FERRETS!!!

The house that I stayed at has nine ferrets living there! The owner of the house rescues ferrets. They get to live with her forever after they come to her house. You may not know what a ferret is, since they are illegal in CA; but they are in the same animal family as skunks, otters, wolverines, badgers, minks, and weasels.  They are smelly like skunks and poop a lot!

Many people buy ferrets because they are cute, but don't realize how much work ferrets actually are, so they get rid of them.  Ferrets also need a lot of veterinarian care which makes them very expensive pets.  They may bite if not trained right, and they can make your whole house smell if their cages aren't cleaned often enough.

Are you asking the same question I asked? Why would anybody want ferrets if they are expensive and hard to take care of?  She said that her ferrets are like her kids and she loves them even when then do bad things and when they get into things that they aren't suppose to. She said that they are very smart and do silly things that make her laugh. They made me laugh, too!

Male ferrets are called "hobs".  The ones that live here are named Roo, Little Bear, Shelley (his full name is Sheldon), Severus, Elliot, Chunk, and Sumo. She has two female ferrets (called "sprites"--because they are spayed so that they cannot have babies), named Luna and Munchie.

She said that many of her ferrets came here when they got old and their other owners didn't play with them anymore.  One of her ferrets, Chunk, is blind and had bad things happen to him at his other homes, so he has a hard time being like the other ferrets and needs extra care.  

One of the other ferrets, Munchie, doesn't know that she is a ferret and has to be kept by herself. She came to live here when she was almost seven years old and was raised in a house without other ferrets--she had a dog and cat to play with there.  She thinks that she is a dog and actually barked when she first saw the other ferrets!  She is very afraid of the other ferrets and tries to hurt them because she is scared, so she gets her own special play times, all by herself. She likes to pretend that she is a dragon and acts very fierce!

The ferrets wanted to help me get packed for my trip back home.  I think they made more of a mess than anything!

What do you think?

Do you think the ferrets are cute or scary?

If ferrets were legal in California, would you want to have a pet ferret? Why or why not?

"Worry Bubbles"

Octavia decided to help me get my beads packaged and ready to give to everyone.  She has been so helpful and such a good friend my entire visit.  She even made sure that each bag had the same number of beads, that each bag included one wooden bead, several glow-in-the-dark beads, and she even included an extra surprise for you!  Octavia wanted each of you to have your own special "worry bubble."  She calls them that because she thinks that they look like frozen bubbles and you can use your worry bubble when you feel nervous or are having a hard time with something.

You can use your worry bubble several different ways.  You can hold it or play with it when you feel stressed out and nervous.  Or you can picture the things that bother you going into the bubble and getting trapped, so that they don't bother you anymore.  Octavia has one because she said that sometimes she thinks too much and worries about what others think of her--so she holds her worry bubble and it helps her take her mind off of those things.  

She noticed when I got here that I was pretty homesick and was nervous about meeting everyone, so she let me borrow a worry bubble while I was here.  I was surprised by how much it helped me relax! 

Octavia hopes that you enjoy your worry bubble and find it helpful.  She also wanted me to tell you that if you have little brothers and sisters or pets that you need to keep the beads and worry bubbles where they cannot reach them.  She also mentioned that if you do not like all of the beads that came in your pouch, you can trade them with your friends.  She doesn't mind!  

Pennsic

 

Pennsic is a very special two-week gathering for those in the SCA.  Many people plan their entire vacations around Pennsic and prepare for it all year long.  Many people sew and make their own outfits (called "garb") and many even make their own armor.  

Even though people camp for the two weeks at Pennsic, they try to make their tents, vardos, and campsites look as much like a medieval home, as possible.  They usually camp with their shires and everyone pitches in to help cook, clean, and tend the fire while there.

There are all types of classes offered while at Pennsic that teach you how people lived during the middle ages.  Classes at Pennsic University are typically free and can involve anything from learning how to dance, to how to keep and raise your own honey bees.  

There are many other fun things to see and do while at Pennsic.  Unfortunately, I was not in Pennsylvania during Pennsic.  Pennsic begins the last week of July and lasts through the second week of August.  I really hope that someday I get a chance to go to Pennsic!

Saving the Day

 

 

This may have been my scariest adventure in Pennsylvania, yet! I helped a wasp get back outside without getting stung! This wasp was in the house for a week while I was there, but he didn't bother anyone or anything, so they just let him do his wasp things and left him alone, too.  

Finally, today, he was by the door to go outside, so we decided to help him get back outside without hurting him.  We did that by me going over to the wasp and allowing him to climb onto me and then we took him outside and placed him where he would be able to safely climb back off of me.  He actually told me thank you for helping him get back outside and to fresh air.  Overall, it was pretty awesome and I got over another fear that I had!

I learned that wasps usually aren't that grouchy and that if you do not swat at them or agitate them, they aren't likely to sting you.  I also learned that wasps, like bees, pollinate plants and flowers as they feed on nectar. If we were to kill all wasps it would actually cause more problems than it would solve.  I learned that wasps do serve a purpose and despite being a problem at certain times of the year, they are a beneficial insect.  I am glad that I met this one, he was really nice!

The Shire

My new friends belong to the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) which is an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe. Our “Known World” consists of 20 kingdoms, with over 30,000 members residing in countries around the world. Members, dressed in clothing of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, attend events which feature tournaments, royal courts, feasts, dancing, various classes and workshops, and more.

Because my new friends live in western Pennsylvania, they are part of the Kingdom of Æthelmearc, which you can learn more about here.  This Kingdom covers these regions in the U.S.: West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, and western New York.  Their local group is called a shire. They belong to The Shire of Hornwood which covers Clarion, DuBois, Punxsutawney, PA and the surrounding areas.  They spend most of their time with their shire, which is like a special family that you spend time doing fun things with.  

Entire families join the SCA and men, women, and children all get to participate in the activities.  Some of the activities that the Shire of Hornwood enjoys include archery, atlatl throwing, jousting, armor making, jewelry making, sewing, cooking, throwing axes, armored combat, fencing, and just spending time together playing games and singing. Each year, they spend two weeks at a very special event called Pennsic.  Pennsic is held at Cooper's Lake in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. 

Pennsic is the single largest annual SCA event, with more than 10,000 people attending each year, from as far as Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, Greece, and Australia. Pennsic is held in late summer and lasts for 17 days. Pennsic focuses on pre-17th century history and culture with all campers dressing in medieval clothing.  This year will be the 45th Pennsic.

The Glass Plant

Some random facts about glass recycling:

• There are 46 glass manufacturing plants operating in 22 states. At these plants, glass is remelted into new food and beverage containers.
• Over a ton of natural resources are saved for every ton of glass recycled.
• One ton of carbon dioxide is reduced for every six tons of recycled container glass used in the manufacturing process.
• Recycled glass is substituted for up to 95% of raw materials.
• An estimated 80% of all glass containers recovered for recycling are remelted in furnaces, and used in the manufacture of new glass containers. 
• Recycling 1,000 tons of glass creates slightly over 8 jobs. 

(Source: 2011 Container Recycling Institute).

These pictures were taken outside of the local glass plant, if you want to learn more, click here on How Glass Is Made. And yes, those are tiny pieces of glass that I am standing on--there are truly MOUNTAINS of broken glass at the glass plant!

Owens-Illinois specializes in container glass products.  It is one of the world's leading manufacturers of packaging products and is the largest manufacturer of glass containers in North America, South America, Asia-Pacific and Europe. Approximately one of every two glass containers made worldwide is made by O-I.  Chances are some of the glass bottles in your home came from here!

Snack Time

Today we stopped at a convenience store that is popular in Pennsylvania, called Sheetz.  Sheetz is so popular that when people move out of state, often one of the first things that they want to do  when they get back to Pennsylvania is get food from Sheetz.  I know that sounds really weird, but they swear that it is true! Personally, I like Sheetz hot dogs with chili, nacho cheese, ketchup, mustard, and onions.  

Regular gas here is $2.19.  I wonder how much it is in Elk Grove, today?

Oh, I almost forgot! I tried a great snack! It is called Cracker Jacks and it comes with a surprise in each bag or box.  I was surprised because it didn't taste like crackers and it was actually popcorn instead of crackers, but I really liked it!  Octavia let me keep the prize.  I wonder what it will be?