Some Endings, Some Beginnings

Well today is my last day at Icing. I'm alright with that. Now I'll have my weekends open again where I can do laundry, clean up, hike or kayak. I wasn't getting enough hours (4hrs/week) and I figured earning $1500 a year at one job is pretty unreasonable. Maybe I'll sell some of my handmade earrings online....

I don't know if I've already said this, but I sewed a really cool dress that I wore for easter. I bought the material from Walmart; 5 yards for 5 dollars! It is dark green with black designs. It have a side hidden zipper with a black satin ribbon at empire waist. The same black ribbon is used in the straps to make a cross-back. I love it. It is very flattering. And if Katie hadn't mentioned it looks like size 13, I probably wouldn't have taken it apart and re-evaluated it.

I did the river rescue last weekend with Canoe and Hiking Club. This is our annual service project-and I love it! Picked up loads of trash along the river and filled our canoe with it. The trash barge-hahah! Then we all ate pizza and beer at Barley's afterwards. It was great fun. Really would love to get outdoors more.

The hermies love their new habitat and personally, I'd get in there too if I could. I'll post pictures later. It has a tidal pool, a hammock filled with shells, 2 food bowls, clean water bowl, climbing vines, coco-huts, a climbing wall and lots of sand. I'd be hanging out in the tidal pool all day if I were a crab. The crab violence has decreased luckily. I was getting pretty stressed out about it. Gotta hit the critter barn soon and get some new family members-anybody want to go with me?

Luv Me Some Crabs

So I've decided to turn my low key crabitat into a hobby and much larger establishment. I found on craigslist a fifty gallon tank and a ten gallon with a bunch of reptile gear. In total it only cost $50! This was well over $500 of things! I am very excited. The other day my lover bought me a cute little hermit. He named him Colonel Forbin. If you know what that is in reference to- good for you. If not, never mind, you probably will never know. The other crabs had a feely fest with him. They use their little feelers to communicate. The other hermies are coming up on a year of ownership. They can live up to 40 years of age. They are definitely not throw away pets! Their tank is just getting too loaded with things: choya wood, bridge, two pools (salt and pure), 2 coconut halves, 2 large rocks, glo plants and food dishes! Eiy! I've read that when you have more than 6 crabs they create a colony personality. I'm very curious as to how that works.

One dummy crab sat around all day without a shell. I was panicking about this all day. I isolated him for safety. He had molted and probably wanted a bigger shell. Luckily larger shells are coming in the mail. I did coax him into getting in his old shell using the "glass cup method". I was really freaked out that he was going to die.

But needless to say I'm very excited. I'm also very impressed with the set-ups I've seen online. People's crabitats are amazing. I'd like to provide these little crabblets with the best set-up possible. I'm planning on getting a small paint roller tray and make it into a tidal pool. It'll be great.

Oh and by the way: I figured out a way to get that tiny silver nose hoop in last night. I had one nose ring sticking down from the top and was able to guide the hoop in based on the top one. I've had so many problems trying to get this hoop in. I've tried, no joke, 4 times. The last time it swelled so much I couldn't get anything through. But I really like this one and its surgical steel. It seems my nose doesn't like titanium.
http://crabstreetjournal.com/xoops/

Hermies

Now that it has been 88 degrees give or take outside the crabitat's temperature is increasing as well. During the winter it was around 65 in the crabitat. Now it is party time for the crabs. I've let them climb the hill behind our house while I keep a stern eye on them. I keep imagining some large bird is going to swoop down and chomp one of them. I emptied their sand and put new wet sand in there, some large rocks and moved things around. Little do they know they're getting a new sibling soon! I asked my lover for a tiny little hermit crab to add to colony. I set up a nice iso tank for it with coconut fiber and nice sand and a little pool. I can't wait!

I ordered them a bridge to cruise over, choya wood, coconut fiber climbing wall, and more shells. One crab refused to resurface. He's been down there for a long time. If he's molting he a crazy one, doing it twice in a matter of months. I found a nice pin oak leaf today and tossed it in their tank. I hope they'll enjoy munching on it.

Into the Night

The cool night air weaves through my blinds in the dark. The distant sound of the spring peepers, calling to one another, is heard. Calling for a lover. The full white moon slowly slides across the sky. The thin sheer curtains flutter in the breeze. This breeze carries a message. It is filled with flowers, birth and the warmth ahead. I lay nestled in my nest of cotton sheets and a duvet. I hear spring, only a quiet whisper now. A mother bird lets out an alarmed chirp. The sound of silent wings passes in the night. Perhaps she is looking for a worm? I know where the worms hide, underneath my flower pots. Downstairs, I know my four little hermit crabs are dancing. Dancing in the warm humidity of their habitat. They know spring is coming. In the dark they whisper of the change of tides and flowing sands. It is only a matter of time until the orchestra of spring begins....