Hilarity in small packages

There's this strange sense of foreboding that overcomes me when I realize that two disturbing circumstances have managed to take place at the very same time: the hamster (Spanky) and the basset (Tracker) were missing. And yes, the cat (Fudge) who most likely participated in the hamster break out did indeed rat them out, pardon the pun.

After a rather thorough search of the house and yard, I found them both in my walk-in closet, where they had managed to trap themselves. Now, this closet is infamous for trapping pets - at any given time, one of the collies and possibly the cat, have managed to get in and close the door behind them. Wagging tails are typically the culprit. But truly, one dog and one hamster is a bit of a novelty for the closet. Not to mention this is the basset's first time at trapping himself in the closet.

It took me awhile to get Tracker out of the closet, bassets do not by their very nature back up in any graceful manner. Just not designed for that purpose, I suppose. Took me another fifteen minutes to remove the luggage, shoe rack and multiple guitars from the closet before I found Spanky - who had managed to get lodged behind a large office supply organizer. Luckily, Spanky is fine, not even a bit upset by the situation and was very grateful to be found by the nice lady who feeds her and cleans her cages.

This is, however, the moment where hilarity sets in: the hamster was absolutely covered in basset drool. Soaked to the skin, I believe is the term. If I had any strength left in my legs at that point, I would have taken a picture of the drenched Spanky, who looked like a victim of an over-enthusiastic application of hair gel. Instead, I put her back in her "town" where she immediately went to the bathing den (chinchillla dust) and proceeded to spend the greater part of fifteen minutes desperately (and futively) trying to get basset drool out of her fur.

So now we must ask ourselves, how on Earth did Spanky get drenched but not eaten? My take, and its only a theory, is that she managed to hide under something appropriately large and unmoveable whereby Tracker's schnoz couldn't get any clearance, but his tongue could. Thereby, cornered her against a wall and licked her to maximum moisture without any dietary benefit. I'm still cracking up, though as I've told this story to my co-workers who know Tracker (he's taken a turn at being the store dog before with annoying results) it apparently doesn't "tell" well and isn't as funny as I think it is. Guess you had to be there.

On other news, the box of Advanced Copies arrived today and I've a whole weekend of dogsitting with which to delve into them!

Trial #1: I make bread (hopefully)

I've chosen Focaccia as my first attempt because it does not require starter, which I don't have because I just bought the yeast (along with $60 of its favorite baking companions) this afternoon - I am, however, making starter tonight so I can attempt rustic breadmaking on Sunday and Monday. (Details to follow)

Observations
#1: Recipes for bread are suprisingly and shockingly short on details.

#2: There is now more flour in my hair than in the mixer.

#3: Husband was sufficiently wary enough to offer to go pick up dinner from a restaurant - thereby, in a singular master stroke, making himself scarce during this amateur attempt at breadmaking while getting to be the hero when he arrives home with hot food that I have no responsibility or requirement to cook.

#4: The smell of yeast "curing" has got to be the strangest smell on earth, one that not even the bassethound will beg for a taste of.

#5: "Lightly flour surface" is a bald-faced lie. "Massively flour surface" is of considerably more use, exponentially.

#6: There is now more flour on my clothes than in my hair (see #2).

#7: "Room temperature" is too subjective a term to be of any use.

#8: Waiting for yeast to "cure" is almost as boring a task as waiting for dough to rise, and only manages to be a tad bit more interesting because of the science involved in creating new life; albeit yeast-life.

#9: Two kitchen timers are barely enough for this attempt.

#10: "Bread starter" is surprisingly bizarre enough to warrant the need for comparison pictures for grading the accuracy of one's attention to detail.

#11: Friends you have not heard from in months will call you to chat and catch up while you are trying to bake bread.

#12: Baking bread by hand is sufficiently interesting an experience that truly, it should be an assignment for 1st degrees at Lammas. And for all I know, will be.

Update to come when focaccia comes steaming out of the oven. Stay tuned.

( Pic'y goodness )