Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Quality Dog Food Is Essential For The Health Of Dogs

Dog food is very important for the health of dogs. It is easy to overlook it, but it is essential to pick the right dog food for your pet dog. People sometimes just pick the first dog food bag they see at the store, instead of considering what is needed for your own dog. Puppies need different types of food than mature dogs, just as different breeds of dogs also require different types of dog f. . .

Better Photos with your Digital Camera

Everyone has a digital camera today and we all take a lot of photos. But if your photos still have trees coming out of your father’s head, mom has red eye, and your beloved pet is never facing the camera then here are some tips to help you take better photos.1. Always be aware of the background. I know this is the hard one but it is critical. If you’re setting up a shot take a quick look at wha. . .

There are Stories to be Told: Start a Family Tradition

One of the most rewarding ways to use your outdoor living space is to gather your family members for a reunion. Perhaps it's a small group that gets together annually, or a large one whose far-flung members attend every two or five or even 10 years. Whether large or small, a reunion is a wonderful opportunity to knit families closer together through shared stories. In the much-underrated 1990 f. . .

They Loved Us

Our parents called them "the Bible Club girls," even though Hazel Simonton and Jean Clark had strands of grey sprinkled through their dark hair by the late 1940s. That's how people referred to women, especially single women, back then.Every Wednesday after school, the Bible Club girls came to our church in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana. The pastor had built a fire in the cast-iron furnace i. . .

The Fugitive

Where are the dogs of yesteryear? They all seem to be some breed or another these days. They never used to be. Back in the forties, we had dogs that LEANED in one direction or another. Or maybe two or three directions at once. But we never went out and bought a specific brand of dog. Why would you buy a dog when the neighbors were giving away perfectly good pups for free, along with a jar. . .

Buster the Beloved Pussycat

“Dogs have owners; cats have staff,” and I have worked for some wonderful cats in my time. The one I loved best was named Buster. Buster had an unusual mind. He didn’t think like other cats; he didn’t act like other cats. Maybe that’s why I loved him so. We got Buster from the county animal shelter. We usually get our cats from the county animal shelter. That way we save a life -- and we’ve got. . .

Peace Breaks Out

In that spring of 1946, when he heard the Bauser boys were back from the navy, Daddy hired one of them to help with spring plowing. He didn't give Barry Bauser any instructions. Everyone knows how to plow. He just hitched the plow to the John Deere tractor and waved his hand in the direction of the field to be plowed, which was the field right next to our house.“Yes, sir!” said the Bauser bo. . .

How to Give the "Gift of a Lifetime"

Giving that special someone a special gift can be very difficult. Depending on the situation and occasion, it can be a very tricky thing. You want to do the right thing, but if you’re not careful, it can backfire. As many have found out, you need to give this some considerable thought.But everyone wants to give the "right" gift. What makes up a great gift?In my experience, a great gift: Is t. . .

Secrets to Working and Pumping

When I had my first son I hadn't planned to go back to work. I suddenly had to return to the workforce when he was three months old. I was completely unprepared and my son went from an exclusively breastfeeding baby to a mostly formula baby within a short period of time. I learned a lot from my experience with him and was much more prepared when I had my daughter. I was able to exclusively . . .

Daddy Tames the Ferocious Junior Boys

Throughout World War II my Daddy had 4F draft status -- meaning he couldn’t be drafted -- as there would have been no one to farm his Montana land if he were gone. His draft status bothered Daddy. He was young and vigorous, and he longed to fight the enemies of his country. He knew he was working hard for his country out there in the fields, but his life lacked drama. And perhaps he longed . . .

The Sentimental Meaning Of Flowers

For me certain types of flowers bring back a flood of memories. I remember in my early teens visiting my best friend who had moved to the country. We would spend hours in the field next to her property, talking and picking the petals of daisies in a game played by many, he-loves-me, he-loves-me-not. This memory can rushing back two days ago when I was waiting in line at the supermarket and happ. . .

Are There Really Benefits of Music Education?

Despite serious reductions in funding for arts programs in public schools, there is a great need for studying music. Band, orchestra, and choir all offer students a chance to work together in a social and intellectual group setting and excel at complex tasks.The trick for parents is to enroll their children in high quality programs and assist them in purchasing high quality instruments. There. . .

Why I Love Country Living

As somone who has lived in both places, I can tell you that country living certainly beats the hustle and bustle of city life! Living in a rural area has advantages that simply can't be bought at any price.In the city I was bombarded with the sounds of horns blowing and sirens blaring. In the country I'm soothed by a chorus of whippoorwills, bullfrogs and crickets, along with the pleasant sound. . .

10 Tips To Safe Online Shopping

The internet has changed our buying habits. Many people have found the convenience of online shopping to be a great experience. You can easily click and see the product. You have a fun time shopping, browsing, reading and getting informed about products. And you don’t have to take time out from your busy schedule to fight traffic, crowds and lines to buy the perfect gift for your recipient.No w. . .

22 Fun Things To Do With Your Dozen Rose Gift

Your dozen rose gift doesn't only have to decorate your favorite room. Roses are about romance and enjoying the moment they are given and received. I've discovered some fun ways to use roses to create a stimulating day or night. So read through this list of fun rose goodies. Spice up your relationship and turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary day you will both remember. Select your favorit. . .

How To Brighten Up Your Home With These Flower Arrangemen...

A beautiful flower arrangement piece can become the focal point of the room you choose to decorate. It's truly fascinating how we can combine different flowers to create a mesmerizing bouquet. With the vast selection of colors, fragrances and shapes, you can create or readily buy a flower arrangement piece that will speak to you and others walking in the room what you want to communicate.First . . .

What Online Gifts Have Come To Mean To The Shopper

Shoppers buying online gifts last year generated $301 billion revenue. Now that shopping on the internet isn’t such a new thing as it once was, consumers feel very comfortable trusting both their credit card details and also that their recipient will receive their gift.Shopping for online gifts rather than going to a store is very enticing…We save moneyIn many cases by preferring to buy my gift. . .

Getting Your Family Involved In Your Home Business

Do you own your own home business? Is your family involved with your daily business? Yeah, I know at times it seems easier to just do everything yourself. It is an easy trap to get into. Why take the time to explain the job, show them how it should be done, make sure it is done properly, and then possibly have to redo the project if it is not done to your liking? Yes, we have all been through t. . .

Pet Peeve: Dogs Doing Business Where Not Wanted

We’ve recently moved into a new apartment complex that really is much like a resort. We don’t have to maintain the lawn, handle any maintenance problems, or deal with unruly neighbors. We can use the pool without having to clean and maintain it, we can work out in a gym without the added monthly expense, we can play pool without going to a bar, and we can enjoy many sports such as racquetball. . .

Let’s Get Serious About the Nursing Home Tour

Before you tour your facility choices be sure you have done your homework. Go online and visit Medicare.gov. They have wonderful resources available to you for free. They are user friendly. Please see the end of this article for details. To narrow down your choice between two or three nursing homes or just considering the only available nursing home to place your family member or friend, i. . .

When You Give A Gift, It’s The Thought That Counts, Right?

It’s a no-no to tell someone you don’t like their gift because it’s the thought that counts, right?Sure, but just how ‘nice’ are your thoughts towards your gift giver who doesn’t listen in order to know what your likes and dislikes are? How disappointed are you when with anticipation you unwrap your gift to stare down at an ugly pair of socks, or when your husband of four years decides his wife. . .

19,178 Identity Theft Victims Per Day - Are You One Of Them?

Identity theft statistics are shocking. And we are told that it will only become worse, before it gets any better. Are you likely to be affected?According to recent studies, up to 7,000,000 people become identity theft victims each year, in the United States alone. That's over 19,000 cases a day, or 799 cases an hour. Whichever way you look at it, these are shocking figures. And with more and m. . .

Ch-Ch-Chain of Hearts: Cranking Up Compassion

Can you hear your compassion? It's time to crank it up. One of the most difficult challenges we face in our quest to be compassionate is dealing with conflict. Those we love most tend to be the ones most likely to engage us in sparring that cuts the deepest. Why do we allow ourselves to use our harshest words and most acid tone of voice with the people we love most? Precisely because we love th. . .

Introducing a New Kitten to Your Older Cat...

So, you read somewhere that introducing a new kitten into your home could be great for your existing cat, for companionship. And you remember how much fun your cat was when she was a new kitten, and you would love to re-live those days.It is generally thought that cats thrive better with the company of another feline, especially cats confined indoors. But before you rush off to your local cat s. . .

Train Your Dog With Respect

Proper training of your dog should begin when he is a puppy. The first four months of a dog’s life are very important in the training of your dog. This is when they learn behaviors that they will practice in the future.Socializing your dog is one of the most important things you can do to influence your dog’s future behavior. As soon as you bring your new puppy home, you should start letting. . .

"Trading Spouses" Teaches Relationship Building Through C...

Last night I watched a television show. It was rather hilarious and disturbing at the same time.I was actually talking to my mother when I first heard about it. I called her to chat and she told me she was watching this show called “Trading Spouses”. Isn’t that name terrible? I couldn’t believe my Mom was watching such a thing.But, after she told me about it, it sounded hilarious, so I deci. . .

Fun & Unique Baby Shower Favors

A baby shower is often the highlight of an expectant mother's pregnancy. Planning a baby shower requires some thought and consideration for the expectant mother's special event. Baby shower favors are among the items that must be considered when planning a shower. Baby shower favors do not have to be complicated to make an impressionable impact on visitors. Most people are happy enough to come . . .

How To Tell That You're Getting Old

This week I celebrate another birthday, which brings me to that auspicious milestone where I am right between 52 and 54. A person only comes to this stage of life once, so I am going to make the most of it.This year I plan celebrating my 29th birthday. I figure it's my birthday, so I should be able to celebrate whichever one I please. Twenty-nine is the perfect age; this is the third time for m. . .

Photography 101 Part 3

ContentEven if you feel that you already know what kind of photography you like to do, it’s always a good idea to try your talent at different aspects of photography.Pictorial, this is a general term but it applies to any photographer who’s goal is simply to create beautiful photos. This breaks down into smaller subsets but the most popular form is landscape and nature photography. This is what. . .

Photography 101 Part 2

Basic CompositionNow that you are beginning to understand how your camera works you can begin to understand basic composition. I know that many people that I’ve talked to think that photography is just pointing your camera and taking a photo but it’s more than that. After you understand how your equipment works you can begin to get into the real art of photography and that art is called composi. . .

Photography 101 Part 1

Equipment: camera, meter, flash, tripodThis article is a simplified photography course directed at new photographers out there who want to know where to start.If you really want to learn photography the first thing you need is a good affordable and reliable camera. It must, and I repeat must, be able to shoot in fully manual and fully auto focus modes. (This leaves out any digital cameras on th. . .

Puppy Love - Wonderful Companions

Everybody loves puppies. Who can resist those cute little faces and wet noses? Puppies can be a lot of fun, but they also come with a lot of added responsibility.More than five million puppies are born every year in the United States. In fact, one in every three families owns one or more dogs. A female dog carries her puppies for a term of approximately 60 days before they are born. Puppie. . .

Dogs Are Man's Best Friend

Dogs are believed to be descendants of wild wolves. They were the first wild animal to be tamed. Ancient man probably brought home cub wolves to raise as pets. The pet wolves were also useful in driving away bears and other wild animals. One of the oldest known breed of dogs is the Salukis, which were bred by Egyptians thousands of years ago as hunting dogs. Greyhounds and Dalmatians are . . .

Let's Fly Our Flag!

"The flag stands for all that we hold dear -- freedom, democracy, government of the people, by the people, and for the people."--Henry Cabot Lodge, 1915No matter what political party one belongs to, or what one's particular view is concerning the events in Iraq and the Middle East, the fact remains that our American soldiers are there. A good many of them are National Guard troops and reservist. . .

Holy Mantrimony

In the last couple of weeks, the catholic war machine has been running on all cylinders to oppose the legitimacy of homosexual marriages. I would invite the pope to take a look behind him and see just where he was less than a year ago with the Church itself was mired in controversy. Apparently, the pope has no problem with sexual intercourse between a man and a boy, as long as he is at least a . . .

Baby Shower Favor Ideas

With so many different aspects of a shower to plan, coming up with a baby shower favor idea is often the last consideration on a long list of planning.There are several unique, exciting and interesting baby shower favor ideas that will work well for almost any shower. Whether traditional or alternative in nature, the following are popular baby shower favor ideas: Bath and Body Items Notepads Pi. . .

Five Sure Fire Way to Secure Your Financial Future

“You can be poor when you’re young, but you can’t be poor when you’re old.” That was the tag line used some years ago in a financial services television commercial.Truer words were never spoken. I was relatively poor when I was young. Just about everybody I knew was and it was kind of fun. We lived an almost communal lifestyle, sharing money, accommodation, food, beer, cigarettes and other esse. . .

ll Elderly Family Members and Friends Need To Be Safe

Many family members are thrown into the situation of care giving because of a medical health crisis of a loved one. It is important to know what condition your loved one is in while they are in the hospital and the progress they are making. It is just as important to know your family member’s condition before they ever need to go to a hospital because of a medical health accident. We usually kn. . .

Tips For Dog Toys

Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky for us there are endless choices. But did you know how important toys are for your dogs - puppies especially. Toys play a great role in the emotional and mental development of puppies. They also act as solutions for inappropriate chewing, boredom, and separation anxiety. In fact most dog trainers recommend that new puppy owners buy lots of toys for t. . .

5 Easy Ways to Save and Build Wealth

1. Pay off high-cost debt. The best investment most borrowers can make is to pay off consumer debt with double-digit interest rates. For example, if you have a $3,000 credit card balance at 19.8%, and you pay the required minimum balance of 2% of the balance or $15, whichever is greater, it will take 39 years to pay off the loan. And you will pay more than $10,000 in interest charges.2. Buy a h. . .

How to Make a Time Capsule

Looking for an unusual and memorable gift? Why not preserve a slice of history by creating a time capsule for your loved one? A personalized time capsule can be made for any special event, such as a birthday, wedding anniversary, graduation or even the birth of a child. Your personally designed time capsule preserves history, popular culture, special memories and can help link generations of. . .

Too Many Divorces

My oldest boy asked me something the other day about all the news regarding the high divorce rate. I told him there aren't too many divorces, there's too many marriages. Most people get married without really knowing who they are marrying or just how big of a commitment they are making. Heck, most people get married before they even know themselves very well. When the reality of it all hits. . .

Is She Cheating? - Many Unsuspecting Husbands Find Out To...

Couples therapists report a 50% increase in female infidelity. The cover story in the current issue of Newsweek magazine is all about cheating wives: “The New Infidelity – From Office Affairs to Internet Hook-Ups, More Wives Are Cheating Too.” Yet, as widespread as female infidelity has become, many unsuspecting husbands have no idea their wives are having an affair. They often find themselves . . .

Ten Ways To Become Your Teenager's Best Friend

Best friends! It may seem impossible to believe, but today's teens do want to consider their parents as friends, even though they think we could never understand the realities of their world. They are also interested in what it was like being a teenager during the Stone Age. Life without cell phones or the Internet must have been unimaginable! So even with this interest, can parents and teens r. . .

Gardening - Natural Science NOT Rocket Science..

Don't force yourself out of the most profitable hobby in the universe because you think it's too hard to learn ...It isn't!Gardening is fast becoming the world's number one hobby, and with all the latest 'alternative' information we have to hand, gardening as a natural science is fun to learn about and rewarding in the extreme...Produce your own fruit and veg - cut the shopping trips.Keep it or. . .

A Simple $20.00 Investment Can Protect You, Your Family a...

NY - 07/23/04 - What if you discovered that twenty dollars could give you access to an array of valuable information that addresses the lifestyle, needs and financial interests of people 50 and over. Well, a twenty dollar annual membership in Senior Resources of America, headquartered in West Hills, California, does just that and more.As a member, you'll have access to the Members Only website.. . .

Are Wedding Decorations waiting in Your future?

If there are wedding bells in your future, then surely there are wedding decorations as well. Or, maybe you are looking for Easter decorations, baby shower decorations, or even prom decorations? For some good ideas on any party decorations, just check online!When you are planning a party, no matter how big or small you will want to use decorations to make the atmosphere what you want it to be. . . .

What Party Supplies do I need to make my party a Hit?

The birthday party supplies you will need for a birthday party can be balloons, decorations, food and many other things. You will have to buy many different items for the party you’re planning. Finding wholesale party supplies can also be helpful and can save you money. A theme party can also be great fun such as a pirate party, or an outdoor garden party. An important time in every person’s li. . .

Use Party Favors To Brighten Up All Kinds Of Parties

Many times, when you attend a party, you receive a party favor. This is usually something small that you can take home with you to remind you of the party for years to come. In most instances, party favors are only given to women or children as a small gift. Kids party favors might be a simple balloon or even a goody bag filled with small items for the child. Adults often receive small statues . . .

Planning a Special Wedding Shower

The wedding shower is a traditional party of the marriage process. Often times the bridal party, or the people who have been asked to be in the wedding, will through the party for the couple. Or, other times, friends or family members will hold it for them. Making a wedding shower memorable starts with planning. First, you need to decide if the party will be formal or relaxed and laid back. Oft. . .