Doggone good time: make no bones about it--this pet party was pure tail-wagging fun.With a guest list that included names like Elvis, Gumbo gumbo, another name for okra; also applied in the W United States to a rich, black, alkaline alluvial soil, which is soapy or sticky when wet. gumbo , and Cricket and a menu featuring "pupcakes" and "dog pound cakes," it was obvious that the party given in honor of a two-year-old Flowood resident named Skip would be no ordinary birthday bash. Sisters Katie and Mary Ellen Lawrence, along with their parents, Beverly and Tim, were so enamored en·am·or tr.v. en·am·ored, en·am·or·ing, en·am·ors To inspire with love; captivate: was enamored of the beautiful dancer; were enamored with the charming island. by their rescued mixed-breed puppy puppy the young of the canine species; usually used up to the age of 12 months. fading puppy syndrome see fading kitten/puppy syndrome. puppy pyoderma see impetigo. that they decided to open their backyard to Skip's four-legged friends for a gathering that would cater to both human and canine canine or canid Any domestic or wild dog or doglike mammal (e.g., wolf, jackal, fox) in the family Canidae, found throughout the world except in Antarctica and on most ocean islands. tastes. Birthday parties for pets are unusual enough, but to be honest, the Lawrences don't really know when Skip was born at all. "He was rescued on Old Canton Road Canton Road is a road in Hong Kong, linking the former west reclamation shore in Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok on the Kowloon Peninsula. The road starts from the junction with Salisbury Road and ends at the junction with Lai Chi Kok Road. by Katie during a rainstorm," Beverly says. "We didn't know his exact age or where he came from--or what kind of dog he actually is. The vet vet common idiomatic version of veterinarian. estimated he was about a year old when Katie found him, so we decided to celebrate his second 'birthday' with a party." To get guests in the spirit from the start, the family sent out handpainted invitations bearing Skip's likeness that begged, "Please don't 'Skip' my party!" "As you can imagine, because it was for a dog, the sillier the ideas the better," says Beverly. The rollicking rol·lick·ing adj. Carefree and high-spirited; boisterous: a rollicking celebration. rol roster of guests included 16 dogs of every size, shape, and description; mutts like Skip and pedigreed ped·i·gree n. 1. a. A line of ancestors; a lineage. b. A list of ancestors; a family tree. 2. purebreds happily mingled together. Some of the dogs were boisterous--"although none was as wild as Skip, who is a busy bee with boundless energy," says Beverly--while others were shy amid all the excitement. With a diverse group ranging from a friendly golden retriever golden retriever, breed of large sporting dog developed primarily in Scotland in the mid-19th cent. It stands about 23 in. (58.4 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 60 to 75 lb (27.2–34.1 kg). named Reno and a Malti-poo called Marley to miniature dachshunds Murphy and Oliver, the hosts say they were amazed a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. at how well all of the dogs got along. Each dog brought his or her owner along, and the equal-opportunity menu included treats for both humans and animals. While dogs dined on "pupcakes," homemade home·made adj. 1. Made or prepared in the home: homemade pie. 2. Made by oneself. 3. Crudely or simply made. Adj. 1. cupcakes made just for them, their leash-holders enjoyed snacks such as "Bad to the Bone" cheese straws served in a bone-shaped basket, "Doggone dog·gone Informal tr. & intr.v. dog·goned, dog·gon·ing, dog·gones To damn. interj. & n. Damn. adv. & adj. also dog·goned Damned. Good" feta fet·a n. A white semisoft cheese usually made of goat's or ewe's milk and often preserved in brine. [Modern Greek (turi) pheta, (cheese) slice, from Italian fetta, slice cheese dip, and "Skipperdoodles" made in honor of the birthday boy. "Some of the larger dogs like Zoe [a Rottweiler Rottweiler (rŏt`wīlər), breed of sturdy working dog developed from a Roman cattle dog introduced into S Germany more than 1,900 years ago. It stands from 21 3-4 to 27 in. (55.3–68. ] and Millie [a Weimaraner] wolfed down their own pupcakes and anybody else's they could get to," laughs Beverly. "They also really enjoyed the people food." The food was presented on a burlap-covered table highlighted by a dog-shaped centerpiece made from an iron frame originally intended to hold dog food and water bowls. Instead, the hosts filled it with pots of white geraniums and tied a red bandana around the neck for a cheerful finishing touch. Dog figurines and dog-shaped iron door stops completed the decor, along with framed photos of the Lawrences' beloved yellow lab, Boomer, who died in 2005. Of course, no canine birthday party would be complete without doggie bags doggie bag n. Variant of doggy bag. Noun 1. doggie bag - a bag for food that a customer did not eat at a restaurant; the transparent pretense is that the food is taken home to feed the customer's dog doggy bag , so dogs took home Skip's favorite homemade dog bones as favors, and humans were presented with "People Puppy Chow" in small dog bowls. "By far, this was the easiest and most fun party we've ever given or planned," says Beverly. "We promised everyone who attended a 'doggone good time,' and our neighbors concluded that the neighborhood was 'going to the dogs!'" MENU FOR HUMANS: Bad to file Bone Cheese Straws Doggone Good Feta Dip with Skip's Chips Pup-peroni Bites Dog Pound Cakes (Sour Cream Pound Cake with Almond almond, name for a small tree (Prunus amygdalus) of the family Rosaceae (rose family) and for the nutlike, edible seed of its drupe fruit. The "nuts" of sweet-almond varieties are eaten raw or roasted and are pressed to obtain almond oil. Glaze glaze, in pottery glaze, translucent layer that coats pottery to give the surface a finish or afford a ground for decorative painting. Glazes—transparent, white, or colored—are fired on the clay. and Chocolate Pound Cake with Chocolate Glaze) People Puppy Chow Skipperdoodles FOR DOGS: Skip's Favorite Dog Bones Pupcakes BAD TO THE BONE CHEESE STRAWS 8 ounces sharp cheese, softened and grated 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon flour Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream cheese and butter, then add seasonings. Add flour to form a stiff dough. Roll out to 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface. Cut out cheese straws with a dog-bone-shaped cookie cutter. Place on a greased cookie sheet, and bake for about 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Yield: about 5 dozen. DOGGONE GOOD FETA DIP 8 ounces cream cheese 8 ounces feta cheese 2 to 3 teaspoons dill weed, chopped 2 tablespoons mayonnaise Cucumbers, crackers, or Skip's Chips Let cream cheese and feta cheese come to room temperature, then cream together and add dill and mayonnaise. Serve with cucumbers, crackers, or Skip's Chips. SKIP'S CHIPS: 1 loaf French bread About 1/2 cup butter, melted Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Slice French bread into 1/4-inch slices. Place on a cookie sheet, and brush with melted butter. Bake for 1 hour or until crisp and completely dry. PUP-PERONI BITES (MINI MUFFALETTAS) 1 loaf French bread Olive salad mix Pepperoni slices Provolone cheese Prosciutto Mozzarella cheese Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice French bread in half lengthwise. Spoon olive salad over one half. Layer pepperoni slices, Provolone cheese, prosciutto, and mozzarella cheese. Place remaining half of loaf on top, and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cheeses melt. Slice loaf into 1/2-inch sections, and serve warm. PEOPLE PUPPY CHOW 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips 6 ounces milk chocolate chips 1 cup peanut butter 1 large box Chex cereal I pound confectioner's sugar Melt chocolate chips in a saucepan until shiny. Add peanut butter; mix well. Pour over cereal in a large bowl; mix well. Place confectioner's sugar in a large plastic zipper bag. Add cereal mixture, and shake to mix well. Package in cellophane bags or in new dog food bowls. Yield: 16 servings. Charla Walker Ridgeland SKIPPERDOODLES 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup butter, softened 1 3/4 cups sugar, divided 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon Whisk flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Cream butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 1/3 of flour mixture, and beat well, then gradually add remaining flour mixture, mixing just until blended. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. While dough is chilling, combine 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Set aside. When chilled, roll dough out on a floured surface, and cut into shapes with a dog-shaped cookie cutter. Place on greased cookie sheet, sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture, and bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for 10-12 minutes. SOUR CREAM POUND CAKE WITH ALMOND GLAZE 1/2 pound butter 3 cups sugar 6 eggs 3 cups flour 1/4 teaspoon soda Dash salt 1/2 pint sour cream Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream butter and sugar well. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift together dry ingredients. Add 1/3 of dry mixture at a time, alternating with sour cream. Pour into a greased tube pan, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool, then cut into 1-inch squares. Drizzle with Almond Glaze. ALMOND GLAZE: 2 tablespoons cream or milk 1 cup confectioner's sugar 1/2 teaspoon almond extract Gradually add cream or milk to confectioner's sugar until desired consistency is reached. Add almond extract, and mix well. CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE GLAZE 1 cup butter or margarine 1/2 cup shortening 3 cups sugar 5 eggs 3 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup cocoa 1 cup milk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream butter or margarine, shortening, and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, and beat well after each addition. Sift dry ingredients, including cocoa, and add alternately with milk and vanilla. Pour into a greased tube pan, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool, then cut into 1-inch squares. Drizzle with Chocolate Glaze. CHOCOLATE GLAZE: 3 tablespoons cocoa 2 to 3 tablespoons milk 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 cup confectioner's sugar Add cocoa and milk to melted butter, and cook slightly. Add confectioner's sugar, and mix well. (It may be necessary to add a little more milk to achieve desired consistency.) FOR DOGS: SKIP'S FAVORITE DOG BONES 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup self-rising flour 1 tablespoon beef bouillon 3 tablespoons powdered milk 1 egg, well beaten 1 tablespoon molasses 3 tablespoons canola oil 1/4 cup water Measure dry ingredients into a bowl. Add egg. Add molasses, canola oil, and water, and mix well. (If dough is too stiff, add 1 or 2 additional tablespoons water.) Chill for one hour. On a floured surface, roll dough 1/8 inch thick, then cut with a dog-bone-shaped cookie cutter. Place on a greased cookie sheet, and bake for 30 minutes. PUPCAKES 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 1/2 cup canola oil 1 (2.5-ounce) jar strained beef baby food 4 eggs Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour together flour and baking powder, and set aside. Cream margarine or butter until smooth, then add canola oil, baby food, and eggs, and mix well. Add flour mixture gradually, and beat until smooth. Spoon into greased muffin pans, and bake for about 1 hour. (Don't use paper muffin liners--the dogs would eat them!) Cool, then frost with Icing. Garnish with shredded carrots. ICING: Cottage cheese or plain yogurt Beat until smooth. BARKING bark 1 n. 1. The harsh sound uttered by a dog. 2. A sound, such as a cough, that is similar to a dog's bark. v. barked, bark·ing, barks v.intr. 1. UP THE WRONG TREE? Hosting a party for a dog isn't perfect for every pooch. The Lawrences offer points to think about when considering throwing a gathering for four-legged friends: * Consider how sociable your dog is. Is he well-behaved when surrounded by other dogs? Even if he isn't, you can still throw him a party--just invite humans, not other dogs. * Plan the guest list carefully. "Don't invite a dog that doesn't get along well with other dogs, even if he belongs to your very best friend," Beverly says. * Insist on leashes. Every owner should be in control of his or her dog, at least until you determine how well they will get along. * Choose the right location. If the dogs will be unleashed for any period of time, they must be confined con·fine v. con·fined, con·fin·ing, con·fines v.tr. 1. To keep within bounds; restrict: Please confine your remarks to the issues at hand. See Synonyms at limit. , so select an enclosed space Noun 1. enclosed space - space that is surrounded by something cavity space - an empty area (usually bounded in some way between things); "the architect left space in front of the building"; "they stopped at an open space in the jungle"; "the space between . * Plan a rain date or alternative location. If bad weather makes the backyard off limits, "16 dogs inside might be a very big problem," says Beverly. * Find a safe haven 1. Designated area(s) to which noncombatants of the United States Government's responsibility and commercial vehicles and materiel may be evacuated during a domestic or other valid emergency. 2. for timid timid, adj in Chinese medicine, pertaining to inadequate energy needed to face and overcome obstacles. dogs. Consider keeping less enthusiastic canine guests on the porch porch Roofed structure, usually open at front and sides, projecting from the face of a building and used to protect an entrance. If colonnaded, it may be called a portico. or somewhere away from the noisy Noisy is the name or part of the name of six communes of France:
* Consider planning some party activities. "We had a very low-key party with just a few balls for them to play with, but you can find lots of possibilities for more elaborate parties on a variety of Web sites," Beverly says. Activity options might include frisbee tossing toss v. tossed, toss·ing, toss·es v.tr. 1. To throw lightly or casually or with a sudden slight jerk: tossed the shirt on the floor. See Synonyms at throw. , a splash in the pool, a backyard agility course, or even a puppy pinata filled with dog treats. PHOTOGRAPHY BY RON BLAYLOCK |
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