Fireworks and Furry Friends

Hello buckaroos!

Just stopping in to remind you about fireworks and pets. I know that a lot of us and our neighbors will be shooting off fireworks this weekend for New Year's Eve. Some people even start as soon as tonight where I live. And in the daylight even...don't get me started. We often think about how to take precautions for our own safety but what about our pets?

Please remember to put your pets safely inside this weekend. Every year, thousands and thousands of pets run away due to the fear of exploding fireworks and are never found again. They just keep running and before they know it, they're lost. They don't understand the noise and the lights at all, let me tell you. They can run into traffic or deep into the night due to this fear. Every year, on January 1st, I read the ads of people who have lost their pets due to fireworks. It might not be a bad idea to keep them in the day after either as some people seem to still be popping away their leftover fireworks the next day.

I've also read many lost pet ads this holiday season where pets have been lost due to their slipping out the door during holiday house parties. If at all possible, give your pets a safe, closed room of their own during party time. You don't want your friends giving your Fluffy the queso dip anyway.

I'm still in the middle of searching for Skippy Lou, who has been lost for four months and believe me, a lost pet is a very horrible thing. Did you know that a healthy animal can travel hundreds of miles in a single week when lost? I know, this isn't very festive - but I care about you guys and your pets.

While I'm here, let me implore of you to have your pets microchipped. It's safe and really cheap these days and SO worth it. While I've been searching for Skippy Lou, I've heard story after story of pets being found years later and many, many states away because of a simple microchip. Get you some happy tears here and here.

And please make sure that they have secure collars and tags with your updated information. The time to think about this is not after they've become lost and you are panicked. And this just in: Barbara just clued me in on QR Tags. This is an additional tag that can be put on your pet's collar that can be scanned with a smart phone if your pet is found. You kids with your technology today - you KNOW you love that! The finder can then immediately get your contact information and hello, happy reunion!

Also make sure that you have clear, updated photos of your pets in case you have to quickly make a lost pet flier or post them on the internet. Oh! And if you ever switch out your pet's collar, keep the old ones wrapped in gauze in a ziploc bag in a drawer somewhere. We've been using a bloodhound in our search and those collars are the best scent item ever for tracking. The gauze helps keep your pet's scent intact.

Click on the photo below to go to a site with some great tips on helping your pets feel safe and calm during fireworks:



I hope that you and your furry families have a joyous New Year's Eve! Please pass the word to your friends, families and neighbors that have pets as well. This is an exciting, hectic time of year and it's easy to forget to take these precautions.

Until next time,
x's and o's,
Eartha

Light It Up!

It's no secret that I am a bit of a nut for blow molds. I was super excited to be asked by Lisa Hallett Taylor to participate in an online article about them over at About.com.

Click the photo below to see a pretty slideshow of some awesome blow molds and to learn a little history about them too. My portion is on page five but the whole article is full of eye candy and fun facts:



Until next time (let it glow...let it glow..let it glow..)
x's and o's,
Eartha

Fa La La La La

I hope that you all are having a great holiday season! Ours is still in full swing. We've made our way through Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina and are still in full-on party food snacking mode. Pimento cheese truly is addictive. And don't get me started on the regional favorite of white bread - which if we're honest is like shooting sugar right into one's veins.

Now we're getting ready to hit the day-after-Christmas sales. Yes, it's true. I'm a wrapping paper hoarder. I've told the Mister that if I die before I can use it all, he is welcome to construct my coffin out of the stockpiled rolls of paper and bling it out with the four thousand slivers of tangled ribbons that I've kept. And if money is especially tight, he has the option to have me cremated and displayed in one of my "Yes, I have way too many but they are dirt cheap and I promise that I will give cookies to everyone as gifts next year, m'kay?" cookie tins.

Let's just hope that I die during a Christmas season or people are going to think that he's a real cheapskate!

Here's a little show-and-tell for you until I can get back and give you the scoop on all of the holiday spills, chills and thrills away from the ranch:


From the gift pile


The aftermath


Dad's corner


At Mom's House. Knew that Santa was watching me. Did not steal.
Still questioning decision.



Until next time,
x's and o's,
Eartha

Happy Christmas Eve Buckaroos!