Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and Ham Stew and wanna be Ham Stew lovers!

Well, I have received a few e-mails and comments wanting Grandpa’s famous ham stew recipe!  I am going to try an attempt this.  I do everything I cook by sight and feel.
I never follow a “recipe”!

So, here are the main ingredients.

That cottage ham is twice the size you will need.  I had to buy it because it was the only size at the store.

Then carve the rhine off of the sides.  you know that hard pink area that encases the ham.

Then I cut the ham into sections that I put a sear on.  I use butter.  I just like that pretty crust.

Then I de-glaze the pan with white wine and add the pieces to onion soup, chicken stock, and more white wine.

I boil this mixture for hours.  Depending on the pot.  The pot I use takes all day.  The reason you have to boil is to get the ham soft.  As you stir the ham will fall a part.  It does not need to be a rolling boil, just a soft boil.  Remember, this takes all day so it might be better to be home.  I have done this in a crock pot but not for years so I cannot advise on this too much.  I like to have it on the stove and under my control.  Here is the size pot I use.

I put the ham, onion soup, chicken stock, and wine on at 9:00am.  I slow boiled/just under that until 4:00pm.  Dinner was about 2 hours out.  I added the mini Yukon gold potatoes for 2 hours and then I added the frozen green beans at one hour until dinner.  Add any of the liquids you are using as necessary.

It is all just easy breezy!  Make sure you have room for the potatoes and beans.  As you will see, as you are boiling some of the liquids will evaporate.  No prob.  Just add more soup, stock or wine as the day moves along.  If you like a glass a wine have one toward the end of the process.  To me cooking is fun and I enjoy it. CHEERS!

If you want to add anything to the meal it would be mac and cheese (I am famous for that) and a crusty chunk of German Rye Bread.  Grandpa was German through and through!

The meal was delicious and I tucked Grandma and Chaps onto the couch for our slide show! (night vision photo)

Full of ham we were in store for a good show!

An 8 year old Mommy, of a future Mayor, smiling at her Daddy, in the audience (camera ready) at my dance recital. Now you know where I get my mad camera skills and ham stew recipe!

Life was good and still is!

More loving life, ham stew and all of the memories later! Love, Cat, Chaps and Emma

CHEERS

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Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and wondering what a worry bed is lovers……

Well, let me try to explain what a worry bed is.  Back when I was watching my sister’s dogs, Enzo and Romeo, I moved the sun room bed to the front window so Romeo could have his bed in the sun room.  I kept meaning to move it back, but I noticed that every time I left, Chaps would be in it when I got back.  He crawls in it when I am getting ready and he appears not to move the entire time I am gone.

Normally when I left the house Grandpa would come and sit with him and Emma. No worries!

Over the course of the last several months this bed has been the source of a lot of worry.  Every time I pull up and I can see the Mayor looking out of the window.

I wish I could ease his worried mind.  Poor thing is getting a bit worse.

I am not looking forward to the thunder storm season.

More hoping that I can ease the Mayor’s worried mind later…..Love, Cat, Chaps and Emma

P.S. I have to be gone for a few hours……warm up the worry bed!

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Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and Cousin Henry lovers.

For the past few days my older sister (Nin) and her son Henry have been staying with us.  We have been so enjoying each others company.

Howl ever, Emma took visiting to an entire other level.  She has not left Henry’s side and the sounds I have heard come from her around Henry are sounds I have never heard before.  When he walked through the door she screamed and cried liked a girl at the airport when the Beatles arrived.  I really thought she was going to faint.

Henry spent the most time with the kids right here.  Emma never left his side.  Chaps, on the other hand, followed me around…..worrying.

Emma is going to have some serious withdraw when her buddy goes back to GA.

More loving Henry later…..Cat, Chaps and Emma

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Hollow Fellow Basset Hound and Internet problem haters…..

Oh dear – I had to upgrade to a new stronger package via my hosting company and it is going to take a few days.  That could not have come at a better time.  I have been so sad and not too productive.

It seems my pictures are very large and I take over more than my fair share of space on the nets!  What ev!  Just update me and send me the bill for the love of large pictures.  I am not one to do anything small! Not even puppy Emma!

Stay tuned.  I will be back soon.  Like I said, the package update could not have come at a better time.  I have been down in my cups as you can imagine.

I cannot wait to love my dear readers very soon….

Love, Cat, Chaps and Emma

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Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and confronting fears lovers….

Yesterday I was doing a bit of sprucing up of the ole place in anticipation of my sister and her son coming in from Atlanta.  Much to Chaps chagrin I had to bring out the yellow monster….

He runs from it but sometimes I think he likes peaking around the corner at the monster.

Then the door bell rang????

Chaps went flying past the yellow monster confronting his fears ears flying!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH…………

Look what we received!

One of the most beautiful potted plants we have ever seen!  It came with this card attached.  I was so touched, beyond belief….

A little closer up…

Thank you so much dear, dear residents….

This will be a wonderful addition to our slide show.  I just love it and so does my Mommy!  Thank you so much dear friends and residents.  I will cherish it.

More brave Mayor stories later……Love Cat, Chaps and Emma

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Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and resident lovers.  I really cannot thank everyone enough for all of the support you have given my family over these past several months and really for years.

Yesterday we went to get Grandpa’s ashes….

The kids of course went along….They were his best friends……

In this picture you can see what a tight fit they are in an Element.  Almost too tight.

This weekend we are going to have a big slide show in celebration of Grandpa.  He was a huge photographer and I have thousands and thousands of slides.  I had to dig out all of that last night with paws crossed that it still worked and it DID!

I cannot tell you howl many hours our family sat around this projector.  Something so simple can bring so much joy.

Here is a slide of when I went to China with Grandma and Grandpa.

Here is another one.  I have the screen set up in the living room and it scared the Mayor so much he spent most of his time in office.  Grandpa always said that Chaps had such a delicate soul.

I am really looking forward to it.

Also, I am getting a nice amount of donations from residents in Grandpa’s name.  I will send them off to HOP shortly.

Marilyn is suffering the loss of one her elders as well….

Coltrane

He passed in his sleep last night.  I find some comfort that my Dad will be meeting all of these hounds he loved at the bridge.

More loving the elders later….Cat, Chaps and Emma

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Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and Trooper Hound Lovers!  Wow, this is something to lift the mood and spirits!

This just in from Trooper’s Foster Mommy, Ann….

“Trooper is doing well after a few setbacks.  He continues to get treatment for mange because it was quite extensive.  Most of the swelling has gone down in his feet and he is actually walking much better now.  He has gained some weight too – 45 lbs now! -but must be medically stable before he can get treated for Heartworms.  His eyes have improved but we are still treating the infection.  Much of the crusting and swelling has gone down and the cloudiness has subsided dramatically so that he can see better instead of only shadows – meaning that he doesn’t run into walls anymore!   He is working on his house training and accidents have lessened dramatically since he can see better and uses the dog door.  Yesterday, I saw him interact with one of our dogs with a wag and a nuzzle – for the first time!  He has been so impaired and miserable before that he would only tell them to back off.  He is getting up and joining the other dogs more often now instead of sleeping all day.  A few days ago, I heard him actually join the others in some barking at a neighborhood cat.  It was the first time I heard “real dog” barks from him since he came.  I was surprised at how deep his voice is!  I just watched in amazement from a distance – as he enjoyed himself so much!

Ann”

More bright future updates later….Love, Cat, Chaps and Emma

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“He’s a sweet old guy.  Not bothered a bit by the other hounds and already used to a doggie door.  I think he was still a little too stressed to eat his dinner, although maybe it was just the kibble he wasn’t interested in.  He certainly had an eye on my dinner. But it won’t hurt him to miss a meal or two.  He’s at least 10 lbs overweight.  I definitely see green beans in his future.  He’s sticking pretty close to my side so far.  His vet records go all the way back to puppyhood, birthday 7/1998, with the same owner all that time.  What an upheaval has life has taken.

He seems to like to snuggle with other hounds.  He just helped himself to the bed Bessie was on, and doesn’t quite fit.

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Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and Baby Emma Lovers….

I know that I have posted this picture before but I must post it again.  This was the picture I was e-mailed the day before I left to get Emma.  OMG! I was bowled over!  We all were!  BABY EMMA!

Early Morning Misty Air! I have this in an 8×10 frame in my sun room.

Grandma and I had this picture on the dashboard the entire way to TX.  I also had copies that we left every where we stopped!  It was so funny!  We had such a great time. We still are!  Our Emma is such a gift.  She amazes me every day.

More loving memories later…Cat, Chaps and Emma

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Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and Town Lovers…..

Today Grandma and I had a hard day.  Wrapping up a life is very difficult as many of you know.  One of the hardest things I had to do today was to cancel Grandpas Wall Street Journal subscription.  I have subscribed to this for him for over a decade.  The woman I spoke with at the WSJ was simply a joy to behold.  I told her that the WSJ defined my Dad and howl something as simple as this phone call was very difficult on me.  Tomorrow will be his last paper and I am going to save it.

So, when I got home and saw a package at my door step it made me smile.  There was a balloon attached…

I am keeping it in my kitchen as you can see.

There was a gift card from some of my dear friends of Bassethoundtown for 50.00 dollars to Julian’s and mine favorite Pizza place, LaRosas.  OMG we love that place.  It is kind of a steamy, loud Italian joint that is so hustle and bustle.  I am going to take him and Grandma the next time he is over in honor of Grandpa.  I am really looking forward to that.

Not to be forgotten, God Forbid!  The kids!  Judy was so sweet and made them some cookies.

I thought that Chaps and Emma would attack Grandma when she got them each a cookie.  It was like total mayhem.

Oh, and the kids loved their toys.  They have played with them all day.  Pure joy!!!!!!

The goodie bag made our day.  We cannot thank everyone enough.  Cindy, we know that you were the one who got all of this together and you are so sweet to do that.  Judy helped with the mission!  All the folks that chipped in for the gifts I cannot thank you enough.

More loving residents later…..Love, Grandma, Cat, Chaps, and Emma

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