OSCAR ATE MY MUFFIN

Wicked Wonderful Autumn (Part 5)

Well, friends, it's happened... we've reached the end of our Wicked Wonderful Autumn-Inspired week of posts (brought to you by the letter "W"!)... It's been a JOY to work on this series (and reminisce about some of our favorite parts of the season), and we couldn't think of a more appropriate way to close out this project than to hunker down in front of one of Oscar's favorite things in the ENTIRE WORLD and settle into a good, well-deserved snooze. There's just no denying it - as a November drizzle starts to fall outside (and it actually is doing that, right this minute... ugh) the Warmth of a Woodstove is damn hard to beat.

Till next time, dear readers - we wish you bright days ahead and hope you find plenty of ways to appreciate your own highlights of the season, anytime, anywhere, and any season in which you see them.

Wicked Wonderful Autumn (Part 2)

Summer is a season of cool fruits, cold salads, and those weird cousins of soup that never touch a stove. We crave chilled meals to counter the heat on our skin, and combat what feels like constant dehydration... but when a bite returns to the air and our bodies start the game change to warming up without the help fo the sun, it's no surprise that our bellies snap out of their produce-nourished summer cleanse and start grumbling for BTU-fueling CARBS. Like bears getting ready for a long winter nap, a dietary autumn shift towards rib-sticking comfort food just feels right... why fight it??

A month or so ago, on a long September weekend spent in a chilly farmhouse, a best friend started whipping together Sunday breakfast before the Saturday dinner dishes had yet been cleared. Her preparation was ninja-swift and went largely unnoticed, but by morning everyone in the house was prompted from bed by the unmistakable - and impossible to ignore - smell of WAFFLES.

To Oscar's horror, I am not a huge fan of breakfast batter cakes, but... as evidenced by this post - these waffles were seriously something else. Their secret? Yeast in the batter, and 8 hours of quiet resting (and rising) before cooking. If you're in possession of a waffle iron and you haven't yet tried overnight waffles - it's time, my friends, IT'S TIME.

The original recipe followed above was from Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything, and it's delightful enough - I'm not the first to post it online (though I might be the first to illustrate it). And so, without further adieu, here's the "how-to" for Wait For It (overnight) Waffles!


STEP 1: Before going to bed, combine the dry ingredients and stir in the milk, then the butter and vanilla. The mixture will be loose. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside overnight at room temperature.

STEP 2: Brush the waffle iron lightly with oil and preheat it. Separate the eggs and stir the yolks into the batter. Beat the whites until they hold soft peaks. Stir them gently into the batter.

STEP 3: Pour batter onto the waffle iron and bake until the waffle is done, usually 3 to 5 minutes, depending on your iron. Serve immediately or keep warm for a few minutes in a low oven.

Makes: 4 to 6 servings
Time: 8 hours or more, largely unattended

Wicked Wonderful Autumn (Part 1)

Kicking off this first feature, from a whole week (stay tuned!) of autumn-inspired posts (brought to you by the letter "W"!) we'd be remiss if we didn't launch out of the gate directly into the changing leaves of the New England deciduous forest. Because let's be honest - there's nothing quite like it.

Oscar always adores a good stroll through the woods, but the transformation that takes place this time of year - the one that warms even the chilliest air with the glow of cadmium orange and schoolbus yellow, and that fills your nostrils with the sweet, earthy scent of decaying vegetation - it's a scene that makes us both honest to goodness okay with the passing of summer. You know the feeling, and you can't help but love it. We'll take "Wandering Woods Walks" FTW.

Dog Days & Dandelions

Here in New England, the traditionally sultry months of July and August are known affectionately as the dog days of summer. The term goes back to Greek and Roman times when it paired with the celestial phase of Sirius, the dog star. The Romans weren't fans of this heated season and believed it to be inherently evil, though today, amidst barbecues, beach trips and pool parties, the only disappointment one could project onto this last glorious stretch of summer is the fact that fall, and the bitter backslide into winter, will be following on it's heels.

But why bemoan the future when you can lie belly-up in the 80-degree present - the smell of sweetgrass around you and the sound of crickets in your ears? King of living in the moment (and master extraordinaire of sunbathing) Oscar dog likes nothing more than to spend a sunny August afternoon baking himself on a bright patch of green... which typically leaves me surrounded by vegetation and in need of an activity. Enter: the floral garland.

Favorite pastime of children the world over, weaving wildflower stems into crowns, necklaces and irregular lengths of rope is a satisfying way to kill outside time while pretty much guaranteeing a novel temporary accessory. There are myriad ways to braid plant bodies, and countless species that will oblige, but we like the following trusty combination: 



Not a fan of getting your hands sticky and culling all those beautiful yellow blossoms? Not to worry - dandelions have equally entertaining potential in their afterlives: as wind-spirited pom-poms and the skyward vehicles of wishes...
And on that note... stay cool out there, dear readers. 

Splendor in the Solstice

If there's one thing Oscar dog knows how to do, it's stretch himself out long and flat on a plush patch of grass and RELAX. Today, June 21, 2014 marks the summer solstice, and we're celebrating this magnificent longest day of the year by luxuriating in all the glory that is sunshine, birdsong, and barefeet... 

Dear Summer: PLEASE STAY.

Giving Thanks (for Oscar Dog)

Pretty much everyone who has ever met Oscar has promptly joined his fanclub. Even the people whose picnics he has ruined (yes, that's 'picnics', plural); even the ones he has grumbled at startled the socks off of on first meeting; probably most especially those that work for weeks and months, slipping treats and cooing compliments, to finally win a nuzzle or friendly tail wag... see, the only way to enter this guy's circle is to earn it. But oh, how you'll want to earn it. Behind the intimidating 95lbs of dog, there's a softness to his eyes - a pensive, soulful depth. This Beast has PRESENCE - and it's magnetic. I will take credit for keeping him healthy, happy, obscenely well-fed, and in good company nearly 24hrs a day, but let me make something clear: when you see us strolling the sidewalks, I'm with him. (*This statement has nothing to do with leash-training and everything to do with attitude.)

I had little idea that such a complex character would devlop from the Buddha-bellied little puppy I brought home nearly nine years ago, though one thing is certainly clear: I wouldn't be anywhere near the joyful thrill-ride I'm on now if it weren't for this sweet Beast... and for that, every day, I am grateful.

Here's wishing you, dear readers, a day of peace, indulgence and wholehearted celebration, in thanks for all of your beloveds and sweet Beasts...


Oscar is, as you see, rather easy on the eyes, but few have captured him through a camera lens as beautifully as the talented Kimberly Wang (brilliant photographer, storyteller and fellow dog-blogger) - her careful eye is behind all the photos in this post - she's even photographed me (below) photograhing the Beast... *Did I mention I also count blessings for my tremendously creative crew of friends?

Safety First

It's happening... the air is once again smelling of wool sweaters and cinnamon, and pumpkin lovers are rejoicing at the newest flavor of the month. Up in Vermont, the surest indicator of autumn's snug return is the donning of the safety orange accessories. Rifle season (for whitetails) won't start until mid-November, but the archers were let loose this past weekend and wise individuals now exercise caution whenever setting out for a stroll through the increasingly leafless woods.

Since O-Town here (not to be confused with any sort of wise individual) uncannily matches the shape and coloration of a white-tailed cervid, and has the acorn-sized brain of a turkey, a few pieces of blinding outerwear are required outdoor dress in order to ID him as someone's companion... Bonus benny: After decking out in this much electric tangerine, the Beast could easily pick up a few extra shifts as a canine crossing guard! That's totally a thing, right?

Rescued Bestie Feature No.7 (Celebrity Edition): Maddie the Coonhound!

Initiative: Rescued Bestie Feature, in collaboration with The 13 Project
Featured Canine: Maddie, 3 y/o Red Tick Coonhound 
Rescue Facilitator: Cobb County Animal Shelter, Marietta, GA

Despite what some may think, rescued and re-homed dogs are every bit as beautiful, trainable, loving and faithful as those born to champion parents, and in some cases, they actually exceed expectations for canine greatness in the most outstanding of ways. For our newest "Rescued Bestie" post, we're featuring a very special, red-freckled little lady who has managed to capture the attention of the entire internet due to a handy talent for balancing on things. If that tip didn't have you squealing "Maddie the Coonhound!", you've clearly been away from your computer too long, and you best read closely - this is one rescue story to top them all.

What we know of Maddie's story began in Georgia, in 2011, where a 29 y/o Theron Humphrey found her in the Cobb County Animal Shelter. Theron, a professional photographer, was about to embark on a year-long, 50-state tour via pick-up truck, and channeling a vision of the great John Steinbeck, he posited that the best companion for such a trip was a dog: a hound dog, to be exact, just like the ones he'd grown up surrounded by in North Carolina. Upon examining his adoptable options, his initial meet and greet with then one y/o Maddie was not the moment of insta-love that he had imagined - the "spark" it seemed just wasn't there. But on the walk back to her kennel, where he intended to return her, Maddie (perhaps sensing the urgency of the opportunity) leaned into his leg with every step... and as anyone who has ever been solicited for attention by a 4-paw will agree - it's darn hard to say no to that touch.

Maddie went home with Theron that day, and they've been inseparable ever since - most of that time has been spent on the road. Besides the obvious companionship, Theron is quick to point out that Maddie has grounded his perspective in a number of important ways; at the head of the list: "She always wakes up in a good mood. She's always pumped about life." Leave it to a hound dog to dispense the daily affirmation.

Theron's cross-country trek was originally motivated by a single "Wild Idea" (a project well worth checking out, if you're into great photography and powerful story-telling) - but as luck would have it, a second wild idea (that began as a test shot, and evolved into an epic series) was born on the trip - ignited by one gifted pup through the lens of an iPhone on the interwebs. And it wasn't long before Maddie's talents were being shared around the world. 

On the back of a horse in South Dakota; inside a refrigerator in San Francisco; straddling the gap between two shopping carts in Wisconsin - it didn't seem to matter where Theron placed her, but when he gave the command, Maddie was a natural pro at holding a pose. And with each new set-up in each new state, Theron snapped a photo and passed it on to his followers via Instagram. The photos led to followers, the followers became a following, the following led to a book deal, the book release went on tour - and just like that, Maddie and Theron ended up in Boston this past May, speaking about their travels, and stamping the inside covers of hundreds of copies of Maddie on Things.


If you've been following Maddie's documented travels, you've probably been impressed by what a strikingly calm, zen-like hound she appears to be - how else would a mere pup be able to perch atop the fine rim of a basketball hoop, or contort within the pear-shaped confines of a guitar case, if it weren't for exceptional focus and naturally steady poise. Well, having met this fine young canine in person, I can tell you - she's every bit the graceful star when the cameras switch on... but at the end of an exhausting day, with hours of quieted exuberance wound up like a spring - when given a "release" from her duties, this stayed and obedient girl is refreshingly still a DOG. And good gracious does she know how to shake the hell out of a squeaky toy... 

I love flipping through Maddie's year in deliciously clever photos - each image a frozen moment of whimsical contemplation and reflection - but I absolutely ADORED real-time Maddie, who pounced and bounced and shook and spun and reminded everyone there to witness it that the secret to a rich life is a balance of stillness and motion, of elegant control and rapturous spontaneity. Clearly, this dog does always wake up pumped about life - what dog doesn't?! The fact that her soulmate found her in the concrete barracks of county animal control is really just the luck of the draw.

*Meet the Maddie on Things book tour in your city (support your local booksellers!), or just keep up to date on where she's been and where she's headed at the Maddie on Tour website.

Remembering Summer

If you live anywhere in New England, you know it's been FLIPPING FREEZING for the last week or two. The kind of cold that renders sunshine "ineffective" (apparently that's a weatherman term - and shockingly appropriate!). The kind of cold that crystallizes your tears as you weep at the numbing of your fingers and toes. The kind of cold that makes any activty that doesn't include a roaring fire and volumes of hot chocolate seem downright foolish.

Consequently, if you live anywhere in New England, you may also be finding yourself... day-dreaming of summer...


Oh dearest Vermont woods, your wintery beauty is breathtaking indeed, but some days... some days, it's July's verdant spires and sun-splotched trails that sound the best...

Snuggle down and stay warm, friends. 

Happiest Holiday

Thanksgiving-time brought some heavy sentiment from me this year... so in the essence of keeping today's jingly, ribbon-tied magnificence short, sweet, and full of activities other than sitting at the laptop:

To all our friends, family, and followers: May you enjoy an exceptionally merry, and thoroughly happy, healthy, and hopeful holiday - our love to you all.

~ N-zed & O-Town