Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Wordless Wednesday: All About the Moms!

I am a Mom. And a Grandmom. And a Pet Mom. I got it covered, folks! Just ask the furkids. 

Wordless Wednesday: Chicken Soup for the dogs

Chicken soup is not only for the soul. Sometimes it's for...the belly. Even in dreams. Here is our Olive, snoring on a big fluffy bed (Twiggy's bed, actually)...dreaming of chicken soup. Oh, she does love chicken soup! 

(as does Emily...of course!)

Happy Wordless Wednesday folks.

First take on our new Vimtag "pet surveillance" camera

This post is sponsored by Vimtag. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the camera, but everyone knows Scratchings and Sniffings only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Vimtag is not responsible for the content of this article.

 

Still image of Emily lounging by the fireplace

 

Hey everybody, Tom here. I don't get a chance to post here very often, but Yvonne asked me to let you know about our initial experience with this new gizmo, since I'm the one who plays with our new tech toys most.

And this one is fun! The image at the top shows Emily sleeping peacefully, which is what you want to see when you're out somewhere checking on them right? ;-D

The second shot shows me waving at the camera while snapping the still photo from it by clicking on the app from my laptop. The HD image quality is one of the several pleasant surprises from my first experience using it.

And if you compare the two, you get some idea of how far you can pan the camera, also using the remote control on the app.

The basics

Sorry for getting excited. Starting over ... the Vimtag IP Camera VT-351 is available from Amazon for $99, as a single camera. You can also buy multi-camera packages, but we just received the one for review.

The camera itself came fully assembled. The power and ethernet cables just needed to be plugged in and the wireless antenna screwed on. An optional wall-mounting bracket came with it, but we're not using that (yet). The user manual walked me through starting it up and setting up our account on the MIPCM.com website, which allows you to control the camera from anywhere.

I messed up following the setup steps, by not connecting the ethernet cable to our network, because I wanted to use the Wi-Fi connection. But that gave the Vimtag tech support folks a chance to shine. I called in, the first person I spoke with said he'd have a "Level 2" support person call me, and in about 10 minutes, they followed through. The Level 2 guy guided me through the rest of the setup quickly and stayed on the line while we tested everything.

When I thanked him, he asked if I'd bought the camera on Amazon and be willing to give it a review — which reminded me that I had not mentioned I'd received the camera from them in order to do a review. So the excellent support I experienced was not influenced by that relationship.

After getting through the camera and online account setup, I was able to play a little, panning the camera up and down and through it's well over 180 degree viewing angles. And the microphone and speakers in the camera worked well from my laptop.

Next tests

I need to get a micro-SD card to record some video and, of course, go out to someplace off site to test how all this works as a way to keep eyes and ears on the dogs and cat. Not to mention how they react when we try talking to them through the camera!

We wanted the camera mainly as a pet safety and security tool, of course. But who knows, maybe we'll catch them doing something outrageously cute or funny and post a viral YouTube video, eh? Smile for the camera you three!

 

Should be fun and we might just have a chance to try it while we're out over the next few days. Stay tuned!

Wordless Wednesday: It's All About the Walk

Can't we go for our walk now? Can't we, please? Pretty please? I promise I'll be good (unless I see a rabbit).

It's all fun and games until she sees a rabbit! 

10 Ways Having a Pet Makes You Better, Smarter, Funner

Olive Emily and Pandora, sharing a couch

I know 'funner' is not a word. So be it. I didn't like 'more fun'. It didn't fit with the way the title flowed. Does this mean I am using privilege to invent words - because I am a writer, a blogger, a business owner... and I feel the entitlement to invent words? Yes. So there.

Here are 10 Ways Having a Pet Makes You Better, Smarter and More Fun... to be accurate...

1. Having a pet makes you approachable out in public.

    Yes, people notice your pet before they notice you. They see a cute dog, or they see a cat in a stroller, or a ferret on a leash, and suddenly, they are interested in you, the human accompanying the pet. Make no mistake, while you may control the leash, and by doing so, think you are controlling the pet, the truth is... the pet is in charge. They got you out when you had tons of other things to do, didn't they? Admit it. They are in charge.

Preparing to send/receive

Why can't we walk Right NOW?

How much time do we spend waiting? Waiting at red lights annoys Tom the most. I don't mind red lights so much. It gives me a chance to pause and reflect on my surroundings. 

Waiting in line at the grocery store... does get my ire up. But, it's a part of everyday life so I accept it and always curse myself silently because I tend to pick the WRONG line, almost every time. Sigh. 

Waiting for my email client to "send/receive" makes me crazy. Why does it sometimes need to "prepare" to send/receive, and other times it just does what it's supposed to do!

Waiting for content to download on the internet makes me wild.

Wordless Wednesday: Living the Good Life

I am so comfy... this bed is my favorite!

Emily says...This is MY favorite bed...sometimes.

Wordless Wednesday: Kitty Wonders...

Kitty wonders - what the xyz is going on? 

But, as long as litter box is clean and food is delivered, she will let the dogs stress about it.

They better keep all this junk up here, out of my area in the basement!

A FAT Wordless Wednesday In the Sun

Ok... maybe FAT is too harsh. How about porky? Or, chubby? Or, just comfy? That's our Olive all the way.

Relaxing on lazy Sunday morning. Ah! that sun feels good.

The Year in Photos

Can't help but share... on this Wordless Wednesday, last of the year for 2014. 

First week in the new house. The dogs love the fireplace.

My boy. I miss him so much!

 

I see what you have. It's a treat. Is it for me?

Molly keeping Tom company while he works.