The new year is approaching and even though most of us tightened our holiday gift-giving budget, we’re feeling a pinch in our wallets. So this seemed like a good time to pass on some tricks I’ve learned from years of thrifty dog keeping.
Preserving  dogbeds: Even with washable covers, I replace dogbeds every couple years because [...]

What to Read, Watch and Listen
Newspaper:
New York Times
The Wisdom of a Four-Legged Elder By MICHELLE SLATALLA  December 24, 2009
“Human lives follow a certain trajectory; you come full circle. You move from infancy to become a child, then make your parents’ lives a living hell during your teenage years, then achieve adulthood (when your aging parents [...]

Florida folks behave strangely this time of year. We hang fake icicles from eaves, despite being thrilled to live in a climate that doesn’t have real ones. We drag a tree inside, and get urges to dress in red and green. Sometimes, we really get carried away… like last year when we bought that adorable elf hat at [...]

The pics below are courtesy of my brother and sister-in-law, Rick and Debbie Burton of Seminole. They have a great sense of humor and a knack for being in the right place with a camera.

 
Tinker, the curious feline gets acquainted with a Florida Frosty.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Then tries walking on Florida ice.
 
 
 

 
While pal, Baylee keeps the Christmas spirit [...]

What to Read, Watch, or Listen:
Television
NBC
RUDOLPH, A DIFFERENT KIND OF DOG
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 2:38 PM By Stephanie Himango, NBC News Producer
Rudolph is no ordinary daschund. He was born blind and death, with an unusually pale coat…a result of overbreeding.  In addition to his sensory challenges, Rudolph spent the first year of his life in a [...]

The historic Lutz schoolhouse, built in the 1920’s, is a community gathering place.  Since October, dedicated volunteers have been decorating the school for Christmas.  Last weekend, Scott and I stopped by to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

 
This sign announced an early meal with the jolly man in red. We just missed him, darn it! (I had my [...]

Hobbit continues to defy my understanding of Dog. Most dogs pop out of bed in the morning, eager for that first meal of the day. Hobbit has always been a heavy sleeper, but lately he’s taken to lingering in his crate. Scott’s alarm goes off and Ella is up with her tail in full flag [...]

The Mutt Watch will return next week .  Today I’m covering a pet peeve ( Pun intended. ) – Scott
Children under age six are not allowed at the Lutz dog park, yet I have seen parents bring toddlers inside and let them play willy-nilly while a pack of big dogs tears around,  sometimes smacking into people. A child could easily [...]

It’s too dark for Scott to take Hobbit to the dogpark in the evenings now. Instead, they find safe lighted areas to roam. This week, Scott snapped a few pics of holiday lights they passed by.  If the images seem a little blurry…well, try to imagine taking photos with Hobbit along.

It’s been cool here the last couple weeks. And rainy. Floridians abide six months of hurricane season and four months of brutal heat and humidity. But after three wet winter days, we start whining. Last weekend several events were canceled due to rain. By Saturday morning, it had slowed to a drizzle…prompting many to stay home in their [...]