Oye! Yesterday was a pretty stressful day at work for me. So glad it is over now! On my way home from work I stopped at my stress relief place – the greenhouse!
I have a little group of container plants that I am growing -
And I picked up some new cayenne pepper plants, this one even has a pepper growing already! The main reason for this was so I can make some hot sauce!
I told my husband I should be banned from anywhere that sells anything green … I just can’t help myself – I love it all!
I just had to get a columbine – Colorado’s state flower! I think it is so gorgeous!
In the last couple years, I have really come to love flowers. I used to think they had no purpose, and I would only grow plants that would produce food .. but in the last couple years, I just have to have some flowers – there are so many pretty ones out there!
When I got home from the greenhouse, I decided to make some kumquat marmalade! I had gotten some kumquat’s (first time I had seen them ever!!), and they were starting to go bad, so I knew I wanted to make some marmalade! I used this recipe – yum!
Truth – on our honeymoon, we went to The Bake Shop in Girdwood, Alaska. They had the BEST EVER marmalade – I think it was a combo of orange, lemon and lime. It was so good we went back there 2 days in a row, and I ate so much marmalade. Ever since then, I have wanted to recreate that marmalade! Someday I will!
This last week, I changed up my dog’s diet. I have talked about it before, but my pup has a really weak stomach. Chihuahua’s in general tend to have digestive problems, but Sammy just has all kinds of tummy problems! I have been researching the raw diet, and I have been slowly introducing some herbs and vitamins into his diet. Last weekend, there was one day when he was so sick – he gets really bad gas (at least that is what I am assuming it is), and he won’t eat for over 24 hours – he just sleeps. Then finally he will start throwing up whatever is left in his stomach. About 36 or so hours later, he will be fine. We haven’t been able to pin down exactly what it is that bothers him – it seems so random. I have been using this book as my inspiration.
I decided to start feeding him raw right then. Obviously something we are doing isn’t working for him! I am not feeding him entirely 100% raw — Raw feeding is supposed to be closer to what animals would eat in the wild, and is just raw meat – nothing else. I did give him a chicken drumstick to see what he would do — and he loved it!!!
The only problem with it was that he didn’t want to chew on the bone (which would be good for his teeth) – he wanted to hide it. He is such a horder! He loves to hid little pieces of food and come out with it a few weeks later. He thinks he is so smart! He wanted to take the bone inside the house and hid it somewhere but we wouldn’t let him! lol! So we need to figure out a system so he knows he can’t take a bone anywhere he wants … Silly pup.
I still am going to keep him gluten free – since we don’t even have any gluten flours in the house, I don’t see any reason to add that back in his diet – but I am feeding some grains (oatmeal right now). I made enough food to last him about a month, and then I am going to re-evaluate how he is doing. The food consists of oatmeal, raw ground turkey, veggies, and some vitamins.
So far, so good! We really haven’t had many problems with him not eating – or going on strike and refusing to eat this food. It may be me, but it seems his fur is a little softer already! An animals fur can be a good indication of what is going on inside the body – when their digestion is working so hard to process their food, it can’t focus on things like giving nutrients to the skin, so a softer coat is an early indication of good things happening.
I am also starting to research the healing properties of herbs and bringing some herbs and homeopathic treatments into his life – as well as my own! I was pretty sick Sunday night from something I ate – so Sammy and I are in this together! He always sticks by me when I am not feeling good – I know he can tell when I am not 100%, and I stick by him!! It is just so terrible to see him so sick and not be able to do anything about it. I will keep you posted!
And that is the exciting happenings in my life right now!
What exciting is happening in your life?
Ohh, be careful–I’ve heard that chicken bones are really bad for dogs–as they splinter (unlike non-bird animal bones) and can do internal damage. But otherwise a switch to raw sounds like a great idea, it can’t hurt to try and see how he reacts.
And I’ve totally banned myself from the garden plants section of any store/farmer’s market. I just want to grow it all!
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haha, I know that is how I am at the greenhouse too. From what I have read, raw bones don’t splinter like cooked ones too. However, at this point, he is more interested in playing with the bones and not eating them, so I don’t think I have to worry ….
I’m glad Sammy’s doing better. I don’t think I could ever feed my dog raw meat since I’m a vegetarian; luckily she’s okay on the processed stuff.
You know, in the book I’m reading, they actually have a section on vegetarian dogs! At this point, I just want to feed him what makes him feel good!
aww! I’m glad he is doing better. He is so cute! I’m sorry you had a stressful day at work. I hope it is better today!
Wish you were here relaxing with me!
Brittany (Delights and Delectables) recently posted..Beach Life
So you’ve discovered the restorative powers of the greenhouse? Ha! Sorry that you had a stressful day at work, but at least you got some plants out of it! You’re such a good mom to Sammy. Hope he knows what a lucky little pup he is.
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Awww….sweet little Sammy!!!!! Glad he’s feeling better. What a lucky pup to have such a great Mom!!!! Have a great day Jane, scratches behind the ear to Sammy from me.
I will do that Roz, thanks!
I liked your greenhouse, little but still calming. Isn’t it?
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Very calming!
I have a lot of friends who feed raw and have great success with it. pureed pumpkin and full fat yogurt are also really good for soothing upset dog tummies. good luck, it is so hard when they can’t tell us what is bothering them!
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That is awesome to hear Rhonda, thank you! I have heard so many good things about it, and actually in a past life, I fed my 2 cats raw, and the vet couldn’t believe how healthy they were! So it isn’t totally new to me. It is so weird, because again today he is refusing to eat. The cycle seems to be he doesn’t eat, then his tummy starts starts making noises (gas, I’m assuming …), then he starts throwing up, then he will be better. I just don’t want him to be sick!
My little 4 pound Zia has a weak stomach also. We tried all kinds of things and now I’m making her food. I boil organize brown rice, add diced sweet potatoes, ground organic lamb, plain organic yogurt, and some cottage cheese. It’s worked like a charm.
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Thank you!! That is so interesting to me. I seriously don’t know what his damage is, because just a couple days ago he stopped eating for about 48 hours. And now he will only eat if we HAND spoon him. Spoiled much?
Our dog loves to hide her bones too. She got one in the house, my husband found it under his pillow when he went to bed.
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hahaha nice!!!