The Adventures of Pip

What a gorgeous morning it is out there this morning. We certainly have had some lovely weather these past few weeks. Yesterday we had quite an adventure here at Oak Cottage. It was a day that started out like any other, actually quite un-remarkable. The sun was shining and the birds were singing and all was right with the world.




I have a sweet elderly friend named Terri. She does the ironing up at work and is 84 years old. She is a modern marvel, truly. That she can still stand and do this kind of work and do it cheerfully is a testimony to her tenacity and warm heart. I just adore her. Recently Terri became the owner of a sweet little chiuaua puppy named Pip. (I hope I spelt that correctly!) She had been talking about getting this puppy for quite a few weeks. She loves animals so very much and lives on her own. She has three daughters, but they all live far away. I know that she gets quite lonely at times and I do know how she feels, although to be sure I am quite lucky because I have my Todd.

Yesterday Terri brought her puppy with her and was in the process of bringing the sweet lil thing down to ours, as Todd was going to watch it for her while she worked. Unfortunately Terri, slipped on the gravel drive and fell.

I was sitting here in my jammies when there came a big knock on our door and it was the little boy next door with little pip in a basket. He told us that Terri had fallen in the drive and broken her arm and could we watch the puppy while his dad took her to the hospital. My heart just sank, I was so concerned for my dear friend. Todd ran up to see if he could do anything and I took little pip into the kitchen.

She was so frightened, poor wee thing. All that trauma of her owner falling and then being rushed off by a little boy to a strange place where there is a huge dog that barked like mad when they had knocked on the door!



I held her close and petted her for several minutes and she was just shaking from head to toe. I introduced her to Jess and got her some milk to drink. I didn't know what else to get her. Then I turned her little basket on it's side and made her a bed in it with the bowl of milk nearby. Todd came back and said they had taken Terri off to hospital, and I went upstairs to get dressed.



When I came down Pip had ventured out from her little bed and was walking about a bit, sniffing here and there. What a little sweetie pie she was. I found her sitting on top of my sneakers when I went to put them on to go to work.

Anyways, she spent all morning here at the cottage with Todd and with Jess. She and Jess got along like long lost friends, and she kept Todd company while he puttered, following his every step, and resting by his feet when he sat down to work on his church stuff.



Terri soon came back from the hospital. She had broken her arm. The ball joint up near her shoulder had completely detached and shattered. :-( Can you believe that they didn't set it? Neither can I. They merely put it into a sling and she has to wait until Monday to see a specialist and then they are going to do surgery on it on Tuesday as she will need to have it replaced. In the meantime, she is in an incredible amount of pain. I just know that she would appreciate your prayers. I don't think she will be ironing for a very long time, if ever, again.

In the meantime, one of us drove her home along with Pip, and her daughter has come over from Holland to care for her. It was so nice to have had Pip here yesterday, even if I was at work for most of her visit, and even though the visit was tinged with worry and concern for Terri. I did enjoy seeing pip playing in the garden with Jess and Todd in the afternoon, and it really did my heart good to see those little puppy dog legs waddling around and rolling in the grass, and to feel her little puppy dog snuffles against my chest. She may have only been here for a short, but she captured my heart big time. I have always had a secret yearning for a chiuaua of my own . . .



Life is never boring is it? You just never know what lies around the corner, or what each day will bring to us.

We had a delightfully refreshing chicken salad for a late lunch/early supper yesterday. I really enjoy these warmer months. I love salad and just love finding new and delicious ways to prepare them. This was a real winner.



*Grilled Chicken and Roasted Tomato Salad*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

I use my Foreman grill to cook chicken all the time. This lovely salad is composed of the wonderfully refreshing flavours of grilled chicken, roasted tomatoes, avocado, sugar snap peas and mint! This is a winning combination in my books!

1 tsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp fresh lime juice
1 pound of bonless skinless chicken breasts
200g cherry tomatoes, on the vine
100g of fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed and strings removed
4 little Gem lettuces, leaves washed and seperated
30g wild rocket leaves
a handful of fresh mint leaves
4 spring onions, very thinly sliced
1 small ripe, but firm, avocado
DRESSING:
3 TBs extra virgin olive oil
1 TBS red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp sugar



Pre-heat the oven to 200*C/400*F. Whisk the oil and lime huice together in a shallow dish. Add the chicken, turning to coat and allow it to marinate for 15 to 20 minutes.

Place the tomatoes on a lightly greased non-stick roasting tray and roast them in the heated oven for 4 to 5 minutes, just until the skins begin to burst. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Bring a small pan of salted water to the boil. Drop the snap peas into it and bring the water back to the boil. Immediately drain them and run them under cold water to stop them from cooking any further. Slice in half diagonally and set aside.

Heat a non-stick griddle pan or grill on high heat and then add the chicken and cook for 6 to 8 minutes on each side until cooked through. Remove from the grill.

Scatter the lettuce, rocket, mint and spring onions between 4 chilled salad plates. Slice the chicken and place some of it on each salad. Halve, stone and peel the avocado, slice it over the salads. Sprinkle the peas over all, and then cut up the roasted tomatoes into smaller pieces. Scatter them over the salads.

Whisk the dressing ingredients together, seasoning with a bit of salt and pepper and drizzle over the salad, dividing it equally amongst them. Serve immediately.



If you're in the mood for some dessert, why not hop on over to The English Kitchen where we have a delicious Apple Tart just waiting for you!