Lake Texana and Submerged Texana, TX. Kit Carson.

 

For "Travel Tuesday", let's visit Lake Texana, in the Texas Gulf Coast region of TX.

"Home to some of the best beaches in America, the Texas Gulf Coast region draws millions of visitors to this Texas playground. Stretching some 350 miles from South Padre Island & the Rio Grande Valley, all the way to Beaumont & the Louisiana border, this region is renowned for its wildlife & natural beauty, as well as the home of America's space program. Discover the Beaches of the Texas Gulf Coast Region."

Lake Texana State Park, Texas

"Halfway between Houston and Corpus Christi, Lake Texana State Park is a great spot for swimming, boating, fishing and wildlife viewing - including deer and alligators. The park features a Nature Center and offers interpretive programs throughout the year. For more information, visit www.LifesBetterOutside.org.

-------

"The majority of the park consists of mixed oak and pecan woodlands. White-tailed deer,squirrels, rabbits, nine-banded Armadillos, and raccoons are numerous. There are occasional bobcat and wild turkey sightings. American alligators are also found in the park.

Lake Texana contains many native and exotic species of aquatic vegetation. Large stands of water hyacinth are present throughout the reservoir. Moderate densities of giant salvinia, hydrilla, coontail, spikerush, cattail, pondweed, and bulrush are also present.

Lake Texana contains vast floating beds of water hyacinth which provide marginal habitat for most sportfish species. Isolated beds of hydrilla, coontail, and other submerged aquatic vegetation provide the best habitat for largemouth bass. Most of the reservoir contains submerged timber and numerous stumps, ideal structure for catfish species. In periods of high water, flooded terrestrial vegetation provides excellent habitat for all game fish species. The Navidad River channel and the adjacent shallow area called the "jungle" is a favorite bass fishing area, water level permitting.

Hikers, birdwatchers and other nature buffs should explore the 1.3-mile Lake Texana Nature Trail that traverses creek bottomlands, providing up-close views of the park’s fauna and flora, as well as wooden butterfly homes erected to protect the winged beauties from predators. Wooden footbridges spanning a creek add a scenic touch to the trail and afford excellent vantage points for spotting critters that call the waters home.

A growing number of birders are finding their way to Lake Texana, too, because of the impressive number of bird species spotted in the park. More than 220 species of avifauna have been documented to date, drawn by the overlap of coastal prairie, hardwood bottomland and riparian  habitats. Migrating songbirds, waterfowl, shorebirds and scavengers like the Mexican buzzard (cara cara) are frequently seen at the park."

Lake Texana State Park Drive Through.

______

Speaking of Texas: Texana

A popular wedding site today, the 150-year-old former Texana Presby­terian Church stands near its original location. (Photo by J. Griffis Smith)

"It’s a safe bet that few of the boaters and water-skiers who frequent Lake Texana, near Edna, realize that less than 75 feet below the surface of this placid body of water lies the site of a once-bustling river port. In the mid-1800s, as many as 20 vessels a week docked here.

Established in 1832 on the Navidad River by Dr. Francis F. Wells, one of Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred colonists, and Wells’ sister-in-law, Pamelia McNutt Porter, the town was originally named Santa Anna after Antonio López de Santa Anna. However, the Mexican soldier and politician’s popularity soon waned and residents changed the name to Texana.

During the Texas Revolution, the town served both as a port of entry for volunteers and as a training camp. When the war ended and the Republic was organized into counties, Texana became the seat of Jackson County. “The Navidad was a navigable river then, and boats were able to dock and turn around at Texana,” says Frank Condron, president of the Jackson County Historical Commission.

In mid-1836, New York capitalists Augustus and John Allen, in search of a site for an inland deep-water port, approached Wells about buying the land on which Texana was located.

“After making their survey of the entire gulf coast they decided in favor of Texana, it being the farthest inland with no obstruction,” writes I.T. Taylor in his 1936 book, The Cavalcade of Jackson County. When the Allen brothers offered Wells a substantial sum, he set a price twice that amount. Legend says his response so angered the brothers that one of them declared, “Never will this town amount to anything. I curse it. You … will live to see rabbits and other animals inhabiting its streets.” The Allens then bought land on Buffalo Bayou and established their dream city of Houston there instead.

Nevertheless, Texana continued to grow. By 1840, it had regular steamboat service, and in 1858, residents erected a courthouse. In 1880, it boasted regular mail and stage routes, a flourishing business area, and a weekly newspaper.

The next year, agents of the New York, Texas and Mexican Railway proposed routing the railroad through Texana in exchange for $30,000. When town leaders balked, the railroad moved seven miles north, by-passing the town. Many Texana residents followed and established a new community called Edna. It soon became the county seat, and by 1884, Texana had become ghost town. It seemed as if the Allen brothers’  curse had been fulfilled. Some might say the final blow fell in 1979, when Palmetto Bend Dam was built on the Navidad River less than a mile below the old town site, forming Lake Texana and flooding the area.

Today, the reservoir is at the heart of Lake Texana State Park. Because Texana’s namesake park attracts some 88,000 visitors a year, perhaps the Allen brother’s curse was dispelled after all.

Traces of Old Texana

Lake Texana State Park, east of Edna, offers camping, hiking, fishing and other watersports. (Photo by J. Griffis Smith)

While the town of Texana no longer exists, you can find traces of it at several sites in and around Edna (at US 59 and TX 111). Lake Texana State Park (7 miles -east, on TX 111) also features occasional programs on the pioneer town. Call 361/782-5718; www.tpwd.state.tx.us.

The Brackenridge Recreation Complex (across TX 111 from the state park), once the site of the Brackenridge Plantation, displays early photographs of the area and offers tours of the restored Historic Texana Church, which was built in 1859, moved to Edna in 1884, and finally moved here, a few miles north of its original location, in 2001. The quaint Greek Revival structure is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Owned by the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority (LNRA), the park also includes the Brackenridge family cemetery. Call 361/782-5456; www.brackenridgepark.com.

Two other sites display Texana artifacts and photographs: LNRA headquarters (at FM 3131 and FM 1822; 361/782-5229; www.lnra.org), and Texana Museum (403 N. Wells St.; 361/782-7146; www.jacksoncountytx.com), which offers exhibits on local history.

A number of buildings were moved from Texana to Edna in the late 1800s. Only two historic homes remain: the 1866 Bronaugh-Hasdorff home, at 203 E. Brackenridge St., and the 1876 George F. Horton home, at 404 Hanover St."  By Nola McKey

_______

On This Day:

Kit Carson born in Kentucky, Dec 24, 1809:

"Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson, one of the most celebrated heroes of the American West, is born in Richmond, Kentucky.

Shortly after Carson was born, his family moved west to Howard County, Missouri, an ideal spot for a future frontiersman to learn his trade. By the early 1820s, nearby Franklin, Missouri, had become the starting point for the newly opened Santa Fe Trail. As an apprentice to a Franklin saddle maker, Carson spent three years watching the covered wagons head westward for Santa Fe. Finally, the yearning to follow overwhelmed young Carson, and he ran away from home to join a trading caravan.

Intelligent and resourceful, Carson made a new life for himself once he reached Santa Fe. He learned enough Spanish to serve as a translator, and soaked up information about frontier knowledge and skills from the many mountain men who came to town. When Carson was 22 years old, he met the famous Irish mountain man Thomas Fitzpatrick, who offered to take Carson on a trapping expedition in the northern Rockies. Carson jumped at the chance, and soon became a skilled trapper and a cunning tracker. In January 1833, when a band of Crow Indians stole his party's horses, Carson trailed the Indians for 40 miles and his party was able to recover the stolen steeds.

Possessed of an uncanny ability to remember geography and topography, the illiterate Carson gained international fame after he served as a guide for John C. Fremont's 1842 western mapping expedition along the Oregon Trail. Fremont was so impressed with Carson's frontier and guiding skills that he rehired him to guide his 1843 exploration of the Great Salt Lake and the Sierra Nevada. When Fremont published his reports on the two expeditions, he wrote glowingly of the young scout, and Carson had his first taste of national fame.

After serving with Fremont in the Mexican War, Carson gained even greater renown as an Indian fighter in New Mexico, and the authors of popular dime novels began featuring him in their western tales. Literally a legend in his own time, Carson had the bizarre experience of colliding with his own mythic self. Late in 1849, Carson led the pursuit of a band of Jicarilla Apache who had kidnapped Mrs. J.M. White and her child from an emigrant caravan. Carson and a company of Taos soldiers tracked down and defeated the Apache, but they were too late to save Mrs. White, who was found with an arrow through her heart. Carson discovered a dime novel lying near White's body-the novel featured Carson as the hero of a story where he single-handedly fought off eight Indians.

Although he spent much of his life fighting Indians, Carson apparently had great sympathy and respect for them--in 1867 he became the Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Colorado Territory. Despite his failing health, Carson made a strenuous trip to Washington with delegates from the Ute tribe to argue on the Indians' behalf in treaty negotiations. Shortly after he returned to his home in Boggsville, Colorado, he died at the age of 58, but his legend continues to grow, thanks to countless novels and movies celebrating his life and adventures."

_______

Yesterday:

Jay wanted to work, so Misty and I got in the van to get him, but it wouldn't start.  A door wasn't closed all the way, and the inside lights ran down the battery overnight.  The Puddle Jumper is still being serviced down the street at Jim's, the mechanic, who is down with a bronchial infection.  The new muffler has arrived, but he is too sick to install it.

Misty was very upset that she wasn't going for her 'walkies' down at Jay's, and took her time taking me for a walk around the front yard.  Jay walked up here, as his ATV battery was dead, too.  Must be this cold weather!  

As I don't have the clear vinyl up on the screen porch this winter, the aloe plants would get too cold in there when it freezes. So they are all in the temporary greenhouse that we made with some old patio doors.

Rather than take the two wire shelf units off the screen porch, as I didn't really have anywhere else to keep them, we went up to my attic and brought down some pieces of very thin plywood and paneling.  We cut pieces to fit the eight shelves, so now the foster cats could go out there without breaking their legs on the empty shelves.  Jay always wants to cut up new full sheets, and was amazed at what we made with the old scrap paneling that I had kept to re-use.

These are two weird cats, they didn't seem to like their first outing on the screen porch at all.  They did jump up on the shelves though, so I was glad that we had added the paneling.  I had a cat that broke her leg jumping on something like that, years ago, so I am very cautious now.

After a boost with the battery charger, the van was ready to take Jay home when we were through for the day.

Keep Pets Cool. Cute Otters. Bobcat Orphans. Happy Goats. “Heady” Trash. How Long Trash Lasts. Pastor Ran Puppy Mill. Reward Program. John Cabot. Picasso. Roswell.

 

For “Mammal Monday”:

10 Tips to Keep Your Pets Cool in the Heat

“Many people can’t wait to get their pets outside in the sunshine to take part in all kinds of fun summertime activities. But before you take your furry friend outdoors, make sure you’re prepared to keep him safe not just from the heat, but from a variety of warm weather hazards. “

Complete article with pictures: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/05/17/keeping-pet-cool.aspx

---------

She Can't Take the Heat

“It's that time of year again. Before we know it, in many areas of the country, temperatures will be reaching all-time highs and pets will be overheated right along with us humans.

On a warm day, the temperature in car can exceed 120 degrees in a matter of minutes-even with the windows partially open. This flyer informs the public of dangers pets face when left in alone in a parked car, from heat stress to risk of theft.

Most of us know by now to never leave our pets in cars on hot days but some people might not. Now more than ever, it's important to make sure our neighbors and clients are aware of just how dangerous it can be to leave their pet in a parked car. 

Help inform your community of the numerous dangers pets face when left alone in a parked car with our Don't Leave Your Pet in a Parked Car fliers. Share it with staff, volunteers, and the pet owners in your area.  Now through July 31st, get 50% off these fliers at Marketplace.”

_______

An otter plays with a rock

________

Nellie the Sea Otter stacks cups at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

“Nellie is a well-trained sea otter at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington. Watch her practice a special cup stacking enrichment and demonstrate trained behaviors with her pal, Abra.”

________

Stray cat adopts bobcat orphans

Bobcats: “Hey mom, why are you so small?”

Cat: “Kids have a seat, I have something to important to tell you. You are adopted!”

_______

BBC News - Happy goats: How animal rehab works

“British scientists measured the moods of goats at a sanctuary in Kent to determine if neglected, abused animals are able to fully recover from their pasts.

The verdict? The researchers believe they now have objective evidence that with the right care, mistreated animals can be fully rehabilitated.”

_______

From me:  My Misty has recovered from her former abuse.  A neighbor remarked how happily she walks now, compared to the way she moped along when I first got her.

______

Wildlife Are Getting Their Heads Stuck in Our Trash

“Police free deer’s head from malicious bag of Doritos (although, I don’t think the bag had malicious intent)”    (Monroe County Sheriff’s Office / AP Photo)

 

“Florida bear rescued after getting head stuck in jar.  “Jarhead” eluded wildlife officials for 10 days before they were finally able to catch him.” (Photo from CNN)

Fox With Its Head Stuck In A Jar Approaches 2 Men For Help

 

“Minnesota woman frees deer from plastic jar stuck on its head”  (Photo by Janet Murphy / Associated Press)

Nothing New

These are just the ones that caught media attention, in one month. There are undoubtedly other similar stories. This also isn’t a new dilemma. A few years ago a squirrel got its head stuck in a yogurt cup and made the news.  Then Buzzfeed compiled a list of 27 different animals with their heads stuck. Granted some of those are pets and not in the wild, but the point remains, they’re getting their heads stuck in our trash. Consistently.

Talking Trash: How to Help

There is hope. Back in 2006, McDonald’s changed the McFlurry container lid to save hedgehogs in Britain after pressure from activists. Unfortunately, we can’t blame companies for the design of containers. Instead the focus should be on people properly disposing of their garbage and recycling. I’ll leave you with this amazing infographic to hopefully encourage us all to consider trash disposal and recycling more carefully.”

From: http://blog.nwf.org/2013/06/wildlife-are-getting-their-heads-stuck-in-our-trash/

_______

Mississippi Puppy Mill a Living Horror

Tylertown puppy mill busted, official: "worst I've ever seen"

“The Walthall County Sheriff's Department along with The Humane Society of the United States raided a puppy mill with approximately 80-100 dogs, living and dead, on Magee Hill Road outside of Tylertown on Monday.

The owner of the dogs is a pastor and was selling the dogs out of his church in Louisiana. Authorities were alerted to the dogs when a person who was going to buy one of the dogs saw how bad the conditions were.”

“Among the dogs many were dead, and skeletal remains are mixed with living animals in small, dark, filthy enclosures.  Lydia Satler, state director of the Humane Society, said it was the worst puppy mill she had ever seen in her career. "It's just very sad to see that they lived and died in the same cage," she said.”  More at: http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2013/05/dogs_rescued_Tylertown_052013.html

_______

Honey Badger Narrates: Puppy Mills Are Evil

“Puppy mills are horrible operations. The parent dogs are inhumanely kept in cages and never cared for. All puppies in stores ARE FROM PUPPY MILLS. Never buy a puppy online, at a flea market or from a pet store. If the person at the store says they don't know enough about where the puppy came from, they are lying. They know exactly where the puppy came from. Do something-STOP BUYING FROM STORES, FLEA MARKETS OR ONLINE.”

Stop Puppy Mills—It Starts With YOU.

“Help stop this cycle of cruelty simply by choosing to adopt your next pet from a shelter or rescue, or by only purchasing a dog from a responsible breeder who will show you where your puppy was born and raised. And that's not all—you can do even more by refusing to buy pet supplies from any store or website that sells puppies. Where you spend your dollars makes a difference. Make a statement when you shop!

Watch our new video, then fill out and submit your pledge to adopt only, below.    http://bit.ly/14whuDe

_______

Reward program for cruelty tips

“The HSUS has established a reward program to offer up to $5,000 to anyone who provides any information leading to the arrest and conviction of a puppy mill operator for animal cruelty. Persons wishing to report a valid tip are encouraged to call 1-877-MILL-TIP and will remain anonymous.”

_______

On This Day:

John Cabot lands, Jun 24, 1497

“John Cabot lands in North America at Newfoundland leading the first European exploration of the region since the Vikings.  Cabot's birthplace is in Italy. In Italian he is known today as Giovanni Caboto, in English as John Cabot, in French as Jean Cabot, and in Spanish as Juan Caboto. 

He made a voyage on the ship ‘Matthew’ and claimed land in Canada—mistaking it for Asia—for King Henry VII of England.”

_______

Picasso exhibited in Paris, Jun 24, 1901:

“On June 24, 1901, the first major exhibition of Pablo Picasso's artwork opens at a gallery on Paris' rue Lafitte, a street known for its prestigious art galleries. The precocious 19-year-old Spaniard was at the time a relative unknown outside Barcelona, but he had already produced hundreds of paintings. The 75 works displayed at Picasso's first Paris exhibition offered moody, representational paintings by a young artist with obvious talent.

Picasso's work after World War II is less studied than his earlier creations, but he continued to work feverishly and enjoyed commercial and critical success. He produced fantastical works, experimented with ceramics, and painted variations on the works of other masters in the history of art. Known for his intense gaze and domineering personality, he had a series of intense and overlapping love affairs in his lifetime. He continued to produce art with undiminished force until his death in 1973 at the age of 91.”

_______

U.S. Air Force reports on Roswell, Jun 24, 1997:

“On this day in 1997, U.S. Air Force officials release a 231-page report dismissing long-standing claims of an alien spacecraft crash in Roswell, New Mexico, almost exactly 50 years earlier.

With conspiracy theories still alive and well on the Internet, Roswell continues to thrive as a tourist destination for UFO enthusiasts far and wide, hosting the annual UFO Encounter Festival each July and welcoming visitors year-round to its International UFO Museum and Research Center.”

_______

Yesterday:

Misty and I went to pick up Jay, and had our walk down there.  Jay’s neighbor gave me another bagful of tomatoes.

Jay cut a piece of treated 2x12 into a bottom stand for an outside table, and Ray painted it white.  Jay and I worked on the walkway fence, removing the boards, and replacing them with lattice panels.  We were working our way down to the last tall post to be removed.  Ray came to help when it was time to jack it out of the ground, and it looks better with a shorter post.  The long posts which were part of my RVport, will be used for my front porch extension.  Now, we have to make a lattice gate, but we ran out of time.

The chiropractor that I saw on Friday, didn’t put my back in. It still hurts, so it has been difficult for me to do anything over the weekend, but I worked anyway.   Hopefully, he will re-adjust it today.

Amarillo. Palo Duro Canyon. Route 66. Amarillo By Morning. Is This The Way to Amarillo? Texas History. Emperor of China. Release of U.S. POWs. Mardi Gras.

 

For “Travel Tuesday”:

Question: “What is the place in Texas with the coldest temperature during winter?”

Answer: “Amarillo is the place in Texas with the coldest temperature during winter. January usually has an average temperature of 35.8 F.”

“Amarillo is in the The Texas Panhandle Plains region which offers visitors a wide variety of experiences from the breathtakingly beautiful canyon lands, to the Old West heritage that is still evident today. You can visit the birthplace of Buddy Holly and many other famous artists, explore a wide variety of museums & exhibits, or simply enjoy the wide open skies that have attracted visitors for generations. Discover the adventure of the Texas Panhandle Plains.”

Internationally-famous outdoor musical TEXAS!

Amarillo, Step Into The Real Texas

“Howdy! We're glad you stopped by to visit Amarillo, Texas. We're the place where you can "Step into the Real Texas." From canyons to cowboys, big steaks to big spaces, everything Texas is famous for is right here. We're easy to find and once you're here, you'll want to stay an extra day or two.

Amarillo is in the center of the Texas Panhandle, a 26-county area that is bordered by New Mexico and Oklahoma. Here, the southern plains meet the desert. Founded in 1887 at the intersection of two railroads, today the city is the intersection of Interstates 40 and 27.

The Amarillo area is a major destination for Old West enthusiasts from all over the globe. The lure of the Old West also draws thousands every year to attractions like the internationally-famous outdoor musical "TEXAS."

Big Texan Steak Ranch

Think Amarillo and you think steak. No place sums up Texas, Amarillo and steak better than the Big Texan Steak Ranch, home of the 72 oz. steak. Eat it and all the trimmings (salad, bread, potato and shrimp cocktail) in an hour and its free! 35,000 have tried; 5,500 have succeeded.

 

The area's most famous bumper crop, located south of Interstate 40 just a few miles west of town, the Cadillac Ranch attracts visitors from around the world. The 10 Cadillacs buried nose down celebrate America's love affair with the automobile.

Amarillo is the largest Texas city on Route 66. Now, a stretch of the old highway, along Sixth Ave. between Georgia and Western Sts., has been revived into a stretch of antique shops, restaurants and cafes.

It's hard to describe the grandeur and variety of the Amarillo landscape. From 1000-foot deep Palo Duro Canyon and the wide-open spaces of the Texas Panhandle to the whimsy of the world-famous Cadillac Ranch and those magnificent Amarillo sunsets, it's all here.”

______

Arts & Cultural
Amarillo Botanical Gardens
Amarillo Little Theatre
Amarillo Opera
Amarillo Public Library
Amarillo Symphony
Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts
The Galleries at Sunset Center
The Lone Star Ballet

Museums
Amarillo Railroad Museum
American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum
AMoA-Amarillo Museum of Art
Don Harrington Discovery Center
Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian
Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum
Texas Air and Space Museum
Texas Pharmacy Museum
The RV Museum @ Jack Sisemore Traveland

 

“Welcome to the RV Museum at Jack Sisemore Traveland. The Sisemore’s began collecting and restoring unusual vintage RV’s over 25 years ago and have built a museum to house their collection. These include the Flexible Bus from the movie RV, the first Itasca motor home ever built, and the oldest Fleetwood in existence. And many other RV’s from the 1930's through the 1970's.  Step back in time, reminisce and enjoy the progression of the RV industry from its inception till now.”

“Texas Air and Space Museum, Not just for aviation fans! The museum honors Amarillo's and the Texas Panhandle's history of flight. Featured are extensive documents, newspaper articles, exhibits and photos dating back to the beginning of English Field Airport.

Visitors can get close to a Grumman Gulfstream II NASA Shuttle Training Aircraft (flown by astronaut and Amarillo native Rick Husband), a North American P-51 Mustang (on loan), a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (on loan), a de Havilland C-7A Caribou and the Beercat-- a locally built biplane-class aircraft flown by Texas Panhandle pilot Bobby Speed at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, NV.”

More at: http://www.visitamarillotx.com/index.cfm

_______

“Big steaks, big canyons, or a big connection to ancestors from the days gone by. To make big memories, visit Amarillo

______

“Short aerial video (shot from airplane) of Amarillo, Texas and the Palo Duro Canyon.”

_______

Historic Route 66 Through Amarillo

“On June 29, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act which initiated the construction of 41,000 miles of interstate highways across America. As a result, many small towns that had once thrived along the famed east-west Route 66 were bypassed by the new high-speed interstate highway system. Faced with financial ruin, these small towns struggled to survive.

In this travel video, I take a drive along a brief section of eastbound Historic Route 66 (Business 40) through Amarillo, Texas. The road continues on into downtown Amarillo on the west side of town.”

_______

George Strait - Amarillo By Morning

 

______

Is This The Way to Amarillo?

“Troops in the Royal Dragoon Guards shot a home video at their Al Faw base of their version of the video sung by Tony Christie and mimed by Peter Kay.”

______

I hope you enjoyed your visit to Amarillo, TX.

Texas History, for large and small kids.

Song: Newsboys Something Beautiful

______

Last emperor of China abdicates, Feb 12, 1912:

“On February 12, 1912, Hsian-T'ung, the last emperor of China, is forced to abdicate following Sun Yat-sen's republican revolution. A provisional government was established in his place, ending 267 years of Manchu rule in China and 2,000 years of imperial rule. The former emperor, only six years old, was allowed to keep up his residence in Beijing's Forbidden City, and he took the name of Henry Pu Yi.

Pu Yi was enthroned as emperor in 1908 after his uncle, the Kuang-hsu emperor, died. He reigned under a regency and underwent training to prepare him for his coming rule. However, in October 1911, his dynasty fell to Sun Yat-sen's revolution, and four months later he abdicated. The new Chinese government granted him a large government pension and permitted him to live in the imperial palace until 1924, when he was forced into exile.

After 1925, he lived in Japanese-occupied Tianjin, and in 1932 Japan created the puppet state of Manchukuo in Manchuria under his rule. In 1934, Henry Pu Yi was enthroned as K'ang Te, emperor of Manchukuo. Despite guerrilla resistance against his puppet regime, he held the emperor's title until 1945, when he was captured by Soviet troops.

In 1946, Pu Yi testified before the Tokyo war crimes tribunal that he had been an unwilling tool of the Japanese and not, as they claimed, an instrument of Manchurian self-determination. Manchuria and the Rehe province were returned to China, and in 1950 Pu Yi was handed over to the Chinese communists. He was imprisoned at Shenyang until 1959, when Chinese leader Mao Zedong granted him amnesty. After his release, he worked in a mechanical repair shop in Peking.”

______

Release of U.S. POWs begins, Feb 12, 1973:

“The release of U.S. POWs begins in Hanoi as part of the Paris peace settlement. The return of U.S. POWs began when North Vietnam released 142 of 591 U.S. prisoners at Hanoi's Gia Lam Airport. Part of what was called Operation Homecoming, the first 20 POWs arrived to a hero's welcome at Travis Air Force Base in California on February 14. Operation Homecoming was completed on March 29, 1973, when the last of 591 U.S. prisoners were released and returned to the United States.”

______

Mardi Gras - Modern Idolatry?

“The strange revelries of modern culture have their roots in ancient rites and religion.”

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/christian-living/mardi-gras-modern-idolatry

______

Yesterday:

After I got back from taking the check for the water bill 4 miles into town to avoid the late charges, Ray came over.  We had some items that needed to be glued together. When the contractors installed some of my kitchen cabinets they chose ones were ready made, but they are covered in thick white vinyl.  Not my choice at all.  On the top edge of one lower cabinet doors the vinyl had come loose, and it was starting to crease.   I ironed the creases out with a cool iron, and Ray glued the vinyl back on with E-6000, and we left it to cure with pipe clamps on it.

While we had the glue out, Ray and I glued up the lining on a bag, and clamped it.   Then we packed up my old chandelier in a box with bubble wrap, along with it’s special glass globes and bulbs. That should keep it safe until it gets sold.

It was probably premature, as we could still have some cold weather, but we took down one of the winter vinyl panels on the screen porch.  It was a gamble as I have hundreds of aloe plants wintering on the porch. The days have been so nice, and it was great to get the fresh air in there again.  Arlo and Miss Priss really thought it was great, too.

Then Jay called, I could tell he was a bit tipsy.  He wanted me to go down there and pick up their paper recycling and two pieces of pie for Ray and me.  Misty and I had our walk down there.  Jay wanted me to bring him back here to stop him from sitting on his mother’s porch drinking and watching TV, as his boss was coming to pick him up at midday.  Pitiful!  But he did put the wall panel back up in my garage, before his boss came.

Ray went to orientation to volunteer at the cat habitat, as Kenya, our SPCA boss would be there tending to it from 5.30-730.  As we didn’t want Arlo to get too imprinted here, he rode with Ray. He settled back in with his litter mates in the habitat.  He wasn’t teaching Miss Priss not to bite, anyway.  Priss and I miss him, but it had to be.  I miss my Bobbiecat and Prime, so Kenya is trying to find me an old cat who can be mine, and we can be together for the rest of our days.

K-9 Comfort. Holiday Issues. Chimps Retired. Stop Funding Cruelty. Mink Reprieve. Muskrats Suffer. Trappers’ Point Overpass. Two “If’s”. Library of Congress Fire. When was Jesus born?

 

For “Mammal Monday”:

NEWTOWN, Conn. — “Slobbery kisses and furry hugs were welcomed by those heartbroken in Newtown, Conn., this past week.

The K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs giving some love to Newtown residents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bless this golden team of love.

These ten specially trained golden retrievers, known as K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs traveled 800 miles to offer support to Newtown residents after the school tragedy.”

_______

Holiday Issues

“It’s time again for a reminder that the holiday season poses a number of potential dangers for family pets … from the tree, to the decorations, to the food and drink. A bit of forethought and preparation can insure your whole family has a joyous holiday.

While holidays bring good times and cheer for many, they also bring a unique set of circumstances for companion animals. Here are special issues for you to consider in keeping your pets safe and happy year-round.

• Animals as Gifts
• Costumes
• Decorations
• Fireworks
• Food Hazards
• Safe Ways to Celebrate
• Stress”

From: http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/adoption-pet-care/issues-information/holiday-issues.html

_______

The Humane Society of the United States Applauds NIH’s Plan to Retire Chimpanzees to Sanctuary

“The HSUS contributes $500,000 to construct sanctuary space at Chimp Haven.

A December 2011 report by the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council could not identify any area of current biomedical research for which chimpanzee use is necessary. Further, the report pointed to several available alternatives to chimpanzee use and called for increased support for the development of more alternative research methods. 

Prior to the IOM report, approximately 80 to 90 percent of chimpanzees in laboratories weren't being used and instead are warehoused. Sanctuaries provide higher standards of care at a lower cost to taxpayers.”  More at: http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2012/12/nih-nirc-chimp-haven-121812.html

_______

Ask NIH to Stop Funding Cruel UW Experiment on Cats!

“For decades, experimenters at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) have been conducting cruel and useless taxpayer-funded "sound localization" studies in which cats have steel coils implanted in their eyes, holes drilled into their skulls, and electrodes implanted in their brains. Sometimes, cats used in this experiment have had their ears cut off or are intentionally deafened by having a toxic chemical applied to their inner ear. The cats are then deprived of food for several days in order to coerce them to look in the direction of sounds during experimental sessions in which their heads are immobilized by a bolt screwed into their skulls. 

Shockingly, the federal government continues to support this irrelevant and deadly project and has provided UW with more than $3 million in grant money to abuse animals—even though researchers at other institutions around the world are already using modern methods with human volunteers to investigate how the brain locates and processes sound.”  

Please sign the petition at: http://www.change.org/petitions/university-of-wisconsin-stop-experimenting-on-cats

_______

Dutch law will ban mink farming by 2024

“The Dutch senate on Tuesday passed a ban on mink farming in the Netherlands, the world's third-largest producer of the animal fur, in a ruling that will phase out the industry by 2024. The bill, tabled by both the Labour Party and the Socialist Party, was passed by a majority of lawmakers in a vote of 46 to 29, according to a statement on the senate website.”  Read more here...

_______

Failure to check muskrat traps costs Columbia man $3,786

“A Columbia man who faced more than 70 counts of failing to properly check muskrat traps has admitted to six misdemeanor violations.

State law requires trappers to check their traps at least every two days to ensure that trapped animals aren't suffering and that the equipment is working properly. Kerry L. Hansen, 58, pleaded guilty to six counts of failing to properly check traps. In exchange, 68 other counts of failure to properly check traps and two counts of trapping muskrats out of season were dismissed.

Hansen received the same sentence on each charge — a 30-day suspended jail term and $631 in fines and fees. In all, he must pay $3,786 in fines and fees. He must spend six months on probation.  The charges, all misdemeanors, stem from incidents in 2011 and 2012, according to court documents. Each count was punishable by as much as 30 days in county jail and a $500 fine.”     From: http://articles.aberdeennews.com/2012-12-08/news/35678987_1_probation-rules-prison-and-five-years-prison-term

--------

From me:  Put him in a trap and leave him there.  Let’s all go Fur-FREE.

_______

Wyoming DOT’s solution to highway accidents caused by migrating wildlife

“ “Everyday in the U.S., 190 million motor vehicles hit the road, and one million animals get hit by motor vehicles. That’s counting cars, buses, motorbikes, and trucks, but not ATVs, snowmobiles and other off-road vehicles. The figure includes mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, but not insects and bugs, who somehow never count.” wrote Mark Matthew Braunstein on the Culture Change website.

“For every dead animal counted, three or four more die unnoticed. Even at 55 m.p.h., we smell the remains of far more dead skunks than we see. The walking wounded die far from the road, so only instantly killed animals are seen and get counted.”

The WDOT attempted to obtain federal funding for a project to reduce this highway slaughter and was turned down. But instead of passing on the project, they stepped up and wrote a $9.7 million check from their own budget to build the Trappers’ Point overpass (including a second overpass, six wildlife underpasses, and addition fencing on both sides of the 12-mile restricted corridor).”      More at: http://blog.rv.net/2012/12/wyoming-dots-solution-to-highway-accidents-caused-by-migrating-wildlife/

_______

“If”

______

“If”

If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,
If you can always be cheerful and ignore aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, color, religion or politics,
Then, my friend, you are almost as good as your dog:))

_______

How to get your cat inside.

 

_______

On This Day:

Fire ravages Library of Congress, Dec 24, 1851:

“A devastating fire at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., destroys about two-thirds of its 55,000 volumes, including most of Thomas Jefferson's personal library, sold to the institution in 1815.

The Library of Congress was established in 1800, when President John Adams approved legislation that appropriated $5,000 to purchase "such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress." The first books, ordered from London, arrived in 1801 and were stored in the U.S. Capitol, the library's first home. The first library catalog, dated April 1802, listed 964 volumes and nine maps. Twelve years later, the British army invaded the city of Washington and burned the Capitol, including the 3,000-volume Library of Congress.

Former president Thomas Jefferson, who advocated the expansion of the library during his two terms in office, responded to the loss by selling his personal library, the largest and finest in the country, to Congress to "recommence" the library. The purchase of Jefferson's 6,487 volumes was approved in the next year, and a professional librarian, George Watterston, was hired to replace the House clerks in the administration of the library. In 1851, a second major fire at the library destroyed about two-thirds of its books. Congress responded quickly and generously to the disaster, and within a few years a majority of the lost books were replaced.

After the Civil War, the collection was greatly expanded, and by the 20th century the Library of Congress had become the de facto national library of the United States and one of the largest in the world. Today, the collection, housed in three enormous buildings in Washington, contains more than 17 million books, as well as millions of maps, manuscripts, photographs, films, audio and video recordings, prints, and drawings.”

_______

And now these thoughts:

“He who does anything because it is the custom, makes no choice.” ~ John Stuart Mill

When was Jesus born? 

“Is this something we can know with certainty? Yes. The bible gives us subtle clues that pinpoint the day. Normally, we read right over these clues because they don't mean anything to us. This video shows how we can use these clues to find out exactly when Jesus was born.”

http://youtu.be/V02YF0UNgTM  By DoorPost Ministries

----------------

The Birth of Jesus

“Christ and the early Church didn’t celebrate Christmas. Why? If you strip it of its commercialism, pre-Christian customs and inaccuracies, what do you learn?

Was the birth of Jesus really on Dec. 25? What else is questionable about Christmas?

Today, Christmas has become a nostalgic icon of a past that never was. Santa Claus, the Christmas tree and lots of gifts take center stage in Christian and non-Christian homes.

But these and other customs have little connection to the Bible and the true story of the birth of Jesus, or the message and meaning of His first coming. While the Bible teaches a great deal about Jesus and His message through the story of the birth of Jesus Christ (“Christ” means “messiah” or “anointed”), the traditions of Christmas often mislead, misinform and even contradict the Scriptures!

Would you be surprised to learn that the Bible doesn’t say when Jesus Christ was born? That the early New Testament Church didn’t celebrate Christmas? That Christmas was banned by the Puritans of New England? Or that some Christians today do not celebrate Christmas for biblical and doctrinal reasons?       Why?

Honoring Christ?

The primary problem is that the roots of Christmas lie in polytheistic, pagan religious practices, rather than in Christian ones. The New Testament Church honored Christ as the One who came to deliver us from error, darkness and sin. Having turned from paganism to follow Christ, early Christians would never have continued in the practices of paganism in an effort to honor Him!

The apostle Paul wrote, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:8-11).

If something is grounded in practices dedicated to pagan worship and false gods, continuing in such “unfruitful works of darkness” would have been a fundamental violation of the allegiance and obedience they were pledging, as Christians, to their Savior and King!

No wonder, then, that the New Testament Church did not observe Christmas.”     More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/who-is-jesus/the-birth-of-jesus/

_______

Yesterday:

Not much to tell, just puttered around the house doing odd jobs.  Misty seemed to be looking for Prime, even though she ignored her when she was here.  Miss Priss just played and played, as usual.  Anything and everything is a plaything, so I have to watch her.  She is a very energetic little bundle.

Now that Prime is gone, Prissy took over the best seat in the house, the one up in my bathroom window, which overlooks the road.  I tried to take a picture, but she moved.

 

 

Bobcat and Prime at that window.

 

 

Prime’s new ‘Mom’ emailed me, and said that Prime is happy, loving, eating well, slept on her bed, and that is her ‘furever’ home. 

I was glad to hear that, it made my day.