Animals & Health

First I’ll start off with a long list of ‘Thank yous’ to all of the
animals sharing my home at the moment. Thank you, Bullet, Frankie,
Lucy, Key, Booster, Booner, Cherokee, Stormy, Kentucky Lightning,
Perry, Edwin, Razzle-Dazzle, Moon unit, and Daisy, thank you for
bringing such joy to my life. There have been many animals before
them, including more dogs, more cats, pairs of short-lived chickens,
rabbits, frogs, fish, lizards, hamsters, fiddler crabs, and birds.



Thank you to the dogs who allowed themselves to be dressed, have
their nails painted, and treated like horses to a 10 year old girl.
There have been birds who, if not liked by the girl, would have been
eaten by the sleek and sly grey tabby cat. And we can’t forget the
wiener dog who had been hit by a semi truck and spun like a football,
dropped down the stairs, and kicked off the bed in the night.



Studies show that more than 57% of U.S households own one or more
animals, so to those of you who have never owned a pet, I would
suggest you go adopt one as soon as possible. There is plenty of
scientific research that proves animals are good for your health!
Research conducted in retirement homes has proved that within just ten
minutes of interaction with an animal can lower blood pressure and
increase finger temperature, both signs of relaxation. They also
improve alertness and mood. Dogs can be used with children who are
undergoing stressful or scary procedures, by calming them down. Dogs
make great companions, ‘mans best friend,’ they are always there to
greet you when you get home, always ready to play, never mad at you
for something you messed up or didn’t do right, and they also
encourage exercise! Taking your dog on a walk will keep you healthy
and slim. Animals are always there to play, to lean on, and to offer a
listening ear. If you’re allergic to pet dander or fur, choose another
furless and featherless pet, like a new dog hybrid (Cockapoo’s,
Corkie’s, and labradoodles) or a bird or reptile. Make sure if you are
new to owning animals, you choose one whose personality, size, health,
and cleaning requirements fit your daily life. Animals need just as
much love as we do, and they need to be kept clean and healthy.




Animals are a wonderful thing to have around, and they teach you
countless things in life. They bring people pure joy, excitement, and
love. Pets are straight-forward about their needs, and they will beg
until they get them.
The animals I have now each bring me something new and exciting. I
have dogs, Bullet and Frankie, who beg for my affection, and food,
whenever they are around. My cats, Booster, Lucy, and Key, just want
to cuddle up in my lap and fall asleep. They depend on me for food and
shelter, but can also find these things on their own. My horses,
Stormy and Cherokee, rely on me for exercise, food, and to keep them
clean and healthy. Horses are a big responsibility and since they
recently ate all of the grass in their pasture, they have to be fed
hay several times a day. Horses love to run, and they love going out
for rides.




My peacock, Perry, is such a beautiful creature, who we
didn’t expect to get along with my other animals, yet, they all love
him, and he yearns to hang out with my 4 ducks. Peacocks have amazing
eyesight, can fly long distances, surprisingly, for how big they are,
and sleep on perches at night, not cuddled up in their feathers. My
ducks Edwin, Razzle-Dazzle, Daisy, and Moon Unit are awkward and
hilarious birds, who follow each other around, can be taken into
public to follow you around, and love worms and cat food. Kentucky
Lightning is my ferret, and she can get stinky! Ferrets have a dance
called the ‘weasel war-dance,’ they do this when they are excited and want to
play. It is a serious of chirps and jumping sideways, or moves called ‘dooks.’ I
never thought a ferret could be so funny and playful, and so sweet and
cuddly when they are worn out. Ferrets make great pets and teach you
tons of responsibility because there cages need cleaned every day,
and they drink tons of water.



Last, but definitely not least, Booner,
my adorable baby white-tail deer. I found him in a field about five
months ago, and he was so little he couldn’t even walk yet. I had to
bottle feed him three nine ounce bottles of goats milk three to five
times a day until he was old enough to start eating grass, corn, and
grain. He took a lot of responsibility, but I knew I would raise him
to be healthy. He recently lost all of his white spots, and grew in
little antlers. He follows me around when I’m outside and kisses me
all over my face. Booner definitely taught me a lot of responsibility,
a lot about deer, and a lot about relationships. I think he will teach
me even more with the months to come.
These are my pets and they bring me a lot of happiness. I wouldn’t be
who I am today without them. They are my pets, my friends, and my
family.

Bow Season: Open

September 13th, bow season, Council Bluffs, IA. Hunters ages 12 and up, sheathed in orange vests so they stick out like a sore thumb in the thick forestation for safety. Bows strapped to backs, arrowheads down. Knee-high brush scraping against your rough pants doesn’t bother you a bit. On the prowl like tigers, hunters move out in packs.
Spotted baby white-tail deer prance behind their delicate mothers, turning into a blur as they fly past the awaiting hunters. A bow raised, a child in the way, disaster.


Hunter safety, you must know it to hunt, your first thoughts must always be about safety. Sure, you want that buck with immense antlers, or that thick meaty doe, but your safety comes first, and the safety of those around you. Sometimes you’ve just got to know when to let the deer escape. There are many things you should be aware of when going on a hunt, alone, or with a group. You want to always take a flashlight, some sort of first-aid kit, a knife, and any other survival devices you might need, just in case. Try to carry a cell phone with you at all times, on silent of course, just in case of an emergency so you can call for help right away. All children hunting should have completed a Hunter’s Safety Course before ever entering the timber with a weapon of their own or with the intent of firing a gun. Always make sure you have something bright on, usually orange, so you are not mistaken as game to another hunter. More times than not, a tree stand will provide even more safety as you are off of the ground and less likely going to be mistaken for game. But, you must always make sure your tree stand is sturdy enough to climb up on to, and that all your equipment is strapped in securely.
Always inspect your arrows closely to make sure there is no serious damage. If they are bent or cracked they can fail when shot and end up in personal injury. If you have a successful deer hunt, always wait a while before you go up to the wounded or dead animal. Animals in distress can cause major damage as they try to get up when they are scared. Antlers on the male deer can cause serious injury and even death. Always approach the animal slowly to ensure that it is passed and that you are not putting yourself in any danger.
If you have children or new hunters with you, always talk to them and make sure they know what you’re doing, and where you’re shooting at all times. Always make sure any rambunctious kids are out of the way, quiet, and still before making any move to even raise your bow.




Hunter safety, even though I don’t hunt, is a big issue with teenagers and even some adults. You always have to be safe when hunting. Deer get aggressive and can cause damage, just as well as your bow or shotgun can. Be safe hunting this year, and always.

Just a Hobby - Victoria Thomas

Photography. Life through the lens. Dorothea Lange, Jonathan Mehring,
Ben Hattenback. Some legends, some amateurs, some winners of a $200
prize in a magazine. Regardless of age, location, or career,
phenomenal pictures are (or were) being taken. Nikon, Canon, Pentax,
all great machines of vision. But no matter the machine, $50 or $1000,
a great picture comes from the photographer, not the camera.
Photography to me is not just a hobby, it’s a passion. It’s a way to
see the world in a whole new perspective. It’s a way to capture an
image, a moment, forever inside a little box. With a camera you can
bring out emotion, deep feelings from a person, a place, or even a
simple bug.
Nature photography helps you to experience new and rare things, and
feel like an important piece of the puzzle called life, that is why nature and animal photography is what I love to do. This article isn’t just about photography though, it’s about finding something you love to do, helping you find a new hobby to let stress out, and to find things that interest you that may benefit you in the future; near or far.
Everybody needs a release now and then, we all need that one thing that keeps us smiling and interested in life. Sometimes, I know from experience, our hobbies are just what we need to keep our heads above water.




In the first picture I have a photo of my eye, with some rainbow eyeliner on. A simple picture taken in a split second, and you can look at it and wonder what the girl is thinking. It almost looks like a sad girl. The simplest of pictures can bring out emotion.




Photography can be used in many ways to bring out different things from the object being photographed. The next picture is of a band member, on stage, belting his heart out, the simple muscles shown on his arm and the clenched fist show passion, and show that holding a microphone is what he loves to do. This photo was taken with a Canon, model S5 IS. I love this picture because it brings out passion, and I love how the musician falls into the ink black background. To me, it shows that he is part of the music, he is the center of attention.



The last photo is obviously, the butts of six cows. I think this picture shows that not all photography is ‘powerful,’ but sometimes humorous. Pictures like this one show up on silly cards in stores.
My hobbies are taking care of my animals, and taking pictures of them. No matter what your hobby is, always enjoy it. If you don’t feel like doing it, don’t, you shouldn’t have to force yourself to do something you love. Hobbies are something that comes natural whether it’s photography, sports, drawing, dance, music, whatever, don’t force it. Embrace your hobbies, and maybe someday they could become more than ‘just a hobby.’