Just Ming

Pumpkin Dog Treats (Ming Loves Pumpkin, But She Doesn’t Want to Be One)

I thought Ming would be cute in a pumpkin costume when the Trick or Treaters came to the door this year, but she really, really doesn’t like clothes of any kind, especially on her head, can you tell?

Ming Loves Pumpkin, But She Doesn’t Want To Be One

So, to apologize to her for compromising her dignity, I made her some Pumpkin Pup Treats. She adores them, and gets a little crazy when she hears the bag rattling. Your pup will enjoy these healthy homemade dog treats too, whether they like to dress up or not! If your dog loves to wear costumes or doesn’t, I would enjoy seeing pictures of your pets! E-mail me your pet photos at: sameatshernutrients@gmail.com so I can meet the pets you love!

Pumpkin Pup Treats

Pumpkin Pug Treats

Preheat Oven 350º degrees.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Organic Pumpkin Puree

2 Pastured Eggs

1/2 Cup Natural No Sugar Peanut Butter

1/2 Cup Coconut Flour

1/4 Cup Gelatin (I used this)

1 Teaspoon Dried Parsley Flakes

1/2 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt

Mix all the ingredients with an electric hand mixer. Scoop with a tablespoon cookie scoop onto parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake 15 minutes. Cool and package.

Makes 24 treats. Freeze them in small batches so you can pull them out of the freezer a little at a time for your pet.

Eat Your Nutrients!

Ming Ming’s Wishful Thinking With A Friend

Ming’s Wishful Thinking With a Friend

It was a sunny afternoon yesterday, one of those perfect, bright, in the seventies days, and everyone was busy going here and there in a flurry of activity. Ming and her buddy, (that’s Lily) were longing to go outside and play, but at the moment it just wasn’t happening. So, she was content to gaze out the window with Lily by her side. I am sure she was dreaming of what she would do it she were outside. Maybe she would chase a bird, or grab a stick and get Lily to chase her. She loves to lounge in the sunshine, basking, or roll in the grass, and Ming loves to smell Flowers. She really does! She will go right up to a beautiful blossom and smell it. I call her Ferdinand after the childhood story about a bull that was supposed to bull fight, but just wanted to smell flowers. Do you know the book? She and Lily did get to go outside later in the day for a walk and a romp. It is a joy to see her enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Then she was content to come inside again and dream. I love lazy days like this day, and so does Ming.

Ming Loves Warm Laundry!

When there is a basket of warm laundry fresh from the dryer left unattended, Ming, Ming will find it! She has a special radar for warm things. It is the perfect little bed of warm comfort, and she is a smart pug. She knows a good thing when she sees it. I love that Ming, Ming likes to be comfy and cozy, It makes her an excellent cuddler! I really enjoy my cuddle time with Ming, she is sweet and kind and never makes you feel guilty for lounging on the sofa and chilling out. She spins in circles of excitement when you head toward a comfy chair in hopes you will sit down so she can leap into your lap. She is a pug, and pugs love cuddle time! If you have a cuddler in the house, I would love to hear about them!

Ming Loves Warm Laundry!

Ming is Almost Pure Angel!

She really is! I have always loved dogs. All that unconditional love they are so good at lavishing on humans. Ming was a Christmas gift two years ago. She was a tiny, fluffy, little butterball that fit in the palm of my hand. She is the first dog that was mine, and I am her person. I have never been a dog’s person before. We have had dogs in our family, but Ming, Ming adores Me. She follows me around the house, and in the evening when people are lounging around, it is my lap she seeks. I love her snortle breathing, her cute wrinkly face, her antics, and her love of food. Since finding this cute little collar tag this summer, whenever Ming, Ming is less than angelic, my family comments, “I guess her one percent is coming out!” I feel so lucky to be Ming’s person and that she is a part of my life. She really is an angel, even when she isn’t!

Angel Pug – Almost 100%

Ming Tolerates Her Bath

Ming’s Bath Time

Ming loves a lot of things, but she doesn’t love baths. She tolerates baths. She is good in the bath, not trying to jump out of the tub. An extra scratch or rub is welcome, but she is just tolerating the bath. She enjoys the warm water too if she must be washed. Since she was a small puppy, I have always sung to her when I bath her. It soothes her and is expected during the bath experience. Her favorite song is “Rubber Ducky” from Sesame Street. What she does love is the drying off with a big fluffy towel afterwards. Then she loves to “Gremlin” around the house. That’s what we call it. She holds her curled tail straight out and tears around the house. The part I love about Ming’s bath is how fluffy and soft she is after she is dry.

Ming’s Bath Time

Ming Ming Loves to Boat

Skipper!

Ming loves excitement! She can lounge around the house for days in contentment, but she adores boating! The lake has so many new and interesting smells, the wind is in her face, and she can watch the wake behind her for lengths on end. It fascinates her! This was her first boat ride of the summer, and she thoroughly enjoyed it! We traveled across the lake and back enjoying the beautiful day, stopping to dock in a small town to stroll the streets and socialize with others. She soaked in all the squeals of “oh, a pug! Can I pet her?”, and on the way home she napped with the rocking of the boat. Now all we need is a sailor hat! Wouldn’t that be cute?

Ming Loves Her Sleep!

Ming is a cute sleeper. Her mouth doesn’t hang open when she is sleeping, she doesn’t drool, she doesn’t get “bed head”. She will sleep anywhere that looks fairly comfortable, but prefers laps. It can be quiet or noisy, sunny or shady, day or night. She isn’t necessarily a quiet sleeper, because she snortles. However, this makes her very easy to find. I wish I could fall asleep as easily. I enjoy watching Ming as she naps.

Ming Is A Good Listener

Ming Listening

Ming is a great listener! She also understands a lot of what is being said. You can tell her “Skyli will be home soon!” and she runs for the door, or “Lucy is coming over” and she runs to the window looking for her. Lucy is a Black Lab and a member of the extended family. Ming, Ming loves chicken, and when you say “chicken”, her eyes get really, really wide. She also watches t.v., especially if there are dogs in the show. But what I love most about how Ming listens is when she just sits and listens while I am in the kitchen. She sits near my feet and is content to stay there as long as I am there listening to me talk to her as I work. She tilts her head side to side and looks straight at me. I could learn a lesson or two from her complete attention. She makes me remember to try and listen as well as she does.

Ming Loves The Beach!

Ming at the Beach

We love to vacation in Northern Michigan by the Great Lakes. That is where I was raised, and I never truly appreciated the fact that I grew up in a year-round vacation destination until I moved away. We have been taking our children back every summer their entire lives. It is a dog friendly state, and we have been able to find a few beaches that allow dogs, so we can take them to swim. Yes, pugs swim! I am a bit surprised, but they have webbed toes. We saw a pug last summer swimming and fetching a ball for it’s owner, and it was just like a fish! Ming likes the water too, but not to that degree. She likes to wade, smell things, put her puggy face in the sand, and run! Here she is with my daughters and I, and also her little black pug sister, Lily. This was last summer on Lake Michigan. I wonder what she will do this year now that she is two? Maybe she will be braver and leap into the waves!

I love to hear your thoughts!

Eat Your Nutrients!

Ming Loves To Hike!

I love Northern Michigan in the Summertime, and so does Ming. There is a gorgeous hiking trail we love to take with Ming in the mornings. It is about 45 minutes and you go through woods, fields, some wooden stairs to climb…. it is gorgeous and dog friendly, so Ming can run. She gets to greet a few doggy friends and happy, friendly people. It is funny, because when I take her for a walk around the neighborhood, she is only interested in walking one lap, and then she plops down and refuses to go any further. But, take her to the trail and she is like the Energizer Bunny!

Here is Ming after we make it to the top of the stairs and take a moment to enjoy the view.