#Quail Hill Preserve

[emperornorton47]

Walking into the Preserve

[ultraheydudemestuff]

Birdtown Historic District

Quail and Thrush Streets       

Lakewood, OH

Birdtown is a neighborhood in Lakewood, a streetcar suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, roughly bounded by Magee Rd., Plover Rd., Halstead Rd., and Madison Ave.  In 1891 the National Carbon Company (now NeoGraf Solutions) occupied the corner of Madison Avenue and West 117th Street at the Cleveland-Lakewood border. It manufactured batteries and developed the carbon filtered gas mask. The company employed recent immigrants, primarily Slovaks and other eastern Europeans in its growing manufacturing business.  Often workers were encouraged to bring family members to work to join the force. Most of the employees lived in Cleveland neighborhoods and would travel muddy and icy roads to the site. The lack of any public transportation made the trip challenging to arrive to work on time. In 1892, National Carbon sought a solution to the problem.

     The company acquired 155 acres to the west of the factory to Halstead Avenue and developed over 400 residential parcels to accommodate factory employees and their families. The Pleasant Hill Land Company worked with company employees to develop homes in the area by offering reduced down payments and favorable financing. Many families built their homes personally during their time away from the factories. By 1910, nearly 2200 residents called this area home. The neighborhood was reminiscent of company towns like Pullman, Illinois, and Homestead, Pennsylvania. Pullman was entirely company-owned and provided housing, markets, a library, churches and entertainment for employees who were required to live there. Homestead, was a steel town which grew among workers around the burgeoning steel industry along the Monongahela river in the late 1800s. Birdtown, a neighborhood within Lakewood, represented a community fostered by the company but built and owned by the residents.

     The names 'Bird's Nest' and 'Birdtown' were derived from several streets named for birds believed to be indigenous to the area including robin, plover, lark, and thrush among others.  The district was also referred to as "the village" by its original residents. A facet of Birdtown is evident when one walks along the tree-lined streets. Multiple uses of land and buildings for homes, stores, churches, domestic farm gardens, animals, and dairies provided a self-sustaining village within Lakewood. Several properties reflect the ingenuity of the early residents who built or added to their structures. The residents completed and maintained their properties meticulously, a feature which remains visible today.

     A visit to the area today reveals a very tidy neighborhood bounded by factories: NeoGraf Solutions at the 117th end and Lake Erie Screw Corporation on the west end (site of the former Templar Motor Corporation) on Halstead Avenue. Madison Avenue on the north and railroad tracks to the south enclose the community. Harrison Elementary School sits in the middle of the neighborhood which also is home to several ethnically connected churches, including North Coast Baptist Church and schools. More than eight churches within the district served the Slovak, Polish, Ukrainian, and Carpatho-Rusyn people in the neighborhood. Two churches, both named Sts. Peter and Paul (one Russian Orthodox and the other Lutheran) illustrate the ethnic and religious varieties in the neighborhood. Immigrant families kept their language, worship, and traditions preserved through parish and school programs well into the 1900s.  Birdtown was listed on June 27, 2007, with the National Register of Historic Places. Today the neighborhood remains a hub for new immigrants in Lakewood, primarily from South Asia (Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar) and the post-Soviet space (Russia and Uzbekistan).

[chokhidhani3]

Here Are the Best Restaurants in London You Should Try

London is a food lover's paradise with a vast array of restaurants serving different cuisines from all over the world. From fine dining to casual eateries, London has something for every taste and budget. Here is a list of the Top 10 Restaurants in London that you don't want to miss.

Chokhi Dhani London Chokhi Dhani London is a cultural and culinary experience inspired by the vibrant and diverse Rajasthani culture of India. Located in Nine Elms Lane, Chokhi Dhani offers a range of authentic Rajasthani dishes, live entertainment, and traditional artisan crafts. The restaurant also features a wellness spa and a banquet hall for private events.

2. The Ledbury The Ledbury is a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in the heart of Notting Hill. The restaurant is famous for its modern European cuisine, with a focus on seasonal and local produce. The menu changes regularly, but you can expect dishes such as roast quail with black garlic and hay-roasted carrots.

3. Core by Clare Smyth Core is a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Notting Hill, run by the award-winning chef Clare Smyth. The restaurant serves modern British cuisine, with a focus on using the best seasonal ingredients. The menu includes dishes such as Cornish turbot with kohlrabi and sea herbs.

4. Hakkasan Hakkasan is a Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant in Mayfair, serving modern Cantonese cuisine. The menu includes signature dishes such as Peking duck with caviar and crispy Szechuan beef. The restaurant also has an extensive cocktail list and a luxurious lounge area.

5. Sketch Sketch is a unique restaurant located in Mayfair that is famous for its quirky decor and artistic flair. The restaurant has five different rooms, each with its own distinctive design. The menu features modern European cuisine, and the afternoon tea is a must-try.

6. St. John St. John is a restaurant in Clerkenwell that is known for its nose-to-tail cooking and use of British ingredients. The menu includes dishes such as roasted bone marrow and parsley salad and braised rabbit with mustard and bacon.

7. The River Cafe The River Cafe is an iconic Italian restaurant in Hammersmith that has been a fixture of London's food scene for over 30 years. The restaurant serves simple, seasonal dishes such as grilled squid with chilli and parsley and pappardelle with slow-cooked beef.

8. Dishoom Dishoom is a popular Indian restaurant with multiple locations in London. The restaurant is famous for its modern twist on traditional Bombay cuisine, with dishes such as black daal and chicken ruby. The restaurant also has a great cocktail menu and a lively atmosphere.

9. The Wolseley The Wolseley is a grand European-style brasserie in Piccadilly that serves classic dishes such as Wiener Schnitzel and Beef Wellington. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the afternoon tea is a must-try.

10. Lyle's Lyle's is a restaurant in Shoreditch that is known for its innovative and creative dishes. The menu changes daily, but you can expect dishes such as braised hare with beetroot and preserved blackcurrants and buttermilk pudding with poached quince.

London is a foodie's dream destination with a vast array of dining options. Whether you're in the mood for fine dining or casual eats, there's something for everyone. These top 10 restaurants in London are a great place to start your culinary adventure in this vibrant city.

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[trustfile]

The white door shelbyville tennessee denise ashley stevens

Trendmaker Perry Homes Westin Homes Period Classic Toll Brothers REALEX HOMES Highland Homes nuHome by Lennar D. Cason Graye, LLC DR Horton Player Properties LL Lennar Homes KB Home East End Builders Legend Communities Toll Brothers, Inc. S neighborhood features reputable builders such as, Oversized Lot Old Oaks Builder S&D Coastal Const. S is in the master planned community: The Woodlands Summerwood Sienna Cross Creek Ranch Cinco Ranch Elyson Kingwood Jordan Ranch Lakes of Savannah Woodforest Development Cane Island Bridgeland Lakes of Bella Terra Riverstone Shadow Creek Ranch Spring Lakes The Falls at Imperial Oaks Southern Trails West Ranch Auburn Lakes Imperial Oaks Seven Meadows Aliana Graystone Hills Tamarron Grand Mission Harborwalk Grand Lakes Telfair Sierra Vista Brazos Town Center Long Meadow Farms Silver Lake Lakes at Creekside Harper’s Preserve Veranda Canyon Lakes at Stone Gate The Groves Lago Mar Gleannloch Farms Magnolia Ridge Fieldstone Fairfield Sterling Lakes Traditions Westheimer Lakes First Colony Pomona Springwoods Village Spring Trails Lakemont Eagle Springs River Park West Park Lakes Valley Ranch Fulshear Creek Crossing Oakhurst at Kingwood Wildwood at Northpointe Clear Lake City Rodeo Palms Coles Crossing Harmony Sugar Creek Towne Lake Canyon Gate at the Brazos South Shore Harbour Weston Lakes Newport Firethorne Atascocita Harvest Green Tuscan Lakes Summer Lakes Balmoral Sedona Lakes Canyon Lakes West Copperfield The Woodland Hills River Park Fall Creek Crown Ranch Canyon Gate at Cinco Ranch WoodCreek Reserve Twin Oaks New Territory Quail Valley Meridiana Lakes of Bella Terra West Pecan Grove Westover Park Silvercreek Greatwood Eaglewood Lakes of Brightwater Artavia Woodson’s Reserve Cypress Creek Lakes Windrose Grayson Lakes Lakes of Mission Grove Stone Gate Lake Olympia City Park Falcon Ranch Canyon Gate at Northpointe Vicksburg Santa Rita Ranch Steeplechase Imperial at Sugar Land Grand Central Park Edgewater Bluejack National Tavola Woodtrace S subdivision homes for sale vary in prices in the Price Range $250 – $199,999,999 and where built in the Year Built Range 0 – 19902016 and vary in size in the SqFt Range 1 – 11,401,056

[outofangband]

I keep spamming you with asks so no rush to answer, but - do you have any headcanons on what food would've been common in Nargothrond? Do you already have a post on it and I somehow failed to find it? --tolkien-feels

I love asks like this because I love doing research on botany and climate and stuff to determine what food would be available to grow, hunt, gather, etc and what would have to be traded for and how and where, etc. Anyways we all already know that. I’m just trying to give more reason to keep sending me this stuff :)

@tolkien-feels 

Food in Doriath I also included here a comparison with Doriath

OK so I have some thoughts and notes on the environment of Western Beleriand here and I’ve pulled from that a lot. It also has some shorter headcanons on food there! 

Nargothrond is a system of caves underneath a series of forested hills called the Taur en Foreth or Forest of Hunters in Western Beleriand. The river Narog runs just East of the caverns, cutting through the Taur-en-Foreth. The Realm of Nargothrond also encompasses the Talath Dirnen or Guarded Plain to the North of the caverns. This was a plain fortified with elvenmade hills including the most prominent, Amon Ethir or the Hill of Spies. 

Most food in Nargothrond obviously comes from beyond the caves. Especially during the construction of the city, hunting and gathering were the most common sources of food with Finrod’s dwarven allies also contributing. I personally headcanon that many forms of food preservation were taught to Finrod by the Dwarves of the Ered Luin including candied fruits and salted meats. Candied fruits became a favored delicacy in Nargothrond, usually wild cherry. 

Deer, elk, birds such as pheasants, grouse, and quail are the most frequent game. Trout, specifically freshwater brown trout are caught south of the doors of Nargothrond. There are...stranger creatures in the Nan Tethren and to the North but these...should not be caught or eaten. 

Daylilies, wild fennel, wild carrots, crosne, parsley (leaves and roots), dandelions (leaves and roots), and wild parsnips are gathered in the hills and forests and sometimes cooked with herbs such dill, summer savory, sage, and other herbs and spices received through trade with both dwarven and elven allies.  Salt and pepper were largely traded from by the dwarves of Ered Luin though there were some salt deposits in Western Beleriand. (In some parts of  Ossiriand and in Nevrast for example there were warmer regions some otherwise tropical herbs could be grown and cultivated. Over the Ered Luin elves, men and dwarves also cultivated these plants). 

Honey was later introduced through trade with Hithlum

As I mentioned on my previous post, once Nargothrond was built, there was a period of time that allowed for some farming and agriculture though hunting and gathering remained an important source of food. Formal gardens were rare, rather, experimentation and cultivation of existing plants and sometimes animals were more often utilized. Mushrooms and root vegetables were some of the more common flora

Rye grasses (not to be confused with ryegrasses) were nourished in the outer Southern reaches of the Talath Dirnen where there was more protection and small, hard loaves of bread became a staple, often eaten with jam from orchard fruits. The Rye seeds were gifts from elves East of Nargothrond closer to Ossiriand as part of a trade beginning. 

Water plants such as pennywort and watercress were also eaten both fresh and dried. 

Mountain sheep and goats produced milk that was collected by both dwarves and elves in the Eastern parts of Beleriand and East of the Ered Luin. I headcanon for example that Bëor’s folk had goats that they traded from the elves of Ossiriand during their brief stay there that they would take Northwest.  Thus, while cows milk was almost never eaten inside Nargothrond or surrounding realms, there was a small population of goat and sheep in the nearby forests and hills. These were loosely tended to and were not considered a staple. Cheese making was an art practiced by a few talented innovators of both elven and dwarven peoples. 

Differences to Doriath: There was definitely more meat eaten by the elves of Nargothrond, less of a variety of fruits and other plants and more hardy staples. Seasonings tended to be spicier rather than herbal though there was some of both. Salt was somewhat more common and trade was more expansive.

Similarities include some similarities in vegetables

I hope this is ok! Feel free to ask more! 

[thewanderersofsornieth]

The Foods of Mistral Jamboree

I recently joined wind flight, and I’m trying to get in the spirit of Noodledad! This post is heavily inspired by @lionsongfr​’s Trickmurk Circus food headcanon posts!

Food

Windbeutel or “Wind Bags”: Light, flaky puff pastry swirled into little mountains and filled with whipped or pastry cream. Airy and sweet, these are great little snacks to munch on while picnicking on the sloped hills of the Windswept Plateau. 

Roaming Garden Salad: Flowers humanely clipped from the backs of overgrown Travelling Garden Tortoises are tossed with fresh greens, quinoa, and pomegranate arils to create a sweet, juicy salad that is a favorite of Tundras and other veggie eating dragons.

Cloudsong Ceviche: Great lengths of filament weighted down with bells, feathers, and carved wooden ornaments are hung over the sides of the Cloudsong and dragged through the waters below. Whatever is pulled up is chopped and marinaded in citrus juice and tossed with fresh veggies and herbs to create a refreshing and more classy dish for the Jamboree. 

“Windsinger’s Wings”: Wind Flight natives love to jokingly tell unknowing outsiders that the Windsinger actually DOES have wings! They’re just so small, it’s hard to see them! They then hold up a piece of Grilled Lilyfowl wing for a size comparison and watch the look of confusion spread across the other dragon’s face. 

Wok-Fried Beetles: For more adventurous eaters, Mistral Beetles are coated with chili, garlic, and ginger powder and fried in rich oil until crispy. For the less adventurous dragons, edamame and chestnuts are used instead. Energetic and air-headed Spiral vendors have a tendency to accidentally mix the two types, much to the dismay of bug hating dragons everywhere. 

Bamboo-Shoot Biryani: Rice, meat, and tons of spices are stuffed inside of bamboo shoots and steam cooked in a hot rock oven. Throughout the entire Windswept Plateau plumes of steam rise up from the ground, causing lack of visibility.. but my goodness, it smells great!

Windsinger-Jumps-Over-the-Reeds Hotpot: The story behind the name is that the meal smells so good that even Windsinger would stop roaming – and jump over the reeds – in order to eat it. This dish can range from mild to super spicy, which might have you hopping over the reeds in search of water!

Papa’s Eggs: Boiled quail eggs with brightly colored shells! The pigments for the swirls and patterns are made with crushed berries and painted on with deft claws from skilled craftsmen from all across wind territory. Some dragons try to preserve these little works of art, but find themselves dismayed when they inevitably deteriorate. As the craftsmen say, these should be here one day and then gone with the wind! 

Stinging Spirals: Tentacles from electric stinger jellyfish are tossed with rice noodles, sesame oil, and herbs to create a delicious cold salad... provided you can get over the sting! This food leaves a trail of swollen faces, but it’s still considered a staple of any Wind Flight celebrations!

Onion Compass: A deep fried blooming onion, coated in garlic, ginger, and paprika. They say that when it is served to you, the longest petal points in the direction of something you should pursue!

Ganja Gummies: Adds a whole bunch to the quantity of other food consumed by dragons attending the Jamboree! Great for the pocketbooks of food vendors, terrible for the pocketbooks of festival goers.  

Drinks

Sweet Grass Smoothie: A deliciously sweet smoothie with tons of healthy benefits! It’s cooling and refreshing, making it excellent when drank after some spicy festival food.

Cloud and Mist Tea: Minty jadevine and matcha are steeped in crystal clear water gathered from the mists from the waterfalls between the sheer cliffs at the bottom of the Reedcleft Ascent. They say that this tea has mystical properties, helping to clear a multitude of illnesses. Doctors don’t necessarily agree, but they too find it delicious regardless!

Lemon Chuhai: Super refreshing, but also incredibly intoxicating. It’s hard to stop at just one glass! Maybe just a little bit more... a little more... just a sip more...

Duneberry Sparkler: Extremely fizzy, and delightfully sweet. It’s so carbonated, that it continues to fizz and pop long after it’s already in your tummy! Just be careful if a storm is in the forecast; you might find a storm starting to brew inside you too.

Caliper Coffee: Said to be the reason that the Windsinger can travel endlessly across the globe without stopping! You won’t be able to stop after drinking this either!

Don’t forget to click here for a chance to win an unhatched wind egg on the last day of Mistral Jamboree!

[stereksecretsanta]

Merry Christmas, @PrincessaBitchessa!

Hello hello! I got a bunch of the things you asked for and, like my previous two works, this is completely stupid fluffy goodness and I hope it'll put a smile on your face! Merry Christmas!

Read on AO3

*****

Infamnia

The money lasted longer than he thought it would, but not long enough to get out of the dog house of all the debt from medical bills and the mortgage. Stiles didn’t know what to do, how to find himself out of the zeroes and commas and the red ink on the envelopes, until he remembered the letter inside the safe his father set aside before he was killed. He pulled it out from where he’d locked t away, wanting nothing to remind him of what took the better part of two years to even partially come to terms with.

The blue-lined paper still had the frayed edges from where it was torn from a notebook, and the penmanship was as dicey as his father’s ever was.

Stiles I’m so sorry you have to read this letter. But since you are, let me say that whatever happened to me was not your fault. It wasn’t, Stiles, and if you’re blaming yourself I’m going to haunt your scrawny little ass. Don’t. There’s more that I want to say than I can ever put into paper, but this is held securely in the safe specifically because this information is extremely confidential.

If you’re ever in trouble, if you need money, protection, a job, anything, you give the following number a call, and ask for whatever Hale is in charge. You tell them you’re John and Claudia Stilinski’s son. They’ll take care of you. Whatever you find out about me, about what I did and what I accepted, know that it was to protect the town. From what it didn’t want to know about. They owe me a debt, one that I saved for you.

Love you, kid

Dad

Stiles’ bony fingers trembled slightly as he held the paper, mulling over the words as if this was the first time he’d read them. In truth, it was the first time he ever was really taking in the meaning. While he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know what exactly whatever you find out about me, about what I did meant, he would maybe check this out before selling foot pics.

Phone in hand, he tapped a pen on his knee, waiting for someone to pick up. Pick up pick up pick up pick u- THANK YOU.

“You’ve reached Beacon Hills Wildlife Preserve Management, how may I help you?” Secretaries all had this extremely creepy customer service voice that was robotic. Every one of them had the same voice.

What in the flying technicolor fuck was the Beacon Hills Wildlife Preserve number doing in this bizarrely ominous letter? This couldn’t be real. “Uh, could I talk to whoever’s in charge?” He sounded so lame. He could hear himself sounding so incredibly lame.

“May I ask for the purpose of your call so I can route you to the correct person?” The woman’s voice indicated that she could hear his lameness.

“Uh, I got bills I need to pay and I need help, I was told to call the number.”

“I’m sorry, we have no open positions at this ti-“

“Wait, wait wait, can I speak to the, uh, Hale in charge?” He remembered there was a name in the letter, maybe the name would help.

“Transferring your call now.” The voice cut directly to a hold tone. Well, that got him instant results.

The pen tapping his knee increased in speed as he waiting for someone to pick up the phone.

----

“This is completely insane.” Talia Hale rubbed her temples, a headache coming on. The fae wanted to move their court to the Preserve, even though that would not only effectively shut down anyone else trying to use the land. Some true galaxy-brain level genius released no less than five wolpertingers into the forest and now every one of her soldiers was out hunting goddamn flying jackalopes. And now, this.

“We have to do something, though.” Laura stood in the middle of the room, arms folded. “They won’t just stop here. Jerry’s bloodthirsty, and he wants a werewolf with an apple in his mouth on his Christmas dinner table.”

“Not it.” Peter said, because it was the most inappropriate thing that he could possibly say. He felt the eyes of the ladies staring at him, and decided not to acknowledge it. “Would you prefer nose game?”

“Thank you for your contribution.” Unhelpful ass. Talia stood, looking at the map of the preserve on the center table in the room. The lines marked out territories, the fenced off areas for endangered species, paranormally important spots, the Nemeton of course, everything of relevance. And right on their eastern border was a brand new Argent Armory establishment. How they got clearance for that when California had some very impressive gun laws was beyond her. The local lines had been redrawn and somehow those French-blooded fucks had gotten the ordinances to allow a firing range. Which would allow them to have a massive store house of guns and ammunition right there, so they could plan to clean house.

“Can we claim it’ll disturb the birds?” Laura offered. “It must, right?”

“Maybe. But you know the people love their guns. And don’t care about birds.” The phone started ringing across the room. “I’m more worried one of em will gun down a wolpertinger and then I’ll have way too many questions to answer.” The door opened brusquely and a young man strode in, looking cross as ever, throwing the body of a rabbit-quail-deer looking thing on Talia’s desk. “Number three.” He was slightly out of breath, looking at the body like it had personally called him a bitch. “And maybe they won’t shoot wolpertingers, but someone definitely did fucking shoot me.” He yanked off his coat and, yep, that was a bullet wound on his shoulder.

Laura poked it, just to hear him yell at her. Cain instinct.

“Stop it.” Talia gently smacked Laura’s hand. “You see who did it?”

“Y’even need to ask?” He snapped. He watched Gerard Argent smile and wave just a little from his property line, walking back as calm as he pleased at the edge of the woods. The bullet wasn’t wolfsbane, but in a way that was even worse. A wolfsbane bullet would at least do something. It would kill him, yeah, but it was a purpose that had a ‘reasonable’ point. The point of this mundane bullet was just to piss him off. And it was working.

“Will someone answer that phone?” Talia asked, fussing over her wounded boy.

---

Stiles sat in the office of the BHWPM headquarters, with a cup of coffee in his hands. The woman in front of him had introduced herself as Talia Hale, and given that two of the children in the room had the same severe cheekbones, dark hair, and piercing stare like they could see right into his bone marrow, he was fairly certain they were her children. They were attractive in the exact way that terrified him, which was probably not a good thing, because that was definitely his type. “Your father has done a great deal for us over the years, we are happy to help you now in payment for the help he gave you. Is it money you need?” Talia asked, looking over the young man. While not unkempt, there was something in the rakish hair and the unpressed shirt that said he might not be doing so well.

“A job would probably be better, I’ve been trying to get further in the FBI, but-“ He shrugged, not keen to detail his psychiatric history to people he didn’t know. “That’d be more of a help than a one-time get-outta-debt free card.”

“The FBI?” Talia asked, looking at him with new eyes. “Do you know what your father did with us, exactly?”

Stiles was entirely clueless. “I’m....guessing he helped clear drunk hooligans outta the preserve?” Stiles was definitely not the drunk hooligans ever, shut up. “Nah, I’m guessing he helped you hide bodies, smuggle people, and/or doctored police records for Scary One and Scary Two over there, and instead of taking bribes he took it on future favors.” The vibe in this room was way too Corleone for it to not be some undercover operation.

While the woman’s expression didn’t shift even at the comment to her own children, something in her eyes imperceptibly altered. Something a bit like amusement, or interest. “Would you want a job with someone who would do those kinds of things?”

“If my dad thought it was a good thing to do, it must have been for damn good reasons. I’m willing to find out.

“Derek, why don’t you take Stiles to get a proper suit. If he’s running with us, we need him looking the part.” Talia said with a smile. “And get him a proper gun.”

Scary Two: Tall Dark And Terrifying stepped forward and walked Stiles out the door without a word. He could work with that, and hey, any excuse to ogle the boss’ kid, right?

-----------

And Stiles thought those little fuckin wolpertingers were bad.

This was, in fact, infinitely worse.

He sat next to Derek in their little foxhole, only yards away from the Argent stronghold. Apparently Cora, the last piece of the Hale puzzle, and the so-described baby of the family, was inside. Who the fuck steals a baby, Stiles thought. And every one of them was ready to go utterly feral to get it.

Feral being both the operative word and unsettlingly accurate, as it turns out, with his boss lady on all fours and snarling at the people lobbing smoke grenades at them. Derek had his fangs out and everything, but luckily said nothing about how clearly Stiles wanted to climb him like a slightly more angular pine.

Because werewolves. Of course werewolves. Why wouldn’t there be werewolves.

Stiles popped out of the foxhole and nailed one of the Argent soldiers directly in his face, giving a startle to the others behind the line and giving an opportunity.

Stiles didn’t run out first, everyone else could go first and get shot at, he didn’t really want to catch any of them. Instead, he snuck out and around the melee, getting his gangly ass right into their stronghold as Talia was probably ripping someone’s throat out. Ew.

Inside was warm, and a little off-beat. “Hey, Cora?! Where you at!” He hissed, gun drawn in case someone stayed behind. He snuck around, looking for where the baby would be. Make a sound kiddo, come on, something, Uncle Stiles didn’t have a super-sniffer equipped.

After poking around what felt like a century, he finally heard the whine of an itty bitty kid, and lo there the child was, adorable as a button. “Aw, heya kiddo, c’mere.” He picked up the child, humming a little to try and keep them calm as he now had the great joy of having to get out of there. With the kid. He walked the whole back-asswards way around to stay far enough away from gunshots and yelling, because if that baby started crying, both of their asses would be dead! And the werewolves could smell his and Cora’s cocktail of gross or whatever, they could track him down anyway and it would be fine! Cora was fine, he was fine, everything was Gucci.

Back at the headquarters, he started looking around for anything that would help the child, blankets or diapers or at least something. But there wasn’t even a car-seat or anything. Where were they keeping the kid if the whole family was there the whole damn time? Stiles sat in one of the office chairs, baby sleeping soundly on his chest, as he waited for the family to get back.

There was no calm awakening for either, as a foot blasted through the door of the wildlife preserve office, splintering it instead of opening it. The sound of the voice cursing was definitely Derek, and he busted it down properly, a slight girl’s arm over his shoulder and a quart or so of blood apiece on everyone.

“Stiles, where the fuck did you go, we-“ Derek halted his scolding when he looked at him.

“Shhhhh, you’ll wake Cora up!” Stiles hissed.

Derek blinked those stupid pretty eyes as he looked truly lost for words. “Stiles.”

“Yeah?”

“Where did you get a baby?”

“Whaddaya mean? In the stronghold, where you all said-“

“This is Cora.” He said, pointing to the unconscious woman he dragged in.

Oh. Baby of the family meant. Youngest sibling not. Actual infant. Huh.

Huh.

So then who exactly was he holding???

“Who the fuck steals a baby?” Peter asked,  pointing at the kidnapper.

Stiles looked at the child like it had turned into a 30 megaton nuke.

Talia sighed. “Stiles.”

“Yes’m.”

“....Laura, go get some formula and diapers. I’ll....ask around about the baby.”

----

Stiles didn’t get into the family business to actually start a family. This was not his intention in the slightest. But here he was, singing a very off-key Jurassic Park theme song he composed himself to a tiny baby girl he decided to call Izzy, after his suggestions of Katie, Smelborp, Stormageddon, Cirilla, and Dreamsmasher were all shot down.

Derek walked in, and stood next to Stiles, hands out, offering to take the kiddo. Derek shouldn’t be allowed to dress down ever in Stiles’ presence, because the thin tee and the sweatpants were doing far too many good things for him. Too much was on display.

“No. Mine. Go kidnap your own.”

Derek exhaled, which was as close as Stiles ever got to a laugh from him. “C’mon, you’re dead on your feet, you adrenaline crashed hours ago, and the kid’s not falling asleep anytime soon. Give her over, alright?”

“Mine.”

“I get it, I get it, you like the kid. But what happens when you get attached and we have to hand the kid back over?” Derek folded his arms, and it....hhough he shouldn’t be allowed to fold his arms either, what were those arms even??? It wasn’t fair. Stupid werewolf whatever magic bullshit.

“Give her back?” Stiles asked, offended by the suggestion. No, they were not giving Isabel back, no no no, not happening.

“Yes, give her back. Do you think you can just keep her here forever? The Argents might burn the whole preserve down if this is one of their daughters. You don’t have a birth certificate for her, even.”

“Shhhhhh stop saying sense words.”

Derek slipped his arms in and yoinked the baby before Stiles could react, but as soon as the baby was nestled against him, Stiles didn’t have the heart. Derek looked hot as hell all the time, but that, with the light from the lamp bouncing off of his face, and even a smile? He was beautiful. “There, was that so hard?”

“Yes. Give her back.” But Stiles wasn’t trying to take her back, he knew in a battle of strength he wasn’t going to win that. Unless it was strength of will, that he could go toe-to-toe with any of them. Stiles sat in one of the chairs, ready for a long night ahead of him, watching Derek pace softly in socked feet around the room.

With Izzy settled in a makeshift crib, Derek sat in another chair, rubbing his eyes that were still dusted with gunpowder and smoke from the fight. Cora was up and running again, talking things over with Talia and Laura, his job was to watch the baby. And Stiles, though they came as a joint package.

Stiles fiddled with a fraying end of the chair. Ever since he joined the family months ago, he didn’t ask any of the specifics of what his father did, but he was curious. “You know what my dad did, exactly, to get this kind of treatment for me?”

Derek looked up. “You sure you want to know?”

“Yes.” Stiles had stolen a baby he wasn’t exactly king of the moral high ground that day.

Derek sighed, thin mouth pressed so tight it was almost one dimensional. But something in his mind must have won out, that Stiles deserved to know, so he told. About how he was fifteen, with a girlfriend, and given some frankly terrible advice from Peter, that ended up getting her in a bad way, and Derek had to snap her neck. It was a mercy kill, but that was a dead girl’s body, and any whiff of that reaching the public would ruin Derek’s life forever.

Talia and Claudia had been friends for years, so when Talia asked for John to come to the preserve, no lights no sirens, for a favor, she made a leap of faith that John wouldn’t betray her family. But he didn’t. John fixed the autopsy results to show she was hit by a car, fixed everything up so she was mourned by her family in the normal way for a tragic death, and no one was the wiser that Derek had killed her.

Stiles was silent for a long time after that. Derek thought he’d fallen asleep, but finally Stiles spoke. “He did the right thing. He warned me, you know, that he did and accepted some things I might not like. But that’s....that’s not what happened.” They looked at each other for a moment, the quiet intimacy of secrets laid bare broken by the sound of a stirring baby.

“Aw c’mon Izzy, please just sleeeeep.....be a good lil Mafia princess for me, huh?” Stiles begged, getting up.

“We’re not the Mafia!” Derek objected.

“You wear suits, you talk about the family business, you run a front organization to alter cashflow, just cause you’re wolves doesn’t make you not-Mafia.”

----

“She’s a spark.” Talia announced to the collected family, Izzy playing with the square in Derek’s suit pocket.

“Shiiiiit, where’d they get one of those?” Peter asked, side-eyeing the little one. Someone snapped at him about his language choices, but it didn’t matter, as he would continue to do what he wanted. Stiles didn’t care for Peter too much in general, but after hearing what happened with Derek and Paige, he was not exactly feeling it.

“Explanation for the newbie?” Stiles asked with a raised hand.

“Spark, you know, magical talent. Some channel it into Druidism, some channel it in other magical schools of thought, that kind of thing. They become our emissaries, or...if the Argents raise one up from the ground, a devastating weapon.” Laura explained, looking at Isabel with a look more concerned and less suspicious.

“Oh, you mean like this?” Stiles snapped both sets of fingers, and a shot of electricity arced from one thumb to the other.

Every wolf in the room stared at him in utter silence for a solid ten seconds of uncomfortable quiet.

“Stiles.” Derek ventured the conversation.

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you tell us you could do that.”

“Didn’t ask.”

“Are you always this- never mind I know you are.” Derek shook his head.

Stiles grinned at being so well known, but the conversation was too serious for many jokes. “We’re not giving the her back to those unhinged fu- people, are we? She’s like me. Mine.”

“Well. That depends. If she was born to one of them, they are their child.” Talia wouldn’t like that if it were the case. “But, the fact that the police haven’t knocked on our door tells me that either they think we’ll kill the kid if they do, or they have no better right to her than anyone else. I think it’s the latter. However, they’ll bring their whole force against us to get her back. If we had John-”

Stiles froze at the mention of his father’s name, but said nothing more.

“If we had John, we would definitely be able to sort her paperwork out. But we don’t. We need to find a new contact in the police that can arrange us those papers. Until we get that, Derek and Stiles, I want you both to take her into the vault with everything you need to last a week with her. You’ll be safe there. Any questions?”

Stiles raised his hand again. “Is there wi-fi in the vault?”

---

There was no wi-fi in the vault.

There was also no cell service either, which meant no Netflix, which meant no video games, no Youtube, nothing to amuse him. And it was only two days in. He had nothing. Except for, of course, annoying Derek. At least Derek was very generous in this.

“Twenty questions.”

“No.”

“I’m thinking of....a noun.”

“No.”

By four days, Stiles had run out of annoyances and had drifted into just mindlessly babbling at Izzy, while Derek’s forehead wrinkles got worse and worse with every minute that his brain cells slipped away.

On the sixth day, Derek finally decided to play ball. Either Stiles had worn him down enough, or maybe the two bottles of whiskey were going to help him cope.

“Truth or dare?” Stiles offered, smile with as he took the offered booze.

“Only because I don’t have a deck of cards. As a warning, never play Laura in King’s Cup, she has never lost a game and given me alcohol poisoning three times.”

“How does the whiskey even work on you, Mr. Healsalot.”

“Is Healsalot the best you can do?”

“Shut up.”

“It’s actually a bit of halite. Disables werewolf abilities while in close proximity, if something happens I toss it away as quick as possible and I’m good in, I’d say a minute or so with this level of exposure. Cora had a couple day’s worth, which is why she was knocked out.”

“Gotcha.” At least it made as much sense as anything else these weirdo furries got up to. Once each had downed a respectable amount of alcohol, they could begin. “Alright, truth or dare, big guy.”

“Dare.”

“Dare you toooooo.....fuck never mind there’s nothing fun to dare you with in here. These are all your family’s valuables and shit how am I supposed to dare you to dress up in Auntie Myrtle’s wedding dress and sing Poker Face on video for my own personal blackmail?”

“Truth, then.”

“You like guys?”

Derek stared at the directness of the question. “Subtle, aren’t we?”

“Literally never.”

“Okay. Sometimes.” Stiles didn’t look happy about the answer. “Why did you steal the baby?”

“I thought she was Cora!”

“You thought they wouldn’t have any sort of defenses around the hostage they’d taken from the werewolf family that they were fighting a turf war with?!”

“Shhhhhhh it’s fine it’s fine it all worked out right?”

“Did it? We’re hiding in a vault, that you have not stopped bitching about once since we came in here, and we might be giving her back, and even if we don’t, who’s going to take care of her?”

“Me.”

“You.”

“Moi. Yo. Io. You want it in any other language?”

“Polish?”

“Fuck you.”

“You wish.” Derek had something of a grin as he took another shot.

“Do you wish you could fuck me?” Stiles was getting bolder a couple shots in.

Derek took a moment to answer. “Sometimes.” Vague bastard.

“Oh? Like when?”

“Ah ah ah, my turn.” Derek took a swig, forgetting the dainty shot glass. “How many moles you got?”

“You wanna count em up?”

“Not an answer.”

“Over a hundred.”

Derek nodded, considering this thought as carefully as someone half-drunk really can. “Interesting.”

“Where do your eyebrows go when you shift?”

“How the fuck am I supposed to answer that question?”

“It’s your body, dude! How am I supposed to know how many moles I got when you don’t know where your friggin eyebrows go?!?!” Stiles’ limbs flailed as he gesticulated his exasperation.

“You’re gonna wake Izzy.” Derek warned. The baby was in another room of the vault so she could sleep while the adults could have their last-day-of-vaulting fun.

“Alright alr- wait, you called her Izzy.”

“No I didn’t.”

“Yeeeeeeees, yes you did you called her Izzy instead of the baby. You like her.”

“Shhh.”

“New question: do you like Isabel Stilinski-Hale, the new baby of the family?”

Derek chuckled, man he really must be drunk. “We’re hyphenating?”

“I found her so I get first billing, but like y’all took me in so like, I guess you can join. Whatever.”

“Yes, I like the kid. She’s pretty good for a baby. Only projectile vomited on me twice. That’s not bad.”

“She’s the best kid.”

“Do you really think you’re in a good place to adopt her right now in your life?”

“Nooooo stop with the serious questions.” Stiles whined. “Serious ones aren’t fun let’s get back to the flirty ones those were fun.”

“It’s my question.” Derek shrugged.

“If I stole you as a kid I’d name you Moodkiller the Great.”

“Is ‘the Great’ my last name or is ‘the’ my middle name, like Kermit.”

“God you’re such a fucking nerd.”

“You know, no, I’m not in like the...perfect spot. But who IS when they get a kid? And I got the magic thing, and she does, so like....I dunno, she’s got no one else, probably, so.....wouldn’t you guys help me?” Stiles’ big dark eyes looked so beautiful in the scant light of the vault. Derek’s kryptonite.

“Of course we would, don’t be stupid.” Derek mumbled, looking away.

“.....Isabel Stilinski-Haaaale you’re gonna come home with uuuuuuus.” Stiles grinned, getting his own way.

“Whose turn is it?” Derek asked, not sure where the game had gone.

“Mmmmmine. I think. Maybe. Does it matter?”

“Guess not.”

Stiles paused for a second, looking at the distance between them on the floor, the thought process unfolding before Derek’s eyes as he saw Stiles decide exactly how to ambulate himself closer. With a thud, Stiles flopped on top of him and they fell flat on the floor.

“Ow.”

“Oh shut up that didn’t hurt, you big baby.” Stiles wasn’t going to let Derek get another word in, pressing his mouth against his, clumsy and off-center and everything bizarrely fitting together despite everything.

Derek only let Stiles win that for a half a second, before pinning Stiles down to the floor himself.

----

Stiles’ hangover next day was legendary. The wakeup screaming baby was violence to his ears and Derek was disgustingly FINE and Stiles hated him so much except for the fact that he still wanted to make out with his stupid face. Once he got up off the floor maybe. Everything hurt. Ow.

“C’mon, dumbass, Mom and Laura showed up outside, they said we got the kiddo and gotta go fill out the paperwork at the station. Gotta tell the world she’s your girl.”

“Yeah.” Stiles mumbled a little, looking up at Derek with the baby on his hip. “Mine.”

[a-michel73]

Best places to visit in rainy season in Mumbai & Pune

Here are the best places to visit

1. Amboli

The mist-laden ghats of Amboli brim with nature and is the topmost “Eco Hotspots” in Sahyadri. Amboli is an off-the-beaten hill station at 2,260 feet above sea level in the Sindhudurg district of Southern Maharashtra after which the coastal uplands of Goa start to unfurl. Places such as the Amboli waterfalls, Madhavgad fort, Shirigaonkar and sunset points etc. Amboli village has been recorded to receive the highest rainfalls during monsoon in the entire state of Maharashtra which gives you thumbs up to include in your list of Maharashtra places to visit in monsoon.

2. Khandala

The picturesque station that lies a few kilometres before you hit the customary Lonavala city roads is quite underrated. Khandala is another famous hill station that leads to many trek trails such as Visapur, Rajmachi and Lohagad etc. in monsoon and is quite easily accessible from metro cities like Mumbai and Pune. Bedsa cave, Duke’s nose, Tiger’s cave Bushi Dam, Tungarli Dam, and Karla and Bhaja caves are a few attractions that can be toured while in Khandala.

3. Mahabaleshwar

The strawberry town needs no introduction, Mahabaleshwar is a hill station in Satara district of Maharashtra. It is quite near to Panchgani in distance and both are often coupled together in a single trip. In bygone times, during the British Raj, Mahabaleshwar served as a summer capital. It is famed for producing almost 85 percent of the entire strawberry production that gets distributed across the country. Bound by meadows and greenery from all sides, Mahabaleshwar is a large plateau town that attracts hordes of tourists throughout the year. During the monsoon season, the entire valley comes to life with cascading waterfalls and rivers.

4. Alibaug

Alibagh is the town by the sea that can easily be accessed by a ferry ride from Gateway of India in just an hour log boat ride. The coastal town is one of the most popular places in Maharashtra which experiences tourists footfall throughout the year. Fondly dubbed as “mini-Goa”, it is nestled in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, precisely south of Mumbai. Alibag is loved for the colonial history and clean beaches such as Varsoli, Kihim Beach, Alibag beach, and Nagaon Beach. The presence of Murud-Janjira fort in the middle of the sea amplifies the surge of tourism in Alibag even more.

5. Matheran

The romantic and environmentally responsible Matheran is a weekender’s delight. Not more than 100 kilometres west of Mumbai, lies this tiny hill station which is famous for banning motorable vehicles to preserve its colonial edifices. You can still find Matheran in the most untouched way even after the rapid rise of hotels and guest houses because, besides the commercial tactics, the place is covered and surrounded by thick jungles. Monsoon is literally the best time to visit Matheran.

6. Panchgani

Panchgani: The neighbouring hill station to the strawberry town of Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani is one of the most-cherished places to visit in monsoon in Maharashtra. Nestled at an elevation of 4370 feet above sea level in Satara district of Maharashtra, Panchgani is named after the five hills of Sahyadri that surround this place. The Sahyadri make for a great view from the various sunset and sunrise points in Panchgani. It is mostly frequented by families as it has well-defined routes and points with a fair choice of stay options and a lucrative market.

7. Igatpuri

Dotted with waterfalls, rivers and towering hills of Sahyadri, Igatpuri is one of the places to visit in monsoon in Maharashtra which is hard to resist. Igatpuri falls on the  Mumbai-Agra highway, just 45 kilometres before Nashik.It is a major railhead that also connects the nearby cities. Igatpuri is truly a paradise in terms of natural beauty, valleys such as Bhatsa River Valley, Camel Valley, Konkan Kada valley etc are some of the well-kept treasures in this petite hilly town.

8. Bhimashankar

Bhimashankar is one of the revered Jyotirlingas in India and is one of the mandates to people surfing Maharashtra places to visit in monsoon. Perched atop an elevation of 3250 feet above sea level in Bhorgiri village- Bhimashankar is surrounded by other Sahyadri jewels like Matheran, Nasik, Trimbakeshwar etc. Bhimashankar is a mix of new and old architecture in Nagara style where sculptors and pieces are seen from the 13th to the 18th century.

9. Malshej Ghat

A ghat in the Sahyadri is mostly a monsoon pass, Malshej is popular ghat on the Mumbai-Thane road. The ghat is similar to the other ghats of Sahyadri range but it oodles with a number of trek trails. It is one of the must-see places in monsoon if you love getting drenched in the heavy showers.Situated on the borders of Thane and Ahmednagar districts and is home to home chirpers like cuckoos, flamingoes, quails and rails.

10. Kalsubai

As the highest peak of Sahyadri range, Kalsubai is a dream trek. Dwells at an elevation of 5400 feet above sea level, Kalsubai is a scenic hill and is peppered with innumerable waterfalls and rivulets. The peak is located within the green fringes of  Kalsubai Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary where the trail is well-marked for the trek and nature enthusiasts to follow. Bari is the base village to begin the uphill walk towards the peak.

[indiabycaranddriver]

Five Best Places To Spot Wildlife In Rajasthan

The royalty and hospitality of Rajasthan leave your jaw dropped for various reasons. Rajasthan is well-known for grand palaces, forts, deserts, and blending yourself with the cultural trend. Alongside all these beautiful things, this state offers prosperous wildlife that is preserved in many conservation reserves. Welcome to this post, where India By Car and Driver takes you on a list of the five best places in Rajasthan to explore its diverse wildlife.

Put your adventure mode on, and let’s begin

From growling tigers of Ranthambore National Park to human-friendly leopards in Jawai, a Rajasthan wildlife tour has it all to ignite the wildlife lover within you.

Ranthambore National Park

We are proud to tell you that the Ranthambore National Park is counted as one of the most visited Indian forest reserves, props to its beautiful tigers that you can spot in natural habitats. Earlier, it was a significant hunting ground for the Rajasthani kings, but it is now a part of the Project Tiger since 1973.

The spreading jungles of Ranthambore are famous for a blooming population of Bengal tigers, but that’s not all. You can also discover chitals, crocodiles, rhesus macaque, gray langur, sloth bear, striped hyena, and more with your Rajasthan Wildlife and Heritage Tour Package from India By Car and Driver.    

Sariska Tiger Reserve

Set in the Alwar district of Rajasthan sits Sariska Tiger Reserve, a part of the Kathiawar-Gir, dry short-lived jungle eco-region and the Aravali Hills.

It’s a tiger reserve, so you will surely spot tigers.

However, you will also see various fauna species such as Indian eagle-owl, crested serpent eagle, golden-backed woodpecker, treepie, brush, quail, and more. Don’t forget to take pictures of these lovable animals as souvenirs.      

Desert National Park

The Desert National Park is ironically not deserted, get it? No. Well, jokes aside, the Desert National Park is one of the biggest national parks in the world, another proud fact for us. It is located in Jaisalmer and Barmer, where you experience the Thar Desert’s ecosystem up-close.

You can easily view picturesque wildlife species living in the desert area like the great Indian bustard, sand grouse, kestrels, laggar falcons, spotted eagles, and many more.    

Jawai Leopard Conservation

A real hidden jewel of Rajasthan, Jawai Leopard Conservation Reserve is quickly rising to be the perfect tourist destination in the state that guarantees you a heart-throbbing safari.

Located close to the Sumerpur town of Pali district, it has a thriving population of leopards, crocodiles, birds, and what not? With that being said, your vacation in Jawai will be full of enjoyment, excitement, and experiences.    

Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated in the Rajsamand district, Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary got its name after the grand fort of Kumbhalgarh, which also became a stop and stare destination for travelers in Jodhpur or Udaipur. So along with wildlife safari, you also get bird sightings as a bonus.

You will discover various species such as dove, kingfisher, bulbul, grey pigeon, etc. After these thrilling experiences, all you need is a Rajasthan Relaxation Tour.    

Summary: The royalty and hospitality of Rajasthan leave your jaw dropped for various reasons. Rajasthan is well-known for grand palaces, forts, deserts, and blending yourself with the cultural trend. Alongside all these beautiful things, this state offers prosperous wildlife that is preserved in many conservation reserves.  

[emperornorton47]

Sweeney Ridge and the San Gabriels

[cultureindiaholidays]

Wildlife Tour Packages

we have in India various wildlife national parks and wildlife sanctuaries where you can watch the varied species of animals and birds,  along with lush greenery and plenty of flora and fauna and add charm to your Wildlife Tours India. Besides, riding an elephant to get the wonderful and view of wildlife within the sanctuaries will make you experience the best Wildlife Safari in India.

Best of the major wildlife National Park and sanctuaries located in various regions of India are Bandhavgarh National Park, Corbett National Park,  Kanha National Park, and many more.

visit with Culture India Trip  to any of the wildlife destinations in India to watch the tigers sprawling under the sun or the migratory birds coming from various parts of the world. we have all National Parks Wildlife Tour Packages and we offer you best of wildlife tour in India. also we have customized itineraries according to your wish.                                                                                             surely we provide you an excellent wildlife tour to make your trip memorable.

List of wildlife National Park In India

Ranthambore national Park

Ranthambore National Park is one of the Best and most renowned national park in Northern India. The park is located in the Sawai Madhopur  district of Rajasthan, which is Aroundt 130 km from Jaipur. This Park is one of the famous and former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park terrain is major wildlife tourist attraction spot that has pulled the attention of many wildlife photographers and lovers in this destination.

Ranthambore National park is over an area of 392 sq km. along with its nearby sanctuaries like - the Mansingh Sanctuary and the Kaila Devi Sanctuary. The park is majorly famous for its tigers and is one of the best locations in India to see the majestic predators in its natural habitat. The tigers can be easily spotted even during the day time busy at their ordinary quest- hunting and taking proper care of their young ones.

Ranthambore is also counted as the famous heritage site because of the pictorial ruins that dot the wildlife park. Certainly, a visit to Ranthambore National Park is a treat for every wildlife and nature lover. The time spend on watching tigers roaming around, verdant greenery, a gamut of other species of chirpy birds and animals is priceless and worth enough to be explored at least once in a life.

Sariska National park

Sariska Tiger Reserve Park is arournd 122 Kms from Jaipur and it's in the Aravali Hills covering 800 sq km area divided into the grasslands, dry deciduous forests,  sheer cliffs and rocky landscape. Whether you want to have camel safaris, go out for shopping in the surrounding places, visit medieval palaces or wildlife watching; Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is the best place for you.

Sariska park is home to numerous carnivores including Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Jackal, and Tiger. These feed on an abundance of prey species such as Sambar, Chitel, Nilgai, Chausingha, Wild Boar and Langur. Sariska is also well known for its large population of Rhesus Monkeys, which are found in large numbers around Talvriksh.

The avian world is also well represented with a rich and varied birdlife. These include Peafowl, Grey Partridge, Bush Quail, Sand Grouse, Tree Pie, Golden backed Wood Pecker, Crested Serpent Eagle and the Great Indian Horned Owl.

open everyday from October till May end from 6 A.M. to 3:30 in the afternoon.

Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park, the most popular national parks in India is located in the Vindhya Hills of the Umaria district in Madhya Pradesh. Declared as a national park in 1968 the Bandhavgarh National Park is spread across the area of 105 km². The name Bandhavgarh has been derived from the most prominent hillock of the area of Umaria. The area of Bandhavgarh is being flourished with a large biodiversity, the place which is also being famed to grip highest density of tiger population in India. Similarly, the park also beholds the largest  breeding population of leopards and various species of deer. Over the years, the park has shown a great number of increases in the count of the tiger species and this is the reason why tiger tours is so famed to attract large amount of tourists at its vicinity.

The park has been divided into three major zones named as Tala, Magdi and Bamera out of which the Tala zone attracts major number of tourists by offering the tiger sighting opportunities. The park authorities are also focusing on the Magdi Zone by providing more  opportunity to spot tigers. Elephant shows are also organized in Magdi zone of the Bandhavgarh national park to increase the chances of spotting the elusive king of the jungle.

Bandhavgarh National Park consists of mixed vegetations ranging from tall grasslands to thick Sal forest and so is the perfect  habitat of variety of animals and birds. Due to varied topography, the Bandhavgarh national park provides ample opportunity to  spot the majestic Indian tiger and some rarely seen animals like leopard and sloth bear. Due to high wildlife sighting it is  becoming popular amongst tourists visiting India.

visit: February-June (Closed 1 July-15 October)

Jeep Safari in Bandhavagrh &Elephant Safari in Bandhavgarh

Kanha National Park

The Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh came into being in 1955 and forms the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, created in 1974 under  Project Tiger. The Park's landmark achievement is the preservation of the rare hardground Swamp Deer (Barasingha), saving it from near  extinction. Stringent conservation programs for the overall protection of the Park's fauna and flora, makes Kanha one of the most well  maintained National Parks in Asia.

The main wildlife attractions in the park are tiger, bison, gaur, sambhar, chital, more pictures.... barasingha, barking deer, black deer,  black buck, chousingha, nilgai, mouse deer, sloth bear, jackal fox, porcupine, hyena, jungle cat, python, pea fowl, hare, monkey, mongoose,  tiger, and leopard.

The birds species in the park include storks, teals, pintails, pond herons, egrets, peacock, pea fowl, jungle fowl, spur fowl, partridges,  quails, ring doves, spotted parakeets, green pigeons, rock pigeons, cuckoos, papihas, rollers, bee-eater, hoopoes, drongos, warblers, kingfishers, woodpeckers, finches, orioles, owls, and fly catchers.

[littleuggy]

Tennessee/Cumberland Plateau Gothic

The hills echo with gunshots.. No one looks up. What season is this? Deer? Quail? Perhaps boar. It is always boar season. It doesn’t matter. The shots echo and the buzzards circle. No one notices.

The land is hollow. The rolling hills are filled with holes. Limestone caverns where a body can be lost yet preserved for years. At night the bats stream out. Small and chittering. They can find there way in the dark, unlike the unfortunate spelunkers.

The churches are always present. You’re eyes pass over the after a while. Lurking on every street, every desolate back road. It the small towns, and nearly all the towns are small, there will be several in a row, lined up, silently competing. Marquees proclaim doom and redemption. Stain glass eyes stare reproachfully out of weathered wood frames. The sanctuaries are always dark. Why are they so dark? The walls reverberate with the voices of thousands of wavering hymns. The pointed steeples pierce the sky. On Sunday the bells toll out, a reminder to all the absent sinners.

The land rises. Every hill topped reveals another, higher and larger in the distance. The drops between open, revealing the small communities that cluster at the bases of the mountain. Are they mountains? The land rises, but there are no peaks, no snow caps, Just endless rolling hills, rising higher and higher. The valleys growing wider.

The lakes are not natural. The rivers that make the veins of the land spill into the creations. The tides raised and low at the whim of man. This was called progress. The turbines are turned. Fuels are burned. Steam is generated, and we have light. The forests are tamed and corralled. The waterfalls have stairs with rails leading up to them. Campsites sectioned into little measured blocks along the banks of the man made lakes. And this is called nature. And it is called beautiful.

The gravel roads lead out and up into the unincorporated communities whose locality is liminal, the woods stretch in all directions. Sheer drops on either side of the poorly maintained path, the houses set so far back that they seem part of the forest, crouching and wary like an animal. There may be a falling down barn, a broken truck. Both overgrown and being claimed by the woods. Do people live here? They must. Why else would there be houses?

The deer lie in wait in the shadows of the road. They wait for the light of the car on dark nights to fling themselves in front of. Hooves hitting glass and metal. Does and bucks alike testing physics. And yet, while the car screeches and honks, taking paychecks worth of damage. The deer will somehow bound away.

The people here are poor. Do they know this? What is poor, when everyone is? The line at the church food bank when it opens on Friday is stretched to the street. The library in the elementary school is shunted into a basement with only three shelves. There are jobs, so they say. The whistle for the sawmill can be heard across town on a clear day. The trucking companies send the drivers across the country. The chain stores are always hiring new “associates”. But only part time. No benefits. Minimum wage. Cost of living is low. It has to be.

[cultureindiatrip-blog]

Wildlife Tour Packages in India

we have in India various wildlife national parks and wildlife sanctuaries where you can watch the varied species of animals and birds,  along with lush greenery and plenty of flora and fauna and add charm to your Wildlife Tours India. Besides, riding an elephant to get the wonderful and view of wildlife within the sanctuaries will make you experience the best Wildlife Safari in India.

Best of the major wildlife National Park and sanctuaries located in various regions of India are Bandhavgarh National Park, Corbett National Park,  Kanha National Park, and many more.

visit with Culture India Trip  to any of the wildlife destinations in India to watch the tigers sprawling under the sun or the migratory birds coming from various parts of the world. we have all National Parks Wildlife Tour Packages and we offer you best of wildlife tour in India. also we have customized itineraries according to your wish.                                                                                        surely we provide you an excellent wildlife tour to make your trip memorable.

 List of wildlife National Park In India

Ranthambore national Park ( details +919927538763)

Ranthambore National Park is one of the Best and most renowned national park in Northern India. The park is located in the Sawai Madhopur  district of Rajasthan, which is Aroundt 130 km from Jaipur. This Park is one of the famous and former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park terrain is major wildlife tourist attraction spot that has pulled the attention of many wildlife photographers and lovers in this destination.

Ranthambore National park is over an area of 392 sq km. along with its nearby sanctuaries like - the Mansingh Sanctuary and the Kaila Devi Sanctuary. The park is majorly famous for its tigers and is one of the best locations in India to see the majestic predators in its natural habitat. The tigers can be easily spotted even during the day time busy at their ordinary quest- hunting and taking proper care of their young ones.

Ranthambore is also counted as the famous heritage site because of the pictorial ruins that dot the wildlife park. Certainly, a visit to Ranthambore National Park is a treat for every wildlife and nature lover. The time spend on watching tigers roaming around, verdant greenery, a gamut of other species of chirpy birds and animals is priceless and worth enough to be explored at least once in a life.

Sariska National park  ( Get details +919927538763)

Sariska Tiger Reserve Park is arournd 122 Kms from Jaipur and it's in the Aravali Hills covering 800 sq km area divided into the grasslands, dry deciduous forests,  sheer cliffs and rocky landscape. Whether you want to have camel safaris, go out for shopping in the surrounding places, visit medieval palaces or wildlife watching; Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is the best place for you.

Sariska park is home to numerous carnivores including Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Jackal, and Tiger. These feed on an abundance of prey species such as Sambar, Chitel, Nilgai, Chausingha, Wild Boar and Langur. Sariska is also well known for its large population of Rhesus Monkeys, which are found in large numbers around Talvriksh.

The avian world is also well represented with a rich and varied birdlife. These include Peafowl, Grey Partridge, Bush Quail, Sand Grouse, Tree Pie, Golden backed Wood Pecker, Crested Serpent Eagle and the Great Indian Horned Owl.

open everyday from October till May end from 6 A.M. to 3:30 in the afternoon.

Bandhavgarh National Park  ( details+919927538763)

Bandhavgarh National Park, the most popular national parks in India is located in the Vindhya Hills of the Umaria district in Madhya Pradesh. Declared as a national park in 1968 the Bandhavgarh National Park is spread across the area of 105 km². The name Bandhavgarh has been derived from the most prominent hillock of the area of Umaria. The area of Bandhavgarh is being flourished with a large biodiversity, the place which is also being famed to grip highest density of tiger population in India. Similarly, the park also beholds the largest  breeding population of leopards and various species of deer. Over the years, the park has shown a great number of increases in the count of the tiger species and this is the reason why tiger tours is so famed to attract large amount of tourists at its vicinity.

The park has been divided into three major zones named as Tala, Magdi and Bamera out of which the Tala zone attracts major number of tourists by offering the tiger sighting opportunities. The park authorities are also focusing on the Magdi Zone by providing more  opportunity to spot tigers. Elephant shows are also organized in Magdi zone of the Bandhavgarh national park to increase the chances of spotting the elusive king of the jungle.

Bandhavgarh National Park consists of mixed vegetations ranging from tall grasslands to thick Sal forest and so is the perfect  habitat of variety of animals and birds. Due to varied topography, the Bandhavgarh national park provides ample opportunity to  spot the majestic Indian tiger and some rarely seen animals like leopard and sloth bear. Due to high wildlife sighting it is  becoming popular among tourists visiting India.

Kanha National Park  ( Get details +919927538763)

The Kanha National Park in State Madhya Pradesh, India came into being in 1955 and forms the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, created in 1974 under  Project Tiger. The Park's landmark achievement is the preservation of the rare hardground Swamp Deer (Barasingha), saving it from near  extinction. Stringent conservation programs for the overall protection of the Park's fauna and flora, makes Kanha one of the most well  maintained National Parks in Asia.

The main wildlife attractions in the park are tiger, bison, gaur, sambhar, chital, more pictures.... barasingha, barking deer, black deer,  black buck, chousingha, nilgai, mouse deer, sloth bear, jackal fox, porcupine, hyena, jungle cat, python, pea fowl, hare, monkey, mongoose,  tiger, and leopard.

The birds species in the park include storks, teals, pintails, pond herons, egrets, peacock, pea fowl, jungle fowl, spur fowl, partridges,  quails, ring doves, spotted parakeets, green pigeons, rock pigeons, cuckoos, papihas, rollers, bee-eater, hoopoes, drongos, warblers, kingfishers, woodpeckers, finches, orioles, owls, and fly catchers.

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~Doctor Watson~

Doctor Watson : Prolegomena to the study of biographical problem, with a bibliography of Sherlock Holmes is a study written by S. C. Roberts first published in 1931 by Faber & Faber Ltd. (Criterion Miscellany No. 28).

Part I 'As in every phenomenon the Beginning remains always the most notable moment; so with regard to any great man, we rest not till, for our scientific profit or not, the whole circumstances of his first appearance in this Planet, and what manner of Public Entry he made, are with utmost completeness rendered manifest.' So wrote Carlyle, an author from whose voluminous works quotations would readily fall from the lips of Dr. Watson himself. But to render manifest the whole circumstances of Watson's first appearance in this planet is a task before which Boswell himself might well have quailed. Certainly Boswell might have run half over London and fifty times up and down Baker Street with very little reward for his trouble. Where were the friends or relatives who could have given him the information about Watson's early life? 'Tadpole' Phelps might have given a few schoolboy anecdotes; young Stamford might have been traced to Harley Street or some provincial surgery, and have talked a little about Watson at Bart.'s; his brother had been a skeleton in the family cupboard; his first wife, as seems probable, died some five or six years after marriage; Holmes himself might have deduced much but, except in the famous instance of the fifty-guinea watch, seldom concerned himself with Watson's private affairs. The young Watson, in short, is an elusive figure. 'Data, data, give us data,' as Holmes might have said. Since he took his doctor's degree at the University of London in 1878, Watson's birth may with a fair measure of confidence be assigned to the year 1852. [1] The place of his birth is wrapped in deeper mystery. At first sight the balance of evidence seems to point to his being a Londoner; much of his written work, at any rate, conveys the suggestion that he was most fully at home in the sheltering arms of the great metropolis: Baker Street, the Underground, hansom cabs, Turkish baths, November fogs — these, it would seem, are of the very stuff of Watson's life. On the other hand, when, broken in health and fortune, Watson stepped off the Orontes on to the Portsmouth jetty, he 'naturally gravitated to London, that great cesspool into which all the loungers and idlers of the Empire are irresistibly drained.' It is difficult to believe that Watson, in whose veins there flowed a current of honest sentiment, could thus have described his native city. On the whole, we incline to the view that he was born either in Hampshire or Berkshire; it was as he travelled to Winchester [2] ('the old English capital', as he nobly calls it) that he was moved by the beauty of the English countryside: 'the little white fleecy clouds... the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeping out from amidst the light green of the new foliage'. 'Are they not fresh and beautiful?' he cried out to Holmes... Again, Watson chafed at an August spent in London. It was not the heat that worried him (for an old Indian campaigner, as he said, a thermometer at 90° had no terrors); it was homesickness: he 'yearned for the glades of the New Forest or the shingle of Southsea...' [3] Concerning his parents Watson preserves a curious silence. That his father (H. Watson) was or had been, in comfortable circumstances may fairly be inferred from his possession of a fifty-guinea watch, and from his ability to leave his elder son with good prospects and to send his younger son to a school whence young gentlemen proceeded to Cambridge and the Foreign Office. Watson's reticence about his elder brother is hardly surprising: squandering the legacy bequeathed to him by his father he lived in poverty, 'with occasional short intervals of prosperity'. Possibly he was an artist who occasionally sold a picture; more probably he was a gambler. In any event, he died of drink round about the year 1886. [4] Concerning Watson's boyhood two facts stand out clearly: he spent a portion of it in Australia, and he was sent to school in England. The reference to Australia is categorical. As he stood hand-in-hand with Miss Morstan in the grounds of Pondicherry Lodge, 'like two children', as he significantly says, the scenes of his own childhood came back to him: 'I have seen something of the sort on the side of a hill near Ballarat, where the prospectors had been at work'. In all probability, then, the period of Watson's Australian residence was before he reached the age of 13. [5] No reader of Watson's narrative can have failed to notice his curious treatment of his mother. [6] The explanation must surely lie in Mrs. Watson's early decease — probably very soon after her second son's birth. It is, perhaps, a little more fanciful — though not, surely, fantastic — to surmise that she was a devout woman with Tractarian leanings, and that before her death she breathed a last wish into her husband's ear that the child should be called John Henry, after the great Newman himself. Unable to face life in the old home, Watson père set out to make a new life in Australia, taking his two young children with him. Whether he had good luck in the gold-fields round Ballarat or in other spheres of speculative adventure, it is evident that he prospered. Of the influence of this Australian upbringing on the character of Doctor Watson we have abundant evidence: his sturdy common sense, his coolness, his adaptability to rough conditions on Dartmoor or elsewhere are marks of that tightening of moral and physical fibre which comes from the hard schooling of colonial life. Londoner as he afterwards became, Watson was always ready to doff the bowler hat, to slip his revolver into his coat pocket, and to face a mystery or a murder-gang with a courage which was as steady as it was unostentatious. But to return to Watson's boyhood: that he was sent to one of the public schools of England can hardly be doubted, since one of his intimate friends was Percy Phelps, 'a very brilliant boy' who, after a triumphant career at Cambridge, obtained a Foreign Office appointment. He was 'extremely well connected'. 'Even when we were all little boys together,' writes Watson, 'we knew that his mother's brother was Lord Holdhurst, the great Conservative politician.' But Watson's sturdy colonialism was proof against the insidious poison of schoolboy snobbery, and took little account of Phelps's 'gaudy relationship'. The boy was designated by no more dignified name than 'Tadpole', and his fellows found it 'rather a piquant thing' to 'chevy him about the playground and hit him over the shins with a wicket' — a sentence which suggests that Watson's school, like many others, preserved certain peculiarities of vocabulary, keeping the old term 'play-ground' for 'playing-field' and using 'wicket' in the sense of 'stump'. That it was a 'rugger' school there can be little doubt. How else would Watson have played three-quarter for Blackheath in later years? Characteristically, Watson never alludes to his prowess on the football field, until he is reminded of it by 'big Bob Ferguson', who once 'threw him over the ropes into the crowd at the Old Deer Park'. [7] In class-work we may conclude that Watson was able, rather than brilliant; he was two forms below 'Tadpole' Phelps, though of the same age; his school number was thirty-one. [8] Of Watson's student days we have but scanty record. At St. Bartholomew's Hospital he found himself in an atmosphere that has always been steeped in the tradition of the literary physician, [9] and it is clear that Watson was not of those who are content with the broad highway of the ordinary text-book. The learned and highly specialized monograph of Percy Trevelyan upon certain obscure nervous lesions, though something of a burden to its publishers, had not escaped the eye of the careful Watson; [10] nor was he unfamiliar with the researches of French psychologists. [11] With such interests in the finer points of neurological technique, it may at first sight seem strange that Watson should have chosen the career of an army surgeon, but after what has already been said of Watson's colonial background, it is clear that in the full vigour of early manhood he could not face the humdrum life of the general practitioner. The appeal of a full, pulsing life of action, coupled with the camaraderie of a regimental mess, was irresistible. Accordingly, we find him proceeding to the army surgeon's course at Netley. Whether he played 'rugger' for the United Services is uncertain; his qualification as a 'Club' three-quarter was a high one, but it is probable that at this period his passion for horses was developed. His summer quarters were near Shoscombe in Berkshire, and the turf never lost its attraction for him. Half of his wound pension, as he once, confessed to Holmes, was spent on racing. [12] But the scene was soon to be changed. At the end of his course Watson was duly posted to the Northumberland Fusiliers as Assistant Surgeon. With what zest may we picture him opening his account with Cox & Co. at Charing Cross, [13] and purchasing his tin trunk, pith helmet, and all the equipment necessary for Eastern service; with what quiet satisfaction must he have supervised the painting of the legend JOHN H. WATSON, M.D., upon his tin dispatch-box! But events were moving quickly; before Watson could join his regiment, the Second Afghan War had broken out. It was in the spring of 1880 that Watson embarked, in company with other officers, for service of our Indian dominion. At Bombay he received intelligence that his corps 'had advanced through the passes and was already deep in the enemy's country.' At Kandahar, which had been occupied by the British in July, [14] Watson joined his regiment, but it was not with his own regiment that he was destined to go into action: 'The Fifth marched back to Peshawar, and from there to Lawrencepore; and... in September they received orders for home... So they turned their backs on the tragedy of Maiwand.' [15] To Watson, however, the battle of Maiwand, fought on 27th July, 1880, was to become only too vivid a memory. He was removed from his own brigade and attached to the Berkshires (the 66th Foot), the story of whose heroic resistance at Maiwand has passed into military history. [16] Early in the course of the engagement, but not before he had, without loss of nerve, seen his comrades hacked to pieces, [17] Watson had been struck on the left shoulder by a Jezail bullet. The bone was shattered and the bullet grazed the subclavian artery; but, thanks to his orderly, Murray, to whose courage and devotion Watson pays a marked tribute, he was saved from falling into the hands of 'the murderous Ghazis', and after a pack-horse journey which must have aggravated the pain of the wounded limb, reached the British lines in safety. Of Watson's comrades-in-arms we know little; but seven years later we find his referring to his 'old friend Colonel Hayter' as having come under his professional care in Afghanistan. [18] Hayter is described as 'a fine old soldier who had seen much of the world', and it would seem fairly safe to identify him with the Major Charles Hayter who was director of Kabul Transport in the Second Afghan War. [19] The story of Watson's experiences in the base hospital at Peshawar, of his gradual convalescence, of his severe attack of enteric fever ('that curse', in his own graphic phrasing, 'of our Indian possessions'), of his final discharge, and of his return to England either late in 1880 or early in 1881, may be read in the pages of his own narrative. [20] With no kith or kin in England, with a broken constitution and a pension of 11s. 6d. a day, a man of weaker fibre than John H. Watson might well have sunk into dejection or worse. But Watson quickly realized the dangers of his comfortless and meaningless existence: even the modest hotel in the Strand he found to be beyond his means. Standing one day in the Criterion bar, 'as thin as a lath and as brown as a nut', he was tapped on the shoulder by young Stamford, who had been a dresser under him at Bart.'s. Overjoyed to see a friendly face, Watson immediately carried him off to lunch at the Holborn, where he explained his most pressing need — cheap lodgings. Young Stamford looked 'rather strangely' over his wine-glass. Had he some kind of intuition that he was to be one of the great liaison-officers of literary history, that he was shortly to bring about meeting comparable in its far-reaching influences with hat other meeting arranged by Tom Davies in Russell Street, Covent Garden, more than a hundred years before? Taking Watson with him to the chemical laboratory at St. Bartholomew's, young Stamford fulfilled his mission: 'Dr. Watson, Mr. Sherlock Holmes...' 'How are you?... You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.' 'How on earth did you know that?...' Such was the initiatory dialogue. Holmes and Watson quickly agreed to share rooms [21], and the load of depression was lifted from Watson's mind. Life had a new interest for him; the element of mystery about his prospective fellow-lodger struck him as 'very piquant'; as he aptly quoted to young Stamford: 'the proper study of mankind is man...' The walls of No. 221B Baker Street [22] bear no commemorative tablet. It is doubtful indeed whether the house has survived the latter-day onslaught of steel and concrete. Yet Baker Street remains for ever permeated with the Watsonian aura. The dim figures of the Baker Street irregulars scuttle through the November gloom, the ghostly hansom drives away, bearing Holmes and Watson on an errand of mystery. For some time Holmes himself remained a mystery to his companion. But on the 4th March, 1881, he revealed him-self as a consulting detective ('probably the only one in the world'), and on the same day there came Inspector Gregson's letter relating to the Lauriston Gardens Mystery. After much hesitation Holmes decided to take up the case. 'Get your hat,' he called to Watson; and though Watson accompanied his friend to the Brixton Road with little enthusiasm, Holmes's brusque summons was in fact a trumpet-call to a new life for Watson. In the course of the adventure which is known to history as A Study in Scarlet, Watson's alertness as a medical man is immediately evident. His deduction of the solubility in water of the famous pill was quick and accurate; nor did he fail to diagnose an aortic aneurism in Jefferson Hope. 'The walls of his chest', he recorded in his graphic way, 'seemed to thrill and quiver as a frail building would do inside when some powerful engine was at work. In the silence of the room I could hear a dull humming and buzzing noise which proceeded from the same source.' At this stage the friendship between Watson and Holmes was only in the making: Holmes still addressed his companion as 'Doctor'. But it was in his first adventure that Watson found his true métier. 'I have all the facts in my journal and the public shall know them.' Between 1881 and 1883 (the year of The Speckled Band) we have little record of Watson's doings. Possibly he divided his time quietly between Baker Street and his club. More probably he spent a portion of this period abroad. His health and spirits were improving; he had no family ties in England; Holmes was at times a trying companion. Now in later years Watson refers to 'an experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents.' [23] The three continents are clearly Europe, India, and Australia. In Australia he had been but a boy; in India he can have seen few women except the staff-nurses at Peshawar. It is conceivable, though not likely, that he revisited Australia at this time. It is much more probable that Watson spent some time on the Continent and that, in particular, he visited such resorts as contained the additional attraction of a casino. Gambling was the ruling passion of the Watson family. Watson père had gambled on his luck as an Australian prospector — and won; his elder son gambled on life — and lost; the younger son (a keen racing man' [24] and a dabbler in stocks and shares [25]) no doubt won, and lost, at rouge et noir. By the time of The Speckled Band it is noteworthy that the intimacy between Watson and Holmes has very considerably developed. Watson is no longer 'Doctor' but 'My dear Watson'; Holmes's clients are bidden to speak freely in front of his 'intimate friend and associate'; if there is danger afoot, Watson has but one thought: Can he be of help? 'Your presence', Holmes told him in the case of the Speckled Band, 'might be invaluable."Then', comes the quick reply, 'I shall certainly come.' It is the old campaigner who speaks. The years 1884 and 1885 are again barren of detailed Watsonian record; and here again it is possible that Watson spent part of his time on the Continent. But with the year 1886 we approach one of the major biographical problems of Watson's career — the date of his first marriage. For a proper consideration of the problem it is necessary, first, to clear one's mind of sentiment. We may remember Holmes's own criticism of Watson's first narrative: 'Detection is, or ought to be, an exact science, and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner. You have attempted to tinge it with romanticism... The biographer, when he reaches the story of Watson's courtship, must necessarily endeavour to do justice to its idyllic quality, but, primarily, he is concerned with a problem. Let us review our data: (1) In The Sign of Four, Miss Morstan, according to Watson's narrative, used the phrase: 'About six years ago — to be exact, upon the 4th May, 1882...' This would appear to date the adventure between April and June, 1888. (2) A Scandal in Bohemia is specifically dated loth March, 1888, and evidently occurred a considerable time after Watson's marriage. Watson had drifted away from Baker Street, and Holmes had been far afield — in Holland and Odessa. (3) At the time of The Reigate Squires, April, 1887, Holmes and Watson were still together in Baker Street. (4) The adventure of The Five Orange Pips is dated September, 1887, and occurred after Watson's marriage (his wife was visiting her aunt and he had taken the opportunity to occupy his old quarters at Baker Street). A brief summary of this kind does not, of course, pretend to include all the available data, but is at least sufficient to indicate certain contradictions which Holmes himself would have found difficult to reconcile. Suppose, for instance, that we accept the traditional date for Watson's engagement to Miss Morstan — the year 1888. In that case the marriage cannot have taken place until the late summer or autumn of that year. What, then, becomes of the extremely precise dating of A Scandal in Bohemia and The Five Orange Pips? One thing is clear: Watson, careful chronicler as he is, cannot have been consistently accurate in his dates. The traditional assignment of The Sign of Four to the year 1888 rests upon Watson's report of Miss Morstan's conversation; the dates of The Reigate Squires and of The Five Orange Pips are first-hand statements of Watson himself. Now Watson, when he wrote the journal of The Sign of Four, cannot be said to have been writing in his normal, business-like condition. From the moment that Miss Morstan entered the sitting-room of No. 221B Baker Street, he was carried away by what he picturesquely calls 'mere will-o'-the wisps of the imagination'. He tried to read Winwood Reade's Martyrdom of Man, but in vain; his mind ran upon Miss Morstan — 'her smiles, the deep, rich tones of her voice, the strange mystery which overhung her life'. Further, the Beaune he had taken for lunch had, on his own confession, affected him, and he had been brought to a pitch of exasperation by Holmes's extreme deliberation of manner. On the whole, then, was this a state of mind calculated to produce chronological accuracy? On the other hand, there are no such reasons to make us doubt the accuracy of The Reigate Squires and The Five Orange Pips; and if we accept the dates of these, the marriage must be fixed between April and September, 1887. Now, assuming that Miss Morstan shared the common prejudice against the unlucky month, it is not likely that the ceremony took place in May. June, on the other hand, seems extremely probable, since The Naval Treaty (July, 1887) is described as 'immediately succeeding the marriage'. Accordingly, we are driven to conclude that The Sign of Four belongs to the year 1886, in the autumn of which Watson became engaged. In the early part of 1887 Watson would be busy buying a practice, furnishing a house and dealing with a hundred other details. This would explain why, of the v ery large number of cases with which Holmes had to deal in this year, Watson has preserved full accounts of only a few. He had made rough notes, but had no time to elaborate them. 'All these', he writes in a significant phrase, 'I may sketch out at some future date.' Again, if June, 1887 be accepted as the date of the marriage, the opening of A Scandal in Bohemia becomes for the first time intelligible. Between June, 1887 and March, 1888 there was plenty of time for Watson to put on seven pounds in weight as the result of married happiness and for Holmes to attend to separate summonses from Odessa and The Hague. To claim definite certainty for such a solution would be extravagant; but as a working hypothesis it has claims which cannot be lightly dismissed. X

[kathydsalters31]

What I Feed My Active Dachshunds to Help Keep Them Healthy

I’ve been asked these questions lot over the years:

“What dog food do you recommend for Dachshunds?” “What should I feed my Dachshund to keep them healthy like yours?” “What do you think about food X or Y for Dachshunds?”

For the most part, I’ve also creatively dodged those questions a lot over the years.

You see, every dog is different. Every owner preference is different. Every budget is different.

There isn’t one right food for every dog.

Also, as we’ve found with the recent Hill’s Pet Nutrition recalls, and the potential grain-free dog food – heart health connection, what we think is good for a while can turn out to be not so great after all.

However, I finally decided it was about time I wrote something about what Summit and Gretel eat though. That way I have a place to point people when they ask in the future.

While I’m still not comfortable recommending specific foods for other dogs, I’ve become more comfortable with the idea of sharing what works best for us and letting you make the decision about what is right for your yours.

Note: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase.

The Dog Foods That I Feed My Healthy Dachshunds

I’ve fed all forms of dog foods over the years – kibble with grain, kibble without grain, canned “wet” food, pre-made frozen raw food, freeze dried raw food.

Today, no matter what the food type, I primarily choose dog foods that are high in protein.

Protein is important for muscle development, which is really important for active dogs.

Note: High protein works for my dogs. It doesn’t work for all dogs so be sure to check with your vet if you suspect your dog.

Summit and Gretel primarily eat raw dog food now but it’s more of a personal choice.

I give them frozen prepared raw because I’m not interested in learning how to create a balanced diet and making my own raw meals at this time.

However, I do sometimes, for a treat and additional nutrient variety, add fun things to their raw dog food to “dress it up”.

I’m also not a stickler for raw feeding.

I mean, humans don’t eat the same food all of the time. It would make is unhealthy – and, to me, that includes different FORMS of food, not just different brands or sources of protein.

That means, at any given time, Summit and Gretel may be eating a food that is not on this list.

But here are the foods I love and feed the most frequently.

Favorite Frozen Prepared Raw Dog Food for My Dachshunds

Darwin’s Natural Selections

Darwin’s Natural Selections raw dog food is convenient because you can sign up for a subscription and it arrives on your doorstep every 4-6 weeks (your choice) packed in dry ice.

All of their balanced, complete meals – chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, and duck – are made of 75% grass fed or cage-free meat and 25% organic vegetables.

They are also free of gluten, grain, steroids, hormones, and antibiotics.

You can customize your order by choosing the meats you want and the amount of each.

Darwin’s Food can be shipped anywhere in the United States for a $6.50 minimum (shipping costs vary depending on where you are located). If you live in the Seattle or Portland metropolitan areas, you may be in their free home delivery area.

If you’re new to Darwin’s and not sure what or how much to feed you can contact them for a free menu consultation.

Wild Coast Raw

Wild Coast Raw dog food is a “seasonally sourced craft raw food” created with oversight from a veterinarian with 25 years experience.

One of my favorite things about this raw food is that the ingredients are ground but not as small as with most raw foods. You can actually still see chunks of meat in there.

While “flavor” choices can vary by season, their grass-fed beef and free-range turkey meals seem to be available most of the year.

All formulas are made with organic vegetables.

This food is made in Olympia, WA and it appears that it’s only available to purchase in Washington State pet stores.

Steve’s Real Food

Steve’s Real raw dog food is a complete and balanced diet made with grass fed, hormone and antibiotic free meats and poultry.

Steve’s Real Food follows Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (B.A.R.F.) model of 80% Meat/Organ/Bone and 20% Produce.

They source most of the meat and all of the produce from the Northwest.

The meals come in beef, chicken, turkey, turducken, and pork.

You can find Steve’s Real Food at many pet stores around the country.

Nature’s Variety Instinct® Raw

I like Instinct® Raw dog food because it’s high quality and pretty to easy to find in any major city (and some not so major) when we travel.

Their balanced, complete meals are made with 85% real meat and organs and 15% fruits, vegetables and vitamins and minerals.

They use ingredients closest to their natural state like real meat and non-GMO fruits and vegetables.

Their raw meals never include grain, corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors or preservatives.

Meal choices include beef, chicken, and lamb.

You can find Instinct® Raw at many pet stores around the country.

Vital Essentials

Vital Essentials was the first frozen, prepared raw food that I fed Gretel and my previous Dachshund Chester.

Chester was 8 when I made the switch and I saw a huge difference in his energy levels.

That change was likely due to a switch to raw food in general but this Prey Model Raw (PMR) food is unique because it doesn’t contain any fruits or vegetables. Your dog gets all of the nutrients it needs from only meat, organs, and bone.

In the case of Vital Essentials, the ratios are 45% muscle meat, 45% organs and 10% bone content (all from the same protein source).

Vital Essentials raw meat materials are harvested in the U.S.A and they process 100% of our own food in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Meal choices include beef, chicken, duck, rabbit, and turkey.

It’s available in stores around the US.

Favorite Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food for my Dachshunds

There is a disagreement over whether freeze dried “raw” dog food is actually raw. It IS processed and some people claim that the drying process can diminish the benefits of fresh, raw meals.

Personally, I believe that the processing and drying doesn’t make a significant difference in the nutrition, specially if you choose those brands that make an effort to maintain as much of the original nutrients as possible during processing.

However, these foods contain significantly less moisture than raw food so it’s very important to re-hydrate them or at least add a good amount of water to the food when feeding.

Small Batch Freeze Dried Sliders

Small Batch is one of my favorite freeze dried dog foods to use because it’s easier to crumble and rehydrate.

Depending on where you buy this food, it’s either made in a facility in California or Oregon. All ingredients are sourced from those states and/or Washington and Colorado.

Small Batch is made with all-natural, certified, humanely raised and harvested meats that are free of hormones and antibiotics.  They try to use certified organic meat whenever possible.

Vegetables and herbs used are certified organic, non-GMO, and free of pesticides.

Meal flavors include beef. chicken, turkey, duck, and lamb.

All of their formulas are 88% beef, 10% produce, 2% supplements (except for the lamb which is 78% lamb, 20% produce, 2% supplements)

Small Batch is available in stores around the US and on Amazon.

BIXBI Rawbble

Rawbble freeze dried dog food comes in little nuggets so you can “feed it just like kibble”, although I still sometimes smash the nuggets a little so they soak up more water (or I just add water to the bowl and let them float on top).

Rawbble is USA made and sourced with 98% meat, bones and organs.

It’s free of grains, gluten, animal meal, hormones, antibiotics, fillers, artificial flavorings or colors, and preservatives.

Meal choices include pasture-fed beef, free-range chicken, free-range duck and wild-caught salmon with free-range chicken.

Rawbble is available at many retailers around the US and on Amazon.

Orijen Freeze Dried

Orijen freeze dried dog food is one of my favorites just because I trust the really high quality of Orijen foods.

They claim that their gentle freeze drying process allows their food to “provide all the benefits of a raw diet in a convenient dry form.”

This is a “Whole Prey” raw food made with 80% meat/game/fish ingredients, 10% vegetables/fruits/botanicals, and 0% grain/potato/tapioca/plant protein concentrates.

It contains no grains or gluten.

Orijen freeze dried food comes in their Original, Regional Red, and Tundra formulas.

It’s available at many locations around the US and and on Amazon.

Favorite Canned Dog Food for My Dachshunds

Have you looked at the canned food options lately? I feel like there are almost more canned options than kibble and there are a bazillion of those.

To keep it simple for myself, I personally prefer pate style foods that are high in protein.

Identity Canned Dog Food

Identity Canned Dog Food stands out to me for a few reasons.

First, it’s one of the few wet dog foods that I’ve found that, in addition to being grain free, contains no potatoes or legumes.

Second, the company is 100% committed to using only the finest quality ingredients.

All of the flavors – grass fed Angus Beef, free-range quail and turkey, free-range prairie pork, free-range NZ lamb, free-range heritage turkey, free-range Cobb Chicken, and free-range Canadian Duck – use responsibly raised/sourced meats that are never frozen before production.

The meats are also 100% free of added hormones and antibiotics and are 100% GMO & BPA free. The food is manufactured in Canada and the company is US family owned.

A moist it’s a moist, limited ingredient pate that can be fed as a complete & balanced meal or as protein-rich topper to kibble or raw dog food.

I order this food from Amazon.

Hound and Gatos

Hound and Gatos came personally recommended to me by a friend who runs a Dachshund rescue in Florida.

It’s made of 100% Animal Protein (no plant protein), contains no fillers or meat by-products, and is manufactured in the USA in USDA-inspected facilities.

It comes in three flavors – Paleolithic Diet, Pork & Pork Liver, Duck.

Hound & Gatos was awarded, “The Most Trusted Pet Foods” by TruthAboutPetFood.com 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.” It was also included on the Whole Dog Journal approved canned foods list for 4 years.

It’s a pate style grain free canned food that’s a complete meal for all life stages.

I order this food from Amazon.

Instinct Ultimate Protein

Instinct Ultimate Protein is a grain free pate style canned dog food that’s a complete & balanced nutrition from real ingredients to support your dog’s health from puppy to senior.

The meats used in the food are “responsibly sourced” and the food is at least 95% protein (more for some flavors).

It’s made without grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, carrageenan, artificial colors or preservatives – ingredients known to trigger food sensitivities.

It comes in two flavors – chicken or beef.

This food is available on Amazon and many pet food stores around the country (including Petsmart).

Favorite Dry Kibble for My Dachshunds

Note: These foods are on the “most commonly reported pet food brands named in DCM (heart condition) reports submitted to the FDA” (although lower on the list). See below for more details and my take on that.

Orijen Dry Dog Food

I’ve been a long-time fan of Orijen “Biologically Appropriate & Grain Free” dry dog food.

I don’t stick with just one of their formulas. However, I choose the Regional Red flavor most often.

They also make Original, Tundra, and Six-Fish flavors.

Although we don’t have to use it because Gretel and Summit are so active, I love that Origen makes a high-quality Fit & Trim food.

No matter which of their foods you choose, it’s at least 80% meat/game/fish ingredients, 10% vegetables/fruits/botanicals, and 0% grain/potato/tapioca/plant protein concentrates.

A full 2/3 of their meat ingredients are fresh (refrigerated, without preservatives) or raw (flash-frozen, without preservatives), including the top 10 ingredients.

Zinc is the only added nutrient because Whole Prey ratios of fresh meat (including muscle meat, organs, and cartilage or bone) provide virtually every nutrient your dog needs.

It’s available at many locations around the US and and on Amazon.

Nature’s Variety Instinct Ultimate Protein

Instinct Ultimate Protein Dog Kibble “mirrors the benefits of raw.” Their website says, it’s a kibble “with the highest levels of protein from real meat and unmatched digestibility (compared to other premium natural dog food brands).”

It’s made with up to 2x more real duck and chicken (it only comes in these two flavors) than many other pet food brands and is free of grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal, artificial colors or preservatives.

It does contain guaranteed levels of live, natural probiotics, natural omega oils and antioxidants.

There is a different high-quality formula with less protein (if your dog needs that).

It’s available in many stores around the US and on Amazon.

What About the Recent Grain Grain Free – Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) Connection?

Some people who have seen the foods that I feed my Dachshunds have asked me if I’m worried about Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) or warned me about it.

I’m very aware of the potential grain-free dog food connection to DCM. I’ve been following it since the first stirrings last year.

The issue is very complicated though.

It’s true that more and more dogs are becoming affected by the heart condition DCM.

It’s true that the most likely suspect is related to nutrition. Specifically, a taurine deficiency.

It’s logical that the first place to look for a cause is the kind of food the affected dogs have been eating.

So that is what the FDA has been doing.

There is mounting evidence that the dogs developing DCM have been eating boutique, exotic ingredients, or grain-free – “BEG” – diets high in peas/lentils/potatoes.

There is a theory that somehow those ingredients are interfering with the uptake of taurine from food.

Taurine is an amino acid found primarily in meat. It is important for the function of several body organs, including the heart.

Should I Switch My Dog’s Food from Grain Free?

First, I think it’s important to note that dogs who have been eating grain-free, or BEG, diets and have developed DCM have been eating one single food long-term.

As I’ve stated before, I switch my dog’s food regularly.

My reasoning is that  – as blogger friend who is more versed in dog nutrition than I am summed it up – feeding your dog the same thing their whole life can be bad for them (no matter how “good” the food is).

My current stance on the issue is, “Don’t panic and consult with your vet if you have concerns about your dog.”

You can read more about my opinion, and see what I think are the most important articles to read on this issue right now, on our Facebook page.

However, a few main points of the most recent FDA report are:

The current FDA report is just a compilation of dog breed, the dog food they were eating, and a few other details of each case reported to them in the last year or so. It lists facts of the known cases but there are, at their own admission, many, many other factors that could be involved in the heart issues (DCM).

ALL types of dog food (wet, kibble, raw) showed up in their reports at least once but most of the reports came from dogs eating kibble (this could be because a larger number of dogs eat kibble, not necessarily point to kibble as the culprit).

The food brands the FDA calls out are merely a list of foods reported most frequently. The proportions are influenced by several things like how popular the food is (means more people feed it), the income level and preference of the people who submitted reports (they choose to feed these “high quality” foods and can afford it… and can also afford diagnostic testing for DCM), etc.

The FDA is not saying that these foods are PROVEN to be the cause of heart issue in this specific order (and excluding other brands) but they just want you know the facts so you can make an informed decision. In other words, it’s not a statement that the listed foods CAUSED the heart issues, although they may have played a part in influencing it.

The FDA’s FAQ page about the report further clarifies:

It’s important to note that the reports include dogs that have eaten grain-free and grain containing foods and also include vegetarian or vegan formulations. They also include all forms of diets: kibble, canned, raw and home-cooked. Therefore, we do not think these cases can be explained simply by whether or not they contain grains, or by brand or manufacturer.”

At this time, we are not advising dietary changes based solely on the information we have gathered so far. If you have questions or concerns about your dog’s health or its diet, we suggest that you consult your veterinarian.

Anyway, I’m not changing how I feed Gretel and Summit right now. I already do not feed them much kibble, most of the foods I feed them are high in protein and low in carbs (legumes, potatoes, grains), and I rotate their food at least monthly.

What to Do If You Are Concerned About Your Own Dog

If, unlike me, you are immediately concerned about your dog’s health or diet, here are a two things you can do:

Consult with your veterinarian to check the current health of your pet’s heart, check for a taurine deficiency, and discuss your dog’s diet.

Transition your dog’s food (follow these instructions if you do) to something that is lower in peas/lentils/potatoes. Foods to look into would be ones that are primarily protein (organ, meat, bones) and/or contain low glycemic grains.

You can also do more reading on DCM and taurine deficiency in general.

So there you have it. These are the foods that I have deemed high quality for my fit and healthy Dachshunds (although, like I said, they occasionally eat other dog foods too).

Leave a comment below if you have a question about these foods or our feeding routine in general.

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source http://www.luckydogsolutions.com/what-i-feed-my-active-dachshunds-to-help-keep-them-healthy/ from Lucky Dog Solutions https://luckydogsolutions.blogspot.com/2020/07/what-i-feed-my-active-dachshunds-to.html

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Vernal pool

This fills up with water ever winter, allowing flowers and grass to grow in the spring.