Prescription Pumpkin

Autumn is segueing into Winter and snowmen are replacing pumpkins on our front porches.  Let's not forget about the little round orange fruit.  It's not just for jack-o-lanterns and pies.  You, your dogs, and cats can benefit from it year round.  Yep, take that extra can of pumpkin out of the pantry and put it to use rather than throwing it out once it has passed the expiration date.

Pumpkin is a regular part to my dog's diet.  Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to a week.  Just a tablespoon or more a day, depending on size of the recipient, will be a nice addition to their diet.  I free feed my cats dry kibble otherwise I'd give them pumpkin too.  (My beloved Mocha ate it with his mixture of dry and canned food.)

Here's why it's good:

• Pumpkin is a fabulous source a fiber helping with regularity, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, upset stomachs, and hairballs.  (I'm hoping you don't have hairballs.  If so, please seek a doctor's help immediately!)
• Weight loss ~ If your pet is carrying a few extra pounds try reducing his food and replace the reduced amount with pumpkin.  Your pet will be just as full as he usually is. 
• Believed to support urinary health.  It's high in essential fatty acids and antioxidants.  The medicinal properties include anti-diabetic, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory.

So, go out and get some pumpkin to add to your dog's or cat's diet today.

They'll be thankful!

Bonus tip for longer lasting jack-o-lanterns:

Thirty minutes after carving your jack-o-lantern rub with a dry cloth and apply a protective coating such as petroleum jelly, vegetable oil or clear furniture wax.  You could go all out and use laquer or hair spray to give it a nice glossy finish.

The Beauty of Pollination

How could you not fall in love with and be amazed at God's creation when watching this video?

Winter in the yard ~

We are blessed to have a beautiful pond in our backyard with turtles, goldfish, koi, and lots of mosquito fish.  In the winter, when the water temperature falls below 55 degrees, we stop feeding and provide some type of shelter (e.g. PVC pipe, hollow log, clay pots) for them to hide from predators.  The turtles are hibernating in the rocks or plants.  The fish are cold blooded and their metabolism slows down so they don't digest the food.  They will also swim more closely and slowly.  {Note: If your pond is above ground and/or shallow you should bring the fish indoors.}

The tortoise has also gone into hibernation.  This is Fred.

As for the birds, we have several feeders we keep full once the weather starts to cool off and food is harder to find.  I like a mixture of safflower, black oil sunflower seeds, and smaller songbird food. 

I also provide dried mealworms for the bluebirds.