The Possibility Dogs By Susannah Charleson

The book cover with a white dog, head tilted, left ear folded down, right ear standing with the very tip dipping and turned slightly to the right, along with his tongue hanging out in a gentle pant caught my attention. The dog's eyes and body language spoke of intelligence as well as gentleness. All of this drew me to read this book.

This was Susannah's second book dealing with dogs who help humans, but the first one of her books that I read. In this book, Susannah tells how shelter dogs, many who are mixed breeds, can be saved and trained as service dogs. Service dogs aren't just for physical disabilities, some are trained for mental/emotional assistance, like a solider who has PTSD - the dog would be trained to intervene if a PTSD event would start. For example, the dog would be trained to wake the person when a flashback dream occurs, or lick or nudge them to calm them, if they are showing signs the dog has been trained to watch for in their person.

Susannah goes in depth about a neglected, starved puppy that was brought to her. She named him Jake Pipper. (He is the beautiful dog on the cover of this book.) After getting him on the road to good health, she starts working with him in a service related way.

Charleson also interweaves stories about her small pomeranian pack. Size doesn't matter when it comes to a dog helping humans. Even little pomeranians can be trained as therapy dogs, to serve humans by visiting them in hospitals and nursing homes, bringing comfort with their small presence.

If you are an animal lover, this is a great book to read. If you are interested in service dogs and how they are trained; or if you're interested in knowing if your own dog could be trained for a disability you have, then read this book.

I loved this book. Susannah is able to pull the reader right in, making you feel like you are right there watching what is happen with the dogs. I give it Five Paws Up! (I use "Paws Up" instead of stars or thumbs up for my rating scale. Five Paws Up is the best rating.)

It is partially because of Susannah's pomeranian stories, that I decided to add a second Chihuahua to my little clan. She also comes up with some great names, and this gave me the incentive to be more creative with my two Chi's names. Thanks Susannah!

For more information about the organization Susannah started to train homeless dogs for service or your own, check out the following sites:
Possibility Dogs Organization Home Site
FB page for Susannah's Possibility Dogs Organization

New Year's Resolutions Vs. Just Making Goals

Making New Year's Resolutions is something that goes back thousands of years. It is not a tradition that I do. This year I am going to make goals to accomplish this new year.

Pippin and Spritzen playing tug-of-war.
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2015

1st goal - to laugh more. I believe that Pippin and Spritzen will be very involved with this goal. Undoubtable, they will have me laughing with their playfulness and joy of having each other as best buddies throughout this year.

2nd goal - to get my honeybee hives going. When I started this adventure in 2013, I created a nice area for the hives to sit, but they are close to the road. I had trouble from day one. Nobody who knew anything about honeybee keeping could figure out what was causing the troubles and loss. A non-bee keeping friend thought that maybe by being near the road, the hive deaths were from carbon monoxide. I was told carbon monoxide stays low, and my hives sit lower than the roadway. I will be moving the hives back a lot further. With the move, here's hoping I became a beekeeper! This has been a long time dream!!

2013 Honeybee Hive set up - flowers filled in around the pavers.
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2013

3rd goal - expanding my flower beds. With the help of two people, my green thumb gets greener every year. I have learned to start my own flowers and vegetables. My flower beds are filling in each year. My plan is to have all space in the following picture filled with perennial flowers touching one another, choking out all weeds.

Purple/Pink Flower Bed.
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2014

4th goal - start a jar of good experiences. On FB, I have read about getting a canning jar and writing the good things that happen throughout the year. Then, at the end of the year, you open it and read all the little slips of paper, reminding yourself of all the good the year held and being thankful.

5th - to send out children's books I've written to publishers. I have dragged my feet on doing things after having a very negative experience. I am not going to let those who wanted to cause harm to keep me from accomplishing a dream that I believe God gave me. With God, all things are possible!

What are your goals for this new year? Share them here, and Happy New Year.

Pet Rescues and Christmas Pets

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France

Pippin & Spritzen with their Olaf jackets.
Photo By Tracey R. Simmons 2015

Who gave a puppy, kitten, dog or cat to someone else as a “Christmas present?” Who received some sort of fuzzy pet as a “gift” this Christmas? I hope that anyone who received a pet as a gift this Christmas season realizes these fuzzy babies should be treated as cherished members of the family, to be loved throughout his or her life.

Dogs and cats can give unconditional love to us humans, which is a quality we humans have yet to learn. Sure we can love, but we don’t have the unconditional part figured out. There is nothing like a dog who is overjoyed to see you when you come home - tail wagging, toothy grin, and paws springing up and down with that joy. As for cats, there is something relaxing and soothing when a kitten or cat sits on your lap purring with contentment and love, all the while “kneading dough” or “making muffins” on your leg or belly.

Occasionally, when one has a fuzzy family member, life will throw a hurdle, such as serious illness/injuries, lose of job/income, or some other major difficult, into your path which makes keeping your fur-buddy impossible. If you have to deal with such trouble, being a responsible loving human means finding a new home or a pet rescue to take in your furry friend. (Some people aren’t as caring towards their pets. Instead they dump the pet out onto the streets, or drive to the country where they dump him or her out. Either way, it leaves that fur baby struggling to understand and survive.)

Pippin Elf-Dog and Spritzen Claus.
Photo By Tracey R. Simmons

 As mentioned in a post - Let The Playtime Begin...Chihuahua Playtime, Santa came early bringing a new best buddy to Miss Pippin O’Chi and me. This new fuzzy family member has been officially named: Spritzen Nala O’Chi, or Spritzen for short. I want to thank the couple that had to make the difficult decision to give her up and for getting her into a rescue.

 Back in June, I lost my beloved Koda (see June post – Life Isn’t Always Fair!). I want the couple to know that Spritzen Nala O’Chi squirmed, wiggled, and snuggled her way into my heart overnight; and that she is very much loved by this human and by Pippin. It’s amazing how the heart can feel so very broken in one moment in life that it feels it will never heal, but a few months later and in another moment in life, two little Chihuahuas can bring healing, lots of laughter, and pure love & joy.

Naptime!
Photo By Tracey R. Simmons 2015

The following is list of some rescues that I am 

familiar with and their links:

Fur Keeps Animal Rescue                                

Pet Elves Rescue

Bright Hope Rescue

St. Francis Animal Sanctuary

Deaf Dogs Rock Rescue

Best Friends Animal Society

Deaf Dogs of Texas

Misty Eyes Rescue

When I lost Koda, I was angry at and felt betrayed by God, and let Him know it. (He isn’t going to strike anyone down with a bolt of lightning for being honest.) I’ve come to believe this - I don’t think it’s always about our knowing why God allows bad things to happen. I think it’s about our not getting stuck – meaning we go on living life, because no matter what, life will go on, and we might as well be a part of it - living each day to the fullest!

Max Lucado's The Christmas Candle movie

The Christmas Candle, the book was written by Max Lucado, and now it is a heartwarming movie fit for the whole family to see. The story is set in England, in the village of Gladbury, where an angel visits a candlemaker's shop every 25 years and touches one candle. If the person who receives the candle lights it and prays, they will receive a miracle.

A new priest in the village, played by Hans Matheson, is struggling with his own spiritual doubts. I have dealt with my own spiritual battles and doubts, and can identify with how this priest feels, but with different reasons.

There are Christmas miracles in this wonderful movie, and a message of hope when there is unbelief. It has captured my heart and imagination. The music is beautiful, and even includes Susan Boyles as one of the characters singing a touching song.

I give this movie a 5 Paws Up. Viewing The Christmas Candle will become a family tradition for years to come. (I use "Paws Up" instead of stars or thumbs up for my rating scale. Five Paws Up is the best rating.)

The Christmas Candle trailer

The Ultimate Dark Chocolate Chip Cookie

I found this recipe years ago and have tweaked it to remove some of the sugar and butter. I love these coookies better than regular chocolate chip cookies, but I love pumpkin. They are the best when they just come out of the oven, still warm and the chips all "melty." After they cool, I store them in the fridge. I like them better cold verses room temp, plus they are cake like, so I think its better to keep them in the fridge for freshness.

Except for the dark chocolate chips, I use all organic ingredients and real butter. Organic solid pumpkin comes in a 15oz. can.

2 cups flour                                                        

1& 1/2 cups oats (uncooked)                         

1 tsp. baking soda                                              

1tsp. cinnamon                                                    

1/2 cup butter, softened (1stick)                        

2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar  

2/3 cup granulated sugar    

1 egg   

1 tsp. vanilla

1 (15 oz.) can of solid pumpkin  

1 cup dark chocolate chips

Additional options: raisins or nuts, etc.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter; gradually adding sugars, beating until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, baking soda, cinnamon, and solid pumpkin; mixing well. Add oats; mixing well. Add flour one cup at a time, mixing well in between adding more. Stir in chips.

Using a lightly greased cookie sheet, drop by large spoonfuls onto sheet. Bake 16 minutes. (This is what works for my convection oven, but ovens vary, and time might need to be increased.) Check that they are firm and lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheet; cool on racks.

Get a glass of milk and enjoy them while they are warm.

Ultimate Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2015

Let The Playtime Begin...Chihuahua Playtime

Tree dedicated to the love of
cats and dogs who bring so
much love into ours lives.
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons

Miss Pippin O'Chi has been trying to play with Haley, the mischievious black cat, who outweighs her by around seven pounds. Pippin just wants to play, but Haley unsheathes her claws on Pippin's face. Haley had loved Koda, holding him down to give him baths, but she hasn't warmed to Pippin as much.

With Christmas just around the corner, Santa came early to the Little Bit of Paradise Farm.  A shy little female chihuahua, who was in a rescue, has come home to be Pippin's playmate. She is tan and brown, with some black across her back and sides. She is about the same size - length wise as Pippin, but she is a little heavier.

The little girl was named Nala, but this brings up images of the Lion King, so another name is being sought. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment. Some thoughts already are: Sprizt'la O'Chi and Skittles O'Chi.

Nala on the left and Pippin O'Chi on the right.
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2015

Bad Feather Day - Molting

November has come to an end, and December is here with the temperatures growing colder. This is not the best time of the year for our chickens to start molting. Actually, some of them started back in October.

What is molting you ask? Every year mature chickens lose their feathers and grow new ones. It's like getting a new winter coat, rather than using the old worn out one. That new winter coat will help the chicken stay warmer throughout the winter.

Golden Lace Wyandotte molting.
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2015

What does molting looks like? It's looks like a fox snuck into the coop, grabbed a chicken, started plucking her, and then she managed to get away still partially feathered. Feathers litter the ground but most are inside the hen house. (Our chicken yard is fully protected with fencing all around, including the roof, so I know there hasn't been a stealthy fox in the pen.)

The problem is when chickens molt, they stop laying eggs. Their bodies are working overtime trying to grow new feathers and need all the nutrients for this process.

Okay, Hens Nest Inn girls hurry up and get those new feathers. Let the egg laying resume.