August 26th

Today is International Dog Day.

I thought it'd be a great day to

honor the best dog ever.

Our Leia.

We still miss you.

💔

The reason for the annual day of celebration

is to shed light on the plight of so many

dogs (and other animals) in shelters.

Please adopt and not shop!

Dogs were the first animals 

to be domesticated approximately

11,000 years ago.

They became our best friends because

of a beautiful serendipitous relationship

with man.

They helped in the hunt and in return

were provided food and shelter.

Science thinks that a sort of

inadvertent selective breeding took

place, giving rise to a more capable

hunting animal who could sniff out prey

and had closer ties to their human friends.

Some fun facts:

The Labrador Retriever is the most popular breed.

A noseprint is unique, like our fingerprints.

All dogs dream but puppies and seniors do so the most.

A deaf or blind dog can still hunt - by smell.

Yawning is contagious. If you yawn, your dog will too,

sometimes by only the sound of a yawn.

When dogs curl up while sleeping, it's a 

hold over from their wild ancestors who did it

to protect their organs in case of an attack.

Contrary to popular belief, dogs aren't color blind.

They can see blue, red and yellow.

And lastly this....

A recent study has shown that dogs

are among a small group of animals

who show voluntary kindness

toward others without getting any reward.

(A fact I was well aware of)

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Not to be upstaged by dogs,

chickens are domesticated too,

but there isn't any way to potty train them!

They do sell chicken diapers, 

but they are still birds,,,,,

Messy eaters and poopers!

And as far as being altruistic,

that's a big NO!

Yes, they are cute as buttons,

but they'll never be house hens!

Yeah Hazel, I'm talking about you!

You too Lucy,

and your sisters too.

Nugget and Ethel walking away as 

I talk to them.

Chickens don't care.

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This week's harvest.

There's 3 Japanese eggplants,

2 Cucumbers, 2 green Bell Peppers,

1 purple Bell Pepper,

2 Cherry tomatoes,

and 3 Scotch Bonnet hot peppers.

The hot peppers get washed and then

go into a container of pickle juice in the 'fridge

to make Hot Pepper Pickles!

Eggplant.

Japanese Eggplant.

This is a baby Eggplant.

We've harvested them when they are

a tiny bit bigger than this one.

I cut them in half, spray on olive oil,

cut up a couple of small onions,

put all of them on a baking dish

and pop them in a 400 degree oven

for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Delish!

White onions.

Lavender flower in front of the Bay leaf bush.

A new basil,

it's called Pesto Variegated Basil.

It smells heavenly.

Wet Mary with Her

pink StarCluster Lantana.

Mexican Heather

Sunflower

Caladiums

Cuttings from the green and 

purple Sweet Potato vine.

Succulents,

with a Pandora Sphinx Moth.

I found it dead in the garage,

so now it has a place of distinction in 

the succulent bowl.

I think he's gorgeous,

with his camo outfit on!

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Remember...

💚💔