Showing posts with label Pets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pets. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Got it!- PROOF they're feeding the dogs at the table:

...although I'm shocked at the hows..........
...and wondering if they've watched too much Lady and the Tramp......
Do you see the "I love you" in the dog's eyes?
She's totally smitten.....on anyone who'll feed her spaghetti.
Sigh.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Pupsicles (for outdoor dogs)

I bought $34 worth of chicken last week and sectioned it into 9 1/2 meals. Here's what I did with the skins- Pupsicles! (For our outside dogs to cool off in this 106 temp.)

 I put a couple of skins in each cup then poured water over each one. Once they were frozen, I put them in a ziploc in the downstairs freezer where the kids and dh can give them several a day.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Spring!

What does this post have to do with Frugal Fridays? I'm glad you asked! 
Through the past few years, I've saved a few bucks here and a few cents there to add little things to my yard that would add some beauty as well as be useful.
The lilac for it's wonderful scent is right under my bedroom window so when it's in its short bloom in the spring when the windows are open, it will perfume my house- frugally!
The redbud trees were free and are beautiful in bloom and once they're big enough, the tiny flowers will make for a lovely jelly!
The apple trees (and other fruit trees) speak for themselves, don't they? :)
But- my frugal tip today is- enjoy your home and what the Lord has given you today. It won't cost you any gas or fast food, to simply walk through your own yard and enjoy whatever is in it. Even if it's just dirt! Let the kids dig in it and dig out a race track or bring a little bucket of water and make mudpies if it's warm enough. But the sunshine alone will give you a nice frugal boost this spring, even if you're holding tightly to the frugal wagon of life today!

Anyone know what kind of butterfly this is? Beautiful!

Red Bud flowers. I was hoping for lots more of these this year to make jelly but my trees are still poking.

Heart-shaped Red Bud leaves

Lilac
Apple Blossoms

Apple buds and blossoms
Feisty Abby
This pup offers tons of free cuddles, licks, hugs, and fun as well! :)

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Ride 'em CowPup!

 When Abby grows up, she wants to be a Cow-Pup and that's why she barks at the horses and cows that try to live in peace across the street.

You know, if I didn't keep an eye out on these kids, it's un-telling what they'd do to this little pup!
...today a gun belt, tomorrow a pogo stick...

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

"Chasin' Air": Is she beggin' for attention or what?!?!!???!?

No- this is not something she typically does- nor would I let her get by with this....but see....little miss playful LOVES the Air-spray can. You know- the kind you use to clean computers and electronics with? 

Well, every now and then, I'll blow the keys out- and given that's one of her favorite 'toys' to 'chase' (well, she thinks she can actually bite it- the air that is)--- she pounced on the keys in an effort to 'catch' it!

And she's staring at me- determined not to MOVE until she catches that air!
(...sigh...and she waits until I either put it up, or spray it again....)

Abby! Get down from there!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Penny and Abby, or The Silver Fox and The Garfield Dog

Our silly puppies!
Penny has lots of silver and often looks like a fox. Abby on the other hand is always looking fat and sassy, like Garfield....oh and she would love lasagna!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Oh bugger- beggars!- and lessons we learn from them

My dh has taught these two about the love of food. Now they harass him every waking minute of the day, especially if he is close to the kitchen.

It's amazing how different their personalities are and how different they are treated as a result. The bigger one, Penny, is a little- how should I say it- dysfunctional! Yeah, she has separation anxiety issues and she's apt to just 'flip out'.

Then, Lil Abby. Abby is our "eternal puppy" and she knows it! She looks like a puppy and acts just as playful as one. She's also called "my humble servant" too. When I call her, she will come and sit in front of me, bow her head and roll over on her back. (Everyone else thinks she's being so humble, but this is only a trick- to a belly rubbin'!)
Our family is learning some valuable lessons from these two. To have mercy and compassion on those who are more helpless and/or who may be vulnerable emotionally.
The other day I used Penny in a lesson with the children. She was really acting up as we had been in and out, going back and forth to the garden. She was crying, howling, and shaking. We are taking steps working with her, but she still has a ways to go.
Well, some of the children had been picking at some of the others. I asked them what did they think would happen to Penny if she was in a pack of dogs. They said they would destroy her. I asked them why. They said they would weed out the weak.
They were right. I then told them that often times there is a tendency in humans to act this same way towards those who are weaker. We often see bullies pick on the kids who appear to be the weakest and least likely to pick back in school.
I then reminded them that we are not animals and we cannot behave that way.
I then reminded them of the kindness and compassion that we show Penny, when she is weak, yet we try to take steps to help her be strong and overcome her weaknesses.
I reminded them that the Bible teaches that a wise man "regards" the life of his beast and how much more people are worth if they are made in His image.
They understood this lesson very well....and they've gotten much better with that behavior!

Prov. 20: 11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Liver Treats for the puppies...

Petco sells a pound of liver treats for like $6 or $7! Very expensive- for a treat - for a pet!

Well- why not make them?!

In my freezer I have bags of cooked, blended chicken liver that I sometimes sneak in our food. Its simply sauteed chicken livers and onions, blended to a paste in the food processor. Using this liver, here's how I made these treats that my dogs LOVE!

2/3 cup thawed ground, cooked liver
1 T honey
1 T molasses
approx. 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (enough to make into a dough)

Mix all ingredients and knead up into 3 balls by hand. Roll out onto foil lined baking sheet. Cut into bite-sized squares with pizza cutter or sharp knife. Bake (dry) at 200 for 1 to 1.5 hours. Store in air-tight container or in the freezer for longer storage. And these are kid-friendly too- if you have boys like me, who like to taste the dog's treats! ;-)

To make these for a people friendly cracker, you could use melted butter in the place of the honey and molasses and slightly more flour. :-)

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Do your kids like to pick the crust off of their sandwiches?

I tell my kids not to, because its wasteful---- so since my kids are SO creative(creatively deceptive)--- they said they promised they wouldn't waste the crust:Abby, get down from the table!

Friday, October 16, 2009

My kitchen buddy....




I told DH last night that this little gal is my kitchen buddy. He asked me what I meant and I told him that she cheers me on! -She growls, whines, scratches, and even barks (begging) while I'm fixing food! ;-) ...and doesn't she look so innocent?!!?!!

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Abby.....

Sweet.................... and rowdy.....................


Thursday, April 30, 2009

Sometimes they cuddle, sometimes they fight...



Sometimes they crash, after making messes, in their toy box!

(click pics for a closer view of these 2 QT's)
Penny and Abby

Saturday, April 25, 2009

When do I sit down?

When Penny sits on me and holds me down! :-)Here's my girls together- Penny lookin' all sassy and proper and Abby lookin' all Garfield-ish!



Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Snapping turtle?!!?

I'll admit it; having pets is not the most frugal thing in the world, however, they can have benefits!
My outside dogs, 2 Beagles- Hal and Missy, not only provide lots of love and licks; they also make excellent guard dogs!
Any strange goings on outside- and we'll know about it!
Their latest stir was over this little fellow, a snapping turtle, trying to find his way through our yard to a pond area. He could not figure how to get through the fence being driven only by ''water''! So we had the privilege of going out and re-routing him around the fence so he could mosey on along!
He seemed happy enough with that, never even bothering to 'snap'!

WFMW---- yorkie questions!


Okay, it's backwards WFMW!
Questions about dry skin on yorkie!
I have two but one has the wire type hair and prone to extremely dry skin. She has been seen by a vet and he just labeled it 'dry skin' and tried to sell me a teeny weeny bottle of stuff for a small fortune!
I bought several products for this; oatmeal shampoo and conditioning spray.
I scrubbed and scrubbed her last time I gave her a bath and it seemed to help getting the dry skin loosened up and she didn't do the normal yipping, biting, yelping, etc that she usually does after her bath! (whew!)
I'm trying to wait to bathe her for 2 weeks or more. They suggested 4 weeks but.....
Any suggestions for dry skin products??? Any frugal home remedies???
Conditioning suggestions for her hair and skin type?
Also she is on a good food, not O'roy ;-)
Thanks for any advice! Have a great WFMW!
For more Backwards Works for Me Wednesday, visit We Are That Family!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Frugal Puppy Training...

Just because you want to invest your life and love in a puppy, doesn't mean that
you have to invest in stocks at the local dog trainer's place!


There are some great shows on these days that will teach you VERY practical
tips on how to train your puppy. There's "It's Me or the Dog" and "The Dog
Whisperer".


What if you don't have these channels?
Check your local library!


And you wouldn't believe the free information out their on websites! There's even
free ebooks from many sites.
Youtube also has videos, tons of them! Many from trainers and many from the
above mentioned shows as well.
This is one of my favorite Yorkie tricks videos.

Friday, January 9, 2009

FRUGAL PETS!

YES, you can be frugal with your pets! Little Penny is already getting used to frugality and she doesn't even know it!


Here's some tips on how I keep her saavily frugal!

-groom myself!--if I can groom a poodle then I can groom her- Captain was only groomed a few times by a professional; when we first got him and then right before we got rid of him. The rest of the time we clipped him ourselves with some of these: The Flowbee is something to consider! (I use one on the boys!) But the clippers can be bought often at yard sales or the Goodwill for $4 or $5! Penny will likely be scissor clipped most of the time.

-I use mild tear-free shampoo on her most of the time. During the summer if I think she may need it, I will use the green Dawn. It will get rid of fleas as well as something that's $6 a bottle! (I used to know a groomer who re-bottled it and sold it for that!)
-I use the clippers or a mustache trimmer to keep her feet and other areas clipped so as to keep her as clean and comfy as possible!

-You can buy their shots from your local Farmer's Coop and give them yourself for just a couple of dollars! Just pull the skin up on the nape of their neck (where a mama dog would pick up a pup) and give the shot in that area. That's far better than a vet bill!

-Penny is a small breed and they eat very little. Right now, she literally only eats a few tablespoons a day! Coupons can always be found for dog food and her food bill, even when full grown could easily be kept under $20 a year.

-Make your own treats! There are recipes all over the net and HERE'S some that I made as gifts once. There is also all sorts of sites out there where people advocate a more natural diet and that could almost be scraps from your meats and other foods, which would basically feed your dog for free but, I'm not sure if that would be best for your pet.
-The little that she will cost us is very much worth it for our home!
($25 per year?)
-What can a pet teach?-patience-perseverance-faithfulness-commitment-etc