As a Yankee who has been a transplanted Southerner for close to half of my life, I have grown accustomed to many Southern expressions and even use a few of them myself.  If you are new to the South , it can be a real culture shock. I worked as a home health and hospice nurse for several years and met  many interesting  and wonderful folks covering territory in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, ( my home for the past 9 years).  To help avoid misunderstandings and total embarrassment, I am writing this handy guide to some common Southern expressions:

• “Y’all”–  means– “you all” , equivalent to “you guys”  
•  “Fixin to”" — means– “making preparations to”, “getting ready to”, etc      
• ” Bein’ ugly”– means – ” being mean”
• “Showin’ your butt”– means– “‘uncooperative , ornery”  I once had a patient apologize to me for “showin’ his butt” to me on a shift, and I was scratching my head trying to remember if  I had seen his  bare backside that evening.
• “Carry”– means “to transport someone in your vehicle”, as in “Can you carry us to the store?” ( well, maybe, but I think my arms will get really tired ) 
• “Buggy”– means– “shopping cart”– just give up on this one and ask for a buggy– it’s easier.
• “Bellyfull” — means –”fed up”, as in “I’ve had a bellyfull of you Yankees thinking you know it all.”
• “English Peas”– means – “plain old normal green peas”, not Black-eyed or Crowder
• “Suite”( pronounced “Suit”)- means — “a set of furniture”– when  you hear that someone got a new bedroom suit, do not think “pajamas”
•  “Pocketbook”– means–” purse or handbag”,– I personally think that a ladies wallet is called a pocketbook, maybe that is just me

                 I’m sure my list is not complete. If anyone thinks of  another, please leave a comment .  And to all the native Southerners who think I am bein’ ugly, this is all in fun– like when you tell me that I talk through my nose and have a funny accent

With the upcoming release of the movie G-Force, starring guinea pigs as super heroes, I have become increasingly concerned about the effect it will have on people’s perception of this wonderful little critter. There will certainly be kids crying for a guinea pig and parents who will give in. Here are some things to consider before you bring a guinea pig into your home. I have 3 and have learned so much. I will use the term cavy and guinea pig interchangeably  to save a little typing .

•    Please do not consider buying or adopting a guinea pig for a child younger than 8 years old, and even then they will need to be supervised. Cavies are delicate creatures despite their rotund appearance, and a drop or fall can cause severe injuries.
•  Cavies are more happy in groups, so adopting a same sex pair is ideal. If you have LOADS of free time to spend with a single cavy it would probably be all right , but they are very social animals and thrive in a group setting.
•  Cavies are a long term commitment in the rodent family– they can live up to 7 years with excellent care.
•  Your regular vet is unlikely to know much about cavies, you will need to find a vet who specializes in exotic  animals. I have made a frantic 40 mile trip to our cavy vet for a torn toenail on one of our piggies. We have no vet closer to us who I would trust with them.
• No matter what the pet store tells you, buy the biggest cage you can afford. Cavies also need “floor time” and a safe place to roam. We built a cage for our cavies, I will include the link  with instructions at the end of this article.
• Cavies  eat and poop– a lot.  They need hay in their cages constantly as well as fresh veggies or fruit daily,a good quality pellet food and Vitamin C. Plan on spot cleaning the cage at least every other day and doing a full cleaning weekly.
• DO NOT expect a child to be responsible for total care of your cavies. It is too much responsibility even for an older child, so plan that you will be doing at least part of the work.
• Please check for a cavy rescue near you to see if there is a suitable pet for you. Many cavies are given up because the owners simply get tired of caring for them.

On the upside– cavies are delightful, social, amusing little critters that can bring you years of enjoyment.  I have fallen in love with ours more than I could have imagined. Just do your homework and make sure that a cavy is really the right pet for you.

Here is a link to excellent cavy information as well as instructions on building your own cage:

http://www.cavyspirit.com/

Enjoying some floor time and a snack!

The upcoming release of Disney’s G-Force has me very concerned. I am afraid it may lead to many guinea pigs being adopted as a novelty and then abandoned later. I will post more on this subject tomorrow.

ArtFire Crafters for Canines is a new site showcasing the artisans of ArtFire who create for canines. We’ve just started accepting new studios, so if you have an ArtFire studio and your crafts are inspired by the dog, please consider joining the group. It’s another way to promote your studio as well as fellow crafters. It’s also a great way to shop for your 4-legged friends. Please check back often to see what new shops and handmade products have been added.

Heres the link: http://craftersforcanines.ning.com/

This is a problem that I truly did not know existed , called Black Dog Syndrome:

“Did you know that Black Dogs are generally the last to be adopted and are euthanised in shelters in much larger numbers? People may consider them too “plain”, think they are menacing, or simply don’t notice them because their dark color makes them disappear in their kennels. Those involved in animal welfare have dubbed these phenomena “Black Dog Syndrome.”

For more information and how you can help promote the adoption of black dogs, refer to the following links:

http://www.thebark.com/content/black-dogs-face-hard-choice-shelter

http://www.startseeingblackdogs.com/

I would like to add some pet collar charms to my shop but would like to get some baseline information. Thank you for completing this survey

At the request of one of my facebook fans , I have added a couple of cat toys to my shops. I must admit they have been very fun to make.  I don’t have to worry about them being torn apart like a dog toy, so I have lots more freedom with fabrics and colors. Click on the images to visit my shops ! 

               I wanted to make something a little quirky and fun that would appeal to cats and their owners.

Who doesn’t love free shipping? All of my pet toys in my Etsy and Artfire Shops now include free US shipping and reduced international rates.

There is a lot to know about guinea pig (cavy) nutrition.

• Guinea pigs need to have a constant supply of food, hay especially. We are not pets who can be fed twice a day like dogs or cats. We have a special digestive system and need to eat most of the day to keep everything moving through .

• Guinea pigs need fresh vegetables or fruit daily. Leafy greens are the best, not too much fruit because it has so much sugar. And PLEASE, no iceberg lettuce– it gives us diarrhea

•     We eat pellets too, but not too many or we will get fat. My vet says about a tablespoon of  pellets per day is fine for adult cavies. Piggies who are growing need a supply of pellets left out at all times for them.

•  We need vitamin C , I talked about that in an earlier post. My sisters and  I eat GNC childrens chewable vitamin C tablets,  half a tablet per day (50 mg). They are yummy and inexpensive.

 My favorite hay is from Kleenmamas Hayloft. You can order it here: http://www.kmshayloft.com  I like their timothy hay, blue grass hay and orchard grass.

 My mom says the best pellets are made by OXBOW , you can order them or get them at some pet stores. They make 2 different kinds , one for growing piggies and one for adults.

For lots of good advice about which veggies and fruit are the best for us, please visit http://www.guinealynx.info/charts.html

Gingersnap and Bo enjoying some wonderful hay !

2 new toys in my shops today– I have also had a request to make some cat items so I have an idea in mind for a cat toy, hopefully coming soon! This is a close up of my braided canvas bone toy, I think it should be much more durable than the typical rope bones  that are available. Click on either image to go to my Etsy Shop.

This is a softer version of a flying disc toy, great for an indoor game of fetch.  Click on the image to visit ArtFire, or you can actually make a purchase using the Rapid Cart  widget on the sidebar of this page ! 

 Just listed– This durable , slightly folksy, weird little ducky toy.  I started on it and it just kind of took on a life of its own. Has a squeaker inserted as well. Click on the image to visit my shop.

We visited the South Carolina Botanical Gardens recently, terribly hot day but also very beautiful and peaceful.

Newly listed, this pretty blue and cream pet quilt is perfect to replace that ratty old blanket you’ve been using,(c’mon, we all have done it) to keep the pet hair off your furniture. I will be making more in various sizes and colors, or you can request a custom item from me!

            Wonderful video of a male seahorse giving birth!                              

Just listed this cute  guinea pig sleeping bag at ArtFire.com. One of a kind from a remnant assortment. Cavies love to 

chatter, so how cute is this? I have tweaked the design a little and reinforced the opening to allow it to stay open on its own. Click on the photo to visit my ArtFire studio.

What’s it like to be nose to nose, (well almost), with a guinea pig ? Here’s my darling Bo to show you

well, hellooooo there !

As well as maintaining my Etsy shop, I have also opened a small shop on ArtFire.com, another online marketplace where you can buy and sell handmade items, vintage items and supplies.
Visit my ArtFire Studio at http://kimscritterdesigns.artfire.com

I listed a new bandana today– very cute patriotic beach ball print. Daisy and Zoey smiled really nicely, they are starting to enjoy the  whole camera equals treats idea

 Did you know… that although cavies (guinea pigs) are members of the rodent group, we do not have yellow teeth like most other rodents. Instead we have lovely pearly white incisors. Our teeth continue to grow throughout our lifetime, so we need to keep chewing on things often in order to keep them from getting too long. My mom took a picture of my teeth today while I was laying on her tummy.

New in my Etsy Shop, this fun tie-dye print bandana, reversible to colorful squares and pawprints ! Just great for Summer

Visited my friend today who has 2 Dobermans, both beautiful dogs. Just a note– Emma had her ears cropped BEFORE  she joined her new family.