Barking Wednesday - Giving Your Dog a Bath

Every Wednesday I post Barking Wednesday. Post dedicated to making a dogs life better.  Kingers is our Black Lab. I have always been a dog owner. Over the years I have learned some good ways to make sure that Kingers is as healthy and happy as possible. I also scan the internet and speak to my vet about all kinds of topics. This is my page to share dog information with the world!

How to Give your Dog a Good Bath 

One of the tricks I learned is to make sure you give your dog a lot of exercise before bath time.  This makes it much easier to bathe him. Kingers likes that a rub his muscles when he gets a bath after a hard workout.  I make sure to always take him out to go to the bathroom before the bath - that way if it is cold outside - I have time to dry his hair before he has to go out again

Have all your products within easy reach - don't forget the towel. A dog shaking is a mess inside the house. I always have a mat in my tub -if you do not - you can lay down a towel or a rug. Anything that will make the bottom of the tub less slippery.

I get King - then have him jump in the tub. There have been a few times that I have had to pick him up and place him in the tub. Make sure if your dog does not want a bath that you stay calm yet firm. Bath time is Bath time. No actions of the dog should change it. 

I use a glass to get King wet - then I start at the top of his back and lather him up. I place the shampoo in my hand and rub firmly but gently in a circle motion. I think of it like a message action.  I know this feels good for Kingers because he will stand still and let me continue to rub his fur.  I take my hand and rub legs one by one - he really likes that.

When I have finished lathering him up - I start the rinse process.  I pour as much water as needed to get all of the soap out of his fur.  Reminder....a little shampoo goes a long way. Do not add too much shampoo to their fur - it is too hard to get a clean rinse.

If the weather is nice I always give Kingers a bath outside - my hubby hooked up our outside faucet to have both hot and cold water - this allows me to open the cold & hot water valves in the basement. Making it very easy for me to give Kingers a lukewarm bath outside.

Right away after the last container of water I cover him with a towel.  He often starts to shake right away. If this happens I hold the towel on him to keep the water spray onto the towel.  I do a patting motion to dry his fur - not a rubbing motion. Sometimes I use a blow dryer to dry his hair -depending on the temperature outside. If it is warm and sunny I let king lay on the deck to dry off - this is his favorite.

The one thing to always do during the bath is to stay calm! Speak in a firm but calm voice. By you staying calm this will help your dog stay calmer.

Check the tab at the top of the blog ~ Healthy Dog Information for great natural dog shampoo recipes. Dog Shampoo at 1/10th the cost and good for his skin.

Good Eatin' Recipe Hop - April 29th

Welcome to the Good Eatin' Recipe Hop

Add your favorite recipe!
Every Tuesday join in and add your favorite recipe. If you would like to post the hop on your blog...comment below and we will gladly send you the html. 
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Taming Romeo by Rachelle Ayala ~ Giveaway Ends 5/15

Evie Sanchez is recovering from heartbreak by working at her parents’ Filipino restaurant when in walks Romeo Garcia, the boy she left behind. Only now, he’s a hot movie star surrounded by gorgeous actresses and adoring fans.

Bad boy Romeo Garcia never understood why Evie stood him up at the prom. When he rescues her from a flying coconut in the dumpster, he is determined to dig into her heart for the reason. Their mutual attraction and unresolved feelings ignite in a scintillating night of daring sex, and Romeo shows Evie what she’ll miss the rest of her life if she walks away again.

Evie lands a part as Romeo’s co-star and falls into her role, totally in love. He plays his part, too, with his romantic gestures and skillful lovemaking. But is the fantasy real or revenge? Evie and Romeo are about to discover if their buried feelings will explode in pure delight or utter disaster.

Green Gardening Tip!

Get your  flower beds and garden ready for growing! Use this simple but effective homemade treatment.

Epsom Salt!!!  I have found a fantastic web page that explains all of the benefits for using Epsom Salt! Check it out! 

Gardening with Epsom Salt

Check out my pic of what Epsom Salt can do for your plants!

I only use Epsom Salt!

Barking Wednesday - Dog Eye Care

Every Wednesday I post Barking Wednesday. Post dedicated to making a dogs life better.  Kingers is our Black Lab. I have always been a dog owner. Over the years I have learned some good ways to make sure that Kingers is as healthy and happy as possible. I also scan the internet and speak to my vet about all kinds of topics. This is my page to share dog information with the world! 

Do you check your dog's eyes? If not - you should!

About once a month I give Kingers a good eye ball check up.

I look for any changes in his eyes.  His eyes should be clear & bright. The area around his eyeball should be white. Look for any discharge or tearing - also check for crusty corners.

Then take your thumb and lower their eye lid. You want pink -- no red or white.  I also look for stained fur around the eyes, cloudiness in the eyes or unequal pupil sizes. If you notice any isses, during business hours contact your vet and let them know what you found.

If you see none of the above your dog should be good till your next vet  appointment.  The important thing is to check monthly. That way if a issue arises you catch it quickly.

I have never had a long haired breed of dog - if you do have a long haired dog. Contact your vet to ask what type of eye care he/she recommends for eye care. Also, during your vet visit I recommend that you ask your vet if your breed is prone to eye issues. If so ask your vet if there are any ways that you can help prevent eye issues.  Prevent is the key to a healthy pup!

Good Eatin' Recipe Hop - April 22nd

Welcome to the Good Eatin' Recipe Hop

Add your favorite recipe!
Every Tuesday join in and add your favorite recipe. If you would like to post the hop on your blog...comment below and we will gladly send you the html. 
We are bloggers that love to cook and love to eat great tasting food!
Join Us!

Happy Easter

We would like to wish everyone a Very Safe & Fun Easter holiday!

These cute babies ventured into our yard 

about 3 years ago!

They were priceless!

The Bonds of Blood ~ The Revenant Wyrd Saga #1 by Travis Simmons ~ Giveaway Ends 5/4

The Bonds of Blood (The Revenant Wyrd Saga #1) 

In the world of Saracin, the Goddess damns the earth that killed her two beloved angels and tears it into six realms. As a reminder of their transgression, each person is branded with a stigmata on their palms as testament of their home realm and their separation from the Goddess.

Thirty years later, in the Holy Realm, Jovian, Angelica, Amber, and Joya, quadruplets whose mother died in childbirth, have just reached their 21st spring and are now adults. When terrible visions depicting the downfall of their family stir within Jovian and Angelica, they struggle to make sense of what they have seen while trying to live a normal life.

After Amber is kidnapped in the night, her three siblings are drawn into a dangerous pursuit across the Great Realms to find her. With every step they uncover more mystery surrounding their families past, and something far worse--an ancient enemy that could threaten their hope of ever seeing Amber alive again.

Garden Green Tips

It is garden planting time in Wisconsin!! 

A few natural garden tips!

Tomato Fungus Prevention Spray

Keep away tomato fungus with a coffee spray.  Place cooled coffee in a spray bottle and spray early morning.

Plant Bug Spray

Keep bugs off your veggie plants ~ make yourself a bug plant spray. In a mixer add 4 green peppers, 2 hot  peppers (any kind) and about 5 Tablespoons baby shampoo - blend. Then fill blender with water and pulse blend about two times. Use a recycled spray bottle - make sure to label the bottle. SPray on your plants in the mornings. 

Egg Shells

Egg Shells are great for plant food! Crush up your egg shells and spread around your tomato plants.  Then lightly tool them into the soil. 

Barking Wednesday ~ Easter Warning

Thanks for joining me for Barking Wednesday. Each week I will be posting info about my favorite guy ~ Kingers and his friends. All kinds of stuff ~ products ~ homemade treat recipes ~ info I have learned over the years. Info I think is helpful in making sure that every dog lives a fantastic life.

Today topic is Be Careful at Easter!

Chocolate is a serious health issue for your dog..

Chocolate can be very toxic to dogs and cats. Even a small amount can cause serious health issues.  A overdose of chocolate can increase your dog's heart rate and constriction their arteries. Eating chocolate can also cause your dog to have diarrhea, vomiting, restlessness, and increased urination, and can eventually cause increased heartbeat and seizures. 

It is extremely important to act fast and treat your dog for chocolate poisoning. Seizures, coma, and even death can occur if your dog  is not treated within four to six hours after ingestion.

Here are the facts!

• Baking chocolate is the worst chocolate for dogs 1 oz per 10 pounds of dog - 6 oz of baking chocolate can be deadly - That is not much considering a standard baking chocolate bar is 4 oz - enough to kill a 40 pound dog.  SCAREY!!!
• Semi-Sweet - 3 oz per pound of dog - 60 pound dog = 18 oz of Semi-sweet chocolate 
• Milk Chocolate - 7 oz per pound of dog = 42 oz of Milk Chocolate
• White Chocolate is the least dangerous - 90 ozs per pound, and finally White Chocolate.

Please remember that ALL chocolate is bad! 

• Semi-sweet chocolate/instant cocoa. Mild signs of toxicity can occur when ⅓ ounce per pound of body weight is ingested. Severe signs occur when 1 ounce per pound of body weight is eaten. A 10-pound cat or dog would only need to ingest 3 ounces of either semi-sweet chocolate or instant cocoa to cause toxicity.

• Milk chocolate. Mild signs of toxicity can occur when 0.7 ounces per pound of body weight is ingested. Severe signs occur with 2 ounces per pound of body weight. A 10-pound cat or dog would need to ingest 7 ounces of milk chocolate to cause toxicity.

• White chocolate. This has the lowest form of toxicity because it contains the least amount of theobromine. Mild signs can occur with the ingestion of 45 ounces per pound of body weight. Severe toxicity occurs when 90 ounces per pound of body weight are ingested. This means that a 10-pound cat or dog would need to ingest 27 pounds of white chocolate to cause a severe problem. Of course, it’s unlikely for such a thing to happen, but you never know.

If your dog happens to get into the chocolate- contact your VET immediately!

Good Eatin' Recipe Hop ~ April 15th

Welcome to the Good Eatin' Recipe Hop

Add your favorite recipe!
Every Tuesday join in and add your favorite recipe. If you would like to post the hop on your blog...comment below and we will gladly send you the html. 
We are bloggers that love to cook and love to eat great tasting food!
Join Us!

Do you have any family traditions for Easter?

We do...for about the last 25+ years I have been meeting my Aunt Joyce and her family at my Mom and Dad's home in SE Michigan.  It started with our children ~ now we bring our grandchildren. To all of our family - Easter means a trip to Grandma Freeman's or Aunt June's! 

We always:

• Dye eggs
• Easter Egg hunt at the house
• Easter Egg hunt at the local VFW
• Huge Ham Dinner
• Easter Bunny stops with gifts for all
• Lots of laughs and fun times eating our way through the holiday

This year my granddaughter Isabella and I are taking the Amtrak train to the Easter Party.  This is a first for us. We have checked out the info on Amtrak and I must say we are excited!!! They have quite a lot to offer. We are not getting a sleeping cabin since our trip will only be about 4.5 hours. 

I purchased Coach seating. Since this is our 1st time on a train - I had no idea which seating to purchase. The coach seating looks very comfortable. I was happy with the pricing for the tickets.  I really do not think I could drive for the cost. With gas being almost $4.00 a gallon in my area - traveling by car is very expensive - plus add in tolls.

Isa and I really want to eat on the train.  If we eat dinner at Union Station we are having dessert on the trip. 

You have to admit this does look like a fun trip.  

Chicago Union Station  is our stop over location. Click HERE to read

amazing information about this historical site. On our way there we have about a 1.5 hour layover. During our layover we are planning on checking out the history of the building and checking out the restaurants and shops. On the way home we planned a 4 hour layover - we are heading to Michigan Avenue for a little shopping before heading home.

If you have a Easter tradition please share...

Peanut Butter & Jelly ~ Did you know?

I wanted to share some interesting facts about my favorite sandwich the Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich

also known as the PB&J.

A sandwich made from 2 tablespoons of peanut butter and 1 tablespoon of any flavor of jelly on two slices of white bread has approximately:

376 calories

13 grams of protein

3.5 grams of dietary fiber

16 grams of total sugar

18 grams of fat - healthy unsaturated fats

Zero Cholesterol

0.4 grams of sodium

20% percent of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin E

27% of folate

42% of niacin

14% of the daily intake of calcium and magnesium

30% of their daily intake of iron for men and 13% for women

17% of zinc for women and 12% for men

As you can see the PB&J is not a low calorie food ~ but it is a healthy sandwich. Change out the bread and use natural peanut butter, low sugar jelly or fresh fruit to make it lower in calorie and a little healthier.  Hubby ate the last pieces of whole wheat bread so I am having my PB&J on white bread. Jif Natural and Smuckers NEW Natural Fruit spread are both very tasty! 

I also find that a peanut butter and jelly sandwich fills me up. Which means I eat less ~ which is a good thing.

Scattered Links by M. Weidenbenner ~ Giveaway Ends 5/4

Thirteen-year-old Oksana lives on the streets of Russia with her pregnant mama and abusive aunt—both prostitutes. When Mama swells into labor, Oksana makes a decision to save herself from abandonment, a decision that torments her forever. But her plan fails when her aunt dumps her in an orphanage before she has the chance to say goodbye to her mama or tell her the secret that haunts her.

Scattered Links is a story of family and the consequences that come from never learning how to love. It’s a story of a girl’s inability to bond with her adopted family and the frustrations that follow.

How can a child understand the mechanics of forming a healthy relationship when she never had a mother who answered her cries, held her when she was frightened, fed her when she was hungry, or loved her unconditionally?

Recycled Garden Art - We can make a difference!

Gardening using Recycled items.......this year when you design your gardens and your flower beds....use RECYCLED items to give them your own personality! Be creative!  Check out this Pinterest Page for so many really neat idea!!!

Here are a few pics from the Pinterest Page!

 

Barking Wednesday ~ Spring Outside Dog Dangers

Thanks for joining me for my Barking Wednesday post.  
Each week I post stuff about my favorite guy...Kingers and his friends.  
All kinds of stuff....products - homemade treat recipes - info I have learned over the years, etc.  Info I think is helpful in making sure that every dog lives a fantastic life.

Today's topic is Spring Outside Dog Dangers:

Spring is coming! With SPRING brings many outside dangers for your dog.  Here is a list of a few things that I do to make our yard a little safer for Kingers. If you have a safety issue not on this list please email me. I will add it to this list.

Dogs are like small children they are curious and often get themselves in places they do not belong.  To help protect Kingers and our garden we have a small fence around the garden. The flower beds are a constant challenge - I try to keep them full - that seems to keep him out of the beds.

• Many plants can cause serious danger to your dog's health.  Go HERE  for a complete listing on plants dangerous to your dog's health. I like having the list on my phone when we go shopping for plants.  You will be amazed at what is poison.

• I always use compost - great for my yard but I have to watch Kingers.  He seems to want to check out the stinky food source.  I make sure to till up the compost when I put it in the garden and flower beds.

• Even natural fertilizer can cause issues for your dog.  Most important thing to remember is to follow the instructions concerning time frame before you let you dog run on the fertilized area. NEVER - NEVER use Cocoa Mulch when you own a dog.....if the dog eats the cocoa mulch it  can cause serious health issues.  I use tree bark that is natural - I feel it is the best choice for our yard. But I still watch Kingers to make sure he is not chewing on the wood.

• Make sure if you use any type of insecticides to read the ingredient listing and check for dangers  to animals.  If you have any questions you can go online and find out information about the ingredients. Go HERE to read more information about insecticide dangers.

• I always make sure to pick up sticks that have fallen from trees.  I do this for two reasons -
• #1 Kingers chews on wood! He will lay  down and chew up a stick  
• #2 - When he is running I fear that he might trip on a stick or jam a stick into his leg or paw causing a serious wound.

• Last but not least is Kingers outside water dish.  Make sure to keep it clean and add fresh water daily.  A outside dish can get grimmie FAST! I like a glass dish - the reason being if I do forget and it does get grimmie - I know when I wash glass it is clean. No grim can be absorbed into the glass.

These are my main outside danger concerns - again if you have a outside danger - please let me know.  If you have the danger I am sure others will too.

Thanks for stopping by for Barking Wednesday. 

Good Eatin' Recipe Hop ~ April 8th

Welcome to the Good Eatin' Recipe Hop

Add your favorite recipe!
Every Tuesday join in and add your favorite recipe. If you would like to post the hop on your blog...comment below and we will gladly send you the html. 
We are bloggers that love to cook and love to eat great tasting food!
Join Us!

Green Hospital ~ Aurora Health Care ~ Grafton, Wisconsin

We Can make A Difference!!!

No matter how small or how large of a company - we can make a difference. A perfect example of a large company making a positive environment impact is Aurora Health Care. They built the Aurora Medical Center in Grafton, Wisconsin site to LEED certification specifications. LEED is an internationally recognized environmental building

certification system.

LEED is a company that verifies a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources.

Aurora's Grafton site they has also have been granted the LEED Silver certification.

I am truly impressed with the leadership of Aurora by understanding that  LEED certification is not only good for the natural environment, but also for their patients as well. 

It is vital to our environment to do as much as we can to preserve our earth. Having a company like Aurora commit to making a difference one hospital at a time is amazing!  

Congrats Aurora for making a positive difference!

Norwex

Norwex "Making a Difference"

Are you familiar with Norwex products? Norwex is committed to radically reducing the use of chemicals in personal care and cleaning to promote health.

Norwex motto is "clean without chemicals" - they are the only direct sales company offering the highest quality of GREEN cleaning products. 

Window Cloth is amazing to clean windows..but it is also amazing to keep my glasses clean!  All I do is add a little water then polish my glasses. You will not believe how clean your glasses can get - like brand new. No glare like some other cleaners and cloths.

Towel is 17.72" x 17.72" - large square that is very easy to handle when polishing windows.  I laugh and tell my friends I no longer wash windows - I polish them.

Towel sales for $18.49 ~ You are thinking WOW that is pricey! But it really is not...I do not buy any window cleaner or eye glass cleaner! NO PRODUCTS only my cloth. So when you take that into account...$18.49 is a deal!

Contact Norwex Consultant Dawn Wallace Consultant  ~ You can order directly right off her website. No hassle for you!  Shipped directly to your home!

Cucumber Carrot Snackers

Cucumber Carrot Snackers!!!

Check out the delicious healthy snack made with only a few ingredients. So simple but so delicious!  We all loved them!  Great way to eat your veggies!

All you need is:
Cucumbers
Carrots 
8oz Cream Cheese - use Regular or Light Cream Cheese (do not use Fat Free)
VaVa  Veggie Dip from Tastefully Simple

Make the VaVa Veggie Dip per package direction.  
Slice a cucumber 
Shred the carrots.
Spread the VaVa Veggie Dip on the cucumbers
Top with Carrots!  
DONE!!!

Delicious great tasting healthy snack. The kids loved them - Caleb (13) is not a huge fan of cucumbers - but he really like these!!  Isa and Davey love cucumbers and thought these were delicious!  I could not stop eating them - they are refreshing and very tasty!WIN WIN !!!!

Flames of Love by Melissa Foster ~ Giveaway ends 4/24

NEWLY RELEASED........

Book #3 The Remingtons, Love in Bloom Series #12

As one of New York’s Finest, firefighter Cash Ryder is always prepared. When a woman’s car skids off the side of a mountain during a snowstorm, he’s there to rescue her. Cash is totally focused on the woman’swell-being, but within minutes of getting her to safety, he realizes that he’s nowhere near prepared for the heat that rolls off of sensual, smart-mouthed, and stubborn Siena Remington.

As a model, Siena Remington has dated some of the wealthiest, most handsome men in the industry, and she’s made peace with the idea that most men are just looking for eye candy and they wouldn’t know how to romance a woman to save their lives. When she’s rescued by a tall, handsome stranger, she thinks that maybe, just maybe, she’s found her own real-life romantic fairy tale—until he opens his mouth and everything that comes out is gruff, ornery, and aggravatingly sexy.

Ways Wisconsin is Saving Energy ......

About Focus on Energy Focus on Energy is Wisconsin utilities' statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource program funded by the state's investor-owned energy utilities and participating municipal and electric cooperative utilities.

Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Focus on Energy information, resources and financial incentives help to implement projects that otherwise would not be completed.

Its efforts help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy costs, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control Wisconsin's growing demand for electricity and natural gas.

For more information call 800.762.7077 or visit focusonenergy.com.

FOCUS ON ENERGY

Check out the website - great info on saving energy - rebate plans for energy efficient items!!!

Barking Wednesday ~ Beautiful poem

Thanks for joining me for my Barking Wednesday post.  Each week I will be posting stuff about my favorite guy...Kingers and his friends.  All kinds of stuff....products - homemade treat recipes - info I have learned over the years, etc.  Info I think is helpful in making sure that every dog lives a fantastic life.

If you plan to adopt or know of someone that is planning to adopt a dog -please share this poem with them.

One by One, they pass by my cage,
They say, "Too worn, too broken, too old of age.
Way past his time, he can't run and play."
Then they shake their heads and go on their way.
A little old man, arthritic and sore,
It seems I am not wanted anymore.
I once had a home, I once had a bed,
A place that was warm, and where I was fed.
Now my muzzle is grey, and my eyes slowly fail.
Who wants a dog so old and so frail?
My family decided I didn't belong,
I got in their way, my attitude was wrong.
Whatever excuse they made in their head,
Can't justify how they left me for dead.
Now I sit in this cage, where day after day,
The younger dogs get adopted away.
When I had almost come to the end of my rope,
You saw my face, and I finally had hope.
You saw through the grey, and the legs bent with age,
And felt I still had life beyond this cage.
You took me home, gave me food and a bed,
And shared your own pillow with my poor tired head.
We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low,
You love me so dearly, you want me to know.
I may have lived most of my life with another,
But you outshine them with a love so much stronger.
And I promise to return all the love I can give,
To you, my dear person, as long as I live.
I may be with you for a week, or for years
We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears.
And when the time comes that I must leave,
I know you will cry and your heart, it will grieve.
And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new,
My thoughts and my heart will still be with you.
And I will brag to all who will hear,
Of the person who made my last days so dear.

Leslie Whalen

A co-worker gave me the info to a great website dedicated to "Making a Difference" ~  Cocker Rescue     Check them out!  

Thank you Laura for sharing this beautiful poem.

I can not imagine King in a shelter waiting to be adopted. That would be terrible...he would be lost and confused - not knowing what and why this is happening to him.  So SAD  

Earth Month 2014 ~ Join us!

Join me in Celebrating 
EARTH MONTH 2014
Heck ....... I consider the month of APRIL
EARTH MONTH!

Earth Day is April 22nd, 2014.  Each year I celebrate Earth Day as I see how we are getting better and better at recycling and reusing.

This year I wanted to design a Earth Day Hop dedicated to being Green!  

Saving our Planet! 

A hop where all bloggers could add their Green post. As a blogger I read post daily about doing great things recycling, reusing and repurposing. I read articles explaining the need to conserve and the need to be wise about how we treat our Earth.

I wanted a place where all for all of these great post to be so that anyone that wanted could access them.
This Earth Month I will also be featuring companies that have gone above & beyond "To Make a Difference"

All Green Blog post are WELCOMED!

Add  your GREEN post to the LINKY!

By Sharing we CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

All Green post are welcome - please join me in making our Earth a little bit better each day.

Good Eatin' Recipe Hop - April 1st

Welcome to the Good Eatin' Recipe Hop

Add your favorite recipe!
Every Tuesday join in and add your favorite recipe. If you would like to post the hop on your blog...comment below and we will gladly send you the html. 
We are bloggers that love to cook and love to eat great tasting food!
Join Us!