Trained by the Pets

My pets have trained me well and I am losing sleep over it.

Much to our chagrin, we realized Mollie the Mini-Schnauzer was getting up in the middle of the night and scarfing down a whole bowl of cat food. Mini-Schnauzer's can be prone to pancreatitis. Eating cat food is very bad for pancreatitis. We needed to remedy this situation.

Our solution was easy. At night, before we retire, move the cat food bowl out of Mollie's reach. Easy enough, right? I only wish it was as easy as moving the bowl.

Lucky Charm, aka Evil Kitty, is missing her food in the middle of the night. Apparently cat hunger pangs start sometime about 3AM. Now, not only is the cat food out of reach of Mollie the Mini-Schnauzer, Lucky Charm the Evil Kitty cannot reach it either. So, for the past ten days or so, every night about 3AM, our Evil Kitty has decided someone needs to get up and feed her. Since her meowing over the spot where her food bowl would normally sit does not awaken anyone, or get her food, she has taken more drastic action.

3AM. Lucky Charm the Evil Kitty starts frantically running all over the house, bouncing off furniture in quite a frenzy. This neurotic behavior wakes Mollie the Mini-Schnauzer. Mollie perceives something is going terribly wrong with one of the pack members in our household and starts barking. She barks and barks and barks and barks and barks. She barks until I get up to feed Lucky Charm. Feeding Lucky Charm stops the frantic behavior. Stopping the frantic behavior quells the barking.

Even in the wee hours of the morning, it's not like I can put the cat food on the floor and return to bed. I put the cat food bowl on the floor. Lucky Charm eats. I can't leave the cat food down because Mollie might still sneak in and eat it. There I stand, until the cat eats her fill and I can move the cat food to higher ground. When I return to bed, a little silver dog has taken my place. Mollie the Mini-Schnauzer is snoring with her head on my pillow.

This story would be incredibly funny, except now, it's like groundhog day every night in our home. They have trained me well. Everybody is getting plenty of sleep except me.

Great Autumn Dish - Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut Squash Soup is the perfect Autumn lunch or dinner starter. One of my favorite restaurants (now closed) used to serve this dish with crisp buttered toast. I thought I would absolutely hate it because I am not much of a squash soup fan. Now, it is one of my favorite soups. The orange color makes it a perfect soup for the Autumn season.

Butternut Squash Soup

2 Large Butternut Squash (seeded and quartered)
Butter Cooking Spray or Olive Oil
Salt
2 cups Chicken Stock or Broth
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
½ Teaspoon White Pepper
1/8 Teaspoon Nutmeg
1 Pint Heavy Whipping Cream

Pre-heat oven to 400.

Put two teaspoons water in each baking pan. Place squash in pan, skin side down. Spray tops lightly with butter spray, or drizzle with a tablespoon or so of olive oil. Sprinkle with salt. Cover baking dishes and bake at 400 for 45 minutes. After baking, let cool to touch – or refrigerate overnight.

Once squash has cooled, remove peel and puree in blender until liquefied. If you need liquid to puree squash, use some of the chicken stock.

Put liquid pureed squash in large soup pan. Add 2 cups of chicken stock, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon white pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1 pint of heavy whipping cream. Bring to good boil for a few minutes, stirring regularly so cream doesn’t burn.

(Season to your own sweetness. Ripe Butternut Squash is usually very sweet. If you would like soup a little sweeter, add 1 teaspoon honey and/or one teaspoon brown sugar until soup reaches your desired taste.)

Update: Police Action in Cobbleston Manor

Update: a link to the latest Modesto Police Department notification.

This website includes a link to pictures of the suspects taken into custody during the early morning manhunt in Cobblestone Manor and surrounding area.

http://local.nixle.com/alert/231518/