How to Have a Safe Pet Christmas

Christmas, as we know, is “the most wonderful time of the year”… But what should be “the happiest season of all” can soon degenerate into something quite different, if we ignore the dangers our festive celebrations can pose to our animals. For instance, while Christmas dinner may look very tempting to your Labrador or Golden Retriever (and who are you to deny him on Christmas Day??), for them there is far more at stake than simply their waistline.

Among the many unexpected hazards on your Christmas menu are the onions in your gravy and stuffing. Onions contain a substance known as thiosulphate, which is toxic to dogs and cats, causing oxidative damage to red blood cells. Early signs of onion poisoning include diarrhoea, vomiting and lethargy.

Turkey bones – from your plate, kitchen counter, or rubbish bin – are hollow, and splinter easily, causing obstruction and sometimes perforation of the intestinal tract.

You also need to be cautious once pudding has arrived….. Christmas cake, Christmas pudding and mince pies are rich in alcohol and raisins, which, like onions, are toxic to dogs and cats. Grapes and raisins are especially hazardous.

Nuts (macadamias, in particular) are likewise dangerous to pets. Signs of macadamia poisoning include weakness and ataxia (difficulty walking, due to lack of coordination).

Once you have removed the onions, bones, raisins and nuts from your pet’s Christmas dinner, you can treat them to some fat trimmings and roast potatoes but be aware fatty meals can result in loose stools or potentially a trip to the vets.

Sadly, not only our Christmas dinner but also our Christmas decorations, can be dangerous to pets. Christmas trees (pine), holly, mistletoe and poinsettia are all mildly toxic, causing diarrhoea and vomiting if ingested. Furthermore, though we may know chocolate is toxic to pets, it is easy to overlook the chocolate coins dangling enticingly from branches, or wrapped beneath the tree.

Non-chocolate tree decorations can also be tempting to our pets. As well as presenting a choking hazard, baubles tend to shatter, causing lacerations to the mouth and/or intestines. Tinsel can be eaten like spaghetti. Unlike spaghetti, however, tinsel bunches and twists within the intestines, requiring immediate surgery.

We all know the festive season can be stressful, but, by following these tips, and ensuring your pets are safe this Christmas, you can at least avoid the expense of an unscheduled visit to your vets. Now, go have yourselves a merry little Christmas… Santa Paws is coming to town.

 

Source: lintbells.com

Read more...

A Nephew's School

Last Friday I went to my nephew’s school to get her academic report card. My SIL and nephew were out of town for a few days and her father wasn’t able to cancel an important meeting in his office that morning. 

Flags in the front of her school. Though it's already fading, some flags are in blue.

Her class located at the 2ndfloor. I saw some stalls offered food and kid stuffs in the schoolyard.

My nephew is a new student there –a 4^th grade student at a public elementary school. It seems that she can adapt with new friends and school but she faces difficulty in learning local language lesson. Though she isn’t including in the best ten in her class, it’s no problem at all since the whole lessons –except the local language- got good scores.

Happy Monday and happy holidays!

Blue Monday

Read more...

Indonesia’s Mother’s Day

Today is Indonesia’s Mother’s day. Different with other countries, Indonesia's Mother's Day has a historical background. Actually, it was the day of the first Indonesian Women Congress that held from December 22 to 25, 1928. It was attended by 30 feminist organizations from 12 cities in Java and Sumatra islands.

The day was originally aimed to commemorate the strength of Indonesian women and to improve the condition of the nation. Nowadays, Mother's Day is celebrated by expressing love and gratitude to mothers.

 

Mom and me

My mother has passed away in 1999 and I haven’t yet been a mother; but I want to convey appreciation to all mothers in Indonesia.

To all moms in Indonesia :

Mother’s love is incomparable

Mother’s devotion is unique

Mother’s care is inimitable

Mothers are irreplaceable

And no one can ever replace you in my heart

 For you are the best Mom

Happy Mother’s Day

source: easyday.snydle.com

I also want to share a poem that not made by me; but it really can express my feeling right now to my mother.

 

Mom and me

A Poem for My Mother – Shari M. Blom

I miss you so much, your laugh, your smile, your touch.

You always brightened my days with all the smiles you sent my way.

I need you as my angel to always be at my side.

I need you as my angel to give me peace of mind.

I like to think you are near to me to know that you are there.

Even though I can not see you, I feel that you are near.

Please do not forget me Mom, for you are always in my heart, my thoughts and prayers.

I love you...

Read more...

Cat’s Daily Activities

Mocca looks like a big hairy doll but he’s very active cat. He loves playing with boxes, running here and there, catching balls and once in a while I accompany him playing outside. It seems that he likes to feel wind touching gently his hair. 

Camera Critters  

Saturday's Critters

Read more...

When to Choose a Bath over a Shower Enclosure

You may be wondering whether you would be better off with a bath or a shower enclosure. There are many times when the bath will be the better option. There are various reasons why this could sometimes be the case.

Baths Are Roomier

Where a shower enclosure can make you feel like you are trapped you have more freedom to move around in a bath. You can stretch out in a bath but not a shower enclosure, making it a more comfortable option. It is especially important to have a bath if you have a baby or toddler at home because it is virtually impossible to bathe them in a shower closure at that age. Elderly family members may also prefer a bath because they won’t have to stand up while they wash themselves. In general, a bath will have more room for your elderly loved one to put a seat in than a shower enclosure would.

You Want To Relax

There are times when you need to bathe yourself but you are too tired to stand in the shower. This is another case of when it is best to choose a bath instead of a shower enclosure. A bath allows for you to add bath salts or oils, as well as bubble bath. You cannot use these things in a shower enclosure, making it very inconvenient at times. A bath gives you more flexibility than a shower enclosure ever could.

You Want To Bathe With Your Partner

If you want to bathe with your romantic partner or you need to bathe with a young child, a bath is a better choice. Many shower enclosures are too small and narrow to comfortably fit two people into. If you believe in showering with a partner or a child in order to save water you would want a shower enclosure rather than a bath. However, most of the time a bath is the more popular choice.

A Bath Is Cheaper Than A Shower Enclosure

Depending on the specific shower enclosure chances are a bath is a cheaper alternative. If money is tight or you are very conservative with your money you may be better off purchasing a bath.

A huge part of the decision of whether or not you want a bath or a shower enclosure comes down to personal preferences. You may have a strong preference for one over the other, and there is nothing wrong with that. While in many cases a bath makes more sense it is up to you to ultimately determine what you want to have in your bathroom. If you are lucky you may even have room in your bathroom for both.

For help in deciding if a bath or a shower enclosure is a better choice for you, www.bellabathrooms.co.uk. Here you will find helpful information and tips on everything you need to know in order to have a bathroom that you can relax in and enjoy.

Read more...