Help with Annie PLEASE !!!!

First off let me say I know this is my blog and I am supposed to have all the answers here right? Hells no I don’t have the answers that is why I started a blog to reach out to the ones that do. So here’s the problem I have the most adorable little Chihuahua in the entire world little 4 pound Annie. She was a surprise to her daddy and if you have kept up with my blog you know her story, but none the less she has become the apple of daddy’s eye his little girl. See Adam and I are unable to have children and yes my 16 year old Ayrton is his best friend after me of course but it isn’t like your own child especially since Ayrton came into Adam’s life when he was already 11 so our pets are like Adam’s children and Annie is his only girl actually his first girl ever and she is so tiny he thinks she is a baby even though she is now 16 months old. So that’s the first issue is that she is spoiled by daddy the worst but I must admit  I let her get away with a little more than the boys could get away with. I have heard Chihuahuas are hard to train and man I’m having a time with Annie. I started her off in a crate when we are at work. In the beginning I had a litter box in the crate with her and one in the living room and one in the bedroom (Annie slept with us in the room there is a doggie door in the bedroom but at first I didn’t want her in the back yard alone because of the pig). First I took away the box in the bedroom and let her use the doggie door. Next I took out the litter box in the living room and finally the one in the crate. That tiny little girl is so pig headed or something and so quick and sneaky. It seems that no matter how well I think I am watching her I walk into the formal living room that no one uses (except Annie for her toilet apparently) and wow that happened here. Mostly it is pee once a week or so I find poo. I have tried everything with this one and have run out of ideas do I bring the boxes back or what? If you have any ideas for me please share them you can post them as a comment or email them to me if that is more comfortable however if you have a great idea I would love to share it with everyone. My Email is alexis.johnson3@yahoo.com .

Caramel Apple Pie

CARAMEL APPLE PIE

2 LARGE RED APPLES (CORED AND SLICED)

2 LARGE GREEN APPLES (CORED AND SLICED)

½ CUP: GRANULATED SUGAR

½ CUP: BROWN SUGAR

6 TABLESPOONS: UNSALTED BUTTER

1 PINCH: SALT

¼ TEASPOON: CINNAMON

¼ CUP: WATER

1 (15 OUNCE DEEP DISH) REFRIGERATED PIE CRUST

IF YOU PREFER A THICKER, STARCHIER FILLING YOU CAN ADD A COUPLE TABLESPOONS OF FLOUR TO THE SLICED APPLES

1)     PREHEAT OVEN TO 425F. IN MEDIUM SAUCEPAN MEASURE SUGAR, BROWN SUGAR, BUTTER, SALT, CINNAMON, AND WATER. PLACE OVER MEDIUM HEAT AND BRING TO A BOIL, WHISKING OCCASIONALLY. ONCE CARAMEL SAUCE IS BOILING TURN OFF HEAT AND SET ASIDE.

2)     PLACE BOTTOM CRUST INTO 9 INCH PIE PAN AND PRESS INTO SHAPE.

3)     CORE APPLES AND CUT EACH APPLE INTO APPROXIMATELY 12 WEDGES. PLACE THE WEDGES INTO THE BOTTOM OF CRUST.

4)     ROLL OUT TOP CRUST AND CUT INTO 8 STRIPS. PLACE 4 STRIPS ON ONE WAY, TURN AND PLACE 4 STRIPS ACROSS THE OTHER. THEN WEAVE THE 8 PIECES TOGETHER. ONCE THE LATTICE TOP IS IN PLACE GO AROUND THE PIE AND SEAL TOGETHER THE TOP AND BOTTOM CRUSTS. USING FINGERTIPS GO AROUNG AND CRIMP THE EDGE OF THE CRUST.

5)     USING A LARGE SPOON POUR THE CARAMEL SAUCE OVER THE TOP OF THE APPLE PIE. BE SURE TO COVER ALL THE STRIPS OF DOUGH THAT FORM THE LATTICE. TRY NOT TO GET ANY OF THE SYRUP ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE PIE CRUST IF POSSIBLE.

6)     BAKE THE PIE IN THE OVEN FOR 15 MINUTES, AND THEN REDUCE THE HEAT TO 350F AND BAKE FOR 30 TO 40 MINUTES UNTIL THE PIE IS BROWNED AND BUBBLING. REMOVE AND LET COOL COMPLETELY ON A WIRE RACK. PIE NEEDS TO COOL COMPLETELY FOR THE FILLING TO THICKEN. IF YOU CUT IT WARM THE CARAMEL SAUCE WILL BE TO THIN.

Buddy’s courageous story

Buddy was Adam’s dog before he was mine. This story happened before buddy entered my life. At the time of this story Adam lived in the townhouse he live in when I met him. It was about 6pm and Adam had just gotten home from work and was taking Buddy out for a walk. In the course of the walk they encounter someone walking his Akita. Akita’s are known for being very territorial and this one was no exception and it became apparent they should not get these dogs close to one another so they both walked in different directions. A short time later Adam walks behind his unit and there was a corner that they came to as Buddy comes around the corner a few seconds before Adam the Akita was on the other side and pounced on Buddy. Adam immediately jumps on the other dog that at this time is on top of Buddy ripping is stomach open. At this point Adam’s hands and wrists are all bitten up and Buddy is literally open all the way down and his intestines are hanging out they are able to get the other dog off. The fire dept. show up and tell Adam they can’t help a dog. He is so instant that they finally wrap Buddy up in a fire blanket and tape it up so Adam can take him some place. Adam’s mother came over right away and they had to drive to 3 different animal hospitals before one said they could handle a case that bad. Buddy was on life support for 2 weeks and had to have extensive surgery on his bowls. Finally Buddy was ready to come home the doctors told Adam that Buddy’s quality of life may have been compromised well I’m here to tell you that I have known Buddy for the last 6 years and he is the greatest, smartest, most loving dog I know. I thank God that Adam is a person that doesn’t put a price on a pet, family member.

Booker and all she has learned at my house

This is Booker. We got her about 2 months ago when on Friday at work I stumbled across an ad in Craigslist that said “African Gray with a fowl mouth (Actually quite funny)” and I was in love. The next day I started working on the husband see after the surprise of Annie I had to promise no more animals (little did he know I had my fingers crossed behind my back) it took me about an hour and I was on the phone with the breeder. When the breeder arrived at our house to deliver my baby he explained booker was a bird he had already sold to a lady that had teen age sons and they taught her lots of interesting thing to say. Mostly she dropped the f bomb. Since she has come to our house she has picked up every bad habit my husband and son have. Now keep in mind my son is 16 and my husband works in construction so she has learned a lot of bad habits. Her newest one is to make loogie and fart sounds. She also burps but I must admit I think she got that one from me. Well we have had her for 2 months so I guess we will see what she learns in the next 2 months I can’t wait.

View from the top of Phoenix

I work on the 19,20, and 21 floor of a building in downtown Phoenix AZ. Here is the view I get every work day. I will share it with you from time to time. It can really be beautiful at times and I feel lucky to be able to enjoy it.

Coming tomorrow Booker the great cursing bird.

Booker is the newest addition to our home and by far the most vocal and you will not believe some of the thing she says. Hear all about Booker and her dirty mouth tomorrow.

200 Pounds of Love (Pig Newton)

What can I say about my big bundle of love Pig Newton? Well Newton came to our home when he was about 6 weeks old and he weighed about 2 pounds. He was so scared the first day he jumped out of the car and tried to run away my husband and I had to chase him for at least 20 min he was so fast. Once we caught him I did not want to let him go so I held him that entire day. Now Mr. Newton is close to 200 pounds I’m sure (I haven’t been able to weigh him in some time) and he is still the love of my life. When we get home and after he is fed (that is first order of business for Newtie) he follows me around and lies on his side for me to rub his tummy. The hubby takes him outside for exercise he smacks him on the bum and runs after him the two of them chase one another till they both fall down tired then they lay on the grass hubby’s head on Newton’s belly it is the cutest thing. My husband and I are not able to have children so we have our pets and it is nice to be able to fill our home with all the love, noise and chaos that family brings. As a child I never expected to have a pig as a pet and now as an adult I can’t imagine not having one. Newton is so smart and all he wants is the same thing we all want, it to be loved and I feel honored to be able to give him that love.