Pickeling Jalepeno's

Slice up a bunch of jalepano's (oh, and don't touch your face... argh!)
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup water
1 tbsp peppercorns
2 bay leaves
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 tbsp coarse sea salt
1 tbsp sugar

Pack the jalapeños in a glass jar.
In a saucepan, add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Pour the hot pickling liquid over the jalapeños and let it rest for a few hours. Shake it up a little so that the peppercorns are evenly distributed.
Keep refrigerated for upto two months or can it.
They are a fun gift for the holidays!

Dog Shaming - It's a shame

Meet Jeff. He is our new dog.
He was flown up from a high kill shelter in California to Spokane and we brought him home to his "forever home" last month.
From day one Jeff has never jumped on anyone, tried to climb on our furniture, growled at the kids (ever after the little one pulled his tail), begged from the table or even slept in our bedroom (yes there is a bed in there...). We have beds in every room, a dog door for him to go out and play and lots of treats and love for him. He prefers to lay in the sunshine on warm days and snuggle up on his bed by the fire on cold ones. It is like we won the dog lottery. Jeff is so kind, obedient, smart and gentle - taking treats from a three year old with care.
But... he is a lab "mix". Yes, probably with some pit bull mixed in. Does that mean everyone is scared of him or feels it necessary to point that out? Yes. Everyone feels it necessary to walk into my home look at my docile dog sitting proudly by the door (not jumping or barking) and say - "ohhhhh... he is part Pit!". Um, thanks? I will take that as a compliment...