Canadian Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the second Monday in October, earlier than the American Thanksgiving, which is held in November. Since 1971 it has coincided with Columbus Day in the U.S.
The first Thanksgiving feast in the U.S. was held in 1621 when the Pilgrims celebrated their harvest. However, the Americans did not invent Thanksgiving. English navigator Martin Frobisher held a celebration of thanks in 1578 in what is now Newfoundland as he had survived the long journey over the seas.
There are 80 cranberry farms in B.C. with many destined for the Thanksgiving table, and while it is doubtful cranberries were served at the first Thanksgiving meals, the indigenous people used them for cooking and dyeing and introduced them to the pilgrims.
We are lucky, since Mom moved back to Midway 6 years ago, she (and Cinnamon) went on a diet and exercise regime. Mom lost 21% of her weight and Cinnamon lost 35% by walking (and eating right). Not only did Mom loose the weight, she has managed to keep it off (and even lose a little more) since she broke her leg. Mom's health and her conditioning are in better shape too.
All of us cats are in terrific shape as is Nutmeg. Mom says it is easier to keep Nuts from overeating! She does NOT get people food from the Peeps when they are snacking or eating. AND Mom loves that there are now easy to find Cat & Dog Calorie & Body Condition Calculators.
Mom's really happy that last year (while making the badges), she found the Pet Obesity Prevention site. She has found their information really helpful and she has passed along the information and the site to loads of Peeps.
If you want more information, you should visit the site!
Well, it is almost 6 months since Mom last took Nutmeg for a walk in the park!
Mom has not been outside - much less walking, until about a month ago.
About 2 weeks ago, Mom graduated from 2 wheel walker to Crutches in the house, at the grocery store and a 4 wheel walker outside for walking.
Nutmeg who is normally rambunctious, is very calm and good when she goes for a walk with Mom. Mom is up to walking to the corner and back 3 times a day. This makes Nutmeg happy, she just wishes that Mom went faster (and further).
Mom is glad that we live in a small quiet town, on a street with little traffic and we makes sure that she goes for a walk when it is quiet. Nutmeg has even been calm when other dogs are on the street.
Taking Nutmeg for a walk is something Mom and the Nutcase both enjoy and both get health benefits! Not only does Nutmeg’s mental health and physical well-being benefit from getting in some exercise, but so does Mom's. Getting out with Nutmeg is a great way to bond. It gets Mom to take a break from always being so busy she gets in some quality time with her favorite pup and is a terrific way for both to unwind. Nutmeg is also learning how to be calm, cool and collected and not to pull or let herself get overly excited.
Today we are going to BAKE Cookies! Since Mom broke her leg, Nutmeg has only had Store bought treats!
Today we are BAKING Peanut Butter and BACON Cookies!
First, we turned on the oven and got all the ingredients together.
Then we made the dough (we used Mom's mixer). Jo Jo could smell the bacon and jumped up to see what Mom was doing (Mom laughed and laughed about Dough-Jo, we did NOT get it...)
Mom used the blender to turn the oatmeal into Oat Flour, the top came
off and the kitchen was all oat floured...and there were lots of HBO
words...
We rolled out the dough and cut the cookies. Mom found the dough was really easy to roll and it did not stick too bad. The dusting of flour worked wonderfully well.
We put the cookies on the sheet and put it in the oven.
And we baked them!
When they had cooled, Mom put the cookies on a plate and took them to the living room.
Kozmo appeared (as if by magic) and was into them right away! He LOVED them!
(Mom had to break the cookie into cat treat size bites)
Nutcase er Nutmeg was ready for the taste test!
She wanted MORE! Mom also broke some cookies up for Jo Jo and Me and we LOVE them too! Mom had to put them away,Nutcase, Me, Jo Jo and Kozmo have been mooching around ever since.
I have been trying to get the container open!
We give them 16 paws up! We ALL Loved them (even Mom and Alex ate some)
If making them again, Mom will use a pizza cutter to make cat sized treats and she would shred the carrot smaller. The dough was easier to work with than most cookie doughs and rolled out easily.
And it's not just us dogs and cats and rabbits and budgies who love to cuddle! All of us animals love the occasional cuddle!
There's so much we can learn from our animal friends, including the importance of love and closeness.
And did you know that a good hug or cuddle can release oxytocin, that scientists deem the "love hormone?" That's what happens when we feel close to someone and this increases our feelings of closeness, generosity, and kindness.
Here are 3 of us hugging! (Jo Jo is not very huggy)
M.Y.O.S. is a company that creates products to support dog muscle growth and prevent muscle loss as they age. They established Thankful For my Dog Day in 2020 This day is dedicated to appreciating these pets as one of our own family members, and we always love an extra excuse to spend some more time with our pups and pamper them.
The woofies at our house have ALWAYS been pampered (and I think, SPOILED)
Look at Nutcase!
I know us cats are thankful she is our sisfur! She kisses us as much as she kisses Mom! (Especially Jo Jo!)
Where did World Kindness Day come from? It started at a conference in Japan in the late 1990's and has grown from being Japan, Canada and Australia. It was started to connect nations and promote peace through kindness, showing that simple heartfelt gestures can bridge divides. Taking care of pets shows kindness to the animal, and it can also feed the giver’s soul. Having a connection with pets is a great way to foster empathy and compassion. Taking care of an animal can help a child develop social skills, and also states that “A child who learns to care for an animal, and treat it kindly and patiently, may get invaluable training in learning to treat people the same way.” As animals, we are always kind (well mostly) And because our Mom is broken right now we are making Kindness Day about her! Us cats are going to groom her like we do each other! She has trouble washing her hair, so we figured we could do that!
Mom's Hair after being washed by cats!
Walk the dog for Mom
I, Marvelous Marv, will take Nutcase er Nutmeg for a walk!
Bring Mom Food!
Kozmo will make us roast Chicken and us pets and Mom will eat it!
Read to Mom!
Oh Marv! The Cat in The Hat is my FAVORITE!!!
Cuddle with Mom as she heals!
I, Marv try ALWAYS to be kind! (unless you are a rodent, then I will be kind and eat you!)
This week we are getting Mom to do the friendly fill-ins.
1. BIRTHDAYS make me feel old.
2. Dancing to the oldies while cleaning the house makes me feel young.
3. Recently, being a computer Geek came in very handy.
4. I think that the new snow plow guy in the village is the most useless one we have ever had.
Thank goodness that since Christmas we have had more seasonable weather. I was getting tired of having to shovel half the road to get the car out of the driveway. But I gotta say, snow shovelling is a terrific cardio exercise!
The Friendly Fill-ins are written by 15 and Meowing (the first 2) and the second two are written byFour-Legged Fur Balls! We hope you enjoyed learning about our Mom as much as we love learning about you dear furrends.
AND
Today is the Lunar New Year's Eve!
When Mom and me lived in Vancouver it was a really big event. Richmond (a city that makes up part of Vancouver) is more than 80% Asian and South Asian. Seeing all the celebrations, Lion and Dragon Dancers, the parades and the wonderful cuisine was a unique experience. Mom misses it. Many of the people she worked with participated in the events and several of them were Lion and Dragon Dancers. Below is a video of the Lion Dancers getting ready for the excitement.
One of the exciting things about this New Year is that last year
was full of the fierceness of the TIGER! Our Peeps were all freed from
the pandemic cages. And lots of things happened all over the world. This
new lunar year we will be tamer -- it is the year of the rabbit (and in
some countries the cat). Rabbits, in the Chinese Zodiac are known
for their sense of calm and peacefulness. That means this year will be
profoundly different as tigers and rabbits represent opposite
energies. The Tiger embodies Yang energy and the Rabbit, Yin.
Yang
energy is associated with fast-paced movement and action—which explains
why the Year of the Tiger was “unpredictable, and sometimes even
aggressive and chaotic,”
Yin energy is more laid back, which means
we can expect the Year of the Rabbit to be well-suited for reflection,
rest, and renewal. That does not mean it will be boring though. It means
we have a chance to step back, think about and realize our goals.
RABBITS
are the luckiest of the 12 zodiac animals and Rabbit years are supposed
to bring Hope and Prosperity.
All us cats are really looking forward to Mom making Chinese Food tomorrow!
Are you doing anything special for Chinese New Year?
Please click the button to be taken to Feline Friday! Tell Mimi that Marvelous sent you!
