Guinea Pigs

Would you have ever imagined a rodent to be your best friend? I am here to tell you some more about these furry companions, about their dietary needs, safe and non-safe bedding, breeding, and so much more.

Guinea pigs have a particular diet. They are vegetarians (a vegetarian means they eat only fruit and veggies). If mal-nourished, cavies have a hard time being that lovable animal you’ve always known. Right now let’s just focus on the basics of every day needs. Your little guy needs a balanced diet of pelleted food, hay, and water. Some safe foods include the brand name Nutriphase Gold, Hartz Bonanza, and many others. Some treats to feed your pets are celery, carrots, parsley, kiwi, apples, pears, broccoli, and kale. Some things to definatly stay away from, if you want a happy healthy cavy, are cilantro, pizza, chocolate, iceberg lettuce, spinach, beet tops, and the green parts of potatoes.

Guinea pig cages need to be in a cool area whether its in your house or outside. There are several different types of bedding available. A pet owner should be cautious when choosing the proper bedding. There are wood shavings, recycled, shedded or pelleted paper biproducts, grass hay, chopped straw, woodchips, sawdust, and corn cobs. Although you may find these all available at the pet store, not all of those are good for your little furry friend. Pine, cedar, wood chips, sawdust, cat litter, and corn-cob pieces may all cause health issues including sore feet, dry skin, and respiratory problems.

Breeding guinea pigs can be a hobby or just something you would like to try. There are ups and downs to breeding. The mother is always in danger of death in this process. She could become ill during pregnancy or simply her body is just too fragile to handle all the stress. The mom becomes more and more detached from her owner while pregnant. Though guinea pigs have a certain period in time when they are the best to breed,for example girl cavies can only breed before they hit the age of 2 years old(some have earlier deadlines then that), once they have mated it may take an average of 20 hours for her to concieve.Then after that it takes her two months until she is to expect.

Before you take on the responsibility of owning a guinea pig, talk to an employee of your local petstore. You will also need to look more online or in books to find out any information you may need to know about other topics that we didn’t cover. Guinea pigs can be a joy to have around if you want to take the commintment of owning these cudly little friends.

Fingerprints of God

I can see the tears filling your eyes

And I know where they're coming from

they're coming from a heart that's broken in two

by what you don't see

the person in the mirror

doesn't look like the magazine

oh, but when i look at you its clear to me that . . .

I can see the fingerprints of God

When i look at you

I can see the fingerprints of God

And i know it's true

You're a masterpiece

that all creation quietly applauds

and you're covered with the fingerprints of God

Words and music by Steven Curtis Chapman

Today I drove up to a Christian pumpkin farm called Burt's farm. It was a long drive from my house, but I didn't mind because it was so pretty outside. We went on a hayride and picked out a very big pumpkin. I think Burt's farm is the best pumpkin farm.

Burt's grow really big pumpkins. The sizes vary from the size of a sand dollar to 2 ft in circumference. Our pumpkin was so large we had to carry it in a wagon. are lots different choices to pick from. About 9 varieties of pumpkins are grown in their fields. They have over 300 large bright orange ones, about 100 medium sizes, and about a 100 tiny ones. They sell white ones, variegated ones, squash of every color and gourds of every size.

Burt's is a Christian pumpkin farm. In their store they have a big sign that says, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me," Philippians 4:13 WEB. On the hayride, the talking pumpkins said , "Even though the seasons and temperatures change God's love stays the same."

Morningstar Ministry/former Heritage USA

This weekend I went to a Morning Star conference at HIM (Heritage International Ministries)retreat center formally known as Heritage USA, 22 years ago. It had a water park and and a lot more!It was build by the PTL Club (short for ''Praise The Lord") founders televangelist Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Bakker Messner. The area was 2,300 acres and was build by noted church builder Roe Messner. He later married Tammy Faye Bakker after her divorce from Jim Bakker.In the center of the property was a big lake. In the middle of the lake there was a island that they called "Heritage Island" that contained the water park. Since the closure in 1989,projects have been constructed on the grounds of the former theme park with varying success, and portions of the property have been sold to several companies. Heritage USA opened is 1978 and by 1986 it was one of the top vacation destinations in the nation,behind only Walt Disney World and Disneyland, attracting nearly six million visitors annually and employing around 2,500 people.

Morningstar Ministries and Rick Joyner purchased the property a few years for less than $2 million and started restoring the property. Now the property used for Christian worship and teaching conference.