Tuesday, February 25, 2014

When the dog gives you lemons!

Quincy the little sweetheart ( a slam description) that Dick bought for $5.00 from the Amish boy now has a total value of $800.00 and probably not stopping there!   That includes a vet bill we acquired in NC last spring when he was a year old.   While the guys were building fence Quincy decided to sleep under the tractor.  He was sleeping so sound  the tractor didn't wake him until the  wheel rolled over his hind quarters.  Time for a batch of lemonade,  he only had a hair line fracture to the pelvis. No surgery, braces etc.  just x-rays, pain meds and an overnight stay.  Raise that glass of lemonade and "salute".   Thank you very much Quincy.

He is a chewer and loves stuffing and fluff.  The old couch in the basement, throw pillows, lawn furniture cushions, socks, MY shoes or any material, he's not fussy.  We use a kennel cage and every few months I look at him and think, I bet he is an adult and has outgrown his puppy ways.  Very, very foolish me.  My love  for animals can give me way too much trouble.  Although I don't say more trouble than they are worth.
Here's to ya Quincy!

Last night we went to visit our grandson, he lives 3 minutes up the road and we didn't plan on being gone long.  Awwww Quincy you don't have to go in your cage. Not what Dick wanted to do but...... I picked up Dick's farm boots, plants and anything else I thought he could destroy in the basement.  When we pulled in the driveway I thought,  maybe he was being good.  Really I didn't believe it I just thought it.  Good thing because when I looked in the window I could see bits and pieces of  MY boots I had just bought this fall.  How could I pick up old farm boots and not new leather boots?????  Probably in my 30's and 40's I would have close to choked him, now I blame myself.  Of course how can I blame a dog that doesn't understand don't chew anything?

 Another batch of lemonade coming up!  He chewed the top of the boot which is better than the bottom.  Not wanting  to buy another pair so close to spring (aka cheap) and too upset to throw them out  I got a little creative remembering boot cuffs I had knit a few years back, perfect they covered every hole and chew mark!  I wore them today  but knowing what is hidden still makes me made.  Quincy is now back to being a "caged animal" for a few more months or until I feel sorry for him.  He really doesn't mind his cage and runs in it when we are getting around to leave.  It's me that doesn't like seeing him caged.

The lemon

another view of the lemon

The lemonade


One thing is for sure, I will be making more lemonade because of Quincy.

I do like fresh made lemonade.  It's the drink of choice at Renna's Pizza in the Olean Mall.  They make it fresh when you order...very good.

Sometimes but not often we will make it at home.  It is best made with a simple syrup rather than using granulated sugar.  Simple syrup is great for Lime Coolers too.  We do make them often on a hot summer night.
Hard to think of hot summer nights they seem so long ago.

Simple syrup for drinks: 2 parts sugar, 1 part water.  Bring the water to a boil, add sugar and stir until it is dissolved.  Cool and keep in refrigerator.

Lime Cooler Recipe from Gross's Biergarten:  That's not a joke, my parents bought the tavern from George Siebert in the early 60's.  My mother threatened my life if I told people I lived in a beer joint, she said if anyone asks where you live it is at the "Biergarten".  It was just a tiny little place.  We served dinners and mom's homemade pies.  Back then school teachers and administration were not aloud in local establishments that sold alcohol.  We had a lot of customers at the back door for take out.  Times have changed!  You probably know the tavern by it's name now, The Roadside.  Sorry, a little off track but what else is new, here is the recipe.  Put a few ice cubes in a cocktail shaker, pour a shot of gin, juice of a lime, 1/4 cup of simple syrup and shake for a minute.  Pour in tumbler and fill with club soda or tonic water.  For a little different taste use a good fruit juice like mango or peach instead of tonic water or club soda.  Very good.

How does my mind do it?  I start out with dogs, lemons and lemonade and end up with an alcohol lime beverage.......It really could be a useful recipe to someone this summer.  If you make a lime cooler and don't like it, call me, I will come pick it up.  That is what I call "Passing it On".