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My ear for bird calls is getting pretty good. Not that I walk about and consciously think, “Aah, there’s a cardinal, there a robin, there the nuthatch,” but when something chitters overhead that I’m not familiar with, it stands out in stark relief.

Yay! We have bluebirds! This is the female, I think; I have one other photo of a bird that is much more brilliantly blue, but not focused properly (grrr, stupid tree branches getting in my way).

I’d only seen them once before so I was pretty thrilled to get some photos.

We picked up some more birdhouses at the Tri-State Bird Rescue open house on Sunday so I hope I can convince these guys to stay awhile. Or is it too late?

What little accomplishment are you proud of this week?

I don’t know that I’ve properly introduced the newest addition to the family: the Dogness, also known as Jimmy.  He was a shelter dog.

The day we went to the Humane Society, Cass was feeling unwell and was worn out by all the high-energy, barking, younger dogs. She settled in with a quiet guy who was perfectly content to just sit and be with her, licking her hands. She asked if we could take him out of the cage for a walk, and well, as they say, the rest is history. Jimmy walked into our house and our lives and our hearts and settled in for the long haul.

I wrote an article a while back titled “The Benefits of Pet Ownership for Children,” about whether I really wanted to get another dog after my beloved Zooey died. The website I wrote it for no longer exists so I’ll reprint it here:

Why am I telling you all this? Because it’s National Kids & Pet Day, and I was asked by the Global Influence network, on behalf of Kroger stores, if I would spread the word. I’m hoping to give that little push to all the moms and dads who are at the tipping point for pet adoption. DO IT. Pets bring so much meaning to your life, and so much companionship to your kids.

Family Friendly breeds:

Cocker Spaniel – These lap dogs are sensitive and sweet and enjoy the attention of children. Cocker Spaniels are obedient with training and friendly around people.
Pug – This affectionate breed loves being part of a family. Outgoing and mischievous, they make playful companions for children.
Golden Retriever – Similar to Labs in personality, Goldens are mild mannered and enjoy being around families and other people. These dogs are easy to train are gentle with children.
Basset Hound – This breed is good with children of all ages. They are known for their docile nature and gentleness. Their long backs need to be supported when they are picked up, and an eager child can accidentally injure them.

Tips regarding safe pet play:

• Teach your children to pet softly, stay away from food dishes, toys and bones, and not to startle your dog or cat when it is sleeping.
• Keep babies and toddlers at a level higher than your dog. Dogs perceive height as representative of their hierarchy. Keep your children off the floor when the dog is in the room.
• Don’t give your dog toys that resemble your children’s toys or clothing. Stay away from fabric stuffed dog toys that resemble your child’s stuffed animals.
• Involve your child in your dog’s care. Even just the presence of your child in the same room while your dog is receiving his favorite things or activities can help build a positive association to children.

You can find more information on family friendly breeds or additional tips on teaching your children about pet safety on Kroger’s Pet Health blog.

You can also find out about Kroger pet insurance policies, which cover routine care and medical procedures for dogs and cats. In addition to being available in-store at more than 2,400 stores in the Kroger family (including City Market, Dillon’s, Fred Meyer, Frye’s, King Sooper, Owen’s, Pay Less, QFC, Ralph’s and Smith’s), Kroger’s pet insurance can be purchased online. This pet insurance works at any veterinarian nationwide, with reimbursement typically occurring within two weeks. Coverage starts as low as $9.95 per month and right now, individuals who purchase online can save $10.

Jimmy has a heart murmur. The vet says it’s about a five on a scale of one to ten, which apparently means it’s not something to worry about in the short term but something we need to aware of for the long term. I think it also means that any routine “procedures”– like being put under anesthesia for tooth cleaning, something we need to do soon ’cause MAN the hound dog breath– are going to be a bit more complicated (read: expensive). I’ve thought about pet insurance but I need to do more research. Any feedback is welcome.

To celebrate National Kids & Pets Day, Kroger has provided me with a $20 gift card to give away to one of my readers, to buy a little something to treat their pets with. (They provided me with one as well, but since I have no Kroger stores near me I am donating it to an animal shelter.)

Just tell me something about your pet– or the place where you got them– to be entered to win. I’ll pull a winner Sunday, May 2nd when I get up in the morning 🙂

UPDATE 5/2/10: The winner is comment #3 from Carolsue!

Full Disclosure:
For helping raise awareness of National Kids & Pet Day I was provided with a $20 gift card to spoil Jimmy (which I am donating to an animal shelter) and a $20 gift card to give away to a reader so that they could do the same by the Global Influence Network and the Kroger Co. The thoughts and opinions here are my own.

There are so many things I want to say about this show, I’m not even sure how I want to begin.

If you don’t know anything about it, a quick overview: Jamie Oliver, aka the Naked Chef, took over the kitchens of a school in Greenwich to transform the ways kids ate– and to prove they would eat healthy foods. The program rippled to other schools in the area and the government pledged funds to keep school lunches healthy. Now, Jamie is in Huntington WV, the “unhealthiest city in America,” trying to bring about change there. He’s working with schools, with families, and he’s set up a kitchen in the town where people can come in and learn how to prepare healthy meals at home. And they are fighting him.

In my own life, I work to keep the crap out of my children’s diet. I struggle to maintain my own weight. I try to cook real foods most days. I buy organic. I won’t buy frozen meals, sugary cereals.

But it’s hard. It’s hard because my husband fights me, and it’s difficult to expect my kids to eat their veggies at dinner when he won’t. It’s hard because there are only so many hours in a day and pizza is just a phone call away. It’s hard because sometimes McDonald’s really is cheaper, and because the kids love it. It’s hard to spend time cooking a nutritious, from-scratch meal and then have everyone turn their nose up at the prospect of eating it.

I feel guilty about my kids’ diet– and really, it’s not all that bad.

I can’t imagine what it’s like for these kids who come from families that don’t even have healthy foods in the house- whose refrigerators are stocked with frozen dinners and whose pantries are full of processed snacks. Who don’t have access to reasonably priced farmer’s markets or decent supermarkets. Who can’t spare the time or the cash for real food. And who are being served reheated, processed crap in school 180 days a year for 12 years.

I was particularly affected last night by 12 year old Justin, who was found to be at risk of diabetes. He’s picked on at school. He apparently doesn’t see a doctor regularly. And when his father told him that he’s going to need to start being healthier, to lose that weight, he wanted to know how. How long it would take. That was the moment my heart broke, really. He’s 12. I’m sure he’s wished he wasn’t so heavy, but what could he really do about it? He’s 12. He only knows what he knows.  He eats what’s there. Everyone in his family is heavy. That’s his reality.

Sigh. I spent some time last night checking out what other people had to say about Jamie Oliver’s new show. Much of it was positive. Some of it was nonsense like “What’s the point? Kids aren’t going to eat organic kale for lunch.” Others were irate at the notion of taxes providing for the “welfare program” that is school lunch. One particularly irritating video a “friend” on Facebook linked to, titled “The Case Against Jamie Oliver,” made the dubious point that we don’t need Jamie Oliver’s help: Americans eat “cheap, healthy” lunches every day– it’s called a Healthy Choice microwaveable meal.

Really?

I just don’t understand. I don’t understand why the people of West Virginia wouldn’t welcome Jamie Oliver in and give thanks that someone was trying to make those kids healthier. I don’t understand why there is a “Case Against Jamie Oliver.” I don’t understand people whose sole purpose in life is to be smugly contentious, to rag on someone trying to start a revolution, change the world.

This is a guy who is trying to make things better. Not just for his own kids. For my kids, and yours. He’s not trying to make them eat organic kale and hug trees. He’s exposing them to new foods that will make them healthier. He’s showing them another way of living– a way that is going to add years to their life.

Why does anyone want to make a case against that?

If you missed the show, please check it out– you can watch last night’s episodes on Hulu.

And if you do nothing else, consider taking hot dogs and chicken nuggets out of your kids’ diet. If they ask why, tell them it’s made from this: