Holiday Butter Cookies

Peeper says its that time of year for baking and sharing goodies with the family and friends. With the ups and downs this year, is there a better way to spend the afternoon with your children making cookie dough, rolling it out, getting out the cookie cutters, baking and decorating some really special holiday treats? Well, here's the recipe:

Holiday Butter Cookies

Yield: About 3 dozen cookies

Baking time: 6 to 10 minutes per cookie sheet

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup raw sugar

1 egg

2-1/2 cups unbleached white flour

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking powder

Combine and cream butter and sugar together in a large bowl. Add eggs and beat at medium speed until mixture is creamy. Scrap bowl often. Reduce mixer speed to low, add flour, lemon juice, vanilla and baking powder. Beat until well mixed. Divide up the dough into three quarters. Wrap each section in Saran Wrap and refrigerate overnight.

To Bake:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Take out one section of dough, let soften at room temperature and roll out on a lightly floured surface. Keep remaining sections of dough in the refrigerator. Roll out dough to one quarter (1/4) inch thickness. Cut dough with a three (3) inch cookie cutter and place one inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for six (6) to ten (10) minutes or until the edge of each cookie is lightly browned. Cool and decorate or frost cookies as desired.

Copyright, 2009, by Peeper Talk. All rights reserved.

Dog Breeders and Sellers: What to Watch For

Adopting a new puppy is an exciting time in a person's or family's life. Many folks like to adopt purebred puppies. The newspapers and Internet are chock full of ads selling purebred puppies. However, many people overlook some very basic things when looking for a new puppy fur child.

If you make the decision to respond to a newspaper advertisement, Internet ad or in a magazine such as Dog Fancy, here are a few tips that can assist you in your selection:

1. When responding to a newspaper ad, ask the person who is selling the puppies about the parents and if the parents are on the premises.

2. If the seller of the puppies are indicating they are purebred, they must have papers issued by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Keep in mind, anyone can join the American Kennel Club, but the AKC issues breeders certification to those have passed the necessary requirements plus be registered as a member of a local AKC kennel club. Ask the seller to provide you with a copy of the AKC Kennel Club they are registered with. If they are unable or refuse, take your business else where.

3. If the seller of the puppies doesn't take a credit card, debit card or a personal check and operates on a "cash only basis", they are not a reputable breeder. Also, this breeder and seller is more than likely not operating on the "up & up", not paying state, federal or local sales tax. In many jurisdictions, if a person sells livestock such as puppies (commonly referred to as a kennel) and kittens (commonly referred to as a cattery), they are required to be licensed and/or have a proper business license or permit. They must be zoned by city, village or town ordinance to operate a business out of their home or location.

If you encounter any of the above situations in your quest to adopt a purebred puppy, report this to the appropriate law enforcement agency. They will contact the breeder/seller and begin an investigation.

Although it is your choice to adopt a purebred puppy, please consider adopting a puppy or dog from an Animal Rescue Group/Organization or your local Animal Shelter. There are many puppies and doggies waiting to meet you.


Copyright, 2009, by Peeper Talk. All rights reserved.

Credit Woes? Here's Some Real Advice

Well, that very pretty girl's beloved Mum is concerned about all the talk about more revisions to the credit industry. It seems like every week a new expert or financial guru pops up on television, radio or the Internet with new information about FICO, credit reporting and finances.

The latest one to all of a sudden do a reversal is financial "guru" Suze Orman. I don't agree with with a lot of so-called financial advice that she gives. Why? Well, I'm going to exercise my 1st Amendment Freedom of Speech Rights. Suze is a parrot of the banking industry and she goes with the flow. She seems to be a shill for FICO. As far as I'm concerned, FICO should be run out of town on a third rail because it doesn't help people, it punishes people, especially folks of the World War II generation that grew up during the Great Depression, who know the value of a good, old fashioned savings account. The WWII generation didn't grow up on the "fantastic, plastic card" like the rest of us. However, according to the genius of FICO many of these wonderful (and now senior citizens) folks are punished because "their credit scores aren't high enough" and the bank, credit card company or insurance company has jacked up their interest rates and insurance premiums for "not having a FICO score in the 700s". Ms. Orman has been a willing participant in the FICO game. According to her and the CEO/President of Equifax, in order to boost your FICO score to the 700-800 range, you have to go out and apply for credit, borrow money, go into debt and for the majority of people, pay interest. It's all a bunch of B.S.

Are there reliable and qualified programs out there? The answer is a definitive YES! Where can you get a quality education regarding credit reporting errors, debt collection abuse, identity theft matters, knowledge of your legal rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Billing Practices Act? Log on to www.findlegalforms.com and click on the link Credit Report or Credit. Give yourself the power of knowledge and education by a credit expert with 19 years of experience as a consumer credit, debt collection, ID theft specialist. Ellen R. Day, LLB, JD, is a consumer rights advocate and legal investigator.

Copyright, 2009, by Peeper Talk. All rights reserved.

Little Packages, Large Problems?

Small breed dogs are simply adorable. However, the list of things that can go wrong with them is long. According to Peeper's veterinarian, what is not uncommon are bum knees, bad hips, serious shoulder problems and heart and liver problems. The heart and liver problems are for the most part linked to diet. This is why dog (and cat) owners should steer clear of pet food that contain corn, gluten, artificial colors, additives, meat by-products and soy. Grains are linked to metabolic syndrome which causes a spike in insulin which causes excess sugar and fats to be stored in the fur child's liver. The animal develops Fatty Liver Disease which also contributes to liver disease and heart problems. Peeper's vet has also seen trachea problems in small and tiny breed dogs. As Dr. Skipor indicated, some of these conditions can be prevented by pet owners, others are just because the dog is small or tiny.

Behavioral issues are also a huge issue, many which are the fault of their owners. People think it is "cute" to teach their small or tiny breed dog how to "play fight" and even reward them for doing that. Well, that very pretty girl believes this is all wrong and you are sending your dog the wrong message. Some little dogs have a "Napoleon Complex" whereas they have a big attitude trapped in a small body. Little dogs need to be taught the same manners as medium and large breed dogs. One way of getting the upper hand and authority is to let the dog walk in front or beside you. Don't be tempted to carry him/her around like a child all the time. Medical and other behavioral problems can be solved with proper veterinarian care and obedience training.

For the majority of small and tiny breed dogs (little fur children), holding little dogs next to your heart is priceless because in essence, that is where our fur children touch us, in our hearts. XO!


Copyright, 2009, by Peeper Talk. All rights reserved.

It is Important to Make Someone Happy

Peeper sending some sunshine your way!

Happiness is contagious! During this wonderful time of the year, please stop and reach out to others. Giving a hug to someone (and don't forget your fur children) can make all the difference in the world! By extending a warm greeting, a pat on the back or hugs, you are in fact making yourself happy too!

Peeper is sending along kisses and big hugs to make your day brighter and bringing you cheer! XO!

Copyright, 2009, by Peeper Talk. All rights reserved.

The True Meaning of the Holiday Season

That very pretty girls' Mum likes to harken back to her childhood during the holiday season. It's amazing how things have changed in our country over the past 40 to 50 years. I grew up in the 1960s and 1970s. One holiday show that I looked forward to was A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Peeper's Mum has admired and appreciated the Peanuts Gang for a long time and has a collection of stuffed Snoopy and his little birdie pal, Woodstock dolls around the house. One thing that stands out from the TV Special was Charlie Brown lamenting and looking for the true meaning of Christmas and the holiday season. Charlie was a bit disgruntled when his precious Beagle decided to decorate his doghouse with lights and other decorations. Charlie further lamented that "he wasn't going to let his dog's commercialism ruin his holiday". LOL! Only then did his friend, Linus, on the stage of the school auditorium explain the true meaning of Christmas to his friend (Charlie Brown).

I recall years ago when I was in elementary school we used to put on Christmas shows/plays about the coming of the Christ child, etc. Now, any mention of the first Christmas (Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus) has been banished from any public school. It's not even politically corrrect to mention Santa Claus in many of the area school districts. Realizing that we are a diverse culture with different religious backgrounds, practices and creeds, personally I find nothing offensive of having a public school put on a Christmas play as depicted in A Charlie Brown Christmas. I'm surprised that the major TV networks that carry this wonderful holiday special every year hasn't been threatened with legal action because of the reference of the wonderful event that took place thousands of years ago in a little town called Bethlehem, a place where pilgrims gather every year to find the true meaning and spirit of the holiday season.

Well, that very pretty girl thinks that we should put away political correctness and let the message of Peace on Earth ring forth. Linus and Charlie were spot on about the true meaning of the holiday season. I tip my hat to them.

Copyright, 2009, by Peeper Talk. All rights reserved.

Tax Breaks for Fur Children? It's About Time

Peeper says "there really is no place like home"

With the recession still in the grips of our country, it's been reported that animal shelters are bursting at the seams with dogs and cats. It's sad but the majority of them were someone's pet that was given up by their owners because they went through a foreclosure and the landlord/property manager told them they didn't rent to families or people with pets. The other major reason was because the owner could no longer afford to keep them. All around, this is very sad.
We have one bright lawmaker that has introduced a Bill to allow tax breaks for our fur children, using the federal tax codes as a guideline. The writer and sponsor of this bill is Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.). The Act, The Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) would allow pet owners to deduct the cost of veterinarian services, the cost of food and other pet-related expenses up to $3,500.00, on their income tax returns. Rep. McCotter indicated that the bill would provide tax relief for pet owners, and forming a strong "human + animal bond". I concur. As the Director and Founder of Friends of the Animal Kingdom, Inc. (a non-profit organization), a tax break for the 60% of Americans that have a fur child in their family will help keep pets in their beloved home. Remember, owning a pet has great health and emotional value, plus the unconditional love our fur children bestow upon us. Happy people are far more productive, which in the long run will assist in getting our economy going in the right direction.

Yes, there will be opponents and naysayers to this proposed bill in Congress, but I encourage each and everyone that has a fur child in their family to support this bill to the max. Let your voice be heard. To me, it's a win-win proposition.

Ellen R. Day is the Founder and Director of Friends of the Animal Kingdom, Inc., a non-profit organization that is dedicated to pet owners in crisis, promoting animal welfare, assisting with law enforcement agencies in continuing effort to stop animal abuse and neglect. For more information, please visit Friends of the Animal Kingdom at: http://www.foak.giving.officelive.com/


Copyright, 2009, by Peeper Talk. All rights reserved.