Life changing events & guessing game last clue

This very handsome guy (if I do say so myself) is my baby! If you ask me what my biggest life accomplishment has been, I would tell you...Cody.

My "baby" will be turning 20 this year so I'll no longer be able to say that I have a teenager. That makes me feel old! He was born on the 26th day of the month on my 26th birthday...how lucky is that? Not a great way to spend my birthday, but surely the best birthday present I have ever received.

My current life changing event is that Cody will be moving back home for the summer and he arrives tomorrow. He has been away for 2 years (but back for visits) studying acting. You may just see his mug on the big screen in the future (we hope). Their class has their last outing today...they'll be performing monologues in front of agents at a theatre in Toronto.

Cody & I have had some good conversations over the past few months as he struggles with where his future lies. I'm sure we'll have a few more good conversations over the summer. His struggle is...will he follow his dream to become an actor (which will require living life with very little money as he struggles to make it) or will he go back to university in the fall to work towards a teaching degree? My last face to face conversation with him was in March when we went to see his class perform their year end production. Over breakfast, he told me he was planning to go to school. I talked to him about following his dream. Now he's thinking more about that. Should I have done that? I don't know. When I told a friend of mine about the conversation, she couldn't believe it. I think she thought I was being an irresponsible parent. How could I give my son advice about dreams and not be practical about things? All I can do is have conversations with him about both options. I'm not telling Cody what to do with his life. But I do want him to consider pursuing his dreams. I think so many of us get "practical" and stifle our true selves. I want him to be true to himself and what he wants. Is that being a bad parent? I hope not. What do you think?

Now, back to my little guessing game. The comments & emails I've received have been very close to the right answer. Think about the Canadian flag and you'll have the answer. I'll post another photo tomorrow as well as the winner of my little draw. Leave a comment or send me an email if you want your name included in the draw to receive a little something from me.

Lots of fundraising events

Thanks to all of you who came out to the 2nd Annual K9 Spring Fling....a fund raiser for Bullies In Need. This is a photo of me and my booth. A big thank you to Julie from Chilly Dogs. Julie let me use some of her display racks for the day. They worked out great for me, so I'll have to purchase some of my own before my next fundraiser event.

At the top left of the photo, you can see my wooden display sign. This was one of the best investments I ever made for display purposes...I've had it for 9 years and it still looks great.

This is Noelle. She was adopted from the Bullies In Need group by Kim. Isn't she a cutie? She is taking a rest after all the excitement at the fundraiser yesterday.


For all you folks in the Ottawa area, don't forget about the BARK walk next Sunday. The Barking Biscuit has proudly supplied some prizes for event participants. For full details about this exciting fundraiser, check out the BARK website.
One of my favourite photographers will be there...URBAN dog photog Sue Bird will be taking 5 x 7 photos for all participants who want one. There will be lots of fun & free things available for all participants. This is BARK's biggest fundraiser of the year. Hope you can help them out!


There's also an auction you should check out...The Greyhound Supporter’s Spring Auction in support of Dr. Couto's visit to Ottawa on Saturday May 5th is now live on line. Bids must be received by Friday, May 4th at 10:00PM. Visit their web site for more information and to bid.

Thank you Angelique & a couple of things

I won a little contest sponsored by Angelique and look at the wonderful gifts I received! A business card holder (how did she know I had stolen my husband's biz card holder and didn't give it back? John thanks you Angelique! Now he can have his own holder back) My new biz card holder has paw prints (how appropriate!) on the outside and cheerful little flowers on the inside. And aren't these little flower magnets so cute? Best of all, she included 3 note cards featuring her own photography. Peonies & calla lillies are 2 of my favourites and these tulips are so bright and cheery! I love everything Angelique..thanks!
Angelique is quite the busy lady. You should check out her Snow Angel Designs etsy shop. My favourite item is a woobie. What's a woobie? Check out her blog to find out. I can see these used for adults undergoing chemotherapy too. My sister was always cold when she went through her chemo treatments. A woobie would have been great for her to have...for warmth and comfort too.

Now I'm off to prepare for tomorrow's fundraiser. I'll be selling my biscuits tomorrow at the K9 Spring Fling in Ottawa (at the Forever Friends Dog Training School, Unit 6, 17 Grenfell Crescent from 10 till 4). This is a fundraiser for Bullies In Need. There's going to be lots of fun stuff going on so come out & enjoy. Friendly on leash dogs are welcome. Natalie Heath will take a professional 5 x 7 portrait of your dog for a $10 donation. You can buy beautiful blankets, dog beds, and more...all hand made by volunteers. And I'll be there with all my dog biscuits & fund raising button pins. Come by & say hello.

Finally, make sure you leave a comment or email me before May 1st about my little contest.
Here is another hint: Beebee Mod is close to the answer!

Guessing game & we're going batty!

First of all...a mini challenge for you. Do you know what the photo above is? If you think you know, leave a comment or send me an email. All answers (right or wrong) received by May 1st will be put into a draw, and one lucky person will receive a little something in the mail from me. (I'll contact you for your mailing address if you're the winner...don't worry, I don't share confidential info)


Late last fall we were at a country auction and we bought a bat house. If anyone had told me in my prior "city girl" life that I would be encouraging bats to come around, I would have laughed! But I'm a true country girl now I guess. According to my internet searches, bat houses should be at least 12 feet in the air (yes, that's 12 feet) and should be in an open clearing. So we mounted our bat house in our "meadow". Our property is only 1 1/2 acres, but we have named several zones. (we have "the meadow", "the forest", "the bench", "Dori's garden", etc) If you look very, very closely you can see a bench in the background (there are 2 naked trees...one with a cement face mounted on it, and the bench is between the 2 trees). This is where we walk to at the end of every day (well, sometimes in the middle of winter I skip the tradition). It helps me decompress after the bad days (I have them now and then) or just be happy on the good days. The dogs follow us out to the bench and run around. When they get tired of playing, we head back to the house and start thinking about dinner. Very uncomplicated and comforting routine.

PAWS postcards & upcoming events

This is our new PAWS for Charity postcard... front and back. These pics don't do the cards justice. They are fab! The colours really pop. Our postcards were designed by URBAN dog photog Sue Bird, who also did the photos. She has done an awesome job for us yet again!
You can find some of our PAWS items at a couple of upcoming shows:
Sue will be at the Pet Lover's Expo in Merrickville on Saturday April 28th. (Merrickville Community Centre) She'll have some of our Crunch for a Cure biscuits (as well as some other flavours) with her.
I'll be at the K9 Spring Fling in Ottawa on Sat April 28th (Unit 6, 17 Grenfell Cres Ottawa from 10 am to 4 pm) with my full range of biscuits & fund raising button pins.

Let me know what you think

These little round things on the left are our new catnip labels. We sell organic catnip in round tins, and in mini mason jars. We've used the same label for years(see right), and are just about out of them so I thought it was time to have a new design.

So...which one to choose? The photos are about the actual size but they look a little blurry here because of the low resolution.

I have my favourite, but I'm interested to know what you think. Please leave a comment or send me an email and let me know your favourite by number.

Thanks!

P.S. We're still looking for your cat photos for our new cat product.

Some days are luckier than others

Four years ago today was a very lucky day. My husband and I were in this van. This photo is the end result of having a transport truck jack knife and land on top of us. John was rushed to the local hospital, and then transferred by ambulance to the trauma unit of one of the Ottawa hospitals. It was during the SARS epidemic, so I wasn't allowed into the trauma unit to see him for the first 24 hours. He spent 3 days in the hospital, and the following months recuperating at home. The only way he could sleep was in a recliner chair in our living room.

Why was it a very lucky day?

We survived, and I still have my best friend, my partner, and the love of my life. Each day is a gift now, and we try our best to focus on the good things in life.

Take your day and do something good. Pass it on.

It's Daffodil Month

It's halfway through Daffodil Month at The Canadian Cancer Society. The four of us at PAWS for Charity decided to donate to The Canadian Cancer Society (Breast Cancer Research) since we have customers all over the country, and this charity has a national scope.
Here's a reminder of what the four of us are doing:
Julie Kelly at Chilly Dogs has designed a beautiful fleece Chilly Sweater. "Paws for Charity" is stitched in black across the shoulders. For a closer view of these beautiful sweaters, click here.
Char Harding at Around the Hounds has several gorgeous collars available. You really must go to her website to see them...they're stunning!
URBAN dog photog Sue Bird is working on a perPETtual calendar...it will be available soon! This calendar will be awesome (I've had a sneak preview) and will have 2 years. The great thing about a perpetual calendar is that you don't have to wait until January to start using it...you can use it for 2 full years no matter when you start. Sue did the photography for our Crunch for a Cure biscuit packages, as well as many of our other biscuit tags.
At The Barking Biscuit, we have our Crunch for a Cure dog biscuits. Our biscuits are available in many retail stores, and also on our website.
And, lastly we have our PAWS for Charity button pins. They are available by sending an email, you can order them from The Barking Biscuit, or head down to Posh Paws in Manotick to buy some. (or if you're out in BC...take a drive to Barkside Pets in Fernie).
Please help us raise funds in the fight against breast cancer.

Greyhound talk

This is Fable...photo by Jayne Field. Fable is featured on our new Veggie Wedgies packages. (thanks for sending us the "greyt" photo Jayne!)

More greyhound news...

Join the Greyhound Supporters of the NCR and enjoy an evening of dining and learning with Dr. Guillermo Couto, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and professor at the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences of the Ohio State University. Not only is Dr. Couto one of the world’s leading veterinary experts in oncology and hematology, he is a greyhound enthusiast who regularly provides veterinary advice and guidance to greyhound owners all around the world.
Dr. Couto will talk about cancer in dogs, signs to watch for, ways to treat cancer, which cancers may be more prevalent, current research into the possibility that cancer may be genetically predisposed, and more. Dr. Couto will also talk about various cancer-related research projects and ongoing cancer treatments at the Ohio State University (OSU). Included in his talk will be information about OSU’s Greyhound Health and Wellness Program - its purpose and benefits, and how greyhound owners in the National Capital Region can get involved.

Dr. Couto became involved in Greyhound Rescue over 15 years ago when he adopted his first greyhound. Since then, Dr. Couto has become involved in assisting the SOS Galgos and Scooby Medina (Spanish Greyhound Rescue Groups). Dr. Couto visits Spain once a year, where he assists local Galgos rescue groups with a number of tasks related to health care in rescued hounds.
This event is proudly sponsored by the Greyhound Supporters of the National Capital Region. Anyone with a dog, or who is interested in learning more about canine cancer is welcome to attend.
Tickets are $40.00 per person and are available by contacting Laura Simmermon at 613-823-6500 or via email at info@gsncr.ca. Visit their web site for more information about this event as it becomes available.
When: May 5, 2007 5:30pm
Dinner tickets: $40.00 each
Where: Capones at the Nepean Sportsplex 1701 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario

New deadline for our cool cat photo search

I just kicked our cat Phantom out of our bed...again...he just loves driving me crazy and crawling under the covers during the day.

Anyway, dealing with him reminded me that another post was due about our cat photo search.

We're looking for a unique & fun cat photo to go on a tag for a new product I'm developing. In my previous post, I had said the deadline was May 31st...but I'm changing it! We need your photos to come in a little sooner than that. New deadline is April 30th so get those cameras going!

Unlike our dog photo search (we've printed over 30 of your photos on our tags), we're going to pick just one lucky cat photo. Our new cat product will of course be all natural and handmade...just like our dog biscuits. So far, it looks like we're going to use only 2 ingredients...both organic.

Looking for cool cats!

Just call her Houdini

This is Mulligan...her new name is Houdini.

We moved "to the country" over eight years ago. The very first thing we did was to fence our yard...all one and a half acres of it.
At the time, we had our Siberian Husky Bailey, and our Giant Schnauzer Cinder. After we spent countless hours fencing the whole property (thankfully, with the help of Graeme & Kelly)...just as we were putting the "final touches" on the fencing system...and we were congratulating ourselves on what a fine job we did...we looked up and saw our Bailey looking at us from the other side of the fence! Life's like that, I guess. Bailey was quite clever at getting UNDER the fence until time was on our side, and the long grasses and wildflowers grew up through the fence and grounded it.

Skip ahead almost nine years...and we no longer have our lovely Bailey. But we do have our eight year old Mulligan. And she has recently discovered that she can get OVER the fence. (time and time again). We have a lot more neighbours now...a recent neighbourhood expansion over the last 12 months...and seems she'd like to go out and say hello.

So...we spent many, many hours today stringing fence wire along the top of the fence. Time will tell if our efforts were worthwhile.

One thing I know for sure....our Giant Schnauzer Cinder isn't going UNDER or OVER the fence!

B.A.R.K. Woof And Wags Walkathon

6th Annual“Woof and Wags” Walkathon
The Barking Biscuit has proudly supplied some prizes for event participants. For full details about this exciting fundraiser, check out the BARK website.
WHEN: Sunday May 6, 2007
WHERE: Arboretum (Central Experimental Farm; detailed map on pledge form)
Time: Registration 8:00am (coffee and donuts will be served)
Walk: 9:00am- anyone not collecting pledges can pay a$20 registration fee. Barbecue and Social to follow walk - free drinks, burgers, and dogs (hot dogs that is!)
BIG PRIZES for the 10 people collecting the most money; dozens of valuable draw prizes.
One of my favourite photographers will be there...URBAN dog photog Sue Bird will be taking 5 x 7 photos for all participants who want one.
There will be lots of fun & free things available for all participants. This is BARK's biggest fundraiser of the year. Hope you can help them out!

Back to the lighter side of life

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my life changed a month or so ago when we finally got high speed out here in the country. Now that I don't have to wait 2 minutes for every page to load, I've been busy whipping around the internet, checking out blogs, discovering artists, and lots of fun & creative stuff.
This all inspired me to set up a little shop of my own on Etsy.com. (a place where only hand made things are sold) So far, I've added only 4 little watercolor paintings but we'll see where it goes. This is the first painting I did in March when the end of winter blahs were getting me down. I needed some color in my life so I painted with reds and purples. If you check out etsy, beware! There are lots of amazing artists there.
The funny thing is, when you're visiting different places, you never know where you're going to end up. I am in awe of all the creative people in the world. I think it was through Etsy that I discovered the Pay-It-Forward I was involved in with Beebee Mod. See my previous post "In Search of Good Peoples". My PIF went to Snow Angel Designs. You'll have to check her blog...she'll be carrying on the PIF soon.
So, today's thought is...take some time to do the things you enjoy!

On a more serious note

In light of the continuing avalanche of announcements withdrawing pet products from the market because of contaminated ingredients (now some dog biscuits have been added to the growing list), it is important to remind pet owners that there are many quality pet foods and treats made with human quality ingredients.
I was recently at a "girls night out" dinner, and we started discussing life expectencies of animals. It has become apparent to me that many of our beloved pets in fact have a shorter life span now than they did many years ago. This, despite the huge advances in veterinary care over the years.
Yes, dogs and cats can undergo treatments for cancer and other diseases. But why is this becoming such a common practice? Why are so many pets falling victim to so-called human diseases? One can think of the common ills of our society...pollution, chemicals, pesticides, immunizations. Commercial pet foods also comes to mind.
Commercial pet foods came to being about 80 years ago. The pet food industry in North America is self-regulated. In Canada, the only regulation is the Labelling Act, which states that the label must contain the name and contact information of the company, whether the product is made for a dog or a cat, and the weight of the product. There are no other standards.
It becomes apparent, then, that the quality of pet food is dependant on the integrity of the companies producing the food. The words "whole chicken" on an ingredient list bring to mind human quality chicken pieces, when in fact it may just mean ground up chicken feathers, beaks, and claws. (after all, they are part of the "whole chicken") What our minds lead us to believe when viewing the television commercials of dogs running through a sun drenched field toward a meaty bowl of food, and the reality of what is actually in that bowl of food, are often different things.
There are many options available to the consumer.
One option is to make our own dog or cat food with natural ingredients. There are many books available on this subject. This is the option that we have chosen with our own dogs, and surprisingly, it takes little time and the costs are quite comparable to purchasing commercial dog foods. One of our dogs is a Giant Schnauzer, who came to us as a puppy with an endless variety of health problems. There was no recourse with the breeder, who declared bankruptcy and moved to another province.
We switched to a preparing our own natural food when she was 2 years old, and she became a different dog. Over the years, we took the results for granted and forgot what an effect the natural diet had on her health. A few years ago, our family took a two week vacation, and switched to commercial dog food to make it easier for our 16 year old son to look after the dogs. When we arrived back home after 2 weeks away, our lovely girl could no longer run and was in pain at the end of every day. Within one week of switching back to her natural diet, she was again running and playing like a puppy. Never again will we underestimate the power of natural foods.
There are many foods (both fresh and frozen) produced locally that will allow the consumer to feed their dogs natural diets without having to forsake the time to prepare it themselves.
Small, local companies using high-end ingredients in small batches produce many of these treats and foods. The ongoing recalls of pet foods and treats is a good reminder of both the value of purchasing locally and the importance of quality. The old maxims are still valid; "you get what you pay for" and "you are what you eat".

Thank you, thank you very much

A big "thank you" to Tina from Peppermaster.com.
Yesterday was an interesting day (I have them from time to time), and was filled with a variety of things. One of my missions was to visit a craft show in Ottawa to scope out some booth layouts. I am in the process of putting together an application for a Christmas craft fair. One of the things I have to include is photos of "my booth". Well, I've participated in lots of informal shows in the past few years, but never anything on a big scale. So, I toured a show in Ottawa yesterday, and stopped and talked to Tina from Peppermaster. I explained who I was and what I was doing, gave her my card, and asked if could take a couple of photos of her booth. I think she thought I was nuts, but she graciously allowed me to snap a few photos. If you're a chilihead, you must check out her website! Brooks Pepperfire Foods is a Canadian manufacturer of Extreme heat Global Fusion cooking and grilling sauces. Spice it up! Yum.

K9 Spring Fling

This is Sherman. His photo was taken by Natalie Heath at last year's K9 Spring Fling.

Please join us for The 2nd Annual K9 Spring Fling!
Where: Forever Friends Dog Training School
17 Grenfell Crescent, Unit 6, Ottawa
When: Saturday April 28th from 10am to 4pm
Who Benefits: Bullies In Need dog rescue

Natalie Heath will take a professional 5 x 7 portrait of your dog for a $10 donation.
You can buy beautiful blankets, dog beds, and more...all hand made by volunteers.
Browse the vendors' booths for unique gifts and pet supplies.
And...The Barking Biscuit will be there selling our dog biscuits and fund raising button pins!
Please come by and say hello. All friendly, leashed dogs are welcome.
For more information email Kim or Bullies In Need.

Spring Fever #2

Taken today with Mulligan (our mixed breed adopted from BARK) and Giant Schnauzer Cinder. Notice anything different?

Button Pins #2 - for charity

I'm going to use our little 1 inch button pins as fundraisers for my favourite charities. I'll be selling them when I'm out & about at various events, but you can order them here anytime.

It's easy! Pick the color(s) you want, and let me know which of my 4 favourite charities you want me to donate the proceeds to. I'll donate $1 from each button to charity.

Colors available: orange, golden yellow, light blue, dark pink, olive green, kelly green, and apple green (not shown).
Buttons are $3 each (includes applicable taxes and shipping). If you're ordering more than one button there is a shipping discount.
Here are the charities to choose from:
B.A.R.K. - an all breed rescue organization
Cancer Sucks (but life does not have to) - making hats for cancer patients
Canines with a Cause - training dogs to help people with disabilities (other than blindness)
N.C.C.P.D. - dedicated to the education of dog owners, this group will attain it's charitable status later this year

If you want a pin, email me with your choices. I'll email you with payment instructions.
It's easy!