Wildlife Wall Decor

In your travels for hunting and fishing in the timbered hills, lakes, and streams of Arkansas, be sure to visit Eureka Springs.  There’s a quick preview of Eureka Springs in the December 2008 issue of Southern Living magazine, on pages 37 and 38.  The city is full of charm, history, and elegance, and is located just one hour south of Branson, Missouri.

The hunters and fishermen can shop the largest Bass Pro Shop in Springfield, MO, just 1/2 hour north of Branson.   While the husbands hunt or fish, their wives can take in the shows at Branson or do their shopping in Eureka Springs.

It was a joy to read about all the unique species of wild turkeys roaming the East and Southern states of the USA.  The article I’m referring to is pages 98 - 101 in December/January 2009 Outdoor Life Magazine.  The article mentions that in Florida alone, there is estimated between 80,000 and 100,000 turkeys.  In the last seven years, my wife and I have traveled almost every State and visited many of the national forests, and we have never spotted wild turkeys, although I have heard them in the trees.

On the other hand, while traveling north of Spokane, Washington, in spring of 1999, near the Colville National Forest on Highway 395, traffic was stalled for nearly twenty minutes while a flock of 22 wild turkeys drifted across the highway.  Travelers were fascinated with the wild birds’ lazy behavior and vocal chatter.  It was a royal event as we watched them stroll and fly to shelter.

In addition, I marveled at the respect travelers showed towards the preservation of wildlife in this area, a rare and unusual sighting, indeed. 

Should you have an IRA and are approaching 70 years old, you might want to read Ducks Unlimited, November 2008, page 29.  DU has an article that explains tax benefits for US citizens 70 1/2 years and older.    “At age 70 1/2 years, you must begin taking distributions from your IRA whether or not you need this additional income stream.” 

For relief, Congress has approved a gift method using your IRA.

The value of the increased distributions can be used as a donation.  For example, Ducks Unlimited can use the gift toward waterfowl conservation and the donor avoids an additional tax burden from these distributions. 

Check it out!  . . . And support the sport of hunting wild ducks and geese.

Last year my wife and I took the Royal Carribean Cruise to Alaska.  Returning to the Port of Seattle, we stopped at Victoria BC and visited Butchart Gardens.  On the way there, we stopped at the Butterfly Gardens.  Both experiences were memorable.  Both were especially colorful and unique in their environmental creativity to present nature’s flowers, plants, and landscapes. The gardens provide natural foods and fresh water for many species of Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and other winged creatures.  There were plenty of opportunities to purchase wall art for interior decor as a reminder of our spectacular trip.

To see a nice display of wildlife wall art, visit the Bull Market in Troy, Montana.  A tempting picture of the produce department is in the Field & Stream magazine, September 2008, page 22. 

This reminded me of the many traveling stops we made at a small grocery store in North Bend, Washington, in the 1960’s.  In the Meat Department, on the fresh-wrapped meat counter, they sold “Bird Balls.” In the winter months, wild birds needed food . . . Right?   Well, the market manager created and wrapped two balls of ground-up beef suet (excess beef fat), then rolled them in wild bird seed.  It was a marketing tool for conversation, a merchandising tool for sales of waste products (suet), and a great environmental tool for conservation: feeding the wild birds when their food supply and body energy were needed during cold weather. 

I’m always looking for unique websites that my readers might reap some benefits from.  Here is a great website that has a wide variety of bird houses for many types of wild birds.   BestNest also supplies accessories and feeders for wild birds and other wildlife, including houses for Bats, Bees, Butterflies, Ladybugs, Squirrels, and Toads.  To discover a great website, just do a Google search: http://www.bestnest.com

It would not surprise me if there were more than one hundred migrating duck species in the world.  While reading the September 2008 issue of Field & Stream magazine, I was very interested in “The Fall Flight Schedule” of seven migrating ducks; “How to Hunt” them and their “Migration Behavior.”  Should this interest some of my hunting and fishing readers, the article is found on page 52.  

Memories at Grandma’s home as a child are filled with visions of her love and hospitality.  Every room in her house expressed her character and personal commitment to family and friends. The focal point that captured everyone’s imagination was the coffee table, in front of the sofa.  Should it be made of solid carved hard wood, polished marble or an etched glass table top, it would bring many personal messages about the owner. It might be a message of hope, faith, love, or a religious or patriotic heritage.  The message is shared with every guest that enters the home.  A reflection to every generation for as long as the table endures time.   What message will we leave for our future generations?   Will it be encouragement within the family’s commitment? Or a legacy of laws and justice sealed over forgiveness?  True strength abounds in the sweet joy of peace and happiness;  While colors harmonize and blend on a canvas of meekness. Then, let us not forget the sacrificial price paid for it all.

With constantly rising fuel prices, here’s GOOD NEWS for consumers of gas and diesel off-road vehicles.

In the June 2008, Texas Fish and Game magazine, the author mentions that a tax relief is available for sportsmen operating equipment off the road.  The GOOD NEWS is Texas offers a fuel tax refund of 20 cents per gallon for use not on public roads!  The State tax form 06-106 of the Texas Claim for Refund of Gas and Diesel Fuel Taxes is available online.  For details and information, go to the Texas State Comptroller website: www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxforms/98-661.pdf, or contact the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, PO Box 13528, Capitol Station, Austin, Texas, 78711-3528, phone 1-800-252-5555.

You must document all purchases of fuel and list all land vehicles, motorboats, aircraft, and both moving and stationary equipment in use for hunting, fishing and mowing . . . That’s GOOD NEWS!

The fires in California (2008) remind me of a poem called, Dressed in Black. The destruction, though devastating to our wildlife images, landscape, and wildlife, is all part of nature’s restoration. Here is the poem: . . .

DRESSED IN BLACK

He claims no respect for human life or feathered creatures in the tree.

No building stands . . . constructed by man, before this raging contender.

Within moments, what took a lifetime, man-made dwellings simply surrender.

Who can stand before such painful days when he destroys and shatters dreams,

Leaving despair and filling the air with frustration and helpless screams?

What once blossomed in tranquility, clothed in splendor, nothing would lack . . .

All brilliant colors of the rainbow now lay totally Dressed in Black.

Devastation of God’s creation, who could possibly be so cruel?

Is this like the place we all call hell and . . . is this the one that will rule?

How can so much power in less than an hour consume everything that lives and breathes?

He takes! . . . to fulfill his selfish, fierce, desire! Yet, is never satisfied . . . for his name is Fire!

Ed Provancha . . . October 5, 1996

Published in: The Heart of My Poetry. Available on Amazon.com