Transitions

Dear friends,

The Daily Digital has been a labor of love for the past fourteen years. But lately my inspiration has faded and sometimes it feels like a chore.

Phew, I said it. I’ve been trying to summon the courage for a few weeks because I know this will be sad for many of you. You’ve followed all of us through thick and thin: me, Phillip, Clayton, Spenser, Scooter, Sherman, Stanley, our friends and relatives, even my colon. Believe me when I say that I feel the love.

I shared my feelings with Susan (from DE) at the beaglefest in May, and she made a great suggestion: to start a Facebook page where anyone could post photos and the community that we’ve established here could continue. So I’ve gone ahead and done that. Search for “The Daily Digital” or click here and join*. Post photos and join in on the conversation. Let’s make this a new beginning.

Love,
Laurie

* It’s a “closed” Facebook group meaning that all posts stay in the group (and don’t go to everyones friends). Anyone can join.

Full house

The special Fourth of July camp session is in full swing. I texted our neighbor to tell her that we have three additional dogs and sorry about the barking. No worries, she wrote back, we have two additional poodles!

Still life with sweet potato chewies

Who knew dehydrating could be so much fun? Thanks, Joan! Last night I loaded it up with bananas, strawberries, blueberries and kale. The kale and the strawberries shrunk a lot, the bananas not quite so much, and the blueberries not at all. Tonight, eggplant bacon!

The dirty, the proud

We have pretty much abandoned our back woods in favor of the path along the canal for walks. It’s called the tow path because mules used to tow barges from New York to Philadelphia. (More info here.) I used to think it was the toe path because of, well, toes.

Anyway, there is a lot less hosing off of muddy beagles.

My new hobby

Bear and Roscoe spent another weekend with us. Maggie arrives on Wednesday, and Tootsie and Buttercup might return as well. Busy, busy, busy, I was busy this past weekend, too, trying out my new dehydrator. I made sweet potato chewies for the boys which came out quite well, and also dried strawberries, bananas, plantains, apricots, kale and zucchini. Delicious!

For the sweet potato chews, I just cut and placed them into the dehydrator. I had to microwave them first for a couple of minutes so that they would be easier to cut. I made the slices about 1/4 inch thick, maybe more. (I used a mandolin) and cooked at 135 for ~15 hours.

Quiz

Squirrel or chipmunk? You be the judge.

In deep discussion

I think this was this a caption contest photo with Clayton talking to “Grasshopper.” Shall we try it again?

The dinner crowd

Uh oh, Stanley! Double foot fault!

Neighbors

Our mower has been in the shop twice in the last three weeks. It won’t start. Fortunately we have wonderful neighbors: Bear and Roscoe’s mom mowed our lawn twice without us asking!

Buttercup

Camp is in full swing with Buttercup and Tootsie staying here for a few days while Courtney and Mike take the kids to Chincoteague, Virginia. That’s the island with the wild ponies. The girls always settle in right away. Courtney said that Buttercup might have a little dementia and that sometimes instead of eating her supper she’ll just bark at it. I tried some chicken broth on her kibble and that did the trick. She still knows how to eat like a beagle.