Glow Wars

Glow Wars

In this game, you fight with glow sticks in the dark, preferably in the great outdoors in a cleared area with a little moonlight so you don't injure yourself. Don't forget to make sound effects when your glow sticks are wielded through the air.

Tools:
-Glow sticks, glow bracelets, or glow straws, preferably 2 per player

Variations of play:

The ORIGINAL glow wars is simply sword fighting. When an area of your body is struck by the glow stick, it can no longer be used in the war. The war continues until one player no longer has battle worthy limbs to fight with. If a player strikes another in the face, the offender automatically loses that round.

You can play FREEZE TAG style where you must stand still when struck by the person who is it until another player comes along and tags your glow stick(s).

Make YOUR OWN version with your own rules – have fun and don't poke an eye out!

Glow Toss-

Tools: 3 glow necklaces, 3 glow sticks per player

Players: 2+

Mark a line from which you will toss your glow sticks. Lay the glow necklaces out in a straight column at 5, 10, and 15 feet from the line. The first player tosses his glow sticks, one at a time, then the second player, and so on. The players get 5 points for landing in the 5ft necklace, 10 for 10ft., and 15 for 15 ft. If a player gets a glow stick in each necklace, that player gets 75 points total. The player with the most points wins.

Night Guard

Night Guard

Plot: You're a spy. As night falls, you sneak into the office of a known international arms dealer. A mole has informed you that there is a list of the dealer's contacts in the safe which is hidden in the floor under his desk. You have the combination to the safe and the office door, but the door also requires a key, unless you want to set off the alarm. Only the most trusted guards are left on night duty in the office building, for they are left with all the keys...

Number of Players: 3+

You'll Need:

-12 sets of at least 2 keys each (make sure they'll jingle when picked up, or you can substitute with something else that will jingle)

-A clear area at least 7' x 7' -A blindfold

Instructions:

-Choose who will be the night guard first.

-Blindfold that player and place him in the middle of the playing area.

-Place the key sets around him in a 3' radius circle at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 o'clock (in reference to the night guard).

-The other players spread out and, in random order, take turns being the spy and trying to take a set of keys without being caught.

-When the night guard hears someone taking keys (either the rustle of the spy moving or the jingling of the keys), he has to shout out what “time” the spy is at (for example, if the spy is directly behind the night guard, then the guard must shout out “6 o'clock”).

-The most successful spy gets to be the next night guard. Every time the night guard catches a spy, he gets the set of keys the spy was going for. The night guard is not allowed to move around, but may turn his head. Only one spy is allowed to go at a time. If the guard ends up with more than half the keys, he gets to choose who will be the next night guard. The guard has 36 guesses each game. Once these are used, the game stops. The remaining keys are subtracted from the guard's keys.

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The Azure Kingfisher

The Azure Kingfisher

Scientific Name: Alcedo azurea

Class: Aves

Order: Coraciiformes

Family: Alcedinidae

Genus: Alcedo


At a Glance:

As the name implies, Azure Kingfishers are beautiful blue birds which fish for their food. They also have black accent feathers, a white to golden underbelly, and white spots (which are possibly there to confuse and ward off predators). These white spots are found in between the eyes and the beak, as well as on the back of the neck.

Their bright orange feet have three toes each. Two of these toes point forward and one points backward.

They have a soft, high-pitched whistle, very short tails, and large beaks which are black except for the very tip which is white.

They are designed to be able to dive headlong and deep into the water in order to catch their prey, and then quickly return to their perch to eat their food.

________________________

Average Size:
6.7 in.-7.5 in. (17-19 cm.)

Babies:
Both the mother and father dig a tunnel for nesting in. They dig it in the bank by the water where they fish. These tunnels are sometimes 27.6 in. (70cm.) long.
Usually, 4-7 eggs are laid at a time. Both parents will help incubate the eggs which will hatch in about 3 weeks. The baby birds are able to fly 4-4½ weeks after they are hatched.

Diet:
Small crustaceans such as yabbies (an Australian crayfish), small fish, aquatic insects, and tadpoles.

Home:
It perches in the overhanging branches of lakes, swamps, rivers, lagoons, and other bodies of water while looking for prey. It is native to the lowlands of New Guinea, Northern and Eastern Australia, the Australian island of Tasmania, and other islands near these.



For some more photographs of this beautiful bird see the following links:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dadegroot/5623489159/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12935621@N02/3734080977/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/natureduderx/3227553151/

Much of the information found in this article was researched at the following sites:
http://www.redmillhouse.com.au/birds/azure_kingfisher.html
http://australian-animals.net/king.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azure_Kingfisher
http://rainforest-australia.com/azure_kingfisher.htm
http://australianmuseum.net.au/Azure-Kingfisher

Copyright © 2012 Joanna Corley & Dabble Magazine, LLC.

The Decline of the Wild West

"Go West young man..." were famous words said by Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune. When in 1862 Congress passed the Homestead Act, many people decided to take the government up on their offer of land, by making the land productive. By the end of the century, in 1890, Congress declared that there was no more West and that this great age of adventure had ceased. No more long cattle drives, no more stagecoach, no more daring explorations-what happened to this great age? In the 1880’s were many new developments that brought about the decline of the Wild West.

One of the first developments that brought about the decline of the West was the introduction of railroads. The railroad industry began before the Civil War, but the first transcontinental railroad was not completed until 1869. The railroad production greatly affected the West. "But it must be said that the western railroads had done much to hasten the settling and closing of America’s last frontier."1 On the other hand, the railroads in the beginning were beneficial, because, "The western railroads solved the problem of distance, bringing many settlers to the new lands and opening up eastern markets for western agricultural production."2 The railroad greatly enhanced the work of the cowboys but the railroads also destroyed it.

The Jupiter riding on the first transcontinental railway as Indians look on from the hill above.

The 1880’s were the peak of the railroads, because many of the railroad lines were finished during this decade. In September 1883 the last spike of the Northern Pacific was driven. The Northern Pacific went clear across the northern states, and greatly aided in the transportation across the continent. In 1883, a second Southern Pacific line across Texas and Louisiana from Sierra Blanca to New Orleans was built. This railroad line, connecting to the main Southern Pacific line, aided in the cattle industry production. The Canadian Pacific was also built in 1885, which gave more railroad lines to the Northern part of the country, connecting it to the Great Plains region.

Another development that aided in the decline of the West was the settling of farmers. When the farmers began moving west, it was due to the development of the railroads and new farm technology. With these new rail lines, many new farmers were able to go across the country to develop the land that had originally been for the cattle. This was partly due to the development of barbed wire by Joseph Glidden in 1874. Barbed wire "revolutionized land values and opened the Great Plains to homesteaders by providing a cheap means of fencing, which enabled farmers to stake out free homesteads."3 Farmers not only used barbed wire to stake out their land against other farmers, but also against the cattle that herded through the open range. Barbed wire helped cause the decline of the West. On the other hand, the ranchers who anticipated that barbed wire would ruin their ranching began to use it to their advantage when they quit the open-range method to one of settlement. Once the West had been settled, there was nothing else left but to grow each small town into a large one with production.

Another reason that the cattle business subsided was a hard
winter in 1886-1887. This winter wiped out many of the
rancher’s herds and caused them great discouragement by the
loss of their cattle. This became the worst recorded winter in
the Great Plains Canadian region. Along with barbed wire
and other new technology, this hard winter helped eradicate
the long-range cattle-drives of the West.

The development of railroads, farming, settling, and technology in the 1880’s caused the decline of the West. The settlement of the West has become an American National Pastime to reminisce about. Many books and movies have been written about this time, for the settlement of the West was a romantic idea to the American people. The settlement of the West was of great interest to the American people. For as Frederick Jackson Turner said, "Up to our own day American history has been in a large degree the history of the colonization of the Great West."4 This statement clearly portrays American sentiment towards the rise and fall of the Wild West.

1 John F. Stover, American Railroads (Chicago: University of Chicago Press,.1961), 103.
2 Ibid., 66.
3 Howard R. Lamar, The New Encyclopedia of the American West (New Haven, Conn.:
Yale University Press, 1998), 80.
4 Michael R. Lowman, George Thompson, and Kurt Grussendorf, United States History
in Christian Perspective: Heritage of Freedom, 2nd ed. (Pensacola, Fla.: A Beka Book
Publications, 1996), 330.
1 "The Cow Boy" c. 1887 in Sturgis, Dakota Territory Public Domain by John C. H. Grabill
2 The Jupiter riding on the first transcontinental railway Public Domain
3 Barbed Wire by mikecpeck (http://flickr.com/photos/49502991649@N01/268338)

Copyright © 2012 Joanna Corley & Dabble Magazine, LLC.

History of Hunting & Fishing in America

History of
Hunting & Fishing
in America

By Nicholas C. Cowey


Hunting and fishing are part of our American culture. Many Americans view these outdoor recreational pursuits as an essential to our way of life. Hunting and fishing are not only satisfying activities, but beneficial to the environment itself. There are also many economic advantages for communities, businesses, and individuals. This study will show the impact hunting has had on the expansion and development of the Western United States. Quite frankly our country would not be the same without hunting and fishing. Hunting and fishing are necessary to maintain a healthy ecological balance in the food chain. Sportsmen are
a major source of funding for conservation efforts through state and local agencies.

A Hupa Indian out spear fishing c. 1923
Photograph by Edward S. Curtis

The earliest form of hunting in America was subsistence hunting, done for the survival of the Native Americans that were the first hunters. Buffalo was the most desired meat of the big game animals. There were an estimated 600 million buffalo in America before the Europeans appeared. The Indians usually killed only what they needed. Sometimes this was not possible, for example when an easy method of killing buffalo is to scare a herd over a cliff. Hundreds will die, but only a few are able to be salvaged and utilized. Whites often killed the buffalo for the hides and left the rest to rot. This was part of the government’s plan to win the war against the Indians by exterminating the buffalo, which was their source of food and shelter. William T. Hornaday and other conservationists saw the need to protect the buffalo before it became extinct. Thanks to preservation efforts, the buffalo population is increasing and is no longer endangered. Some of the hunting exploits of the past were done with no regard for conservation.


Punting was a sport in the late 1800’s that involved a cannon attached to a boat. The cannon was loaded with lead shot like a big shotgun. The hunters would get close to a flock of ducks or geese and arouse them to take flight. Just as they started to take flight, the cannon was fired. The object was to kill as many ducks as possible with one shot. Usually 30-40 birds was a decent shot. What seemed like an endless supply of wildlife in the early years would diminish over time - unfortunately for some species, beyond the point of recovery.


The famous ornithologist and artist John James Audubon killed every kind of bird possible for his collection and for the purpose of making detailed paintings. These paintings are the first detailed color records of the birds in America. Some of these birds are extinct today, but we know what they look like, thanks to Audubon’s paintings. Although it seems harsh to kill so many birds, it was the best way of research in those days. This extensive collection of birds is still important to modern scientists. Audubon even reports killing 6 bald eagles on the Mississippi River in one day and that they tasted quite delicious.

John James Audubon (1785-1851)
Portrait by John Syme in 1826

White-Headed (Bald) Eagle by John James Audubon


The fur trade in North America was a strong influence as early as 1670. Fur trapping companies formed to export furs to Europe. The fur industry was at its highest point during the years from 1800-1840. The demand for furs in Europe was higher than ever for a new style of fashion. The beaver felt hat, especially top-hats, were so popular that more furs were needed than the current trapping areas could provide. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson requested that two men, Lewis and Clark, lead an expedition west to find new areas of beaver country and a route to the Pacific Ocean. The Lewis and Clark expedition would be followed by others who would discover the rich resources of the untouched frontier. The beaver initially caused the great expansion into the west. It would be almost half a century later that gold would be the cause of expansion. The trappers' trails became trade routes, and later, roads for wagon caravans. Many of our highways today were built on these old roads, first carved by trappers hunting for beaver. Most of the furs from the west came through St. Louis, "Gateway to the West." The fur industry turned towns into cities and brought important commerce and development to many communities in the west.

American Beaver by John James Audubon




Copyright © 2012 Joanna Corley & Dabble Magazine, LLC.

Easy Fried Chicken

Easy Fried Chicken

Prep: Drizzle olive oil into a skillet and heat up to
med-high.

Start with:
2 lb. Boneless, skinless chicken strips

Dip them one at a time into:
½ c. Buttermilk




Then into a mixture of:
2 c. Flour
1 tsp. Salt

Repeat the dipping process for thicker breading.

Place them in the preheated skillet, leaving a little
space between them. Flip when cooked just over
halfway through, about 10 min.








Remove when fully cooked. Eat up!

Copyright © 2012 Joanna Corley & Dabble Magazine, LLC.

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Mom's Stew

Mom's Stew

In a dutch oven or other large pot, combine:

1 ¼ – 1 ¾ lb. Fully cooked, seasoned beef (Mom suggests using McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning, garlic powder, and salt for seasoning the beef. She just uses leftover roast and its juices -- yum!)

1¼ lb. Baby carrots (or larger carrots cut into wedges or baby carrot sized sticks)

1¼ lb. Russet potatoes, cut into pieces about ½” x 1” x 1”

½ large onion cut into 16ths

And:

½ - ¾ c. Heinz 57 sauce (depending on how seasoned the meat is)

½ tsp. Salt

2 Dashes of ground black pepper

½ tsp. Dried basil

2 Bay leaves about 2 in. long, broken in quarters.

Cover with:

Water - enough to just cover the ingredients.

Gently boil on medium for 1 - 1 ½ hrs. or until carrots and potatoes are tender.





Copyright © 2012 Joanna Corley & Dabble Magazine, LLC.

Strawberry Apple Muffins

Strawberry Apple Muffins

Dry:
1 1/2 c. Flour (for a healthier twist, use 3/4 c. white & 3/4 c. whole wheat)
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 3/4 tsp. Baking powder
1/2 tsp. Nutmeg
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

Cut in:
1/2 c. Butter, softened

Wet:
1/2 c. Sugar
1 Egg
1/2 c. Milk
1/4 tsp. Almond extract

Stir in:
3/4 c. Diced, peeled apple
3/4 c. Diced strawberries


Sift dry ingredients into a bowl, then cut in butter with a fork or a pastry blender. Mix wet ingredients together in a separate bowl, then stir in the diced fruits. Combine the two bowls, and mix together thoroughly with a spoon or hand mixer.

Spoon into 12 greased muffin cups.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until you can insert a toothpick into the middle of one and it comes out clean.



Copyright © 2012 Joanna Corley & Dabble Magazine, LLC.

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The Blue Iguana

Blue Iguana

The orange and blue beads on this one's neck are most likely part of a tracking device for the recovery program.

Scientific Name: Cyclura lewisi

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Family: Iguanidae

Genus: Cyclura

The Blue Iguana is also known as the Grand Cayman Iguana, because it is native solely to Grand Cayman Island.

These iguanas almost went extinct back in 2003. It is estimated that there were only 15 of these lizards left in existence at that time. A recovery program has been implemented and the population is now estimated at over 290 lizards.

Their scleras (the pare of the eye that is white in humans) are red. They are lighter and less blue when at rest. Their feet are much darker than their legs. They turn a brighter blue – the males especially – when trying to find a mate.

Blue Iguanas are designed with what is known as a parietal eye. The purpose of this eye is not sight. It is a white photosensory organ on the top of its head, which detects movement and is sensitive to changes in light intensity.

Average Body Length: 20-30 in. (51-76 cm.)

Average Tail Length: 20-30 in. (51-76 cm.), equal to its body length.
Average Weight: 25-30 pounds (11.3-13.6 kg)

Babies: The mother iguana lays anywhere from 1-21 eggs in June or July in a nest she has carefully dug in just the right place in the soil. She'll often start on a nest and then change her mind, move, and start another nest until she's made one she likes. After she lays the eggs, she covers them up with soil. These nests are about 1 ft. (30.5 cm.) below ground.
When the babies are ready to hatch (65-100+ days after they're laid), they can take 12 hours to tear through the leathery egg with their egg tooth.
According to the Blue Iguana Recovery Program website, after the baby iguanas hatch, they store what is left of their egg's yolk in their abdomen and can live off of it for weeks before they'll need to eat or drink anything.
These iguanas are sometimes old enough to be parents at 2½ years old, but it is more common for them to be 3-4 years old before their first babies hatch.

Life Span: The Blue Iguana is one of the longest-living species of lizard. The average life span is estimated to be somewhere around 50 years. The record is 67 years.

Diet: Mainly fruit and plants, but also fungus and crabs.

Home: Cavities in rocks and trees.

There are many different species of iguanas. Blue Iguanas (below left) vary from the more common Green Iguanas (below right) – which are probably the ones that come to mind when you think “Iguana” – in several ways, including the following:

-Blue Iguanas do not have spines down along the flap of skin under their chin as Green Iguanas do.
-Blue Iguanas have what look like little horns on their cheeks, whereas Green Iguanas have a flat sort of plate back toward their necks with smaller plates surrounding it.

-Blue Iguanas' tails are solid in color, Green Iguanas' tails have dark bands across them.
-Both have spines running along their backbones, but the Green Iguanas' spines are long and scraggly compared to the Blue's shorter, straiter, more uniform spines.
-The Blue Iguana is also slightly larger than the Green.
________________________________________________________________________________
Photo credits in order:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cyclura_lewisi_-Queen_Elizabeth_II_Botanic_Park,_Grand_Cayman,_Cayman_Islands-8_(1).jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_Iguana_in_tree.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cyclura_lewisi_-Grand_Cayman,_Cayman_Islands-8.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Iguana_iguana.jpg

Some information included in this article taken from:
http://www.blueiguana.ky/
http://www.blueiguanapestcontrol.com/iguana-facts.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_iguana
http://www.arkive.org/cayman-island-blue-iguana/cyclura-lewisi/

Copyright © 2012 Joanna Corley & Dabble Magazine, LLC.

A Psalm for Your Day

Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
Psalm 37:4-5

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Feedback

Give me some feedback on the three issues that are out. Let me know what you like, what you didn't like, what you think needs improvement, and what you think needs to be added or taken away. Just shoot me an e-mail at: Joanna@ToDabble.com . And, as always, if you like the magazine, share it with a friend! Getting more readers and hearing what they think are what keep me going!

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Issue 3

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