Mom Is In The Kitchen

 

Okay, I am back. Me, the cute one. This is a story about Mom in the kitchen. I must say that when she is busy with her garden, she doesn't spend much time in the kitchen. It is almost like she loves that garden more than us dogs!

I know that is not true. There is not one flower that can compete with my cuteness! Mom says I have I have a very high opinion of myself. She does spend a lot time in those gardens, but she always holds us when she comes in. Not in the kitchen, she won't hold us in the kitchen. She says our fur will contaminate the food. I beg your pardon, but a little dog hair never hurt anyone!

This day when Mom went into the kitchen, it was not the normal time. Dad was still sleeping and it was not time for a human meal. Us dogs watched to see what Mom might be up to. Sometimes she will cook some delicious bacon. Not only is it heavenly to smell, if you watch closely and listen for a "pop" bacon fat will hit the floor. When this happens we all try to get there first.

I am very quick, I can run fastest! Toni Louise can run, too. Her legs are long, much longer than mine, but she is bigger. She might beat me in a long race, but not when we are in the kitchen! Eddie rarely runs. Like our dad he chooses to let the world come to him. He waddles when he walks and you would think he was very old, but when he smells bacon he moves fast!

This day, Mom told us dogs we were running out of treats! We all wondered what kind of treats she might be making. I didn't see her turn the oven on, so that ruled out sweet potatoes. I love sweet potatoes! Mom slices them and then puts them in the oven for a very long time. Longer than cake or cornbread (favorites of mine). When they are done, they are sweet and chewy and oh, so delicious!

She told us dogs that she didn't want to heat up the house with the oven. She got out the peanut butter, then the oatmeal. Let me warn you about that oatmeal .... Never stick your head into that round box thinking you have found your heart's desire! Oatmeal, all by itself does not make a delicious treat! Not only does it taste like nothing, if you try to breathe with your head in that box, it will clog your nose up and even get in your eyes if they are open. Don't ask how I know this, just be careful if your happen upon a round box.

After she put the peanut butter and oatmeal on the counter, she opened a can. What is in the can? I can't read and all those cans look alike to me. I have to see it or smell it before I am confidant of the contents. Dad likes sardines and when he opens that can, all I want to do is smear the contents all over my body! Soon enough we all knew it was pumpkin. She dumped the pumpkin into the big bowl she uses when she makes cake. She has let us dogs lick the bowl before. I just hope she knows to wash it before using it again. Actually, I know Mom knows this, but sometimes Dad will offer to wash the dishes ....

She put several big globs of peanut butter in that bowl and mixed it up. The she added oatmeal. She stirred and stirred, adding more oatmeal. She talks to us dogs while this is happening. She told us it was important to use good ingredients and that people could eat our treats. What?? Don't let Dad know this, he loves treats! She kept pouring more oatmeal from that round box and stirring. She told us dogs she wanted the consistency of rice krispy treats. I have no idea what she is talking about, as I am drooling thinking about licking that bowl!

Finally she has decided that it is just right. She puts down a layer of something called waxed paper, looks like plain paper to me. This is when she bemoans the loss of her parchment paper and silver wear. Us dogs just watch and drool, hoping she will drop the bowl on the floor! It seemed like she stirred for the longest time, but this next part was even longer. 

She put her hand into the mixture and began rolling little bite sized balls of treats and placing them on that paper on top of a cookie sheet. When we saw the cookie sheet we all though she was going to bake something. It only makes sense, cookie sheets go in the oven, right? But, after she rolled all 93 bite-sized balls of yumminess, she picked up that cookie sheet and went outside! We all followed her like a police escort for a truck full of money, only to watch her put our treats into the porch refrigerator.

Us dogs all looked at each other. What madness is this? Why are the treats in the refrigerator? Will us dogs ever sample the delicious treats? What about the bowl in the kitchen? I have so many questions running through my mind!

We all followed Mom back into the kitchen. She started washing dishes as us dogs yelled "not the bowl, please let us lick the bowl" she heard our cries and leaned down to put the bowl on the floor. This bowl is not my favorite licking bowl. It is very light weight and does not want to sit still while us dogs lick it clean. We do it anyway and Mom picks it up and squirts something in it, then pushes it into the water while she scrubs every inch of the bowl to make it squeaky clean (not sure what this means, but I hear it on TV and I like the way it rolls off the tongue!).

The treats stayed in the fridge until the next day. Mom went out there in her nightgown! She came in with the tray of 93 treats. Mom says these should last a month. You know, I thought about tripping her with that tray of treats and then we could see just how long they were meant to last! I changed my mind at the last minute when I thought about how mad this would make Mom.

We all got our treats and after devouring them we consulted with each other about the taste and consistancy and decided this batch was much better than the batch before. I forgot to tell you that she added honey this time and oh my goodness, it was tasty!

Mom left the treats on the kitchen table and got her coffee ready next to her laptop and sat down. Toni Louise is not opposed to standing in a chair to investigate whatever might be on that table. Don't tell Mom, but I have witnessed her actually standing ON the table. Today she was on the ottoman with Mom's feet and Eddie was next to Mom. I hopped into Mom's chair at the table and watched closely. Maybe Mom would start reading blogs and laughing and I could just steal a couple of those treats. I would have a full belly and she would be none the wiser until the treats ran out before she has said they would.

While I was thinking about this, I felt eyes upon me! Not Mom's eyes, but Toni and Eddie were both staring at me. I did what any self respecting Shichorkie would do! I growled deep in my throat at my fellow canines. That caught the attention of Mom. She looked at me and asked me what I thought I might be doing. I lied and told her I was just guarding the treats from Toni Louise. Eddie's legs are too short to get up in the chair. Mom got up and moved the treats, then starting putting them in our treat jar. 

Now Toni is mad at me and Eddie is amused at what he calls my antics and Mom is watching me. Perhaps I should have polished my plan before implementing it. Which cartoon character used to say "Curses, foiled again"? Mom say it is now a brain worm in her head. I am so confused now. Worms are in Mom's brain? I need a nap!