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  • Squirrels and Birds Report Their Missing Person

    Most mornings, when I take my first walk of the day, there is a person on this bench feeding the birds and squirrels.

    IMG_1648 copy

    When he takes a day off, the critters still show up and stop to ask everyone passing, "Where he is?"

    They seem to feel as this poet did.

    "Sometimes, only one person is missing, and the whole world seems depopulated." Alphonse de Lamartine (French Poet 1790-1869)

    About Photo Tales & Quotes: We keep hearing that people miss our cover photos that ran for years in the Back Bay Sun. That assignment was to provide a photo that showed what the week was like in the neighborhood. Often the photos illustrated favorite quotations. Photo Tales & Quotes is an occasional offering to our BostonZest readers featuring photos along the same theme but taken wherever we happen to be.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2017 Penny Cherubino  

    Related articles
    Irish Setter Theo Is a Typical Puppy
    Julia Child Wisdom: "You don't have to cook fancy …"

  • Squirrels and Birds Report Their Missing Person

    Most mornings, when I take my first walk of the day, there is a person on this bench feeding the birds and squirrels.

    IMG_1648 copy

    When he takes a day off, the critters still show up and stop to ask everyone passing, "Where he is?"

    They seem to feel as this poet did.

    "Sometimes, only one person is missing, and the whole world seems depopulated." Alphonse de Lamartine (French Poet 1790-1869)

    About Photo Tales & Quotes: We keep hearing that people miss our cover photos that ran for years in the Back Bay Sun. That assignment was to provide a photo that showed what the week was like in the neighborhood. Often the photos illustrated favorite quotations. Photo Tales & Quotes is an occasional offering to our BostonZest readers featuring photos along the same theme but taken wherever we happen to be.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2017 Penny Cherubino  

    Related articles
    Irish Setter Theo Is a Typical Puppy
    Julia Child Wisdom: "You don't have to cook fancy …"

  • Champagne Résonance from Marie-Courtin, Special Bubbles to Ring-In the New Year!

    Although we toast the beginning of every new month with a glass of bubbly to remain true to Our Sparkling Resolution, we admittedly get a little more excited about the arrival of January. After all, greeting a new year definitely holds special significance and therefore (follow me here) calls for a bottle of “special” bubbles.

    CHE_2583

    We hope you'll join Our Sparkling Resolution and have fun with it. There are no rules!

    For instance, if you’re someone who thinks Champagne (or any sparkler) is ONLY for special occasions, consider the advice of Master Sommelier Andrea (Immer) Robinson in her book "Great Wine Made Simple: Straight Talk from a Master Sommelier":

    "Get over it. Say this to yourself: 'I deserve to open a bottle of bubbly. I do not need an excuse. I do not have to deny myself and wait until some significant event comes along.' For me, if the day dawns, that is an occasion for Champagne."

    Happy New Year! 

    Now More About Our New Year's Wine!

    Say hello to Résonance, a Champagne from Marie-Courtin! This 100% Pinot Noir, biodynamically farmed, non-dosage cuvée has been getting some rave reviews for the last several years. 

    IMG_5615 copy

    Here’s what critics are saying:

    (The Vinguard/2013)

    • “This Champagne has a firm chord of acidity that runs throughout.”             

    (Decanter)

    • “… pungent depth of fruit and distinctly flinty minerality”
    • “… demonstrates a remarkably elegant poise … with a refinement and discreet grace.”
    • “Organically farmed Grower Champagne”

    (Joli Vin Imports) 

    • “The N V (2012) Extra Brut Résonance is a real stand out”
    • “Beautifully textured and generous”
    • “offers terrific depth, with fewer of the hard edges these wines can sometimes show”
    • “Dried pear, spice, mint and licorice flow through to the effortless, creamy finish”         

    CHE_2529

    (Just Grapes) (2013) 

    • “Résonance resoundingly discredits the austerity critics’ claims”
    • “One of the most accessible, pure, fruity and fresh Champagnes I’ve had”                 

    Sedimentary Wine (2011)

    Résonance NV (2008)

    • "Clear, light hay/sunshine yellow."
    • "Dough, small red fruits, soil"
    • "Medium bodied with lovely density and mid palate weight"
    • "Plum skin, red apple and mineral"
    • "Finished dry and long with pinot tinged extract. Delicious."

    Antonio Galloni: 93 points: (2008) Extra Brut Resonance:

    • “a brilliant, energetic wine … with gorgeous richness and depth”
    • “Succulent apricots, peaches, flowers and crushed rocks are some of the many nuances
    • “Chalky notes linger on the precise, beautifully articulated, eternal finish”
    • “kept getting better and better with air”
    • “It is a fabulous wine in every way. I loved it."

      CHE_2611

    Polaner Selections

    • “Résonance is fermented in stainless steel”
    • “the grapes are all harvested by hand”
    • “The wines are fermented with natural yeasts”
    • “there is no dosage added upon disgorgement”
    • “[Dominique] recommends that [Résonance] be served in traditional white wine glasses to allow for [its] development through increased aeration” ( As you can see in the photo above, we plan to do just that!)

    Résonance Champagne Marie-Courtin Extra Brut Pinot Noir

    (From Thomas Calder Selections)

    Imported by: Vineyard Road Inc. Framingham, MA

    ABV: 12%

    Date of disgorgement: June 2016

    We purchased our bottle of Résonance Champagne Marie-Courtin at City Liquors in Cambridge.

    Here’s more about Our Sparkling Resolution

    And Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

     

    What's on your Food Lover's shopping list?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

    Related articles
    Michael Serpa Selects Champagne Jacquesson Cuvée 736 as Our Sparkler for June 2015
    Bollinger Rosé Champagne Is Our Choice for Our New Year's Toast!

  • Champagne Résonance from Marie-Courtin, Special Bubbles to Ring-In the New Year!

    Although we toast the beginning of every new month with a glass of bubbly to remain true to Our Sparkling Resolution, we admittedly get a little more excited about the arrival of January. After all, greeting a new year definitely holds special significance and therefore (follow me here) calls for a bottle of “special” bubbles.

    CHE_2583

    We hope you'll join Our Sparkling Resolution and have fun with it. There are no rules!

    For instance, if you’re someone who thinks Champagne (or any sparkler) is ONLY for special occasions, consider the advice of Master Sommelier Andrea (Immer) Robinson in her book "Great Wine Made Simple: Straight Talk from a Master Sommelier":

    "Get over it. Say this to yourself: 'I deserve to open a bottle of bubbly. I do not need an excuse. I do not have to deny myself and wait until some significant event comes along.' For me, if the day dawns, that is an occasion for Champagne."

    Happy New Year! 

    Now More About Our New Year's Wine!

    Say hello to Résonance, a Champagne from Marie-Courtin! This 100% Pinot Noir, biodynamically farmed, non-dosage cuvée has been getting some rave reviews for the last several years. 

    IMG_5615 copy

    Here’s what critics are saying:

    (The Vinguard/2013)

    • “This Champagne has a firm chord of acidity that runs throughout.”             

    (Decanter)

    • “… pungent depth of fruit and distinctly flinty minerality”
    • “… demonstrates a remarkably elegant poise … with a refinement and discreet grace.”
    • “Organically farmed Grower Champagne”

    (Joli Vin Imports) 

    • “The N V (2012) Extra Brut Résonance is a real stand out”
    • “Beautifully textured and generous”
    • “offers terrific depth, with fewer of the hard edges these wines can sometimes show”
    • “Dried pear, spice, mint and licorice flow through to the effortless, creamy finish”         

    CHE_2529

    (Just Grapes) (2013) 

    • “Résonance resoundingly discredits the austerity critics’ claims”
    • “One of the most accessible, pure, fruity and fresh Champagnes I’ve had”                 

    Sedimentary Wine (2011)

    Résonance NV (2008)

    • "Clear, light hay/sunshine yellow."
    • "Dough, small red fruits, soil"
    • "Medium bodied with lovely density and mid palate weight"
    • "Plum skin, red apple and mineral"
    • "Finished dry and long with pinot tinged extract. Delicious."

    Antonio Galloni: 93 points: (2008) Extra Brut Resonance:

    • “a brilliant, energetic wine … with gorgeous richness and depth”
    • “Succulent apricots, peaches, flowers and crushed rocks are some of the many nuances
    • “Chalky notes linger on the precise, beautifully articulated, eternal finish”
    • “kept getting better and better with air”
    • “It is a fabulous wine in every way. I loved it."

      CHE_2611

    Polaner Selections

    • “Résonance is fermented in stainless steel”
    • “the grapes are all harvested by hand”
    • “The wines are fermented with natural yeasts”
    • “there is no dosage added upon disgorgement”
    • “[Dominique] recommends that [Résonance] be served in traditional white wine glasses to allow for [its] development through increased aeration” ( As you can see in the photo above, we plan to do just that!)

    Résonance Champagne Marie-Courtin Extra Brut Pinot Noir

    (From Thomas Calder Selections)

    Imported by: Vineyard Road Inc. Framingham, MA

    ABV: 12%

    Date of disgorgement: June 2016

    We purchased our bottle of Résonance Champagne Marie-Courtin at City Liquors in Cambridge.

    Here’s more about Our Sparkling Resolution

    And Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

     

    What's on your Food Lover's shopping list?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

    Related articles
    Michael Serpa Selects Champagne Jacquesson Cuvée 736 as Our Sparkler for June 2015
    Bollinger Rosé Champagne Is Our Choice for Our New Year's Toast!

  • What’s Open in Boston New Year’s Eve 2017 and New Year’s Day 2018 & MBTA links plus Parking, Trash & More

    Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston on New Year's Day and the MBTA schedules for New Year's Eve, December 31, 2017 and New Year's Day, January 1, 2018.

    This page will be our permanent resource of New Year's information and we will update it in future years.

    What's closed? Do I have to feed the parking meters? What about street sweeping? Are the liquor stores and packies open? When do I put out my trash? And what changes are there to the MBTA schedules? We have the answers for you, all organized in one post!

     NYE2014

    Some businesses close early on New Year's Eve but others, especially those in the hospitality business, remain open. Call before you leave if you plan to visit a business on the 31st.

    Here's what we've learned about January 1st, 2018 – New Year's Day

    Restaurants, bars: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Convenience stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Supermarkets: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Liquor stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

    More after the ad…

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Make your own holiday wish come true. Find the gift you really want on Amazon! And, by starting from here, you'll be supporting BostonZest and keeping the information flowing your way.


    Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open.

    Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply.

    Boston Trash Collection:

    Boston Trash Collection for Christmas

    The city has changed the way it publishes the schedule for holidays so that you now have to go to the city site and look up your specific address in order to get information.  

    The MBTA no longer publishes schedule information before each holiday

    For information, call the T’s Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200 (TTY 617-222-5146) or visit the MBTA website."

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © iStockphoto 

    Related articles
    Do You Have a Signature Dish that You Bring to Food Gatherings?

  • What’s Open in Boston New Year’s Eve 2017 and New Year’s Day 2018 & MBTA links plus Parking, Trash & More

    Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston on New Year's Day and the MBTA schedules for New Year's Eve, December 31, 2017 and New Year's Day, January 1, 2018.

    This page will be our permanent resource of New Year's information and we will update it in future years.

    What's closed? Do I have to feed the parking meters? What about street sweeping? Are the liquor stores and packies open? When do I put out my trash? And what changes are there to the MBTA schedules? We have the answers for you, all organized in one post!

     NYE2014

    Some businesses close early on New Year's Eve but others, especially those in the hospitality business, remain open. Call before you leave if you plan to visit a business on the 31st.

    Here's what we've learned about January 1st, 2018 – New Year's Day

    Restaurants, bars: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Convenience stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Supermarkets: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Liquor stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

    More after the ad…

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Make your own holiday wish come true. Find the gift you really want on Amazon! And, by starting from here, you'll be supporting BostonZest and keeping the information flowing your way.


    Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open.

    Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply.

    Boston Trash Collection:

    Boston Trash Collection for Christmas

    The city has changed the way it publishes the schedule for holidays so that you now have to go to the city site and look up your specific address in order to get information.  

    The MBTA no longer publishes schedule information before each holiday

    For information, call the T’s Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200 (TTY 617-222-5146) or visit the MBTA website."

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © iStockphoto 

    Related articles
    Do You Have a Signature Dish that You Bring to Food Gatherings?

  • Protect Those Puppy Paws!

    We're taking the weekend off, so here is our weekly Sunday Dog feature on Thursday! One way to protect your dog's paws is a good pair of dog boots. We use Pawz for Poppy.

    IMG_1549 copy

    While footwear certainly can help shield those paws from salted walkways, there are other alternatives. It looks like the dog in this photo has boots in this style.

      IMG_1551 copy

    Sometimes we forget that the city has dumped an unreasonable amount of salt on the streets that will sit there for months. Then we have to take other measures to ensure that Poppy does not have sore feet or get sick from the salt.

    51CyazG7JfL

    A Good Rinse

    For any barefoot walker, rinsing salt off paws when you reach home is a good habit. Jake Tedaldi, DVM, author of “What’s Wrong with My Dog?” and founder of Vetcall.com, recommends rinsing, “… because the various forms of ice-melting salt can be quite irritating to dogs’ paws, causing them to lick and/or chew those paws to relieve the irritation.”

    He went on to explain when that irritation may be a more serious matter, “Excessive licking/chewing of the paws, pads or toes, or swelling, redness or bleeding from any part of the paws would be good reason to seek a veterinarian’s advice.”

    Not only will your dog’s feet stay healthier, but your home will also stay cleaner. You’ll be amazed at how much salt and sand you’ll find hiding in those furry feet.

    712Eb9PKVYL._SL1500_ (1)

    Wax Those Paws

    Waxes, like Musher’s Secret, are a popular alternative to foot coverings. The company calls their product, “the invisible boot.” Dr. Jake says, “Musher’s Secret is quite safe to put on your dogs’ pads. It is designed to serve as a barrier to protect dogs’ paws from harsh materials, including road salt and other chemicals that might be either abrasive to or absorbed by dogs’ paws.”

    51FUK3i7i2L

    One More Step

    Ask your building management, condo association, and neighbors to use sand in place of chemicals or to choose paw-safe chemicals if they are going to use ice melt. Explain that harsh chemicals not only hurt dogs, but will also damage sidewalks, fences, plants, and trees.

    Ice melts can also make your dog sick. “Salt and other ice-melting chemicals can be harsh on a dog’s stomach and entire digestive tract," said Dr. Jake. "Inappetence [loss of appetite], vomiting, regurgitation, diarrhea, or simply overall weakness, and lethargy could be symptoms brought on by ingestion of such substances.”

    With more nasty weather ahead, make your paw protection plan and prep your pup for a healthy rest-of-the-winter. 

         

    Details:
    Words: From Penny's "City Paws" column
    Photography: © 2016 Penny Cherubino

    Related articles
    My Little Sunday Dog …
    Give a Big "Thank You" to Your Dog Walker!
    A Sunday Beach Dog Playing on the Tidal Flats

  • Where to Dine on New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day Brunch 2017

    Our readers are already searching our past posts to figure out where to dine on New Year's Eve in Boston. It's time for you to grab a reservation at a special place! (From now on we'll just update this post for future years, so you can come back here anytime for our latest information.)

    And, since it was popular last year, we're adding a few places we think might be great for starting off 2017 with friends and family around a brunch table.

    IStock_000035340368Small

    We all have our ideas of the perfect New Year's Eve.

    • Are you looking for a place to ring in 2017 with a happy crowd?
    • Will you be out and about dropping in on events or house parties?
    • Or will you make a reservation for a quiet dinner before popping a cork for a private celebration? 
    • Is a walk to view skating on the Frog Pond more your style?

    We'll leave the New Year's Eve reservation for those of you who like to be part of a bigger celebration, while we spend the evening with some sparkling wine, good food, and great companions. However, we have gathered resources to help you find a place for any kind of New Year's Eve you'd like. 

    Everyone can begin at Open Table. They maintain a list of special New Year's Eve celebrations at area restaurants. 

    You can put a time into the reservation box on the main page and see what's available. Remember, many places have special prix fixe menus for occasions like this and some may require a credit card to hold a reservation.

    The site Boston Chefs always posts a listing of its member restaurants that have special plans for New Year's Eve. Here is their New Year's Eve list. And, here's the list for New Year's Day. We'll update this section as we spot new information from these sources.

    We'll add updates with other lists, as they become available, from trusted sources around town. Please remember that when we provide a link to a list, we are just giving you a resource. It doesn't mean we are recommending the restaurants on that list. These summaries often include places we love, but since other publishers have different standards, their list may include restaurants we would never recommend.

    We Do Recommend!

    There are restaurants that have planned a special New Year's Eve menu but have built their reputations on high-quality food. These are places where you can expect to have a wonderful meal any day of the year.

    • Select Oyster Bar offering a 3 course New Year's Eve menu all day Saturday, December 31st alongside their full regular menu this NYE.
    • Coppa will be serving their regular a la carte menu throughout the evening for revelers who want to end the year with a meal full of familiar favorites.
    • Row 34 Chef Sewall will be serving the regular dinner menu with luxurious additions, like Ossestra caviar service or plates like potato latkes with caviar and salmon pastrami.
    • Bistro du Midi is offering two seatings at two prices with two prix fixe menus.
    • Craigie on Main early seating for a five-course prix fixe menu, with optional add-on wine pairings. Or, if you're ready to celebrate into night, choose the later seating for a six-course menu and Champagne toast.
    • Grotto on Beacon Hill, and Marliave downtown all join that list of places sticking with the food you love.
    • La Morra in Brookline will serve a three-course prix fixe menu with a glass of Prosecco!
    • Myers + Chang will add special items to their regular menu and serve it all Dim Sum style.

     

    Where are you spending the evening? What's your favorite way to celebrate? Come back on January 1st and tell us about your New Year's Eve.

    New Year's Day Brunch

    Here is a list of brunches from the members of Boston Chefs. Our pick from this list would be Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel. 

    Open Table did not have a New Year's Day Brunch list when we prepared this post. We put a request in for a table at 11:30 a.m. to come up with our recommendations. 

    • Craigie on Main decided to do away with their regular Sunday brunch, but they will have brunch on a few selected holidays like New Year's Day. 
    • Petit Robert Bistro would be a great place to enjoy the beginning of a new year with a gang. 
    • Eastern Standard will be open with their great brunch menu.
    • La Voile on Newbury serves a lovely meal and is a great way to start the year.

    To be notified of updates to this post, sign-on to the comment feed for this post or follow us on Twitter for updates. 

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: Photo: iStockphoto.com

    Related articles
    SELECT Oyster Bar: Our First Taste
    Notes on a New Year's Eve Toast with Bollinger Rosé

  • Where to Dine on New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day Brunch 2017

    Our readers are already searching our past posts to figure out where to dine on New Year's Eve in Boston. It's time for you to grab a reservation at a special place! (From now on we'll just update this post for future years, so you can come back here anytime for our latest information.)

    And, since it was popular last year, we're adding a few places we think might be great for starting off 2017 with friends and family around a brunch table.

    IStock_000035340368Small

    We all have our ideas of the perfect New Year's Eve.

    • Are you looking for a place to ring in 2017 with a happy crowd?
    • Will you be out and about dropping in on events or house parties?
    • Or will you make a reservation for a quiet dinner before popping a cork for a private celebration? 
    • Is a walk to view skating on the Frog Pond more your style?

    We'll leave the New Year's Eve reservation for those of you who like to be part of a bigger celebration, while we spend the evening with some sparkling wine, good food, and great companions. However, we have gathered resources to help you find a place for any kind of New Year's Eve you'd like. 

    Everyone can begin at Open Table. They maintain a list of special New Year's Eve celebrations at area restaurants. 

    You can put a time into the reservation box on the main page and see what's available. Remember, many places have special prix fixe menus for occasions like this and some may require a credit card to hold a reservation.

    The site Boston Chefs always posts a listing of its member restaurants that have special plans for New Year's Eve. Here is their New Year's Eve list. And, here's the list for New Year's Day. We'll update this section as we spot new information from these sources.

    We'll add updates with other lists, as they become available, from trusted sources around town. Please remember that when we provide a link to a list, we are just giving you a resource. It doesn't mean we are recommending the restaurants on that list. These summaries often include places we love, but since other publishers have different standards, their list may include restaurants we would never recommend.

    We Do Recommend!

    There are restaurants that have planned a special New Year's Eve menu but have built their reputations on high-quality food. These are places where you can expect to have a wonderful meal any day of the year.

    • Select Oyster Bar offering a 3 course New Year's Eve menu all day Saturday, December 31st alongside their full regular menu this NYE.
    • Coppa will be serving their regular a la carte menu throughout the evening for revelers who want to end the year with a meal full of familiar favorites.
    • Row 34 Chef Sewall will be serving the regular dinner menu with luxurious additions, like Ossestra caviar service or plates like potato latkes with caviar and salmon pastrami.
    • Bistro du Midi is offering two seatings at two prices with two prix fixe menus.
    • Craigie on Main early seating for a five-course prix fixe menu, with optional add-on wine pairings. Or, if you're ready to celebrate into night, choose the later seating for a six-course menu and Champagne toast.
    • Grotto on Beacon Hill, and Marliave downtown all join that list of places sticking with the food you love.
    • La Morra in Brookline will serve a three-course prix fixe menu with a glass of Prosecco!
    • Myers + Chang will add special items to their regular menu and serve it all Dim Sum style.

     

    Where are you spending the evening? What's your favorite way to celebrate? Come back on January 1st and tell us about your New Year's Eve.

    New Year's Day Brunch

    Here is a list of brunches from the members of Boston Chefs. Our pick from this list would be Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel. 

    Open Table did not have a New Year's Day Brunch list when we prepared this post. We put a request in for a table at 11:30 a.m. to come up with our recommendations. 

    • Craigie on Main decided to do away with their regular Sunday brunch, but they will have brunch on a few selected holidays like New Year's Day. 
    • Petit Robert Bistro would be a great place to enjoy the beginning of a new year with a gang. 
    • Eastern Standard will be open with their great brunch menu.
    • La Voile on Newbury serves a lovely meal and is a great way to start the year.

    To be notified of updates to this post, sign-on to the comment feed for this post or follow us on Twitter for updates. 

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: Photo: iStockphoto.com

    Related articles
    SELECT Oyster Bar: Our First Taste
    Notes on a New Year's Eve Toast with Bollinger Rosé

  • A Folding Alternative to Our Dog Boot Drying Hack

    Back in 2011, we showed you our system for drying dog boots. Today we bring you an alternative system that you can purchase, if you don't feel like putting together our hack.

     

    81a6xrrbmxL._SL1500_ 81DcGdcZEOL._SL1500_

    This is billed as a Plastic Bag & Bottle Dryer over on Amazon and it get great reviews for that purpose. We immediately saw it as a place to dry up to eight dog boots. It can hang or sit on a table or counter and can fold to be stored with the boots when winter is over. 

    We Still Love Our Hacked System

    Our Westie Poppy's Pawz Dog Boots are still drying on chopsticks. Over the years, we improved on the container we're using to store them between trips outside.

    IMG_1566 - Version 22015-02-16-dog-boots-drying-mason-jar-special-lid-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    Now the chopsticks holding the wet boots are secured at a good angle by a daisy Mason jar lid. This lid was designed for scented candles or for drinking with a straw. But we think it's perfect for our purpose. You can even find them in colors to match the boots – if your dog is fashion forward. 

    We have lots of mason jars on hand because we use them to store everything from paper clips to flour. And we have an extra large container with an assortment of mason jar tops that serve many purposes. That makes this hack a natural for us. 

    You can use our system for gloves or mittens with wood dowel rods and a larger jar with some sand or beans added to weigh down and stabilize the system.

      

     Click here for more of our tips and how to posts.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2015 Penny Cherubino

    Related articles
    Angel in the Snow, Little Did I Know …
    Oldways: African Heritage & Health Week – February 1st – 7th
    National Cheese Lover's Day – Tuesday, January 20, 2015
    Our Improved Dog Boot Drying Hack
    Crystallized Honey 101: It's Actually a Good Thing …