Hello Blog!

I have missed you!
I have been picking out my new place, packing and then the actual moving itself and its been a busy busy time. I love my new place! It's very small yet roomy and airy. The inside walls and floors are wood, lovely shades of natural wood which makes me feel as if I am outside and not confined inside four walls. The ceiling is beams in which I have my ceiling lights but can also hang plants. I have an old fashion bird cage which I turned into a planter for wandering dew and another for spider plants and they will be just gorgeous hanging from them!!
I also had a Heart/Belly Cath and it weren't one bit pleasant in spite of all the assurances that "I wouldn't feel a thing" It was miserable and I am still feeling the effects. I have to stay with my daughter for a full week "just in case I start bleeding" (I am a bleeder)
However I am keeping the Faith all will go well and I will be staying in my own little heaven before much longer!

The Dam Letter

(Date Posted:04/11/2010 5:40 PM)


SUBJECT: DEQ
File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. DeVries:

It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:

Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.

A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity.. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.

The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations.. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2010.

Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action..

We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
David L. Price
District Representative and Water Management Division.


Here is the actual response sent back by Mr. DeVries:


Re: DEQ File
No.. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. Price,

Your certified letter dated 11/17/09 has been handed to me. I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane , Trout Run, Pennsylvania .

A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood 'debris' dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials 'debris.'

I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.







These are the beavers/contractors you are seeking. As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity.

My first dam question to you is:
(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or
(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?

If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. (Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.)

I have several dam concerns. My first dam concern is, aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer.

The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling them dam names.

If you want the dammed stream 'restored' to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams).

So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2010? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice by then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them.

In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality, health, problem in the area It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your dam step! The bears are not careful where they dump!

Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.

THANK YOU,
RYAN DEVRIES & THE DAM BEAVERS

Getting on with life

I do have a bright spot in my life.

My daughter has raised a baby squirrel from this (above) after he fell from a nest about 25 feet up in a tree and landed in a big bed of leaves.

to this after she had had it for a couple of weeks (above) She raised him in her sports bra and fed him every two hours around the clock as well as worked a job and took care of her own home and family until she'd had him about three weeks, then she made him an "incubator" to stay in at night as he had begun to crawl but still fed him every two hours by the clock. Now he gets fed every four hours during the day (unless he decides to scream if he wants his bottle more often) and only once or twice at night.

And this was taken yesterday, 04/09/10 (above) 
His name is "Squeaker" 
He has no doubt my daughter Carrie is his mommy and her ears are his play toys. 
Far be it from me to say he is also a spoiled little baby boy, lol!

A Final Goodbye....

Amber, my sweet sweet baby, while you are waiting for me at Rainbow Bridge remember Mommy loves you very much.
My heart is so broken, mine and your house is so empty and lonely without you here streaking everywhere you went, your voice commenting on anything and everything, our many "talks" where we discussed everything from World Issues to the weather.
Please forgive me for anything I did that was harmful to you out of ignorance and stupidity. It is so hard for me to live with myself knowing I killed you with garlic. I should have called your Dr before giving you anything at all. I am devoured with guilt. I thought I was giving you the best in care, making sure another flea never bit you. Before you came into my life I was a very lonely old woman. You changed all that with your playing and our "conversations" .....you changed it with your constantly showing me love. 
I am so lost without you.
My house, my life is empty and lonely again.
Your Mommy 


Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

A Friend "Lil Radar" posted these two poems

for me in Memory of my beloved cat, Amber. I am lost. My house is so empty and lonely. In the few short months I had him I gave him my whole heart and he gave me his.



To: Kitty
From: Amber


Weep not for me though I am gone
Into that gentle night.
Grieve if you will, but not for long
Upon my soul's sweet flight.
I am at peace, my soul's at rest
There is no need for tears.
For with your love I was so blessed
For all those many months.
There is no pain, I suffer not,
The fear now all is gone.
Put now these things out of your thoughts,
In your memory I live on.
Remember not my fight for breath
Remember not the strife.
Please do not dwell upon my death,
But celebrate my life.

To: Amber
From: Kitty

I wish I could have told you,
in words you'd understand,
I wanted you to stay with me.
This wasn't what I'd planned.

I wish somehow to tell you,
How empty I now feel.
A part of me went with you,
A part that time can't heal.

I wish I'd once more hear you,
in your softly, rumbling purr,
to hold you on my lap again
and stroke your snow white fur.

I wish I had you back again,
to fill this empty space.
But one day we'll be together
in a far, far better place

with love, Kitty

Amber, My beloved friend.

My beloved cat

Amber died April 6th at 8:30pm. I had given him a natural product called "Flea Free" containing garlic which I learned is very toxic (poisonous) to cats and other animals. I also met a woman who had killed her cat with it plus a woman who had killed her dog by feeding him garlic for fleas.

I was also feeding Amber the so called "proper" dosage of Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth which is used in conjunction with Flea Free. 
So, I killed my own cat whom I loved dearly by not researching the age old myths we all take for granted before feeding it to him. 
After his death I discovered he had a dormant infection which is deadly to cats but with treatment they can live normal lives for many years with it. The garlic activated it and he died. 
Please keep in mind the other two dead animals I spoke of did NOT have any other health problems.

I also learned garlic is very good for many things in humans....providing they are NOT taking blood thinners or blood pressure medicines.
Then people must be extremely careful in using any amount of garlic or onions. I copied the following hoping it will help save an animal somewhere from the fate my sweet Amber suffered.

Cats will sometimes beg for food, but you must be aware that certain foods given to cats are toxic. Giving cats the foods that you eat is not an encouraged behavior, because it spoils his appetite for his canned food. If you give food from your plate to your cat, you'll only support his behavior to beg.

In case you can't resist not sharing your food, be careful not to feed him foods that are cat poison.

1. Chocolate
Chocolate is toxic for cats because it has a compound called theobromine. Theobromine can be fatal to cats. Cats don't have the capacity to efficiently digest this substance, so it's highly poisonous. White chocolate has insignificant amounts of theobromine. However, regular milk chocolate ingested in poisonous amounts can result in vomiting, diarrhea, fever, seizure, coma and even death.

2. Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic are toxic to cats due to their contents of N-propyl disulphide. This substance has the power to cause anemia by annihilating the red blood cells. Onions are more poisonous than garlic, but keep your cat away from both. Don't forget that even meats may be spiced with garlic or onion, so make sure you check the labels.

3. Potato Family of Plants - Raw
Green tomatoes contain a substance called Glycoalkanoid Solamine, which is poisonous for cats. This substance is present in the family of plants of Solanaceae, informally known as the nightshade or the potato family - which includes tomatoes, potatoes, paprika, chili pepper, eggplant, petunia or the deadly nightshade (belladonna).

If cooked or fully ripe, your cat will have no problem digesting these ingredients. However, don't feed them while they are still raw. The leaves and stems of these plants are very toxic to cats and will cause lower gastrointestinal pain and aggressive symptoms.

4. Grapes
Grapes may be toxic to cats. Avoid feeding them grapes or even raisins, which contain the same substances as grapes.

5. Caffeine
Any product containing caffeine may be toxic to cats. The caffeine excites the nervous system and will cause shaking and vomiting or diarrhea.

These are the 5 main foods that you should avoid giving your cat. However, if the cat has any food intolerance, those foods may also be toxic. There are a lot of lactose-intolerant cats. Food poisoning will be signaled by vomiting, diarrhea, fever, lethargy, cramps, rashes or seizures. You will be able to notice these symptoms within 12 hours after the ingestion of the poisonous food. Go immediately to the vet to avoid further complications.