Dogs: Dalmatian

The Dalmatian is mostly known as the "Firehouse Dog" and the breed gained popularity after the Disney movies 101 Dalmatians.


If you watched it and enjoyed those cute spotted puppies, then you've been introduced to the Dalmatian Breed.

It is a breed of dog whose roots are often said to trace back to Dalmatia, a region of Croatia. The Dalmatian is unmistakably noticeable due to its unique black spotted coat. This dog remains a well loved family pet and most dog enthusiasts enter their pets into the competitions of many kennel clubs. 


They live about 10-12 years.

Temperament


The Dalmatian is trainable to a high degree of obedience. They can be trained for defense and are good watchdogs. Half of the people who adopt a Dalmatian puppy do not keep them past the first year. Young Dalmatians are very energetic, and need a tremendous amount of leadership and exercise. 


They are very playful pets so watch them closely if you have kids.

Christmas Greetings

No special post for today.... Just want to greet my followers (wherever in the world you are...)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! 

Craft Ideas: Painted Sneakers

Here's a cute craft idea for you crafty moms out there.... painted sneakers.

Give sneakers a one-of-a-kind look with this charming craft.

Tools and MaterialsNewspaper
Clean canvas sneakers
Fabric or acrylic craft paint
Artist paintbrushes
Fabric paint pens

Painted Sneakers How-To1. Cover a work surface with newspaper.

2. Using fabric paints and paint pens, decorate sneakers.

3. Let paint dry for 24 hours before painting another shade on top of the original color.


Lifted from Marthastewart.com

Holiday Recipe: Beef Morcon

Most Filipino homes prepare this for their Christmas feast.  Let me share with you a recipe from my good friend Chelo.

INGREDIENTS:

BEEF ROLL
1 klo beef tenderloin, sliced thinly
1 pc of chorizo, sliced lengthwise
2 pcs of hotdogs
1/4 klo finely chopped beef liver
250 gms pork fat
1 large gherkin, sliced lengthwise, divide into 3
3 pcs of hard boiled egg
1/4 cup dark soy sauce
rock salt
fresh ground black pepper
olive oil

SAUCE
5 cloves of garlic, chopped finely
1 large red onion, chopped
5 large red tomatoes, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 medium carrot, sliced lengthwise
200 gms fresh basil, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup beef stock
1/2 cup red wine, medium sweet
1 tsp white sugar
rock salt
fresh ground black pepper
olive oil

PROCEDURE:

Flatten the meat using a bottle to pound it.
Season with salt and pepper.
Lay the liver and flatten it.
Put the hotdogs, chorizo, pork fat, gherkin, carrots, and boiled eggs.
Roll the meat, making sure all ingredients are carefully tucked inside.
Secure this using a kitchen string.
Pour in the soy sauce.
In a wide pan, lightly cook rolled beef in olive oil until lightly browned.
Set aside.

On another pan, heat olive oil then saute the garlic, onions, tomatoes until soft.
Pour in the tomato sauce.
Add the celery, bell peppers, basil, bay leaves, and sugar.
Add the beef stock and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes.
Add the rolled beef and adjust heat to low.
Cover pan tightly with an aluminum foil and allow to cook slowly for about 1 hour.
Just gradually add the red wine should liquid be reduced.
Season with salt and pepper.




lifted from:  The Heart of Chel (FB page)

News on Hubert Webb

Hubert Webb - Acquitted. Hubert Webb was released from prison on Tuesday.

Hubert Webb along with his co-accused in the Vizconde massacre case walked out of the New Bilibid Prison after the Supreme Court released its decision acquitting the convicts for the murders of  the Vizconde women, Estrellita and her daughters Carmela and Jennifer in 1991.

Framed or not? is the next issue that is yet to be proven.  Guilty or not, who knows? For who are we to judge them?  Let God be their judge.  I guess for an outsider like me, they've already suffered in prison.  And we will never know the pain & emotional suffering they went through.

Of course, for Hubert's family, it's a feeling of answered prayers and granted wishes..... a happy Christmas is what they're in for...  After 15 long years behind bars and 15 Christmases spent apart.

For Mr. Vizconde, a very sad  and painful one for not getting the justice he so long prayed for.  I pray that he finds peace.  Let the real culprits be nagged by their conscience and the ghosts of the victims all the remaining days of their lives.

For Jessica Alfaro, the so-called "Star Witness", Perjury may be a case against her for lying & fooling everyone under oath.  I personally have doubted her from the start.

Presently, I guess they all just need to get their bearings first.  It's a time for catching up on the 15 years they missed.  To them, everything is new.  It is obvious that they still feel fear, not for the murder they are accused of, but fear of confronting all the changes around them.  Who wouldn't be if you were locked in the four corners of your jail cell for 15 long years.  

Let them be.  It's their right to live their life again.

acknowledgement: inquirer.net; google

Pinoy Team wins Amazing Race Asia Season 4

Congratulations to the Philippines' representatives, Richard Herrera and Richard Hardin for bagging the most elusive "1st Place" in the Amazing Race Asia Season 4 competition on AXN.  They won US $100,000 aside from the other prizes they received each time they were first on the pitstops.

Herrera and Harden finally won the title after a couple of close calls in the previous seasons—in Season 2, Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez finished 3rd and  in season 3, Geoff Rodriguez and Tisha Silang  ended up in 2nd place.

They triumphantly touched the mat after beating 9 other teams in a race across 15 cities in 8 countries and with over 38,000 kilometers traveled in the final episode aired on December 9.

They beat the father-daughter team of Natasha & Hussein from Indonesia, and the Singapore team, Claire and Michelle. The Richards had surely relied on their strength for most of the physical tasks. But it wasn’t always an easy race for this formidable duo. They had their own share of downs too. But with luck and strength, and i guess determination, they won.

The other Philippine team, composed of Jess & Lani, finished 4th. Congrats to them too. They also had their "firsts" in some pitstops.

Acknowledgement:  AXN, Good News Pilipinas, google

How to make Red Salted Eggs (Itlog na Maalat/Pula)

Ever thought of how red eggs are made?  Why is the egg red? Why is it salty?
 
Eggs with small fissures are sold as fresh duck eggs in stores & supermarkets. Eggs with thin shells but have no cracks are made into salted red eggs.

Here are two ways of making salted red eggs:

Clay/Mud Method:

You will need:

12 duck eggs                           Pail                              milk can

Garden soil                             water                           Salt

Red dye

Procedure:

Dip eggs in a mixture of salt, garden soil, and water.
As a starter, put 3 canfuls of salt (using common powdered milk can) to ½ pail of garden soil that have been strained. Add water gradually. Stop adding water to soil when mixture sticks to your fingers when you dip these in the salty muck.
Coat eggs with soil-salt mixture and store for 18 days. On the 19th day, wash and hard-boil the eggs.
Finally, dip salted eggs in a solution of red dye. The next batch of eggs can be processed using the previous mixture, but add one canful of salt. Store eggs in a box.

Brine Method:

Just like vegetable and meat, eggs can be preserved, too. Salting eggs is one way of doing it. They taste good with tomatoes. They are ready to be serve and not messy for people who do not want to be bothered with saucy preparations when bringing packed meals.

Ingredients:

• 12 Ducks eggs
• 12 cups water
• 6 cups salt

Procedures:

1. Boil 6 cups salt with 12 cups water. Cool the mixture after boiling.
2. Carefully place 12 duck eggs in a wide mouth glass jar.
3. Pour the brine solution into the jar. Weigh down the eggs with a plate to keep them from floating, or instead of a jar, use a sealed plastic bag filled with the salt solution.
4. Cover the mouth of the jar with perforated paper, Keep the jar in a cool dry place.
5. Try one egg after 12 days. Soak the eggs again for 5 days more if the dried egg is not salty enough.
6. When the eggs are salty enough boil them for 10 minutes.
7. Color the egg’s shells if desired. (The most common color is red dye).

Disclaimer:  Photos & info lifted from google

Holiday Recipe: Roast Porkloin

ROAST PORKLOIN WITH APPLE SAUCE

INGREDIENTS:

APPLE SAUCE
3 pcs green apples, sliced in thin wedges
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup light syrup or maple syrup
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 tsp ginger powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg

PORK
1 kilo pork, top loin
1 small fresh ginger, ground
1 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp rock salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
2 bay leaves, torn
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, remove leaves from stem

PROCEDURE:

PORK
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Combine all other pork ingredients and coat pork well.
Keep pork loin shape intact by tying it with a kitchen string.
Place pork on a rack or baking pan and cook for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Check with kitchen thermometer, temperature must be at around 160 degrees for pork to be well cooked.
Keep the juices from the roast pork for applesauce.

APPLE SAUCE
In a saucepan, heat butter and saute apples until very tender.
Add the ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Add the chicken broth and the syrup then strain.
Add the juices from the roast pork.
Allow to simmer for five minutes more with constant stirring.

SERVING
Slice roast pork and add the applesauce on top.
You can serve the roast pork with mashed potato or baked potato topped with sour cream and onion chives.

Thanks for this recipe Chelo!

Source:  The Heart of Chel (FB)

Methods of Preserving Food

This is from my son's school assignment. It might be helpful for those researching for the same topic. I hope it helps.

Ways Of Preserving Food:

1. Freezing. Foods which spoil readily are frozen for transportation, and must be kept packed in ice until used. Examples: Fish and poultry.

2. Refrigeration. Foods so preserved are kept in cold storage. The cooling is accomplished by means of ice, or by a machine where compressed gas is cooled and then permitted to expand. Examples: meat, milk, butter, eggs, etc.

3. Canning. Which is preserving in air-tight glass jars, or tin cans hermetically sealed. When fruit is canned, sugar is usually added.

4. Sugar. Preserving in sugar or syrup. Examples: fruit-juices and condensed milk.

5. Exclusion of Air/Vacuum sealing is a fast and efficient way to prolong the life and freshness of food. Preservation relies on taking away one or more of the elements that cause food to deteriorate. Vacuum sealing takes away the oxygen that microbes need in order to break down food. Appropriate types of food are stored in an airless environment, usually in an air-tight pack or bottle to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Example: long-term storage of cereals, nuts, cured meats, cheese, smoked fish, coffee, and potato chips (crisps), vegetables, meats.

6. By Drying. Drying consists in evaporation of nearly all moisture, and is generally combined with salting, except in vegetables and fruits.

7. By Evaporation. There are examples where considerable moisture remains, though much is driven off. Example: beef extract.

8. By Salting. There are two kinds of salting, - dry, and corning or salting in brine. Salt is a preservative. When salt is applied in fish, the salt penetrates the tissues, drives out the water in the fish and settles in the tissue, which is why the fish tastes salty. Bacteria do not thrive in food with salt. That is why the food does not spoil and can keep longer. Examples: salt codfish, beef, pork, tripe, etc.

9. By Smoking. Some foods, after being salted, are hung in a closed room for several hours, where hickory wood is allowed to smother. Examples: ham, beef, and fish.

10. By Pickling. Vinegar, to which salt is added, and sometimes sugar and spices, is scalded; and cucumbers, onions, and various kinds of fruit are allowed to remain in it.

11. By Oil. Immersing in different oils (ex. Olive oil)

Examples: sardines, anchovies, etc.

12. By Antiseptics. The least wholesome way is by the use of antiseptics. Borax and salicylic acid, when employed, should be used sparingly.

13. Curing refers to various food preservation and flavoring processes, especially of meat or fish, by the addition of a combination of salt, sugar, nitrates or nitrite. Many curing processes also involve smoking.

14.  Dehydrating.  Drying by means of using a dehydrator machine. Example:  dried fruits. Dehydration is used to make packaged soups, coffee, tea and most spices. Dried foods can be reconstituted by adding water or often simply consumed dry. Common dried foods we eat every day include raisins, plums and beef jerky.

15. Vinegar preservation. Vinegar is acetic acid. The use of acid like vinegar is one preservative used in many homes. A cucumber pickle is an example of this. Bacteria do not thrive in acid so that foods mixed or cooked with vinegar do not spoil easily.

- lifted from google

Recipe: Choco Marshmallow Fudge Bars

Hope you enjoy this.....

CHOCO MARSHMALLOW FUDGE BARS

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups white sugar
3/4 cup margarine
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 12 oz. package bittersweet chocolate chips
1 7 oz. jar Marshmallow creme
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

PROCEDURE:

Combine sugar, margarine and milk in heavy 2-1/2 quart saucepan.
bring to full rolling bOil, stirring constantly. 
Continue boiling 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring. 
Remove from heat, stir in chocolate till melted. 
Add marshmallow creme, nuts & vanilla beat till blended. 
Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. 
Let cool and cut into 1-inch squares.

Disclaimer:  Taken from my friend Chelo's The Heart of Chel FB page

Dogs: Shih Tzu

SHIH TZU

The Shih Tzu (pronounced SHEE-tsoo) is a breed of dog weighing 4–7.25 kilograms (8.8–16.0 lb) with long silky hair. The breed originated in China and is among the earliest breeds. The name is both singular and plural. Because of their hypoallergenic coats, shih tzus do not shed and are a very good choice for people who suffer from allergies.

Life Expectancy:  About 9-15 years or more

Litter Size:  2 – 5  pups

Appearance:

The Shih-Tzu is a small, sturdy dog, with a body that is slightly longer than it is tall. The head is round and broad, wide between the eyes. The square muzzle is short, an inch or less from the tip of the nose to the defined stop. The nose is broad, with well open nostrils. Nose, lips, and eye rims are liver on liver colored dogs and blue on blue dogs and black on all other colors. The teeth meet in a level or under bite. The large, round eyes are dark in color, but lighter on blue and liver dogs. The large, pendant, low-set ears hang down and are covered in abundant hair. The back is level. The muscular legs are straight and well-boned. The high-set tail is carried over the back covered in abundant hair. Dewclaws are sometimes removed. The double coat is dense and long, flowing down over the dog. The hair above the eyes is often tied in a topknot. There is a profuse beard and mustache and the hair on the muzzle is short. Coat comes in all colors.

Characteristics & Temperament:

The Shih-Tzu is an alert, lively, little dog. Happy and hardy, packed with character. The gentle loyal Shih-Tzu makes friends easily and responds well to consistent patient training. They make a very alert watch dog. Courageous and clever. Playful and spunky, this affectionate little dog likes to be with people and are generally good with other pets. The Shih Tzu needs the rules of the house made consistently clear. Because of this dogs small size and it's adorable face, they commonly develop Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behaviors where the dog believes he is the boss of humans. They may become untrustworthy with children and sometimes adults. They will be obstinate as they take their stand and defend their top position. They may bark obsessively as they try and TELL you what they want. These behaviors are NOT Shih Tzu traits, but rather behaviors brought on by the way they are treated by people around them. Give this dog rules, and limits to what they are and are not allowed to do. Take them for daily pack walks to burn mental and physical energy. Their temperament will improve for the better, and you will bring out the sweet, trustworthy dog in them.

Grooming

These little dogs require a good daily grooming using a bristle brush. When kept in along coat a topknot is usually tied to keep the hair out of the dog's eyes. Some owners prefer to have them trimmed to make the coat easier and less time consuming to care for. Keep the ear passages and area around the eyes clean. Shih-Tzu's have sensitive eyes that need to be kept clean. There are special drops you can buy to put in them if needed. Ask your vet what to use on your dog. This breed sheds little to no hair and are good for allergy suffers if their coats are kept very well groomed, do to the fact that they shed little skin dander.

acknowledgment:  Photos & info lifted from google/yahoo

Dogs: St. Bernard

Remember the movie Beethoven?   Those cute, gigantic dogs are St. Bernards.  Here are information about them.

ST. BERNARD

That's me & my son Ralf with St. Bernards in Baguio City

The St. Bernard is a very large breed of working dog from the Swiss Alps, originally bred for rescue. The breed has become famous through tales of alpine rescues, as well as for its large size. The St. Bernard is a dog with a large head.

Life Expectancy: About 8-10 yrs.

Litter Size:   6-9 puppies

Appearance:

The Saint Bernard is a giant, strong, muscular dog. The massive head is powerful. The muzzle is short, wider than it is long. The teeth meet in a scissors or level bite. The nose is broad, with wide open nostrils and like the lips are black in color. The medium sized eyes are set somewhat to the sides and are dark in color. The medium sized ears are set high, dropping and standing slightly away from the head. The legs are muscular. The feet are large with strong well-arched toes. The long tail is broad and powerful at the base held low when the dog is relaxed. Dewclaws are usually removed. There are two types of coat: rough, and smooth, but both are very dense and come in white with markings in tan, red, mahogany, brindle, and black, in various combinations. The face and ears are usually black. In the rough-coated dogs, the hair is slightly longer and there is feathering on the thighs and legs.

The coat can be either smooth or rough, with the smooth coat close and flat. The rough coat is dense but flat, and more profuse around the neck and legs. The coat is typically a red color with white, or sometimes a mahogany brindle with white. Black shading is usually found on the face and ears. The tail is long and heavy, hanging low with the end turned up slightly. The dark eyes should have naturally tight lids, with "haws only slightly visible". Sometimes the eyes, brown usually, can be icy blue, nearly white.

Characteristics & Temperament:

St. Bernards must be well socialized with people and other dogs in order to prevent fearfulness and any possible aggression or territoriality. Overall they are a loyal and affectionate breed, and if socialized are very friendly and are occasionally avoided because of their slobber. They drool after they drink or eat.

Saint Bernards , like all very large dogs, are extremely gentle and friendly and very tolerant of children. The biggest threat to small children is being knocked over by this breed's larger size. Bear in mind that an unruly dog of this size presents a problem for even a strong adult. Teach this dog not to jump on humans starting at puppyhood. Slow moving, patient, and obedient. Extremely loyal, eager and willing to please.  It is highly intelligent and easy to train, however training should begin early, while the dog is still a manageable size. The Saint Bernard is a good watchdog. Even its size is a good deterrent. Dogs want nothing more than to know what is expected of them and the St Bernard is no exception.

Saint Bernards have a highly developed sense of smell and also seem to have a sixth sense about impending danger from storms and avalanches.

While generally not as aggressive as dogs bred for protection, a St. Bernard may bark at strangers, and their size makes them good deterrents against possible intruders.

Grooming:

Both types of coats are easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush, and bathe only when necessary. Shampoo may strip the coat of its oily, water-resistant properties, so use a mild soap. The eyes, which may be inclined to water, need special attention to keep them clean and free of irritants. This breed sheds twice a year.


Disclaimer: some photos , info lifted from google

Gift Ideas: Personalized Mini Photo Album Accessory

Here's a great gift idea.   Ever had pictures that you want to carry with you all the time to show off?  Well, here's an idea aside from the latest technology that can show off your best gazillion photos, why not a mini photo album.  You can use it as a keychain, a bag accessory, a celfone accessory, or anywhere you can attach them to.

It's 1 x 1 1/2 inch in diameter and can hold upto eighteen of your favorite photos. It comes in different colors hot pink, shimmery green, red, black, blue, fuchsia, metallic gold & silver, transparent, etc.


Ain't that grand.  Now, it's more convenient & so cute when showing off some of your most cherished pics.

For orders you can get in touch with me at dlinducil@gmail.com or drop your comments here.


Just email me 18 photos (jpeg files pls.)
and this can be done within a day. (For hard to reach places, we can get a courier service for delivery upon your request)

Dogs: Pug

If you watched the movie "Men In Black", you've already seen this kind of dog.  The Pug.

Here's some information about the Pug breed.

The pug is a "toy" (very small) breed of dog with a wrinkly, short-muzzled face, and curled tail. Pug puppies are often called puglets. The breed has a fine, glossy coat that comes in a variety of colors, and a compact square body with well-developed muscle. They have been described as multum in parvo ("much in little"), referring to the pug's personality and small size. They have Chinese origins, but were popularised in Western Europe by the House of Orange of the Netherlands and the House of Stuart of England, Ireland and Scotland.

Appearance

The Pug is a small, stocky, square, thickset dog. The round head is massive with a short, blunt, square shaped muzzle. Moles on the cheeks are considered beauty spots. The teeth meet in a slight undershot bite. The very large, prominent eyes are dark. The small, thin ears are either rose or button shaped. The face has large, deep wrinkles. The high set tail is curled over the back and a double curl is preferred in the show ring. Dewclaws are usually removed. The short coat is soft, fine and smooth. Coat colors come in apricot, fawn, black and silver.

CHARACTERISTICS & TEMPERAMENT

The Pug is keen, with a happy-go-lucky attitude. Animated, peppy and spirited, they are loyal, loving and affectionate with their families. Playful, lively and rambunctious, they are sure to keep you laughing. Highly intelligent, it bores easily without variety in their training. Pugs are sensitive to the tone of your voice, so harsh punishment is unnecessary. The dog is neither excitable nor dull. They are good watchdogs, very devoted and are not yappers. Pugs get along well with other dogs and pets, and they behave impeccably with both children and visitors.

Lifespan:  About 12 to 15 years.

Litter size: 2 – 6 pups

GROOMING:

The smooth, short-haired coat is easy to groom. Brush and comb with a firm bristle brush and shampoo only when necessary. Dry thoroughly after a bath so the dog does not get chilled. The creases on the face must be cleaned regularly. This breed is a seasonally heavy shedder.

Disclaimer:  Photo & data lifted from Google & Yahoo