Attention: companion animal caretakers. The ASPCA offers these common-sense cautions to keep your pets safe and sound during this time of the year:

* All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers in unusual garb can be scary and stressful for pets.

* When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that Max or Mittens doesn’t dart outside. Make sure all your pets are wearing current identification, just in case.

* No sweets for the sweet: Keep all Halloween candy out of your pet’s reach. Chocolate can be poisonous to animals, and tinfoil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed.

* It’s not a bright idea to keep lit pumpkins around companion animals. Pets can knock them over, and curious kittens in particular run the risk of being burned.
* Don’t leave your pet in the yard on Halloween. There have been reports of vicious pranksters who have teased, injured, stolen and even killed pets on this night.

* Although the ASPCA recommends that cats remain indoors at all times, it is especially important to keep your feline inside for several days before and after Halloween. Black cats in particular may be at risk from children’s pranks or other cruelty-related incidents. As a safety precaution, many shelters will not adopt out black cats around Halloween.

* Don’t dress up your dog or cat unless you know she loves it. If you decide to do so, make sure the costume isn’t annoying or unsafe, and doesn’t restrict her movement, vision, hearing or ability to breathe or bark. Avoid costumes with small or dangling accessories that she could chew off and possibly choke on. And please supervise pets in costume at ALL times.

Courtesy & ©ASPCA

Love puts the fun in together, the sad in apart, and the joy in a heart.
- Unknown

Happy Valentines Day

From Michael and Dee Norris

Official versions
1892
“I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”
1892 to 1923
“I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”

1923 to 1924
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”
1924 to 1954
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands: one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”
1954 to Present
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands: one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Adopted June 14, 1777 (original 13-star version)
July 4, 1960 (current 50-star version)
Design Thirteen horizontal stripes alternating red and white; in the canton, 50 white stars on a blue field

What this country needs is more people to inspire others with confidence, and fewer people to discourage any initiative in the right direction, more to get into the thick of things, fewer to sit on the sidelines merely finding fault, more to point out what’s right with the world, and fewer to keep harping on what’s wrong with it, and more who are interested in lighting candles, and fewer who blow them out.
 
-Father James Keller

Lessen the effects of stress … with pistachios

And you thought they were only good in ice cream. A recent study at Penn State University indicates that the plant sterols and other nutrients found in pistachio nuts may help alleviate the effects of stress.

According to the study, participants who were served 1½ ounces of pistachios daily in a heart-healthy diet experienced lower blood pressure levels during stressful mental and physical tests than they did while on a diet that didn’t include pistachios.

Good news, except for the calorie-minded. 1½ ounces, or about 75 shelled nuts, is 250 calories.

The best of times

And the best of friends

Come to mind

As this year ends

Our very best wishes to you and your families

Michael and Dee Norris

Thanksgiving brings fragrant aromas and favorite dishes, warm family times and deep, heartfelt wishes for a beautiful bountiful day…. Happy thanks giving to all of our Family, Customers and friends… Michael and Dee

Napkin Folding

Happy Halloween from Michael & Dee Norris

Trick-or-treating

 The Norris Family