Cowfolk



Happy New Year!
~Spud, Bandy, and Mom



An Old Man in Winter

    
    On the way back to the house from the barn, Spud and I saw this spectacular sky and the camera had to come out!  Beauty is everywhere and this tree is a favorite on the farm.

~Mom

Spud's Christmas Wish

My wish for Christmas is that I will never have to dress up like Santa again.  Talk about humiliation!  But wait a minute......it's time to open gifts.  If Santa is so special, he should be the first one to open his gift, right?  Maybe it's not so bad dressing up like Santa after all!

Why We Have Christmas

     For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

The Good Shepherd

     This was sent to Mom's e-mail from Grandpa and Grandma, (I love Grandma...she always brings me treats!), with the message that "we should all have the good sense of this dog and curl up in Jesus' lap from time to time".  I'm not surprised that a shepherd should seek out the comfort of "The Good Shepherd".

~Spud

Christmas Tour at Our House

Thought you might like to take a little photo tour of some of the Christmasy things at our house.....Thanks to Jeanne for some of Mom's fav. decorations!

       Put a milk carton, frosting, graham crackers, and candy in front of the kids.  This will occupy them for a long while.....Great time for us dogs to get some rest before the kids resume chasing us around the couch again.

~Spud

Merry Christmas!

Birthday

Today is the first day of winter and also Jacob's birthday.  Please remember, dogs like cake too!  Happy Birthday, Jacob!

~Spud

Winter Moon on The Farm

I see the moon, and the moon sees me.  God bless the moon, and God bless me.
(an old poem, author unknown)

It's going to be a barking night tonight!  I can't sleep under a full winter moon, so the rest of the house might just as well be awake too!

~Spud

Don't Blame the Dog

No, I did not dig this hole!        Please, don't take me swimming there!

~Spud
(Photos copied from Yahoo.)

Holiday Fun Food Not For Dogs

Pretzels and Chocolate

1/2 pkg white chocolate chips
1/2 pkg chocolate chips
1 large bag of pretzels
Holiday sprinkles

1.  Melt chocolate in microwave for 45 seconds.  Stir until smooth.
2.  Dip pretzels in chocolate and sprinkle.
3.  Stand upright in container such as a 1/2 pint wide mouth jar until chocolate hardens.  White chocolate will harden long before regular chocolate.  You can hurry up the process by putting pretzels in freezer for a couple of mins.
4.  Dogs and chocolate don't mix well together so give your dog a little meat from Christmas Dinner while you are snacking on the pretzels.

~Spud

A Little Help Please

     Could someone please help the dog!!!!  Why do you think you humans have fingers anyway?  Ahhh, admit it, you think it's amusing to watch us struggle a little.  Well, I'm not proud!  I won't give up until I'm scarfing down Beggin Strips, the King of all snacks.  Putting an opened bag in front of me is like offering catnip to a cat.

~Spud

This is No Doghouse

What is so great about this picture?  How about a snowy picture of a doghouse instead?  Second thought, I don't think I've ever spent the night in a doghouse.  Ok, how about a picture of the back of the couch?  You birds, take my advice...that's the place to sleep!

~Spud

Lemon Coffee Cake

This recipe is one of Jacob's favorite cakes and is nice for company dropping in around the holidays.  There is a surprise burst of lemon in the middle!

1 1/4 c sugar, divided
3/4 c vegetable or olive oil
4 eggs
2 c flour
1 t baking powder
1 can lemon pie filling/pudding.  (Pudding in the box is not good in this recipe.)
1 1/2 t cinnamon

1.  Mix sugar and oil well.  Add eggs and beat until light.
2.  Add flour and baking powder.  Mix well.
3.  Spread half the batter in the bottom of a greased 8 x 8 baking dish.  (A 13 x 9 dish makes the cake too crunchy.)
4.  Spread lemon pie filling over the batter.  Top with remaining batter. 
5.  Mix cinnamon and remaining suger together.  Sprinkle over the top. 
6.  Bake 350 for 30 mins. or until toothpick comes out clean.

Jingle Smells

(As sung to the tune of Jingle Bells.)

Jingle bells, possum smells,
Wafting in the air.
Think I'll go and have a roll.
Then beg to come inside.
Coyotes howl.
I will growl.
Mom will let me in.
Got what I wanted. Whoops. What?  A BATH!
You took away my grin.

~Spud

Fuel for the Woodstove

     If you look carefully, you'll see I'm not the only one who likes to show his best side!  As long as I can back my rear quarters up to the woodstove, I'm a happy puppy!

~Spud

Toy in the Air

      I don't care whose birthday this is!  If I get hold of that "toy", it's mine!

More Pet Tips

Click on the Tips Tab to check out more pet tips.

Gone for the Winter

     The Jenny Wrens left for the winter after raising several clutches of babies.  Mom loves to listen to them talk to one another.  Me, I love to try to capture them in the air and have been known to catch a sparrow or two in flight.  I do have to agree that the wrens help to reduce the mosquito population around here though.

God's Gift to Mom

    Mom and I found this weird vine in the woods on one of our walks.  It had been a long time since she had been able to make it through the woods, so she had never seen this before.  She thought the marvel of nature was so interesting.  She just had to take a picture of it.  While going through her pictures, it dawned on her that it resembles the breast cancer ribbon.  Mom believes that God speaks through the Bible, music, and nature to name a few.  It's like God is saying to her, I know what you've been through and I am here for you now.   
~Spud

Two Old Men

The Ham

    

     There is only one ham in this household.  Can you guess who it is?  I mean really, Sacha, why do you have to be such a camera diva?  Can't you pretend to be a little elusive!  Take a lesson from me.  Don't cater to the humans.  Even if it means they sometimes just get butt shots!

Christmas Gift Ideas for Children

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 9:7

1.  Pack a shoe box for a child....Samaritan's Purse is a Franklin Graham ministry that delivers shoe boxes with toys, candy, and toiletry items to children in disaster/ needy places.  Filling a shoe box can be a fun way to include your child in giving to others.  You can find out more by going to samaritanspurse.com.   It is not too late!

 

2.  Buy a gift for a child of incarcerated parents.....Angel Tree is the largest ministry that reaches out to children of parents who are in prison.  Because of a matching grant, you can provide gifts for 2 children for just $11.44.  Website.....angeltree.org.

~Spud with Mom's help

Christmas Gift Ideas for Animals

For your local humane shelter.....

1.  Donate old towels and linens.

2.  Offer to walk dogs.

3.  Drop off some doggie treats or dog food.

4.  Give them some new or old CLEAN toys.
 
Other animals....

1.  Purchase a bird feeder and some food for a friend's Christmas gift.

2.  Most horses appreciate an apple in their feed on Christmas.

3.  Ask for extra bones at the meat counter of you local grocery for a treat for your favorite pooch.  Personally, I'll take all the bones I can get!


~Spud 

Cute Animal Christmas Song