On A Little Bit of Spring

A few weeks ago, I made a spring themed garland. 

This originated with the desire to make some flowers with my Knit-Wit, but needing to have something to do with them other than just leave them randomly sitting on the arms of the couch, which is where the extras seem to end up. 

While I was originally intending to slip cord through the center beads to hang them individually, I realized between the yarn holding the bead in place and the pipe cleaner leaves it would be too tight, as well as resulting in them hanging straight down. After a bit of trial and error with trying to wrap the pipe cleaner around the jute cord (a frustrating endeavor), I ended up just tying them to the cord with little pieces of yarn and then slipping a few petals over the pins I used to hand the cord to keep them straight.

 

 

To add to the garland, I bought some flat wood chicks and bunnies at the dollar store (actually writing this post, I'm realizing everything I used in making this with the exception of the pipe cleaners is from there). I painted the chicks bright yellow and used hot glue to attach baker's twine to them and the rabbit in the center so they could dangle. With the two outer edge chicks I made little hooks out of floral wire so they could hang from the jute cord since the placement looked better than hanging them from the push pins. To finish it off, I added a few large beads on the end of the cord giving me a very cheerful spring garland to grace the fireplace. ♥ 

On "Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villians"

Title: Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains
Author: Bethany Brookshire
Genre: Non-Fiction

About the book...
Elephants, deer, cats, pigeons. Are they animals we love and cherish or are they pests? In Pests, Bethany Brookshire approaches the subject of animals, what a "pest" is and why we choose to view them as pests (or not), considering the history, culture, and science involved in why we feel the way we do.

What I think...
As the author herself points out, the ideas in this book aren't exactly new, but it offers a fascinating and thoughtful look at what causes a culture or a regional area to feel the way they do about various animals and the way that perception is formed and shifts over time often in a contradictory manner.  

I felt this book approached the subject in a well rounded manner; looking at the perspectives of indigenous people, ideas of co-existing in ways that create a balance, and at the perceived "pests" from multiple perspectives. Throughout the book interviews from people who both view the animals as pests and those who don't are included, which I really liked as it provided a more nuanced look at things. Brookshire also did quite a bit of in-person research, such as going snake hunting and on a rat search, and shares her own often humorous experiences with wildlife.

Most of the chapters focused on a specific animal, however Brookshire brings examples of other animals to offer comparisons showing how similar methodology was applied in either trying to handle the particular animal situation and the results on both the environment and the humans involved, which I found interesting. I also learned quite a bit about the various animals she addresses (ex: elephants don't like bee noise and wolves aren't fond of flags). In particular, I really enjoyed the chapter on elephants. As someone living completely devoid of elephant problems (in this case, crop destruction and property damage, among other things), I thought it provided an excellent example of how a greater whole often thinks they know how a problem should be addressed, without really understanding the problem because they aren't directly involved.

To sum it all up...
An interesting look at human attempts to eradicate, control, and co-exist with various animals referred to as pests and a good read for anyone interested in nature.

On a Cat in a Hat: A Photo Post

Well, this year has started off slow in regard to getting anything posted. Hoping to remedy this is coming weeks.

For now, though, to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday, may I present you with a cat in a hat? 

♥ ♥ ♥

On "Some of Me": A Book Review

Title: Some of Me
Author: Isabella Rossellini
Genre: Autobiography

About the Book...

Isabella Rossellini's reflections on her family, modeling, acting, and living life.

What I think...

I picked this up with the intention of just wanting to read the portions about Ingrid Bergman, as I've only seen one movie with Isabella Rossellini for a film class, but found myself so thoroughly enjoying the beginning of the book that I just kept reading and managed to finish in a couple of sittings.

I like how real and relaxed Rossellini comes across in her writing. This isn't what I'd call a serious biography and, while it's broken into categories, I wouldn't describe it as being a linear autobiography either, primarily due to all the musing she does. It's more a series of reflections in vignette form. 

She's very funny and witty, bluntly stating that she will lie about certain things she tells us (and then promptly admits to having lied after she does so) and teasing the reader with various stories about family and the unique things she grew up with. It interestingly contained conversations that she imagined having with dead relatives (her mother and father, more often than not) on various topics, which allows her to provide a nuanced and amusing perspective on certain topics.

Less interesting to me, but still interesting none-the-less, were the stories about her work in modeling and acting. Some of it was a little candid for my taste, but I appreciated that she tried to be real about some of the more serious matters in her life.  

To sum it all up...
A pleasant and interesting read that had me promptly adding her other book about raising chickens to my to-read-in-the-future list! ♥