(Sample by Erin Fogarty)

We pretty much have the back door open year round and with two walks a day, the dogs rarely need to pee at home. But as Tutsi has got older she has started to need a pee late in the evening before bed and will rush to the door when I stand up to get ready for closing up for the night.

Recently she'd hurt her back and we had been to visit the vet. She had a small walk before going to the vet where she had performed full potty tasks, about 3 in the afternoon. It was a cold day and by the time we'd finished up at the vet he suggested I just get her home and keep her warm. Bruce had the fire lit when we got back so I wrapped Tutsi up, put her by the fire and Ed and I set off for a walk.

All was well until the next morning when Bruce came to put on one of his shoes and discovered it FULL TO THE BRIM of Tutsi pee! She had missed that 6pm walk and was locked in the house whilst Bruce was doing whatever (TV I expect). I know what she would have done ... gone to the door and STARED at it. Usually makes someone (moi) get up and let her out. Bruce, totally out of tune with the dog and totally in tune with the TV, never recognized the sign. So she had gone into the bathroom where Bruce had all his gear set up for leaving at dawn for an early-morning golf game and peed in his shoe. The funny thing was there wasn't a drop anywhere else. Just a shoe full!

Now when we see her head for the bathroom (about once a month she goes into the bathroom and stares into the bath) we both leap to our feet and follow her.

Tutsi herself

Italian Olive Oil Orange Breakfast Cake
submitted by Donna Hess

Recipe for 1 x  9” Pan

Pre-heat oven to 350

  2 small blood oranges

  1 / 3 cup of Extra virgin olive oil

   2 C All purpose flour

  1 tsp Baking powder

  ½ tsp baking soda

  4 whole eggs

   1 ½ C Sugar

   ½ tsp salt

  1 tsp vanilla

   ½ tsp almond extract ( opt )

Method:

Butter or grease a spring form pan, or whatever pan you are using.

Slice off the top and bottom of the oranges until you get to the flesh part, then cut the whole orange in chunks, and remove all the seeds.  Place the cut up oranges in a food processor, and chop them well adding all the olive oil to the orange mix.

Sift all the dry ingredients together.

Beat the eggs until they are thick and mixed well, then add the sugar and vanilla  and almond extract to the eggs slowly.

Add the flour gradually to the eggs to incorporate it in slowly here. Don’t over mix and develop gluten.   By thirds add the orange mix and incorporate.  Don’t over mix.

Pour contents into the greased baking pan, and bake 60 minutes until done.

Serve with Confectioners sugar, and maybe a dollop of whipped cream.