These aren't for dogs.... but named after our new dog, Bertha.
Our friend found her in a grocery store parking lot. She was running all around trying to get someone to take her home. She was flea bitten and nearly 10 pounds underweight. My friend called to her and she came bounding over, eager to jump into a warm car. After 4 days, no one had reported a missing dog. And though this young stray turned out be a love, my friend was all ready squeezing a family of four and two dogs into 800 square feet. There was just no room for a should be 65 pound dog.
Maybe it was because it was Christmas time, maybe it was knowing no one ever seems to want an adult dog at a shelter. Either way Bertha traveled just over an hour to us, to see if she would fit in at our house. (she was called Chocolate then) After realizing she must have been an outdoor only dog, we basically had a 58 pound puppy on our hands. She sure added some fun to the all ready busy season of Christmas. After a month, after we were sure no one was looking for her, we decided she could stay.
Due to her being an unwanted stray.... on the run.... we decided to call her Bertha. Yes, after the Grateful Dead song of the same name. It fits her well, and no one names their dog Bertha, so it makes people laugh.
She is doing fantastic! We assume she's a lab mix, but your guess is as good as ours. The vet thinks she is a young two year old. She's put on weight, learned basic commands, is house broken and mostly chews on just her own toys. She is the most submissive eager to please sweet easy going dog and wonderful with the children. She tries hard not to chase the cat and to get along with Sid. Her fur is glossy and a beautiful reddish brown in the sunlight. And even though she most certainly has a naughty streak, we all adore her.
I swear every night after taking her out for the last potty run of the day she pauses at the door for just a minute, as if she's still surprised to be heading in for the night. I don't know if dogs can really be thankful, but she sure seems it.
And since Joe let her stay, and I made this snack mix for his stocking as quick fuel for his lunch time run... it seemed only fitting to name it after Bertha.
So there you have it. A story of a stray that ends happy. Now if we could just convince her the dog bed is really more comfy than the sofa.
Bertha's Hard Run Fuel::
4 cups raw almonds
1 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 cup raw pumpkin/pepita seeds
6 Tbsp maple syrup
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp lime juice
1 Tbsp ginger powder
2 cups dried cherries & cranberries (1 cup of each)
mix lime juice, salt, maple syrup & ginger in a small bowl. pour over nuts and stir well to coat. bake in 300 degree oven for 20 minutes stirring every 5-7 minutes.
when cool, add cherries & cranberries.
*this recipe is inspired by a very similar one that I found over the internet during the holidays.... however I cannot find the link to the original... so thank you, wherever you are!
Aw...she's beautiful. The stars certainly were aligned perfectly for her. She's a lucky, lucky girl.
Posted by: Nichole | January 10, 2011 at 10:09 AM
I can tell you're just nuts about Bertha teehee;)
xxx
Posted by: pamela | January 10, 2011 at 11:26 AM
I love Bertha! Both versions..and it must be the dead-head in me to not even consider Bertha as being an odd name. It fits her perfectly. This is the best story of the day. I love happy endings.
Posted by: faith | January 10, 2011 at 02:13 PM
Congratulations on the new member of the family! The fuel looks fantastic but do you think I could substitute agave for the maple syrup?
Posted by: BrentGetsFit | January 10, 2011 at 07:30 PM
Thanks Brent :) I do think agave would be a good substitute. Honey would work well too. Let me know how it works!
Posted by: Stephinie | January 10, 2011 at 10:51 PM
Yeah, a fellow dead head :) My husband plays guitar and we sing her "Bertha" all the time.... changing the words as needed to fit her story. We're total dorks around here!
Posted by: Stephinie | January 10, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Isn't she a pretty girl. We can totally blame her on L by the way!
Posted by: Stephinie | January 10, 2011 at 10:56 PM
teehee back at ya :) We are pretty smitten with the sweet girl!
Posted by: Stephinie | January 10, 2011 at 10:57 PM
When you mentioned her arrival a few weeks ago, I'd already heard about her "new beginnings".
Don't you think it would be nice if our "real worlds" crossed paths one day. I have a bright idea: road trip for you two ladies to my parts...:) Hmm...
Posted by: Nichole | January 11, 2011 at 10:28 PM
Lets do it!! Stephinie, we could pick up bulk supply on the way home:)))
Posted by: greenemother | January 12, 2011 at 09:06 AM
February?? Oh we need to to plan this for sure!!
Posted by: Stephinie | January 12, 2011 at 11:39 AM
What a beautiful girl. She has such an expressive face. I'm so glad she came to your house. She will be greatly loved.
Posted by: Valarie Budayr | January 12, 2011 at 12:24 PM
She's beautiful! What a sweet girl - goodness, even onscreen, she makes me talk like a Goofy Human. ;)
This was such a lovely intersection of need & love, thank you for sharing her story (and the yummy recipe).
Posted by: perches | January 12, 2011 at 01:54 PM
see??? she's already to go!!!
Posted by: Nichole | January 12, 2011 at 03:36 PM
oh we are certainly smitten with her.... she is such a fun dog :)
Posted by: Stephinie | January 12, 2011 at 10:32 PM
It makes my heart all gooey to think she found her way to our house.... fate I tell ya :)
Posted by: Stephinie | January 12, 2011 at 10:32 PM
Oh how adorable she is! Glad she has found a safe and loving home with your family.
Hope she doesn't run into a tree ;)
(Sorry, couldn't resist, and I hope that doesn't sound to weird to someone else...)
Posted by: renee ~ heirloom seasons | January 14, 2011 at 10:23 PM
Made my first batch using agave instead of the maple syrup (I had the agave on hand). I should have sprayed the pan before roasting. After I let it sit to cool, everything stuck to the bottom of the pan! Not a huge deal but I'm sure I'll be finding random nuts all around the kitchen for weeks, lol. The flavor is excellent, I was afraid the ginger would overpower the mix but it comes through as a faint aftertaste, quite pleasant. Thanks so much for sharing, nom nom :)
Posted by: BrentGetsFit | January 15, 2011 at 04:00 PM
Awesome Brent! Glad you like it.... I always cook with stoneware pans.... so I totally forget to tell people to use some nonstick spray... sorry about that. On another note, Joe had a get together last night and your name was mentioned several times {all good stuff} would have loved to have you here to enjoy the awful 80's music fest they had going on :)
Posted by: Stephinie | January 16, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Oh my! We joke about the same thing here.... singing her "her song" all the time.... it is really funny. The kids change the words a bit to fit her story "Bertha you could stay around here if you want" but 65 pounds of lab puppy is certainly clumsy enough to run into a tree!
Posted by: Stephinie | January 16, 2011 at 10:45 AM
WE BUILT THIS CITY!....
Posted by: BrentGetsFit | January 17, 2011 at 01:19 PM