Safer For Your Home And Self

Written by Kristen Holt -

Category: Healthy Animals - Dogs - Diet
Written by Kristen Holt - Chief Editor for SmartLivingNews.com

TIME FOR A DOGGY DIET? THE PROBLEM OF CANINE OBESITY
As obesity continues to rise among people in western societies, veterinarians are noticing a trend in our pets – They too are gaining weight. Perhaps because we are too busy or because we are less active, our dogs are getting more food and less exercise. Unfortunately, our inability to say no when our pet pleads with us for more food can have painful and costly consequences over time. Canine obesity puts stress on their heart, other vital organs and joints as well as contributes to other diseases and/or injuries.

If you think your dog may be overweight, you can take some proactive measures that will bring him/her back to health. I have provided some healthy tips below that will help you get started in your dog’s diet and lifestyle change. While it will take some time and effort, the positive effects will be long lasting with a healthier, more energetic and longer-living canine companion!

(See also SmartLivingNews Archive: Cats/Dogs – Feeding Bowls: Nutrition for Cats & Dogs, May 03, 2005)

Healthy Tips:

Examine your dog’s ribcage, spine and tail. While different breeds have different characteristics, heavy fat over the ribs, along the spine and around the tail usually indicate a weight problem.
Find out what your breed’s ideal body weight should be. 10 – 15% above that weight is considered obese.
Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian who can assist you in determining a problem as well as recommend appropriate food and exercise changes.
Avoid putting your dog on a reduced-fat diet for long periods of time, then giving him/her meaty and/or “normal” dog food. The sudden switch can be too much and can lead to pancreatitis.
Set feeding times, monitor portions and don’t give your dog more food just because he/she begs or tries sniffing around.
Take your dog for a walk or spend time playing with him at least once or twice weekly.
Pay attention to the fat content in the dog food you buy, especially if you have a more sedentary dog (avoid foods with a fat content above 12-16%).
Separate your dog from the dinner table (especially when children are around).
Avoid feeding him/her processed human foods.
Provide food for your dog containing Omega fatty acids, vitamins (especially vitamin E) and calcium.

Is YOUR doggie healthy???
TriCountyMoms.com

Category: Healthy Gardens - Healthy Garden
Written by Tish Holt -

HEALTHY GARDENS
Spring is the time to get your garden ready for growth and life. Like most of us when days warm up, with eager anticipation we want to get our hands back into the dirt. However, we have to consider the shifting climate from rain to sun to cold weather again. The best thing is to look at the calendar and determine when the last frost is then go back six weeks from there and start your seedlings, begin pruning, survey your yard and the condition of the soil. Map out how you want to improve the landscape of your yard.

To make the necessary changes in your garden, you will have to look at gardening resource books to determine what needs to be planted first. Plan your borders, evaluate the condition of your soil, pull out your tools and begin the process. Assess any winter damage, prune accordingly, remove ugly and unsightly weeds.

Finally, enjoy the journey and the process. You will be glad you invested the time and skill.

Survey the Yard

Make note of tree limbs that should be removed or cabled, especially those that overhang structures. Hire an arborist to maintain large trees.
Cut down last year’s perennial foliage, and toss it into the compost pile.
Rake mulch from beds planted with bulbs before foliage appears, and refresh mulch in other planting areas after soil warms.
Check fences, steps, and pathways for disrepair caused by freezing and thawing.
If you live in an area that has snow, examine your plants that you planted last year and see how they survived the winter.
Prune Trees and Shrubs

Remove dead, damaged, and diseased branches from woody plants.
Thin and trim summer-blooming shrubs.
Prune cold-damaged wood after plants resume spring growth.
Prune spring-blooming shrubs and trees after flowering.
You may fertilize following the pruning process.
Preparing soil

As soon as it is dry enough to work without getting muddy, use a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil of an empty bed to a depth of about a foot.
Work in lots of organic matter, such as garden compost, chopped leaves, composted manure, ground bark, and sphagnum peat moss.
Add any necessary lime, sulfur, or other nutrients as indicated by a soil test. If your bed is already planted with perennials, spread a thick layer of compost or chopped leaves around plants.
Start Seeds

The methods are easy, and the amount of equipment involved depends on the desired results. Good seeds, quality soil, fluorescent lighting if you are starting indoors, or diffused lighting by a window sill.

Try all kinds of containers to see what works for you. Make sure they are clean and have good drainage. If you are using a fiber or peat pot, soak it well before adding soil. Dry fiber pots draw moisture away from the soil.

Some seeds require light to germinate while others prefer total darkness. Your seed packet should tell you what your seed’s requirements are. Once germinated, all seedlings need light to develop into strong, healthy plants. Supplement the natural light with florescent bulbs if necessary.
Most seeds germinate in anything that holds soil and drains well.
For maximum success, use a lightweight seed-starting mix that provides good air circulation and stays evenly moist.
Using heavy garden soil often causes seedlings to rot or fall victim to diseases.

www.southernliving.com
www.gardenguides.com

Happiness is: Doing what you love!
www.TriCountyMoms.com

Written by Tish Holt

SPRING CLEANING
After a long bout with winter, the sun keeps demanding we take notice and get a sneak peak of the days ahead. Like many of us, you want to enter into a fresh new season with fresh and clean start in our homes. If cleaning is not your idea of a good time, think of the benefits of giving yourself initially to the greater good of the home and those you live with. The good news is that with a thorough spring-cleaning, all of the fragrant crispness of springtime can be felt throughout the house. Moreover, with the following game plan to guide you, you will be able to clean up quickly and efficiently, with plenty of time left over to stop and smell the roses.

A well thought game plan is a great way to ensure better results. Frequently, we think that because we are so busy, we conclude that there is not enough time to plan this project out. That is a false perspective. If we take the time to think through some key elements of what it means to truly prepare the home for the year the rewards will be worth it all. Some things to think about are: whom do you want and even need to get involved in the process? Secondly, decide what is important or essential to the overall cleaning. When was the last time you tackled those mini-blinds? Or that closet in the family room, you know the “catch-all” closet that has so much stuff in it you can’t get to the bottom of the closet anymore? Lastly, just make the decision to DO IT until it is DONE. You will not regret it!

GETTING STARTED:

Set a date that is conducive for those you have decided to be a part of the process.
Make a list of the rooms you want to include.
Get all the people and the supplies you will need for the projects.
Pick some up-beat music.
Buy snacks, drinks and food for breaks and eating times.
WHAT TO DO :

The first rule of thumb is to start from the top down, and from the inside out.
Tackle the biggest areas that need the most cleaning first. Get it out of the way, so that as you come down the stretch of completion, it will not be overwhelming.
Begin with a 15 minute clean up. This will clear out the clutter, and give you room to do the actual spring clean up. Don’t worry about cleaning the floors in the 15 minute clean up. Do this later.
Dust down the ceiling and corners of walls. Determine if the walls need to be washed in dirty spots.
Spot wash, remembering air vents, doorknobs, doors, switch plates.
Dust and clean all art and photographs along the wall. Be careful when cleaning framed art and photographs. Never spray cleanser or water onto the frame. The liquid can seep behind the glass and damage the pictures. Instead, lightly wet a clean cloth to wipe the frame and glass.
Dust and clean the ceiling fan.
Take down draperies, curtains, and blinds to wash or have cleaned according to the manufacturer’s directions. Vacuum and clean windowsills and corners. Wash the insides and outsides of the windows. Take down and rinse off screens, before replacing.
Take the time to clean the doormats inside and outside your doorways. Wipe them down. Dust them off. Whatever needs to happen so that shoes do not transfer the dirt of your mat to your home?
Clean the carpets and rugs. If your carpets and rugs are heavily soiled, it may be time to call a professional. You can also rent cleaning machines to use. Be sure to ask for one with an upholstery attachment. If your carpets are only lightly, soiled vacuuming and spot treating may be all that is necessary.
Unplug and dust down all the electronics. Check cords for fraying and wear.
Take a disinfectant wipe, wipe down the sink, and tub. Our goal here is to get the sink and tub presentable. Casually wipe down the tub. You may need to spend more time on the sink.
Using glass cleaner or vinegar, wipe down the mirror. I like to put a little time into this task even when I am in a hurry. Guests will probably spend the most time examining themselves in your mirror. They will inevitably notice dinginess and streaks.
When clearing items from a room, place objects in a box or container rather than going back and forth with many small trips, it is more conducive making you loose precious time with so many trips.
Remove stains from upholstery or any other fabric related items.

http://www.familydigest.com/stories/spring_cleaning.cfm
http://housekeeping.about.com/cs/involvingfamily/a/tipsfamily.htm
04 Apr 2006 09:06:27 PM