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After a long and dreary winter, springtime is finally here! One of the first celebrations of the season is Easter–which means chocolate and lilies and other health risks for pets.
Make pet safety part of your planning process when you organize gatherings, decorate for holidays and have special treats in the house. Here are a few of the most dangerous hazards for dogs and cats.
Flowers and Plants
Lilies and daffodils are two of the most popular springtime flowers. Both are toxic if ingested by cats.
Easter Grass
Lining baskets with brightly colored Easter grass is as much a tradition as colored eggs, but the strands can cause major medical problems if they get into an animal’s digestive track. Avoid problems by lining baskets with tissue paper instead. (Hint: Ditto for Christmas tinsel!)
Chocolate
Be careful if hiding treats is part of your Easter fun. Dogs have keen sniffers and may find hidden chocolate treats. It is the theobromine and caffeine in chocolate that’s dangerous to pets. The severity of an animal’s reaction to consuming chocolate depends on how much and what type. Play it safe by keeping chocolate put up where dogs and cats can’t get into it.
Xylitol
This artificial sweetener, used in candy and baked goods, can have adverse effects on humans when eaten in excess amounts. It only takes a small quantity to harm dogs.
Warning Signs That Your Pet May Need Veterinary Care
Lethargy
Vomiting
Trembling
Diarrhea
Straining to defecate
Painful/distended abdomen
Dehydration
Loss of appetite
Remember that holidays and celebrations are fun for you, but they may be disruptive for your pet. If you are traveling or having company, plan ahead so your pet remains safe, comfortable and well behaved.
Happy Springtime!
Traveling with your pet
Happy New Year! Are you ready for a new start? I know I am. The New Year always brings a sense of optimism. There’s something both healing and invigorating about a clean slate ~ putting the past to rest and facing unlimited potential.
Do you make New Year resolutions? Even if you don’t, here are some ideas for achieving your reading and/or writing goals.
Resolutions for Readers
Share your love of reading. Donate or volunteer with literacy organizations, your local library, student tutoring programs, schools or organizations that support at-risk youth. You can donate time, books or financial support.
Try a book in a different genre than you usually read.
Send fan mail to a favorite author.
Keep a reading log. Write down the titles you read and rate them (1 star being the worst/didn’t finish to 5 stars, the best). Make a note about which books you’d like to re-read or which books were especially meaningful.
Visit and explore your local library.
Resolutions for Writers
Make time to write every day (start with 15 minutes).
Document your daily word count.
Learn more about the business of writing.
Try writing in a new genre, even if it’s “just for fun.”
Every month, read a new book about the craft of writing.
Share your knowledge and experience. Mentor a new writer, give a workshop, speak at a conference.
Connect with other writers.
What are your writing or reading goals for 2018?
As an author and reader, books have always been a part of my Christmas celebration ~ giving books as gifts, writing books with a holiday theme, enjoying quiet time with a new book, splurging on books with gift cards, reading traditional holiday stories to my children.
Want to add books to your holiday traditions? Here are six ideas.
Build a child’s library by gifting them with classics as Christmas gifts. You can start with Dr. Seuss and, as they mature, add favorites like Harry Potter.
Celebrate Jolabokaflod. “Christmas Book Flood” is an Icelandic tradition of gifting books to each other and spending the evening reading.
Acknowledge booksellers and librarians during the holidays. Thank those who serve readers and authors with home-baked goodies or a financial donation.
Add books to your holiday decor. Whether it’s a stack of Christmas-themed romance novels or beautifully illustrated children’s stories, books on display encourage people to slow down and enjoy the written word.
Trade favorites with your book bestie. Share a favorite book you’ve discovered by gifting a copy to your best friend and have her do the same for you.
Go Christmas shopping…at the bookstore. In addition to books, you can find bookish gadgets, merchandise, and other nifty items. If you have children or grandchildren, make this outing something special ~ lunch, shopping for gifts, and, of course, a book for them as well.
What is your favorite bookish holiday tradition?
Thanksgiving is synonymous with a bounty of wonderful, delicious food items, many of which we only enjoy this time of year. While our tables are loaded with Butterball turkeys, green bean casseroles, stuffing and pumpkin pie topped with Cool Whip, the “feast” prepared by early settlers and Native Americans was a much simpler meal.
Thanksgiving, as we know it, dates back to November 1621 when Pilgrims newly arrived on the shores of America gathered with Wampanoag Indians for a fall harvest celebration.
While they might have consumed turkey at their feast, they may have also consumed ducks, geese or swans. Herbs, onions and/or nuts were “stuffed” into the birds for flavor. Many culinary historians speculate that deer might also have been offered and agree that seafood, such as mussels, clams, lobster and bass, were likely served.
The meal also includes other bounty, such as blueberries, plums, grapes, gooseberries, raspberries, cranberries, onions, beans, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, carrots, peas, squash and cornmeal mush.
What did not appear on at that first Thanksgiving feast were potatoes, either white or sweet. These weren’t introduced outside of South America until the late 1500s.
What is your favorite Thanksgiving Day dish? Is there a single food item that defines this very American holiday for you?
(Source: History.com).
The annual Passport to Romance reader appreciation event hosted by the Greater Seattle RWA chapter will be October 14, 2017, from 6-8 p.m. at the Bellevue Westin.
This event is free and open to the public. Authors from all romance genres will be on hand to mix and mingle with readers and stuff their goodie bags with swag and giveaways. Readers can also meet some of the industries most popular — and hottest! — cover models!
Check this list of participating authors to see which of your favorites will be there.
Unfortunately, I won’t be attending this year, but I am a proud sponsor of Passport to Romance! I hope you’ll attend and post some pictures with your favorite Seattle romance authors!
