Envirosax! Awesome Grocery Bags and a GIVEAWAY!

Omigosh, i am so excited about this giveaway! Envirosax has been nice enough to offer a free bag from their new Travel Series to one of my lucky readers. I've been an Envirosax use for years and truly want you, my readers to get a chance at these awesome bags. I think they are hands down the absolute BEST reusable grocery/everything bags on the market. See below for GIVEAWAY details!

The genuine Travel Pack by Envirosax celebrates the beauty and essence of three world-class cities. Featuring awe-inspiring New York, romantic Paris and scenic Sydney, these whimsical bags will make you feel like you are there.

“Whether you are exploring exotic places or discovering local hidden hideaways in your own hometown, these bags are designed for the adventurous at heart,” said founder and CEO Belinda David-Tooze.  

These bags will have you daydreaming about watching a play in the Sydney Opera House; enjoying a romantic dinner overlooking the Eiffel Tower or shopping in trendy SoHo in New York. 

The Travel pack can be purchased as a pouch or individually. These bags make great gifts for friends who have a special fondness or memories of these cities. I'm particularly fond of the Sydney bag as i spent a semester in college living in various parts of Australia.

I've been using Envirosax for many years since my best friend gifted me one while traveling in Denmark. I used my first Envirosax bag until it was literally falling apart at the seams, but that didn't happen for about 6 years! If you're like me, you constantly forget your reusable bags in the back of your car, in the house, or somewhere in the garage filled with picnic supplies from the last weekend's adventures, instead of bringing them INTO the grocery store with you. The bags from Envirosax are made specifically with us dodo birds in mind. They roll up so compactly, they can easily live in your purse and even fit in a pocket. Unlike some other fold-up reusable bags, Envirosax fold out to be HUGE with a 44 pound capacity (which i'm sure i have exceeded). I can usually fit my entire grocery trip in 1 bag and 2 always has me covered. I've had my current bag for about 3 years and it's showing zero signs of wear, other than being less waterproof (due to my mistake: you're not supposed to machine wash/dry Envirosax). They are washable, but hand washing is preferred to maintain that water resistant coating.

Envirosax are easy to use. They start out as cute little sushi sized rolls with snaps and fold out to be roomy, comfortable over the shoulder and ready to transport whatever precious cargo you have - they even stand up on their own if you pack them nicely.

Join Envirosax in its goal of encouraging reuse and reducing waste from one-use plastic bags.  Envirosax features graphic prints in a variety of shades to suit everyone’s lifestyle. I picked up my cute "Animal Planet" series bag at The Natural Gardener. I like birdies  :)

Use your Envirosax for:

• Carry-on luggage
• Laundry bag
• Beach bag, perfect for wet towels and suits
• Groceries
• Other shopping
• Carrying shoes
• Sewing/knitting projects
• Diaper bag
• Anything, anywhere, anytime as you will always have it with you!

At about 20 pounds, Pocket barely strains the weight limit of my Envirosax bag. I doubt she'd enjoy riding in there, but doesn't she look adorable?

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!!!! THANKS SO MUCH TO ALL WHO ENTERED. WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

And now for the GIVEAWAY! As usual i'd like to offer a variety of chances for you to win, you'll get 3 shots this time 'round and i hope you'll use all three! These bags are really so super awesome, i wish i could get one for every one of my readers! But i can't, so i hope you'll enter for your chance to win. The contest begins TODAY and the winner will be chosen this coming Monday at 8 pm central!

1. Please check out their FAQ at Envirosax.com and comment back here with one of the facts you think is pretty awesome. (I'm pretty fascinated by their printing process which allows those pretty designs to last just about forever with minimal fading.)

2. Tweet/Facebook/Blog about Envirosax and/or An Austin Homestead and this giveaway, then post a comment with the link to yours for a second entry.

3. Become a new 'fan' or "like" An Austin Homestead on Facebook, become a new follower or subscribe to my feed, or refer a friend who does so and comment here with that info for a third entry.

For a secret bonus entry, submit a tip or trick you regularly use to minimize your waste while traveling or grocery shopping. I know some of you are forward thinking enough to bring mason jars and jar funnels to the store when going bulk shopping, i'd be interested in hearing any other tips on how to use less packaging, especially when traveling.

So that's that! FOUR chances to win a super awesome 'good for everything' and 'store anywhere' bag from Envirosax. For even better karma, click the new "stumble" icon below to spread news of this great giveaway to the world. Be sure and leave contact information with your comments so that i can congratulate the winner and get you your new bag. Good luck!

A Tired Corgi

Is a happy corgi.

Gotta love spending a Sunday at the river: playing in the sand and swimming til you're half dead. Especially when you're covered in fur.

Happy First Birthday, Pocket!

It's not always all business around this homestead. Sometimes it's somebody's birthday!
We are delighted every day by our little Pocket pup. I've fallen hard for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and quite honestly can't see myself with another breed any time soon. She's a versatile dog, willing to leap about on long hikes, swim and fetch for hours, or just snuggle between my husband and me on the couch. She's friendly with most dogs, but doesn't love playing with many. She loves all people, but stays close to us most of the time. I think she's just about perfect.

Lots of smiles for Mommy and for most people, really

Saturday was Pocket's first birthday, and we celebrated at a friend's crawfish boil. I think Pocket's a bit of a party animal....

Hitting Bourbon Street a little hard, Pocket?

She also has a tender side, with plenty of kisses for even the smallest of human party goers.

 Happy first, Pocket: may there by many, many more!

Snow Day in Austin!

Gym classes are canceled so i stayed home, made bacon and eggs for breakfast and played with our puppy and hens. The hens are NOT cool with this snow business (they refused to walk around, just stood and stared at their feet in terror), but Pocket sure loves it.
Here are a few cute photos and a video for your enjoyment.

We'll see what, if anything bounces back after this long cold spell. I'm pretty sure the onions and garlic will bounce back and i left one broccoli un-harvested as an experiment.

Chicken Update

It's been quite some time since i've posted about our hens. I would like to do a more elaborate posting on their health and life stages, but will keep it short today. I keep an 'egg log' to track how many eggs each hen lays per week, and it is looking pa-rit-tyyyyy bare these days. Nary an egg in over a week. Our Australorp was our last trooper, holding out even during her ridiculous molt with an egg about every other day. Our Wyandotte was first runner up, but even both of them have stopped laying. Our Buff has started squatting again, so I'm hopeful that they'll turn things around and start earning their keep. I could use some scrambled eggs for lunch about now!


Make a gif

It's Winter in Austin, which doesn't feel much different than Spring of Fall and we don't really need to 'Winterize' our coops. Even in the coldest climates chickens can fare pretty well on their own as long as they have A. Plenty of water B. A draft free place to take shelter and C. Plenty of food with supplemental fat. I give our girls scratch on the chilly days to warm up their metabolisms and i covered their open-air coop with plastic last year since they were pullets without their true downy feathers grown in.  Open air coops are really the best housing for any climate because they allow plenty of circulated air to flow about, minimizing smell and disease, and keep things cool in the Summer. The girls all pile into the nest boxes on chilly nights (which i'm SO happy to clean out in the morning, gross) and their warm feathers do all the insulating they need. Roosters can suffer from frostbite on their combs and wattles in very cold climates because they do not tuck their heads while sleeping.

Belina gave us another scare earlier this year. We went out of town for my Grandmother's 90th birthday and left the chickens cooped up the whole time we were gone. Belina (the Buff Orpington) has been slowly demoted to 4th hen and when cooped up isn't allowed at the food and is pecked at and harassed constantly by evil Queen Soot (despite BB the Chantecler being #1 amiga). We returned from our trip to find a pale, very skinny, bedraggled Belina in place of the big, sassy, fat and happy hen we'd left. I'm happy to say that the last few months have been good to her, she's fitter than ever though her comb is still chalky and she still gets kicked around quite a bit.

Hens on the porch = lots of messy poop and potted citrus shown disrespect

Pocket and the chickens have been getting along quite well lately. She rarely chases any but BB who seems to enjoy teasing her, though she does eat a bit more chook poo than i'd like. I mean that CAN'T be good for her, no matter how delicious she seems to think it is. Just this morning all 4 girls were in individual holes taking dust baths. When i let Pocket out she strolled up to them, gave Soot a little sniff and strolled along again. I've even seen Pocket laying down with a dust bathing chicken right next to her. Just another chicken.

I haven't noticed many mites, lice, or other problems with the flock lately. I worry about the chalkiness of their combs, but not enough to do any research about it. I dust their nest boxes with diatomaceous earth whenever i change them to prevent nasty bugs, and i give them poultry vitamins in the water every once in a while for good measure. Otherwise, they pretty much manage themselves. We let them out, feed and water them, say hi occasionally and lock them back up at dusk. Chickens are sure easy going pets. I say that now, before i'm trying to move across state lines with them.... hmmm.........

Review: Kong Wobbler and an Upcoming Giveaway!

Pocket and I were recent recipients of a great package from CSN Stores that included a Kong Treat Dispensing Disk, a Life Jacket (for Pocket) and a Kong Wobbler. I'd hoped to get out on the water two weekends ago to test out the jacket, but my husband broke our air blower and the inflatable kayak is useless without compressed air.  Alas.

BUT i've had success with the Wobbler, so here are a few photos and a short review written by miss Pocket Muffington Rommel:

 Pocket writes:

I really enjoy my new Kong Wobbler. It says on the packaging that it is meant for dogs 25 pounds or larger. I'm only 17 pounds, but enjoy this sucker just fine. Maybe it's due to my superior conformation to other tall, skinny dogs. The wobbler reminds my mom of toys she used to play with as a kid in the 80s that would topple over but not fall down - she can't remember what they were called. If i push it over it springs right back up, and i can't pick it up and dump it out like i can my usual favorite toy: an empty Gatorade bottle full of kibble/treats. Mom fills my Wobbler with kibble or dog biscuits and i have a great time trying to get it out. I'm kind of a finnicky eater though, and will often dump the kibble all over the house and then just leave it there. (I secretly enjoy watching the mice come out and eat the kibble when mom leaves me home alone in my crate - ah, sweet revenge). She doesn't enjoy cleaning it up, but our hens like to eat it too so it works out. I'd recommend this toy to any dog that really enjoys eating, eats too fast and needs to be slowed down, or who needs some extra mind stimulation. Buy it now at CSN Stores! It's only ten dollars!

Well, thank you, Pocket for that great guest post. While she was typing i just discovered a seriously amazing website. I think i still own about half of these toys. Can't believe they only made 'My Child' dolls for three years! If you're a kid or a mom of a kid from the 80s, totally look at that website. Blast to the past. Still can't remember what those little toys were called though. Send a comment if you remember.

And FINALLY: a teaser! Leroy of Cousin Leroy's Sauces has generously offered to host a giveaway here at An Austin Homestead! My booth is usually right next to his aromatic canopy at our market at 5109 Manchaca every Saturday. He's always generous enough to cook us up something delicious and you will not be disappointed if you win a jar of his sauce. He offers up a delicious and versatile mustard mop (my current favorite), two barbecue sauces, and also creates seasonal favorites, like the asian sauce i used a few weeks ago to grill the PERFECT salmon fillet. They're all perfect for marinating and for dipping in and make great ingredients to dishes like meatloaf, roasted cabbage, or hot wings! Versatility at its yummiest! I will start the giveaway next Monday, including all the details for what he'll be donating and how many winners will be chosen. In the meantime check out Leroy's Facebook page - and salivate over these sauces:

 Leroy's sauces are delicious and versatile - but the reason i offered him this giveaway is his commitment to quality and fresh ingredients. He uses no nasty chemicals or high fructose things, avoids sugar as much as possible, spends hours upon loving hours perfecting the recipes and textures, and is as local as it comes for me - a few miles away. He does ship across the USA, so readers from across the country are welcome to enter the giveaway.

Don't forget to visit next monday for your chance to win - entries will be based on comments here and 'likes' of his facebook fan page.

Salmon Dog Treats

I'm starting to think i should rename this blog " An Austin Doghouse "
But she's just so darned cute and fun to watch wag her tail. I'll probably stop posting dog treat recipes soon, as really they're mostly the same - mush together ingredients that are good for and tasty to your dog, bake until done. Avoid whole wheat flour, soy, sugar and salt, and you're set! Most of the bickies i make for my dog are just as tasty to me as to her, though perhaps a bit 'pungent' - it's a good rule of thumb, though to only use food ingredients you too would eat. You can use regular human cookie and cracker recipes and sub in dog ingredients, or just mix up random glops of foods that will at least adhere together and bake until firm.

Salmon Treats:

• One can of salmon, with juice and nasty skin/bone chunks
• Some Rye flour (could use rice or potato as well) enough to absorb the liquid
• Brewer's yeast, about 3 Teaspoons or more (repels fleas and is generally good for you)
• 1 Teaspoon baking powder

Mush, spread on a sheet, score for easy baking, bake at 350 for 30 or so minutes. Mine ended up quite soft, i could have baked longer for crispier cookies. I'll be storing these in the freezer to avoid any molding, so that should crisp them up enough and be pleasing on bloody, missing puppy-teeth sockets.
**Tip - for easy spreading, place a sheet of saran wrap on top of the glop in the pan and mush to an even thickness - this salmon mixture will stick to any spoon or roller you may try to use.

Pocket still likes the vegetarian pumpkin treats i made her - but these ones REALLY get her attention: excellent training treats.

Speaking of training, just as an update on the goings on of the homestead: we've been raising Pocket to coexist with our chickens, and help herd them into the coop on occasion. She's now going through adolescence, and while she's the most well mannered puppy i've ever had, she has taken to chasing the chickens some when we aren't inviting it. That's no good. We want no dead chickens around here! We've found a great herding instructor north of town and may begin lessons with her - but there comes a point when you have to decide if you want your dog to be a worker or a friend. We want Pocket to be a friend, to us and all our animals. But we'd also like some help encouraging the animals to move in certain places occasionally - i hope the trainer will still consider giving us the skills we'll need to direct her movements, despite not dedicating Pocket's life to separation from all livestock until time to work them, which is the nature of a working herding dog.

In the meantime, i'm revamping my efforts to train to coexist. Pocket has a long line i attach her to in the backyard: any sign of a chicken chase is thwarted instantly and we work on calm training instead. I use the smelly yummy treats to get her focus, call the chickens to me and have her practice her sits and downs and high fives. Once calmed, she's usually fine to not chase them for a while - any raucous play and fetching happens away from the chickens to get the excitement out without involving them. A chased chicken is not a happy chicken, and they're already hot, molting and exhausted in this late summer weather.

I hope to find a balance with our dog: a friend and hiking partner foremost with some helping paws when needed. I think i have the affinity for animals and ability to communicate with Pocket clearly enough that my goals will be met - but she is a predator and i will never take her for granted around such edible pets as my girls.

Laying around in the heat. Yes, chickens do pant.

Do you have livestock or pet chickens? Do you have a family dog that interacts with your animals, if so - does it act as guardian, colleague, or predator?

Farmer's Market Day

Pocket and I paid a visit to two of our local farmer's markets today in search of cucumbers. Alas, all the other farmers are experiencing the same oppressive heat and dying cucumbers that i am - none to be found. Our little 'puppy in training' had some great exposure to the public, though.

She did pretty well after the initial 'omigod i'm in public' excitement. Her loose lead skills are improving, she's jumping up on children less and slowly starting to understand 'sit to be petted.'

Have I Mentioned That I Have Very Strange House Pets?

Granted, BB doesn't LIVE in the house - but as she's been in the broody coop (AGAIN) for most of the week and it is quite hot outside, so i thought i'd let her in to enjoy the A/C for a little while. Chickens do pant, you know? And she was panting quite heavily, poor little hen.

A very important discussion.

 

Pocket found it a bit odd that the chicken was inside - but was a good little watcher and didn't seem to mind when BB chased her ball for a while.

One last note on our strange house pets: I have a three toed eastern box turtle who wanders about in the house like a cat. Poor little thing was found with one of her front toes nearly severed off - no idea what caused that injury. Neither can i tell if it hurts her or not, as turtles don't exactly have strong indicators of mood. Yesterday the toe was bloody, severed around the circumference of the toe, but still attached. Today, as you can see - the toe is gone. Poor Holly. I plan on treating the wound with some lavender and tea tree oils and crossing fingers she doesn't get infected.  She's lost a back toe in the past somehow, so i'm hopeful. Quit sticking your toes where they don't belong, Holly!

Do you have a unique house pet?

Happy Birthday, Chickens!

About this week last year (and a month prior for dear Olive) our big chooks were born tiny egg sized fluffy chicks. We've loved them dearly the entire time, from tiny fall asleep suddenly chicks, to fledging-leaping-pecking pullets, to sweet (and sometimes very mean to each other) laying hens. We've experienced lice, mites, broodiness, fowl pox, near escape, wing clipping, introducing a new pullet to an established flock, and now introducing a predatory animal to the back yard. It's been a wild ride and i've taken so much joy from the learning, doing, and loving.

Soot: Day One


Belina: a lap-chicken from the start

Now our lovely girls are big fluffy hens, with a desire to peck puppy noses - sadly no good chicken portraits today as it is rainy out, and i'm overly concerned with my puppy who had diarrhea in her crate last night. Please send positive  vibes in her direction!

Wholesome Wednesdays: Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Haha, not really! In lieu of posting my usual Wednesday post, i instead post a welcome to the family to
Pocket Rommel, the newest addition to our homestead. She'll be an inside/outside friend, a future herder of goats (we hope) and a great little hiking partner.

 "Mom really needs to get me some better toys"

Presently she's reminding me that i haven't cleaned under my desk in quite some time and there are plenty of scraps of paper to chew on. Woopsy - much to do for me: need to mow and clean up the back yard, pull some weeds, fix a gap in the fence, and buy some supplies. And here i thought i was mostly prepared.... nope! Plenty more to do, for the next 14 years.

Now if only the backyard weren't filled with fire ants and killer mosquitoes. Sigh.