Easter and your pets

It’s time for another holiday and pets like to be included as well. But, be careful and know that chocolate is poisonous to dogs. This delicious creamy tasty treat seems harmless even delightful to us, but to our four legged friends even though they love the taste the effects are dangerous. Be sure to watch your pets for symptoms of poisoning with all the darling children and their treat baskets running around. If you find that your pet has consumed chocolate make sure you seek medical treatment right away to avoid a family pet tragedy.

Another thing to watch is that plastic grass that we use in the baskets. That could be something your pet finds interesting and if they ingest the little plastic strands it too could end up with a trip to your veterinarian.

Also, the beauty of the Easter Lily or any Lily for that matter delights us all during the spring months and for the holiday. But please keep in mind that this flower is poisonous to dogs! There are many plants that are poisonous to animals. It's always a good idea to check before you add it to your home.

Be sure to keep the number to the ASPCA poison control nearby when you can't get in touch with your veterinarian.

I like to treat my dachshunds during holidays so that they don’t feel left out with the excitement of the day. I make an empty basket for them and fill it with appropriate treats and toys that they all enjoy rutting their noses through until each one finds what they want. I love to watch them all running around with their new toys and wrestling around trying to take each other’s fabulous finds from one another. My dachshunds are most entertaining and I get the biggest laughs from them every day.

Each one of my dogs has their own favorites and I try to use this time of year to replace toys that have been chewed up and look ragged. Delbert, he enjoys a ball of any sort but can crush the doggy type tennis balls and they turn to flat felt covered rags. Smoochie likes anything that squeaks and although he finds them entertaining for hours the squeaking can get on even the most patient persons nerves. And, I think that is why Phoebe doesn’t really play with toys but loves to chew and destroy them, especially Smoochie’s. Who can blame her she has ears too!

All three of them love snacks and treats. If you ask them if they want a Smoochie snack they all run to the kitchen. We call all treats “Smoochie Snacks” because Smoochie loves treats and will sit pretty, on his back hindquarters and his little stubby paws in front of him, for his morsel. With the recent scare of contaminated pet foods I worry over their treats, so to ease my mind I find it’s easier to make my own.

I am adding a few tasty recipes so you can try your paw at them as well!

Doggie Biscuits

· 2 1/2 c Whole wheat flour

· 1/2 c Powdered dry milk

· 1/2 teaspoon Salt

· 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder

· 1 teaspoon Brown sugar

· 6 tablespoon Meat drippings

· 1 Beaten egg

· 1/2 c Ice water

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Combine flour, dry milk, salt, garlic powder and sugar. Cut in meat drippings until mixture resembles corn meal. Mix in egg. Add enough water so that mixture forms a ball. Using your fingers, pat out dough onto cookie sheet to half inch thick. Cut with cookie cutter or knife and remove scraps. Scraps can be formed again and baked. Bake 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from tray and cool on rack.

Chicken Liver Goodies

• 2 cups Flour
• 3 tbs. Vegetable oil
• 1 cup wheat germ or cornmeal if wheat allergies are a problem
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 tsp. parsley
• 1 cup cooked chicken liver, chopped

Combine flour and wheat germ. In separate bowl, beat egg with oil, and then add broth & parsley mix well. Add the dry ingredients to bowl a little at a time, stirring well. Fold in chicken livers and mix well. Dough will be firm. Turn dough out on lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out 1/2" thick and cut into shapes. Place on greased cookie sheet 1" apart. Bake at 400F for 15 minutes or until firm. Store in refrigerator.

Peanut Butter Bars

• 2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• 1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
• 1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375' In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In another bowl, mix peanut butter milk, and then add to dry ingredients and mix well. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes, Bake for 20 minutes on a greased baking sheet until lightly brown. Cool on a rack, then store in an airtight container.

So make your Easter holiday safe and happy for your pets as well and take some time to whip up a few treats to put in their basket with a new toy and be sure to have your camera ready!

Beaming Mother Hen

I know every parent is a proud hen when it comes to his or her babies and I am not any different. I am truly so proud of all my children. Each one of them has something special and unique to them that they excel at and they all make me smile with beaming pride. I have to brag just a little about my son Evan, he is in his second year of school tennis at the Junior High School and he’s doing so well. He had his first match yesterday and as he said “owned” it. Thank heavens I’m hip and up to date so I knew right away that he meant he won. Tennis is a great sport to start with in youth. I played tennis in high school and into college. Now don’t get me wrong, I was not very good but I loved to play. I think it helps a child develop a lot of hand eye coordination and it does give them a good cardio workout with running back and forth and side to side. I am so proud that my son has taken to it, as he is very active in football and baseball and karate as well. He’s asked me to get out on the court once again and I may just do that when the weather warms up but it’s been a very long time since this old mom has volleyed balls on the court! I do like the game of tennis though.

And since I am on the subject of kids. It’s prom time around my house with my son’s last senior prom and its all the buzz around the house. The planning, the excitement, the crisis’s and the cost! Oh my goodness to think how expensive this one school dance turns out to be. I just melt when I see my young man dressed in that tuxedo with his boyish grin and dapper hairstyle. It’s that moment when you can’t believe this 200 pound 6 foot man is your baby! Graduation is this year for him and I have been feverishly planning his celebration. I’m so proud of him and I will miss him dearly when he leaves my nest for college.

Not to leave out my daughter who also does karate and just finished up her basketball season. She’s wonderful and I enjoy the age she is right now she is just coming into her own with wanting to fix her hair and wear a bit of makeup and the boy gossip is blooming as well. I have to smile when the drama just pours from her mouth as if I would never know anything like these stories before. It’s so entertaining!

With active growing kids in the house having quality snacks and foods for them is important to me. I thought I’d share a few recipes my hungry tummies enjoy!

Zucchini Muffins

Note: You don't have to peel the zucchini before shredding it for this recipe. It won't affect the taste and the peel will provide some extra fiber.

Prep time: 30 minutes

What you need:

• 1½ cups shredded zucchini (about 2 small)
• 2 cups whole-grain pancake or biscuit mix
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 2 eggs
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• powdered sugar (enough to dust the muffins)

What to do:

1. Wash zucchini and remove ends.
2. Shred zucchini using largest holes on grater.
3. Place grated zucchini on paper towels and squeeze to remove water.
4. Measure 1½ cups of squeezed-dry zucchini.
5. Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit.
6. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
7. In a large bowl, mix whole-grain pancake mix (or biscuit mix) with spices.
8. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, brown sugar, applesauce, and lemon juice.
9. Fold the egg-sugar mixture and shredded zucchini into the pancake-spice mixture; do not overmix.
10. Fill each muffin cup 2/3 full with batter.
11. Bake 10–15 minutes or until golden.
12. Remove muffins from tin and cool on a wire rack.
13. Sprinkle muffins with a dusting of powdered sugar.

About a dozen muffins.

Pineapple Pops

Prep time: about 60 to 120 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 c. plain yogurt
• 1/2 c. canned crushed pineapple (packed in its own juice instead of packed in syrup)
• 1 can frozen pineapple or orange-pineapple juice concentrate, thawed

Directions:

1. Drain the can of crushed pineapple so all the juice runs out.
2. Put all the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and mix them together.
3. Spoon the mixture into the paper cups. Fill them almost to the top.
4. Stretch a small piece of plastic wrap across the top of each cup.
5. Using the popsicle stick, poke a hole in the plastic wrap. Stand the stick straight up in the center of the cup.
6. Put the cups in the freezer until the mixture is frozen solid.
7. Remove the plastic wrap and peel away the paper cup. You'll have pineapple pops to eat and share!

Serves: 6

Serving size: 1 pop

Peachy Freeze

rep time: 1 to 2 hours

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c. milk
• 1 c. sliced peaches (they can be either fresh or canned)
• 1 tsp. sugar

Directions:

1. Pour the milk into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid.
2. Pop the "milk cubes" out of the tray and put them into the blender. Then put the peaches and sugar into the blender.
3. Put the lid on the blender and blend on high speed until everything is all mixed together and very smooth.
4. Pour your Perfect Peachy Freeze into serving dishes and serve right away.

Serves: 3

Strawberry Smoothie

Prep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 ice cubes
• 1 c. milk
• 1/3 c. cottage cheese
• 2/3 c. frozen strawberries
• 1 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Pour all of the ingredients into the blender.
2. Put the lid on the blender and blend for 45 to 60 seconds until smooth.
3. Pour your smoothie into a glass and enjoy.

Serves: 1

Serving size: 1 large glass

Sunday Soup for the Soul

Have you ever wanted to make a loaf of fresh bread but didn’t have any yeast on hand? Perhaps you are in the mood for a warm slice of home made bread but don’t have the time or patience for starting a loaf from scratch? That’s what happens to me and I used to be in love with the ease of the bread machine. But, there again if you are out of yeast it leaves you scratching your head instead of scratching up a loaf of bread. I felt like a day in the kitchen, now that I’m getting past the flu and back to normal. I started a wonderful pot of cream of broccoli soup. As it simmered on the stove I thought we need something else to go with it. My husband has been back in the kitchen brewing his own beer again, and there are several bottles in the garage refrigerator that he’s displeased with, so I grabbed a bottle and made a batch of beer bread. I love the ease of making beer bread. The beer and the baking powder combine and create the gasses the loaf needs to rise and the taste and smell is fabulous. So, I threw a batch together and in the oven it went. So, now I’m thinking I have a nice pot of home made broccoli soup and fresh hot from the oven beer bread with a garlic butter I threw together. Now we need a nice dessert. There is something special about chocolate on a cold sunny Sunday. What better to tantalize our taste buds than a lava chocolate cake? And, the kids love that they are served individually in their own little dishes.

I know you are thinking that’s a lot of in the kitchen time, but it truly wasn’t and well worth the little bit of effort when my daughter just came out and said “this is a wonderful day mom, you are the best cook and you make the greatest things!” Who can trade words like that for a bit of time in the kitchen? Not to mention my middle son helped me with some of it and we both enjoy that time together. We had to run to the store and grab some cheese and eggs and he and I really appreciate those moments when he and I are alone together like that.

My eighteen year old came in from work and smelled the fragrant scents wafting from the kitchen and said he was “stoked” that I made soup. Moments like those where your kids look at you with that love in their eyes is well worth anything.

So, if you need a great kid friendly dinner that doesn’t take a lot of trouble I thought I would share my recipes.

Cream of Broccoli soup

One onion minced in the food processor

4 cloves of fresh garlic minced in the food processor

One large bag frozen broccoli minced in the food processor

½ stick butter

2 cups chicken broth

Salt and pepper to taste

1 Tbl cornstarch

2 quarts 1% milk/or Hood’s calorie countdown

Melt butter in the pan mixing in the cornstarch. Add the onion and garlic and broccoli and mix around sautéing. Add chicken stock and let come to a simmer. Add milk, salt and pepper and simmer until ready to eat. Add shredded cheddar cheese to your liking.

Beer Bread

Measure	Ingredient
341 milliliter	Bottle Beer (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 tablespoon	Sesame Seeds
2¾ cup	All-Purpose Flour
4 teaspoon	Baking Powder
1 tablespoon	Granulated Sugar
½ teaspoon	Salt
¼ teaspoon	Dry Mustard
1¼ cup	Old Cheddar Cheese; shredded

This recipe for a delicious, no muss, no fuss, no yeast beer bread comes from Labatt's, to whom we are very grateful. Great with soup and/or salad.

Pour beer into bowl; let stand. Toast sesame seeds in dry skillet over medium heat about 5 minutes, shaking pan gently, until fragrant and brown.

In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, mustard and 1 cup cheese. Pour into beer; stir just to combine. Spread into greased 8 X 4-inch loaf pan. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and sesame seeds.

Chocolate Lava Cake

Makes 4 Chocolate Lava Cakes

Ingredients:

• 5 tbsp butter
• 3.5 oz dark chocolate (this is one standard chocolate bar)
• 2 extra large eggs
• 1 extra large egg yolk
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 3 tbsp flour
• 2 tsp cocoa powder
• Pinch of salt
• Powdered sugar as needed

Melt the butter and chocolate together over a double-boiler, or microwave for a short time. Stir to combine. Whisk together the eggs and sugar until the mixture is light yellow in color, and the sugar is dissolved.

About 3 minutes.

Stir the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and whisk until combined. Sift in the flour, cocoa, and salt. Fold in with a spatula until combined. Spoon into 4 buttered 5-oz ramekins, and tap on the table to settle any air bubbles. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place ramekins in a baking dish and add water until it is halfway up the sides. Bake for 15 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm. The cakes can be turn out, or served in the ramekins.

The Wonderment of Mother Nature

It's 29 degrees outside this morning and as I walked out the door bundled in my coat to take my dachshunds out for the morning I saw a section of my azaleas dripping with icicles. Last year there was an early spring cold snap that took the joy from my blooming landscape. I lost all the baby figs on my fig tree and all my blooming daffodils died immediately. This year I tried to prepare for the cold snap in spring. We covered the rose bushes and I tried to protect the hydrangea.
As you can see in the photo the stickly bush in the distance was my hydrangea over the summer because of the spring cold snap that took its toll.

I don't think that the first cold dip did any damage but I have a feeling this one did. Yesterday there was snow blowing in all day, and we had a nice dusting on the ground. And the temperature dropped from 50 degrees to 30 degrees within 30 minutes and has stayed in the 20's and 30's. I can only hope that some of my tender landscape and the ice laying on the azaleas is not the death of my spring blooms.

There is one thing about icicles, they are beautiful. I couldn't help myself and had to snap a few photos. Just as my daughter ran out doors yesterday to scoop up what dusting of snow she could gather in her small hands and form a snow ball that immediately went into a baggy and laid so gently into the freezer for safe keeping. I too, ran outdoors this morning with my camera to capture the beauty of the icicles dangling so magically off the leaves and stems of my shrub.

I still haven't figured out mother nature and how to protect my landscape from these early Georgia spring freezes. I think that I get one step ahead of the cold and then I am once again trying to figure out how to save what I can in the aftermath. I just hope that I have figs this year. We didn't get one fig last year after the last spring freeze took them all. I hope that eventually I will figure out the weather pattern of the zone that I live in and will be able to keep one step ahead of Georgia's spring freezes. For now, I will worry not about what lies ahead for my spring landscape and just take the time to revel in the beauty of nature and how the beautiful icicles made my day.

MOTHER NATURE - Nature, the gentlest mother
BY
Emily Dickinson

Nature, the gentlest mother,
Impatient of no child,
The feeblest or the waywardest, --
Her admonition mild

In forest and the hill
By traveller is heard,
Restraining rampant squirrel
Or too impetuous bird.

How fair her conversation,
A summer afternoon, --
Her household, her assembly;
And when the sun goes down

Her voice among the aisles
Incites the timid prayer
Of the minutest cricket,
The most unworthy flower.

When all the children sleep
She turns as long away
As will suffice to light her lamps;
Then, bending from the sky

With infinite affection
And infiniter care,
Her golden finger on her lip,
Wills silence everywhere.

Diabetes: a growing epidemic with animals?

It’s a known fact that a pet can bring happiness into your life. Of course, as the soft music plays in your head and the visions of you and Fido running together on the beach wrestling a large stick loops over and over we tend to forget about the day to day challenges and costs of pet keeping.

An avid animal lover I tend to overlook the work involved in having my three dachshunds, 55 gallon aquarium with delicate fish, and a bunny named chuck that my daughter promised she would take care of all by herself. Having all these pets does take time and requires a lot of patience and a part time job to cover their expenses. But every little tail wag or lick on the cheek, a sniff of the bunny’s nose and even when the fish greet me at the front of the tank makes it all worthwhile.

Having animals and also having three children, I feel that I can compare the two and comment that on many occasions as my teenager is arguing with me or my adolescents are bickering I look to my husband and say, had we known we could of just stuck with the dogs. Of course, my humor and sarcasm helps me get through trying times. I can’t imagine my life or my house without it being full of the happiness a large family gives me. Yes, I am including my pets as part of our family. They are really, wouldn’t you agree? According to an August 6, 2007 report with Business Week “$41 Billion a year is spent on furry friends.”

I am one that spends plenty on my pets. All three of my dachshunds have life jackets for when we go boating. They all have light weight t-shirts for cool weather and heavy faux suede coats for the cold weather. Toys are a large part of the pet budget. They all get dental checkups and of course all their vaccinations. Flea control and monthly heartworm prevention tip the top of the expense reports as well. Not excluding the aquarium and all the filtration charcoal, replacements and chemicals. Plants and feeder fish as well as new decorations to make their home eye pleasing to the humans. Then we have the bunny and his abode. He needs things to chew and all of his hay and food and toys. My daughter even has a little outfit for him so that she can take him on a leash around the yard. The amount of money we spend on our pets can get out of control if we don’t watch our budget.

Dog channel.com reports that “The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association predicts the pet industry will grow by 5.5 percent this year.” Now pet insurance is becoming another priority with of pet keeping. Is that feasible? With the cost of care rising and having animals that need a great deal of medical treatment, having insurance would be something to consider.

“One in every 400-500 dogs and cats is being diagnosed with diabetes” according to

Diabetesindogs.blogspot.com and petdiabetes.org websites. This is a staggering estimate; it’s now rearing its ugly head in the pet world as well.

With diabetes becoming more prevalent among Americans these days it’s no wonder diabetes is becoming a problem with animals.

What is diabetes mellitus you ask? This is a disease where one is unable to regulate their blood glucose levels properly. Regardless of your species, human and dog and cat we all have the same process with food entering our bodies and then either working properly to burn into energy or some sort of dysfunction causing us to have elevated blood glucose levels.

The pancreas secretes insulin to help regulate glucose that your body uses in its cells. When cells don’t utilize the glucose properly then there remains excess in the blood stream. The pancreas either does not produce enough insulin to work with the cells, that would be type one diabetes, or the cells are resistant to the insulin and there remains more glucose then the body can burn, that would be type two diabetes.

"Most dogs will be diagnosed with type two diabetes and are usually diagnosed between the ages of 7 and 9 and are over weight. Unspayed female dogs are more at risk for diabetes as well as certain breeds having a genetic predisposition to it such as Keeshond, puli, miniature pinscher, cairn terrier. With dachshunds, poodle, miniature schnauzer, and beagle being at a higher risk." This information sourced from www.petdiabetes.org.

How do you know if your pet has diabetes? You can watch for signs such as excessive thirst or frequent urination. Lethargy and weight loss can occur as well as excessive appetite. Most pet owners find out when their dog goes blind. This can occur because of the diabetes and the rapid onset of cataracts.

You can have your pet tested with your veterinarian to find out if your dog or cat has diabetes after observing signs that concern you.

What do you do when your pet has been diagnosed with diabetes? Some might make the argument to put the animal to sleep. You don’t have to do that with your pet, an animal can have a very long happy life even after being diagnosed with diabetes. You might have to alter the way you do things and you will definitely have to invest more time, care and money into your pet but the long run pays off with your pet having a long happy life.

You must make sure you have a veterinarian that you feel comfortable with and that you can work closely with as you go through the process of creating a routine to care for your dog or cat.

Your pet having diabetes is not unlike a person having diabetes watching your diet and caring for yourself a little closer than you may have prior. Making sure medications are taken on time and every day and that the diet is proper for your health. The same goes for caring for your diabetic pet.

This brings us back to the contemplation of having insurance for your pet. Does it make sense to carry insurance on an animal? It’s becoming more popular today to have something there to help defray the costs of emergencies. With so many pets being like children to their caretakers it may be of some investigation to inquire about such policies before your pet develops a disease such as diabetes. This disease alone can be quite costly for maintenance, testing and medications.

What is creating this overwhelming incidence of diabetes across the board? Is it that we as humans feed our animals inappropriately just as we do ourselves? The epidemic does make one wonder where the real catalyst lies.

I think before anyone commits to having a pet they should really try to put the looping beach scene and heart warming music on pause in their head and sit down and contemplate if the expense of caring for another life is in the budget. The life of any living thing deserves to be the best that it can be and if we are responsible caretakers of animals, then we will do our best to make sure they live as well as we would like to live ourselves.

Sources:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_32/b4045001.htm

http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-news/pet-spending-expected-to-top-43-billion.aspx

http://diabetesindogs.blogspot.com/ (* S.J. Ettinger, E.C. Feldman: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 5th Edition, Vol. 2, 2000 pg. 1438)

http://www.petdiabetes.org/

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/AssessYourNeeds/ShouldYouBuyPetInsurance.aspx

http://ezinearticles.com/?Five-Main-Advantages-To-Get-Pet-Insurance&id=1006587

Feeling the effects of the flu!

I have spent the week with the flu and I am just amazed at how hard it hits you and how quickly too! Today, I have my fever down to 100 from 102-104 all week and I can't believe how weak I have been feeling. I am diabetic and I did get a flu shot, but the doctor tells me that there are strains of the flu that the shot doesn't cover, and of course it found me! I am sure when I took my son to the doctor last week I picked up the germ. I hate going into the doctors office and as I have laid on the sofa or in bed feeling like death is imminent I went over every person in that office that day trying to find someone to blame. There was an older lady sitting in the corner and she was definitely sick, she could of been the culprit. Or, my sons girlfriend came over and said her mom was home sick with the flu so she could of brought me the germ as well. No matter how it came to me it hit me hard. The only benefit is that having the vaccine already the doctor says that it won't last as long and I am starting to believe that. Although, I have had horrible blood glucose levels while being sick, and of course this is natural. When an illness occurs for a diabetic it can turn everything upside down. It's imperative that a diabetic check their blood glucose levels often during illness to keep everything in check, so that medical treatment can be sought if things get out of control. I am sure part of my weakness a part from the flu in general and the fever is that my sugar has been running relatively high.
To add to my joy this week my husband has been attending school for his job. He's not been here to help me with the children or animals, except in the evening and well by then the worst is over. Any mom knows its the mornings that are horrid when you are sick and you have others to get prepared for the day. No matter the age of children, mom still has to prod them along getting them up and ready for school, feeding them, making sure they have brushed their teeth and that they get out the door with all their homework, books and lunches or lunch money. It can be very stressful when you feel terrible! Of course, my husband fell into that get them ready for school category this week with his routine being upset having to rush around to get out the door much earlier than usual. Yesterday, in his rush he knocks his travel cup off the table onto the floor, of course the lid flies off and out spills all the COFFEE onto the carpet. I was at my worst at that point and thought oh great, especially since I had cleaned the carpet last week spending hours to get the entire upstairs done. Now, I have a nice cappuccino stain on the carpet, thankfully, my carpet is beige anyway so its just a shade off! I found a great site on how to remove coffee stains from carpet, I can only hope that my hard work pays off.
I might as well not stop here, as I whine and complain about my week with the flu! We have a 55 gallon aquarium with two Oscars and a plecto (algae eater) one Oscar was a tiger and the other an albino.

















We have had trouble with our tiger Oscar for a long time thinking he had a fungus. We had medicated and cleaned the tank repeatedly, trying to heal this poor fish. He died the other day and although its very sad that whatever it was that was making him sick took his life, I do feel better that he's not suffering. I worried so every time that we put medication in the tank that it might be causing him pain, you know stinging when you put something on a open wound. I did research and found out it wasn't a fungus but it was what is called hole in the head disease. Which is common with Oscars. Hind sight is 20/20 I wish I would of looked and researched prior to his death to find out about it. We did ask the pet store and everyone would recommend different things that we would try. Now, I feel so sad for the other Oscar in the tank alone missing his partner. They were put in the tank together the size of quarters and grew up to the big beautiful fish that they are together. Now the albino just seems so lonely. I am considering getting another fish for him, but then I'm afraid it will be a mutiny with adding a new fish to an established tank. I may just opt to spoil this one rotten and try to give him extra attention. I know you are saying this woman is crazy thinking this way about a fish. Well, first if you know me you know I am a crazy lady when it comes to animals. I love animals. But, really Oscars are very personable fish that have great personalities and can even learn to respond to a name and do tricks as well. If ever you have had an Oscar you know what I am talking about and you know that I'm not crazy for wanting to spoil our albino and give him extra attention.

Now that I am on the mend, I am feeling more like cooking I guess. I have been living off of graham crackers and a bit of soup. My husband made me pancakes the other night which actually tasted quite good, its been hard to eat and I've lost 4 pounds. Now, that IS the only thing good about the flu! Everything I put in my mouth has tasted horrible it seems. I found a great website that has information about foods for people that are sick that should have healing benefits. It's got information about a lot of different nutrition areas, diabetics, illness, and more. Check it out! There are 7 healing foods that help fight colds and flus and if you can get them down they are supposed to be helpful. I think they are more suited for that time before you hit the sofa! So far, a bit of dry toast, chicken noodle soup and graham crackers has been my mainstay and of course as much water as I can drink. It's so hard to drink a lot of water when you are sick even though it tastes so good when you do drink it, but I think it's because you sleep so much!

Here's a quickie that I find nurturing when sick:

FAST CREAM OF BROCCOLI SOUP
3 pkgs. frozen chopped broccoli 2 cans cream of celery soup 1 onion Butter 1 pt. light cream 2 c. milk Cook broccoli. Saute onion in butter. Mix broccoli, onion, and celery soup, then put into blender. Put back into pot and simmer, slowly adding milk and cream.

Mushroom Barley Soup Diabetic Friendly

(makes 6 servings)

1/2	ounce (14 g) dried porcini or shiitake mushrooms

1	cup (240 ml) boiling water

olive oil cooking spray

3	large cloves garlic, minced

2	medium onions chopped

1	rib celery, chopped

1	pound (480 g) button mushrooms, sliced thin

2	teaspoons (10 ml) light soy sauce

2	tablespoons (30 ml) dry sherry

3	cups (720 ml) 98% fat-free, no-salt-added canned beef broth

2	cups (480 ml) water

1/2	cup (75 g) medium pearl barley

3	carrots cut into coins

2	sprigs fresh thyme

1	sprig fresh rosemary

freshly ground pepper

1. In a small bowl, soak the dried mushrooms in the boiling water for about 20 minutes. Chop the mushrooms on a cutting board and reserve the liquid. Strain the liquid in a sieve lined with a paper towel and set aside.
2. Coat a heavy nonstick soup pot with cooking spray. Add the garlic, onion and celery. Cook, stirring often until the onion is translucent and soft. Add the mushrooms, soaked dried mushrooms, soy sauce, and sherry. Sauté until most of the liquid has evaporated. Add the broth, water, soaking liquid, barley, carrots, thyme and rosemary. Bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 1 hour. Season with pepper and serve.
3. Before serving, remove the herb sprigs. Ladle into warmed bowls. Serve immediately.

Per Serving:	132 calories (5% calories fat), 7 g protein, 1 g total fat (0.1 g saturated fat), 25 g carbohydrates, 6 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 162 mg sodium
Diabetic exchanges:	1 1/2 carbohydrate (1 bread/starch, 2 vegetable)

Hopefully, in a few days I will be back to good and ready to get back into my spring cleaning mode. That is still there in the back of my mind as I lay here watching my family make messes and know that as soon as I have my energy back I have a lot of work to do! :(

Spring Cleaning

I love spring cleaning I think it purges the drudgery of the winter and cleans the soul and the spirit. I am in the the mood to clean and have been preparing for my annual pierce cleaningapalooza the kids groan when they hear that word of course its my own made up word but oh how it has such meaning to those that live in my house!

My all time favorite website is organized home I have visited this site for years with their printable planner pages and forms. If there is one thing you should know about me me more than anything, is that I am a Virgo and a true Virgo at that!

Virgo Traits
Modest and shy
Meticulous and reliable
Practical and diligent
Intelligent and analytical

On the dark side....
Fussy and a worrier
Overcritical and harsh
Perfectionist and conservative

Well thats ME in a nutshell! I like things to be neat and clean and tidy and everything has a place, but after a long winter things get put here and put there and well by spring I'm going nuts and it all has to be sorted!

Having a home, working and raising children is a lot to undertake for someone that is as fussy as I am. But, I do make it work even though I must admit sometimes it drives me absolutely bonkers!
I think the first thing is that everyone must clean up after themselves even down to the smallest child. There is always something that needs to be put in its place. The next thing is to make sure that everyone does their fair share. I hear all the time it's not mine or I didn't do it. Well that doesn't work at my house and my kids, even though they try it, know it doesn't mean a thing to me when I am telling them to pick something up or put something away. It's very hard when most families are spoiled and they rely so much on the mom. So, Spring time is a renewal a rebirth and from the seasonal changes to the bulbs popping from their wintry sleep for another cycle so does the cleaning.

Another great website I have found is the 21 tips on keeping a simple home. Its got great ideas to use and keep as well.

Another favorite thing for me and my family in the spring is shopping. I'm a sucker for new towels, curtains and rugs. I love getting new fresh linens that brighten up the bedrooms and make you feel that you are blooming. Of course, by now the kids have out grown most of the clothes I bought for the first of the school year, so its usually time to replenish shorts and summer wear. My boys love Vans shoes its the only shoe that ALL of the males in my house will wear. It could be because they are all flat footed and they are comfortable but I get so frustrated when they won't wear a different brand. My favorite thing right now is keeping my eye on a few places I know will have great clearance sales, such as Goodys, Kohls and some other local places like The Gap and Old Navy My daughter is nine and she does love to shop. She is as frantic about shoes as she is clothes and thank heavens she likes payless shoes and Adidas. I can't leave out the fact that its time to get the pets ready for summer as well.

Flea Away - Dog Food Additive Recipe

• 1/4 Cup Cottage Cheese
• Vitamin E 1001 IU
• 1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1 Tbsp Bacon Grease

.Mix all the ingredients and add to food daily.

Flea control and frequent bathes for the dachshunds. And new toys too, smoochie has torn up all the doxies beds and they need new toys for all their outdoor playtime. And, its that time of year that I would worry, but I started them all on a new heart worm prevention that handles all worms as well including tapeworms. Now when they are outdoors eating dirt I don't panic! Our aquarium needs a full overhaul and new plants and hiding places for the fish. We have a bunny too, and of course he's eaten through his edible house and needs a new one and some new chew toys for a change of pace.

Another great thing about Spring is the rain! We sure do need it here in Georgia! The rain has been coming down all day today, and I am very thankful for that! The ground needs it and so do the lakes and rivers. I know the fish and birds and all animals are thankful for the water. It was sad to see the areas around where livestock had full ponds and then see them with just barely any water this past summer. I know I didn't get to really water my trees, shrubs and grass often once they set the restrictions. I do hope that it continues to rain so that we see a positive ending to the drought.