SAVING SOME DOGS IN ASSORTED JAMS; A CAT NAMED ROYCE WAITS; NEW STATE FAIR COOKIE CONTEST DRAWS A CROWD!

EDITION OF MONDAY, MAY 22, 2023 [PetPowellPress] At the State Fair of Texas those hustling staffers in the Creative Arts Division have been at work on a new system for showing off Texas' bakers.
My funspouse Martha and I joined the State Fair's cookie judging volunteeers last Friday in a new weekend of contests organized. Heck, yeah, buckaroo, the State Fair is busy year-round.
Friday's contest was cookies. Cakes were judged Saturday and breads on Sunday. The winner of assorted categories meet-up in the fall during the Fair (Sept. 29-Oct. 22. We'll get to more of this in today's Contemplations, including the success of the cookies and a bold challenge by a fan of Texas cookies and their bakers.
Now, let's try to help some animals before we get to Contemplations 'n' cookies 'n' a dare!
TWO DOGS, TWO STORIES;
ONE' TALE WILL GET TO YOU
This note from veteran rescuer/advocate Mary T. Sullivan who describes these dogs as "two guys who each need a forever family."
She writes that Charisma is a Black Lab mix "with an incredibly resilient spirit.  When he was just eight months old, his right leg was partially amputated by some lunatic who’s clearly on the bullet train to hell.  A Good Samaritan found him bleeding out and managed to save him, and he ended up here in the DFW area.  He’s been a cherished member of his adoptive family for six years, but now the family is in crisis and he must be rehomed.  He’s a sweet, loving, devoted boy – a little shy at first (which is understandable, given his history) but with an open heart.
"He’s also quite mobile, not withstanding his special needs.  He can run, jump into the car, and mix it up with little dogs.  He’s been living with three Shih-tzus and adores them; larger dogs, not so much.  He prefers women to men but has lived with a man since he was adopted and has done fine.  He's generally healthy and happy, and is crate-trained.  I’m the contact person fro Charisma. (Email mary.sullivan @mcpaulaw.com  or [email protected] gmail.com
or 972-677-1601.)


Mary's note included this appeal, too. She wrote, "Also looking for a home is Rex (or Sexy Rexy, if you prefer).  He’s a 3-year-old, 90-lb Shep-Rottie mix – a handsome hunka love! 
"He barely made it out of a local shelter alive, but landed with a wonderful foster who has helped him overcome many of his fears. 
"He does great with older kids and adults, as well as with calm, friendly dogs.  He’s quiet and mannerly and has been fully vetted.  Oh, and he’s crate-trained and housebroken – will ring a bell to let you know when he’s gotta go!  He also knows several commands.  His foster mom, Florence, is his contact person." (Ask about Rex at 972-207-2463.) 
OPPORTUNITIES IN MESQUITE

TO HELP WAITING CRITTERS

As you know, with the proper application of love and respect, any dog can be somebody's pal. All depends on the human, don't you think? Well, ponder that as you consider these two dogs from Mesquite Animal Shelter.
Volunteer dog-writer Judi Brown begins her bio of Penelope with this: "We've come a long way, baby!" And, then, she explains, "So much so that several of the staff members are commenting about the improvement in Penelope‘s behavior. 
"Penelope is a 2-year-old, 40-pound Australian Cattle Dog/Anatolian Shepherd mix that arrived at the Mesquite Animal Shelter on 5/4 as a stray. She is spayed.
"When she first came into the shelter, she was frozen with fear. We had a dedicated volunteer who spent considerable time working with her and helping her to build trust. It worked! She went from fighting the leash to walking with a tug, pull, pet routine. Now she walks hesitantly on the leash.
"She also followed me around the laundry room and came to me to have her ears scratched. Look at those big brown eyes and you can tell that she is sweet and is wanting to completely trust! She has so much potential. She is still a work in progress."
And there's this from Judi's note: "Meanwhile, we are completely full to overflowing. So if you have time to devote to a loving dog that just needs TLC and patience, please come visit Penelope. She would make a great snuggle bug!"
Penelope is #52584334 -- use that ID when you call the shelter at 972-216-6283 or email [email protected]
Same system for this dog Precious (#52531232) who Judi describes as "appropriately named." The "sweetheart" is a spayed, 2-year-old, 52-pound Pittie/Staffie/Bulldog mix who came in as a stray on April 27, Judi reports. 
"When she first arrived she was nearly paralyzed with fear," Judi reports, adding, "A dedicated volunteer staff worked with her daily to help her relax and build trust. Well, it was successful and now Precious is a happy, loving girl that appears to love everyone. From time to time she does revert back to being a little shy. A slow introduction would be very helpful with her.
"When I met her in her kennel  she was all wiggles and wags and even gave me some kisses. She loves belly rubs. She sits for treats and takes them gently. She was not interested in playing with balls or toys. She’s gentle, sweet, well mannered and very loving. She walks very well on a leash. She did not appear to be interested in meeting other dogs. She was more interested in spending time with me and getting out into the yard. As gentle as she is, she would do well with well-behaved children that would be gentle with her."
See more adorable adoptables -- dogs and cats -- by clicking on this link to the Mequite Animal Shelter.
Among the many cats waiting is this 3-year-old orange Domestic Longhair mix Royse. He's small, neutered, and came in back on March 289. He's 52327267 and he's waiting in the Mesquite Shelter's Cat Room.
CONTEMPLATIONS
STATE FAIR'S SPRING COOKIES! Mmmmmm!
Yep, the 2023 State Fair of Texas runs Sept. 29-Oct. 22. But this year's Fair is already on the job. Has been all weekend, in fact, and before that. Yes, the State Fair of Texas is a year-round organization!  
On Friday, my funspouse Martha and I joined in the judging of the first "Battle for the Blue Ribbons" in the State Fair Cookie Contest.
Usually this occurs during the actual Fair, but this year it's a spring contest with a fall purpose.
 Friday’s blue ribbon winners were chosen from competitors in 15 cookie categories including Gluten Free, Christmas, Holiday, Chocolate, Macaron, Macaroon, Oatmeal, etc. Martha and I had the distinct privilege of judging Chocolate Chip Cookies. I nearly wept with happiness. 

The winners of the Blue Ribbons in this initial contest will meet up on October 8 for the "Best of Show-Down" at the State Fair. Champions up against champions. [LARRY FYI: Go to bigtex.com and click on “GET INVOLVED” and you can navigate to all the Creative Arts Division contests you can enter.]

So, how did this scheduling change affect participation? On Friday, before the judging, Kathy Bennett, the Director of Creative Arts and Special Events, revealed that this 2023 Cookie contest had drawn 427 entries -- the previous record (for cookie contests during a State Fair of Texas) was 235 entries. 
(That's a variety of entries on the left.)
The crowd applauded the jump in entries, as did the judges. And, the thing to note is there actually was a crowd. 
You hardly ever think of a cookie contest as a spectator sport, but, the Fair staff had to add more seating after the first rows of chairs quickly filled with contestants, their supporters and other interested parties.
 These spectators may not cheer each bite a judge takes or the look on a judge's face, but they will cheer the awarding of the ribbons for honorable mention, third, second and first place. 
FYI: Each contestant had to present 18 cookies (if memory serves). My math's lousy but Director Bennett's is pretty good. She told us that the contestants brought 7,686 cookies to the judging. 

Martha and I judged somewhere around 40 entries, if I recall correctly, in the Chocolate Chip category. That’ll give you quite a dynamic taste of chocolate chips and cookies. I was very happy (that's a photo of some of the ChocChip entries on the right above and, below, another "variety" photo). When I’d learned Friday morning that we'd been assigned to the Chocolate Chip Cookies, I regarded it as a State Fair Miracle. An answer to a prayer. Yes, I love all cookies and I am quite a fan of this variety.
LARRY 
FYI: My personal record holds firm. Been helping judge cookies since the previous century and this is a well-baked truth: "I've never had a bad cookie at the State Fair of Texas." 
In fact, I have so much confidence in the Texas bakers that  I'm prepared to triple-cornydog-dare any other state fair that claims it's cookies are even half as good as a Texas cookie. I am, of course, not authorized to speak on behalf of the Fair or the bakers of Texas cookies. But I am a chubby fellow with sincere cookie experience at churches, family gatherings, holiday events, weddings and other cookie-happy events. 
Our winning chocolate chip cookie came from a traditional recipe. All cookies are judged on taste, appearance and texture. The difference between cookies can be as slight as the type of salt used, the amount of a certain ingredient, i.e., cornstarch, type of butter or the length of time the cookie has been baked. This year, some cookies featured white chocolate. One thick cookie had an Oreo baked into its middle. One was topped with a delicious coating of a wonderful caramel sauce.

These bakers are creative and determined. They, in fact, cooked up a good contest, so to speak. 
It is such a pleasure to bite into a perfectly baked, perfectly formed, wonderfully mixed chocolate chip cookie. To borrow a line from Humphrey Bogart, “It is the stuff
dreams are made of when a fellow is on a diet or in a mood for a joyous treat.”

What I'm telling you is this: There wasn't a Chocolate Chip Cookie in the contest that would have made you turn down the offer of having a second one.
That, folks, is Cookie Power. State Fair of Texas Cookie Power. 
 It'll make Big Tex shout 'HOW-DEE' in springtime..
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