Streaming channel for dogs
A television channel was launched in the UK last week for dogs. Yes, pay TV for dogs. This streaming service has been designed to alleviate stress, loneliness and anxiety for dogs during the day according to the research completed over three years. The researchers considered the physiological and psychological needs of dogs to determine what made them feel stimulated or relaxed. The dog channel features colours, audio frequency and music and camera alignment to suit dog senses.
A vet interviewed about dogs watching television says ‘…only some dogs will sit and watch TV.’ Apparently dogs get bored very quickly and wander off. My dog barks at cats and other dogs on TV otherwise he ignores it. So, will your dog be watching The Dog Chef, Road Dogs, Paws For Love, The Adoption Show or Things We Woof About?
vinaigrette
Salad season has arrived in Western Australia so I’m back making traditional vinaigrette. There’s so many salad dressings on the market but often the ingredients listed on the labels are off putting. Fresh, raw, just picked veggies need clean, home made dressings. This is the recipe for a plain dressing using ingredients you already have to hand. Varying the vinegar you use, such as balsamic, red wine or apple cider vinegar will change the colour and the flavour.
I’ve used plain white vinegar and the basic ingredients. Once you have mastered the ratios you can add shallots, garlic or lemon zest. You can replace some of the acid, the vinegar, with lemon or lime juice. I use virgin olive oil which has a very strong flavour. You may prefer to use a lighter olive oil.
This vinaigrette will last a week in the fridge and can be added to salads, drizzled over small boiled potatoes or any other vegetable. I mix it in an old jam jar and store it in the fridge in the same jar. I like things to be easy!
To make VINAIGRETTE you need
1/2 cup olive oil
4 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Put all the ingredients in the jar or a bowl and whisk. Sometimes I just shake the jar vigorously with the lid screwed on tightly. Drizzle on your salad leaves and enjoy.
jacarandas
Jacaranda trees are a sub tropical tree native to central South America. Jacarandas thrive in Western Australia and other states of Australia. It has been cultivated in almost every country in the world where there is no risk of frost.
Jacarandas are considered an invasive species in Queensland and parts of South America. The blue flowers appear in spring and summer and can last up to two months. During this time the spent flowers will create a beautiful carpet under the tree as they fall.
Tricky to see on an overcast day but the purple haze continues down the street. Beautiful.
I love jacaranda trees! At this time every year we go across the river to an area where my mother grew up to see the jacarandas. They were planted as street trees on Arbor Day when she was at primary school. They have mostly continued to flourish and bloom. They are celebrated each year during the Jacaranda Festival.
dyeing a shirt
Last summer I bought a linen shirt online and was rather surprised when it arrived; what I thought was a pink shirt was actually a very orange, slightly pink shirt. Wore it once and put it back in the robe, never to be worn again. The colour made me look sick! And it was a bit big.
Shirt, 500gm salt (mordent to set the dye) and the packet of black dye.
Suddenly it is quite warm in Western Australia so I gathered all my summer shirts, washed them and ironed them and hung them ready for summer. That’s when I discovered the hidden orange/pink shirt. Wore it yesterday, still really dislike it! Inspiration struck. I could dye it and take the side seams in a little bit without altering the style of the shirt, but improving the fit.
Set off for a packet of dye. Thought I’d get grey but the shop only had black. Bought it. Dyed the shirt in the washing machine and then hung it in the shade to dry, as directed on the packet. I now have a NAVY blue shirt, which I really like. I have pinned the sides to make it fit better and will sew it tomorrow. Strangely, the thread used to sew the shirt didn’t take the dye and is still an odd colour but looks fine on the navy linen. Pleased with the outcome and know I will wear it now.
Looks grey in the photo, which I like but it’s actually navy blue, which I also like, so now I will wear it!
Did you know Wednesday was make Your Own Bread Day? You can bake some homemade bread to meet your “kneads”. I began making sourdough bread about four years ago but now I make rye sourdough. Rye flour has very little gluten so I add some strong white flour to help it rise. There’s so much information online, especially since the pandemic, if you’d like to try making your own bread.