Intan, a Friendly Australian Stock Horse

Weeks ago, we spent our Sunday morning in Sempur field (Bogor, Indonesia). When we just wanted to go back home, three ‘cowboys’ with their horses were entering the field.

Soon their presence attracted many visitors, including us. When I asked permission to take pictures, one of the owners pointed Intan, as he is the friendliest than the other two horses. In English language, Intan means diamond. It’s a proper name for a friendly and handsome male horse, isn’t it?

Intan’s owner allowed me to ride him; but I was afraid. Australian Stock Horse is too tall for me, I feel difficult to jump up and sit on his back. Poor me.

When we’re talking about Australian Stock Horse, what do you have in mind? Based on Wikipedia source, the Australian Stock Horse is bred for intelligence, courage, toughness and stamina. This horse will be sound, agile and quick moving with a surefooted walk. It will have a calm, responsive temperament. Height ranges from 14 hands to 16.2 hands.

Actually, they have been especially bred for Australian conditions. It is a hardy breed of horse noted for endurance, agility and a good temperament. Its ancestry dates to the arrival of the first horses in Australia, brought from Europe, Africa and Asia.

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Educational Websites for Your Child

Your child can learn in various ways. One of the learning ways is fun learning through educational websites. If you’re interested, you may check some of them:A Walk in the Woods

This science website will teach about environment. It’s appropriate for upper elementary (3-5 grade).

Walk in the Woods is designed for third through fifth grade students to gain an appreciation of nature. Sometimes students are not able to go to a forest preserve or woods, so this brings the woods to them.

Optical Illusion and Visual Phenomena

There are some amazing optical illusions shown here through computer graphics in motion. While the illusions can be enjoyed by students of any age, the accompanying explanations will most likely require a teacher's interpretation for K-12 students to understand them.

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Tap Water

Tap water (city water, municipal water) is a main component of indoor plumbing, which became available in urban areas of the developed world during the last quarter of the 19th century, and common during the mid-20th century. The application of technologies involved in providing clean water to homes, businesses and public buildings is a major subfield of sanitary engineering (Wikipedia).

In our home, we use tap water for various purposes, but we still seldom use tap water for our drinking water (of course, after we boil the water before). Indonesia’s tap water isn’t yet safe to drink straightly without boiling it first. My father can’t drink boiled tap water, he always gets stomach ache after drinking it. Fortunately, I and my husband don’t have the similar problem. Until now, for drinking water, we subscribe bottled water. How about you? I’ve heard about the controversy between tap water and bottled water in USA; what kind of water that you choose to drink in your place?

My entry for Watery Wednesday

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Handling Your Child’s Bedwetting

Is your child still wetting the bed? Bedwetting is an embarrassing event in the life of any child. Parents, here is how you can help your child learns to conquer this difficulty, with no loss in self-confidence for your child.

For many children, wetting the bed is a usual and normal part of their life. This natural event begins to become a problem is when your child has already started to get toilet trained or even later in life for some children. Here are some tips if bedwetting seems to be a problem for your child.

Try not to scold your child or make an issue out of bedwetting. There will be no positive result at all. Simply say something like, “Oh dear, I see you’ve wet yourself again,” or something else age appropriate. Encourage older bedwetting children to take an active role in getting over the problem by having them help strip the bed.

Praise a child on dry nights, as is age appropriate. For younger children you may want to make a star chart and reward a week of stars with an extra story at bed time, an extra ten minutes staying up time or some other type of treat or reward for their accomplishment.

Restricting the fluid intake of your child before your child goes to bed can also help out. It doesn’t mean that your child should go to bed thirsty, just refrain from allowing your child to have a drink right before bed time. Waking your child up to use the bathroom before you go to bed is also another appropriate way.

When bedwetting is something that seems to be a regular problem, you should protect your child’s mattress. This can be accomplished by purchasing a rubberized sheet for the mattress or using a shower curtain.

In the event that nightly incontinence is something that has suddenly hit your child, talk to him or her immediately. This is something that you can see as an indication of a larger problem that you may need to be aware of.

Don’t be afraid to talk to a doctor either if this is a sudden change in your child’s behavior. A doctor can help you figure out what exactly is happening and whether it is a medical concern that you should be worried about or not.
Source: family.tips.net & ebeautymag.com

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Land Hermit Crabs and Sea Shells

It’s not empty shells. There are living things –hermit crabs- inside those beautiful houses. Last Sunday, one seller at a temporary market in Sempur field (Bogor, Indonesia) sold them. It’s just quick shots, as I had to rush to catch up my husband in the crowd ahead.

Hermit crabs will use empty seashells as shelters for their soft bodies, and they will retreat back into their shells if threatened, leaving only the hard tips of their claws exposed. As they grow, they will have to find larger shells.

If you are interested to buy few hermit crabs as pets; here is information that you should know first (compiled from several sources). Having hermit crabs as pets is both a fun and educational experience. They are clean, low maintenance pets that can live up to 60 years of age if properly taken care of.

Housing and Habitat

• Don’t place your hermit crabs in a small plastic container. It’s one of the major reasons why so many hermit crabs die early on in captivity. 
• Hermit crabs need lots of space, so buying a large glass terrarium is a must.
• You should also have at least 2 as hermit crabs are very social animals and live in colonies of hundreds of crabs in the wild.
• The temperature in the terrarium should be kept at 70 degrees or more. Humidity should also be higher than 70%, anything lower and your hermit crab will start to slowly die. Buying a temperature and humidity gauge will help you to keep the temperature and humidity in the terrarium at an ideal level.
• At least 6 inches of sand at the bottom of the terrarium as hermit crabs love to dig and burrow themselves in the sand.

Food and Water

• Avoid commercial hermit crab food at all costs. It contains lots of preservatives, cheap fillers, toxins and more. Hermit crabs are omnivores meaning they eat both meat and plants. Substitute commercial hermit crab food with organic fruits and vegetables, meal worms, crickets, etc.
• Avoid giving any processed foods.
• Provide both a saltwater bowl and a fresh water bowl for your hermit crab pets to drink and bathe in. Don’t use tap water as it has chlorine and other chemicals in it. Use filtered water only. To make salt water add a dash of cooking sea salt to fresh filtered water.

If you’ve done it all, your hermit crabs will live healthy and happy!

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CC: What We are Thankful For

Is it important to be thankful? I’ll say,”Yes, of course!” I consider it as my way to look at the bright side of my life. Every time I feel hopeless, sad, and gloomy; I’ll start writing out things that I’m thankful for –as many as possible- and look at them every day for a while.

I’m thankful for the special people in my life:
My husbandHe’s my best friend. He gives me unconditional love and acceptance, and he always makes me feel like I’m a special woman. He also can cook, hehehe.

My parents and my father in-law
My mother and father give me wonderful childhood. My mother was my best friend. I always feel their love and support. My FIL treats me like her own daughter; thanks to you!

My brothersWhen we still lived in the same house, I feel that they always protect me. We are not only siblings; but also good friends. Now, after they have their own family, we seldom meet and gather together; but I always keep in touch with them via facebook and other communication way.

My brother and sister in-lawsIt’s especially for brother and sister in-laws in my husband’s side; as I meet them more often than my siblings. We are close each other. I’m also thankful because I have cute nieces and nephews.

My relatives and my friends
They all are people that care for me.

I’m thankful for God’s blessings:
Good health
Being able to earn extra money by blogging (at least to cover my own needs)
A happy marriage life
We’re not rich; but we can enjoy our simple life. We love our debt-free life!
Living in a modest but comfortable home and friendly neighborhood
Our dream car. It’s not a new one, but comfy enough for us.

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Around Sempur Views

I took all these pictures last Sunday. When I was at the right side of Sempur field (Bogor, West Java, Indonesia), I can hear the sound of flowing water. I think it's good enough to share it here, especially this old bridge.

My entry for Watery Wednesday

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