BragginBarks: Independant Review of MaiRo & Co - Easter Eggs

BragginBarks: Easter Eggers: Hi everyone that hopping bunny will be here before you know it. These cookies are sure to be a favorite if you tell that bunny to bring th...

Super Idea Podog's New Doggie Station!!!

Organization by the Ocean: Podog's New Doggie Station!!!: A good friend of mine gave my a scrapbook paper stand a while back with a missing drawer.  It looked like this.    So I stuck some of my...

Winter Wonderland 2014

Good morning everyone,
Here in Ohio it is really winter and we are expecting more snow, ICE and rain, all over one night.
For these California boys, we are enjoying the winter weather (for now). This season has been the worst since we arrived in Greenhills in 2008. This is the fourth most snowy winter on record for Cincinnati, and if the Arctic wind keeps blowing we could surpass that, but that would take twenty more inches of snow.
Our Girls love the snow and on this day Coco enjoyed the outdoors


Here are a few pictures of our Winter Wonderland.

Our Backyard

Coco not sure if she likes the snow

Getting ready to go outside in -3 weather to play

The front yard in a blanket of snow

Coco loves The SNOW

Our new oak trees

Chickens are out to explore the backyard

Frozen Toy

Happy Winter.

Cool summer treats

Peanut Butter & Carob Frozen Yogurt Dog Treats via We Eat. Happy.

Want a great way to spoil your dog and cool them down in a pinch? Today BestBullySticks gets to share a great recipe from We Eat. Happy. Becky and her doggy gang have tested and approved this amazing recipe that will be a new summer favorite in any household. Complete with a dog’s favorite ingredient, peanut butter, and yummy carob powder, your dog will have the same satisfaction as Becky’s dogs! Check out the full recipe below!

Here is a recipe for some dog treats I made for the dogs (with a little help from Maude...). So, these wheat-free, frozen treats are intended for dogs, but there is nothing in them that is weird for a human to eat...I even tasted the batter. The dogs loved  them...right up their alley! Perfect treat for those dog-days of summer (pun absolutely intended).

Peanut Butter & Carob Frozen Yogurt DOG Treats.
(Makes a dozen)

Ingredients

• 2 cups plain yogurt (your choice of fat %)
• 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
• 1 TBL carob powder (CANNOT be substituted for chocolate)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 12 small paper cups

Directions

1. Mix ingredients in a large bowl. Divide evenly into 12 cups (approx. 1/4 cup each).

2. Put into the freezer for at least 3 hours. Peel off, or pop out of, paper cup. Serve.

Bone Appétit & Enjoy!

Thank you to Becky at We Eat. Happy. for sharing this amazing summer recipe and photos with us!

Check out all of our great Weekly Drool Recipes to find the perfect, festive holiday treat for your four-legged best friend! And as always, toss your favorite pup an all-natural bully stick for a classic treat! 

They sound so good I may try one myself.

Our dogs love the home made "Frosty Paws"   I normally use fruit yogurt and drained tuna, the girls will sit and lick them down to a small bit and then eat that all up.  I have seen photos of a dog treat sticking out of the frozen treat, kinda like a handle.  I think this makes it easier removal of the treat from the cup and make it easier the dog to take the treat from you and take to their secret place.

Enjoy!!!

monday funnies

Mission Possible?

Just Remember only 4 more days

Remember Aug 26 -National DOG Day

National Dog Day is celebrated August 26th annually and serves to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort. Dogs put their lives on the line every day - for their law enforcement partner, for their blind companion, for a child who is disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage.

Founded in 2004 by pet lifestyle expert and author Colleen Paige, National Dog Day was created to honor dogs more than we currently do, to give them "a day", to show deep appreciation for our long connection to each other - for their endearing patience, unquestioning loyalty, for their work, their capacity for love and their ability to impact our lives everyday in the most miraculous ways. National Dog Day wishes to encourage dog ownership of all breeds, mixed and pure - and embraces the opportunity for all dogs to live a happy, safe and ”abuse-free life”.

National Dog Day is against any kind of "breed ban". Dogs should not have to lose their lives because of the atrocities they have been forced to endure at the hands of man. And while we feel that American's have the constitutional right to purchase a pure breed dog, we strongly discourage buying from pet stores, backyard breeders, the internet, newspaper ads and puppy mills, and rather encourage those seeking new canine companions, to verify that they are buying from a reputable breeder, educate themselves about their dog's breed and better yet - visit their local shelter or pure breed rescue group to adopt a new furry family member that will be forever grateful. Millions of dogs are euthanized each year because they are unwanted. They are wonderful and viable sentient beings that deserve compassion and respect. Please consider adopting on National Day!

We just spent the weekend at Paws-A-Palooza, an adoption fair in Middletown Ohio. 
What fun it was with dogs being adopted all day long.  Such a great  organization. 

PawsAdoptionCenter.org

Our Village is planning a Harvest Festival and Dog Event on October 19 (I'll have more info soon). I am the chair for this event so if you're in Hamilton County or close by and wish to be part of our Harvest Festival, let me know!

Visit NationalDogDay.com 

for more ideas on how to 

celebrate "Man's Best Friend"

Here are just 5 of the great thing you can do.

 Adopt a dog from your local shelter or pure breed rescue organization. 

Volunteer at your local shelter and offer to walk a dog or play with a dog, clean cages or anything else they need help with.

 Are you prepared for a new dog? Purchase "The Good Behavior Book for Dogs" {Rockport/Quarry Books} from the founder of National Dog Day, Pet Lifestyle Expert, Colleen Paige, to help you with everything you need to know to raise a well behaved and happy dog!

Donate blankets, food and toys to animal welfare organizations.

 Assist an ill or elderly neighbor by walking their dog.

Install a car safety harness to keep your dog safe during travel from

Just Play in the yard all day together.


I am thinking of a doggy picnic.  We have a super lake (Winton Lake) nearby and the girls would love the outing.  I think I will have to make them bandannas to wear.
So start thinking what you and you dog will do to celebrate.  Then let us know by sending us a photo (MaiRoAndCo@gmail.com).
We will give away a $10 of MaiRo & Co  dog treats to the dog and owner who are having the most fun.  Who knows--there may be more than one winner.  
Have fun Celebrating!!!

Summer food your pet should avoid

With summer coming to an end.

 just a last reminder.

Soon all the Holiday reminders will be coming. 

Be safe and be ready for the holiday season. 

Happy Summer.

Visit DogingtonPost.com for more tips

Recipe Wednesday

We all love a good summer campfire with family and friends around.
What is the best thing to do around a camp fire? Tell stories and make Smores.
So with National Smores day this weekend, I thought I would make up a recipe for our dogs to enjoy.

This is a gluten-free recipe.  making the "graham" cracker easy to create.  The chocolate is carob so that was easy too.  Now the marshmallow was hard to do, as they are made of sugar, gelatin and corn syrup heated to very hot, whipped and then dusted in more sugar.  We don't like to give our dogs processed sugar. So I though of what might look like a marshmallow? Meringue,of course, light, fluffy and can me made with no sugar just baked egg whites and a little meringue power to make it stable .

So here is that recipe:

"Graham Cracker"
1/2 cup Buckwheat flour
1/2 Garbanzo Bean flour
1/4 Potato Starch
1/2 Tsp All Spice
2 Egg yokes
1/4 + 1 Tbs water
Mix all ingredients to make a ball.  If dough is sticky kneed in more flour.

Roll dough out to 1/4 of an inch.  Roll on to wax paper or parchment to help prevent sticking.

cut dough to make the 1 x 1 squares.

I used a pizza cutter and ruler

Prick the squares with a fork and bake for about 20 minutes turning once. 

Looking like Graham Crackers

While the  "graham crackers" bake, make the meringue.

2 Egg Whites at room temperature
1/4 tsp Meringue Powder

Make sure that ALL your utensil are clean and free from dirt, fats and water, or the egg whites will not fluff up.
Whisk the whites still fluffy and then add the meringue powder or you can use cream of tartar.
Mix until they form stiff peaks, lift the batter up and the foam should hold a point.
Now mix about 1 minute more.

Place mix in a pastry bag and pipe little "Marshmallows". You can use a  round or star tip.

Put your pastry bag in a glass to so you have both hands free to get the meringue in the bag

Since the "Marshmallows" are very small you will need only a short time to dry them out.
Bake for about 45 minutes at about 200.  Check after the first 20 minutes and adjust baking time.
These "Marshmallows" will be very crispy.
They taste like eggs, they look like puffy clouds, and they have NO SUGAR!.

Nice puffy "Marshmallows"
 

When all the items have cooled, now is the time to melt your carob.  

Separate your crackers in to pairs, for your Smores.

I used a spoon to spread the carob over one side of the cracker.

Place one "Marshmallow" on the carob and set aside.

Half a Smore

Smores waiting for their tops

Take the second cracker, spoon carob on it and place on the top and push down just a little.
YOU have just made a Smores for Dogs.
They are just bite size and are a TREAT.
This recipe will make just about two dozen Smores

If you have more "Marshmallows" you can make this!

Smores -et

Just leave off the top cracker and drizzle with carob. 

Boy they sure look good.

Happy Camping and Smores Day to you all!

Origami balloon lanterns DIY/Craft Friday

Last year we created a second dining area in our backyard.  We utilized the land that an old shed was on, great flat area, and with an old patio table and chairs we had a nice shaded dining area.  I wanted this year to add some lighting; solar was out as it is too shaded for them to collect enough sun to make power.
I decided on small strands of light with lanterns. I remembered a project I did in grade school, we were learning origami and we made these little, square balloons.  I thought this was perfect. I would make a bunch of them and string them on some christmas lights.  I would have what I wanted, soft light for dining by.

How to Make an Origami Balloon: 8 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

See the Website above for an animated how to.

First take your square paper( I used 5 3/4) and fold in half flat edge to flat edge, then again.
Fold Corner to corner. Turn paper and fold again. Crease each fold with a bone knife, butter knife, or  a cake tester with a looped end.

This next one is tricky - Look to the above web link for an animated how to fold.

This is two steps

Take your paper and fold the flat sides in at the crease you made so it forms a triangle as seen above.
Then take each point and fold up to meet the top of the triangle. (If you wish to get the "legs" on the lanterns as I have, make your first fold then turn that fold like a book, and fold the next one on the same side, left, and left.)

 After all four folds it should look like this.

Now fold each point towards the middle and make a "football." Again, if you want the "legs," fold and turn, fold and turn.
 Now comes the tricky part. You need to find the small hole in the balloon and blow it up. If your balloon is to small you may need to push up on the bottom and use a long narrow wire to push out the sides. I used my cake tester.

Balloon "Lantern" with leggs

Now the easy part. Take all your" lanterns" and holiday lights outside; I have used clear, although color is good too.  String up your lights at a seated level and start to add your lanterns

Take the little light and put it into the hole at the top. It should fit and stay.  If you need to, take a length of tape to hold it into place or a dab of hot glue will do the trick just as well. 

Place the lanterns on every other light or as you wish.  I did every two lights.

(You can dab a little hot glue on any part of the lantern that may stick up or out)

 And this is what you will get when you are done.

So that's all for today, I still have a lot more lanterns to make to finish my DIY / Craft project. 

I look forward to showing off my "Dining Room" pictures on Thursday.

Let's hope there is no rain this weekend. 

Let me know what yours look like. 

Thanks

Recipe Wednesday July 31

It's summer, right?
 We're having a COOL summer here in Greenhills Ohio.
The thing I love most to eat in the summer is cole slaw! I loved it as a kid and I love it now.
The recipe is simple and very easy, taken from my mother's recipe and updated for my taste and likes.
So what is so special about my cole slaw? I made it!

Stephen's Different Every Time Cole Slaw

Sorry no red cabbage at the store today.

1/4 Head Green Cabbage thinly sliced
1/4 Head Green Cabbage coursely chopped
1/4 Head Red Cabbage thinly sliced
1 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 Tbs Celery Seeds

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and place in fridge for at least one hour.

Adjust to your liking, It's a very forgiving dressing.

 Dressing
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
2 tsp Mustard (your choice)
2 Tbs Celery Seeds
1 Tsp / packet Splenda
1 Tsp / packet other sweetener
3 shakes of Worcestershire sauce

Add a little at a time till you get as much dressing as you like

1/2 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
Salt and Pepper to tast
 Place all ingredients in a large jar and shake until mixed,
Adjust if you like it more sweet or tart.  This is an easy recipe to change and make your own.

Remove what you will need from the Cole Slaw bowl and place it in another bowl.
Pour about a tablespoon dressing for each cup of slaw and mix with wooden spoon.
Adjust slaw or dressing to your taste.
ENJOY!!

We have this with everything from grilled anything, to mac and cheese.  Super for Picnics, BBQ, or Pot Luck.  It's very easy to take along, but remember it has Mayo so you want to keep it cold at all times.

My sample. MMMMMmmmmmm

We like it the next day on roast beef grilled cheese sandwiches, or as a topping on any sandwich.

Additions to Slaw:
Grated Carrots,
Thinly sliced Radishes
Diced Bell Peppers
any vegetable could do.

Substitute:
Yogurt for any of the Mayo / Sour Cream.
Different types of Cabbage.
Horseradish sauce for bite,
use other spices and herbs for a more adult style Slaw.

Sorry... I ate it all.  Time to make another serving!

Playday Tuesday July 30

Dog Park Etiquette

What dog doesn't love a dog parks!
  

Back in California, our community had a wonderful, large dog park.  Our dog park had three areas: one large area for dogs to run and be off leash, another spot for puppies, small and toy dogs to enjoy, and a small area in the back of the larger area for big dogs to have alone time or dog who were not as social yet. 

Water was available, as were pipes for the dogs to run through, and tree stumps to jump on.  Plus, there were benches and tables available for the humans to enjoy

Maisie, our first dog, was great, gentle and friendly with all the dogs and made lots of friends. 

When Rosie was old enough we took her to the park and she made lots of friends too.  We kept Rosie in the little dog or puppy park, while Maisie ran around the big side.  Maisie would check on Rosie once in awhile through the fence.

Our etiquette problems started when we introduced Rosie to the big side with Maisie. 

Soon Maisie was at Rosie's side and playing the big sister or big nasty sister.  Maisie would try to herd the other dogs away from Rosie, and bark at them too. It's her nature, as she is a working breed.

This did not sit well with us, and we scolded Maisie, put her in time out, and used treats to teach her not to herd or bark. But her instinct to herd got the best of her, so we relegated ourselves to the enclosed small area of the big park, where they could play with each other and not bother the other dogs.  

When we moved to Ohio we made sure our dogs had their own yar, with lots of room for running and  playing.

Since we moved, we have found the  dog parks in Ohio that are  like doggy day resorts. Pools to splash in, wade in and misters; fields and obstacle courses, and even training areas with teachers. A far cry from our  community dog park back in California. 

We found most of our experience to be all good, but on a few occasions we had some parents who just did not know how to handle their "kids".  

I wish this poster was up for some of the parents at our dog park to read. 

Dog Parks are play parks for all dog types, so be nice and folks will be nice to you. 

The poster is from the blog/Website of Dr. Sophia Yin. (drsophiayin.com) Take a look! She offers this poster as a PDF download.

Happy Play Time!

Remember Monday July 29

Remember Monday : Your Lawn

 

 

Here in Nature's 1/3 Acre, our dogs Maisie, Rosie and Coco have a lot of room to run and play.  But lately here in Ohio we have had  lots of rain. (Coming from California, I am not used to rain in the summer, or much at all.) And for us, rain means FLOODING.  We are located below a main street in our half of the village so all the water from above runs off into our backyard. The backyard does drain, but our clay soil holds the water so my lawn looks like a marsh. We have lots of names for our lawn: The Lake, The Marsh, and so on. So this year, I have been looking at what happens to the grass and what is the best way to handle it.  I am sharing this article today so you remember your lawn is a very important part of your enjoyment--and your dogs. Take a look.

Heavy rains and flooding have left many lawns waterlogged, or worse, covered in silt when flood water recedes. Nature has a wonderful way of recovering from these things, but a few points considered now could give it a helping hand.

Try to avoid walking on wet or damp grass, as it is likely to damage it. If a lawn has been waterlogged for several days, wait until water levels have completely subsided and you can walk on it without leaving wet footprints.

If you want to mow the lawn once it has dried out – just to give it a late season trim, set the mower blades to the highest possible cutting height. Do not attempt to mow a wet or saturated lawn as you risk compaction and ruts. And obviously do not use an electric lawn mower in damp or wet conditions.

If the lawn has been flooded, be aware that any silt left behind may be contaminated, so wear rubber boots, disposable rubber gloves and cover any open wounds before working outside. You should attempt to remove silt, along with any debris from the lawn – either by hosing or raking it off. Unfortunately, if your lawn has been submerged for over a week or if it is covered with more than ¾ inches of silt there is a possibility that it will need to be re-laid, but this along with any major lawn repairs will need to wait until early spring.

Lawns that have been very wet will benefit from some serious aeration – either manually using a garden fork or with the help of a powered aerator. Moss is also likely to build up in damp conditions, but remedial treatments like aeration, scarifying, top-dressing or re-seeding bald patches will now need to wait until next spring.

One thing you can do now is check for any particularly waterlogged or vulnerable areas of the lawn, where heavy rain collects. Make a note of those areas and consider preventative action you could take in the future, either by evening out the ground levels or improving drainage.

Article from: Stihlusa.com