Momathon Blog

Lovely Links from the Garden

Sunny and warm here today, so I'm outside on my deck thinking about gardens and backyard parties. The hydrangea above is in a container on my deck—out of reach from the deer (and bears) that wander through my yard munching on everything. My neighborhood in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies has a "no fences" rule, so the only safe place for plants is container gardens on the decks. 

Here are a few of my favorite links for plants, backyards, and summer fun. 

• I am so ready for my first barbecue party of the summer after seeing Nicole's party plans. How about you?

• A true garden party needs a few retro aprons. I adore the dottie angel aprons, striped straws in lemonade, and cupcakes Melanie features in her post from Seattle today.

• You scream, I scream, we all scream for homemade ice cream!  Gotta try the yummy recipe via Erin and Bi-Rite Creamery.

• An upside-down tomato planter is on my to do list for June.

• One of my puppies will eat nearly every thing... So I love this handy Pet Poison Help app to determine which plants I should keep out of reach.

• For more gardening ideas, check out my garden posts and photos here, on Pinterest and Facebook.

Photo illustration above by me, Chris Olson and features plants in my garden—Instagram Valencia filter— and a lovely fence photographed by D Sharon Pruitt.

 

Keep Your Dog Safe with Pet Poison Help App

Dogs and cats are naturally curious. And sometimes pets—especially puppies—eat things that look harmless, but are toxic. The Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 animal poison control center based in Minneapolis, MN, answers over 100,000 calls a year regarding pet poisonings.

That's why they created the Pet Poison Help app for the iPhone to assist pet owners or veterinarians in quickly identifying potential poisons, recognizing symptoms of a potential poisoning, and to allow one-touch direct dialing access to the veterinary professionals at Pet Poison Helpline.

This app will gives you information to guide you in treatment of a potential poisoning. That said, the amount of toxin ingested, along with the time since ingestion, overall health, age, species, and breed of your pet may affect the severity or outcome of any toxic exposure. When in doubt about pet poisoning, please contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline for immediate, life-saving advice.

Prevention of poisoning
The app is also a great tool in prevention of poisoning. Dogs love to dig in the garden when you aren't looking. I used this app to select pet safe flowers for my garden. It is always tempting to share people food with your pets, but this is not a good idea unless you know the food is safe for dogs or cats. Use this app to understand which people foods are not safe for pets.

App details
According to their website, Pet Poison Help app will provide you with:

* Life-saving access to poison information with one-touch direct dialing to Pet Poison Helpline.

* A searchable database of over 250 poisonous plants, foods, medications and household items, all with pictures.

* Descriptions of how specific poisons affect your pet, their alternate common names, and symptoms to watch for.

* Instructions on what to do if your dog or cat is exposed to a dangerous substance.

Dog photo above by MythicSeabass photography. App photos by the app Pet Poison Help.

18 Days of Instagram Filters: Day 15 with Valencia Filter

If you like to take outdoor photos, chances are you will have plenty of opportunities to use the Valencia filter on Instagram which adds a subtle brown tint to images. That said, I found this filter versatile enough to use with shots of my favorite shelter dogs at an adoption fair and even bakery goods for a picnic. I don't feel I need to use the LUX feature very often with this filter because of the built-in contrast provided by the Valenica filter. I will use the LUX feature to add a nice contrast with brick and other building materials when photographing house exteriors, cityscapes, etc.

For more information on the LUX feature plus a handy list of how to use other features including the focus, frame, and more, check out my link here.

Your Instagram Photos Help Shelter Dogs
The adorable  dog featured below is a rescue dog named Rosie. For more information on adopting this dog, go to this dog rescue link. #german_shepherd

Images in this post by me, Chris Olson, using an iPhone 4 + Instagram with Valencia Filter (#Valencia)

 

 

 You can find other posts in this Guide to Instagram series here:

Day 1: No Filter

Day 2: Amaro Filter

Day 3: Rise Filter

Day 4: Hudson Filter

Day 5: X-Pro II Filter

Day 6: Sierra Filter

Day 7: Lo-Fi Filter

Day 8: Earlybird Filter

Day 9: Sutro Filter

Day 10: Toaster Filter

Day 11: Brannan Filter

Day 12: Inkwell Filter

Day 13: Walden Filter

Day 14: Hefe Filter

 

Fresh Picks: For the Garden

 

Time to get outside and play in the garden. Thanks to the inspiration from my dear friend and garden guru, Kathy, here are a few of my fresh picks to get my garden in shape.

1) Protect your hands and your manicure with the leather Monogrammable Gardening Gloves from Red Envelope.
2) The versatile heather plant is a multi-tasker—perfect as foundation plants, ground cover, in borders, or in rock gardens. 
3) The ergonomic Felco Pruners work hard in the garden without hurting your hands. I love the fact Felco has pruners for lefties too!
4. Perfect upgrade to your garden trowel, the Japanese Hori Hori knife at Terrain.
5. Gotta love the price on these cute LANTSTÄLLE plant pots by IKEA.
6. And don't forget to take a break and admire your work on the Arched Back Bench from Terrain.

Image above by me, Chris Olson. 

Photo essay: Time to unwind

I love weekends because I can slow down enough to actually see the beautiful things all around. Enjoy these photos by talented photographers around the globe.

 

A lovely flower by Strife. (UK)

 

Girl dancing on the beach by mikebaird (CA,USA)

 

Bird by Marioawsm

 

Horses on the beach in Morro Bay CA by tbchris

What to do if you find a deer tick

 

 

What to do if you find a deer tick 

The sooner you can remove a deer tick the better. To prevent lyme disease do DAILY tick checks because you want the deer tick to embed your skin for less than 24-48 hours.

• If you find a tick on you or your pets, use a thin-bladed pair of tweezers. 
• Grab the tick by the head or the mouth as close to the skin as possible and remove attached tick slowly and gently. 
• Do NOT use the ineffective remedies like petroleum jelly, nail polishes, or burning matches.
• Save the tick for testing/diagnosis: Put tick in a small jar to give your health practitioner as soon as possible. 
• An effective history of exposure is helpful for treatment. You can take a photo of the tick or the rash and email it to your doctor for clarification. 
• You can't effectively wash ticks out of clothing, but you can get rid of them by putting clothing in the dryer for a cycle. 

Diagnosis
Because the disease has symptoms that mimic other diseases, diagnosis is often difficult. If you suspect you have been bitten, go to a doctor immediately. A physical exam and blood test may be done. But a blood test is not always conclusive. Early recognition of signs and an awareness of history of possible exposure areas is critical. Fortunately, the disease can be treated with anitbiotics. However, the earlier the diagnosis is made the better the recovery. 

To reduce deer tick population near your house: Keep lawn mowed, brush trimmed, and leaf litter away from home. Clear vegetation on paths and trails. 

Early symptoms
Symptoms that appear 3 to 30 days after the bite according to the deer tick study by the Minnesota Dept. of Health. A person may have all or just some of these symptoms. The symptoms can resemble the flu. 

• Red rash resembling a bulls-eye may be present in some case. This rash is present in 60 to 80 percent of the Lyme disease cases. 
• Fever 
• Chills 
• Headache 
• Muscle and joint pain 
• Fatigue 

Symptoms that can appear later
Symptoms days to weeks after the bite according to the Minnesota Dept. of Health. A person may have all or just some of these symptoms.

• Multiple rashes 
• Facial paralysis 
• Fever - Stiff neck 
• Headache 
• Weakness, numbness, pain in arms 
• Irregular heart beat 
• Weakness or fatigue Long-term symptoms of untreated Lyme disease include arthritis, problems with the nervous system, weakness, fatigue. 

(Photo above of a female deer tick by jkirkhart35 on Flickr)

It's so Etsy: Plant a wildflower garden

 

 

In honor of earth week...

Spring is here. Something about digging in the dirt makes me smile. Gardening mixes therapy with sunshine! So grab some seeds and a shovel. 

One of the best parts of gardening is the fact you don't need a lot of space. A corner garden with some sunshine works. Or plant seeds in a container garden on your patio or deck.  Planting seeds is a fun activity for the whole family. My kids love to design their own gardens. Keeping the plants happy with regular watering teaches responsibility too.

The Thebearfootshaman shop on Etsy offers a beautiful Wildflower Garden Seed Mix to Attract Birds. The mix contains:

Purple Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, Bachelor Buttons, Purple Prairie Clover, Mexican Hat, Rocky Mountain Beeplant, Sulphur Flower, Butterfly Plant, Indian Blanket, Goldenrod, Penstemon, Aster, Liatris, Cosmos, Daisy, Bee Balm, Blue Flax, Larkspur, Lupine, Sunflower, and Coreopsis. 

Go to this link to check out the Wildflower Garden Seed Mix. $3.29.

(Photo of wildflowers from the Etsy page of Thebearfootshaman)

Feels almost like spring

 

When a warm March day tempts us to wear shorts and T-shirts, spring has to be right around the corner. Today is one of those days. Walking my dogs up the "big" hill by my house, my feet feel lighter than usual. No coat is needed. Sandals are almost appropriate. My dogs are smiling at the prospect of an extra-long journey to the ridge high above us and the view of the city below. I'm not sure they ever really marvel at the view. More likely it is the gentle breeze that is a constant up there and the fact this is the epicenter of all the sounds and scents in nature. At the top, the dogs lounge in the tired, brown grass from last summer. Together we survey our surroundings and consider where we might go next.

(Image above is © Chris Olson)

Baby panda makes media debut... So cute!

 

Five-month-old giant panda cub, Yun Zi, made his media debut this week at the San Diego Zoo. Click here to see the adorable zoo video and check out the San Diego Zoo's PandaCam.

Sort of like a Disney movie...

Last week started out like most weeks. My dogs were the first ones to tip me off to the fact that something strange was going on in my garage.

At first I chalked up their new fascination with the garage as another one of their doggie eccentricities. When it latest for three days, I knew something was up. On Thanksgiving Day they finally showed me the big reason.

Birdseed + Mice = Mess

 

(image by glen edelson)

If you know me, then you know I am an animal lover. Even mice. Outside.

I love the movie Ratatouille and I had a mouse as a pet as a child. However, my neighborhood in the woods is rodent mecca. I prefer to keep the mouse population out of my house and garage. 

 

(image from Ratatouille Movie) 

My daughter reminded me it was Thanksgiving, the day of the most treasured meal of the year. So this year when an improperly stored 20 lb. bag of birdseed became a mouse feast, I decided it was fate.

The dogs had frightened away the mice in the garage for the moment. My daughter and I cleaned up the mess and put the "leftovers" in a secure bin. 

Until next year, the mice will have to feast outdoors.

Lake Ness Monster?

 

Peek between the trees on the east shore of Lake Harriet in Minneapolis and you just might catch a glimpse of a mysterious lake creature. Her search for the perfect home of her own brought this elusive creature to the Twin Cities this summer. You can read more about the friendly monster at LakeCreature.com

Doubt Apple Thought About This Benefit

I like to hike with my dog. This time of year I just might end up hiking with a few animals I don't enjoy sharing the trail with. Bears.

 

I often attach a big jingle bell to my dog's collar to warn the bears that we are hiking nearby. Fellow hikers have told me tales of meeting a bear on the path, but fortunately I haven't met one except in my own backyard--climbing the swing set and also going through trash cans. Bears in general aren't looking for you for dinner unless you have a picnic basket. But the idea that an ambling bear can also charge at 30 m.p.h. does put their power in perspective.

Now when I hike I also play some music sans earbuds on my iPhone or iPod Touch to warn the bears of our approach. Let me say I am not a wildlife expert, but in my highly unscientific study the bears in my neighborhood don't like Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, and Sara Bareilles. 

Happy hiking. (BTW, the photo above doesn't feature a bear, at least that I know of.)

A Hardy & Fragrant Groundcover

I live in a high desert region. Last year I decided to go green and add groundcover plants that do not need to be watered as often. Thyme plants thrive in sunny locations. I love the fact they rarely need water or fertilizing. They aren't picky about soil either--dry, gritty soil is fine. Thyme is hardy and some varieties can tolerate the snow and freezing temps we have in Colorado. The thyme plants vary in height. The one pictured here only grows to approximately 3-5 inches high and slowly spreads to 24 inches. This is the perfect height because I can walk through the garden without accidentally stepping near a rattlesnake or two! Best of all, the fragrant green carpet smells wonderful.

 

B&N "Meet the Author" Podcast with Carl Hiaasen

Carl Hiaasen writes about the connection kids have with animals and wildlife in his books for young adults: Hoot, Flush, and now his newest novel, Scat.

In a Barnes & Noble Meet the Writers interview, Hiaasen talks about writing Scat, a book about a fearsome biology teacher who never returned from a field trip to Black Vine Swamp and the endangered elusive panther in the Florida Everglades. (384 pp, Hardcover, $16.99)

Buy Scat on SALE

Barnes & Noble is currently running a special 40% discounted price on this book in their Great Kids' Book discount coupon. If you are a B&N member you can get the book at 50% with the coupon.

Podcast link

Want to listen to the Hiaasen interview podcast? Just click on this B&N link and then click on the "Meet the Writer" audio player.

Pretty and Prickly Trailside

Teaching my kids (and pets) to avoid cactus plants hiding trailside is no easy task. Fortunately at this time of year the colorful cactus blooms make the not so kid-friendly plants easier to spot while hiking. 

Pet Safety: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants

My dogs have always enjoyed sitting on my deck. Outdoors on a deck or near the garden might seem like a great place for pets, but their human friends need to make sure the plants nearby are not toxic. 

The ASPCA website has a great list with photos of Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants

You can also search the plant database using common or scientific names or even symptoms. The list includes categories for plants toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Remember the "common name" of a plant in one part of the country or world might refer to a completely different plant someplace else. Make sure to check the scientific name of the plant to get the most accurate plant information. Using the scientific name is important because some regional plants with common names might not appear on the poisonous plant list.

Please note that I am not a vet or an animal health expert. According to the ASPCA, the information contained on the ASPCA "plant list is not meant to be all-inclusive, but rather a compilation of the most frequently encountered plants."

Concerned about a potential poisoning? 

If you think that your animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, 

contact your local veterinarian or the ASPCA 24-hour emergency poison hotline 

directly at 1-888-426-4435.

You might be surprised to find out that some of the plants you thought were safe are dangerous to pets. Did you know Aloe Vera is toxic to dogs and cats?

(Photo above: ASPCA website)

Use NonToxic Gardening Products

Keep your garden safe by also using nontoxic gardening products. Certain toxic products like slug and snail bait might seem tasty to pets but they can cause life-threatening side-effects within minutes! Always contact your vet or an animal emergency hotline poison hotline for the best advice to treat your pet. You need a vet's expertise because methods that work on humans are not meant to be used on pets.

Other resources:

Common Poisonous Plants | The Humane Society of the United States

Common Plants Are Toxic to Pets | NBC New York

Sidewalk Art

 

Often nature creates the most magical artwork. 

All we need to do is slow down and look around us. 

Sleeping Baby Bluebirds

I opened the side panel and peeked into the bluebird house today.

Bluebirds build their nests in holes in dead trees or in bluebird houses built just for them. The chicks are fed several times a day by their parents. Gradually the chicks develop feathers and can see. The chicks stay in their house until they are old enough to fly.

Love and Romance in Colorado

I love Colorado. It's my home partly because the Rockies are also home to some amazing animals. This time of year the majestic elk are looking for love in Estes Park, Colorado.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Six Easy Steps to Save 60 Gallons of Water a Day

It has been raining like crazy all month here and it's all too easy to forget about the fact we still need to conserve water.

According to Planet Green here are 6 easy things you can do to save big:

Take a 5-minute shower instead of a 10-minute shower (Savings: 12.5 gallons)

Put a bottle filled with gravel in your toilet tank (Savings: 7.5 gallons)

Turn off the water while brushing teeth and sharing (Savings: 8 gallons)

Filling your dishwasher to max capacity (Savings: 2 gallons)

Mulching your garden (Savings: 25 gallons)

Fix that leaky faucet (Savings: 5 gallons)

TOTAL Water Savings: 60 gallons

Don't forget to talk to your kids about the water saving tips. If you do, your family could save more than 60 gallons today. You can follow PlanetGreen.com on Twitter  

(Thanks for the tips Planet Green.)

Am I a Salt-aholic?

You've probably heard all the news stories about the fact Americans consume way too much salt. I admit I am a salt lover--not quite a salt-aholic. I don't carry a salt shaker in my purse, but I do crave salty snacks more than sweet. I always thought I was managing my cravings within healthy guidelines, but now I am wondering.

How much is too much salt?

Less than a teaspoon of salt a day is okay. That translates into a maximum daily dose of about 2,300 mg of salt for healthy adults according to the recommendation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

I am guessing I probably get more than a teaspoon of salt a day in the packaged foods I love like cheese, crackers, cereal, and soups. Salt is added to practically everything. Even bread and chocolate. I'm afraid to check the sodium amounts on the cartons of ice cream in my freezer!

If you eat in a restaurant, you probably are getting too much salt in your diet. Before you place your order, consider the ingredients. You can also check out the sodium levels in restaurant meals as reported in an online resource such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The bottom line: Shop for low-salt alternatives. Read package labels for sodium content. Buy more REAL FOOD like fruits and veggies.

For more tips on how to slash the salt in your diet check out these links

Learn to Shake the Salt Habit- msnbc.com

Sodium: Are you getting too much? - MayoClinic.com

Why Should We Love Our Bees?

If you like flowers and fruit and veggies, then you need to thank our busy bees for all the hard work they do. A third of the food we eat depends on bees for pollination, but the honeybees are disappearing fast. Why are they disappearing? The cause is still unknown, but scientists call this environmental issue Colony Collapse Disorder (CDC). Without the honeybees for pollination, the fruits, vegetables and flowers will disappear too. 

Burt's Bees recently made it a priority to educate the public about CCD. According to Burt's Bees:  "CCD is a mysterious disorder causing the disappearance of millions of honeybees that if left unsolved, could affect the availability of the food we eat." Häagen-Dazs - Help the Honey Bees also wants to "keep these little heroes buzzing" and get the word out.

The good news is you and your kids can work together to help save the bees too:

• Support your local organic farmer.
• Plant a seed a create a bee-friendly garden in your backyard, deck, or a neighborhood park.
• Make a donation to programs that support research into CCD. Pennsylvania State University and University of California at Davis have two of the world´s leading honey bee research facilities.  

Donate to the Penn State Entomology - AG Science Haagen Dazs Honey Bee Project

Donate to the UC Davis Honeybee Research Fund

After a Crazy Week

My father sent me the link to the "What a Wonderful World" video. So sweet. Not sure how the deer and cat in this video met each other, but it goes to show how we all just need to be friends.

I see trees of green, red roses too.
I see them bloom, for me and you. 
And I think to myself... what a wonderful world. 
I see skies of blue, and clouds of white. 
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night 
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world...

--Louis Armstrong, What a Wonderful Life Lyrics

Time to Start Feeding the Birds

As winter approaches and the temps drop, birds will welcome a meal provided by you. Kids love feeding the birds. You can make a homemade birdfeeder from a pinecone--just cover it with peanut butter and then roll it in birdseed. Or you can hang a traditional feeder and fill it with seeds that the type of birds in your area prefer. Not all birds like the same seeds. As it turns out, squirrels like almost any type of bird seed. At my house the birdfeeders have to be squirrel proof. Although I don't mind giving the squirrels a handout on occassion, I don't like it when one chubby squirrel drains the feeder in ten minutes or less.

Check out the "Feed the Birds" video clip from Reuters below.