GBBC 2017

What a storm we had blow thru yesterday, Friday. It lasted until early Saturday morning. Neighbors tree branches landed on our roof, but luckily no damage was done.

Counting the birds was basically nil on Friday with only a few brave cocky Scrub Jays doing a quick fly through, then taking off when they discovered how wet the seed was. Can't blame them. They were lucky there was even any seed left in the feeders. The wind was horrid - the electricity flickered all day Friday threatening to go out. The weather had said it was to be stormy until Monday or Tuesday - pretty disappointing for the Bird Count.

But when I got up this morning the sun was out and the wind had died down. I didn't recognize my yard with all the branches that had fallen and other things toppled over! I went out and picked up quickly, dumped out the wet seed and refilled the feeders.  There's a lot of nests being built right now so any extra food will help the birds energy wise to keep them healthy.

I came back in for a while so they could check things out, then went back out and sat to watch. A few came around I think the majority are still getting their bearings after yesterday! I did manage to snap a few pics. I'll be going out again later, hopefully the sun stays out and it warms up a bit!

The Eurasian Collared Doves are nesting in the Podocarpus behind the waterfall.

It's nice and dense and they love it.

They took turns coming out today. 

 

Almost caught a Scrub Jay leaving the platform feeder
 as I dropped my phone, 
yeh, I'm a klutz.
There's always tomorrow :)

Mannequin Makeover

I've always wanted a mannequin...

let's face it,

if you don't already have one you want one too!

When my friend Dawn heard,

the next time she visited

she brought an old adult one

for me that she had.

Thank you so much Dawn!!

I've had it for a while and using it regularly.

I've been wanting the adult to have more definition

as she is a shell.

She had a broken leg that I taped for stabilization.

I had an idea.

Didn't know if it would work,

but felt it was worth a try 

I have a pile of filling bags from garage sales.

I always pick them up when I see them

mainly because they are usually 10-50 cents.

I decided to start with an old blanket.

I shaped it to fit inside her shell and taped it in place.

Then I used the filling to fill in her legs, arms, and neck.

It was all secured with tape to hold in in place.

 

Once secured, I covered the back with tape.

 

Trimmed around the edges...

and decoupaged the whole thing with and old vintage sewing pattern I had.

I really like the different shades from where the pieces over lap,

makes it look older to me.

Now I can use it to display my latest jewelry....

or an old dress I Love....

(I know it needs to be ironed, I was in a hurry!)

Or both!

 

I am linking this to Carol at The Polka Dot Closet

for her Mannequin Dress form party.

Pop over and join the fun!

Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats ~ Review

I was really anxious to try Pure Salmon Oil by Zesty Paws.

It arrived well packaged, no leakage - YAY!

It comes with a lid that can be pushed down on one side to pop open on the other side and also with a pump.

Since the dosage is measured in ''pumps'', 

I chose to use the pump 

which went on with ease.

We currently have 3 senior cats,

 the youngest being 12 and an amputee.

Angel - 15 yo

Mama - 13 yo

Bynx - 12 yo (prior to amputation)

As soon as I read it aids in "proper joint function, 

heart health and skin/coat condition, as well as enhancing the immune system" and that it was a liquid it was a must try.

They all have arthritis to some degree, with Mama being the worst. We have tried pills in the past, only to be met with the usual fun times of giving cats pills ~ first chasing each one (seems they have a sixth sense and no matter what you do they know when a pill is coming), then comes the gagging, coughing it up, foaming at the mouth. etc. They hated it and we hated giving it to them. So we stopped. We didn't feel it was healthy mentally to keep "harassing'' them in this manner. 

I know how fish oil helps with my joints,

 I would hope it would do the same for them.

Being older their fur isn't quite what it used to be.
Their stiff joints makes it difficult in some places to
 reach to groom themselves. 

Pure Salmon Oil would help and 
that would be a great added bonus.

Also being good for their heart health makes this a product 
cats and dogs would both benefit from.



Taste Test

If a picture can tell 1,000 words, need I say more?

Angel scarfed it down like there was no tomorrow!

"May I have more please sir?"

Then we have Bynx.

Another 1,000 word picture.

She got close enough to smell it,

and acted like she was offended..

not only looked away...

but actually turned her back!

If looks could kill 

Well, you can't please everyone.
It wasn't manly for her anyway.
Mama has arthritis the worst.
The cats love to climb the ladder in the garage,
when we let them in, and play up in the storage area.
Sometimes Mama runs down the ladder instead of taking it slowly and falls. She scares us to death. I think we all can relate ~ in our minds we still think we can do what we did when we were younger, but our body's tell us different.

Mama loved it and cleaned up her food lickety split!

Even after the food was gone she must have 

stayed for 20 mins. licking her dish.

So glad, she really needs this for her joints. 

I decided to see what the dogs thought of the Pure Salmon Oil.

I absolutely love the pump. 

It makes dispensing so easy. 

Katie had her whole head in her dish! 

I'd say she liked loved it!

She licked and licked her bowl 

even after her food was gone.

Bella same as Katie!

  

And Tora makes 3

3 paws up!

If you're wondering why Tora has large rocks in her dish, there is a very, very good reason. We lost our Great Dane to bloat. Something I thought I would be able to control.

I wasn't.

All 3 of our dogs eat like they haven't been fed in a month. Believe me they get fed on time twice a day as recommended by our vet.

All the dogs we have ever had have been rescues. Who knows what they have been through. They aren't territorial regarding their food, they just inhale it. I will never lose another dog to bloat. Yes, I know large dogs are the ones most prone to it, but eating as fast as they all do can't be good. The 2 smaller ones have ''maze'' type bowls they have to chase their food around in to get it, thus slowing them down. We happened to catch a clearance and got the bowls for $1 each. Tora being a larger dog requires a larger ''maze'' type bowl, unfortunately they are very expensive. Our vet recommended placing the large rocks in her bowl - it acts similarly and slows her down. ♥

But I digress, all three dogs loved the Pure Salmon Oil.

Katie is in her senior years and no doubt will benefit from all the healthy goodness as will the other two.

BUT PLEASE NOTE

 Bynx, Mama and Katie are under our Vets care for health issues, 

so we need to run this by her first before continuing. 

It's always a good idea to consult your vet prior to adding any supplement to your pets diet, just as you would prior to adding any to your own diet.

*~*~*~*~ Fast forward 20 days ~*~*~*~* 

Angel has continued on the Pure Salmon Oil using as directed. Her coat has begun to look more shiny, the dullness seems to be fading. Overall, she appears healthier. Angel is also starting to play like she did when she was a kitten, it really surprised us. It's so worth it to see her feeling and looking better.

Tora and Bella have also continued on the Pure Salmon Oil. Their coats are getting back their sheen, very healthy looking. 
It's nice to see how much healthier they are looking. I can only imagine more improvement with longer use. 

I'm anxious to get our vet's take on this for Mama, Bynx, and Katie.
I'll post an update at a later date.

~*~*~*~*Update~*~*~*~
Our vet said it's a GO!
All 5, Bynx when possible, are continuing 
on the Salmon Oil, looking and acting better!

Like I said earlier, I love the pump for easy dispensing. 

No measuring spoons needed! No hassle!
I was concerned because after opening this product needs to be refrigerated. I was hoping the oil didn't get thick and have trouble coming out of the pump. No problem at all, very relieved and impressed :)

The bottle is big, and will last a long time even with all our pets.

I think this product is high quality and a great value.

I came upon a very comprehensive article recently ~
 The Little Things That Separate and 
Unite Cat Owners vs Dog Owners

It's a very interesting read, I think you'll find it

that way too.

Zesty Paw's Description

Zesty Paws’ Pet Salmon Oil is an all-natural dietary supplement comprised of wild Alaskan salmon, which is jam-packed with Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to deliver premium nourishment to dogs and cats of all sizes. The EPA and DHA sourced from the Omega-3 in our specialized supplement delivers vital nutrients to support proper joint function, heart health and skin/coat condition, as well as enhancing the immune system to make your four-legged friend healthier, happier and zestier for life.

You can purchase Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats by Zesty Paws here.

Dream Pinning

       I've been doing something I haven't done in a long time....dream.

Movies like, Mama Mia and Under the Tuscan Sun, tempt us with their scenery.

I have never thought about traveling.......just a scaredy cat, I guess.

Of course, the lack of money would always be a major factor too.

But it has been fun to imagine myself in these gorgeous places.

The quaint streets, the shores, the people, the buildings

seem to beckon at times.

Thanks to Pinterest I can indulge myself and dream......

Portugal

(I'm all Portuguese, so this just maybe be curiosity ;))

 

Tuscany

I'm joining The Baxtron Life for Pinning