DOG WALKING 101

Whether you dog is a Chihuahua or a Great Dane, it needs exercise. And so does the dog's owner. Walking your dog can be great exercise and a good bonding experience between you and your pet. Here are some tips to help get the most out of your dog walking experience-

THE EQUIPMENT:
Just like any exercise program dog walking has a few things you need to have fun and get started

A Leash- I recommend you don't go cheap here, I use and love a FOZZY DOG ROPE LEASH(In fact a Fozzy Double leash, which I got for a discount at FAB.com*, It has a convenient pocket and a nice feel on the hand grip and is sturdy built. But you don't have to spend that kind of money on your leash- A good sturdy leash can be found at pet stores and even in the grocery store *Fab.com is a great place to finds all kind of things for pets and people too sometimes at ridiculously low prices

COLLAR VS. HARNESS: Both my boys wear collars. They both have harnesses. I chose to use the collar simply because they are well familiar with wearing it and being leashed (They know not to pull so much they choke themselves) Some dogs are naturals, some aren't. And I am apt to put the harnesses on when I know we will be walking in crowds, for control. Some say that the harness is easier on the dog, especially if he/she is the type to run onto the end of the leash when seeing people or their dog type friends. Either way, make sure to get one that has no studs or grommets going through the leather/fabric that leave raw metal on the inside of the leash/collar- this could irritate the dogs skin, and in some cases cut or scratch it.

POOP BAGS: A necessity when walking your dog. You don't want to be that guy who leaves your dog's poop on the sidewalk or open space. It's called common courtesy. And besides dog poop has bacteria that can get in to water supplies. Just pick it up. It's good citizenship, good manners and good for the environment!

OPTIONAL ITEMS:
WATER BOTTLE- Your dog may like a drink, especially on hot days. I just carry a regular Stainless water bottle and a collapsible bowl, although I was given a neat water bottle made just for dogs this Christmas.

UMBRELLA- A small, collapsible umbrella is good if you live in an area that rains when you try to walk your dog.

FLASHLIGHT- A small flashlight is a must if you walk your dogs at night. And working nights I do. I have one that has a red LED flasher so I can be seen by cars.

COATS AND RAIN GEAR: there are a number of raincoats for dogs out there. As for jackets and sweaters- My two guys wear jackets when it gets cold out and since the both have short haircuts they don't like to get cold.

SUIT UP:What YOU need for the walk
Comfortable walking shoes- Let's face it... you are not going to want to walk your dog if your feet ache and hurt.

Rainproof Jacket: self explanitory

A cap or visor- No sunburns!!!

Ma's Spice Rack

Well my mother's birthday has rolled around again. 81 and she doesn't have a proper spice rack (and really needs one) So her enterprising young son did some Ikea Hacking with an Ikea Ribba Frame, some peg board and some peg board shelves from Lowes. First I cut the peg board to size, gave it a couple of applications of yellow spray paint and mounted it in the frame with glass removed. Then I hung the the wire shelves on it. And it was done - so simple, so easy and might I say good looking too. Just like Mrs. Johnson's son!!

Meat Loaf Cupcakes

Yes, I am still playing with food... First Lasagna Cupcakes, then corn dog cupcakes and Mac and Cheese... Now Meatloaf cupcakes!!!
This one is so simple... just your favorite Meatloaf recipe, and when you are ready to bake use your muffin tins! just fill them with the meat loaf mixture and top with ketchup. DOn't have a meat loaf recipe? You can borrow mine!

Rob's meat loaf recipe
2 Eggs, beaten
1 pound lean (80% or better) ground beef
1 cup of corn flakes, crushed
1 cup of chopped onion
2 cloves of garlic chopped
2/3 cup ketchup
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Salt
Pepper
combine all ingredients in order given except ketchup, spray a muffin tin with PAM or your favorite cooking spray, fill the muffin tins with meat mixture top with the ketchup, bake in 350 oven for 35-40 minutes or until 160 degrees


Mashed Potato Icing-
Place mashed potatoes in 10-inch decorating bag with  Large tip or without a tip. Starting at outside of loaf and in circular motion, pipe potatoes onto each meat loaf. Top with a cherry tomato. Remove from muffin tin. 

NW FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW REPORT

Oh my wonderful garden show, what have they done to you? Yes it is true. My flower show went Hollywood. and I would like it back. Blame it on my distaste for things Californian  blame it on my week long battle with a tooth that wants/needs a root canal, or maybe the show and more likely this years theme just sucked. Gone this year are displays that challenged my imagination; gone also are displays that showed me what I might do in my own yard, garden. But definitely, the show organizers are going to have to bring back the cute gardens that one could find in a NW setting--- gardens with VW Buses acting as chicken coops and tool sheds, gardens that could make an apartment or condo dweller feel like Old MacDonald, one that truly showed what one can do with some old used valve bodies and a recirculating pump.
Anyway, my ranting aside, there where many good things at this years show:

 High hopes- at the entrance a bike made from re-bar hold planters of flowers

Nicest water feature at the show:

 A Hobbit Hole?- Yes please

 Planters got a make over, this one in a Movie themed garden

 AN out house with complimentary parking

 Now what kid wouldn't want a deluxe sand box?

 I do love this fire pit with glass flames

 And I have a thing for glass flowers

 depsite the shows theme- there where a few nice water features

 And I did fall in love with a few items in the Marketplace

(even if Blossom is mispelled)

No Post Until Later

TODAY'S POST WILL BE LATER AS I AM AT THE NW FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW BUT IT SHOULD BE UP
BY 8 PM TONIGHT!
3 guesses on what the topic will be!

The Yellow Dog Project

 

Or take a peak at their website

Don't feed the Monster...

Sunday, March 10, 2013

2-4 p.m. at Burien Library Multipurpose Room

400 SW 152nd Street, Burien

You need to register for this free event -

 Outreach@EnvScienceCenter.org.  206-248-4266
More info at the Enviromental Science Center

I Forgot my Bloggiversary

My first blog post. I started the blog in the middle of a remodel!

Well it all started on tripod on January 16, 2008. The forerunner to Rob's World, Rob's Blog. Not many posts at tripod, (nor readers for that matter). Might have been the content or the writer. Things improved significantly when I moved to Blogger on February 10, 2008. 1446 posts later, I have learned to pretty much keep my politics aside (except when something bugs me so much I vent or I will explode).

On May 8, 2008 I experimented with Rob's DIY Blog, which I quit in January of 2010, as I found the work of two blogs to be overwhelming (which is BS for I got lazy). Funny thing is, I was just looking at the site stats for DIY and it still gets a fairly healthy amount of readers for a dead blog. So maybe it will make a come back in the not to distant future. Anyway 7 years of sharing and talking about me, the dogs, DIY, crafts, etc, and  I still enjoy it. So this bloggiversary, no big giveaways, no personal meme's, Just an honest and heart felt Thank You to all who come here to read this drivel.

The Show is Coming!!!

The 25th Annual NW Flower and Garden Show is coming next week to the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. I plan to go on Friday, 2/22. I always pick up some great ideas, tips and few items my garden might need like fiddle playing frogs!

Romeo and I enjoy a tune from Kershaw, the fiddle playing frog!

A day of Summer inside, always a nice break from cold and rainy Seattle weather!

Macaroni Muffins

I tried these and they are wonderful! All it takes is your favorite Mac and Cheese recipe (I don't have a favorite, I really like Savvy Housekeepings which BTW is the first place I heard about Mac and cheese muffins!) Put the Mac and Cheese into a muffin pan and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

On the Cheap Knick Knack Shelf

I have always like the look of furniture and stuff made from used pallets. Finally it's my turn. I made this simple Knick Knack shelf ! Here are the complicated instructions

• Find desired size pallet
• Take home
• Hang it!
• done

You can sand it down, finish or as I did just leave it (I like the rustic look!).It does not get any easier folks. Next time a chair or something more substantial but for now I will just admire my Knick Knack Shelf!

Life can be HARD!!!

Ever wonder about those little annoyances? those little Achilles Heels that we go through in life? Well my cousin Cheyne found an album on Imgur.com that is full of hints and tips to help... here are some of my favorites

Chili Dog Burritos

I cannot take full credit for this, as I saw something like it on Diner's,Drive In's and Dives. But I can take credit for simplifying it. All the tastes of a chili dog, wrapped in a warm crispy tortilla. Ole'!

Tortilla's (I used taco size, but I think the larger size would work better)
2 hot dogs
1 can of chili (I used chicken chili, use your favorite)
Cheese 1/4 cup
1/4 cup of chopped onion
Jalepenos, if desired
Chile Flakes, if desired

Par cook the hot dogs (put them in a micro wave for 1 minute, or a steamer for 1 minute).  Place 1 tblsp. of butter to melt a medium heat in a fry pan or paninni press. Assemble the burrito- 2 hot dogs,then spoon out some chili, top with cheese and onion, jalepenos and chile flakes  and fold burrito style. place in pan or press and cook until golden.

Don't have a Paninni Press? Try this trick: SImply place a second pan over the burrito like so:

Works for paninni sandwiches too! Just remember to flip

4 Square of Muggsly's weight and size problem

Four Square- four pictures that tell a story. We use them at work, I use them at home.

Here is a four square of my Muggsly (Yes I named my Mug... so what?) Anyway, my problem was that Muggsly's bottom was to big for my one cup coffee maker- being bottom heavy also wasn't good as from time to time he would fall off and I would brew a whole cup of coffee all over my counter top/desk (Yes I own two of these coffee makers) So I solved the problem... I took and old CD and glued four small PVC plumbing fittings to one side of it. When dried, I placed the CD onto the coffee brewer deck and now Muggsly fits perfect!