Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Birds: 'I'iwi. Why Conserve Birds? Golden-winged Warbler. Walmartians. Dirtiest Inch In Kitchen.

For "Winged Wednesday":

'I'iwi
I'iwi by Jack Jeffery

"The red and black ‘Iʻiwi was once one of the most common endemic forest birds in Hawaiʻi, but this spectacular honeycreeper has disappeared from most of its former range.  Their long, decurved (downward-curving) bills are specialized for sipping nectar from tubular flowers; they also feed on moths, spiders, and other insects.
As is the case with other Hawaiian forest birds, ‘Iʻiwis have declined because of habitat loss, avian disease, and the introduction of alien plants and animals. The ʻIʻiwi is extremely susceptible to avian malaria and avian pox, both transmitted by non-native mosquitoes.The 'I'iwi follows the flowering of nectar-producing plants, and so is often attracted into low elevation areas where mosquitoes are more prevalent. Research has shown that 90% of ʻIʻiwis bitten by a single malaria-infected mosquito will perish from the disease.
The ‘Iʻiwi has benefited from efforts to restore native forest and control the spread of alien plant and animal species. 
ABC is working with the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife and other partners on forest restoration projects on Mauna Kea on the Big Island, and on leeward east Maui that will ultimately improve habitat conditions for 'I'iwi and other threatened forest birds such as Palila and Maui Parrotbill. "
Read more about ABC’s efforts to save the ‘Iʻiwi and other native Hawaiian birds!
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Why Conserve Birds?
Safeguarding the Rarest
Jocotoco Antpitta by Franco Morocho
Jocotoco Antpitta by Franco Morocho

"We value them intrinsically.
Our affection for birds dates to the dawn of our species. Eagles, doves, and ravens permeate our history, cultures, and religions. Cranes, falcons, geese, and parrots adorn the walls of Neolithic caves, Egyptian pyramids, Mayan temples, and most American homes today. Storks deliver us at birth and owls mourn our deaths.

Each new generation marvels at the beauty and variety of birds, their value to our species, and their ability to fly away, leaving us simply to wonder.

Birds are indicators of environmental hazards
Because they are sensitive to habitat change and because they are easy to census, birds are the ecologist's favorite tool. Changes in bird populations are often the first indication of environmental problems. Whether ecosystems are managed for agricultural production, wildlife, water, or tourism, success can be measured by the health of birds.

Protecting birds promotes good land stewardship
Birds have been a driving force behind the American conservation movement since its early day when unregulated hunting, the use of toxic pesticides, and the destruction of wetlands threatened our wildlife and wild places. The environmental problems we face today are more complex than in the past, and we need a new generation of committed conservationists to help counter them.

Birds are a tremendous economic resource
Forty six million Americans watch birds. Birders are the market for a burgeoning industry, spending hundreds of millions of dollars per year feeding birds, purchasing equipment, and traveling in pursuit of birds. This economic force - and the benefits birds provide in insect and rodent control, plant pollination, and seed dispersal - add value to sustaining birds and their habitats.

We have a moral obligation
Yet, even if birds were not beautiful, even if they were of no economic value, our cultures have deemed them the right to exist."

Bald Eagle by Ralph Wright
Bald Eagle
by Ralph Wright



"As stewards of our planet, we have an absolute ethical obligation to maintain all other species regardless of their functional values. We should no more allow the loss of natural life than destroy a masterpiece of art.
Each species represents a measure of natural wealth for us to use and enjoy; thus it is the very least our generation can do to ensure our children inherit as much as we have now. It is this ethical commitment to the future on which American Bird Conservancy is founded. "
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Golden-winged Warbler

Golden-winged Warbler by Barth Schorre
"The Golden-winged Warbler is one of the most threatened, non-federally listed species in eastern North America. Its decline is primarily due to habitat loss, particularly from suburban sprawl and changes to our eastern forests.
It also suffers from competition and hybridization with Blue-winged Warblers, cowbird parasitism, and potentially loss of wintering habitat. ABC is working in the U.S. and Latin America to help this species."
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Birds of a Different Feather, Walmartians:
WALMART TONGUE IN CHEEK THEME SONG. Yes - This is a safe link: http://www.youtube.com/v/6RzcvFLPg1A?ve ... 3E%3Cparam
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Yesterday:
My main goal was to get some cat hair vacuumed up.  Misty, being a Poodle, doesn't Bobcat-at-her-windowshed, but the cats do. 
Especially Bobbiecat, who likes to spend most of her time at my bathroom window watching the traffic going along the road behind the house. 
I don't know why she sheds more than the others, but she makes dust-bunnies-kitties, if I don't vacuum her fur from under the built-in chest of drawers regularly.

Dirtiest Inch in Your Kitchen:
While on the subject of cleaning, have you looked at your can opener lately?  Mine is one of those 'uncrimping', 'no sharp edges' can openers, so the food isn't touched by a blade.
"The bladeless design opens any size or shape
can without cutting the lid. By uncrimping
the lid, this eliminates sharp, jagged edges and prevents any
metal shavings from falling into food.  Since the uncrimping mechanism never comes in contact with food, it is completely safe and sanitary."

The lid doesn't fall down into the food:  http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/003305.php.

Focus Swing-a-way Can Opener, Magnetic Wall Mount, WhiteBut every now and then, I come across a can that it won't open, so I have to use the one on the wall.  Then I have to take the pin out at the rear, and take it to the sink to clean it, like most conventional can openers.

OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can OpenerThe one in my motor home is a 'no sharp edges' one also.
OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can OpenerThey are so much more sanitary, even though I wash the top of all cans before opening.



The one thing I do, that she didn't in the video, is she didn't wash the top of the can before she put it in the trash.  I can't see having something with food on it in the trash to attract bugs.  But I also wash/rinse empty cans before discarding them. Maybe that's why I don't have bugs in my house.

So next time you have an upset tummy, your can opener might been to blame.
Please read article at: http://www.cookbookpeople.com/blog/2009/03/23/the-dirtiest-inch-in-your-kitchen/#awp::2009/03/23/the-dirtiest-inch-in-your-kitchen/

One day, Jay left half a can of soda in the utility room sink. When he went to empty it the next day, four large Tree Bugs were in it.  http://www.ehow.com/about_4799092_tree-roaches.html.  He learned to abide by my house rules to empty and rinse soda cans, from that day on.  Tree bugs live in the trees, but they will get in the house if they sense water or sugary things.  As long as there is nothing to attract them, they won't come in.

Kittens-quite-happy to stay-in-cage-with-door-open

The kittens are quite at home in the big cage in the dining area, and don't rush to get out when I open the door.

I thought about going to the store to pick up a few things, but then decided, "Nah, it is too hot out there today."

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Boston, Home of the Brave, Fall vacations in Boston. Pumpkin for Pets. Shedder Oil.

For Travel Tuesday let's "Come to Boston!"

Boston’s national parks lead visitors back in time to our nation’s beginnings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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"On a recent excursion to visit the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile walking trail that wends among 16 historic sites in downtown Boston, I entered the Granary Burying Ground, final resting place of Samuel Adams and Paul Revere, among other Revolutionary Era Who’s Whos.  Here, a teenage girl peered at a gravestone and whispered to her friend, “Didn’t we learn about him in U.S. History?”

Yes, I wanted to say, you probably did. Anyone involved in our nation’s founding probably crossed paths with this city at some time or another.


Presidents were born here. Revolutionaries battled here. The idea of Liberty with a capital “L” simmered in these streets. But less-than-heroic events also smoldered here: In response to desegregation and busing, riots erupted, and off these shores, our government interred Native Americans and prisoners of war. For the peripatetic traveler, experiencing urban Boston is to experience a historical treasure hunt—even when the lessons contradict one another.


I live here, and I’m always astounded by how much history this city encompasses. I’m also a little embarrassed by what I ignore on my daily trips about town. Each time I’m anointed amateur tour guide, I’m reminded of the massacres, speeches, and tea parties that took place in the same cramped squares and streets now chock-a-block with chain restaurants and motorized vehicles. I’m also astounded by how much history I’ve forgotten—and how overwhelming it can be to try to catch up.

 
In a city where voices seem to whisper behind every crooked headstone that “So-and-So slept here,” it’s best to pace yourself. Fortunately, how you carve up your downtown Boston experience is up to you. Explore via guidebook, or for a richer experience, hop on a tour led by a ranger or civilian expert (role-playing the part of, say, Ben Franklin). All sites are walkable and accessible by public transportation, so leave your car behind and march into the 18th or 19th century—or even farther into the past, if you know where to look.

 

Boston National Historical Park

For newbies, a fine starting point is the Freedom Trail that winds through Boston National Historical Park. Unlike many properties in the Park Service, the Freedom Trail is neither a single site nor a swath of pristine land—it’s more of a march through time and place. Beginning at the gold dome of the Massachusetts State House on Boston Common, a red path zigzags along the sidewalk (sometimes marked in paint, sometimes in bricks), around parks, offices, and hotels linking burial grounds, museums, a ship, churches, and meeting houses. Historic markers along the way help tell the story of the American Revolution.

 
You’ll hit Granary Burying Ground first, where Adams, Revere, James Otis (who’s “taxation without representation” called colonists to arms), and other famous historical figures are interred; then King’s Chapel, the first Anglican Church in New England, which also features the first organ used in an American church and the oldest pulpit still in use in its original site. On special occasions, the church still rings the 1816 bell, “the sweetest bell we ever made,” according to Paul Revere, a silversmith and patriot best known for his ride from Boston to Lexington and Concord to warn of the arrival of British troops.

Not everyone in Boston during the Revolutionary Era was a revolutionary, however. Tories, loyal to the British Crown, also worshipped here, so the King’s Chapel offers a faint reminder of the British point of view, and the church continues to follow a form of the Anglican liturgy in its worship services today.
From the chapel, follow the red-brick road to the Old South Meeting House, where thousands of Bostonians plotted the Tea Party—a protest against a British tea tax that ignited the American Revolution. Nearby, the Old State House stands as the oldest public building in the nation, where the influential statesman Samuel Adams rallied others to resist British rule. Now, it’s a small museum and gift shop where tourists buy quill pens and baseballs emblazoned with the Declaration of Independence. (This is Red Sox Nation, after all.) Outside the museum’s door is the site of the Boston Massacre, a pivotal event in 1770 when England’s Redcoats killed five colonists, leading to brawls and kindling the war.

The site that inspires me most is Faneuil Hall; if you’re lucky, you’ll hear park ranger Merrill Kohlhofer delve into the hall’s history while channeling the many voices heard there, including Frederick Douglass declaring, “I am a fugitive slave.”
After Faneuil Hall and nearby Quincy Market—locale for eateries, shops, and vending carts—the trail veers into the North End, home of a thriving Italian-American community, as well as the Paul Revere House and the Old North Church. (Yes, that church, the one immortalized by the “One if by land, two if by sea” secret code that Revere created to signal the British army’s route.)

The trail then passes Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, the final resting place of Puritan ministers connected to the Salem witch trials, among other notable figures. Finally, the trail hops across the Charles River and through the lantern-lined streets of Charlestown to the Bunker Hill Monument and the Charlestown Navy Yard, where the USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship still afloat, is moored. Many visitors end their urban hike at the Warren Tavern (2 Pleasant Street, www.warrentavern.com), founded in 1780, to rest their feet and enjoy a frosty beverage.

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Not far from the Freedom Trail is Long Wharf, the launching point for the Boston Harbor Islands. Of the 34 islands, only seven are open to the public— Bumpkin, Georges, Grape, Little Brewster, Lovells, Spectacle, and Thompson—but you’ll still find a pirate’s booty of history as you zip from isle to isle by ferry (15- to 45-minute rides from Long Wharf).

Today, most of the islands are pristine, but in the past they served various unsavory purposes: prisoner-of-war camp, landfill, horse rendering factory, bordello, and small-pox quarantine, to name several. Now, the reclaimed spaces offer sunbathing, swimming, hiking, biking, bird watching, and rustic camping. Spectacle and Georges Islands have new interpretive centers and recreational areas and offer yoga lessons, jazz concerts, and children’s theater. Lighthouse buffs can climb Boston Light, the nation’s oldest continually used and human-run lighthouse on outlying Little Brewster Island. Sally Snowman, the only female lighthouse keeper in the country, works here, often in 18th-century dress.

 
The islands aren’t just for out-of-towners; they make an exquisite getaway for locals, too, who can take a subway train to the wharf, hop on a boat, and immerse themselves in island life within a couple of hours. On my last visit to the Harbor Islands, I camped on Bumpkin. The ferry dropped me at the dock, and I used a cart to wheel my gear to the campsite, then I joined new friends who were taking part in an annual artist-residency program. We grilled out, swam in the ocean, napped in the sun, and chatted by bonfire after nightfall—an epic park experience by any standards, and all within sight of the Boston skyline.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site

Just west of that skyline is the city of Brookline, a short trolley ride from downtown. Here, in a modest neighborhood, Joseph and Rose Kennedy purchased a house at 83 Beals Street shortly after their marriage in 1914. Three years later, on May 29 at 3 p.m., Rose Kennedy gave birth to their second son: John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States.
Although the house reflected a healthy economic status in Kennedy’s time, it’s hard to imagine how four adults (two parents plus two servants) and four children (Joe Jr., John, Rosemary, and Kathleen) managed to live here in comfort.

“Rose was beginning to feel isolated, with the walls closing in around her,” says Jim Roberts, supervisory park ranger for the site. Nevertheless, this two-story home was the training ground for an ambitious couple with high hopes for their children’s future in public service: Rose hung reproductions of influential art on the walls and at dinnertime schooled her children in adult conversation and world affairs. In 1920 they moved across the neighborhood to a larger home at 131 Naples Road, and eventually relocated to New York City.


Before handing the house off to the Park Service in 1969, Rose tried to recreate the day of JFK’s birth by decorating the home with period furniture and personal mementos such as family photos, the bassinet where many a Kennedy once dozed, and embroidered bedspreads from Ireland. Today, the dining room table is set with fine china and, next to it, on a smaller kids’ table, you’ll see a silver porridge bowl inscribed with the letters “JFK.”

“The Kennedys are the closest thing to American royalty,” Roberts says. “But they weren’t gods. They were people like us.” For scholars and citizens alike, there’s a good reason to visit in 2011, which marks 50 years since the beginning of the Kennedy Administration. “JFK is still in the minds of people all over the world,” says Roberts, alluding to the scholars, tourists, and historians who travel here to reconnect with this story.


Standing in the foyer, I was reminded that JFK’s legacy still resounds all over the city. I could suddenly feel the connection that runs like buried cable between this house and the many sites of the Freedom Trail, between the Revolutionary Era and the “Days of Camelot” (the JFK-inspired period of hope and optimism).

I was also reminded of something I learned from Kohlhofer on my tour of Faneuil Hall: JFK gave the final speech of his 1960 presidential campaign there.

It’s the same place where, today, immigrants take their oaths of U.S. citizenship. “If you want to see anyone who is excited about becoming an American,” Kohlhofer said to the assembled crowd, “Come here, Come to Boston."

 

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

"Boston’s Logan Airport is about a 15-minute drive (or a slightly longer bus and subway ride) to the heart of downtown, the Freedom Trail and Boston National Historic Park (www.nps.gov/bost), and the waterfront. A new visitor center under construction in Faneuil Hall is scheduled to open in December 2011.

A convenient hotel is Boston Marriott Long Wharf, a clam-shell’s throw from Long Wharf-North. For eats, try Sel de la Terre (www.seldelaterre.com), which features roasted free-range chicken and George’s Bank lemon sole. Once on the Boston Harbor Islands (www.bostonislands.com, www.nps.gov/boha), pick up corn on the cob, lobster rolls, and fried seafood at Jasper White’s Summer Shack on Georges and Spectacle Islands. Ferries run from May to October; reserve ahead on high-season days or to visit Boston Light.

To camp on Grape, Bumpkin, and Lovells Islands, visit www.reserveamerica.com.
To get to the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site in Brookline, take a “C” Cleveland Circle trolley “outbound” from the Park Street MBTA station, then get off at Coolidge Corner. From there, the house is a short walk.

The site is open Memorial Day weekend through October, and offers guided tours only: www.nps.gov/jofi. "

From: http://www.npca.org/magazine/2011/summer/home-of-the-brave.html

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The Mayflower Compact

Among the first groups of colonists who settled in North America were the pilgrims, who established the Plymouth Colony in what would later become the state of Massachusetts.

The Mayflower Compact

Source: United States Library of Congress

"On Nov. 11, 1620, as their ship the Mayflower waited to land near present-day Cape Cod, the colonists signed the Mayflower Compact, agreeing on their purpose and how they would govern themselves.

The Compact stated that they had "undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia . . ." According to their own words, evangelism and furtherance of the Christian faith were clearly stated goals of the group." Article by Good News Editor

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Fall vacations in Boston

 

Concord Bridge, Boston

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"As leaves turn crimson, gold and orange, a fall vacation in Boston can be breathtakingly picturesque. Halloween celebrations and Thanksgiving parades abound. And with students returning, the university town regains its vibe.

Fall colors
Burnt orange, deep red and brilliant yellows color the city during the fall. Join dedicated photographers and capture the change of color as you stroll through leafy Boston Common. Don’t miss the golden foliage reflected in the lagoon of the Public Garden. Other photogenic spots include the tree-lined boulevard of Commonwealth Avenue in trendy Back Bay and acorn-strewn paths in the Back Bay Fens, west of downtown. Boston’s Revolutionary War Freedom Trail, dubbed the Foliage Trail during fall, is also particularly striking.
Halloween festivities
Book a Boston fall hotel and enjoy Halloween as locals embrace the chance to dress up in flamboyant and frightening costumes. Quirky Halloween-inspired events include the Howl-oween Dog Costume Contest & Pet Parade at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Halloween is also a good time to book a trip on the scary Boston Ghost Cruise, which offers family-friendly trips around Halloween. Ghosts and Graveyard tours are also popular at this time of year, focusing on the more macabre events in Boston’s history.
Festival fever
One of the best things about a fall break in Boston is the abundance of festivals and celebrations in the city. September is a chance to see top movies and A-listers during Boston Film Festival. And every year, Harvard Square holds an Octoberfest featuring live entertainment, Bavarian food and German-style beer gardens. Local restaurants also celebrate Thanksgiving in November with traditional dishes like maple syrup-baked sweet potatoes and green bean casseroles.
Pumpkin season
What’s for lunch or dinner is a big deal for Boston foodies, and with pumpkins in season during fall, menus across town feature the big orange fruit in everything from pancakes to pies. A local specialty is homemade pumpkin ravioli. Warm up with pumpkin lattes in Boston’s coffee shops. Or seek out the pumpkin-spice coffee at the locally owned Polcari's Coffee Shop in the North End.
Fall sports season
Soak up the atmosphere of the new sports season with Boston’s football- and baseball- loving locals. Hope that you can book tickets to see the New England Patriots kick off the football season at Gillette Stadium. Meanwhile maybe you can catch the legendary Red Sox chasing another World Series title at Fenway Park. Or take a tour of the legendary ballpark that opened in 1912. If you can’t get tickets to the season’s opening games, drop into one of Boston’s numerous sports bars for a hot dog, all the way, and some Samuel Adams Boston Lager.
Toe-tapping jazz bands

September hosts the nine-day Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival, Boston’s largest outdoor festival, across nine stages in Boston and Cambridge. Hear everything from cool Cuban jazz and upbeat mambo to soulful Chicago blues at venues as varied as the Berklee Performance Center to Scullers Jazz Club. Also look for outdoor stages along Columbus Avenue. Families will find plenty to do along Columbus Avenue at the family festival park, including an Instrument Petting Zoo."

From: http://www.hotels.com/articles/ar000316/fall-vacations-in-boston/

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More about Boston: http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/boston-vacations.html

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Yesterday:

 

Another great early morning, the AC turned off for a while, and the house could be aired out.   When I took the trash out to the road about 10.30, it was still quite pleasant, so I pulled weeds in the shady front yard, but it soon warmed up once the sun got around there.

 

Really ladylike, Bobcat!

My "Bobcat" is a "Rumpy" Manx, and they have an extra problem that other cats don't.     

"‘Rumpy’ - lack of tailbones:  The shortened spine in ‘rumpy’ cats results in malformation of the lower spinal cord. A depression can be felt at the end of the spine where the tailbones are absent. Consequently nerve supply to the lower back region of the cat is inadequate. This causes abnormal hind limb movements and constipation."

So I have to feed Bobcat a special diet, including canned pumpkin, (NOT Pumpkin Pie Filling.)http://www.pets.ca/dogs/tips/tip-75-pumpkin-for-cats-pumpkin-for-dogs-pumpkin-for-diarrhea-or-constipation/, as I have been reluctant to give her cat laxatives, as most of them contain petroleum jelly.

"These products usually contain white petroleum and work by coating the walls of your cat’s bowel and his stool with a water-resistant film. This creates a lubricating effect, making the stool pass easier. 

Long term use of these products can interfere with your cat’s ability to absorb fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, E and D." Read more: Types of Cat Laxative Products – VetInfo

 

She is not crazy about the pumpkin, though most cats and dogs are, so I started poking a fish oil capsule with a pin, and squirting it over her canned food.  This made a big difference, she likes it, she feels good, and her coat is better.

 

So now you know what to do when your dog or cat gets an upset tummy, give it pumpkin.  I open a can and keep it in small containers in the freezer, as you never know when you will need it.

 

The other thing I had to do was unclog my shedder blades.  I had been oiling it with real Shredder Oil, but I hadn't been putting it in reverse for a while, like I was supposed to: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/paper-shredder-oil.html

 

My shredder has to be kept going as even though I take every scrap of paper, box and cardboard to the recycling, anything with my name and address goes in the shredder first.  I hate having to open every junk mail envelope.   Just tearing off my info in one place doesn't mean that it isn't somewhere else in there too.  Insurance company junk mail is the worst for that.

 

If you are in your RV, and don't have a shredder with you, tear the info part off, and put those little pieces of paper in with the used cat litter or doggie bags.  They should be safe there. 

If you don't have a pet, put the pieces of paper in with your coffee grounds.  If you don't drink coffee, well, you will have to put it with your veggie peelings.  Anything that makes the ink run, illegible and undesirable.  Identity theft is at an all time high.

 

After Irene, Boston will still be a great place to visit as:

"For many, if not most, people in Massachusetts, Irene was a relatively minor event, and those who didn’t lose power or have trees fall on their cars will inevitably be tempted to complain of overhype. In fact, the storm turned out to be far weaker than many of the worst-case predictions earlier in the week. Hopefully, people are accustomed enough to the vicissitudes of weather forecasting to understand that no prediction is failproof, and that outlining the worst-case scenario is part of the job. To the extent that those worst-case warnings hastened preparations for Hurricane Irene and convinced more people to stay indoors, they saved lives and property."      More at: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2011/08/30/irenes_damage_was_extensive_but_preparations_paid_off/

 

Please pray for the families, as the Irene death toll is up to 40 today.

Monday, August 29, 2011

"Fur-niture". Wet Fox! Don't Force Dog. Coolest Dog! Small Dog Syndrome? Itchy, Smelly Dog? NO Grains for Dogs, Cats. Mustang Round-Up. Water for Wildlife. Strawberries.



TO NON-PETS OWNERS who visit our homes.
(1) Don't complain about our pet. He lives here, you don't.
(2) If you don't want his hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'Fur'-niture.
(3) Chances are, I love my pet more than I like you.
(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are family ..who are hairy, walk on all fours & don't talk back.
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Firefox.   No! Wet Fox!

"Ocean City Patch editor Doug Bergen captured this image of a fox, apparently startled or flooded from his den by the storm Irene, in a parking lot in Ocean City, N.J."

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Train your dog to do obedience commands.


Discover how your dog will do commands without force.
"Are you confused?  The problem with dog training is that there are a lot of different training methods and opinions.
Dog training doesn't have to be confusing or difficult.  I have put together this video for you to watch that sums up dog training in a nut shell, and makes it easy for anyone to train their dog."

You can also get my FREE ebook "101 Ways To Improve Your Dog's Behavior" at:
http://www.amazingdogtrainingman.com/
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He Skimboards, Snowboards and Skates! MUSIC
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What is Small Dog Syndrome?


"It is unfortunate that so many people think that small dogs don’t need training.  Some small breeds need MORE training then bigger breeds.  I’ve noticed over my years of dog training how many people let their itty bitty dog get away with so much.

In the dog owners community, it is expected owners will not let a big breed dog get away with unwanted behavior.  Owners tend to work harder training a bigger breed dog because, well...  everything is 3x bigger than a small breed dog - including the jumping, mouthing and barking.

While these behaviors are not tolerated with big breed dogs, many small breeds get away them. Many lack training because people believe it is just as easy to pick up their small breed to stop those unwanted behaviors. Unfortunately, this does not STOP the unwanted behavior but can heighten the behavior to another level.  Such as, protecting the person that is holding them, jumping on everyone, mouthing when being petted, just plain ol’ not learning good manners.  Without training, small dogs can be nippy, yappy, aggressive with other dogs and unruly around small kids.

Getting Started.

Small breeds should not leave their mother until 12 weeks old, unlike bigger breeds that are ok to leave at 8 weeks old.  Their body weight and immune system aren’t as strong as a bigger breed dog.

Small breeds and children can be a bad mix, if you have young children under the age of 8, adding a small breed dog has to be carefully considered.  Young children tend to think they are stuff animals and love to carry them around.  If carried around on a regular basis, small breeds will wiggle their way out of those small young hands and unfortunately, can fall and injure themselves. When combining young children and small breed dogs rules, boundaries and limitations need to be set up right away.

Training Your Small Dog.  A Word About Training By Force.

Harsh physical force doesn’t make sense when you are working with a small dog (or any dog for that matter), using gentle touch when training your small breed is the only way to train, they are little. 
Small breeds have delicate throats, legs, spine and hips, jerking on a collar can cause serious harm to them. 
A choke collar, martingale collar or anything of the such should NEVER EVER be used (including on big breed dogs too), there are kinder, gentler ways to train."
Read the rest of the article at: http://www.hellolife.net/dog-health/b/what-is-small-dog-syndrome/
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Itchy, Smelly Dog? This May Be the Problem... 

"On the immune system spectrum, balance is in the middle, and that's what you want your dog's immune function to be – balanced.
An underactive immune system can lead to yeast overgrowth, because it can't control the balance. The other end of the spectrum is an overactive immune response where allergies are present. This can also lead to problems with yeast.
When a traditional veterinarian sees a dog with allergies – a sign of an overactive immune system – he or she will typically prescribe steroid therapy to shut off the immune response. (This improves symptoms but does not fix the underlying cause of the allergies.)
When your dog's immune system is turned off with drugs, it can't do its job of regulating and balancing normal flora levels, so your pet ends up with yeast blooms.
When conventional vets see dogs with allergies and possibly secondary skin infections, often they prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are well-known to destroy all good bacteria along with the bad, wiping out healthy yeast levels in the process, so these drugs often make a bad situation worse.
Another reason an allergic dog, in particular, can end up with a lot of yeast is he can actually develop an allergy to his yeast. Intradermal tests often reveal that a dog is having an allergic response to his own natural flora.
This situation can be very problematic because the dog's allergic response can affect his whole body. These dogs are often red from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail – their entire bodies are flaming red and irritated.
So dogs with an underactive immune system or that are immuno-suppressed can end up with a yeast infection, as well as dogs that have overactive immune systems, or allergies."
See the complete article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/05/03/eating-these-foods-can-make-your-dog-itch-like-crazy.aspx
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Or it can be a food sensitivity:
"The primary food antigens are beef, corn, wheat, soy, eggs and milk. Those are the antigens tested for currently by the NutraScan. By the end of this year, Dr. Dodds hopes to introduce another 14 secondary food antigens to the program. She also has plans to expand the testing to include cats and horses."
See: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/07/26/a-great-tool-for-dogs-with-rumbling-tummy-gas-diarrhea-or-vomiting.aspx
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Why Your Canine Was NOT Designed to Eat Grains!dogs crave meat
Your dog doesn't try to eat your meat just to be difficult. It's just that his or her body demands meat
for metabolism. Be sure your dog gets sufficient high-quality protein.

--------------------
Your dog is a carnivore, not an herbivore.
"What difference does that make, you ask?

An herbivore is equipped to digest plant foods and cellulose because of the rumens they have -- the first division of the stomach of herbivores in which most food collects immediately after being swallowed, and from which it is later returned to the mouth as cud for more thorough chewing. Your dog doesn't have rumens to do this.

Secondly, your dog's pancreas is unable to secrete cellulase to split the cellulose into glucose molecules.
Lastly, dogs are not efficient at digesting, assimilating and utilizing plant material as a source of high quality protein (contrary to what pet food manufacturers would have you believe).
Plants like rice, soybean meal, wheat and corn have very limited usefulness in the meat-eaters diet. They are simply not good choices for a dietary foundation that optimally nourishes meat-eating animals."
 hunting dogs
No matter your dog's size, it still requires a diet very high in quality meat protein.

Bogus 'Protein' Beefing up the Label
"Enter... corn -- a cheap, plentiful "filler" product.
Fills the pet food bags, creating the illusion of giving more food for your money. And fills the pet's stomach, making your dog feel satisfied (for a time, anyway).
What's more, it contains just enough (low-quality) protein to enable the manufacturer to list it as a protein, 'beefing up' the protein quantities enough to label it as "complete and balanced".
Don't let them fool you!"

meat good for cats and dogs
These two are on the quality protein trail! Is your dog getting enough superior protein in its diet?

"Cheap ingredients based on plant products result in cheap pet foods -- which always turn out to be a poor choice for nourishing a meat-eater. Dogs (cats, too!) are livelier and healthier when meat, poultry, lamb and fish are the foundation of their diets.

In addition, corn is one of the most frequent genetically modified 'foods' there is.  Why would you want to give that to your precious dog?  If genetically modified foods aren't good for you, I'm pretty sure they're not good for your pet either.

Isn't it time we choose to feed our beloved dogs as the meat eaters they are -- and denounce the senseless practice of feeding them as if they're herbivores simply because it's cheaper to do so?

I believe that as our pets' caregivers, we have an obligation to discover what they really need nutritionally and provide it for them.  But it's much more than an obligation... You love your best friend, so why would you choose anything less than the best for them?     Liver may indeed be the best choice of all..."
More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/pet-treats-beef-bison-liver.aspx
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Stop Senseless Deaths in Mustang Roundups.  Sponsored by: The Animal Rescue Site  
Stop Senseless Deaths in Mustang Roundups"The Bureau of Land Management uses dangerous and deadly techniques to round up wild mustangs. Put a stop to this cruel practice.
Nevada's Bureau of Land Management plans to herd a large group of mustangs out of their peaceful habitat—a practice that is responsible for the senseless injuries and deaths of thousands of these wild and beautiful creatures.

You can help the horses remain in their natural environment. Tell the BLM to put an end to their roundups, allowing the horses to run free where they belong.
More info ...
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Energy company donates in support of county wildlife

"Key Energy Services of Houston is providing massive reservoirs to establish wildlife watering stations in Montgomery County, TX to help animals survive the ongoing drought.
The first in a scheduled series of watering stations planned by Key Energy Services has been installed to provide animals with a reliable and renewable source of fresh water.

“A lot of our employees live in Montgomery County and brought the idea of helping the animals through the drought to management,” said John Honeycutt, a senior official with Key Energy Services. “We recognized the need and our ability to help.”

The company secured a Frac tank – a massive waterproof container used at drilling sites as a fluid reservoir – and transported it to a rural location just outside The Woodlands. The structure, capable of holding thousands of gallons of liquids, was cleaned, filled with fresh water and connected to a trough accessible to area wildlife.

“We constructed platforms on the outside to allow smaller animals access to water,” said Honeycutt. “We also installed ladders and planks to enable animals to get out if they accidently fall into the water.”
Workmen attach water lines between the the water tanks and water troughs that keep the watering stations full.

“The ongoing drought has caused a great deal of hardship in the animal community,” she said. “We are very appreciative of what Key Energy is doing.”


In addition to the first completed watering station, the international energy company has volunteered to provide additional assistance. Meyer said the company plans to dispatch a large water truck to restore the pond at W.G. Jones State Forest off FM 1488."

More at: http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/courier/news/article_ccb92dd0-f2de-55c3-a2e1-37edbf8b8a01.html 
and  http://www.friendsoftexaswildlife.org/.
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Yesterday:

Another early morning screen-porch time for the cats and kittens, until the humidity rolled in.   Then the temperature started to rise, so I had to close up the house, and turn the AC back on.  It isn't cooler during the day, but the early mornings are quite pleasant for the first time in months.

The kittens are well behaved in the house, through I am still trying to teach them not to get up on the kitchen counters.   I have been letting them have the run of the house more and more.  As soon as they hear me getting a canned meal ready, they jump into their big cage to eat, and don't seem to mind being locked up for a while for the times that I can't keep an eye on them.  They like that big cage in the dining area, so the Grooming Room AC is still off.  The power companies are pleading customers to conserve.

As there was no one coming, I took a slow bubble bath and washed my hair.  When I tried to comb my hair, as wet hair should not be brushed, I could hardly get the wide-tooth comb through it.  Something wasn't right, so I found a different conditioner and left it on there for a while. Once it was rinsed off, my hair felt a lot better. 
I don't know what was wrong with the usual conditioner.  Does conditioner get old, or is my hair getting old?

Irene seems to have been tamer than expected, but is still causing a lot of trouble for a lot of folks with flooding, downed trees, and no power.  But as I understand it, 11 people have died because of the storm, so condolences to their families.  I spent some time looking at that, reading blogs, and the damage that the two tornadoes did to Goderich, Canada: http://thebayfieldbunch.com/2011/08/uploaded-my-goderich-tornado-damage.html  That city really got a beating.

The rest of the time it was just usual chores like laundry, changing sheets, cleaning my bathroom.  But when I went to cook the meat that I had left in the fridge overnight to defrost, it hadn't defrosted.  Looking in the freezer to find something else, I realized that there was a lot of space in there.  Now was a good time to defrost the deep-freeze.  For once I didn't have to load frozen food in ice chests.  Everything in the deep freeze fit in the fridge's freezer, and so I had that defrosted in no time. 
There are always several packages of cooked thinly sliced salmon in the freezer, and they defrost quickly, so that is always an easy meal.

The berries that we have been getting at the stores, are kinda tasteless, and not worth what they charge for them.   We used to have blackberries, strawberries and raspberries, that tasted like they are supposed to.  We had a farmer's market here, but it closed down, so I will have to look farther afield. 
The traditional strawberry season is from June until mid August, but new farming methods extends it from April until mid December.  "New farming methods", sounds like they do something unhealthy. http://www.chewswise.com/chews/2010/12/california-falls-back-on-toxic-pesticide-for-strawberries.html   

I would like to find organic, as they are more nutritious:   http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=organic-strawberries-beat-conventio-10-09-08.  But the season is over.

Even dried fruit has nitrites.  "It is essential, however, to not eat fruit dried with chemicals such as sulfur nitrite. Eat only naturally dried fruit." 

100% Certified Organic Freeze-Dried Strawberry SlicesThat is usually sun-dried, so I guess I
will go without berries, as there isn't any sundried fruit around here. 
If we had a Whole Foods, I could get freeze dried.

Time for me to get on with the day.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Irene. Gold Standard. Bible: Who's Responsible? Drought. Lord's Prayer Examined!

"Hurricane Irene is moving up the east coast of the United States.  It is expected to impact the lives of people from Florida to New England.  Many cities along the coast have already been evacuated in anticipation of the pending destruction.
When natural disasters loom it is important to remember the words that God inspired:
"... The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."' - James 5:16
Please join us in praying for those that will be affected by Irene."
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An Important 40th Anniversary to Ponder

Posted August 18, 2011

"Just over 40 years ago the United States government decided to go off the gold standard, U.S. dollars no longer being backed up by their value in gold. Four decades later we are feeling the economic crunch that comes from unwise financial practices. Jesus Christ's coming rule on earth represents the only real solution.

An Important 40th Anniversary to Ponder
Source: Photos.com
"God uses the number 40 quite often—it often designates a time of testing. It is mentioned 146 times in the Bible. Examples in the Bible are frequent: The Israelites were 40 years in the wilderness; Jesus and others fasted for 40 days; and Jonah:3:4And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. shows that God warned Nineveh for 40 days. So what is this anniversary?

On August 15, 1971, President Richard Nixon announced that the United States would no longer convert U.S. dollars to gold. Gold and silver certificate money, which only we older citizens can remember, were then replaced with government-issued coupons with no expiration dates. For the first time since the Civil War, our money had no real value and could be valued based on what traders thought its value might be. It is now known as "fiat money," which is based on confidence in the issuing government.

Gold replaced by printed money
Why was this done? The obvious reason was that the treasury was broke and owed far more in issued money than we had gold in reserve. The surface reason was spending for the war in Vietnam, which had gone on for eight years to no avail, but at a huge expense in money and lost lives. "Great Society" entitlement programs were also beginning to take their toll.
Since money could now be made out of paper and ink, restraints on spending almost disappeared. Unfortunately many politicians pass it out by the bucketful to their supporters so that they can keep getting elected. The result: The amount of money has mushroomed. The national debt in 1971 was $378 billion. 40 years later it is $16 trillion on the surface, and four or five times that in unfunded obligations.
It is obvious that we cannot ever repay this debt and looking unlikely that we'll ever recover from the mess. The collapse of our financial system is predicted now by many experts.

An uncertain future
Is this significant? Within a few days of this anniversary date, the rating agency S&P cut the U.S. government debt rating from AAA to AA+ with a negative outlook, the first time in modern history that one of the three main ratings firms has stripped the U.S. of its triple A status.
This move puts the rating of the world's biggest economy below Liechtenstein and more than a dozen other countries, and on par with Belgium and New Zealand.

Our founding fathers pledged to sacrifice their "lives, fortunes, and sacred honor" in order to create a better future for their children, grandchildren and future generations.
Our recent leaders in many nations have done just the opposite: They are sacrificing the prosperity of future generations in order to have what they want for themselves. Abandoning the financial and honesty principles in God's Word has cost us dearly.

The oncoming financial train wreck is beyond the control of any of us individually. So what can we do? Since we know what the Bible says about the fragility of the world economy, we should prepare ourselves and our families for economic hardship. Plan wisely and save for the rainy days ahead.

God's Kingdom to bring true prosperity
Consider what else Jesus Christ said about money in the Sermon on the Mount: Matthew:6:19-20: ([19]Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:[20]But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal

When Jesus Christ returns, He will fix all of the problems mankind has caused for itself—including economic problems. We should try to live today as He did in His physical existence; He knew that material riches are temporary at best, but having spiritual treasure would endure. Strive for the treasure that will last forever!
If you would like to read more about what the Bible says about proper financial management, please read our free booklet Managing Your Finances today."
From: http://www.ucg.org/commentary/important-40th-anniversary-ponder/
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Who's Responsible for This Mess?
"If we make wrong choices, foolish choices, it won't help to look for someone to blame. The only way out is to accept responsibility for the choices we each make and the results of those choices."

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Time and Chance
"Most people will agree that the circumstances of time and chance happen to every person.
The Bible also makes that clear (Ecclesiastes 9:11). People who have a strong belief in God sometimes seem to think that they should somehow be exempt from this normal state of affairs. Somehow it seems unfair to them that even the wicked should have good things occur in their lives.

Jesus told us that rain falls on the just and unjust and the sun shines on the good as well as the evil people (Matthew 5:45). There is nothing that God cannot do, but as a loving Father and wonderful Creator, He knows the boundaries of what He should and should not do. When Jesus said, "Thy will be done," He drew no boundaries. His life was according to the will of God.

The sooner we accept the truth that time and chance can happen to us all, the sooner we will take steps to avoid the bad things that time and chance can bring. We will be far more blessed with good things than hurt by bad things. Maximize the good and minimize the bad. That is a good plan, showing wisdom and trust in our Father."
http://www.ucg.org/this-is-the-way/time-and-chance/
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Posted July 30, 2010, Over a year ago:
In Brief... World News Review: Drought Threat Looms Large Over North America

"NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, is predicting continued drought in virtually every Western state of the United States and in many of the states on the High Plains.
NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, is predicting continued drought in virtually every Western state of the United States and in many of the states on the High Plains. Additionally, summer forecasts predict drier-than-average conditions for the Pacific Northwest, likely meaning drought for Washington and parts of Oregon.

Western Canada also labors under an extended drought. British Columbia is looking down the barrel of the worst drought since the Great Depression. Accumulated precipitation for lake levels in the province were close to the lowest figures of the 1920s. And the huge Okanagan Lake is as low as it was in the early 1900s.
During the time of great expansion into the American West, little thought was given to there not being enough water to meet the needs of the burgeoning population. To be sure, there were contentions over sharing water, but all thought there was enough to go around. In 1922, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming signed the Colorado River Compact, designed to share the water of the system proportionally. Along with a subsequent treaty with Mexico, it required the availability of 8.23 million acre-feet of water annually.

Any damming of the river was not to interfere with this figure, calculated by hydrologists at the time. But they miscalculated—greatly overestimating the water available in the system by more than double. In 1956, Congress authorized building the massive Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River, just above Lees Ferry, the halfway point between the Upper and Lower Basin regions.

The dam, which took as much concrete as it would take to build a four-lane highway from Phoenix, Arizona, to Chicago, Illinois, created the second-largest man-made lake (behind Lake Mead, also on the Colorado system) in the country, Lake Powell. The Colorado River Compact required the dam to release 8.23 million acre-feet of water a year, based upon the theory that the snow melt and tributary collections would deliver that much to Lake Powell.

In reality, the lake received less than half of that amount in most years, so it released over twice what it took in. That worked for many years, as long as the states did not use their allotments. But now, all the states on the system are demanding their full allotments and Lake Powell cannot meet the demands. It has dropped to 40 percent of its top capacity, exposing cliffs 10 stories high.

Congress may soon have to step in to resolve the growing "water war"—legal wrangling over distribution rights. An imposed federal solution isn't likely to leave any party happy.
The American West grew more in the past 20 years than ever before, but those were wet years, part of what turns out to be an unusual wet cycle. Comparing those 20 years to the last 800 years, scientists tell us that the wet cycle was a fluke. The climate patterns of the West typically feature extended drought conditions, punctuated by rare wet periods. So the abundance of rainfall during the 20th-century development of the West was an anomaly, rather than the rule.

Tree ring studies enable scientists to analyze the water patterns as far back as A.D. 900. Looking at dry versus wet years between 900 and 1300, research reveals that only a few times did water levels come anywhere near what they were in the 20th century.

In other words, the drought now hitting the West is actually the norm; the wet period was abnormal."
Article by Cecil Maranville, Darris McNeely From: http://www.ucg.org/news-and-prophecy/brief-world-news-review-drought-threat-looms-large-over-north-america/
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THE LORD'S PRAYER - Rather cleverly done. This is in two parts,
The prayer ( in regular type) and GOD (in bold italic type ) in response.
*********
"Our Father Who Art In Heaven.
Yes?
Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.
But -- you called ME!
Called you?   No, I didn't call you.. I'm praying. Our Father who art in Heaven.
There -- you did it again!
Did what?
Called ME. You said, "Our Father who art in Heaven"  Well, here I am.. What's on your mind? But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer.
It makes me feel good,  Kind of like fulfilling a duty.
Well, all right.  Go on. Okay, Hallowed be thy name .
Hold it right there.  What do you mean by that? By what?
By "Hallowed be thy name"? It means, it means .. . Good grief, I don't know what it means. How in the world should I know?  It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?
It means honored, holy, wonderful. Hey, that makes sense.. I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before. Thanks. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven.
Do you really mean that?
Sure, why not?
What are you doing about it?
Doing?  Why, nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if You got control, of everything down here like You have up There. We're kinda in a mess down here you know.
Yes, I know;   But, have I got control of you? Well, I go to church..
That isn't what I asked you. What about your bad temper?  You've really got a problem there, you know.
And then there's the way you spend your money -- all on yourself.  And what about the kind of books you read ?
Now hold on just a minute! Stop picking on me!  I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at church!
Excuse ME.. I thought you were praying for My Will to be done.. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it. Like you -- for example .... Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.
So could I. I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, you know, be really free.
Good. Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together -- You and ME.  I'm proud of you. Look, Lord, if you don't mind, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. Give us this day, our daily bread.
You need to cut out the bread.. You're overweight as it is.
Hey, wait a minute! What is this?  Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.
Praying is a dangerous thing. You just might get what you ask for. Remember, you called ME -- and here I am.
It's too late to stop now. Keep praying.  ( pause .. . )   Well, go on.
I'm scared to.
Scared?  Of what?
I know what you'll say.
Try ME. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
What about Karen? See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up!  Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories. She never paid back the money she owes me.. I've sworn to get even with her!
But -- your prayer --  What about your prayer? I didn't -- mean it..
Well, at least you're honest.  But, it's quite a load carrying around isn't it? Yes
You know how unhappy you are -- Well, I can change that. You can? How?
Forgive Karen. Then, I'll forgive you; And the hate and the sin, will be Karen's problem -- not yours. You will have settled the problem as far as you are concerned. Oh, you know, you're right. You always are. And more than I want revenge, I want to be right with You . . (sigh). All right, all right . . I forgive her.
There now! Wonderful! How do you feel? Hmmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all!  In fact, I feel pretty great! You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight.
I haven't been getting much rest, you know.
Yeah, I know. But, you're not through with your prayer, are you?  Go on.
Oh, all right. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Good! Good! I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.
What do you mean by that?
You know what I mean.
Yeah. I know..
Okay.
Go ahead. Finish your prayer.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Do you know what would bring me glory?  What would really make me happy? No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you now... I've really made a mess of things. I want to truly behave like Christ,
I can see now how great that would be. So, tell me .. . . How do I make you happy?
YOU just did".
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Yesterday:

Was a day of rest for everyone.  Just did the normal routine of taking care of my critters, and chores around the house.

As it isn't so hot and humid early in the mornings, the doors and windows can be open with fresh air going through the house.  The foster cats can be on the screen porch for a couple of hours.  The kittens are in awe, they didn't realize that there is a great big world out there.  Then it gets humid and the house has to be closed up again.

Not much one wants to do outside, as we are still having such hot days.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

News: Berlin Wall. Tower of Pisa. Nanny! Moth. Space Supplies Lost. Irene. Wallow Fire,AZ. Shopping.


Just a few items that you may have missed:



"A nun walks in front of a line of wreaths during the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall at the Berlin Wall Memorial at Bernauer Strasse in Berlin Aug. 13. Germany marks the 50th anniversary of the day communist East Germany sealed itself off behind the Wall.
Germany had been divided into capitalist western and communist eastern sectors after the end of World War II. At the height of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, the East German regime started building the wall through the capital on Aug. 13, 1961. "(Markus Schreiber/Associated Press)
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Leaning Tower Of Pisa Restored

 
"Restoring the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a monument renowned for its imperfection, was a complicated business for the Italian government, which had to be careful to straighten up the famed tourist mecca without straightening it out.
Several years ago, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was in danger of becoming the lying down Tower of Pisa - the ground beneath it was giving way. The building was listing, pushed over by a million tourists in a million snapshots.
Now, Pisa has been restored to its crooked glory and travelers can visit without fear of being smushed."
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Russian Client Offers British Nanny An Annual Salary Of $200,000

Everett Colletion
Mary Poppins
"If you think Linda Evangelista is over-paying for child care in New York, imagine what she would be paying in London.
According to an article in The Times of London by Fiona Neill, the mega-rich Russians, Sheikhs and Chinese pouring into London in recent years have jacked up the cost of a British nanny.
A British staffing agency called Imperial Nannies cited a Russian client who wanted to poach a nanny from another family. Their salary offer: $200,000 a year.

Then there was the Imperial Nanny client with three kids who employed a nanny for each child — at around $130,000 a year.

These aren’t the norm, of course. More typical in Britain are salaries of $75,000 a year – with free room and board. Usually that means a “a flat that is self-contained or on a separate floor, or at least a room with en-suite bathroom — in a desirable Central London borough, and almost always includes a car,” according to the article.

Some British nannies specify that they only fly business class — though many have use of the family planes. One nanny was given a new wardrobe by her Italian employer, while another was given a house by her Saudi patrons.

According to Imperial, the financial crisis hasn’t hurt demand for top nannies, because they super-rich haven’t been effected by the crisis. (Which is what staffing agencies always say, true or not). The big demand is for teachers-turned-nannies, who can help the kids with increasingly demanding school work.
Yet according to a British “manny” named “Nick,”all that costly coddling can be better for the nannies than the rich kids. The wealthy parents, he said, give too little time and attention to their kids."  By Robert Frank of the Wall Street Journal
http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2011/08/22/the-200000-a-year-nanny/
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Holliday OK after having moth extracted from ear

Cardinals LF Matt Holliday gets moth stuck in ear
St. Louis Cardinals trainer Barry Weinberg helps Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday as Holliday leaves Monday night's game. A moth landed in Holliday's ear and had to be extracted with tweezers. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ST. LOUIS • "Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday had to leave Monday's game in the eighth inning after a moth flew into his right ear and became lodged in the canal.
Holliday rushed off the field in clear pain and tugging at his right ear after the event.
A team official who spoke with the Cardinals' trainers said the left fielder was taken into a dark room in hopes that the moth would "seek light" and fly out of the ear on its own. That did not work. A trainer then had to use tweezers to reach deep into Holliday's ear and remove the insect.

Team trainer Greg Hauck told a club spokesman that he had had a similar event in the minors.
Holliday was not available for comment after the game, and the team official was not sure if Holliday would see a doctor or a specialist to determine if the moth did any damage while wedged inside his ear. The moth was still alive when they removed it from the left fielder's ear. Holliday was said to be feeling fine when he left the ballpark.  He took the moth with him."   Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/article_3a899ffe-cd43-11e0-bdba-0019bb30f31a.html#ixzz1VszuTJWq
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Resupply Craft Lost While Crew Focuses on Departure and Science

ISS Progress 44 launches


The ISS Progress 44 resupply craft launches on time from Baikonur Cosmodrome before a loss of communication a few minutes later. Credit: NASA TV









International Space Station Program Manager Michael Suffredini discusses the loss of the ISS Progress 44 resupply craft during a news conference at Johnson Space Center. Credit: NASA TV

"The ISS Progress 44 spacecraft and nearly 3 tons of supplies for the International Space Station were lost Wednesday when the launch vehicle experienced a failure during the climb to orbit.
The launch took place as scheduled at 9 a.m. EDT Wednesday from Baikonur Cosmodrome (7 p.m. Baikonur time). However, Mission Control Moscow reported communication with the Progress 44 was lost 5 minutes, 50 seconds after its launch.

"At 1300 (GMT), we lifted off, following 320 seconds of flight there was a failure in the upper stage of the launch vehicle. We lost comm(unications) after a while with the launch vehicle and we did not report stage separation,” said Maxim Matuchen, the head of the Russian Mission Control Center."    More at:  http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/living/index.html#.TlUR10dFDAI.twitter
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August 24, 2011 18:40

Progress spacecraft wreckage falls in unpopulated area in Altai

MOSCOW. Aug 24 (Interfax) - "The wreckage of the Progress resupply spacecraft came down in the Republic of Altai, causing no destruction.
"The Progress resupply vehicle that failed to reach the target orbit crashed in the Choisk region of the Republic of Altai," a source in the regional law enforcement agencies told Interfax.
The crash caused neither loss of life nor destruction. There are no populated areas near the crash site, he said."
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Hurricane Irene 2011: New Yorkers Stock Up On Supplies

Hurricane Irene Preparations

"As the first major hurricane to approach New York City in a quarter-century gets closer, Manhattanites more practiced at handling blizzards and brunch lines are gathering supplies -- and steeling their nerves -- for a foreign threat.

Unlike residents farther south who might be more practiced with weathering hurricanes, the crowd in Manhattan didn't seem to know what to do.
Instead of buying generators and gasoline, as many coastal homeowners routinely do, apartment dwellers were thinking less about protecting their property, more about protecting themselves.

The hunt was on: Water? Check. Liquor for hurricane parties? Check. Flashlights? If you can find them."
More at:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/26/hurricane-irene-new-york-supplies_n_938174.html
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Wallow Fire, charges filed.
Unattended campfire pinpointed as cause of Arizona’s largest-ever wildfire

PHOENIX (AP) -- "Federal charges have been filed against two cousins accused of causing the largest forest fire in Arizona's history.
The charges were announced Wednesday by the U.S. attorney's office against Caleb Joshua Malboeuf and David Wayne Malboeuf. They include leaving a fire unattended and unextinguished, and failure to maintain control of a fire that was not a prescribed fire that damaged a National Forest System.
The Wallow fire burned more than 538,000 acres in eastern

Arizona and New Mexico last spring."
More at: http://summitcountyvoice.com/2011/08/26/two-men-charged-with-starting-arizonas-wallow-fire/
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Navajo Hotshots lining numerous spot fires in the Diamond Mountain area at the Wallow Fire in Arizona. PHOTO COURTESY KARI GREER, U.S. FOREST SERVICE.
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Yesterday:

The foster cats were getting low on dry cat food.  The kittens get four meals a day of canned food, and Prime and BobbieCat get two.  But they like to graze on dry food too.
 
Our local feed store on the freeway feeder road had closed down.  When they widened the freeway, the road crews did not put the new exit before their store, where it was proposed, but after it.  Then the new Kroger's store construction made that feeder road so busy that it was a mess.

Yes, I could get their "Taste of The Wild" at Tractor Supply in Conroe, but I couldn't get their "Exclusive" brand of dry food any where except on Main Street in Conroe, which sells both brands.

Jay wanted to go with me, so Misty had her walk-about down there.  He wasn't ready, so she sniffed places she had never sniffed before, a little farther away from his house.   That must be quite an adventure for a blind dog.  She keeps me on her leash, so that I won't let her run into things!

Ray was already working on the rear of the cargo trailer by the time we returned here.   Jay raised the extension ladder in the workshop, went up to the storage in the rafters and brought down a length of decorative metal.  Ray and I are going to use it on the back of the trailer. 

Pugsy 1st.Sep.2008 001 (Small)[1]Twelve years ago, when all those lengths of different metal and wooden trim were stored up in the rafters, Pugsy the vintage motor home, was in that tall carport. 
All we had to do was climb Pugsy's ladder, walk on her roof and choose what we needed. 
But when the contractors made that carport into a garage ten years ago, they didn't put a tall enough door in there, so poor old Pugsy has been outside since then.  Thank goodness she is made of molded fiberglass, so doesn't leak. 
That garage had a car in it one night, then we made it into a workshop, as I had other carports.

We helped Ray re-install the piece of newly painted metal trim that was on the front of the cargo trailer, before we took off for Conroe.

First stop, Jay wanted to get some rolling tobacco again, he's got tired of paying the high prices for ready-made cigarettes.  Then a stop at the cable company's store as he needed to get a new TV digital cable box.  It won't do him any good, as he can't program the last one.

Then off to St. Marks Thrift Shop, to offload some paper and boxes to be recycled.  He bought four shirts and a robe, and I bought a pretty red and white smocky-type top and a pink tank top.  Oh, and Aquage hair spray which costs $20 on Amazon, for 25¢.

We got the cat food on Main Street and as it is close to three of our favorite thrift shops, we stopped at two of them.   Jay bought a long cushion for his mother's porch swing, and I was given two nice big area rugs, as they have no way to clean them to offer them for sale.  Thrift shops have to abide by certain rules.  That's OK, I will clean them, as I have the equipment.

We both needed to make bank deposits, so we opted to go to the brand new Kroger's on the way home, as our bank has a branch in there.  It meant we had to cross over the freeway twice, as the new store is on the West side of the road, and we live north of there.  We hadn't done it on the way south, as we didn't know how much money we would need to have with us.  The store is still celebrating it's opening, and there were samples everywhere, so that was lunch.

Jay helped me hang the rugs over the horizontal poles in the RVport, to let them air out, and then I took him home.

The grass on my side lot which never gets watered by me, so is dependant on Mother Nature, is turning brown, but it will come back.   The hedge at the back of the house along the road, gets most of my attention, as I don't want to lose it after all these years of molly-coddling it.

Just-woke-them-upI closed up the Grooming Room/Middle Room and turned that AC off, after Mindi's dogs had gone home on Wednesday evening.

The kittens are really good in the house and they like being part of the every day routine. 


Now they are only in the great big cage in the dining area, for eating and sleeping.








Peebles-sleeping-on-kitty-condo,Precious peeking out from it
















Hoping to avoid rolling black-outs, I'm trying to do my part to conserve electricity on these record 100° days.