Tag Archives: #ChocolateLabs
Photo of the day, day 124
Filed under year in photos
Photo of the day, day 75
We play this game where I throw the ball down the staircase and she scrambles to see if she can catch it before it lands in the foyer. She’s fast, too. But I’m faster, heehee
Filed under year in photos
Photo of the day, day 18
I post a lot of pics of Maple Leaf because she is just the center of my home universe now. I love this one because of what she is doing. She usually waits at the front door – which is glass – for my hubby to come home every night. The moment she sees his car she goes bananas!
With the weather being so friggin’ cold here I don’t like to open the front door because all the cold comes in. Maple has figured out a way to still watch for hubby every night by sitting on the couch ( which she is theoretically not allowed on) and gazing out the window for him. The moment his car pulls into the driveway she goes bonkers.
She’s a pretty smart cookie to have figured this out. Especially since – and I repeat – she is not allowed on the couch.
Filed under year in photos
Photo of the day, day 17
I know this is a bit of an odd photo, but it made me laugh. Here’s why: this is a pic of Maple Leaf. She was sick the other day and I put a blanket over her to keep her warm. She was completely covered when I left the room. I came back a moment later and she’d stuck her right paw out of the blanket, still completely covered everywhere else. I got a good laugh out this because I sleep the same way – with one leg out from under the blankets.
Like mother like canine….
Filed under year in photos
Photo of the day, day 10
Remember I showed you my Aerogarden the other day? This is the scaled-down, garden herbs version that I bought last year on one of the VIEW’S Deal of the day for 1/2 price. You’re supposed to grow herbs in it. I choose to grow lettuce.
You all may be asking HOW MUCH LETTUCE CAN 2 PEOPLE EAT? but’s it’s really 3 people.
Well, 2 humans and a dog. Every night for supper Maple has a salad of lettuce, chopped carrots and either salmon or chicken.
Spoiled much?
Filed under year in photos
Photo of the day, day 9
She’s still in the cone and still NOT allowed on the couch – but deems it okay for her to not only go up there but fall asleep in this ridiculous position as well using the arm rest as her own personal pillow.
Honestly, this dog is the love of my life and the bane of my existence!
Filed under year in photos
Photo of the day, day 5
This goofball has an abscess on her paw and continues to lick it despite our continual verbal commands not to, hence… the cone of shame.
I love this picture because she looks like she is smoking a cigar when it’s actually one of her organic bones she loves so much.
This dog is the love of my life and the bane of my existence. In the 15 months we’ve had her she’s been to the vet’s office more times than my older lab had been in 12 years. She’s definitely my middle child, kids – rambunctious, energetic, off the wall at times, but so sweet, loving, and smart, too.
~Peg
Filed under year in photos
My very own food delivery service…LOL
Many of you may know that I cook meals for my parents every week so that they don’t have to bother fiddling with food prep and their ancient stove. I’ve been doing this since Covid started because I realized they don’t eat well. Vegetables don’t exist in their minds, so I’ve devised ways to sneak them into casseroles and other dishes. This makes me feel better about their overall nutritional health. They don’t care because they don’t have to cook! lol.
What you may not know is that I also cook for my 10 month old Labrador, Maple. Since she was seven months old she hasn’t had commercial dog food, but home cooked meals I make in bulk, freeze, and then feed her daily.
Let me ‘esplain.
Maple has many allergies and sensitivities to things ( hey, she’s my dog. It figures, since I do too!). For the first six months of her life she was at the vet’s frequently with gastric issues, allergic responses to things, and generally not doing very well. We tried her on a about 10 different commercial dog food formulas and none of them really helped. She’d be good for a day or two, and then things would start up again.
After exhaustive google searches, I discovered a website for allergic dogs ( yes, it’s a thing) and they suggested making your puppy’s meals yourself and eliminating the food made commercially. I figured at this point, why the heck not try it.
Here’s the recipe they suggested:
3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken
2 cups brown rice or barley
6 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
6 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 24 oz package peas or lima beans
56 fl. oz diced tomatoes with juice from a can
3 Tablespoons fresh parsley or oregano
1/2 cup fish, safflower or olive oil
Place all ingredients ( raw and uncooked) into a stock pot and add enough water to cover well. Bring to a rolling boil uncovered, then cover and simmer for 2.5 hours. If needed, add small amts of water to keep mixture from going dry.
This recipe makes enough to feed a medium sized dog 2 cups a day for 16 days.
I’ve been making this once every two weeks for 3 months and Maple no longer has any gastric issues, and never – ever scratches from allergies any more.
SOmetimes I will add some stew meat to the mix along with the chicken for an added bonus. And since I grow my own oregano and parsley, I always have fresh herbs to go in the pot.
This was yesterday’s cook:
She gets one of these every morning and devours it!!!! And she hasn’t been sick once. Just look at this face!
The look of a happy, healthy almost-11month pup!
Hee hee.
Filed under Writing
A new addition to our family…meet Maple Leaf
If you follow this blog you know that there have been some serious highs and lows in my life and that of my family’s lately. A wedding, a death, not to mention the continued pandemic running our lives and lifestyles.
Well, since we are already stressed out, my husband and I figured, why not add to that stress.
No, seriously, we didn’t say that!!!! Hahah. But the end result could be construed as stress producing.
Let me ‘esplain.
Last Thursday we adopted an-almost 8 week old puppy and brought her into our home and hearts.
Yeah, I know….puppy = stress, squared! heehee
It’s been a longlonglonglong time since we had a dog, much less a puppy in the house. We got our first dog-baby, a black Lab named Ella, in 1987. She passed in 1999. So 21 years since a dog roamed our house and 33 since we had a pup.
But….
Meet Maple Leaf Jaeger
12 pounds of pure puppy love, joy, and rambunctious energy!
She’s a chocolate Lab and loves to run around in the yard, carry sticks in her mouth, and play with empty plastic bottles.
Oh, and chew. Everything!!!!
She already has our hearts in her paws.
Our daughter named her Maple because she is a New Hampshire dog, born and bred and we wanted to keep her name native to the region. I added the middle name of Leaf, which I have to admit, my family thinks is dumb!!! But since I rule the roost, it’s staying.
With this new media-obsessed world we inhabit, Maple even has her own Instagram page. You can follow her daily antics here
I know: I’m a little obsessed! Heehee.
But look at this face: 
and tell me you wouldn’t be as well!!!
Heehee.
Until next time, peeps. Follow Maple Leaf on instagram and me, here: Follow me
Filed under Writing
Peggy Jaeger, Author 