Big Cats in Indiana: Exotic Feline Rescue Center

Things to do in Indiana: Visit the Big Cats at the EFRC

Are there big cats in Indiana? You bet! If you love animals, especially cats, you must visit the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in southern Indiana. It's not a zoo, there's no real parking, and it's in the middle of nowhere. No worries, they want you to come visit the amazing Indiana cats. This is a wonderful idea for a field trip or a one tank trip on a weekend get away.

This post contains affiliate links.

What will you see there? Sure, there are native cats like the Bob Cat, but you'll also see Mountain Lions, Serval Cats, Leopards, Jaguars, Tigers, Tigers, and more Tigers! Most of the cats were raised as pets or used in animal shows and have been rescued from very difficult situations. They are finally free and live their lives loved in as natural an environment as possible.

Each ticket purchase helps feed and house the cats. You can also make donations to the EFRC or attend any of their special events, including a summer camp for kids! They also offer an overnight camp for adults. You read that right! Stay in a cabin on site with a view of the cats and then wake up and make the rounds with the caretakers. Sign me up!!

As we toured the facility, we couldn't help but make note how if felt like Jurassic Park, right down to the dinosaur sounds (tigers talking back and forth across the center) and the atvs used for feeding. I'm guessing if a big cat escaped, there would be similar results. These cats are lovable but clearly wild animals.

The tigers like to play with the water bowls which also serve as swimming pools in hot weather.

The Exotic Feline Rescue Center is open from 10-5 daily. Rain, shine, or snow. They mentioned that the cats are especially lonely when no one visits during the winter months. So, go see some cats in the snow!


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Field Trip Ideas: Things to do in Indiana

Tiger Books for Kids



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Need Cat Food Portion Control?

How do you Control Cat Food Portions?

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MeowMixatMeijer #CollectiveBias

If you have a cat (or several like we do) you probably have a  time controlling portions. We have one fat cat who likes to hog all of the cat food. What is the right serving per cat? Do you base it on age, weight, or both? How do you control the mess? Meow Mix® Simple Servings™ at Meijer has solved your problem! It comes in a simple portion control package, so that part is easy.

How do you keep your fat cat from nudging the other cats out and stealing their portion? Keep reading to find out how we keep every cat eating their own cat food portion. Turns out, the bully isn't who we thought it was.

Tigger chilling after his meal of Simple Servings.

 

Tigger and Buddi love Meow Mix® Simple Servings™ cat food. Their favorite cat food flavor is chicken and turkey. When you shop at Meijer you can use their mPerks offer  and get 30% off from 10/08/17 - 11/04/17. Awesome!

First things first, when we walk into the kitchen fat cat follows. He's always looking for an opportunity to eat. There's always dry food in the dish in case he gets hungry between meals, but he's too finicky for that. If the food has been out for more than an hour, he starts slapping the bowl to to get our attention. When we ignore him, he tips the bowl over and spills the 'stale' food out onto the floor. Grr. We sweep the cat food off the floor several times every day. So, of course, he is first to arrive for Simple Servings. The plastic cups are ideal for portion control.

Now, Buddi smells the cat food, hears the the purring, and comes running. Next comes a paw duel and some growling. Then, one of the cats bows down to the other. To our surprise, the bigger cat stood back. She's that blur running in for the food.

With Simple Servings we can fix this mess! Each cat gets their own serving. You can serve it on a plate or leave it in the cup. So no bullying, right? Wrong.

Aww... What a gentleman. He steps back and lets the lady eat. How sweet. We tried to give him his own plate of Simple Servings, but she kept running back and forth to each plate and crowding him out of the way.

So, what's a poor gentleman kitty to do? With the mess-free, new Meow Mix Simple Servings cat food from your local Meijer store, you can serve him on the counter or at the table... Well, if you're a cat person. If you don't like the idea of your cat on the counter just stick a cup on a chair.

Tigger enjoying Simple Servings on the kitchen counter- no mess!

Meow Mix® Simple Servings™ is a new, single serving of delicious wet cat food in a convenient, mess-free cup. It comes in single-serve portions so there are no leftovers, you can serve right from the cup and pop it in the trash when your cats are finished eating. The cup is easy-to-open and easy-to-serve without forks or spoons.

Tigger loves the pieces of real seafood or poultry in a savory sauce or gravy. His favorite flavor is Chicken And Turkey, but there are plenty of flavors for your picky eaters.

Tuna and Salmon
Seafood Variety
Seafood Variety
Whitefish
Chicken and Turkey
Tuna and Whitefish

Each Simple Servings cup is a single serving so you can feed your cat the wet food they crave, without the hassle of worrying about portioning or what to do with the leftovers. All you have to do is open and serve—it’s that simple.

Yum! Licking his lips and yawning after filling his belly with his fair share.

Join the fun and follow Meow Mix on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. #MeowMixatMeijer #CollectiveBias

Problem solved, bellies full, a peaceful ending to the cat food bully situation.

You can find these in the Wet Cat Food aisle at Meijer.

Recommended: Gifts for Pets

Read YA Fiction Online: Moon Magic Chapter 8

YA Fiction Online

Have you been reading free books online? We're sharing our YA fiction novel online. We recommend this novel for ages 13 yrs. and up. If you're new, start here- Moon Magic Chapter One.  As always, this material is copyrighted and not meant to be published on any other website or platform. It will be published in full once completed. Click here for Moon Magic Chapter Seven. Enjoy!

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

This is the last free chapter of the YA Metaphysical Novel. The book is now published on Amazon. 

Finish reading Moon Magic under the new name, Allegedly Mystic.

Get the rebranded, YA Metaphysical Novel, Allegedly Mystic.

Online YA Fiction Novel

Moon Magic

Copyright 2017

Chapter Eight : Serenity’s Story

Serenity’s ability to ignore the past had come to an end. As she drifted in and out of cerebral consciousness, she relived the past in 4D. Highly aware of the comings and goings in her hospital room, she was frozen and unable to see or to speak. Wide open, her mouth drew deafening gasps of air into her lungs as she stayed mostly in a lucid dream-like state.

Friends and family saw a broken human fighting for oxygen and struggling for survival, but within the inner workings of Serenity’s system, she was still very much alive. Every spoken word interrupted and confused her thoughts.

Able to concentrate and change the outcome of her dreams she spent many hours trying to manipulate the past. However, her thoughts drifted to the things she couldn’t change, at least not in this current state of being.

In the summer of 1988, Serenity graduated from high school. Keeping with family traditions she had spent her first summer as a so-called ‘adult’ living on a reservation in Oklahoma. The Creek Indians on the reservation still practiced ritualistic ceremonies and young girls were expected to attend while they were still pure.

In those days, keeping one’s virginity intact until the eighteenth birthday was quite a feat. Serenity’s parents were strict but not religious. Their morals were strong, outdated, and politically incorrect. Needless to say, she didn’t always agree with them. But, when the time came for her initiation into the ‘tribe’ she knew she’d be ready.

Her parents had never kept secrets about their heritage. She’d poured over books soaking up every detail of the Creek culture. The oneness with nature exhibited by her ancestors held tight. Growing up in the bible belt was difficult. She had to keep so many secrets. Many Christians believed Indians who practiced rituals to the Great Spirit were against God. Even though, the Creek believed that God and the Great Spirit were one in the same.

Back then, every time she shut her eyes, the ancestors had revealed their ancestral memories. Now, her eyes stayed permanently closed. Her DNA was imprinted with years of struggle, and the ancestors were delighted to have so much time to reveal their stories day in and day out.  

When Serenity was younger her parents had poo-pooed the night terrors. It was nothing, just a dream. But, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, they finally opened Pandora’s Box and admitted that they too had these memories. Growing up without that knowledge had been a lonely existence. When the time came, she vowed not to do that to her own child.

In an effort to protect her only daughter, Serenity’s mother had kept secrets. “It’s for the best, baby doll. The less you know the easier your life will be.” She’d comfort Serenity after a nightmare by saying, “There’s no such thing as ghosts, now go back to sleep.” She had deceived her daughter only to hide the inevitable truth. The plan wasn’t meant to hurt or hinder only to protect her little girl from night terrors, worldly injustice, and a lifetime of prejudice.

When Serenity turned eighteen her mother said, “I know you are aware that spirits exists. That ghostly creatures follow you. You were so young when it started, I did not want to frighten you. Most of us never remember the night terrors as children. We have no knowledge of the after-life but you did. I see them too. I’ve talked to many spirits, many relatives, lost souls- friend and foe. I’ve seen visions of things I cannot explain. It’s the Creek way, we are connected to the earth, eternally.

As a child, the beings only came to me in the form of beloved pets. Something my young mind could handle. They comforted me. They told me they loved me. As an adult, I instinctively came to know that they had been my ancestral grandmothers guiding me. I trusted them. Later, they were stronger more vivid and harder to forget. With nowhere to run, I often cowered under my coverings. I shared with no one- not even your father. I knew he would think I was a crazy lady.

Many Christians believe that only God knows our destiny. They think visions are sent by the Devil. I see things before they happen. I don’t know our destiny, but if I can decipher the dreams, I can often help in some way. It’s a fine line. When I can’t  help or when I realize the event has already taken place, I have night sweats.

If God didn’t want me to help why would he grant me this power? Maybe everyone has the ability but others avoid it because they fear God or the Devil? I don't know. I only know that I work to find the answers. I pray to the Great Spirit, God Almighty, and I know that they are one in the same.

My night terrors and sweats can be erased when I rely on my abilities to affect change. The difficulty comes when knowing when to let go and let God and when to act as his servant. This comes with practice and training from the Sages. It is a great gift. It is your choice to look away and choose your own destiny or face humanity and listen to your past. The decision will come after your lessons on the reservation. Only after you know your truth, are you capable of making the right choice.”

Serenity’s grandfather was the most enthusiastic about the night terrors. “The ancestors like you, Serenity. They share their strife with you. You must listen loudly to understand. When you listen, your ancestors and the Great Spirit will guide you. Do what they say and you will make modern miracles. Embrace your dreams. Do not ignore or discount them- you must embrace and harness the power.”

After that, he encouraged her parents to send her to a future Sage Camp. Right. What would her friends think of that? She had told them she was spending the summer visiting relatives in Oklahoma. It was the truth, she didn’t even have to lie.

Finish reading the Moon Magic story here: Allegedly Mystic.

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Find out what happens to Aurora: Allegedly Mystic.

Jealous Quote: People Aren't Jealous of Hard Work

Don't Hide Accomplishments: People Aren't Jealous of Hard Work Quote

Here at Kids Creative Chaos, I've had some sort of blog since about 2006. If you count those old 'homepages' on Microsoft, well then, I'm a dinosaur! In 2011, I started thinking of blogging as an opportunity. By 2012, I had enough experience to have two posts go viral. Back then, I said it just happened- I had no idea how. But, that's not true. It was just easier to let people think that. So, I wanted to share this quote about jealousy. "You'll always find people who are jealous of your accomplishments. Know what people aren't jealous of? Hard work!"

Gift Ideas for Pet Parents

Looking for Gifts for Pet Owners?

Do you have an adult child who considers their pets their kids? Are you said child? Maybe you or someone you know is retired and your pet is your whole world. What gifts are good for pet lovers? Well... if you are a one-day-to-be-crazy-cat-lady like me, (I'm not there yet because I have young children and a significant other) you've likely been on the receiving end of countless kitty knickknacks. Those kitty sculptures and bobble-heads can pile up pretty quickly. Before you know it, you're not just a crazy cat lady- now your'e a crazy hoarder too. You've got to stop that before it snowballs into cat hoarding. No one wants that. Instead, check out these gift ideas for pet parents. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.*

Personalized Gifts for Kids and Pets: Hoodies!

Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NYFifth.com for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

The holidays are upon us. It is time to purchase holiday gifts for everyone your list- including your pets and grandpets! We found a great website with amazing prices on personalized gifts that include shirts, hoodies, caps, and more. The best part is they also do personalized pet clothes! We're sharing our favorite picks for kids and pets. Enjoy!

At NYFifth Apparel, each item can be customized to include a name, logo, monogram, or a small personal message, so think of something fun that your pet or child would like to shout out to the world.

If you are looking for personalized dog clothes, you'll want to check out this adorable dog frill tee It is perfect for a puppy princess. It comes in fuchsia too!

50 Simple Group Time Games for Preschoolers

50+ Easy Circle Time Games for Three, Four, and Five Years

Group Time for preschoolers often happens several times a day, you need fresh activities to interact with the children and keep them engaged. These 50 simple group time games for preschoolers are perfect for three, four, and five year-olds and they can be adapted for use with kindergarten or early elementary. Enjoy!

                                            This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

50 Simple Group Time Games for Preschooler at Circle Time.

Benefits of Circle Time and Group Time 

Childcare Quarterly states that, "research and anecdotal evidence indicate the need for social interaction and emotional regulation in children. Just as in the other developmental domains, social and emotional development are built on meaningful, supportive, and authentic experiences with adults and with other children. Circle times, then, have as their main goal social interaction among the children and between the children and the group leader."

Here's a great PRINTABLE PDF on Music and Movement for Group Time 

Magic Word 
During group time give the kids a magic word. If you remember Pee Wee Herman, this is similar to the secret Word of the Day. Everyone who is paying attention will be in on the secret. Throughout the day, use this magic word for lining up or transitioning to activities. Those who know the word will get to do the activity first or be first in line. Eventually, all of the children will catch on to the magic word of the day.

Keys
Blindfold one child and place her in the middle of the group's circle. Have the other children pass a noisy item (such as keys) around the circle. Think, Marco Polo without all of the shouting! When the blindfolded child recognizes the sound, she shouts for the rest of the group to stop and then points toward the item. If she is incorrect the game continues until she guesses correctly.

Want to find discounts for game props? Check out Coupon Kirin for more information.

Shape Walk
Cut out different shapes from craft foam. Place the foam on the floor and ask the kids to "cross the river" by walking only on  triangles. Choose different shapes each time. This is a great way to teach preschoolers to identify shapes.

Shape Lacing 
Draw a shape on a piece of paper:  circle, square, triangle, oval, rectangle, etc. Place the shape on cardboard and trace it. Take a hole punch and punch holes around the shape. Tie the yarn into the first hole and let the kids lace the shapes. While they are working, go around the circle and ask each child to share their shape. What shape is it? What else could it be? For example, a triangle could be a dog house. This keeps them busy while waiting their turn.


Like these ideas? Get our book with printable pages that are the perfect size for your clipboard! Best Circle Time Group Games.

Introductions
Introduce yourself and the person sitting next to you. Continue around the circle. Then, do a silly version. Introduce yourself with a silly name and give the person next to you a silly name too.

Fruit Bowl
Tell the kids that you are going to mix up the fruit. Have the children draw a name of a fruit out of a basket. They don't have to keep it a secret. When the leader calls out the fruit the children with that fruit move to a new spot or do as the leader says. Mix it up!

Poor Kitty
Sit kids on the floor in a circle. Pick one child to be the kitty and to wear the cat ears. The kitty crawls up to another kid and meows. The other child pets the kitty on the head while saying "poor kitty" without smiling. If he laughs or smiles, he becomes the kitty. 

Birthday
Ask the children what month they have their birthday. Then, call out a month. Kids whose birthdays are in that month run around the circle and back to their original spot in the circle.

Cards
Grab an old Go Fish or Old Maid deck of cards, give each child a card. Now, have the kids find the other people with the matching cards. First time, they can talk. Second time, no talking allowed. This is a great way to divide up into teams or partners.

Clapping
Simply clap. One clap continues the direction and two claps reverses direction. Teaches the importance of paying attention.

Doggy, Doggy Where's My Bone
Remove one player from the room. Give the bone to a player in the circle. This child places the paper bone behind her back. The other player returns to the room and tries to guess who has the bone. Can they sniff it? Can they guess by facial expressions?

Shopping or Grocery Store
Find how to play this game and over 30 other group circle games in our Circle Time Handbook.

Jigsaw
Get a giant jigsaw puzzle or make your own with foam. Then, give all players a piece of the jigsaw puzzle. Each player has to find the other players with the matches to their puzzle piece.

Jigsaw Puzzles                                                                                                                                       

Jigsaw puzzles come in all different difficulty levels, which is perfect for a group time game in school. For preschoolers, it’s best to stick with easy puzzles with fewer than 30 pieces. If you can find a variety of physical jigsaw puzzles that are easy enough for preschoolers, that’s great. Otherwise, check an online jigsaw puzzle site where you can choose any design from a list of thousands of puzzles and make it easy, medium, or hard depending on who is playing. Another cool thing about some of these sites is you have the ability to create puzzles and share them. If you’re leading a preschool classroom, this can be helpful if you have a topic you’re covering and you want a puzzle to align with the lesson.

99 
Remove one child from the room. While he is out, the group nominates someone else to speak. When the child reenters the room they stand in the middle of the circle. The nominated child disguises their voice and says ‘99.' The first child guesses who is speaking.

Words
Start with a familiar word. Then, the group claps twice. The next player must say a related word. For example, "dog" clap, clap, "bone," clap, clap, "skeleton." Passes from player to player all around the circle.

Names
Choose a name out of a hat to start. Clap around the circle stopping to clap the syllables of each child's name. For example, two claps for Jacob, three claps for Samantha.

Order Up
Break into groups of three to five. Standing in rows, see how quickly each row can arrange themselves by height. Can they beat the other rows? Change it up with ages, birthday months, or alphabetical by names.

More Group Circle Ideas.

Pig On Her Head by Laurie Berkner
Fill a bag with plastic animals. Each player pulls an animal from the bag and places the animal on her head. 
Then, go around the circle and sing the song with each player's name.

Sally has a sheep on her neck,
Sally has a sheep on her neck,
Sally has a sheep on her neck,
And she’ll keep it there all day!

Around the World
Think Four Corners. Place a sign with North, South, East and West on four walls. Players start in the middle and someone shouts where to sail the ship. If the leader shouts, "All round the world," the players have to visit all four walls and get back to the middle as quickly as possible.

Frankenstein
One player pretends to be Frankenstein. He walks towards the others in a slow, creepy, Frankenstein way with arms out. The player he is walking toward calls out another name. Frankenstein walks toward the next person named. Shout a new name before Frankenstein touches you. This is a great ice breaker to learn each other's names. Change Frankenstein after five names.

Arm Chains
Leader calls out a number. The players break into small groups and link arms with that number of people. Once everyone is linked they cross to the other side of the circle. If anyone is odd man out, they get to call out the next number.

Cookie Jar
Seat players in the circle. Pass a cookie behind their backs while they chant,  "Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?"

Teddy stole the cookie form the cookie jar. 
Player whose name was called says, "Who me?"
Everyone else says, "Yes, you!"
Player whose name was called says, "Couldn't be." 
Everyone else says, "Then who?"

Player whose name was called chooses the next name. "Terri stole the cookie from the cookie jar."

Repeat until all names are called.

Follow the Leader
The leader mimes an action. Everyone else must copy the action. The next person mimes that action and adds one of their own and so on.

Hunt the Pair
Get or make cards with matches. Each player takes a card without speaking. They must find the other person with the matching picture card. Use regular cards and match numbers or use picture cards and match things like a baseball and bat.

Johnny Whoops
Name game with finger play. Say the words while pointing to each finger. Start with the pinkie finger. Then move to the index finger.  Each time you move, point to the next finger and say, “Johnny Whoops.” Work your way back saying the name of each finger and then "Johnny Whoops!" 

Hedgehogs
Think Bugs in a Rug! Move around the room to the music, when the music stops have the players curl up like hedgehogs. Put a blanket over one player and then the others stand up and guess who is under the blanket.

Musical Islands
Think Musical Chairs! Place sheets of newspaper or butcher paper on the floor. When the music stops everyone must be standing on the paper. One by one, take the pieces of paper away until there is only one left. Beforehand, have the children decorate the paper like islands.

I know Your Name
Take turns calling out someone’s name. When your name is called, you must swap seats. This is a good game to play during transition time.

Who are We?

First kid states their name and points to another kid, who stands up and repeats the first kid's name. This continues until every kid states everyone else's name.

Chinese Mimes
Think Telephone! Everyone stands in a line in a circle with eyes closed. The first player taps the person standing in front of them. When they turn around, they mime an action. Pass the mime around the circle. Can it make it to the end?

Remote Control
Make up actions for the buttons on a remote control, when that button is pressed they perform the action. Make your own pretend remote or get a giant remote control.

Body to Body
Players stand in a circle and wait to hear how they must connect with each other. Connect fingers, elbows, ankles, etc. If safe, ask them to move left or right while connected. 

What am I?
As you go around the circle, everyone chooses a positive adjective to describe their personality. 

Colors
Go around the circle and ask, "What color would you be?" Everyone must answer something like this, "If I were a color, I would be blue, because it is the color of the sky."

Listening
Everyone closes their eyes and listens for two minutes. Then, the leader goes around the circle asking what sounds were heard.

Instruments
Go around the circle asking what instrument each child would be if they were an instrument. Now, they must also make the sound and pretend to be that instrument. At the end, have a marching band concert with all of the "instruments."

What Color Is This 
Prep with several different colored items. Ask the children, "What color is this?" Let them shout out answers. Next, go around the circle and ask each child to name something else in the room that is the same color.

Storm
Wiggle fingers to make rain. Pass around the circle until everyone is wiggling their fingers. Change the action: Wave arms to make wind, stomp feet to make thunder, raise arms in a circle to make the sun. 

Mirrors
Stand the children in two lines facing each other. The person across from them is their mirror. Take turns being the mirror and being the one looking into the mirror.

Belonging Game
Make cards for each child. Make a few with each number from one to five, then one of each number from six to eight. Without talking, players must find the other numbers in their group. When they find a number match, they pretend to be happy to see them and continue walking together with their number group until all members of their number group are found. If someone with a different number tries to join, they do not let them join their group. Then, talk about how it feels to be left out and how it feels to belong to a group.

Changes
Hand a basket of items to the kids to hold or wear. (Bunny ears, gloves, scarves, pillows) Tell everyone to study each other. Then, remove one player from the room. When they return, they must guess what is different. You can also have kids change places with each other. 

Choo-Choo Game
Everyone sits in a circle. Slowly say, "chug a chug a chug a." Then, begin to chant faster, "chugga chugga chugga chugga." While chanting, slowly stand up. When everyone is standing straight and tall, have them move their arms back and forth and begin to move around the circle together as a train while continuing chanting. Take turns saying, "choo-choo!"

A Sticky Situation
One person in the middle of the circle calls out, "Help, help!" Others reply, "What’s the matter?" The first person makes up a situation. For example, I'm stuck up a ladder or a dog chased me up a tree. The others reply, "Who do you want to help?" The person in the middle makes up random traits for who he wants to help. For example, anyone in a red shirt, someone with tennis shoes... The others nominate a person to help based on these traits. Then the nominee swaps places with the person in the middle. 

Peek-a-Boo
Everyone sits in a circle. One person says, "Peek-a-boo, I see you." Then, they call out a person(s) by attire. For example, "Peek-a-boo, I see you in a red shirt." Everyone in a red shirt stands up. Now, the person speaking covers his eyes. The others wearing red shirts sit back down in different places. Now, the person speaking uncovers his eyes and points to the first person he sees in a red shirt. This person is now "it" and starts the game again with a new item of clothing. "I see you in the tennis shoes."

Feelings
Make cards in advance depicting feelings or actions. Player draws a card and acts out the action. Everyone else must guess the action or emotion.

How Do You Do?
Play music, children move around the circle. When the music stops, they must greet each other with a greeting. Hello, How do you do, Good Morning... Next, they ask each other one question. For example, "What is your favorite color?" This is a fun icebreaker game.

Rug Bugs
Everyone sits in the circle. Grab a blanket or a big beach towel. Now, pick two children to leave the room or wear a fun blindfold. Shh! Just point at the children, grab their hands and take them away from the group. Next, point at two more children and then to the "rug." Hide the children under the "rug." Bring the others back. Can they guess who is missing?

Hello, How are You?
One child crosses the circle to shake hands and ask a question and then returns to their previous position. Now, the questioned child crosses the circle and does the same thing choosing a different child. Play continues until everyone has a turn.

Building Community
While children are in line or at their desks, the leader says, "Come sit in the circle if you live in an apartment." "Come sit in the circle if you drive a van." "Come sit in the circle if you have a dog." "Come sit in the circle if you go to school." When everyone is seated, the leader talks about what it means to have things in common. What it means to have a community. "We are a community of preschoolers with dogs and cats."

Butterfly
Think Duck, Duck, Goose. Everyone sits in the circle. Choose one butterfly. This child flaps fingers like a butterfly as they walk around the circle. Chant, "One little butterfly flew away on a very bright, warm summer day. It flew up in the sky so blue, And when it landed, it landed on you!" The butterfly taps another child on the shoulder. Now this person is the butterfly.


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How to Enter Indiana State Fair: County 4 H Fair

What to Know for 4 H Club 

How do I enter the Indiana State Fair? Want to know, we've got answers and all details of what to expect during your first year of 4 H. Enjoy!

Password Quotes: Lora's Law #4 for Facebook

Facebook Quotes about Life: Lora's Law #4, Password Pets

We love our pets. We want to remember them. Do you ever make a password to honor a pet that has passed away? Maybe you use your current pet. Lora's Law #4 is all about forgetting which pet is your current favorite and your current password. If you are guilty, please share this meme on Facebook. Enjoy!

Lora's Law #4: Forgetting favorite pet passwords.

Lora's Law Number Four:

"If you make a password your favorite pet's name, chances are, you'll forget which pet you picked as your favorite."

All the time. This is a common password security question. I always have to think. I start in order from my first favorite pet to whichever is my current favorite pet or my favorite pet of all time. Sigh. I have had more pets than most! I need a new password technique.

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Fun Sayings to Share on Facebook

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Lora's Law #2: Cat Throw Up Quote

Cat Quotes to Share on Facebook: Lora's Law #2

Cats vomit. A lot. It is a thing. Why is it a thing? Anyway, if you have cats, you have throw up on the carpets, on the couch, on the tables. Throw up is everywhere. Lora's Law #2 is all about that. Beware when you clean the carpet. In the meantime, share this quote with your Facebook friends. Enjoy your cats!

Cat quotes for Facebook: Lora's Laws.

Lora's Law Number Two

"The minute you clean the carpet, a cat will throw up on it... to keep things fur real."

Do you have pets? Dogs like to vomit too, just not as much as cats. Am I right? As soon as I clean up any cat mess, they make a new one. Hmm... kids are like that too.

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What does Non-GMO, Organic, and Fair Trade Mean?

GMO, Non-Gmo, Organic, Fair Trade? What does it all mean?

Lately, I've been getting a lot of social media marketing work from companies with a non-gmo platform. This would be a good topic for a homeschool research paper. You've heard organic and nonorganic- is this the same thing? How are Fair Trade and GMO related? Let's talk about that. Let's learn about that, okay? Enjoy!

What does Non-GMO, Organic, and Fair Trade Mean?

Chaotic Confessions: The first time I heard non-gmo, I was all like, "Yeah, I've heard of that, I know what that is." and I did... sort of. I knew it was something an ecologically minded, environmentally friendly, bleeding heart should support, but I didn't know why- exactly. 

It is okay... you can admit it too. When you don't know something, never be afraid to ask. What is the worst that can happen? Someone will laugh at you. Guess what, most of the time they don't know the answer either, they're just trying not to get found out! I get laughed at all the time, but I also know a lot of things others don't, because I am willing to look stupid uneducated/naive. You wouldn't believe all of the amazing things you can learn, if you aren't afraid to ask!

GMO - this is how we see it, but it is really G.M.O. which stands for a Genetically Modified Organism. That sounds bad. It doesn't mean every GMO is bad. They were designed for good. That's the idea anyway, but like all things political, people seem to be either for or against them. Yeah... I'm just going to tell you the facts.

Genetically Modified Organism - Wikipedia says a whole lotta stuff! The simple answer is it is what it says it is, an organism that has been genetically modified using science and engineering techniques. In a manner of speaking, most are designed to avoid herbicides or to act as insecticides. Here is a better definition of GMO.

Glofish are genetically modified organisms. They glow, because some scientist made them glow. (My kids want one, the only reason we don't have any yet is because we are still learning to keep fish alive.)

Genetic modification involves mutation, insertion, or deletion of genes. Remember Dolly, the cloned sheep? That's weird, right? I don't know. A lot of people want to clone (or do clone) their pets. If it were legal, you know people would clone loved ones. I miss my dog.

Cloning food though, when there isn't enough? Modifying plants so they grow where they won't normally...  It seems like their heart is in the right place. 

What's the problem? The fear of the unknown, of unpleasant genetic mutations, of making cancer causing things. And then, there's the whole we aren't God thing, we won't touch that one either. Just listing it here for the whys and why nots.

So, if that is what a GMO is, then what is a Non-gmo? The opposite, of course. If you visit the Non-GMO Project, you can find products that are GMO free. Hearty Naturals 100% Organic, Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil is also Non-GMO.

Is this the same as Organic and Non-organic? Well, it can be. It mostly is, but Non-organic things could be either GMO or Non-GMO depending on how they are made or manufactured. The scary part here is... some things are sometimes considered Organic, when they have direct contact with GMO's. Get it? Got it? Good!

For example, your organic milk from your free range cow was fed a GMO grain or even a GMO grass. So, although your milk isn't processed in a non-organic way, the cow ate genetically modified food. That can't be right? Can it?

The idea behind organic is that it is all natural. You find an apple tree never treated for bugs, the apples aren't as big because it also isn't genetically modified in any way = Organic.

When mothers are breastfeeding, they are told not to take certain medications, because the medication may find its way to the milk supply... If your cow eats a chemical, you eat a chemical.

That's a brief, easygoing definition of GMO vs. Non-GMO and Organic vs. Non-Organic. You should Google for more information.

Now, on to Fairtrade. People who tout organic and non-gmo also tout fairtrade products. What is Fairtrade? It is based on international trading practices and people who create products from marginalized countries. It works to help sustainable development and improved trading conditions. No children working for 5 cents an hour or day to make our clothing. No woman from a third world country tricked into selling her handmade goods for pennies on the dollar. The true definition is more complicated than that, but you get the idea. Respect others, respect the Earth. Compassionate Essentials is a fair trade market selling handmade jewelry.

Ahh... did you catch the word sustainable up there? Have you heard the word sustainability and wondered what it means? It seems like such a big, scary word, but it is really simple. Sustain means to keep going, to comfort, to help, to assist, to support. Help yourself to live, support yourself by growing a garden. Sustain the environment by recycling. Go green! Sustainability? Will it be able to continue without being completely destroyed? If you grow an organic garden vs. a massive farm plot that utilizes GMO's, you can save our natural resources. If all the factories and technology are destroyed will you be able to sustain your life and that of your family? Recycling helps save trees. Get it? Got it? Good!

You may also want to visit Green Rainbow Revolution, a company dedicated to offering Non-GMOs.

Recommended Reading:

Fair Trade

Seeds of Deception

Compassionate Essentials Blog