10 Reasons to Love Eggs

 1. Eggs are great for the eyes. According to one study, an egg a day may prevent macular degeneraton due to the carotenoid content, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin. Both nutrients are more readily available to our bodies from eggs than from other sources.

2. In another study, researchers found that people who eat eggs every day lower their risk of developing cataracts, also because of the lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs.

3. One egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids.

4. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no significant link between egg consumption and heart disease. In fact, according to one study, regular consumption of eggs may help prevent blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks.

5. They are a good source of choline. One egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.

6. They contain the right kind of fat. One egg contains just 5 grams of fat and only 1.5 grams of that is saturated fat.

7. New research shows that, contrary to previous belief, moderate consumption of eggs does not have a negative impact on cholesterol. In fact, recent studies have shown that regular consumption of two eggs per day does not affect a person’s lipid profile and may, in fact, improve it. Research suggests that it is saturated fat that raises cholesterol rather than dietary cholesterol.

8. Eggs are one of the only foods that contain naturally occurring vitamin D.

9. Eggs may prevent breast cancer. In one study, women who consumed at least 6 eggs per week lowered their risk of breast cancer by 44%.

10. Eggs promote healthy hair and nails because of their high sulphur content and wide array of vitamins and minerals. Many people find their hair growing faster after adding eggs to their diet, especially if they were previously deficient in foods containing sulphur or B12.

In my first year of raising and tending chickens,
I am absolutely loving it.
You can’t beat a farm fresh organic egg.
No pun intended.

 
  Happy Easter, all!

…and then there was Frasier

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very time I head out the door for a Dog Days Event I’m reminded not to bring anything home.  My family knows how hard that is for me…. all these dogs with hard luck stories, rescued and looking for homes.  So far I’ve volunteered at three events… and although tempted 100 times, falling in love atleast five or six times.. at the end of the weekend the dogs were all adopted by good people and I could go home empty handed and feeling good about it.   Husband, I’m sure, breathed a sigh of relief.

 Last weekend, an older gentleman, a little scruffy looking… came in and wanted to adopt a dog as a companion. His neighbor, a well dressed older woman, came in to vouch for him as a good dog owner. On paperwork he filled out, he looked good.   Dog Days requires references before they will adopt a dog out, and most of the time there are also home visits when possible.   He chose Frasier….and off they went.   Frasier was in his company for 25 minutes, when he turned him loose and the dog ran away.  The woman who vouched for him came back to the event and told us the dog ran away, and if anyone finds him they don’t really want him anyway….so could he please have his money back.    Unbelievable. 

 For two days volunteers put up flyers and searched the area where the dog had been lost… just a few miles from the event. There were a few sightings…and on the second day I returned to the area to give it one more look… and flagged a cop down that I saw on the road. I asked him if he had seen the dog over the weekend and he said.. “I just came from a house where construction workers have him trapped!”

   YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I went to the address and there was Frasier, scared, cold… and so happy to see a friendly face that he leaped into my arms as the construction guys let him out.

 I called the husband, crying, and said…. I FOUND THE MISSING DOG!!! HE’S IN MY CAR!!!! and then I proceeded to tell the rest or the Dog Days crew that had been looking for him.  I think we all cried.  He came home with me, as his rescue crew was already on their way back to Georgia.   The idea was just to “FOSTER”… but if you’ve ever done this sort of thing, you’ll know that when the dog just fits right in… …. enough said.  

 And this time?  It’s me who has the husband of the year.

Just weeks ago Frasier, a retriever poodle mix,
 was on death row in a high kill shelter in Georgia. 
His coat was  matted beyond salvage.
He was saved at the last minute by a Rescue group who saw beyond the matted dirty mess.
He is house trained, adoring of people and animals…
and so grateful to be loved, you can see it in his face.
He is weary of men. When approached he first hunches down, but once petted, 
he realizes he’s not gonna be hit, and he wags his tail and leaps up for more petting. 
My husband and son have been reassuring him that most men are good.  
Just the sweetest guy.  I can’t imagine the kind of person who could abuse this dog.  

Welcome home, Frasier.

This is what it’s all about :-)

Every time a dog is adopted, the bell rings and everyone claps.
The dogs orange bandana is swapped for a rainbow one.
Tears of joy, always.
This weekend, there were more than 70 dogs saved,
more than 70 homes found, families complete.

Please consider adopting a shelter dog
before you buy from a pet store (inhumane puppy mill)
or breeder. (not that there’s anything wrong with that).





Celebrity Sighting today at Dog Days!

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hip the miracle dog!!!… His dad brought him down to the event this afternoon to visit and he was immediately surrounded by all Dog Days Volunteers who came to love him.  Once again I’m going to post a  “before” pic below so those of you who aren’t familiar with the case can see what love can do…and how FAR this boy has come.

At kill shelter…
He was pulled from the kill shelter and brought to Lorin of Dog Days…
where with Lorin’s excellent care and many of your $ contributions,
Chip recovered.

This was about three weeks into treatment…

And this is Chip today!
It was so awesome to see him again.

I left the event half way through the day, and will return tomorrow..
so far atleast 40 of the approximately 60 dogs have been adopted…
the response is always amazing to me… so many people want to
help these dogs.  Both the dogs and the people walk away together
with renewed spirit..true, this!
Some updates…
For these two it was love at first sight!
Our favorite tiny little thing went home with a volunteer.
There were three of us standing huddled together.. me holding the precious girly girl.
I call home…Husband says “NO”….and then some.
Second of the three of us says..
“if she doesn’t get a home, I’ll take her. I don’t care what my husband says”. 
Third one of us says.. Hmmm… let me see what MY husband says.
a text…
and then…
whatever your heart desires, dear“.   
I promptly handed the little girl over and she was immediately
adopted by the volunteer with the husband of the year.
The following are also new families…

And this is me showing remarkable restraint while holding two precious pups
I did eventually let them go 🙂
….both went to the same family, so brother and sister will stay together.

 It’s a beautiful thing. 
One more day for the remaining dogs and puppies…
and some shopping too!… so if you’re local.. Saybrook Stop & Shop Plaza, 10-6 Sunday.

Dog Days Old Saybrook begins….

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og Days check-in for rescues last night… all puppies and dogs checked over by  Veterinarian Michelle West and crew, papers checked too. 

Come on down this weekend, Saturday and Sunday 10-6 – Old Saybrook Shopping Plaza – they’ve got a vacant retail space for the event!  Not looking for a new four-legged family member?  Then support the cause by browsing all the great tag sale items, bake sale, gift baskets, spring plants and flowers!

Her owner had a heart attack and she was relinquished to the pound.
The tiny girl is scared and in need of a new home.

Annie already went home with her new family 🙂  

These two went home together too….
That’s one happy little girl.
GO DOG DAYS!!!…

Bad Bedding

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ost of us know by now that bedding … in particular GOOD bedding….is very important.  When we moved into This Old House almost two years ago (time flies!!!)   we bought new beds and  mattresses for everyone.  Mike and I splurged on a really good mattress for ourselves because we both have neck arthritis and whine about it alot sometimes.   We’re very happy with that mattress.  The kids got cheaper versions… from B*b’s Discount place… you know the one if you’re from around here.  That was just stupid. …..the manchild’s mattress didn’t last two years without having a crater on the side where he always sleeps. And I mean a crater.  The picture below is when he’s NOT sleeping in it. He sinks much further when he’s IN it and it’s already bothering his back.   

SO… we bought him a new one of better quality and it came today.
He’ll sleep much better tonight.
What to do with the old mattress?
Ben doesn’t mind the crater at all…
but my little office is now standing room only….
unless you don’t mind lying down with the dogs.

Good Morning!

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e’re finally having typical end-of-March weather in the northeast.  I wasn’t complaining about the early summer, tho!  However, a return to normal is probably for the best, worldwise.   We jumped the gun and planted peas and pansies last week – all have survived the inevitable frost, although a little worse for the wear.

Even the crocus in my shell garden are “burnt”. 
It’s a beautiful spring morning, so I lugged my camera along on barn and coop chores.
I’ve got new muck shoes.. plastic sloggers I found at the hardware store.
They’re kinda like crocs, only more comfortable!
Don’t mind the dog-haired yoga pants… it is what it is.

As soon as I let the chickens out of their coop in the AM, they are looking to the ground
for the treats I leave.  Today it’s tomatoes left over from last night’s dinner
and dry oatmeal sprinkled about.

Treats my chickens love – oatmeal, tomatoes, raisins, cracked corn, canned corn, corn on the cob
popcorn, lettuce of any kind, sunflower seeds,  yogurt, stale bread crumbled, meal worms – blech.
Up at the barn, the horses have finished their grain and are waiting to be turned out.
Max wears a cribbing collar (which I hate, but it’s necessary)
because he sucks wind (to get high!) … and wind-sucking, or cribbing, causes him to colic
 if he does it too much.
It’s a bad habit that you hope a horse doesn’t develop.
The strap prevents him from being able to do it enough to cause colic.
The decision to blanket or not blanket horses is an individual one…
 many feel horses don’t need blanketing and if left along to grow their own natural coat,
they don’t need it, especially if they have shelter from the elements and are well fed.
Opie comes from a line of quarter horses bred for show, who were never allowed to
grow winter coats.  And so, he never grows a thick enough coat to keep himself
warm. I’ve tried to get his body to do so, it just doesn’t happen. 
Thus, he is blanketed in Winter.  Max’s owner has always blanketed him as well,
although he grows an exceptional winter coat.  At his advanced age of 25
keeping weight on him is difficult and necessary.  The blanket helps keep his body
insulated, and keep his body weight acceptable in winter months.
We have piles of different weight blankets in the barn for the boyz.
The blanket swapping depending on weather is definitely a nuisance.


Miniature horses like Lacey and Coady
grow ample winter coats, they never need blanketing.
Since it’s warm out this morning, blankets have been switched to “windbreaker”.

I’m going to talk myself into yoga in a few minutes…
Wherever you are, I hope you are able to get out there and enjoy the day.
Spring allergies have kicked in.. Benadryl, here I come.


Dog Days this weekend!!!

  OK Connecticut peeps – 60 more shelter dogs and puppies need forever homes and they’ll be available for adoption Saturday and Sunday at the Saybrook Shopping Plaza.   If you’re not looking to add a new member to your family, then come out and support the effort by browsing the Spring Fling Sale with baked goods, crafts and other donated items – all proceeds GO TO THE DOGS!!….

 Just look at these adorable adoptable faces….
 Wally – pomeranian mix

HOPE – hound mix
ELLE  – border collie mix
Gander – a chihuahua mix puppy
Hazel – retriever mix puppy

Easy and Fun Easter Recipes

 I’m always looking for new recipes to try,
and when it’s easy and fun?
Awesome.
Bird’s nest cookies from Delish.com
Ingredients
1 1/4 cup(s) sweetened flaked coconut
2 cup(s) flour
1/2 teaspoon(s) baking powder
1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
1 cup(s) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup(s) sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon(s) coconut extract (optional)
60 candy-coated milk-chocolate eggs

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread out coconut on a baking sheet and toast until pale golden, stirring once or twice, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool completely.

2.Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Mix flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.

3.Cream butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add egg, vanilla extract and coconut extract, if using, and beat until smooth. Stir in flour mixture just until incorporated.

4.Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls; roll in toasted coconut. Arrange 3 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. With your thumb, make an indentation in center of each ball. Pinch sides of cookies so they stand up and form nests.

5.Bake until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely on baking sheets. Just before serving, place 2 or 3 chocolate eggs in each cookie.

 Rachelle’s Easter Cake
credit Rachelleb.com

This is so easy to put together
and kids will love how it’s decorated
Prepare according to directions, 1 white cake mix. Bake in a 13×9 as directed. Cool.
 Beat 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese at room temperature with 2 c. milk until lumps are gone. Add 1 pkg. instant pudding (vanilla or cheesecake flavor). Spread over cooled cake. Spread a 20 oz. can of well drained crushed pineaple over the top. Spread a 10 oz. container of Cool Whip over pineapple. Chill for 3 hours.

For decoration, mix a couple cups of coconut with a few drops of green food coloring and sprinkle on the Cool Whip like grass. Add Peeps and candy eggs to make your own Easter diorama.

Isn’t this a pretty little cupcake?
courtesy allthingscupcake.com

All you need is a white cake mix..
some buttercreme frosting and blue/green food dye..
and white candy coated almonds.

Peeps Nest Cake
Courtesy Joni of Red Couch Recipes..
Every year around this time I get the itch…
We’ve had rabbits in the past
and I’d like to have one again out with the chickens but
Mike keeps me grounded when it comes to the animals.
If it were up to me I’d have many more..
but that’s not necessarily a good thing.
Still.. the thought of a bunny out in the yard again
always grabs me.
LOVE this hutch…very humane- roomy.
A girl can dream…..