T here was always something special about this trip.

A few weeks before, my wife found a small reproduction of an 1845 George Catlin painting of “‘White Cloud,’ Head Chief of the Iowas, 1844-1845″ that we had once given to her father. I mounted it over the bathroom sink, just below the big tall mirror. When you go to brush your teeth, you bend right down and look at White Cloud. It’s an interesting jolt.

There were also two trip imperatives: one was to take an extra day on the road so we could visit my wife’s early childhood home in Ottumwa and see her mother’s growing-up country on the way, the other was to bring home sand from the Sand Hills of Nebraska. Think of the latter as a private nature ritual or strange pilgrimage of some sort — and if you’ve ever visited the Sand Hills, you have some inkling of what I mean by “strange,” as going there twice except for following the beautiful Loup River is a raging odd condition! But more on the Sand Hills later. The point is that this road trip, like all the others, was always going to be more than wheels on pavement and exits flashing by.

I like that long road trips can be oriented to nature or spirit. We used to do that back East, too, and in this part of the world, you damn sure can! On the way north from Taos, there was snow on all the mountain peaks. Colorado was wet and ridiculously green, even on the empty road from Walsenberg to Rocky Ford and later on 71 north through Limon. We saw many antelope (pronghorns) very close to the road, where the grass was the thickest. I passed by three or four photographs of a lifetime in the process: the one of a tall pronghorn five feet from the fence, munching on a yucca blossom, comes first to mind.

This plugs a person right in, you know. Even though you’re heading somewhere, the goal is in the going. We see these things because I usually opt for “Rand McNally whitespace” routes. Interstates are okay where they work, but in many areas they’re just dysfunctional: noisy, harrowing, slow, and dangerous. We were so unnerved by riding behind two trucks going side by side for over 10 miles in Nebraska that when we got off the big road to change drivers and momentarily lost our bearings, we decided to skirt Lincoln and Omaha on the little two-lane roads we love so much. With that one action, we at least tripled our blessings.

For example, after a magnificent crossing of the Platte River just south of North Bend, Nebraska, we rolled into the little town at about half-past noon and spied a place called the “Corner Cafe.” It was obvious that we should stop there for lunch, partly to honor my late father-in-law’s many family trips in that part of the world — my wife was sure they’d driven by this very spot — but mainly, I think, because it was there… The streets were relatively quiet, except for the occasional clanking roar of a passing grain truck. I figured the joint would be mostly empty and non-threatening, of course, so imagine my surprise when we opened the door and found that every table was full! A sea of gimme caps and T-shirts stretched from wall to wall, and the din of conversation and shouted orders was almost deafening. No one seemed to pay us any mind as we made our way to seats at the counter, but I felt like I was intruding on a loud religious assembly of true believers — adherents to the Order of the Weekly Fried Chicken Special, as it turned out. We ate a fabulous meal, of course (I had the chicken), and everyone was wonderful. We had such a good time that my wife even agreed to drive back over the Platte and turn around again, just so I could shoot more bouncy, unwatchable videos.

This where the high of travel takes you. The spontaneity makes for a very fine state of consciousness you never want to end.

When I can manage this in everyday life (whatever that is), I’ll have it knocked, I tell ya.

[To be continued...]

We are back from the boat to attend Brandon Doty’s graduation tomorrow.  On arrival at the homestead this afternoon I started to mow the hay field that our yard has become.  Soon after it started to rain, lightly at first, and I kept mowing.  The grass was plugging up the mower deck and I was going very slow and watching the great plugs of grass come shooting out onto the lawn.  I finally finished in very heavy rain with the water spitting out the mower.  I came up from the barn and took a hot shower as I was thoroughly chilled and soaked.  By the time I was done with this the sky was brightening up.  Oh well, it was a different type of thing to do that I had never done before.  Now I am trying to catch up on internet related things because we have become internet challenged up at the boat.  Hopefully, this will be resolved in the near future.

We went sailing yesterday and it was great.  Winds were pretty steady at 10 knots out of the NW with periods of gusts of about 14 kts.  We did a lot of tacking for practice and tried a few new techniques to make life easier.  We are starting to raise and lower the sail while still in the river mouth as the winds are usually blanketed and this gives us fairly stable waters with which to be up front.  Also we are removing the sail covers and raising the boom out of the gallows before we depart the dock.  This was SAM can concentrate on piloting the boat while I am up on top getting ready to sail.  All this makes it much more enjoyable and relaxing.

I was listening to the local radio on my way back from college and they had our N.Ireland super Vet answering questions for people who were phoning in about their dogs It was a very interesting program and many of the questions were typical questions that I have heard from dog owners before. The one question that caught my attention was “Why do Dogs Eat grass”? I found this interesting because I was at the time writing an article on “The Pros and cons of natural feeding” and I had been looking into various theories about why dogs eat grass.

One theory is that it aids digestion and another is that it is to supplement the dogs diet as the commercially produced dog food does not have all the nutritional requirements that the dog needs. Of course the other theory is that the dog likes the taste! If you have been doing your own research you may have come across the benefits of feeding your dog a more natural diet than the commercially produced food that hordes our supermarket shelves. Go onto the Internet and and you will find many articles and websites that will offer help and information on how to feed your dog. When you look a little deeper you will be shocked and horrified at an industry that is self-regulated and offers up disgusting ingredients to be used as a source of protein - Euthanized cats and dogs ,diseased cattle, road accident animals and other sources that are not fit for consumption. You might question this information but the research is well documented and also verified by scientific tests. Take a look and see for yourself.

If you have however already looked into this area already and are convinced of the benefits of feeding your dog naturally then you will find the summary below useful

PROS of natural feeding.

1. Healthier dog, so fewer trips to the Vet

2. A much happier dog

3. A dog with good strong, clean teeth with no gum disease

4. A dog with pleasant smelling breath

5. A dog who behavior isn’t hyped up by artificial food.

6. a dog whose “waste product” is much less offensive and much easier to pick up.!

CONS of natural feeding

1. Possible risk of impaction-very rare but could happen.

2. Arguing the case for natural feeding with your Vet. try and convert him or her.

3. When you first start it takes a little more thought and time than feeding processed food…but it gets easier very quickly

4. You may occasionally notice a very slight smear of blood in the feces. this is usually caused by a small piece of undigested bone scratching as it is eliminated.

5. If you are changing over from feeding a processed artificial diet,it is not unusual for your dog to have an upset stomach for a couple of days. This is because the stomach of the dog has to unlearn how to make the best of a bad job,coping with cooked and processed foods. Once you start feeding the raw diet the stomach will quickly start working at full efficiency again.

Save the Frogs Campaign- Goa

Frogs in Goa: Frequently Asked Questions

Are frog populations in Goa really on the decline?
Yes they are. Bio-indicators as well as studies conducted by herpetologists and amphibian specialists in Goa confirm that frog populations are falling, just as it is in the rest of the world. Globally, frogs are disappearing at an increasingly rapid rate than creatures have ever done in the past 65 million years.

While studies in 1999 and 2002 were conducted by amphibian specialists in coordination with International agencies like the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), basic surveys and compiling of checklists have also been done by researchers at the Goa University’s Department of Zoology, the Goa Forest Department and others.
There is however, a need for long term monitoring of Goan frog populations as frogs found in Goa.

What are the reasons for this decline?
A number of threats to frogs exist, however, in Goa the chief threats are:
1. Catching, killing and consumption of frogs at the onset of the monsoons. Frogs end their aestivation after the first rains and come out to breed. This is when they are at their most vocal, and hence easy to track down and catch. And as most of the frog-hunting is done before the frog can breed, this has a drastic effect on the future populations of frogs.
2. The widespread use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture. Flooded paddy fields are a hotspot for frogs, and since frogs absorb water through their skin, they are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of residual chemicals in our fields.
3. Habitat destruction – filling of fields, clearing of forest cover are a few of the main reasons. Encroachment of forests by human activities such as mining, construction, etc have caused entire resident populations to disappear within a short period.
4. A significant global trend that is threatening frog populations as a whole worldwide include climate change, global warming, introduction of invasive species and spread of disease from farmed to wild frog populations.

Are some species more vulnerable than others?
Yes. In Goa, the Indian Bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus Tigerinus) & the Jerdon?s Bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus Crassus) are the ones most prized for their meat due to their large size. The Indian Pond Frog and Grass Frog are also occasionally hunted.

Burgeoning demand at restaurants illegally serving frog dishes have ensured that a pair of frog legs can fetch as much as Rs. 65-70 for the poacher.

Due to their falling populations, the Indian Bullfrog and the Jerdon?s Bullfrog are now on the Government of India?s Schedule-I list of threatened species as well the international IUCN Red List of animals that are facing a high risk of global extinction.

Ok, but why do I have to stop eating frog? What?s in it for me?
A lot more than you think?
Eating frog meat is very dangerous to human health. Due to the massive toxic pesticide residues that accumulate in the fat deposits of frog meat, consumption of frogs can trigger paralytic strokes, cancer, kidney failures and other deformities. Besides frog meat being contraband, frogs are usually killed in unsanitary conditions.
Frogs are like the pulse rate or the blood pressure of the Goan environment. Frogs are a crucial part of the ecosystem and a vital link as predator and prey in the food chain. If frogs go extinct, the ripple effect on the ecosystem will be felt by us all.
Frogs and tadpoles are voracious eaters, and consume millions of mosquitoes and mosquito larvae every year. One of the suspected reasons for the increase in cases of malaria and other vector borne diseases in Goa is the decline in the number of frogs.
The increasing incidents of snakes being found in urban & semi-urban areas is also being linked to the decline of frogs, their natural prey, and their subsequent shifting to alternate prey like rats that are more readily found in populated areas.
In Goan mythology frogs are believed to bring prosperity and good rainfall.

Are frogs protected by law?
Yes. The Government of India in 1985 declared a ban on catching and killing of wild frogs under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. This means that any person or restaurant found catching, killing, selling, serving or eating frog meat violates the provisions of the act. This would attract stringent punishment with a fine of Rs 25,000 and/or imprisonment upto 3 years. In 2008, 10 persons were detained and fined under this act.

So what can I do to help save the frog?
Firstly, stop eating frogs yourself and discourage others from doing so. If there is no demand for frog legs, frog-catchers simply won?t catch them. Secondly, if you come across people hunting frogs or restaurants serving frog meat, report it to the police (100/108) or any of these Forest Department officials, preferably the one closest to where you are ?

ALL GOA
9423 889 890 (DCF Panjim Devendra Dalai)
9422 437 333 (CCF Richard D’Souza)
9422 388 188 (ACF Dr. Francis Coelho)
9422 437 237 (CF Yogesh)
NORTH GOA
9422 437 137 (DCF North Goa Shambhu)
2374 406       (FTS Valpoi)
9423 316 280, 2228772, 2220736 (RFO Campal Amar Heblekar)
EAST GOA
9423 314 824, 2935800 (RFO Bondla Deepak B)
9423 055 919, 2612211 (RFO Mollem S. Gawas)
9422 059 237 (RFO Bhironda Prakash Salelkar)
SOUTH GOA
9822 587 607 (ACF South Goa Anil Shetgaokar)
2750 246       (RFO Margao)
9822 157 139, 2965601 (RFO Cotigao Paresh P)

After reporting to the authorities, contact WildGoa volunteers at 9823-171-312 or 9890-936-828 (South Goa) and 9922-642-059 or 9822-522-119 (North Goa) who will record and follow up your complaint with the forest officials.

Who is Involved with the campaign
Save the Frog Campaign is coordinated by WildGoa, a Goa related network of Wildlife enthusiasts and NGOs. This awareness and enforcement campaign has  been on for the last 4 consecutive years and is supported by the Goa Forest Department a number of local as well as International organizations including Amphibian Ark, Save The Frogs International, Botanical Society of Goa, Organic Farming Association of India, GOACAN, Earthworm, Green Essentials, WWF-Goa, Nisarga Nature Club, Vivekananda Environmental Awareness Brigade, & Mitra. For more information do visit www.savegoafrogs.org or email info@safegoafrogs.org To contact us, you may call us at the WildGoa volunteer phone numbers mentioned above.

Mowing, planting, tilling oh my. Seems that when we get done one, we have to start all over again.
Each year that we have been here, I put in at least 2 new perennial gardens. I have rearranged, tweaked, and moved some plants from one place to another. All are doing well. They are starting to come in nicely, although I must admit, I don’t remember what seeds I planted where in some of them. I should have made a map like I do for the vegetable gardens.
Mowing is a job when you need a rest. Being that the tractor does the work, you can just sit there and listen to tunes while the grass is being cut. It can be quite relaxing. Even with all the gardens we have in, we still have over an acre to mow. Relaxing time is always appreciated.

The kittens are getting bigger, although still small for their age. Pyewacket is being a good mother. While keeping her ears open, she relaxes in the sun outside. She even ventured out to us in the garden the other day, but quickly went back to check on her babies. Maybe she heard something we didn’t. Puca still doesn’t know what to make of them. Kodie got to meet them yesterday, and even at just over a week old, they all hissed at him. It was a Kodak moment, without the camera. They don’t yet understand Kodie means them no harm. He just had to sniff them.
Planting is still not quite done. We have the green beans, and the last rows of corn to plant. I may plant some extras around here and there for fill ins in the flower gardens. I know not all the seeds I planted will grow.

Today, it is raining, and it will allow us getting some indoor work done. I shall bake some bread, make some yogurt cheese, and work on my dress for the Victorian Tea coming up in July.

The cut fescue was still looking congested after the haircut, so we took some time to pull out a lot of the straw. You grasp individual stalks or groups of a few stalks, and they will come easily if the foliage is dead; living foliage is rooted, so it will resist. If you pull out live green foliage you are probably pulling too hard, and if nothing comes out, you are not pulling hard enough. You don’t need to worry about hurting the plant by pulling out a few extra green shoots; like I said, this plant’s relatives get attacked with a lawn mower, so you are relatively benign, even if you get overzealous. I’m not sure that this fescue looks all that much better now, immediately after the treatment, but it will have an easier time filling out again. We don’t always do this step. It took ten or twenty minutes to do this one plant, which is a long time to spend on a grass, and it’s not always practical for a planting with a lot of grasses. It’s really important, though, if you are rejuvenating a grass that has been overwatered, and the dead foliage will come quickly and easily.