Holiday Hits: Happy National Black Dog Day!

October 1st is National Black Dog Day, which encourages the adoption of darker-colored dogs who are less likely do be adopted simply because of their color.  Above is a picture of our dog Mae.  We adopted her in October 2023 and have no regrets.  She is the sweetest of dogs, gets along well with her sister Madison, and loves going for walks with our neighbor's dogs.  If you are thinking of adopting a dog, please do not overlook the darker ones because of their color - they are wonderful companions just like lighter-colored dogs!

This 'n That Thursdays: Pig Caught On Camera Stealing Neighbors' Pumpkins | The Dodo

Happy Halloween, everyone!  I just watched this YouTube vlog post yesterday and had to share it - not only is this pig obsessed with Halloween pumpkins and jack o' lanterns, he also managed to grow his own pumpkin patch!  This is such a hilarious and heartwarming video, and it will make your day.  Enjoy! 🎃🐷🎃🐖🎃🐷🎃

On the Homefront: Meet Mae(ve), Our Newest Canine Family Member

I think it is high time I introduced the most recent addition to our little family - meet Mae, a rescued stray we initially intended just to foster, but quickly realized that she needed to stay!  Mae was a stray at the Taos Pueblo, only two years old when rescued but already raising her second litter of puppies.  The pueblo is attempting to reduce their number of stray dogs so last September they agreed to let a rescue group take Mae and her puppies along with another female dog with a litter.  The other female and all of the puppies were rounded up and adopted out fairly quickly, but the group had a hard time capturing Mae and could not get her until two weeks after the rest of the dogs had left.

Although the original rescuers were from Colorado, they let another group based in Santa Fe take Mae in to find her a foster home.  This new group temporarily boarded her at a vet clinic while they advertised on NextDoor, a local social networking platform, for a foster home willing to take Mae in.  This is where I found her, and as soon as I saw her picture I decided we would give it a try.  I had never fostered before, but I was starting to think about getting another dog after losing my beloved Ruby last March.  Since I am getting older I initially I thought that I would like to get an older dog who was not too big, possibly a Dalmatian as we had owned Dalmatians in the past and they are my favorite breed.  I tried to find an adoptable Dalmatian in our area but had no luck, so when I saw Mae's picture I thought that while I looked for my next dog I could at least help out other dogs in need of a home by fostering.

While Mae's bio mentioned that she was easy to handle and got along well with other dogs, she was very young and about fifteen pounds heavier than I thought I could handle easily, so I did not really think she would suit us as a permanent addition.  Nevertheless, I got in touch with the rescue group and set up a meeting at our house so that they could inspect our premises to make sure we were suitable and I could decide if I could handle Mae.  The meeting went very well, Mae got along fine with our dog Madison, and I decided that I could do a foster.

Initially Mae was rather anxious and kept looking for a way out of the house (as a stray, she had never lived in a house before) but after a week she settled in and calmed down a lot.  Best of all, she seemed very happy to be living with us and proved to be very easy to train.  That was when I decided that she was after all a dog we could adopt.  We signed the papers, officially kept the name "Maeve" that she was given by the rescue group but shortened it to Mae for everyday use, and she is now a permanent member of our family.  She has been with us since early October 2023, and while we are still working on a few issues, she has settled in very well.

Mae is a very happy and playful dog, just a big bumbling puppy really, who enjoys her daily morning walks as well as lying around in the yard all day when the weather is nice.  We do not even have to worry about our driveway gate being open as she has no desire to leave the property and does not chase cars.  Even though she is an athletic and strong dog who weighs about 60 pounds who could easily pull me over when I have her on the leash, she never pulls and seems fine with being on a leash (although I know she would love to run free).  She gets along well with our dog Madison as well as the neighbor's small dogs that walk with us in the morning, and best of all she is big enough to protect Madison and the neighbor's dogs from any coyotes who may be thinking of going after these smaller dogs (she has already chased away one coyote that bit Madison, who never watches where she is going and tends to walk right into coyotes when following a scent!).  This girl is a keeper, and I am so glad that I took a chance and decided to invite her into our home!

An adorable photo of Mae hugging a tiny stuffed squirrel toy.

On the Homefront: Meet Minnie and Pearl!

Minnie the mother donkey is on the left, and Pearl her daughter is on the right.

I have been meaning to introduce the latest addition to our animal family, but I adopted Minnie and Pearl just a week before my dog Ruby's health began to decline so it has taken me a while to get to this post.  I got this mother-daughter bonded pair of spotted donkeys from a donkey rescue called The Longears Safehouse, which is near the small town of Estancia to the east of Albuquerque.  After my horse Nick passed away in December, I knew that I would most likely not be riding any longer because of joint issues, so I had no need for a riding horse.  I had been thinking about getting donkeys but wanted to make sure they would have a place to go if something happened to me, as I am getting on in years.  The donkey rescue will take donkeys back if you can no longer care for them - in fact, it is in the contract you sign when you adopt from them.  Even though Minnie is twenty years old and Pearl is about sixteen, donkeys can live a long time, even into their forties, so it is a relief to me to know they will always have a home even if they outlive me.  I also feel good about the fact that I can provide loving care to two donkeys that have been shuffled around to various owners over the years and really needed a more secure environment where they will hopefully be able to live for most if not all of their lives.

It has been fun getting to know these girls - Minnie, the mother donkey, is the more outgoing of the two and settled in quite quickly.  Pearl is a bit more aloof and it took her a while to get used to me, but she finally seems to trust me and is becoming much easier to approach and handle.  They are both good about being groomed and letting me clean their feet, and did well in the trailer ride over to our property.  They will be getting a visit from my farrier soon, and I was told that they are used to getting their feet trimmed so should be good with the farrier as well.  Other than being a bit pushy at feeding time they are very easy to handle, and I think we will get on well together.

By the way, if you know of anyone in the New Mexico area who would like to adopt donkeys and has adequate facilities to do so, I highly recommend The Longears Safehouse as the place to go.  The donkeys are not adopted out until they receive proper veterinary and hoof care, and have also undergone basic training for handling and any behavior issues.  Maybe the new owners of the HGTV Smart Home 2023 would like to welcome a couple of rescue donkeys into their lives as well (if they are properly zoned, that is)!

On the Homefront: Remembering Ruby (2007-2023)

Ruby when she was four years old.

I think this is the hardest post I have ever had to write.  All of my animals have been special, but Ruby was the dog that chose us, and she showed her gratitude to us for taking her in all of her life.  She first came in to our lives early one morning when I was out walking the two rescue Dalmatians, Diamond and Gia, that we had adopted the previous year.  Ruby came out of nowhere and started to follow us.  The two Dalmatians were not happy and Ruby kept her distance, but she stayed with us for the whole walk, even though I kept encouraging her to go home.  When we got to our property and she followed us down the driveway, I finally turned to her and said "Okay girl, I will take care of you."  As if she understood, Ruby came up to the house and settled on the outside door mat as if relieved to finally have a place where she was welcomed.  I gave her food and water, and later took her to the vet where she was treated for ectoparasites and given a thorough examination.

Initially she was found to be underweight but healthy, and they were not sure if she was spayed.  About a week later we found out she was not, and scheduled her for the operation.  The day before that date, her right eye began to swell shut.  A quick return trip to the vet revealed a cracked back molar that was so infected the right side of her face was beginning to swell.  She was started on antibiotics and the next day in addition to being spayed she had the broken tooth removed.

Ruby with her Dalmatian sisters, Gia (left) and Diamond (right), and my husband.

From that day forward she began to thrive.  She gained weight and her lackluster coat became softer and shinier.  I initially thought she was a low-energy dog, but her lack of energy was obviously due to the tooth infection, because as soon as that healed her high-energy terrier nature emerged.  We decided she was a mix of the two most common dog breeds in rural Georgia, the pit bull terrier and the "feist", the local name for a rat terrier.  It was a joy to watch this dog run - she had the rat terrier ability to bound into the air and literally hang there for a while to look around before landing again.  While she was overly energetic around other dogs and could be a bit quarrelsome with them when she became older, Ruby loved every person she ever met.  I have never known a dog to be so trusting of people, and this despite the fact that she was probably not treated well by people before she found us.

Ruby with Madison.

Ruby was very attached to me and never forgot that I was the one who rescued her.  She would do anything for me, and rarely did anything that I did not approve of.  She loved riding in the car with me, even if it was only to the vet.  She was 12 years old when we moved from Georgia to New Mexico and had never been on a cross-country car ride before, but she and our other dog Madison did surprisingly well.  I waited until October to move, assuming that the weather would be cooler and make travel easier, only to end up driving for over four days in the hottest October I have ever endured (over 100 degrees for the first three days) in a car with very inefficient air conditioning.  I was so proud of my girls - they traveled so well, and even rode an elevator for the first time without a problem!

 

 

 

Ruby in her favorite room in our New Mexico house - the kitchen!

Once we arrived in New Mexico, both dogs had to learn to adapt to the very different environment, learning to avoid walking on spiny plants and confronting coyotes, getting used to all of the unpacking and rearrangement of belongings, and then enduring life during the pandemic.  Ruby had a few health issues after we got here, including having a malignant tumor successfully removed from her elbow and getting her digestive issues under control (she had picked up Clostridium perfringens in Georgia, which infects the intestinal tract and cannot be eliminated, only kept under control by lifelong low-dose antibiotics).  Even so, she was remarkably healthy for an old dog, although eventually her arthritic elbow got so bad that she could no longer go for long walks.  I had her on a daily routine that she loved and tried never to vary it, which really helped her live a stress-free and comfortable life that she loved.

My husband took this photo in 2021 - just two old gals snoozing on the sofa together.

Only recently did her health begin to decline significantly.  The last few months she had several bouts of pancreatitis due to a compromised liver, and she was not able to recover from the last bout.  Letting her go was so hard, but I knew it was time, and the vet hospital did an excellent job making her last moments comfortable.  My husband and I were there to support her, and we made sure she knew she was loved and was resting peacefully before we let her go.

One of the last photos I took of my beloved girl.

It has taken me days to write this rather rambling tribute to my wonderful, beautiful, beloved Ruby.  I still miss her so much, and even now cannot stop grieving every day.  There is a big hole in my life without my Ruby to fill it, but I will be forever grateful to have had her with me for 15 of her 16 years.  I will never forget you, my sweetest girl, and I hope that one day I will be with you again.

 

I love this photo of my Ruby - it is one of the few that I have showing her in alert mode with her tail up and ears perked.

On the Homefront: Ruby (2007-2023)

Today, on the first day of spring, I had to say goodbye to my beloved dog Ruby.  She had a compromised liver for many years, probably the result being hit by a car before we found her as a stray when she was only a year old.  We successfully managed her liver values with various supplements and a careful diet, but this year things took a turn for the worse.  She was hospitalized twice at the end of last year for pancreatitis, and while she did manage to recover her liver values were gradually getting higher and higher.  She was put on medication in addition to the supplements and special diet, and, tough old fighter that she was, for a few months she managed quite well.

Recently, however, I noticed that her appetite was not as good has it had been (she had always been an enthusiastic eater).  She went to the vet for a previously scheduled blood test, and sure enough her values were so high that she developed pancreatitis yet again.  This time supportive care did not work.  Her values continued to rise, and after a week on IV fluids and pain medications she still did not show signs of recovery.  Today we found out that her liver was failing.  There was nothing more we could do for her, and she no longer had any fight left in her.  She would not eat or drink, and no longer wanted to get up - all she wanted to do was sleep.  She was not a good candidate for surgery at her age (she was 16) or for steroid treatment to reduce the inflammation.  We reluctantly decided that it was time to let her go.

I will post a better tribute to my girl later.  Right now I am just too heartbroken to continue.  This dog meant the world to me, and I cannot do justice to her life at the moment in this post.  Goodbye, my sweet, loving, wonderful Ruby - the world is a sadder place without you in it.

On the Homefront: Remembering Nick (2000-2022)

Nick in his pasture in Georgia.

This post has been a long time in coming, but it has taken me a while to process the fact that my horse Nick passed away so suddenly.  I first met Nick when he was seven years old.  He was being boarded at a barn near where a friend I used to ride with lived.  His owner had not been able to ride him in over a year because she had been in a car accident, and he was the only horse at the barn.  He was a big, beautiful Tennessee Walking Horse, over 16 hands tall but very laid back and easy to handle.  Nick was a color known as rusty or sooty black, not a true black, because his color faded to almost bay in the summer sun (as you can tell from the two photos at the top and bottom of the post).  He had apparently been bred as a show horse, and was left as a stallion until he was five, but because of his easy-going personality he probably was not showy enough for competition.  This was a good thing, as the TWH show circuit is notorious for the cruel practices used to encourage a flashy gait, so he was able to avoid such treatment.  I liked him because he had a long, easy stride and just enough spirit to make him a fun ride, although his long stride did make him a bit clumsy on some of the more rugged trails we occasionally took.  We lived very close to a state park with some of the best riding trails in the state, and we were able to go for some good fun rides on a regular basis.

Of all the horses I have owned, I was able to ride Nick the most, and even bought and learned to pull a horse trailer short distances to get to the local parks with horse trails.  Nick was very easy to trailer, and was good with the vet and the farrier.  He was always easy to handle and got along well with most other horses, although because he had been left as a stallion for so long he could be unpredictable with other geldings (he always loved mares, though!).  Gaited horse are popular in Georgia, but I had never owned a gaited horse before and was not the best rider on them.  However, Nick and I managed well enough.  The one thing I always regretted was not taking a few lessons with someone who specialized in gaited horses - I think Nick and I could have done even better together if I had done so.

I was still caring for my old horse Bugs when I first got Nick, so I had to board him rather than have him on our property because I did not want him to bully Bugs, who was a rather submissive horse.  When Bugs passed away I was able to bring him to our place in Georgia, where he kept my little donkey Daisy company until she passed away.  I moved Nick out to New Mexico with me when we bought our house here, and I did intend to ride him here but the pandemic intervened and then I started to have joint issues so we never got to trail ride here.  I also wanted to get him a companion, either a donkey or another horse, but again the pandemic interfered with those plans, so once again he ended up being an only horse.  There were other horses in the neighborhood that he could hear and sometimes see and he did not seem to mind being alone, but I do wish I could have gotten him a companion.  He seemed to be doing fine here, but I sometimes wonder if he had some digestive issues all along, because he did have some problems adjusting to the hay available here in New Mexico, which was very different from the hay grown in the southeast.  Otherwise he was perfectly healthy, - he had only ever colicked once before the whole time I owned him, and that was only because he was slightly dehydrated.  Even the vet was surprised when Nick developed such a serious colic, and despite everything we tried, including surgery, we could not save my poor boy.

I was lucky to have Nick for fifteen years, and I hope he had a good life with me.  I doubt that I will ever have another riding horse, as my joints have reached the point where I can no longer ride comfortably, but I will always have fond memories of the times I got to trail ride with my wonderful Nick.  Even now I still can't quite believe he is gone, and I miss my sweet boy every day.

Nick in his barn in New Mexico.

On the Homefront: Nick (2000-2022)

Sad news on the homefront today - my wonderful horse Nick passed away very early yesterday morning.  He began colicking on Tuesday and I had the vet out, but Nick was still not well by the next morning so he was taken to the vet hospital.  They treated him and monitored him closely, but he took a turn for the worse late Wednesday night.  He was rushed into emergency surgery but he did not survive.  I will post a better memorial to Nick in a few days, but I am still a bit stunned by his sudden passing as he had been doing quite well with no obvious signs of poor health.  I will miss my beloved boy so much.

Current Events: Weird and Wonderful Wildlife

Image from Intrepid Travel

Today is World Wildlife Conservation Day, and a good day to bring attention to some interesting wildlife discoveries in the news recently.  Let's start with the weird, shall we?  Scientists have found that wolves in Yellowstone National Park who are infected with Toxmoplasma gondii, a parasite commonly found in cats which causes toxoplasmosis, tends to make them engage in riskier behavior.  They are 11 times more likely to leave the safety of their pack and strike off on their own, and 46 time more likely to become a pack leader!  Apparently the parasite enters the wolf host's brain and causes the behavior changes.  Since cats are the only hosts in which these parasites can complete their life cycle (all other species are essentially dead-end hosts where the parasites can survive but cannot reproduce) it is thought that this riskier behavior by their hosts may make them more likely to cross paths with feline species which can then possibly ingest the adult parasite, allowing them to complete their life cycle.  It is known that rodents infected with T. gondii seem to lose their fear of cats, making them easy prey for cats.  Even humans with toxoplasmosis can show behavioral changes (not to mention the fact that toxoplasmosis can on rare occasions lead to serious injury or even death).

Image from BBC

Also reported in the news recently is the wonderful rediscovery of a bird thought to be extinct for 140 years!  The Black-naped Pheasant-pigeon (Otidiphaps insularis), previously documented by scientists only once in 1882, was recently photographed by another team of scientists on the rugged island of Fergusson in Papua New Guinea.  This large, ground-dwelling pigeon lives in the rugged and almost inaccessible forests on the island which could be its last stronghold.  It is hoped that this new information will help in the preservation of the species, which is still considered to be extremely rare and endangered.  Take a look at the video recorded by the research team below:

 

These two stories are proof that we still have a lot to learn about the wildlife with whom we share this planet.  The information we gain from studying these species is invaluable for understanding the planet on which we all live as well as how environmental variables may affect us.  We would do well to protect our fellow species, as in doing so we may just be protecting ourselves.

On the Homefront: Be Careful if You Give Your Dog Fish Oil Supplements

Ruby seems comfortable now - her belly was shaved for an ultrasound.

Once again I have been MIA on by blog, but again it was for a good reason.  My old dog Ruby had a health issue relapse, and I have been working hard to get her back to good health.  Fortunately she does seem to be recovering, and I thought this would be a good time to let everyone know what has been happening and how I think we have finally figured out why she was getting sick.

In early October Ruby had a bout of severe pancreatitis, which required several days on IV fluids at the vet hospital.  She also developed a secondary abdominal infection which prolonged her stay and meant she had to be on two different types of antibiotics.  She has had slightly elevated liver values for a few years and is on a prescription low-fat diet, but the pancreatitis sent those values soaring and it took a while to get them to start coming down.

I brought her home and for a few weeks she seemed to be doing well, but in early November she had a relapse.  Of course this happened on a Sunday when her regular vet office is closed, so I had to rush her to an emergency vet 45 minutes away.  She spent the night there and they were afraid her gall bladder might rupture but fortunately she made it through the night and I transferred her to her regular vet.  There they did an ultrasound and decided that her gall bladder was not in danger of rupturing, but several of her blood values (liver, pancreas, and gall bladder) were even higher than the first time.  Once again she spent several days on IV fluids (the only treatment for pancreatitis is supportive care which cannot be given at home).  She finally came home the week before Thanksgiving, and she has been slowly but surely improving ever since.  In fact, she is pretty much back to normal now, although her blood values need to be checked again in a few days to see if they have come down more.

So why did she have the initial attack of pancreatitis, and why did it recur?  The vets could find no significant problems - they even did a liver biopsy to rule out cancer and the result was negative.  As I mentioned above, Ruby's liver values have been slightly elevated for a few years.  We found her as a stray and I am not sure but I think she may have been hit by a car before we found her - not a direct hit but a glancing blow.  She had a cracked molar on the right side which had to be removed, and has developed significant arthritis in her right elbow as she has aged.  The liver is on the right side of the body and any trauma to the liver is known to affect its function, which may be why her liver does not function completely normally.

With no obvious cause for the pancreatitis, I started to double check everything that Ruby ingests in a normal day - all foods, treats, medications, and supplements - and I began to suspect her fish oil supplement.  This was the most recent addition to her diet (she has only been on it for a few months), and was recommended by the vet as the omega-3 fatty acids are thought to be beneficial in reducing her arthritis pain as well as for her liver issues.  What they did not tell me, however, was that too much fish oil is actually harmful and can cause pancreatitis in dogs with compromised liver function.  A few days after I started her back on her fish oil supplement after the first bout of pancreatitis she had her second attack - nothing else new had been added to her diet in over a week, so that in itself was suspect.

The more I read about fish oil supplements for dogs the more I became convinced that the dosage recommended for a dog her size was actually too much for her, especially since her prescription food also contains fish oil.  I walk my younger dog with a neighbor and her dogs, and when I mentioned my suspicions about Ruby's fish oil supplement to her, she told me that she had tried to give fish oil supplements to her two older dogs, both of whom had normal liver function, and both of them subsequently developed high blood liver values which went back to normal when she took them off of the supplement.

Needless to say, I will no longer be giving Ruby any more fish oil!  I mentioned my suspicions to her vet and they were non-commital as they had never encountered such a problem before, but Ruby is doing so well right now minus the fish oil in her daily diet that I am convinced this was the main culprit.  Usually when I start Ruby on a new medication or supplement I research it carefully and try to start her out on a half dose rather than the full dose, but for some reason I did not do this with the fish oil - how I wish I had!

My recommendation to anyone who is thinking of putting their dog on a fish oil supplement is to be sure that your dog really needs it.  Also, remember that some pet foods have added fish oil, so you may want to lower the dosage you use.  If you want to try it, make sure your dog's liver function is normal, and try starting with a half dose (I believe that most dosage recommendations for supplements are on the high side - after all, the makers of these products would like you to use as much as possible).

If you see no improvement in your dog's health and/or if their liver values start to increase, take them off of this supplement.  My neighbor tried switching to an omega-3 supplement that was not fish oil-based for her dogs, and they are doing fine on that.  I am certainly no expert, so do your research before making a decision for your own dog - you know your pup better than anyone, so when it comes to supplements in particular you are in the best position to make any decisions.

Hopefully with careful attention to her diet Ruby will have no more problems with pancreatitis - it is a very painful condition and can lead to complications, so I will be doing my best to make sure it does not happen again.  I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and I hope that December will be a better month for Ruby so that I can get some more posts done before the end of the year!

Wish List Wednesdays: A Couple of Lovely Tops and Socks for Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year to shop for clothes because I can find so many items in my preferred autumnal colors.  I treated myself to a couple of new tops recently that I just had to share, especially as they both feature animal print patterns, which are also a favorite of mine! Shown above is the Who's Who Sweater ($89.95) from Coldwater Creek in Spice Multi with an allover owl print.  This relaxed lightweight 100% cotton sweater is perfect for early autumn, and the owls are adorable, as you can see in the image below:

I found the Playful Foxes Striped Top ($34.99) shown below on the Serengeti website.  It is a three-quarter sleeve cotton tee with an allover fox print on an off-white background with gold stripes.

The foxes printed on this top are just as cute as the owls on the sweater shown above:

To complement these two new tops I decided I just had to add some new socks as well.  The Spirited Season Socks ($14.95 each) from Coldwater Creek were originally available in three different prints, but now only the fox print is still available (of course I purchased the owl print and the fox print socks!):

We had a lot of rain today, which is wreaking havoc with my internet connection, so I will get this published now while I still can.  I hope you are enjoying fall as much as I am - it is by far my favorite season!

Wish List Wednesdays: Koala Scarf by Un Poco

This lovely Koala Scarf ($195) by Un Poco was featured recently on one of my favorite blogs, The Vivienne Files, and I have to say I am quite smitten.  The 90 centimeter (about 35 inches) square scarf is 100% silk twill with hand-rolled edges.  In addition to the koala several other Australian animals are featured, including an echidna, emu, kangaroo, and cockatoo.  Best of all, this scarf features many hues in my color palette, including olive, rust, denim blue, and cream.  I have already hinted to my husband that it would be the perfect Valentine's Day gift - I hope he takes the hint, but if not I will just need to order it for myself!

Wish List Wednesdays: Talbots Reindeer Fair Isle Sweater

I mentioned in a previous post that I was on the hunt for a Christmas-themed sweater that did not fall into the category of "ugly Christmas sweater", and I do believe I finally found one!  The Reindeer Fair Isle Sweater ($89.50, but on sale for 40% off) from Talbots has the classic fair isle pattern around the bottom, cuffs, and neckline, but also features a subtle and sweet little reindeer sporting a fair isle sweater on the front.  I am always a sucker for clothing featuring animals, so for me this is the perfect Christmas sweater.  I also love the colors and the fact that it is mostly cotton.  Reviews mention that it is a lightweight sweater, but I actually prefer a less bulky sweater that can be worn as a second layer over a long-sleeved tee, so this should work well for me.  I have already placed my order - I just hope that it arrives in time for Christmas!

Wish List Wednesdays: Ann Taylor Horse Print Sweaters

I always enjoy finding a good animal print sweater when winter apparel becomes available.  This year's selections have not been as interesting as ones I have found in previous years, but I did find a couple of nice horse print sweaters on the Ann Taylor website.  The Horse Print Sweater ($98, but on sale today for 50% off) above seems a bit pricey for a mostly polyester sweater and may be too short for me as it is only 23 inches long and I am long-waisted, but for 50% off I am willing to order it and see how I like it.  The Horse Print Sweater Tee ($64.99, but on sale today for 50% off) shown below is a more usual 24 inches long and seems like a better deal, as it is all cotton and has two 5-star ratings.  I am hoping that I will like both of them enough to keep, as I love the pattern and find the colors of the long-sleeved sweater to be especially attractive.  I am still on the hunt for a nice patterned Christmas sweater that looks good without verging on ugly Christmas sweater territory - wish me luck!

Wish List Wednesdays: Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark Dog Mug

We are only just getting started on unpacking our unbelievably huge amount of belongings that arrived not long ago from Georgia after we sold our house there, and I certainly do not need any more mugs, but how could a Dalmatian lover like myself possibly resist the Peppermint Bark Dog Mug ($12.95) from Williams Sonoma featuring their iconic Dalmatian?  The 19-ounce mug made of high-fired porcelain is perfect for the upcoming holiday season, and will probably be about the only holiday décor we will be able to find before Christmas at the relatively slow rate we are unpacking right now!  Somewhere in those piles of boxes are various tins from the Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark collection, including the adorable Peppermint Bark Dog Tin, but for this year these mugs will be our Christmas Dalmatians.  Williams Sonoma has also introduced Dalmatian-shaped Bark Dog Marshmallow Mugtoppers, but I don't think I could bring myself to eat one - they are just too cute!

How could I possibly eat one of these cuties?

Wish List Wednesdays: Fixin' for Foxes Sweater from Coldwater Creek

Happy first day of fall, everyone!  We have endured an especially long, hot, and surprisingly wet summer this year in New Mexico, with an unexpected heat wave for the past two weeks, but yesterday it finally cooled off and it really does feel like fall today.  This time of year just about everyone starts thinking about getting cozy for the upcoming cooler weather, and I am no exception.  I would like to add one new sweater to my wardrobe for the season, and I think this Fixin' for Foxes Sweater ($79.95-$89.95) from Coldwater Creek is the one.  I love the dark peacock blue color, and the allover fox print looks quite autumnal to me.  The sweater is a 100% cotton fine-gauge knit that makes it the perfect weight for fall weather.  What a great new addition to my fall wardrobe this pullover sweater would be!

Wish List Wednesdays: Land's End Women's Cotton Poplin Peasant Shirt in Ivory/Rubellite Hens

 

I have not been buying much new clothing lately because the resurgence of the Covid virus is once again limiting any outings where I would wear new apparel, but when I saw the fun Cotton Poplin Peasant Shirt in the Ivory/Rubellite Hens print from Land's End I just could not resist!  This casual and comfortable top is quite appropriate for just wearing around the house, and the fact that it is currently on sale for only $19.98 is a great reason to purchase it now.  Sometimes just wearing something fun and amusing is all I need to brighten my day, and this shirt is a perfect example!  Have you found yourself more drawn to clothing in fun colors and prints lately too?

Wish List Wednesdays: Seki Japan Silicone Egg Separator

On a cooking vlog I watched recently, the vlogger used a unique egg separator that I decided I had to have.  The Seki Japan Silicone Egg Separator ($19.81) uses suction to separate the yolk from the egg (see image below).  You simply break the eggs into a bowl and use the separator to lift each yolk out.  Best of all, in my opinion anyway, the device is shaped like a cute little yellow chicken!  There is also a pink chick if yellow does not appeal to you, and if chickens do not interest you, check out these other suction egg separators which come in the shape of a pig, frog, or fish (there are other options that are not animal-shaped if for some reason that is your preference, but why?).

Wish List Wednesdays: Everly Quinn Makris Appetizer Plates

 

 

Now that spring is here, I want to set an appropriate table, but decided to do something different from the usual pastels and bunnies.  When I searched the Wayfair website and saw the Everly Quinn Makris 7.9" Appetizer Plates ($33.99 for a set of four), I found my tablescape inspiration.  Decorated with colorful birds and butterflies, the pattern is quite spring-like, but I chose to go with the black background for a more dramatic look.  These gold-rimmed porcelain china plates look delicate but are chip-resistant as well as dishwasher, microwave, and even oven safe.  Although they are appetizer plates, they are good-sized and I intend to use them as salad or dessert plates.  I am looking forward to the arrival of my order so I can set my unconventional version of a spring table!

Wish List Wednesdays: Animal-Inspired Sweatshirts from J. Crew Factory

During the colder months, my standard outfit when at home is almost always a sweatshirt with long-sleeved tee and jeans.  Most of my sweatshirts are in solid colors, and recently I was on a mission to find some sweatshirts with interesting prints or patterns.  Luckily J. Crew Factory came through in grand fashion, with three designs in animal prints and patterns, and at great sale prices.  I am a sucker for animal designs anyway, but the three sweatshirts I found and ordered featured a leopard print, a zebra print, and a crab logo.  I had been searching for a leopard print, and if you know anything at all about me you know that equids and crustaceans are two of my favorite animals.  I was particularly taken with the Printed Crewneck Sweatshirt (on clearance sale for $39.99 - only smaller sizes left) shown above, with its mix of plentiful zebras cavorting on a camel leopard print background.

The Logo Crab Sweatshirt (on sale for $29.50) in a warm rose color was also quickly added to my shopping bag.  I love the crab design, and a sweatshirt in this color is perfect for these cooler months of spring.

The third sweatshirt I found is in the leopard print design I was originally seeking when I began my search for print sweatshirts.  The Leopard Crewneck Sweatshirt (on sale for $29.50) features a leopard print on a warm camel background.  This print and color can also be found on a couple of sweaters (see here and here).

If you are looking for some wardrobe additions at great sale prices, you too may want to check out the J. Crew Factory website.  Happy shopping on this St. Patrick's Day (and here is a link to a lucky clover sweater on their site in honor of the day)!