GOODBYE, LILY

I’ve lost a lot of pets in my life, but none was harder to say goodbye to than our faithful 14-year-old Golden Retriever, Lily, who passed away this month. I guess she was just worn out. After a healthy yearly check-up in May, we were shocked that within six weeks time, she had dropped several pounds. She was active every day and running around with Ruger, our Black Lab and eating well. It is still shocking how fast she declined. We never had her in the house until her forever sidekick and brother, Buck, died in November, a year and a half ago. And she adjusted to living in our home and never had an accident or seemed out of her element. She aimed to please in all things and had the most kind and gentle nature.

When we were outside, she walked with us to the barn and faithfully waited while we made the rounds to all the other animals. She would bark and signal an incoming car and sit at our feet as we ate a meal or watched the news. She slept at the foot of our bed and gently nudged me when she needed to go outside.

It is hard to imagine how much Ruger had to adjust to in the loss of her fellow canine but, when Lily breathed her last, Ruger grieved for several days. She wouldn’t eat and moped around the house. She barely acknowledged our presence in the room and couldn’t care less about day-to-day affairs. It has been almost 3 weeks now, and she seems happier. We have taken her in the truck on outings, brought her to the lake, fed her juicy steak bones and spoiled her with homemade treats.

Suddenly, I’m having a hard time coming to grips with her aging, too. She is 11 this month. Now that Nelli, our other Lab is living in Montana with Haakon, Ruger is alone. The rest of our pets, chickens, goats and cats, were all about the same age so we are seeing what that means.

There will always be pets in our lives; I can’t imagine life without animals. And the day we get them, we know there will be a day in the not-to-distant future when we will have to say goodbye. The hours of joy and love we receive from them is worth the pain of the parting. But it never does get any easier…

MAN’S BEST FRIEND BISCUITS

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup corn meal

16 ounces low-sodium chicken broth

12 ounces natural peanut butter

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 eggs, beaten

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Knead dough until smooth and roll out flat. Using a cookie cutter, punch out shapes, or just cut into squares. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes until golden brown. Store in tightly sealed container when cool.

FRIENDSHIP COOKIES

1 cup butter

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup molasses

1 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup oil

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 eggs

1-1/2 cups flour

2 cups oatmeal

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup cocoa

1/2 cup coconut

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

1/2 cup  pecans, chopped

1/2 cup raisins

In a large bowl, blend butter and brown sugar. Mix until creamy then add eggs, peanut butter, oil, vanilla and molasses. Stir well.  In a separate bowl, combine flour, oatmeal, salt, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, coconut, chocolate chips, nuts and raisins. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Blend well. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto baking sheets. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool on wire racks.