I have a CPAP machine. It is a machine that is used at home while you sleep. It is for people who stop breathing during sleep to help force open your breathing passages through a steady stream of air.

This machine kind of looks pretty scary but in fact it is not. Well, not once you get used to it and the wonderful feeling of getting fully rested from your night’s sleep.

I am amazed at how many of my friends and family are now getting or have been using the machine. I know that in my family we are horrible snorers. My mother never would admit that she snored. As kids we would tell her and tell her and she would deny it until one day I being the oldest got a great idea that I would tape record her while she took a nap. Well, the only thing I got out of that was a warm bottom. She did not like that at all.

All kidding aside and back to the CPAP machine. If you have one use it faithfully. If you need to be tested for sleep apnea get it done. It is a painless overnight testing done usually in the hospital.

I have been trying to get my husband to get that done for more than 4 years now and he just refused. Now that his close friend has been tested and is getting a machine, he has agreed to get tested. I think it is a man thing…can’t go just because wifey said to, but when you friend does it then it must be okay. Go figure!

If you get a CPAP machine or know someone that is you need to be aware that all health supply companies are not equal. I mean that you really need to shop around. The first company my doctor hooked me up with would only deliver supplies for the CPAP machine every 6 months. And they had a hefty charge for me that they claim my insurance company didn’t cover. Then I did some shopping around and now I get all supplies I need every month with no extra out of pocket expense. It really matters which company you choose so shop around.

The CPAP machine is not an easy thing to get used to as you can see from the picture. It does not come natural to try to sleep with all that gear on. But, it can be done with a little determination and then you will have a great night of sleep and definitely notice the feeling of being well rested from it.

The most important thing to remember is that if your doctor says you need the CPAP machine it means that you are getting obstructed breathing while you sleep. This is a serious health risk. I personally can feel the problem I have as I try to relax to go to sleep with out the CPAP. Most people, like my husband, do not and can live in denial. But, with the understanding of the health risks involved I have been able to relax and sleep very well with my CPAP machine.

Related articles by Zemanta

• ResMed Introduces Next-Generation CPAP Series in Europe (eon.businesswire.com)
• Study finds reduced brain gray matter concentration in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (scienceblog.com)
• Implant can help sleep apnea patients not frighten their partners (crunchgear.com)
• EasyLife PAP Mask from Respironics, a Review (medgadget.com)
• Brain Damage Seen in People with Severe Sleep Apnea (nlm.nih.gov)

BLOGbal B2B Marketplace

• I Miss Camp Already I have only been home about 2 weeks now and I miss camp already. The camp we have is not like real camping. I have a 30ft, 5th wheel on a permanent site in a privately owned campgrounds just on the outskirts of the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York.......
• Wood Pellets- You Can Get Them Online! Image by Storm via FlickrWOOD PELLETS. If you need Wood Pellets you should be checking out this company, WoodPellets.com I can't tell you how much time my husband and I spent going around to different stores trying to find a good price on Wood Pellets to purchase by the ton.......
• Nutritious Pet Food and Home Cooking Image via Wikipedia I guess my dogs are not the only dogs that love my "Gramme's Cookies".  I am sure baking up a storm here at my home.  The quality of the food you can buy commercially is very disappointing. Have you checked the ingredients lately?  Most dog foods......
• Awaiting my UPS Orders Image via Wikipedia Lots of holiday shopping still getting done.  I thought I was so smart by doing most of my shopping online and not fighting the checkout lines and shopping crowds. I got my order today by UPS and I it made me very upset.  I got most......
• Hunting Season- Still Getting Ready Image via Wikipedia Teflon®, you have come a long way baby. As I have posted in an earlier post, my husband has been getting ready for the opening day of hunting season here in Upstate New York. He has been going through all his equipment and clothing to get ready.......

• World Rugby Shop We here at WorldRugbyShop.com like to believe we provide more than quality gear and news to the world’s rugby community at large. We are wholly committed to providing a superior level of service to our customers, and that dedication stems from a passion for the game that traces deeply......
• How Sleep Can Make or Break Your Day, Your Mental Health, and Your Waistline I firmly believe, and I am fairly confident that I am backed by a substantial pool of scientific evidence, that too much or too little sleep can play a huge role in both weight gain and depression. My boyfriend recently started working an 11pm to 7am shift at work. We......
• What If We Didn't Need to Sleep? Everyone wants to add a little more time to their day. What if you could add another eight hours every now and again? Wouldn't that change your life? Of course it would. It may sound like I'm dreaming. There's no possible way we could function without proper sleep, right? It......
• Don’t Wait to Get Fit Have you ever gone to the doctor’s office, dreading the results? If you have a lifetime of bad eating habits and a lack of exercise, you are at risk for many different diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Yet, many of us wait for that dreadful news......
• My Brand New Smith Machine Squat Rack I recently received one of the best gifts I could have hoped for. It was a Fitness Gear Ultimate Smith - Functional Trainer from Dick's Sporting Goods. My wife treated me to this, in my novice opinion, awesome rack. Fitness Gear has a partnership with Dick's Sporting Goods that makes......

Well, I have been making a lot of “Gramme’s Cookies” my homemade dog treats, lately.  They seem to be getting more and more popular.

I have been researching pet nutrition too.  I just really want to know that I am giving my pets the best that I can and they are nutritionally fit.

I have 2 dogs that are getting older now. A pekingese that is now 10 years old this year.  A Lab mix that is 9 years old this year.  The fact that the bigger the dog the less the years they seem to live.  My Peke should live to more than 15 years in good health (she is not in good health because of the history of seizures).  My Lab mix well the Lab in him is known for shorter lifespan, not usually more than 12 years in good health.

My Lab mix that is now 9 years old

This is my Pekingese "Mitzy" now 10 years old

This is Deo my Pug and he is now 2 1/2 years old

I also have a 2 1/2 year old Pug.  He is a pistol too.  He can and does, run circles around the other 2 dogs.  They all love the dog cookies.

My main “Gramme’s Cookies” recipe is always the same.  I start with one of my homemade stocks, vegetable, beef, chicken or turkey.

Then I add the main protein (beef, chicken, turkey, peanut  butter).  I also, add Brewer’s Yeast, Wheat Germ, Oatmeal and shredded vegetables (usually carrots).

This makes a pretty healthy treat.  I had one problem though.  Being homemade with no additives they did not have much shelf life.  They did not last much after 3 weeks unless refrigerated or frozen.

Gramme's Cookies fresh cooked

I have been researching natural preservatives.  I found that vitamin E is a natural preservative and so is citric acid.  They are not only a natural preservative but they are actually healthy additives.   So, the new additions to my dog cookies will be Vitamin E and Citric Acid (vitamin C).

Well, if you have a great dog treat recipe that you would like to share please feel free to post it here in the comments.  If you are interested in more about “Gramme’s Cookies” you can find more here: http:/athomelifestyle.com/blog/grammes-cookies/

BLOGbal B2B Marketplace

• Deer Hunting Season- Last Week Here in Upstate NY Image by Crashworks via FlickrToday is the last week of Deer Hunting here in Upstate New York. It is the first day of Muzzleloader or Black Powder Rifle hunting. My husband did not get a deer yet this season. The weather has been rather warm for hunting to be good......
• Camping Season is Over for Us Well, here in Upstate New York the summer camping season is over.  The popular outdoor event now is a drive in the country to see the changes of the season.  Mostly the changes in the colors of the trees called Fall Foliage changes here.  It is truly beautiful but to......
• New Year's 2010 Approaching Fast Image by woodleywonderworks via Flickr New Year's 2010 is approaching fast. There are plenty of parties all around planned. We have always stayed home and spent New Year's Eve at home. It really isn't safe here in Upstate New York to be out on the road at this time......
• Nutritious Pet Food and Home Cooking Image via Wikipedia I guess my dogs are not the only dogs that love my "Gramme's Cookies".  I am sure baking up a storm here at my home.  The quality of the food you can buy commercially is very disappointing. Have you checked the ingredients lately?  Most dog foods......
• Fido, Man's Best Friend and Home Made Nourishing Treats Image by superstrikertwo via Flickr\ Man's best friend, is our dog. As I get older I appreciate my dogs more and more. I have been working in feeding them more nourishing meals and more nourishing treats. Most of my family have dogs of their own and they are just as......

• How Much Does A Dog Cost? [/caption]My wife and I have been thinking about getting a dog for over a year now. It seems that whenever we think about it seriously, we have an important trip planned. (Case in point, I'm writing this flying somewhere over Kansas - I think). We've started to begin the search......
• Patriots Draft 2011 This isn't the typical personal finance article... but there are parallels between Personal Finance and The NFL Draft as I wrote earlier today. So while this will mostly be about football and about my favorite team, I ask that you give me a little slack on the personal finance for......
• Natural Remedies For Inflamed Joints - Discover The Cure For Inflamed Joints In The Next 10 Minutes! Inflamed joints cause a lot of pain and discomfort for the sufferer and take away the joy of living. Find out the expert facts on how effective natural remedies for inflamed joints can work wonders by providing permanent pain relief.Inflamed joints can be caused due to various reasons. Some of......
• Retirement Planning Steps for a New Year I no longer make New Year resolutions. I think a lot of people - me included - use the approach of January 1 to delay doing things that should be done now. However, there are retirement planning tasks that can be done periodically and January 1 is a good time......
• Retirement Planning - A Look Back at 2010 When you are a baby boomer, every year is important to your overall retirement planning. Working, saving, investing, and looking ahead all play a part in the plan, while enjoying the life you have today. For us, 2010 was full of retirement planning events and steps, some small and some......

\

Man’s best friend, is our dog. As I get older I appreciate my dogs more and more. I have been working in feeding them more nourishing meals and more nourishing treats.

Most of my family have dogs of their own and they are just as much a part of the family. We love all of our pets that have become part of our lives.

I have been making my dogs treats for some time now. By giving them out to others they have become rather popular. The kids started calling them “Gramme’s Cookies“. I make them for a lot of people now.

I developed a basic treat recipe and add different flavors to it that the dogs really like. I have beef, chicken, turkey and peanut butter. I am going to start making a lamb and rice also. I make the stock that I use for the liquid in the recipe from scratch.

I have decided that keeping “Gramme’s Cookies” healthy for the dogs they would need some other basic additions too. Brewer’s yeast, wheat germ and a vegetable. I am also going to start adding bone meal to the recipe too.

You can find out more about “Gramme’s Cookies” here: http://athomelifestyle.com/blog/grammes-cookies/

Do you have a favorite dog treat recipe? What do you consider to be a healthy treat for your dog? Please leave me a comment to share this.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Saturday Survey: Who Does Your Dog Like Best? (doggies.com)
• 10 Promises To My Dog: A Heartwarming Tale About Man’s Best Friend (worldofalbert.blogspot.com)
• Dogs: Man’s Best Fitness Friend (diet-blog.com)
• Gramme’s Cookies, Dog Treats are Going Great! (athomelifestyle.com)
• FidoDogTreats.com Teams With Student Entrepreneurs With Autism (prweb.com)
• A Cold Ice Treat for the Dog (lockergnome.com)
• Healthy Dog Treats (doggies.com)
• Bacon Bones Dog Treats (bacontoday.com)

BLOGbal B2B Marketplace

• A Letter to President Obama Image by cobalt123 via Flickr> I received this email and just had to pass this on. I vowed that I would not get into politics on my blog and keep it only on things I deal with "at home" pertaining to my "lifestyle" but, I just can not pass this......
• Snowmobiling in Upstate New York Image via WikipediaA camping trip is a way to have enjoyable family time whether it is in a tent or RV or even in a trailer. A Winter camping trip takes different planning and considerations. Snowmobiling is a well loved winter activity that can be combined with the camping trip.......
• In Memory Off... Image by Jeb Ro via FlickrI think we have all lost a pet at sometime in our lives. But, I just have to mention that recently we have lost quite a few here or it sure seems that way. I camp at a seasonal campground with some family members and......
• Deer Hunting Season Goes On Image by Paul ??? Li via FlickrThis year my husband need a new "Red Dot" scope Every year before the hunting season there is always some type of gear or supplies that have to be purchased. I tell you getting venison is sure costly. He also needs to add to......
• Let the Christmas Baking Begin! Image via Wikipedia Well, it is time to start baking and getting the Christmas gifts ready here at my house.  I am working on the gingerbread cookies today and starting on the many batches of fudge.  I want to make chocolate fudge, peanut butter, maple and a new sour cream......

• 3 Common Dog Training Mistakes [/caption]Although there are plenty of strategies that have been formed to train dogs, many people agree that there are a few principles to follow in almost every case. As our awareness of dogs and their behavior expands, these principles are reinforced, but we also learn some of the wrong ways......
• Dogs Are Not A Cyclist's Best Friend! If you have a fear of dog's like my riding partner, cycling can sometimes be a bit of an ordeal. 'Oh he doesn't bite' will be the owners comment as his unleashed lethal weapon chases after you as you try to outrun the snarling beast. On our twice weekly rides......
• The All-Natural Diet for Dogs: Three Questions and Answers [/caption] Many people find that there are a couple of problems with many conventional dog foods: not only do the dogs not enjoy them, but the quality and nutritional content of the foods themselves aren't exactly up to snuff. In fact, some manufacturers simply try to use the cheapest ingredients......
• I'm Like Red Wine...I get Better With Age Today I turn 31 one years old. Crazy! I like to think I am like a red wine and get better with age, but I guess it depends who you are asking. 21 year old Jen would be proud of where I am today, but would think I was......
• Creating and Hosting Blog Carnivals When it is done properly, creating and organizing your own Blog Carnival is a practice that can be truly rewarding. This is especially true if you are trying to increase your blogging experience, and by proxy, your traffic. The Blog Carnival is one of the finest innovations in the blogosphere......

I guess my dogs are not the only dogs that love my “Gramme’s Cookies”.  I am sure baking up a storm here at my home. 

The quality of the food you can buy commercially is very disappointing.
Have you checked the ingredients lately?  Most dog foods contain corn and for most it is the main ingredient.

And all the additives are shocking.  I grew up learning from the “old school”  and if we had a dog it was an outside dog.  It was not allowed to stay in the house.  But, I grew up in California where the winters were pretty mild and it was not such a health threat as it is here in Upstate New York.

It seems the “ALERTS” for contaminated food or recalls just never stops. All of a sudden that commercial food you have been buying for years and really trust is now poison for you dog and you have been unknowingly feeding poison to your loved pet because you don’t get to know about it until it is too late and you have already fed it to them.

Thankfully you can now go on the internet and research your dogs nutritional needs and get all kinds of advice and helpful articles. And you can make you own nutritional dog food and treats.

I was very interested in what vegetables were good for dogs consumption and could be added to their diet on a daily basis.  I found that there are some very good vegetables that can be safely added and that they mostly have the same benefits as they do for us humans.

For instance, Carrots, Green Beans, Cabbage, Green leafy vegetables, broccoli are all very good for you dog.  The main issue is that they should be cooked to insure ease of digestion. I will continue to research this and post more on each of these vegetables and their benefits.

So, I plan to add at least one of these to my basic recipe for Gramme’s Cookies.  It will be more costly but it will help keep the treats more nutritional for them too.

Gramme’s Cookies has become very popular here at home and continues to get more popular.  If you would like to check them out you can get more information here:  Gramme”s Cookies

What do you do for a treat for “our best friend”? Please leave a comment and help create a discussion here. I am determined to continue to learn and research this topic so any helpful hints are very much appreciated.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Does Food Nutritional Value on Packages Help? (after50health.com)
• Gramme’s Cookies, Dog Treats are Going Great! (athomelifestyle.com)
• Guide to Dog Nutritional Diets (animaltopics.com)
• 4 reviews of Laughing Dog Total Nutrition (rateitall.com)
• Dog Potty Training (parenting-success.com)
• What Is Complete And Balanced Nutrition For Dogs (slideshare.net)
• What is “Complete and Balanced” Nutrition for Dogs? (slideshare.net)
• Tuesday Top Ten: Ways to Show Your Dog You Care (doggies.com)

BLOGbal B2B Marketplace

• Deer Hunting Season Goes On Image by Paul ??? Li via FlickrThis year my husband need a new "Red Dot" scope Every year before the hunting season there is always some type of gear or supplies that have to be purchased. I tell you getting venison is sure costly. He also needs to add to......
• Obama at Home After Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Image by Nick Bygon via Flickr Well here at home our good weather has changed to the cold we have been expecting and I woke up to a chilly 15 degrees.  But, it is a lot worse elsewhere so I can not complain too much. Presidedent Obama heades home......
• Oh, the edible differences It's always great when the family come to visit. We have family in California that come out to visit us. I grew up in California and moved to New York in November of 1991. The one topic of discussion seems to be the differences in the foods we have access......
• More "Gramme's Cookies" Healthy Dog Treats Image by Avant Game via Flickr Well, I have been making a lot of "Gramme's Cookies" my homemade dog treats, lately.  They seem to be getting more and more popular. I have been researching pet nutrition too.  I just really want to know that I am giving my pets......
• Let the Christmas Baking Begin! Image via Wikipedia Well, it is time to start baking and getting the Christmas gifts ready here at my house.  I am working on the gingerbread cookies today and starting on the many batches of fudge.  I want to make chocolate fudge, peanut butter, maple and a new sour cream......

• The All-Natural Diet for Dogs: Three Questions and Answers [/caption] Many people find that there are a couple of problems with many conventional dog foods: not only do the dogs not enjoy them, but the quality and nutritional content of the foods themselves aren't exactly up to snuff. In fact, some manufacturers simply try to use the cheapest ingredients......
• Is Juicing a Healthy Diet Choice? We have all seen the local smoothie or health food shop on the way to work or on a night out on the town, but most of us have never bothered to step inside and see what it's all about. If you were to stop in one of these places,......
• How to Certify a Service Dog or How to Scam the Disabled I'm often asked how you register or certify your service dog, the answer is "You Don't". Companies that claim to register or certify your animal without training are simply taking advantage of the handicapped to make a dollar. In 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) went into effect which......
• Will catching the Fitbug keep me motivated? Whilst it is easy to decide to start being more active it is hard to keep motivated after the initial enthusiasm has worn off. Fitbug is a web based service which aims to keep you motivated to keep moving. Described as ‘a personal health and well-being coach’, Fitbug is a......
• How To Start Baby On Solid Food? As your newborn reaches the age of five or six months, it’s time to start thinking about introducing him or her to semi-solid foods. Before then, mother's milk is the certainly the best food for a baby. Breast milk is easy to digest and provides a rich supply of vitamins......

Gramme's Cookies-fresh and packaged ready to go

I had to work on this a bit as they got more popular.  I have been making my dogs treats and most of the food that I feed them since the big dog food scare in 2008.  You remember, the Poison Melamine found in the protein used to make the dog food and dog treats that came from China.

The fact that we could be unknowingly be feeding our dogs that we love so much a poison I just could not bare.   But then I made my children’s baby food too for the same reason (this was more than 25 years ago).  What really bothered me was that there was no consequences to anyone who made the dog food.  I mean no real consequences.

When more people started asking for the dog treats I decided to come up with a basic recipe that I could just change the flavors that I used in it.  My dogs really enjoy the cheese, beef, chicken, turkey and peanut butter “cookies” (as we call them).

So, then I had to get busy and find a better price and look into getting the supplies in bulk because this changed from just adding more flour and such to the grocery list.

I played around with packaging ideas and label set up for awhile until I found something simple but descriptive  to put on each cookie package.  Now, I am looking into shipping and mailing prices.

It really is a good feeling to have so many really like something you are doing.

There continues to be ongoing alerts in the press that we don’t hear much about anymore. I personally don’t understand why. I think we need to be more aware of what is going on in the pet industry as far as how our dog food is being made and what it is being made with. I plan to continue to research this and make further posts on my future findings.

ALERT!

Here is an Alert on a recent recall that we need to pay attention to  FDA has issued a recall on certain Merrick Beef Filet Squares Dog Treats you can view more information here.

FDA Health Alert for Merrick Beef Filet Squares Dog Treats Packaged and Distributed by Merrick Pet Care Products may be contaminated with Salmonella

Related articles by Zemanta

• Gramme’s Cookies (athomelifestyle.com)
• FDA warns about salmonella finding in dog treats (sfgate.com)
• Dog Food Storage Containers – The Best Gift For Your Loved Pet (animaltopics.com)
• Homemade treats for pups (and persons) (makezine.com)
• Happy Pets: New Pet Toys – Mouse Toys and Dog Treats (games.com)
• Merrick Recalls Dog Treats – Jan. 2010 (wholefoodandmore.net)
• FDA Warns About Salmonella Finding in Dog Treats (abcnews.go.com)

BLOGbal B2B Marketplace

• Hunting Camp-One Week To Go Image by evster_S5 via FlickrHunting season opens next weekend here in Upstate New York. The little camper is moved onto the hunting land. Also a large tarp is staked down over the camper to help keep it from leaking. It's only a 1960, 18 foot camper so it needs to......
• Deer Hunting Season Goes On Image by Paul ??? Li via FlickrThis year my husband need a new "Red Dot" scope Every year before the hunting season there is always some type of gear or supplies that have to be purchased. I tell you getting venison is sure costly. He also needs to add to......
• More "Gramme's Cookies" Healthy Dog Treats Image by Avant Game via Flickr Well, I have been making a lot of "Gramme's Cookies" my homemade dog treats, lately.  They seem to be getting more and more popular. I have been researching pet nutrition too.  I just really want to know that I am giving my pets......
• Obama at Home After Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Image by Nick Bygon via Flickr Well here at home our good weather has changed to the cold we have been expecting and I woke up to a chilly 15 degrees.  But, it is a lot worse elsewhere so I can not complain too much. Presidedent Obama heades home......
• A Letter to President Obama Image by cobalt123 via Flickr> I received this email and just had to pass this on. I vowed that I would not get into politics on my blog and keep it only on things I deal with "at home" pertaining to my "lifestyle" but, I just can not pass this......

• Cheap Alternatives For Bait For those that do a lot of fishing, bait can be pretty expensive after awhile. When you add in the costs for your other equipment, such as fishing lures, tackle, rods and reels, the costs can easily mount up. However, there are some cheap, and even free, alternatives to expensive......
• Second Edition of Your Pet Monthly: July 2009 [/caption] Welcome to the second edition of your pet monthly. There are a wide range of articles culled together to help you with your pet care. Cats and dogs are prevalent this time, but your pet monthly is open for all pet types. Pet Health and Medical inewman presents A......
• Getting Your Dog to Respond to Calls [/caption]If you've ever called your dog using a command phrase like "come here!" only to watch your dog give you a blank stare like you're an idiot, then this article is for you. We're going to learn exactly why dogs give you this blank stare, and how you can fix......
• Five Reasons You Should Treat Your Dog Like...A Dog [/caption]For many people, "man's best friend" can be like a real best friend - always keeping you company, giving you affection, and being around all the time. But there can be a negative consequence to this type of friendship in that some owners start to treat their dog like a......
• Elder Care Tips for Nutrition, Therapy Pets Elder care is the main issue many of us are dealing with as we care give.  It is difficult to make sure our aging parents are eating properly as they grow older and many foods simply don't appeal to them any more.  Here is a good article about elder care......

We are now experiencing a Heat Wave here in Upstate New York.  The temperatures have been in the high 30s this week to over 40 degrees here today.  The sun is shining and the snow is melting away.  This is not the weather the Ice Fishermen are looking for.

We are right in the middle of the region called Finger Lakes.  In some places the Ice on the lakes is frozen enough to continue to Ice Fish on but some of the lakes around us are not going to continue to be safe at these temperatures.

Owasco Lake, Keuka Lake and Skaneateles Lake there has not been a report out yet that it is safe for Ice Fishing so it would be extremely unsafe with the temperatures we have been getting.  At Oneida Lake and Otisco Lake have reported that anglers were getting out but again with the temperatures this last week you need to be extremely cautious.

Whitney Point Reservoir has anglers reporting great Walleye fishing and 6″ to 8″ of ice.

Seneca Lake anglers are reporting good Perch fishing in about 30 to 40 feet depths.  Sandy Pond has a report of 8″ to 12″ of ice and anglers are reporting Yellow Perch are hitting on small minnows and some Pike hitting on large minnows.

So, for now be aware that the temperatures are not low enough to keep the ice on the lakes safe to be out on in some places, be cautious and check all reports before going out.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Finger Lakes Tops List of “World’s Best Lakeside Retreats” (zifflaw.com)
• New York Makes Life Jackets Mandatory November through May (zifflaw.com)
• OPP issue ice warning (windsorstar.com)
• Ice Fishing, Alaska Style (niebruggestudio.com)

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Related posts on Finger Lakes
• wine country » The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail of the Finger Lakes
• WEW » The Kodiak Bear

• Related posts on fishing
• Fishing Bait & Equipment : How to Set Up a New Fishing Pole | Big …

• Related posts on ice fishing
• Sheriff’s Office helicopter “Raptor” finds missing boaters on Lake …
• Ice Fishing on Moosehead Lake « Greenville Inn Blog
• River Country Journal – Colon Winter Festival slated for Saturday …

BLOGbal B2B Marketplace

• Obama at Home After Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Image by Nick Bygon via Flickr Well here at home our good weather has changed to the cold we have been expecting and I woke up to a chilly 15 degrees.  But, it is a lot worse elsewhere so I can not complain too much. Presidedent Obama heades home......
• I Miss Camp Already I have only been home about 2 weeks now and I miss camp already. The camp we have is not like real camping. I have a 30ft, 5th wheel on a permanent site in a privately owned campgrounds just on the outskirts of the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York.......
• Time to Fire Up the Wood Pellet Stove Image via Wikipedia We finally had to fire up the wood pellet stove. Once the temperatures hit below 40 degrees on a consistent basis we have to start up the wood pellet stove. We usually get by until around the first of November. Like our neighbors, family and many others......
• Black Friday Shopping Image by Robert Dumas via Flickr Do you shop Black Friday like so many of our population does? I do not. I am not good with crowds. Also, I do a lot of our shopping online. Here at home in Upstate New York this time of year the weather is......
• Deer Hunting Season Goes On Image by Paul ??? Li via FlickrThis year my husband need a new "Red Dot" scope Every year before the hunting season there is always some type of gear or supplies that have to be purchased. I tell you getting venison is sure costly. He also needs to add to......

• Planning and Tackle The prime fishing season, at least for the Lake Tahoe area, begins on a typical year in late April and goes until Memorial Day, and then from just beyond Labor Day until the fall stream closure in around mid November. A few of the waters, such as the tributaries in......
• Fishing Report: February 19, 2010 Striped Bass, Crab and Halibut A Saturday sturgeon trip at Berkeley/Emeryville with 11 people only produced one 50-pounder. There's at least one trip scheduled for this weekend. Pacifica has had good crabbing since it reopened on Tuesday. It had been closed because of an unpredictable high surf. Crabbers are doing......
• Fishing Report: October 9, 2009 Lake Fishing - In Amador, the trout plants are beginning during this week, and we are going to see about 15 tons worth of trout going in by the time the week is over. This is 30,000 pounds worth of trout going in at around the 2lb class. This is......
• Fishing Report: January 1, 2010 Striped Bass, Crab and Halibut At Berkeley/Emeryville, sturgeon trips are getting ready to go out in full force starting on Saturday, January 2nd, so get your reservations in now. Since the end of crabbing, sturgeon have slowly been improving and the hope is that in the next week the bite......
• Fishing Report: November 19, 2010 Lakes and Saltwater Amador: Those who are looking to pick up a great collection of fish are going to want head to Amador. Over 4,000 pounds of fish have been planted in the lake, with 1,000 coming from the state and 3,000 planted by the lake. The fish are swimming......

Well as the seasons change we go on to the next hobby or interest.  Now that the cold has set in and temperatures have dropped for a long enough time to freeze the lakes over we are getting ready for Ice Fishing.

It is important to wait for the lakes to freeze and get the reports from the local authorities that it is safe to go out onto the lakes.

Getting the equiptment ready and inspecting it for any needed upgrades or replacements is important.

Ice Fishing  is a winter sport that is high on the agenda in my area.  I live in Upstate New York and there are a lot of lakes (i.e. most of The Fingerlakes, Lake Oneida, Lake George, Black Lake, etc).  Some of these lakes have a lot of shallow areas that freeze up fast and provide lots of ice fishing fun.  One of the winter events that is part of the lifestyle here.  Even the larger lakes freeze up to some extent.  You will usually see the ice fishing huts or shanties on the lakes in January here unless it has been an unusually warm winter.  Even in the lakes that are more on the shallow side you still need to be very careful.  Usually the local news is a good source for ice fishing conditions.

Even when the weather is a little warmer than usual here you need to be dressed appropriately.  Layering is a great way to insure comfort.  Remember, you can put more on if you have it with you and take it off as needed.

The equipment you are going to need is an simple sled.  This can be used to pull your equipment and supplies out on the ice.  Then you will need an auger that is suitable for your conditions or how thick the ice is where you will be fishing.  You are also going to need a skimmer to keep the ice from recovering the hole as you fish.  Depending on you available funds you may consider a hut or shanty.  There are a wide variety of different types that will help to block some of the wind and add some comfort to your outing.

The next thing you will need is a rod suitable for ice fishing.  You may consider a rather inexpensive one to start with, until you get a feel for what you may like.  Just as you fish any other season of the year you will need different tackle for the different types of fish you are fishing for.  So, you will need to either know ahead of time the area you are planing you outing for or you will need to do some research on it.  A lot of your bait and tackle shops have people that are very much at home with this sport and would just love to share their knowledge in this area.

Pack some snacks and have a great outing.  Please feel free to leave some comments on anything you may want to add or any interesting links.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Art Shanties in Northern Minnesota (craftzine.com)
• Ice Fishing, Alaska Style (niebruggestudio.com)
• Art shanties return to the tundra (makezine.com)
• Fishing Reports by Regional Fishery Biologists (thevalleyvoice.org)
• Fall and Winter in Upstate New York (athomelifestyle.com)
• Winter Trout Fishing in New Jersey (gloucestercitynews.net)
• The Cascade River reopens to fishing while the Nisqually closes (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Love Snow, Love Balls, Love Winter! (travelblissful.com)

BLOGbal B2B Marketplace

• Let the Christmas Baking Begin! Image via Wikipedia Well, it is time to start baking and getting the Christmas gifts ready here at my house.  I am working on the gingerbread cookies today and starting on the many batches of fudge.  I want to make chocolate fudge, peanut butter, maple and a new sour cream......
• Camping Fun- Even if it Rains Image by CapnOats via Flickr A camping trip preparation should always include the possibility of camping during wet weather, you can plan in advance and still enjoy the trip. If you follow some important camping tips, you can avoid getting into unpleasant situations. If you wait for a perfect weather......
• Deer Hunting Season- Last Week Here in Upstate NY Image by Crashworks via FlickrToday is the last week of Deer Hunting here in Upstate New York. It is the first day of Muzzleloader or Black Powder Rifle hunting. My husband did not get a deer yet this season. The weather has been rather warm for hunting to be good......
• Camping Season is Over for Us Well, here in Upstate New York the summer camping season is over.  The popular outdoor event now is a drive in the country to see the changes of the season.  Mostly the changes in the colors of the trees called Fall Foliage changes here.  It is truly beautiful but to......
• microwave cooking is it safe? The other day a friend stopped over and I offered her a cup of tea. She requested that I heat the water on the stove and that has brought to my attention an old issue with whether or not you should use the microwave oven for cooking. She clearly is......

• Fishing Report: June 04, 2010 Lakes/Saltwater Anderson: Look for bass in the one to two pound range in this area. Crappie are found behind the bridge. Berryessa: Fish that stay toward the top of the water are biting. The areas close to the west shore are giving fisherman the best bite, and are doing so......
• Jackson Lake, Orchard, Colorado Jackson Lake is located in Orchard, Colorado Phone - (970) 645 - 2551 View Larger Map Is boating allowed? Jackson Lake is actually a popular destination for boating. Boating is allowed, but not in or near the swim beaches, in the inlet, the dike fishing area or the outlet tube......
• Fishing Report: June 5th, 2009 The fishing has been hit or miss this week, with some great scores and some less than ideal hauls. In Pacifica you will still find crab snares for sale through Coastside II Bait and Tackle, because a variety of crustaceans are still being reeled in up on the pier walkway,......
• Florence Lake, John Muir Wilderness, CA Florence Lake is located in the John Muir Wilderness Phone: 1-877-444-6777 Lake History: Florence Lake is privately operated, and it's tucked away in the John Muir Wilderness. In fact, it can be a bit hard to find, so we've included some directions that the lake management prepared to assist visitors.......
• California Fishing Report: May 29, 2009 The Feather River, which runs into the Sacramento Bay, is experiencing a number of schools milling around the confluence, and more just up from there between Boyd's Pump and Shanghai Bend. You can fish here early or late for the best results, but make sure to bring the right bait......

I have been reading about all the additives that are in the soaps we buy and have been getting more and more concerned with it. My biggest concern is I have limited access to shopping so I like to be well stocked up or have things on hand to make anything I may need. I last winter I worked on making my own pasta, cheese and other things around the house.

I researched a couple of the sites around the internet and found some really good recipes. It is amazingly easy to do. The first site I recommend is: DIY Natural, Making Your Own Laundry Soap

This site has great information for anyone looking for a price comparison or any information on making the Laundry Soap. You can get more recipes to choose from here on Tip Nut Blogs: 10 Homemade Laundry Soap Recipes

Making Home Made Laundry Detergent from Jabs Home Made Laundry Detergent at DIYNatural.com

I tried a little more neutral soap “Dove” and it was a milder smelling soap. I guess it is all personal taste. My son has an allergy to certain soaps that have that over powering bouquet or have any harsh chemicals in it. I made the soap with the Dove bar and he really like it. I guess it is all personal taste.

So give it a try. It really is simple and if you are as upset with the outragous pricing of Laundry soap in the stores now as I am you will love the savings you will get with just a few minutes of your time spent on preparing the soap.

Also, one of my best friends just purchased a new washer. She was told she had to purchase the special laundry soaps that are out now to use in it. If you are like me and haven’t bought a new washer in awhile you will be outraged at the price for a bottle of this laundry detergent. I went shopping with her and the cheapest she could find was $9.00 and it wasn’t a very big bottle. I just can not believe how much they can charge for that stuff.

So, give it a try and leave a comment to let me know what you think. You don’t have to be a real experienced crafter to do this one and it comes out very concentrated batch and lasts a long time making it very economical.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Making Natural Soap – The Handcrafters Companion (slideshare.net)
• Handmade Soap Crafter’s Success Bubbles Over With Implementation of New Blog (prweb.com)
• 25 DIY Projects That Cost Less Than $50 Best of 2009 (apartmenttherapy.com)
• Sensual Scents Giveaway and Review (momblognetwork.com)
• A Little Lather Goes a Long Way: Soap Hope and The PLAN Fund Announce New Anti-Poverty Partnership (prweb.com)
• How To Save Money By Making Your Own Laundry Detergent (howcast.com)

BLOGbal B2B Marketplace

• Obama at Home After Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Image by Nick Bygon via Flickr Well here at home our good weather has changed to the cold we have been expecting and I woke up to a chilly 15 degrees.  But, it is a lot worse elsewhere so I can not complain too much. Presidedent Obama heades home......
• Fido, Man's Best Friend and Home Made Nourishing Treats Image by superstrikertwo via Flickr\ Man's best friend, is our dog. As I get older I appreciate my dogs more and more. I have been working in feeding them more nourishing meals and more nourishing treats. Most of my family have dogs of their own and they are just as......
• More "Gramme's Cookies" Healthy Dog Treats Image by Avant Game via Flickr Well, I have been making a lot of "Gramme's Cookies" my homemade dog treats, lately.  They seem to be getting more and more popular. I have been researching pet nutrition too.  I just really want to know that I am giving my pets......
• Let the Christmas Baking Begin! Image via Wikipedia Well, it is time to start baking and getting the Christmas gifts ready here at my house.  I am working on the gingerbread cookies today and starting on the many batches of fudge.  I want to make chocolate fudge, peanut butter, maple and a new sour cream......
• Black Friday Shopping Image by Robert Dumas via Flickr Do you shop Black Friday like so many of our population does? I do not. I am not good with crowds. Also, I do a lot of our shopping online. Here at home in Upstate New York this time of year the weather is......

• Tips To Stay a Valuable Employee The following is a post from staff writer Crystal at Budgeting in the Fun Stuff, where she writes about finding the balance between paying your bills, saving for your future, and budgeting in the fun stuff along the way. The layoffs of the past few years have left many of......
• Review of Trim Carpentry and Built-Ins Taunton is a well known DIY publisher and their latest book, Trim Carpentry and Built-Ins is the perfect read for any DIY'er or owner of an older home. You'll find just about everything you could ever want to know about trim - how to make it, how to take care......
• Going Green on a Budget Guest Post Author Bio: This is a blog swap post from LaTisha at Financial Success for Young Adults where she writes about budgeting for college students and easy investing for beginners. See my post Make Your Own Cleaning Products over at her site today! Green is one of my......
• 5 Great iPhone Apps For Managing Your Finances Over the last few years, the iPhone and other smartphones have made it much easier to stay organised on the move. Many of us now take for granted being able to check emails and manage our schedules from almost anywhere. In fact, there's an app for organising pretty much any......
• Makeup tricks for the young at heart As we get older, there is less spark in our look. Generally we lose our oily T-zone, for example, so there is no longer a natural glow that reflects light. It is easy to duplicate this glow. Remember that wherever you have light or reflected light, it draws attention to......

New Year’s 2010 is approaching fast. There are plenty of parties all around planned. We have always stayed home and spent New Year’s Eve at home. It really isn’t safe here in Upstate New York to be out on the road at this time of the year especially partying.

It is pretty stormy out right now. The temperature is about 16 degrees out, snowy and windy which makes it feel more like about 0 degrees.

We are planning to attend a New Year’s Brunch on New Year’s Day. I live in a very small village but we do have a couple of very good restaurants and one is putting on a very good brunch.

I will be purchasing some Champagne for toasting the incoming New Year this week. We don’t go elaborate but it is a nice tradition. Not that at our age we make it until 12:00 midnight to do the toast but usually get one in before we go to bed.

And, what would a New Year celebration be with out Dick Clark in Times Square, Rockin in the new year?

I grew up in California and it was nice to be able to watch the New Year’s parties on tv as it started from the East Coast. Now I live on the East Coast and have to stay up most of the night to be able to see them.

Well, here is wishing all a very Happy New Year and a safe and fun celebration! If you have any fun New Year stories or plans to share please leave a comment and share.

Related articles by Zemanta

• NYC’s New Year’s Eve ball gets new sparkle (msnbc.msn.com)
• Event Organizers and Party-Goers Ring in the New Year with Eventbrite (prweb.com)
• Mariah Carey To Headline Madison Square Garden On New Year’s Eve (mtv.com)
• Nye Ball 2010 With Mstrkrft at Webster Hall (hangout.altsounds.com)
• The Word: NYE & 12/30 North Miss Allstars: 2 Shows (jambase.com)
• Holiday Happenings at Mandarin Oriental, New York (prweb.com)
• The last Skeptics’ Circle of 2009… (scienceblogs.com)
• 5 Keys to a New Year’s Resolution (bilerico.com)
• Thoughts on New Year’s Resolutions And Why it Usually Fails (dominica-weekly.com)

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Related posts on celebration
• Dancehall.Mobi » Third World Band To Kick Off 35th Anniversary …
• The Litabug Phlog » Much Celebration
• Product Review: Celebration Roast « The Peppertree

• Related posts on Champagne
• New Year’s Champagne Chillers, Gourmet Gift Baskets & Gift Boxes …
• Champagne! « The Vineyard’s Blog
• Champagne Beauty | A Minute With SpaBeautySchools

• Related posts on New Year
• Sponsored Post: 2010 Social Media New Year Resolutions | Ypulse
• Happy Keynesian New Year « Organizations and Markets
• Some Great New Year SMS

BLOGbal B2B Marketplace

• Ice Fishing and the January Heat Wave Image by Brian Auer via Flickr We are now experiencing a Heat Wave here in Upstate New York.  The temperatures have been in the high 30s this week to over 40 degrees here today.  The sun is shining and the snow is melting away.  This is not the weather......
• Homemade Gift Ideas for the Holidays Image via Wikipedia It is time to start thinking of making or getting ready the homemade gifts I like to give out for Christmas (I know, I didn't say "Holiday", I said, "CHRISTMAS"!).  I usually make up a basket of different canned and homemade things from my kitchen to my......
• Fall and Winter in Upstate New York We have a beautiful state with all the lakes and natural parks.  Camping for this year is now over as far as summer camping.  Now there are a number of different tours that are going on to see the Fall Foliage Color changes.  It truly is beautiful.  If you want......
• Deer Hunting Season- Last Week Here in Upstate NY Image by Crashworks via FlickrToday is the last week of Deer Hunting here in Upstate New York. It is the first day of Muzzleloader or Black Powder Rifle hunting. My husband did not get a deer yet this season. The weather has been rather warm for hunting to be good......
• Deer Hunting Season Goes On Image by Paul ??? Li via FlickrThis year my husband need a new "Red Dot" scope Every year before the hunting season there is always some type of gear or supplies that have to be purchased. I tell you getting venison is sure costly. He also needs to add to......

• Flexible Spending Account Deadlines: Use it or Lose it! Recently, we looked at 5 ways you can still increase your 2010 tax return! You'll notice that using up your entire flexible spending account was listed under additional tips - that is because of the way in which an FSA is structured. For those who have a Flexible Spending Account,......
• Goals for 2010 Have you set your goals for 2010? The first day of the new year is nearly gone for many of us. Most of us probably stayed up later than normal, slept later than usual and didn't stick to a normal routine. Yet today is the day we use to set......
• How Much is Too Much to Spend on a Hobby?   I am not sure if it is sad or not, but my main hobby is this blog and building my online empire, however, as many people would guess that it isn’t a very physical hobby.  Then throw in the fact that I sit at a desk all day......
• Stopping My Prosper Contributions For a large part of this year, I have been regularly adding money to my Prosper account. I've enjoyed lending money to other people and I think I've done fairly well making money. I stress the "think" because it can be difficult to quantify exactly. On average, I seem to......
• If You Want To Play You've Gotta Pay.. This past weekend was one of my best friends Bachelorette Parties! She is an amazing person and I was so excited to have a night out with the girls and party like rock stars! And party like rock stars we did! Growing up my parents used to use two sayings....the......

Well, recently I was informed by the company that my husband works for that not only was he going to get his wages cut 5% he was not going to be able to have the insurance we have had for the last 5 years.  We got the notice about the 2nd week of November that the company would not be able to re-up the contract with the current health insurance company and there would be big changes.  That we would not be insured as of December 1.  The only insurance they would be able to offer would have a $1300.00 deductible each.

I panicked.  I have a chronic illness that is controlled by medication but I don’t spend $1300.00 in a year.  This is ridiculous.  And you would have to still pay a monthly premium payment also.

I don’t get why the government is not addressing the real problem with health insurance.  Their CEO’s are sitting in their high-rise offices getting richer and fatter and we are struggling to survive.   I think that if we all got together and just didn’t get insurance at all… then what would happen to them?

Since my illness hit me about 5 years ago I lost my job and my insurance with my company.  I went on disability and I was added to my husband’s health insurance and we paid the monthly premium.  I became eligible for Medicare and kept the Medicare Part A.

Well, now that I was not going to be insured by his work insurance I needed to get signed up for all of Medicare.  I really thought this would be very confusing and hard to work through (you know, like anything the government is involved with).  But, to my surprise it was fairly simple.

Being on disability meant that I qualify for Medicare Advantage.  I never even heard of Medicare Advantage.   I was set up with an insurance company in my area that would cover my medications and my doctors and providers were a part of.  I do not pay anything more for the coverage and it is all paid by the monthly fee.  I have very little co-pays for the providers and some are free.  This insurance is better than what I had the last 5 years that cost us twice as much per month.

So, if you are getting close to the age for Medicare or have a need to get it for any reason, do not fret!  It is not that hard to do, or not that confusing.   The insurance company that I chose to go with sent out a representative that met with me to explain all my benefits and gave me all kinds of phone and online supports.  I am very pleased and feel a great relief.  We even went over when my husband would qualify for this insurance and how he is to apply since he is approaching the age of 65 in the next year.

All we have to do now is worry about what the new Health Care Reform is going to do to this in the near future.

What are your health insurance issues?  Do you have some helpful hints or a story to share or some questions?  Please leave a comment.

I added some links to some news releases on the opinions on the passing of the new health bill.  They are all pretty good and worth reading.  It will be interesting to see what happens because of this.  Leave a comment with your opinion.

Related articles by Zemanta

• The Senate’s Health Reform Bill (letstalkhealthcare.org)
• What happened to We The People? (thepetitionsite.com)
• The Health Care Debate (continued) (timesunion.com)
• How Your U.S. Lawmaker Voted (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Health Bill Benefits for the Impatient (prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Tax and Spend: (brothersjuddblog.com)
• How Will the Senate Bill Impact the Insurance Companies and Their Customers? (thehealthcareblog.com)
• Best health bill we can pass (timesunion.com)
• Senate Bill: Reactions from Doctors, Insurers, Business, Etc. (blogs.wsj.com)

BLOGbal B2B Marketplace

• Harmon P38 Wood Pellet Stove Maintenance Image via Wikipedia It is recommended that the Pellet Stoves get regular maintenance on them once a month.  This means you need to shut them down and let them cool off and clean them out.  This is by far the worst part of having a Wood Pellet Stove. We......
• Hunting Season- Still Getting Ready Image via Wikipedia Teflon®, you have come a long way baby. As I have posted in an earlier post, my husband has been getting ready for the opening day of hunting season here in Upstate New York. He has been going through all his equipment and clothing to get ready.......
• Space Rides- First Launch Today Image via Wikipedia In a news release by LOS ANGELES (AFP) a British billionaire, Sir Richard Branson has made plans to unveil a space craft today, Monday that could soon carry tourists on an out-of-this-world trip into space.  All this for a mere $200,000 each. They have chosen the ......
• Salvation Army Kettle Upgrade! Image by turtlemom4bacon via FlickrI guess it really is a sign of the times. The Salvation Army is now installing credit card swiping machines in their kettles. According to an article: Salvation Army Debuts Credit Card Kettles They are a booming success. The article reports that they have found that......
• Airlines Get a Fine- Passengers Spend Night on Plane Image via WikipediaThanksgiving is about here and most of us have family that are traveling to our dinner. There will be a lot of travelers coming in by air. It is unbeliveable to hear that a plane full of passengers held in the plane overnight. Our government is fining, for......

• Compare Insurance Rates Online If you are like me, you prefer finding and comparing insurance rates online rather than having to call a broker. Whether you are looking to save money on car insurance, health insurance or term life insurance, there are online resources available. I have some suggestions. Health Insurance Rate Information What......
• 6 Ways to Save Money On a Gym Membership Guest Author Bio: Kalen Smith writes about  health insurance and related topics for http://www.healthinsurancequotes.org/ Many people would love to lose weight but come up with every excuse possible not to work out.  One of their most common excuses is that it costs too much to join a gym.  Here are......
• Medical and Health Insurance Premiums: Finding Deductions As we age and pay off our mortgages, it seems that baby boomers and retirees are less likely to itemize deductions. On the other hand, this stage in our lives can introduce new sources of deductions that we may not think of. One cost category where we may overlook deductible......
• Why it Pays to Know a Thing or Two about Medical Bills Healthcare is incredibly expensive, and if you aren't lucky enough to have great insurance through an employer, then you know just how high medical bills can truly be. A simple visit to the emergency room for stitches can cost well over $300, and a trip to urgent care for a......
• The Benefits of Life Insurance to Young Families Post by Sasha I’m a late 20-something married to an early 30-something, and we have a toddler-ish kid. Our lives, divided between work and play, are for the most part prescribed by the responsibility of family. My husband and I make decisions together, plan for the future and raise a......