She Lay Bleeding....

He held her close, cradling her as he sat on the snow-covered porch. As I drove in, I could see a crisis unfolding, on the veranda of the little cottage we called home. It was my second year of teaching, in this small town near the bay. I ran to the spot where my husband, frigid and barely coherent, remained, holding the leg of our young female retriever. (She'd become a mother, two months earlier). Somehow, while running and jumping outside in the cold winter air, she'd severed the artery of her front leg. A blanket of crimson red snow, all around, told me her grim story.

He had been waiting for my return, not realizing that I had stopped to buy groceries. We had one car and it was with me, being the primary breadwinner, back then. As 'John' held her close, I wondered where this crisis was going. For over an hour, he'd been cradling her, applying the necessary life-saving pressure to stop the blood from oozing from her body. His hands were gripped in a life and death hold. She had been chasing her 'sons' when the incident happened. An artery in her front leg had been sliced. How had it happened, I wondered? ... Ice and snow were everywhere, that cold winter's day, especially, on the fallen branches of the evergreen trees nearby. Had the outdoor 'white' and 'clear' landscape fashioned a sort of malevolent weapon, hidden among the trees, waiting for its next victim? There was no time for tears. In an emergency, tears waste precious time and serve no useful purpose. I could see that our girl had lost a lot of blood. Blood circulates to keeps us warm. Was she warm enough to survive? With cellphones decades away and neighbours, in this cottage country winter hideaway, in critically short supply, we had to act quickly. John was unable to get help without leaving her, bleeding, while her two baby sons, the last of her two-month-old litter, watched, nearby, through the glass door from inside the tiny cottage. We ignored their cries. (Their mother was injured and they wanted answers.)

I drove to the emergency veterinarian clinic in the next town. There, the doctor assured us that dogs do not bleed to death easily. It was a rare event. He stitched her wound, wrapping her leg in layer upon layer of gauze bandage for that solid 'cast' look. That evening, as I ate the warmed up can of beans for supper, she vomited on the carpet. It was then that I witnessed the severity of the event that had occurred earlier that day. On the carpet, in an expansive figure-eight technicolour pattern with deep red hues all around, encompassing much of the room, Sheba emptied her stomach contents that had punctuated the day's events. All that she had licked was now everywhere for me to see and clean up. She had attended to her wound while waiting for help to arrive, a nurse and heroine, all in one. Animals do what they must without fanfare or praise. I was grateful for the happy ending.

The year previous, our puppy girl had been discovered, wondering in a famous Toronto landmark - High Park - having been left there, deliberately. My brother had found her. He had been a life guard there during the summer. It was his turn to babysit this three-month-old cutie. He brought her home. I had just secured a teaching position in the far north and would be moving there in a few months with my partner. She became ours, forever. Since that moment I began a love-affair with retrievers. Then our Sheba became a mom to a healthy litter of nine, all delivered in the cottage we called home. 'John' had been the 'mid-wife', Our 'mistake' would never happen again. We had forgotten that important first step in pet-ownership. Since Sheba was not allowed to roam, was always on a leash, that thought had not entered our minds till a trip out west, that summer, to visit family and friends, changed everything. The urgent need to care for this abandoned pup had superseded anything else. How naive we were. Never again.

Sheba healed well in the days and weeks to come. Her ordeal was a reminder to never ever take things for granted. We moved to a southern community, leaving her and her puppy son in our little abode during the work day. We thought we had everything covered till we realized how much retrievers loved shoes and other things. Eventually they taught us the rules of pet ownership. We are still learning from them today while loving them in the process.

Commercials and Their Differing Views!

Since March, when I first mentioned it, this commercial was still airing its original distasteful message: that of two young children 'washing' a pet in the bathtub using a well known 'bubbles' product made for cleaning. Oh, my. Had the pup been forced into the tub, having been coloured with dye by the little girls? The message was unclear and distasteful. Regardless, the commercial shocked me in its use of comedy 'employing' defenseless animals and children, in selling a product. The ad agency had done its job. But it missed the mark: I would not be buying that product.

What messages are being painted when we use 'underage actors' to sell a product? The newest commercial continues with the tradition of using animals in shockingly inappropriate ways. A litter of unsupervised puppies with their 'mom', are frolicking in the muck and the mire of a country property, chasing a luxury vehicle, down the driveway, while its owners are nowhere to be seen. Throughout the 30-second action flick, all I see and hear are the desperate cries and erratic behaviour of 'a pile' of puppies searching for their absent or absent-minded masters. Their 'mom' is running, at top speed, to the house, seeming a mile away. One little guy is whimpering and frantic, unable to get to his destination until the someone finds him and manages to drop or toss him onto the ground to get his bearings, once again. Puppies should not be loose, anywhere near a moving car, especially one traveling at perhaps 40 miles per hour. But who cares? It's all in fun. It is a commercial, after all.

As a car owner, I would be inclined to consider another vehicle choice. The little puppy, left behind, is frightened as he searches for his siblings while facing 'extinction', in his attempts to trail-blaze his way home. His attempts to traverse insurmountable obstacles: hollowed out logs, a deep mud hole and tall grasses, in his quest to find his family, is met with frustration and fear. One barrier after another stood in his way. Was this supposed to be funny? And how does any of this stuff help sell a car? ... The vehicle is traveling faster than it would be, in a school zone, considering there is a litter of puppies running nearby. Even 'scripted' commercials can be deadly. Where is the logic here? Who thought, in their infinite wisdom, that a racing car near a litter of three-month-old puppies would not kill one or more of them, accidentally? Life is full of miscues. It is not amusing to imagine one of these infant pups ending up under the wheels of this luxury car, while filming is being done. (Is there a disclaimer: Do not do this at home.)

Occasionally, stuntmen - people who are professionals in their field of expertise and paid handsomely to perform dangerous acts in movies - are killed while rehearsing these improbable gymnastic maneuvers. The 'toddler' puppies in this poorly orchestrated commercial were on the loose, one being on the precipice of a expansive mud hole, while his litter mates disappeared, following 'mom'. The thought of placing an infant border collie on a dusty stretch of a gravel country road/driveway and then letting him go seemed funny at the time, I guess. For me, it defies all logic and reason. Was the purpose of using defenseless creatures, in this live action flick, to avoid the exorbitant fees for services rendered? Adults would have been paid. There seems to be no boundaries in television programming today. Why should commercials be any different?

Commoditizing innocent little animals or children has reached lows today. Is common sense on sabbatical when using underage actors to sell a product or service? The whimpering sounds of these newborn puppies were not amusing. Their illicit cries to buy failed. But just when I thought today's advertising protocols had hit rock bottom two commercials are being shown that give me hope. Respect for the 'actors' and the audience have risen. Intelligent and funny are here again. 

A company known for its world-wide security systems -AlarmForce - is advertising its service using a large breed adult dog, named Ned, perhaps a Great Dane, without using inappropriate stage 'props' to showcase their message. Ned, the giant adult family dog is seen in many poses, moaning a bit, comically, here and there, acting as a surrogate family watch dog and not succeeding very well in that arena. In the 30-second clip, Ned is seen attempting to lift his head while lying on the floor, on the bed with feet outstretched on the family's pillows, and then on the sofa, advertising the need for a home security system, which the producers of the commercial make very clear, is not Ned. The message was intelligent, cute and so funny. We waited for the replay of this breath of fresh air. (Unfortunately, my husband has not seen Ned's comedic routine). The inference: the alarm company will keep you safe, not Ned.

In another 10 second slot, a cartoon character,  affectionately called a fraggle by my husband, is seen  outside eating chocolate from the advertising giant, Cadbury, while a catchy tune plays in the background. He then begins to dance. The rest of his group of 'fraggles', cute little innocent and playful characters from a show from our children's past, begin to dance vigorously, too, as they eat this delicious chocolate treat. In synchronized fashion, all 'fraggles' dance to the happy music being played while the slogan, 'Free the Joy' is splashed across the television screen. This commercial was a hit with us. ... This message, like Ned's, grabbed our attention, showing us that well-executed forms of intentional entertainment punctuated with streaks of genius are possible. My husband lamented for the commercial to be longer. I wish both were a movie!

Baking Outdoors!

A carrot cake had been in the oven when the power went out. As I stood there realizing the dilemma I was facing, I looked outside, to see help was just a few steps away. My carrot cake was 'falling' and would soon be ruined. Taking it outdoors was the only solution.

Parchment paper became my newest ally, along with foil wrap, in this latest cooking dilemma. Both could protect the outer layers of my carrot cake to be 'baked'. Since I did not want aluminum touching my cake, I made sure a large piece of foil was used and molded carefully over the top to protect it from over browning or burning, before the interior was cooked properly. Though the uneven movement of heat inside the barbecue gave rise to a lopsided cake, the cake was a respectful sight and delicious to eat, nonetheless. I was pleased and very lucky with the result, considering the fuel tank emptied as the cake finished 'baking.'

This year, I have used the barbecue to 'bake' many food items. Apple crisp is my number one leader. The rotisserie is never used as it requires high cost electricity to perform its duties. ... (The popular 60's saying,  'Living Better Electrically' has no meaning today). ... By turning on burners #1 and #4, in a four-burner barbecue, I leave burners, #2 and #3 off, creating an oven-like atmosphere, deep inside this small, high intensity 'hot box' called a barbecue. The food is now being cooked by indirect heat, a gentler, easier way of cooking, resulting in food that is evenly cooked and browned. I can also leave the food to bake, roast, as I do other things. I simply take the timer with me, as I move from one place to another, inside/outside the house, reminding me that food is being cooked outside.

Meat or fish can be costly additions to any meal. Making sure they are cooked perfectly is important for both health and budgetary considerations. Even frozen meat can be barbecued at the last minute, I learned. I follow the burners #2 and #3 off rule, while #1 and #4 are on a low/medium setting. A high setting can be used for 10-15 minutes for searing purposes, to seal in juices. Aluminum foil is used, covering the aluminum container keeping vegetables moist. It is removed near the end of 'cooking' allowing for browning to occur. (Wrapping up vegetables in a parchment-lined aluminum packet also serves to cook vegetables evenly and gently, over the upper shelf 'no-heat' zone.)

I routinely check all food, most of which is in aluminum containers, during the cooking process, making sure all food is moved around and burners are still on. A strong wind outside can shut off burners while gas is being fed into them. This is dangerous as the use of a match or lighter can ignite the gas cloud around you causing an explosion in your face. Occasionally, fuel has run out and cooking stopped, without my knowledge. No fuel is no fuel is a problem not a hazard. Moving food helps to distribute heat if there are any hot spots in the barbecue. Using a baster to coat the food, in its own juices or add your own homemade sauces, assists in browning and moisture retention.

A barbecue is a dry heat method of cooking so adding a combination of oil /coconut oil and butter can be done to retain moisture, augment flavour and improve taste. There are no rules here. I use a few tablespoons of a coconut oil mixture with pinch of salt and pepper when cooking onions, potatoes and carrots, together. Flavour is unbeatable. 'Oven' potatoes are also easily 'baked', when parboiled first then simply placed on the middle 'no-heat' shelf to bake further and crisp the outer skin. (Heat is still intense, nonetheless, with burners #2 and #3 off.) ... When smaller meats or chicken pieces are barbecued, short periods of time are needed. Raw potatoes, on the other hand, take an hour or so to bake, depending upon size. Parboiling these root favourites makes baked potatoes a possibility regardless of what is being barbecued. Chicken breasts, skin on, bone side down, can 'roast' till done, 'indirectly', while burners #1 and #4 are on low/medium heat, thus allowing for delicious browning to occur. Aluminum containers, when needed, make clean up a breeze as they are recyclable and precious water is not used for cleaning them.

Attention must always be given whenever open flame is used outdoors. Nothing should be taken for granted - ever! When the hot, humid days of summer become overbearing, cooking and baking outside makes sense, all around. Whole meals can be accommodated, all at the same time, last minute, with a bit of strategic planning. Avoiding the direct heat of the burners avoids the flare ups that can lead to burning when fat hits fire. (Charbroiled meats are no longer the desired cooking standard, anymore.) High heat, I have learned, is not a boon to health. Carcinogens are present, ready to be unleashed, in some of the foods we eat, whenever we use high heat to cook, bake or roast. Indirect, gentle heat is always a preferred choice. As my carrot cake would say - if it could talk - “Baking outdoors wasn't so bad, after all."