The weather out side is...

At this moment it is 16 degrees outside.  It's cold, very cold.  

California boy is not used to this.  But i do admit i love it.  

The water for the chickens get frozen in about 2 hours, so  we need to check it often. 

They are not very happy about this cold.  We have a heating lamp for them so they are toasty and warm. 

We are cold but our snow from yesterday is almost gone.  Its funny how its below freezing and still when the sun is out the snow will melt then refreeze after the sun goes behind the house (about 1pm).

Some to the melted-refrozen snow on the outdoor lights.
I have dedcided to update the reason for my blog. since i do not seem to write very much.  so this is all about our dogs and are life as MaiRo & Co - Dog Treat Bakery.
Hope this allowes me more topics to write to you and let you know what we are upto.
Happy Tail to you
SED

Have to share this with you.
I had a customer come in to the Village Post Office where I sell our treats and work (part time).  She asked questions about the dog treats we sell. MaiRo & Co Dog Treats, I told he about the wholesome and natural stuff we put into our treats, whole wheat flour, roasted carob powder, home made Peanut Butter, farm fresh eggs, locally sourced products.  Since her pup did not eat just everything, I offered some samples to take home.
She took the treats placed them in her pocket and left our shop to run more errands.
A few weeks later she stopped by to do some mailing and told me how the treat were such a great success.
(Remember she placed the treats in the pocket of her jeans.)  She got home from doing those errands and hand forgotten about the treats,so into the laundry basket those jeans went. Well we all know how good a dogs nose is. Her dogs sniffed out the carob mint treats from the other laundry smells. Got the jeans out, got into the pocket and ate the treats.  Also eating a whole in the pocket of her jeans.

 This is a true story. 

Just goes to show you good wholesome treats can never be hidden from ANY dog.

Stop by and see whats NEW for Valentine's Day

3 days in to 2013

Well its day 3 of the new year. Its 5 degrees outside, to cold for the chickens to give us any eggs.

Maisie in the Snow

                     Maisie loves the cold and she will just sit in the snow for hours.  Coco will stay with here for some time but in the end will bark to be let in.  Rosie on the other hand will just stick her head out, sniff and most times will retreat to the comfort of my chair. I think she is waiting for Spring.

Maisie, Rosie & Coco Play

Now i have to get to work.  Valentine's day is coming and treats must be made.
Visit us at MaiRoAndCo.com to see our treats for this day of love.

Bow Wow.
SED

New Year

2013. What will it bring to us here at MaIRo & Co and Balcony House? Who knows but it will be an adventure.  With trips planned, conventions to attend and all of the east side of the USA to see.  It looks like a very special year for all of us.  My your resolutions come true and my you make someone's dream come true. 
And my I learn how to turn off this stupid android spell check thingy.

EPCOT CENTER 30!

What a wonderful day.  October 1.  I have been a fan of EPCOT since day one, or well before.  As a young kid I was thrilled with the idea of Disney linking the ideas of Worlds Fairs with there knowledge of entertainment and education.     

 (I wrote WDW for more info, Called and purchased merchandise, posters, postcards,bumper stickers, licence plate and other as sorted items.  When they came in the mail I poured over them and wonderd what it would be like to be in the middle of it all). What could be better and after 30 years it's still a super combination and keeps people on there toes.  EPCOT CENTER allowed us to see so many of the newest stuff out there, now most of it is in our homes or in our pockets.  But on this day I found out what the greatest gift EPCOT has given the world, hope, peace and understanding,of us as humans.  EPCOT showed us that we as a Planet, as people can get along and be happy.  No other place can you enter and make new friends run into old, ones and be remembered from years past.  Here you look out for one another and you take seconded place.  After 30 years and thinking of why I love EPCOT . It's every one, every business and every idea coming together for the good of mankind.  When you leve EPCOT you leave with the a new found hope that it's one great big beautiful tomorrow.

American Adventure.                      Japan.                                           Italy.                                      Mexico

Getting ready for Halloween

Grave stones waiting to be placed

Halloween on the Horizon

Halloween is just around the corner and we need to get our ghoul on.  

With a vacation coming up and this month half over, we have to move like a bat out of well you know.  

So we got our urns out, tombstones, lights and pumpkins. Have used the urns for 3 years in a row.  Each year I dress them differntly. This year they have become arrangemest like you might see graveside.

They will live in the front planters next to or near our 3 tombstones ( i need to make more).  Urn one is light with orange and black lights going up the branches. Urn two is going to have an eerie glow as i have Cool White lights wrapped under the the lip of the urn.

Urn One

Urn Two

I made three Grave Markers from old pallets. they work great and age wonderfully in our weather.

One for MOM & DAD who died together. The other is unknown,or waiting for you?

This one is to look like marble and has lost the picture of the owner of the plot.

We have 31 mixed size pumpkins that we add to the scene. One or two each day till we have all 31 out.  Our neighbors try and find all 31.  Good luck.  

Our house is white so it takes color very well. The balcony gets orange and black lights on the floor.  This makes the walls and celling of the balcony glow as if on file.  The rest of the top floor is bathed in red. The main floor is a wash in purple and the Graveyard is lit with low wattage Malibu lights.  

I want to try the fog machine this year.  We will be home this year to take part in "Gift Giving" of the season.

Herb n summer

Herbs, Peppers & Tomatoes

Well summer is almost over.  The days are cooling off and the nights even colder.  Soon it will be time to shut off the A/C.  Here are some of the herbs, bell peppers and tomatoes we have harvested.   Unfortunatly we lost a lot of plants this year.  Not sure why.   Every thing started out well enough, cucumber vines long, green, lot of bloom and then, death!
The whole vine wither to zilch.     Tomatoes took their sweet time but now we have them lots.                                           A few more and sauce they will become.

Herb Garden now

       

Herb Garden in late May

     

Drying Tyme

 We have herbs in the freezer.    Herbs, dried in jars and next herbs in olive oil or butter, freeze and use as fresh all Winter long.

I have put seeds down for beans, broccoli, beets and lettuce.

We will see what shows it's head before the first frost,