Fresh Tea

Camellia sinensis Japanese Green Tea Sencha Usually made from the Yabukita cultivar. The new leaf growth is harvested in early Spring. Less expensive teas are mechanically harvested and the non-leaf plant material is used to make kukicha (twig tea). The freshly harvested leaves are steamed for as long as two minutes (to prevent oxidation), dried,…

Virus Protection

COVID-19 Statistics CDC COVID-19 Vaccinations by County. CDC COVID-19 County Check – hospitalizations by county. Prevention and Mitigation CDC guide to masking. Yale Medicine on Fall 2023 COVID-19 updated vaccine.

Vegetables

Brassicas Sweeter in winter because to withstand colder temperatures they convert starches to sugars. Arugula and Bok Choy are in the brassica family.

Feeding Cats

Number 1 tip for feline weight management: switch to a raw fur/feathers diet (or at least a grain-free, high quality canned food). Cats are obligate carnivores with bodies evolved to process small animals such as rats, rabbits, and birds (e.g. chicken) – including the (raw) bones and organs. A grind of whole (flesh, bones, and…

Emergency Preparation

Pet Emergency Forms, courtesy of FAAS: wallet card, pet care instructions, owner consent form, pet disaster kit checklist. Fire safety: Petplan, American Red Cross, pet rescue notice. Disaster preparedness: PetCareRx. Estate planning – wills and trusts: Nolo Press, PetMD, Forbes. Pet insurance: Consumer Reports review, Consumer Reports video. Microchip Helpful infographics.

Diabetes

Cats suffer from Type II diabetes but not Type I.  A small percentage develop insulin resistance.  Rapid weight loss, increased thirst and urination, dehydration, dizziness, vomiting, and staggering are all symptoms which may be associated with diabetes.  A blood test at the vet’s will determine if diabetes is the cause or if further testing should…

Food Tidbits

Lunar New Year dishes. The 100 pleats on a chef’s hat are said to represent all the ways you can cook an egg. Waffle House has its own record label: Waffle Records.