BostonZest

Company's Coming! How Will Your Dog or Cat React?

Some dogs and cats welcome visitors to their home, while others may react with their own brand of company behavior. One cat might go into hiding and not come out until the visitor has gone. Another kitty may choose the one person who doesn’t like cats to use as a rubbing post.

Dale and Chip act as the perfect hostess and host when visitors arrive in their home.

Like Chip and Dale, we have a friend with a Westie boy named Colin who lives in Virginia. Trixie, one of his human companions says, "He actually thinks that everyone who comes to our door is coming to see him!!!" She supplied photos of Mr. Colin settled on the sofa with two of their guests.  

Another dog might bark at everyone who comes near the door. Or a pup might become so excited about guests that submissive urination is a problem. Having had three Westies of our own and a number of foster dogs, my husband and I have dealt with a wide range of reactions.

Holiday season visitors and houseguests mean that some additional training and preparation now, may help in the month ahead.

 

Little Cooper, who stayed with us as a foster dog, decided that Penny needed protection from everyone. 

Fear or Territorialism

Canines bark at visitors because they are afraid, because they are protecting their home, or may think they are protecting you.

Cooper was one of our foster dogs and from the moment Penny pulled him out of an animal control facility, he didn’t want anyone near her. We worked to make him understand that he had to share her and that she was not in any danger from the people we met on walks or those who visited us. Even after he was placed in his adoptive home, a volunteer from the rescue group worked with his new family to reinforce the training begun in our home.

 

A Very Poppy Welcome

Our current dog Poppy is a very anxious little creature who became so excited when some of her favorite people arrived in our home that she sometimes had a little “accident.” Our solution with such a small dog has been to pick her up and have her greet guests in our arms. We’ve also made an effort to have more people visit so she has more experience with company. That seems to be working.

A simple “sit” command can work wonders for a dog that barks at people or other dogs. The beauty of teaching a dog to sit and lie down, reliably upon request, is that you can reward this good action while cutting off the bad one. Consider asking a friend to come to the door a few times to practice the behaviors you want to reinforce.

Taking Control

"A sleeping dog is a good dog."

Even people who love your animals may not enjoy them as the center of attention throughout their visit. Sometimes you or another family member may need to take control of that cat who is winding herself around the legs of a guest. You may need to distract the dog that keeps bringing a toy to a guest asking for play.

Watch the guest and let them be your guide. When certain friends visit us, we know that playing with Poppy is part of the joy of their visit. Our friend Bill quickly joined Poppy on the floor for a tussle over a toy. But, in order for him to enjoy a glass of wine and a bit of food, Penny had to share her chair with Poppy and see that she didn’t bother him.

Company coming by is another time when the old adage, “A tired dog is a good dog,” is great applied wisdom. Take your dog for an extra long walk, spend half an hour playing fetch, or work on your obedience training in the hours before your company arrives. A cute dog snoozing in a corner is a perfect addition to any visit.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

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

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino - Adapted for BostonZest from one of her City Paws newspaper columns.
Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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Where to Dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2015 Around Boston

Where can you dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Boston area?

There are a few great choices! But, if you're planning to dine at one of Boston's fine restaurants over the holidays, make a reservation! More than ever, family and friends are gathering in area restaurants on holidays like this, which means spots at your favorites may be gone if you wait too long.

Don't be surprised if a deposit is required to hold your reservation or if there are special menus and seatings for these special holiday meals. Unfortunately, restaurants have been forced to do this because of people who make multiple reservations, so they can decide at the last minute where to go. This leaves other diners without choices and the restaurants with empty tables.

What's Open on Christmas Eve?

There are more choices on Christmas Eve than on Christmas Day. Some of our favorite, special places have wonderful holiday meals planned for those who reserve for the 24th.

• The legendary team from L'Espalier normally offers a prix fixe Christmas Eve menu.  
• La Morra in Brookline is an ideal spot to meet friends or family from that side of the Boston area. They are offering family style dining, "sharing traditional dishes of Piedmonte."
• Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel has a four course prixe fixe menu set for the 24th.
• Petit Robert Bistro locations will be open with regular meals and specials. We like the one on Columbus Ave in the South End.
• Here is the Christmas Eve list from Boston Chefs. Be sure to check back, because this list may grow.
• Here is the Christmas Eve List from Open Table. Be sure to check back, because this list may grow.

At the early date of this posting, some places have not announced their traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes events for Chistmas Eve. Check back or follow us on Twitter for updates on this fun, holiday dining option. 

• Coppa Enoteca is one of our favorites and is offering their version of this tradition.
• Dante in Cambridge will present Chef Dante de Magistris' version of the feast with other menu items available.
• Grotto was one of the first to present this holiday tradition. Marliave, Grotto's sibling downtown will also hold  in the festive fish feast. Kitchen and  will be open offering the regular menu with a seafood theme for those who prefer an à la carte choice. 
• Here is a great article from Edible Boston on this traditional meal.

Update 12/17/15: Here's a link to Boston Eater's list of places to dine on Christmas Eve.

What Boston Area Restaurants Are Open on Christmas?

Hotel restaurants, since they must serve the hotel's guests, are normally open on holidays.

In Boston, hotel restaurants open both the 24th and 25th include some excellent choices:

• Bar Boulud at the Mandarin Hotel 
• The Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel
• Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel 
• Brasserie JO at the Colonnade Hotel

Other places open on holidays would include chain restaurants and some places in Chinatown. We once asked a longtime Boston cabbie where we could get something we needed on Christmas, and he said Chinatown was the place to go.

Here are some conversations on Eater, Chowhound.com and Trip Advisor about Christmas dining. We'll add more as we see them pop up this year and we'll link to lists from other Boston food sites.

Update 12/17/15 Here's a link to Boston Eater's list of places to dine on Christmas Day.

Trip Advisor on Christmas Dinner (2013)

 

 

Other Resources:

The reservation site Open Table has a feature list of its member restaurants with Christmas Eve Specials and Christmas Day Dining. 

But, you can also input information on the reservation you want on Open Table and come up with a list of restaurants open at that hour. Change the hour and the list will change and some are not on the featured lists. It's a good place to start.

The Boston Chefs site has posted a list of its participating member restaurants with special features for the holidays. Here's the Christmas Eve List & the Christmas Day list.

From Last Year: Eater Boston has a list of What's Open in Boston Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We'll update with the new one when it's available.

They have many good choices to add to your holiday options. We'd particularly like to recommend:

Island Creek Oyster Bar for Christmas Eve. It's one of our favorite places, and I can just imagine what a happy scene it will be on that evening. 

Eastern Standard: They will normally open Christmas Day for breakfast and then for a special 3-course prix fixe meal. 

Follow us on Twitter for notice of updates to this post.

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Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Photo: from iStockphoto.com

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Dog Oriented Dogs and People Oriented Dogs

The sight of a person enjoying an afternoon in a park with their dog as companion brings a smile to our faces. We’ve made many friends in Boston because of our dogs. And, those dogs have made friends with a good many other canines on our daily strolls.

Here's a sweet French Bulldog named Chunk sitting on a park bench with Poppy. Chunk is a she and one of the nicest, most people oriented dogs you could ever want to meet. Yes, she has her favorites like our friend John who has to give her special attention when he sees her. She would much rather share the bench with John than with Poppy. 

Chunk wasn't sure what to make of this Poppy dog. For the most part, Poppy gives dogs a quick sniff and then she's back to her constant, worried watch for noisy things.

Some dogs are dog oriented and some are people oriented. Our Poppy has a few folks that she adores and a lot of folks that she likes. Most of the time outside, she's more concerned about noise and trucks than people or dogs. But she does enjoy a sit on a bench when there are no trucks or construction locations in sight. 

And, if a friendly dog like Chunk wants to share her bench, that's fine with her. 

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino - Adapted for BostonZest from one of her City Paws newspaper columns.
Photos: ©2015  Ed Cherubino 

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2015-2016 Winter Farmers Market Schedule Around Boston

The open air farmers market season is over and it's time for us to start our list of the 2015-2016 Winter Farmers Markets in the Boston area. We'll add to this list as we discover more markets opening.

Stillman's Farm and  Stillman Quality Meats will both be at the Boston Public Market.

Boston Public Market

This will be the first year-round season for the new Boston Public Market. Here, you’ll find farmers, craft brewers, cheesemakers, local meat and seafood vendors, bakeries and artisan food producers.

Brookline Winter Farmers' Market 

Winter Indoor Farmers Markets Around Boston 

Updated 01/08/15

Check the links to confirm details on these markets before you set out on your shopping trip.

Boston Public Market , 100 Hanover Street at Haymarket Station, Wednesday–Sunday 8:00am–8:00pm (year round)

Boston/Egleston Winter Farmers Market, Urbano Project, 29 Germania St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 (map) Saturdays, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, (Mid-November thru February)

Brookline Winter Farmers Market at The Arcade Building, 318 Harvard Street, (map) Sundays
11:00 am to 3:00 pm (November thru April)

Newton Winter Farmers Market, 250 Albemarle Rd, Newton, MA 02461(map) Saturdays, 10:00 am - Noon (November and December) 

Somerville Winter Farmers Market, 191 Highland Avenue, (map) Saturdays, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm (December thru March)

Cambridge Winter Farmers Market, 5 Callender Street, (map) Saturdays, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm (January 9th - April 30th)

Dorchester/Carney Hospital Year Round and Winter Farmers Market, 2100 Dorchester Ave. Seton Building Entrance (map) Wednesdays  8:00am - 12:00pm (year-round)

Dorchester/Codman Square Winter Farmers Market, 6 Norfolk Street, Dorchester, in the Great Hall (map) Saturdays 10 am to 1 pm (January 9th to March 19th)

Chelmsford Agway Winter Farmers Market, 24 Maple Road, Chelmsford, MA (map) Saturdays, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm (November 7th - February 27th) Thanks to the reader who sent this one our way. 

Roslindale Winter Farmers Market, 30 Birch Street, Roslindale, MA (map) Saturdays, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm (January thru March). 

 

Destination Markets Worth the Trip

Wayland/Russell's Garden Center Winter Farmers Market - 2016, 397 Boston Post Road, Rte 20 (map) Saturdays, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm (January 9th – March 12th)

Newburyport Winter Farmers Market, Tannery Marketplace, 50 Water Street (map)
Sundays 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Dec. 6 & 13 - 2015, Jan. 17 & 31, Feb. 7 & 21, March 6 & 20, April 3 & 17, 2016

Do you have a favorite place to shop for local foods in winter? Let us know!

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

 

 Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2011 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

Whatever Winter May Bring, We Did Have Roses in November

For the past couple of weeks, we've admired the tenacity of this rose on our daily walks.

We kept calling it the last rose of summer. Finally, over the weekend, Ed took a photo of it. I'm glad he did because when we walked by the other day, its petals were scattered on the walkway.

We are thankful to all the gardeners who add color and beauty to our days. And, we thank Mother Nature for allowing her roses to bloom well into November. 

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 Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Ed Cherubino  

Oyster Growing in Provincetown

People who return time-after-time to the same vacation spot have the advantage of noticing changes for the good – like the fact that, each visit, we see more evidence of a growing oyster population in Provincetown Harbor.

Among the rocks on this jetty that we scamper over on our beach walks are big clusters of oysters that were not there last fall. We remember quite a few years ago when a test bed of oysters was planted in a space near the town dock and we used to see oyster shells and live oysters in that area. 

After we returned home and Penny began poking around to learn more about Provincetown oysters, we learned that there is one shellfish grant in operation in town. John Santos and Lory Stewart farm littlenecks and oysters. Their oyster is called a Long Pointer and from now on, we'll be looking for it on menus.

They also give "Dig Clams and Gather Oysters" tours of the operation and that is on our schedule for our next warm, sunny day visit. 

Here's a Boston Globe article on the operation that describes the taste of Long Pointers as, "... similar to those of the neighboring Wellfleet."

We're always happy to see oysters in our favorite places since they are known for their ability to clean the water around them. 

Related Post:

A Tow up the Charles River Cost $4 in 1886 (Oysters once blocked the way!)

What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino, Screen shot from Cape Native Secrets.

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The Dogs of Fall

Poppy has a bit more spring in her step in fall and doesn’t mind sharing her bench with a pile of leaves. 

Over the past few weeks, you've been able see which dogs love the fall season. My Poppy is one of them. She is not a fan of hot days and certainly has more spring in her step when the cooler temperatures arrive.

“He loves this cool weather,” another friends said as her dog bounced through the park. These pups don’t stop to chat until they've burned off some of that autumn energy by speed walking a few blocks and then back to us.

People, too, have more energy in the cooler months to entertain their dogs. This may mean visits to hiking trails or trips to the country for long walks and a happy time for the dogs who accompany them. 

Beaches that were forbidden territory all summer are now open to endless games of fetch the ball or stick for those who choose to share their recreation with dogs.

Here's our pal Bear waiting for Poppy in a nest of leaves.

Leaves

The leaves we enjoy for their color and crunch underfoot are irresistible toys to some dogs. It’s fun to watch a pup chase a leaf down a sidewalk. Dogs with very curious noses enjoy the scents that leaves hold. And some dogs like nothing better than exploring and jumping through piles of leaves.

While back yard leaf piles may be fun, I’m wary of leaves collected from urban parks and sidewalks. Those piles may hold pieces of broken glass, litter, discarded food, or even syringes.

For some reason, the parks department often gathers all leaves on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall into piles on the walkway and there the piles remain, sometimes for a week or more. This puts some of the benches off limits and makes the busy walkway more congested. It also allows the wind to scatter those leaves across the lawns so that workers must collect them again.

Leaves also add a degree of difficulty for those who faithfully pick up after their dogs. With leaves to offer camouflage, if you glance away for just a second, a quick scoop can turn into a long, slow hunt among the leaves.

 

Allergic to Fall?

For some dogs (and people), those leaf piles can be a source of an allergic reaction. Even after the hard frost kills off ragweed and other fall irritants, dogs may still be bothered by leaf mold.

The website VetInfo.com has a great description of the symptoms. “Mold-allergic dogs sneeze frequently, and they may develop a cough or have watery eyes. Other dog-specific signs of a mold allergy include recurring ear infections and licking, scratching and biting at their skin because it becomes itchy.”

If this sounds familiar, check with your veterinarian for treatments and avoid those leaf piles. You might also give your dog a rub down with a damp towel when you return from a walk to remove surface irritants. Try to stick to the paths when outside and restrict time spent exploring damp piles of leaves.

 

Ritual Changes

Some dogs respect the season with changes in their routines. Poppy sleeps-in more mornings when the sun doesn’t wake her. Her predecessor, Maggie Mae, snuggled with us more in the cool months than in summer. If your dog tends to put on winter weight, this can be a good time to trim down with extra exercise before winter storms restrict outside activity.

It is a time of change for you and your dog. Enjoy the good things, deal with the downsides, and relish each day of fall with your beloved canine companion.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino Adapted for BostonZest from one of her CIty Paws newspaper columns
Photos: ©2013-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino  and  itchy dog from iStockphoto. 

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