legendary

So celebrated as to having taken on the nature of a legend; "the legendary exploits of the arctic trailblazers".

CONTENTS

ARTICLES

A sneak peek at ... rabbits! - Part 3

Gemstones

Crafts

STORIES

The Murder of Thomas Becket

The Adventures of Juniper Silverheel - Part 4

A story within a story - Part 3

Recipes

Book Reviews

Poems

Quotes

Photos

Riddles

Puzzles

Facts

A sneak peek at ... rabbits!

Part 3

Tara Rose

Welcome back to the Animal Corner. This week I will be covering some of the many breeds of our well known and loved rabbit.

Thanks for reading, and remember, keep sniffing for more juicy news!

Tara R

www.elcivics.com

Breeds Galore!

When you think of a rabbit the first thing that would come into your mind would probably be the common white albino rabbit, or the common wild brown rabbit, but you must realise there are so many other breeds than those two! There are many, many different types, breeds, and some with no breed at all! There are small, big, fluffy, short haired, hairless, spotty, patchy, and the list goes on ...

Here are just some of the main breeds you will find.

www.media.desicolours.com 

www.itsnature.org

The Rex Rabbit

This breed is called the Rex. Fondly enough, in Latin Rex means king. This might refer to the size of the Rex rabbit, compared to a lot of the other breeds! It is popular for its long ears and velvety coat. It is quite a long breed and looks more like a hare than a rabbit. Different types in the Rex family include: Mini Rex, Dalmatian Rex, Astrex, and Satin Mini Rex. They come in mainly seven colours that are: Sable, Seal Point, Smoke Pearl, Caster, Cinnamon, Blue, and Havana .

Mini Rex

www.photobucket.com

www.ntlworld.com

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Gemstones & Minerals

Tara Rose

CARNELIAN

Carnelian has been cut and polished since the time of the ancient Egyptians!

Carnelian (sometimes called Cornelian) is basically a coloured form of quartz and its value is therefore quite low. However, when it is cut and mounted, it may form part of some of the world’s most valuable and expensive artefacts. Carnelian has been used since the dawn of civilisation to make a wide range of gemstones, ornaments and small sculptures. Its main attractions are its unique colouration and its capacity to take a good polish. Carnelian is one of the easier to gemstones cut and polish. This is mainly because it is reasonably hard; it measures 6½ on Mohs Scale of Hardness and its tightly packed cryptocrystalline structure makes it highly resistant to the heat and pressure generated by power drills and saws.

www.95prayers.com 

www.wikimedia.org 

www.wikipedia.com 

www.mjcrafts-designstudio.com 

Where is it found?

Carnelian occurs in the cavities of many forms of rock, especially volcanic lavas. Much of it developed from silica-rich solutions that solidified at low temperatures. It typically forms in nodules, teat-shaped masses or in groups of stalactites that radiate outwards from a central axis. India has some of the largest deposits of Carnelian, especially around Bengal, Deccan and Ratnapur. Indian Carnelian is a very deep reddish–orange colour that is partly caused by the action of the sun’s rays.  Further deposits of Carnelian can be found in Rio Grande do Sul ( Brazil ), Iran , Saudi Arabia , and Uruguay .

Enduring Masterpieces

One of the most amazing qualities of Carnelian is its durability. Many of the Carnelian ornaments and rings, which have survived 3,000 years since ancient Greek and Roman times, have retained their colouration and polished sheen better than much harder stones.

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Crafts

Eva Marlie

www.craftbits.com 

Boy, hasn't this year gone fast! It's already the end of the year, and time to get into the Christmas cheer! Here are a few different crafts you can make for you, your family, your house, or for someone else this Christmas.

Have a great December the 25th, and make the most of 2009 while it's still around!

Easy No-Sew Pillow

Here's a very easy, and sewing free pillow, that would be a great Christmas present for a friend or relative if you like making things yourself.

Christmas Felt Box

A very welcome addition to the lively Christmas spirit!

Jar of Nothing

A really good joke for a close friend or family member :D

Did you say nothing?

When you were asked what you wanted

For Birthday, Anniversary, Graduation, or Christmas

Don't you remember saying NOTHING?

Well, this time someone heard you

And searched high and low and found this perfect gift for you.

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The Murder of Thomas Becket

Genevieve (15)

Henry I was on the throne of England . He did his best in ruling sternly and wisely. His chancellor, Thomas à Becket, helped him do so by being his ever devoteful companion and partner. The two friends would work very seriously for hours, and when all was over, would play like little boys. They would hunt together and play mighty jests on one another. And the King placed him so high in the dining room that he was equal to the King himself!

Henry loved Thomas, and Thomas loved Henry. But at this time, the religion was corrupt, and some people only became priests so they could get away with unlawful things. For the priests were never sentenced to death or put in prison. So Henry decided to make Thomas à Becket the Archbishop of Canterbury, for the people loved him and he was a kind, yet strong man. Thomas did not wish to become the Archbishop, for he was fond of rich clothing and food. He warned the king that they would no longer be friends but enemies, for he would have to serve the church, and not the King. Henry heeded not his dear friend’s words, and placed him in Canterbury as Archbishop. No sooner had he done so, that Thomas donned the white robe and rich ornaments on his hands and neck. He stopped serving the King as chancellor also, which surprised the King, for in those days it was not uncommon for the archbishop to also be a chancellor for the King. The Pope, in Rome , rejected Thomas, for he claimed that all powerful religious places had to be accepted by the Pope. Henry claimed that the King had a right to make Thomas Archbishop if he wished it. But Thomas agreed with the Pope! So, as he had foretold, they became enemies, arguing day after day.

After months and months, the King became too angry and fierce, that Thomas fled to France . They continued arguing though, and in a fit of rage, Henry cried out “Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest!” Four particular knights took this very seriously, and sailed across the channel to France . They closed upon Thomas à Becket and killed him in the cathedral he was hiding in. Thomas had not been afraid of dying, and he had his arms held wide as the knights slew him. The knights, fearful of what they had done, fled back to England . King Henry was very sorry, and the Pope was angry. The entire country mourned the loss of so great a man. The knights were shunned by their friends and were sent on a pilgrimage. They died alone and rejected from society.

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The Adventures of Juniper Silverheel

Part 4

Star (13) & Nova (12)

I spun round to see a figure in the shadows. Kanoko? Was I dreaming? No, I couldn't have been dreaming. I pinched myself and it hurt. I was confused and I was tired. I didn’t know what to do. 

“Why! I'm surprised to see you, Juniper Silverheel!”

“Kanoko!” We flew towards each other, into a big hug. “I haven't seen you for so long! How in the world did you get here?”

“I flew of course!” said Kanoko.

“Oh, come inside. Your wings must be so tired!” I said.

“My wings are tired, of course, but I feel better knowing there is a good friend around”, Kanoko replied. “Come on. Lets go somewhere warmer."

"OK", I said, leading him to my tree top house. Once we were seated comfortably in the bedroom Kanoko spoke,

"I was travelling to send you, Loom, and your wife a message from the Imperial court. They did not give me details or why, but here's the message: You are to be at the Imperial court by the full moon after next."

To be continued ...

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A story within a story

Part 3

Tara Rose

Chapter 1 - Maka (continued)

I grabbed a digging stick off the ground, and a store bag, which I hitched over my left shoulder, and joined the group of women, who were now all ready to set out on the gathering expedition.

We walked through dense rainforest on a track that had been used for thousands of years. Tall buttress trees walled the narrow pathway. Their long slender branches arched over our procession, and whispered to me about the secrets of the forest, birds, and beasts. My vision was bathed in a pale green glow, which reflected off all sides of the forest. Because I was not of age yet, I was obligated to walk at the back of the line with the other children. You became of age at 15. In another 3 months and 11 days, I too, would be at the front of the line with all the other female elders of our tribe. Mahpee, a boy in our tribe, was having his coming of age ceremony tonight.  That was the feast that we were preparing for.

The ceremony would begin at sundown, with the tribal women dancing, while the sun set the sky ablaze with the colours of pink and purple. As the sky darkens, the tribal men start the blazing bonfire. As it writhes and spits at all the children, staring wide-eyed at the fire and sitting as close as possible to it without getting burnt, the women start to cook and serve the feast. The tribal men would start the traditional Mrana dance; it was a warding off signal to the bad spirits.

As the smells of the cooking wafted into the area where all of the rest of the tribe would be waiting impatiently, older boys experimented with fire. They teased each other of being scared to touch it, when they all knew that playing with fire was like meddling with the white-men. Then when the food was served, everyone sat around the bonfire and sang. They sang to the forest, they sang to the birds, they sang to the beasts, and they sang for the love of their family and tribe. Then the girl or boy would dance around the bonfire, and then one by one, the rest of the tribe would join, from the most recent tribal member that had come of age to the oldest. They danced till the sun turned the sky a baby pink, and you could smell the dew in the air, only when the fire died did they stop, only then did they finish and rest.

To be continued ...

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Recipes

Vegan Bolognaise Sauce

Tara Rose

Ingredients

4 tablespoons of olive oil

1 clove of garlic, crushed and chopped finely

1 medium onion, chopped finely

A good handful of fresh herbs, washed and chopped finely

2 cans of 400g chopped tomatoes 

1 medium eggplant, diced into medium cubes

1 large capsicum, diced into medium cubes

1 average bag of button mushrooms, sliced evenly

2 cans of 400g kidney beans, drained

Method

Heat the oil in a large saucepan on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and garlic. Pan fry till it starts to brown a little. Stir in a good handful of fresh herbs - this really gives extra flavour. Then add both cans of tomato sauce and stir until the onion and garlic is well distributed. Cook for a few minutes, before adding the eggplant and capsicum to the mix. Cook for about 5 more minutes, after which add the mushrooms and kidney beans. Stir thoroughly. You will need to cook the sauce for around 15 minutes, depending on the heat and other elements. You should check it every 5 minutes or so and taste to see if the vegetables, and the tomato, is cooked.

Cook your pasta (I personally prefer spaghetti, but whatever you like) and there you have it, a delicious meat-free meal!

Click here for a print out

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Poems

The In-between
Tara Rose

The moon rules night,

The sun rules day,

Who then rules that tiny little ray

Of time betwixt the light and dark,

Time just after the lonely hound has barked his very last bark?

The sun has not risen,

Yet the moon has just set,

Tis the in-between

The time that not one has even seen …

Dry Rain
Tara Rose

Why the rain falls,

I do not know,

All I know is that it does flow and flow,

From the heavens it does come,

Why then do I have none?

For all I am is sand and sun,

I am the desert, who beats the lonely drum,

Without precious water I cannot breathe,

One day, one day, I will be freed …

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Book Reviews

Leatherwood Books

www.leatherwoodbooks.com.au  

50 Christmas Things to Make & Do

Fiona Watt

9780746088272

$12.99

This must be one of the nicest activity books I have seen! With glossy full-colour pages, and really good activities, this would be a real treat for a young child whose into making wonderful things. The products would be great to lighten and brighten up your home for the festive Christmas season!

Age 4+ with help

(Review LR)

For another review click on the book cover.

A Bush Christmas

C J Dennis

9781742030500

$24.99

The sun burns hotly thro’ the gums
As down the road old Rogan comes –
The hatter from the lonely hut
Beside the track to Woollybutt.
He likes to spend his Christmas with us here.
He says a man gets sort of strange
Living alone without a change
Gets sort of settled in his way;
And so he comes each Christmas day
To share a bite of tucker and a beer.

With Dennis' good poetry and Dee Huxley's fabulous and moving illustrations, this story of an Australian family's Christmas in the bush comes alive!

Age 4+

(Review LR)

For another review click on the book cover.

How to draw Christmas

Fiona Watt

9780746069745

$12.99

Written by the same author as 50 Christmas Things to Make & Do, this is a really inspiring book, which can keep children of many ages busy, showing them how to draw all the wonderful things we see during the summer times here in Aus! Easy-to-follow instructions make it a piece of cake, for even young kids.

Age 5+

(Review LR)

For another review click on the book cover.

Photos

We couldn't think of a topic for the pictures to be showing, so we just looked for any fascinating, funny, weird, and wonderful pictures we could find.

www.dailytelegraph.com.au 

www.pawfun.com 

www.pyzam.com 

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Quotes

Compiled by Tara Rose

Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.

- Jack Buck

Two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one.

- Friedrich Halm

Puzzles

Click here to see the answers to the puzzles. 

Christmas Sudoku

Eva Marlie

This idea came from when I thought "You can't really have a sudoku about something, can you?"

The aim is for there to be all the letters in the word CHRISTMAS in every 9 box square, every column, and every row. Note there are two "S"s in "Christmas"!

Click here for a print out

Christmas Word Search

Tara Rose

The aim is to find all the words listed, hidden in the box.

Click here for a print out

Nine Letter Word

 The aim is to construct a word with nine letters from each of the boxes below. 

Good Luck!

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3 Brain Busting Riddles

Compiled by Tara Rose

1.  What is as big as you are and yet does not weigh anything?

2. A cowboy rode into town on Friday, stayed three days, and rode out again on Friday. How did he do that?

3. 2 fathers and 2 sons go fishing. Each of them catches one fish. So why do they bring home only 3 fishes?

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5 Facts 4 Fun

Compiled by Tara Rose & Eva Marlie

1. No two spider webs are the same.

2. The humming bird is the only bird that can fly backwards.

3. 24% of your bones are in your feet.

4. Porcupines float in water.

5. Crickets can hear through their knees.

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Thanks for reading our eMag. Hope you enjoyed it and are looking forward to the next issue!

And remember, keep your nose open and sniffing for more juicy news!

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