Entirely Off Topic

Entirely Off Topic

Book Review of The Hill by Leif Lathrop

Needed to do something different for about 1,000 reasons this week, so here’s an entirely off topic book review of The Hill by Leif Lathrop. It truly is an uplifting (and sometimes heart-pounding) story about the 6-man high school football team he coaches. It’s truly cinematic in scope and a fun read for anyone who already loves or wants to learn about life, community, and football in a small town. Lathrop is an accomplished artist (as seen recently on a 3-minute segment aired on CBS Evening News), fellow Colorado author, and a former semi-pro football coach. He also happens to be a high school classmate of mine and the leading man in another friend and classmate’s life.

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Entirely Off Topic | Foodie Tangent

Easy Kale Recipe for People Who Don’t Like Kale

File this under entirely off topic. I planned to write about a new cancer test this week. However, no thanks to medical drama (both human and canine), I don’t feel up to wading through the research. Instead, since it’s about the time many New Year’s Resolutions fail and since *nearly March is kind of the new January, here’s an easy kale recipe I use all the time. It’s perfect for people who don’t like kale. I actually love it, as do my dogs. If you’ve ever tried to make kale chips and failed, then welcome to the club. This easy kale recipe made in a frying pan is much more forgiving than trying to crisp up kale in the over. Let me know if you try it. Also, don’t miss hilarious dog photos ahead.

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Entirely Off Topic | Foodie Tangent

Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce Stress Buster

I originally found this homemade hot fudge sauce recipe from a quick online search, but it wasn’t turning out quite right. I asked for help inside a great Facebook Group led by a friend, colleague, and mentor called Fearless Fresh Kitchen Ninjas. Thanks to their fast and expert input, I fixed my errors and updated the recipe so that it’s nearly flawless. For better or worse, it has become my go-to comfort food (atop quality vanilla ice cream) for several months now. I have the extra pounds to show for it, so be careful. But, if you are stressed or worried and in need of gooey homemade hot fudge sauce, get ready to dazzle yourself. It’s that good. (And easy to make … step-by-step pix just ahead).

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Dog Gripe | Dog Musings | Entirely Off Topic | The Story of Clover

Your Earlobes Aren’t Worried – A Tip From the Anxiety Trenches

I promise the silly title is worth it. You see, I’m increasingly amped up about a number of real-life things, but I recently developed a new coping mechanism for worry.

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Adverse Rabies Vaccine Reaction | Entirely Off Topic | Hot News

The Rains Came

It started raining 7 days ago, and for the most part hasn’t stopped. On Lilly’s mountain we are safe and in no imminent danger. Please send your best wishes to others in Colorado suffering amid these Biblical floods. We did, however, have a veterinary emergency Saturday morning. Wouldn’t you know it?

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Entirely Off Topic

3 Things You’ll Need in a Hospice Situation

In our quest to be helpful to YOU as we tell the crazy stories of our lives, here is some real-world advice you might need some day.

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Adverse Rabies Vaccine Reaction | Dog Life | Entirely Off Topic

Lyrics for My Life – Mumford & Sons

I buy very little music, but I’ve found “Babel,” the recent album from Mumford & Sons, to be an apt soundtrack for my life. While the full context of the songs might not match my life with Lilly, many of the hunks of lyrics do. Here are a few examples.

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Entirely Off Topic

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Bird’s Nest in Empty Skull

Years and years ago, Tom bought a bunch of old skulls from a local farm sale. He thought they were neat and proceeded to put them around our place. Some summers, this particular skull plays home to baby birds. Observe.

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book review | Entirely Off Topic | Giveaway | Social Media Blitz

Book Review: A Violet Season

Summer reading recommendation! A Violet Season by Kathy Leonard Czepiel is a fantastic read. Set in the Hudson River Valley in upstate New York in the late 1800s, A Violet Season chronicles one growing season on a family-owned violet farm. Brothers embroiled in a long-standing feud change the course of (at least) one woman’s life forever.

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Dog Life | Dog Musings | Entirely Off Topic | Hot News | Musings

2012 – The Year the Month of May Went Missing

More than likely we won’t remember much about May 2012 except for grief and heartache. The finer details? The day-to-day moments? Lost in an exhausted and emotional fog. Amid the ongoing mourning, I wanted to update you on our return to blogging and on a few lessons or ideas that might help you cope in such a situation.

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