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ma-lark-ey · 3 years

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Lark headcanons to piggyback off my Grant headcanons B) I don’t have as many for Lark which is weird considering I took his name.

- He’s the younger twin

- mans SUCKS in a fight, he thinks he doesn’t

- He’s that one kind in your grade who no one really talks to or is friends with, but no one dislikes.

- always keeps stimtoys on him, always always always

- severely ADHD

- deffo has panic attacks (like his dad B) )

- He can’t handle much weight on top of him from the trauma of the pyramid.

- He has some pretty noticeable scars on his arm, neck and legs from the incident, when people ask he quickly changes the subject.

- He owns a chinchilla! her name is Snail. Sparrow has one named Slug!

- He likes to write!! He writes a lot of short stories, and will churn out stories of Sparrow’s characters.

- to go with that, Sparrow will draw scenes from the stories he writes. They’re a little duo.

- They want to make comics when they’re older. Lark being the writer and Sparrow being the artist.

- Lark is really good at calming people down and mellowing out bad situations, it’s a skill he had to learn from how often Grant and Nick would have panic attacks after Faerun, and he wanted to help them.

- He likes stirring the pot in politics classes.

- he has a LOT of pent up anxiety, but doesn’t admit it.

- If he’s not with Sparrow, he’s probably hiding out at a skatepark or a junkyard.

- He’s trans masc because fUCK you. Self projection.

- He expresses his affection through gifts!! He likes making all his cool friends gifts to give them

- He’s super socially awkward and doesn’t have many friends, even though he’s super charismatic.

- If he can’t do comics as an adult, he wants to be a special ed teacher.

- Lark will never admit it, but he is EXACTLY like his dad.

- Lark and his partner (Finch, obviously. If you don’t know who Finch is.... Boy do I have a piece of fandom to introduce you to) adopt a kid at like, early thirties. You would never think Lark would make a nice parent, but he’s a more strict version fo Henry. Takes good care of his little guy.

- The kid’s name is Dove

- Lark’s comfort food are those shitty muffins you get in little tiny packs of four and ate as a kid instead of a real breakfast.

- His favorite drink is... Whatever the fuck you put in front of him.

- One time when he was little he brought Henry a glass of water that was left outside for days ( you know the kind I’m talking about ) and told him to drink it. Henry couldn’t say no.

- Lark thinks a lot about what would’ve happened if he took over Oakvale after Faerun. He wonders how different life would’ve been.

- He doesn’t get along super well with Autumn, but he makes a point to keep in contact with her.

- Some nights, he’ll have a really bad panic attack and dissociate for a long time. Whenever he calms back down, he’s always protectively held in his dad’s lap in the living room floor with some kids cartoon on the TV, and usually Henry is mumbling to him about something.

- Lark used to only drink with plastic straws (he likes to chew on them and his hands shake too much for him to use a glass), but he started using rubber straws in eighth grade cause he liked the taste of rubber more.

- on that, his hands are always shaking like a mother fucker. The only thing he’s found that steadies his hands is cross-stitch.

- He listens to folk punk (oh no)

- If you get in the car with Lark, Hayloft by Mother Motehr WILL play, and he WILL go absolutely FERAL

- He plays the drums!!

- Whenever he gets drained in social situations, he’ll crouch. He’ll just *crouches down* and sit there. He’ll keep interacting with you normally and whatnot, but he likes being close to ground.

- He sleeps to the side of his bed instead of in the middle so in case Sparrow has a nightmare and wants to climb in next to him he can :((

- Lark listens to Welcome to Nightvale and The Penumbra Podcast

- His favorite color is green!

- His favorite video game is Forager

- Lark LOVES My Hero Academia, also watches a lot of short underground anime. He rarely gets into the big names, but MHA grabbed him by the throat and said “You’re gonna have the duality of relating to Izuku AND Katsuki, deal with it” and he said “Yes, Mr. ADHD and Depression, sir!”

- Lark listens Its Okay (To Punch Nazis) - Cheap Perfume on repeat because it scratches a good brain itch, also yeah, he’d clock a nazi without flinching.

- He has a playlist on Spotify titled “feral baby man” and it’s just a bunch of songs he legally has to scream along with

- Similarly, he’s that one friend with way too many Spotify playlists and all of them have hyper specific purposes.

- A collection of them are Stimmy Stimmy, Oh No Emotions, UWU Vibey Shit, Whoever Put Crack In These Songs, Thank You For Your Service, HOIST UP THE THIIIIIING, and more.

- He says a bunch of Australian and Irish slang and NO ONE knows where he got it from. (His favorite thing is to drop a new one and watch the confusion. The best one yet is Grant’s reaction to ridgey-didge of just “Literally what the fUCK did you just say??????”)

- He likes sewing

- Surprisingly, he likes soft music as much as he does really attention grabbing stuff. One of his favorite bands is Sleeping At Last

- He likes to have jam sessions with Nick :((

- He has a little sister! She was bro when he was around thirteen, and her name is Piper

- he’s the bEST big brother. Okay? He sits with his little sister in his lap in his highschool years as he does Homework and teaches her about math and English to help him study it better.

- He also reads her bedtime stories

- HE KEEPS HIS HAIR REALLY LONG CAUSE HE LIKES TO BRAID IT WHEN HE GETS ANSY AND DOESN’T HAVE ANY STIM TOYS ON HIM SEND TWEET.

This is all I have to give you on Lark at the moment.

#dndads #dungeons and daddies #lark oak-garcia

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takerfoxx · 3 years

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Blood Island Fanfic (pt. 1)

magic5ball submitted:

(Well, long story short I started writing a little headcanon about one of your OCs and like last time, it kinda spiraled into a full fledged fanfic. Really not sure what to do with this, so I figured why not post it here, if only to see how much I got right. Anyways, enjoy.)

. . .

Ever since she was little, she knew something was wrong with her. Mama always insisted otherwise, that she was fine the way she was, and the others never made a fuss about her, but she could tell from the way they looked at her they thought she was a freak. From the way her eyes glowed green in the dark to her too pointy teeth to her too long tail; dark grey with fins sprouting all over the sides, instead of the triangle fin at the tip of the other mermaid’s tails, there was nothing normal about her.

She had a twin, once. A twin she had eaten in the womb. The matriarch had insisted there was nothing odd about that- these things happened sometimes- but she knew the others whispered about it behind her back. And her twin wasn’t entirely gone, either. Sometimes, her twin’s ghost whispered in her ear. You’re a demon, she would hiss, a depraved monster who ate her own sister. Why don’t you eat your own mother while you’re at it?

That was the hunger. She could feel it, always, deep in her stomach, gnawing at the edges, crying, demanding FOOD. A demon, the matriarch insisted, but one that could be forced out. So it came she was fed only jellyfish, kelp, and sometimes, bitter concoctions that would make her cough up all the contents of her belly. Mama promised it would make her better, that she would be cured. Mostly, though, it made her feel weak, and confused. Why couldn’t she eat fish like the others? Yet even without food, as years passed she grew longer, her body stretched thinner and thinner with each passing day.

But worse was when the others came after Mama, blaming her for infidelity and other sins she was too little to understand. She would yell at them to stop, but even her own Mother demanded she stay out of things while the grown-ups screamed at each other.

It wasn’t all bad, at least. There was Mama, who sang lullabies and told stories of the Papa she never met. Mama who made her a belt of sea silk and shark teeth while assuring her that she was wonderful as she was. Mama, who always hugged her when she was scared and pulled her along when she was too exhausted to swim.

There was also, at times, flotsam. She loved looking through the strange wooden debris as it bobbed across the surface of the ocean, heading for an unknown destination. It would always be covered in strange barnacles, snails, and other hard shelled things she would try to collect, only to forget about later. If she was lucky, there would be things clambering across the top, too: brown hairy creatures with no fins and long tails, scaly green things that licked the air with forked tongues, and the things Mama called BIRDS!, which came in so many beautiful shapes and colors. These discoveries would always lead into tales from Mama about the things that lived out of the water, which were always her favorites because they were always, so odd, so strange, so DIFFERENT from her life of following currents across the ocean, even if she was certain Mama made them up.

The end began when Mama had a second baby. A precious little merboy with inky black hair, just like hers. A new baby for Mama to sing lullabies and tell stories too. A new baby for Mama to adore. One without a demon inside them. From that day forward, she swam a little further away from Mama, so she didn’t think of eating him, too.

Then came the fateful day her pod discovered a sunken ship. One by one the mermaid’s lithe bodies slipped through a crack in the ship’s hull, entering dark rooms coated in grime. The pod huddled together, weary. But her? She was FASINATED. What creatures had made this thing? Where did they live they? Did they have tails, like them? Or have hands where their tails should be, like the fuzzy things she’d seen on the driftwood? What did they eat? What were their families like? An older mermaid shushed her up real quick, saying they were to get a few important items, then GO. She nodded, but did not stop staring at everything they came across, until at last they reached a room the Matriarch referred to as the ‘Captain’s Quarters’. The mermaids ransacked the place, grabbing any seemingly useful thing they came across and jamming them into makeshift bags made of discarded shark eggs. But while the other mermaids made themselves busy, she sensed something… off. At first she thought it was just her- that sunken ships always felt this way, but then she smelled something odd, something… tasty. The walls of the room shimmered, revealing the largest octopus she had ever seen. The beast unfurled its’ tentacles, forcing the terrified pod into a corner, save one terrified individual who, trapped in the vice grip of a meaty red tentacle, found herself being drawn towards the beast’s massive beaked mouth. But while the others stared terrified, with a burst of speed she didn’t even know she had, LUNGED at the befuddled cephalopod, gripped the tentacle holding her podmate, and.. bit down. Later, the others would recount how they had seen a ten year old start ripping chunks out of the giant octopus with her teeth and swallowing them whole until, bewildered by this turn of events, the would be-monster had fled into the ocean. For her part, she mostly remembered the taste: a chewy and meaty texture, satisfying to bite into, with a clean, savory flavor. Afterward, she’d felt a soft, warm sensation radiating from her belly. So THIS was what feeling full felt like!

Victory, however, was short lived. From that day forward the rest of the pod kept a great deal of space between her and them, even the mermaid she’d rescued. Despite this, the Matriarch monitored her relentlessly, ensuring she only ate jellyfish and kelp. It was strange, really: even as they starved her, her tail grew longer and longer, her body thinner and thinner until, from head to fin tip, she was a full foot longer than Mama.

Face it freak, her sister whispered, there’s no place for you here. Best head out before Mama ends up in that belly of yours. And under the cover of night, that’s exactly what she did.

. . .

So began a life of following the rich, fragrant smell of fish, travelling from island to island after vast silver schools, getting just enough energy to keep her going. She had mixed feelings about her predicament: on one hand, it was nice to be away from the judging eyes of her pod; never accidentally hurting someone she loved. And she liked travelling from island to island, seeing all the strange creatures she never would have seen if she’d just stayed with the pod: slugs the colors of rainbows, fish that jumped out of the water when she got too close, sharks with too long tails, just like hers, they snapped to stun their prey. Those were exciting.

But on the other, catching fish was much more difficult on her own than she had imagined. They were just so fast! It took all her energy just to snatch the tiniest morsel, and by then she’d be so exhausted she couldn’t hunt until the next day. At those times she’d sleep free floating with one eye open, so sharks couldn’t get her. There she would stay until her hunger woke her up again. Sometimes, a passing pod of dolphins would offer her something to eat, but their pity stung.

That all changed the day she found the sea turtle. The scent of mackerel had brought her right into a cloud of jellyfish, and as much as the things brought up bad memories, she was really in no condition to pass up a free, slow moving meal. Neither, it seemed, was the largest sea turtle she had ever seen. First she saw the head, easily big as her torso and wrinkled with age. Enormous black eyes gazed at nothing as it casually munched on jellyfish. Then the rest of the body revealed itself as it parted the cloud with massive gray flippers covered in large, stony scales. From these she carefully swam away from, lest a stray paddle accidentally shatter her bones. At first, she marveled at it- the thing must have been ancient! - and before long an idea popped into her head. Grabbing onto its’ barnacle coated shell, she consigned to letting the giant take her wherever it went. Tired, she let out a yawn, drifting with a barnacle grasped firmly in her hand.

. . .

She awoke to a very familiar, irresistible smell.

Octopus! Her stomach rumbled from the memory. Parting from the turtle, she sped off in the direction of the scent, licking her lips at the thought of her meal-to-be-! But she didn’t quite expect a school of some of the oddest things she had ever seen. Not octopus at all, but squid. They had tentacles, but these were short and close to the head. Bad for grabbing things (thank goodness) though opening and closing them seemed to move them through the water. And on top of their heads, they had a long, conical shell, perfect for cutting through the water. Or anything foolish enough to stand in their path, no doubt. Carefully, she navigated around the school, until she was directly behind one. With a kick of her tail, she lunged-

Only for the creature to shut its’ tentacles, darting away-

Right into the open maw of an even stranger creature.

When she saw it, her breath caught in her throat. They were in the open ocean! How could something so massive stay hidden?! Like a whale, it had smooth grey skin with a white belly and a long, sinuous body that ribboned up and down as it swam, like an eel’s. Opening a mouth of curved fangs (just like hers!) it bit down on the octopus-thing’s shell, shattering it into a thousand pieces. At the sound the rest of the shelled squids darted out into the ocean.

Great.

It wasn’t long before the whale-eel, sated by its’ meal, turned its’ attention to the strange intruder on its’ territory. She took the hint, swimming in the opposite direction of the beast as fast as she could go. Not fast, enough, apparently, because five seconds later the beast was ribboning after her, open jaws drawing incredibly close incredibly fast. She forced her long tail up and down as hard as it could go, but it wasn’t enough: the whale-eel was gaining. But desperation has a funny way of breeding ideas, and this moment was no different. Looking at the surface, she recalled the strange fish she had seen on her journey. With one final kick of her tail fin, she broke the surface of the water and launched into the air! Her heart beat quickly as, for the first time in her life, she felt the strange sensation of air on her skin. More importantly, though, she could see an island ahead of her, covered in lush jungle with mountains toward its’ center. And where an island was, there was bound to be shallow water. Too shallow for something the size of the whale-eel. Plunging back into the deep, she breached the surface, keeping up her momentum until, at last, the island loomed over her, vast and mysterious. But it wasn’t until she was nearly on the beach she finally checked behind her to find the whale-eel, thankfully, nowhere in sight.

She should have felt safe. She should have felt relief. But mostly she just felt exhausted. Exhausted, and hungry. With what little strength she had left, she swam across the shallows, trying to sense something moving through the sand.

. . .

For once, luck was on her side. Granted, the thing she uncovered scuttling beneath the sand- a flat oval with far too many eggs underneath- didn’t have much of the way of meat, but food was food, and there were more than plenty of them scuttling just beneath the sand. Now that there was food in her belly, and no danger in sight, she could let her situation sink in. Or rather, her sister.

So here you are, in an island full of ravenous monsters. Maybe one will eat you. Wouldn’t that be fitting?

She tried so swim, which usually helped her shake off bad thoughts, but these were firmly lodged in the back of her head.

Then again, better you get eaten than you hurt someone else.

But at the same time, she couldn’t just hide out in the tidal zone, she couldn’t just hide out in the surf scavenging for oval shaped crab-things forever. And so what if she died? Not like anyone would miss her. Which is how she found herself just a few days later, tepidly swimming back where she had come. The squids with shells were long gone, in their place a school of fishes whose heads seemed to be covered in hard bony plates she’d never seen before. They brushed past her, indifferent. Tailing them, she thought back to the squids, recalling their strange shells, and the odd crabs she had eaten near the shore. Seemed armor was a popular thing in these parts. Though considering what kinds of things they shared the sea with, it wasn’t hard to imagine why.

Speaking of the devil, surely enough the whale-eel couldn’t resist such a tasty looking school, and burst in, this time from the side to snare a hapless fish, biting down until it ceased struggling and then swallowing it whole. Part of her wondered what it must have tasted like, but at the moment she had bigger priorities. She screamed, and at first the beast ignored her, almost deliberately so. For better or worse, it didn’t. Soon they were squared off: on one side, a sharp toothed mermaid with an unusually long tail. On the other, an impossibly long killing machine that could easily shatter every bone in her body with a single flick of one of its’ flippers.

And they weren’t alone. From behind the mother happily swam another whale-eel, maybe a quarter a size of the other, staring with round, black eyes.

Her heart sunk. Mama.

The mother whale-eel tried to push her curious child away, to no avail. After all, who could resist the strange new potential playmate that had just come into the area? Of course, her mission had just become that much more complicated. It was one thing to face a monster, it was another to face her knowing she was a mama just looking after her baby. The scene was enough to make her consider going back to the seashore, when she noticed something rocketing out of the ocean depths. Like the whale-eel, it had flippers, a long tail; a pointed head full of teeth. But whereas the whale-eels were long and thin with smooth skin, this thing was covered in scales and absolutely massive. So much she felt herself being pushed upward by its’ movement. And it was headed right for the baby. Without a moment’s hesitation, she lunged for the baby, pushing the bewildered thing out of the path of danger. Once she slowed, she released the young whale-eel, who swam, panic-driven, away. Mama was nowhere to be seen. As for herself, she felt the glare of two baleful yellow eyes on her back, turning around just in time for the scaly monster to lunge again. But whereas she had qualms attacking a mother, she had no issues attacking a child hurting demon from the deep.

You’re a monster. Might as well act like it.

She charged the demon, stopping just before its’ wide, hungry jaws. Then, with breakneck timing, she spun around, flicking her long tail with a Snap! Right in the creature’s eye. An ocean-shaking howl rang out of the demon’s throat as she gripped its’ massive, muscular neck and bit down. HARD. The meat was too tendony and firm for her liking, breaking a few of her teeth, but she got her desired effect: blood seeping into the water.

Just like that, the energy left her body. It shouldn’t have been surprising, really, with how little food she’d been getting compared to how much energy she’d been using. Getting worn out was inevitable. And what better way to get worn out than by becoming part of the food chain? The last thing she felt before going unconscious was something powerful pushing against her.

. . .

When she awoke, it was to the pleasant realization she wasn’t dead. Rather, she was being nuzzled by the very same baby whale-eel she had rescued earlier. Shoving its’ poking face away, she found herself riding on the back of none other than the mother. Somehow, the beast had carried her away from the scaly demon, into yet another strange school of creatures. They were not unlike the shelled squids, but their ridged shells coiled into a tight spiral rather than pointing forward. Her rescuer tossed her a dead one, its’ shell crushed by massive jaws, which she eagerly inhaled, the soft flesh sliding smoothly down her throat and into her belly. Sated, she clung to the back of the Mother whale-eel as it took her to the shallower waters on the coast of the island, where she’d (probably) be safe and sound. Letting go, she felt almost… sad to leave the majestic beast behind. Then again, maybe she didn’t have to. An idea raced through her head as she recalled her life back with her pod; how they would work together to catch fish.

But how to tell the whale-eel? She called for the creature, directing her attention to the sandy seafloor. Then, taking her index finger, stabbed it into the sand, drawing a picture of herself and the creature. The whale-eel and her child stared intently.

They understood. Good.

More drawings. Shelled squids. More whale eels. Herself.

They still looked, enraptured.

More complicated things. Movements. Ideas. Formations.

. . .

The dark grotto rested at the base of the island, and it was here she hesitated, its’ mouth ominous and disturbing. Still, this was where the whale-eel had directed her, and it was too late for her to back out on her word (metaphorically speaking). At the top of her lungs, she bellowed, surprised by how her voice vibrated off the grotto’s walls. It was strange, hearing her voice again after so long. Soon, another sound followed, this one the rapid movement of water as something vast as any whale but far more bloodthirsty surged through the grotto and eventually rocketing into the open sea. She did not wait for this moment to pass before she darted away fast as her sinuous tail could take her.

Long, tense moments passed. Maybe seconds, maybe minutes. She didn’t dare look behind her.

Justkeepswimmingjustkeepswimmingjustkeepswimming…

Until, at last, curiosity got the better of her, and she turned her head around to see those cavernous jaws wide open.

Now!

With a shriek she jerked upward, each flick of her tail rocketing her ever so close to the surface until-

Splash!

Her skin went cold as she popped into the open air. It was amazing how much she could see from her height, the vast ocean stretching out below her, birds circling some unseen prey above. Her heart beat ever so more quickly, all breath leaving her breathless. Crazy, how different everything looked from above!

A sharp pain rang out from the tip of her tail, dragging her away from ecstasy.

Oh. Right.

The force of a tidal wave dragged her back into the blue, no dount with the intent of swallowing the pesky girl whole.

It never got the chance.

From all sides lunged a quartet of whale-eels, the Mama and three others that had been coaxed into joining the plan. Normally, such a maneuver would have been reckless: the scaled demon would have easily ripped one of them to shreds. But with an adequate distraction, the four normally solitary predators rended the flesh of their adversary without mercy. A great bellow shook the ocean as the demon fled, massive plumes of blood spewing from its’ wounds.

Now, she wasn’t an expert on big, scaly demons, but she had a strong feeling it wouldn’t be coming around anytime soon.

As for the whale eels…

They formed a ring around her, staring intently in a way that made her nervous.

How fitting an end, to defeat monsters only to be betrayed by others. Can’t say I blame them; probably frightened to death of your grotesque, horrid…

But the whale-eels made no effort to devour her. Instead, they bowed their triangular heads, and went their separate ways, like friends at the end of a playdate.

. . ,

When the astonishment wore off, a single question bubbled to the surface of her mind:

What now?

Well, for starters, there was the vacant grotto, and it would be nice to have a place to hide out…

The floor of the dark cavern was littered with the pale bones of a thousand different types of sea creatures. Amongst them, he noticed several crab-things skittering about, picking what flesh they could from them. She smiled ever so slightly at this. Exploring the dark cavern with creepy crawlies was better than being alone. Fortunately, it seemed these would not be the only things keeping her company: there were fish here too, albeit ones with something… off about them. Maybe it was their large, fleshy fins, of which there seemed too many. Maybe it was their broad, spade-like tails. Maybe it was their scales, black peppered white like the night sky, or their large, milky eyes, round as a full moon. But they moved rarely, content to float in place, so she let them be.

The bones, on the other hand…

She had never seen so many. And from so many different creatures, too! Turtle shells and squid shells, the skulls of whales and of fearsome, carnivorous fish, it would take weeks to sort through them all. An especially large skull of some toothy predator caught her attention first, and with all her strength she dragged it to the entrance of her newfound home. She could already see those empty eye sockets gazing fiercely from above the grotto’s entrance. It was going to look awesome!

No sooner had she reached that point, however, than she noticed someone had beaten her there. Scattered about were large, colorful shells, along with hunks of meat from all a matter of creatures, so fresh their blood was still seeping into the water.

Her eyes lit up as the scent entered her nose. A moment later, her instincts kicked in.

. . .

A few minutes later, a very full and satisfied mermaid let out a belch; a fat, lazy bubble escaping her mouth and wobbling ever so slowly to the surface. As the effects of a food coma set in, she shut her eyes and grinned. Crazy as it seemed, even with all the monsters around, maybe, just maybe she could make a home in this crazy place.

There’s some real good stuff here. Admittedly I don’t have much planned for the mermaid and thus haven’t given much thought to her backstory, but while I can’t promise that I’ll use all of this, some might make its way in.

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evolutionsvoid · 4 years

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Though the savannas are a rather simple looking environment, they are one that is filled with a huge amount of life. Migrating herds can cover the landscape, with fields of browsers and grazers stretching all the way to the horizon. While places like rainforests win out with diversity and the bizarre array of life, the savanna wins by the sheer amount of animals you can witness in plain sight. A fresh morning and a good chair has let me see more creatures in a single day than I have seen in months in other places! This terrestrial sea of life is truly incredible to witness, but these places aren't always packed full. You will notice odd holes and gaps in herds, or stretches of land where no herbivore wishes to step foot. In a world where being in a group is vital for survival, it is strange to see loners sitting out in the open. Usually these avoided creatures are predators, which the reason should be obvious. Some may be for massive creatures that are given a wide berth as no one wishes to be stepped on or knocked about. For one beast, though, there is a special reason. They aren't elephantine or vicious carnivores, but the Catoblepas are certainly dangerous to everything around them. Found grazing in grasslands and savannas, the Catoblepas is quite the peculiar sight. Their bodies are shaped quite normally for a stout herbivore, with a hefty frame and a humped back. The large armored scales are certainly an interesting addition, but not too strange since other herbivores grow their own armor. Their long scaly tails give a reptilian vibe, but still nothing too out of the norm. Then you get to the head of this beast and things get weird. While other creatures hold their heads up high, or at least just hold them up, the Catoblepas lets its noggin just sit on the ground. It isn't temporarily down there for grazing, it stays down there for good. Their long neck seems permanently pointed downward, to the point where old tales say that lifting it upward would suffocate them as they wouldn't know how to breathe or function in this position. This certainly isn't true, but since they rarely ever lift their heads up, you can see why it got started. One of the reasons they may not pick up their heads is because it is a bit bigger than your usual noggin. Looking at their skeleton is a bit comical, because you got this long thin neck and than a chunky skull sitting at the end of it. With their head always sitting on the dirt, one wonders how they move or function. Well, the Catoblepas has come up with some special adaptations to make such an odd position work! If you look at the bottom of the mandible, you will notice it is covered in thick hairs that sprawl all over the place. It is like a beard that is being used like a skirt, but that isn't the weirdest part. Hidden beneath all that hair is a bizarre structure that is made through a unique formation of muscles. The developing and enlarging of these muscles has created something that is akin to the foot of a snail. It is pretty much a fleshy pad of muscle that allows the Catoblepas' head to slowly slither about like a slug. This makes their movements quite interesting to watch, as they must lead with their head anytime they wish to walk. Since this form of travel is sluggish, their body is left waiting for their head to move forward before they can take a single step. When grazing, they will only need their face to get the job done, so their whole body will be sitting still while their head slithers all over the place. Quite bizarre! Still, this mandibular foot does not answer all the questions about the Catoblepas' day-to-day life. If your head is stuck on the ground and you travel with your chin, how do you eat? Once again, this problem is solved by specializing certain muscles. Their lower lip is elongated and specialized to create a proboscis that is similar to an elephant's trunk. This appendage is packed with muscles that give it incredible dexterity and strength, allowing it to pull apart vegetation or yank up buried roots. It also quite sensitive to touch and taste, which it uses to probe out viable food sources. With their heads so low down, eyes aren't really that helpful. You can see this with the messy tangle of hair that constantly covers them, as they don't have much use. Instead it relies on its powerful nose to sniff out food rich areas, than its lip will locate the individual pieces. Grass will be torn and swollen roots will be pulled up and fed to its maw. The Catoblepas chews its food with a front-to-back motion rather than side-to-side, which is assisted by its mandibular foot. It spends a lot of time chewing, making sure it's ground up to an absolute pulp. This is because its dinner has to be forced up its neck to reach its stomach, so the squishier and softer the meal is, the easier it is to swallow! As a strict grazer, the Catoblepas spends a large chunk of its day seeking out and eating vegetation. This lengthy process is mainly because these creatures move at a snail's pace. They are quite slow and never in a hurry to get anywhere. When night falls, they often just sleep where they are, then wake up in the morning and continue their dining. So we got a slow loner herbivore that doesn't take cover at night and has terrible eyesight. Surely these creatures are vulnerable to predators, right? The Catoblepas is not a species that fears running into predators, it is a beast that predators are terrified of running into.

While their goofy appearance and slow ways has made them quite famous around the world, they have another thing that makes them notorious. If one already does not know the answer, then perhaps a look at its colorful display may give a hint. Lots of creatures use their coloration to hide or blend in, but there are some who choose to stand out for a very specific reason. You see, the diet of the Catoblepas is mostly vegetation, but they have specific foods they like the most. Plants tend to develop toxins and poisons to keep herbivores from eating them, and that is what the Catoblepas seeks out. Any poisonous vegetation is free game to this species, as they seem to have an incredible immunity to practically any toxin. As they consume these deadly foods, the toxins and noxious fluids are absorbed and moved to special organs. Located near the respiratory system, these vessels mix these poisons with their own secretions, turn that soup into a vapor and release them on each exhale. This results in the Catoblepas literally breathing poisonous clouds, surrounding itself in a deadly fog. One good breath will get you a lungful of Catoblepas poison and whatever plant toxins it had ingested. This dietary mixture is what makes this weapon so dangerous, as its properties are affected by what it has recently eaten. That means making an antidote or building an immunity is useless, as each cloud will contain a unique mixture of plant poisons. The side effects of inhaling this vapor will also be different each time, as it may result in things like vomiting, paralysis, blindness, swelling, itchiness, muscle spasms and so much more. Whatever the poison of a plant can do to you, the Catoblepas can weaponize and put it in the air. I heard that an Ivy Dryad once fell asleep on a hunting trip and woke up to find a Catoblepas licking her. Though she ran off before it started chewing, that particular beast spent the next few days spraying her burning oils everywhere, which the locals were not a fan of. This incredible defense is why every creature gives a Catoblepas a wide berth. Herbivores and carnivores alike want nothing to do with these beasts. There are a few creatures that can withstand this deathly fog. Dryads can tolerate it, but sometimes it can even be dangerous to us. Some plants create toxins to halt the growth of surrounding competitors, and this poison can be added to the mist. It may not be lethal to us, but it will certainly mess you up for a week or two. Ivy Dryads and their hybrids seem to have the strongest immunity, for the obvious reasons. Funny enough, some say that the art of the Venoness was inspired by the Catoblepas. You can definitely see where one would get that idea! One of the other beasts that may survive the aura of the Catoblepas is their cousins, the Khalkotauroi. These hulking brutes have been seen happily grazing besides their brethren, unfazed by the poisonous air. Honestly, if you see this duo out in the wild, keep far far away. This pairing is certainly one of the most dangerous combinations out there. A mouthful of poison will leave you choking for air, just long enough to get your body splattered across the savanna by the Khalkotauroi. As if those ornery behemoths weren't dangerous enough as it is! With this deadly aura ever present around them, you can see why very few things ever try to eat them. Any attempts must be done during windy days, when the weather blows their clouds away. Even then, one must stay upwind so that the poison isn't blown onto them, but this allows the Catoblepas to smell the attack coming. When agitated, these creatures will snort and churn out even more poison. The best method to take one down is to bait it into using up all its poisonous gas, which will take a bit. Once its stores are all used up, you may be able to attack. This still doesn't guarantee a safe kill, as the Catoblepas has another line of defense. Since it spends all its life marinating in its own vapors, the gas tends to leave a toxic residue on its body. A single cut or scratch from its scales or tusks will introduce the poison into your body. It is best to kill it from afar, aiming for its vulnerable neck. Though I have heard of some tribes hunting Catoblepas before, I certainly wouldn't do it. Every inch of them is poisonous, and the method of making their meat safe to eat is quite lengthy. Seems more trouble than it's worth! I have heard that certain Catoblepas cuts are considered a delicacy in some higher circles, and that baffles me. I have had the chance to eat their meat before and it certainly isn't anything special. It is just beef with a bit of sharpness to it, that is all. For the locals who hunt them, I understand that they need whatever food that they can get. For the rich idiots who call it a delicacy, it seems like nonsense to me. They are just eating it because it is hard to get and expensive. Maybe I should start selling Swamp Basilisk livers for a high price and see how many oafs buy it. Yeah, it taste like bog and death, but it is a delicacy! I swear! As famous creatures, you can imagine the Catoblepas has made quite the impact. Their notoriety and bright colors make them a must-see for travelers and tourists. Their colorful pelts and shiny scales are sought after by collectors and hunters, though they must be very careful when handling them! This same armor is also popular for native warriors and hunters, as it offers great defense. Practitioners of Thericorium also value the sturdiness and strength of these scales. The added color is also a nice touch! While some good can be made from these beasts, Catoblepas are very much feared when they are alive and walking about. Their poisonous fog can create a whole lot of problems, and many of these issues can lead to death. Just breathing it in is an obvious danger, and it is hazard that can take out anyone. Hunters and travelers are advised to keep close attention to their surroundings, as a nearby beast and a strong breeze can be fatal. Local hunters often refer to these beasts as the "Killer of Fools" and a tool of the gods to weed out the sloppy and stupid. In their eyes, every hunter should be aware of their surroundings and be mindful of the beasts and environment. To be caught in the cloud either means you missed the big colorful ungulate that was shuffling about or you weren't paying attention to the wind which is vital for taking down prey undetected. Screw any of those two up and you are no hunter! Those out hunting the wilds, though, aren't the only ones who must fear its poison. Farmers and livestock owners must be sure to keep any of these beasts away, lest they poison their animals or leave a toxic residue on their crops. This can destroy one's livelihood, but some have found an advantage to this deadly fog. One local tale speaks of a farmer whose crops were spared from a locust plague due to a Catoblepas being nearby. This taught the people the idea of pest control, and using specialized poisons to protect their plants. There is a famous plantation in these lands that is run by Ivy Dryads and actually keeps several Catoblepas on the property. Immune to its poisons, they feed these beasts certain plants and mixtures so that their fog is tuned to warding off pests and parasites. It also has the added bonus of keeping away thieves, as these crops are poisonous until they are properly cleaned. It seems like a risky bet to me, but apparently their produce is top notch, so what do I know? To properly and thoroughly wash my fruits and vegetables is what I know! Catoblepas are also carefully watched to make sure they don't go near the village's water source. Though the small amount of fog that touches the water may be diluted and neutralized, having a Catoblepas dunk itself for a bath will certainly cause some havoc. There is even a famous story that speaks of two greedy brothers that angered the gods, which involved one of these incidents. Apparently this duo was taking more from the land than they were giving, hunting and killing every beast they saw. A Catoblepas was sent by the gods to stop them, but the clever brothers drove it into a pond where the water washed away all its poison. They then killed it and hacked off its tusks as trophies. After a few more days of butchering the local wildlife, they headed back home to their family for a celebration. The whole family cooked up their spoils and had a feast. During this indulgent banquet, though, everyone grew sick and died. It turned out that the mother of the two had gone and drawn water from this pond after they had killed the Catoblepas. This poisoned drink was unknowingly served to the whole family and struck them down. This tale no doubt drove many to come up with ways to keep these beasts away from their homes and resources. Funny enough, one of the ways to ward off these creatures is to put up low fences or sharp stakes on the ground. Since it can't really lift its head, any obstacle that it can't crawl over is avoided. I mean, if you had to walk with your face, you wouldn't be all that adventurous either! Due to their anatomy and poisonous aura, the Catoblepas has been used to describe a certain condition. It is called Catoblepas Syndrome, and it plagues researchers, archivists and students alike. It arises during long periods of intense research, or when exams are on the horizon. Those who hole themselves up to study and read for hours on end, burying their faces in books and scrolls. Permanently hunched over their desks and work stations, their necks forever point downward into their notes. As they feverishly read and write, they neglect proper hygiene and cease to bathe, resulting in the most putrid of smells! Friends, families and coworkers alike are driven away by this deathly cloud, fearful of the monster that created it! Truly this tragic disease has claimed many obsessed researchers, nearly taking me in its clutches! Thankfully I was saved by a coworker who got me to take a break and a bath! Disaster averted! Ha! But seriously, for all you studious folk out there, be sure to take a break from your work from time to time. A strong mind is a healthy mind! And be sure to bathe too, the whole world will thank you for that! I do have to say, I am very thankful that my work on these creatures is done through writing and not through verbal presentation. Their name is an absolute nightmare for me to pronounce and I am happy I have not humiliated myself on stage trying to say it. Props to the researchers who do speak to audience about the Catoblepas and nail the pronunciation every time. If it were me, people would be learning about the wonders and adaptations of the Catobleyplebusmoos. Chlora Myron Dryad Natural Historian ------------------------------------------------- This thing took me waaaay too many tries to draw. I would get halfway done and think "nah this sucks," then try again. After three times, I finished the piece, colored it in and said "nah this sucks." The colors were what killed the last version, as I went with bland grays and browns. I was trying to do the dumb "mammals are drab earthy colors" thing, but that is a boring restriction I somehow have. Mammals come in all sorts of colors, so there is no excuse. Then I also got to thinking that poisonous animals rarely want to blend in, as they advertise their dangerous nature quite blatantly. I figured a famously noxious creature like the Catoblepas would believe in aposematism and would make sure the whole world knew they were there. My sister picked out the ring-necked snake as an inspiration (which turns out isn't all that dangerous, but dang those colors are good) and I went with that! So these beasties are a lot more colorful now! May seem quite odd out in the middle of a savanna or grassland, but I think any creature would respect the visual warning from a beast that spews clouds of death.

#catoblepas #mythical beasts #mythical creatures #monster #creature #art #drawing

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soufcakmistress · 5 years

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Daddy’s Here..

A/N: So in my fumblings and bumblings of this app, I somehow ended up deleting all the text from this post. I’m trying not to scream, but at least I didn’t delete the whole post with your beautiful words and encouragement! Sooooo here we go! My very first piece of fanfic on Tumblr!

Pairing: Erik Stevens x Thick Black Reader

Summary: Y/N is so wound up and needs her release. She can’t wait. Only one person can relieve her.

Pen cap chewn between her teeth, Y/N was restless. Desperate. Longing. It’s just after lunchtime and the work day is going at a snail’s pace. Phone call after phone call, surrounded by mountains of paperwork, how can she focus when all Y/N can think about is him bringing her to her peak over and over again with ease...

Y/N clenches her thick thighs, shivers running through her body, daydreaming of the utter ecstasy that encapsulated her the night before. In a fit of frustration, she unbuttons her blouse and unpins her hair, kinks and curls cascading across her shoulders. In that moment, she knows she can’t hold out any longer.

Cradling her office phone in the crux of her shoulder, tangling the phone cord around her finger, she dials his number, every ring on the phone has her lying in wait. Gratefully, She doesn’t have to wait long, y/n is greeted with a raspy baritone, ready to appeal to her most basic need..

“Hey baby, wassup? You miss daddy already?”

“Daddy, I can’t wait until 5....I need you...”

Erik runs his tongue across his teeth then smirking, “what do you need, baby? Tell Daddy..”

Leaning over her desk, y/n stops herself from salivating on herself and responds breathily, “I need YOU, Daddy....by me, next to me, inside of me....right now...”

“Daddy can’t deny his baby especially when she’s asking me so nicely....I’m on my way. You know how I want you.” he replied smoothly, every word a balm to her aching center.

“Yes Daddy I do....please hurry....” Y/N said, eager to please and have him attend to her every whim.

20 minutes later....

*phone rings*

“Y/N, you have a visitor, should I send him in?” Your assistant Renee questions, eyeing this gorgeous specimen of a man waiting on her boss.

“Yes, at once. Renee, hold my calls and reschedule all of my appointments for the rest of the day. As a matter of fact, you take the rest of the day off.” Y/n told her, slightly flustered at the thought of his presence so close to her.

“He’s on his way. Thanks Boss! You have a good day yourself.”

Renee eyes Erik’s countenance as he passes her desk to Y/N’s office, and she can’t help but to stare. Six feet tall, muscles everywhere, medium brown skin without flaws, deep dimples, white teeth with gold slugs, no wonder Boss lady is sprung.

Erik glides to the door and steps inside and winks at Renee as he turns around and closes the door. “Whew chile!” Renee exclaimed as she gathers her belongings to leave.

Erik stands in front of the closed door, gazing at the sinful sight ahead of him. His baby girl, bent over her desk, with her pencil skirt at her waist and her lace panties at her heels, her slit slippery with her want. He palms his growing erection, feeling the beast shedding his restraints.

“Daddy’s here. And look at you, all that ass in the air. You missed Daddy huh?” cockiness flowing through his words, his knowledge of his power evident. He strolls to the side of the desk, viewing his baby girl with her hands laid flat on her desk and her brown eyes trailing his every step. Plopping down in her huge office chair, y/n’s cunt peeking through slick with her cum, and Erik’s nostrils flare as he breathes deeply to center himself before he absolutely ruins his baby girl.

“Daddy please touch me. Please. Please I can’t wait any longer.” She begs him for a reprieve as her anticipation is at the tipping point.

Rolling his tongue around his mouth, he looks intently at her, admiring how eager she is for his touch. “You’re so fucking beautiful baby girl. Knowing your position...couldn’t even wait til you got home for this dick. You must really love Daddy.”

He quickly stands up and finally places a hand on the small of her back. “Let Daddy show his baby girl how much he loves her..”

Y/N is squirming, shuffling her feet, rubbing her thighs together with her slick, delighted that he’s finally touching her. Erik takes his free hand and slaps her right cheek, rubbing it after to ease the sting. He alternates on both cheeks and she’s dripping. Erik bends down, face to face with her butt as he spreads her open with an uninhibited view of her pussy, y/n gasping at his show of force.

His wide tongue licks her from the top of her clit to her ass repeatedly, reminding him of how good she always tastes. “Mmmm, she ready now”, Erik murmured. He rises to his feet, unzipping his pants, and pulling himself out of his boxers.

Y/N looks back in attempt to get a quick look at that magnificent penis, and Erik grabs y/n by her coils, whispering menacingly in her ear, “You were doing so well baby, stay yo ass where you supposed to be.”

Erik holds the base of his 9 inch wonder and rubs the mushroom tip along her engorged lips and y/n’s jaw goes slack. If he teases her any longer, she’s so sure that she’ll shed a tear.

He lines himself up and intrudes her tight little hole, her walls already gripping him. “Oh fuck!” They say in unison, almost in disbelief at how good it feels. He strokes in and out slowly and surely until he bottoms out and he presses on her cervix.

Y/N is a moaning mess, overjoyed that Daddy came to her rescue to scratch that itch of hers. Erik gets into a rhythm, and Y/N starts to pant like a bitch in heat. “Daddy don’t stop, you feel so good inside me.” A light sheen of sweat covers her face, along with her bottom lip tucked under her teeth.

After the numerous amount of times that they fucked, he still is amazed at how her ass bounces on him like so. “Gotdamn, baby girl. That pussy gripping Daddy. Let me get up in there.” Erik pulls his shirt under his chin as he gazes at himself penetrating her sweet pussy, cream building up. Long strokes are given out, and Y/N feels every single vein along that big ol dick, massaging her insides, bringing her closer and closer to completion.

Erik is riled up now, overtaken by the warmth and wetness of his baby girl’s pussy. Grabbing her waist, bouncing her ass against his pelvis, he has the intent to punish now.

Erik is fucking y/n violently now, all 9inches down to his balls slamming her, showing her how much Daddy wants her to feel good. “Yeahhhhhh, that’s what I’m talking about. Take that dick, balls deep, you can take it baby.” Erik exclaims.

Y/n’s mind goes blank and her body starts to tense as the orgasm of a lifetime is at the cusp as Erik pushes her closer to her mark. “Yes Daddy yes!!!! I’m about to fucking cum!”

Erik grabs her arms and raises her from the desk, his left arm looped through her limbs, right hand gripping her breast. Pounding her with no mercy, he whispers to her, “Daddy loves you so much baby girl, now cum for Daddy. Cum for me baby.”

Y/N can’t hold it a second longer, and her pitch is elevated with how hard she cums on him. Whole body is shaking and she can’t stop trembling as Erik is still ramming her with his pole. His gasps and grunts in her ear are so erotic and she can’t believe that this fine ass nigga with the great dick is all hers. Erik is close and she knows it. “Cum for your baby girl, Daddy. Gimme all that nut, I need it Daddy!”

Erik gives four unrelenting strokes and his hot cum blazes from his magnificent cock and y/n squeezes to get every drop inside of her. He falls forward, his ribbed chest to her back, breathing intensely.

Y/n is laid out on her desk, blouse wrinkled, hair askew, Erik laying on her back, giving butterfly kisses along her spine sighing blissfully. “Thank you Daddy.” She says. “You know Daddy gotchu baby girl,” as he laps his fat tongue in her mouth. “Daddy loves his baby girl..”

They start to redress, both grinning from ear to ear. Picking up her ruined panties, Erik snatches them from Y/N, and deeply inhales her scent, never losing eye contact with her.

“Uh uh, these belong to me. That pussy got a lot to look forward to when she gets home.” He wraps a big arm around her waist and pulls her in, torsos and pelvises touching. “see you later baby girl”, he says as he gives her another passionate kiss and squeezes both cheeks in his massive hands.

Y/N, left in a daze, can’t even reply. She just cheeses and moistens her lips until she sees him exit the door. Sis plops down in her office chair, drained from the workout. “That’s why that nigga is Daddy, gotdamn gotdamn!”

#black panther #killmonger #erik stevens #erik x reader #erik stevens x reader #killmonger x reader #erik killmonger smut #daddy's here

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warlockwriter · 6 years

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To Lose Thee Were To Lose Myself: Chapter 2

Chapter 1

Chapter 2/10

Pairing: Gabriel/Sam

Chapter Word Count: 1083 (Story so far: 2894)

Summary: Sam didn’t believe the “new man” speech from Gabriel, but he understood recovery and knew sometimes you just had to put on a brave face. He still struggled with his own recovery journey. Perhaps the two of them could help each other? And gank a few monsters along the way?

A/N: Begins right after 13x20 and goes canon divergent from there. Title from Paradise Lost by John Milton. Many thanks to @archangelgabriellives for the beta read and a couple of awesome suggestions/additions! Story is complete. I’m just trying the serial approach because I’ve never done it with a fanfic before.

Ao3 Link

Sam walked back to the motel and looked at the door to their room. We wondered if he really wanted to go in and decided he didn't really have any place better to go.

He unlocked the door and went in. Dean was sitting on the couch, feet up on the table, reading-- Was that an actual book? One that wasn't either porn or for research?

"Don't judge, man," Dean said, marking his place with a finger. "Cas has been after me to read Watership Down for ages now."

Sam barked out a laugh. "Your angel has good taste." He went to the fridge, pulled out two beers and tossed one to his brother, who neatly caught it. "And you are so whipped."

Dean shrugged. Oh, wow. His brother wasn't even denying it now. "You work everything out?"

Sam sprawled in one of the chairs. "Not really, but I gave it a good start."

"Gabriel was with you? I’d wondered where he went.”

"Was, yeah. Not now. Something spooked him, and I'm not sure what was up with that."

Dean picked up an old receipt and placed it in the book, replacing his finger. Putting the book down on the table, he asked, "What did you do?"

Sam shrugged and knocked back a swallow of beer. "Really not sure." He frowned. "I'm still confused about most of it."

Opening his bottle, Dean said, "Tell me about it."

"Well, everything started out okay. By the way, you handcuffing him was a real dick move, especially considering everything he's been through."

Dean knocked back his own slug of beer. "Yeah, I know. I was thinking about that right after you two took off. When he comes back, I'll apologize."

"When he comes back?" Sam asked. "You didn't see him take off. He might be gone for good."

Dean shook his head, confidence in the motion. "No, he'll definitely be back. In hindsight, I shouldn't have worried about him taking off."

"Why not?" Sam was genuinely confused now.

Dean gave him a knowing grin. "Dude? You haven't noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

"The way he keeps looking at you? Checking on your reaction to--" He waved his bottle around for emphasis. "--pretty much everything?"

"Huh? No." Sam thought about it, playing back some of the recent interactions. Now that Dean had pointed it out to him, it did seem like Gabriel was looking to him frequently. But why?

"Okay, I see your point, but I'm still not sure why."

Dean gave him his best I'm going to tease my little brother about getting laid look.

"No, Dean! That's definitely not going on."

"You sure?"

Sam huffed out an exasperated sigh. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'd remember getting it on with him."

Dean shrugged. "So, what happened to make him take off?"

"That's the weird thing. It wasn't really anything." He thought about how much he did or did not want to tell his brother. Finally, he decided on, "We were talking about some stuff, and he was giving me...well, kind of some advice, I guess." He paused, but Dean didn't take the opportunity to make another lewd comment.

"He put his hand on my arm, and I put my hand over his. This was the weird part. I swore I could feel his grace moving under his skin. I mentioned that, and he freaked and ran."

As Sam spoke, he watched his brother's expression change. From knowing smirk to mild alarm to understanding.

"What? What do you know that I don't?"

Dean swallowed hard before answering. "Um. Well, Cas kind of warned me about this."

Sam frowned. "Cas warned you about Gabriel?"

Dean shook his head. "No. About him and me." He paused. "Oh, hell. You know I hate talking about this sort of thing, but this is pretty much how Cas put it to me. Angels are supposed to belong to someone or something.” He fiddled with his beer bottle as he spoke. “Like they were made to belong to God. But Chuck is gone and has been gone for a long time. Cas says it's part of why the angels have been so weird in the last few years. They've lost their anchor, so to speak."

Sam nodded, having absolutely no idea where this was going, but if Dean thought it was important, he'd listen.

"So most of them spend all their time up in Heaven, but they can't belong or bond or whatever to each other. They need something else, which leaves all of them in a mess. Cas, though, he was sort of assigned to me, so...well...in angel terms he's always belonged to me."

To Sam's surprise, his older brother blushed the brightest shade of red he'd ever seen on Dean's face. "Well, once I kissed him, and our relationship kind of changed, Cas said the bond might go both ways, and I'd start to feel his grace or something like that."

Sam was pretty sure that feel his grace wasn't exactly how Cas had put it, but he wasn't in the mood to argue the point. "Okay, but what does that have to do with me? First, Gabriel's been on Earth a long time. I doubt he's bonded with a human every 20-30 years or so, making me guess he's figured out some way to deal with it. Or archangels are different or something? And, even if that's not the case, why me?"

Dean took a long swallow of beer and shook his head. "No idea, Sammy. I'm just telling you what Cas said to me."

Now Sam was curious. "So, have you felt his grace?"

The return of the blush was all the answer he needed. Great. More information he did not need about Dean's relationship with his angel. He had only himself to blame. He’d been the one to ask the question.

Sam finished his beer and stood up. "Well, it's not like I'm going to go to sleep after that. I think I'll go sit outside for a bit. Don't wait up."

"Yeah, I was planning to hit the sack in a bit. Don't be too loud on your way in. Long drive tomorrow."

Sam decided not to call bullshit on that. This drive was nothing compared to the Winchester norm, but if Dean wanted to go to bed to jack off to thoughts of Cas, he'd leave him to it.

He needed to figure out what the heck was up with Gabriel.

TBC

Tag list: @sageclover61 @snips-snails-skittles @idabbleincrazy @ihaveallthesefeelsokay @calamitychaos @gryffindorofcabin21

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#sabriel #post 13x20 #warlockwriter fanfic #grace bonds #case!fic

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livingcorner · 3 years

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6 Natural Ways to Deter Insects From Your Herbs

Herbs tend to be relatively low-maintenance plants, which is one reason they are so popular to grow. They also add to our lives in more concrete ways like providing delicious additions to family meals, preventing infections for minor cuts or scrapes, and many other health benefits.

So it stands to reason that these wonderful plants haven’t gone unnoticed by other critters as well. A bug infestation is rare with herbs, but if it happens, it’s best to already have natural solutions on hand to deter insects from ruining your herb garden.

You're reading: 6 Natural Ways to Deter Insects From Your Herbs

6 Methods to Deter Insects from your Herbs

Encourage Biological Predators

The circle of life is naturally occurring. Therefore, if you do have a pest infestation, eventually you’ll start to see the bugs’ natural enemies coming in. Some of these predators are all around good, like the praying mantis. They eat just about any insect they come across, so if you have pests, the mantis can have a meal.

Other beneficial bugs include ladybugs, which are partial to aphids. Birds will eat slugs, snails, earwigs, and a variety of other insects. Wasps help pollinate and will eat other bugs. Most varieties of wasps also aren’t aggressive if you leave them alone. Remember, if you have enough of a food supply, the predators will come.

Read more: How to create a native cottage garden

Soap Spray—Your Number One Defense

If you have some bugs that just won’t leave, soap spray can be very helpful. Japanese beetles, for example, are terribly destructive to plants. However, in order to eat the plants, the beetles have to be able to hang on. Spraying insecticidal soap on your herbs prevents them from being able to do that.

For this particular soap spray mixture, you may also want to add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and a little neem oil to give it a punch to munching bugs. Add 1 tablespoon dish soap to every quart of water. Be sure to spray from the top down.

You may want to make an effort to rinse off the leaves after harvesting if you’ve recently used this spray. However, the amount of soap used should be small enough that it won’t cause anyone harm, not even the smallest of humans! Just remember that if you bite a fresh leaf and it tastes a bit off, it could be the spray.

Neem Oil

Neem oil is so versatile you should never be without a bottle of it. At the first sign of harmful insects on my plants, I spray a diluted solution of half neem oil and half water. The mixture should be shaken before every time you use it since it will naturally separate and sprayed on both sides of a leaf. It’s not advisable to consumer neem oil so make sure you do not spray it on the produce part of the plant that you plan to consume. Don’t make a lot because you’ll need to use the mixture within a week.

Use Essential Oils

Herbs are often fragrant enough on their own, but it might not always be enough. The prevention of pests in your herbs may need the occasional boost, and essential oils can provide that. Cedar oil has a strong scent, reminiscent of juniper. The powerful smell can help to ward off slugs, snails, aphids, and thrips, but don’t be surprised if you notice a decrease in other annoyances as well. If you have a furry friend, they may also appreciate the juniper smell, since it can help to deter insects such as fleas and ticks! Other oils that can help deter pests include citronella, lemon, orange, peppermint, garlic, tea tree, and lavender, just to name a few.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to apply the oils is to add a few drops to an 8 ounce glass spray bottle, shake and then spray on the leaves or surrounding areas around your plants. Essential oils can be harmful if ingested, so please do not use them when the produce part of the plant appears.

Companion Planting With Edible Plants

Companion planting is when you arrange your plants so they can help each other out. This is highly beneficial in all types of gardens and will help prevent the spread of disease or insect infestations. You can plant just herbs with each other, or you can turn it up a notch and mix your herbs and vegetables!

Read more: 30 Geek in the Garden ideas | geeky, geek stuff, garden

However, we’ll try and stay focused on using companion planting in your herb garden as a way to deter insects from reaching your edibles. Cilantro and dill will discourage spider mites and aphids, and chamomile will work to attract the right kinds of insects to your garden. Garlic planted nearby will help disguise the smell of rotting leaves that attracts Japanese beetles, and mint can help drive off ants.

Nematodes For Soil

Nematodes are a type of round worm that lives in the soil. For most of the world, nematodes are a naturally occurring species, and they are a wonderful preventative measure against pests in herb and other edible gardens. These microscopic insects are often considered a biological insecticide because they actively seek out and infect a broad range of insects — many of which are the larval form of garden pests.

The use of nematodes as an insecticide has not been shown to damage the soil in any way or wreak havoc on larger animals or insects that don’t bury eggs underground, such as bees.

If you’re starting an herb garden, prevention and proper maintenance are keys to keeping it happy and thriving. Knowing all about your plants, including what conditions they like, what they can be used for and even their histories from a cultural context are all important to helping your garden thrive. Learn more by looking into the courses offered here, and get started on a path of wonder, nature, and healing!

Ali Lawrence is a kombucha-sipping writer who focuses on healthy and sustainable living via her family blog Homey Improvements. She was born and raised in Alaska and dabbles in Pilates and is a princess for hire for kids’ parties.

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/6-natural-ways-to-deter-insects-from-your-herbs/

#livingcornernews

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funnycutcats · 5 years

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Cats and Plants: Get the Facts on Flora and Your Feline

Plants make a wonderful addition to any décor. Some cats will ignore the greenery, some may dig at the soil a little, but many are curious about the texture and taste of objects that dangle before their eyes. When making a plant selection, consider the safety of your resident feline.

Special Precautions for Gardeners

Many systemic fertilizers — typically slow-release granules that are dug into the ground surrounding the plant — have toxic warnings on the container, but state that once the area has been watered and is dry it is fine for both pets and children to return. While the top layer of dirt once dry may not be harmful to animals, if they dig in that area they may be digging into and potentially consuming toxic or even deadly amounts of fertilizer. Even a small amount can be toxic. To help prevent this, avoid using systemic fertilizers in conjunction with other plant feeds, such as fish emulsion, fish pellets or kelp, whose smell is attractive to pets. Keep your plants healthy and your pets safe by using natural plant foods like fish emulsion or pellets, bone meal, kelp, and earthworm castings as much as possible. Plants Safe for Cats

There are many beautiful plants you can keep inside your home that are not harmful to your cat. While these plants have been shown to lack any harmful systemic or gastrointestinal effects, even non-toxic plant material is eaten in excess isn't good for your cat. This behavior may produce signs similar to those that appear with the ingestion of toxic plants. Vomiting, diarrhea, and depression are common. The difference is that these symptoms are mild and self-limiting (they resolve on their own), and in most cases do not require medical attention. If your cat does ingest an excessive amount of plant material and symptoms do not resolve in a reasonable amount of time, see your veterinarian. Plants Toxic to Cats We all want to have our homes, patios, balconies, and yards looking lovely. We can easily do this while carefully avoiding the plants that are potentially harmful to our feline friends. If you choose to keep potentially poisonous houseplants in your home, please keep them well out of reach of your curious kitty. And just in case, you should be able to recognize the symptoms of plant poisoning and familiarize yourself with what to do if you notice them in your cat. Remember that in addition to plants, there are many chemicals that should be kept away from your cat too. Signs of Poisoning from Plant Ingestion The toxins in poisonous plants have varied effects on individual cats. Some cats may be more sensitive to them and will exhibit more severe symptoms. These symptoms range from a skin rash or irritation to convulsions, but the most common signs of poisoning are vomiting and diarrhea. The following charts give you an idea of the types of symptoms and examples of plants and gardening chemicals with which they are associated. Common Plants Plant Examples Symptoms Castor bean, Daffodil, Delphinium, Foxglove, Larkspur, Pokeweed, Skunk Cabbage, Wisteria sometimes produce diarrhea, vomiting Chrysanthemum, Crown of Thorns, Poinsettia produce rash or irritation after skin contact Caladium, Emerald Duke, Philodendron, Pothos irritating, may cause swelling and pain of lips and tongue Amaryllis, Bird of Paradise, Creeping Charlie, Crown of Thorns, Mock Orange, Privet, Umbrella Plant, Yews cause vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, cramps Almonds, China Berry Tree, Kalanchoe, Water Hemlock cause convulsions Locoweed, Marijuana, Morning Glory, Nutmeg, Periwinkle, Peyote cause hallucination (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || ).push({ google_ad_client: "ca-pub-9215988308746328", enable_page_level_ads: true }); Garden Chemicals Chemical Symptoms snail and slug bait containing organophosphates excessive salivation, vomiting, muscle tremors, respiratory paralysis, depression, seizures snail and slug bait containing metaldehyde excessive salivation, seizures, rapid heart rate, diarrhea--death can result from respiratory failure or liver failure borate or boric acid vomiting, diarrhea, depression, loss of muscle coordination herbicides vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite--some may also cause irreversible lung damage My Cat Ate a Plant — What Do I Do Now? Verify that your cat has eaten a plant. Should you suspect that your cat has eaten part of a poisonous plant, be certain that he has actually done so. Look for chewed leaves, stalks, etc. Collect any vomit or feces and examine it for plant matter. This may seem excessive, but it is important to ascertain that your kitty has actually ingested plant material and didn't get into something else. As soon you notice symptoms contact your veterinarian's office and give them as much information as possible: What type of plant was eaten (if you know the name)? When you suspect your kitty made a meal of it. What symptoms he is experiencing. You may or may not be directed to come to the office. Should your veterinarian want to see your cat, if at all possible bring the plant with you (in some cases only part of the plant — root, rootstalk, bark, leaves, flowers, fruit, pits, etc. — may be toxic). In addition, should anything have been expelled in your cat's vomit or fecal matter, your vet will ask that this be brought in for examination. In most cases your veterinarian will remove the plant and toxic materials from your cat's system as quickly as possible. This may take the form of an emetic to induce vomiting, or the administration of activated charcoal and a cathartic to absorb the toxins from the stomach and intestines and speed their elimination in the feces. Your kitty will also require supportive care based on his symptoms, and will probably need to remain in the hospital. Fortunately, few plants cause life-threatening illness, if caught early enough. However, as the saying goes, "It's better to be safe than sorry." The two simplest steps you can take to protect your feline friend from plant poisoning are to limit his access outside the home where you cannot monitor his activities, and to keep your home free of toxic plants. Follow us on : Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Read the full article

#cats #CatsandPlants

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ashleyisabel1-blog · 6 years

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Growing Hanging Tomato Plants - How To Grow Tomatoes If You Don't Have A Garden!

A drop is a little developing that can provide homeowners with additional space to shop their numerous odds and finishes, this kind of as garden and power resources. This structure might also be turned into a children's clubhouse and can help improve the home worth of 1's house. There are two methods that property owners can Build a Drop on their home. Have you ever thought about keeping a gardener's diary to document what you plant and exactly where you plant it? Keeping a diary will assist you plan subsequent yr's garden by recording which vegetation grew well and which ones didn't. You can also note which colours do or don't appear great together, or which vegetation overwhelm one another. Maintain a record of how long the sun shines in various locations of your yard so you can find plants that need the suitable amount of sunlight. In our yard, the soil is not the same everywhere. We have produced do by planting various sorts of vegetation in various types of soil. Herbs bridge the hole in between Garden Layout and chef as they bring dull recipes to lifestyle. Attempt sprinkling some fresh dill into these scrambled eggs. Improve the flavor of your spaghetti sauce with some fresh oregano. Toss a scrumptious combine of fragrant basil, oregano, and garlic into your next do-it-yourself pizza crust. It'll be a delicious addition to a regular recipe. You can also get ideas from publications or from films and turn your garden into a fantasyland like you have usually been dreaming of. What ever designs you selected to do with your landscape, always remember that unity is an important factor in creating your landscaping style a success. It provides a balanced look and you will surely be able to make your home a picturesque and more relaxing place for your family.

If you discover pests in your lettuces, a tablespoon of Ivory cleaning soap in a spray bottle with drinking water topping it up or the tomato leaf spray ought to do the trick. For slugs, snails and earwigs, my previous favorite of diatomaceous earth works nicely. If earwigs are not an problem, you can use a beer lure for the snails and slugs. First, a Home Inspector should have encounter with inspecting homes or in the construction of houses. Most new House Inspectors come from the 'trades'. They are builders, remodelers, or contractors that have many years of experience. When trying to find this experienced Home Inspector one ought to get the names of some inspectors although referrals. The real estate agent may have names of inspectors that he or she has worked with in the previous, or you might have friends that have utilized inspectors with which they have had a good experience. There are internet referral systems where 'buyers' publish their encounters and recommendations. These kinds of referrals should give you a checklist of names to begin operating from. Chickens can also provide you with the advantage of fresh eggs. The eggs from totally free variety chickens are wonderful!. Totally free variety, organic fed chickens will create eggs that make shop-bought eggs appear puny and pale by comparison! A wonderful see can include to the value of your home by at minimum ten %. It would be impossible to create a beautiful view where none exists. You can however maximize and improve your current view by asking your neighbors if they may allow you to do some selective trimming of the trees that surround your home. Getting the services of a local arborist may cost a few extra hundred bucks but this can help you achieve a better return on your investment. Depending on your market product, you may want to choose a colour plan that is appropriate for it. A gardening market might fit earthy colors like eco-friendly or brown, whilst a infant product niche might fit pastel colors. Also think the reverse way. If you have a home loan niche website in crimson, would it scare your guests absent rather? In the previous 10 many years or so, haven't you observed that the produce just doesn't style like it used to? When was the last time you little bit into an apple or a pear, and the juice ran down your chin, and the style tantalized your taste buds? It's been awhile, hasn't it? What happens when you purchase expense property that requirements some rehab function? What are some issues you should look at outside of your expense property that will enhance your curb attraction? How do you go about obtaining the work carried out? I asked myself these concerns when I purchased a developing that needed rehab function a couple of years ago. I thought I obtained a fantastic offer at the time, but there was function that needed to be done to ensure the property was prepared for tenants to transfer in. I did not look at that when I purchased the home at first, but I quickly recognized I had to fix it up before renting it. Beneath is component one of a 2-part series on things you can focus on when rehabbing your expense home outside. Another factor that must be done prior to you build a chicken coop is landscaping. Usually make certain that you have sufficient room on your yard for the dimension of the house you want to build, and then look at what needs to be carried out to make sure the floor is level and company.

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rebekahgibb8-blog · 6 years

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Make Your Horticulture Desires Arrive True With This Guidance

But not all jade bonsai are the exact same. Getting good info on the type of bonsai and what is require for it is some thing you can inquire exactly where you go and get your vegetation from, take info off the internet, look at publications on bonsais, or you can speak to an additional dolliethurman8253.Myblog.De about it. Before you plan your landscaping venture, pay to get some professional advice. Although it might price you some cash, talking with a professional in landscape architecture can save you some time, heartache and a little bit of money in the finish. A sixty-moment discussion ought to be sufficient to glean some great advice and get off on the proper foot. Another well being advantage that comes from yoga is its tension decreasing capability. Interestingly, it actually attempts to stop the physique from clinging on to extra energy. You can anticipate to really feel splendidly various both bodily and emotionally if you make the time for a every day yoga session. If you're new to gardening, here's a bit of enlightenment: Study your sun publicity. Prior to you can know exactly where to location a plant, you require to know what kind of mild the plant requires. When a plant calls for full sun, it will not carry out ideally in dappled light. If you discover pests in your lettuces, a tablespoon of Ivory soap in a spray bottle with drinking water topping it up or the tomato leaf spray should do the trick. For slugs, snails and earwigs, my old favorite of diatomaceous earth functions nicely. If earwigs are not an issue, you can use a beer trap for the snails and slugs. landscaping can be a pricey endeavor, but there are choices to save you some money. 1 great instrument is environment up cost sharing with your neighborhood. Through this technique, you and neighbors pool your money and resources. Not everybody has to have each yard instrument if they are easily available from neighbors. A routine is created so everybody knows which equipment they get at what time. It utilized to be easy purchasing wedding ceremony presents - give the younger couple gifts for the home they're about to established up. Nowadays, however, many partners are not younger, numerous have set up their home and are residing with each other and so thinking of gift ideas for weddings is much more unsure. That's 1 purpose we've established up this???? web site. We want to make it easier for you to discover gift ideas for every occasion - Infant Showers, Engagements, Bucks/Hens Parties, Weddings, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Xmas or any other event. Potting bench features cabinets and drawers that you can use as the storage area for the gardening tools, equipments, fertilizers, seeds, flowers and other backyard necessities. It has a function region about the peak of your waist so you can function with out sitting extremely reduced. With the backlink quality in thoughts its fairly obvious that the greater the PR your backlinks are coming from the better your rank will be. And to add to this, the inbound links need to be coming from websites that have related content or are similar in goods and services. Thus, if you run a landscaping business, obtaining a backlink from a PR9 landscape provide business will do wonders for your rankings. The municipalities of Lang ford and Coll wooden previously were over looked by most of the people in Victoria. When enhancements arrived they grew to become the city of choice as more mature homes and farms had been eliminated and completely new developments were built. So that was a fast more than see of the Victoria area. There is background everywhere you appear ,come visit. OK I have to admit I am a massive fan of placing bitter product and chives on my baked potatoes. It's one of those guilty pleasures in life! Of program becoming a vegetable gardener that also grows herbs I have also talked myself into "the bitter product isn't bad simply because the potato and chives came from the garden." It isn't the healthiest of combinations but in this situation I am Okay with that, because the potato/sour cream/chives mixture is tremendous. How about the costs? Frightening, aren't they? We believe so, as well. A couple of many years in the past, we decided to do some thing about it, so we began researching edible landscaping. Having to pay specific interest to diet, we determined to grow only the most nutritive, fast-growing plants, to help our pocketbook AND our health. Our interest was galvanized by Moringa. It is quick-expanding, beautiful to see, and its produce tastes fantastic! That's simply because the leaves will ultimately break down and release vitamins into the soil - exactly what the plant requirements. It's the greatest in recycling and much less work for the dolliethurman8253.Myblog.De, too. Placement. Pay interest to where you want to place your landscape elements on your property. As mentioned over, try to place vegetation that need more drinking water (like trees) on reduce ground. Other placement issues include mild needed by the vegetation. Property sections to the west and the south often receive much more mild. They are also usually drier. Make sure that your placement of plants in your landscape displays their requirements.

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our-uniquevoidstudent-unive-blog · 6 years

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Publishing Articles From AMAZINES.COM Web page three

Groundskeeping or panorama maintenance is the artwork or vocation of holding varied landscapes clear, healthy, attractive and safe. If, nonetheless, you live in a moist area where mildew or bugs like slugs and snails could also be an issue, or you have got a small house to work within, then by all means stake your tomatoes and get them up off the ground. If you cannot find picket planters that suit your taste, you'll be able to at all times make your individual. The perfect materials is hardwood, in fact. You should be sure that the proportions are right and that the field is deep enough. If that looks like a tough task, you'll be able to always go for bespoke window bins This may save you quite a lot of work and you will have window packing containers that may't be found at the native gardening center. Solely the nutrient-dependent pheromone-managed ecological adaptations of species from microbes to people make sense, and they solely make sense in the context of nutrient-dependent RNA-directed DNA methylation and the RNA-mediated amino acid substitutions that stabilize organized genomes by way of fixation in the context of the physiology of replica. A number of months into the connection, Jill found she was pregnant. Jeff and Jill made plans to marry, ignoring his mother's protestations and claims that she would by no means condone this union. It may be very difficult to develop thick, luscious grass underneath a tree. Listed here are some tips for cultivating a wonderful garden on this area. Sand-dressed industrial synthetic grass stands out from the others on this listing for being much heavier and denser, largely due to its deeper-running infill and longer fibres. These traits enable for gameplay for various sports activities to be speedier than in other forms of turf, making it fashionable for sports requiring quick reflexes, resembling hockey or tennis. The Capability Brown Festival 2016, with a $1.7 million (£911,100) grant from Britain's Heritage Lottery Fund, goals to inspire new generations of tourists, members and consultants to leave a legacy of latest info, abilities and enthusiasm for panorama. It is the first-ever celebration of Brown's in depth works. The Chicago Division of Aviation is currently looking for about 30 goats and a herder for a program aimed toward taming the grass in an area of the airport grounds that is tough to mow, Fox Information reports , added that airports in Atlanta and San Francisco already use goats. Ginger that is one other terrific plant full of benefits for our good health, usually known as the traveler medication as a result of it helps with most indigestion issues, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. It should additionally help with menstrual cramps, bloating and far more go here. Maintain this one in your backyard. A raised bed in the back, ground stage beds on the perimeters made for side planting areas. We removed the concrete slab patio and located original slate underneath. We had the slate taken up, a brand new space raised and graded, and the slate put back in. Hi Linda, I do know what you imply. I'm so prepared for spring to start! End your tour with a visit to Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, one of the oldest forged iron lighthouses on the planet. Having climbed the 185 steps to the top of the lighthouse myself, I can personally recommend the views which lay the Bermuda shoreline out before you in a simply breath-taking vista. For years, yards have been outlined by their vibrant pops of color, but homeowners are moving away from that, says Henriksen. Today, layering quite a lot of vegetation in shades of inexperienced for visual impression is extra in vogue. On the evening of 8 November 1932, Stalin and Nadya hosted a banquet to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the October Revolution. They argued vehemently on this evening. As standard Stalin had had lots to drink, and was behaving poorly toward Nadya. She accused Stalin of being inconsiderate in direction of her (apparently he ignored her for most of the night and didn't notice the particular consideration she had paid to getting ready). His response was to humiliate her in entrance of their visitors by flicking cigarettes at her and addressing her ‘hey, you!' Molotov's wife chased after her and collectively they walked round the Kremlin grounds until Nadya calmed down and retired for bed. Should you're able to cast your vote now, proceed to the Official 2016 Hubbie Voting Form Keep in mind, you can solely vote as soon as so take your time determining which articles and Hubbers you'd wish to nominate. Blissful voting! What an amazing lens. I purchased click here my first obedient vegetation this yr...we'll see how they honest next year. I love xeriscaping and am nearly completed. Just the backyard, which is motly deck, to go. ELA is happy to announce the webinar offerings for this yr. ELA webinars (each current season and all archived webinars) are free to ELA Members. Webinars can be found for $10 to non-members. View the upcoming schedule. Publicity to UV mild from the solar or from tanning beds can damage the DNA in melanocytes, the cells that make the melanin that gives pores and skin its coloration. This injury is a significant cause of pores and skin cancer, the most common type of cancer within the United States. Up to now, experts believed that melanin protected the skin by blocking harmful UV light. However there was additionally evidence from research suggesting that melanin was related to skin cell damage. In 1746 the nice Venetian artist, Canaletto, moved to London following the market and wealth for his work. 9 years later, he left the town attacked by the critics as repetitive and a fake.

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theboh3mianraspb3rry · 7 years

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March for me is the true beginning of the growing year. Everywhere you look everything is beginning to come to life, the daffodils start dancing, tulips begin to emerge from the earth, ponds are alive with horny frogs basking in the new warm sun and the trees steal the show with their blossom. The Spring Equinox is the traditional time to begin sowing and growing. In years past this was when farmers would begin their growing year usually by sowing their potatoes. In Pagan traditions the Spring equinox is a time of new beginnings, new growth and rebirth.

March for me is my get ahead month! I lead a very busy life, college, work, mum, wife, netball and blogger that I rarely have enough hours in the day. So when I do have some time spare I usually spend it filling any indoor space I can find with seedlings. I’m not kidding by the end of March the windowsills, porch, outdoor mini greenhouse and polytunnel are all jam packed full.

So I thought we would start there, I started with another sowing of broad beans a variety called Imperial Long Pod from Thompson Morgan, these have only just poked there heads through, I had almost given up hope!

Peas were next on the agenda, in my family peas NEVER make it home so this year I intend to sow a shed load. So far we have these varieties sown: Shiraz, Little Marvel and Kelvedon Wonder, I will sow more successions of these in April along with another couple of varieties too.

The next sowings were Leeks – Musselburgh and Spring onions – White Lisbon which have all mad an appearance – Don’t you just love how alliums wear there little black hats for weeks! When I sowed these I also sowed some more cabbage because I love the stuff and any extra that I can’t home I usually send to my mother in law or ask a couple of my netball buddies who also have allotments if they need any.

I sowed a couple of brassicas the first one of my favourite vegetables the humble Brussel Sprout Rubine which are lovely purple sprouts and have been said to have a milder taste than the green ones. I also sowed a variety of cabbage called Greyhound from Groseeds, it is a heart shaped cabbage and has silvery seeds, it’s definitely a greyhound by nature with a speedy start which needed potting on a couple of weeks after sowing!

I like to use as much spare space as I possibly can, my currant bushes are still quite young only planting them last year so I thought I would inter sow between them with some parsnips, I’m not entirely sure this will be successful, but I did have a huge success doing this with my newly planted raspberry canes and onion sets on my first year so it’s worth a shot!

Next it was on with the flowers!

I had a full morning of sowing all my hardy annuals, which was warm enough to do in the garden. I get so excited sowing seeds. Call me a crack pot but I sing and talk to my plants, that includes seeds and earth too. I believe they have energies and I want to fill them with the most positive kind of energy so they charge up through the earth happy ready to show off all their glory!

Here is the list of flowers and foliage for the cutting patch:

Ammi – Visnaga & Majus

Cornflower – The Bride & Tall Mixed

Scabious – Tall Double Mixed

Emilia – Irish Poet

Panicum – Frosted Explosions

Amaranthus – Autumn Pallette

Cosmos – Picotee, Bright Lights & Versailles Tetra Deep Rose

Coreopsis x hybrid ‘Incredible’ Tall Mix

Euphorbia Oblongata

Craspedia

Lagurus ovatus – Bunny’s Tail Grass

Briza Maxima -Quaking Grass

Nigella – Love in a Mist

Statice – Special Mixed

Now on to the Dahlias!

If you follow me on twitter then you will have probably noticed I’m ga ga for dahlias. I just love the variety you can get from them there are so many. They are prolific bloomers too which really gives you the bang for your buck! They make exceptional cut flowers bringing the wow factor to any arrangement and they bloom until the first frosts, which then you have to lift them and bring the tubers indoors until next spring. Some areas are mild enough to leave them in the ground with a good mulch but I’m not prepared to take that risk! I planted up all my dahlias in a raised bed in the polytunnel to start them off. The intention is for cuttings, I should get a couple of extra plants off each tuber. The fact I’m growing 17 dahlias and will have propagated them means I’m going to be in abundance of dahlias and I can’t wait, bring on #dahliawars. I source my dahlias from Sarah Raven for the new and special varieties and then I also purchase some tubers from good old Wilkos too. I have listed below the varieties I’m growing and which ones are from where.

Sarah Raven Dahlias

‘Hilcrest Royal’

‘Happy Halloween’

‘Bright Eyes’

‘Café Au Lait’

‘Labyrinth’

‘Burlesca’

‘Purple Flame’

‘Henriette’

‘Mel’s Orange Marmalade’ – ‘Jescot Julie’ (Unfortunately when I unpacked my Mel’s Orange it was rotten and sold out so I picked Jescot Julie in it’s replacement which Sarah Raven was happy to provide)

Wilkos Dahlias

‘Le Baron’

‘Blue Bird’

‘Nuit D’ete’

‘Mystery Day’

‘Snowflake’

Multipack x3 Cactus Dahlia (pink, purple, white)

Right lets see how everything else is growing shall we?

My Purple Sprouting Broccoli has finally made an appearance, which I am super chuffed about, I love to stir fry my PSB which I will share my recipe with you in another blog post. However I have noticed that someone has been harvesting my PSB too, I did wonder why it was taking so long. It isn’t the wildlife either as my plants are well netted and there are cut marks on all of my plants where spears have been taken. How rude! I don’t mind sharing but theft is uncalled for especially given how long this takes to grow too, sods!

Do you remember my over wintered Corn Salad in last month’s ‘What’s Growing On’? Well it has romped away since then and I cut this almost every week, it’s loving it’s life under my Lavender & Leeks cloche, I will definitely grow this to over winter again it’s been brilliant!

In the kitchen garden it’s time to say goodbye to the kale. Just these two plants have served me well over winter, but they have now gone to seed, which the hens will be more than pleased about when I pull them up today and give them the leftovers. If you keep hens it’s much better to mix up there diets rather than keep them just on layers pellets. By feeding them greens and letting them forage for grubs and insects it promotes better eggs and if you intend to make a meal of your birds it provides the meat more omega 3, which you can spot on a chicken thigh usually as the greyish fatty meat, the most delicious part if you ask me. I don’t keep my chickens as meat I love them too much as pets!

The Swiss Chard is still going strong in the kitchen garden and has been cut a thousand times over winter but just keeps spitting out new leaves. However soon I will be pulling this up too and making way for new crops. The kitchen Garden is going to be primarily used for salad leaves, lettuce, rocket, spinach etc. This way with it being just out of the back door I can keep an eye out for those pesky slugs and snails who also want my delicious salads.

So there you have it, this is ‘What’s Growing On’ in March, now were are going into April this is when the real fun starts. Life everywhere is just going to go BANG right before our very eyes, it’s fantastic! I would love to hear about what you’ve got growing so far, have you started yet or are you waiting a little longer until the earth warms up some more?

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to Subscribe!

Brightest Blessings,

Bo x

What’s Growing On – March 2017 March for me is the true beginning of the growing year. Everywhere you look everything is beginning to come to life, the daffodils start dancing, tulips begin to emerge from the earth, ponds are alive with horny frogs basking in the new warm sun and the trees steal the show with their blossom.

#allotment #cut flower patch #cut flower seeds #cut flowers #cutflower patch #cutflowers #Gardening #Grow Your Own #grow your own food #homestead #kitchen gardening #permaculture #the good life #what seeds to sow in march #what to grow in a kitchen garden #what to grow in March?#what to grow on an allotment

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funnycutcats · 5 years

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Cats and Plants: Get the Facts on Flora and Your Feline

Special Precautions for Gardeners

To help prevent this, avoid using systemic fertilizers in conjunction with other plant feeds, such as fish emulsion, fish pellets or kelp, whose smell is attractive to pets. Keep your plants healthy and your pets safe by using natural plant foods like fish emulsion or pellets, bone meal, kelp, and earthworm castings as much as possible.

Plants Safe for Cats

There are many beautiful plants you can keep inside your home that are not harmful to your cat.

While these plants have been shown to lack any harmful systemic or gastrointestinal effects, even non-toxic plant material is eaten in excess isn’t good for your cat.

This behavior may produce signs similar to those that appear with the ingestion of toxic plants. Vomiting, diarrhea, and depression are common. The difference is that these symptoms are mild and self-limiting (they resolve on their own), and in most cases do not require medical attention. If your cat does ingest an excessive amount of plant material and symptoms do not resolve in a reasonable amount of time, see your veterinarian.

Plants Toxic to Cats

We all want to have our homes, patios, balconies, and yards looking lovely. We can easily do this while carefully avoiding the plants that are potentially harmful to our feline friends.

If you choose to keep potentially poisonous houseplants in your home, please keep them well out of reach of your curious kitty.

And just in case, you should be able to recognize the symptoms of plant poisoning and familiarize yourself with what to do if you notice them in your cat. Remember that in addition to plants, there are many chemicals that should be kept away from your cat too.

Signs of Poisoning from Plant Ingestion

The toxins in poisonous plants have varied effects on individual cats. Some cats may be more sensitive to them and will exhibit more severe symptoms.

These symptoms range from a skin rash or irritation to convulsions, but the most common signs of poisoning are vomiting and diarrhea.

The following charts give you an idea of the types of symptoms and examples of plants and gardening chemicals with which they are associated.

Common Plants

Plant Examples

Symptoms

Castor bean, Daffodil, Delphinium, Foxglove, Larkspur, Pokeweed, Skunk Cabbage, Wisteria sometimes produce diarrhea, vomiting Chrysanthemum, Crown of Thorns, Poinsettia produce rash or irritation after skin contact Caladium, Emerald Duke, Philodendron, Pothos irritating, may cause swelling and pain of lips and tongue Amaryllis, Bird of Paradise, Creeping Charlie, Crown of Thorns, Mock Orange, Privet, Umbrella Plant, Yews cause vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, cramps Almonds, China Berry Tree, Kalanchoe, Water Hemlock cause convulsions Locoweed, Marijuana, Morning Glory, Nutmeg, Periwinkle, Peyote cause hallucination

Garden Chemicals

Chemical

Symptoms

snail and slug bait containing organophosphates excessive salivation, vomiting, muscle tremors, respiratory paralysis, depression, seizures snail and slug bait containing metaldehyde excessive salivation, seizures, rapid heart rate, diarrhea–death can result from respiratory failure or liver failure borate or boric acid vomiting, diarrhea, depression, loss of muscle coordination herbicides vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite–some may also cause irreversible lung damage

My Cat Ate a Plant — What Do I Do Now?

Verify that your cat has eaten a plant. Should you suspect that your cat has eaten part of a poisonous plant, be certain that he has actually done so. Look for chewed leaves, stalks, etc. Collect any vomit or feces and examine it for plant matter.

This may seem excessive, but it is important to ascertain that your kitty has actually ingested plant material and didn’t get into something else.

As soon you notice symptoms contact your veterinarian’s office and give them as much information as possible:

What type of plant was eaten (if you know the name)?

When you suspect your kitty made a meal of it.

What symptoms he is experiencing.

You may or may not be directed to come to the office. Should your veterinarian want to see your cat, if at all possible bring the plant with you (in some cases only part of the plant — root, rootstalk, bark, leaves, flowers, fruit, pits, etc. — may be toxic).

In addition, should anything have been expelled in your cat’s vomit or fecal matter, your vet will ask that this be brought in for examination.

In most cases your veterinarian will remove the plant and toxic materials from your cat‘s system as quickly as possible. This may take the form of an emetic to induce vomiting, or the administration of activated charcoal and a cathartic to absorb the toxins from the stomach and intestines and speed their elimination in the feces.

Your kitty will also require supportive care based on his symptoms, and will probably need to remain in the hospital.

Fortunately, few plants cause life-threatening illness, if caught early enough. However, as the saying goes, “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

The two simplest steps you can take to protect your feline friend from plant poisoning are to limit his access outside the home where you cannot monitor his activities, and to keep your home free of toxic plants.

The post Cats and Plants: Get the Facts on Flora and Your Feline appeared first on Funny Cute Cats.

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