Friday, December 2, 2011

Dandelion


DANDELION: AN HERB OF MANY USES

Description...Dandelion is very common and easy to identify. Although, it can be confused with other plants that share a simalar appearance (see Sow Thistle). You only need to follow a few simple rules to identify this plant. First, make sure there is no main stalk, only flower stems. (Note: flower stems are hollow and can be either very long (a little more than a foot high!) or very small (only one or two inches in height) . ) Off of these stems grow lovely yellow flowers with numerous tiny petals. The flowers open when it is sunny, and close when it is not. Most gardeners are so furious with these "annoying, pesky weeds" that they don't ever stop to appreciate their beauty. Plus, little do they know, these plants probably contain much more edible/medicinal value than the vegetables grown in their garden (see below). Now make sure the leaves are green, deeply lobed, and hairless. They grow in a basal rosette, right off the root. Which brings me to the root identifictation. Dandelion has a brown taproot. Please note: the whole of the dandelion plant produces a milky sap when cut or damaged.

Edibility...The entire plant (and I mean the ENTIRE PLANT) is completely edible, safe, trusted, nutritious, and incredibly healthy. The only downfall: it is VERY BITTER. But, when young, it is less bitter. You can use the leaves and flowers to make a salad more exciting, throw it in sandwiches, make tea out of it, or just eat it plain. Experiment with this wonderful pant! Your body will thank you! The root may be used as a healthy coffee subsitute.

Medicinal Uses...BRACE YOURSELF for the AMAZING medicinal qualities this "pesky weed" has to offer:

Dandelion is a rich source of...
vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium, magnisium, zinc, and more. Impressed yet?

It also may be able to...prevent or cure liver diseases, such as hepatitis or jaundice; act as a tonic and gentle diuretic to purify your blood, cleanse your system, dissolve kidney stones, and otherwise improve gastro-intestinal health; assist in weight reduction; cleanse your skin and eliminate acne; improve your bowel function, working equally well to relieve both constipation and diarrhea; prevent or lower high blood pressure; prevent or cure anemia; lower your serum cholesterol by as much as half; eliminate or drastically reduce acid indigestion and gas buildup by cutting the heaviness of fatty foods; prevent or cure various forms of cancer; prevent or control diabetes mellitus; and, at the same time, have no negative side effects and selectively act on only what ails you. But that's not all. There are many more health benefits that I'm not going to state here.

By now you may be thinking this is all too good to be true. But it's not! All you need to do is find a way to ingest this great herb, which is probably growing in your backyard right now.

Habitat and Range...Throughout the United States; found in lawns, fields and meadows, along roadsides, cracks of sidewalks, and disturbed habitats. Native of Europe and Asia. Very abundant and common.

Word Origin...Suprisingly, the word dandelion does not have anything to do with the yellow flowers. Dandelion is actually a french word that means "dent de lion" which means the tooth of a lion. This is reffering to the notched leaves.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011


Lousewort


(Pedicularis species, common family name: Figwort family, Latin family name: Scrophulariaceae)

Description...Lousewort, a unique and attractive perenial, is known for it's distinct look and way of growing. The flowers, as they work their way up the stalk, resemble little elephant heads. They can be yellow, pink, or white, but are usually pink. The leaves are toothed and look similar to fern fronds, growing alternate up the long stalk. The roots connect to other plants around it, robbing them of nutrients.

Blooms...May to August, depending greatly on altitude and climate conditions.

Habitat and Range: Habitat varies between species, but look for it in moist fields and meadows of the montane and subalpine zones. Pedicularis Groenlandica thrives across the northern third of North America and south in the West to the mountains of California and New Mexico. Pedicularis Contorta, a dryland variety, ranges throughout the Rocky Mountains and Sierra foothills. More than two dozen other species inhabit the western U.S..

Edibility...Although not poisonous, Lousewort can be if taking nutrients from a toxic plant. If all plants around it are edible, it can be eaten in numerous ways: the fleshy roots can be prepared and eaten in moderation and taste somewhat like parsnips, the flowers are sweet treats, and the leaves and stems may be steamed or boiled as a potherb. But again, you must be positive there are no poisonous plants around it.

Medicinal Uses...Lousewort's use as a medicine dates back to at least the seventeenth century, when it was used in Europe to treat stomach ulcers and rheumatism. It is very good for urinary irratations. Herbalists recognize betony as a mild sedative and muscle relaxant, useful in treating cases of physical overexertion.

Monday, November 14, 2011

How to Write a Haiku Poem

Below is the way my teacher taught me to write Haiku Poems.
I'm passing the knowledge on to you, so that you may write
them also.

A Haiku is a short Japanese poem. Haikus are surprisingly easy
to write, and take little time at all. Although, I find it difficult
to write anything without inspiration, so I would suggest maybe
going for a walk outside, looking at pictures, or watching
the world from your window for a few minutes. That way you
might see something that you want to write about.

Materials needed: Paper, pencil, & inspiration.

Directions...
After you figured out what you want to write about, start with
a three sentenced rough draft. Each line should tell a little about
the subject. For instance, if you were describing a stormy day it
would look a little like this:

It's very windy and stormy outside.
I'm in here where it's warm, because out there it's chilly!!
Rain is dumping from the dark sky.

But, this type of writing is too casual to be considered a Haiku.
In other words, it's too conversation-like, and you must convert
it into something more meaningful. Each line must be simple and
short. So the creators of Haiku Poems decided that there must
be a rule to Haiku: five syllables for line one, seven syllables for
line two, and five again for line three.

That's five, seven, five.

So, this might be what your final draft looks like:

The sky is pitch black (5)
The cold winds are blowing fierce (7)
Rain dumps from above (5)

See how much more power is in that piece of writing,
compaired to the rough draft? That is the point of the
five, seven, five rule: you can't write much in each sentence,
so you put more effort into writing it. Haikus are
challenging but not hard to write.

Now go write one!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011


Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry By Mildred D. Taylor
210 pages, printed first in the late 1970s by Bantam Books, inc. Genre: fiction.

Introduction

Not long ago, I finished a book entitled: 'Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry' by Mildred D. Taylor. The story took place in 1933, during the Great Depression. It was about a strong-willed black family that lived near Strawberry, Mississippi, in a time of racism.

Summary

The main character is Cassie Logan, a nine year old black girl. The story is being told from her point of veiw.

Cassie lives on a cotton farm in Mississippi with her three brothers, her mother, father, and Grandma. (A man named Mr. Morrison later moves in with them, and sometimes their uncle Hammer comes to visit.)

In those days, most white people in the South were very racist.

Cassie grew up oblivious to the fact that any white person might think of her as lower class. But as she hears of more and more black people getting abused, going into debt, losing their land, being burnt alive, and generally getting treated badly, she begins to understand.

The Logan family's problems begin when Little Man notices that the schoolbooks the black children have to use are dirty, ripped, and beat-up, but the white children got to use them when they were brand new. He throws a fit and refuses to use the books, and gets whipped for not listening.

But more serious problems begin occuring, like Mama losing her job teaching at the school, Harlan Granger, (the white man who sold the cotton farm to the Logans) wanting the land back, black people going into debt from purchasing things at a certain store, and people getting shot. The Logans try very hard to pay all their taxes, keep their jobs, and not get into debt.

Later in the story, a new problem arises. T.J., a 14-year-old mischievious boy, who used to be friends with the Logan kids, starts running around with R.W. and Melvin Simms, two 18 or 19 year old white boys. Soon, T.J. gets hurt, and it may mean his life is in danger.

As all these problems combine, Cassie and her family are faced with trying to save T.J. and their land, while doing their best to hold onto what they believe in.



Character Description

Family...

Cassie calls her family members different names. For instance, her Grandma is "Big Ma", her dad is "Papa", her mom is "Mama", and Clayton Chester is "Little Man".

Cassie has two younger brothers (Little Man and Christopher-John)and an older brother (Stacey).

Nothing will stop Little Man from trying to appear neat and clean. He's a typical six year old, but exceptionally intelligent for his age. Christopher-John is a chubby, round boy of seven. He generally prefers to keep to himself, and always wants to stay on people's good side. Stacey is almost 13. He tries to act like an adult, because he is considered a young man. Sometimes Stacey gets on Cassie's nerves, since he is not much older than her, yet he gets treated almost as if he's an adult. Cassie's mother (Mama) is stubborn, yet gentle and caring.
Her father is strong but kind. He works out on the railroad, and she doesn't get to see him often.

Other Important Characters...

Mr. Morrison, a friend that Papa met on the railroad, came to live and help out on the Logan's cotton farm (Papa invited him). He is tall, very muscular, and protective.

Stacey's friend, T.J. Avery (14 years old) , is very talkative and persuasive. He gets into trouble often. When he tells stories or news, he likes to tease his audience until they are desperate to know what happened. T.J. becomes much more important as the story progresses.

Most of the white people in this book are very racist, and don't give any respect to black people. The Simms family is racist, except for Jeremy Simms. Instead, Jeremy tries to be friends with the Logan kids and walk with them to school as often as he can, unlike other white kids. Jeremy stutters a lot and sleeps in a tree house. He is very kind.


Examples of White People Being Cruel

to Black People in the Story

There is a bus that drives past the Logan children (as they walk to school) every day, carrying white kids to their school. The bus driver is racist. He makes sure, every day when the ground is wet, to drive fast into mud puddles. And each day, the Logan children get soaked to the bone because of all the water spraying off the tires.

One day in December very early in the morning, Big Ma takes Cassie, for her first time, (because she is now old enough to go) out to Strawberry (a town 22 miles from where they live) with T.J. and Stacey. The Logans go to Strawberry every month for the Market. They go there to buy and sell food.

That day when they are done selling things, Big Ma goes into an office to do some business and tells the kids that when she comes out, it's time for shopping. But T.J. convinces Cassie and Stacey that they should go inside the store to do the shopping for Big Ma, as a surprise.

But when T.J., Stacey, and Cassie give their list of groceries to Mr. Barnett (the storekeeper), and he begins to help them with it, a white customer comes up with a list twice as long as their's and Mr. Barnett helps her instead--even though Stacey, Cassie, and T.J. were first. Then, when he is finally done with her long list, he starts helping the kids again, except a white little girl needs help nearby, and so he goes to her instead.

When Cassie is walking out of Barnett's Mercantile, she accidently bumps into Lillian Jean. Lillian Jean not only makes her apologize, she also forces Cassie get down in the road to walk.

Part 2.

My Opinions on the Book



I think that Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry was a very powerful and moving book.

Before I read this novel, I hadn't the slightest idea of what was going on in our country in the early 1900s, and this book really helped me understand the struggles that people went through back then. I learned the timeline of the Great Depresion when I did research on the book, and I discovered more about how black people and white people treated each other in that time.

The Logan family was very strong-willed, as I stated above, and I think that sets a good example for people: not to give up when you're facing problems in your life. Although, this proves hard when you're dealing with racism in the early 1900s in the southern U.S.A., like the Logan family. White people had so much power back then, it was very hard for a single family to do anything about racism, by themselves.

I think that the author was perfectly discriptive: she gave each character a flavor, a specific adittude and way of acting. For instance, T.J. Avery was very talkative, persausive, and troublsome. When he gave news or told stories, he loved teasing his audience untill they were desperate to know what happened. You can read more about this in the Character Discription above.

At first I didn't like the ending. But after reading it again, I began to realize that the author actually wrapped it up very nicely. In the end, something is taken from Cassie's life, and the author explains how Cassie will continue living her life, just without that particular thing. I liked this about the ending. To get a better understanding of what I mean, you must read the book.

Conclusion

This book was very powerful. The author made it very emotional and meaningful. I loved learning about how life used to be in the U.S.A.. The author was very good with words, she knew where to place them in a sentence. She was also very descriptive and gave each character a personality.

I'm really excited to read the next book in the series (Let the Circle be Unbroken), and I would give this book a five star rating.













 







 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Alphabet Story

A- person walked down the street, very
B-ored. Of
C-ourse, this soon changed because suddenly, out of the blue, came a gigantic
D-ictionary!! This dictionary wasn't just any old (huge) dictionary, either-- it had legs! And
E-very time it took a step, the concrete below it would crack dangerously. People were
F-alling into the big cracks! So the smart witted person (remember the person?)
G-ravely stood up to the terrible Dictionary. He shouted:
"H-ey, you there! Yeah you! Look what damage you're causing to our peaceful little town!
I-s this your intention--to come raging through this village, destroying everything in your path?"
J-ack, the smart-witted-person's friend, soon built up the courage to say something, too.
"K-ind old beast, won't you show some mercy? We are suffering because of your monstrous-ness!"
L-ittle did the villagers know, though, that the Dictionary was actually very
M-erciful, indeed. So he said: "Worry
N-o more, villagers, I am not a monster. In fact, I am here to help you all get smart! And with that,
O-ld Dictionary
P-lopped himself down in front of the local library
Q-uite exhausted, and said: "My dear, loyal citizens, come flip through my wise pages, learn about
R-eally interesting long words, and be merry."
S-o they did, really relieved that the Dictionary was not
T-errible after all. And the townspeople renamed they're town
U-ncruelville, after the Dictionary who's name was "Uncruel". After all these events, the people got
V-ery
W-ise and intelligent. So wise, in fact, that they started inventing cool things like the telephone, the
X-ylophone, the toilet, and the q-tip (which they called the anti-ear-waxer) . And all the
Y-oung children, the elderly, the adults, the dogs...had
Z-ero worries...and it was all because of their hero...the Dictionary.

Acrostic Poems

B ees on wildflowers
E ndless oceans
A utumn leaves
U kuleles playing
T rees in the wind
Y oung life begining

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Haiku poems

The colors of fall
Are orange, red, brown, and green
The trees are changing.

The snows in winter
cover the Earth like a quilt
a vast land of white.

Springtime means new life
biennial plants come back
little sprigs of green

Summer sun is hot
Everything is lively
Plants are thriving now

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Pineapple Weed

Description...

This plant gets it's name from it's distinct pineapple scent.
It is hairless, has leafy branched stems, and can grow 2-16"
high. Branches are alternate, deeply cut into fine segments,
and can be 1/2-2" long. Flowers are yellow to green.

Edibility...

Flowerheads can be a good snack, but Pineapple Weed
often times grows where there may be chemicals and oil spills,
so only choose ones that are growing in the right location.

Medicinal Uses...

Pineapple Weed has many medicinal properties that most
people are unaware of.
A tea made from the plant may be good for colds, upset
stomaches, diarrhea, fevers, and menstrual cramps. It has
been taken by women to build up their blood before child-
birth, to aid delivering the placenta, and to encourage
good, healthy milk.
This plant can also expel gas, relieve heartburn, and soothe
muscle contractions in stomach.
Since Pineapple Weed has a nice scent, Native Americans
used it as a perfume. It works as a sweet-smelling insect
repellent, too.

Habitat and Range...
Pineapple weed is often found growing near roadsides
and other disturbed areas, from the southern Yukon
and NWT to New Mexico.

Food

Why do you sit on that comfy chair,the one that makes you want to sink
deeper
and
deeper
into comfort, while you eat
and
eat
potato chips like a pig
until the bag is empty
and then you switch to a hamburger
you want quanity, not quality,
as long as it tastes good and is cheap.
you are like an ignorant pig
constantly consuming
never pausing to open your mind to reality
sitting slumped on your sofa watching commercials
advertising food
food, food, food,
it blocks your true thought and emotions
it causes you to take everything for granted
it is always there, available
as long as it's on the grocery store shelf,
there is nothing to worry about
you don't have to fight for it
seems simple.
The companies are making
you fat,
you give them money and they give you
trash food.
They are raising you to be a monstrous, yet powerless beast.
with fat on your weak bones,
you are vulnerable,
they are farming you like a pig
and taking your money as if it were meat.
Wake up.
You're not dead yet, there's still time.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Zoey Rockshindle: Chapter 10

Mellisa was at school.
This turned out to be quite a problem for the desperate birds, and as they wandered around
anxiously on Mellisa's doorstep waiting for her to come out, just that thought dawned on Zoey.
She stopped pacing.

"It's Monday," she muttered.
"So?" Woody asked.
"Mellisa's at school!"
"Oh, no," Woody said. He paused. "Wait, what's school?"
"It's...there's no time for explaining! And there isn't enough time to go get Mellisa, either! Now,
 what bird regurgitates food for their babies?"

Woody thought, then said: "Hens! Hens do!"
"Good! I know a spot where there are hens!"

And off she flew, beckoning Woody to follow her.

Soon they arrived at an animal farm, and both birds plopped down on the fence overlooking the
chicken coop. Zoey couldn't help but realize that, before now, she had always thought of this farm
as a "pig dwelling" and had never really appreciated it. But she pushed that thought out of her
mind and swooped down into the farm.

"Excuse me, hen, but--hen? Excuse me--"
"BucAWK! BAWK! Bawk-bawk-bawk-BUCAWK!"
"Hi, I'm--"
"BAWK!!"
"I was just wondering if you--"
"Bawk bawk BUCAWK!!"

And that pretty much explains how visiting the chickens went.

"We're hopeless. Chickens won't even acknowledge our existence, they just keep blabbering away
about eggs and roosters. Anyway...we better go back and check on the baby bird."

They arrived at the park about two minutes later. Woody plopped down in front of their tree, followed by Zoey. To their surprise, a plump little chickadee sat inside next to a sleeping baby bird.

"Uh...hello?" Woody said.
"Oh, I'm sorry, is this your little baby bird? It just looked so hungry and helpless...I couldn't resist,
I had to feed it..."
"No, it's great that you fed it! We were just trying to get it some food!" Zoey was practically jumping up and down. "What did you feed it?"
"Well, it seems to like torn-up flesh. I tried everything, until I realized what it wanted."
"Thank you so much, um..."
"I go by Pin. And you?"
"I'm Zoey, and this is Woody here--" she gestured to her friend. "--we just came upon an egg one
day, and...it hatched after a while of sitting."
"That's very interesting." Pin said.
"Well, Pin, it's been nice having you. And I was wondering...I'm not exactly in the position to take
care of a baby bird...are you interested in adoption?" Zoey asked.
"Um...Really? Wow, yeah! That would be great! Could I stay here to look after him?"
"Yes, I think it's time for me to move on to a different home. The tree's all yours."
And that settled it.

Our Big Move

Recently my family made a big move.
We packed up and left Bellingham, Washington.
After spending a few months in Colorado, we realized that we'd been missing out on sunshine, beauty, and fun. All the while we'd been up in Washington, waiting for a summer that basically never came! All we got up there was clouds and rain.
So, we took a little road trip to explore Colorado and New Mexico looking at towns we might want to live in. Santa Fe: too hot and dry. Taos: same deal. Telluride: we wouldn't be able to start a
farm there. Crestone (a small, cute town) too...in-the-middle-of-nowhere. Denver: no consideration involved. Too crowded!!
Then we came across a town near Aspen. It was perfect: great farming area, flat (for biking), enough sun, rain and snow, awesome place for skiing, nice community, cool schools, and a
gorgeous view of Mt. Sopris. We all loved the town (that I like to call Onnie), and we're in the process of moving here. I'm so excited!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Fragrant Water-lily

Fragrant Water-Lily, White Pond-Lily
Description...
Flowers smell sweet, are white to pink-ish, and they open at dawn and close at dusk.
Leaves look like giant green pack-mans on the water because they are flat, notched at the base, and float.
Where found...
Found in ponds, marshes, lake edges, slow waters.
Native to Eastern North America, introduced to all western states except Idaho, Wyoming, and New Mexico.
Uses...
Root tea good for:
Mouth sores, sore throat, dysentery, chronic diarrhea, bronchitis, urinary tract irritations, vaginal yeast infections. May be used as an eye wash or to diminish men's libido. Good for cancer.
Root and leaf poultices are good for:
Sores, boils, tumors, and rashes.
Chew stems for toothaches.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Book Report for: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

I recently finished a book titled 'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,' by Sherman Alexie.






This modern-day story is about a Native American teenage boy named Junior Spirit, who lives on an indian reservation in Washington. Alcohol plays a major part in this boy's life. It controls and ends many people's lives where he lives. There isn't much money, either. So the schools aren't very nice. What starts Junior's little adventure is when, on the first day of high school, Junior notices that the school is so old and run-down, he has to use the same book his mom used. This gets him feeling angry and unimportant. So, in his frustration, he throws the book at his teacher. Later, Junior's teacher gives him some advise. He tells Junior he should leave the reservation to have a better life, somewhere nicer. So, as a start, he transfers to a nicer school, a school where he gets a better education. There he is happier. But his home is still depressing. Many people on the reservation think of him as a traitor for going to school with white people. Even his best friend Rowdy ignores and is mean to him. This is the story of how Junior finds hope in his new school while trying to face the problems at home.



The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a good book. I enjoyed this book for many reasons, partly because I love reading diarys. But also because the characters had real-life problems (such as food disorders and drinking addictions) which made the story more realistic.



What I didn't like about this book was...


-How it ended. From what I remember, the end didn't seem to wrap itself up, like how I'd hoped it would.


-Some people might not like that it doesn't have an obvious conflict.



I strongly suggest this book to people who are interested in Native American Reservation culture, like reading diaries, or just need a good book to read. And I'd give it a three-and-a-half star rating.














Saturday, May 14, 2011

Zoey Rockshindle, chapter 9: The Bird

Over the next couple of days, Mellisa, Zoey, and the Woodpecker had
a lot of fun together. They were confident that Zoey's parents were not

at all worrying about Zoey. In fact, Mr. and Mrs. Rockshindle were happy

Zoey was away for a while, because they figured:



"Well, we might as well not worry about her. It won't do any good. And

she sounded fine in her letter. She's probably having the time of her life."



Indeed, that was practical thinking. But risky, too. If Zoey were not a bird

that could fly away at any moment from danger, she might've gotten into

trouble with that bad, snobby attitude of her's.



Luckily she was safe with her friends in the park wandering about. Zoey spent

lots of her time sitting on the abandoned eggs. The weather lately had

been cloudy, but with no rain. It was a bit depressing, but with her friends,
Zoey was happy.



One morning, Zoey woke up to a cracking sound. At first, she thought it

was pecking, and was angry with the Woodpecker, because they had

made a deal for him not to peck on the tree she was in. But then she

recognized it as an eggshell being broken. She jumped up, and ran

over to the eggs. A little beak was trying to make it's way through

the shell. It poked and scratched, until finally, Zoey could see a
squirmy, wet little body struggling out of the shell.



"Wow!" Zoey cawed as it made it's way onto the ground.

"WOODY!" She screeched.



In a few minutes, the woodpecker swooped into the tree cave and plopped

down beside Zoey.



"Woody, go get some bugs. Quickly, please!"



The woodpecker raced out of the cave. In a second he returned with a

mouth full of bugs. But the baby bird just would'nt eat them!


"Oh, no," She said. She was beginning to understand.

"What?" Woody asked.

"It doesn't want bugs. Some baby birds have to be fed food
that's already partly digested." Zoey said. She gulped.

Woody looked grossed out. He said:

"I guess...we could try."

So, since Woody didn't seem as eager to do it, Zoey ate the worms,

then unwillingly put her open mouth above the hungry baby bird's mouth.
But it just didn't feel right. It wasn't only gross--Zoey didn't think
she was meant to regurgitate, being a crow. Didn't crows feed their
babies bugs? She couldn't remember.

"I don't think crows can throw up," Zoey told Woody. "They feed their
young bugs."

Zoey and Woody knew what they would have to do.

"We need Mellisa." Woody said.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Wish Rillzo Eco-Village

Just the other day, my family and I took a little trip to Wish Rillzo.
Here is how it went.

First, we drove for quite a while, until we got to a body of water.
There was a ferry boat sending people across (in their cars).
We waited for a few minutes, then drove on, too.
It took about half an hour for the ferry to take us all the
way to the other side of the water. When we got there, we drove
up a hill and around a few corners. I looked up from my book,
and saw we had arrived at a place called
Wish Rillzo Eco-village.

We got out of the car and met a few people. We found our friends
that we had planned to meet there. We explored, and saw they
had a trampoline, chickens, bee hives with bees, community
houses, gardens...
...It was a dream come true. I new right away that I wanted to
live there.

Then I met a man named Nils. He stepped out of his car and
introduced himself. We told him our names. Then we found
out he was a Bee Man, and he was about to go "check on some
bees." Now, I've always had a kind of connection toward bees.
When I was much younger and we lived in a trailer on a mountain
for a while, a swarm of bees came to hang out nearby.
I watched, then stuck my hands right next to them.
They crawled all over my arms and I didn't get stung once.
I loved it.
And the two times in my life I've been stung, I didn't hate
bees afterward.
So when this man said he took care of the bees, I liked the
sound of that. I asked him if I could help him, and he said yes.
So he put me in a real bee suit and lead me to the bees.

For hours we did things for the bees, scrapping off beeswax,
giving them sugar, cutting off male brood and feeding it to
the chickens, watching the queen bee, and having fun.
It was an absolutely amazing experience and I learned a lot.

Also, while I was at the awesome Eco-Village, I helped build
some of a house, brought in chicken eggs,
(like I do where we live right now) played soccer,
Found a "secret" passageway, and I hope
next time I'll get a chance to jump on the trampoline.

I really, really want to live there, and my parents are seriously
considering it.

Friday, May 6, 2011

In my opinion, bikes are the greatest things that were ever invented
by humans. I think there are many reasons why they are better than
cars. Here are a few.
Bikes...

-Are healthier for the Earth, since we don't have to dig up and use oil
to power them.
-Are healthier for the environment since they do not pollute.
-Are healthier for people, since exercise is very good for our bodies.
-Are lighter.
-Are smaller.
-Have sharper turns.
-Allow your body to absorb more vitamin D, since you're not in shade.
-Can go on trails and sidewalks.
-Are a lot less expensive.
-Are easy to operate.
-Are, to many people, more fun.

Lately, my family has been biking a lot more than driving. I've set a
personal record and haven't gone in a car for nine days.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011



This is our beautiful horse, Rusty. He is (as you can see) chestnut brown with a streak of white running down his forehead. He's 17 years old.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Zoey Rockshindle, chapter 6: The letter

The next day, Cecillia and Cody hired a search crue online to find Zoey.
A while later sixteen or so men arrived at the great mansion where the
Rockshindles lived. They were dressed in slick black suits, wore serious
expressions, and came in a van that had blue exhaust. The first man walked up the
concrete steps and knocked on the door. Cecillia came out to meet them. She was wairing brown pants with a leather belt, and had a peach-colored long-sleeved turtle-neck blouse. She had clearly been crying. Her face was flushed and her eyes
were red. But she was happy to see the men, and led them inside.

So, in the house they went, following Mrs. Rockshindle into an office where
Mr. Rockshindle sat working on a computer. He looked pale and skinny.
When he heard them coming, he turned and told them all
that had happened. It seemed he had been rehearsing what he said to the men.

"An old woman came to our house to see Zoey, then left without an explanation.
Zoey remained upstairs, possible crawling out the window, while we called her down for dinner. Then a crow flew down from her room. We didn't know how it got inside, because Zoey always keeps her windows shut. Maybe while Zoey escaped, it flew in. We've been so worried. It's been, like, a day since we saw Zoey."

The men nodded and set to work.

By the time sunset came, they had spread all over the county. They assumed, or rather
hoped, that Zoey hadn't made it out of town. Lucky for them, she hadn't. The only
problem was that she had been turned into a bird.

Zoey and Mellisa had thought up a plan the night before. It wasn't brilliant, just
a simple way to convince Cody and Cecillia that Zoey was safe.

First, Mellisa waited for the men to leave. Then she walked up to Cecillia and
Cody's house and rang the dootbell. Then she ran off.

This time Cody answered. He looked around, and, seeing nobody, was about to leave but then he spotted the envolope lying on the WELCOME mat. Cody opened the envelope and read the letter inside. By the time he was done, his frown had turned to a big smile. He walked inside and showed Cecillia the letter. She read it out loud:

"Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm sorry to leave without telling you where I was going.
Let me explain why I did.
The kind old lady who came to my room that day was a my good
friend Eva's grandmother. She was there to tell me that it was
Eva's birthday. She said she had been on a walk,
seen our house, and realized they had missed our house when
they sent out invitations. She understood you guys wouldn't
let me go, so she lied and said it was urgent. (But don't be
mad at her, please.) I also figured you guys wouldn't let me go,
so I snuck out the window. I don't know why, but a crow flew
in after I crawled out. Please don't worry about me, I just
need some time alone. I love you guys!

-Zoey

(p.s. : I might go to a summer camp in a few days.)"

Cecillia looked up from reading. She smiled.
Secretly she had always wanted Zoey to have an adventure.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Zoey Rockshindle, chapter 5: The Woodpecker

Zoey woke up to a pecking sound. She groaned.
"It's to early..." She thought. "I was having a good dream."

But the pecking would not quit. Peck, peck, peck!

"If birds get headaches, I'm gonna have the worst migraine ever!" Zoey thought.
She got up and looked around. In the daylight she could see her little room
better. obviously, she had not been the first creature to find the cozy spot. There
were signs that other animals had nested there, like scratches and dried grass.
There were even two abandoned eggs in the corner. Zoey wondered if they could still
hatch. She got some moss and grass and covered up the eggs good, to keep them warm.

"Caw, crew, carr!" Zoey said. Which meant: "That should do it."

Then she waddled out of the hollow tree to see who this persistent tapper was.
"Ah ha!" Zoey cawed. She had spotted the guilty tapper a little ways up her tree.

It was a handsome woodpecker (and appeared to be male) drilling away in search of
breakfast. Zoey flew up to him and asked politely in bird language,

"Ever try the ground? It's much softer and you don't get cranky neighbors."
The woodpecker looked at Zoey. Then he said,

"Ever try minding your own buisness? This is my territory." He went back to pecking.

"Since when?" Zoey demanded.

The woodpecker didn't answer. His red head was a blur. Peck, peck, peck!

Zoey cawed: "I don't think this tree likes that much!" And started pecking lightly at
the rude bird. The woodpecker got annoyed and moved to a different spot on the tree.
But before Zoey could follow, she heard a CLUNK and the woodpecker fell to the ground. Then
a swarm of kids ran over, one carrying a sling-shot. Another had a cage.

"Oh no," Zoey thought "The bird might be rude, but nobody should be in a cage!"
She flew down, and before the kids could stop her, she scooted the woodpecker far into
her tree-cave. He was unconscious and heavy, but she was strong enough.

The kids had seen Zoey scoot him in, so they got down on their hands and knees,
and began sticking their hands in through the narrow entrance. But Zoey pecked
at them, and after a while they went away.

By the time the kids left, the woodpecker had gotten up. Zoey told him what had
happened.

"Thanks for saving me." He said. Then he spotted the eggs in the corner, and
asked Zoey about them.
"Chirp chir-r-r-r-r-rp." He said, which meant "Did you lay those?"

"Claw ra, caw," She replied (meaning no). "Just found them here."

Then Zoey told the woodpecker her story, about how she was turned into a bird, and
they became friends. The woodpecker said his name was Ruz. But soon they were
both hungry. So, out of the tree they went. Ruz chose a different tree to peck
on, and Zoey gathered a few bugs to eat.

After breakfast, Zoey said farewell and went over to Mellisa's house. In through
the window she flew. Mellisa was writing on her old typewriter.

"Caw, caw!" Which is how crows alert other birds of danger, or get their attention.

Mellisa turned. She jumped up, ran over to Zoey and whispered:
"You really shouldn't be here. My Dad Blue is allergic to some feathers. And my
other Dad, Ninro, thinks I bought you from a pet store. But you can stay for a
while, as long as you keep quiet."

She went over and sat back down at her typewriter.

Zoey sat on Mellisa's sholder and read the begining of a story Mellisa was writing.
Then she got Mellisa's attention and asked for a fresh paper by gestering toward a
stack of paper.
Mellisa took her story out and put a new piece in. Zoey flew down and typed:
'You might not want to start the story so descriptive. Especially if it will
be a long book. You may not be able to keep up the fancy writing as the story
goes on.'

Mellisa typed:
'I know. I probably won't finish it, anyway. I have trouble finishing books I
start.'

Zoey changed the subject and typed:
'My parents are not doing good. My Dad is depressed. He can't work. My Mom is so worried,
she has circles under her eyes and looks horrible. How can we reassure them that
I'm safe?'

Mellisa thought. Then she typed:
'I have an idea.'

Zoey Rockshindle, chapter 3: Mellisa's advise

"Well, that didn't go very well," thought Zoey as her furious mother slammed the great wooden door of their enormous mansion.

"I never realized how big our house is," she thought. It towered over all of the others on the block.

Zoey looked around her.
There was a park across the street, with children playing in it. Recently, a fire had damaged most of the trees in it. Down the busy road was a food co-op, a few shops, and her friends' house. suddenly an idea popped into Zoey's little mind.

Flap, flap, flap! She soared into the air, past a few trees, the co-op, the shops, until finally she arrived at her friend Mellisa's shabby little home. Zoey waddled up the wooden steps and pecked three times on the door then backed away. A round, chubby little face poked out of the house. The big, brown eyes filled with glee when they found a little black bird on the step.

There was one thing everyone knew. Millisa Waterlap LOVES birds.



"I'll call you Dino. You'll be my little snugglypoo. Yes, I could just tell, when I first saw you, I knew you were special! I think...I think you're a crow, little guy. I mean, Dino. Yeah, this handy little guide told me." She held up a book.

Zoey tried to roll her eyes. Mellisa was obsessed. First thing she did with Zoey was comb her feathers, give her a bath, then wrapped her in a towel on her bed and was
now sowing a blue shirt for her.

And, she thought Zoey was a male bird! Zoey tried to ignore all the
attention she was getting and stick to the plan. First, she flew over to a pen and paper on Mellisa's desk. Then she picked up the pen in her beak, and started writing. But it looked like scribbles, so Zoey took Mellisa over to their old typwriter.

She pecked the letters and managed, slowly, to tell Mellisa everything that had happened. By the time she finished, Mellisa was sitting there open-mouthed and wide-eyed.

"Zoey? Is it really you?" She said.

"SQUAWK!!" ("Yep.")

"You do seem a little to comfortable around people to be a bird."
Zoey bobbed her head and typed: 'I can make this sound:'
She squawked "CanIhavesome?!"

Mellisa laughed.
"The crone must've known you were always saying that," She said. "But I know what you've gotta do. You should stop trying to become human. Go have an adventure. Enjoy being a free, flying, beautiful bird. I've always wanted to..." Her voice trailed off.

Zoey pecked at her softly and typed: 'the grass is always greener on the other side.'
Mellisa smiled.

A little while later, Mellisa's dad Ninro (pronounsed Neen-row) came up to tell her it was dinnertime. But he took one look at Zoey and said:

"Oh, Mell, what've I told you about buying birds? I don't like the thought of animals in cages."

Mellisa quickly replied "Oh, right, Dad, sorry. I wasn't going to keep her, anyway. I'll just go set her free."

"You understand why it's wrong, right? Just imagine if you were in a cage." And Ninro went on talking about animals in cages until Blue, Mellisa's other father, came along to see why Mellisa and Ninro were not coming for dinner.

So, Mellisa ended up letting Zoey out the window, saying, "Remember what I said."
Zoey flew off to the park.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Zoey Rockshindle, chapter 4: The Taste of Being a Bird

When you think of a bird, you think of their sweet little songs. The way they fly with such grace. The unique colors of their feathers.
You try to ignore the disturbing fact that they eat beetles and cockroaches and worms and things like that.
Actually, it's not so disturbing.
Unless you're a person trapped in a bird's body, like Zoey Rockshindle.


Zoey wandered around pittying herself. Yesturday had been terrible.
Today--not much better.
First, she was turned into a bird.
Then she was kicked out of her own home.
Now she was stuck outside in the cold missing her parents. she was really tired and upset.
But the hunger was the worst part of it all.
Her stomach grumbled like the sky on a stormy night. Her whole eghausted body was aching and empty. The feeling was unbearable.
Zoey spotted a worm out of the corner of her beady little eye, but then shook her head and turned away in disgust.
She was trying to get bugs off her mind, because lately they had been crawling quietly into her thoughts.
She knew why.
Because she was a hungry bird, and everyone knows what hungry birds do. They eat bugs! Bugs, bugs, bugs!
And the worst part about it was--bugs sounded delicous! she didn't wan't to admit it, but they did!

Zoey perched under an old oak tree and thought for a long time. Should she eat bugs? A little part of her was disgusted and afraid. Who would eat bugs? Not her!
But she knew how her father would put it.
"It's good to try new foods--if it makes you sick, you'll know not to eat it again, and if you don't try it, it'll bug the crap out of you later that you're such a wimp."

Finally the hunger overcame Zoey, and her instincts took over. Tilting her head, she scanned the ground in front of her until she spotted movement. It was an earthworm trying to find it's way through the grass. Peck, peck! After a few tries, Zoey got the hang of it and caught the poor worm. she swallowed it whole.
Wow! Zoey thought.
She ate a few more. Bugs weren't like anything she had eaten before! It wasn't about the taste--in fact, they tasted like nothing at all--but about the texture, and her stomach danced with pleasure as her hunger shriveled up and disappeared.
Within a few heavenly moments of feasting on insects, Zoey began to feel sleepy. She leaned up against the oak tree, but it was no bed. The bark was rough and scratchy.
So she strolled through the chilly park, until she found a tree with a hole at the bottom. She got some moss and grass to make
it cozy then snuggled inside and fell into a deep sleep.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

At the Library

In downtown Superfogg, there is a public library. People come to use the computers there. I go, sometimes, to write on my blog.

Today, we decided to go to the library. It was early morning. We sat outside in our car, waiting for the library to open. But I needed to go to the bathroom, so I went over to wait by the doors. While I was waiting, a man walked by in a blue jacket. He had frizzy brown hair. I couldn't tell who he was talking to, but he said:

"You need to take a bath."

I was insulted, even though I didn't think he was saying it to me. That's not a nice thing to say to anyone.

Then with two orange cans, he sat down a few feet away. I was nervous. The guy gave me a weird feeling. Something told me not to trust him. And that was before he gave me a creepy smile. My instincts told me to get away from him.

Finally the doors opened, and there was a big rush to get inside the warm building. It didn't take long for me to go to the bathroom, and soon I was out again. I went over to our car where my mom and older sister sat, planning out what we were going to do after the library. I wondered what I would write about on my blog.

Then I realized that the creepy man was still there. I pointed him out to my mom and sister and said:

"That guy's creepy."

At that moment, very suddenly, the man took one orange can and poured a line of liquid in front of the library. I recognized immediately what he was doing. No, I thought. Not possible. But he lit a match and soon there was a line of fire blazing right in front of the library!

"Oh my god!" My mom said, and started to dial 911. None of us could believe what
we were seeing as the guy dropped the can and ran, smoke billowing behind him.

My heart rate slowed and I calmed down as I realized that what he did was pointless. The fire was already dying. And cops were showing up. But still, it was a crazy sight! I was nervous to go inside the library after that, but I was excited, too, because this was a great thing to write about on my blog.

I walked inside the building and I found out from a librarian that he had been kicked out of the library earlier. So that's why he did it! He was probably mad at the library for kicking him out.

Well, that was quite a thing to see first thing in the morning. I thought it was really scary, but exciting.

This is a true story. The man's name is Timothy Josiah Nunez, and he set the sidewalk in front of Superfogg Public Library on fire at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 16
2011.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Zoey Rockshindle: Chapter two

Flight or no Flight

It was the scariest thing that Zoey had ever experienced. Her legs felt weak. Her body was completely rearranged. Her eyes were on different sides of her head! What had happened?

"Oh no," Said Zoey, but all that came out was a squawk. "It can't be...It's not possible..."

Tenuously, she unfolded her slick, black, feathery wings.

Zoey couldn't believe it. She wouldn't. It was impossible.

"This can't be happening," She kept thinking.

"Zoey! Dinner time!" A voice called from downstairs.

"Uh-oh," thought Zoey. She stumbled around on the bed for a few minutes, until she knew what she would have to do. She took a running leap, and jumped off of the bed...only to crash onto the hard wood floor.

Zoey tried to yell because she was so frustrated, but she only made a weird squawk. Which got her to thinking what sound birds made when they were angry. But then she told herself to keep concentrating on flying.

Except when she tried to get back on the bed to practice, she realized that birds were not all that good at climbing.

So she flapped her wings while on the ground. Flap, flap, flap! Her wings were floppy and weak. Zoey flexed her wing muscles, getting her wings stiff, which would prevent the wind escaping through her feathers. Flap, flap, flap, flap!

It was exhausting. She was wearing herself out.

"Zoey! Where are you, sweetheart?!"
Her mother called again. Zoey wished she could answer. She felt helpless and miserable.

"A bird!" She squawked angrily. "I'm a bird!"

Zoey was about ready to give up trying to fly, when she remembered something her mother had once told her. It was to always be persistent. Never give up. Keep trying. So Zoey tried again. And again. And then, finally, up, up, UP! Into the air she flew! It was the most amazing feeling! The wind ruffling her feathers, she glided happily around the big room. And right then she realized two things: how big her room was, and how lucky she was to have a mom that gives her useful advice.

Zoey flew around the room a few times before deciding she'd better go downstairs. As she went down, she realized just how much she loved her mom.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Morning

It's the early morning
silent and still
I'm perched quietly on a window sill
In the sky above
there flies a white dove
She's twirling, diving, and spinning in the Sun
The Sun, that's peaking over the horizon

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Zoey Rockshindle, chapter 1: The Crone

Zoey Rockshindle

Chapter one...

Zoey Rockshindle was born to a wealthy couple who's names were Cecilia and Cody Rockshindle. They lived in South Dakota, in a big house. Zoey was very greedy. She was always asking for things, and saying "Canihavesome?!" She only thought about herself, and whined when she didn't get what she wanted. So one day, a wise crone came to Zoey's huge house when Zoey was about 12 or so, in late June. Cody Rockshindle answered the door.

"What do you want?" He demanded.

"I am only here to see your daughter. This is very important." She replied.

Cody didn't seem convinced. He continued to stand in the doorway, with his arms crossed and one eyebrow raised. Then, a strange connection passed between the two people. The crone's eyes turned a deep blue. Her posture got, somehow, stonger and more powerful. The hairs on the back of Cody's neck stood up, but his gaze did not lift from the crone's eyes. The old woman chanted a few words. Cody saw her power. He stepped aside and led her up to a Zoey's room.

The little girl sat playing with a china doll.

"Who're you? What are you doing in my room?!" Zoey yelled at the crone when she saw her.

"Calm down, young child. I am only here to teach you something. My name is Chinocluc."Then Chinocluc pulled out a cupcake. Zoey licked her lips. "Canihavesome?!" She yelled. But before waiting for an answer, she ran over, yanked it from Chinocluc's hand, and ate a big bite.

Suddenly, Zoey dropped the cupcake and sat down on the bed, shaking all over. She turned pale. She made a funny noise, sort of like a squawk, then shrank and started changing. Her skin began sprouting feathers! After five minutes, there sat Zoey Rockshindle, a glossy black bird. She squawked again, and the noise sounded strangely like 'canihavesome?!'

Chinocluc giggled. "Oh, it's really not that bad. To become human once again, you must prove yourself generous and kind. Good-bye, Zoey."

And the goddess of lessons walked out the door.