Monday, August 22, 2016

Treat Your Dog to a Homemade Biscuit



Have you ever wondered why there are so many online DIY dog biscuit recipes? One important reason is that as we get serious about our own diet and physical fitness plan, we start looking at what we’re giving our four-legged family members. 
photo by eduardo millo WMC

 
I was surprised to find out our Labrador retriever, Flag, was suffering from over-treating. She stayed active even when she got older, but needed a healthier biscuit. Once I found out how easy it was to make healthy treats, I used a variety of cookie cutters to make enticing dog biscuits. 

Just like snacks for the family, healthy ingredients were important. Instead of preservatives, fats, and sugars, I used better flour, quality steel-cut oats, and carrots. Molasses added iron and other healthful things. Flag wasn’t a fan of frosted items, but there are healthy frostings to make if your dog enjoys a topping on the biscuit. 

Tasty? Check.
Fresh? Check.
Affordable? Check.

photo by Phil Wadsorth WMC


Flag has moved on to greener pastures. I miss her so much, and think it’s about time to get another happy, friendly Lab. If he or she is a rescue dog with a permanent name, I won’t change it. Otherwise, Feisty sounds like a wonderful moniker for the next family member.

Small round snacks are perfect to carry during walk time. The shaped biscuits encourage healthy eating because they contain a lot of the good ingredients found in quality dry food. 

Natural preservatives like rosemary and lime juice permit short-term shelf life. Some recipes allow freezing for up to six months. Cool the treats before storing. Get ready for an excited, contented bark.




Have you created DIY pet treats?

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Happy Children Generate Smiles




It was a busy day filled with dashing from place to place in an attempt to complete tasks. A happy boy about 6 or 7 held the door open for me as I walked into a local business. He had a big smile on his face and tightly held a takeout box of leftovers from the restaurant inside the building. I thanked him and asked if he’d enjoyed the meal. His eyes lit up as he described his own breakfast and the meal his dad and grandpa got, as well.

What a wonderful way to start the day! The smile inspired by the happy, delighted child stayed with me all day. That, in turn, caused the people I met to smile back, generating smiles from even more people. A lot of frowns were turned upside down before the day was over. What an encouraging way to move along, enjoy the afternoon, and continue smiling the short drive home. 

Verrazano Bridge taken by Bob Jagendorf, widimedia commons
My grin grew even larger when I found this fantastic picture of the Verrazano Bridge in New York State. I live in a rural part of the desert in Northern Nevada!  It’s good to be away from the hours of traffic in large cities like L.A., San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Brooklyn. The glamour and glitz of inspired architecture, however, continues to inspire me.
 
What’s brightened your life lately? Could it have been a smile?