Pets and Trends

Nowadays there are a great number of people wanting to own a pet. With the stress that nine to five brings, there are a great number of people who are now joining the bandwagon of owning pets. They not only treat pets as if they are spoiled animals but rather pets are treated like they are part of the family. Owners, especially those who are overly committed to the fact that they own animals as pets would see to it that pets would get the utmost attention from the owners themselves plus the regular visit with the vet.

Today, or world is actually suffering from massive destruction. With the destruction of nature with man’s need to globally evolve and explore new boundaries; man have consciously and unconsciously destroyed trees, oceans just for monetary gain. With the destruction of these vital parts of the world’s ecosystem; animals all over the world have been deprived of their natural habitat. With this problem in hand, there could come a time that the only surviving animals would have to be the human race. For these reasons there are now a great number of people being aware of the need to take good care of animals. There are those environmentalist organizations that not only provide help for the preservation of animals but they also service future generations of a chance to see them decades from now.

These environmentalist are just like the people owning pets. They not only give time, effort and money but they offer themselves in order to protect the animals.

Nowadays, the expansion of people’s love to pets have brought awareness that as humans, people should be able to not just consume and dominate the world but also to take care of it. As a caretaker of the living organisms and to prove that we are truly rationale beings capable of thinking and making responsible decisions, it is a good exercise actually to start taking care of a pet.

Owning a pet don’t have an age limit attached to it. From the young to the young at heart, everyone is welcome to be a pet owner. It doesn’t really matter what kind of pet you are to take care of, as long as you are to find yourself in a position where you could actually foster care for the animal, then you are a good pet owner. For this reason, pet owners even stepped beyond responsible and started loving their animals as if they are part of the family.

Clothes for dogs are becoming popular nowadays as dog shows have showcased their bravado for attention of not just their pet owners but also of others. Businesses providing clothing for dogs have made their work accessible for each pet owner. Virtually in every pet store you could get anything you want. From clothing to the coats for dogs, just name it and they have it. Since fishes are also getting popular nowadays, fish tank heaters are becoming the popular requests of pet owners along side the fish tank lights.

Pets could be a source of joy for anyone. They say that by taking care of a pet, it gives you back the love you give. This is true since even medicine could prove that older patients with pets have a longer life than those with none. So it is really important to love animals for what they are and take care of their welfare.•

by: Andrew Beene

RUN STRONGER VIA YOUR CORE

Whether running for fitness, lifestyle or weight loss, traditionally runners have focused on building a stronger heart and stronger legs and often don’t think about the area in between. But increasing numbers of athletes across all sports are starting to understand that a strong core is the foundation of all movement…

A strong core helps you generate more force and speed as you push off the ground.  When you land again, strong core muscles help to keep you rock-solid. A stable core prevents extra movement in your torso and keeps you from using excess energy as your arms and legs move.  This makes you a more economical runner.  A strong core also helps with posture while running. At the tail end of your run, a solid core can help you maintain correct form and run efficiently – even through fatigue – because strong lower abs and lower-back muscles aids better posture, and less fatigue leads to increased co-ordination.

Strength in your side stomach oblique’s helps when you have to suddenly move to the side – whether it’s turning the corner on a track, navigating terrain or dodging a pothole.

If you don’t invest time in strengthening your core you can experience a variety of different problems ranging from discomfort to major injuries. You see, as your legs pound the ground your spine absorbs much of the force. That shock worsens if your core is weak, which can produce lower-back pain. Also, when your core isn’t stable, your hamstrings have to work harder – which if overloaded, can leave them shorter, tighter, and more vulnerable to injury. Without a strong core, it is difficult to control the movement of your torso.

You risk putting excess force on your joints each time your foot lands, which can lead to pain under the knee and a whole lot of expensive health problems later in life. Further strain can be put on your joints when your technique deteriorates near the end of your run. If your core is weak, you can end up shuffling and slouching, putting too much stress on your hips, knees, and shins. No matter what level you are running at, a strong core is the foundation for all your movement. There are lots of exercise options to consider for your core.   Invest the time in your core and you will enjoy your running a lot more – plus you’ll look great too!

Researched By : Kátia C. Rowlands  Pilates Instructor & Personal Trainer  082 513 4256

Die boom van GOED en KWAAD

Danie praat inheems

In seker die bekendste “storieboek” oor ons omgewing se woude “Kringe in ‘n bos” deur Dalene Matthee, staan daar op p.34:

“Saul het selfs geweet watter boom die Boom van Goed en Kwaad is: die geelhoutboom.  Tot die olifante weet dit.  Dis die enigste boom in die hele Bos waarvan hulle nie ‘n blaartjie sal vreet nie, nie ‘n stukkie bas van sal afskeur nie.  Nie van ‘n upright nie, nie van ‘n kalander nie.”

Maar amper, amper was die geelhoutbome uitgewis as gevolg van die mens se gulsigheid om meer en meer geelhout af te kap vir gebruike soos onder andere – kan jy dit glo – spoorwegdwarslêers.  Gelukkig is daar ingegryp en genadiglik het ‘n aantal van die eeue-oue reuse van die bos oorgebly.

Naby aan die indraaipad na Nature’s Valley (onder in die Grootrivierpas) staan een so ‘n ou reus wat sy storie tot vandag toe kan vertel danksy die bewaringsbewustheid van een man, Hendrik Barnardo.

Die volgende aanhaling uit “The story of Nature’s Valley” vertel die storie:  (“The story of Nature’s Valley” is by die Nature’s Valley Trust beskikbaar.)

“With the building of the Groot River Pass there appeared on the scene a young man who lived all his life in the valley, raising three families and dying there.  This was Hendrik Jacobus Hermanus Barnardo, also known as Hendrik Grootrivier.  Apparently he advised Bain to build the passes on old elephant paths.  He was also one of the first tree conservationists in the area.

When Bain was building the Groot River pass, Barnardo stood guard in front of a massive Yellowwood tree and threatened to shoot any engineer who came near the tree to chop it down.

Today, after the pass has been rebuilt many times, it still makes a detour around Barnardo’s Yellowwood tree!  Although he made money from timber, he always tried to protect what nature handed out to us. His motto was: If you chop down a tree you are obliged to plant six in its place.”

Foto: Volgens oorlewering is dit die boom wat Hendrik met sy geweer beskerm het.  Dit staan op die draai net ná die ingang na die De Vasselot-kamp (van Sanparke) onder in die Vallei. Danie Muller 082 320 1833 of 044 531 6790 E-pos oupadaan@lantic.net Danie woon in Nature’s Valley in die “Oupa Daan”-huis in St George’s Laan 245

 

Bome - Geelhout Boom van goed en kwaad

 

U3A

Monday  24th March 2014
–  Downton Abbey  :  Series 4  ( Part 8 of 8 )
August 1922 :  Cora has organised a Church Bazaar in the grounds of Downton.
Lord Gillingham continues to persue and flirt with Mary.
10H00 at Formosa Garden Village Lounge
Co-ordinator:  Angela Embleton  044-533-1437

Tuesday  25th March 2014
–  Italian Conversation
09H45  at 12 Challenge Drive
Co-ordinator:  Brenda Hardy  044-533-5489

Wednesday  26th March 2014
– Armchair Travel to Patagonia
Mervyn Prior to address us on Mountaineering in Patagonia.
In 1973/1974 the South African Paul Fatti led an expedition
up the Towers of Paine in Chile’s Paine National Park
10H00  at Formosa Garden Village Lounge
Co-ordinator:  Christo Vlok  044-533-5155

Wednesday  26th March 2014
–  U3A Plett  Social Bridge Club
Supervised bridge in a friendly atmosphere
with tips for improving your play.
13H45  at the Angling Club
Co-ordinator:  Michael Webb  082-226-7280

Friday  28th March 2014
–  French Conversation
10H00 at  7 Glennifer Street
Co-ordinator:  Merle Decot  044-533-5879

Friday  28th March 2014
–  Mah Jong
Learn and play this ancient and fascinating game.
14H00  at Formosa Garden Village Small Dining Room
Co-ordinator:  Amelia White 044-533-0113

Plett Music Academy invites you…

Plett Music Academy invites you to enjoy a spectacular evening of music with Dr Brad Liebl and Sylvia Schulman

Brad Liebl (summa cum laude from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music) is an Associate Professor of Classical Voice and was Co-ordinator of that division at UCT from 1998 to 2003. In his 20+ years in South Africa, he has become well-known as an interpreter of operatic leading roles, Lieder and Oratorio.

In these capacities, he has graced the stages of Artscape (CAPAB), City Hall, the Baxter, Stellenbosch, Feather Market Square, Johannesburg Civic, Grahamstown, Bloemfontein, the Little Karoo and the Northwestern Province. In Germany he has sung operetta and Lieder, and in the USA he continues to guest as a principal performer in oratorio and opera. In 2003, Dr. Liebl received  a Distinguished Teacher Award from the University of Cape Town.(one of only four, university-wide for the year!)

Sylvia Schulman who received her secondary and tertiary education in Cape Town  spent 15 years in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and 15 years in the UK, mainly in Cambridge and Bedfordshire, during which she played all over the U.K. as soloist, accompanist and chamber music player, appearing at such events as the Cambridge Festival and the Harewood House Concert Series.

She gave concerts in London and broadcast for the BBC – she has also accompanied many international artists whilst overseas. In this country she appeared frequently with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra as soloist, gave solo, chamber music and broadcast  recitals with leading South African instrumentalists and singers, toured and worked extensively for CAPAB.

She has been living in Swellendam since November 2006 where she offers piano lessons, has been involved in Swellendam High School events including a Master Class, and has performed between 20 and 30 times in the area during this time.

plett music

 

 

Is a Border Collie Right for Your Family?

A few notable Border Collie traits are that of craving attention, high intelligence, high energy and a love of taking care of its flock. As a member of the herding breeds, they can be a bit verbose and nippy as they shuffle there little sheep around. Therefore, they are not recommended for really little children. Older kids that can command attention and work with the trained commands are great. The Border Collie is a dog that will watch over their family members. They are good at recognizing possible threats and raising an alarm.

Border Collie’s have to be trained. They can wreak havoc on the household if left unchecked. They need an outlet for all of their intelligence and energy and they need to understand what is and isn’t appropriate in regards to those outlets. Luckily, they are easy to train and eager to please. Once the basic commands like sit, stay, come and no have been mastered, more complex commands can be taught. Border Collie’s can perform very complex tasks. They respond to hand signals as well as verbal cues and these can be combined to create some really unique tricks. As a house dog, the Border Collie needs to be exercised daily. Having a fenced in yard makes things easier. You can throw the ball, Frisbee, or any other toy and they will get it in a flash. You can also set up an agility course in the backyard and work on training them to your and your Border Collie’s hearts content. The Border Collie is a dog that excels at agility training. Ducking, weaving, jumping and following a course at their masters command makes them jump for joy. Agility training not only exercises the dog, but it creates an enduring bond with your Border Collie.

Overall the Border Collie can tolerate many conditions, from hot to cold, from apartment to home to farm (so long as they get plenty of daily exercise and mental stimulation). They are relatively healthy. They do need to be brushed two or three times per week. They are a medium sized dog averaging 40 pounds. They have a life span of 10 to 14 years. So, now that you know more about the Border Collie, is it the right dog for you? •

JUICING VS. BLENDING

Green juices and smoothies are so hot right now, and for very good reason! Made the right way, they are absolutely delicious, revitalizing and nourishing to our bodies.
Juices and smoothies are kind to your digestive system, great for your skin, hair, eyes and immune system, anti aging, weight loss , detox and cleansing.  Moreover, green smoothies and juices are a cost effective way to  get and keep you and your family healthy. I love them because they promote REAL food. Sure, you can chuck all kinds of super powders and potions into your drinks, but fundamentally, blenders and juicers are all about fresh produce: their number one goal in life is to make your fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables SHINE!So which is better, blending or juicing? The answer is, well… BOTH .. are fabulous (but different) ways to quench your body with loads of nutrient dense veggies! Both smoothies and freshly extracted vegetable juices offer better nutrient absorption than you’d get eating foods whole. They’re a delicious, quick way to download a massive amount of raw nutrients into your body every day.
Juicing is like an intravenous injection of pure goodness. A good quality juicer extracts the water and nutrients (the life and soul) from vegetables and fruits and discards the fibre ( which is great for veggie chips and the compost). Without all that fibre, you can consume a huge amount of pre-digested liquid nutrients on the go. This is awesome news because even those of us with the biggest appetites would struggle to munch on the equivalent amount of raw, whole veggies and fruits in one sitting.Juicing is also great because it allows you to make juice from 100% vegetables. Using a juicer really brings the sweetness out of root veggies like carrots and beets, so there’s no need to add heaps of fruit. With smoothies it’s difficult (but not impossible) to avoid fruit. Imagine drinking a carrot and spinach smoothie with no added fruit! If you’re trying to cut back on all forms of sugar including fructose, then juicing is a brilliant option for you.Juicing is awesome all the time, but especially great in times of  cleansing, detox, repair and renewal, or when overcoming illness, because veggie juice nourishes and restores the body at a cellular level. Because the juicer does all the work, concentrated nutrients are absorbed immediately into the bloodstream, and your body can concentrate it’s efforts on other important healing and rejuvenating tasks.
Blending…  blends! Crazy I know. Fresh fruit, leafy greens, superfoods, non-starchy vegetables*, herbs and spices can all be whizzed into delicious creative smoothie concoctions, fibre and all. If you struggle to eat enough fibre or greens, or your kids are fussy, smoothies are a sure fire way to sneak the good stuff into their diet. With blending you can get creative, as it’s easier to add things like nut butters and superfoods which aren’t always juicer-friendly. The blending process breaks down the fibre, making it easier to digest and encouraging a slow and steady release of nutrients into the blood stream, avoiding blood sugar spikes. Plus, the fibre helps keep your digestive system clean and running smoothly (it helps you poop!).Smoothies are also really versatile – you can make them fresh and fruity, creamy and chocolatey or even savoury.Smoothies are basically a drinkable fibre-filled fruit-and-veggie happy meal, and therefore they tend to be more filling(and economical!) than juices. It’s a faster process and an easier clean up, and for these reasons I love smoothies in the morning before work, and my juices as an afternoon pick-me-up.
Juicing and blending tips
*It’s best not to combine sweet fruits and starchy vegetables: Improper food combining (i.e. starches with fruits) can affect how well your digestive enzymes function. The enzymes and length of time the body requires to break down starches are different from other food groups. Combining starchy foods with fruit can cause fermentation, gas and digestion hold ups. That’s why I tent to save my hard veggies for the juicer and my fruits and greens for the blender.
Greens go with anything: The good news is, green leafy veggies combine well with pretty much every other food group so you can go crazy with greens in your juices and your fruity smoothies.
Include cucumber, celery and other watery vegetables in your juices and smoothies: In smoothies, this is a great way to add bulk while keeping the sugar content low. In juices, they help dilute strong flavours like carrot and beetroot. They are are also super hydrating, alkalising and anti-inflammatory.
Focus on the veggies, and watch your sugar intake: Juices absorb into your bloodstream within minutes. Removing the fiber from fruits can lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar and long term health issues. The beauty of juicing over blending is that you have the ability to extract the goodness from so many starchy, hard veggies (carrot, beetroot, sweet potato, parsnip, zucchini, broccoli, etc.) that don’t fare too well in a blender (you get thick, fibrous smoothies that aren’t very palatable). Juicing brings out the incredible sweetness of veggies such as carrots and beets, eliminating the need for adding sweet fruits at all. This means you can make delicious 100% vegetable juices. When you are starting out, though, a 3:1 ratio of veggies to fruits will do the trick. Green apples are a juice’s best friend.
Try to drink your juice or smoothie slowly, but immediately: Over time, light and air destroys much of the nutrients. If you can’t drink it straight away, transfer to a dark airtight container until you’re ready. However, you’ll want to “chew” your drink. It’s better to take your time and let it sit in your mouth, so saliva and digestive enzymes can kick into gear. Just think, that was a lot of produce you put in that smoothie or juice – give your body the time to digest it well.
Researched By : Kátia C. Rowlands – Pilates Instructor & Personal Trainer – 082 513 4256 •

ARTISTS OPEN STUDIOS – an opportunity to take a peek inside Pletts creative minds…

Sunday 27th April 2014

A selection of Plett artists will open their private studios for a day, and visitors will be invited to enjoy a variety of specialized art media. The exhibition will take place across Plett and the Crags as visitors travel between the permanent studios of each artist. Expect to see abstract and figurative painting, ink drawings and paintings, whimsical ceramics and conceptual sculpture. South Africa’s well known sculptor, Robbie Legget, will give a live demonstration of a bronze pouring at his bronze foundry at 11am in Harkerville. This is a unique opportunity as there are few bronze foundries in the country.

In addition, Plett’s well-known artist and teacher, Muffin Balajadia Bekker, will be hosting local landscape paintings by her school studio artists. The selection of artists has been chosen to display a diversity of artistic media. The artists will be available to answer any questions regarding their work. The work will be on sale at a discounted rate as compared to gallery prices.

A portion of the proceeds of the art sales, as well as all the proceeds of the ticket sales, will benefit the Kids of Kurland Project.

This will help to pay for additional teachers, a social worker and a special needs teacher at the Crags Primary School.

Tickets and maps are available for R50 from Mungo Design at Old Nicks (off the N2) and The Shop (next to The Table Restaurant – Plett Main Street). For further information, contact Ann Fermor on 0824528764.

 

CASTING OF THE BRONZE (1)

U3A

Monday 17th March 2014
– Downton Abbey : Series 4 ( Part 7 of 8 )
July 1922 : Lord Grantham leaves for America
to bail out Cora’s playboy brother and in London
Rose continues to romance the jazz singer.
10H00 at Formosa Garden Village Lounge
Co-ordinator: Angela Embleton 044-533-1437

Tuesday 18th March 2014
– Italian Conversation
09H45 at 12 Challenge Drive
Co-ordinator: Brenda Hardy 044-533-5489

Wednesday 19th March 2014
– The Impressionists : Painting & Revolution ( Part 4 of 4 )
Waldemar Januszczak looks at the late years of Impressionism
and in particular at the work of Georges Seurat.
10H00 at Formosa Garden Village Lounge
Co-ordinator: Angela Embleton 044-533-1437

Wednesday 19th March 2014
– U3A Plett Social Bridge Club
Supervised bridge in a friendly atmosphere
with tips for improving your play.
13H45 at the Angling Club
Co-ordinator: Michael Webb 082-226-7280

Friday 21st March 2014
French Conversation
10H00 at 7 Glennifer Street
Co-ordinator: Merle Decot 044-533-5879

THE JAGUAR THAT HATES BEEF

She loves her two teddy bears and she cannot stand the sight of beef. Tequila, a four-year-old jaguar who resides at the Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary in Plettenberg Bay, in the Western Cape, is extremely fussy, not only about her food, but also her shelter. “For a jaguar she is one of a kind. She is very docile and loves for me to sit and chat with her,” the sanctuary’s Jurg Olsen told Sapa. “A very special young lady… and very ladylike in everything she does.” Her fussiness began as a cub. “When we have to hand-raise a cubby [for some or other reason], we start them off on a special milk formula,” explained Olsen. “At approximately four weeks we introduce them to mincemeat and milk and then at eight weeks we introduce them to pieces of chicken. Tequila refused mincemeat from the first time we tried it with her and only took chicken.” Tequila has never touched beef, and probably never will. “She literally gets nauseous when she smells beef… and will start salivating and will walk away very upset,” said Olsen. “Tequila is a chicken girl but she eats horse meat as well. If any of her food has touched beef she will not eat [it].” Tequila also hates people entering her domain. “She is very fussy about her night shelter, she only allows me to enter the shelter with her.” The 55kg wildcat, who has a rosette shaped like a heart, loves her two teddies and “sucks on them” when Olsen sits with her during management sessions. Her best friends are two young puma girls named Inca and Indiana, and a Bengal tiger boy named Juka. Olsen says she watches over the two pumas like an older sister, and plays with Juka, despite a fence. They enjoy “running up and down”. Tequila was born on Christmas Day in 2009. She came to Jukani in January 2010. While jaguars closely resemble leopards, they are sturdier and heavier, and the two animals can be distinguished by their rosettes. The rosettes on a jaguar’s coat are larger, fewer in number, usually darker, and have thicker lines and small spots in the middle that the leopard lacks. Jaguars also have rounder heads and shorter, stockier limbs compared to leopards. Jaguar females reach sexual maturity at around two-years-old, and males at three or four. Jaguars are solitary, opportunistic, “stalk-and-ambush” predators. They are the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion. “The jaguar has an exceptionally powerful bite, even relative to the other big cats,” Jukani says on its website. “This allows it to pierce the shells of armoured reptiles and to employ an unusual killing method — it bites directly through the skull of prey between the ears to deliver a fatal bite to the brain.”
– www.thegremlin.co.za •