One Prompt and Two Ways to Write a Story

I saw this photo online, and I thought it would make a pretty good story. Here's the photo:

Here's one way you could write the story:

Music is special to me. Every day, I sneak away with my violin, and sit on some rocks in the stream and play a piece I composed myself. Often times, the wildlife comes and sits by me, and I sit in the peace and just soak it in. Sometimes I played music for nature, other times it's the other way around. Gradually, the wildlife left, and I began to play my favorite piece for the last time before I went home. I heard something in the bush, and I let my bow stay on the violin, and trained my eyes on the spot where I had heard the noise. I heard a peculiar noise, and with horror, I realized it was the sound of a camera shutter closing. After taking a photo. In my secret place. "No!" I cried, jumping up. My violin and bow clattered as they hit the ground. I splashed into the creek and toward the bushes, my now soaked dress dragging behind me. As I reached the banks of the creek, I heard bushes being shoved aside and twigs snapping. An innocent man never runs. I creeped quietly, and soon enough, the sound of the bushes and twigs faded away. As I quietly neared where I thought this person was, and as I got closer, I heard labored breathing. I quietly crouched in the bushes, and observed the man fiddle with his camera. Making up my mind, I jumped out behind him and cried, "You!" The man whirled to face me and gulped. "Me?" He squeaked. "Yes you!" In response, he lifted his camera and TOOK ANOTHER PHOTO! Then he ran, so I ran. When he was close enough, I let out an "AARGH!" and tackled the man. He hit the forest floor with a thump. I grabbed his collar and brought him to his feet. "Do not take pictures of me, and do NOT put them for the world to see, " I said quietly. With me, quiet is dangerous. "But you look so pretty! See for yourself." The man had me look through a little hole in his camera, and there I saw a beautiful girl in my dress and my violin. Wait... was that me? I was... yes, I was quite beautiful. Suddenly, the photo of me disappeared, along with the man as he ran away again. I chased the man again, and caught the back of his shirt this time. I spun him to face me. "I can play this game all day. I suggest you make it easier on yourself and remain quiet. And here." He nodded. "I am from somewhere not of this world. Get rid of that photo, before I smash your precious little camera against that rock." My icy cold blue eyes were trained on the man, but I knew the rock was behind me. "But... but I can't do that!" "Why?" I asked in a whisper. "Need someone to do it for you?" I reached for the camera. "No! But please, I beg of you, take this copy of your photo." He handed me the photo I saw in the camera. I took it. "Look, I'm sorry I tackled you. But please, just don't speak of me to any one else. I'm not from this world. Some people know this, and are desperate to get their hands on me. Please, just don't speak of this." I hated to beg, and I knew there was true desperation in my eyes. I also knew he saw it. "Okay. Take this photo. I won't speak of this to anyone, I promise." I continued looking at him for a moment, before I turned away. An eagle landed on my shoulder. I could see the mans' expression. Awe. "Go get fish," I whispered. The eagle sprang off my shoulder and flew away. I turned once more to the man. " Wait here. The grab the fish, leave, and never breathe a word." I turned, and a wolf pack emerged from the woods and surrounded me. I walked away, and behind me, I hear the thud of two fish hitting the forest floor.

Or, you could write it like this:

Music was a cover. I hated it. Every day, I snuck away and played my violin horribly by myself. But I never knew one shutter click would change my life. But right then, I didn't know it. Until, click. I could practically hear my life shattering. The shrapnel hit the water with a splash, and were carried downstream with my violin and bow when I dropped it and ran. Away. But running away, as I learned, never solves anything.

Happy writing!

Wolves

I love wolves.

They are probably one of the most misunderstood creatures in the world. They live in conditions we can't stand. They kill. They destroy.

If there is a sick animal in the herd the pack is pursuing, it may mate and have offspring that will have the same condition, weakening the herd. If the wolves pick of the sick ones, it will make the herd stronger. Basically, survival of the fittest.

Wolf packs aren't just some wolves thrown together that manage to bring down kills. There are ranks. The lead pair is called the Alpha pair. The lowest member of the pack is called the Omega. They have to hang back and after the rest of the pack is done eating, they get the scraps. Omegas that get too close are prone to lose an ear... seriously.

Some wolves hunt, and some babysit. Only the Alpha pair mates. The pups are born completely blind and deaf, but they can smell extremely well. In 10-13 days, their eyes open. And at 12 weeks, they start to hunt with the pack. In between, they are weaned and their teeth grow. Other wolf pack members come back with some meat in their stomachs and the pups will lick their lips as an indicator to regurgitate food, around the 4-5 week old mark.

The wild is the wild, and it has rough conditions. Some wolf pups die from malnutrition or starvation, and diseases.

Wolves are social, and have sometimes been known to bury their dead pups, and mourn. It goes to show you, they kill for survival, just like we kill cows for us, and they mourn. Just like we do. They are a lot like us, in ways. Sure, we don't howl, but we laugh. We bring each other food when we are sick, just like they do. They lick and show affection, just like we kiss and hug and show affection.

Wolves are extraordinary animals and help the wild by picking off the sick of the herd, and making it stronger. Yes, they sometimes pick off the young, but everyone has to live.

Here is an article about wolves:

• Wolf Country

I just wanted to let you know, I am a big time wolf lover. A wolf is also my spirit animal.Here are some photos that inspire me:

                                           

Hiking with your four-legged freinds

Hello again! I just went hiking with my dog, and he was SUPER excited. He starts whining like MAD when he senses we're close.

Hiking is a great opportunity to get some fresh air, and exercise your dog too. As well as tiring them physically, all the new smells and sights tires them mentally, so you can be sure that they will sleep when they get home, if not in the car.

Please remember, if you have a little dog, one step for you is a bunch for them. They have little legs, and if you walk at a brisk pace, they may have trouble keeping up.

For crazy, energetic dogs like Husky and German Shepard mixes, hiking works magic, and you can actually blog without a dog pacing and making you seasick! It's absolutely wonderful!

If you decide to start hiking, don't say, "I'm going to hike!" and then hike three miles one way and then turn around and walk another three miles.You'll start out with a bunch of energy, but by the time you come back, you'll be panting like your dog and dragging yourself home.

Ease into hiking, because it will be easier on you, your body, and your dog. (If you choose to take them along.)

But please, be respectful of parks that don't allow dogs, and follow their rules. Also, it's a good idea to pack some water for you and your dog.

Hiking with your furry friend can be really fun and entertaining... and full of wet deer. Want to hear this story? Keep reading.

I was taking my dog for a hike by the canal, with my sister and father and mother. It was beautiful fall day, and with every gust of wind, more beautiful colored leaves showered down on us. I had let Buddy off leash, and he would dart in front of me, up a hill, be gone, and then the pounding of paws would accompany his happy face. He came to check on me and make sure I was sticking to the path (German shepherds are herders) when suddenly he was off again. I didn't think much of it, but then I realized he had been gone more than usual. "Buddy!" I called. Suddenly, I hear the pounding of paws. But what came over the hill was not a crazy Husky mix. It was a deer. With a crazy Husky mix at it's TAIL. As the poor doe thundered past me, Buddy ran behind her, looking delighted, but I could tell he was not going as fast as he could and was a bit unsure of what to do. They zoomed past me, back down the trail Buddy and I had come on. I could see them ahead, and the canal. Uh-oh. This deer was in trouble. I turned to watch and see what would happen, and I tensed my muscles in case I needed to intervene. I watched closer to the water.. closer... and then, SPLASH! The deer had jumped into the canal.

A blond runner is purple running gear on the other side of the canal stopped and stared. My jaw LITERALLY fell open.

The deer swam to safety on the other side of the canal, and Buddy did not pursue the chase. He is part Husky, and is scared of the "Liquid Death." (Water.) Doesn't mind the rain or drinking it, but not baths or swims. No siree.

Once I took him to the pool swim for dogs that my pool has a few days after it closes, and Buddy jumped in without any knowledge. Never got back in the rest of the day, just ran around the grassy area.

And the bathroom we washed him in as a pup? He will not set one paw in that room. When he goes down the hall, he runs past the bathroom. The dog is four years old, and will run from the bathroom that we washed him in when he was four MONTHS old. He has a head. And a mind. (I hope.)

I seriously wonder what goes on in there. (His head.)

Anyway, in conclusion, you got a story about a wet deer, and a post (mainly) about hiking and tips. (Like packing water.)

Here are some photos:

Pope Francis and Kindness

Pope Francis has arrived in D.C., and created quite a hubbub, and I just wanted to show this picture:

This is a picture of Pope Francis hugging a man with a skin condition. 

Pope Francis is kind, and please remember that you can be too.

Squirrels and Chestnuts

As fall descends upon us, the squirrels are going, well, nuts. I'm just sending out this entry to please remind you to slow down while driving, especially in neighborhoods, because many squirrels are rushing across streets to get some nuts for the winter. Please don't squash them.

Some people call them rats with fluffy tails, but rats depend on humans, and they don't help the environment by sometimes forgetting to dig up a nut and then it grows into a tree.

Squirrels also go nuts for the chestnuts! I have a tree in my backyard, and the squirrels have beat me to the chestnuts! (They are quite delicious, mind you.) I have found a few on the ground, which I then roasted and ate, and the taste left me wanting more. So crazy me climbed up the tree and shook the branches. Nothing came out, unfortunately, because the squirrels had climbed up their earlier and taken all the ones that hadn't fallen. Whatever chestnuts fall on the ground, though, are goners to ME. My dog is in the backyard, and he's always looking for squirrels, especially by the chestnut tree. (It's a wonder how he doesn't get those needles in his paws!) The squirrels can reach the tree by the fence and other trees, which they do, but they never EVER go into the yard, because my dog is there.

However, there is this park called Green Springs, which has two huge chestnut trees. I went there the other day, and got a good amount of chestnuts. Here's what you need and how I did it.

What you need:

1. A bag to collect the chestnuts
2. Sneakers
3. A tennis ball

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE! DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE LOOKS PEOPLE GIVE YOU!!! (Also, sneakers are good climbing shoes... read the procedure and you'll get it.) Here is the procedure:

1. Scour the ground for any fallen chestnuts.
2. Look up into the tree to look for chestnuts that are ready to fall. (If they are not ready to fall, skip this step and the next.)
3. Toss the tennis ball up, toward the chestnuts that are ready to fall.
4. Climb the tree, and give one of the branches a good shake. If chestnuts fall, go and collect them. 
5. Toss the tennis ball up again.
6. Shake the tree again.
7. Repeat.

So, to sum it up, you have a way to collect chestnuts, and PLEASE DON'T RUN OVER SQUIRRELS. 

Thank you!

The Art of Dog-Walking

The art of Dog Walking. Okay, I'll admit it, I'm making it sound more glamorous than it can be, but it can also be really fun at times!

I myself am a dog walker, in Falls Church. I walk dogs in my neighborhood, and in other neighborhoods too. (If you are interested, please email me at sophieracine03@gmail.com. I am also available for dog sitting.) It can be fun, but once I was taking care of a dog, and the owners asked me to leave him outside during the day. The weather was nice, so it wasn't a big deal. But this dog had never had human food. On the morning of my birthday, we went to let out the dog, because we locked him up inside during the night. However, the dog had suffered side affects from the neighbors, because they had given him a lot of spicy food, as we later found out. That can be the downside.

What is also a downside, is coming across a hurt robin on your walk, and having to throw your shirt over it so you can take it to the rehabilitators. (Luckily I still had my bathing suit on; we had just come back from the pool and I threw on some shorts and a shirt to walk the client's dog.)

But, it can be fun. You bond with the dogs, and each one has their own personality. You get to now them, and you laugh a lot, because hey, dogs walking into tress because they're focused on a squirrel IS pretty funny.

You have to be responsible, though. You must always pick up the dog feces, and if the owner has left specific instructions such as where to walk the dog, you must follow those instructions. If you're walking dogs during the summer, make sure they have water when you come back, and during the winter, remember to put on their sweater/jacket IF the owner has left you instructions to do so, because often little dogs get cold. (Booties too, it might be cold, icy, or snowy, but remember, only with instructions left by the owner.)

For dog sitting, the rules are somewhere along that line. Follow all instructions left by the owner, and stay with the dog at all times, to make sure they don't dig or get into places where they are not supposed to be.

One final note: it might be a good idea to ask the owner if the dogs knows any tricks, to exercise them a bit mentally. Ask if there are any places that are off limits to the dog, and how to get them away from there if they happens to wander into a "No Dog Zone."

When you're dog walking or dog sitting, be responsible, but have fun with the dog!

Writing Prompt

I saw this image online, it is a writing prompt, and thought it would make an interesting story. The photo leaves lost of room for emotions and possibility's, like is the soldier playing a sad song because he is sad or a happy song to cheer himself up?

Is the soldier lost? On enemy territory?

How did the piano get there? Where is it? Near the ruins of his home? If so, why is the home ruined?

Good luck, soldiers!

Remember Those of 9/11

Please remember those of 9/11. Many firefighters gave their lives for others. Many people died at the hands of others. Please remember New York.

Also remember the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania.

Flight 93. Two planes were supposed to make it to D.C, Flight 93 and Flight 77. However, people knew what was going to happen, and fought the hijackers, forcing the plane into the ground. They sacrificed themselves for others. It was a small accident, but it helped prevent a bigger one. Flight 93 was headed towards the White House, or so it is believed. It's REALLY scary to imagine what would have happened if it had reached it's target.

Remember New York, D.C, and Flight 93.

Here are some articles about 9/11 you might want to check out:

• 9/11 Mystery: what was Flight 93's target?
• Flight 93 - Facts and Summary

Never. Doubt. Yourself.

Okay. Today is not going to be a written prompt, but an image I pulled from the internet.

Remember, you write in your own unique writing style. No one else has the same style as you. Someone may have the same idea, but they write it down entirely different from YOUR style.

Here are three little words that you can live by, and should think of every single day, wether you're feeling down or are writing. Ready for them?

Never. Doubt. Yourself.

You understand? NEVER DOUBT YOURSELF. Never ever EVER.

Listen to me. You are you. You can be influenced, but deep inside, you are still (your name here.) Stay true to yourself. A good way to do this? How about reading the big purple words and repeating them to yourself when you feel down or DON'T feel confident? Remember, don't doubt yourself or your writing. Here's your prompt:

Good luck and... well, I think you already know.

Animal Shows

Hello!

I want to be a vet when I'm older. Some of you might share my dream, or want to become a pet groomer or trainer. It's all good and well, dream big, but you are going to have to LEARN. Eventually.

I have decided to make a entry about shows about animals. Some of them are vet shows, others are about animals in general. If your bored out of your mind and can't find anything good to watch, here's a list:

• The Incredible Dr. Pol
• Cesar 911
• Dr. K's Exotic Animal Vet
• Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet
• Vet School 
• Unlikely Animal Friends
• Pit Bulls and Parolees
• My Cat from Hell

Just so you know, Vet School actually starts to show on September 19. (All the other ones are already being shown.)

Also another quick FYI, these shows you can find on either Animal Planet or Nat Geo Wild. I'm sure there are other shows that I haven't seen, therefore not listed. 

So, to wrap up. If you're bored out of your skull, go to Animal Planet or Nat Geo Wild and see if you can find any of these shows.

Happy TV watching!

Pet Parades

Hello! I realized that I am talking a lot about pets, so maybe all of this month will be focused on pets. This entry has the same subject that one of the magazines does, Dogster. It's pet parades!

The basic idea is that your pet marches in a parade. I have to give Dogster credit, because this is totally where I snagged the idea from. It looks really fun! And I'm sure dogs love all the attention!

Plus, if you have a dog that always needs to be exercise, this will work them physically and mentally: all the new sights and smells!

Here are some pet parades:

• St.Louis Mardi Gras Beggin' Pet Parade, St.Louis
• Claaws Mystic Krewe of Mutts, Louisiana
• Krewe of Barkus, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Halloween Dog Parade in Tompkins Square Park, New York city
• Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade, Long Beach California
• Reindog Parade, Atlanta Botanical Graden, Georgia
• San Diego Gaslamp Pet Parade, San Diego
• New York Tartan Week/parade, New York City

If you live close to D.C., you might want to check out this article...

• http://dcist.com/2015/07/dc_is_getting_itself_a_pet_parade.php

I myself, and my dog, have never been in a Pet Parade, but now that I've read about it, I'm thinking about doing it!

I think it's a great idea, and you can also socialize your dog while your at it, too!

If you've ever wanted to be in a parade and wanted to bring along your furry friend, I hope this helps!

From Prompts to Poetry and Everything in Between!

Yes I know. My last prompt WAS a bit rushed, and instead of taking the time to slow down and edit it later, I rushed ahead. I have edited it, and fixed typos and ad spelling mistakes. It was a bit dark, but also a mystery. I also want to say that not all the writing prompts will come from me. Sometimes I will pull images from the web and post them. Then, with those images, you can write a story or a poem. I myself write both poetry and stories. If you have seen my entry about the chickens and Rent-A-Coop, you will know who I am talking about in this poem. Maybe this poem will inspire you to write about an animal and a situation just like mine. Here is the poem:

The chicken

My chicken and I,

we are friends.

She Emma me Sophie.

Me Sophie she Emma.

Sometimes, I pick her up.

She sits in my lap.

I stroke her beautiful feathers,

brown,

speckled with white,

around the neck and tail.

She nestles against me, trying to find a comfortable spot.

Once she does,

we sit.

The thick summer air,

amazingly,

begins to move,

creating dust devils.

There is a cool breeze, but we are warm.

Autumn rolls around,

but we are still warm.

Winter comes,

Emma stops laying.

Emma is an old chicken so we are well into mid spring before she begins to lay again.

Summer this year is steamy, but we provide each other with a warmth inside,

one that doesn’t make you hot.

Tomorrow is the last day of fall.

Emma and I will have our last sit today.

Emma is slower and older than ever, so I have decided not to have our sits  during the winter.

That last autumn day is quite cold,

but we huddle together,

getting warm physically and mentally.

Emma  closes her eyes, and I begin to think about the universe,

the way our sits usually go.

It’s only when my teeth begin to chatter that I realize something wrong.

Emma usually provides me with warmth,  but now,

no warmth.

It is then that I notice she is not breathing.

My tears are useless.

I cry and cry.

Emma is dead.

The chicken I sat with for years is now dead.

Dead.

Dead.

My tears can not bring her back.

I cry until my eyes and heart are dry,

my mind slipped into a numb state.

When I got home from school,

Emma would be there.

Hard day?

I could sit with her.

Could.

I sit frozen until someone tries to pry her from my hands.

Dad? My brother?

I don’t care.

I kick him,

hard.

I don’t care.

Fight.

I don’t care.

FIGHT!

But why?

The battle is over;

Emma is dead.

I kiss her, then carefully settle her on our sitting chair.

Then I run.

Run.

I don’t care.

Run.

I don’t care.

But I do.

I cry again, for Emma.

She was special,

she was mine!

she was mine!

I punch the ground, hard. My knuckles bleed.

She didn’t deserve to die.

She didn’t.

She was beautiful and patient,  but someone once said all things beautiful must die.

That’s when I realize Emma was a teacher.

She taught me about death.

Loss, grief.

Emma was loved;

she herself was beloved.

Emma was loved,

and she always will be.

I think that it was a very good poem.I also think that one of the most important parts of being an author/poet is believing in yourself and your writing. If you think "I am going to fail and my writing will be terrible," that is what will happen. It is very important when you're writing. Before you begin to write a story, you should make a habit of closing your eyes and thinking, "I can do this. My writing is unique, marvelous, and most importantly, all my own. I can do this." If you are a poet, this can also apply. If a random poem/story idea pops in your head, make sure to write it down and as you do, think "This is not a foolish idea, it is a great, unique one. One that is all my own." You don't have to sound like Shakespeare, but when you begin to write, keep telling yourself that your writing is not foolish, because it isn't. It's a way of expressing yourself, in your own way. Others can write, but they can't write the way you do, because you have your own unique style, and you should never forget that or think otherwise. Remember this whenever you doubt yourself!

How to Write

Hello! As I said, I was going to look for some more writing magazines, but instead I came across something that doesn't rip: online articles. Check out my list. Again, the list will be links to the site:

• How to Write (New York Times)
• Write to Done
• How to Write (wikkiHow)
• Creative Writing 101 (Writers Treasure)

These are articles that can help you learn how to write, so to speak. I'm a big writer and a reader, and reading articles from the big-time authors always inspires me. 

I think that from now on I'm always going to try and put a writing prompt in my blog. I already have one for today. Ready? It's based off of Narnia, and you'll have to fill in some parts. Oh and one last detail: it's in the first person.

I was driving out of my neighborhood to a furniture store, shopping for a new closet. You know the ones, the old fashioned kind that you can open and close. On the way out of the neighborhood, I noticed yard sale signs. I didn't pay any mind to them, until I couldn't resist any longer. Oh what the heck! Couldn't I go check it out? Even if it only meant slowing down the car for a quick peek? I was famous for lolly lagging. I took a right instead of a left to go to the yard sale. As I got nearer, I couldn't believe my eyes. There was that closet I had wanted! It looked out of place on the dry grass... dry grass? Oh no. I had come directly to the neighborhoods most weird house... and neighbor. An old man, who was always whispering creepy stuff, like "the river of tar, it winds like an old snake..." it was weird. However to my surprise, no, shock, about half the neighborhood was gathered on his lawn, buying things. Curious, and wanting to see if that closet was cheaper than the one in the catalog, I parked two houses down, got out from my (insert favorite car.), and made my way over to the lawn. Mrs. (insert name.) was there. She was always talking, but now slowly strolled around on the yard, looking at things. That's when it hit me. The yard was... silent. Too silent, if you ask me. I'm a loud kind of person. I walked to the closet, wanting to get this over with. It was less expensive, but easier it made it easier to bring home. Suddenly I felt a prickle on the back of my neck, and turned to find the neighbors (choose: staring or looking wearily) at me. That was weird. I went to the old man, and shifted uncomfortably in my (high heel or work boots.) "You," he rasped, "you an see through the trance!" My answer was a combination of huh, what, and can I just have the closet please that came out as, "Wha huh closet please." The prickling sensation on my back started up again, even more powerful this time. When I turned around, I saw the neighbors had grown (choose: claws or teeth) and were... GROWLING?! "Please just give me the closet. And if this is a prank, ha ha very funny now please leave me alone before I call the police." I was taking out my phone to show I was serious, when suddenly it FLEW into Mr. (insert name) hand. I was watching him perplexed when suddenly I felt myself being turned around UNWILLINGLY and facing the old man. "So you want the closet, eh? Here ya go!" I felt myself being dragged backwards, but no one was dragging me. "Just remember, my name is John Silver." I could sense the closet doors opening somehow, and... my mind went blank. "The name John Silver might help you." As the doors started to close slowly, with me in the closet, I heard "Or it might not." Laughter, and then darkness. After a (insert an amount of time) I think it was (insert the time you just entered), I gathered up enough guts to push open the door. Somehow I knew it was there, and I pushed. What I saw was a river of tar, again I some how knew, flowing gently down to who knows where. That part I didn't know: where did this river go? The river was a crack amongst the pulsing red landscape. Where was this place? And more importantly, where was I? Even though I suddenly noticed I was sweaty, I felt a chill when I realized I might never see my home again. I felt another chill when I read a wooden sign at the banks of the river: "The river of tar, it flows like an old snake..." J.S. J.S? John Silver.

Happy writing!

Are You a Chicken...Lover?

Hi all! My goal is to try and get a post about every single animal, and I decided to start with chickens. This entry is mainly about Rent-A-Coop, which is a great program that I did myself.

The basic idea is that you rent the chickens, their coop, bedding, and food for one month. (You also get eggs, about one per day per chicken.) Two chickens per coop. Underneath is a picture of the coop that I got from the site:

You can pick your coop; the one I got had a green door and roof and the rest was brown. However, all coops include the same thing: 

• A area padded with bedding underneath the roof where the food is stored and the hens lay. (Also has a window in the back.)
• A area underneath that one that has bedding that provides complete shade and grass under a wire bottom used to keep predators out.
• A perch for the chickens to, well, perch on.
• A ramp for access to the bedded area.
• Under the perch is grass under a wire bottom, again, used to keep predators out. However, if you park the coop on the concrete, it will be concrete under wire. (But don't do that, there aren't any worms for them! But seriously, put it on the grass.)
• Wheels, so that when you pick up the coop by the front, it rolls. (If you rent from them, you will be asked to move it every now and then.)

The water comes in a special bucket made especially for poultry. The food comes in a bucket also, and you put the food in a milk carton that has a hole in it. (Inside the bucket of food is a cup and you take the food and keep filling up the milk carton. They do not overeat, so don't worry about having it "too full.") The bedding comes in a big, fabric bag along with the instructions to keep it somewhere where there isn't humidity, and cool. (I kept mine inside.)

One thing I love about Rent-A-Coop is that they totally support free-range chickens and eggs, and the chickens they rent out are free range, meaning you have to let them get out of their cage for at least fifteen minutes every single day. They have to be supervised, because a hawk or owl could come and scoop them up. (You get charged $40-50 if the chicken can't be returned, or is dead. If you wish to keep everything that they provided you with, bedding, coop, food etc., it is $500.)

For those of your who were wondering about the pricing, here is the first price that was listed on the site:

• For 4 weeks of hen and coop rental, the total is $180 (Does not include cost of bedding, feed, and specialized bucket for the chickens to drink out of.)

There are more prices online, e.g, for an additional 4 weeks. (2 months total.) If you don't go to pick up the chickens and coop, they also charge you for milage. 

They also put the chickens in the yard for you, even if you are out running an errand or something. Rent-A-Coop also takes them out for you when the month is up, or however much time you paid for.

The proper way to pick up a chicken is pretty simple once you get the hang of it. Stand above the chicken, and then place your hands on their wings, so they don't flap around in your arms. Lift them up. Ta-da! That's how you pick up a chicken. If you want to put them down, lower them so that their feet have contact with the ground, and then take your hands off their wings. Violá!

If you have a dog, Rent-A-Coop has steps on their site on how to introduce the chickens to the dog. Their chickens are good with dogs, but your dog may not be good with chickens. I have a crazy Husky-German shepherd mix, and after step one, chickens in the coop and dog outside of coop, it was pretty clear that he wasn't going to be interacting with the chickens anytime soon. Buddy had WAY to much hunting instinct, and would not stop howling/whining/crying/whimpering during step one.

The plus side of your dog getting along with the chickens is that they can both be put outside at the same time and instead of you supervising the chickens, the dog will.

Everything is provided: food, bedding, coop...chickens.

And the eggs are delicious! 

It really is a great program. I did it once, and LOVED it. The chickens do not come with names, but I named mine Emma and Cluckette. (Another good chicken name: Cluckery.) Underneath is a picture of Emma. 

It's great because if you weren't sure about getting chickens but wanted to try it out, you can for a month, then decide. If you loved chickens and were thinking about getting some, I hope this helped!

Animal and Writing Magazine Reccomendations

Hello again! I have decided to make my first post that isn't an introduction. It is a list of magazines both for writing and animal-related. Yes, it is short, but every time I come across a new magazine, I will be sure to post it. The magazines are actually links to the magazine's site. I myself have read these magazines, and they are very good. Here is the list:

• Rescue Proud
• Dogster   
• National Geographic Kids

The National Geographic one is for kids, as is the one for writing, which is written by kids age 10-13. It is called Stone Soup. (I'll look for some others.)

I hope this list helps you, and I will probably make another list when I come across more animal and writing magazines. Happy reading!

Welcome!

Hello! Welcome to my blog! Hence the title, this blog is all about those who love animals and to write/read. I'll post things about both subjects, and I hope you enjoy! If you would like to know more about me, read about me on my blog. I hope this blog inspires you to write, and for the animal part I will be posting stories and books about animals. Thank you for visiting my blog!