If you find pancakes boring, then it might be time to give aebleskiver a try. Aebleskiver are round, Dutch filled pancakes, and they’re about to bring some excitement to your breakfast game. Think of them as pancakes crossed with donut holes with the added lightness of popovers. In other wor…
I am going to start this article with a personal story. So if you’re not ready to learn more about my personal life you should probably skip it. But if you alternately want to know more about cat bathroom habits — read on.
So let’s say you read my resolution article. You’re thinking I’m being unrealistic right? You’re feeling a little bit salty because let’s face it, 2021 also is sort of terrible. Then I start talking about making your pet lose weight like you don’t have anything else to worry about. It’s icy …
Nonfiction often doesn’t get as much attention as fiction, and I’m not sure why. In the right hands, a true story can be as suspenseful as a made-up one, and there’s the added little excitement that it’s true. I’m reminded of Fargo, the Coen brothers’ 1996 movie and subsequent TV series that…
I’ve avoided sharing a chili recipe for a long time. It’s not that I don’t like chili; I do. The problem is that everyone wants the best chili recipe. Or the spiciest. Or one that’s made without any beans. No, make that only with beans. Maybe a chili that’s not too spicy but includes coffee …
So everyone knows by now that I love to talk about pet weight loss. I do know that your eyes probably glaze over as you stroke your adorable fat cat and lament that I just don’t get how cute they are fat. I do. Trust me. But they will be cute thin too, and most importantly...healthier.
So what better way to work off those Christmas cookies and Thanksgiving gravy than delightful walking with the dog? Great idea, and then we get two feet of snow! For those who don’t love snowshoeing and cross country skiing, this can definitely throw a wrench in the plans. Never fear though,…
If we ever needed a good drink to close out a year, now is the time. That’s why this week, I bring you the Hot Buttered Rum. Warm, indulgent, and boozy, this is what we need as we cope with the tragedy this year has brought upon the world, and we look forward to better days ahead.
My Christmas tree is up and full of lights, which prompted that it is time for a holiday season article. As with everything else, we don’t exactly know what the holidays will hold this year. We certainly know we won’t be having a giant feast or gathering. To be honest lights, trees and bakin…
Had you asked me to name my favorite kid’s books before I started as a librarian, I probably would have picked ones from my childhood, along with a couple the boys particularly loved when they were learning to read. But the more time I spent in the children’s collection at the library, the m…
We are now officially down to the gift buying wire. Maybe you started early because we’re shipping things more. Maybe you’re giving up because we want this year to be a distant memory. Maybe you’re trying to think of the perfect gift to try and salvage some 2020 joy. Some people thrive on la…
If you imagine a croissant in cookie form, you have yourself rugelach. These small Eastern European cookies originated from the Jewish communities of Poland. Today they’re found worldwide yet remain especially popular in Israel, especially the old-fashioned variety filled with chocolate.
Time to talk teeth! Teeth are integral to overall health and are often overlooked. I’m going to talk about dental cleanings, the anesthesia that is associated with, and everything else. I will walk you through a dental at our clinic and explain why being under anesthesia is in the best inter…
As the days get darker and colder, and more people move to work from home again our cats have a big change. Did you know that even indoor cats are affected by daylight changes? Did you know that even cats who want their owners home all the time can stress with stay-at-home changes? I have al…
Rutland Free Library’s movie-streaming service, Kanopy, is celebrating noir fiction this month, so I thought I would add a few books to the list. Noir is briefly described as detective fiction that features flawed leading characters – there’s a large crossover with “hard-boiled” fiction, but…
Way back in September, when you could still travel a little on occasion, my wife and I went to Cape Cod for a few days. Always curious about the local foods of wherever I visit, I was excited to find a historic grist mill still working in the town of Sandwich, Massachusetts. Situated on a qu…
Spays and neuters are one of our most common surgeries, but also one of the things that people have the most questions about. They are also one of the things with the most grey areas. We do support sterilizing our non-breeding pets for many reasons, but your veterinarian can discuss all opti…
The theme for 2020 seems to be “I’m not sure how this is going to go” (that is if you rule out obscenities.) Thanksgiving is coming up, and of course, I’m not sure how this is going to go. I know that gatherings outside your bubble aren’t going to be popular, but inside my bubble, I’ll still…
Spending extra time at home during lockdown this spring meant more time for trying new things. One of those included starting my own quinoa plants from seed. I had no expectations, but plenty of time, so why not? I set up grow lights and seed trays in the basement, tucked the tiny quinoa see…
I was gazing at my dog this weekend, thinking of all we have gone through together and how she has cute grey hairs in her eyelashes. Then I realized that my cat is 15 and my dog is 12. They are not just into senior years, but bordering on geriatric. They are both at the age where we lose pet…
I grew up and went to college in Canada, which meant I was steeped in CanLit classes. Instead of “Red Badge of Courage” we read W.O. Mitchell’s “Who Has Seen the Wind?” But we also read widely in American, British, and world literature. So when I moved south, I was surprised – and continue t…
This time of year seems to bring out the aches and pains — in us and our dogs. The rapid swings in temperature and humidity can be tough on joints. The (usually) beautiful weather means we are doing more; both for fun and prepping for the winter. Nobody likes pain, but I appreciate pain in p…
Susan Haefner is what is known in theater circles as a “triple threat,” a consummate actress, singer and dancer — to say nothing of director, choreographer, producer and teacher. With a résumé full of Broadway, national touring and regional theater credits, she is one of a handful of theater…
I don’t know about you, but this year I’m celebrating even the smallest of victories. And successfully growing lemongrass in my garden this summer is one of them.
OFF THE LEASH
While 2020 has been a big mess, one of my achievements is that I’ve been successful in slowing down my refined sugar intake. I finally followed the advice I give to pet owners and just don’t buy anything I shouldn’t be eating. This is easier since I cut out a drastic amount of grocery trips.…
As with everything else this year, Germany’s Oktoberfest was canceled. It’s not the first time in its more than 200 year run that the world’s largest beer and folk festival was canceled, though the last time was back in 1949. With more than six million global visitors over the 16 (or more, d…
It promises to be a hugely weird Halloween this year, but it never hurts to do a little spooky reading to get into the mood. These are not your standard horror titles (Dracula, Frankenstein, Stephen King … although I’m a big fan of Frankenstein & King is so good he scares me).
We have been booked with a lot of surgeries and dental cleanings lately, so it seemed like the perfect time to revisit anesthesia. Anesthesia and surgery can be a scary thing for pet owners. One of the most common fears that I hear about procedures is putting pets under anesthesia. I think t…
No doubt about it, it is dark. I now feed the horses in the dark and have to scramble to get all of my creatures exercised before dark. My dogs get extra stir crazy when they don’t get long walks in the woods or fields during the week, so when they get room to run they make the most of it.
One of the first things Elise Brunelle did as the new executive director of the Vermont Symphony was to personally call all the VSO musicians.
I have to say, picking green tomatoes is a depressing way to end the summer. But there was little choice. A couple of early hard frosts quickly killed off our tomato plants. Better yet, we were away on our honeymoon when it happened. When we returned, we scrambled in the dark, flashlights in…
So I’ve talked about fall allergies, fleas, and ticks. You might be wondering why I’m so enamored with fall at this point! The truth is that I love outdoor time. I could spend all day every day outside and be happy. I don’t enjoy sweating and I hate bugs, I sunburn easily and I adore foliage…
Some of you may know this about me, but I love fall and I hate ticks. Unfortunately, fall brings a whole new vigor to ticks. I can balance these two things out because I love being in nature without sweating and bugs that much. However, I am very vigilant about preventing ticks on my dogs an…
One of the pleasures of working in a library is digging out older titles … and you don’t have to be in line for them as you often do for the latest bestsellers. Plus, in the case of series, you’re not on the hook while waiting for the author to get the next book out. Not everything holds up …
I have to admit that I don’t enjoy overly spicy food. I think there’s an expectation when you grow a vegetable garden and like to cook that you need to get into hot pepper culture. But generally, jalapenos or chipotles are as hot as I go these days. When I want some spice, jalapenos are my g…
I think the most common question I’m getting lately is about itching dogs, which typically takes the form of licking. I understand because I am starting to get sneezy in the morning. Of course in the time of COVID that induces a little bit of panic. However, the same thing is happening to me…
It may be fleeting, but we have had a few mornings where I threw on my sweatshirt and pulled out my fleece slippers. Wood is getting stacked, my horses are getting fuzzy and I joyfully do.
Cats in general come into the vet less than dogs. I think there are several factors behind this. First, very few cats respond well to “do you want to go for a ride?” They do not want to go for a ride, they don’t want to get in the carrier, they don’t want to leave that delicious sunspot that…
I often forget that peaches grow as far north as they do. I think of them as a fruit belonging more to Georgia than Vermont. But the majority of the country’s peaches come from California, not Georgia and definitely not Vermont. Nevertheless, they can grow well here and we picked a satisfyin…
Work from home and partial schooling from home is here semi-permanently for many people, which gives families extra time at home together. While spending so much time together, you may be realizing how much a pet is missing, or how much a fun break would help everyone. We are seeing lots of …
When I recommend acupuncture to people, they often look at me, a little funny. We love to buy organic foods, we aim for all-natural pet products. In fact, clients often put off starting medications for non-life-threatening issues. Holistic medicine is the perfect way to bridge this gap. Whil…
Some authors are so well-known for a given character, series, or individual book that it’s easy to miss their other works. Here are four books worth looking up by writers much better known for other titles.
One of the least used herbs residing in my garden is oregano. For years it has thrived behind the shed, returning each summer more vigorous than ever. On one hand, I don’t feel that bad about neglecting it, seeing as we started the plant from seed years ago and it doesn’t require much in ter…
Today I am going to start with a story. One of my dogs had been acting a little off lately, so I brought him to work to look at. (I will come back to this story in an article soon for different reasons.) This dog can’t stay at home alone, so he often comes to work with me. He hung out happil…
Weston Playhouse will begin the public part of its Reimagined Season 2020 next week, after canceling its summer season in April because of COVID-19.
Many people have had more time out with their dogs this Spring. This is great because quality time counts no matter why. However, it brings two things up. First, we notice a little bad manners more. Second, now that we are returning to work/school/play our dogs have gone from lots of attenti…
If there is one thing I hate its change. As you can imagine, I’ve been having to adjust on the fly a lot lately. As you can also imagine, I’m not loving it. However, I have the benefit of being able to conceptualize change. Our pets don’t have this luxury. This makes some things easier and s…
Currently open public art exhibits, galleries and museums throughout the region.
Currently open public art exhibits, galleries and museums throughout the region.
Currently open public art exhibits, galleries and museums throughout the region.
Currently open public art exhibits, galleries and museums throughout the region.
