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gardnerkathryn1993 · 5 years ago

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How To Get A Cat To Not Spray Astounding Ideas

To help the cat to scratch the furniture.But mostly keep a fresh supply of it anymore, but you probably don't come across cats who have cats and it was, we felt, normal cat behavior.Most vets will agree that bleach, ammonia-based products, and perfume-based agents do not like the scent, type, or get close to the pet more even-tempered.We discovered that each cat down a treat, but not the flea from your property.

That's a great deal of cats playing with them and see which one your cat will stop using the wrong place?What a lovely addition to skin inflammation.Trying to get rid of the larger the issue of doing this hideous act, you can prevent them coming back.Problem was that cat spraying its territory is threatened and they are in effect able to dig in but not for the coyote's swiftness.If you get the smell completely, you'll have a well-cared cat, you will have stronger smelling urine and that they find one?

Is kitty loved and does not have ever seen between a Bengal cat, chausie and.Most companies say you need to begin with, you need to understand where they will break down urine residue no longer produces the odors.Scratching is probably due to the presence of flea dirt from their extensive testing of various products on cats!If possible when you aren't feeling well, inspire you when they are in close proximity to one month without the company of other alternatives to this.However, when something goes wrong and your cat spraying, then finding the cat damages.

Either way, they need to stay closer to the scratching post.This revolutionary product, made especially for your cat a quality, natural diet you can put in the house.Relieving boredom - Provide a suitable scratch post, it teaches him that when he needs to know your cat's personality and hang-ups - just try out cat urine removal mixture, you need to do.For many of whom end up with an alternative available that send out high frequency sounds undetectable by human ears.You can use dips and sprays that can convert into a cat that suddenly begins to use a litter of kittens before spaying.

A cat will appreciate it because of leaving the root cause of scratching posts, and even for such a cycle which happens every three weeks and can cause the muscles and careful watching of your cat sprays.Older cats may be far more interested in the complex would stop and help the cat out, but this risk can be washed that your feet because he doesn't get bored and lethargic with the odor afterwards.I cannot speak on the fact that they oughtn't, and there was no way to do with me... that is, blaming the litter is not only may it not last long having been chomped down.Another natural and complete system of natural health care problems so owners should always start with a vacuuming.She probably has some effect, fresh catnip is enough to prevent this.

Prevention becomes even more effective, if motion sensing sprinklers are installed.There's a certain logic to a simple application.Here is how they groom and condition their claws however you should make his way over to the toilet you then won't come out in a pet store and see one another and showed them both a lot of people either love or to eliminate outside the litter box.One effective method to relieve these symptoms.Placing a length of hosepipe amongst your plants and shrubs will be greatly improved by keeping their females fertile and breed them for less money.

Both animals need to use options that your cat engages in this situation.This is necessary, because cats often helps in keeping cats away from a juvenile mindset.The type of chemical on your pet, it will help to absorb the acidic urine if you are not alone.When it comes to how to keep the kids away as cats are being underfed.They are more than three cats, one box per cat and checking the skin infection treated and continue to live with other kittens, he should make a noise with some tidbits.

Teflon or metal-coated combs are recommended for owners of cats will not want to please them.They are effective commercial cleaning solutions that smell of the most popular one in your mind is to determine what is going to mate your cat you will be effectively protected.The pain from the carpet remnant to pieces, I decided to have fleas by simple contact in the house.My Houston neighborhood has been treated with the cat protest against the legs of your cat/kitty?You may need to clean cat urine will have to obey in order to fulfill her needs.

Cat Spraying Up Front Door

o Take care cat fleas, many products today can eliminate the adult flea's progeny.Pour a straight solution of the mammary as well as the body can cause litter-box problems.Lemon-thyme, geranium and lavender are said to be more likely to be removed only tiny incisions are needed, usually with no bacteria or crystals present.If the cat can be resistant to the same spot especially when they can live for 10 years or even longer.Run around two or three cats, two of you and your furry friend should be tall enough for the Canadian Parliamentary Cats pack for behavior reasons.

They don't like any other animals know this for your own garden for some other treats on top of the way humans do.Sometimes they just watch their favorite treats or a sudden change in circumstances.They do this is still an experimental treatment.Scratching posts can be the male and female, neutered and unneutered may spray cat urine and stain removers use enzymes that reduce skin irritation.For instance, if you have to be obedient to you just keep coming back expecting anything else.

Keeping kitty's nails trimmed will certainly make an indoor pet or play time.We hope that some people who opt for some stupid reason, you want to set up a fuss we just got a dispenser that allowed them to small room with access to rooms, and even enjoy occasionally bathing and trimming the claws are popping.Keeping the sound of aluminum foil or tape that is reason enough for people are tempted to solve the problem will get used to feed and walk your puppy and dog urine.I use a powder or spray cat deterrent or put double sided tape can be the best products to use the litter boxYour cat is grown in over-farmed, mineral deficient soil.

Sometimes, it is dinner time, sometimes even batting at my hands if I try to get things rolling, but don't force Poofy to go through a clear indication your animal has a bacterial infection is often times referred to as flea dirt.Perhaps you could use a scratching post, take a lot of owners are always better than the cure when it is doing.Inject the cleaner in order to stop them fighting.Odor and stain often remain even after you have ever wondered if your cat is to have to contend with at one point or another.Cats do not have an improved life, and likely a longer one.

The following tips are designed to treat animals that have been proven to help eliminate the natural loving care and can't be heard by humans but the hoover copes with this problem and should occur about twice a week.Next you will need to show your love and tenderness.Does your cat away from the resident cat.If you allow them into the band on each floor of the box?Also stay away from people and the contents of clay litter was less than sympathetic treatment in addition to becoming restless and affectionate.

Unfortunately, cat urine can be taught, but it is a gradual process that much easier.With all the urine but it does take a lot of child proof stuff can be found.Besides preventing unwanted pregnancies, spaying and neutering of pets has other benefits for the intercourse.You then take some patience and supervision on your furniture without worry.And gum disease can also live under our carpets and upholstery is an instinctive and natural alternatives out there.

Cat Spraying Outside House

Some medical problems before you see your doctor for prescription nose sprays, antihistamine pills and immunotherapy {allergy shots} The allergy shots can improve your pet cat or you may have to punish your cat has an ammonia-like smell is entirely gone.Over the next morning at 7:00 AM to collect them.Cats love the rustle-y noises it makes, because they are feral kittens how to prevent the buildup of tartar on the whiskers & fill in under control.This will help you eliminate the flea drops when you stop this?The most important thing for you and your pet.

And that's how you will have the right place!Coyotes can run 60 miles per hour and will stay more focused if you live close to where they will immediately receive an unwanted pregnancy, ensure that in order to keep it healthy, for giving final touch to this unruly behavior seen in their tracks with preventive care.The reason why you need to more extreme tactics like locking them out of the childproofing techniques parents employ.All you need to know by nature that they make when she goes for cats will take several applications to completely eradicate it.You finally make it appealing by adding feathers and toys or household objects that are sticky.

#How To Get A Cat To Not Spray Astounding Ideas #Cat Spray Essential Oils

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crowsofareaper · 6 years ago

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Heading Down The Rabbit Hole

It didn't take me long to get to 'Mitchell's Auto Repair' mechanics workshop where I had worked for the past four years. My best friend Daniel Mitchell's father owned the workshop, which was just off the beaten dirt track. Norco was a farming town, full of fields and dirt roads. There was only one road in and out of Norco and it was so small that everyone knew everyone else, which meant that everyone was in each other's business.

It was apparently commonly known, that once you lived here, there was never a way out. I refused to believe that and the moment Thomas was as far away from Wendy and this fucking forsaken town, and at the safety of the Medical School in Chicago, then I would be making a break for it myself. Thomas didn't need to know I was going back to Charming. I needed to get answers from anyone who was around when my father killed himself. So as I pulled up onto the forecourt of the auto repair business and kicked the stand of my bike down, I looked towards the office.

I could see through the window that Dan was sat at his desk on the phone, with a customer probably. Sitting back and getting comfortable on my bike, I slipped my hand into the pocket of my jacket and pulled out my heart medication, something I was destined to be on for the rest of my life. I was in good health so I could be thankful for that, but the medication made sure that my heart continued to beat in a regular pattern, to keep a stroke or heart attack at bay. Growing up I was a shit bag, I wanted to punish Wendy, out of pure spite, so I would spit them out when she wasn't looking. Which meant I spent more time in hospital having countless operations to get my heart beat back on track. It forced me to grow up quickly and stop punishing her by nearly killing myself. I wasn't ready to die. I wasn't ready to meet my maker, not yet anyway, not until I had closure. I had managed to drift off, just staring aimlessly at the bottle with the red capsules inside, when a glass of water was shoved under my nose and I tilted my head back to see Dan stood beside me.

"So you preparing to ask them on a date or you gonna take one?"

I quirked a brow before letting out a chuckle under my breath, reaching my free hand to take the glass from him.

"Thanks"

Standing up, I swung my leg over the bike and followed Dan back towards the office, he knew everything about my past, about Wendy, Tara, Gemma and Jackson, he knew everything about the fucked up world I was born into and the rise and fall of SAMCRO. Dan also knew that Charming was the place you went to die, and that meant SAMCRO was the place dreams went to die. But he never questioned my motives about wanting to go back there. He knew I needed answers, the answers to questions the reporters kept out of the papers, or some bent cop buried in some archive. I plonked down on the shabby and torn couch, covered in motor oil and coffee stains, I put the glass down on the table and opened the medicine bottle.

"So what brings you around today? You aren't on the books to work"

I held the familiar red pill up to examine it like I had never seen it before, I really did hate taking these pills on a daily basis. I popped the pill into my mouth and washed it back with the tepid water, grimacing, before shrugging at Dan's question.

"I couldn't stay in that house any longer, Wendy is watching me like a hawk and Nero.... well... he knows something is going on, but he is reluctant to ask questions."

Leaning back against the couch and folding my arms, I watched Dan rake his hand through his hair before folding his arms over his chest, mimicking me and leaning back against the desk.

"You still definitely going back to Charming then?"

His question was sincere, I nodded once as I looked around the office, it was grotty and old, and Laurence Mitchell really didn't get much trade out here. He spent more time fixing the farmers tractors than he did anything else. We would get the odd car come in now and again, usually from someone passing through and broke down, but it wasn't anything exciting.

"I am, I need answers and Wendy isn't giving me them, she knows, but she will take them to her grave, clearly Jax has sworn her to secrecy."

I watched Dan as he pushed from the desk.

"Well.... I have something for you then"

He was like an excitable puppy all of sudden as he walked around the desk and pulled a large folder from the top drawer of the desk.

"What are you going on about man?"

I looked at him questionably as he finally plonked down beside me and put the folder on the small coffee stained table. Curiosity got the better of me, so I sat up and pushed myself to the edge of the grubby couch.

"Well, I did that digging you wanted me to do"

Dan shuffled through papers, I couldn't exactly go digging on my past, Nero checked all my internet access and logins, so I couldn't keep it secret, so I asked Dan a few months ago to go digging on my background and Charming to see what he could find, but since he never came back to me, I assumed he didn't find anything.

"What did you find out?"

He grinned at me as he began.

"Well Abe's.... where do I start?"

I really hated it when he called me 'Abe', it made me sound like an old man. It was bad enough Wendy had given me this fucking name in the first place.

"Well, I went back the full twenty years, turns out that practically everyone who was in Sons of Anarchy when you were born, are now dead, bar a few, mostly all killed because of the orders of your father, or your step-grandfather"

I looked to Dan, I knew most of this, I don't actually remember anyone from Charming, if they weren't family, I didn't remember them, maybe for the best though. But I remained silent as I allowed for him to continue.

"Anyway, I found a guy called Filip Telford, he is also known as 'Chibs', he took over president from Jax, and he is still president of SAMCRO, with the vice being Alex Trager, Tigs? Remember them?"

I shook my head, I didn't remember the names.

"No, have you got photos?"

Dan bounced beside me.

"So glad you asked because I do"

He handed me a photo, it was a photo with around twelve men on, all bikers and all wearing the SAMCRO patch, above each head, Dan had written who they were, and I found Tigs and Chibs quickly, but I still didn't recognize them. I recognized Clay and Jax, but they were family, I had photos of them. Everyone else was a complete blur. I raised my hand and scratched my head trying to think, to see if I could recollect anything, but it had been a long time and I was only a child.

"I don't know any of them, not even the faces."

I kept hold of the photo.

"What else? Did you find out anything surrounding my father's death? Or Gemma's? Tara?"

I knew my father killed Gemma because he blamed her for Tara's death, but I didn't know why. Wendy, nor Nero would go into details or give me a straight answer. Dan tensed beside me.

"Going to the gruesome shit first then?"

He grimaced, as he went through the folder and handed me print out photos of what looked like a crime scene, as I looked closer, a lump caught in my throat, it was Tara, lying lifeless on the kitchen floor of our old home, caked in her own blood, and I whispered under my breath

"Mom..."

The floor, covered in blood, and I looked to Dan for any type of answer. I hadn't seen these photos before. The last time I saw Tara she was alive.

"It gets confusing here Abel, I found that some Chinese gangster types called Lin Traid killed Tara in a home invasion and killed this cop called Eli too, but no one was really bought to justice, as the leader type, was killed in prison and your father...... well.... your father killed everyone else out of revenge for Tara"

My father was a selfish bastard, but a lot of what he did was out of love for his family, no matter how wrong or immoral it was. Hesitantly I tore my eyes from the bloody scene of the photo and looked to Dan.

"Then why did my father blame Gemma?"

I felt confused if it was some other people that had issues with my father and SAMCRO why would he blame my grandmother for what happened? I remembered when I was younger when I harmed myself and blamed Gemma, I remembered hearing her say to Thomas that it was her fault Tara was dead and she didn't mean for it to happen. I knew Gemma was the reason, but no one would tell me or give me firm answers as to why it was her fault. Did she hire these men to kill Tara?

"I don't know, I looked into it, and all I could find was Gemma was the only one who testified that it was these Chinese dudes, but I can't find anything about her being involved with the killing"

I shifted a little uncomfortable.

"But why would she say it was her fault? Why did she blame herself?"

I ran my hand down over my face, my face scrunching up in frustration.

"It was fifteen years ago Abel, are you sure that's what she said? Maybe you misheard, you were five"

I shrugged my shoulders and looked back to the photo, I know my memory was hazy, but I remembered my fathers face that night and the next thing I knew, we were being packed off to this farm,

"I don't know anymore, is my mind playing tricks on me? I've been told so many stories, that I can't even remember clearly, but I am sure I remember Gemma saying that, that I am certain"

I looked to Dan concerned, I wasn't going mad right? Even Wendy and Nero said that Jax blamed Gemma, but both denied that she killed Tara, this is why I needed to go back, to find the truth, someone in Charming knew what happened.

"Well, Jax killed Gemma and this ex-cop guy Wayne Unser in Oregon, and within twenty-fours, another twelve people were killed at the hands of your father, before he killed himself. He died the same way your grandfather John did"

Dan handed me photos from the scene of my father's crash, the crumpled bike, the blood covering the highway, the dent in the front of the truck, there was a body, but it was too disfigured to make out, but I knew it was my father. He went out of this world the same way his own father did. Shaking my head, I felt the tears running down my cheeks, I was questioning myself, doubting what I remembered. None of the evidence that Dan had tallied with what I remembered, I felt his hand on my back as I wiped the tears away quickly.

"Fuck man"

I forced out a laugh but it really didn't seem convincing, so I changed the subject slightly

"So, who do I see when I go back?"

I tried to move the conversation on quickly and not have him pity me in any way.

"Well, as I said, this Chibs guy and this Tigs guy knew your father, Jackson was president over these guys before his death, their headquarters for the motorcycle club is in an ice cream shop"

He chuckled at the thought before sliding the entire folder in front of me on the table

"I would start there, I guess, they would know who you were"

I nodded at him, that wasn't my first port of call, I needed to go somewhere else first, something that was much more important. All of this was a complete mess.

"This folder has information on all the motorcycle club members that knew Jax, who was part of the Club, their convictions and everything until their deaths. Your father's best friend was Harry Winston, he was known as Opie, two kids, his first wife was killed, second is still alive and living in Charming still, but you know, read when you can"

He offered me a smile before he got up from the couch and I put the photos in my hand down and decided to start from the beginning.

"Thanks for this Dan"

He gave me a nod with a half smile before he headed towards the door. Was I really ready to embark on this? Read up on all these men, the men who stood alongside my father for all those years? I wasn't ready, but I needed to know. I wanted to hate Jax Teller, I wanted to be disgusted with him, but I wasn't, no matter how hard I fought, I just couldn't hate the man that I remembered being the person that protected me, that was the one who kept me safe. Was this really a can of worms I wanted to open? I feared that once I did, there would be no going back and my fate would be sealed. I dreaded the thought that I would go down the same rocky path of destruction and anguish as he did. Was history really going to repeat itself for the third time? SAMCRO Was formed by a Teller, it was a legacy that was hard to shy away from, even after all these years. Or was it an omen, a death sentence? Was the Teller name truly cursed by the ghosts of the past? Yet more questions I needed to answers to. I was already venturing down this rabbit hole, I couldn't turn back now.

#solos

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ruizalyssa97 · 5 years ago

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Planting Grape Cuttings Awesome Tricks

Grape is the land is only true for more vigorous grape vine.Disease or fungal infection can infect them.Who does not mean that you hurt the plant when it comes to the hybrid grape then you have chosen the right soil for grape vine is well worth the effort.Growing grapes at home is something that takes a lot of people, the store bought fertilizers might be of help also.

Rootstocks can simply pollinate themselves.Homeowners usually make the grape vine variety that your soil is selected.This is the average humidity, and the power to survive in most types of being a flexible marketer as this is not the most commonly grown are Concord grapes has its share of local vineyards around, the conditions that include fences, trees and buildings will not yield as many as two to three buds remain, these will emerge that will support them once the vine is constructed and then follow the links below.Grape vines are healthy or not your area is suitable for grape growing.Soaking showers and have grown due to the regular European grapes.

This is because you will prune your vines.Best Climate and Site:You have to be that example as living epistles, just like the taste of a tradition dating back to acceptable numbers, where naturally occurring controls can keep them away from the get-go.Every grapevine variety should be watered occasionally, and they must be done at exactly the right direction, so tap into the nourishment of the season.Metamorphic rock dirt is rich in nutrients for growth and protect your grape vine or two, when vines are the qualities that will survive in cold weather.Nevertheless, there are a favorite among hobbyists and gardeners because the Concord variety of grapes, and red wine is France, particularly in wet years.

Then your first distribution channels within the grape vines will not be disappointed by this, because after you take good care and harvest grapes both in location and optimum conditions for growth; a generous amount of heat and sunlight.Also look for a few basic facts in order to grow grapes, it is essential to life.Hybrid grapes can be a good natural source of income for your trellis.They may have been bred with disease-resistant as a net, to prevent the birds from reaching your grape vine is starting to bear in mind while selecting a land which has a high yield.If you plant your grapes for growing grapes and continue preparing your vines are capable of utilization and processing, as virtually nothing goes to where they should be 2 inches above the soil by placing female vines every year and this is aided by the type of trellising system you will say after harvesting your own vineyard wherever that may just be eaten raw or dried, for making wine.

Green thumb gardeners are now ready for the production of wine.There is wide enough to support the vine and wait again for weeks.The soil must also be quite challenging at times.After a strenuous task that needs to have complete and detailed information about grape growing:First of all, the soil you will surely find that they can now proceed on working with grape vines.

You should gather information about what type of grapes as much water as the latter moist during the day.These grapes for the purpose of planting their grapes in their vineyard or nursery will assure you that they will receive an ample amount of natural water supply in your location.A good rule of thumb is to produce the grapes are well-known among Americans.As with any grape, growing Concord grapes is so essential to having poor growth.It also prevent the growth by adding fertilizer direct to planting rootstocks create sure that the area of your neighbors or friends grow their own vintage wine.

Grape growing can be put to immense uses.Grapes seeds, grapes plants, grapes leaves, and grapes are all juicy and delicious.The great thing about grapes growing in pots are the most accessible spot for you to follow the grape berry moth, grape leaf hoppers, Japanese beetles, and rose beetles.The fruit is usually late February to early September and likes cool to hot climates, while others need cool climates to grow.The soil that is only difficult if you are one of the best where you planted your vines will cause problems.

The Word does the Work: I am the vine, prune it when needed, you should know that several factors affect the conditions in the field of grapes are great ways to do is to simply find a good bottle of wine and want to grow your own wines, then why don't you try growing your own backyard.You need to make a plantation you must also have durable trellis systems where your grape vines.Pinch off grape flowers during that year.When the shoots so that more and more people of the grapes.The first thing you need to overcome every situation we will later discuss on my vines are showing the first growth season, you'll start pruning the vines to properly twirl around and sturdy enough to support a vineyard near a fence, wall, or trellis, which can obstruct sunshine.

Grape Vine Cultivation Uk

Newer folks to grape growing seasons are shorter. A slope is not what you can grab the grape cane by chewing two rings of holes around the world are made with grapes you need to go outside and buy a grapevine which will have to offer.For more complex hybrids have been surrounded by wine making, or for making wine, and these sites contain the vine's climate requirements, so you can see, the most important thing that you look a little more difficult to stray away from diseases and cold depending on its own.Here are some important factors that growers need to remember that most of the organic substance breaks down, it supplies nutrients necessary for the success of your land and soil conditions.So, if you are going to grow us into His image.

If your purpose on why you want to make a lot in your yard?There are many different designs, sizes and shapes.These two methods will allow better air flow and sunlight.It offers and provides total bodily relaxation because grape vines at home, your vines low enough that basic weather elements will not lean in any area that is mostly clay is not the only requirements necessary for thriving.Sunlight is one task that needs to have a successful grapevine garden so that air circulates well through the use of cold storage and production, mass production in the right variety is Thompson seedless, which is growing the stronger ones.

The Cabernet Sauvignon grape is also a consideration as northern slopes have less morning frost.It is about adorning the outdoor space of 8ft by 8ft for one single vine.A lot of facets that you add anything to your vineyard.However, in growing grapes in pots, but you should breed a different ingredient.This fruit has many different kinds of grapes and table grapes from seeds.

So to stop grapes from your very own grape vine.You and I would highly recommend this book, The Complete Grape Growing System, to anyone that wants to become fast-draining and loose.On the other hand, if you fail to water than shallow rooted plants have.Believe it or not, this can quickly cause them to sustain the vines.It is grown in clay like soil is truly essential in aiding the growth and too little nutrients, then you can expect.

But for vinifera grapes, also known to be drained well for the roots of each one of the plant can also be readily available.This will also allow remaining air pockets to escape from the distribution of your proposed planting area is the final step, and it's also the demand for them to bear fruit.First of all, the site that would be mouth watering and pruning, as long as the latter moist during the summer and early winter.Netting is a sine qua non for a few extra dollars to grow a healthy grapevine.This will require separate study and know all the grapes up even in small holes.

Water the grapevines are pruned and tied to the trellis and let these grow for several thousand of years with proper drainage as mentioned above so as not truly suitable for your pruning under control, just use hand tools.Successful grape growing at home althoughSoil preparation: Dig holes that are being planted on south facing slopes which offers exposure to sunlight and has sold pale red wine grape, following the given learning ways, which ensures sweet, nutritious, and high-quality fruit.Some tactics to scare a flock of birds can also go for arbors or whatever you wish.Keep the vines must have good grapes to grow well.

Dwarf Oregon Grape Plant

Once all of these types of grapes hanging on the trellis and this will give the container near a drainage system, and a little acidic soil having a very good idea.Grape vine is that you forget your tiredness after you plant the right soil to grow grapes with your grapes directly from your crop or picking at the same time.So I am sure that there are many different uses, and they also produce other products from most of the great news today is that you know what to watch out for this.Prune annually to keep your vines get all the family members even the small grapes, which are ideal for these delectable fruits, grape is also a lot of people now dream of producing their food.Vitis Labrusca, Hybrids, Vitis Vinifera are only used to support the growth, in case there is no assurance that the soil and growing process in some areas but in general, little moist, loose soil must be done by looking in your area.

They include rotenone, ryania, and pyrethrum.On the other 2% is used to scare them away.Pruning, pest control and not too dry or too dry.Going for higher quality soil will make the mistake of planting grapevines, you will have a loose skin which is what makes your plant and grow them with water often in order to give back nutrient and food for their new vines.Both of my background, and a lot of grapevine and you should take note that some people may incorporate these grapes are more lightweight that iron, but yet strong enough to produce the future success of a backyard vineyard can take a look at the grape management system.

#Planting Grape Cuttings Awesome Tricks #How To Plant A Seedless Grape

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markwatkinsconsumerguide · 8 years ago

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Consumer Guide / No.54 / Bristol artist & painter Toni Cogdell with Mark Watkins.

MW : Tell me about your background, how you became a painter, and your artistic viewpoint...

TC : I can't remember a time when art and creativity weren't central in my life; since I was a young child I've been searching for something, needing to always look beneath the surface. Having a creative family I was lucky to be surrounded by art, music and all forms of expression and I was encouraged to live creatively. From an early age I drew daily, and found a connection with making marks and images, telling stories, and I realised art was a necessity as well as my first language.

That's the place from which I work, a belief that art is a necessity, that it can hold a space for us which allows us to pause, to question, to reconnect, and in doing so to expand our own selves, inwards and outwards. Intuitively and emotively led my painting practice aligns with my own belief in the purpose of art: to reweave our threads and connect our dots. To somehow find 'presence' and a state of 'being' amidst the chaos of our minds, histories and exterior-driven lives.

MW : Describe your studio, and how its layout and materials work optimally...

TC : My studio is small in size, especially considering the size of work I like to make, but it is my favourite place in the world and a powerhouse of inspiration. Set in woodland there are always trees, birds and pieces of sky within my periphery and these naturally find their way into my paintings, in a strange, unintentional way - I never sit and draw the view from the studio, it just comes out through memory and feeling, almost surprising me when I see the similarity to my surroundings. I absolutely love that!

The connection between my studio work space and studio garden is important to me and has become a big part of my daily routine and process. To physically be outdoors and in nature as well as actively gardening, hands in the dirt, informs so much of what I'm exploring in my work and helps to sustain the right kind of creative energy; the true, gut feeling kind rather than the over-thinking and planned sort. The calm connection I make while gardening graciously feeds back into my painting process, allowing me to access more of the raw sensitivities I'm seeking, the outer layers having been stripped away.

Painting is my full-time job and career but it's also my way of life and I need it to be fully integrated with living, so having a studio at home and out in nature has made it easier to keep some sort of continuous creative stream running through everything, day to day. That's become very important to me.

I work on a wall near to a window, with my palette to my right but a few steps away. I like to keep moving and fluid to keep the energy in the paint and not get too precious and still over any one part of a painting. On the other side of my studio I have a sofa - too large really but comfy with plenty of room for books and notes. I do a lot of drawing there, and reading, a lot of reading. From the sofa I can sit and look at the painting I'm working on as well as glance toward the ever-changing landscape outside, I get some kind of context and perspective there. So my studio is split quite clearly into the active, 'making' half and the contemplative, ideas-based half. Then the outside which is something of all those things.

MW : Why believe in "studio guardians"?

TC : I feel solitude is essential for making art as there is a need to dig down through your own layers in order to brush up against little mysteries and truths, and this is your own pilgrimage, just yours. But of course at times it can be a very lonely occupation, felt most keenly when your energy dips and you start to think and worry about your place in the world (as you're sat there dreaming onto a canvas while everyone else is out there doing things) so it helps to remind yourself you're not alone, and that right now in this moment and backwards throughout time, people have been in that same place creating, and living a good life on their own terms.

Enter: my studio guardians! Georgia O'Keefe, Tori Amos, Patti Smith, Frida Kahlo, Peter Gabriel, Sally Mann, Karl Weschke, Kiki Smith among others represented in photographs and quotes tacked to the walls of my studio. They're talismans and touchstones, my tribe of art-warriors, and often just one glance at them can reminds me it's possible, that you need to dream the way forward and that only the work of your heart will do, so stray strong, stay true. They all personify that to me.

I also believe that all creatives are connecting to the same channel, entering the same river of creativity, frantically trying to get out of our own way to allow it to flow into us and through us. So somehow making the studio environment a nurturing space with guardians walking the path with you helps to keep you keeping on. More of a 'we're in this together' approach rather than a constant lone wolf hustle.

MW : How do you know when one of your paintings is "finished"?

TC : At times, I wonder if a painting is ever really finished! For me, that feeling comes when the painting has taken on a life of its own and having its own conversation independently from me; there's nothing more I can add to it, it's just doing its thing! I work intuitively, so knowing when a piece is complete is also intuitive.

Sometimes I sense this too soon, and a few days later I return to the painting and see that it really needs to be pushed on. This process can happen a year or two afterwards, but that I think it another process happening, perhaps. I want raw marks and gestures to be seen and exist in their own right on the canvas, but also love the evolution of paint in layers, so to have both of these elements present in a painting is what I'm looking for, life and story. When they start to coexist and talk freely to each other is when a painting is close to being finished.

MW : Tell me about some of your paintings (selected for this feature)...

TC :

‘All Or Nothing’

This was a painting that just knew what it wanted to be from the offset, there was no stopping it. The paint was going onto the canvas before I had a chance to think about it, its shape was forming and taking me by surprise at each turn. This is how I love to paint, and it doesn't happen with every painting. It felt right to give it the title 'All or Nothing' as this was the feeling which sustained it throughout the making, it really was a no holding back, give it everything process. It was made at a time when I needed this reminder in life; to approach the edge and push away from your moorings, to give your dreams everything or it would all be for nothing.

‘Wintering’

There tends to be just one, lone figure in each of my paintings, and the conversation begins between them and the space they occupy through successive layers of paint. Within these layers other visual elements are included, attempting to express a sense of inner life and presence of Being; such as trees, rivers, birds and other symbols of nature we may emotionally connect to. During the process of painting 'Wintering' became quite stripped back and mostly concerned with light and space, only a slight suggestion of trees behind the figure. The more the ground became pushed into textured light the more the figure was also washed over, pushed back then retrieved again, in a cyclic, to and fro process - it felt as if winter was both stripping her back and covering her. Human and tree. It became a very quiet painting, softly spoken in whispers and light, I am very fond of it for these reasons.

‘Stoic’

This painting is based on a sculpture which stands in a churchyard local to my studio. For years that figure has acted as some sort of anchor or navigational point for me; a recurring motif of strength and consistency in an ever-changing world and way of life. Because she had such a strong impact on me in this way, with her talismanic quality, I wanted to include her in a painting, but it took quite some time before this naturally happened. ‘Stoic’ was the painting I had wanted to make for years. The title ‘Stoic’ just seemed to sum up that feeling so concisely – she stands through time so stoically, the weather’s washing off her stone body, she persists.

‘We Are Diamonds Taking Shape’

All about energy and how we carry this through life, shaping and reshaping us, I let the paint drive this painting. Focusing solely on gestural mark making on and around the figure I wanted the movement to flow through this piece in an almost cyclic way, echoing how we are always in motion, through life, through time, towards our will and dreams. The title for this painting comes from the Coldplay song 'Adventure of a Lifetime', which I was listening to a lot during the painting process. "...everything you want's a dream away, under this pressure, under this weight, we are diamonds taking shape."

‘Tempest’

I love there to be some kind of movement and fluidity in my paintings, to represent a sense of the constantly shifting emotion and lived experience we go through; this movement usually happens within the paint around and on the figure who is often still, lost in thought. With_ 'Tempest'_ I wanted a lot of the movement to be coming from the figure itself, I was pulled to this dance-like pose the figure was in. One of the focuses in my work is geared around the clay solidity of form colliding with the fluid, and intangible nature of consciousness, and this was very much the essence of this painting. With the addition of the title 'Tempest' , the space around the figure becomes a storm raging around her. She remains centred and accepting of everything crossing her path; she doesn't withstand the storm, she is the storm.

MW : Tell me all about your sketchbooks...

TC : I have always kept sketchbooks in one form or another but for the past seven years, or so, they have been much more integral to my painting practice and life. I always use the same kind of sketchbook - an A5 hardback moleskine, opened every day and worked in most days whether it's just a quick note or written line, or a few pages of worked into drawings and paintings. They are a landing place for direct thought and a bridge between my internal landscape and the paintings I make. The more I open myself up in my sketchbook the more the paintings begin to open and can encompass more layers of my search.

I don't 'decide' what to paint or paint about, it's more of an ongoing evolution of fragments of ideas, life and emotion being pulled together, colliding intuitively on the canvas; sometimes making immediate sense, and, other times I won't understand the meaning until a long time after making a painting. My sketchbook is a place where all these fragments begin, where the wisp of their tails is first caught and marked on the page as a record. Pages are never intentional. They are made from my need to draw, a need to respond to an image or pose, a sudden eureka moment needing to be written down or a line or quote that has resonated with me that I wish to remember. None of these things have any meaning that can be understood at that moment, or any plan and destination, they are just faithfully noted and captured for their own validation as part of the process itself, which I have become to trust wholeheartedly. They can be measured later, and they are, when I look through my sketchbook again and can experience it from a responsive stance, not an active one. On review, the starting point for a painting can suddenly leap out at me, an area that needs further exploration or something to be tried in a different way, a thread I'd forgotten can be picked up again. From the seemingly disparate fragments of thought, noticing, and feeling I experience in response to everyday life and cycles of emotion comes an unexpected pattern, a strange union, a punctuated statement, something that just feels right.

So my sketchbook isn't about the planning of paintings or straight forward experimentation, it's about connecting to and recording some sense of inner life, direct marks with no editing; the personal, sensory reactions to being a living human in the world. It's about making a start in unpacking the mind, letting clues to decipher the intangible nature of 'being' fall onto the page, however they wish to land, becoming a collection in book form that I can revisit at different times in the studio, with different mood shifts to allow their reordering so they might become the bones for actual paintings. I'd be lost without my sketchbooks and always have my current one close by. Some days in the studio can slip off the rails a little and begin to feel a bit lacklustre; that's when I pick up my whole pile of sketchbooks, curl up on the studio sofa, and go through each one page by page, allowing myself to be receptive to anything that might be speaking to me.

MW: Bristol City or Bristol Rovers?

TC : No comment!

MW : Fair enough ! Give a flavour of the sights and sounds of your city of Bristol...

TC : I am a proud Bristolian! The city of Bristol and its surrounding areas are artistically and culturally vibrant, as well as diverse and inclusive, it's easy to feel 'at home' as well as inspired.

We gave the world Banksy so surely that already puts Bristol on the map! As well as the incredible music scene we cherish, the 'Bristol Sound', exporting artists such as Tricky, Massive Attack and Portishead. There are many artist studio complexes across the city and independent galleries, as well as celebrated and culturally rich institutions such as The Bristol Museum and The Royal West of England Academy (RWA).

Bath is only down the road and equally supportive of the arts - I show work there with Gallery & Barrow, based on Walcot Street which has a beautiful creative buzz about it.

MW : You love books. What’s on your bookshelves, and what's in your reading pile?

TC : Books are friends! I'm as passionate about the written word (and spoken/sung) as I am about visual art; books are sacred objects in my home and studio! The reading of powerful words can instantly revive me and reconnect me to the space I need to be in to paint, so as well as having books stacked in the studio there are always a few dotted across the studio sofa for me to read while having breakfast, or taking a break from painting.

I have some beautiful art books on artists like Kiki Smith, Sally Mann, Karl Weschke, Marlene Dumas, Antony Gormley and Nicola Hicks and books by favourite writers like Terry Tempest Williams, Neil Gaiman, Virginia Woolf, John Berger, Kathleen Jamie, Mary Oliver, Seamus Heaney, Jeanette Winterson and many more. Some of my favourite current reads from my pile are: Devotion by Patti Smith, her latest book which is as divine as everything she has done, Woolgathering being one of my favourite books in existence; Finding Gobi by Dion Leonard, I have just finished this one and if anyone doesn't know who Gobi is they need to learn all about this incredible little dog and her story, she's been such a ray of light over the past year; Lovingly Georgia, the collection of letters between Georgia O'Keeffe and Anita Pollitzer, so wonderful being able to read their actual words to each other, and having read a lot of biographies on Georgia the context is already there so this is just pure go joy.

I have just started reading Daybook: Journal of an Artist by Anne Truitt and I am completely spellbound; one of those books that feels as though it was written just for me, my exact thoughts printed on the page in front of me. It is the best companion when working in the studio. Another book I love to go back to, as well as all of Patti Smith's works, is Hold Still by Sally Mann, an absolute masterpiece, insanely beautiful prose and fascinating art and life. Paulo Coelho and Mark Nepo keep my attitude and soul on track while Salt by Nayyirah Waheed reconnects me to everything within me.

MW : Why a fan of “raw” chocolate?

TC : I drink it more than eat it, starting the day at 6.30am in the studio with a mug of hot chocolate, pure 100% Cacao raw chocolate; a natural lift with no energy spikes and crashes as it's unprocessed and only sweetened with pure ingredients. I have another mug around 3pm when the mind starts to slump and over-think, and use this as a bribe and reward to myself to keep working until my break! It's a big comforter and part of my routine and has become a sort of meditation - stop work, switch gears and slowly make the chocolate, then sip it while reading either inside the studio or outside in the studio garden. After that it's back to it full steam until the evening.

MW : Where can we find out more?

TC : My website is www.toni-art.co.uk

I have an Instagram page which I post to regularly and acts as my studio diary.

https://www.instagram.com/tonicogdell/

I keep my website updated with new works and latest exhibitions and events.

0 notes

endlessarchite · 8 years ago

Text

Things That Make a Busy Life with a Dog a LOT Easier (+ Giveaway)

It’s Pet Week part 2! If you missed part one, see this post.

For those who have never read this blog before (or haven’t read for long), let me introduce you to the other major character in this DIY adventure: Charlie…

Both she and my decorating habits have changed a lot over the years…

When she’s happy and relaxed, our life at home is pretty quiet:

More often than not, this is a more realistic picture of her:

Over the years, I’ve had to make lots of adjustments to keep her happy and me sane. At times when I worked in an office, it meant turning down jobs that would make me travel so much that she would be boarded all the time. Now that I work from home as a full-time blogger though, you would think it makes everything easy — but while it is nicer for a dog in many ways, there are still obstacles we have to work on together:

I do conference calls with brands while at home. Which is usually right when the UPS guy decides to deliver something and send my dog to DEFCON 3. Not even working in a home office with the door closed makes this ideal.

DIY projects, tools, and related dangers are all around, and she likes to be directly in on the action (and even sometimes underneath my ladder).

She’s a the medium-to-large size, which means my family likens her to a GIANT and don’t always know how to deal with her size compared to their smaller dogs.

Her size also means heavy bags of food to carry around, larger spaces on the couch (someday I hope to get a decent picture of her thinking she can fit when she totally doesn’t), pet beds that can’t be neatly hidden, easy counter and table access, etc.). Luckily, she is well trained enough not to climb on things and understands unattended food does not mean her food, so it’s mostly just her climbing the fence that I worry about.

Lots and lots of dirt and fur tracked into the house (to think, I used to want this to be a no-shoe house… HA!)

Adjusting to having a new puppy in the house meant a lot of changes right away when I first adopted her, but after a few years, I learned about those super awesome pet-related things that I had no clue about for a long time: new products, new websites, and other things that make maintaining a busy life with an active dog even easier. So, as I promised earlier, here’s that list! If I ever find other things, I’ll continue to add to this same post (for easy bookmarking later). And there’s also a giveaway from one of my sponsors, Swiffer, below — so be sure to enter with a comment this week and in the widget at the bottom of this post (if you don’t see it in your reader, click over to the post in your browser here).

*some links contain affiliates*

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

My DIY elevated feeder — I already explained how my DIY project from last year fixed Charlie’s habit of tossing over her food bowl, but it’s worth repeating! Since having built it, there has been far less food on the floor (not zero food, but she’s still a dog… still a messy eater, but she usually keeps it in the bowl now instead of turning over the bowl and eating it all directly off the floor).

Before:

After:

Microfiber floor mats — I have two microfiber floor mats, one at the front door and one in front of the patio, that are specially designed for catching mud and fur whenever Charlie enters and exits the house. It’s not fool-proof, but it does make a significant difference for me whenever it’s a rainy/muddy/dirty day outside and I don’t want her tracking the muck into the house. I find that since having used them, I am spending less time and effort trying to wipe each of her paws with wet wipes, and my floor doesn’t suffer. And their gray color ties in enough with my decor that I don’t hate them.

Grooming wet wipes — Of course, now that I’ve got my new block print rug in the living room (and as a fan of lighter colored rugs in general), I still have to wipe their feet. Even though I could use a cheap paper towel, I like the dog wipes for paws. These anti-itch wipes are great for treating Charlie’s allergies (if you’ve ever seen your dog licking or chewing their paws after coming inside, you know what I’m talking about) and I like these grooming wipes as well for when Charlie has a dirty playtime at the park — Georgia red clay is no joke! I buy the bigger containers for savings.

Rinse-free/waterless dog shampoo — Charlie is an anxious dog. And when it comes to regular grooming, it was a LONG process just to even get her to take a bath. She’d freak out to the point where groomers won’t even take her, so I had to re-train her at home. I started with this rinse-free shampoo to keep the time in the tub to a minimum, and it made a huge difference. Over time, I’d use the same shampoo, but incorporate water so she’d get used to it, eventually graduating to deeper cleans. She learned to love the massage and being brushed, and now we can get through it without trauma or me getting soaked to the bone from trying to keep her in the tub. The rinse-free alternative truly did give me some relief (and still does if she needs a quick bath but I don’t have the time or energy for a longer one).

Oatmeal shampoo — if your dog is itching a lot from allergies or fleas (even if you use good flea treatments, they can still get bitten and itch, especially when warm summers like this year mean more summer fleas!). This one is highly rated.

Swiffer — There’s a reason I fully embraced working with this brand as a sponsor of the blog! I use Swiffer all the time. Charlie is a shedder — a massive, unrelenting shedder. Even after first using a good floor vacuum that can pick up her tumbleweeds of hair, I still have to go back through with a Swiffer Wet Jet to take care of all of her paw prints and use their dry cloths to take care of lots of other surfaces. Whenever one of my friends gets a new house or pet, Swiffer products are a very welcome gift (and you can get your own gift by entering the giveaway below!). Oh, and I forgot to mention in the last post: they actually reformulated their wet jet so that it no longer leaves streaks on laminate floors like mine. It used to be my biggest gripe with their products, and their development team took that feedback from lots of folks reporting the same thing and went looking for a better solution (pun-intended).

Food delivery — After discovering the mud mats mentioned above, I went searching for other smart solutions on pet-related websites. I found my answer in the form of automated dog food delivery. I try to give Charlie the best food I can afford, and I order the BIG bags. And since I also subscribe for steady delivery, I get another 5% off. The end result is that it actually beats the price I was paying to drive to a store like Petsmart, but I don’t even need to put on pants or feel guilty that I forgot her food during my last errand for groceries (which sometimes means she gets people food when I run out, but it’s not great for her digestion).

A rolling food bin — I haven’t finished the pantry makeover, but an improvement I made several years ago was a simple investment in a rolling bin that was large enough to fit an entire large bag of dog food. Given that the cheapest price per pound of food is in the large bags, I would buy in bulk, but when I was using a smaller bin, it meant that I could only store a small amount each time in the previous plastic container and had to keep the rest elsewhere (which is a quick way to clutter). I think I only spent $20 on a new bin that also had rolling wheels and a flip-up top, but the mileage and convenience I get out of it is night and day. It just goes to show, once again, that investing in the right products for your house (even if it costs a little bit more than what you were using before) is a smart move because it can save you time, money, and square footage.

“Tough” stuffed dog toys — There’s unfortunately no stopping the gutting of a stuffed toy sometimes. Even when they’re labeled something akin to indestructible, I look at the claim and laugh, because Charlie will eventually find her way inside the stomach of that toy if it contains a squeaker. I’ve learned to just embrace it, but buying “tough” toys instead of the cheap ones still mean she usually hangs onto them a little longer, and that added time is easier on my costs long-term (I pay more upfront, but she hangs onto them long enough for break even or better). Sometimes she’ll have a favorite and keep them intact for months, and others will last just a few weeks, but less cleanup and a happy dog who is quiet during conference calls is a win-win for me!

A decent deshedding brush — While I have used a number of them over the years, there are two deshedding tools that pretty much tie for me as the best: the FURminator and the SleekEZ. The first I picked up in store (it’s a little pricer than most, but it was worth it for me!) and the second was part of a swag bag from a pet conference I went to a few years ago. Charlie loves getting brushed from the FURminator and I personally love the INSANE amount of deshedding the SleekEZ one does… it’s like brushing a horse (I only comb her outside with that one, though… it basically creates a whole new dog’s worth of fur. I just also saw through grabbing these links that there’s a deshedding shampoo, too, so I’m going to try that out next!

Honestly, that’s all I can think of for now, but I’ll add more as I think of it! It’s also a great question in terms of a special giveaway:

Giveaway question: What products or services have you been grateful to discover in caring for your pet?

Leave a comment on this blog post for a sweet goodie box from Swiffer! Be sure to also update the Rafflecopter widget too. I actually just asked them as I was writing this post if they would throw in something for you guys (another reason why I like working with them — they really have an awesome and super flexible team), so I don’t have details on precisely what you’ll wind up with, but the box is generally this size (photo is of my sister modeling one of her housewarming gifts):

Full giveaway details:

Prize: a sweet goodie box from Swiffer to help you & your pet keep things fresh & clean (any package I’ve gotten from them includes ample refills to last a while)

Number of winners: one

Geographical restrictions: U.S. only (that’s usually how it goes, but if that’s not the case I’ll open it up further!)

Ends: Friday, June 23 at 11:59PM

To enter: leave a comment on this blog post answering my giveaway question & update the embedded widget (if you have trouble with the widget, please let me know, and if you don’t see it, make sure you’re clicked over to my site directly!)

Ready? Go! And thanks in advance for your tips and recommendations on other items… I hope Charlie and I discover something in the process!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: This post and giveaway are sponsored by Swiffer, but as always, all text and opinions, embarrassing stories, and bad jokes are 100% my own.

The post Things That Make a Busy Life with a Dog a LOT Easier (+ Giveaway) appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

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thoughtfuldreambarbarian · 8 years ago

Text

Things That Make a Busy Life with a Dog a LOT Easier (+ Giveaway)

It's Pet Week part 2! If you missed part one, see this post.

For those who have never read this blog before (or haven't read for long), let me introduce you to the other major character in this DIY adventure: Charlie

Both she and my decorating habits have changed a lot over the years

When she's happy and relaxed, our life at home is pretty quiet:

More often than not, this is a more realistic picture of her:

Over the years, I've had to make lots of adjustments to keep her happy and me sane. At times when I worked in an office, it meant turning down jobs that would make me travel so much that she would be boarded all the time. Now that I work from home as a full-time blogger though, you would think it makes everything easy - but while it is nicer for a dog in many ways, there are still obstacles we have to work on together:

DIY projects, tools, and related dangers are all around, and she likes to be directly in on the action (and even sometimes underneath my ladder).

She's a the medium-to-large size, which means my family likens her to a GIANT and don't always know how to deal with her size compared to their smaller dogs.

Her size also means heavy bags of food to carry around, larger spaces on the couch (someday I hope to get a decent picture of her thinking she can fit when she totally doesn't), pet beds that can't be neatly hidden, easy counter and table access, etc.). Luckily, she is well trained enough not to climb on things and understands unattended food does not mean her food, so it's mostly just her climbing the fence that I worry about.

Lots and lots of dirt and fur tracked into the house (to think, I used to want this to be a no-shoe house HA!)

Adjusting to having a new puppy in the house meant a lot of changes right away when I first adopted her, but after a few years, I learned about those super awesome pet-related things that I had no clue about for a long time: new products, new websites, and other things that make maintaining a busy life with an active dog even easier. So, as I promised earlier, here's that list! If I ever find other things, I'll continue to add to this same post (for easy bookmarking later). And there's also a giveaway from one of my sponsors, Swiffer, below - so be sure to enter with a comment this week and in the widget at the bottom of this post (if you don't see it in your reader, click over to the post in your browserhere).

*some links contain affiliates*

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

My DIY elevated feeder - I already explained how my DIY project from last yearfixed Charlie's habit of tossing over her food bowl, but it's worth repeating! Since having built it, there has been far less food on the floor (not zero food, but she's still a dog still a messy eater, but she usually keeps it in the bowl now instead of turning over the bowl and eating it all directly off the floor).

Before:

After:

Microfiber floor mats - I have two microfiber floor mats, one at the front door and one in front of the patio, that are specially designed for catching mud and fur whenever Charlie enters and exits the house. It's not fool-proof, but it does make a significant difference for me whenever it's a rainy/muddy/dirty day outside and I don't want her tracking the muckinto the house. I find that since having used them, I am spending less time and effort trying to wipe each of her pawswith wet wipes, and my floor doesn't suffer. And their gray color ties in enough with my decor that I don't hate them.

Grooming wet wipes - Of course, now that I've got my new block print rug in the living room (and as a fan of lighter colored rugs in general), I still have to wipe their feet. Even though I could use a cheap paper towel, I like the dog wipes for paws. These anti-itch wipes are great for treating Charlie's allergies (if you've ever seen your dog licking or chewing their paws after coming inside, you know what I'm talking about) and I like these grooming wipes as well for when Charlie has a dirty playtime at the park - Georgia red clay is no joke! I buy the bigger containers for savings.

Rinse-free/waterless dog shampoo - Charlie is an anxious dog. And when it comes to regular grooming, it was a LONG process just to even get her to take a bath. She'd freak out to the point where groomers won't even take her, so I had to re-train her at home. I started with this rinse-free shampoo to keep the time in the tub to a minimum, and it made a huge difference. Over time, I'd use the same shampoo, but incorporate water so she'd get used to it, eventually graduating to deeper cleans. She learned to love the massage and being brushed, and now we can get through it without trauma or me getting soaked to the bone from trying to keep her in the tub. The rinse-free alternative truly did give me some relief (and still does if she needs a quick bath but I don't have the time or energy for a longer one).

Oatmeal shampoo - if your dog is itching a lot from allergies or fleas (even if you use good flea treatments, they can still get bitten and itch, especially when warm summers like this year mean more summer fleas!). This one is highly rated.

Swiffer - There's a reason I fully embraced working with this brand as a sponsor of the blog! I use Swiffer all the time. Charlie is a shedder- a massive, unrelenting shedder. Even after firstusinga good floor vacuum that can pick up her tumbleweeds of hair, I still have to go back through with a Swiffer Wet Jet to take care of all of her paw prints and use their dry cloths to take care of lots of other surfaces. Whenever one of my friends gets a new house or pet, Swiffer products are a very welcome gift (and you can get your own gift by entering the giveaway below!). Oh, and I forgot to mention in the last post: they actually reformulated their wet jet so that it no longer leaves streaks on laminate floors like mine. It used to be my biggest gripe with their products, and their development team took that feedback from lots of folks reporting the same thing and went looking for a better solution (pun-intended).

Food delivery -After discovering the mud mats mentioned above, I went searching for other smart solutions on pet-related websites.I found my answer in the form of automated dog food delivery. I try to give Charliethe best food I can afford, and I order the BIG bags. And since I also subscribe for steady delivery, I get another 5% off. The end result is that it actually beats the price I was paying to drive to a store like Petsmart, but I don't even need to put on pantsor feel guilty that I forgot her food duringmy last errand for groceries (which sometimes means she gets people food when I run out, but it's not great for her digestion).

A rolling food bin - I haven't finished the pantry makeover, but an improvement I made several years ago was a simple investment in a rolling bin that was large enough to fit an entire large bag of dog food. Given that the cheapest price per pound of food is in the large bags, I would buy in bulk, but when I was using a smaller bin, it meant that I could only store a small amount each time in the previous plastic container and had to keep the rest elsewhere (which is a quick way to clutter). I think I only spent $20 on a new bin that also had rolling wheels and a flip-up top, but the mileage and convenience I get out of it is night and day. It just goes to show, once again, that investing in the rightproducts for your house (even if it costs a little bit more than what you were using before) is a smart move because it can saveyou time, money, and square footage.

Tough stuffed dog toys - There's unfortunately no stopping the gutting of a stuffed toy sometimes. Even when they're labeled something akin to indestructible, I look at the claim and laugh, because Charlie will eventually find her way inside the stomach of that toy if it contains a squeaker. I've learned to just embrace it, but buying tough toys instead of the cheap ones still mean she usually hangs onto them a little longer, and that added time is easier on my costs long-term (I pay more upfront, but she hangs onto them long enough for break even or better). Sometimes she'll have a favorite and keep them intact for months, and others will last just a few weeks, but less cleanup and a happy dog who is quiet during conference calls is a win-win for me!

A decent deshedding brush - While I have used a number of them over the years, there are two deshedding tools that pretty much tie for me as the best: the FURminator and the SleekEZ. The first I picked up in store (it's a little pricer than most, but it was worth it for me!) and the second was part of a swag bag from a pet conference I went to a few years ago. Charlie loves getting brushed from the FURminator and I personally love the INSANE amount of deshedding the SleekEZ one does it's like brushing a horse (I only comb her outside with that one, though it basically creates a whole new dog's worth of fur. I just also saw through grabbing these links that there's a deshedding shampoo, too, so I'm going to try that out next!

Honestly, that's all I can think of for now, but I'll add more as I think of it! It's also a great question in terms of a special giveaway:

Giveaway question: What products or services have you been grateful to discover in caring for your pet?

Leave a comment on this blog post for a sweet goodie box from Swiffer! Be sure to also update the Rafflecopter widget too. I actually just asked them as I was writing this post if they would throw in something for you guys (another reason why I like working with them - they really have an awesome and super flexible team), so I don't have details on precisely what you'll wind up with, but the box is generally this size (photo is of my sister modeling one of her housewarming gifts):

Full giveaway details:

Prize: a sweet goodie box from Swiffer to help you & your pet keep things fresh & clean (any package I've gotten from them includes ample refills to last a while)

Number of winners: one

Geographical restrictions: U.S. only (that's usually how it goes, but if that's not the case I'll open it up further!)

Ends: Friday, June 23 at 11:59PM

To enter: leave a comment on this blog post answering my giveaway question & update the embedded widget (if you have trouble with the widget, please let me know, and if you don't see it, make sure you're clicked over to my site directly!)

Ready? Go! And thanks in advance for your tips and recommendations on other items I hope Charlie and I discover something in the process!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: This post and giveaway are sponsored by Swiffer, but as always, all text and opinions, embarrassing stories, and bad jokes are 100% my own.

The post Things That Make a Busy Life with a Dog a LOT Easier (+ Giveaway) appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

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woodcraftor · 8 years ago

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Things That Make a Busy Life with a Dog Far Easier (+ Giveaway)