Photo by Me
Above are some photos that I took of a book I made! It’s called “Across the Snowy Reaches”, and it’s about an Amur leopard. I made it for a school project with local artist Peg Gignoux. I made it after we read the book “Squirm” by Carl Hiaasen. Squirm is about saving endangered animals from a poacher, so we researched endangered animals. I chose the Amur leopard. It took me a really long time to write the story, but it was totally worth it. My favorite part of making the book and the story was actually at the end, when it all came together.
I really liked the whole creative process, like writing the story, designing the book, and gluing it all together. Some hard parts were making the silhouette, just because I couldn’t get it to look right. It was also pretty hard researching the animal, or just finding cool facts. It was also kind of weird/cool, because I had to write the story from the animal’s point of view.
Here is a quick teaser of my story;
I hear a gunshot echo through the forest. I stop and look around. The scene is silent. Humans have been hunting my kind all over our habitat, across the cold, snowy reaches of Northern China and Eastern Russia. I’m wanted for my pelt or just for cruel people who simply crave a rush of adrenaline. I’m Yuki, an Amur leopard. The scientists trying to save me call me Panthera pardus orientalis. We are a critically endangered species, with only 130 adults left. I live by myself, but right now, loneliness is hitting hard. I mate, but not for life, and my cubs only stay with me for two years. I sleep alone in sheltered areas, often in rocky caves or under thick tree branches.
Go check it out in Gateway!
We just got baby chicks! They’re super cute, but poop so much. They are learning to fly, so we put up more walls but they keep getting out! They also get shavings into their water and food and i have to be the one to give them more food and water. They’re the best and I highly recommend getting some for yourself!
That picture above is of my chickens! The yellow one is Loudy, who is a Buff Orpington, Spotsy and Dotsy, who are both Plymouth Rocks, and finally Runny, who has black feather tips. In case you couldn’t tell, their names are based on both their personality and physical traits. So creative, I know. But anyway, Loudy, Spotsy, and Dotsy are all about to turn six in February! Runny is a little younger, turning 4 this year. Loudy, Spotsy, and Dotsy are all COVID19 pets, and went through sneezing, coughing, feather pulling, and other fun stuff six-year-olds do when they have no entertainment but some poor chickens! Runny had 3 other chickens in her generation, but 2 of them passed away :(, and the other turned out to be a rooster. For some reason, they love bamboo leaves, and they also love popcorn. This was learned when 1 of the chickens decided to knock over my popcorn bowl and steal it for herself! The other chickens found out, too. When I came back, it was too late! The popcorn was gone forever into the digestive system. Anyway, thanks for reading about my chickens! Tell me in the comments if you have any pets!
