1 Here we are all ready to take a road trip to Lily Pond, our home in East Hampton. The three of us are sitting comfortably in the back seat in the Car Seat Hammock.

2 Before leaving, we packed up supplies in the Doggie Day Care Kit.

3 It's lightweight with storage for pet accessories and food.

4 In the zippered bottom compartment, we packed the Silicone Travel Bowl.

5 And of course, food went into the upper storage area of the Doggie Day Care Kit.

6 We also packed the 2-in-1 Travel Bowl, which flattens and snaps closed for easy storage and transport. The two bowls open out - one for food and another lined bowl to accommodate water.

7 The drawstring closure can store dry food for later use, and a side pocket offers additional storage for treats. We LOVE that aspect!

8 This is the Folding Pet Carrier that comes in different sizes. It has a sturdy frame that folds flat.

9 We thought we'd take Vivaldi with us. He really liked the Folding Pet Carrier.

10 And let's not forget the Piped Pillow Bed with its machine-washable cover and its extra-comfort sleep surface.

11 This Piped Pillow Bed folds up for easy transport.

12 I, Francesca, am wearing the Dog Lifejacket. I'm anxious to go swimming in the pool at Lily Pond. This fashionable number is perfect for boating, fishing, swimming, or beach visits, and it even has a top handle for lifting.

13 As you may know, I, Sharkey, don't like the water and I'd rather play with the 3-Ring Rope, which exercises the mouth and promotes healthy teeth and gums.

14 There's Vivaldi in the front seat. Now we just need Uncle Carlos to start driving.

1 Martha's been away in Cannes, France, attending the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, the world's biggest celebration of creativity in communications.

2 Because she's on her way home, we Frenchies have been told that we must have baths so that we smell good for her arrival. Sharkey says it's not like we have a choice in the matter!

3 Uncle Carlos is filling the wash sink with warm water.

4 Carlos, you know I don't like being bathed! Why are you doing this to me?

5 Oh no! The drenching!

6 And now the shampoo! If I could only escape!

7 Say, that doesn't feel so bad. In fact, I'm beginning to relax a bit.

8 OK, I'm nearly done with the water bit.

9 I just don't understand why Sharkey gets herself all worked up about bath time. For me, it's a very enjoyable experience.

10 Thank goodness! Dry land!

11 Carlos, I've been waiting very patiently for this.

12 You see, Sharkey? This is what a relaxed Frenchie looks like.

13 What's so special about a bath?

14 Well, the shampoo smells really good and it helps to sooth our Frenchie skin.

15 Oh no! Now for the ear wash!

16 Next time, I'm going to find a really good hiding place.

17 Sharkey, bathing plays an important role in the health of our coat and skin. It removes dirt and parasites and of course, it makes us more pleasant smelling to our human companions.

18 Franny, yes, I know all of that, but I don't think I'll ever change my mind about bath time. All this fuss is just too much for me.

19 And Sharkey, because of the twisty, curvy design of our inner ears, it’s easy for parasites, bacteria, and yeast to hide and thrive in them. You should be very appreciative that we have such attentive and loving care givers.

20 Here we are! Two beautifully clean Frenchies!

21 Now all we have to do is wait for Martha to come home.

1 Francesca! Come and see this magazine, Equestrian Quarterly. These covers are beautiful!

2 Yes, Sharkey, I've heard about EQ. They say that it's a comprehensive celebration of the equestrian lifestyle – the fascinating people, exciting locations, and magnificent homes.

3 Maybe that would explain why there are people in the stable with a photographer taking pictures! Perhaps our stable will be featured in this magazine!

4 Sharkey, there's the photographer shooting all of the tack.

5 The lens in now pointing in our direction. Franny, that's George Kamper, a rather famous photographer and EQ Photography Director.

6 How does it look, Mr. Kamper? If it's not perfect, we're happy to pose some more.

7 We noticed you have a section in the magazine called 'Barn Dogs.' We wouldn't mind one bit if you featured us.

8 Yes, the boxwood allee is very impressive, but may I suggest that you walk further down and take a photo with the stable in the background? It's a very dramatic shot!

9 You must be the Editor and Creative Director, Stephanie Peters. We're very glad to meet you.

10 And this nice fellow is the Publisher, Wynn Medinger. There's something about you that dogs just love, isn't there?

11 Say, can we get a group shot for our blog, The Daily Wag?

12 Nice!!!

1 Oh, my goodness, we've finally had a little reprieve from the rain. It feels great to be outdoors feeling the warmth of the sun.

2 You know, Francesca, where many plants benefit from a decent rainfall, there is a family of plants that need very little water to survive.

3 Do you remember when Ryan planted sedum in the cracks and crevices of this stone wall? Sedums are succulents, characterized by their fleshy leaves that store the water they need to grow.

4 This kind of planting is called pocket gardening and sedums, also called stonecrop, love growing this way.

5 Last summer, Ryan tamped growing mix into the crevices, gently pushed the sedum roots in and covered them with more potting mix.

6 It's obvious from so much new growth and with flowers forming, that this sedum is quite content growing here.

7 There are hundreds of varieties of sedum and they offer foliage from many shades of green, to blue, to yellow, to red. This variegated one is especially pretty.

8 Flowers can be white, pink, lavender, purple, yellow, red, orange, bronze, or light green and have a star-like shape. This stonecrop will soon bear yellow flowers.

9 Drought tolerant sedums have a creeping nature and spread quite quickly.

10 Sedums can flourish in the poorest soil. In fact, poor or little soil is actually what they prefer.

11 It's important to know that good drainage is the key. Too much moisture, especially standing water, will kill these plants.

12 So, if you're looking for a lovely plant that practically takes care of itself, a creeping sedum may be the perfect specimen for you!

1 Seems that since I've met Frances, I'm aware of squirrels everywhere! This one was painted on a van in NYC!

2 In fact, I've even begun collecting squirrel memorabilia since meeting Frances!

3 ... I've found all sorts of 'Frances-like' figurines!

4 Maggie sends me updates and new photos regularly! Look how grown up she is now!

5 Remember Bumper? He was tiny and orphaned around the same time as Frances. He is recovering well and regaining his strength...

6 ...alongside the others in her care! This is an especially busy time of year with little ones who need critical help to heal and survive. (Injured mama opossums often have live babies hidden in their pouch that need immediate care)

7 Now that they are able to open hard nuts, climb well and build a nest- Frances and Lucky will transition to their next adventure this coming weekend...

8 They will be going to an outside enclosure with some other friends and will stay there for about 2 weeks getting used to the climate, sounds, etc. They also must demonstrate enough natural fear/caution when Maggie opens the cage to remain safe around humans.

9 Then Maggie will open the release windows so they can come and go until they establish their own territory. She will put food out and watch as they become increasingly independent!

10 Here is our Frances just this morning! I bet her mama would be super proud of her girl- I know I am!

11 I feel so fortunate to have played even a small role in mothering her- along with her late squirrel mama, her human mama Maggie, and Mother Nature.

1 This is my friend, Joyce.

2 This was my favorite of Joyce's Bull Mastiffs, Maximilian. Max was given a miniature of himself by his Aunt Lorraine for Christmas one year.

3 The last Bull Mastiff Joyce owed was the regal Stone Cold Jackson. He was a brindle color which is a striped overlay over the basic coat color.

4 Black Jack, here with his toy pheasant, was a champion field dog and became the perfect new companion for Joyce.

5 After getting used to a house filled with area rugs and furniture, Jack found it easy to hang out in the kitchen with all his toys, inherited from his Bull Mastiff brothers.

6 His favorite toy was his bee which was a present from Aunt Kate. This toy was from the first collection of Martha Stewart Pets.

7 His new relaxing life included a comfortable bed to enjoy the outdoor weather – never far from his new companion, Joyce.

8 When it was time to nap, the bee was always by Jack’s side.

9 Jack was very loyal to the family favorite football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers and had his own Steeler blanket for naps.

10 This is Bella with her 4 puppies - 3 males and 1 female.

11 Bobby and Lin took the puppies to the vet for their first checkup and shots.

12 The puppies grew and had fun playing with each other. Bo Jangles, on the left is the one Joyce selected. Dayton, on the right, went to a wonderful home in Springfield, Ill.

13 Dayton and Ranger loved carrying their toys outside to play in the planters.

14 Bo Jangles became an avid swimmer and was equipped with his own life jacket.

15 Soon, the pheasant toy that belonged to his Grandfather, Jack, became a favorite toy to take swimming with him.

16 Three generations of English Springer Spaniels now enjoy spending their days together - Black Jack, the grandfather, Bella, the mother, and Bo jangles, the grandson.

17 The dogs got a renovation to their sleeping room. The room was painted red and numerous dog prints were collected to surround them with many friendly faces while they slept.

18 Black Jack is 15 years old now and has been the perfect Special Companion for my friend, Joyce. I hope that everyone celebrates their friends and the special companions in their lives.

1 Sharkey, here's a stack of fancy gold-rimmed drabware dinner plates.

2 And here a menu, which sounds really good. 1st course: fettucine with wild mushrooms – 2nd course: solf shell crabs, lemon butter, garden vegetables, baby carrots, asparagus – Dessert: lemon tart with fraises de bois

3 There are silver pieces and lovely, fragrant peonies decorating the servery. One fantastic bloom per glass is so elegant.

4 Francesca, all of this can only mean that Martha is having another dinner party.

5 In fact, upon further investigation, I've found a stack of fancy linen napkins fastened with silver napkin rings.

6 It appears that Laura Acuna is setting one of her beautiful tables here in the brown room. That must mean that Pierre is doing the cooking. Let's go and check the flower room kitchen.

7 Sharkey, we were right! Pierre is preparing tonight's dinner.

8 Pierre, what do you have planned for these amazing porcini mushrooms?

9 Oh, I see. You're going to make a creamy mushroom sauce for the fettucini, which you'll be mixing up next.

10 Franny, Pierre has rolled out the pastry for the lemon tarts and he's getting ready to prebake them. Prebaking a pie crust is also known as blind baking.

11 After rolling out the dough and fitting it to your pan, you line it with parchment paper and weigh it down with dried beans or pie weights to keep its shape while baking.

12 And here are some more peonies and those freshly picked fraises de bois, that will be served with the lemon tart.

13 Fraises du bois is French for "strawberries from the woods." These small, delicate berries come from forests, where they grow naturally. We are fortunate to have a nice little patch at the farm.

14 Another important step when entertaining is to decorate with beautiful houseplants. Ryan appears to be on top of that situation.

15 Ryan, you take such good care of Martha's houseplants and decorate so nicely with them. I wish we could help you carry them inside. I guess we Frenchies will just stick to the supervisory position.

1 Francesca, did you know that the great blue heron stands about 4-feet tall and has a wingspan of about 7-feet?

2 That's right, Sharkey. It's called 'great' because it's the largest member of the heron family found in North America.

3 The great blue is a majestic wading bird having extremely long stick-like legs. It also has a very long neck and a dagger-like yellow bill.

4 It's feathers are mostly gray-blue in color and during breeding season, it develops long black plumes that trail down the neck. You can see those plumes in this photo, so it must be breeding season.

5 This bird is found in swamps, marshes, shores, and tidal flats, in all regions of the country – basically, where ever the fishing is good.

6 The heron hunts for fish by standing motionless, like a statue, in the water.

7 When an unsuspecting fish swims near, the heron snaps out its neck with lightening-fast speed and stabs its long sharp bill through the water to impale the fish.

8 The bird then tosses the fish into the air, catches it, and swallows it, headfirst.

9 Although fish is their preferred food, great blue herons will also consume frogs, small mammals, reptiles, crayfish, large insects, and occasionally even other birds!

10 The females lay three to five pale greenish-blue eggs and you can see little heads poking up out of the nest in this photo.

11 Both parents protect and incubate the chicks, which can survive on their own by about two months of age.

12 Great blue herons are solitary hunters, but when nesting and raising their young, they’re very social. They build their nests high in trees in large colonies, called rookeries, nearby shallow waters where fishing is good.

1 Sharkey, do you see who's lurking in the grass by the apple espalier?

2 It's Empress Tang and it looks like she's up to no good.

3 Well, Franny, she is awfully close to a certain area that....

4 Many birds frequent.

5 The bird feeders are very popular with many of our local birds. Martha likes to fill the feeders with an assortment of seeds to attract as many different birds as possible.

6 Some varieties of birds are ground feeders, preferring to peck at the seeds that fall there from the feeders. Those are the ones who are in danger of Empress Tang.

7 We blogged about our inbred prey drive the other day. Cats, too, are born with a hunting and chasing instinct. In fact, kittens are programmed from birth to chase.

8 I remember when Tang was just a kitten and how much she liked to play with her toys. Through play, she developed coordination and timing, which is necessary to successfully capture a target.

9 She learned how to adjust her speed and how to gauge distance by pouncing. With all that play, Tang learned how to fine-tune her hunting skills.

10 In the wild, a mother cat teaches her kittens to kill for food. Her first lesson is to bring home dead prey and eat it while the kittens watch. Soon, they join in on the feast.

11 For the next lesson, a mother cat will bring home dead prey and leave it for the kittens to eat on their own. Hey! Where's Tang going?

12 Then, the mother brings home partially dead prey and finishes off the kill in front of the kittens. The kittens are then allowed to practice their skills and learn to kill the wounded, slow-moving prey themselves.

13 Gradually more prey is brought home until the kittens become skilled at catching and killing them. And finally the kittens accompany the mother and learn to hunt and kill completely on their own.

14 Many cats perform this same lesson on their human owners by bringing home dead prey and dropping it at the owners' feet.

15 Now where is she going?

16 I guess all this talk about prey and killing got to Tang. She's probably going inside for some of that Fancy Feast, or whatever it is that cats eat!

1 As I drove Frances to meet Maggie, the wildlife rehabilitation specialist who would prepare her for her eventual release into the wild, I assured her she was in good hands.

2 ...And I told her that she would always be welcome in our home if she needed us!

3 Upon meeting Maggie- I knew she would look out for Frances- she had the training and skills needed to get Frances on the right path...

4 Maggie had rehabilitated many squirrels and other wildlife who were now happily back in the wild- free- as nature meant for them to be!

5 It was not easy to leave Frances with Maggie- I missed her already but I knew it was what was best for her.

6 I gave Maggie a gift I'd made for her as a token of thanks for providing a link in the chain that would assure Frances's freedom.

7 Within hours of having Frances, Maggie sent me this photo of her having her first formula- choc full' of nutrients similar to what her own mama would have provided for her!

8 Frances is now able to sip up her formula on her own!

9 Maggie works with all sorts of wildlife- like this little fox! One of her goals for Frances is to socialize her with other squirrels in similar circumstances- she will then be released with into the wild with her new friends.

10 This little guy came to Maggie for care the day after Frances did- she named him Bumper...

11 Once Maggie felt Frances was ready- she was carefully introduced to others close to her age...

12 It is important that wildlife be taught the same kinds of skills that they would ordinarily learn from there own parents in the wild...

13 Frances and Lucky bonded immediately - they have started looking out for one another already!

14 The day that Frances cracked a nut on her own was a big one! This means she is learning the critical skills needed to care for herself in the wild...

15 Wildlife rehabilitators (like Janet, above) are well trained regarding the needs of various species. While Janet often must handle orphaned youngsters, in order to care for them- she cautions against handling and socializing wildlife to humans overall as this can render them vulnerable and less apt to survive.

16 Frances has now taken on a protective role with Lucky- soon these BFFs will be re-released together and returned to the freedom that awaits them...