The month of October marks a couple of special anniversaries for our family. First of all, nine years ago this month we got our dog Hershey. And two years ago this month we got our other dog Graham Cracker.
To commemorate these important occasions, we made applesauce–61 quarts and seven pints of it.
I’m kidding.
Just not about the applesauce. We really did make 61 quarts and seven pints of applesauce.
It took us some of Friday afternoon and all day Saturday. The kids picked apples off the trees while my mom and my sister peeled and cut up the apples. The kids and my husband also helped with that.
My job was to cook and bottle the applesauce. By the time we were finished, I never wanted to see another apple again. Ever.
Saturday night I dreamed that I was still canning applesauce. But the real nightmare started when I woke up–because we still had apples.
I see apple butter, apple jam, and apple pie filling in my future.
But back to the dogs.
For their anniversaries, we did absolutely nothing.
Although we did take Hershey to the vet a couple of weeks ago.
As I’ve mentioned before, Hershey is a half Lab/half Irish Setter mix. Her black fur looks slightly red when she is in the sun.
She’s now 14 years old. She was five years old when she came to live with us. Her previous people were moving out of state and could not take Hershey with them. If we hadn’t adopted her, she would have gone to the pound.
She is the sweetest dog. She prefers to be outside because she has to wear that warm, long, curly coat all the time. She only comes inside when it is bitterly cold, raining (she hates the lightning and thunder), or right after dinner when there might possibly be good people-food on the floor (which doesn’t happen that often anymore, now that my kids are all older).
But Hershey’s breath stunk. Like death. If we favored oxygen and breathing, we couldn’t be in the same room with her. Very sad.
So, we took her to the vet. He pulled nine of Hershey’s teeth.
Nine!
I was worried she wouldn’t be able to eat at all. But now she’s eating (and acting) better than she has in a couple of years. Her teeth must have really bothered her. I know they bothered us. I think the vet gave Hershey at least two years of her life back.
The vet tested Hershey’s heart and kidneys and declared her “healthy.” He also reminded me twice that “old age is not a disease.”
Good thing, since Hershey is 98 in dog years. Hopefully, she’ll be around for a long time to come.
After all, someone’s got to eat all that applesauce.
Applesauce is the perfect food. Ask anyone.
Seems like your dog had the same problem as my cat. He just refused to brush his teeth!
That reminds me… I need to go to the store. I’m all out of applesauce
Royce, getting a cat to brush his teeth would make a great act on Pet Star. Or America’s Got Talent. I’d vote for you.
Belhoste, I’d be willing to share my applesauce with you, if only you lived closer
Isn’t pruning wonderful when it comes to apple production?
Love,
Dean
Dean,
If that is the case, I owe you some applesauce. And some apple pie filling. And apple jam. Oh, and apricot jam and plum/blackberry jam.
Thanks for pruning my fruit trees!
Grandpa Dean, what my mom meant to say was that it is all your fault that we spent the whole long weekend making applesauce!!