Thread:61Storm/@comment-29709319-20190621035327/@comment-29709319-20190715014336

National Themes For July 15th: National Give Something Away Day, National I Love Horses Day, National Tapioca Pudding Day, National Pet Fire Safety Day, and National Get Out of the Dog House Day.

🎗National Give Something Away Day gives us an opportunity to share some of our bounty. In the United States, giving is on the rise. According to Giving USA, giving rose in all nine major categories in 2016 – religion; education; human services; giving to foundations; health, public-society benefit; arts; culture and humanities; international affairs; and environment and animals.

🐎National I love Horses Day! With over 200 breeds, these spirited animals have given humans much to love. Their loyalty and devotion throughout history may only be a portion of the reasons. Not just a means of transportation, horses cleared fields, fought wars, moved cattle and were companions on long lonely trails. They were a cornerstone of survival in a burgeoning nation. The tallest horse breed is the Shire. The stallions of this draft horse breed tower at 17 hands above the tiny Falabella, which grows to only eight hands and is the smallest breed of horse. The quarter horse, named for its speed on a short track, is one of the three fastest breeds of horses. Thoroughbreds follow quarter horses for longer distance, but Arabians outlast both breeds for endurance on the longest races.

🥄National Tapioca Day! Tapioca is a starch made from the cassava root. Also known as manioc or yucca, cassava is cultivated around the world. A part of the Euphorbiaceae (spurge) family, this woody shrub is native to South America but is also grown in Asia and Africa. Prized for its edible root, which is often ground into a powder or a pearly extract. The resulting pearls are called tapioca. Once a staple in early American households, tapioca was dehydrated to survive long sea voyages without spoilage and even still have a long shelf life. To make a truly homemade tapioca pudding takes planning. The pearls must be soaked overnight. The minute and instant tapioca puddings have made the process easier. Tapioca is also found in Boba tea, a Taiwanese tea-based drink, and can be used as a substitute for other starches in some recipes.

🐶⛑National Pet Fire Safety Day! Just like fire drills, pets need consideration when preparing for unexpected fire emergencies. Taking preventable measures now can both save your home and your pet. Many times our pets can cause a fire if we don’t take the proper steps. Pet Fire Safety Tips: ✨Extinguish open flames. Pets are curious and certainly not cautious. Wagging tails haphazardly knock over candles and curious kitties will paw at sizzling grease. ✨Remove knobs from the stove. So when not in use, they will not accidentally get turned on. ✨Consider flameless candles for ambiance and backup lighting in the event of a power outage. ✨Replace glass water bowls with metal or plastic. Outside on wooden decks, they can heat up and actually start a fire. ✨Have leashes and collars stored near the entrance of your home. When away, have your pets in the main living area for easy rescue. ✨Secure young pets when away from home. This can help avoid fire hazards. Pet kennels or in a pet-proofed room are options. ✨Fire alert window clings can help firefighters identifying the room your pets are located and identify the number of pets in the home. Add one to the window of the room you keep your pets when you are away. Keep it updated with the number of pets who reside with you and your current phone number. ✨Have a plan when you are home. Know which family members will be responsible for each pet. The American Kennel Club in association with ADT Security Services declared National Pet Fire Safety Day in 2009 to educate pet owners how to take steps to prevent fires and to plan for unexpected emergencies effectively.

🐶🏠National Get Out of the Doghouse Day! Generally, when you are “in the doghouse”, you have fallen out of favor with someone, usually your spouse or significant other. However, you can also be “in the doghouse” with a friend or your boss at work. National Get Out of the Doghouse Day is an opportunity to use all those good cliches and get you back in the big house where you belong. Here are some tips to get “out of the doghouse.” ✨Put down the technology. If this is on your naughty list, don’t use email, texting or other technology to apologize. A face to face or handwritten apology is best. ✨Meet at a favorite coffee house. The purpose here is to start talking. Listen to what the other person has to say and do not be judgmental or defensive. Find out why you are “in the doghouse” and give suggestions on how you can improve or fix the issue. ✨Send flowers, chocolates or an appropriate gift. Include a hand-written note about how you are committed to fixing the issue. Do this AFTER you have already spoken. You will win extra brownie points as this will be unexpected. (Including brownies will garner additional points!)

This pic is my Great Niece and Moonie. She loves her Moonie. I give away thing every time closets are cleaned out. Pet safety is every important to those pets that are confined in homes, they are part of the family as well. That's a special dad you have Val.

Warm hugs!💕🐶🐎🌤