June Mailbag, Summer Fun Edition

Dear Readers,

We've got a lot of mail to answer this month, so let's dive right in. 

Dear Lilly Faye,
I really suffer in the heat. How can I look stylish in this warm weather?
Signed, Ginger

Loose clothing is the answer, Ginger. You're in luck, '70s fashions are back in style. Peasant blouses, palazzo pants, and maxi dresses are all the rage. And of course, a pair of cute sandals goes with everything. 

Hmm, I wonder if I'm too short to wear floral print bell bottoms? 

Cali: Don't forget to drink plenty of water, use sunblock, and lay in the shade whenever possible, Ginger.

Lilly Faye: Thanks, Cali. 

Next, Ralph asks:

Do you have any safety tips for swimming at the beach?

Dizzie, my blog intern, is a Portuguese Water Dog, so I'll let him answer this one.

Dizzie: Hi, Ralph. Never swim alone, always obey the lifeguards, and if you get caught in a rip current, don't try to fight it. Swim parallel to the shore until you are safely out of it's grip. Also, no matter how thirsty you are, don't drink the ocean water.

Lilly Faye: Thanks, Diz. The next letter says:

Dear Frank,
I'm a big fan. Do you have any suggestions for a healthy summer dessert?
Love, Lil Dot

Mr. Frank: I'm really into grilled fruit this summer, Lil Dot. 

Peel and core a fresh pineapple, and cut the fruit into one inch cubes. Wash a couple of handfuls of strawberries, remove the stems, and slice the larger ones in half. Leave the little berries whole.  

Melt a tablespoon of butter in a hot skillet. I prefer a cast iron skillet, myself. You can also make this in a pan on a hot grill outdoors. 

Toss the pineapple cubes in the pan, and stir once to spread the butter evenly and make sure every piece of pineapple is touching the bottom of the pan. Leave it alone for a few minutes while the pineapple caramelizes. Then toss in the strawberries and a handful of red seedless grapes, and give it all a good stir. Lightly sprinkle ground cinnamon over the fruit.

Let the fruit cook a few more minutes, stirring occasionally, until all sides of the pineapple are caramelized. It's done! Don't add any sugar or sweetener of any kind. The fruit will be very sweet on its own.

Lilly Faye: That sounds good, Frank. I hope you'll fix some for me.

Mr. Frank: Anything for you, Doll.

Lilly Faye: Our last letter is from our own Alfie Cat:

Now that summer is here, the endless days of hunting and fishing are growing monotonous, and all my favorite shows are in reruns. I could use some new ideas for summer entertainment.

Lilly Faye: I'm going to throw this one over to Ceecee.

Ceecee: There's no need for you to be lonely and bored, Alfie. Come on over and spend time with me.

Ceecee: I'll share my beach reads with you. We can form our own summer book club for two.

Lilly Faye: How about that, Alfie? Alfie? Alfie seems to have disappeared.

Well, that's all for this time, folks. Keep writing, and we'll keep answering your mail.

Love,

Lilly Faye

Answering Your Questions

Dear Readers,

Today we're answering some of the questions you've sent in. The first one says, "Lilly Faye, tell us something we don't know about Frank."

Well, you might be surprised to learn that Frank has great breath! Seriously, it's as fresh as a spring breeze.

Mr. Frank: Thanks, Doll!

Lilly Faye: The second question is, "Why doesn't Alfie ever smile in his blog photos?"

Alfie Cat: I am smiling.

Lilly Faye: Next question, "Frank, what are you giving Lilly Faye for Valentine's Day?"

Dizzie: That's odd, Boss. As your blog intern, I sorted through all the reader questions myself, and I don't remember that being one of them."

Lilly Faye: Hush, Diz. I want to hear Frank's answer.

Mr. Frank: It's a secret. Let's just say, I got something extra special planned for my girl! My sister Ceecee's gonna help me pull it off.

Ceecee: I'm feeling a bit nervous. I hope we don't get arrested.

Lilly Faye: Oh, my! 

That's all for today, folks. Keep those questions coming!

Love,

Lilly Faye

November Mailbag, Thanksgiving Edition

Dear Readers,

It's been awhile since we opened up the old mailbag, so let's dive in.

Rosie the Rhodesian Ridgeback, writes: "Dear Lilly Faye, I like your turkey. What's his name?"

Lilly Faye: He isn't a real turkey, Rosie, so he doesn't have a name. Real turkeys are mean. They attack you with their spurs, and then you have to go to the doctor and get a shot. I decided to go with a paper turkey from the stationary store, instead. I think he's pretty. 

Lilly Faye: Otto the Otterhound, writes: "Dear Frank, what are you cooking for Thanksgiving?"

Mr. Frank: Thanks for your question, Otto. I plan to fry a turkey this year.

Lilly Faye: That can be dangerous, Frank. If you set the turkey fryer too close to your house, you can accidentally burn your house down!

Mr. Frank: No worries, Doll Face. That's why I plan to use your long driveway.

Alfie Cat: If anyone wants to make a rabbit stew, just let me know. Also, you're all getting a lucky rabbit's foot for Christmas.

Dizzie: Not so lucky for the rabbit!

Lilly Faye: I'm not even going to ask.

Next, Sarge the Shepherd, writes: "Cali, have you ever been in the military or served on the police force?"

Cali: I'm a civilian, Sarge, but I have been through the Citizens Police Academy, I'm a Neighborhood Watch block captain, and I guard the home front.

Lilly Faye: And she's very good at it, too. No one sneaks past Cali.

We have one last question from Chico the Chihuahua. Chico writes: "Dizzie, you talk about your girlfriend Willow all the time. Why don't we see more of her?"

Dizzie: Unfortunately, Willow lives out of town. Ours is a long distance romance, but when we get together, it's epic!

Lilly Faye: O--kay. That's all for now, Dear Readers. We always love hearing from you, so keep those cards and letters coming.

Love,

Lilly Faye

August Mailbag

Dear Readers,

It's been ages since we opened up the blog mailbag, so let's dig in and answer some of your questions!

The first one is from Rosie, and she writes: 

Cali, do you ever leave your fenced yard?

Cali: Trust me, Rosie, I can go for a run whenever I feel like it, and I often do!

Lilly Faye: It's true, Rosie. I'm a witness!

Our next letter reads: 

Dear Frank, can you tell me how to make a rich, spicy spaghetti sauce? Thanks, Stella

Mr. Frank: Thank you for your culinary question, Stella.

Take a couple of large poblano chiles and fire roast them over an open flame. When their skin is blackened, put them in a plastic bag and seal it tight. 

While the chiles are steaming in the bag, score the skin on the bottom of six homegrown tomatoes, and drop them gently into simmering water. 

Remove the tomatoes from the water after one minute. Peel off their skin, cut them into quarters,  and remove their seeds. Place the tomatoes in a blender.

Remove the chiles from their bag and peel off their skin. Quarter them and add them to the blender with the tomatoes. 

Next...

Lilly Faye: Excuse me Frank, but who has the time for all that? I'm a busy working Poodle. I need quick results, and I'm sure Stella does as well.

Stella, here's how I do it. Pour one jar of store-bought spaghetti sauce into a large saucepan. Add one jar of medium or hot Mexican salsa. Stir, heat, eat.

Lilly Faye: The next question is for Alfie. 

Joe Cocker writes: 

Alfie, you seem like quite a ladies man. Can you give me a few tips on picking up girls?

Alfie Cat: The trick is to wait for them to pick you up, Joe. It works for me every time. The ladies can't resist Alfie Cat.

Lilly Faye: Uh...thanks, Alfie. 

We have one more question, and it's addressed to me. 

It reads: 

Dear Boss, when are you going to start paying your blog intern Dizzie a salary? Signed, D

Lilly Faye: I know you wrote this, Dizzie. I recognize your paw print.

Well, that's all we have time for today, folks. If you have questions for me or anyone else here at the blog, you can post them in the comments section below, or reach me by email using the "Contact Form" on this page. We look forward to hearing from you!

Love,

Lilly Faye

April Mailbag

Dear Readers,

The weather has been beautiful here at the blog, so I decided to bring the mailbag outside this month. Let's dive in.

Shasta writes, "Dear Lilly Faye, what kind of cat is Alfie?"

Alfie Cat: Gorgeous, obviously. Mysterious, sophisticated, beguiling....

Lilly Faye: Alfie was born in a bathtub to a feral mother, so we're really not sure of his breed.

Diz, the next letter is for you. Archie the Weimaraner asks, "Dizzie, how do you stay in shape? Do you have a regular fitness regime?" 

Dizzie: Thanks for asking, Archie. Currently I swim, hike, wrestle, and participate in the occasional game of soccer. I may add agility training in the near future.

Lilly Faye: Thanks, guys. 

The last letter is addressed to me. Daisy writes, "Which movie or TV character do you most identify with?"

That's a good question, Daisy. I feel a special connection to Carrie Bradshaw, as portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City.

Sure there are the obvious similarities, such as our hair, our petite stature, and our unique fashion sense. 

We've also been through similar romantic struggles, though mine are a story for another day. 

Most of all, there is our shared love of writing. When each episode of Sex and the City closes with Carrie, all alone, writing down her thoughts about life for her column, I can definitely relate!

That's all the mail for this week, dear readers. Please keep sending in your questions, and if you enjoy the blog, please tell your friends!

Love,

Lilly Faye