Decatur Today
Spence at the Decatur Book Festival, 1:45 PM
Welcome Abby from east TN; smiling dude.
Tags: appearances, Decatur, Paw and Order Tour
This entry was posted on Saturday, August 30th, 2014 at 8:32 am and is filed under Chet The Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
8:55 am on August 30th, 2014
Greetings!
Good luck in Decatur today, Spence! I am sure you’ll knock it out of the park!
Wishing Rio’s friend a very wonderful trip, and good times in Alaska.
Don’t forget to sample Mick’s shine. I am smacking my lips together just thinking about it!
9:08 am on August 30th, 2014
Rio’s Friend, have a great trip! Be sure to do the Whittier tunnel which I was too chicken to do. But you do it and tell us how it went.
This is Quill’s lucky day.
9:14 am on August 30th, 2014
We said it last night, but again, happy travels to Rio’s friend.
Staff, we saw that Alaska flat tire photo last week. Someone sent it to my FB page, but I couldn’t figure out how to get it on the blog. Glad you did. Very funny!
Gotta get motivated for walkies. BBL
9:19 am on August 30th, 2014
Good morning all.
9:41 am on August 30th, 2014
Good morning, All. Happy Travel Day to Rio’s Friend (and Barb?). Did we miss something? Is Nana joining on the trip North to Alaska?
Lucky day for Quill. So many tummies, coming right up.
We agree with ML that Whittier is probably best seen in snow cover.
Break a leg, Spence!
9:44 am on August 30th, 2014
I have to take a moment to brag about my godmom. Here she is, on Team USA in the World Triathlon Championship. Isn’t she awesome?
9:52 am on August 30th, 2014
Good morning, everyone. The peeps are on the road and will check in later.
10:02 am on August 30th, 2014
Kat: She is the Awesomest!
I see Maggie up top !
10:11 am on August 30th, 2014
For Rose
Rose the Wonderful who makes this blog a special place!
10:29 am on August 30th, 2014
Staff: You are making me cry…..
10:52 am on August 30th, 2014
Rio’s Friend – spread your wings and FLY! Have a grand time in Alaska, and please give Rebecca and the Hobbit hugs from all of us here.
10:54 am on August 30th, 2014
We agree with Staff on that one!
I didn’t think Nana/Barb was going on the trip, just going to the airport to meet up with Rio’s friend. Is that correct?
11:06 am on August 30th, 2014
Good morning. There is a lot happening today.
Rio: Is your friend meeting Nana in Seattle? Or is Nana hitching a ride to Alaska?!! Is Rio hitching a ride to Alaska? Questions that need answers!
Rio’s friend: Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
HOH: Have fun on the road and then meeting Spencer Quinn! I hope you get a bookmark!
CHobbit: Was it the shelter that named that unfortunately porcupine poked puppy Quill? He’s a sweet thing.
Kat: Your godmom is amazing! I was just watching a news clip on this Triathlon, which is being held in Edmonton. I hope I can catch some of this on tv.
Wose the Intrepid: See what you started by going to Alaska!
BooBear’s, MacyMinPin’s and Melanie’s families are on my mind and in my heart today.
11:53 am on August 30th, 2014
Question for all our gardening experts – a friend just stopped by and brought a huge armload of fresh, sweet corn-on-the-cob, picked from his garden just an hour ago.
Of course, some will be eaten today, but what is the best way to keep the rest? We have found instructions for freezing ears,and for freezing kernels stripped off the cobs. Anyone have good or bad experience to share?
12:15 pm on August 30th, 2014
Tupper’s Mama: I know nothing about corn.
I know nothing about Rio’s friend’s itinerary either. Where is Rio, Rio’s friend, Masquers, BearSpiritDog and Nana? Methinks something is fishy in Seattle.
12:16 pm on August 30th, 2014
We have arrived in Decatur, GA. The book fair is huge. 6 blocks long and several venues for speakers. We found where OFA will be and are now grazing at a coffee and wine bar 🙂 Something for everyone.
12:21 pm on August 30th, 2014
Tupper’s Mama: I’m not a gardening expert but…I have steamed ears of corn and then cut the corn off the cob. After it cools down I’ve frozen it by placing serving sizes in plastic bags. Then when I want it, I’ve thawed one bag at a time and heated corn in a frying pan with butter. Good!
There is a picture on Facebook (which, of course, I can’t download) with three bottles of wine and three labels: “Rough Day,” “Break Down,” “Murder on My Mind.” Each bottle gets bigger.
12:24 pm on August 30th, 2014
HRH B, LOL. You are cracking me up.
12:24 pm on August 30th, 2014
HOH: Sounds like great fun. 6 blocks of books! WhoooHooo!
12:25 pm on August 30th, 2014
HOH – have fun at the fair, and send our greetings to OFA
12:29 pm on August 30th, 2014
This is my mantra (Along with the circus and monkeys)
12:47 pm on August 30th, 2014
We have frozen fresh corn. We blanched it first, in boiling water for about 4 minutes (or you can steam for about 6 minutes). Then after it cools down, you can remove the kernels with a sharp knife, although we have a corn cutter to use for that.
We understand you can also freeze the ehole ear, by blanching a few ears at a time for 7 to 11 minutes.
12:55 pm on August 30th, 2014
I’ve blanched and frozen in small baggies, the kind you can suck air out of, and it is a nice treat in the cold months.
1:02 pm on August 30th, 2014
Oh, wow! Chet’s friends just now turned up OH Sasha, Meashka and Dima and Wookie & Rio. What day this is 🙂
1:21 pm on August 30th, 2014
Off to pick up Quill and hopefully find out his real name.
For those of you who have Mac computers: if you want to copy a photo from the web and post it:
Use COMMAND + SHIFT KEY + 4 and you will get a crosshair appearing on the photo. Position it where you want to start copying the photo and “spread” it over the photo (you will be creating an overlay window on the photo). Release and a photo will be taken and show up on your desktop and in your download files. You can then post it to the blog
1:23 pm on August 30th, 2014
I don’t have Rio’s flight number from Denver (I will check my archive emails again when I get back) but I have the info from Seattle which leaves a little after 3 pm Pacific time. She arrives in Seattle around 1:00 I think. Hopefully she can post from her phone. Otherwise, I will track her starting at 3ish.
1:35 pm on August 30th, 2014
2nd Day of 4 Day Weekend.
Meeting Sawyer! Photos to follow (maybe)
2:19 pm on August 30th, 2014
OFA is talking NOW 🙂
2:37 pm on August 30th, 2014
BearSpiritDog: Meeting Sawyer!? That has to be otter-corked!
HOH’s Mom: Did you bring the ‘maters?
2:49 pm on August 30th, 2014
Dawson, YES
2:56 pm on August 30th, 2014
HOH, say hello from us us us!
Dawson, we forgot to tell you that was a great photo of you and your sunflower. You have such a fantastic smile.
2:58 pm on August 30th, 2014
The vet is waiting a couple of days to remove the embedded quills from Quill. This will allow some of the hidden ones to start working there way out. He was found running around in Nikisi with quills–hence he doesn’t have a name. Nice dog, bigger than Sadie, ribs showing. I take him back to the shelter Monday nite and Tuesday morning he will have the quills removed and be neutered. I have meds to give him and I guess will foster until he is adopted–which is a little misleading since I was told I’d have him until the quills was removed. Back to Saturday adoption clinics and hoping he finds a forever home soon.
When I walked him out of the shelter, it reminded me of the first scene in the Chet series…once he was on a strip of grass, he peed for a good minute. Ditto for when I got home. His urine is very dark yellow and he was grateful for the big bowl of water I put down at home. I really don’t like this shelter as it smells very bad and most of the dogs are just stuck in crates. It is also a boarding/grooming kennel but is very active in rescues. I am sure it is fine but a bit unpleasant to be there for humans (and dogs).
He seems happy to be with me and the initial visit with Sadie went well. He seemed fine in the house until he wasn’t–lifting his leg to mark something and taking a dump in the living room. So I guess he will be an outside dog which will be easier for everyone.
3:19 pm on August 30th, 2014
What a day, what a day. Our first plan was thwarted. It seemed simple enough until it wasn’t. The plan, now referred to as the ‘incident’ in hushed tones included us quietly sneaking out of the house, to Rio’s backyard and then blurring away. We didn’t count on squeaky baseball toys getting in the way of a clean get away. With the first squeak, we were found out. For a better part of the morning, we were lectured about the thou-shall-nots by Beau. The key elements of the lecture being though shall not steal and thou shall not go somewhere without including Beau, thus saith the black pug.
Plan B is in the works…
3:24 pm on August 30th, 2014
Mama here. Friend’s flight is scheduled to land in Seattle in 21 minutes. My understanding that this is more than 2 minutes, but one can never be too sure.
3:32 pm on August 30th, 2014
It is all paws on deck with preparations for the arrival of Rio’s Friend, whatever the Thieves are up to today, and with welcoming home Harris, Snowhook’s newest rescue.
Here is the sweet girl being introduced to the kennel a la Chet style:
3:32 pm on August 30th, 2014
Luna? Do you know if Friend and Nana will get to see one another in Seattle?
3:34 pm on August 30th, 2014
SiberH: That Nana seems to be the greeter to the last frontier for all those traveling North to Alaska! Wouldn’t it be great if they got to meet, meet, meet?
3:57 pm on August 30th, 2014
Everything is so exciting on this here blog today! Can hardly wait for news of the travelers and Spence’s talk.
T&G’s Mama, here is a recipe I have used and it is a good one:
FROZEN CORN
Ingredients: 8 cups corn
1 stick butter or margarine (guess what I use?)
1 t. salt
1 T. sugar
1 cup water
Combine ingredients and boil three minutes.
Put in bags and seal.
Cool bags in ice water for 5 minutes.
Freeze.
Cut corn from cobs.
3:57 pm on August 30th, 2014
I hope they get to meet, Luna. I haven’t lost track of Friend, but I was getting worried about Bear and Masquers until Bear appeared on the blog earlier.
I am not even going to try to guess who Sawyer is.
3:59 pm on August 30th, 2014
GAH! Cut corn from the cobs first!
4:02 pm on August 30th, 2014
Landed! My intel shows that Friend has landed in Seattle. I have other intel that indicates the Thieves and Rio are well past plan B and halfway through the alphabet.
4:16 pm on August 30th, 2014
Awesome: I didn’t start anything. I am small and meek.
Hurray! Friend is in Alaska!
Mama Luna: I love the picture!
4:17 pm on August 30th, 2014
HOH: I am jealous! Did you bring your passport?
4:19 pm on August 30th, 2014
I am going to get a massage today. I will return for up-to-the-minute news!
Harris (the 4 legged) is upright, alert and professional! The other Harris may be having a nap.
4:22 pm on August 30th, 2014
Wose: Impossible! You broke trail all the way to Snowhook Kennels, Alaska and now several of us have followed your path.
4:25 pm on August 30th, 2014
We are a little concerned here. For some reason, Basil and Sage have been off in a corner, snickering to themselves. And we think we see some packing tape residue stuck to their paws.
This does not bode well.
BB – that recipe sounds very good. So the resulting frozen corn is kind of seasoned already. Hmmmm. But now we may have to go buy some more corn to do this. We mentioned fresh corn to the brother, and invited him for dinner. Got a big “yes!” – so who knows how much will be left after the feast.
4:37 pm on August 30th, 2014
Insider information tells me Friend will land in the great state of Alaska at 6pm Alaska time. That would be bedtime for me!
4:38 pm on August 30th, 2014
Awesome: If only I could talk Grizz into going back!
4:51 pm on August 30th, 2014
Tracker showing a 3:40 Pacific departure for Rio’s friend and an arrival of 6:04 Alaska time. Yeep! We shall see as the afternoon progresses.
I found this morning that Quill had marked a couple of more times in the house that I wasn’t aware of before she became an “outside dog.” Fortunately, it was an easy cleanup. He also has liberally marked outside. Sadie is joining him in marking. I found that unless he is eating or unless either Sadie or I are with him, he is a “singer” which I hope won’t become a problem in the days ahead. Hopefully he will settle down. I sat with him a good while and he laid at my feet. I am hoping he will want to sleep at some point. Dawson: no napping for this Harris.
5:04 pm on August 30th, 2014
Our research shows us there are 26 letters in the alphabet—whatever that means. Our plans have made short work of the first half. We have implemented Plan Elmenopee which involved a return trip to the kennel sans pug. We convinced our Lady to forge—is that the word?—the following note to give to Friend’s Mother:
Mother,
I’ve decided that Rio should join me on my trip north to Alaska. Two well mannered, ruggedly handsome, intelligent, well groomed, loveable miscreants will be by later to escort him on his journey. Please pack his knapsack with extra Slim Jims and bacon for his journey. Please do not ask any questions we don’t want to answer.
Cordially yours in beer and bacon,
Friend
Our Lady said, “You two must be up to something. No good, no doubt.” We just gave her the old blink and stare routine. “Do you think signing it ‘Cordially yours in beer and bacon’ will tip mother off that her daughter didn’t write the letter?” Pancho blinked. Lefty stared. Then she said, “If this gets Rio here, I hope it works. Pug speed, boys, pug speed.”
5:15 pm on August 30th, 2014
C Hobbit, At first we were thinking Quill might be a good one to keep, but now not so sure. If he is an adult and not house trained, it is more difficult than getting a puppy used to going outside. Also, when he is neutered he will not immediately lose his male hormones. It takes a week or two before it is out of his system, so if he is doing marking for “male reasons” that will not stop immediately. Maybe Rio’s friend will have some good pointers on house training boys.
Amalia, we have never had good luck freezing corn on the cob. We have done the blanching, cutting from cob and then freezing, which works well. Have never tried BB’s recipe with seasoning and butter added, but that sounds good too. You will probably need about 3 ears per bag for your family. Corn is best the day it is picked. The sugar starts turning to starch immediately, so it should be processed today or tomorrow if you don’t eat it all.
5:44 pm on August 30th, 2014
OMD!
Today is NATIONAL BACON DAY!!!
5:45 pm on August 30th, 2014
I am with Barb on the sweet corn info. It is best off the cob when frozen. And it takes up less space too.
Blanch
Cool
Cut off cob
Put in freezer bag
Suck out air (I use a straw)
Freeze.
I don’t season until ready to eat as sometimes the seasonings can change while frozen.
5:45 pm on August 30th, 2014
Mr.Husky you are making me laugh!
5:54 pm on August 30th, 2014
The Thieves are making me laugh!
Siber-H: What’s this….National Bacon Day? I need to have some bacon or I will be in a bad mood.
6:03 pm on August 30th, 2014
Wose, Me too
6:04 pm on August 30th, 2014
Even the corn on the cob you have in restaurants off season is soggy and mushy and not worth eating. So unless it’s fresh, don’t bother. If you do it on small freezer bags you can use it for other things too, like soups or stews.
Jessica and Lyla are traveling this weekend too. They flew to Atlanta this morning to visit Lyla’s BFF who moved there last year. All she wanted for her BDay, 9/01, was to go see her friend. We all gave her money, and she came up with enough for her airfare.
I am getting ready to go meet Josh and Jack and Jessica’s folks for a game of mini golf and then dinner at a new place in town called Munch. Getting great reviews – casual Tex-Mex cuisine with local foods and some gourmet twists on traditional fare. Can’t wait to try it!
6:27 pm on August 30th, 2014
Rio’s Friend is scheduled to depart in 16 minutes. The Thieves, on the other paw, have fallen silent on the status of getting Rio out of his yard and north to Alaska. This cannot be good.
6:44 pm on August 30th, 2014
Rio’s Friend has pushed away from the gate and is waiting for take off! I wonder if she’s had her fill of those packets of pretzels and croutons, yet.
6:45 pm on August 30th, 2014
Did she meet up with Nana at the Seattle Airport?
7:00 pm on August 30th, 2014
Air! Rio’s Friend is up in the air! I don’t know if there were meetings or greetings. I do know that her gate changed more than once.
7:31 pm on August 30th, 2014
I took a airmap photo but it isn’t as good as the ones RIOMAS posts. I will need to find out what they do. Rio is here:
7:38 pm on August 30th, 2014
Well, poop. After much thwarting, we have spent the better part of the afternoon in Mother Jail. What the hell happened? Your guess is as good as ours. We were so close to blurring out of Rio’s yard with pug in tow, when his curly tail straightened, making Pancho lose his grip on said tail and throwing us off balance. We could have recovered, but we landed with a thud, yes a thud—and a few swears—on top of Mother. Gah!
Sitting in Mother Jail, we’ve been left with nothing but our thoughts of plans A through V.
Plan F was to borrow Floyd’s, woodcarver extraordinaire, carving tools and tunnel from Rio’s backyard to freedom. Note to selves, Floyd’s fancy tools require fancy thumbs. Second note to selves, get fancy thumbs.
Plan H included securing the excavation services of SiberH to do what we couldn’t do with Floyd’s tools, but on a much bigger scale. Unfortunately, you have to get a permit from the city and that could take forever.
Plan K was, with the help of Basil and Sage, to pack up Rio in a shipping box and send him north to Alaska. It looked like it would be a go, but the delivery many returned the box containing Rio on a technicality. Technically speaking, it was a bad idea to give Rio extra Slim Jims before putting him in the box. He was returned on account of farts. Thanks, Herbs—it was worth a try.
We are left with no other option. It’s time to call in the big guns.
8:10 pm on August 30th, 2014
I must relieve myself of tracking duties. I just received a text on my go-phone from the Thieves. When you only have one phone call, it is always best to get a hold of mama. Apparently, I’m Plan Big Gun.
8:30 pm on August 30th, 2014
OFA was delightful (as usual). He didn’t have is passport 🙁 but in the excitement and crowd, mom forgot to get hers out (sob). The good news is that she got OFA’s last summer. Mrs. OFA was there and is a sweetheart. She took charge of the tomatoes. Mom is still waiting for the DDD to forward the fotos he took so we will put those up later. For now, here is the southpaw at work.
8:36 pm on August 30th, 2014
Rio’s friend is at the halfway point. She should be seeing nothing but mountain ranges if she is by a window. Then some open water and then more mountains until she arrives.
8:39 pm on August 30th, 2014
Mama Luna: we are counting on your to procure Rio by any means necessary.
8:39 pm on August 30th, 2014
Safe landing, Friend. Don’t know how long mom will let us stay up, She is pretty well plum tuckered out.
8:39 pm on August 30th, 2014
Rio’s Friend is about to get hugs in Alaska! Woooo Hoooooo!
Thanks for all the info on the corn. After dinner, there was a substantially smaller pile left to deal with. Mama had cooked the corn by wrapping it in wet paper towels and microwaving it, and lightly sautéing the ears in a large frying pan of butter, seasoning it with salt and fresh ground pepper.
We have to admit it -Mama can’t have corn, no way, no how. But she took great care to make it good for the “boys”. and it certainly was a hit.
Now she is prepping the last 6 ears as per your instructions – boiling, cooling, cutting, bagging, and freezing. Gramp is already talking about the first batch of corn chowder in the fall.
8:58 pm on August 30th, 2014
OFA did a panel discussion with Mignon Ballard (Miss Dimple mysteries). Spence had the audience eating out of his paw. Mom didn’t get a foto with the tomatoes 🙁
And Dawson, the PAO bookmark came with her book from 8 Cousins but OFA had some in Hotlanta, too
8:59 pm on August 30th, 2014
8:59 pm on August 30th, 2014
HOH: I bet your mom is tuckered out. I am so glad she got to see OFA again and am awaiting more photos from DDD.
9:04 pm on August 30th, 2014
HOH: Look at your mom getting a hug from Spence!
FRIEND: It is my bedtime. Safe travels, and give lots of tummies, especially to my VBFF, Belle Starr, my mama Luna, and Rose, the puppy, not me. Please help Rio Jr. find his eyebrows. He is a good dog.
9:07 pm on August 30th, 2014
CHobbit, the DDD let us down in the foto department. He deleted most of his and only had 3. Two like the one above and one of OFA signing like we posted earlier.
Dawson, Mrs. OFA assured the peeps that the tomatoes will be thrown, into a salad for dinner tonight.
9:07 pm on August 30th, 2014
Woo and hoo! Luna just arrived with a case of Zingers as a negotiating tool and a lot of confidence that she can out permission slip any mother, any day. We may get Rio out of of his yard and north the Alaska before his friend lands. Yeep! No offense to Mother, but our money is on mama, always on mama.
9:26 pm on August 30th, 2014
Thieves and Luna, we have the utmost confidence in y’all. It will happen.
9:30 pm on August 30th, 2014
HOH Thanks for the photos! I’m glad you could make the trip to see Spence.
CHobbit, Thanks for the tracking!
9:35 pm on August 30th, 2014
HOH: Nice photo of you, Spence and Paw and Order! You will sleep well tonight.
Thieves! I agree with you, my money is on Mama Luna.
I am watching US Open tennis while waiting for the plane to land safely. Raonic (the up and coming Canadian) is doing well but I don’t think he’ll make it against a Federer or a Nadal.
I hope we hear from Nana, Masquers, BSD, Rio, Beau and Rio’s friend tonight.
9:36 pm on August 30th, 2014
Thieves: you make my mom laugh so hard! We are cheering for you. Go Thieves!
10:07 pm on August 30th, 2014
Sprung!!!
10:09 pm on August 30th, 2014
Gasp! At airport. Rio ‘ s friend arriving 3 minutes. Splort
10:13 pm on August 30th, 2014
Happy Happy Corgi Dance
twirl, twirl, wiggle, twirl
repeat
prance, bow, wiggle, woof
Woof, wiggle, twirl, bow
10:21 pm on August 30th, 2014
Rio’s friend is in Alaska. I wonder what she thought about the scenery?
WHooo HOooooo!
10:30 pm on August 30th, 2014
The Friend has landed!!
10:34 pm on August 30th, 2014
We are very egg-cited to see who gets off that plane. And who will get to the Hobbit Hotel first…Rio or The Friend.
HOH, great pictures, you lucky dawg!
10:55 pm on August 30th, 2014
I wish I could stay up and see Rio’s friend in AK but I will have to watch it in the a.m. Tired here.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
11:08 pm on August 30th, 2014
So excited for Friend and mom is kind of nostalgic too. So much fun, so much beautiful…everything. Good luck Rio. Make the most of your time, Friend.
Nitey, nite all the rest of us left behinders.
11:21 pm on August 30th, 2014
So Rio’s friend had 3 big surprises at the airport
1) Nana is here (came a couple of days ago)
2) Rio is here
3) Rebecca drove from Willow to meet her at the airport! So Shelley and Rebecca are driving to the Hobbit Hotel for dinner. They just called and are lost. However, I straightened them out and they will be here soon.
Photos were taken at the airport and will be uploaded at some point
11:26 pm on August 30th, 2014
Wooooooohoooooooo!
12:45 am on August 31st, 2014
Let the fun begin. Right after Chobbit faces her punishment for name using, heh heh. Naaaaaaanaaaaa, so glad you are there too. The more the funnier.
1:42 am on August 31st, 2014
MTMP: I did apologize to Nana for spilling the beans. I must have been brain dead when I posted earlier about her coming. {{{{sigh}}}}
Rebecca is on the road home and the Hobbit guests are settling in for a good night’s rest. Quill & Sadie are on the deck settling in for their night.
Hasta pasta!
7:13 am on August 31st, 2014
Oh No! Poor Quill! C. Hob, you are doing G_d’s work by fostering.
Kat, your Godmom is cool (and I would KILL to have her legs–although I apparently draw the line at actual exercise).
Thieves–I’m following this adventure with great interest–I hope you continue the story…
So much going on! I’ve got to keep up to date with the goings-on on this blog…
7:20 am on August 31st, 2014
I shuld have read further–Thieves, thanks for a thrilling account and I hope you ALL enjoy your collective visit.
HOH–what a great photo! If you have more, I hope you’ll post, with or without Mr. Spence.
Everyone–I hope to catch up later today (Sunday). Just got ANOTHER last-minute course addition (and once again–no textbook, first meeting Wednesday) so a little distracted.
Happy Early Egg Day.