Jessica Lunsford Blog

Auto insurance quotes are a free service offered by insurance agencies to consumers who are in the market for new insurance. When you call an agency to obtain an auto insurance quote, you will be asked the driving record of the primary driver, the age of the vehicle, how many miles the vehicle is driven to and from work, and the amount of coverage you would like on the vehicle. An auto insurance quote only takes a few moments. There are some interesting facts about the pricing of auto insurance quotes. If you would like an auto insurance quote, and your current insurance carrier has dropped you, the amount of your quote will be dramatically increased. If you want to insure an underage driver, your auto insurance quote will increase.

Obviously, the amount of coverage of the vehicle impacts the price of auto insurance quotes. Collision is almost always the most costly part of insurance, but in most cases it is a requirement, and even if it is not required, it is a wise investment. The price of auto insurance quotes change from state to state, as there are different coverage requirements in each state. There is also an increased likelihood of accidents in certain parts of the country, so if you are trying to get an auto insurance quote for vehicles registered in one of these high-risk parts of the country, the price of your quote will be high.

Auto insurance quotes can be accessed for free not only from an insurance agent over the phone, but also online. There is no obligation to purchase insurance if you get a free auto insurance quote online, so this service may be more convenient for you than calling an agent. You can use the online auto insurance quote two ways: you can check the rates of your current insurance against other insurers rates, or you can change the amount of your coverage and see how that changes the cost of your insurance. Auto insurance quotes can be found on the websites of insurers or on the websites of underwriters where one company is allowed to provide auto insurance quotes for more than one insurer. Research is always good, so if you are looking for an auto insurance quote, check out the free auto insurance quotes online before calling a local agent. This way you can be more informed of all the options when you speak to him. “And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 1:13)

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Part I: What Really Happens at the Kennel?

To better understand the benefits of hiring a professional pet sitter, let’s look at the reality of keeping your dog in a kennel while you are away. Please keep in mind that these generalizations are based on the experiences of the author and may not represent every boarding facility.

The first thing you want to consider is the care your dog will receive. In a kennel, your dog may be exposed to sick pets and parasites due to the close proximity of the boarders.

Your dog may be staying in a stacked cage with several other barking, whining, and crying dogs. This can be a stressful event for your dog, especially since he is not in his familiar surroundings in the first place.

If you have a larger dog, he will probably be in a run. The run probably has a concrete floor for easy clean up from messes. Will your dog sleep on a warm blanket or a hard floor?

When the lights go out, will he be sad because he is not in his home and does not have his family? Will his stress result in diarrhea, vomiting, or a bloody stool? Will he lose weight from refusing to eat? Believe it or not, these are common stress symptoms of boarded dogs.

You should also know that Kennel Attendants are paid at about the same rate as fast food workers. The low rate of pay contributes to high turnover and a younger workforce. Some of your kennel staff may be inexperienced and learning on your dog.

Finally, consider one more thing that happens at the kennel. Routine! Of course, it is not your dog’s routine where he gets personal attention, touch and affection, playtime, walks, and potty relief when he asks. It is the routine of the business that is followed.

Your dog will probably be let out to potty while the kennel staff freshens up his cage/run. Then, he will immediately return to his cage for his food and water where he may stay until the process is repeated in the evening.

The attention your dog gets in a boarding facility depends on several uncontrollable factors such as the number of dogs currently boarded, the experience of the staff, and the protocol established for caring for the animals. Would you rather ensure your dog receives personal attention while you are away?

Part II: How a Professional Pet Sitter Can Help

A Professional Pet Sitter provides personalized care for your dog in his own environment where he feels safe. Dogs are territorial pack animals. He understands his boundaries and position in the pack at home.

He may feel insecure, unsafe, and uncertain of his position when he is not at home. Uncertainty results in physical and emotional stress for your dog.

A Pet Sitter will ensure your dog’s normal routine is maintained. He will be able to go potty whenever he needs to go. He will be fed his normal diet plus any special treats as instructed.

Your dog will have a human contact which is extremely important for these social animals. He will continue his normal playtime routines as well as scheduled walks.

“Playing ball” is very important for some active dogs. One couldn?t expect that type of attention or commitment from a boarding facility; however, your Pet Sitter could easily toss a disc or throw a ball around the yard.

Another key benefit to your dog is a Pet Sitter can administer medications for your sick, elderly, or injured dog while you are away. They can also tend to your dog in the event of an emergency and ensure he receives the attention of your veterinarian.

While a Pet Sitter may provide light grooming assistance such as daily brushing of long-haired dogs, they may also provide pet taxi service. This means that your dog will be able to maintain grooming and veterinarian appointments in your absence.

That is definitely something to consider if you are deployed in the military or will otherwise be detained for any length of time. If you do set up taxi service, take the time to set up appropriate authorizations with your service providers. This will ensure that once your dog reaches his destination, he will receive service.

Another benefit for your dog is that he will not be exposed to sick animals. He will not come home with fleas or kennel cough. He will have his own personal babysitter in the comfort of his own home.

In addition to personalized pampering, you might be surprised that Pet Sitters provide additional services to give you peace of mind while you are away. Pet Sitters may provide services such as turning on lights in the house in the evening, bringing in the mail and newspapers as well as watering houseplants. In other words, they can actually double as house-sitters.

If you add up the potential pitfalls of boarding your dog in a kennel and the benefits of contracting the services of a Professional Pet Sitter, you will quickly realize why the demand for Pet Sitters is growing and why a Pet Sitter may be the best choice for you.

Part III: How to Find a Pet Sitter

So, how do you find a Pet Sitter? Look in local newspapers, veterinary clinic bulletin boards, and internet listings. You are sure to find someone in your area. You should interview the prospective sitter to ensure they have appropriate credentials and insurance.

The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters was founded in 1989 to provide Pet Sitters a code of ethics, education and support. Pet Sitters International was founded with similar goals in 1994. Membership in a professional organization generally means your prospective sitter is qualified, organized, and dedicated to providing the best possible care for your dog.

About the Author: Julie Butts is a Kennel Manager and author of http://www.all-about-small-breed-dogs.com, an online guide for selecting, owning, and raising a small breed dog. Her website is dedicated to small breed dog lovers and includes information on breeds, training, behavior, grooming, supplies, books, gifts, and more.

Read more about Dog Day Care and Boarding or Pet Sitters.

“It is just sensible.”exclaimed my friend. She was referring to the large plates sitting in front of us loaded with everything imaginable. As though, it was sensible ingesting a mountain of lettuces, sliced boiled eggs, chunks of ham, shredded cheeses, tomatoes,avocado’s and bacon rinds smothered in a creamy salad dressing. To another friend, a salad and a soup was a lunch of supreme importance. Somehow, salads were a part of our meals and also our lives. From the simple varations of salad greens tossed with a classic vinaigrette to the more complex salad ingredients served with various blended or whisked salad dressings, salads are a compliment to any meal.

A salad meal begins with a meatless vegetable soup that is filled with chunks of vegetables and topped with some shredded parmesan cheese.

Meatless Vegetable Soup

(Serves 4 bowls or 6 cups)

-cup celery, chopped

-cup onion, chopped

1-large Russet potato, cut into one-inch chunks

2-whole carrots, sliced thin

1-cup cabbage, sliced

-cup fresh or frozen corn

1-large can stewed tomatoes, chopped

-cup fresh or frozen English peas

4-cans chicken broth

2-cans of water

-cup fresh parsley, chopped

-cup fresh or frozen green beans

3-cloves garlic, sliced

1-Tlb. olive oil

-tsp. salt and cracked black pepper

1-Tlb. parmesan cheese(per bowl)

1-tsp. parmesan cheese (per cup)

Directions: In the one tablespoon olive oil, sauté the onion and the garlic until they are wilted. In a soup pot or a dutch oven add all of the raw vegetables plus the sautéed
onions and the garlic. Cover the vegetables with the chicken broth and the water. Season with the salt and the pepper. Simmer the soup on medium low for one hour or until the vegetables are tender. Serve in individual bowls or cups and sprinkle the top of the soup with the parmesan cheese. Serve the soup with a tossed green salad of: mixed green lettuces, roma tomatoes, radishes and green onions. Salad dressing: In a bowl combine
2-Tlbs rice wine vinegar, 1-Tlb sugar, 3 or 4 drops hot sauce, and 2-Tlbs. mayonnaise.

Nothing is better than a bowl of fresh salad greens enhanced with a classic vinaigrette.

Simply Green Salad

1-head bib lettuce

2-heads red tip lettuce

2-heads butter lettuce

2-green onions, sliced

3-Tlbs olive oil

2-Tlbs red wine vinegar

1-tsp.dry yellow mustard

-tsp sea salt

-tsp cracked black pepper

Directions: Rub a salad bowl with a clove of garlic. Whisk the three tablespoons of olive oil, the two tablespoons of red wine vinegar and the one teaspoon of dry yellow mustard until they are well combined. Add the salad greens and toss until the salad
greens are well coated with the vinaigrette. Serve with a slice of French bread and some butter.

The combination of bacon and avocado that has been combined with shredded bib lettuce and a blended blue cheese dressing has fewer calories than a sandwich made with the same ingredients.

Bacon And Avocado Salad

(Serves 4)

1-head bib lettuce, shredded

1-medium tomato, chopped

-cup bacon, cooked and cut into pieces

1-medium avocado, chopped

2-green onions, chopped

Blended Blue Cheese Dressing
(Makes 2 cups)

1-egg

-cup sugar

1-Tlb. fresh lemon juice

1-tsp. yellow mustard

2-cups canola oil

1-medium chunk blue cheese

Directions: Add the first four ingredients and set the blender on low. After they are combined, slowly add the canola oil. When it is of a mayonnaise consistency, cut the medium chunk of blue cheese into pieces and pulse the blender for a few seconds until the blue cheese is incorporated into the salad dressing.

The dessert for a healthful salad meal is a chocolate cake so rich and dense that it totally indulges all of the senses. The recipe below is from The Texas Cookbook and it is over a hundred years old.

Texas Cake

2-cups flour

2-cups sugar

-cup shortening

-cup butter or margarine

4-Tlbs. cocoa

-cup water

-cup buttermilk

2-eggs, slightly beaten

1-tsp. salt

1-tsp. baking powder

1-tsp. cinnamon

1-tsp vanilla

Directions: Sift the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and the cinnamon. In a saucepan,combine the shortening, water and the cocoa slowly bringing the ingredients to a boil.Remove the ingredients from the heat and add the eggs, the buttermilk, and the vanilla stirring until they are well combined. Pour the mixture into the dry ingredients and combine them. Flour and grease a nine-to-thirteen inch cake pan. Evenly coat the
greased cake pan with the cake ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for thirty-five minutes.

Frosting:

-cup butter or margarine

4-Tlbs. cocoa

6-Tlbs.milk

3-1/2-cups of powdered sugar

1-tsp vanilla

-cups pecans

Directions: In a medium saucepan combine the butter, cocoa and the milk slowly bringing the ingredients to a boil. Remove from heat. Add the powdered sugar mixing well. Stir in the vanilla and add the pecans. Frost the cake while it is still hot for a fudge texture. Serve slices of cake with a dip of homemade
vanilla ice cream.

Cooking since the age of fifteen, the author had always enjoyed
making salads.

Here are the wisest commandments ever commended to parents:

1.Thou shalt be consistent: Do as you say you will. Children know where they stand when you are consistent, follow through and mean what you say.

2.Thou shalt expect children to contribute (without being paid): Expect children to help at home but don’t expect them to do so graciously all the time. Here is a question to ask yourself from time to time: What do your children do that someone else relies on?

3.Thou shalt encourage regularly and persistently: Remember that encouragement and praise will get children a lot further than criticism and punishment so be your child’s best encourager rather than his fiercest critic. Encouragement helps a child link his or her self-esteem to the process, rather than the results of what they do.

4.Thou shalt put responsibility where it belongs: Treat children and young people as you want them to be. If you want responsible, capable children then treat them as if they are responsible. The best way to develop responsibility is to give it to children.

5.Thou shalt be know that children and young people only see one side of any issue. Thou shalt take everything they say with a large grain of salt. Not that children and young people lie, but they have been known to exaggerate or see facts only from their side.

6.Thou shalt show love and affection to your children. Thou shalt say you love each of your children at least once a day. Knowing they are loveable is the basis of self worth, regardless of their age.

7.Thou shalt catch children and young people behaving well. Pay attention to your children’s positive behaviour more than their negative behaviour. What you focus on expands so if you focus on the positive behaviour that is what you generally get. Give descriptive feedback so that your children know what they did well. E.g. “That was great the way you two worked out the TV-watching problem without arguing. You both compromised a little which is smart.”

8.Thou shalt develop independence in children from the earliest possible age. Never regularly do for a child the things he or she can do for him or herself. Remember, your job is to make yourself redundant.

9.Thou shalt set limits and boundaries for children and expect that they will push against them. Children and young people need limits and boundaries as they make them feel secure.

10.Thou shalt keep a sense of humour when dealing with children. This will help you keep things in perspective. It may seem improbable some days but they will soon grow up and be out of your hair and be a living, breathing reflection of YOU.

The 11th (and most important )commandment:

Thou shalt be a good role model for your children. Show rather than tell children and young people how you want them to communicate, behave and live. Children learn what they live and, as parents, your actions speak louder than your words.

Michael Grose, a popular parenting expert, shows you practical ways to raise happy, confident, well-behaved kids and resilient teenagers. Improve children’s confidence and behaviour now and get Michael’s free ebook ‘25 ways to speak so children will listen’ at http://www.parentingideas.com.au . While you are there subscribe to Happy Kids newsletter and get regular updates to build your 21st Century parenting manual.