What's So Funny?

I walked into my living room yesterday and found Sam relaxing on the couch, watching TV.
The funniest part about this, is the way he was sitting and I just had to get a couple pictures of him. Notice his little arm, resting on the arm of the couch?
I had my daughter walk into the room to get his attention and try to keep him from moving or jumping off the couch while I stood in front of him and got another shot. The photo below is of that moment.

Now I find him sitting on the couch this way a lot more often. I think that he thinks he is human too. lol Does your dog do things like this?

I'll have some new photos of the second custom gourd ornament that I recently finished to post a bit later today, so I hope you will stop back by.

'Till later then...Have a great day!

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Dog Day Afternoon

What a dreary day. It's difficult to get up and moving around today. I think my dogs have the right idea--take a nap! They look perfectly comfortable there in the corner of the couch. :)

I would love to, but I have many things to do. I overslept today too, which was nice. The only problem is that I keep thinking that it's Sunday.

The article I wrote on Gourd Safety is now up on Empty Easel if you'd like to check it out. I also just completed next weeks article on Pyrography.

Right now, I'm going to get busy somewhere off of the computer.

Have a wonderful weekend! 'Till later...

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So Not Ready!

I had my dogs out to the lake not even a month ago and today it is snowing. :( I'm so not ready for winter.

There's a lot to do inside today though while it is snowing outside. Even though I have a lot to do online, I am forcing myself to work around the house (laundry) and in my shop.

Speaking of laundry, my dryer died last night. It was so strange, no warning at all. It's like the connection died. Thankfully, I have an older dryer that still works, sitting down there in the basement. I just stopped using it when I got the newer one. So, it's back to the old Maytag, at least for now. I may try working on the newer one tonight if I can find the time.

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Here's a great tip to aid in your Christmas shopping!

Did you know that you can now search stocking stuffers on ArtFire? This search will only turn up stocking stuffers that are Under $10.00 too! Go check it out!

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That's all for now! Laundry beckons

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Household Items that Can Kill Your Dog

Household Items that Can Kill Your Dog
by Carol Stack Copyright 2006

According to the web site of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the number of pets ingesting household and backyard poisons is increasing. In some cases, such as with polyurethane glue, the increase is dramatic. Since 2002 the number of dogs ingesting this glue has risen 740%.

For some reason dogs and cats are ingesting more poisons than in the past. Perhaps there are more products around that are made with poisonous ingredients, or perhaps with our busy lives we forget to put things away in a safe place. Whatever the reason, there is a significant increase in the number of pets dying each year from poisonous substances.

People love their pets and don't want to see them suffer. There are precautions everyone can take to protect their dog, cat, bird, ferret or whatever from ingesting poisons found inside the home, in the garage, and in the yard.

With the coming of cold weather the number of dogs and cats dying from ingesting antifreeze and ice melts increases. Antifreeze is very toxic and even small amounts can cause kidney damage that is life-threatening.

Most cases of antifreeze poisoning occur right at the animal's own home because the proper storage containers were not used or the antifreeze was not disposed of properly. Keep these things in mind when working with antifreeze:

• Clean up spills immediately
• Check for leaks under your car regularly
• Store anti-freeze in clearly marked containers that are sealed and out of reach of your pets
• Never allow your pet into the area where you are draining radiator fluid from your vehicle
• Consider using products containing propylene glycol, which is a less toxic form of anti-freeze instead of those containing ethylene glycol
  

If you think your pet has ingested antifreeze contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 immediately.

Ice melts (used in areas where it snows to melt ice) are another cold weather problem for pets. Walking on ice melts that contain ingredients such as calcium chloride and sodium chloride (table salt) can cause skin irritation. If your pet licks their paws and ingests the ice melt they can experience many side affects including drooling, vomiting, decreased muscle function, and in severe cases, seizures, coma and even death.

Again, if you think your pet has come in contact with an ice melt product it is important you contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center right away. There are different treatments for different types of ice melts so it will help if you know the type your pet was exposed to.

To help protect your pet memorize the list of poisonous items found on the ASPCA web site at: http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_poisonsafe. Keep these things out of reach of your pet. Included in this list are things as common as:

• Coffee
• Onions
• Garlic
• Salt
• Yeast dough
• Avacado
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Chocolate
• Raisins and Grapes
• Citronella Candles
• Vitamins
• Diet Pills
• Pain Killers
• Cold Medicines
• Moth Balls
• Fabric Softener Sheets
• Liquid Potpourri
• Rat and Mouse Bait
• Products sweetened with xylitol (includes some sugar-free gum and candy)
  

The list is long, but it could save the life of your dog or cat if you memorize it and then keep these things out of your pet's reach.

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Carol Stack has been working with dogs for over three decades. She lives with her husband, 3 kids, 4 dogs, 8 cats and 1 bird (Bob) in California. She and her daughter Christy have created a site especially for dog lovers at: http://www.christysdogportal.com
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

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The Silence is Deafening

I didn't mean to leave this unattended for so long. Wow. Promise I'll get back up to speed shortly.
Much to talk about!

Until I get back, here is the picture I promised to show you of my little boys in their jackets. Buddy is wearing a fleece jacket that I made and Sammy is wearing his new leather. :)

They were having a blast in the snow this day. First pic is under one of the huge white pines we have in the yard. The snow is not deep under there at all. The bottom picture shows Sam leading the way into the deeper snow. It was hillarious! He turned back once the snow got so deep he couldn't jump through it anymore.

They are both wearing their boots too. That made outdoor time a lot more fun!

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Doxie Boots

What is this, you ask? This is one of eight little boots I made for my two Miniature Dachshunds!

Made of fleece, suede, elastic, and velcro. The suede is from the old jacket that I made their jackets out of. The fleece is leftover from a couple doggie blankets and another doggie jacket. The only things I had to purchase for this project was the elastic and velcro strips.

I first cut the boot shape on the fold so all I had to sew was the two sides and of course the suede sole. I put the sole on first, then sewed the sides. the elastic and velcro were sewn on last.

The hardest part of this project was sizing them. Have you ever tried to get a little dog to stand still for measurements? Easier said than done. lol

Anyway, the boots work great! Sam and Buddy both love going out in the snow now. They look so cute with their winter jackets and boots on. lol Now I don't worry about their little feet freezing and also being irritated by the salt, which is a household staple item in the U.P.. Salt for melting ice on your walkways and steps can harm a dog's feet.

I'll be trying to get some pics of them out in the snow soon.

Now, it's back to the kitchen! I'm making Kaiser rolls for our Porketta sandwiches tonight. I put a large, frozen Porketta in my slow cooker this morning about 8am, it smells wonderful in here! We're just going to have the sandwiches and a salad for dinner tonight. Can't wait!

Have a great day!

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Dachshunds in Leather-Or-How I Recycled a Leather Jacket

Sam's lined, leather jacket is finished and Buddy's is halfway done.

These are taking me longer than I anticipated because I am not using my sewing machine at all. I am doing them both by hand, with a needle and thread.

After I cut the sleeves off of the jacket, I had to open one up for Sam by cutting it lengthwise from the cuff to the shoulder. He is a little bit heavier than Buddy and doesn't quite fit in the sleeve without alterations being done first.

After cutting the sleeve open I needed to cut a yoke for his chest. I cut one from the underarm part of the jacket. I then attached it to the cuff (now collar) and attached the sides of it to the sides of the sleeve.









Then I left two open areas for his arms and from beneath his armpits I sewed the remainder of the length to the sleeve.
I left the sleeve's original lining in place to keep him extra warm.

This jacket is a slip-on. It goes on head first, then one leg at a time. So that's it! Sam's jacket is done and Buddy's is about halfway done.

I am also sewing some boots for each dog too. All that's needed to complete those is some velcro and elastic. I should be able to pick some up today and get them finished tonight. I will post how I did those in another entry. :)

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I Yam What I Yam & That's All That I Yam!

Haha! A few items of interest today!

First of all, I made Sweet Potato Chews for my two miniature doxies with my dehydrator and they were a huge hit! This is how I made them:
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Sweet Potato Chews

4 large sweet potatos (yams)
water

Wash the potatoes and cut in half lengthwise. Cut each half into strips that are about 1/3 inch thick.
Heat water to boiling and place cut slices, half a potato at a time into the water and blanche for 5 minutes. Remove to paper towel and dab excess water off. Place each slice, in single layer, on dehydrator tray. Repeat with remaining potato slices.

Turn dehydrator dial to 135 degrees F (58 degrees C) and run for up to 48 hours. I did mine for 2 1/2 days. I made a lot, and wanted them to be crunchy.
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My two dogs absolutely LOVE them! I'm going to try cooking sweet potatoes, mashing them well and mixing them with tuna, and green beans (also mashed) and make a thick paste. Then I'll spread the paste in strips on the plastic sheets for my dehydrator and make Chew Strips for them next time. :) I may even be able to make my kitty, Mister Fuzz, some of those as little treats too.

If you try this recipe, let me know how it turned out and if your dogs liked them too!
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A long, long time ago when my sisters and I were still at home, one of my sister's assignment for class was to write an "Ode". She wrote one of the funniest things I had ever read back then, "Ode to a Dishcloth". Hilarious! I wish I still had a copy of it to share with all of you.

So, today, while I was visiting blogs that are on Entrecard I came across this post written on the blog "Black Tie & Sneakers" which reminded me so much of the piece that my sister wrote way back when.

You really should stop by his blog and read his post entitled, "A Guest Post by Ignored", I think you'll love it. :)
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Later this afternoon, I will be posting pictures of the Giveaway Gourd and I'll also have some pictures of the leather jackets and boots I am making my doxies. :)

So, until then...have a wonderful day!

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who's your dachshund: Petition: Let's get a dachshund in the White House

Here's a picture of my two mini dachshunds: Sam & Buddy taken this summer shortly after I adopted Buddy. Sam wanted a pal so badly and I'm very glad we adopted Buddy to chum around with him. Both of them are Piebalds, aren't they cute?

In this picture, they are both trying to take a nap on my computer chair. Awwww.

If you love dachshunds and would love to see Barack Obama adopt one for his girls in the White House, read this:

who's your dachshund: Petition: Let's get a dachshund in the White House

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