after they finish their meal and are waiting for the adults. There is indoor seating, outdoor picnic table seating, a fire pit, sand pit, and shuffleboard – this place has it all! Even the four-legged kids are welcome here!…and not only are dogs welcome, they have their very own Doggie Menu!
From the Doggie Menu, Cello enjoyed a Bowser Beer for starters, and a Nail Burger for dinner!
From the regular menu, Brian and I ordered the Baja Grilled Fish Tacos and the Jersey Style Lobster Hoagie to share. 🙂
Jessie Creek Winery, Cape May Courthouse, NJ
Jessie Creek Winery was such a pleasant surprise! A couple who we ran into at a winery earlier in the day had told us that they did not like the wine here, nor was the staff friendly. Luckily, we decided to form our own opinion, and stop at this winery for a tasting. At Jessie Creek, the vineyard is harvested and processed on site by hand.
Not only was the girl presenting the tasting extremely nice, but the owner (seen far right in the above picture) was super friendly, and very interesting to speak with. He gave us lots of information on all of the wines we were tasting, and was a joy to converse with. The wine tasting was only $5, and included a taste of all of their wines, and a souvenir Jessie Creek wine glass to take home!
After our tasting, we enjoyed a glass of our favorite wine from the tasting on their porch with friends, Brandi and Stan.
The property also has a beautiful farm house built in 1846 that has been converted into a bed and breakfast.
I am so glad we all decided to stop at this vineyard despite what we were told!
Again, a recommended winery to stop at while in the Cape May area!
Natali Vineyards, Cape May Courthouse, NJ
Cello visited Natali Vineyards during our stay in Cape May.
The winery was setting up for a festival when we were arriving.
Even through they were getting ready for a big event later that day, everyone at the winery was helpful, friendly, and laid-back! The people here are super-friendly (very dog-friendly too!), and very knowledgeable about their wines and what foods to pair them with. Natali offers a variety of wines – some really unique, such as strawberry, plum, cherry, peach, blueberry, cranberry, and banana wine!
We learned a lot about their wines as we participated in their wine tasting, before enjoying a glass of wine on their outdoor patio with friends, Brandi and Stan.
We would definitely recommend a visit to this winery if you are ever in the Cape May area!
CHEERS!
Willow Creek Winery, Cape May, NJ
Willow Creek Winery is a 50 acre vineyard located in Cape May, NJ. They offer a variety of wines, including red and white sangria.
The grounds are gorgeous!
We enjoyed a glass of the sangria with friends, Brandi and Stan, out on the patio at Willow Creek.
Light fare and tapas are offered here for purchasing and enjoying either in the tasting room, or out on the patio. An outdoor bar at the patio is almost completed, where they plan to serve wine slushies… YUM!
Bellview Winery, Landisville, NJ
We had the pleasure of discovering Bellview Winery in Landisville, NJ this weekend.
Bellview Winery is located on a 100 yr old 150 acre Farm in Southern NJ. This winery not only had delicious wines (wine tasting is only $5 for 8 selections of your choice), but they were extremely dog friendly. Cello was allowed inside in the tasting room, and anywhere on the grounds.
For the wine tasting, we chose the following wines: Chardonnay, Jersey Devil White, Pinot Grigio, Traminette, Nana’s White, Fiesta, Black Currant, and Cristallina.
After completing our wine tasting, we enjoyed a glass of wine on the grounds of the winery.
Cello hammed-it-up while playing with her ball on the grounds of the winery!
This winery also offers a free Vintner’s Club – a chance to earn rewards while enjoying Bellview’s wine!
We enjoyed the wine so much, we bought several bottles to bring home!
Margarita visited here on July 23, 2016
If you are ever in the area, this winery is a must-do stop along your way! Be sure to check out the many events they host at the winery as well!
Cheers!
Killens Pond State Park, Felton, Delaware
Cello was involved in a dock diving event at the Dover Days Festival in Dover Delaware this past weekend, so we hunkered down at Killens Pond State Park, about 25 minutes from the dock diving event.
We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived at Killens Pond. The campsites were arranged in small loops. We stayed on campsite D5 (loop D, campsite 5), and had a nice sized private space with a view of the pond from our living space, and a wooded scene out our rear bay window.
View from our living space:
View from our back bay window:
The campground was clean, and have several campground hosts located throughout the campground. We had an issue with our electric during our stay, and the campground host on our loop couldn’t have been more helpful.
The campground had a pretty hiking trail that ran along the pond and through the park. The trail was very flat and well-maintained. 
This campground only has full hook-ups on the campground host sites, however our site had electric and water. There is a well-leveled and easily accessible dump station located on your way out of the campground.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Killens Pond, and very much enjoyed the “tent-camping” feel we got from the rustic, wooded setting of our site. We would definitely return to this campground if Cello is involved in the same dock diving event in Dover, De this time next year.
Dover Days Dip, Dover, Delaware
On May 3rd and 4th, Cello participated in her first outdoor dock diving event of the 2014 season at the Delmarva Dock Dogs Dover Days Dip, held at the Dover Days Festival in Dover, Delaware. Cello was the only German Shorthaired Pointer competing in this event!
This is the first year that Delmarva Dock Dogs set up a dock at this event. The weather was great, and the event had a nice turn-out. We saw many familiar faces, and even met some new ones. These events are so much fun…and truly filled with good-hearted, down-to-earth people. We have really enjoyed meeting so many great people and their pups!
We ordered team shirts for this year’s diving season!
Cello Jumped twice on Saturday, winning one first place medal.
Check out Cello in Slo-Mo:
One of Cello’s Instagram buddies, Dixie the GSP, saw a post that we were at this event, and sent us a message that they lived close by. Dixie and her family came to meet us, and to cheer Cello on! We were both honored, and excited!!
On Sunday, another two jumps earned her a second place medal, as well as another first place medal.
Cello’s longest jump of the 4 waves she competed in was 22’8″, placing her in the Masters Division Finals. During the finals, she was in first place with a jump of 22’9″ until another dog in her division leaped an amazing 23’3″ !! Cello earned a second place ribbon, money prize, and a bag of goodies! We were very proud of her!
RESULTS:
Saturday:
On the first wave, Cello did not win any medals. Her two jumps were:
18’4″
19’8″
On the second wave, Cello earned a first place medal. Her two jumps were:
22’8″
21’1″
Sunday:
On the first wave, Cello earned a second place medal. Her jumps were:
22’5″
19’5″
On the second wave, Cello earned a first place medal. Her jumps were:
21’6″
22’5″
Cello’s jump of 22’9″ earned a spot in the Masters Division Finals, where she wound up earning 2nd Place with a jump of 22’9′, tying her personal best. She was in First place until a lab leaped an amazing 23’3″!!! Her jumps during the finals were:
22’9″
22’3″
Pizzadili Vineyard and Winery, Felton, Delaware
Immediately after Cello got done at her Dover Days dock diving event, we headed over to Pizzadili Winery to celebrate the first place medal she won.
Pizzadili was a beautiful winery with a pavilion, pond with a fountain, trellises, and an adorable outdoor seating area. We chose to have a glass of their Pinot Gris, as we sat at the outdoor seating area.
Everyone who was entering or exiting the winery stopped over to say hello to Cello, and funny enough, two other people (not in the same party) were from Southern New Jersey as well! Small world!
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Delaware
After Cello got done both of her waves at the Dover Days Festival Dock Diving event, we decided to visit Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Delaware. What a cool place! The atmosphere was laid-back, and the people were friendly…best of all?… they are dog-friendly! Cello was allowed on the grounds, inside at the bar, and in the store!
Brian and I have never been to a brewery for a beer tasting – Boy were we missing out! We also had a blast at the bar with Cello while we did our beer tasting.
Outside there were Bocce Ball courts, a bean bag toss, and an incredible metal tree house.
Cello wants IN!
Cello loved all the attention she got at the Brewery, and even bellied-up to the bar!
They had a sign that read “Off centered people look up,” and the ceiling was covered with unique pictures.
Brian picked up a new hat in the store.
We would definitely like to visit here again!
Think There Is No Way You Can Help? Think Again!
If you can’t adopt….foster.
If you can’t foster…sponsor.
If you can’t sponsor…volunteer.
If you can’t volunteer…donate or transport an animal to safety.
If you can’t donate or transport…educate, network, and cross-post.
Everyone can do something, large or small, to help save a life.
~Pit Crew, IL
I often hear people say they can’t help because “It’s too upsetting,” “I don’t have the money,” “I don’t have the time,” …etc, etc, etc…. well – you CAN help – in many different ways, regardless of your time, level of involvement, or financial situation. The purpose of this post is to show you that there are many different ways, and numerous levels of participation you can involve yourself in to help save an animal’s life – both with little time, or little/no money!
There are also many people out there who really want to help, but not sure what they can do to assist. There are plenty of different ways to help either at a local shelter – or a rescue organization. Remember…Just a few hours can make such a difference for an animal in need!
Contact a local shelter or rescue organization today, and ask how YOU can contribute…there are MANY ways to assist! Here are just some ways how you volunteer to help change the life of a homeless animal:
LOCAL SHELTERS:
- Walking and exercising the dogs: Get some exercise yourself while giving a shelter dog a break from the kennel! Walking and playing with shelter dogs can be very rewarding, and provide much-needed exercise and stress-relief for shelter animals.
- Cleaning kennels: Help keep kennel, walking areas, and play spaces tidy, and help wash kennel bedding to help shelter animals’ stay a more enjoyable one.
- Donating food, toys, newspapers, old towels and sheets: Have you ever heard the saying “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” Many items you may normally throw out could be used by shelter pets to provide stimulation, reduce stress, or provide bedding. There are MANY toys, household items, pet care supplies, medical supplies, and even office supplies that shelters could use. Contact the specific shelter to find out what items they could use most.
- Donating money to the shelter: Most shelters even have an online donation option.
- Planned Giving: Remember a favorite local shelter in your will. Making a lifetime gift by bequest is easy. Simply direct your attorney to include the shelter in your will when it is drafted. You can designate a specific dollar amount, or percentage of your estate. You can also bequeath specific assets to the shelter or organization.
- Sponsoring a shelter animal: You can sponsor a specific shelter animal by donating monthly to that animal until they find their forever home. You can decide on the level of support to which you would like to commit, select a shelter pet to designate that support to, and receive updates on that supported shelter animal.
- Memorial and tribute gifts: Honor a loved one – human or pet – by making a memorial or tribute donation. Most shelters and organizations will send a card to whomever you wish to honor with your donation.
- Get involved at shelter events: Volunteer to help set up, break down, or run a table (sell merchandise, educate people who stop at the table by telling them about the organization, accept donations, etc) for the rescue at events.
- Foster a pet to free up space at the shelter: Fostering a shelter pet frees up space in the shelter for other incoming animals. It is also a very rewarding experience, and a personal way to get involved in saving an animal’s life. Fostering increases the number of animals a shelter can save, and plays a huge part in the shelter’s ability to find homes for homeless animals. Most shelters will provide veterinary care, supplies, advice, and more while the animal is in your care. Contact a local shelter for specific details.
RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS:
- Become a foster: Fostering is a critical part of an organization’s success. Fostering provides a loving a stable environment for an animal until they can be adopted into their forever home.
- Transport animals to their foster or adoptive homes: Drive a “leg” or two of a transport! Most legs are only an hour or so long, and just an hour’s drive can help get a homeless animal closer to their foster or adoptive family.
- Be a coordinator: Help coordinate or monitor transports, or help by working with shelters and other groups who need assistance with animals in need. Coordinators receive information about dogs in need, and work with the shelter and rescue to place dogs in foster homes.
- Perform home visits/inspections for potential adopters: Visit homes of nearby potential adopters and evaluate the home, property, and family for rescues in order for decisions to be made for adoption approvals.
- Make phone calls: Call potential adopters to review applications, and applicants’ veterinarians for background checks in order for decisions to be made for adoption approvals.
- Evaluate a animal in a shelter: Visit a specific animal in a shelter to analyze it’s temperament, overall health, etc.
- Get involved in a fundraising event for the organization: Volunteer to help set up, break down, or run a table (sell merchandise, educate people who stop at the table by telling them about the organization, accept donations) for the rescue at events. There are even more opportunities for fundraising, or participating in the event itself. Some events you can even bring your dog – have them participate as a donation dog!
- Donate: Rescue organizations depend greatly on donations from supporters. Most rescues are all-volunteer non-profit organizations. Monies donated go directly to the care (spay, neuter/vaccines/heartworm testing, treatment, and preventative/and other general vetting of the animals in the program)… there are no offices, shelter, or paid staff to support.
- Donate supplies: Food, treats, collars, leads, toys, bedding, crates…and much more!
- Shop Online and at Sites that Support the Organization: Many rescues now have sites that will donate a portion of sales to the rescue. It does not cost you any additional money, and really adds up for the rescue organization.
- Buy rescue merchandise: Show off your love of animals and your passion of saving animals lives by buying merchandise from a rescue. Rescues often sell hats, shirts, magnets, and more. Proceeds will help fund your favorite rescue or organization.
- Educate: Get the word out of animal-related events happening in your area. Rescues always need volunteers to help spread the word about the work they do. Often rescues have brochures and other materials available to help publicize their organization and the work they do.
I’m sure there are even more ways to assist a local shelter or a rescue organization – contact one today to see how YOU can help save the lives of animals!
————————————————————————–
“Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever”
~Karen Davison
Hickory Lane American Bistro, Philadelphia, PA
Hickory Lane American Bistro is located in the Fairmount Neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA, on Fairmount Avenue.
While enjoying a glass of wine at their outdoor seating area, we ordered the “Warm Wild Mushroom and Spring Ramp Bruschetta” – – and it was delicious! These dog-friendly folks even brought a water bowl out for Cello, and were very attentive to her!
London Grille, Paris Wine Bar, Philadelphia, PA
Located in the historic Fairmount Neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA, London Grille is a short walk from several museums, including The Franklin Institute and The Philadelphia Museum of Art. This establishment has been featured in Philadelphia Magazine, Philadelphia Style, The Wall Street Journal, and US Airways Magazine.
Although we did not try the well-known food at London Grille, we did enjoy a glass of wine from Paris Wine Bar, the “sister-establishment” to London Grille. Six wines are offered here “on draught,” tapped from kegs that have been specifically filled by the winemakers for Paris Wine Bar. The wine selections change frequently in order to showcase the best of Pennsylvania’s winemakers such as Allegro, Pinnacle Ridge, Galen Glenn, and Manatawny. The rotating selections always include 2 whites, three reds, and one dry rose.
Cello enjoyed the attention she received from 2-legged and 4-legged passerby’s, and the Sauvignon Blanc we ordered was delicious.
Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, PA
Located in the Fairmount Neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Eastern State Penitentiary is chock full of history, and quite a site to see! Be sure to take a moment to read the history and timeline of this place…you won’t be disappointed!
If you ever want a REAL scare, visit this landmark at night in the month of October for “Terror Behind the Walls!” …by far THE scariest Halloween Haunted tour I’ve ever been on!!
If you look closely, you will see Jenny and Cello standing just to the left of the front opening of the penitentiary:
Opening in 1829, Eastern State Penitentiary was the most expensive structure of its time, and became the most famous prison in the world. The penitentiary was also “home” to many famous criminals including:
- Al “Scarface” Capone – Chicago’s most famous mob boss
- William Francis Sutton – one of the most famous bank robbers in American history
- William “Blackie” Zupkoski – Self-proclaimed “Toughest Man in Philadelphia”
- Leo Callahan – the only prisoner to ever successfully escape from the penitentiary
You many even recognize the penitentiary in some of these movies/videos:
- Tina Turner’s One of the Living music video, 1985
- The Dead Milkmen’s Punk Rock Girl music video, 1988
- The movie, 12 Monkeys, starring Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis, 1995
- The movie, Return to Paradise, starring Vince Vaughn and Ann Heche
- The movie, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, 2009
- Whitney Peyton’s music video, Crazy, 2010
If you are ever in the Philadelphia area, a visit to Eastern State Penitentiary is a must!!
Valley Green Inn, Philadelphia, PA
Located along Forbidden Drive in the Wissahickon Valley Park area of Philadelphia, Valley Green Inn is a great place to end a hike in the Wissahickon Valley Park, and has some great history behind it!
We started my birthday hike in the park at the Inn, and were planning to end our hike here with a reward of good food and drinks. We made reservations for the dog-friendly porch seating area, overlooking the Wissahickon Creek. However, Cello had her own agenda planned. We did not realize it was Wissahickon Day, which included a horse parade down Forbidden Drive. Cello has been very vocal in displaying her distaste for horses lately (something we have begun working on immediately and hope to correct). We decided it would be best for the horses outside of Valley Green Inn if we had lunch elsewhere! We decided to head over to the Fairmount Neighborhood of Philadelphia instead.
We hope to come back to Valley Green Inn someday soon with Cello to enjoy food, drink, and the view of the creek.
Easter 2014
Brian, Cello, and I spent Easter weekend camping in Staunton, Virginia.
On Easter morning, Cello woke up to her basket and huge bunny left for her from the Easter Bunny!
Cello’s Easter Basket:
Cello’s Easter gifts waiting for her on Easter morning in our camper:
Cello was happy to see that the Easter Bunny did not pass her by in her camper
Cello even had her own egg hunt! Each egg was filled with treats!
Lamb Chop was even hiding an egg!
Found another one in the toy basket!
Brian helped Cello get the treat in each egg as she found them:
After the Easter festivities in our camper, we took a ride onto Skyline Drive. Even though we had been on Skyline Drive before, we had never been this far south on it, and we can’t ever get tired of seeing these views!
After our scenic drive on Skyline Drive, we visited Veritas Vineyard , and then stopped at Byers Street Bistro for some fried green tomatoes!
We had a great Easter Day, and a wonderful Easter weekend trip to Virginia! Hope you all enjoyed your Holiday!
Happy Easter!
Veritas Vineyard, Afton, Va
Located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Verita’s Vineyard offers a variety of delicious wines. The vineyard grounds are dog friendly, and the setting offers a gorgeous view of the mountains!
The tasting room was really nice and had a cool display of wine corks over the bar:
Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia
Cello had her first ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway! She had been on Skyline Drive before, but she had never been on the Blue Ridge Parkway! The Blue Ridge Parkway spans 469 miles and connects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive. Construction began in 1935 in Cumberland Knob, near the North Carolina/Virginia state line. The parkway was completed in 1983.
Natural Bridge, Natural Bridge, Va
The Natural Bridge is located in Natural Bridge (Rockbridge County), Virginia. It is one of the oldest tourist attractions in the United States, and is included in several “Natural Wonders of the World” lists, designated a National Historic Landmark, a Virginia National Landmark, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Natural Bridge was amazing to see. We enjoyed sitting down for a while and taking in all it’s beauty.
Brian got lots of kisses from Cello at the Natural Bridge!
Rockbridge Vineyard, Raphine, Va
Rockbridge Vineyard sits on a hill at 2,000 ft in elevation in Raphine, Va. The wine maker has worked in wineries in Germany, California, and Virginia, before buying the land to have his own vineyard. The tasting room is actually inside the barn!
The wines here have won many medals including Best in Show in the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition, Best in Show in Town Point Competition, and has also won the Virginia’s Governor’s Cup twice.
We did the white wine tasting list – and each one was delicious.
Cello is waiting patiently for an oyster cracker – or maybe her own glass of wine? She is the “legal” human-age of 21 now 😉
After the wine tasting, we enjoyed a glass of wine before heading out to our next adventure!
This tasting room had a neat concept for the ceiling too…
Wade’s Mill, Raphine, Va
Wade’s Mill is a working flour mill built in the 1700’s. The mill was built by Captain Joseph Kennedy, an early settler of the Shenandoah Valley. The Kennedy family owned the mill for about 100 years before it was bought by James Wade, whose family operated the mill for the next 4 generations.
Cello and Brian outside of Wade’s Mill:
Wade’s Mill is now officially registered as a historic place:
Wade’s Mill is one of the few remaining flour mills that actually still produces flour exclusively on mill stones. While we were there, the current owner was milling!
The bottom of the mill has a store where you can buy all the goods milled at Wade’s Mill. We bought some polenta, grits, and pesto bread…YUM!
This mill provides flour, grits, polenta, etc for the local restaurants.
Byers Street Bistro, Staunton, Va
Byers Street Bistro was the perfect place to grab a bite to eat while exploring Staunton, Va!
They were super dog friendly (even brought water bowls out for the pups!), and the food was absolutely amazing!
Cello, Brian, Brandi and Guinness entering Byers Street Bistro:
I had the fried green tomato appetizer and shrimp and grits (couldn’t resist some good southern menu choices that we can’t get up here in Southern NJ!)
Cello and Guinness enjoyed themselves and were very well-behaved:
Redbeard Brewing Company, Staunton, VA
How could Cello resist stopping at a brewing company named after her Daddy 😉 With Brian being a “ginger”… we couldn’t resist stopping at Redbeard Brewing Company , located in the historic Wharf district of Staunton, Va. It is Staunton’s first downtown brewery, and they specialize in “small batches of big beers.”
Here is Cello with her Papa Redbeard 😉
Ox-Eye Vineyards, Staunton, Va
Ox-Eye Vineyards is located in the historic Wharf District of Staunton, Va. The Vineyard was named after the Ox-Eye flower that grows in abundance on the owners’ farm.
The tasting room is in a building that was originally built in 1904 and used as an office for a local coal and lumber business. The building also served as a scale house for horse drawn coal wagons. The loaded wagons would pull up under the building’s archway to be weighed by the Fairbanks scale.
The historic town of Staunton, Va
Looking at the AAA magazine one evening, an article caught my eye about a small town in Virginia ranked one of the best small towns in the United States… Staunton, Va. We decided that this would be a great place to camp for our annual Easter camping trip.
Staunton is a unique and quaint town made up of 5 historic districts. There is great architecture and unique shops and eateries to enjoy.
Tommy D’s Limoncello
Tommy DiRenzo
For those of you who have been following Cello’s Corner from the start, you know that Cello is short for Limoncello…and that Cello’s full name is “Tommy D’s Limoncello.” Jenny’s Grandfather, Tommy DiRenzo, was famous for his homemade Limoncello, made with his “secret recipe.”
For those of you who may not be familiar with what Limoncello is, I hope this post gives you a good explanation…
When Brian and I give someone a gift-bottle of my Pop Pop Tommy’s Limoncello, we always attach a little folded card to the bottle that explains what Limoncello is, and includes a picture of my Pop Pop Tommy and Jenny, a watermark picture of our cabin, where the Limoncello is made, and of course, Brian’s favorite puppy-picture of Miss Cello! The card explains the history of Limoncello, as well as the background behind our Limoncello recipe.
Front of our card:
![Limoncello gift label and history 2 [Compatibility Mode] - Microsoft Word non-commercial use 452014 100309 AM](https://i0.wp.com/celloscorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/limoncello-gift-label-and-history-2-compatibility-mode-microsoft-word-non-commercial-use-452014-100309-am.jpg)
Inside of our card:
![Limoncello gift label and history2 [Compatibility Mode] - Microsoft Word non-commercial use 452014 100258 AM.bmp](https://i0.wp.com/celloscorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/limoncello-gift-label-and-history2-compatibility-mode-microsoft-word-non-commercial-use-452014-100258-am-bmp.jpg)
Back of the label:
![Limoncello gift label and history 2 [Compatibility Mode] -](https://i0.wp.com/celloscorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/limoncello-gift-label-and-history-2-compatibility-mode.jpg)
There are many different recipes for Limoncello – – even a cream-version. We think homemade Limoncello (especially Pop Pop Tommy’s recipe!!) is better than bottled versions bought at the liquor store that we have tried. Summer is right around the corner…and Limoncello is wonderfully refreshing on a nice summer day! …Google search a recipe or two and give it a try!
3 Yrs
It’s My Birthday, And I Can Bark If I Want To…
This Friday, March 14, Cello turned three years old! I truly cannot believe it has already been three years that we have been lucky enough to have her in our life.
I’d say Cello had a pretty good birthday! …See if you agree!
I put together a “Basket of Birds for the Birthday Bird Dog,” which she discovered, and helped herself to her birthday goodies (after the “OK” command of course)!
Cello’s Aunt Casey stopped by and dropped off a nice birthday card, and a birthday gift! …Thanks Aunt Casey and Cousin James!
My very cool shirt from Casey and James…perfect!
Then, Cello had a birthday treat of fresh rotisserie chicken, green beans, and carrots…
And THEN, her Daddy took her on a shopping spree to PetSmart to pick out her own birthday treats….
I think overall, this birthday gal had a GREAT day!
Happy 3rd Birthday, Cello…we love you!!!
Me and My Shadow
Well, it’s been a while…a LONG while since we could say it actually felt GOOD to be outside! This winter has been brutal (and that’s putting it lightly). South Jersey has had over 18 days of snow, with snowfall totaling over 75 inches so far (and more snow in the forecast for this week!). If it wasn’t snowing, or there wasn’t snow and/or ice on the ground, it was uncomfortably cold (got down to -4 degrees one day!). The lake we live on has been frozen most of the winter, and the streets are full of BIG potholes and cracks. These types of conditions do NOT make a GSP happy! Cello did not go to the park – or walk – or run WAY too many days this winter. We’ve gotten creative with indoor physical activities like hide-and-seek, our version of the doggie stair-master (throwing a ball up-and-over our balcony so Cello has to run up-the-stairs/down-the-stairs to retrieve her ball)…as well as mentally stimulating indoor activities like practicing basic commands and “tricks.” But nothing is as wonderful as outdoor runs and walks that exhaust a GSP (a tired GSP is a good GSP!!)
Today and yesterday finally felt warm! (I never thought I would hear myself say that temperatures in the high 30’s felt warm!!!) …so Brian, Cello, and I enjoyed a 4-mile walk each day this weekend in the “warm” 39 degree weather. It was great to see runners, bikers, and other walkers out and about. Everyone was commenting on how warm it felt, and how good it was to be outside. I still was bundled up in a big winter coat and hat…but it felt so good to be out in the fresh air and in the sun – with roads you could actually walk on without worrying about slipping on ice or snow!
It will get up to 60 degrees by Tuesday – quite a tease considering by Thursday it will be 30 and possibly snowing AGAIN 🙁 …Needless to say, we are very, VERY anxious for winter to be OVER.
10 more days, 8 hours, 29 minutes until the official First Day of Spring 2014
103 days, 8 hours, 29 minutes until the official First Day of Summer 2014
…but who’s counting ?!?! 😉
Bird Dog of the Day
Cello was chosen as the featured “Bird Dog of the Day” on Instagram!
Each day, one puppy and one adult bird dog picture is featured on this very popular account…and today Cello won “adult of the day!” Yay Cello!!
Check out Bird Dog of the Day on Instagram…and “like” Cello’s picture!
Please visit Cello’s Instagram for more great photos of Cello and her adventures!
Valentine’s Day Grain-Free Peanut Butter-Honey Hearts
ANOTHER snow day here in Southern NJ… perfect day for baking dog treats!
Cello waits and watches patiently as these yummy-smelling Valentines Day treats bake in Cello’s Cucina!
Peanut Butter-Honey Hearts
Ingredients:
- 2 cups organic buckwheat flour
- 1 1/2 cups organic almond flour
- 1/3 cup organic, natural peanut butter (no salt or sugar added)
- Be sure that the peanut butter you use doesn’t contain xylitol)
- 1 TB organic honey
- 1 1/4 cups hot water
- Additional flour for rolling (or parchment paper)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350° F
- Mix dry ingredients together.
- Mix in the peanut butter, honey, and hot water.
- Knead the dough well.
- Roll out the dough into 1/4″ thickness and cut into shapes with dog cookie cutters.
- Bake on a lightly greased cookie sheet for 40 minutes. Turn off the oven and let them cool overnight. (I just took mine out at 40 minutes and cooled them on a wire rack – see notes below).
If your dog likes less-crunchy treats, you cool them completely on a wire rack, then serve them to your four-legged child!
These treats come out pretty crunchy even if you don’t keep them in the oven over night…so if your pup prefers softer treats, you can try reducing the cook-time, and cooling the treats on a wire rack.
Yield: Will depend on the size cookie cutter you use.
Storing: These tasty treats can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 weeks or n the freezer for up to 6 months.
Tips: The dough for these treats can be pretty sticky to work with at first, especially while kneading. You can dust your work place and rolling-pin with some extra buckwheat flour, or (my favorite) you can line your work place with parchment paper, then place another piece of parchment paper over the dough while rolling it out. Also, keep a dish of extra buckwheat flour next to you and “dip” the cookie cutter in the flour each time before making the cut-outs.
Sepia Saturday Blog Hop: Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Baby It’s Cold Outside
Cello in a trapper hat!
Please join in and share your best sepia pics or videos!
Rules:
Be Sepia-Related (doesn’t just have to be photos of pets!)
Grab the badge, link back to your host
Have fun!
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Sepia Saturday Blog Hop: Angel Eyes
I love this picture of Cello…those eyes get me every time!
ANGEL EYES
Cello is joining Ruckus the Eskie again for Sepia Saturday. Ruckus says:
All are welcome to join. Please share your best sepia pics of pets, families, experiences, nature, etc! 
Here are the rules:
- Be Sepia-Related (doesn’t just have to be photos of pets!)
- Have fun!
- Grab the badge
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Resolve to Move Your Mutt!
“Get off your butt, move your mutt” …and join this blog hop! Join Pets Move to help track your progress!
Cello and I are joining the Resolve to Move Your Mutt Blog Hop hosted by Slim Doggy and Keep the Tail Wagging.
Cello and I resolve to get up, get out, and get moving each and every day (even on dreary days)!
No more napping!
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Santa’s Three Reindeer, and (Christmas) “Eve”
Rescue mission #2… 4 dogs in Kentucky in awful situations…
This past Saturday Brian and I took another road trip to pick up one of 4 German Shorthaired Pointers found abandoned in Kentucky.
The first, and eldest, “Eve” (Christmas Eve). Eve was found wandering, and thought to be a discarded puppy-mill dog. It was very obvious that she had been bred over and over again. Another volunteer from the GSP Rescue of NJ, Ally, kindly adopted this loving senior (assumed to be about 9 years old).
“The Three Reindeer”, “Prancer, Vixen, and Blitzen” , are three 1 year old litter mates, also abandoned in Kentucky. They were transported as well. Prancer and Vixen were picked up and being fostered by two other rescue volunteers, and we picked up Blitzen to foster.
Prancer has already been matched up with an approved adopter, has been renamed Belle, and will be moving into her new forever home!
Vixen is at her foster home and awaiting a forever home.
Blitzen (now referred to as Whiskey) came home with us, and will stay with us until tomorrow morning, when I will drive him to another volunteer’s home to be fostered closer to where the approved potential adopters they have for him reside. This will make it easier for meet-and-greets to be sure that Whiskey is matched up with the right family.
Whiskey has been such a joy to foster these few days. Despite his past, he is an affectionate boy who enjoys to give and receive love! He is just adorable!
Here are the “Three Reindeer” at our pick-up spot:
Here is Whiskey:
Both Vixen and Whiskey need some basic training, but are two beautiful and affectionate German Shorthaired Pointers. They are now in their foster homes, and up for adoption through the GSP Rescue of NJ. Pray that these wonderful dogs find their forever homes quickly!!
Thinking of a GSP? Think rescue! The National GSP Rescue lists regional GSP rescue groups across the United States and Canada. If you are interested in adoption, volunteering, or would like information on how to surrender your dog to rescue (Please do not surrender GSPs to a shelter or abandon them!!!!), please contact the group that covers your state or region. If there is no contact listed for your state, you can email the National GSP Rescue at rescue@gspca.org .
A GSP rescue will help match you up with the perfect GSP for your family!
UPDATE: ALL DOGS IN THIS POST HAVE BEEN ADOPTED!! YAY!
Sepia Saturday Blog Hop
Sepia Saturday – Sleepy Head
Cello is joining the Sepia Saturday Blog Hop hosted by Ruckus the Eskie!
I would like to share this photo of Cello being a sleepy-head in the morning (sepia style)…
Join the brand new fun and hop along – all you need is one sepia photo (and it doesn’t have to just be a pet photo – anything sepia will work! Come on, show us your sepia!
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This list will close on (1/3/2014 8:59 PM North America – Pacific Standard Time)
This list will close on (1/3/2014 8:59 PM North America – Pacific Standard Time)
Mutt Meatballs
This great dog treat recipe originally came from Dog Treat Kitchen. However, I altered the recipe a bit to fit Cello’s dietary needs.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups dry dog food, ground coarse using a food processor
- 1/2 cup organic buckwheat flour
- 1 lb. organic ground bison meat
- 1/4 cup organic honey
- 1/8 cup organic applesauce, unsweetened
Instructions:
- Cook the bison, breaking apart into very small pieces. (I boiled the bison, saving the broth for other future recipes).
- Pour the dog food into a food processor or blender and grind to a coarse flour.
- Whisk together the coarse dog food and buckwheat flour in a medium bowl.
- Stir together the meat, honey and applesauce in a separate small bowl.
- Stir the meat mixture into the dry mixture until combined.
- Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Form into meatballs – vary the size, or keep them all uniform.
- Serve fresh, or place in your freezer until frozen, approximately 2 hours.
Storing – This treat needs to be kept in the refrigerator or freezer. Keep in the freezer for up to 4 months.