I love my Asian Pear trees. I have two different varieties, both of which are prolific without spraying. One ripens by mid-September, and this tree ripens mid to late October.
The first time I tasted these, I was surprised by the satisfying crunch followed by a rush of sweetness and juice. They taste like a cross between a sweet pear and a hint of concord grapes!
As part of my food forest, these pears provide food to snack on … Read More
Long-time readers know I’m a big believer in multiple dogs. I’ve written numerous posts on the subject. I don’t have many soap boxes, but this is one of them. Pack and herd animals, in my opinion and experience, should not be kept alone. Just because dogs can seem to do fine as singles in a household doesn’t mean there aren’t significant benefits when adding another dog.
Science concurs. The following article speaks to the many ways we may be … Read More
A lot has changed when it comes to dog vaccine protocols—from automatically vaccinating yearly to giving initial vaccinations and then titering. So, what’s a responsible dog person to do?
If you go to the American Animal Hospital Association or the American Veterinary Medical Association websites and search for core vaccines, you’ll find that the core vaccines—distemper, hepatitis, parvo, and rabies—should be given no more often than every 3 to 5 years. It’s really more like 5 to 7 years.
Veterinarians … Read More
Apropos of the fall weather and the approaching holidays, I thought I’d share my secret pie crust recipe. Good for any and all types of pies—single crust, double crust, lattice, you name it.
There are a bazillion pie-crust recipes out there. So why is this perhaps the best? Because it uses science to help get the best flake and the best taste.
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 stick cold unsalted butter
8 oz shortening
1/4 cup … Read More
Where does the time go? Hoping there are many, many more birthdays ahead. Let the long count begin, sweet boy.… Read More
I know this is becoming a bit of a theme here—the Kenzie/Riley love fest. But in all my years of living with animals, I’ve never seen anything like it…
I keep thinking about how lucky they are. And then I think how lucky I am to get to witness this every day.… Read More
Coinciding with the waning moon, the Perseid meteor shower is at its peak over the next few days of August, 11, 12, and 13. So viewing should be spectacular if the weather cooperates.
It’s one of the most active and brightest meteor showers of the year. And it’s safe to expect to see dozens of meteors per hour. Watching is an annual event at our house.
To have the best experience, make sure to find a place to watch that’s … Read More
…when, in fact, it’s been these 2 thieves who’ve been eating all the blueberries!
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