Panda's Latest Work

Panda just wanted to show you the new shrine she just built in the backyard. 

She did all the work herself.

Now here she is contemplating things.

She hopes that you like everything.

Second Day Activities

Banged a right at the "Gas and Grub" to make my way to the Carriage House for day two of our herbal conference. Like the previous day  another flood of information was unleashed onto our heads. Another great learning day. We talked about formulating herbal remedies and how to address pest/parasite issues in a more holistic way. We talked a lot about changing the way in which we view health and healing - about taking a real, whole view of all the beings involved.

I've gotta tell you kids, the once a month flea and tick insecticides are SO NOT OK for your pet, you, or the environment. PLEASE, PLEASE THINK ABOUT THEM BEFORE YOU USE THEM. They are not good things.

Lots of stuff to talk you all about when I get back
when I can once again form coherent sentences.

Took a break today and made our way to the Farmer's Market in downtown Hamilton. It was very cool and I was happy to locate an Emu farm from which we can source fresh Emu oil. This is great stuff, this Emu oil goo. It's been used for many years as a skin healing treatment and as a pain reliever for joint and muscle disorders. The question is, do Emu run in packs? Herds? Flocks? Gaggles? Gangs? I'll look into it.

Notes and Observations:

I feel utterly compelled to drive fast and turn up the radio here. Don't tell the other Lisa.

Favorite sign of the day.

Day One of the Herbal Seminar

So today was the first day of the Animal Essentials Herbal Seminar here in Hamilton, Montana. 

Not only is the seminar being taught by talented herbalist Greg Tilford, but it is being attended by a wonderful group as well including holistic vets, two women from pet food manufacturer "The Honest Kitchen", Stacy LaPoint, the owner of Companion Natural Pet Food Company (whose foods we carry), the staff of Animal Essentials, and owners of other retail stores similar to The Pet Cabaret.

We talked a great deal about how to best encourage the body to heal itself, how to support it through the use of supportive herbs and a nutritious, quality diet. We talked about chronic diseases, acute conditions, active ingredients in herbs, determining herbal dosing and LOTS of other subjects. In short, it was a day full of learning (and great food as well). Tomorrow we'll 

cover some more cool subjects and my tiny brain may just explode. 

                                                         

I took a walk through downtown Hamilton after the seminar. 

                                                                     

 Came across this tank that I thought you should see.

More Notes and Observations:

It's definitely odd to see mountains, real mountains everywhere. We are in a valley here 

so every time I look around, mountains to the left, mountains to the right.

I now know where to get a set of spurs.

Who knew there were casinos out here?

Most of America drives large pick up trucks.

Go West!

06/12/08

So I am traveling to Montana for the first time ever. I am going to a seminar entitled “Western Herbal Medicine in Veterinary Use”. It’s being hosted by Animal Essentials, one of our favorite remedy suppliers in the store. I hope to come home with lots of good new knowledge so that we can work on keeping our pets healthier in a gentler, more natural way.

I don’t travel much so I am that combination of nervous and excited, sort of feeling free and unmoored at the same time.

I have gotten into the habit, for better or for worse, of abdicating responsibility for certain things because B Looey takes care of them. Little detail things…like, do I have a watch? Do I have Kleenex? What time is the flight? What airline? Do I have “weapons” in my pockets? I forget to think about these things, until I have to remember them.

Today I had to remember them. I am doing OK…not great with the details. I left my “Juice” in my checked luggage. Good. I forgot my watch. Not so good. I remembered my glasses. Score! I forgot Kleenex. There are paper towels in the restrooms. I did not check for changes in my flight. There was one. It will take a while for me to adjust to thinking for myself.

Travel notes…

Travel is not as much fun as it used to be.

The space, or lack thereof, on planes is enough to keep me on a diet for the rest of my life. The aisles are not even wide enough to fit their own equipment. I was roused from my Dramamine induced stupor when my shoulder took a massive hit from the beverage cart as the flight attendant attempted to maneuver it through the plane. The abuse did not end there. My shoulder apparently had a bulls-eye printed on it as visitors to the rear of the plane pretty much just took part of my arm with them coming and going.

There is a very talkative 3 or 4 year old sitting behind me who is not using her “inside voice” and a wildly precocious 9 or 10 year old sitting in front of me. They are vying for the title of “most annoying”. Both sets of parents have apparently just given up.


Notes and Observations thus far:
I think that the Missoula runway must be pretty short because the pilot pretty much popped a wheelie while landing the plane. Since I am writing this from the beauty of my Super 8 motel room in Hamilton, MT, I am assuming he knew what he was doing.

You don’t see as many cowboy hats in Boston as you do in Montana or on the way there.

Consume a LOTTA meat out here.

A New Photographer and Pet Photo Day!

We are thoroughly pleased to announce that on Sunday, June 29th, photographer Andrew Potter will be doing pet portraits here at The Pet Cabaret.

Andrew is a Roslindale guy and does beautiful work of pets, people and objects. Check out his website at http://potterimages.com/ for a look at his work.

Now here's a few of the details on the photo day:

- Each session is a private sitting that will last about 20 minutes or so.

- Sessions must be booked in advance.

- Multiple pets are welcome.

- Kids and owners can sit in on the shots.

- There is a $25.00 non-refundable fee required to book a session.

- The total session fee is $75.00 and includes a Photo package. The Photo Package includes one of the following:

2 - 8 x 10 prints, or 1 - 8 x 10 and 2 - 5 x 7 prints, or 1 - 8 x 10 and 4 - 4 x 6 prints.

- Andrew will post each session to his website in its own secure gallery so that you may choose the shots you want.

So there you have it. Please come into the shop or give us a call at 617-353-7387 to book a session with Andrew.

Also remember that we'll be choosing pet shots from these sessions for display in our windows, so this may be your pet's opportunity to become a star!