Category Archives: Tid Bits

Fruits and Veggies Toxic?

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I have always had a dog in my life, 10 to be precise and the 4 beautiful golden retrievers I had the privilege of working with over the past few years,  I can’t imagine life without, at one point in my life we had 4 large breed dogs, two toddlers and a cat! Considered myself a little bit of a dog whisperer 😀 Until I learned a little more this past summer when a friend of mine heard I was feeding Bentley baby grapes as a summer snack!

I often share food with my dogs, especially fruits, Sims loves watermelon and Scamps love apple with peanut butter!  Bentley when he visits…well just about anything!  I did learn this past summer however that grapes are toxic to dogs!!   I had no idea and was sharing a handful with Bentley!!

 

spaghetti_dog

#1 Grapes

The fact that grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs is becoming common knowledge among pet owners, and for good reason! They are toxic. While some dogs can consume grapes and/or raisins with no symptoms, it’s simply just not worth the risk. This is because consuming grapes or raisins can actually lead to irreversible kidney damage.

#2 Onions and Garlic

While some argue there are benefits to feeding our dogs garlic, the Pet Poison Helpline warns that garlic is actually considered to be even more toxic than onions. Either way, both vegetables can cause serious problems in our dogs. Symptoms of onion or garlic toxicity include lethargy, elevated heart and respiratory rates, pale gums, and even collapse. Many recipes call for onion or garlic and some dog foods may have it added….I think this just means don’t feed your dog a whole garlic clove or wedge of onion…

#3 Cherries

There are many types of cherries, all of which are pretty popular snack foods. It’s no wonder why – they’re delicious! While the pulp of the fruit is safe for dogs to eat, the plant and pit are moderately toxic to our dogs, and can result in respiratory failure and death. In fact, the plants and pits contain cyanide, so it’s no that they are toxic. Be sure to keep your dog away from cherry plants, and feed only the pulp if you’re going to share with your pooch.

#4 Mushrooms

While only a small amount of mushroom species are toxic to our dogs, it’s important to make sure you aren’t feeding the wrong ones if you ever share them with your dog. If you’re unable to identify a mushroom species quickly, it’s imperative that you take your dog to the veterinarian immediately after consumption. Mushroom toxicity is known to be fatal in dogs, resulting from seizures, tremors, and organ failure.

#5 Currents

While you might be familiar with grapes and raisins being dangerously toxic to dogs, currants might catch you by surprise. But currants carry the same level of severe toxicity that grapes and raisins do. Even if you don’t notice sudden vomiting and diarrhea after your dog consumes currants, take your dog to the veterinarian. Just like the other small fruit, currants can cause severe renal failure.

#6 Raw & Green Potatoes

This might seem surprising, considering potatoes are often found in quality dog foods. But unripe, green, and raw potatoes are toxic to our dogs. In fact, consuming any of these varieties are toxic to humans as well! Symptoms of potato toxicity in dogs include nausea, vomiting, seizures and heart irregularities.

#7 Apricot

Like cherries, the seeds, leaves and stems of apricot plants are toxic to dogs. While they are able to consume the pulp of the fruit with no ill effects, caution should be taken if your dog has access to any other parts of the plant. These plants also contain cyanide, and can result in respiratory failure and death.

#8 Rhubarb

Although this vegetable can make a delicious pie for humans, it should never be given to our canine friends. The leaves and stems of rhubarb depletes the calcium levels in our dogs’ bodies. This can result in renal failure as well as other medical problems.

#9 Apple seeds

We have an apple tree and the dogs love to play with their “apple ball” I kick them around for them or we play catch…I’ll be a little more careful from now on…Another fruit that is generally safe for dogs, apples should be fed with care. Apple seeds contain cyanide, and are very toxic to our dogs. While dogs typically have to eat quite a bit of apple seeds in order to suffer the effects, it’s not unheard of. If you feed them as a snack, better to be safe than sorry and avoid feeding the core.

#10 Tomato Plants

While the actual red tomato can be beneficial to our dogs, the plant itself is quite toxic. The stems and leaves of the tomato plant, as well as the unripened fruit, can cause gastrointestinal upset in our dogs. While your pooch will need to consume quite a bit of the plant to be dangerous affected, it’s best to make sure your pup can’t get into your garden and eat these plants.

For a much more extensive list check out Pet Poison Helpline 

 

 

Hybrid Berry

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pineberry

 

The pineberry is a white strawberry with red seeds. Pineberries are actually the oldest strawberry variety.
Originally strawberries were white in South America and red in North America (known as scarlets).
Spontaneous crossings between the Chilean white strawberry and the North American scarlets produced Fragaria ananassa, which is the base material for all the common strawberry varieties .
Unfortunately, as they are a hybrid you cannot buy pineberry seeds to grow your own. 😦

Pineberries are much smaller than the red strawberries.  What makes the pineberry appearance so distinct is their white flesh which is studded with red seeds.
The aroma and flavour of pineberries is amazing – the striking berries have a pineapple flavour.
Make a fruit salad from strawberries, pineapple and pineberries.  Pineberries can need sweetening so try one and see if it could benefit from some added sweetness. If so why not make our passion fruit sauce to accompany your fruit salad? It is so easy and quick to make.

Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture reaches a rolling boil. Cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and cool. Take 4 passion fruits, scoop out the flesh and the seeds and add to the syrup once it’s cool. Simply drizzle the sauce over your fruit salad and garnish with some crushed mint leaves.

Drop them into glasses of champagne, or use to garnish cakes alongside strawberries. The contrast will look great.

Finding Beauty and Awesomeness.

Posted in My Life, Thoughts, Tid Bits by

This post may be a little sappy, crazy or a little bit of both
or
maybe  you’ll agree  😀

camping etc 029

I’ve always noticed the beauty in everything around me, but lately I seem to be paying more attention and appreciating more.  I am starting to appreciate my friends and family even more than I did before, finding joy in the glitter on the snow at night when the moon is full, the silence outside early in the morning….what’s going on?   😀

We’ve received a ton of snow this winter and everyone has just about had it including myself, it seems to snow everyday and when it’s not snowing its brutally cold.  I still find myself looking at snow drifts and the way the snow hangs off the trees and roofs.  Looking at the moon when I’m out with the dogs and seeing nothing but blue all around me…and I love it!!  I’m smiling more, even if I see a funny looking vegetable at the grocery store I find my self smiling.

I was out on Friday night and it was cold and blowy, I was driving the kids to the dance that’s held every month ..  The wind was so strong it was blowing the snow across the highway , swirling and jumping across the highway and in the headlights it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen, I mentioned it the girls sitting in that back seat, they all just kind of groaned and went back to chatting and listening to music..I even noticed how the wind was blowing flags on the lamp posts around  town!  And again mentioned it to the girls and was greeted with more groans 😀

The more I think about it its a little bit like the book The Book of Awesome finding the little simple things in life that make us happy like warm underwear out of the dryer .  😀

I’ll have to admit its beginning to drive me a little crazy, everywhere I look I find something to appreciate. 😀

The author of The Book of Awesome Neil Pasricha says this:  “It’s easy to forget the things that make us smile.  With a 24/7 news cycle reporting that the polar ice caps are melting, hurricanes are swirling in the seas, wars are heating up around the world, and the job market is in a deep freeze, it’s tempting to feel that world is falling apart.  But awesome thins are all around us – sometimes we just need someone to point them out.”  he goes on to say “it seems like maybe these tiny little moments make an awesome difference in many of our rushed, jam-packed lives.  Maybe we all love snow days, peeling an orange in one shot, and popping bubble wrap.”

I think Neil and I must have had similar mothers 😀

I do have my mother to thank for this, growing up she’d always say oh look at this, look at that, look how the waves are coming up on shore, look up close at the dew on the grass blah blah blah 😀  When I was younger I’d say things like “yes mum, that flower is pretty” ” yes I see how pretty the moon is” and on and on, she was and still is forever taking photos, when we are camping or going for walks, out for dinner there is my mum, oh stop right there, oh that’s beautiful, I’ve got to take a picture.  😀

Mum finds beauty and awesomeness in everything too, she even sees the beauty in a sushi roll 😀

Sushi_rolls_by_lava_tomato

lava-tomato.deviantart.com

I now have a much greater appreciation for everything around me.  To see the beauty and the awesomeness in the little things.

Thank you Mum for showing me how to see the beauty in everyday things and people it is the best gift you’ve ever given me.

xoxoxo

Superstitious

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Superstitous

The day has come…..

We are taking down the Christmas trees and all the Christmas decorations.

I remember when I was younger my Father said that if you left your Christmas decorations up any longer than 12 days after Christmas you were in for bad luck.  So I’m getting it done one day early just to be safe 😀 😀

Growing up I remember hearing all sorts of superstitions.  Here is just a short list which I still abide by today…..don’t want to take any chances 😀

 

These are just a few of the many superstitions which I openly admit to believing in….:D

Hope you have an awesome Sunday!!!!

≈Laugh loudly, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly≈

Happy New Year!!!

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flower banner

May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your windowpane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Happy New Year

≈Laugh loudly, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly≈

The glorious onion!

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We had a wonderful visit with my brother and his family yesterday!!!!  Lots of great food and fantastic company! And of course WINE! 😀

Somehow we got onto the conversation of the variety of home remedies that have been around for hundreds of years for colds, I mentioned I’d read something about placing sliced onions in the “sick room” and my #1 sister-in-law said that her mother would put onion slices in her socks and at the end of the bed when she was sick and how it had really worked!

Did I mention she’s my only sister-in-law? 😀 😀 😀

I’ve had a stuffy nose for a couple of days,  so when we came home last night I sliced up some onion and put it on my night stand, it did smell pretty bad and I think the clothes in the closet may have an odor today….but I woke up this morning with a clear nose, it is starting to get a little stuffy again as my morning goes on, I’ll give it a few more nights to really give it a chance.

Last year I posted a recipe for Lemon Honey Tea Mix which also works wonders, as soon as I feel a scratchy throat or stuffed up nose I have a mug or two of this tea and within a day or two I’m feeling much better, it’s the “go to” tea when anyone in the house starts to get sick, and soon the onions will be too!

lemon tea

Here is the story I found online:

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu.  Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy.  When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then).  The doctor couldn’t believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and placed it under the microscope.  She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the virus, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

onion rings 1

The idea that onions may ward off disease through their potent therapeutic properties extends back thousands of years. Ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine revered onions for their congestion-relieving properties. The Ancient Greeks rubbed onions on sore muscles and the Native Americans used them to ward off the common cold and flu. In fact, the World Health Organization has even recognized the onion for its ability to help relieve flu symptoms including coughs, congestion, respiratory infections and bronchitis

Some traditions have even recommended placing sliced onions beside the bed at night, or even just around the house, to help prevent yours from getting the flu. The theory was that the raw onion would absorb germs in the air, preventing them from entering the body. Even though, it must be noted, that one of the most common ways to get the flu is by contact with contaminated surfaces or people. So remember to wash your hands, especially before eating or scratching your eyes.

In an early 1900′s Los Angeles Times article, the following suggestion was offered to the public:

      “In a sickroom you cannot have a better disinfectant than the onion. It has a wonderful capacity for absorbing germs. A dish of sliced onions placed in a sickroom will draw away the disease; they must be removed as soon as they lose their odor and become discolored, and be replaced by fresh ones.”

Onions have many benefits. They are high in sulfuric compounds such as thiosulfinates, sulfoxides, and other odorous cysteine sulfoxides. These compounds give onions their pungent flavor and are what make you cry when cutting them. Research shows that the thiosulfinates in onions are responsible for their potent properties. Thiosulfinates have even been shown to kill off salmonella and E. coli. Sulfuric compounds also play a role in cancer and heart disease prevention, and therefore act as a great immune-boosting food for general disease prevention.

Onions are also extremely high in the antioxidant quercetin. Quercetin helps the body fight free-radicals, and boosts the immune response. A recent study from the British Journal of Nutrition showed that individuals who ate foods high in quercetin (onion soup was used in the study), had better immune responses and less likelihood for cardiovascular disease [2].

The Delmar’s Integrative Herb Guide [3] states that, “Onions help break up or clear mucous and other substances that block the immune system from doing its work.”

This season, if you feel a cold or flu coming on, make yourself a big pot of soup using this simple recipe.

Onion Soup Recipe:

  • 3 large organic yellow onions
  • 3 organic cloves of garlic
  • 1/4 cup of fresh, finely-chopped organic oregano
  • 4 cups of purified or distilled water
  • Add Himalayan salt, to your taste.

Preparation: Chop the onions and garlic into cubes. Bring water to a boil and add onions, garlic, and oregano. Let simmer for 15 minutes, or until you notice that the onions are translucent and soft. Drink the hot soup and allow the body temperature to rise enough to induce mild sweating.

www.globalhealingcenter.com

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