New Original Christmas Corgi Art Doll Ornament

A little belated treasure from Christmas In July, my lovelies. Now on Ebay! xo CS ^..^




*Sold!* More original ornaments and other goodies in the works! xo xo -CS ^..^

Happy Tasha Tudor Day!

Today, on her birthday, we remember and honor the life of our beloved Tasha Tudor. This image is from her book "A Time To Keep" for August. The quote at the top of the first page by Christine Rossetti reads, "My heart is like a singing bird." The page continues: "August brought your mother's birthday which we celebrated at night by the river. The table was set with birch bark plates and gourd drinking cups. There wee favors made from walnut shells and families of wooden animals in little baskets and meringues made in the shape of toadstools. But best of all-the birthday cake came floating down the river."

Happy Tasha Tudor Day to everyone who is celebrating the life of this American treasure today and keeping her memory and magic alive! xo xo -CS ^..^ p.s. visit Clarice's Storybook Woods blog for more Tasha Tudor day fun.

Breakin The Law

Scroll down and pause my music playlist to the left of the blog and turn up your speakers before playing this video! It is a riot. -CS ^..^

Another Star In The Sky Tonight

"Kelsey"

3/6/95-8/18/09

This morning, Mary Elizabeth had to say goodbye to Kelsey. Kelsey was the sweetest Corgi ever. Mother to our Indy and Hannah Banana and Grant, she was loved by all and brought little bits of sunshine wherever she went. Click here on our Reinwood Corgis pages, then to 'the girls' to see her in her younger days. Run wild and free, sweet Kelsey. We love you with all of our hearts. xo xo xo

Caught in the act.

Happy Saturday morning, my lovelies! Lest you think that the Reinwood Corgis and other critters (whether the ones who live here with me or with Mary Elizabeth) are always so well behaved, I submit to you evidence which is quite to the contrary.

Here is Mary Elizabeth's tale of woe last evening:

"Apparently during the night Shady the cat must have been playing with my pen that I left on the computer table. While playing it must have fallen onto the floor where Brazen got a hold of it and chewed it and then shared it with Hannah Banana; as the two were seen with the most obvious evidence...blue stains on paws and cheek! I am sure Shady the cat was laughing in the background as I scolded the dogs and cleaned up the awful mess!"

Such wicked, wicked little monkeys!

Enjoy your weekend, everyone! xo xo -C ^..^

White House Puff Balls

I love cookbooks. I especially enjoy reading old cookbooks. My friend Steph stopped in the other night and brought me a fun book for my birthday. It is "The Original White House Cookbook 1887 Edition" Inside it says Cooking, Toilet and Household Recipes, Menus, Dinner-Giving, Table Etiquette, Care of the Sick, Health Suggestions, Facts Worth Knowing, etc. etc. A Comprehensive Cyclopedia of Information For The Home by Mrs. F.L. Gillette and Hugo Ziemann, Steward of the White House.

I'm having great fun with this book. Some of the recipes are a real doozy. Some of the recipes are so intense and things I would never eat in a million years. But some look very interesting, if you can translate them to today's cooking ingredients and measurements. My Mom was here a couple of days ago and as soon as I showed her the book she found this simple recipe for Puff-Ball Doughnuts and decided that we would make them. We didn't know what they meant by 'sweet milk' (we thought of all the sweet milks like condensed, etc) but then my daughter googled it and found that in the 19th century it simply meant whole milk. Perhaps there are other types of sweet milk that were intended but this is what we used for our doughnuts.

Here is the entire recipe.

It is actually written as a paragraph as most of the recipes in the book are:

Puff-Ball Doughnuts

"These doughnuts, eaten fresh and warm, are a delicious breakfast dish, and are quickly made. Three eggs, one cupful of sugar, a pint of sweet milk, salt, nutmeg, and flour enough to permit the spoon to stand upright in the mixture: add two heaping teaspoonfuls of baking-powder to the flour; beat all until very light. Drop by the dessertspoonful into boiling lard. These will not absorb a bit of fat, and are not at all rich, and consequently are the least injurious of this kind of cakes."

So rather than use lard we used canola oil to fry them up. I didn't have any fresh nutmegs on hand so we used a pinch of cinnamon and a capful of pure vanilla. We used a pinch of salt also, since the recipe didn't specify. We decided that the next time we make them, we will drop them a bit smaller into the oil as they do puff up as they say. I think the size of a Dunkin Munchkin would be perfect with these. You want the oil to be very hot, that is why they do not absorb the oil. We thought that next time we might use a bit of cream with the milk and add more cinnamon or do the nutmeg instead. Rolling them in the sugars was a good idea. The only thing, we did not agree that they are not at all 'rich.' These are not light donuts. Your kids will want a tall cold glass of milk with these for sure.

So here is my Mom whipping up the puff balls. I made her wear one of Natalie's Tasha Tudor aprons while she was making these.

It just seemed like the required couture of the moment.

When they came out of the oil, we put them quickly on paper towel lined plates for a second or two and then rolled them immediately in either powdered sugar, granulated sugar or a combo of cinnamon and sugar.

Then my brother Gary and niece Hayley stopped by for a bit.
They were visiting for the week. My lovely Sister-In-Law Katy was shopping for a dress for a wedding. They live Los Angeles so I miss them.
A lot.

Here's our mom (Grandma Annie to our kids) giving Hayley some cheese.

Isn't she just the cutest princess ever?

Hayley loves her Daddy.

She thinks he is number one.

He's a fantastic Daddy, but he's still a nerd. (I'm supposed to say that,

he is my brother after all...)

xo xo

-Cathy ^..^

Shameless Sleepers and Weekend Adventures

My friend Stephanie came over last weekend and no sooner did she put down her bag then Skittles and Weebles decided it was the place to take a cat nap. Steph and I are actually related by catness. Our sons had rescued two kittens whose mother was hit by a car. She took one (Punky) and I took the other. Goku is ours, the big black cat (not in this photo) who looks like an eggplant from the back when he is sitting.

What a week it has been! My great aunt passed away. It is sad to see all of the old ones in the family say goodbye. The funeral was on Saturday which happened to be my birthday. It was good to see my cousins. Why is it that we don't realize how much you miss someone until you see them?

Later in the day, we did come home to have a little party complete with ice cream cake. My parents gave me the absolute coolest chandelier (it is wildly colorful) for my little studio. I promise I'll show it to you as soon as it is hung up.

Sunday, Mary Elizabeth and I left the house at the crack of dawn to bring a Corgi to Maryland who will be headed to Indiana by way of North Carolina. The weather was wicked. I expected to see Miss Gulch on her bike fly by. There was flooding on the roads and we arrived just in time to have a tornado warning on the radio telling us to get into a basement or under something. Yikes. When that passed, we headed home.I had my muck boots on, but Mary had to take off her socks and shoes to get through the water back into the van. We felt like we were on a log flume ride most of the time because of the way the van went through the water on the road. Then we hit the traffic from people coming home from the Jersey shore. Lots of cars pulled over on the sides of the road, lots of families and kids at the rest stops. At one of the rest stops, Mary Elizabeth opened up her cooler in the back of the van. She brought us a veritable feast! We had a picnic in the car with the rain pounding down. I think she practically brought the entire contents of her fridge with her. We made really good wraps in the car. Mine was fresh mozzarella, tomato, fresh basil, avocado and a spritz of vinaigrette. She even made fruit salad for us in two giant covered Pyrex bowls which we munched on in traffic.

My Brother, Sister-In-Law and niece flew in from Los Angeles too. I even got to spend some time with them on Sunday after the wild ride. My niece is getting so big, she is such a cutie pie, crawling all over the place.

So that was my weekend, my lovelies. How did you spend yours? xo xo ^..^

Here Kitty Kitty

Bridget thinks my new Hello Kitty toaster must be hers just because it is pink. She is such an imp. Doesn't she look like she's popping out of the toaster? Actually, the toaster makes a Hello Kitty face on the toast, if you toast it dark enough. And who couldn't use a little Hello Kitty on their toast? Well, maybe the Mister who just rolled his eyes when he saw it. But Laura and I love it anyway. And apparently, so does Miss Fancypants here. You know you want one.
xo xo -C ^..^

Corgi Art Ornaments!

The tiniest of Cardigan Welsh Corgis....

The tiniest of Pembroke Welsh Corgis!
2" x 2" painted on canvas original Christmas ornaments in the Etsy shop now.

Sleep well my Corgette friends. May visions of sugarplums dance in your heads. xo xo -Cat ^..^

*Sold! More ornaments on the work table. Stay tuned. xo -C ^..^

Ornaments tonight!

Shhh.....don't want to waken the mouser but had to pop in to let you know that more Christmas Corgi Ornaments will be in the shop tonight. 9:30 PM EST. Happy Sunday my lovelies! xo xo -Cat ^..^

We have a winner!

#12, Tanya! You win the "Hairy Pawter" framed tile! Email me christmascorgi@gmail.com

Thanks for your comments, everyone. Must go to bed. (yawn) xo xo Cat ^..^

Oh Harry, We Just Love Ya...

My daughter Laura and I are going to the 12:01 AM midnight/early morning showing of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince tomorrow night. We are very excited. We are big Harry Potter fans in our house. It is always fun to go to this first midnight showing of the film. People, mostly college kids, usually dress up in one form or other. Some wear Harry Potter glasses, or lightening bolt scars on their foreheads. Some dress in full Hogwarts robes and scarves (my daughter has an awesome one.) Some dress as specific characters from the series. Just hope you're not sitting behind the guy wearing the Sorting Hat. A few years ago I painted this denim jacket for my daughter. She informed me that she is wearing it tomorrow night. I thought I'd let Cinderella model it for you and show you a few photos. Cinderella is my affectionate name for the wire dress form in my studio that usually holds dog leashes and ribbons and any number of things around her neck.



The jacket is very glitzy, which is hard to see in the photo, sorry. Here's Hedwig on the back. Her name is in gold glitter at the top and she's wearing a rhinestone collar. Her wings and feathers have been accented with an icy sparkly glittery outliner. Her eyes have metallic gold accents.

This is the front of the jacket. There is a wand painted as if coming out of the pocket. The Phoenix Fawkes is painted in all his glorious color. He even has a puffy clear little tear running down his cheek. Glitter paint throughout his feathers. He's quite spiffy. The Marauder's Map is on the other side. Below it (hard to see in the photo) it says, "Mischief Managed" in a black/chrome/greenish glitter paint.

The top of the sleeve says, "Sirius was here" with pawprints and rhinestones around. Below it is a visitor's pass to Azkaban. Under that is a wicked Dementor (I wish the photo were better!) and it says "Expecto Patronum!" in glitzy letters.

And finally, the other sleeve has Harry's glasses with a golden snitch, all ready for quidditch.

Since it is Christmas in July, we need another giveaway around here while I'm finishing up the Christmas ornaments and goodies. In honor of Harry, I'll buy this "Hairy Pawter" framed tile from my shop and have it sent to the winner. To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment at this post telling me one of your favorite characters from the books or films. Wednesday evening (July 15) I'll let the random number generator choose the winner.

Mischief managed. xo xo CS ^..^

Corgi Ornaments

As promised, here is the first of my Christmas ornaments for this year. Art for your tree! This ornament is 2" x 2" and is painted on a miniature canvas which has been wrapped on tiny wooded bars. The edges have been painted black which gives the same look as many of my gallery wrapped original paintings. This is an actual micro mini original painting for your Christmas tree! It has been signed and finished with a glossy varnish. In the shop now! xo -CS ^..^ **Sold! More on the work table. Stay tuned! xo xo Cat**

Hand painted Wooden Corgi Eggs...They're back!

Today in the shop I have listed my very popular solid wood 2" chicken sized eggs! Each one is lovingly hand painted to order. You can choose from the Corgis in the listing or send me a photo and I can paint your own wee beastie as one of my signature characters. They make really nice gifts and travel well as they are solid wood and won't break. They will bring joy for years to come!

Long time readers of this blog may recall this post from Christmas past when I was painting eggs by candlelight!

The eggs I paint are hand made in the USA and I really love their quality. I hope you will love them too!

So how did you celebrate the 4th of July? We went to a fantastic party with good friends. Mary Elizabeth came too. We had a really nice day. I made this cake (complete with a little picture decoration of Elvis.) My daughter and husband really liked it and it called for seven fresh eggs which I was happy to use up!

Tomorrow in the shop: original Christmas ornaments! xo -CS ^..^

Welcome To Christmas In July!

If you are one of the fans of The Christmas Corgi on Facebook, you know that starting today at 4:00 through July 26th we are celebrating Christmas in July!

But, first things first. The winner of the Sigg CafePress Water Bottle giveaway (chosen by random number generator at random.org) is commentor #22. "Lorie" And, Surprise! I've also chosen a second winner who will receive a 10 pack of note cards from the shop, commentor #6 "Corgi Dog Mama" !! If you would both email me at christmascorgi@gmail.com we can get your prizes on the way to you!

Now, for my Facebook Christmas in July friends:

I've decided to kick off Christmas in July by giving a signed art print of their choice from my Etsy shop to three winners. Randomly chosen as well, the Facebook Event winners are Michele Taylor, Chris Beam and "Buzzy Bear." I will contact you through Facebook so you can choose your signed art print!

Tomorrow at 3:00 PM EST I will have the first of my little ORIGINAL Christmas in July goodies available for sale in my Etsy shop. Throughout this month I will post some in Etsy and some on Ebay. If you are not familiar with Etsy, it is fun and easy! Simply visit my shop and there are links at the top to show you how to easily register and have fun browsing not only my shop, but all of the wonderful other artists and vendors at this awesome marketplace. It is like visiting an art show and craft fair without ever leaving home!

If you are on Facebook, do stop by and 'fan' The Christmas Corgi page. Please upload your Corgis and other critters to the page. The more the merrier! It is not too late to sign up as 'attending' this Christmas in July Event. I have a sneaking suspicion there will be more prize giveaways this month. It was the Corgis' idea. They love wrapping gifts. Especially the ones that include dog biscuits.

Thanks for stopping by! As the month unfolds, I hope something that pops off of my easel or out of my daydreams will tickle your funny bone and put a song in your heart. xo xo xo ....or "ho ho ho".....!!! -CS ^..^

Happy 233rd Birthday, America!

Now go out and celebrate!

Happy 4th! Huzzah! xo xo -CS ^..^

Of Whining, Skim Milk, and Surprises

I love to cook and I love to eat. I love chocolate. Good chocolate. And bread. I dream about bread. Really good fresh bread. These are just a couple of the reasons that I am my own worst saboteur when it comes to staying on a diet. I've read all the books, I've watched all the shows. It is just really hard for me. Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment. I've cancelled it three times already just to avoid the scale. My doctor isn't scary, in fact she's very cool. She specializes in weight loss and women's health. Last year, I had started a diet under her supervision. I was doing well, but then I went off of it and stayed off. Mistake number one. I should have hopped right back on that horse, but it was easier and more comfortable to stay in the old familiar place.

This time, I am going to try a more realistic approach. I've really thought about the times I am tempted to eat more than I need. My doctor had asked me to keep a journal last year before I started to diet. Now I understand why she wanted me to do this. It is a real eye opener. She had suggested that since I was adhering very strictly to my diet during the week that I might want to have one day where I could have a little splurge. I did not allow myself that back then. It was all or nothing mentality. I sabotaged myself. So now, I am going to be more realistic. I'm going back tomorrow (gulp) without an 'I want to lose x pounds by (insert date or occasion here) mentality. I am going to make realistic and smart changes and allow myself mini splurges or slivers of only things that are really worth the calories. I will not let a birthday party and a small piece of cannoli cake prevent me from going back on my diet the next day. I will not whine or feel deprived because of all the goodies around me. I will choose my goodies wisely, knowing there will always be goodies in the future. I can still bake and cook delicious things for my family, but I will sample them rather than wolf down enough for three grown men. I will make better choices and seek good substitutes for my old familiar downfalls. Like the whole milk or half and half in my coffee or cereal. This morning I used Skim Plus instead. I must say that it is not bad. Zero fat. Much better.

My Corgi club gave me an award at our Specialty show recently. I was so surprised. Anne Bowes told me that it is indeed a very special award as it is given by my peers. I am very grateful for receiving it. Carol Donnelly also received this award. I know she was as surprised as I was. So THANK YOU to Mayflower for this honor. I will treasure it. I've hung the lovely award in my little studio, which is still being organized. I must find out who did the lovely calligraphy. It is so pretty.

I want to have a little incentive to jump start my diet which includes drinking more water, so I will be ordering one of these new SIGG water bottles for myself from my CafePress store. Since giving is just as much fun (even more, really) than receiving, I want to share this gift with one of my readers. If you are feeling inspired to make healthier choices along with me (or you just want a cool Corgi water bottle) then leave me a comment on this post between now and July 4th, and on July 5th I'll let a random number generator pick the winner! If you're not a Corgi person then you can have a hedgie girl instead. I haven't seen this new product yet, so we will both get the surprise together.



Now, what to cook for dinner?....

xo xo

-CS ^..^

Corgi Grooming 101: Pretty Nails and Paws

Taking care of nails is an area that many dog owners are a bit afraid of. It is one of those things that you just need to jump in and do and the more you do it, the better you will get at it. Depending on the dog, it can be a one or two person job. Sometimes it is easier to have another person with you to hold the dog or, if you are holding it as Mary Elizabeth is holding this Corgi in the photo above, sometimes it is helpful to have another person nearby to hold another paw out of the way of the dremel or distract a Corgi with some peanut butter on a spoon. Some people train their dogs to lay down or stand on the table as they are having their nails done. Try different ways and positions and see what works best for you and your Corgi. The Corgi in Mary Elizabeth's lap is very used to having her nails done. She is comfortable and relaxed. Because her nails were a bit on the long side, Mary Elizabeth used a clipper to trim a bit of nail off before using the dremel. See how she is holding the nail up and the angle at which she is holding the dremel in order to easily file down the nail. She will move the dremel slightly to keep her sanding neat and even and remove any jagged or rough edges, making the nail even and with a slight softening or rounding of the edges so there are no sharp bits of nail. Her front paws are finished, and Mary Elizabeth is working on her back paws now. You can see the fur that needs to be trimmed. We went outside for this photo but if you want to try this position inside, it is helpful to rest your back against a wall with good lighting near an outlet for your dremel, unless of course you are using a cordless dremel.

Most dogs that come from a good breeder and have been home-raised are very used to having their nails done as those little nails grow quite quickly and they start getting cut after a couple of weeks so they don't scratch up their mother while nursing. This does not mean they enjoy having their nails done, but they learn to tolerate it. When nails are done properly and carefully, there is no pain for the dog. It is like cutting your own nails or cutting your hair. You will want to familiarize yourself with the anatomy of your dog's nails. The pink part is called the quick. **

You want to get as close to the quick as possible without nicking it and causing it to bleed. If the nails are very long, I would use a dog nail trimmer to clip off the tip before using the dremel. If you are afraid to do this, just start with the dremel. Commit to using it a tiny bit every few days and before you know it your Corgi will have nice short nails. Should you nick the quick, (yes, you can even nick it with the dremel) for heaven's sake, don't panic. A pin prick sized drop of blood is not cause for concern. It will usually just stop on its own. Should there be more blood oozing out from the nail, simply follow the directions on the styptic powder you have, usually putting a little pinch of it on the end of the nail and that should do the trick. If you don't have any, hold an ice cube at the end of the nail for a minute (it may still bleed) and then just apply pressure with a towel or tissue until it stops. Should you get any blood on your clothing, wet it with hydrogen peroxide right away and throw it in the wash with cool-warm water and detergent. Don't put it in the dryer until the blood is out or it will set. A bit of hydrogen peroxide (the kind for first aid again, not hair coloring!!) on a cotton ball will also remove any blood that may get on the white parts of her fur as well. A friend just cautioned that the hydgrogen peroxide made a 'light spot' on her pony where she removed a tick, so use your judgement for dark fur or your clothing (thanks, NJ :) !) **If you have a dog with black toenails (my Amy who is a Sable has alternating pink and black toenails!) you will need to just keep an especially careful eye and use your judgement as you will not be able to tell where the quick is by looking at the side of the nail. Stop the dremel every few seconds and look inside the nail. You will be able to see where the inside of the nail looks more 'tender.' Don't be afraid, just be careful. All will be well.

The more often you do your dog's nails, the further back the quick will recede, allowing you to get their nails shorter each time. If your dog's nails are clicking on the floor, they are probably a bit too long. Always take care of their nails in very good lighting, and I highly recommend wearing safety glasses to protect your eyes and perhaps even wearing a dust mask while using the dremel.

If your dog is freaked out by the dremel, you will need to start conditioning her and yourself so this routine that you will have to do for the rest of her life does not become a dreaded chore. Commit to a routine and a plan, start ever so slowly in baby steps with lots of treats. For the first day, just put your dog in whatever position you feel comfortable with to do her nails and just touch each paw, with the slight firmness you would use to expose each nail with your hand. Give her a treat and praise her. The next time, do it again, and then turn on the dremel but don't touch it to her paws. Treats and praise again. Do this for a couple of days so she equates the sound of the dremel with treats and praise. When you feel comfortable (you can do this!) just touch the dremel to the tip of one and only one nail. Treats and praise. The next day, go back to that first nail, touch it quickly again and then add the next nail. Do this every day, quickly and carefully sanding off a tiny sliver of nail and then give lots of treats and praise. Eventually you will build up the trust on her part and the confidence on your part to zip through all of the nails quickly and easily.

I want to warn you about the dremel. Whether you are using sanding bands or a sanding stone on the tip, before you use it on your dog's nails, quickly see what it feels like on your own. Our human nails are not as strong and thick as theirs, but you can feel how fast the grinding happens. You never ever want to overdo it or stay in one spot too long because the friction can burn and your dog will not forget it. Better safe than sorry. Be careful. Be firm but gentle. Hopefully your breeder has removed the 'dew claws' from your dog's paws. The dew claw (which would be a fifth claw up the side of the paw) should always be removed because if not, they can catch on things and cause real pain and bleeding. Should you have a dew claw, take special care to buff the edges smooth to try and avoid that scenario.

I have one dog who has had his nails done since he was a baby. He just does not like it. Never did, never will. He is a pip. Same one who never likes to take a bath. It takes a village to groom this dog. Seriously, Mary Elizabeth and I have to brace ourselves with a mocha frap from Starbucks before tackling his nails. If you have a dog that is like this, you may want to have a soft 'velcro' muzzle on hand just to keep him from trying to bite the dremel. You can try using something like rescue remedy or one of the natural flower essences( http://www.floweressencesforanimals.com/ ) before doing the nails (I like "Thunderstorms" for phobias flower essence for this purpose) and then Pet ETS (Emergency Trauma Solution), to re-set her sense of well being immediately after. Tell Nancy I sent you. She is an expert on flower essences and is very nice to speak with. She will point you in the right direction should you wish to give these a try. I personally highly recommend them for any dog that has issues such as this.

I have other dogs who will simply lay there with their head on my shoulder, and give me each paw as if they are in a spa getting a mani-pedi. Go figure. You can just do your best to try and train them and make them as calm and used to this as possible. It takes time, but it is so worth it. You will save money by not going to the vet or groomer every couple of weeks and you will be able to get their nails shorter and nicer looking because most vets and groomers just use a clipper and not a dremel for a polished look.

You will want to keep the paw fur trimmed. This is really the only scissoring that need be ever done on a Corgi. For this (as noted in my previous grooming post) I refer you to the photos in Debbie Harper's book. We want a nice, neat oval paw on a Corgi. Note the excess fur on the top left photo before fur and nail trimming. Note the nice neat underpad of the paw after trimming in the top right photo and the nice, correct oval shape in the bottom left photo. In the bottom right we can see the incorrect result of over scissoring and trying to trim in between each toe. You can even use a mini shaver to buzz off the fur at the bottom of the paw, taking care not to go up too far. Remember the old adage: measure twice, cut once. Well, there is really not much measuring going on here, but you know what I mean. And if you over-scissor while you are learning, don't worry. It is fur. It grows back. You may find it easier to trim some of the fur before you do their nails in order to get it out of your way. You may click on the photo to enlarge it if you like.

Keeping your Corgi's nails groomed is not only important to look spiffy, but it is important to her health as well. Overly long nails can affect the way they move and throw their gait out of wack and cause a 'splayed' out foot. Extremely neglected nails can curl under, be difficult and painful to train back. If you regularly leash walk your Corgi on concrete or sidewalks, she may have shorter nails than a Corgi who spends most of her time on the grass. So there's a little added bonus for walking your dog. You both get a little exercise and less time doing nails! With a little regular care, nails are really not a big deal to keep up with.

While we were outside at Mary Elizabeth's house taking this photo, curious Kaizey popped her head up in the window to see what was going on.

Then Emma decided to join Kaizey to see for herself what was going on out there.

Both were happy to be observers rather than nail demonstrators that day.

My last post in this Corgi Grooming 101 series will keeping your Corgi healthy and spiffy from the inside, out.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend my lovelies! -CS ^..^

Remembering Tasha Tudor

Today is a year since her passing. It is an easy day for me to remember as it is also my wedding anniversary! Let's remember Tasha today by having a cup of tea in her honor, shall we? I imagine that she is in heaven having tea with Beatrix Potter, surrounded by all of the Corgis and critters that have gone before her. I have no doubt that she has been put in charge of tending the garden at the pearly gates. And what a garden it must be! Take Joy, everyone! xo -CS ^..^

Stalking Hedgies

I just received word that my Fashionista Hedgie gal has been featured by Violet, one of the curators over at the awesome Etsy Stalker. Being one who loves to show off her latest bag, Hedgie was happy to oblige. She started to write a proper Thank You note to Violet and Doris but realized there was a shoe sale at Bloomingdales and just scurried out in a taxi with my Visa. I'm going to have to have a little chat with her upon her return.

Have a happy day my little Corgettes! xo xo -CS ^..^

New Original Corgi Art!

Here's my latest original painting.
It is called, "A Christmas Corgi Bodacious Bone Bonanza"

Here's a sketch I did pre-painting. I am always intrigued at what process my fellow artists use when they are creating a new piece. Sometimes I sketch and plan. Sometimes I just dive right in with a juicy brush. This intricately detailed painting was a definite sketch and plan piece. A keen eye will notice details in the finished piece that were not in the original concept. They just develop as I go. How do you work when you create something? Are you a sketcher and planner or a diver who jumps right in?

I just listed it on Ebay. Pop over and take a look at the listing to see
more details about the painting by clicking the Ebay link below.
Happy Monday my little Corgettes! xo xo -CS ^..^

Sold! Thank you! More goodies in the works....CS ^..^

Corgi grooming 101: The Corgi Coat

If you go to a dog show and watch the breeders and handlers grooming their dogs, you will quickly discover that there are about as many different techniques and products being used as there are Corgis. A correct Corgi coat should lie flat. Should your Corgi have a bit of a wave or cowlick to get down, it can take a bit of creativity to get that flat. Unless you are bringing your Corgi into the show ring, you probably won't be too concerned about getting those cowlicks or waves down. Showing or not, it is still fun to keep your Corgi looking clean and spiffy. So to continue with my little basic grooming series, let's move on to combing and brushing.

For some of this, I will refer to Deborah Harper's book "The New Complete Pembroke Welsh Corgi." Sadly, this book is out of print but you can sometimes find a copy on eBay. It has a wealth of information as well as interesting back history and bloodlines that have had their mark on our breed. Maybe if we all beg Debbie she will tell her publisher that it is time for an updated version. I'd be first in line to buy it. Debbie is not only a lovely friend but an awesome mentor. I always learn so much from her and it is most comforting to know she is always there when puppies are about to be born. The Tasha Tudor illustration above, the black and white photos for correct paw fur trimming which will be in my next post as well as quoted material from her book is used here with permission. The color photos were quickly taken over the weekend by Mary Elizabeth and I.

Debbie writes: "We start at the back end of the dog, at the very bottom of his pants, and work up over his back and sides to the front and end with the chest coat. An English fine comb or a natural bristle brush is used, and the coat is worked from the skin out in the direction the hair grows. Be careful not to scratch the skin as you work. With a dense undercoat, only a very small section can be done at a time. Grooming the coat in this manner will get the undercoat and guard hairs all going in the same direction and will give a smooth, even, rich appearance to the coat. If the coat is full of static electricity, making it difficult to handle because of the flyaway hairs, dampen the coat slightly with a fine spray of water as you work. After all your efforts are done, the dog will give himself a good shake, letting you know he prefers to go dressed his own way..."

What Debbie describes above is what is referred to as 'line combing.' As in the photo below, you will use your hand to hold back the fur above the small line or section of fur that you are about to comb out, toward the natural direction the fur grows, then dropping another small approximate inch of fur while holding the fur above that new section up and proceeding the same way.
The first time you do this combing will probably be the most time consuming part of the entire grooming process. With regular combing and brushing, it will get quicker and easier as you practice. Once or twice a year, expect to have a pretty big shedding which will take a bit more time to handle.

Here is a Corgi who is slightly shedding, before line combing. You can lightly spritz the entire coat with water and using a pin brush, Mason Pearson or your comb, back brush the coat in the direction opposite the way it grows so it sort of sticks up or out and then work on each section as described above.

Hold up the fur with one hand and then comb in the direction the fur grows, inch by inch, with the other hand.
The coat after line combing.
Some people train their dogs to lie down quietly on their sides as they are being groomed or combed out. I spent the day at Sue Jacob's (artist extraordinaire) painting yesterday (but that will be show and tell for another day's post!) Sue started grooming Corgis back in her days as a junior handler. Her dogs always look beautifully groomed. Sue gave me a few tips to share with you. She put Liat (her cuddly handsome sable boy) on his side and he was very happy to lay there for his pampering. After bathing, Sue towel dries the dog well and then after about 20 minutes starts the blow drying process. While blow drying, she is using her comb or pin brush (never one with 'balls' on the end, as she feels it tears the coat, but rather one like I described in my earlier post) and works through the fur in the direction of the coat. She starts with the dog laying down on his side, working around the turn of stifle, sort of line combing from the belly, up to the top. In addition to using a greyhound comb, Sue sometimes likes to use an even finer, almost a 'flea' comb as well as a soft slicker brush on each section as she goes along. After doing the sides, the dog stands up and she works the line from the tail to the head and around to the chest in the same manner.

There should be no scissoring or trimming of the Corgi anywhere on his coat other than on the pads of her paws in order to create a nice clean oval foot, which I'll share with you in the next post.

I've received all of your emails that you are printing out this little basic Corgi grooming series. As soon as I'm finished (we still have basic nail grooming, etc.) I will try and put them all together into a free downloadable file for you as soon as I figure out how to do it. If anyone would like to spare me the time trying to figure it out, do send me an email at christmascorgi@gmail.com and I will be most grateful.

Still to come: Pretty Paws and Nails and getting that Corgi coat healthy from the inside, out.

xo xo -CS ^..^

American Idol

What an awesome finale show! I must say that Kris won me over a bit last night but Adam Lambert has been my favorite since the beginning. Here's a little Corgi tribute to his fantastic performance. I'll be in line for your first CD! -CS ^..^
p.s. Corgi grooming posts to continue shortly!

Be Careful What You Wish For, and a Quick and Delicious Soup.

Every day I would go outside, hoping that one of the chickens would lay an egg. Now they are laying consistently and I find myself with a plethora of eggs! I'm not complaining, though :) Does anybody have a few good egg recipes? I have a bread recipe that uses a dozen eggs (truly, it does) so I may have to dig that one out.

I have to say I am amazed at what lovely eggs they are blessing us with. This is a rather large stoneware bowl. It is the old Mayflower Corgi Club pottery pasta bowl. I'd say the eggs would be sized as 'large.' It seems like it took such a long, long time for them to start laying. Has anyone else ever had hens that didn't lay until they were almost a year old? I understand they should have started when they were about 6 mos. old for this breed, the Silver Laced Wyandottes. Oh well, late bloomers I guess. Maybe just the long dark Winter.

I love a good home made soup, especially chicken soup. Some people call chicken soup with little meatballs Italian Wedding Soup. We just call it chicken soup around here since the little meatballs are a given. There is mutiny amongst the ranks when I don't include them. There are nights when I feel like having soup but just don't want to spend hours cooking stock and taking chicken off of the bones. I still want something healthy, delicious and nutritious to feed my family, however. Here is my quick and lighter chicken soup recipe. It needs a name. Since it is quick and easy and usually made on the spur of the moment, How about Cathy's Italian Elopement Soup or maybe Cathy's Shotgun Wedding Soup? :) It is quick because I use store bought stock or your own stock you have in the freezer, boneless chicken breasts, dried herbs and spices from the pantry and you don't cook the pasta separately. The most time consuming part is making the little meatballs.

Ingredients:

• 1 large can (48 oz) of College Inn Light & Fat Free 50% less sodium Chicken Broth


• approximately 1 pound of boneless chicken breasts, either thin sliced or split are fine, cut into bite sized pieces. (*hint: do you have a kitchen scissors? After washing the chicken, you can use your scissors to cut it into small pieces quickly and right over the pot! These scissors should be washed thoroughly before and after use and only used for cooking)


• 1 pound of fresh carrots, peeled, rinsed and cut into bite-sized pieces


• 5 or 6 ribs of celery, washed and cut into 1/2 inch pieces. Include some of the tender light green ones from the center, including the light tender leaves.


• 2 medium or 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 pound of the leanest ground beef
• 1/2 cup of flavored or seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup grated romano or parmesan cheese (better cheese makes better meatballs) and more for topping the soup later.
• 1 fresh egg
• milk (you can substitute water)
• one 8 oz. can tomato sauce

• Spices and seasonings: dried basil, dried oregano, dried parsley flakes, garlic powder, sea salt and ground black pepper


• 12 oz. small egg bow-ties pasta


• fresh cold water

Put chopped carrots, celery, and onion in a large soup pot. Add enough water to cover veggies with about 4 inches extra. Cover the pot. Bring to a boil on high flame and then lower the flame to a low-medium boil. Keep the lid slightly ajar so you don't boil over. While the veggies are gently cooking, get started on your meatballs.

Miniature soup meatballs: You will need a medium saucepan and a colander. In a bowl, combine one fresh egg, breadcrumbs, grated cheese (I sometimes add more cheese than 1/2 cup, but do what you like!) about 1 tablespoon of dried parsley flakes, a pinch of dried basil, oregano, salt (if desired) and black pepper with about 1/8 cup of milk. Mix well and add the ground beef. Mix with a spoon and then continue mixing with very clean hands. Form the mixture into little bite sized meatballs. Put them into the medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until done, approximately 10 minutes. They will turn a dark greyish color. Check to make sure there is no pink left inside. Drain them in a colander and rinse with clear fresh water. Sounds crazy, but the rinsing really removes the fat. Drain.

After about 10 minutes (it will take longer than this to do your meatballs so keep an eye on the veggies.) Add your chicken broth, tomato sauce, chicken, about a tablespoon each of dried basil, oregano and parsley flakes, about 2 teaspoons of garlic powder and a good pinch of sea salt and ground black pepper. We want to cook the chicken here. Check it in about 20 minutes or so. Keep the soup pot on a very low simmer while you are finishing up your meatballs. *Variation note: if you have it on hand, and if you like it, you can add a few handfuls of chopped fresh escarole here. Once the meatballs are cooked, rinsed and drained, add them to the soup. Continue simmering for about 10-15 minutes. The soup should look a bit 'watery' at this point but will come together after you add the pasta. If you think you've boiled out too much liquid, you can always add a bit more water and a chicken boullion cube or a small can of chicken broth if you have it, but as long as there is enough liquid to cook your pasta, I would leave it alone. This is a hearty soup.

Raise the flame to create a good medium boil and add the box of tiny egg bows. Cook for about 7 minutes and turn off the flame. The soup is ready! Serve with freshly grated cheese and some fresh ground black pepper and salt to taste.

Do ahead tip: You can chop all of your veggies and make your meatballs in the morning, and refrigerate them until you start your soup for dinner. As I said, the meatballs take the most time, but they are so worth it!

Give it a try. Bonus? It is even better the next day and freezes well. Let me know how it goes over at your house. -CS ^..^