Anatolian Shepherds Page

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Parker Made This!



Go to YouTube and leave a comment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8zLzz8l-4g

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Extreme Makeover Home Edition Season 7

New episodes return this fall on ABC!
Sundays 8/7c

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

“GOOD MORNING, MCFARLAND FAMILY!”

Two Hour Season (6) Finale
McFarland Family
Indianapolis, Indiana


I can sum this episode up in one statement! OMGoodness!


Bernard McFarland became a single dad of three boys, when he was just 23 years old. He is involved both as a father, and as a mentor for disadvantaged children.


He is very well read and despite his circumstances, he thinks BIG! His motto is: “Knowledge, Discipline, Books” and with that motto he started “Packhouse 2000” to mentor the kids in his neighborhood.


The thing that really stands out is that Bernard is willing to sacrifice for his kids and his neighborhood. He is amazing to listen to. He said he’d had a teacher in school, that when she read you were transported to that place. He grew up to become a history teacher. I was listening to Bernard, and I got a little caught up in his eloquence of speech.


He is devoted to his neighborhood. He lives in the same neighborhood that he grew up in. But while he has advanced, the neighborhood has declined.
Extreme Makeover Home Edition sent the McFarland Family on a trip to Paris, France! They visited the Louvre Museum.


Extreme Makeover Home Edition came in and helped out not only him, but his neighbors as well. They did an “Extreme Makeover Community Edition!” They tore down several houses that had been condemned by the city. They planted 1000 trees for beautification and cleaner air quality.


They helped out Miss Evan’s (an 87 year old neighbor) with repairing and replacing her sidewalk, and building a new ramp for her house.


They repainted and landscaped neighbor, Mark Smith’s house.


They repaired and repainted, neighbor Dorian Malone’s house where hail had severely damaged it.


They built a new basketball court in the McFarland’s back yard, both for the family and the neighborhood kids. They installed a wind turbine in the backyard. On a windy day, it could provide for up to half of the power for the family. Pretty cool!


In addition to the house that was built for the McFarland Family, EMHE built them a library on site, for the neighborhood. It also serves as the new headquarters for Packhouse 2000. Previously, Bernard operated Packhouse 2000 out of the McFarland home.


The Indiana Pacers donated 50 basketball’s and 4 season tickets (presumably for the McFarland Family themselves); they also provided some autographed personal items for the auction.


Butler University provided all three of the McFarland boy’s full ride scholarships (if they meet grade and entrance requirements.) I have a lot of confidence they will just fine, considering their father is right there to support and encourage them. That was very generous of Butler University!
Extreme Makeover Home Edition’s partner, Sears, paid off the McFarland Families mortgage!


Their other partner, Ford Motor Company, provided a brand new 2010 Ford Taurus to the family and a brand new 2010 E350 Passenger Van for Packhouse 2000, complete with detailing.


EMHE held a fundraiser for Packhouse 2000 at Lucas Oil Stadium. They held an auction to raise funds and awareness for this organization.


Family and Interests:
Bernard McFarland, Dad
Dominic (15 yrs): Wants to go into Video Broadcasting
Courtney (14 yrs): Golfing and Business.
Curtis: Drums and Piano


Design Team:
Ty Pennington – Team Leader
Michael Maloney – Interior Design
Paige Hemmis
Paul DeMeo
Ed Saunders

Friday, May 15, 2009

Our Anatolian Shepherd - Quincy, and mourning

Today we are mourning the loss of our beautiful, sweet, mixed breed puppy, Pepper.

This past Wednesday, Pepper was involved in an accident that broke her leg. We took her to the vet hospital, and on Thursday had to make a very hard decision. To have her broken leg amputated. The vet thought that it would be the best choice under the circumstances. We left very sad, but convinced. We decided to have her spade at the same time.

This evening, we received a phone call that devistated us. While undergoing surgery, a routine shot was administered, and it caused our otherwise healthy puppy to pass away. The doctor assured us there was nothing we could have done differently, but it still feels like we did something wrong. Anyway, our lives were forever changed by the addition of this sweet life in ours. And we will miss her terribly for a long, long time. Goodbye, sweet baby.

This past February we completed a dream. Or started one. I'm not sure how to quantify that.

We were finally able to find an affordable Anatolian Shepherd for our property. Anatolian Shepherd's are relatively new to the United States and AKC has just recently acknowledged them as a registerable breed. Our's is not papered.

We've started the process of gathering cinder blocks off of craigslist to attempt to build a nice, warm, dry kennel.

Now this is for our peace of mind, because the Anatolian Shepherd could care less if it is nasty outside. They are a rugged dog, bred to protect their "flock," whatever that flock is (sheep, horses, cows, chickens, children, other dogs.) You have to take a lot of extra time with them in order to socialize them properly if you want them to be around other people. We do.

From AKC:
"Temperament
Alert and intelligent, calm and observant. Instinctively protective, he is courageous and highly adaptable. He is very loyal and responsive. Highly territorial, he is a natural guard. Reserve around strangers and off its territory is acceptable. Responsiveness with animation is not characteristic of the breed. Overhandling would be discouraged."

Anyway, here is a picture of our Anatolian Shepherd, Quincy. She is only six months old.

HAPPY NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CHIP DAY!

Yep, in addition to being my birthday, May 15th is National Chocolate Chip Day! So to celebrate I am going to post a really yummy Double Chocolate Chocolate Chip Brownie Recipe that my daughter is making me for my birthday! Well I think you should make these at your house. And, sing Happy Birthday to me! Remember the candles! And hats... and streamers! Oh, and a banner!

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CHIP BROWNIES

1 c. butter, melted
2 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 c. all-purpose flour
2/3 c. Hershey's cocoa
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 pkg. Chocolate Chips
1/2 c. chopped nuts (opt.)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease square pan, 13 x 9 x 2 inches. In large mixing bowl blend melted butter, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs, using spoon, beat well. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually blend into egg mixture. Stir in Chocolate Chips and nuts, if desired. Spread into prepared pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool.

About 32 brownies.

EMHE: Two Hour Season Finale!!

McFarland Family
Ty and the gang travel to Indianapolis, IN, to help a single father of three who started a program that empowered his community's children with books and knowledge.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Aphids and homemade insecticidal soap

I found this wonderful article on Aphid and homemade insecticidal soap on one of my favorite blogs: TennZen: Enlightenment Southern Style.

Now she is several months along in her gardening since she is blogging from Tennessee, however, that's all right with me, since it gives me advanced insight. (I do better with non-emergencies, how about you?) Anyway, be sure to read her second posting about how well her homemade insecticidal soap worked. You can find it at: Results of using homemade insecticidal soap and price comparison.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Old Pictures

I've been away the past day or so scanning old pictures at my grand-mother's apartment. This seemed like a good time to do it since she is away on a trip to the Grand Canyon. We started with the "wall" pictures, cause we had to take them out of the frames, and it would take the longest. My son, Parker, my uncle, and my sister and I worked like crazy, yesterday. We should complete the "wall" pictures today. They include some of my grandfather when he was a child. I am so glad to be getting at this project. It's been a long time coming. I may bring home some of the older albums to scan some of the pictures in at home. Parker and I can handle them by ourselves, cause there is no frame to replace them into. The picture above is of my mom and dad's wedding, February 19, 1959. The other one is of Glenn and my wedding, May 2, 1992.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Mother's (and Grandmother's) out there. Without you, we wouldn't be the children, and grandchildren we are. We will remember to sit up straight, keep our elbow's off the table and smile at every new person we meet.

Monday, May 4, 2009

SPECIAL REQUEST FROM KELLEE

Hello, my name is Kellee Spangenberg, and I serve on the board of A Hope and A Future. I just completed and mailed to ABC TV the Application for "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" for The Glenn and Carla Grytdal Family! Wouldn’t it be great to have a Spokane area person win an Extreme Makeover? How about one that was a foster parent, is an adoptive parent (x2), and started a non-profit organization for foster and adoptive families?

Thousands of applications for Extreme Makeover Home Edition are received each month, with only a handful selected. Want to help us get noticed by the producers??


How about sending a follow-up letter to the application stating why you think The Grytdal family deserves this - or what the Donation Station has meant to you. Or you may want to send a postcard simply stating something like this on the back: "Please Consider The Grytdal Family for a Home Makeover!" Or just send an empty envelope with these same words written large and at an angle to the left of the address you see below. (Don’t forget the stamp!) Hopefully if they hear from enough of us, they will give The Grytdal Family and A Hope and A Future serious consideration!

Please share this idea with others who know them - the more letters they receive the better chance we have of being noticed!


The address for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is:


Lock & Key Productions
c/o Family Casting
P.O. Box 38670
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Cerda Family - May 10, Sun 8/7c

Ty and the gang travel to Las Vegas, NV to rebuild the Cerda's home which is threatening the lives of their two daughters.