Thursday, December 31, 2009

Yard Sale and “Teacher”


In between getting most of the stuff sorted out and displayed on tables for the yard sale, Jay and I had to make a different place for Teacher to stay.

He was really trying to climb out of that 50 gallon Rubbermaid tub.  The cats tried to play with the sounds he made through the plastic, they were so funny!   He had been so used to wandering all over Jay’s fence yard,  but he had tried to hibernate in a roll of carpet foam under Jay's house, when it got cold.


So we got the plastic bathtub that came out of the Coronado travel trailer, and set him up in that, in the grooming room.  We made a hinged frame to fit around the top, stapled wire to it, so that we could cover it to keep the cats out of there.  Then we screwed an upright on the frame to clamp the heat lamp and thermometer.  So now he has a regular size bath tub, with the sand and coir to play in. 
He soon got bored with going around and around in there, so I gave him a box, open on each end, so he spends his time going in and out of it.  He is quite a character.  This summer when Jay would let him run loose on his mother's fenced deck, when Teacher heard me coming, he would waddle as fast he could, come up to me, and put his head up, asking for treats.

It was lovely weather today, and I was taking off layers of clothing as it got warmer.  I know my legs are tired from all the sorting onto different tables.  By 4.30 I had had enough so Ray helped me cover up all the outside tables, as it was going to get dark.

Even though it is New Years Eve, I still had yard sale customers, and got rid of some stuff today.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Getting “Teacher” Settled.


Today, Jay and I studied what we had to do to stop Teacher, (cos he ‘tort’ us), the tortoise,  from hibernating.  We had to go to Conroe to get him a heat/UVB bulb, and a brick of coir ( compressed coconut expandable substrate).

Finding the right bulb for less than $80+ was a several store search.  Finally we settled for a heat bulb, and Jay said he will walk him on the sunny days for his all important UV light.  We didn’t even know if we could bring him out of this pseudo hibernation state that he is in right now. But we fixed him up in a big container of sand and coir, with the heat light on him.

We didn’t get home until after 3 pm.  I hadn’t had any lunch, but was back on the road to our town to put out the signs for the yard sale, and run two errands for neighbors, before it got dark.


When I got back, the heat had done the trick, Teacher was wide awake, clamoring to get out of the 50 gallon Rubbermaid container!  I don’t mean to be gross, but he had also pooped, which meant he was not ready to hibernate, so we did a good thing.  They completely stop eating a while before they hibernate, so that their innards will be empty or they will get sick and die.

He was digging away at the sand mixture having a right good time, and the foster cats were fascinated.  After a while I had to turn the heat lamp off, so he would go to sleep for the night.

Which is what I need to do, a busy day.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Paddling around in Drizzle. Tortoise Rescue.

IF, and that is still, IF, I have the yard sale this weekend, I knew that there were a few things that I needed to get, and do, in the next town.  I can’t leave here once the sale gets going.

 Jay had a mess of clothes that he wanted to take to the “Designer’s Second Debut” consignment shop, so we put them all on hangers, and loaded them up on the back seat of the van.

 Jay hadn’t made provisions for his Russian tortoise with this cold weather.  It hadn’t been checked out for hibernation:

“Hibernation in captivity should not be attempted with a newly-acquired tortoise whose health is in question.  Every effort should be made to diagnose and treat injuries, disease and parasite problems prior to hibernation. Not only is the animal's metabolic rate reduced during hibernation, it immune system function is depressed, disease will progress during hibernation but at a reduced pace. A tortoise going into hibernation with a major disease will invariably deteriorate and may not survive. Temperature control is a factor in disease control. At 39° F (4° C), most disease organisms will cease to grow and multiply. However, at 45° F (7° C) disease organisms can reproduce quickly, causing the disease to progress rapidly.”


So this tortoise was supposed to be kept warm this winter, and not hibernate, as it had never been checked out.   I wasn’t going to let the poor thing suffer and die, so we brought it into the dog room, and set it up in a cage.  It isn’t in very good shape, so I hope he (Jay says it is a he) makes it.  Jay went out in my back yard to get him some dandelion leaves, and I gave him a tiny bit of banana, but he isn’t up to eating yet.
Patches and Prime, my foster cats, were so intrigued that he had one each side of the cage putting their paws in there, trying to make him play with them.  They couldn’t reach him, but he ignored them anyway.  Prime is still sitting there watching him!


On our rounds in the rain, we stopped at Wal-Mart to return a cordless drill that I was given, as it wouldn’t hold a charge.  But as it came from a different area, the scan code didn’t show up.

As I had to get a new battery for my door bell, we went to Lowe’s, and the drill didn’t show up in their computers either. I will try Home Depot next, as I don’t know where it was bought.

A stop at Petco to get Bobcat some Wellness cat food and the tortoise some pellet food, lunch at Taco Cabana, then the resale shop.  They took most of the clothes, and the rest will go in the yard sale. 
A stop at HEB to get some spring greens that were on sale, plus other stuff.  “Teacher” (‘cos he ‘tort’ us) and I will share them.

Then another stop at Petsmart to buy the other food that Bobcat eats.  We looked at a tortoise they had there, which they said they just feed some veges each morning. And it looked good and healthy.  Then I found out that the tortoise pellets are really just corn meal for $8.66 !, so I haven't even opened it. I'll exchange it for some vitamins for him.

We even managed to go to a thrift shop, and Krogers, too!

So we spent most of our time rushing in and out of stores with umbrellas, getting our feet wet today.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Loose Screw! 100% Cotton?? Wolves.

The first thing Ray and I did was to take some things that had been sorted out yesterday, back up to the attic to their respective departments. 
We brought my lighted sign down, and the letters to go with it. I am hoping to hang it on it’s hooks under my eaves, to advertise the yard sale this weekend, if it isn’t too cold.  We ran a cord out of one of the grooming room windows, placed thick foam in the track, closed the window, covered that with duct tape, and stuck a stick so that the window could not be opened, as it wouldn’t latch with the cord in the way.

Then, Ray and I spent the rest of the morning sorting out nuts, bolts, screws, nails, electrical, and plumbing parts that had been dumped into bins.  It seems like every time we finished refurbishing a rig, or doing any job, all the bits and pieces got cleaned up into a bin and stuffed into a big tray in the workshop.  When May was working here, that was one of her jobs, to keep them all sorted out and put up, but she has been gone awhile. Then I started working more hours and couldn’t keep up with it myself. 

A pet peeve…I am allergic to lots of man made fibers, so I try to buy 100% cotton.  What irks me is that very often they have labels, lace or use thread which is not all cotton, and then I start to itch.  So if you see a lady wearing her panties and nighties inside out, you know why!!  There is method in her madness.
_______________________


They are really begging to help the wolves, I am not saying that you should contribute, I just want you to know what is going on.
“From Alaska to Greater Yellowstone, our treasured wolves face brutal air and ground attacks aimed at slaughtering entire wolf families.
Wolf Families Need
Your Help

http://action.defenders.org/site/R?i=wOFilTrwmsOK_Xyg0c41Kg..
Wolf families from Alaska to Idaho face a brutal slaughter on the ground and from the skies.
Help us reach our goal of recruiting 2010 new supporters and raising $200,000 by midnight on December 31st to give a brighter future in 2010 to wolf pups like the one above.
And in Idaho, a hail of bullets from a hovering helicopter wiped out most of the Basin Butte wolf pack, including several 7-8 month-old pups. State and federal agencies are targeting 25 other wolf families -- including the beloved Timberline pack, named after a Boise high school -- for the same awful fate.

The Protect America’s Wildlife (PAW) Act -- legislation to END Alaska’s vicious aerial gunning program -- has gained growing support and momentum in Congress. We have 126 cosponsors in the House and 7 in the Senate, including the bill’s powerful sponsor, Dianne Feinstein of California.
P.S. It’s too late for more than 1,000 wolves in Alaska and hundreds in the Greater Yellowstone and northern Rockies region. Help us save the remaining animals. We’ll carefully put your tax-deductible contribution to work right away. “
NY times had this to say:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/02/opinion/02wed3.html?_r=3&ref=opinion
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Here are sites dedicated to the wolves:
howlingforjustice.wordpress.com/2009/10/
and
__http://action.defenders.org/site/PageServer?pagename=savewolves_learnmore
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Bobbiecat, Patches, Prime and I are just trying to keep warm today.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Nat. Parks, Tigers, Puppies, Horses, etc.

This morning, Ray and I went through some more stuff on the “To Be Fixed” table in the workshop. There were a lot of bits, parts, nails and many screws in bins on that table, so Ray and I got them all sorted and put away or thrown out. One new pile was “Things to do when it’s warmer outside” and another “Things to put in the shed”, as we didn’t even want to open the big doors to let the sunshine in, as it was too cold.  It was only 50 deg. in the workshop, of course that would be bliss for you folks in AK!
I was also washing doggie beds, even the foam that goes in them.  (I had washed all the doggie blankies , and Jay shampooed my carpet, yesterday.)
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Please help the National Parks:
“We're running out of time!
Alan Lacy, Chair of NPCA's Board of Trustees has agreed to match every online donation (to a total of $100,000) made before midnight on December 31st--and the clock is ticking.
We're close to reaching the goal, but we're not there yet...so we need your help.
http://act.npca.org/npca/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=26806003
____________________

Some noteworthy petitions which might be of interest to anyone who loves animals that you, or someone you know, might want to sign:
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Are the Sea Turtles really in peril?
If you read the comments, there are debating thoughts about this:
http://naturescrusaders.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/sea-turtles-are-drowning-save-them-from-bottom-longline-fishing-nets/
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“Alaska’s cruel wolf-killing from airplanes and helicopters rages on as Palin-appointed officials target more than 100 wolves statewide for this season’s body count.”
If I had known Sarah Palin was behind this aerial wolf shooting, I would never have supported her as Second-In-Command:
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/campaign.faces?siteId=3&campaign=WolfAerialHunting
________________________

These, and any other hard working horses, need to be properly treated:
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/campaign.faces?siteId=3&campaign=CarriageHorses
_________________________

This is disgusting, using cat and dog fur, Would you want that around your neck, it may have been from your best friend:
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You already know what they are doing to the lions in Kenya, and poisoning the CROPS that they import to the USA, too.  But here is another petition:
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/campaign.faces?siteId=3&campaign=savekenyaslions
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Soon there won’t be any tigers in the world:
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/campaign.faces?siteId=3&campaign=SumatranTigers
_____________________


“Recognize that the health of Cook Inlet belugas is tied to a healthy marine habitat.”
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/campaign.faces?siteId=3&campaign=belugawhales
_____________________


This is self explanatory, but PLEASE sign this one:
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Please thank Gov. Rell for the Bill about Puppy Mills:
Sponsored by: ASPCA
The CT SB 499-Puppy Lemon Law and Trace Back Bill has finally completed its legislative journey. On Wednesday, July 8, Connecticut Governor Rell signed this important humane legislation into law.
The law will improve the state's "puppy lemon law" by increasing the allowable reimbursement to pet purchasers who have bought sick animals and must assume often substantial veterinary costs. Send your thanks to Governor Rell for signing the Puppy Mill Bill - sign the letter below and tell a friend.
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/campaign.faces?siteId=3&campaign=ASPCAThankYou
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Trying to make my tiny voice, and yours, I hope, heard in the support of animals today.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

“Oh, Blimey! Here She Comes!”

The Rainbows Bridge Poem
That is what my late Levi might be saying right now. 
MaeMae went to wait at Rainbow Bridge this morning. 
_________________
RainbowsBridge.com
“Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... “
Author unknown...
__________________________________
This is the new video of it: http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html_
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MaeMae, half his size, and 4 months older, used to boss Levi around, and was a prissy little miss.  They were raised together by Claudia’s daughter for their first four years, before they came to us.   Unfortunately they had been bought from a pet shop, and had come from puppy mills.  One in KS and one in WI, so neither had a good start in life, and both had some hereditary defects.   We loved them just the same, but health issues, especially with MaeMae’s congenative disk trouble, bad teeth from lack of care of her dam, and bad patella, made her rather fragile.
MaeMae bonded to my late DH, and Levi to me.  She would go to the shop every day with Johnnie, and Levi would stay with me.  He was so happy to be away from bossy MaeMae, and really blossomed into the best little doggie ever.  He finally had his OWN toys, own bed, and own ‘hooman’, and didn’t have her taking them away from him.  She was the tiny cute one who got all the attention, whereas Levi was a shy, blocky headed, long backed, not very pretty poodle, except in my eyes.

This is why Claudia decided to take MaeMae when her ‘Dad’ died, as they were better apart.   She has been a great comfort to Claudia during all her trials and tribulations with the liver transplant. 
Claudia and I were with her, stroking her, while she peacefully went to sleep.
____________________
Puppy mills just breed pups from cheap inferior pet quality stock that can be registered by the AKC , no matter how they turn out, conformation or health wise.  There are a lot of hereditary defects in certain bloodlines, and they just don’t care. See my post: http://pennys-tuppence.blogspot.com/2009/12/urgent-help-needed-for-ohio-dogs-in.html

Now, breeding to the conformation standards of the AKC is a different matter Here they are for each breed:  http://www.akc.org/breeds/complete_breed_list.cfm  but the breeds standards have changed over the years, and now there is an outcry about that:
“The Crufts dog show was plagued by controversy this year: Pedigree pulled their sponsorship, RSPCA boycotted the event, and the BBC refused to air the competition. The storm was created by a documentary called Pedigree Dogs Exposed, which took an in-depth look at the health and welfare cost of breeding for conformation. The program aired last week in the US, but the problems it exposes have long existed across the pond under the auspices of the American Kennel Club.
There's a clip from the BBC program on the Dancing Dog Blog about one of the most popular breeds in the UK, the King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, and a condition common to the breed where their brains are too big for their skulls. Brachycephalic dogs (short snouts, like Boston Terriers, pugs, bulldogs, etc.) often have chronic respiratory problems which can lead to tracheal collapse. Most bulldogs cannot mate or give birth naturally. But the AKC ignores these transgressions against nature because the dogs "look good" in the show ring.

The UK Kennel Club initially protested the documentary, claiming it was unfairly edited and inaccurate. Yet a few months later, they started making changes. They updated breed standards and launched the Fit for Life campaign so that "every dog should be bred to be fit enough to enjoy its life to the full." They will no longer register direct inbreeding (father/daughter, mother/son, or siblings) and have commissioned an independent investigation into pedigree dog breeding that will present its recommendations next year. What will it take for the American Kennel Club to catch on and start living up to its mission to "protect the health and well-being of all dogs?"”
“The AKC is probably the wealthiest, most powerful organization for dogs in the country. They use their power to lobby against legislation that affects purebred dogs in any way, including bans on cosmetic surgeries, like tail and ear docking, and any bills that seek to regulate breeding. You would think that if they were so dedicated to the health and integrity of purebred dogs, they'd want to stop breeders who perpetuate unhealthy bloodlines and inhumane conditions. Instead, they happily certify puppy mill dogs and support dog auctions. (See my post about the AMI
Dog shows shouldn't be craft shows for people to display what they "made." If people want to compete with their dogs, there are plenty of competitions out there that showcase a dog's fitness, such as agility, flyball, and rally obedience. For people who love purebreds, they can compete for what their breed was created for in events like field trials for hunting dogs and lure coursing for sight hounds. None of the breeds were created to strut around show rings, and the obsession with conformation is destroying dogs. The AKC needs to take a hard look at its standards and start promoting healthy dogs and purebred rescue instead of cruelty and mass production of puppies.
UPDATE: You can now watch the documentary and take action to demand that the AKC stops promoting deformities and starts supporting healthy dogs.”
From: http://animalwelfare.change.org/blog/view/pedigree_dogs_the_cruelty_behind_conformation   
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From me:

I spent many years of my life showing and breeding Toy Poodles.  (Though my favorites, and personal dog, were the Standards). I had kids to support, and Toys were the No.1 dog then.  I studied bloodlines and genetics till I was blue in the face, and bred the best Poodles that I could. I paid high stud fees to some of the top Toy Poodle kennels at that time, i.e. Sassafras, Jodan and Cutlers.  Eventually I was able to buy two studs of my own, one from Sassafras, famous for their silvers and silver beige (Champion Silver Sparkle of Sassafras was the top producing stud of Toy Poodle champions, probably of all time), and the other from Cutlers, famous for champion colorbred apricots.  (Many $K)

But to show a Poodle, over 1 year old, it has to grow that long show coat, so it’s ears are kept wrapped, ankles wrapped, top-knot wrapped, and the coat is constantly being brushed and even oiled to stop it from breaking. They cannot enjoy a big bone, or frolic in a field, as they might hurt their bracelets. (Hair around the ankles).  I have seen show Poodles force fed with tubes, so that their coat would not be damaged. They are often kept crated for most of their lives, to protect that show coat, until they are retired from the ring.  That is no life for a dog, and the politics in the ring are about graft, just as much as our government.
Knowing the intricacies in anything will put you off it.  I quit showing my dogs, and did Obedience and Agility training instead.

Then I found out how many doggies are without GOOD homes, and I said “That’s it, I am not making any more!”.
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(Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 TEV)
"I decided that God is testing us, to show us that we are no better than animals. After all, the same fate awaits man and animals alike. One dies just like the other. They are the same kind of creature. A human being is no better off than an animal, because life has no meaning for either. They are both going to the same place -- the dust. They both came from it; they will both go back to it. How can anyone be sure that a man's spirit goes upward while an animal's spirit goes down into the ground?"
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This is the version for animals who were mistreated and rescued:
A Rainbow Bridge Story
"Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.

It wasn't long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often.
He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be.

But alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge. With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly and infirm. They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for awhile to explain it to him.
"You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He entered rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge."

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?" As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted. Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.

"Watch, and see.", said the second animal. A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.

"What happened?"
"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of his work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn't place with families on earth, across The Rainbow Bridge.

"I think I like rescuer's", said the first animal. “
"So does GOD", was the reply.
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Dear MaeMae, rest in peace.  Claudia and I have used up a lot of Kleenex today.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Stormy Night.














Branches had blown off trees and stuff was strewn all around again this morning.

It was nearly freezing on the enclosed porch and that is rare, as the vinyl usually keeps it at least 40 on a freezing night.





I hope it is better where you are.








































MaeMae is here, as Claudia and Jay have not been able to get her to eat for several days. 
I have been getting NutriCal down her, so that she won't waste away until we can get her to a vet. 
It might be that her kidney disease is finally catching up with her, so I don't know what her future holds.

As usual, click to enlarge.  Have a Great Day.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Keep Warm With One Candle

I came across this a while ago, and forgot about it, but it would be handy information at this time of year. Especially for those low on propane when boondocking.

It seems that it would be easy to make with parts from Wal-Mart, etc.  I think that I will make a couple in case the power goes out when it’s cold.   Though our power usually goes out when it is hot!!
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How to Keep Warm This Winter Just by Burning One Candle!

http://www.envirowarrior.com/images/kandleheeter1.jpg
“A friend emailed me a few days ago, busy with industry as he built himself a heater of such revolutionary (but not new) proportions, that the Envirowarrior became excited and felt compelled to pass this marvel on, to all who would see and hear, and venture forward to save energy and money. All who would stay warmer this winter for the simple cost of a few candles. . (?)
Not possible you say, well guess again, as this ingenious invention is so simple a child can built one and a couple of these will set you up as warm as toast this winter, for about $5 per week!
http://www.envirowarrior.com/images/kandleheeter12.jpg
The Kandleheeter as it is known, is an amazingly simple radiator which takes the small flame of a candle (or light bulb) and turns it into a heater that will grace the interior of any 21st century home - which you may correctly say - looks just like a bunch of upside down flower pots? And you would be right. You may also comment on how easy it would be to make one of them at home yourself. . . and you would be right there too, and in luck, because the guys at www.heatstick.com are so keen for you to get off the electricity grid, they have posted the step by step instructions for you to do just that (use the link below).
See the Promo movie
http://www.envirowarrior.com/images/kandleheeter22.jpg
The Technical stuff goes something like this : Steel has the ability to approach the temperature of its heat source, so the Steel Inner Core is driven to Very High Temperatures of around 500-550 deg. Fahrenheit, by the burning candle flame which converts it into a very hot Internal Radiator.
The intense heat of the Steel Inner Core is transferred into the Three Ceramic Modulators (or pots), one into the other. The High Inner Temperatures are gradually reduced by the Increasingly Thicker Walls and Larger Surface Area of the modulators (outer pots).
http://www.envirowarrior.com/images/kandleheeterdiagram.jpg
The outer surface of the radiator itself becomes a Dry Heat Radiating Body with surface temperatures of 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit which covers an area of over 88 Square Inches (double that for cms).
Whilst the manufacturers claim that one of these will not heat up a room entirely, they say it will add to the heat in the room significantly, which is brilliant if you are burning fragrant scented candles anyway! However, if you have a couple of these burning in one room, you will find that it would significantly warm the ambient room temperature for the cost of a couple candles, otherwise wasted (for me that means saving incense money too, double bonus!)
You’ll find all you need to know on How to Make a Kandleheeter but a word (or two) of caution here too, if you are making one yourself. Take note that the head of the bolt is visible in the photo and would be a serious burn issue. It is covered by a ceramic cap in the finished (bought) unit. The cap is attached with high temperature cement. So you will need to consider this if you have small children, who should be asked to treat this as they would any naked flame or heater.
Also too you are asked to always make sure it is on a firm flat surface away from any drapes or soft furnishings. You will find all the things you need to know on the website.
http://www.envirowarrior.com/images/kandleheeter-stand1.jpg
It makes sense too, to remember that this thing is radiating heat so the candle will eventually melt unless you put it into a glass container, or better still get one of those oil burners with a wick.
To make the stand yourself : See the movie on how to fold it properly.
For those of you who want to mail order you can BUY ONE NOW for $29.95 (US Only) Please note: that the first time you use your kandleheeter it will not radiate much heat as it takes about eight hours to *dry out* the terracotta pots properly.
http://www.envirowarrior.com/images/kanheatlight1.jpg
You will see that there are electric versions available which means you can turn your ambient lamps/ lighting into thermal heaters all around your room, without all the soot!
On that note, if using candles, the manufacturers also advise that the Kandleheeter COLLECTS SOOT!
http://www.envirowarrior.com/images/kandleheetersooty1.jpg
They say : Soot associated with burning a candle is trapped in the layers of the radiator (which is better than on the ceiling) which it does brilliantly, but that soot has to be cleaned out. You could rinse it out with water, but then the radiator will need a 6-8 hour burn to be dried out again. So a better deal is to brush it out with a small pastry or paint brush, or vacuum it out. Easy done. DO NOT BLOW IT OUT WITH YOUR BREATH *Giggle* OR YOUR FACE WILL BE INSTANTLY BLACKENED AND YOU COULD EASILY GET SOOT INTO YOUR EYES.
The photo is of a Radiator that had been burning many evenings over several weeks. It shows a "light dusting" of soot and does not need to be cleaned. Better candles produce less soot. Check your radiator weekly to get an idea of how quickly soot is building up.
You are advised Not Allow Soot to Build Up Inside the Radiator Assembly!
Note to artists : You will be glad to know Soot is "lampblack," a pigment used in painting. You can collect the soot and make a superb black by mixing it into a small amount of Linseed Oil.
A final word from my friend on making your own: Using slightly bigger pots does generate more heat. “
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It stormed like the dickens last night, with high winds that displaced tree branches and anything that wasn’t lashed down.
Then the sun came out and warmed everything up, so that the cats could spend some time on the porch, and I could open some windows and air out the house.  Then this evening it got colder again.  With below freezing forecast for the next few nights, Ray came over and turned off that stiff cut-off to the outside faucets, and helped me cover a couple of bushes out front. 

The wind howling around makes everything seem colder today.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Carbofuran, Cats and Coffee. Nat. Parks.


On to a different subject today, I know you have probably had enough of the previous ones about Christmas.

The beautiful big cats are being poisoned on purpose.  This cruelty has to stop, before they are all but gone!  I can understand shooting one, if there is a rogue that is causing trouble, but this poisoning is horrendous.  Big cats live in families, prides, and if a mom is poisoned, the cubs will just suffer terribly and die of starvation.  This is unacceptable.


We are thousands of miles away from there, so, out of sight, out of mind.   But our kids and grandkids will not have the opportunity to go on a wonderful camera safari, like we do.  Or to see shows  like “Big Cat Diary” on Animal Planet, about some folks who loved to watch the daily lives of the big cats, and recorded it.

Not only that, it DOES affect us here, as it is also poisoning crops that are exported to the US.
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/lion-decline-map/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLaLUyH4-vo&feature=player_embedded

It gets worse for Kenya which is a large exporter of coffee to the US.
Dr. Michael Fry of the American Bird Conservancy says, "The revocation of all food tolerances has international implications, as imports of rice, coffee, bananas and sugarcane were previously allowed to contain residues of carbofuran." He adds, "After this revocation, countries wishing to export these foods to the US must stop using carbofuran on these four major crops."
From: http://yubanet.com/world/Kenya-s-Prime-Minister-Urged-to-Help-Ban-Carbofuran.php

Every day is a feast day in the eyes of the Lord, and giving should not be just at this time of year.  So if you could take the time to sign at least one of the petitions, there are several, https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1635&JServSessionIdr004=qrmvhtzoa1.app223a
or even donate to this cause, that will be your good deed for the day.

Here is a video thanking you for your support from the Wildlife:
http://action.defenders.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=51681.0&dlv_id=82181

While you are in a giving mood, I hope you will contribute to our National Parks, we don't want to see them go either: http://act.npca.org/npca/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=26798870
There is a special deal that all contributions will be matched until the end of the year. So that doubles your money. Can't beat that!

It is a lovely warm day, with some sunshine and a bit of drizzle, so the cats are on the porch today.