MY ELEPHANT BOYCOTT

On this blog, I have certainly documented my life long interest in all things reptile, with emphasis on my turtle & tortoise collection.  Also I have written -- ad nauseam -- on my love & strong bond for my three cats, which has occurred later in life.  [And that life is getting "later".  Trust me.]

Another interest in the animal kingdom which has long held my attention -- but never in my possession -- have been ... ELEPHANTS.

I think it all began at a zoo in Great Britain, many years ago, where me & my uncles rode on an elephant. Somewhere there is an old, black & white photo of us all riding on the giant animal.  It was love at first ride.

Now days, when ever I visit a  zoo, in any city, I usually go out of my way NOT to view the elephant display ... if the zoo has elephants.  Thankfully, more & more zoos are realizing that it is cruel to feature elephants in confined areas.

It's been about 40 years since I have been to any circus.  It's not a fear of clowns which keeps me away but rather the "preforming animals" -- which includes elephants.  It's not natural for the animals & it too is a form of animal cruelty.

Like many folks, I get solicitations all the time to donate to various organizations. [I got two in today's mail alone.]  Besides supporting -- with $$ -- The House of Mews in Memphis, I contribute to The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee.  In both cases, I feel my $$ is well spent & well served.

The Elephant Sanctuary is a home for sick & abused elephants, which have been "retired" from "preforming" ... at zoos & circuses.  The elephants roam "free" on almost 2,000 acres of land, their care & needs provided by a dedicated staff, who watch over the elephants, as the animals enjoy life, no longer prodded with sharp "elephant hooks" or being chained in confined areas.

In nature, elephants wander many miles each day, in herds of communicating with each other, led by an elder female. [Males are solitary animals.]  The Elephant Sanctuary has both African & Asian animals; all females.

The above elephant is named Terra & her "companion" is a dog named Bella.  Sadly, I received an e-mail today that Bella was found dead at the Sanctuary.  As best that can be determined, Bella had been separated from Tarra at some point in the night & was attacked & killed by coyotes.  Tarra found Bella's body & carried the dog back to the barn where the elephants spend the night. One of the signs of intelligence in elephants is their grief expressed towards the death of members of their herd.  In this case, the grief was for a dog.

Like so many animals, elephants are facing many difficulties in the wild: being hunted for ivory & meat, & certainly the loss of land as man advances into new areas.  Add to this the exploitation of elephants in captivity for people's "entertainment", & the future does not look bright for elephants.

For my part I will continue to contribute what financial aid I can to The Elephant Sanctuary & I will continue to "boycott" circuses & zoo's which feature these animals.

THE PEANUT BUTTER CONSPIRACY

At several of my news sources recently, there were stories/reports on the poor weather conditions of the past Summer season -- mostly the extreme heat/lack of rain -- causing a MAJOR shortage in this years peanut crop.  Peanut farmers are reporting up to 70% or more of this years harvest will never make it out of the fields.  The peanuts are DOA.

For yours truly, this information on the peanut supply is not the news I want to find out about.  The major impact on the lack of a successful peanut crop -- as pointed out in each news report -- is the impending shortage -- & increased prices -- of PEANUT BUTTER.

I have always enjoyed eating peanut butter & there is always a jar in my pantry. In fact, I probably owe my life to peanut butter. I've written previously how my life was saved by two five-pound CANS of Peter Pan peanut butter which my Mother smartly packed when her & I went to England for several months when I was a youngster. She knew I was a fussy eater & would never be enthused by English food. [Would you ??  "Bangers 'n' Mash" ?? UGH !!]

The news of a potential "shortage" of my favorite "Fall Back Food" -- as when other items in the pantry/refrigerator don't get the mouth watering & the jar of Jiff sitting on the shelf seems to "call" to me -- had me adding peanut butter to my grocery list..

 I was at Sam's Club the other day & "stocked up" -- don't call it HOARDING -- on four jars of the creamy delight.  Since each jar has 40 oz., I bought 10 lbs. of peanut butter ... the same amount that kept me alive in England all those many years ago.

I eat peanut butter on bread, on crackers, & YES ... sometimes with a spoon, straight from the jar.  Naturally, a favorite way to eat is to have a "P.B. & J." -- Peanut Butter & Jelly.  So, while at Sam's Club, I got some more jelly too.

Well, if there is going to be a peanut butter shortage ... let it come.  I'm ready for it.

NO NEWS ... GOOD NEWS ??

I have lived most of my adult life trying to stay informed of the local, national & world news events.  Through the years I have always tried to watch the local/national news broadcasts on television every day. 

The radio in my car/truck would often be set to stations featuring news reporting.  I like to know what is going on around me & in the world, even while driving.

I have also always had a subscription to the local newspaper & when traveling, would buy the paper of whatever city I was in.  Just trying to stay informed, knowledgeable & up-to-date.

I guess it may be common knowledge that newspapers -- & national "news magazines" for that matter -- are facing decreased readership, mostly due to the advent of the cable/satellite television 24-hour news programing & -- of course -- the Internet.  People no longer need to wait on news & information to be printed & delivered.  It's already with them, often on display as the news is actually happening.

After 15 years of living in Arkansas & subscribing all that time to the local newspaper, I have allowed my subscription to expire.  For the first time in almost 40 years ... I am not receiving a newspaper delivered to me each morning.  And I can't say that I miss not receiving it.

In Arkansas, the newspaper was always delivered into a yellow "paper box" located next to the mailbox down at the road.  That box is now leaning up against the back wall of my shed, as shown in the photo above.  No deliveries there.

The last several years I have had "issues" with content in the Arkansas newspaper. Sometimes it would be articles, along with the point or position being presented in the article. Other times it might be editorial comment & political position of the paper.  Saying I disliked the "homer" position taken by the feature sports writer, would be describing it mildly.  All of this made it easier for me to "give up" the daily newspaper.

While there are many reasons for going negative on the local newspaper, the two major reasons which finally made me decide to discontinue reading the paper -- & paying for it -- were:
**  The local news section -- which always presents movie reviews in the Friday paper -- listed a movie review to be found by going to a website & gave the URL.  And it wasn't even the newspapers web site !!  I didn't buy the newspaper to tell me where to find information online.
**  When it became too obvious that most of the news & reporting I read each day ... was "information" which was already 24-48 hours old.  And I had read that information -- online -- 24-48 hours previously.

I will not write that I possibly won't re-subscribe to the Arkansas paper at some point in the future.  Heck, if the price is to my liking -- which it certainly isn't now at $180 a year -- & I am offered "a deal", I might have it once again delivered to me.

For now, however, no news(paper), is good news.

WE ALL EAT WELL

The weather in central Arkansas has just been ideal; sunny days with low humidity, gentle breezes & temperatures in the low to mid-80's.  It's the kind of weather most people would wish for year round.  I do.

This balmy weather makes me keep thinking I brought the tortoises inside too soon.  I could have taken advantage of the weather to keep them outside for an extra week or two. Although I have a good set-up for the tortoises inside, keeping most animals outside -- weather permitting -- is usually best. 

In reality, it's just as well I have the tortoises all inside now.  The nights can get cool, despite the much admired daytime conditions.  I still have a lot of plants to bring inside for the Winter. Having moved the tortoises inside now, is just one project I will not have to do later, which is usually at the last possible minute, right after some weather forecast predicts temperatures falling into the 30's.

Once brought inside this year -- into their NEW enclosure, which I have previously written about -- I quickly realized the need for multiple feeding stations.  The tortoises have all gown so well & gained such good size, that one or two animals can easily block their cage-mates from getting to the food offered at a single location.  Good "table manners" are not practiced in the reptile world.

 I now feed the tortoises -- as shown above -- on two separate plates.  Also, the plates are spaced well apart for each other, giving everyone a  fair chance to chow down.

 The above photo shows the Black Mountain Tortoises being joined at the "salad bar" by a Central American Wood Turtle.

 On the other side of the enclosure, the two Red Footed Tortoises are mowing down the greens.

In another container, in another part of the compound, I have two small (3") Cherry Headed Red Foot Tortoises. [Similar, but more colorful, compared to "regular" Red foots.]  Due to size & space, these little guys have no problems sharing their food supply.  However, in a few years, as they get bigger, there will certainly be "issues" at feeding times.

When it comes to MY FOOD ... the above photo shows the "goodies" my Mother sent me when she got back from her most recent trip to England. [Note: The homemade cookies on the left & the "Allsorts" candy in the top right, are no longer ... ah ... around.]  Along with the small bird magnet & some literature of places she visited in England, there is a candy -- still "available" in the house, but for how long, it is not known -- called "Eclairs" & some cookies with the foreboding name of ... "Digestive Biscuits".  [Leave it up to the British to think that's a mouth-watering name for a cookie.  Who did the market research on that name ??]

The weather is fine in central Arkansas.  And everyone is eating well.

DEAD, DOWN & GONE

The Japanese Black Pine Tree which recently died for some unknown reason, has been removed from my property.  I tended to the deed the other day with my yard cart & prunning saw. [I hate using the chain saw.  I don't trust it ... or me.]

 All that remains is the stump in the ground.  It too will be gone shortly, as the termites & wood eating ants soon do a number on any of the stumps on my property.

The last evidence of the tree is the above photo, where it was soon burned -- being dead & dry -- in my "fire pit". 

I am working on two more trees -- much larger than the pine tree -- which will soon be meeting the same fate & the same fire pit.

FEED ME ... BUT MAKE IT HEALTHY FOOD

Now that Fall has arrived & the promise of cooler weather, I'll probably be spending more time inside.  The days will be getting shorter, the temperatures dropping, along with (hopefully) wetter weather conditions, as rain we need badly.  All tend to be inducements to keeping me inside.

One of the major drawbacks to a life indoors is the lack of exercise.  I need it.  The absence of being outdoors -- where at home I am working outside; walking & hauling -- leads to extra pounds on the "waste-line".  AKA -- "Love Handles".

To combat the poorer personal habits, I make the effort to include daily walking -- 2.5 miles -- along with some free weights & sit-ups.  Also, my membership to the North Little Rock Athletic Club has proved to be a lot of fun & very beneficial to me through the past Spring & Summer.  I am counting -- hopefully -- my attendance at the club will be as helpful this Fall/Winter.

Of course, one of the biggest causes for gaining weight is the food intake.  For me, the problem is that I am a poor "planner" of meals & tend to look for food in the pantry/refrigerator when I am hungry, not at specific times.  Also, I want to eat ... right away ... when I am hungry.  No time for waiting on preparing a meal.

There is also the fact I have a deadly sweet tooth.  It's best not to have sugary sweets in the house.  After all, if one cookie tastes good, why not the whole package ??  [I've done it.  I'm not proud, but then, a package of Keebler Fudge Sticks does seem rather small.  I can do those cookies in one or two bites. (I try not to even look at them on the grocery store shelf.)]

So ... one of the ways I satisfy myself & at the same eat "healthy", is to fix food I like, when I feel like doing the "fixing", & keep "leftovers" for additional meals.  Today -- since it was raining & football was on TV ... GO RAIDERS !!! -- I fixed two quiches.  One gets to be the "leftovers" & the other is sectioned & put in the freezer, for later easy thawing -- & quick eating -- via the microwave.

 I made these today with broccoli, onion, & red bell pepper along with turkey sausage.

 The finished product.  I had two slices -- with hot sauce -- for my dinner tonight.  Delicious.

The older I get, it is easier to realize my weaknesses when it comes to food I like.  I also know my poor eating habits.  It's a constant battle, of which some I win & some I loose.

I sure wish those Keebler Elves where here tonight. Well ... maybe not.

BROWN IS THE COLOR OF DEATH

It's absolutely a B-E-A-utiful day today in Central Arkansas.  Cool temperatures.  Not a cloud in the bright blue sky.  Not a breeze blowing.  And ... not a bit of effort on my part to get my butt out the door & do some work outside.  I've spent too much time today doing what I am doing right now; playing on the computer.

Oh, I did go outside for awhile, just to look around a bit.  We had some rain late yesterday, which is probably one of the reasons everything is looking clean, fresh & crisp right now. 

So as not to feel too guilty at my lazy, do-nothing attitude, I did take on one chore, just so I would know I did SOMETHING while I walked around outside: I sprayed the wasps which make an effort to nest in a hole in the support for my mail box. It's an on-going battle.

 The dead wasps -- for now ... as they always seem to come back.  It must be a prime, "in demand" location for wasps -- joined the ranks of some of the other "death" making itself known on my property.  Death always seems to be the color brown.  One example can be slightly seen in the far, upper right corner of the above photo.

For some reason, perhaps the hot, dry Summer which has just left us -- today is the first day of Fall --  the Japanese Black Pine at the end of my property decided a few weeks ago this would be a fine time to turn brown & die.  So it did.  The other pine tree -- same species, in the extreme left in the above photo -- seems to be doing just fine. ["Seems" is a key word.  Ya never know with trees.]

 Next time I have my chain saw out -- something I never look forward to -- the brown/dead pine tree will be cut up & hauled to the back lot to be burned.  Then, I will have to decide if I want to plant something else in place of the Japanese Black Pine. I don't have any ideas right now.

 The REAL problem tree is going to be the LARGE Willow tree which also decided to pass away this Summer over in my South yard.  This is a BIG tree, which had been slowly going down-hill for the past few years.  This year was "it" for the tree.

Because of the size of the tree (huge) & the size of my chain saw (small), along with my confidence in felling large trees (non-existent), I'll probably need to have an expert/professional come & get the tree on the ground.

Just so all the "death" appearing ion my land is spread out evenly & sorted by size & species, some of the larger bamboo decided not to be out-done.  In the above photo, there are several clums visible in the  center of the grove, which are in stages of either turning brown, or, have already shed their leaves.  All of them need to be cut down & burned.  All are dead.

Yes, today as been a beautiful day.  Just a perfect one for tackling some of the "projects" I am facing, as outlined above.  Too bad I felt really retired today & decided to observe the highlights of the day, rather than live them.  After all ... everything will still be dead -- & brown -- tomorrow.