Kids & Pets
Making Memories
As parents, we all know how quickly summer goes. One moment we’re planning fun activities, and the next we’re shopping for school supplies and wondering where the time went. As summer begins to wind down and the back-to-school hustle begins, this month’s Kids & Pets issue celebrates two things that have a special way of bringing families together: animals and adventure.
This month, we’re highlighting some of the region’s best kid-friendly animal encounters—places where children can safely connect with (and even cuddle!) animals, learn about wildlife, and create some fun moments.
We’re also proud to feature Project Green, an inspiring organization working to revitalize and support school garden programs throughout El Dorado County. By transforming underused outdoor spaces into thriving educational gardens, Project Green encourages healthy habits, environmental stewardship, and teamwork.
And because summer isn’t over just yet, we’ve included an end-of-summer family bucket list filled with local adventures for families of all ages. From exploring storybook worlds and scenic bike trails to cooling off at EDH’s newest splash pad or discovering local museums, there are plenty of opportunities to make the most of these final days before schedules fill and routines return.
My hope is that this issue inspires your family to spend some time together and create a few more lasting memories this August.
Thank you for supporting the local businesses and organizations that help make our little slice of Northern California such a wonderful place to live. And a special thank you to the kids and pets who make our community a little brighter, a little livelier, and a lot more fun!
KRISTY MURDOCH, PUBLISHER @ELDORADOHILLSCITYLIFESTYLE
August 2026
PUBLISHER
Kristy Murdoch | kristy.murdoch@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Todd Murdoch | todd.murdoch@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Krista Minard
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Cadence Murdoch
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Krista Minard, Amy Tinnin, Kali Kaspryzyk
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Robert Neep, Leatherby’s Family Creamery, Visit Sacramento, Visit El Dorado, Janie Jones, PhotoSpirit
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President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
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Photography: Jollity Farm Goat Dairy in Garden Valley
As we age, hearing ability can naturally decrease. While this is common, you should still do your best to manage hearing loss so it doesn’t affect your communication, social interactions, or mental health.
A key part of healthy aging is taking care of your physical, mental, and hearing health! You should always have your hearing tested when you notice a change.
MEET AND GREETS WITH ANIMALS DELIGHT THE YOUNG—AND THE YOUNG AT HEART
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE SAFE KIND
ARTICLE BY KRISTA MINARD PHOTOGRAPHY BY VARIOUS
Courtesy Loomis Alpacas
“SEVERAL FARMS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION PROVIDE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO SAFELY SPEND TIME WITH ANIMALS.”
As summer winds down and the kids look toward getting back to school, one last-gasp outing for families could involve some furred (and feathered) friends. Several farms and organizations in the region provide ample opportunity to safely spend time with animals—admiring up close and sometimes petting and feeding. Here are a few local spots for animal encounters.
JOLLITY FARM GOAT DAIRY, GARDEN VALLEY
This farmstead creamery maintains a herd of dairy goats—primarily Alpines, but with some Saanens and Mini Nubians too. They all have names, and they’re friendly and productive, giving forth some 15 to 30 gallons of milk each day. That milk is used to make cheese, lotion, and soap on the bucolic farm; purchase them on-site at the Tiny Store (and from area farmers markets, co-ops, and the website). Jollity Farm is open to the public 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and if you come before 11 a.m., you might get to watch milking happen. To see behind-the-scenes and get questions answered, set up a farm tour. jollityfarm.net
Courtesy GoatHouse Brewing Co.
Courtesy Not By Luck Ranch
“Whether you’re looking for a walk with goats or donkeys or some time petting bunnies, Not By Luck Ranch has it.”
GOATHOUSE BREWING CO., LINCOLN
Visitors are invited to come out to this Placer County brewhouse for a beer, and while they’re at it, meet the amiable goats, a fuzzynosed gray donkey (that’s Rory), and a mini highland cow named Wyatt. (So shaggy!) With a rotation of craft beers on tap, GoatHouse also usually has a food truck on-site so no one goes hungry. The animals don’t go hungry, either; visitors can purchase a cup of feed for $3 and feel a soft muzzle in their palm. Kids are always welcome! GoatHouse is open Thursday through Sunday. Check the website and Instagram for special events, such as flower arranging, painting, watch parties, and music bingo. goathousebrewing.com
LOOMIS ALPACAS, LOOMIS
A family-owned and -operated working farm since 2005, Loomis Alpacas started with three fluffy alpacas and now maintains more than a dozen of the regal animals. Visits are scheduled by appointment, and families can feed, pet, and play with the alpacas—some are very social, some more shy. The farm tour also includes information about alpaca fiber, which is used to make luxurious garments, hand-spun into yarn (you might see a demo),
and used to create numerous products, including socks sold on-site. To schedule a visit, contact owner Beckie Perell by phone (916-768-0735) or e-mail (bperell@icloud.com).
NOT BY LUCK RANCH, GOLD RUN
Whether you’re looking for a walk with goats or donkeys or some time petting bunnies, Not By Luck Ranch has it. Owned and run by Johnita Wemken, the ranch is home to a herd of rescued wild burros known collectively as the Jackpot Jennies (a jenny is a female donkey). Guests older than 12 can participate in a Donkey Walk, a peaceful, guided experience that includes learning about burros, moseying with one at her pace, and feeding them treats. On a Goat Walk, guests older than 12 stroll with the lively creatures on a forested mountain trail, feed them treats, and enjoy their friendly, curious personalities. (For younger children, the Little Hooves Goat Walk Club is a recurring second-Sunday morning meetup where littles ages 4–10 learn how to care for goats and take walks with them.) Bunny Snuggles are for groups of 10 to pet and feed rabbits. Visit the website for prices, tickets, and more information. notbyluckranch.com
Courtesy Jollity Farm Goat Dairy
Courtesy GoatHouse Brewing Co.
Courtesy Puppy Retreat
PUPPY RETREAT, ROSEVILLE
This Roseville-based business brings wiggly, fluffy, tail-wagging puppies to all kinds of activities at its Vernon Street studio, including yoga, sound baths, movie nights, birthday parties, team-buildings, and more. Sign up for a simple cuddle session to snuggle and play with well-socialized, vaccinated puppies that love attention and petting. Children are welcome and must be supervised by an adult. Puppies can attend outside events as well. Puppy Retreat works with trusted local breeders for the puppies. Some may be up for adoption, so ask about that if you fall in love and are seeking a sweet new member of the family! Yoga mats are provided; puppy treats are available for purchase at the studio. Book through the website. puppyretreat.com
FOLSOM ZOO SANCTUARY
As a safe haven for rescued wild and domestic animals, Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary provides an opportunity to view and learn about bears, wolf-hybrids, monkeys, cougars, birds, raptors, reptiles, insects, and more. Pathways wind through the zoo sanctuary’s wooded landscape, where stories are told about each animal’s history and circumstances. The zoo sanctuary has a mission to teach “responsible behavior toward all animals,” which includes zoo staff’s treating each animal as an individual and seeing to its specific needs. Watch the website for opportunities to interact with zoo staff and the animals. Open Thursday through Sunday. folsom.ca.us
“PUPPY RETREAT BRINGS WIGGLY, FLUFFY, TAIL-WAGGING PUPPIES TO ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITIES AT ITS STUDIO, INCLUDING YOGA AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES.”
Courtesy Puppy Retreat
Folsom Zoo Sanctuary
A L OCAL NONPROFIT PROVIDES GREEN LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM, THE SCHOOLYARD, AND BEYOND
ARTICLE BY KRISTA MINARD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY PROJECT GREEN
COMMUNITY GARDENS SUSTAINING
Project Green brings gardens and outdoor art to schools and youth communities in El Dorado County. Operating in Rescue Union, Latrobe, Gold Oak, Placerville Union, and El Dorado Union school districts, as well as at Boys and Girls Club Western Slope and Summitview’s youth-at-risk facility in El Dorado Hills, Project Green has participants ranging from TK to 12th grade. “We serve an estimated 8,500 students,” says founder Gina Johnston.
Gina Johnston, Hudson, and Kristin McKelvey
GINA, WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO START PROJECT GREEN?
Five years ago, I began noticing that children were spending less time connecting with nature, participating in creative play, or engaging in hands-on learning during the school day. Many existing school gardens had become neglected. I created Project Green to help revitalize and support school garden programs throughout El Dorado County. One of the missions is to transform underused outdoor spaces into educational gardens where students can learn, explore, collaborate, and reconnect with the natural world. Project Green encourages healthy habits, environmental stewardship, creativity, and a stronger sense of belonging.
HOW DOES PROJECT GREEN FILL A MISSING NEED?
We offer recess garden programs, counseling corners, and outdoor science curriculum. We have garden coordinators at every site. We’ve also been able to connect with different organizations in the community, like Boy Scout Troop 645—they’ve completed over 15 Eagle Scout projects in our gardens!
HOW HAS PROJECT GREEN GROWN AND WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON?
We have expanded to schools outside Rescue Union School District, where it all began. We couldn’t do this without the support and guidance from the El Dorado Community Foundation and Latrobe Fund. Recently, Project Green has expanded through a partnership with Lora Watts of Project Luma, a professional muralist who works directly with students to create vibrant outdoor art installations. Together these projects transform plain blacktops into “cool tops,” which can reduce surface temperatures by as much as 30 degrees, making our schoolyards more comfortable and usable during our hot seasons. This collaboration blends art and nature in a powerful way, giving students hands-on creative expression, deepening their connection to place, and encouraging pride and ownership in their school spaces.
PLEASE DESCRIBE A DAY IN THE FIELD/SCHOOLYARD.
Most of our gardens are open during lunch recess for every grade. This allows students who don’t normally play traditional recess activities a chance to work in their school garden. They can rake, weed,
Oak Ridge Garden Completed
Green Valley Elementary
Oak Ridge Garden Ground Break
plant, water, compost—whatever is on that day’s list of to-dos. We also offer students art projects to help beautify their spaces. Having the garden open during recess gives them a safe place to land.
WHAT HAPPENS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR SEASONALLY?
The gardens follow a natural rhythm that mirrors the curriculum and the climate. In the fall, students prepare soil, plant cool season crops, and learn about composting and garden planning. Winter is a quieter time of observation and maintenance; students study weather patterns and plant dormancy and plant winter crops. They also prepare the beds for spring. As temperatures warm in spring, the gardens come alive with rapid growth, pollinator activity, and hands-on lessons in biology, nutrition, and ecology. By late spring/ early summer, students harvest crops, eat and celebrate their work, and reflect on the full cycle of growth, understanding firsthand how food systems and natural ecosystems evolve. Students also participate in grant writing. They share their experiences, articulate program needs, and take ownership in sustaining and expanding their school garden initiatives.
WHAT ABOUT WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT FOR SUMMER?
Each garden coordinator reaches out to their community families, and they sign up to help throughout the summer.
WHAT ELSE DO STUDENTS DO WITH PROJECT GREEN BESIDES DIG AND PLANT AND WATER?
We incorporate outdoor art, campus beautification projects, and grant writing. We also have hydroponic gardens at some of our schools. We also encourage many of these projects to be student-led, and it’s so rewarding to watch it build students’ confidence.
CAN YOU SHARE ANY SPECIFIC STORIES FROM THE STUDENTS?
We have many “lunch hour loyalists,” like one of my students, Hudson. After moving from the Bay Area, this quiet second-grader discovered the garden during one of his first days at his new school. Pulling weeds helped him calm down, and
Jackson Elementary Farmers Market
his connection was made. Once middle school came around, he continued to choose the garden every single lunch . Not because he didn’t have friends—because he did . They came with him. The garden became their hangout spot, their “friendship bench,” their place to laugh, talk, and decompress. He received a “Gardener of the Year” award at his eighth-grade promotion. Now he is starting at Oak Ridge High School as a freshman who will visit the garden every day during his flex period. Hudson has shown how the garden becomes a third space—not home, not classroom, but a place where kids feel like themselves.I also have some absolutely priceless quotes and comments from students, like “I want to do this forever!” “Dig deep to fill your heart!” “This is the best day of my life.” “It’s so peaceful here. I don’t want to leave.”
HOW CAN PEOPLE/ BUSINESSES HELP?
Currently we need support for an upcoming project at Marina Village Middle School. The outdoor basketball/PE courts blacktop is cracked and needs new asphalt. Lora Watts/Project Luma will work her magic with cooling paint and designs. We also constantly need supplies ranging from fence supplies to gardening tools. We have had many generous local landscaping companies donate truckloads of mulch and soil, and families often donate plants or seeds. We also accept monetary donations on our website.
WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING?
Seeing how the garden benefits students is what keeps me going. Not only is there an educational benefit, but to see the social/emotional benefits is definitely the most rewarding.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD ABOUT PROJECT GREEN?
I’m so grateful for all of our dedicated community partners, including RUSD, Boy Scouts, Boys Team Charity, Boys and Girls Club Western Slope, Oak Ridge High School’s student-led nonprofit One Green Step, Latrobe Fund, El Dorado Community Foundation, Women’s Fund, Assistance League, Home Depot, and local families.
For more information and to volunteer or support Project Green, contact Gina Johnston at projectgreenedc@gmail.com or go to projectgreencommunity.org.
Vermicompost
Summer’s End Bucket List
This month, savor the final days of the school break with some local fun
As summer vacation winds down and the calendar closes in on the first day of school, families looking to capture some last-minute adventure have plenty of opportunities in the region. Here are some ideas.
FOR YOUNGER KIDS (TODDLERS–10)
Explore a Storybook World
Visit Fairytale Town in Sacramento’s venerable Land Park, where kids walk the Crooked Mile and climb through nursery-rhyme-themed play sets and gardens (think The Old Woman in a Shoe slide, King Arthur’s Castle, the Pirate Ship, and The Little Engine That Could). Also, they can admire farm animals including the Three Little Pigs and Mary’s Little Lambs.
ARTICLE
Ride Every Ride at an Old-Fashioned Amusement Park
Also in Land Park, Funderland Amusement Park, a Sacramento tradition since 1946, features 10 rides specifically for younger children. Ride the gentle Flying Dragon roller coaster, soar on the Squirrelly Whirl, spin on the Crazy Teacups, fly the Red Baron planes and Oscar the Fisher, drive the buggies, and ride the train and the classic carousel. Challenge the kids to try them all!
Splash Around at Peter Bertelsen Memorial Park
El Dorado Hills’ newest splash pad awaits, firefighting-themed with a tall water tower. Kids can run through water features, tackle the playground’s cool slides, and enjoy one last carefree summer afternoon before school routines return.
BY KRISTA MINARD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY VARIOUS
Courtesy Leatherby’s Family Creamery
Spend a Day Being Curious
At Sacramento Children’s Museum in Rancho Cordova, kids from birth through age 8 explore hands-on exhibits, pretend play areas, and interactive learning stations. With 20 exhibits including spaces for creative pursuits in art and theater as well as STEM-based activities (including a wind tunnel), the museum invites imaginations to soar.
Head for the Library
El Dorado County libraries maintain a long list of activities for children. At the EDH branch in August, for babies birth to 24 months: Crawl Space and Mother Goose on the Loose, lap-sit storytime with music, movement, rhyming, and more. For 3- to 5-year-olds, Early Literacy Storytime includes books and rhymes. All ages are welcome to come to Pet Partners to read to therapy dogs.
FOR OLDER KIDS & TEENS (AGES 10–18)
Hike to Waterfalls in Placer County
At Hidden Falls Regional Park, visitors can hike 30-plus miles of pretty trails that run alongside Coon and Deadman’s creeks. At the viewing platform, water tumbles over the cliffside boulders. Meanwhile, at nearby Auburn State Recreation Area, where the Middle and North forks of the American River converge, hit the trail to Lake Clementine; there, the North Fork Dam creates a spectacular cascade.
Stand Above the American River Canyon
Also at the Confluence, Foresthill Bridge treats crossers to the most dramatic views in Northern California. It’s a great photo op! Soaring 730 feet above the river, the bridge has the tallest deck height in California.
Cruise Lake Natoma
With a maximum on-water speed of 5 mph, serene Lake Natoma welcomes paddlers in kayaks and canoes, and on stand-up boards. Off Hazel Avenue, Sacramento State Aquatic Center is the region’s go-to spot for equipment rentals and lessons in sailing, paddling, windsurfing, water skiing, and wakeboarding.
Walk Where California’s Gold Rush Began
At Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma, explore where gold was first found in the American River. With walking tours, gold panning lessons, a working blacksmith shop, and hands-on exhibits and historic sites, the park also includes the El Dorado Trail, with easy sections for biking and walking.
Ride Bikes Along the American River Parkway
Cruise one of Northern California’s most scenic paved bike trails, featuring river views, shaded paths, wildlife sightings, and plenty of spots to stop and explore.
Courtesy Visit Sacramento
Courtesy Visit Sacramento
Courtesy PhotoSpirit
Coloma, courtesy Visit El Dorado
Foresthill Bridge, courtesy Visit Sacramento
Sacramento State Aquatic Center, credit Robert Neep
American River Parkway, courtesy Visit Sacramento
FOR EVERYBODY
Get Cheap Seats at Regal
Through Aug. 13, Regal El Dorado at Town Center runs its Summer Movie Express—$1 seats at 11 a.m., plus $3 off concession Snack Packs and Dippin’ Dots. Movies in August: “Charlie the Wonderdog,” “Despicable Me 4,” “The Sandlot,” and “Muppets: Treasure Island.”
Discover Trains at California State Railroad Museum
Journey into Old Sac to visit the world-class railroad museum, where exhibits and excursion train rides celebrate our railroads. With trains that kids (and adults) can climb aboard and peek inside and storyboards detailing railroad history and current events, the museum is a full day of entertainment.
“Foresthill Bridge treats crossers to the most dramatic views in Northern California.”
Pick Berries at Apple Hill
Check with Apple Hill Growers’ you-pick farms to see if berries are still fruiting—it all depends on summer temps. Typically, August sees raspberries and blackberries. This is a great morning activity and a chance to experience Apple Hill before fall crowds arrive.
Douse the Day at Steve Miklos Aquatic Center
Hit recreational swim afternoons at Folsom’s aquatic center, with its beach-entry play-structure pool for the littles and big slide, diving boards, and inflatables for older kids. (Inflatables are weekends only after Aug. 5.)
Catch the Sunset at Kalithea Park
With views of Folsom Lake and surrounding hills, Kalithea Park tops a pretty neighborhood off Ridgeview Drive. Its grassy ball field, play structures, and a small rocky forest provide plenty of places to watch the sun drop.
Scream for Ice Cream at Leatherby’s
Single, double, triple, split, sundae . . . Leatherby’s Family Creamery in Folsom serves it up. Go for lunch, dinner, or just for dessert. The whole family will be overjoyed.
Photo Credits
Thank you to the following that provided photos: Leatherby’s Family Creamery
Visit Sacramento
Visit El Dorado
Visit Sacramento
PhotoSpirit
Robert Neep
TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
ON MARRIAGE, KIDS, AND THE COMEDY OF REAL LIFE
Trey Kennedy makes a living finding comedy in regular life. Marriage. Toddlers. Yoga pants. The Thursday-night scramble between school dropoffs, soccer practice, and whatever has to be done by morning. Twelve years in, it shows: millions of followers across every platform, three stand-up specials, a sold-out Relatable Tour, and a style of humor fans send each other captioned, “Are you watching me?” He delivers the kind of comedy that travels because everyone’s living some version of it.
Katie, his wife of six years, is a former biomedical engineer who also built a modeling career. She’s now raising their kids and co-hosting Correct Opinions alongside Trey — the show where the two of them swap takes on marriage, parenting, and whatever came up that week.
Trey has been at this longer than people realize. An Edmond, Oklahoma kid who grew up playing basketball described himself as a “shy kid who never thought he’d be an entertainer.” He started making videos while attending Oklahoma State University. After building millions of followers on Vine before the platform shut down, he gave himself six months on Instagram and Facebook to see whether he could rebuild from zero. He did. Stand-up soon followed. His first special, Are You For Real?, streams on YouTube; the second, Grow Up, on Amazon Prime; the third, built around the Relatable Tour, wrapped earlier this year. “I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now,” he says. A slow climb, made one bit at a time.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
JANIE
“I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now.”
Most of what Trey writes lately starts in his own kitchen. Thomas is three and a half, and he is, in his father’s words, “a movie.” He narrates his own life from the moment his eyes open and mispronounces words in ways his parents now repeat to each other because no one else would believe them. His younger sister, Eva, is what Katie calls “the calm one.” With a third now in the mix, the Kennedys are officially outnumbered.
After six years of marriage, Trey and Katie have learned that the partnership runs best when it gets its own time on the calendar. So once a week, they leave the kids with a sitter and go out for coffee. “You need a system,” Katie says. “It’s about taking time to look each other in the eye. Not the kids. Not the cameras. Just each other.”
The same instinct shapes the work. Most of Trey’s trial and error happens onstage or on Instagram, but the first read is always Katie’s. “There’s only been one time ever I’ve had to be like, ‘you’re not doing that,’” she says. The rest of the time, she just laughs first.
FEATURING TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
Trey and Katie talk about marriage, parenting, and the moments that don’t make the Instagram feed.
Watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
JONES HAIR & MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
THROUGH AUGUST 8TH
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
El Dorado Musical Theatre Presents “42nd Street”
Harris Center – Folsom Lake College
Through Aug. 8, “42nd Street” celebrates Broadway, Times Square, and show biz with pizzazz. Aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer from Allentown, PA, lands her first job in the ensemble of a glitzy new Broadway show. When the leading lady breaks her ankle, will Peggy step in and become a star? The score is chock-full of Broadway favorites. edmt.info
AUGUST 6TH, 13TH, 20TH, 27TH
Live on the Boulevard
EDH Town Center Amphitheater | 5:30 PM
Every Thursday evening during summer, Town Center’s signature summer concert series brings the community together for free live music. This month’s bands include Journey Unauthorized (8/6) and The Spazmatics (8/27). Also this month: a local karaoke talent competition (8/13) and a special night with Folsom Lake Symphony, conducted by Peter Jaffe (8/20). edhtowncenter.com
AUGUST 8TH
The Vineyard Market
Everhart Cellars – 5821 Highway 49, Pilot Hill | 11:30 AM
Shop, sip, and taste at this boutique market featuring local artisan vendors. Cousins Maine Lobster truck will be on-site, and wine tastings and wine by the class or bottle are available. Vendors include The Crazy Gringo Taco Wagon Salsa Co., Sweet Dreams Confections, Sister Loaves, JoJo & Loretta, Capones Helping Paws, S&K Jewels, Laugh Your Glass Off, and Touchstone Crystal. everhartcellars.com
AUGUST 14TH
An Evening With Jake’s Journey Home
Folsom Community Center – 52 Natoma Street, Folsom | 5:00 PM
Support unhoused and at-risk veterans and community members on their journey toward healing, stability, and renewed purpose at this annual fundraiser for Jake’s Journey Home. Hear inspiring stories of resilience and transformation, listen to great music, and enjoy dinner by Orangevale’s O’Connors Wood Fire Grill. $80 ticket includes dinner. vetsjourney.com/events
AUGUST 21ST
CSD’s Summer Concert
EDH Community Park – 1021 Harvard Way | 7:00 PM
All summer long, the Summer Concert Series rocks EDH Community Park the third Friday of each month. This month, get ready to move to the best of Take 2 Dance Band, playing classics from the 1960s through now, and always open to requests. Bring your blanket, lawn chair, and snacks! eldoradohillscsd.org
AUGUST 22ND
Taste of Town Center
EDH Town Center – The Atrium Gallery | 5:00 PM
A collaborative community event featuring open houses with tastings, samples, demos, and more, Taste of Town Center takes place throughout the center. Start out in the lobby of Atrium Gallery, where Hot August Days, a juried exhibition with two-dimensional artworks inspired by summertime highlights El Dorado Hills Arts Association artists. edhtowncenter.com
Homemade Dog Food
ARTICLE BY AMY TINNIN PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
My two pugs are more than pets—they’re part of the family. That’s why I started making their food at home, and it’s been one of the most popular posts on my blog. You may be surprised just how easy this recipe is. I add all the ingredients to my slow-cooker to cook, and my dogs love it. If you decide to try this recipe for your pet, please consult your veterinarian. Every dog has different needs based on age, weight, and any health issues. You can even share this recipe with your vet to see if any changes are needed. The ingredients are flexible and can be easily swapped to substitute the turkey for chicken or beef, and even try different dog-safe vegetables. Making dog food at home isn’t hard—it just takes a little planning, and my dogs love it.
Slow Cooker
Homemade Dog Food
INGREDIENTS:
• 3 lbs ground turkey (85% lean)
• 1¼ cups frozen sweet potatoes
• 1½ cups frozen peas and carrots
• 1 cup frozen spinach
• 1½ cups uncooked brown or white rice
• 4 cups water
DIRECTIONS:
1. Add all ingredients to a slow cooker.
2. Break up the ground turkey and mix all the ingredients.
3. Cover and cook on High for 3–4 hours or Low for 6 hours, stirring occasionally.
Note: My dog food was ready in 3½ hours on High. Let cool completely before serving. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freeze for later use.
Recipe from Amy Tinnin - A Cup Full of Sass
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