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It's A Dog's Life

6/15/2018

3 Comments

 
        She left her comfortable home in British Columbia, Canada, without knowing where she was going or what kind of a life she might lead. On the long road trip, she drove in the car with him, blindly faithful, dependent on his love and affection---and wily ways---to get them where he wanted to go. Through the uncertainty of the United States, the dangers of Mexico’s drug lord territorial wars, the fickleness of their vehicle, they soldiered forth, like flying on a wing and a prayer in a lightplane. Sometimes, at night, when they stopped for bed and rest, motels refused them occupancy. Because of her.

        Finally, they stopped in Belize City, Central America.  To begin a new life in ungodly heat and humidity, matched only by new strains of insect bites, erupting, itchy, on virgin skin. Yet she hung in there. Trusting her mentor. She even got used to ungodly weather, like hurricanes. Probably uncomfortable, she never complained: loyal, loving, and lost in adoration for him. Even today.

Picture
        Her name is Annie. A beautiful border collie. And we visited her folks while they lived in Belize where we soon learned: Annie ruled supreme in the household.
So maybe she didn’t have her own TV (did you know dog television for $5US a month is now a valid channel?) but Annie was royalty, above the common folk like us. Her owner even homecooked, then froze for future use, special doggie food* for her.
One hot, humid day, we waited expectantly for a chef-inspired meal in Annie’s owners’ air-conditioned apartment.

Picture
        We had just returned from a hot, humid sightseeing adventure to Altun Ha, nearby Maya archeological ruins. We were sweaty, tired, and mucho hungry.
        As we sat around our hosts’ bountiful table, extolling the virtues of tropical fruits, my salivary glands anticipated the fresh beef stew dish prepared by our chef/host. Animated conversation, long cool drinks, the click clack of eating utensils---even Annie sitting longingly beside our chef/host at the head of the table--- presented the perfect Norman Rockwell painting of generous hospitality and culinary delight.  With gusto, we dug into our beef stew, rich with gravy, simmered to perfection with healthy chunks of carrots, eggplant, and squash. Delicious!
        I happened to notice during this fabulous repast, however, that our usually animated host was not so. In fact, looking round the table, I heard conversation from everyone except our chef.
        “You’re awfully quiet,” I said. “Feeling okay?”

Picture

        “Um,” he replied, his hand on the nose of his favourite Annie. “….feelin’ fine.”
Suddenly I noticed he hadn’t eaten a morsel of food. “You sure? You haven’t eaten a thing.”
        He shifted slightly in his chair. “Um…” His voice trailed off.
        “What..?”
        “This stew,” he commented slowly. “I made a mistake. This is Annie’s food.”
        Stunned silence. Slowly, deliberately, each diner put down knife and fork.
        I looked at Annie. She cocked her head.
        “Sorry ‘bout this,” our host said. “Say something...anything…like you’re mad at me…!”
        Thinking carefully now. What could/should I say? Unexpectedly---as if from a galaxy, far, far away, as if I no longer controlled what I said---I heard my words tumble forth automatically:
        “Bark. Bark.”
        Like I said, it’s a dog’s life.

        *see comments below for Annie’s food recipe

Map: Belize
3 Comments
heather link
6/15/2018 11:40:49 am

Annie’s Food recipe: or Heather & Norm’s fine dining!!
2 Pots (Huge + big pot) --- (makes 28 - 33 days’ worth)
Make sure nothing going into her food is processed…
This is going to take time…so be prepared for 5 to 8 hours, from start to finish!!

*check the fridge for things that she can eat, that we’ve overlooked*
**Do ahead: Use the little grinder on the celery leaves and freeze until ready to use

• 2 pkg.-(8-9#) Chicken Breasts (make sure they are big chunks, for her to chew)
• 9 -10 #’s Beef Hamburg…regular (***YOU WANT THE FAT)
• 1 -2 pounds of liver, or kidney---do not cook…just cut up & add to different meals – don’t cook…just keep separate and give as treat, raw
• 6 eggs (beaten with water)
• 2 or 3 carrots
• 4 tea bags---break & pour in
• Salt - 4 tablespoons (Himalayan)
• Greens (**celery leaves—already ground down and frozen from before)
• Celery
• Tomatoes
• Pineapple (or apples -5 ) use blender…and both the juice and pulp into the pots---or any other fruit
• Rolled oats---(about 2-3 cups dry)
• Lettuce
• Cilantro
• Pasta (macaroni/shells/penne/linguini/etc.) 2-3 cups
• Potatoes (or leftover mashed potatoes)
Cook the following together:
• Barley (about 2 cups dry)
• Rice (4 cups dry)
• Frozen soup or pasta, (that we’ve had enough of---or Gawd forbid – we really didn’t like)
• A total of about 5 or 6 quarts of water…a lot will evaporate as you cook
• Garlic powder - 2 tablespoons per pot
…mix eggs and pour ‘raw’ into both pots
Make sure the food is cooled before it is frozen

Reply
Adolf
6/15/2018 12:37:39 pm

Quite a story, well written...is it really true?

Reply
heather link
6/15/2018 01:32:31 pm

Ask Annie, Adolf. She will surely tell you: true story.

Reply



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All authored material and photographs contained on this site are copyrighted © and the property of Heather Rath and cannot be reproduced without her written permission.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Bazar del Bizzarro, roland, Mike Kniec