5 Smart Ways to Stay Toasty Warm This Winter

The beautiful autumn season has arrived with it's colorful display of changing leaves and gorgeous sunsets. Warm dry sunny days followed by cool brisk nights remind us of the ever impending cold blustry days of winter just around the corner.

Winter can provide us with breathtaking views of  fluffy snowflakes sparkling  through vivid sunrays as they gently fall from the sky. Yes, winter can be a joyous season for all when we are amply prepared for it. Being prepared for winter warmth is possibly the one of the best ways you can insure that you and your family stay  healthy and happy  during the cold winter months.

5 Smart Ways to Stay Toasty Warm This Winter:

1. Prepare now by checking your furnace to make sure it is in good working order. Many families today are also choosing to supplement their  heating supply by using  a duraflame infrared quartz heater  . These nifty heaters offer an economical way to quickly warm your entire home or just a room depending on the model that you choose.

2. Seal all drafts and insulate your attic area and all outer walls. Caulk around doors and windows and/or cover with insulating clear plastic. 3. Wear warm clothing including lightweight insulating underwear, meringo wool socks and sweaters, down filled clothing, coats, gloves and scarves. Be sure to wear a hat to keep the warmth in your body.  Don't forget your feet.  Keeping your feet warm with adequately warm moisture repelling leather boots is a must!  4. Have a portable generator lowes generators on hand just in case a power outage occurs.  5. Using bedding such as a tie dye bedding  comforter  helps keep body warmth under the covers so you stay toasty warm.  These are just some of the may ways we can prepare for the cold wintry days ahead.  Just taking a few simple steps to prepare for warmth will ensure that our families stay warm, happy and healthy.

COLOR MIXING PART 7

TRIAD & TETRAD COMPLEMENTARY COLORS

Learning how to use the color wheel in every day applications can be both challenging and rewarding.

We have reviewed several color harmonies using the color wheel during the past few weeks.

The final two color harmonies that we will be discussing are Triad and Tetrad complementary colors.

Triad colors are three colors that are equally spaced on the color wheel as shown in the diagram below:

 Tetrad colors are four colors that are equally spaced on the color wheel as shown in the diagram below:

Next week I will be sharing with you a list of important Color Definations that you can use as a reference guide.  In the weeks to come I will be showing you how to use all of the information found in my complete color wheel tutorial for everyday application and design.

Have a great day! Deb

A LESSON IN COLOR MIXING PART 6

SPLIT COMPLEMENTARY COLORS

Split Complementary Colors are a color and the two colors next to it's complement on the color wheel.

This is shown in the color wheel shown below:

The Chart below shows how Split Complementary Colors complement each other:

Using Split Complementary Colors to design fashions, knitting, crocheting, art work, in decorating,etc. makes them more interesting and pleasing to the eyes.

Have a great day! Deb

A LESSON IN COLOR MIXING PART 5

Our lesson on color mixing today will focus on Triadic Color Harmony.

To find a Triadic Color Harmony on the color wheel, select a color, then choose two additional colors that are equally spaced apart. This concept is shown in the color wheel diagram below.

The color chart that is located below the color wheel above shows how triadic colors compliment each other.

Using the concepts of selecting color harmonies is helpful in everyday living as we choose pleasing colors to design knitting, crochet & sewing projects, designing home decor, entertaining, cooking, creating artwork and in almost every aspect of life.

The next lesson on color harmonies will show how to use  Split Complementary Colors.
See you then, Deb

What Is My Dog Eating Anyway?

Well, I could write pages and pages about this subject. However, I'm going to stick with the basics today. There are hundreds of types of commercially processed dog foods to choose from and everyone has their own favorites for one reason or another. But, you may wonder... Are all dog foods equal and are they all really healthy for my four-legged friend? How can I identify good and bad dog food? We will explore these questions in this issue of my


MAKE OR BREAK YOUR DOG'S HEALTH

The food that you feed your dog is the foundation of his/her health and longivity. Did you know that dogs are living shorter lives these days partially because they are not getting the proper nutrition needed? And, did you know that you can actually save alot of visits to the vet's office and ultimately alot of money just by feeding your dog a healthy diet? This is why it is so important to choose wisely what you are feeding your dog. There are pros and cons to feeding either "commerical dry or canned food", the "table scrap" diet or whether to feed the "raw meat" diet.
This is your choice, but for most of us the "raw diet" is too expensive, labor intensive and if you start feeding your dog raw chicken or beef, the next time he/she is near a flock of live roosting hens or a herd of cattle.... well, you know the rest of the story....they become live meat hunters! Oh, and if you have a pet bird, well.... just make sure there is an iron barrier around it's cage!
The "table scrap" diet is an option for some provided you have that many table scraps leftover (which, if you have a healthy eating family as I do, you won't have even a tablespoon of food leftover for the dog). Also, just table scraps may not contain the balanced variety of nutrients that your pet needs to maintain excellent health.
So, this leaves the "commercial dog food" diet which seems to be the best option for most of us busy families today. It's quick, easy and fairly economical. However, it can be very daunting trying to figure out which dog food to choose for your pet.
As a successful German Shepherd dog breeder I'm going to offer my advice in choosing the best commercial dog foods. My findings are based on experience, research and recommendations from several veterinarians that we have routinely used over the years. I encourage you to please make your own educated choices, however.


GOOD INGREDIENTS vs. BAD INGREDIENTS


A good rule of thumb when choosing a healthy commerical dog food for your beloved friend is to check all of the ingredients listed on the dog food can or bag. Keep in mind that the majority of dog foods contain ingredients that are actually fillers and are very unhealthy for your pet. The following is a list of bad ingredients, mainly because the dog can neither digest these ingredients, they provide little or no nutritional value or they give your dog loose stools, all of which leave the pet open to a number of health problems. **Also, you will be buying twice the amount of dog food monthly that the dog would actually need if he/she were eating a proper balanced dog food.


"No-No" Ingredients:
1. All meat by-products!
2. Wheat, Soy, Corn! (Can cause allergies, including but not limited to excessive hair &
weight loss, and vomiting.)
3. MSG or Preservatives! (Can cause allergies, including but not limited to excessive hair & weight
loss, and vomiting.)
4. Large quantities of Sodium(salt)!
5. High Frutose Corn Syrup or Sugars. (Contributes to canine diabetes & poor dental health.)
6. Pork.
7. Chocolate
8. Raisins
9. More on this at www.debsdogblog.blogsot.com

Following is a list of essential dog food ingredients that actually encourage excellent pet health and may add years to the life of your dog:

"Healthful" Ingredients:
1. REAL Meat! This should be the First ingredient listed.
2. A nice variety of fruits, vegetables, and including rice, flaxseed, oatmeal, barley & millet!
3. Probiotics! This will keep your dog's intestinal tract healthy, warding off a number of contagious
transferable bacteria, that can cause loose stools, vomiting and excessive hair loss.
4. A balanced variety of essential vitamins, minerals, crude protein, fat and fiber.

MY CHOICES
I have tried and tested many a brand of dog food over the years until I was educated in the "Truth About Commerical Dog Food" from a veterinarian friend of mine. It was enlightening to say the least
to find out that what I had been feeding my dogs for years(not our German Shepherds, of course) were actually full of "garbage" ingredients which were doing them absolutely no good, contributing to poorer health, shorter life span and HIGHER VET BILLS! I also realized that when I started feeding "Good" dog food to my pets, they actually ate about 1/2 as much food, so the cost of the higher priced dog food was actually saving me a considerable amount of money each month.
Here are a few brands of Great Commercial Dog Food that I have found to be excellent choices:
1. Blue Buff (high priced but contains all of the above essential ingredients.)
2. Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul (medium priced and contains all of the above essential ingredients.)

***These dog foods can be purchased at pet supply stores, some Home Improvement and Farm Supply Stores, and of course online at a variety of websites.   

*I do not receive any compension by any company or business recommended in this article.

A LESSON IN COLOR MIXING PART 4

Today's Lesson on Color Mixing will focus on Color Harmonies, colors that go together. These color harmonies include, Complementary, Triadic Harmony, and Split Complementary.

The first of the color harmonies, Complementary Colors are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel as shown below. The chart below the color wheel shows how the colors complement each other.

Learning how colors can complement one another is so important in every day life and will help us in designing handmade crafts, fine arts, decorating, in our wardrobe, etc.

Next week I will be sharing with you  Triadic Color Harmonies and how they complement each other.
                                                                          *****

Please take a minute to voice your opinion in my short  blog reader poll below.  And, if you haven't already become one of my blog followers, please do so. Or, if you would like this blog to be automatically sent to your email please enter your email address in the form below. Thanks and have a great autumn day! Deb