What Is Happening on the Bayou?

                          We Survived the Texas Deep Freeze

   Hey! It’s been two weeks since we last posted and I first want to assure y’all that we are fine and survived the deep freeze that left much of Texas in the dark. We were without  power for about 32 hours during that time our outside temperatures dropped to 10°f. Ugh! Luckily, we spent a lot of our younger years camping and know how to rough it. There were “rolling blackouts” for the next couple of days which is something we’ve never experienced. It is strange knowing the power is going to go out, you just don’t know what time. We have an electric couch and mine was stuck reclined every single time!  

   Since we didn’t have power, there was no heat and no way I was going out to play in the snow! I am just not a fan of the cold although it was beautiful. Plus, we were trying to keep the doors closed so no cold air would rush in. The boys have only seen snow a few times in their lives, so they weren’t too sure of it at first. After taking care of “business”, they began to romp and play. It was fun to watch them acting like puppies.

Changes are Coming to Barking from the Bayou

   I mentioned in an earlier post that we were going to be changing some things here on our blog. Don’t worry, the boys will still be barking but Skipper and I are going to be sharing more of our adventures in retirement.

   Over the past two years, we have renewed our love of bicycling. Due to the pandemic, cycling is the fastest growing sport for adults over 50 years old. We have talked to many retirees that have taken up biking. It has really gained popularity with all ages due to the pandemic and people have many questions. Skipper rebuilt both of our steel Raleigh bikes and maintains our Cannondale bikes we are currently riding. We will be sharing some “Biking from the Bayou” tips and must-haves.

   Our diet also changed and we eat low carb keto meals and snacks. We cook all of our meals, so it is easy to count carbs and calories. The food we eat is delicious and not just for the keto lifestyle. You will love our chocolate chip cookies and they are easy to make. Get ready for some yummy recipes you’ll want to prepare over and over. That’s when we will be “Baking from the Bayou”.

   It is an exciting time for us as we embark on a new adventure with y’all. We have a lot of work to do and will be taking the next few weeks off as we redesign our blog for more fun and adventures.

The Pet Parade ~ Thanks for the Memories

   I have been honored to be a co-host of the weekly Pet Parade since March 2014. That is a lot of hopping but I have enjoyed every minute of it. It was a pleasure working with the two hosts I began with, Leah Mastilock and Jenna Drady. Neither of them is still blogging but I keep in touch on social media.

   Marjorie Dawson and Cathrine Garnell are amazing bloggers and great friends. I appreciate them allowing a couple of dogs continue to march in the Pet Parade with them. If you aren’t following their blogs, you are really missing out. Marjorie at Dash Kitten has incredible tips for photography and making movies. She can help you become the photographer you have dreamed of being. You can find Cathrine at Bionic Basil & the B Team. She always has fascinating features, and her cats are adorable. Don’t miss her Mandala Mondays coloring fun. She is an incredible artist, and you’ll love printing and coloring her mandalas.

   We have decided that next week will be our final Pet Parade. Since we will be busy reworking Barking from the Bayou, I will say thank you to the thousands of blog posts you have all shared with us. I’ve discovered some wonderful writers and fallen in love with countless dogs and cats through your blogs. Let’s continue to visit each other and share our love for pets.

Thanks for the memories!

   While we are away, please continue using our affiliate links for savings to you and maybe a little money for us.

   Our Dr. Harvey’s code is new so make a note or pop back by before your next order!

We will see y’all again real soon!

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Ditch the Itch & Upset Gut

    There are two ways that your dog can ruin a good night’s sleep…by constantly scratching or throwing up. Can I get an amen?

Bentley supervises the process and makes sure he is right there when the timer goes off.

   Bentley has environmental allergies that cause him to scratch under his front legs. They are much better living in south Texas, but he can still get an itch. He has also been known to do the butt spin which is never a good look. It didn’t take but a couple of days before we noticed his scratching stopped and he hasn’t even thought about spinning. We can always tell when he gets the urge and have to stop him.

Don't Brush Off Your Pet's Dental Care

February is Pet Dental Health Month and that means it is time to make sure your best friend’s kisses remain sweet and welcome.

Did you know that 80% of dogs show signs of periodontal disease by their third birthday? If you don’t have a dental routine in place, now is a great time to start. I started the boys with regular brushing at an early age, so they are used to it. Bentley LOVES it while Pierre tolerates it. We use a pet toothbrush and Petrodex toothpaste specifically for dogs. That doesn’t mean you cats are off the hook! Arm & Hammer make a dental kit for cats so your breath is fresh, and your teeth will be pearly white. It takes consistency and patience but you and your dog or cat will be happy you took the time, especially when they are seniors.

How to Ignore a Camera

In response to last week’s post on Pierre’s IBD and what is working for us, I wanted to give everyone a quick update on Dr. Harvey’s ALLERGY food. We have been feeding it to the boys for a week and they LOVE it. Bentley always lets us know when it is ten minutes before they are supposed to eat but this week, Pierre came to alert me that it was time to fix their Dr. Harvey’s! His stomach has not made noise and no vomiting.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease ~ What is Working for Us

 
   In November of 2020, Pierre was diagnosed with IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease). Our vet did a complete physical exam, x-rays, and blood work to try and determine why Pierre has vomited small amounts of bile since he was a pup. In addition to throwing up, his stomach will make noises that could wake the dead! We know he is in pain but are helpless to make it stop. I’ve tried getting a nausea pill down his throat but it usually comes right back up. On several occasions, he has been extremely sick with vomiting and diarrhea. These tests were done as a result of his last major stomach episode. You can read more about it in our post, “Help, My Westie has IBD”.

Birthdays, Biking and Coffee

 Bentley Basset Hound: “Hello everyone! We agreed this year to let Mom and Dad do some barking about human things they are enjoying now that they’re retired. This week was Dad’s birthday and we celebrated by letting him scratch our bellies, boil us chicken, and let us in and out a bunch of times. It is important to make our humans feel needed when they reach a certain age.”

We are sharing affiliate links in this article. If you make a purchase through our links and/or use our discount code, we may receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!

Pierre Westie: “I’m all for sharing our blog but we have some super-duper important news to report. We have a winner for our Healthy Start contest from Dr. Harvey’s!

   Sarah G. will receive a 5 lb. bag (makes 20 lbs.) of the amazing Healthy Weight complete dog food and a bottle a Health & Shine Salmon/Krill Oil. Her pup is going to be tail-wagging happy.

Fetch a Yaheetech Dog Playpen

   Have I mentioned that Bentley and Pierre are barkers? I am not talking about the kind that work on carnival midways. No, I am talking about my two senior dogs who become an obnoxiously loud duo when they run around in the backyard. Most of the time, they can go outside, be perfectly quiet, sniff the perimeter, and nap on the patio. We live on a corner and at certain times of the day, people walk their dogs along our sidewalk. This is not something the Bayou Boys can tolerate and are very vocal about it. We have often said if we could just contain them in a smaller area, it would relieve the problem. They don’t bark when they are on their leashes or contained.

Barking from the Bayou received an 8-panel 40” Yaheetech Dog Playpen in exchange for an honest review. We only share products that we feel will benefit our readers. All opinions are our own.

How to Start 2021 on the Right Paw

 Me: “We want to wish you an incredibly happy 2021. Our New Year’s Eve is quiet so far and we are grateful for that. It was a rainy day, and the temperatures are dropping rapidly. I am going to be busy cooking our traditional meal of ham, black-eyed peas and cabbage on New Year’s Day. My stomach is growling just thinking about it. I might try baking some keto cornbread later tonight.”

Bentley Basset: “Happy New Year! We aren’t going to have to make any lame resolutions, are we? Frankly, I’m pretty close to perfect as is, am I right?”

Pierre Westie: “I am going to stop barking so much. This is the year that I live and let live…even squirrels. Ignore other dogs barking is my new mantra. (snicker, chuckle, snort) Just kidding! I’m going to try to catch squirrels and lizards every chance I get.”