Very Proud of my CGC pup!!

Yesterday, Maile and I did our CGC testing (Canine Good Citizen) and she passed with flying colors!! :)  She is an obedience rockstar and I'm so happy to have her in my family!!  I suppose most people in the world don't know what the CGC test is so I will post it at the end of this post.  Really all it is, is the end result of a well mannered dog that knows what is expected of him/her.  It is really easy to accomplish if you take the time.  With Maile, the only part that was slightly hard for her was having her feet examined, she hates that... but she was a super star and allowed it perfectly.  I was and still am very much thrilled with her.  Doing this Obedience thing has become a bit of a hobby for me now that I am no longer riding and showing horses.  I can't even explain how rewarding it is to have an animal work with you and understand exactly what you are saying and move accordingly.  It is somewhat of a dance, a way of communicating through subtle voice and body commands.  It amazes me daily how smart my dogs can be when I take the time to work with them and communicate with them in a way they can understand.  Very rewarding and it is my privelage to be able to work with such special creatures... both Maile and Kona have rewarded me with hours of fun, obedience, communcation and this fun little dance we do with our dogs.  Next step for Maile (and maybe Kona too) will be the Rally Obedience Ring... I have decided to show my girl and maybe both girls in the Rally ring and I can't wait.  Hoping for her first show to be early 2012.  In case you are wondering what Rally is, I'm going to add a link at the end of this post :) 

Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger

The dog will allow a friendly stranger to approach it and speak to the

handler in a natural, everyday situation.

Test 2: Sitting politely for petting

The dog will allow a friendly stranger to pet it while it is out with its

handler.

Test 3: Appearance and grooming

The dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit

someone, such as a veterinarian, groomer or friend of the owner, to do so.

Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)

The handler/dog team will take a short “walk” to show that the dog is in

control while walking on a leash.

Test 5: Walking through a crowd

The dog and handler walk around and pass close to several people (at least

three) to demonstrate that the dog can move about politely in pedestrian

traffic and is under control in public places.

Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place

The dog will respond to the handler’s commands to 1) sit, 2) down

and will 3) remain in the place commanded by the handler (sit or down

position, whichever the handler prefers).

Test 7: Coming when called

The dog will come when called by the handler. The handler will walk

10 feet from the dog, turn to face the dog, and call the dog.

Test 8: Reaction to another dog

To demonstrate that the dog can behave politely around other dogs,

two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a distance of about

20 feet, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for

about 10 feet.

Test 9: Reaction to distraction

To demonstrate the dog is confident when faced with common distracting

situations, the evaluator will select and present two distractions. Examples

of distractions include dropping a chair, rolling a crate dolly past the dog,

having a jogger run in front of the dog, or dropping a crutch or cane.

Test 10: Supervised separation

This test demonstrates that a dog can be left with a trusted person, if

necessary, and will maintain training and good manners. Evaluators are

encouraged to say something like, “Would you like me to watch your

dog?” and then take hold of the dog’s leash. The owner will go out of sight

for three minutes.

Equipment

You’ll need to bring your dog’s brush or comb to the CGC test. In the

CGC test, dogs must wear a buckle collar or slip collar.

For details regarding equipment, expanded descriptions of the exercises

above, and how the CGC Test is administered, see:

http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm

Rally... http://www.akc.org/events/rally/getting_started.cfm

The CGC TEST consists of 10 skills needed by all well-mannered dogs.

All of the exercises are done on a leash.

Awesome Grilled Steak Recipe!! :)

Oh wow this was soooo yummmm!!...

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 2 (1/2 pound) rib-eye steaks

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, mix the vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, honey, olive oil, ground black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, salt, liquid smoke, and cayenne pepper.
2. Place steaks in a shallow glass dish with the marinade, and turn to coat. For optimum flavor, rub the liquid into the meat. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days.
3. Preheat grill for medium-high to high heat.
4. Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill steaks 7 minutes per side, or to desired doneness. Discard leftover marinade.

I found this recipe on allrecipes.com and just tried it and all I have to say is... wow, I haven't had that awesome of a steak in a long time (and since I used to be a grill cook, cooking mainly steaks all day long, I think this is saying something!)  It was simply scrumptious!!  I'm very happy to have found this recipe and since my husband wasn't home for the trial, I can't wait to cook him this yummy steak!! :)

I Miss My Dad!

I'm so annoyed with myself for not posting this yesterday!  We had a busy day yesterday coming home from camping and I wanted to make the time to write this post but somehow it escaped me!  This post is for my wonderful father, Jim, who passed away 21 years ago yesterday (August 28th).  Me, at the age of 40, having been without a father for 21 years is way too long.  I wasn't overly sad yesterday, yet I did shed a few tears in memory of him. (I will admit, however,  I have shed a lot more tears today writing this post).

My dad was a really fun guy, he had my hazel smiling eyes as well as my big smile (or I have his, however you'd like to look at it) so whenever I look in the mirror I do see him... especially since I am quickly getting closer and closer to his age when he passed.  He was 45 when he died and I was only 19.  He passed away from a heart aneurysm.  He died in his sleep about two hours prior to an appointment with a heart specialist.   You see, he didn't have a known heart issue or anything like that but for the few days prior to his death, he hadn't felt well.  The day before, he went to a Check-Medical clinic where the Doctor thought nothing was wrong with him and sent him home with a phone number for a local heart specialist.  He made that appointment for the following day but sadly passed away, in his sleep, shortly before that appointment.  It will always sadden me that his fate ended up at the hands of a Doctor who didn't pay attention to her patient... she should have sent him straight to the hospital.  Maybe a hospital could have made a difference, maybe not, but I would have liked my father to have had that chance.

It also saddens me that my children are without their grandfather.  I think he would have been a pretty cool grandpa... maybe not one that did tons with his grandkids, but he would have loved them so much, he would have been sooooo proud.  He would have supported me when I needed fatherly advice regarding my kids, he would have laughed at me when I was frustrated with my kids and he would have always brought them gifts and spoiled them when he was around. 

My dad was such a great friend to those who called him friend.  His best friend, Brian, wrote a poem in his honor....

One of a Kind

Friends are God's gift for both pleasure and strife.

What mirrors they are for our souls in this life.

They share with us love without wanting it back.

It's amazing how strong they can be when we lack.

Like a giant umbrella that keeps off the rain.

Until sunlight returns and our lives we regain.

I will always remember the friend I knew best,

He was there for me always , he passed every test.

To his family, dear Charma, and those who loved Jim,

I thank you for giving me so much of him.

His memory will always be here in my mind.

I loved him and miss him,

He was one of a kind.

This poem I have always known word for word because it gave me a lot of peace, back then, 21 years ago.  It always made me happy to know that my dad was special to his friends.  And looking at it now, I can only wish I had a friend as great as my dad had been to Brian.  I wish there had been good video recorders and digital cameras in 1990 because I know if there was I would have a ton more pictures of him and most importantly, I'd probably have his voice recorded.  That is one thing that I miss most, it is his voice, hearing him call me... "Baby Stacey Lin" which is what he called me in terms of endearment.  I try to hear his voice in my head sometimes and sadly the years have taken that memory away.  I can almost hear it and I know if I did, I would recognize it in a second but it isn't clear to me anymore, and that really sucks.

My dad was far from perfect, far from the best dad in the world or anything... but you know what he was?  He was my Daddy!  He gave me my eyes, my smile, my lack of patience, my quickness to anger, and my temper.  He also gave me my humor, my love for having a great time, my passion for the things I love.  And I miss him with all my heart and soul!  He was a great and fun person and he was half of what made me who I am.  Most importantly he was my Dad and I so wish I could have him back, if even for just one day.

I wish I could have known my dad as an old man, that I could have known him while I was a women and not merely a teenager, that I could have known him as a grandfather, that I could have known him as a friend.  My dad was taken way too early and for always, I will regret that that had to be the fate that he/we endured.

It is so very sad and hard that we have to loose people throughout life.  My dad is not the only person too young or close to me that I have lost.  I have lost others too.  Death is a hard fact to swallow, to understand, to accept.  I have accepted my fathers death... I did many years ago.  Yet, I still find that there is a space he has left that cannot be filled... even 21 years later.  It will always be that way... My father, Jim, will never be on this earth again or will never breath another breath or laugh another laugh, he will however, always live in my heart, my soul, my smile and of course my eyes!!! 

Till we meet again, Dad.... I will always love you and cherish the moments we had.... Love Always... Your Daughter, Your Baby Stacey Lin

Spicy Oriental Chicken Pasta Salad

I'm so excited right now, so I had to share!  I have a favorite salad from the deli of a grocery store here in town and it isn't cheap (like $6.50 per pound or something).  So I decided to try and master it and I think I did, if not I came really close.  The ingredients were on the deli label and after looking on the Internet at different recipes and then asking a few of my favorite chef friends for advice... I came up with a fantastic recipe.  So, here it is:

Ingredients

*1 16oz package of pasta of choice preferable a smaller type of pasta.  My favorite is radiatori but penne, spirals, bow tie or whatever would be great too.
*1 Whole rotisserie chicken cut up (or 4 breasts- cooked)
*1/3 cup or 1 bunch chopped fresh green onion
*1 3.5oz (or so) package of Sliced Almonds
*1 1/2 cup Snap Peas
*1 can baby corn

Dressing

*1/2 cup soy sauce

*1/4 cup red wine vinegar
*1/4 cup rice vinegar
*1/4 cup sesame oil
*1/4 cup olive oil
*1-2 Tbsp Sambal Oelek (Red Chili Paste: comes in a clear jar with a green lid and a gold label with red writing with a rooster on it found in the oriental section of the store :)
*1/4 cup sesame seeds
*1 Tbsp sugar
*a few dashes of salt and white pepper
Note: The Samal Oelek is very spicy (obviously LOL) so I suggest starting with 1 Tbsp and then adding more if you want it spicier... I found 2 or slightly more Tbsp was perfect for me.... but it is pretty spicy and it does get more spicy as it sits)

*Mix all the main ingredients together in a large bowl
*Mix all the ingredients of the dressing together in a small bowl (taste to decide on the spicy factor but remember that the main ingredients will cut a lot of the spice so keep that in mind while tasting... it is easy enough to add more Sambal Oelek after you are all done if necessary.
*Mix the dressing in with the main ingredients and then ENJOY!!!  Yummmm!!!

Happy 5th Anniversary to the love of my life and I!

Saturday was our 5th anniversary! 

Here are a few of my favorite photos from our wedding day.  It should have been a beautiful sunny day but it rained most of the day and forced our outdoor, garden wedding indoors.  Funnily enough just as we said "I do" the sun came out :)

 

And I am very happy to say that I love my husband as much today as I did five years ago :)  If not more!  Mike is such a wonderful man, husband, father, brother, son etc etc.  I just love my guy with all my heart and soul!  He still makes my heart do a flip flop sometimes when he walks through the door.  I am proud of him everyday and I don't know that I have ever actually told him that before, but I am everyday.  Without Mike, I don't know what we would do... he is an amazing man who is always there for his family... all of us... me and the kids as well as his parents and siblings. 

Saturday, we had a fantastic day.  For starters, I woke up to a wonderful surprise, one that I will remember and cherish for years to come.  For a little background, I asked for and Mike got me a Pandora bracelet for my 40th birthday this year.  Normally, we don't buy each other gifts for our anniversary... we just try to do something special together instead.  This year however, Mike surprised me and got me both my children's birthstone charms for my Pandora bracelet!  I was overjoyed and I just love them so much!!  It means a ton to me.  Now I just need his birthstone to add to it :)  Tyler and I share a birth month so I have mine already.  I would share a photo buy I don't think it would do it justice and I know it wouldn't show how much it means to me!

After that we headed out to do some crabbing in the Puget Sound.  We headed up to Camano Island and Tyler and Mike went out to drop our pots while Brinley and I found a nice spot to hang out for the afternoon.  Luckily we had nice weather... not too hot and not too cold!

 Here is a pic of Brinley hanging out waiting for the boys...



After the boys came back from setting the traps, we played around a little and had some lunch before it was time to go get our catch.

Here is a shot of the kids playing in this great drift wood fort that was by our picnic table...



After lunch, Mike took both kids out to get our crabs while I hung out and read my book... yay for a little quite time for mom :)  We ended up with our limit on Dungeness Crab for the day which is 20 for the four of us!!  Definitely worth taking the time to catch our own!!!  So, once we finally got home (after stopping by my in-laws for a quick visit) we had a nice huge crab feast and thoroughly enjoyed filling ourselves with yummy fresh crab dipped in melted butter.  Both kids LOVE crab and were constantly after us to crack them some more.  We only managed to get through half of it Saturday night so we worked on it some more on Sunday and it looks like I get a little crab lunch today.  I think we will head out for another crab trip next week sometime... they are so yummy!! 

On Sunday, we decided to go to a cool park in our area for a little hiking with the dogs and kids... it was quite a hike!  Hopefully I lost a pound or two in the process.  But the kids had  a great time in the woods, the dogs loved it... they were even able to go swimming in Lake Washington for a bit.  And it was great to enjoy a little nice weather as a family :)  The kids posed for me on a log in the woods but every time I snapped the pic, Brin kept looking at Tyler... oh well it is cute anyway.... (I have no clue what that is on the left of the photo, it is driving me nuts because I swear there was nothing at all over there when I took the pic)



All and all we had a most wonderful anniversary weekend.  Could I have used a nice romantic getaway??  Yes, of course... especially a spa weekend someplace warm, but it was nice to do some fun things with the kids as well.  Maybe a nice romantic getaway will be in order for next year ;)  With Brin only being 2... I'm totally satisfied with the celebrating we did this weekend, I'm not quite ready to leave her for the weekend, not just yet anyway!  

I just have to say once again how much I love my husband, he truly is wonderful!!  And Mike, if you read this... Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being you, for all that you do and for loving us so completely... you are purely the best and definitely our everything!!! 

"Crazy Good" Alfredo Sauce

... Or so claims my husband!  I believe this is the first time Mike has called something I made crazy good :)  This is a great and very easy Alfredo sauce.  It is a bit on the cheesy side and probably extremely fattening but oh so yummy!  Other than Mike, both the kids loved it!  I served mine over bow tie pasta and grilled chicken tenders.

Alfredo Sauce
1 Cube Butter
8 oz Cream Cheese
1/2 Cup of Milk
1/2 Cup of Parmesan and Asiago Cheese Shredded (Start with a half a cup and taste add more if you like... I actually ended up using more like 3/4 cup I think :)

*Melt butter and cream cheese in saucepan
*Add milk and cheese and stir until well mixed

Makes about 4-6 servings depending on how big of an appetite you are serving :)  It was four servings for us with about two servings left over that we'll be enjoying as a side pasta dish tonight!

Note: I could only find a cheese mix with Parmesan, Asiago and Romano cheeses... I don't know how much difference the addition of the Romano cheese made??  Next time, I'm going to only use the Parm and Asiago if I can find a mix of it.  Enjoy!!

Take a moment to appreciate the view, it is such a beautiful day out today!!

edited to say: I need to thank Ashley, the author of the blog: Veater Family Adventures for posting this recipe originally, that's where I adopted it from. :)

Really Yummy Marinated Veggie Kabobs

Since it is the grilling season, I thought I'd share!  I was looking for a marinade for veggie kabobs one day.  I had mushroom, zucchini, peppers and onions all kabobbed up ready for the grill and wanted to do it up a bit tastier so I searched the internet and found a recipe that I love... I did tweak it a little but here it is....

*1/2 cup Olive Oil
*Lemon juice (fresh is best... juice from about half a lemon or more if you love lemon)
*2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
*1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard (a heaping Tbsp if you love mustard)
*1 1/2 Tbsp fresh Oregano or Basil (Oregano is my fav.  You use less herbs if you are using dried like 1/2 or 3/4 Tbsp instead. The ratio is 3 to 1 Fresh vs Dried)
*1-2 Garlic Cloves minced (use two if you love garlic)

Mix all together and brush on kabobs 15-20 minutes before grilling.  I always save a bit to brush on after grilling too because I love it.  That amount should be enough for 10-12 kabobs depending on how much you brush on.  I also have used it on non-kabobs... like the other day I quartered a zucchini lengthwise and grilled it with the marinade and it was delish!!!  I also grilled chicken too and I mopped up the extra marinade with my chicken and I loved it.  So, I hope you try it and I hope you love it as much as I do!! :)  I'm going to try a new Alfredo recipe tonight and if it is as great as it is supposed to be then I'll share that one too.  Happy grilling!! :)