Blog Archives

Inspector Gumby

6/26/2020

August 26th is National Dog Day but Gumby and I want to celebrate a little early. He and I have been spending a lot of time together quarantining at home during the Covid-19 pandemic. We want to post something celebrating dogs today on June 26th so we can get the message out early. We both know the value of dogs - although he barks fiercely at them, particularly the Saint Bernard who lives across the street and is about 10 times his size. Gumby has a little man's complex. .

Dogs are truly the "companions of our souls" and they are with us in good times and bad. They bring us so much joy and love us so deeply. I love all animals but I particularly love dogs and have had at least one dog in my life all of my life. It hurts me to see how many dogs are not given the love that they need and deserve and I can hardly go to a shelter because I want to take them all home with me. Fortunately we have a wonderful shelter close by, the Rancho Coastal Humane Society and they win awards for how well their shelter is managed and how well they take care of their animals. They are a No Kill shelter and my last two fur babies have come from there. Inspector Gumby is my baby now.

This is a portrait of Gumby with his "Doggles" on, getting ready to go for a car ride where he likes to put his head out the window if we let him. I thought that maybe he would not like these little protective goggles but he seems to think that he is special in them. They also make aviator caps to protect a dog's ears as well so they won't develop hematomas from the wind. I have dealt with that and it is not pleasant for you or your fur baby

Go to the National Dog Day site to find an adorable, sweet video about the bond between people and their dog partners. They also list there the top reasons that people stated that they wanted a dog: to provide companionship and comfort, to find joy in life, to learn to be more loving, to look forward to coming home to a dog's love, and to learn to be more patient.

In a national survey posted on the site, the top 10 dog loving states are: California, New York, Washington, Tennessee, Florida, Massachusetts, Texas, Missouri, Ohio and Arizona. But there are many other dog loving locals as well. And there is a dog for everyone - big dogs, little dogs, rowdy dogs, quiet dogs - and crazy dogs with lots of personality like Gumby. He loves to walk and dance on his hind legs for treats and entertains us with his tricks

National Make A Dog's Day is another opportunity on October 22nd to give all dogs the best day of their lives. The day not only encourages visits to shelters, but it is also a reminder to animal lovers everywhere to adopt instead of shop for a new pet. But every day of the year, not just on August 26 or October 22, we can show fur babies how much we appreciate them. Adopt a dog if you can; if you can't adopt, then perhaps you can foster, and if you can't do either, at least be kind and loving to the dogs who come into or through your life. You will receive so much in return

0 Comments

Hibiscus Tea

6/11/2020

0 Comments

Each time I blog I try to incorporate informative, entertaining and positive messages about things that I think are interesting. I want to celebrate the wonderful gifts our earth offers and the interconnection of people, animals and nature on a simple level that children can understand and enjoy....and in some way, no matter our physical age, we are all children of this world.

I am constantly awed by what is provided that we may not appreciate. I love my garden and its flowers and two flowers that I particularly love are the Hibiscus that blooms in the sun and the Nasturtium that blooms in the shade. I have enjoyed learning that they are both edible as are many other garden flowers such as Marigolds, Pansies, Honeysuckle, Daylillies, and even the lowly Dandelion, which many people see as a yard pest.

Today I want to talk about a tea that can be made from the beautiful Hibiscus flower - a tea that is fun for children to make and nutritious for them to consume. Hibiscus flowers can grow as large as 6 inches in diameter and they come in a wide array of colors including red, white, yellow and various shades of pink. Not only beautiful, the Hibiscus is also nutritious and healthy for us. Hibiscus tea is easy and fun to make and can be beneficial for children in that it's high in antioxidants and particularly in vitamin C. It is a good immune support herb but needs to be enjoyed in moderation as it can act as a mild laxative if consumed in quantity.

Most commonly, the tea is made from the red Hibiscus flower and it produces a bright red tea but since I only have yellow Hibiscus, I checked to make sure that it can be made from the yellow Hibiscus as well - and it can be. All Hibiscus tea produces a rather sour taste however, so it can be good to add a little sweet honey or maple syrup to your brew. To make a tea, here is a simple recipe that children will enjoy.

Directions:
Pick 2 cups of fresh Hibiscus flowers (or 1/2cup Dried Hibiscus flowers if you prefer to dry them). Remove the calyx or green part at the base of the flower to which the stem is attached. You can also remove the pistil which is the thin thread like tube in the middle of the flower which has pollen attached to it (or you can choose to keep it). Bring the Hibiscus flowers and 8 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Once the water starts boiling, switch off the flame and cover the pot. At this point, you can add other herbs or add ins such as basil, lemon grass or mint if you want. Let the tea steep for 15-20 minutes. Mix in a little honey and lime juice to taste. Strain the tea water off and serve warm or chill it in the refrigerator for a few hours and enjoy.

It's simple; it's
fun and it's
fresh from
your own
"tea garden".

0 Comments