On the Subject of Shish Kabob:

Would you believe, that I am really spoiled (I know it, just because I’m a dog doesn’t mean I am stupid) and I have my human trained really well (but..Shush!… “HE”… doesn’t know that). 

Sometimes I jump in his lap, lay on my back and pretend I am Cleopatra, in Rome, on Mark Anthony’s belly, being fed grapes (BTW Grapes are dangerous to give to dogs, they are Toxic and can give them kidney failure.), it is of course the only way I am willing to eat that dry food crap.  I know, I know, it’s good for me…. Yada Yada Yada….but I think its crap and my human is going to have to work at it if he wants me to eat it.  The way I figure, its Blue Buffalo Wilderness, expensive and Politically correct, so I might as well make the most of it and milk my fussiness for all its worth… Chuckle…..besides …”HE”…. “doth not deny ME” …… Chuckle, tee hee….. (did I tell you …”HE”… loves me so much, he picks up my Poop and saves it, individually wrapped,  under the sink in a lined Rubber box? )

And then there is Shish Kabob.  AAAHHHhhhhhhh…. One word, CHICKEN, heavenly Chicken. (I love Chicken; Roasted, fried, boiled, Sautéed, braised, and BAR-B-Q’d.  ……CHICKEN….. and the Gizzards…. Ah! Il est magnifique, il est parfait, il est délicieux, and then there is Shish Kabob.  The very name itself raises my small nostrils in anticipation. A few weeks ago…. “HE”… made me a special supper, two Mini Grilled Marinated Chicken en Brochette (that’s French for Shish Kabob), over Innova Crunches, (without the onion, of course, because he says onion is not good for me.)  I inhaled everything, i.e., Chicken, Tomatoes, Peppers and Mushrooms, while he frantically snapped photos of the rapidly disappearing food.  “D” was making it for himself and he is such a good cook and I know I am spoiled.

 

Shish Kabob, an Arabic word probably derives from the Aramaic, kabbābā,  meaning "to burn, or char".  There are all kinds of Kebabs or Kabobs, but Shish is the Turkish word for “skewer”.   Shish Kabob most likely originated, because of the short supply of firewood in the Middle East, and the inability to obtain large cuts of meat.  Small cuts were plentifully available.  Any kind of meat may be used, although lamb is used most prevalently (I like lamb too); cubes of fruit or vegetables are often threaded on a spit as well. Typical vegetables include, eggplant, tomato, bell pepper, onions (remember don’t feed your dog Onions) and mushrooms.  My favorite, of course is CHICKEN.

Persian in origin, Legend has it that the dish was invented by medieval Persian soldiers who used their swords to grill meat over fires. In India some records indicate that kebab was served in the royal houses since at least the Sultan times, and even commoners would enjoy it for breakfast with Naan Bread. The dish has been native to the Near East and Ancient Greece, since antiquity; an early variant of kebab is attested in Greece since the 8th century BC, it is mentioned in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and in classical Greece, even Aristotle mentions them.  At the Ancient City of Akrotiri  (that’s on the Island of Santorini, my “D” has been there),  Dr. Christos G. Doumas,  unearthed stone sets of barbecue for skewers.  Isn’t that Amazing?  Next time you cook for your dog, make him/her Shish Kabob.

Anyway, all I really care about is that I liked it, and I was very happy my “D” made me my own when he made his supper.  It’s the truth, cross my paws.  Until next time:

On the Subject of Dog Parks:

I get so frosted sometimes because I get tired of going round and round and round on my street.  First I go left and the next day I go right and some days I just want to sit on the porch and sniff the wind.  Sure there are the Ducks at the lake, the Chipmunk, a lot of Squirrels, rabbits and other animals, but I want something more.   Where are all the Parks that I can run and play freely and socialize without my harness, leash and bureaucratic “No Dogs” rules? Even at the Zoo, can you believe it, with all those animals...., except,.... you got It....., NO DOGS allowed. ....HELLO.....; did you ever see an Elephant Poop?  They have to use Glad Garbage Bags for those critters.  I would gladly be carried and not set foot on their precious asphalt, if only they would let me sniff the frogs.  I will answer my own question, there are none where I live.  What’s a dog to do?

Last week I discovered a lovely Dog Park in Gloucester County, New Jersey. You can find this park within Washington Lake Park, in Sewell, New Jersey. The best approach is taking a left on Greentree Road behind Shop Rite in Glassboro, New Jersey.  Here is a Map.  This is a lovely place to play, shaded by all the trees.  There are 2 huge Fenced in Areas, one for big dogs and one for little dogs like me.  Both Areas are completely enclosed and double gated.  There are benches inside for the humans and Dog Bowls, toys, a big Ball, water and Poop bags for me. The Poop bags are on poles with receptacles underneath, at each entrance (I do have to confess some humans don’t properly pick up after their dogs, but I’m a lady and very special and my daddy, saves my poop under the sink, because he loves me.  Others should take note, this is the proper thing to do)

There is plenty of socialization there, and I have met a lot of friends.  I will give it my dogonal approval. Here I am in the park having a discussion with my friend Trudy, while Ollie, plays ball behind me.

On the subject of Chipmunks:

I bet you didn’t know that Chipmunks are small squirrels with stripes. 

I have a Chipmunk that lives under the lighthouse in the front yard and on a steamy hot morning, this investigative reporter did some extensive research to bring you the up to date scoop.  Starting on the lower stair, my sensitive nose first traced Mr. Chipmunk around the pond, to his home, under the light house.  I then proceeded to follow his trail along the fence and out onto the street, hoping for a brief glance or perhaps an interview.  I sniffed intensely around the wheels of the nearby car, as I know he scurries underneath on his way across the street.  Alas I was unsuccessful for a personal interview this morning, but upon returning to my house, I proceeded to research this cute little critter’s history.

My ancestral family came from Yorkshire England in the 19^th century where they were trained to catch rats (rodents) in the textile mills, so I am uniquely qualified to report on this subject.

Chipmunks are small mammals that belong to the Scientific Order “Rodentia”. The word Rodent comes from the ancient human language called “Latin” and it means to gnaw, because, ( and I bet you didn’t know this either ) they have 2 front teeth, in their upper and lower jaw, that always continue to grow and if they didn’t gnaw, those teeth would grow to China.

(Well maybe not China, I used to freelance for Fox news and they taught me bad reporting habits).

Some other animals that are rodents, who live nearby are, Squirrels, Groundhogs, and those pesky Rats and Mice, but not rabbits (Rabbits belong to the Scientific Order “Lagomorpha” and have 4 upper front teeth a cute round tail, and Shush!, don’t laugh, their balls are on backwards, that’s right, they are in front of their “Winky” not behind.  YES ! But I will report on that another day, I like Rabbits and see them every morning too). 

Chipmunks are Omnivores, (that’s another one of those human “Latin” words that, means they eat everything) Grains, nuts, fruits, berries, bird eggs, small frogs (Oh! not frogs, I like frogs), worms, insects and on occasions, small mice. (Right on, they can eat the mice).  I bet you thought they only ate nuts. WRONG!  Toward the winter they will stockpile these things in their homes.  (I wonder if they have a refridgetaytor, like I have in my home)  NAHHhh! I don’t think it would fit under the lighthouse but this is anecdotal wisdom not sound research, on my part.

They are really good “Cavators” (I have been told that I am an “Ex Cavator”) and build elaborate burrows (that’s a hole to you lay folk) that generally start under rocks or Logs that can be 30 feet or more, with a lot of hidden entrances’.  There are no dirt mounds around the entrances as they carry away the dirt in their cheeks and cover them with leaves. (Yuck!) I know where one of the entrances is because I pass it every morning on my walk, and have a sniff.  They sleep in an area that they keep very clean, but also have messy rooms, in their home, full of garbage and poop. Chipmunks are important to the ecology, because they help plant seeds to propagate the plants and trees.  Finally, they sleep about 15 hours a day and that’s something I can empathize with, I am off to take a nap, myself.

There you have it, that’s the truth, cross my paws.  Until next time.

Coming Soon: Dog Parks and Shish Kabob (if you have a topic you would like me to discuss, drop me a line.)