New Year 2014

Our Dogs .. Catch up pics

My blog has been neglected... Here are a few pics to keep you up to date with what's been going on...

This is Bella she is our newish Boston Terrier, she was given to us by the lovely breeders of our Poppy

And we absolutely adore her...

Our girls...... Poppy & Bella

This is Our Cavalier Ozzy with Bella..

Soppy Poppy..

What people may not know about me..

I am an Agoraphobe, and I'm doing very well..

Last Winter I bought myself a T25, I was left some money by an aunt, my fathers sister, and felt I had to do something special to me, something important, something useful, my Dad would have told me to..

My intentions are to take my 'house on wheels' anywhere that I might not have gone before, doesn't matter where, just 'out ', and I am so excited to do so, which means I was right to want to own it.

Some people said 'where are you going?, and why did YOU buy this?' but they have to realise that this is very important to me, and even if it sits outside for months, it's my safe place that I can move around in, and they are rather missing the point as to why I need it.

To me this is a positive step, a few years ago I wouldn't have entertained the thought of  my van 'Bessie' although I was always envious of people who did, so this means I am pushing my boundaries, be it baby steps, doesn't matter, to me it's giant strides.

Agoraphobia presents itself in different degrees, I suppose its one of those self limiting illnesses that can get a grip on you but only if you let it..
Some people are housebound or even room bound, but for me I'm kind of comfortable in my zone which is at present a distinct and familiar radius from my home..

There are a number of fears that I have personally, I hate being in a queue in supermarkets, I hate public transport,and that includes planes and boats, I feel uncomfortable in places where I might feel trapped, like for example a cinema, or a restaurant, where I am looking for easy exits..
Being at home is  'safe', and going somewhere I haven't been before simply isn't, if all of this sounds like you then you probably have a form of Agoraphobia..
The thing with me also is I have Emetophobia too (fear of vomiting) which doesn't help me one bit because when I get anxious I feel sick, so I try to avoid doing stuff that stresses me, this is a big shame because ordinarily I feel I could have overcome the Agoraphobia much easier as I am keen to push barriers, but this added fear has made it more difficult.

There was a point about 3 years ago when I found even a walk up to the top of my road impossible, but with Cognitive Therapy I got much better, I think for this thing to not get the better of you, you have to keep pushing the boundaries otherwise they will invariably close in on you..
I am very fulfilled generally, and I manage to live a very fruitful existence even with all of my foibles, but that's because I have so much to fulfill me with my creative outlets, and my family and of course my wonderful friends  ( you know who you are )..
I think its about making sure that you don't become reclusive or depressed..
And if you think its a restriction then it most certainly is..

Where's The Summer?

I haven't disappeared I was just hibernating, but it seems that I have come out of a metabolic depression with the same body temperature that I started with, and the feeling of the blahs, since my conserved energy has now been put into full use, rescuing chickens from flooded coop, and tons of wet t-shirts and untumbleable items.. 


This series of pics sums up my day so far..

Bad hair day

No sandals just boots

Miss wet T-Shirt

I was born today!!!

'You promised me a scarf'!

Floody Hell

Cock rescue

Work carries on..

In the end

Something's gonna get you in the end my friend
And those people who upset you
Will become inconsequential
Compared to what will take you to your end
That is something that you really can be sure of
This is all about a person who denied herself the pleasure
Missed the only one true measure
Of the real and true credentials
That was justified to please her
And the reality check that was her life
The awful cut of fate's sharp knife
That brought her back to reality
Instead of wishing she could be
The woman of her vanity
Because that's not the real true she
And that's what brings me right back to

The end.

written by Cheryl Powling

Is Garlic Bad for dogs?

Recently I made my dogs some superb dog biscuits.. the recipe like most other dog biscuit recipes had garlic in it, I made them then was advised by a friend (thanks Sophie), and my vet, that garlic could be harmful ..

The truth is after much searching on the net, it seems there is much confliction when it comes to advice, some experts say that it is beneficial, boosting the immune system, and fights infection, but most are warning that it can cause damage to the red blood cells, which can cause anemia and even death, but I think what we need to look at is the dosage.

Vetbase.co.uk advises....."Onions and garlic, along with similar plants contain chemicals called organosulfoxides, such chemicals are readily absorbed through the gut when the plant is eaten, and in animals they, or their metabolites, can then cause oxidative damage to the animal's red blood cells. This is often serious enough to cause the destruction of the red cells - a process known as haemolysis. This can result in haemolytic anaemia if large numbers of red cells are destroyed. Haemolytic anaemia is a serious condition.Poisoning usually results from pets consuming a large amount of onion or garlic product in one go, or after repeatedly eating smaller amounts at regular or frequent intervals. The quantities of onions consumed does not need to be particularly large; for example, onion poisoning can occur after the consumption of as little as 150g in a 10kg dog."


But I'm still confused.. I google  'Dog Biscuit Recipes' and they are still telling me to add garlic,in fact I have a few doggie treat books, with 80% of the recipes using garlic..
My conclusion is that I will not be using it.. 


In the meantime here are some great recipes for your canine companions WITHOUT THE GARLIC!!..


http://www.bullwrinkle.com/Assets/Recipes/Peanut%20Butter%20Dog%20Biscuits.htm 

http://www.bullwrinkle.com/Assets/Recipes/Vegetarian%20Dog%20Biscuits.htm 

Cheese Biscuits 

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups. Flour
1 1/4 cups. Grated Cheddar
1/4 cups. Veg. Oil
4 Tbl. Water 

Directions: Preheat oven 180 degrees.

Cream the ingredients together, adding the water one tablespoon at a time to help bind the dough. When it begins to form a ball, roll it out on a floured surface, using cookie cutters, cut the dough into fun shapes and place on cookie sheet. Bake approx. 10 min. until lightly browned. 

Makes about 30 med. size biscuits..

My advice is to store them in a tupperware box but make some holes in the lid with a hot skewer, if they are kept airtight they go soft.. keep them hard and crunchy by having a non-airtight container.. also let them cool down in the oven.. (turn off oven after cooking them and leave them in there) they will get really nice and hard.. 

Happy Baking

Oh and you will need one of these... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Craft-Cookie-Cutter-Extra/dp/B000YJB934/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1331914934&sr=8-3

New Puppy .. Poppy

Here is Poppy, she is our new baby.. she was born on the 5th November 2011.. She will be 19 weeks old this Saturday, she has been with us since the 2nd of January.. Boston Terriers are absolutely amazing.. we love her to bits..