“Just What I Never Wanted…”

Wondering what to get Mom for Mother’s Day this year? Well, surprisingly enough, there’s plenty of articles about what NOT to get Mom. Here’s one I found at scarymommy.com. Enjoy!

From scarymommy.com:

It is a fact not scientifically proven that all moms just want to be given at least a handmade card and then be left the f alone on Mother’s Day. It is not a day in which we want to be given nothing. We want our lifelong, never-ending, 24/7 efforts to be recognized, damnit. But of course, as with everything else, our day inevitably won’t always go to plan; that is scientifically proven.

So we asked you, our dear readers, on both Facebook and Instagram for the absolute crappiest gifts you’ve ever gotten for Mother’s Day, and you didn’t disappoint. Below, in no particular order, are some of the best worst responses we got.

No matter what happens this year: We here at Scary Mommy see you, and appreciate you.

“A pedicure with my mother-in-law”

“Olive oil because my husband thought I’d “really like the bottle it came in.”

“First mother’s day my husband gave me $50 to get that “grill I’ve been talking about.” Yeah, I put it together and made dinner on it too. It’s taken over 20 years, but he’s gotten better”

“A dog hair remover brush”

“Pajamas four years in a row… Please get me anything else.”

“A card that the child was meant to decorate but she was a month old so it was just plain white”

“Deodorant. I actually had wanted to try this new brand, but NOT as a gift”

“A Lazy Susan for the pantry. My husband had also already gotten me a Lazy Susan for Christmas”

“Wiper Blades”

“A gift card for a golf course my husband likes to play at. I don’t golf. Obviously he used it.”

“A mother’s day card after I miscarried. The thought was nice but it hurt more than anything at that point”

“The line that I’m not HIS mother so he doesn’t have to get me a gift”

“An offer to spend “quality” time with my kids by taking them out for a special activity that I would choose and arrange. I’m a stay-at-home mom. So I was offered: Nothing. Absolutely nothing different than I do every day. Yay. Yes, he really thought he was giving a good gift.”

“A vacuum and not a great vacuum either.”

Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

SOURCE: SCARYMOMMY.COM

Secretariat

In honor of today’s running of the Kentucky Derby, I found an article on the History.com website detailing the greatest horse in history—Secretariat!

From history.com:

Secretariat was a legendary thoroughbred racehorse whose name reigns supreme in the history of racing. The stallion with a chestnut coat, three white “socks” and cocky demeanor not only became the first horse in 25 years to win the Triple Crown in 1973, he did it in a way that left spectators breathless.

Secretariat’s 1973 performance in the third Triple Crown race at Belmont Stakes, where he bested his closest competitor by a mind-blowing 31 lengths, is widely considered one of the most stunning horse races of all time.

Big Red

Called the “Clark Gable of horses” by Vogue, Secretariat consistently blew away the competition: His times in all three Triple Crown races remain the fastest in history. “Big Red,” as he was known, was a horse that seemed aware of his greatness and reveled in it. Secretariat’s owner, Penny Chenery, told author Lawrence Scanlon that Secretariat, “next to having my children, was the most remarkable event in my life.”

A ‘Strong-Made’ Foal

Secretariat was born to a Virginia stable that had been nearly sold when the owner, Chris Chenery, became ill. Chenery’s daughter Penny, however, resisted her siblings’ urging to sell the financially struggling Meadow Farm and instead took charge and guided it back to profitability. In 1969, Penny Chenery decided to breed the stable’s mare, Somethingroyal, to stud Bold Ruler, and the pair’s second breeding resulted in Secretariat.

Born at 12:10 am, March 30, 1970, the foal who became Secretariat first appeared chunky to stud manager Howard Gentry. As Gentry reported, the young horse was a “Big, strong-made foal with plenty of bone.” When Eddie Sweat, who became Secretariat’s long-time, dedicated groom, first met the horse, he was also reportedly unimpressed.

Sweat told Canadian Horseman in 1973, “I didn’t think much of him when we first got him. I thought he was just a big clown. He was real clumsy and a bit on the wild side, you know. And I remember saying to myself I didn’t think he was going to be an outstanding horse.”

A Rough Start

But by age two, the young Secretariat had found his legs and, under trainer Lucien Laurin, began to show the world what a powerhouse he was. He stood tall at approximately 16.2 hands (66 inches) tall, and weighed 1,175 pounds with a 75-inch girth. At his first race on July 4, 1972, at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York City, Big Red got bumped hard at the start, throwing off his race. He finished fourth, but made an impressive surge in the final stretch moving up from 10th place to fourth. In his second race, 11 days later, Secretariat again poured on the speed during the final stretch and won by six lengths. By his third race on July 31, he was already a crowd favorite and easily won, this time with Ron Turcotte who from then on became Secretariat’s main jockey. By the end of his 1972 season, Big Red had won seven of nine races and was named the Horse of the Year, becoming the second two-year-old to ever capture that honor.

Secretariat at Age Three

The following year, 1973, would prove to be pivotal for both the legacy of Secretariat and Meadow Farm. Penny Chenery’s father, Chris, died in January and Penny was hit with a daunting tax bill. To keep the stable operating, Penny Chenery managed to syndicate Secretariat, selling 32 shares of the horse for a record $6.08 million. In his 1973 debut at Aqueduct Racetrack, Secretariat, who had grown even stronger over the winter, proved he was worth every cent.

He slogged through wet conditions and a packed field to win by four and a half lengths. In his next race at Gotham Stakes, Secretariat again surged ahead of the pack to win.

If Secretariat ever did disappoint, it was in his next race at Wood Memorial Stakes. Before the race, an abscess had been discovered on the top of his mouth, likely caused by a burr in his hay. Groomer, Eddie Sweat, would tell The Thoroughbred Record six years later that the abscess “bothered” the horse “a lot.” Big Red ended up third in that race, a shocking four lengths behind the winner, Angle Light. In the lead-up to the Kentucky Derby, the loss dented the armor of a horse that had once been considered a sure-thing.

Kentucky Derby Victory

Following the Wood Memorial race, Secretariat’s team lanced the abscess and it healed. By race day at the 1973 Kentucky Derby two weeks later, Secretariat was once again ready to dominate—and dominate he did.

Although he broke last out of the gate, Secretariat accelerated his pace at every quarter-mile of the race and finished with a course record that still stands of 1:59 2/5th.

In the decades since, only one other horse, Monarchos, has finished in under 2 minutes at the Derby. Two weeks later at the Preakness, Secretariat again came from behind to win the race. His final time was disputed, due to two separate timings, until a 2012 forensic review revealed it was 1:53 flat, which remains an unbroken course record.

By his Preakness win, Secretariat had become an international media star. Big Red appeared on the covers of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated. In a time when the grim news of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War protests had dominated headlines, word of a stunning horse captivated the public’s attention. Writer George Plimpton described Secretariat as “the only honest thing in the country at the time…Where the public so often looks for the metaphor of simple, uncomplicated excellence, the big red horse has come along and provided it.”

Secretariat Takes the Triple Crown

On June 9, 1973, the final race day of the Triple Crown at Belmont Park, the American public was humming with excitement for the race that could determine the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. Secretariat, for his part, was ready to deliver.

Unlike in his previous races, this time Secretariat did not start from behind. Instead, he bolted from the gate and secured good placement along the inside lane. His long-time rival, Sham, gave him some competition at the start, but by the half-mile mark, Secretariat pulled away. And he just kept accelerating.

“Down the backstretch, with a half-mile to go, Secretariat was clearly giving me a rocket ride,” Turcotte recalled in 1993. “I never experienced anything like it. Faster, faster, faster. Enemy hoofbeats soon disappeared; too far behind us on the track for me to hear. What a race. What a memory.” By the time Secretariat and Turcotte rounded the final corner they were all alone. The announcer, Chic Anderson, narrated to spectators, “He’s moving like a tre-mend-ous machine…”

Secretariat crushed the competition—first by 10 lengths, then 20, and eventually a gob-stopping 31 lengths—to become horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner since 1948. A famous Sports Illustrated photo shows Turcotte looking back during the final leg of the race to see the long empty stretch that Secretariat had opened between him and his nearest rivals.

Penny Chenery would say about Secretariat in the Belmont race, “Why did he keep on running when he’d passed everybody by almost an eighth of a mile? My gut feeling is that it was his home track and he was ready for that race. I just think he got out there and put away Sham early and just felt ‘Okay, I feel good, I’m just going to show them how I can run.’”

‘Only One Secretariat’

In the decades since Secretariat completed the Triple Crown, his record times remain unsurpassed in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.

In 1974, Secretariat was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was the only non-human included among ESPN’s 50 greatest athletes of the century and he became the first thoroughbred to be honored with his own U.S. Postal stamp. Outside the paddock at Belmont Park now stands a statue of Secretariat with both his front feet in the air.

Before the Triple Crown races, Secretariat’s breeding rights had been sold by Chenery for $6 million. Part of the agreement was that the thoroughbred would retire from racing after his third year.

After his Triple Crown victory, and a “Farewell to Secretariat” Day at Aqueduct to a crowd of 32,900, the chestnut horse was flown to Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky. Here, he would sire nearly 600 offspring, including 41 stakes winners. But none of his offspring ever compared to the original. “A lot of misinformed people thought he could reproduce himself,” Claiborne manager John Sosby told People magazine in 1988. “But it just doesn’t work that way. There’s only one Secretariat.”

Secretariat’s Heart

Indeed, when the great horse was put down in October 1989, after being diagnosed with a painful, incurable hoof condition known as laminitis, medical examiners discovered something incredible. Dr. Thomas Swerczek, the veterinarian who performed the necropsy, reported that he found that Secretariat’s heart, weighing between 21 and 22 pounds, was the largest he had ever seen in a horse. “We were all shocked,” Swerczek told Sports Illustrated in 1990. “I’ve seen and done thousands of autopsies on horses, and nothing I’d ever seen compared to it.” The main motor of Secretariat, that “tremendous machine,” was approximately twice the normal size.

SOURCE: HISTORY.COM

North Carolina State Flower: Flowering Dogwood

Flowering dogwood is a woody, deciduous, showy, understory tree in the dogwood family (Cornaceae) that is native from southeastern Canada through eastern North America to eastern Mexico, where it is commonly found growing in woodland margins. The species epithet is Latin for “floriferous.”

Flowering dogwood can be a tricky plant to grow in a landscape setting. Locate flowering dogwood in a site that receives full sun to partial shade, though in the piedmont and along the coast it may need more shade, especially in the afternoon. Plant in well-drained soil that is high in organic matter and has a slightly acidic to neutral pH. A 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch will help keep the roots cool and moist in hot summers. Propagate flowering dogwood by seeds or stem cuttings.

Flowering dogwood is a small tree 15 to 25 feet tall. The tree is found throughout the state, usually growing under larger forest trees and at woodland edges. It is quite tolerant to heat once established and has a low flammability rating. The showy dogwood “flower” is actually a cluster of small, true flowers surrounded by four petal-like bracts. It is the state flower of North Carolina. The flowers are visited by butterflies and specialized bees, and the red fruits are a food source for songbirds and other wildlife from fall through winter.

With multi-season interest, it has many uses in the landscape such as a butterfly, pollinator, or children’s garden, a native or winter garden, accenting a patio or play area, a specimen, or shade tree.

Quick ID Hints:

Showy bracts emerge before the leaves.

Leaves are opposite with veins that arch up toward the tip.

Leaves have a smooth to wavy margin.

Bark becomes scaly to finely blocky as it matures.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Calico scale, dogwood borer, dogwood sawfly, Japanese maple scale, leafhoppers and oyster shell scale are a problem. Dogwood anthracnose is not all that common, only occurring at 1800 feet or higher elevation. Spot anthracnose is more common. Trees are also susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf spot, canker, root rot and leaf, twig blight crown canker, bacterial leaf scorch, powdery mildew and septoria leaf spot. The foliage is browsed by white-tailed deer, and these trees do not withstand pollution. This tree can be challenging to grow in urban settings, other native trees should be considered.

The Lake Michigan Triangle

I’ve never heard of The Michigan Triangle before! I found this article on thevintagenews.com website, written by Clare Fitzgerald, discussing this abnormality.

From: thevintagenews.com:

Everyone is familiar in one way or another with the southern Atlantic’s Bermuda Triangle. Known for its shipwrecks, downed planes, and unexplained disappearances, it’s a staple of sea lore. However, there’s a stretch of water that easily rivals it: the Lake Michigan Triangle.

The Lake Michigan Triangle

The Lake Michigan Triangle is a section of Lake Michigan that’s considered especially treacherous to those venturing through it. It stretches from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to Ludington, Michigan, before heading south to Benton Harbor, Michigan.

It was first proposed by Charles Berlitz. A proponent of the Bermuda Triangle, he felt Lake Michigan was governed by similar forces. This theory was presented to the public in aviator Jay Gourley’s book, The Great Lakes Triangle. In it, he stated: “The Great Lakes account for more unexplained disappearances per unit area than the Bermuda Triangle.”

The Lake Michigan Triangle is believed to have caused numerous shipwrecks and aerial disappearances over the years. It’s also been the scene of unexplained phenomena, from mysterious ice blocks falling from the sky to balls of fire and strange, hovering lights. This has led many to believe extraterrestrials are drawn to the area, or that it’s home to a time portal.

Disasters on the water

Reports vary as to when strange occurrences started happening on the waters of Lake Michigan. Some trace it back to the 1679 disappearance of the Le Griffon, while others reference the 1891 disappearance of the Thomas Hume. The ship was transporting lumber when it mysteriously vanished. Despite attempts to locate it, it remained lost until an A&T recovery dive team came upon it in 2006.

Another mysterious incident believers in the Triangle reference is that of the Rose Belle. In 1921, the ship was transporting supplies when it was found overturned in the water. Despite appearing to have been involved in a collision, there were no other shipwrecks or reports of an accident. What’s more, the 11-person crew was nowhere to be found.

Eerie disappearances have continued to occur along the lake’s waters. On April 28, 1937, Captain George R. Donner of the freighter O.M. McFarland went to rest in his cabin after hours of navigating his crew through icy waters. As the ship approached its destination at Port Washington, Wisconsin, a crewmember went to wake him up, only to find him missing and the door locked from the inside. A search of the ship turned up no clues and Donner hasn’t been seen since.

The disappearance of Northwest Airlines flight 2501

Theories surrounding UFOs and extraterrestrials roaming the skies of the Lake Michigan Triangle are spurred on by the mysterious disappearance of Northwest Airlines flight 2501. The plane was traveling from New York to Seattle, with a stop in Minneapolis, on June 23, 1950, when it seemingly disappeared out of the sky.

At 11:37 p.m. that evening, its pilot requested a descent from 3,500 to 2,500 feet due to an electrical storm. The request was denied and minutes later, the plane disappeared from radar. Despite a massive search effort, only a blanket bearing the Northwest Airlines logo was located to indicate the plane had gone into the water.

As days passed, partial remains began to wash ashore across Michigan, but the plane never resurfaced. According to two police officers who were near the scene, there had been a strange red light hovering over the water just two hours after the plane disappeared. This has led some to theorize it was abducted by aliens. However, their reason for taking the aircraft remains a mystery.

The missing skier

Steven Kubacki was a 23-year-old student at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. On February 20, 1978, he was on a solo cross-country skiing trip near Saugatuck, Michigan, when he disappeared. The next day, snowmobilers found his equipment abandoned, and police located his footprints on the ice. The way they abruptly ended suggested Kubacki had fallen through the ice and died of either hypothermia or by drowning.

The mystery appeared all but solved until May 5, 1979, when Kubacki showed up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Fifteen months after seemingly disappearing into the icy depths of Lake Michigan, he found himself lying in the grass, some 700 miles away.

Kubacki told reporters he had no memory of the past year and a half. When he awoke, he was wearing weird clothes and his backpack contained random maps. This led him to believe he’d been traveling. He also had a T-shirt from a Wisconsin marathon, which he explained by saying, “I feel like I’ve done a lot of running.”

The location of Kubacki’s disappearance has led many to suggest he was yet another victim of the Lake Michigan Triangle. While there are those who believe him to be lying regarding his supposed amnesia, others feel an alien abduction is the reason behind his disappearance and lack of memory.

Lake Michigan’s own Stonehenge

Why is the Lake Michigan Triangle such a powerful force? A popular theory surrounds its very own underwater Stonehenge, discovered in 2007 by Northwestern Michigan College professor Mark Holley.

According to Holley, he and his team discovered the rock formation 40 feet below the waters of Lake Michigan while mapping shipwrecks. It features a similar alignment to the famous formation found in England, except it has one outlying boulder with what’s believed to be an ancient carving of a Mastodon.

Many experts are skeptical of the discovery, with Holley acknowledging that experts are needed to confirm its existence. Its exact location hasn’t been revealed, due to ongoing research and out of respect for the nearby Grand Traverse Bay Native American community.

Given the mythology and alleged paranormal aspects of England’s Stonehenge, it’s theorized the one beneath Lake Michigan contains similar properties. Could this be the explanation behind the strange happenings within the Triangle, or is the explanation more rational, like bad weather?

SOURCE: THEVINTAGENEWS.COM

Ferret Facts

1. Ferrets are illegal in some areas of the United States.

Before you adopt or purchase a ferret, you should check out your local laws. Pet ferrets are prohibited in California, Hawaii, and New York City. While veterinarians in these locations will still treat sick ferrets, the adoption or purchase of new ferrets is not allowed. If you live in one of these areas, it’s best to consider getting another type of pet.

2. Ferrets have a strong, musky odor, even when they’re de-scented.

Ferrets have scent glands near the base of their tails that produce a potent, musky-smelling oil. For many pet ferrets, these glands are surgically removed during the process of “de-scenting” when the animals are very young—before they are sold. Ferrets that retain these glands smell so musky that most people would never want them as pets. However, even after they are de-scented, ferrets will still retain a milder musky odor that some people find unpleasant. So, if you are sensitive to odor, and you’re considering a ferret as a pet, you might want to spend some time around one to be sure you can tolerate the smell before you bring a ferret home.

3. Ferrets love company.

Ferrets are social creatures that typically live in groups or colonies in the wild. Because they love company, pet ferrets generally look for human family members or other ferrets to hang out with. It’s much more fun to play when you have friends to play with. Consequently, many ferret owners end up owning more than one ferret. On rare occasions, two ferrets might not get along. So, if you get more than one ferret, you’ll need to supervise their interactions for several days to ensure they get along before you can safely leave them alone together. To minimize competition between ferrets, each one should have equal access to food, toys, hiding spots, and sleeping areas so that they’re less likely to fight over resources.

4. Ferrets need to run!

Ferrets love to curl up and sleep, particularly if they can find a warm place to nap, but when they’re not napping, they also love to run, jump, climb, and hide. Ferrets also love toys. Young ferrets, in particular, enjoying skittering across the floor and chasing toys. Exercise for ferrets is key, or they will overeat from boredom and become obese. So, if you’re going to own a ferret, plan on lots of out-of-cage time for them to run around.

5. Ferrets chew EVERYTHING.

Ferrets are called ferrets because they literally “ferret out” everything. They chew on, dig up, and pull out nearly every object they encounter—especially when they’re young and very curious. Objects made of foam, rubber, or cloth, including furniture and shoes, are special favorites. Ferrets notoriously steal everything they can get their mouths on and store their treasures in closets, under beds, or anywhere they can hide them. This mischievous behavior can lead to significant health problems, since foreign objects they inadvertently swallow can get stuck in their gastrointestinal (GI) tracts and cause life-threatening obstructions that require surgical treatment. So, if you decide to get a pet ferret, you’ll need to commit to ferret-proofing your home. That means picking up everything from the floor, creating a ferret-proofed area that’s free of tempting things to chew on, and supervising your new pet whenever he or she is out of the cage.

6. Ferrets eat meat.

Wild ferrets are carnivores that hunt for and consume rodents and rabbits. Their GI tracts have evolved to digest animal protein and not vegetable matter. While a pet ferret should also be eating meat, their intestinal tract is not adapted to consuming raw meat in the same way as their wild counterparts. In fact, pet ferrets can develop severe intestinal infection with toxic bacteria such as Salmonella. Pet ferrets should be fed commercially formulated, high-protein/moderate-fat/low-carbohydrate diets that contain all the nutrients that ferrets require. These diets have also been prepared to eliminate potentially harmful bacteria. Several kibble diets are available for pet ferrets, and they generally love them. Before diets were developed specifically for ferrets, many people fed their pet ferrets cat food. In general, it’s preferable to use commercially available ferret food over cat food because ferret-specific diets meet the nutritional needs of ferrets more closely.

7. Ferrets need annual veterinary checkups.

Ferrets can live to be 6-9 years old or more, so it’s important to provide consistent, preventative veterinary care. They should see their veterinarian annually and then semi-annually as they age. By examining ferrets every year, veterinarians may diagnose and treat conditions earlier and may help ferrets live longer, happier lives. After 3 years of age, ferrets also should have annual blood tests to help ensure that their blood sugar levels and kidney and liver functions are normal. After 5 years of age, ferrets should be checked every six months, since by this age, they have often developed more than one of the conditions they commonly encounter as they age.

8. Ferrets often develop certain diseases as they age.

Ferrets sold in pet stores in the United States are typically from one of two very large breeding facilities, and consequently, they are extremely inbred. Inbreeding, unfortunately, increases the chances for developing certain diseases, including adrenal gland tumors and pancreatic tumors called insulinomas. These illnesses can occur in ferrets as young as a year of age. Older ferrets commonly develop heart disease and other types of cancer. If you’re planning on getting a ferret, you should expect that at some point, your ferret will develop one or more of these conditions and will require veterinary treatment.

9. Ferrets need shots.

Ferrets can contract and pass on rabies. Therefore, in many of the states in which they are legal as pets, ferrets are required by law to be vaccinated for rabies at 4-5 months of age and then annually after that. Ferrets are also very susceptible to the deadly canine distemper virus that commonly affects dogs, but it’s preventable through vaccination. There is a ferret-specific distemper virus vaccine that should be administered initially in a series of three shots (three weeks apart), starting at 2 months of age, and then annually after that. Very rarely, ferrets can develop diarrhea, vomiting, or collapse after receiving either the rabies or distemper vaccine. For this reason, ferrets that receive vaccines should wait at the veterinary hospital for 15 minutes after receiving their shots to ensure they’re not having a reaction. Ferrets that suffer from vaccine reactions should not be revaccinated in the future if their reaction is severe. Even if pet ferrets are kept indoors, they should receive annual booster vaccines against both rabies and distemper viruses for life. This is because their owners can track distemper virus inside their homes on their shoes, and pet ferrets might also have contact with wildlife, like bats, which can carry the deadly rabies virus.

10. Ferrets need flea and heartworm disease preventative.

Just like cats and dogs, ferrets are susceptible to flea infestation and deadly heartworm infection. This is true even for ferrets kept indoors, as fleas can come in from outside, especially if there are dogs and cats in the home. Mosquitos can also make their way indoors and transmit heartworm disease to indoor ferrets. Ferret-savvy veterinarians can prescribe flea and heartworm preventatives that are safe for use in ferrets, as not all flea and heartworm products are appropriate for ferrets.

11. Ferrets get hairballs.

Ferrets shed a lot of hair, particularly when the weather gets warm, and like cats, they may ingest this hair as they lick and groom themselves. This means that—like cats—ferrets can produce hairballs too. If they ingest a large amount of hair, it can stick together in their intestines and cause a potentially life-threatening obstruction. Ferrets with adrenal gland tumors commonly lose lots of hair as a result of hormones secreted by their tumors, and this often predisposes them to hairball development. To help prevent hairballs from forming, ferrets should be brushed at least once a week with a narrow-toothed hair comb meant for brushing either a ferret or a cat. If a ferret is shedding excessively, hairball laxatives made for either ferrets or cats can help hair pass through the GI tract more easily. These can be given by mouth once or twice a week. Talk with your veterinarian to find out more if you are worried about hairballs in your ferret.

SOURCE: PETMD.COM

Purple Betta Fish

True purple bettas are a rare and coveted treasure in the fishkeeping world. Finding a betta with a genuine, deep purple coloration is almost unheard of, making them incredibly valuable.

Often, bettas marketed as “purple” will have shades of blue, red, or lavender. While these shaded purples are still quite rare and beautiful, they won’t command the same astronomical prices as a true, solid purple betta. Even these shaded varieties are considered prized and can be quite expensive to acquire.

Why Are Purple Bettas So Rare?

The allure of a pure purple betta lies not only in its stunning beauty but also in its rarity. This captivating color isn’t a natural occurrence in the betta world. It’s the result of a fascinating interplay of genetics and selective breeding.

The Genetic Puzzle

True purple bettas owe their unique coloration to a rare genetic mutation. This mutation doesn’t occur frequently, making it incredibly difficult to breed for. While breeders can increase their chances of producing purple bettas by focusing on lines with blue, pink, and red coloration, the final outcome remains a matter of chance.

A Matter of Luck

There’s no guaranteed formula for breeding a pure purple betta. It’s essentially a lottery, with the odds stacked against breeders. Even with careful selection and meticulous breeding practices, the appearance of a true purple betta is often a delightful surprise.

The Allure of Shaded Purples

While true purple bettas are a rare gem, their close relatives, the blue-purple bettas, are slightly more common but still quite elusive. These fish also carry the rare genetic mutation, resulting in a stunning blend of blue and purple hues. However, even these shaded purples remain prized possessions for betta enthusiasts, reflecting the challenges of breeding for this unique color.

The rarity of true purple and blue-purple bettas underscores the intricate world of betta genetics. These stunning colors are a testament to the artistry of nature and the dedication of breeders who strive to preserve and enhance these rare and captivating traits.

How To Take Care of Purple Betta Fish

In the vibrant world of betta fish, where colors burst forth in dazzling displays of reds, blues, oranges, and greens, a truly unique and captivating hue stands out: purple. But unlike the more common colors, true purple bettas are not a natural occurrence. They are the result of a captivating interplay between genetics and the careful hand of breeders.

Unveiling the Genetic Mystery

The secret behind the purple betta’s mesmerizing color lies in a rare genetic mutation. This mutation doesn’t occur frequently, making it a true treasure in the betta world. While breeders can increase their chances of producing purple bettas by focusing on lines with blue, pink, and red coloration, the final outcome remains a matter of chance. It’s like a genetic lottery, with the odds stacked against them.

The Quest for Purple Perfection

Imagine the dedication of breeders who meticulously select and pair bettas with the best possible genetics, hoping to coax out that elusive purple hue. They spend countless hours observing their fish, meticulously recording their lineage, and carefully analyzing their offspring. Their goal is to unlock the secrets of the purple gene, hoping to create a line of bettas that consistently produce this sought-after color.

The Allure of Shaded Purples

While true purple bettas are a rare gem, their close relatives, the blue-purple bettas, are slightly more common but still quite elusive. These fish also carry the rare genetic mutation, resulting in a stunning blend of blue and purple hues. They may not be a solid purple, but they possess a captivating charm that makes them highly sought-after by betta enthusiasts.

The Price of Rarity

The rarity of true purple and blue-purple bettas translates into a significant price tag. These fish are considered prized possessions, reflecting the dedication of breeders and the challenges of breeding for this unique color. Their value is a testament to the artistry of nature and the dedication of those who strive to preserve and enhance these rare and captivating traits.

How Much Does a Purple Betta Fish Cost?

The rarity of purple bettas, both true purple and blue-purple, naturally translates into a higher price tag compared to your average betta. The price you’ll pay will depend on the specific shade and the breeder’s expertise.

While still considered rare, blue-purple bettas are generally more readily available than their true purple counterparts. You can typically find these stunning fish for around twenty dollars from reputable breeders and online retailers. This price point makes them a bit more expensive than your average betta, but still a reasonable investment for those seeking a unique and beautiful fish.

Conclusion

As you’ve journeyed through the world of purple bettas, you’ve discovered the captivating story behind these rare and beautiful fish. From their unique genetics to the challenges of breeding them, you’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the allure of this captivating color.

SOURCE: BETTAFISHINFORMATION.COM

DIY: Garden Markers

I found this article on simplifylivelove.com that shows some clever and simple garden markers you can make now for your garden later!

From simplifylivelove.com:

Metal Spoons

Wooden Spoons

Painted Rocks

Old Can Lids

Popsicle Sticks

Stir Sticks

Mason Jar Lids

Wine Corks

You can find all the directions to make these garden markers at their website:

20 Cute & Easy DIY Garden Plant Markers To Make – Simplify, Live, Love

New York State Mammal: Beaver

Beavers are the official mammal of New York State, and occur almost anywhere there is moving water and trees on the shoreline. They are also the largest rodent on the continent of North America.

Adult beavers average a length of 3-3.5 feet and a weight of 30-60 pounds. They are most easily identified by their broad, flat tails that help them swim, fell trees, and signal danger, among other functions. The lifespan of most beavers is less than 10 years, but some individuals far surpass that, and can even reach age 20.

The preferred foods of beavers are plant materials, including aquatic vegetation, and twigs and bark from trees. Their favorite species of trees to consume are poplar, aspen, birch, willow, and maple, and beavers make sure they stock up on these in the fall, so they’ll be set through the winter. To make it through the colder months, a beaver family may require a one- to two-ton food cache.

Beaver Dams and Lodges

Aside from their flat, paddle-like tails, beavers are most well-known for the large dams they build in running bodies of water. While most of these dams average about 100-200 feet in length and 5-7 feet in height, some have measured as long as 2,000 feet and as high as 10 feet from the bottom of the stream.

To build these remarkable structures, beavers use their sharp front teeth to fell trees, which they drag into the water. They anchor the wood with mud and rocks, and pack mud, leaves, and other debris in between logs to hold back the water. Beavers build dams to stop the water from running, so a pocket of deep water is created. They choose to build their lodges in these areas of deep water, so they can dive down and be safe from predators.

Beaver lodges are typically 12-14 feet wide at the base, with 5 to 6 feet protruding above the water. Like dams, lodges are built from logs, sticks, rocks, and mud, and typically feature two underwater tunnel entrances. Beavers also build separate feeding and bedding areas. In the winter, lodges may hold the adult male and female, their young from the most recent breeding season and the one before that, and occasionally related non-breeding adults. As many as 12 individuals could lodge together.

Beavers in the Adirondacks

Beavers were abundant before European settlement, and could be found all over New York State, with the exception of Long Island. Unfortunately, the popular New World beaver pelt trade and deforestation resulted in only a few beavers being left in the Adirondacks by 1840.

Between 1901 and 1907, 34 adult beavers were released into the region by private landowners and legislators who wanted to help the species’ numbers increase. By 1924, the population had grown so significantly that a regulated trapping season was instituted to control nuisance and damage.

The Department of Environmental Conservation estimates that the current beaver population in the Adirondacks is between 50,000-70,000. Over time, it has been found that the regulated trapping has been the most effective means of reducing the negative impact of beavers on other species. While they are an important part of the ecosystem, beavers can unfortunately flood property, cut down rare trees, and can lead to water temperature increases that make bodies of water uninhabitable for other species, like trout.

Beaver Fun Facts

Beavers are second only to humans in their ability to modify their environment

The gestation period of a beaver is 3.5 months

The average litter contains 2-4 kits

Kits can swim immediately after they’re born

Beavers are nocturnal

Beavers have transparent eyelids so they can see under water

The largest beaver dam in existence is in Wood Buffalo National Park and can be seen from space

Beavers’ large teeth never stop growing

SOURCE: ADIRONDACK.NET

Melania

Today is our lovely First Lady’s birthday. I found the following on the White House website.

From WHITEHOUSE.GOV:

Melania Trump is the wife of the 45th and 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, and the mother to their son, Barron Trump.

She was born in Slovenia on April 26, 1970, and is the second First Lady born outside the United States. At a young age, she began what would soon become a highly successful modeling career, appearing in many high-profile ad campaigns and working with some of the best photographers in the fashion industry.

In 1996, Mrs. Trump moved to New York, and 10 years later, she proudly became a United States Citizen, making her the only First Lady to become a naturalized citizen. Mrs. Trump has always been an active member of her community. In 2005, she was the Honorary Chairwoman of the Martha Graham Dance Company. That same year, she was awarded Goodwill Ambassador by the American Red Cross—a role she served for 4 years. Mrs. Trump served 5 years as Honorary Chairwoman for the Boys’ Club of New York and was named Woman of the Year in 2006 by the Police Athletic League. In 2010, Mrs. Trump was the Chairwoman of the American Heart Association. In addition to her philanthropic work and modeling and fashion career, Mrs. Trump is an accomplished businesswoman. In 2010, she launched her own successful jewelry collection, Melania Trump Timepieces and Jewelry.

While Melania Trump became a household name, she is, first and foremost, a mother and wife, and in 2017, she made the White House and Washington home for her family.

In her role as First Lady from 2017 to 2021, Mrs. Trump focused on the many issues affecting children across the Nation. This passion led to the establishment of BE BEST in 2018; Mrs. Trump’s awareness campaign focused on the well-being of children and highlighted the people and programs dedicated to ensuring a better future for the next generation. Mrs. Trump promoted BE BEST throughout the country and internationally.

In addition to BE BEST, Mrs. Trump has a deep appreciation for the military and their families. She traveled to military bases domestically and overseas, including Iraq in 2018, and regularly incorporated military families in public engagements.

In her time away from the White House, Mrs. Trump established Fostering the Future, a BE BEST initiative, which provides college-level scholarships to those aging out of the foster care system. The scholarship funds are provided by a portion of the revenue generated from her Web 2 and Web 3 platforms on melaniatrump.com and usamemorabilia.com. Her platforms utilize blockchain technology, marking her as a pioneer within the industry while empowering the next generation of young Americans with the resources needed to excel. Mrs. Trump consistently implements innovative approaches to advance her advocacy for children and the causes she supports, demonstrating a forward-thinking commitment to making a positive impact.

In 2024, Mrs. Trump released her memoir, MELANIA, which quickly became #1 on The New York Times best sellers list.

SOURCE: WHITEHOUSE.GOV

What Shall We Bake Today?

Today is National Zucchini Bread Day and so I present my favorite zucchini bread recipe. This recipe makes 2 loaves and it freezes well.

Ingredients

3 large eggs

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups grated zucchini about 2 small

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Grease two 8×4-inch loaf pans or line with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, beat 3 eggs till frothy. Add sugar, oil and vanilla. Beat till thick and lemon colored.

Stir in zucchini.

Mix flour, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda. Add to first mixture.

Add the chopped nuts if desired.

Divide the batter evenly over the prepared pans and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool in the pans for 5 minutes, remove from the pans, and cool on a wire rack.

Enjoy!