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Judythe Morgan

8 06, 2017

How Pets Help People Cope With Mental Illness

By |2017-06-02T08:09:52-05:00June 8th, 2017|Guest blogger|1 Comment

Today I am hosting guest blogger Brandon Butler. Brandon is a dog lover and vet tech. He loves helping pet owners by sharing advice on Fur and Feathers.

After you read this blog, you’ll truly appreciate the benefits pets bring to our lives.

Photo via Pixabay by Foundry

A Guest Blog by Brandon Butler

Studies done on the human-animal bond and show many benefits for people with mental illness. Pet ownership or therapy sessions with animals can be an excellent alternative or supplement to medications. This method can cut back on the possibility of substance abuse by the mentally ill, who tend to be more susceptible to addiction due to the desire to self-medicate.

Dogs especially can reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. They encourage playfulness and exercise and introduce joy and unconditional love to those in need.

Physical Benefits

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can play a major role in easing symptoms of PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, stress, autism, and other mental illnesses. Having a pet to care for helps people focus on getting out of bed and finding a purpose for their day.

Walking a dog is a daily routine that helps both the owner and the dog get exercise. Spending time with your pet solidifies the bond between the two of you, and getting outdoors can make your body feel better. Fresh air and sunshine are healthy and joy-inducing, and you may even have more positive social interaction by getting out of the house and meeting other pet owners along the way.

Try taking your dog to a dog park and see how contagious your dog’s happy social interactions can be. You will likely have some nice conversations with other dog owners while you are there.

Playing with and loving your pet will elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine which calm and relax. Having a pet can lower stress levels and anxiety, which in turn lowers blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure keeps you healthier, helps you avoid heart problems, and can add years to your life.

Mental Health Benefits

People struggling with mental health issues see their pets as the central support in their lives, and often, even over family and friends. A pet offers unconditional love on days when you are feeling good and on the days you are feeling terrible. They will never judge, and that can be a powerful support system when you need it.

Isolation (felt by many with mental illness) is alleviated by having a furry companion. The structure and routine of pet ownership can help the mentally ill not withdraw from society. Knowing that their pet needs and depends on them can also deter them from having suicidal thoughts.

There are many people who cannot or do not work due to their mental problems. Having a pet that they care for and treat well can also be a source of pride when they feel like they have nowhere else to contribute to society.

Ultimately, pets increase confidence, comfort, safety, and peace when dealing with mental health issues. They offer loyalty for life and could be just what those suffering from mental illness need.

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Great insights, Brandon. Thanks for sharing with us today.

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5 06, 2017

Commas, commas everywhere but are they needed?

By |2017-05-13T10:31:45-05:00June 5th, 2017|Make Me Think Monday|1 Comment

The use of commas can be a major issue for writers. Copy editors and/or the publisher style choice usually become the final authority before publication.

My personal opinion is that the Oxford comma is necessary. Thanks to Daniel Neep’s recent tweet for pointing out some excellent examples to reinforce my opinion.

The clarity of these sentences is lost without the Oxford comma and leaves the reader some very weird meanings. Wouldn’t you agree?

Grammarcheck.com also offers this infographic with further explanations about the comma dilemma.

Oxford Comma Good or Bad? 8 Pros and Cons (Infographic)
Source: www.grammarcheck.net

I doubt the question of comma usage will ever have a definitive answer. When I’m in a quandary, I simply figure out a way to rewrite. ;-)

What’s your opinion on comma use? Too many commas or not enough?

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2 06, 2017

Multipurpose Net

By |2017-05-21T21:25:25-05:00June 2nd, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Retrieving eggs from the bantam coops has always presented a bit of a challenge. For a while, I had to scoop them forward and then grab them before they rolled back into the coop. Then in the new coops, I could move them forward with a stick and they stayed put until I picked them up.

However, one day I discovered the perfect egg grabbing tool at the 99 Cent Store.  It was marketed as a butterfly net. In fact, the cashier asked if I was going to catch butterflies. Now mind you she was wearing bunny ears so I knew whatever I said would be accepted without judgment.

“Actually,” I said, “I am going to gather eggs from our chicken coops.”

She suggested I wear bunny ears while doing so.  I assured her I already had some and would consider it.

This is the multi-purpose net

And a close up of the egg to be grabbed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since acquiring this magical net, we have discovered other uses.  It is perfect for scooping up chickens that are between the chain link and privacy fences.  The chickens are not thrilled with this process but they really don’t like being trapped either.

The net is also good for catching escapee chicks.  We can get to them from a distance, contain them, and then put them back where they belong.

We have already had to replace one egg-getting, chicken-scooping, chick-catching net. I have an extra one as a BUN – Back-up-net.

Last time I was at the 99 Cent store there was a stunning lack of what they call butterfly nets.  I guess we’ll have to be careful with ours until they can get more in stock.

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29 05, 2017

Remembering on Memorial Day

By |2017-05-07T15:46:22-05:00May 29th, 2017|Make Me Think Monday|1 Comment

Memorial Day is a sad day for so many. Far too many of us have been touched by the loss of a loved one or friend who “gave their tomorrow for our today.”

As you enjoy a hot dog or a hamburger with family and friends to usher in the unofficial start of summer, pause and remember why the day was originally established.

Celebrate Memorial Day but
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET.

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26 05, 2017

d’Uccle Chicks

By |2017-05-21T06:48:21-05:00May 26th, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Among Rachel’s recent acquisition of chicks is a pair of d’Uccles. This breed has very long feathers on its feet.

For the longest time, I couldn’t understand what Rachel was saying and called the chicks “duseldorfers”.

Rachel, having lived with me all her life, would patiently repeat “d’Uccles, Mom, D’Uccles”

I finally looked them up and seeing the name in writing helped it stay in my head.  It also convinced me Rachel was not just making this all up.

She moved the d’Uccle chicks out of the chick pen in with the big girls.  Since there are two we figured they would keep each other company.  However, they have bird brains and one of them spent much of its time running up and down the chicken wire fence enclosing the chick pen.

The other night I discovered the poor chick with its head stuck in the chicken wire. I was afraid it was dead, but I got to it in time.  I carefully removed its head from the chicken wire and returned it to the big pen with the other d’Uccle.

This afternoon I found them both in the chick pen.  I have no idea how they got there but I’m leaving them alone.  They may have bird brains but they know where they want to be.

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22 05, 2017

Are you a Master or a Captain of your writing?

By |2017-05-07T15:31:43-05:00May 22nd, 2017|Make Me Think Monday|1 Comment

We use the two terms interchangeably in common use while each has a distinctive nuance and historically the titles represent unique roles in nautical vocabulary.

Before standing navies were established, armies used civilian ships to transport soldiers and their supplies. When the captain of a company of soldiers came aboard with troops for transport, he assumed military command of the ship. He determined its destination and, if the ship engaged in hostilities at sea, directed the battle.

A captain had overall authority, but the master maintained responsibility for sailing operations. The rise of steam-powered vessels phased out the need for sailing masters and the demise of the term ship’s master.

On civilian ships such as cruise vessels, the one in charge is officially the captain though sometimes called master. In popular usage, captain or skipper prevails over the term master for pleasure craft owners.

You’ll find the term captain employed in fire or police department hierarchies and on sports teams, but not master.

Simply put, the difference between the terms is that a master is someone who has control over something or someone while the captain is a chief or leader.

If we think about our writing as our ship, I prefer the term master of writing.

Why? Because a writer who controls her writing skill and, at the same time, understands the business aspects of publishing is more likely to be successful.

That doesn’t mean a writer can’t be a captain of writing and be successful too.

Being a leader (aka captain) in a genre or professional writing organization is not a bad thing as long as the leadership responsibility doesn’t hinder writing time.There are those rare individuals who can be both master and captain of their writing.

What do you think? Would you prefer to be a master or a captain of your writing?

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19 05, 2017

A Frizzle of a Different Color

By |2017-05-18T10:11:19-05:00May 19th, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|2 Comments

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Frizzles are some of my favorite chickens. We had a black one – Frizz – who had the greatest attitude. Now we have Frizz 2 – one of her children. And then there’s Richard, the spastic frizzle rooster. He gets most upset if you try to move him.
My current favorite is a partridge frizzle Rachel has named Watson. She was given this name because she is paired with a very curious red rooster named Sherlock.

Watson is a product of Rachel’s color project and she is wonderful -most of the time.

She and Sherlock like to roost on the chain link fence at night. We have to put them into their coop to keep them safe.

She has inherited the slightly spastic personality of Richard but once you hold her close, she calms down. She did get stuck once between the chain link fence and the chicken wire. It was a little tense because Rosie, the dog next door, was also between the fences.

I had to be careful as I extracted Watson so as not to strip her feathers. Fortunately, Rosie was not interested in Watson and all ended well.

I had hoped she would have learned to stay in her own area. But alas each night we get to snuggle her as we put her and Watson into their coop.

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