It's been a while since we updated...

The outside is 99% done. 

September Product Review - Merrick Natural Beef Liver Real Cuts Jerky from Chewy.com

 Thank you Chewy.com for the free Merrick Natural Beef Liver Real Cuts Jerky in exchange for this product review.  Chewy.com is my favorite online retailer for pet food and treats, with over 200 brands and 24/7 live chat and assistance.  They always have free shipping with any $49 or more order and you will receive your order in 1-2 days.

Having a dog with food allergies to chicken, barley and venison, I am very happy to find USA made treats that all our dogs can enjoy.  These American-sourced, American-made real jerky cuts are rawhide-free and contain no artificial flavors or fillers. The ingredient list is very simple: Beef liver, water, glycerin, cane molasses, guar gum, salt. 

I was slightly disappointed that these did not come in a resealable bag, but definitely not a deal breaker. There are 8 slices of jerky in the package.  They did have a faint odor of the liver, it was pleasant, and your nose knows what is in the treats.  The treats are very easy to tear into smaller pieces and are not messy on your hands.  I think they will make great bait for the show ring!

Photographic proof that Sailor, Luther and Sabrina LOVED the Merrick Beef Liver Jerky!  So, for my household we give these treats, and the service from Chewy.com  THUMBS AND PAWS UP!!

Paint Colors

Happy National Dog Day!

Roof!

Leonard, with help of our friend Jim (and photo taken by his daughter, Mikayla) we now have a roof on the addition!

August Product Review - Halo Healthsome biscuits from Chewy.com

 We wish to thank www.chewy.com for giving us the opportunity to review another product!  For August, we were given a bag of

Halo Healthsome Vegetarian Biscuits with Peanut 'n Pumpkin Grain-Free Dog Treats

Having one dog in our house that is allergic to chicken, barley and venison, we only keep food and treats that every dog (we have 8) can eat.  These treats are made with Potato Flour, Whole Peanut Flour, Tapioca Flour, Pea Flour, Canola Oil, Pumpkin, Tomatoes, Apples, Sweet Potatoes, Cranberries, Carrots, Split Peas, Broccoli, Parsley, and Ascorbic Acid. 

When I opened the 8 oz. bag, the aroma smelled as if I opened up homemade peanut butter cookies.  Sabrina was drooling at my side while I counted how many were in the bag...

 

The bag contained 19 whole treats, and I was able to piece together what would be 5 more from the broken pieces (not bad to have so few broken).  This would give my dogs a bed time treat for 3 nights.  

As for flavor, the dogs loved them!  They are low fat, grain free and gluten free for the dogs that have food sensitivities.  For as many dogs as we have, they are not really budget friendly.  If you only have one dog, and only treat once a day, they will make a good, healthy option.  Shipping from Chewy.com is always super quick (we receive items the next day) and Sabrina said they were very yummy!

Starting to take shape...

We have rafters!

Product Review - from Chewy.com - Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Boost Minis for Cats

 We were once again asked to review another high quality pet treat from 

http://www.chewy.com/

This month's treat is Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Boost Minis for Cats.
Ours is the Duck Formula.

I must say that I am getting addicted to freeze-dried treats!  The aroma, once again, is very appealing!

Pearl the cat says they are very tasty! (She is actually chewing one in this photo).

We did share with the dogs as well.  Here is Sabrina is licking her chops! 

These treats are a nice, small size, perfect when you want to reward your dog.  Chewy.com was so quick with the shipping of the treats (we received them the next day) that they came just in time for our next dog show.  They worked splendidly as bait in the show ring.  Very tasty, high value, not greasy and little mess!

These are raw, freeze dried treats. While not pure meat, the ingredients seem good enough for people to eat! Duck (Including Ground Duck Bone), Turkey, Turkey Liver, Turkey Heart, Pumpkinseeds, Apples, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Ground Flaxseed, Montmorillonite Clay, Broccoli, Lettuce, Spinach, Dried Kelp, Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley, Honey, Salmon Oil, Mixed Tocopherols, Olive Oil, Rosemary Extract, Blueberries, Alfalfa Sprouts, Persimmons, Inulin, Rosemary, Sage, Clove.  

As for the Guaranteed Analysis, these rank well at Crude Protein (min): 40.0%, Crude Fat (min): 30.0%, Crude Fiber (max): 15.0%, Moisture (max): 6.0%  with only 2 kcal per treat.  

I will mention that my picky cat, 13 year old China, who has never eaten canned cat food or cat treats, did lick these, though she did not eat them.  She only likes her kibble. 

So, for my household we give these treats, and the service from Chewy.com  THUMBS AND PAWS UP!! 

More Framing

 The rooms are starting to take shape!!  With our xray vision, you can see through the divider wall into the master bedroom.

Looking through the doorway of the smaller room into the master.  I can't wait to read my kindle in front of that picture window!

 A closeup of the picture window in the master.

The divider wall that will separate the small room from the master.

The Framing Games

 We finally had some good (sunny, hot) weather. The floor joists were finished last weekend.

 This weekend, they finished the decking.

A close up of the insulation.

 And some wall frames are up!

Coffee's First Show

On the move.

 Coffee, aka Beitshemesh Cafe Au Lait, Luther's granddaughter, went to her first show on Saturday.  She was a happy, silly, goofy puppy.... 

 

but she can move!

And the judge awarded her Best of Winners for her first point! 
Coffee was handled by my dear friend, Mari McAvoy. 

It was time...

It was time... time to run at the rainbow bridge with the German Shepherds and Demi. At 17.5 years, Twister had a good life and deserved his dignity.

When he was given to me as a 4.5 month old kitten, I named him Sarek after the Star Trek character, the Vulcan, Spock's father. He quickly showed that he was a little tornado and had to much personality that would disgrace any Vulcan. The Helen Hunt movie had just come out, and hence his name change. His vivacious personality will be missed.

RIP Twister  (January 15, 1996 - June 16, 2013)

Product Review - Orijen Regional Red Freeze Dried Treats from Chewy.com

While we are waiting for the weather to cooperate with us on the renovation project,

Chewy.com graciously inquired if we would test a product for them!  We took them up on the offer!

The product sent to us to try is Orijen Regional Red Freeze Dried Treats.

My first impression when opening the package was that I wanted to try it myself...  the aroma was THAT GOOD!  The dogs (6 Cardigan Welsh Corgis and 1 Smooth Collie) were drooling in anticipation.   Every dog and the ancient cat (17.5 year old Twister, who thinks he is a dog) inhaled the treats! 

It is advertised that this size package does hold 60 treats and they were not wrong.  The package seemed small and light, weighing 2 oz.  and I took the time to count out 63 treats in the package prior to the taste test. As ingredients go, these treats are pure meat, and not just any meat.    Wild Boar liver, lamb liver, Angus beef liver, boneless wild boar, boneless lamb, boneless Angus beef.  Having one dog who is allergic to chicken, barley and venison, she too was able to enjoy these.

The guaranteed analysis states Crude Protein (min.) 50%, Crude Fat (min.) 40%, Crude Fiber (max.) 1%, Moisture (max.) 2%.  I would not recommend overfeeding this product due to the fat content, though they are low calorie (5 per treat) and carbohydrate free.  Plus, did I say how the dogs love them?

I showed the package to Leonard a bit later, as I wanted him to smell how good these treats smell.  How often can you say that about a dog treat?  At this time, 10 year old Sabrina was in his lap, doing contortions, to get to the treats! 

We have one dog who will not be named, who deems he is king of all he surveys, who really thinks it is quite beneath him to ever go in a crate.  He walks in   s l o w   m o t i o n   to his box whenever it is time.  With these treats in hand he ZOOMED into his crate for them!   I was impressed!

So, if you have a picky dog or want to give your dogs a pure meat treat from a trusted source (Orijen makes all their own products, they are not outsourced and they never use ingredients from China) I do recommend this product.  Their freeze dried treat line comes in 8 varieties: Regional Red, Original, Alberta Bison, Free Run Duck, Tundra, Wild Boar, Alberta Lamb and Black Angus Beef.

Our dogs (cat and people, too) here give Orijen Freeze Dried Treats THUMBS UP!  Plus the service from Chewy.com is wonderful!  Prompt shipping and great service!!

A Beam

This, is now...

this!  The existing structure now has proper support.

Boggin Damage

If you have seen the new animated movie, Epic, you will understand the reference to "boggin" and rot.

This is what is left of the rotted sill that the living room and existing bedroom have been sitting on. Leonard has it jacked up, removed the rotten wood and is adding a new beam.  

Kitchen No More

Let the framing begin.

The old kitchen is gone.

 The old kitchen is now...

reduced to rubble.

Concrete

 The irony - the hardest work will never be seen.

 There was some extra, so a pad was poured in the driveway.

 

Luther and Sabrina left their paw prints in the pad.

And Leonard's newest toy, his laser level.  He loves getting new toys.

What They Will Become

 Our Master Suite will include a lovely sitting area and windows to view the woods.

The "office" space will house many doggy related things.

A Long Week - ready for concrete

 The digging commenced...

 And we had a mud pit...

 The drainage stone.

 The forms are now in place.

 And drainage tile...

 Vapor barrier, rebar and mesh are in place.

Now the concrete can be poured!