The Supporting Cast of Characters - Callebaut
The chickens has been receiving the most coverage on the blog site, but none if this is possible without the loving support of the other beings that live with me (and I with them!) at our little farm!
In order of age, not necessarily pecking order, I first have to tell you about Callebaut. Cal-uh-bow. He is a big ole chocolate lab that still thinks he is a puppy and just smiles at you from his heart. I just want to melt when he does. I had never had a close relationship with a dog before him and was more than a little trepidatious at getting one. Farmer Jeff and I (before we were farmers!) were in the car to go look at puppies when it dawned on me that there was no way I was going to get out of there without plunking down money for a puppy. Heavens! I elected to pick out the puppy, so I used the criteria my brother always advised in picking out kittens: pick the most outgoing and friendliest. I did that and ended up with the monster from the litter that is never afraid to give you his opinion…or get into trouble!
We wanted to give him a name that was fitting for a chocolate lab but didn’t want anything as pedestrian as Hershey or Cocoa, so we went to Farmer Jeff’s restaurant, Zin, and went through the pastry department looking for something that would suit the puppy. We took a look at the Belgian extra Brut/dark cocoa powder that we both use in our renowned brownies…and there it was! Brut cocoa powder manufactured by…Callebaut!
He has been a treat and quite the learning experience. The first time I ever stepped in dog poop, Farmer Jeff smiled at me and said, “Just think honey, one day he’ll poop the size of your shoe!”, as if this was a very exciting piece of news. I knew, from that point on, that I would never get any sympathy for stepping in that stuff again!
Callebaut grew up chewing on everything. He’s a lab, right? Very oral. We have been most fortunate that he has only gotten to 2 pairs of shoes. On the other hand, he accidentally swallows things that should not be swallowed. One weekend in December I was in San Diego visiting my family and Farmer Jeff calls to tell me that our baby boy is not feeling well, that he has been vomiting and has failed the appetite test: won’t even eat cat food! Farmer Jeff and I decided that the boy needed to go to the emergency vet right away…Then I received a call later that evening only to be told that Callebaut was in emergency surgery to remove the rock he had swallowed because it was blocking his intestines and he was in danger of dying! Our “Christmas Present” to the emergency vet was $1600. Thankfully the only thing that he has swallowed since that required medical care was a walnut. That was an overnight visit and just an oil enema…so glad I didn’t have to do that one at home!!!
Callebaut is the heart and soul of the animals at our compound. His abounding enthusiasm for life is an inspiration and his unconditional love for everything is a joy to share.
The picture below is of Callebaut and his (adopted) sister, India!
In order of age, not necessarily pecking order, I first have to tell you about Callebaut. Cal-uh-bow. He is a big ole chocolate lab that still thinks he is a puppy and just smiles at you from his heart. I just want to melt when he does. I had never had a close relationship with a dog before him and was more than a little trepidatious at getting one. Farmer Jeff and I (before we were farmers!) were in the car to go look at puppies when it dawned on me that there was no way I was going to get out of there without plunking down money for a puppy. Heavens! I elected to pick out the puppy, so I used the criteria my brother always advised in picking out kittens: pick the most outgoing and friendliest. I did that and ended up with the monster from the litter that is never afraid to give you his opinion…or get into trouble!
We wanted to give him a name that was fitting for a chocolate lab but didn’t want anything as pedestrian as Hershey or Cocoa, so we went to Farmer Jeff’s restaurant, Zin, and went through the pastry department looking for something that would suit the puppy. We took a look at the Belgian extra Brut/dark cocoa powder that we both use in our renowned brownies…and there it was! Brut cocoa powder manufactured by…Callebaut!
He has been a treat and quite the learning experience. The first time I ever stepped in dog poop, Farmer Jeff smiled at me and said, “Just think honey, one day he’ll poop the size of your shoe!”, as if this was a very exciting piece of news. I knew, from that point on, that I would never get any sympathy for stepping in that stuff again!
Callebaut grew up chewing on everything. He’s a lab, right? Very oral. We have been most fortunate that he has only gotten to 2 pairs of shoes. On the other hand, he accidentally swallows things that should not be swallowed. One weekend in December I was in San Diego visiting my family and Farmer Jeff calls to tell me that our baby boy is not feeling well, that he has been vomiting and has failed the appetite test: won’t even eat cat food! Farmer Jeff and I decided that the boy needed to go to the emergency vet right away…Then I received a call later that evening only to be told that Callebaut was in emergency surgery to remove the rock he had swallowed because it was blocking his intestines and he was in danger of dying! Our “Christmas Present” to the emergency vet was $1600. Thankfully the only thing that he has swallowed since that required medical care was a walnut. That was an overnight visit and just an oil enema…so glad I didn’t have to do that one at home!!!
Callebaut is the heart and soul of the animals at our compound. His abounding enthusiasm for life is an inspiration and his unconditional love for everything is a joy to share.
The picture below is of Callebaut and his (adopted) sister, India!
posted by Chicken Mama at 10:18 AM
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