Check out this unique Hummingbird feeder! A lady in Connecticut invented it, it's made so that you can hand-feed your Hummers, and it was featured in Birds & Blooms magazine: http://www.hum-fi.com/
Click Here to tour my Hummingbird garden. If you have any "Hummingbird flower suggestions" that work for you, I'd love to hear about them: Wendysteele@country925.com
Here's my dog Spike, who has passed away.. but will never be forgotten..if you've lost a pet and feel like no one knows what you're going through, take a look at this website, it helped my husband and I when we lost our "Rainbow Bridge Baby": http://petloss.com/
Spike "flying"
Just this side of heaven is a place called RainbowBridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to RainbowBridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross RainbowBridge together.... Author unknown...
Spike and I when we were "young pups"
A Dog's Purpose
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia* procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.
He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life - - like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The six-year old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long. '
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
*When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
*Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy-ride.
*Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
*Take naps.
*Stretch before rising.
*Run, romp, and play daily.
*Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
*Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
*On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
*On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
*When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
*Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
*Be loyal.
*Never pretend to be something you're not.
*If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
*When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
Wherever my husband and I go with our three Shiba Inus, we always get the question 'what do you feed them?! They're beautiful!' Our answer is Oma's Pride. It's fresh, all natural food, made right here in Avon, Connecticut, and what a difference it's made for our dogs and cat. Barbie, Caleb, JoJo and Charlie the cat are thriving. Our Shibas don't have that 'doggy smell' or bad breath, and their coats are soft and shiny, and we rarely bathe them (Shibas usually HATE water, so that's a good thing, lol!)
When I'm asked, why feed a raw diet, I tell them because fresh is always better than processed. It's no different for us, right? I don't think I'd be very healthy if I ate nothing but cereal, for example, every day.. it's much better to eat a variety of fresh foods, in my opinion.
If you know of any others, click HEREto let me know about them! Here's a great website, thanks to Vietnam Vet Dennis for letting me know about this:Military.comDeals
Hi Wendy,
Here is a site that will allow veterans to find car dealers that offer great deals and no-hassle negotiations when they are in the market for a car.
first I would like to tell you that I listen to your station almost every day. I Love it. I wanted to let you know that Loews gives a 10% military discount every day. Also most states will give a discount to military personnel and their intermediate families for fishing licenses and park passes they would just need to go to their state or town offices and ask. I know my husband has gotten these passes in the past. I would also like to thank you for your support of our military. My husband Harry is in the Air National Guard in Westhampton Beach NY. God Bless you!!!
This is totally awesome! Some Connecticut companies are reserving jobs for Army reservists who have finished serving our country. Kudos to the Crowley Auto Group for being the first to sign up for the Army Reserves Employer Partnership Program.If your company is interested in this great idea, CLICKHERE for more info!
Jessica sent this link to me, what a great organization, based in Connecticut! Give2TheTroops
An easy way to show your support for our soldiers! I hope you'll click on their website and donate.
No Buddy Left Behind
Check out this great story I found about our troops and the dogs they adopt while they're stationed overseas. These dogs not only give them unconditional love when they need it the most, but they become protectors for the units who take them in. Check this link for more info: http://www.spcai.org/baghdad-pups.html.
How cool is this?? An army of elderly people, from all over the country, are cutting coupons for our military! Then they send them to our soldiers overseas, who redeem them at their commissaries. Most coupons are good overseas for six months after their expiration date. These folks, from an older generation, remember the days of war bonds and rations, and they are trying again to make a difference, one coupon at a time. And for the families, who are struggling to make ends meet on military salaries, it makes a huge difference.
Have you noticed the blue lights around Hartford at night? The buildings that are lit up this way are to bring attention to a new website that supports the moms of enlisted (and soon to be enlisted) Navy men and women! CLICKHERE to find out more.
Here's a list of links to some great sites for supporting our soldiers. If you know of any other reputable organizations, please send them to me: Wendysteele@country925.com
Too much.. too much pain, too much suffering.. before you buy from a store that sells puppies, read this, educate yourself, Google puppy mills. I wish someone had told me to do that years ago when I bought my first dog, a Pomeranian named Spike. He died 10 years later from a 'genetic' disease, the experts at Tufts said was most likely because he came from a puppy mill in Missouri.. I loved him with all my heart, but could not save him. And when I learned the truth about where he came from, and what his 'parents' had gone through, I cried my eyes out. I hope you never have this experience, and I hope that someday, there will be no more puppy mills.
© 2012
