"We thought the cookies were for the dog!!"

[Isisnin]

I'm not even entirely sure what I'm asking here.  If you all could give me your assessments and how to handle suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

BG:  Couple weeks back, I mentioned to a couple neighbors that I had bought an artificial Christmas Tree.  they gave me theirs that they don't use any more and told me to return the one I bought.  So I put "their" tree up with my lights last week.  That got me in the spirit of the holidays and I made a batch of Christmas cookies. /BG

The cookies are round butter cookies with choc chips in them and covered with red or green sugar.  I put a bunch in plastic bag, wrapped them in white tissue and tied them with a bow.  Last week when stopped by, I handed the cookies to them and said "these are for you.  thank you for the tree.".  There was no more discussion as the dogs had run out on the porch and I had to get them. I've been wondering why they haven't mentioned the cookies to me at all.

Last night, the wife asked me to drive her to the big warehouse supermarket (she has cataracts and husband wasn't home to drive).   In the store, she pointed to the vanilla-filled caramels and said "mmm!  I love those!".

Me:  "Why don't you get some?"

Her: "You know I'm diabetic!"

Me: "yes, but you often have a couple choc chip cookies with your milk."

Her: "No I don't.  I just like to bake them."

Me:  "I've seen you eat them.  That's why I didn't think it would be a problem to give you the sugar cookies."

Her:  "We thought they were dog biscuits!  we gave one to the dog every day!  She loved them!"     She then bean dipped.

What happened??  They thought colored sugar cookies with visible choc chips in them were dog biscuits!?  (Just days after I said I didn't bake dog biscuits, fyi.  We had been talking about fund raiser ideas for a dog park.)

It felt like an intentional insult.

Their Christmas present was going to be banana bread (half brown sugar, half Splenda).  But now I'm thinking "Nope."  I also was going to have them over for lunch to see the decorated tree.  Now, I'm thinking afternoon coffee and a store bought box of sugar free cookies.

What do you all think that was about?  Suggestions on a present (we exchange every year) and handling the tree?

Thanks

[Animala]

I'm a bit flabbergasted. 

[Shakira]

That's really...weird. There's nothing from your conversation that would make me think those were dog biscuits. Not to mention that they had chocolate chips in them! I wonder if she misconstrued your previous conversation & thought that you DID make dog biscuits?

If it were me, I'd brush it off as a one-time incident. If similar things started happening though, is rethink the friendship. That's just bizarre...

[cocacola35]

How strange......

I understand feeling a bit miffed- I take pride in my baking and would be hurt if someone told me they gave it to their dog.  However if this is a one-time incident, I'd shrug it off this time.  I think inviting them over for afternoon coffee and sugar-free cookies would be fine and maybe you could serve them some of the banana bread then too.   

If you still want to bake them things, I'd take this incident as a lesson to give them goodies that only adhere to their diet.  So they realize it's for them and not the dog 

[Yvaine]

That's really...weird. There's nothing from your conversation that would make me think those were dog biscuits. Not to mention that they had chocolate chips in them! I wonder if she misconstrued your previous conversation & thought that you DID make dog biscuits?

Yeah, I wonder if this is one of those things where the person just zeroes in on one word and misses the whole rest of the context? Like the Far Side cartoon where the dog hears "Blah blah GINGER" instead of whatever the guy is really saying, or like when you order "no mustard" and the word "mustard" sticks so firmly in the employee's head that they put extra on.

[Ruelz]

A bit odd, but many diabetics won't eat other people's foods, and since you knew she was diabetic, maybe she just thought, through default, they were for the dog?

I wouldn't, but I can see it as a possibility...

[violinp]

Wait. The cookies had chocolate in them? And she fed them to the dog?

That dog is going to be very, very sick.

[Yvaine]

Wait. The cookies had chocolate in them? And she fed them to the dog?

That dog is going to be very, very sick.

Depends on the size of dog and the amount of chocolate--but yeah, I hope the dogs are ok.

[POF]

My 28 lb Welsh Corgi dismantled my XMAS baskets and ate 5 Lindt Santas .... foil wrap and all. No bad effects .. other than she was a little gassy.  The dog should be OK ( if it isn't a teeny tiny one )

[Ruelz]

Wait. The cookies had chocolate in them? And she fed them to the dog?

That dog is going to be very, very sick.

Depends on the size of dog and the amount of chocolate--but yeah, I hope the dogs are ok.

Yes, it depends on the dog and the amount of chocolate per said dog.  Most dogs can eat chocolate and be fine.  Because of that many people don't know you shouldn't feed chocolate to dogs - in case that given dog is sensitve (or worse).

[Searcher]

Could the cataracts she has be responsible for her not recognizing the cookies not as dog biscuits?

If not, I don't get it.

[violinp]

Wait. The cookies had chocolate in them? And she fed them to the dog?

That dog is going to be very, very sick.

Depends on the size of dog and the amount of chocolate--but yeah, I hope the dogs are ok.

Yes, it depends on the dog and the amount of chocolate per said dog.  Most dogs can eat chocolate and be fine.  Because of that many people don't know you shouldn't feed chocolate to dogs - in case that given dog is sensitve (or worse).

Ok. I'd always heard that chocolate in any form was always, always, poison to dogs, so I was concerned. Thanks for the information!

[Animala]

It also depends on the kind of chocolate.

[Larrabee]

Wait. The cookies had chocolate in them? And she fed them to the dog?

That dog is going to be very, very sick.

Depends on the size of dog and the amount of chocolate--but yeah, I hope the dogs are ok.

Yes, it depends on the dog and the amount of chocolate per said dog.  Most dogs can eat chocolate and be fine.  Because of that many people don't know you shouldn't feed chocolate to dogs - in case that given dog is sensitve (or worse).

Ok. I'd always heard that chocolate in any form was always, always, poison to dogs, so I was concerned. Thanks for the information!

Its never good for them, most can cope with it but some get really really sick.  Best avoided but no need to panic too much if your dog gets hold of a little.

My friends dog ate all her son's easter eggs one year! 

OP, I'm as baffled as everyone else.  It seems an odd way to try and insult you, is she just a bit, odd?

[Isisnin]

OP here.  Thanks for your thoughts.

Doubtful that there was a misunderstanding about the “I don’t bake dog biscuits anymore.” conversation.  My impression was that she had suggested the bake sale as she knows I bake.  When I said no to my baking dog biscuits, she asked why since I like to bake (her words about me).  So, I explained that both times I had tried baking dog biscuits, they had quickly molded due to the chicken fat in them.  A memorable illustration!

Even though she has cataracts, her husband doesn’t have cataracts.  So seeing the cookies couldn't have been a problem.

They both know that dogs can’t eat chocolate as they chastised me once when they gave me a couple chocolate chip cookies and I gave a bite to my dog.  (I try to give bites with no chocolate in them.  But my dog is 90 lbs. so he easily handles a chip or two.)  Their dog is 40 lbs and they don’t feed her chocolate at all - until now.

Playing the incident back in my head, I really think she intentionally kept up telling me that they gave the cookies to the dog.  Most people caught in the headlights of a major faux pas would look panicky and then try to kindly white lie their way out so as not to hurt the other person’s feelings.  This woman just kept up the story: “Wait ‘til I tell my husband that we fed your cookies to the dog!  That’s a funny story to tell!  The kids will love it (referring going to her kid’s house today).”  No embarrassment or apologizes at all.

This isn’t a singular incident.  I withdrew from our friendly neighbor relationship a few years ago as I had had it.  When we first met, she had said something about people not staying friends with her and she hoped I would stay her friend.  Ultimately, I couldn’t take it either.

She’s been easier to take since her husband retired a couple years ago.  She and I don’t do anything together anymore.  When she called for the ride, it occurred to me that it might be a bad idea, but I said yes due to the cataracts. 

They are on a waiting list for a retirement community and hope to get an apartment next year.  My dog adores them so we stop in a couple times a week.  As long as I limit one-on-one time with her, I might be able to take it for another year!

I like the idea of serving the banana bread with the coffee, thanks!  I’ll pop it in the freezer now.

I won't mention this to her husband, but it'll be interesting to hear what her hubby has to say about it should he bring it up.