Happy National Dog Day! 

"National Dog Day is celebrated August 26th annually and was founded in 2004 Family Lifestyle Expert and Animal Advocate, Colleen Paige. National Dog Day 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. 

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 dogs from pet stores supplied by puppy mills, backyard breeders, the internet and newspaper ads. Rather, we encourage those seeking new canine companions, to consider choosing adoption first and if you'd like a pure breed dog, look into a pure breed rescue to see if they might have just the dog you're looking for." 

source: National Dog Day

March 25th is International Waffle Day

International Waffle Day originated in Sweden where it is called Våffeldagen. The holiday coincides with the Feast of the Annunciation, which takes place nine months before Christmas – when the Archangel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary she was pregnant. The day also celebrated the beginning of Spring. It became customary for Swedish families to celebrate the events with waffles.

Waffle Fun Facts:
-The word “waffle” is from the Dutch, meaning “wafer.” -In the late 1800’s, Thomas Jefferson returned from France with a waffle iron.
-In the US, we get TWO chances to celebrate waffles! National Waffle Day is August 24! ...It celebrates the first patented waffle iron. The patent was submitted by Cornelius Swarthout in 1869.
-Eggo Waffles were introduced in supermarket freezer sections in 1953.
-Since its founding in 1955, the Waffle House chain has sold more than 500 million waffles.
-Maurice Vermersch sold his wife’s fluffy Brussels Waffles at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. Since he didn’t think anyone knew where Brussels was, he dubbed them “Belgian Waffles.”
-There are several types of waffles – American, Belgian, Scandinavian, Liège, Hong Kong, and Dutch stroopwafels.
-If you make too many, you can always freeze leftover waffles and reheat in the toaster or toaster oven.  

  "L'eggo my Eggo"....Eggo waffles were invented in San Jose, California, by three brothers, Tony, Sam, and Frank Dorsa. In 1953, the Dorsa brothers introduced Eggo frozen waffles to supermarkets throughout the United States.  

The Yellow Dog Project




What Is Yellow Dog?

"The Yellow Dog Project was created to bring awareness to the general public about dogs who need space while training, recovering from surgery, or being rehabilitated.

The Yellow Dog Project is a global movement for parents of dogs that need space (aka DINOS, Dogs In Need Of Space).

Through social media, physical awareness, as well as educational courses for kids and parents, TYDP hopes that we can remind people to ask before petting, that owners of other dogs recognize the signs of a dog that's not interested, and many more!"

I personally have a dog that is both afraid and reactive to other dogs when they get too close to us, her human pack.  It has made us reluctant to walk her in public or take her to places where there will be other dogs (vet, dog park, shot clinic, humane society function/charity).  She loves humans, but for some reason, does not like other dogs.  I love this idea and will be implementing it.  But of course, people need to be made aware of what it means.  So, go to their website and download a poster to hang up at your place of employment, local businesses, humane societies, veterinarian, dog parks, etc. to get the word out!  



 

You can find them here:  http://www.theyellowdogproject.com

 

They also have have a Facebook Fan page here:  http://www.facebook.com/TheYellowDogProject#!/TheYellowDogProject

Homemade Dog Biscuits Recipe

If you love your pets like me, what better way to show them than by making home-made treats!  You can also add other ingredients to enhance their flavor and/or to promote health (examples:  wheat germ, garlic, brewers yeast, yogurt, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, etc.).  By making your own treats, you know exactly what goes into them.  And if you have a finicky eater or your doggy has a sensitive tummy or allergies, you can customize your treats just for them.  There are tons of recipes and information on-line, so do your homework and come up with what works best for you and your dog!

You can use any shape cookie cutter you already have, or, you can purchase a dog-bone shaped cookie cutter at your local kitchen supply, craft/hobby or on-line store!

Better Than Store-Bought: Homemade Dog Biscuits

Ingredients:

½ cup water
2 eggs
½ cup cornmeal
½ cup rolled oats
3 tablespoons peanut butter
½ cup canola oil
2 cups whole-wheat flour

Combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl, then stir to combine (mixture will be thick). Sprinkle flour on a countertop and roll out the dough with a rolling pin until it is between ¼ and ½ inch thick. Using cookie cutters, cut out biscuit and place on a well-oiled baking sheet.

Bake biscuits at 400F for 20 minutes (or until hard). Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Recipe courtesy of:  http://www.takepart.com/video/better-store-bought-homemade-dog-biscuits

Veterans Day



U.S. Navy 1982-1986



VF-124, F-14 Tomcat Squadron

Wild Bird Treat Mix in a Quart Jar

This would be a neat gift for friends and family members that are bird enthusiasts! 

Wild Bird Treat Mix in a Quart Jar

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup small mixed bird seed
1/2 cup raisins
1 1/2 cups quick oats

Directions:

• Layer cornmeal, wheat germ, bird seed, raisins and oats in order given (starting with cornmeal), in a 1 quart wide mouth jar pressing each layer very firmly before adding next layer. 
• Decorate jar and attach a recipe card with the following instructions:  
• "WILDBIRD TREATS"  
• Empty all ingredients from jar into a large bowl, mix.  
• Add: 3/4 cup peanut butter, smooth or crunchy, and 1 cup water.  
• Mix very well.  Add more water, if necessary, to make a stiff dough.  
• Spread in a 9"x13" baking pan.  
• Use knife to cut bars into 2"x4" bars. Leave bars in place.  
• Bake at 250 degrees F. for 45 minutes.  
• Leave in pan to cool.  
• Cut into bars along cut lines.  
• Feed wild birds one bar at a time.  
• Keep remaining bars refrigerated until needed.

Recipe courtesy of:  http://www.food.com/recipe/wild-bird-treat-mix-in-a-quart-jar-136395