HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

I have received a lot of mail about eco friendly watches. There was an overwhelmingly positive response last time I discussed solar powered and battery free watches. Another type of watch that falls into this category are Kinetic watches. They recharge as you turn and move your wrist, and create their own electricity through your movement causing the quartz to oscillate.

There is an indicator that also states how much stored energy is available. When there is no detected movement for 72 hours, the watch “sleeps.”  There is a manual power saver mode where you an accomplish this and not wait the 72 hours.  It is still keeping time during this period, though the hands are not moving to save power. Once movement is again detected, the watch advances to the correct time.  If the watch in this mode, it will keep measuring time for four years.   It can be awakened by shaking it a few times. The time will be accurate within one second per month.

This would be such a hit if you were to buy one and donate it to a fundraiser drawing for an environmental group or animal rescue. Right now, it seems that Seiko only offers this type of watch for men, and hasn’t introduced many ladies styles.  I am sure that will change.  For now, it would be the perfect gift for the man in your life.  I would imagine that some of the styles would be suitable for ladies, except for dressy occasions.  It would definitely call for an activity where utility is the key.

One would have to live under a rock to not know that Christmas, Hannukkah, and other heavy duty gift giving occasions.  Some folks choose to buy jewelry for someone special.  Some gift givers want to purchase from someone local to support a local business or want to purchase something that is sustainable.  They do not want jewelry that is being made for pennies or don’t want to be in danger of purchasing blood diamonds.

One jeweler maker that is also easy to purchase from is John Hardy.  An example of cufflinks using lava rock, pictured at left. His work is accessible on sites such as JR Dunn Jewelers.  In the late 90s, John and his wife/business partner Cynthia purchased land in Bali.  They fell in love with the island and to learned the silversmithing techniques of the area.  Since the land they purchased had produced rice, they were concerned about the taking land that was used for food production.

In response, the Hardys did two things.  Their workshop and design studio, as well as additional buildings, are constructed using the local materials.  The river rock, bamboo and mud for adobe bricks all come from Bali.  The company also sits on an organic farm that they developed.  Cows and goats are humanely raised.  Sugar cane, Bali rice and more are grown to provide healthy lunches to the more than 700 employees that work at John Hardy. It sure beats the vending machines and the cold sandwiches at places I have worked over the years.

If you are looking to support a company that cares about the health and well being of their employees, supplies an area with a significant number of jobs, you can feel good about purchasing gifts from John Hardy.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of GoViral. All opinions are 100% mine.

Getting a pet for someone as a Christmas present is never the right move. Often, the giver does this to be a hero to the recipient as a huge gesture. Other times, an individual puts a pet on their wish list without thoroughly examining the suitability of the pet. After the holidays, or more so in the six months following the holidays, shelters are packed with Christmas presents. They arrive either immediately as the recipient is not allowed to have a pet where they live, or in the next few months when the pet is past the tiny and helpless stage and starts to roam around.

Here is a pet that you can really give someone without there being any consequences for the pet. MyFelix is an adorable java based feline that is ready to wiggle his way into your heart. This is a preview, where you can pet Felix. You can share him via email as well. When you download him, you will also be able to teach him tricks. He might even roam around your desktop. Occasionally, he may have a message for you. There may be contests you can enter in or special offers. You will not be asked to register MyFelix or provide your contact info when you download him, which is an added bonus.

To download MyFelix, you need Microsoft® Windows XP or higher. I can preview him on a Mac, but he is not Mac compatible right now. Hopefully a Mac OS version will be developed. MyFelix will have to just hang out on my PC. I’ll go over there and visit him once in awhile. Shh…don’t tell Mac.

There are many hotels and motels that are pet friendly. However, just because they allow pets to hang out does not mean it is a home like situation. Some hotels allow you to leave pets in your room while you get a quick bite to eat, but others do not, and require you to be with the pet at all times. Of course, if you are just crashing for the night, it is easy, but if you are staying for a number of days, it becomes a challenge if there is now way to cook in the room and there aren’t any outdoor cafes where you can eat with your pet. Of course, in the winter time, that would be a little chilly.

That being so, luxury vacation rentals seem even more out of the question. However, I stumbled across Masterpiecerentals.com. Not all of the accommodations are mansions, some are more modest, but they are all private residences or condos. You can rent a house out for a night or for a few weeks with no worry about cleaning staff coming in and out of the room and potentially stressing your pet. Not all properties allow pets, but a very fair amount of them do. While in some cases, it is more expensive than a night at a hotel, when you stay for a week and way the expenses you would have dining out, it is obtainable. Also, many of them can sleep more than two people. Just doing a spot check, I saw that many slept six. Some large homes and cabins sleep up to 16. There is a great potential to go with a few family members and save a lot of money.

For this Thanksgiving and Christmas, if there are numerous relatives out of town, or if no one lives in the same city, what about all meeting at another location and having a few days of togetherness? Maybe its not for everyone, but there would be room. Of course, you would have to see how many bedrooms the arrangement had to determine if there were privacy or it was a case of fold out sofas.

Whatever you decide, I think renting a home would be a great way to include the pets during the holidays across the miles.

My neighbors are very concerned about recycling. Not only is there recycle bin full at the end of the week, but they are always looking for ways to reuse some of those bottles and papers a few times before they hit the bin. I have found that many people are in the neighborhood are the same way. I am far from radical, but what I notice the neighbors overlook is a few old fashioned ways to trim a few dollars off of the utility bills, such as conserving water. I am not talking about brushing your teeth dry, but water use for gardening and the kiddie pool.

Rain barrels are something that never crossed my mind until I lived somewhere that did not have running water for several days. The well was on an an electric pump, and when the power went out in the area, water was lost, too. I had filled the bathtub with water days prior to flush the toilet with, and there was still a water bottle or two at the store. Even so, just the suggestion of being without makes one thirsty. As Samuel Taylor Coleridge penned: “Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.” The whole situation made me wonder how I could use a rain barrel to somehow benefit a bit more from the rainy season.

While rain barrel wouldn’t provide me with delicately filtered water to serve in champagne flutes, it has many important uses. I could water the lawn and garden with water I saved. Those tasks involve many gallons at time, so catching rain water would cut my water bill during the spring and summer. During a storm, I could use the water to flush the toilets. Washing the boys is something else I could use the water for.  The dogs usually are bathed in the stationary tub.  I could fill up a container from the rain barrel and use it to rinse them.  Of course, they are spoiled and like warm water, but I am sure they wouldn’t mind a tepid rinse, as long as they were compensated with being wrapped in a fluffy towel and held awhile.

Have you considered using a rain barrel?  Do you already use one?  Tell me what you think!

(Corey Hart says, “I wear my sunglasses at night.” If you really really wanted to, I guess you could do so too, but don’t forget night vision goggles unless you want to trip.)

It’s time to think about the OpticsPlanet Brilliance Awards.  Starting last year with plans to occur annually, OpticsPlanet asks for your product nominations. You can vote for your favorite product in categories such as Night Vision goggles and flashlights. I have used many a flash light stumbling around in the woods at night, and Night Vision items are perfect for spotting wildlife. I had the experience of coming to the aid of an injured animal at night, and it really helped.

The awards just don’t go to the products, but to you, too. There is a chance to win a $500 gift card. There will also be five $50 gift cards awarded as second place prizes. You don’t have to write an essay or win a race to win. It is a sweepstakes that is randomly drawn, so everyone has an equal chance. The voting and entering ends November 1st. Entries will not be accepted after that time, so don’t let the raccoon make off with all the prizes.  

If you have ever been near a television or radio, you probably have heard of 1-800-PetMeds.  I was surprised to find that they also have a Pet Meds.  I thought that it was just going to be hawking their product.  I was pleasantly surprised that it is just chalk full of helpful information.  There is good information on relevant supplements, etcetera, but what I found the most pertinent is the explanations it gives of allergies or different conditions in plain English. Of course, it does not replace a vet visit, but sometime your dog or cat will wake up on the wrong side of the bed or get a sniffle just like you are I, and it does not warrant a trip to the emergency vet.

One suggestion is for a congested cat, in the article “Why Is My Cat Constantly Sneezing”:

“Placing the cat in a humidified environment such as a bathroom with a hot steamy shower running, or in a crate with a humidifier blowing into it, are ways to help loosen thick mucous and nasal secretions. I have also found that saline nose drops following a 10-15 minute stay in a humidified environment can encourage sneezing/coughing and needed expectoration of mucous and discharge so that our felines can breathe more easily.”

If that doesn’t work, then it could be something more.  Of course, it is better to be safe than sorry, but many folks have found that $500 later they find that they just have a cat with a slight cold, versus The Plague.  Also, if your cat was already diagnosed by a vet with a cold, it can also help them recover easier.  I never knew this and am going to try it next time my dog gets a winter sniffle or drip.

There is also an article about the importance of heartworm preventative.   People take this for granted, thinking they live in a cooler climate and don’t have it.  Because of this belief, heartworm is cropping up again in different places.  One may say it has to do with a dog that has been relocated, but if the existing dogs were protected, it wouldn’t spread.

The one thing I am not sure I agree with is the spay and neuter philosophy.   The vet, Dr. Michael Dym, VMD, does highlight the importance of spaying and neutering in regards to pet overpopulation.   However, he does state that perhaps the best case scenario, in his opinion, is waiting until a dog is sexually mature, perhaps waiting until the dog is a year old in favor of the effect on the endocrine system.  Dr. Dym state:

“My own feeling after looking at both sides of the issue, is that if an individual animal guardian can be a responsible pet owner, in not letting an intact pet off leash or the chance to roam, is that if a guardian decides to neuter or spay their dog that it be done at one year of age, rather than the prior earlier recommendations and what is done in shelter medicine and animals there. As with many things in life, there is no one correct answer to this important health care decision.”

I do not believe that this is a good practice to promote en masse to everyone.  When a male dog smells a female in heat, he may not obey you like usual, will pull the leash and even drag you down or slip out of the collar to get to her.   In a female dog, if she is spayed before her first heat, her risk of uterine and breast cancer becomes nil, ditto pyometria.  Also, if she is allowed to go into heat, she attracts other dogs to your property.  Dogs that come to your property attracted to her pheromones who are normally “nice” dogs may exhibit aggressive behavior towards you if blocked from her.  In fact, when you look at the statistics for dog attacks, the more fatal or serious instances had an unneutered male dog involved.

There is a slightly higher risk of bone cancer in neutered dogs, the article states, but bone cancer is rare.  The risk of unwanted litters, uterine cancer, prostate cancer, and roaming and being hit by a car while trying to get to a female is much greater.   It is almost a guarantee rather than a needle in a haystack occurrence. I have seen so much heartache and dogs dying way too young from these issues and have only heard of ONE dog that had bone cancer, in my experience as a rescuer, networker, and dog owner, who has met thousands of people. Therefore, I do not believe that the argument holds water. Also, there are many people who think because they can afford the dog food that it makes them responsible, yet their dog is running around the neighborhood, rather than being on top of their dog.

He does recommend Omega 3 Fatty acids for endocrine system balance.   My guys get fish oil capsules and they absolutely love them.  The gels are chewable and they think they are getting a real special treat.

Have you read the PetMed blog?  If so, what do you think?  All in all, I think that there is a lot of valuable info.  I do hope, for the sake of further balance, that the blog someday takes a firm spay/neuter stance.  I realize that they don’t want the blog to ruffle feathers, and be educated, but slightly neutral.  However, I would hope that sometime they would educate people that female dogs can get pregnant as early as 6-8 months.  old (one of my dogs was rescued in a very pregnant state at that age).  That may give a bigger wake up call to pet owners who think that their dog can’t possible get accidentally pregnant.

I once was at an outdoor fair, and someone was demonstrating Crystal Singing Bowls at a booth. They had them for sale in a variety of sizes. My dogs were with me at the time, and one totally ignored it, but they made my older dog sort of cock his ear. I wonder what that sounds like to dogs. I suppose it depends on what note it emits, as different bowls hit a different note. You take something called a striker and you can run it along the upper rim of the bowl, making a continuous note.  Sometimes people also hit them on the side like a gong.

Mostly, the people who were buying them that day taught yoga classes. I wonder if I bought one, would it suddenly put my dogs into a relaxed state or would it annoy them? Would the hear other noises that we could not? I know that rescue remedy, leaving the radio on, and just talking softly to them are what some people do to calm new dogs, but I never heard of anyone trying this.

Instead of paying four hundred dollars, SilverSkyImports.com has them starting at just under $160.  Of course, you also need to buy a striker, but you can buy a number of them for under $10 each.

If you end up trying it, let me know how it goes. I would be very curious to find out.

Awhile back, I saw some plaques, like the one at left, at a horse stable. They were emblazoned with the horse’s name on it.  Underneath, there was a hook mounted for a halter and lead.  I thought it lended a nice touch and made the stable look more high end.   Little did I know that some of these horses were rescue horses and when they went home, their plaque went with them to their new barn or stable.   I thought this was very nice, sort of sending a rescued dog home with a nice, brand new squeak toy and collar.

I looked around online and found out they are Whitehall Address Plaques.  In this case, of course, they were not used for addresses. They are a bit more than just getting stick on letters, of course, but they definitely hold up to the weather a lot better!  I found that they are running just under $50.00 each on sale.  How did a rescue afford this?  You may say that money is a drop in the bucket compared to what it costs to feed and care for a horse.  The horses had sponsors and there was actually an individually who purchased them and donated them when a new set of hooves came into the barn.

I looked at other Whitehall Address Plaques  that were different styles, but of the same quality and attractiveness online.  The horse stable really got me thinking. Some dog rescues that I know of have been lucky enough to have a small building that has been donated to them.  Sometimes they sell them to raise funds, but often they use them for a facility.  It usually comes with the territory that they need a little fixing up.   Occasionally, volunteers get together and bring it up to code, to make it workable.  However, many groups neglect the little details to make their buildings welcoming.

When you first open, there are many people who will look at handmade signs and decide that you might last six months.  When you take the time to make the front entry inviting, not so ironically, people tend to want to enter!  It doesn’t matter what the rest of the resue community thinks about the appearance, the people that matter are the folks that are going to come in adopt, support you, and spread the word in the community.  It is important to be respected by other groups for your care and methods, but they are not the ones who are going to be your donor base and provide the homes.

Of course, you don’t want to blow your whole budget on a plaque. However, there are many ways around this, just like seeking someone who might want to purchase them for you.  One might say it takes money away from the actual cause, but there are people who have special interests and their “thing” is to donate to decorate as they may be an interior designer themselves, or would be interested in purchasing items and then helping arrange them and put them in for something enjoyable to do.

By the way, as you probably have figured, the Whitehall Addess Plaque, at left, really isn’t just a quarter plaque.  They only make whole plaques.  I was just getting carried away with design software.  It is just like the kind of donor I talked about above.  They may not have buckets of money, or may never individually sponsor a pet in the program, but they will spend a lot of extra time on the skill they enjoy the most.

There are many socially conscious gifts you can give, from fair trade coffee, sustainable fibers, and items that benefit rescues. C’elle has a different idea in mind.

There is a lot of controversy these days over stem cell research. C’elle offers the solution of preserving a woman’s menstrual blood for potential future use, and cryogenically freezing it. Research has shown that those stem cells can potentially be used to fight disease in her, a sibling, or a child if a match.  There are other therapies that have not yet been tapped yet involving the cells, but the anticipation is similar for other therapies using someone’s own adult stem cells without any invasive procedures. You can read more about the benefits on their newly redesigned website (celle.com).

Of course, this is a very sensitive subject and you should probably not randomly gift someone with a gift certificate unless you know it is something that they are interested in doing.   You may want to talk it over first before you order now for someone and determine their feelings and interest in the subject.

What do you think about it?  Would this encourage people to use animal research less?  Do you think that it is a legitimate investment or a waste of money? Whatever your answer, perhaps we will see women turning away from birth control that guarantees them to have only one period a year, and finding greater that the benefit far outweighs the inconvenience.

The summer equipment was all put away this week.  The hay bine and rakes have been blown off and they are ready to be wedged in the back corner of the barn.  Of course, unless the hay shoots up again for a third cutting.  My Favorite Guy has a hay field that he farms, and I started out the season just making due without seeing him during those activities, but now I have learned a few things and stand on a moving hay wagon with him.   It is good, clean fun and great exercise for the back and upper body.  In other words, I no longer “throw like a girl,” at least for now.

Now that everything has been put away, it is time to think about next summer.  To buy garden accessories doesn’t happen because of the fast pace, or it happens sort of slap dash.  Now, I can look through websites and catalogs at my leisure to decide what I might like to get for him.   Garden wind chimes are something that are pretty to listen to in the summer, and also give one an idea of the wind speed. Of course, a flag might be better, as garden wind chimes tinkle at the slightest breeze, but have you ever heard chimes really making a racket? That is what I am talking about. When you hear them speed up, you know a good breeze is blowing through to make some activities more bearable, and some just plain moved to the back burner.

I saw some copper chimes, like the horse chime at left, that really appealed to me.  Copper is something that can be left out, and it looks even better when the weather gets to it.  Most copper items have already been aged or painted to look weathered, but the addition of a bit more green or brown achieved through wind and rain just enhances their appeal.   There will be no need to bring them in and clean them every few weeks.  Really nice garden wind chimes like this can’t be found in the $10 bin, but will run you at least in the $50-60 range.  That is an excellent value when you think of something that will last for years.

One of the ways to be able to position a chime anywhere is a Shepherd’s Hook.  You can attach it to a fence post, as shown.    It will keep it away from an overhang, so you can see it a bit more easily from another window, and also get an idea what the wind is like away from the house.   I just recommend not to put it on the inside of the fence where there are horses, even though it is so tempting to buy that horse chime and stick it among the real horses.

They probably will leave it alone, but I know how Murphy’s Law operates all too well.  In fact, I know a horse that will go after golf carts and four wheelers just to try to lick the salt off of them.   I don’t think she would try to eat a chime, but a licking from a mare would definitely leave them in a state of affairs that they would need to be rescued from.  I did say I liked a nice patina on a chime, but that is definitely not what I was talking about!

Whether you are buying items to use for the fall, or are thinking about next season, there are many beautiful choices to be had.

I am helping my parents fix up their home. It used to be a red house with cedar shingles and a dark red roof, but now it has blue siding. The red phase was before they bought the house. The home was built by the family who owned a local cider mill, so perhaps they felt their home should match. I just don’t know what my parents would have done should they have had to replace shingles on the side of the house on a yearly basis. I guess “quaint” comes with a price.

There have been renovations of barns and farm houses, many to either historical accuracy or to retrofit for a farm rescue. I know it is nice to have an authentic look for people who might come by to be touristy or volunteer, but don’t underestimate the allure of vinyl shutters. Afterall, they don’t rot away, and your horses won’t crib on them either.

What is cribbing? A bored horse can learn the vice from other horses of grabbing on to a fence or anything protruding on a barn, grab it with their teeth and suck air. It usually means that there are bites taken out of the wood as well, as chewing wood is a related habit. Why do they do this? Some say that gulping air like this is a horse’s version of getting “high.” There are many things you can do to curb this, such as a special mask over their muzzle, making the wood taste very bad, or of course, replacing your shutters, trim, and some fences with vinyl. Just like a cat can get the pleasure of stretching his/her claws on wood or fabric but vinyl or fiberglass is a killjoy, it is the same for horses. They really can’t sink their teeth into it.

So, he next time you are fixing up the place, I am not implying that you don’t provide your horses with enough attention and mental stimulation, but switching materials will sure help a new horse that comes into your home/barn that cribs from spreading the idea to others.

I am sure horse tongues and teeth is not covered under the warranty most household shutters come with, but most people who are installing them near animals don’t have as much concern for that as they do for the health of their pets.

One non profit that you may not have heard of is the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation. EB is an inherited, genetic condition that causes blisters in the skin, that can cover up to 75% of the body. Since the mid 1990s, Nu skin Enterprises has contributed more than $15 million for research to end this condition. Many companies have charitable giving in their corporate plan, but few give directly to causes that directly relate to their product. Nu Skin, which also has Big Planet and Pharmanex under its umbrella, does.

I am always interested in pointing out cosmetic and beauty companies that do not use animal testing, nor hire others to do so. On the “Hot Topics” page of the Nu Skin site, it states:

According to the FDA, it is not possible at this time to entirely abandon animal testing and still assure human health and safety.

As pragmatic as I am, I still don’t believe an animal should suffer just so we can have another mascara or wrinkle cream. Nu Skin has made a pledge to not use animal testing and is on many lists of health and beauty companies that agree.    If you are looking to expand your scope in looking for beauty products, you feel comfortable about keeping Nu Skin on your list for face and hair products.