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! ♥

On Christmas Trees, Cats, Candy Canes, and Knit-Wit Decorations (Part 2)

And now to wrap up this year's Christmas crafting...

At this point of the month, my crafting veered away from Knit-Wit-ing things and I went for my 1960s Fun With Craft Sticks book that I made angels from last year because I knew there was a tree craft in there. It was a large three layered tree craft. 

 

I went small again and reduced it to six popsicle sticks, four beads (rather than 114!!!), and a few short pieces of floral wire, with the addition of green metallic paint, red seed beads and a star eyelet. They ended up a bit lopsided because I wasn't putting much effort into cutting the popsicle stick for the trunk evenly.

After that I decided to go back to my aforementioned felt craft: holly leaves. I had purchased a pack of small metal treat bucket from the dollar store not too long ago with the intention of  making little Christmas floral decorations. I only ended up making one, so chances are you will be seeing more buckets in the future. 

Each leave has a pipe cleaner sewn to it and then I wrapped fake berries around them (here is where I learned when wire is involved safety scissors are not always safe). Then to get them to "stay", a word to be used loosely because they like rearranging themselves, in place I filled the base of the bucket with fiber-fill and tucked them in. Some sort of styrofoam base inside would have probably been better, I just really don't really like using it.

After making the snowman, it was suggested that I could make a tree, similar to a macrame tree my grandma made in the 1960's or 70's. For this one, I added beads to the center.

It was a bit of a nightmare getting the three rows connected into a tree shape. I didn't do it while it was on the Knit-Wit since the connecting rosettes were going to be on the diagonal and after knotting it on the wrong petal loop, I accidentally cut one of the edging stitches in attempt to get the two disconnected, but I managed to get it to work out and ended up with a very cute little tree! The star was created by making a rosette with fewer petals and for some sparkle, gold thread.

My final Christmas craft, completed Christmas Eve, ended up being a bit silly and Carrollian. I sewed Candy Cane bugs! They live on hot cocoa and eggnog, in case you were wondering. 

And with that, the below image concludes this year's Christmas crafts!

 ♥ ♥ ♥