THANK YOU FOR THE ABUNDANT SHOWERS & THUNDERSTORMS

THANK YOU FOR THE ABUNDANT SHOWERS & THUNDERSTORMS

So far this year, we are enjoying the most wonderful rains.  With 15" since the first of the year, the weatherman says we are no longer in a drought situation.  Everything is so clean and green.

One of my crepe myrtles is full of leaves.  During the past two summers there were so few leaves on it I thought it was dying.  I put lots of green sand and Medina Growin Green organic granular fertilizer on it, hoping to bring it back.  

I think nature took care of that with the abundant showers and thunderstorms.

Thank you, thank you for the rain!!

"VETPAW" (VETERANS EMPOWERED TO PROTECT AFRICAN WILDLIFE)

"VETPAW"  (VETERANS EMPOWERED TO PROTECT AFRICAN WILDLIFE)

FOUND ON LOTL RESCUE FACEBOOK

Afghanistan Vet Helps Rangers Hunt Down Poachers In Africa

The fight against illegal poaching in Africa is extremely frustrating – both because of the irreparable damage that poachers cause and because most of us are powerless to do anything about it.

Not so for Kinessa Johnson, however – this tattooed, gun-toting badass US Army veteran works for VETPAW, an organization that connects US Armed Forces veterans with conservation rangers in East Africa who need professional training and support.
Together with other US vets, she helps the rangers with practical concerns like marksmanship, concealment, intelligence and patrolling tactics.
She helps African park rangers track and capture illegal poachers
Serving for 4 years in the US Army as a weapons instructor and mechanic has given her the skills she needs to train them
“I patrol routinely with them and also assist in intelligence operations”

“Our intention is not to harm anyone; we’re here to train park rangers so they can track and detain poachers and ultimately prevent poaching.”

She works together with other veterans through VETPAW (Veterans Empowered To Protect African Wildlife)
“Most of the time anyone that is in a reserve with a weapon is considered a threat and can be shot if rangers feel threatened”
“Our goal is to prevent trigger pulling through strategic movements and methods of prevention.” She says she’s not a “poacher hunter,” but a trainer”
VETPAW works primarily in East Africa.

VETPAW'S MISSION
The goals of Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife (VETPAW) are to provide meaningful employment to skilled post-9/11 U.S.veterans and conserve critically endangered African species and their communities and ecosystems.
Iconic and irreplaceable wildlife is on the brink of extinction due to illegal poaching, and the crisis has far-reaching and catastrophic consequences. VETPAW utilizes the unrivaled expertise of veterans to train and support African rangers and to provide sustainable solutions. By hiring the men and women of the U.S. military we also facilitate career development and personal growth.
learn more here: http://vetpaw.org

"SMARTPHONES CAUSE DROOPING JOWLS & "TECH NECK" WRINKLES IN 18-39 YEAR OLDS"

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES:  "SMARTPHONES CAUSE DROOPING JOWLS & "TECH NECK" WRINKLES IN 18-39 YEAR OLDS"

Oh no!!

"Dermatologists are blaming smartphones and tablets for causing sagging skin and wrinkles in younger generations, including a wrinkling condition dubbed "tech neck".

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES

Costa Rica Becomes First Latin American Country to Ban Hunting for Sport

"Hunters from around the world flock to Costa Rica to hunt the country’s jaguars and pumas for sport – or to capture the cats and sell them on the black market as pets.  Illegal hunting tours bring in a pretty penny for tour leaders, and their popularity helped spur the newly announced ban. Parrots are also a target, since they can be captured and smuggled out to be sold as pets around the world.

The Costa Rican people started the initiative to protect their animals – it began as a grass-roots campaign that brought over 177,000 signatures to the national Congress. Now that the bill has been approved, violators of the hunting ban will face up to four months in jail and fines up to $3,000."

FOUND ON MELISSA GROO PHOTOGRAPHY FACEBOOK

TINY CHICKADEES IN MY TREES & WRENS FEEDING THEIR SWEET BABIES

TINY CHICKADEES IN MY TREES & WRENS FEEDING THEIR SWEET BABIES

Today, there are baby chickadees at my feeder.  They have the tiniest little voices.

The parents are showing them where to find food.  

And, the carolina wrens are feeding their babies, too.

Such a fun time of year for me.

~OPPORTUNIST~

OPPORTUNIST

This little gecko knows the bugs are right by the back porch light and he's waiting patiently for his meal.

Usually, there is one by the front porch light, too.

MY NEW VISE-GRIPS ~ MY NEWEST FAVORITE TOOL

MY NEW VISE-GRIPS ~ MY NEWEST FAVORITE TOOL

I was mowing my yard and the muffler on my lawn mower started smoking.  It was really rusty.  I tried to remove the muffler so I could take it to Lowe's by my house and get the exact same one.

I tried and tried to take that rusty muffler off and it wouldn't budge.

At Lowe's I found the replacement muffler and asked the guys how I could remove the old rusty one. 

They said I needed vise-grips.  

Some of them had a smaller width opening and this one is really large so it could fit my muffler.  It can also be adjusted to fit something smaller.  They were under 20.00.

I came home and used those vise-grips and could not believe how easy it was.  You punch that round silver button to adjust the size and then just turn whatever you're trying to loosen.  

I think this will be one of my favorite tools.  I bet I can even open jars with them.

Maybe you already knew about vise grips.  

But, I wanted to share this great find with you, just in case.