Sea Star Grabbas of Hermit Island-Hermipedia: The Viking and the hermit

September 1, 2013 by

sea star

Today’s Hermipedia Feature: Sea Star Grabbas of Hermit Island…

A sea star is a starfish, and there are a bunch of sea star starfish Grabbas on Hermit Island, where our children’s book series, The Viking and the hermit takes place.

Sea Star Starfish Grabbas Species of Hermit Bay

The starfish Grabbas species in the waters of Hermit Bay are different from a regular sea star starfish.

Let’s run through some similarities and differences in the species!

How Many Species of Starfish and Where Do They Live?

First, did you know that about 1500 species of starfish live in the oceans? A starfish can live in the tropics as well as the polar subzero waters, and they can be found as far down in the depths of the sea as 20,000 feet.

Our starfish Grabbas species in our story, and in the waters of Hermit Bay live in a more tropical environment.

So far, Hermit has only found them as far down as where the seahorses take him, but it is quite likely they do live as far down as 20,ooo feet as well.

Star Shape and Size

They get their name from their star shape, but the starfish Grabbas happen to be quite a bit larger than the typical sea star. Whereas most species are about the size of an adult hand, our starfish species are about the size of a smaller octopus, and even as big as Hermit.

Most of our star species have five arms, which they use to swim, and climb over rocks both in the sea and on land.  They can even climb up to the top of a cliff, and spring off to fly in the air.

This usually happens when you spear fish, because they like to steal the fish that you’ve already caught.

Since most starfish are opportunistic predators, our sea star species pose a greater threat based on their sheer size. Plus, they are able to hunt and eat prey much larger than their mouths, much the same as typical species.

Starfish Speed

The typical starfish species move very slowly at a pace of 6 inches in 1 minute. But our star species are capable of very fast speeds, and they can be down in the depths of the sea, and up to the cliff of the rocks, to spring to your fish caught on your spear in under 5 minutes.

This sea star below started on the sandy floor…

sea star

Then the sea star starfish and friends climbed all the way up the rock cliff really fast!…

sea star

Starfish Brain Power

Unlike regular starfish species which lack a brain, our species do have brain power, and communicate with each other in their own way.  They work together as a team to move and distract their prey, and in particular are drawn to any fishing activity in the sea, where they can attempt to grab, and steal away a caught fish on a spear.

Just ask Viking and Hermit!

Sea Star Grabbas of Hermit Island-Hermipedia: The Viking and the hermit

~Courtney & Betina

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P.S. Can you guess why Hermit named them Grabbas?

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How to Ride a Horse or Seahorse-Hermipedia: The Viking and the Hermit

August 23, 2013 by

how to ride a horse

Today’s Hermipedia Feature: How to Ride a Horse or Sea horse on Hermit Island…

The sea horses in our children’s story, The Viking and the hermit: Spear Fishing with Sasha & Kasha, are not like other seahorses, but you can ride them very similarly, just like a regular horse.

The Difference Between a Horse and Our Sea horses

First, we need to point out some differences on how to ride a horse from one of our sea horses in our story.  A sea horse  is more upright than a horse, but is similar in height.  Instead of holding reins like on a horse, you hold around the neck of the sea horse.

Horses Gallop vs. Sea Horses Skip

The sea horse does not gallop or trot like a horse, but a ride on one springs and bounces much like a pogo stick instead.

There is a rhythm of movement while riding a sea horse as well. It is both forward, and riding over a hump, like a horse on land, but the hump is bigger and more vertical in riding, as the sea horses spring, skip and jump.

A horse can navigate over land of course, and water too, but the sea horses of our story are supreme swimmers as well as mobile on land for riding.

Similarities Between Riding a Horse and Our Sea Horses

Our sea horses have a saddle area or curve of their backs for riders to sit, although the ride is bare back, and without any stirrups.

Mount a Sea Horse

To mount a sea horse for riding, a rider must hold to the sea horse neck, and lift and swing up onto the sea horse.  The sea horses are very good at sitting still to make this easier if you first pet them, and rub their long noses.  You can then rub between their eyes, and stroke their head comb, over and down to the back of the neck, where you need to place your hand to lift yourself up for riding.

How to Ride

A rider sits upright and straight on the back of the sea horse, much like a horse. To ride, you want your shoulders straight and not rounded.  For riding, you need your lower back to not be curved, but lined up under your shoulders.

To ride like Viking, and because she is so tall, she does not need to swing up onto the back of the horse like Hermit.  She can just scoot up, and keep both legs to one side, like side-saddle on a regular horse.

how to ride a horse

The Difference Between How to Ride and Stop a Horse from a Sea Horse

Since there are no reins with our sea horses, to stop the skipping, hopping or jumping, riders need to lightly squeeze with their legs to first let the sea horse know.  Then, a rub on the neck where riders hold, will tell the sea horses to come to a stop.  It also helps to just say, “Whoa Kasha.”, or “Let’s stop Sasha.”

Our sea horses in our story, and particularly Kasha and Sasha are very smart, and will hear voice commands well.  Especially if they have gotten to know you, like Hermit, and know that Hermit likes Viking, and it’s OK to like Viking too.

How to Ride a Horse or Seahorse-Hermipedia: The Viking and the Hermit

Courtney & Betina

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Hermit Living-Hermipedia

July 18, 2013 by

hermit living

 

Hermipedia Feature: Hermit Living

What is life like for Hermit on Hermit Island, and how is Hermit Living different?

First, Hermit life means one must have basic skills to survive on Hermit Island, such as how to build a fire, hunt, catch fish, construct a shelter, sculpt and carve tools, and how to grow and harvest crops for food and other essentials.

Since Hermit Island is full of wildlife, including dangerous predators, Hermit living requires years of awareness, agility, strength and wits.  Many of Hermit Island living predators roam at nightfall, and this demands needs to calculate the time of day by sun, as well as navigate direction to be home and safe timely.

Hermit life means Hermit must finish all necessary chores before sunset, be back at Clam House Clearing, tuck into his clam shell, draw his step ladder inside, and seal the clam shut for safety.

Hermit living takes planning, intelligence and adaptability as Hermit shows by cleverly using the slippery and angled clam shell for housing. The roaming gitchoos cannot climb the sides of the shell, and the shell mouth squeezes together, keeping out zingos, while giving life air to breath.

Hermit found those giant shells in the deep water of Hermit Bay riding and swimming with Kasha for many years.  They were perfect man cave-clam caves. Kasha, Sasha and their seahorse friends helped Hermit lift the shells from the water, and push them to the clearing.

hermit living

Hermit living keeps Hermit busy, and he gets moments here and there to remember his past. Sometimes, Hermit throws his spear like a javelin for practice, and he admires his own strength.  For his small size and years, he is able to throw it many yards across the meadow, and with supreme accuracy.

Hermit imagines himself in a life dressed in armour, with roaring crowds applauding his athletic prowess. He hears them cheer as they rise to their feet in the stands.  This life seems real, and not just a day dream.

As he throws his jute lasso over one shoulder, and walks across the field to retrieve his spear, the crowd noise dissipates, and the dream life clears. He pulls his spear from the grass, and looks out from the field over the hills to the water of Hermit Bay.  It is beautiful.  The sand glistens in the sun, and the water sloshes up to the rocks.

Hermit living is a familiar challenge, while peaceful and comforting, and it is his.

Courtney & Betina

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Seahorses of Hermit Island-Hermipedia

July 3, 2013 by

seahorses

Today’s Hermipedia Feature: Seahorses of Hermit Island

Seahorse Physical Description:

Seahorses of Hermit Island present atypically from most seahorse species. They are significantly larger at heights reaching over 6 feet, and they can weigh as much as 200-300 lbs.

They do not have scales like other sea species, but color spotted, grey-ish toned skin stretched over their bones in a ring-like fashion.  These rings continue down to their coiled tails, and present in brightly colored stripes.

Seahorse Function and Navigation:

The ringed stripes in their seahorse tails  serve as sensors to determine the exact proximity to any object nearby in the sea, and give them a heightened ability to navigate the treacherous Hermit Bay sea floor filled with striking uggies.

Their coiled tails also allow them to spring, and hop either above or below the surface of the sea.  Seahorses of this species can reach top speeds of over 30 mph. This seahorse species can also leap into the air as high as 30 feet.

Seahorse Environment:

The seahorses have ability to breathe both above and below water, allowing great agility and flexibility to their environments, and they can navigate both water and land easily by hopping and springing with their tails.

Seahorse Features:

Hermit Island seahorse species have combed fins at the top of their heads varying in shape and color. Each head fin is distinct to the individual seahorse. Seahorses have long snouts, designed to suck up food, and very large black eyes providing them excellent vision.

Disposition of Seahorses:

This seahorse species present very tame, friendly and  intelligent.  They can be trained to listen and respond to various calls and prompts, and learn to take instruction and direction well.  The seahorse species can be domesticated pets, much the same as dogs, and can be ridden the same as a horse on land.  The natural curve of their backs provides a perfect sitting area for riding.

Seahorses Habitat:

The seahorses of Hermit Island live in the deep sea of Hermit Bay, where they can rest at the bottom seagrass if so desired. With their excellent vision, they can see any predators approaching easily, and work and communicate in groups to alert each other of any dangers.

Seahorses Courtship:

Hermit Island seahorse species will pair and mate for life.  During courtship, they swim side by side, and hold tails.  They dance circles around the seagrass together, and change the colors of their head fins, skin spots and tail stripes while circling.

Medicinal Purpose of Seahorses:

The colored spots or pores on their seahorse skin can secrete an herbal liquid that can be used for medicinal purposes such as skincare, sun burn or skin rash, or to protect any cut or laceration.  The secretion supplies antibacterial protection.

Seahorses of Hermit Island-Hermipedia

 

Courtney & Betina

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Man Cave-Clam Cave: Hermipedia

June 28, 2013 by

man cave

Today’s Hermipedia Feature: Man Cave-Clam Cave

What is a Man Cave?

A man cave is not an actual cave, but a metaphor for an area that is either inside a home or a separate storage shed or tool room deemed as a man’s sanctuary. The man cave is designated for a man to do as he pleases, and maintain his own free space or room.

Hermit’s man cave-clam cave on Hermit Island functions much the same as a man cave, in addition to providing a necessary home and shelter, as well as room and  protection from various Hermit Island wildlife.

Man Cave Storage:

In Hermit’s clam cave-man cave, and additional storage clam home over the hills, Hermit stores tools such as spears of various lengths and sizes, braided jute rope, horned shells, seashell hatchets, wooden carved wrenches, rock hammers and serrated rock saws.

Room and Home:

Hermit’s man cave-clam cave home also stores kitchen and cooking items such as bamboo carved utensils, rock plates, shell ladles, long handled grilling forks, wood carved cups, fire wood, shell shaped cooking bowls and pots, bamboo pitchers and serrated rock knives, that he has created and maintained over the years.

Hermit uses hooks and shelving in a room of the cave home to house all of his tools and necessary housewares of his man cave-clam caves.  He has a purposed medicine shelf for first aid, and room to store clothing, linens, rags and towels woven from cotton and jute.

The man cave-clam caves house sleeping cots and sitting, eating and resting room of bamboo constructed furniture. Each cave home is designed to seal and close shut at nightfall for safety and protection from gitchoos that roam Clam House Clearing after sunset.

Man Cave-Clam Cave Design:

Man cave-clam cave step ladders are pulled into the cave home, and stored at night, assuring denied access to their interiors from any outside animal.  The slippery and angled shape of the clam home base provides extra security for any type of climbing creature on Hermit Island.

Man cave-clam caves on Hermit Island make a  multi-functional and practical home as well as satisfying any hermit’s room or sanctuary needs. They can even be converted into a guest house for a female.
Courtney & Betina

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What is Hermipedia?

June 26, 2013 by

what is hermipedia

What is Hermipedia exactly?

It’s the encyclopedia of all things on or about Hermit Island, its inhabitants, the wild life, plant life, sea life and everything encompassing your reading adventure of our Children’s Book Series: The Viking & the hermit.

What are some of the features of Hermipedia that you can expect to read and discover?

Features like…

* Hermit Island

* Hermit Living

*Dictionary of The World of Hermit Island

* Hermit Meaning

* Becoming a Hermit

* Modern Hermit

* About The Vikings

* Lost Vikings

* Viking Ship

* Viking Helmet

* Viking Games

* Vikings History

* Man Cave-Clam Cave

* Sea Urchin Uggies of Hermit Island

* Sea Star Grabbas of Hermit Island

* Hermit Island Seahorses

* Firebirds of Hermit Island

* Zebra Zuchies of Hermit Island

* Monster Gitchoos of Hermit Island

* Bat Zingos of Hermit Island

* Hermit Island Harvest

* Hermit Island Crops

* Spear Fishing

* How to Braid Jute

* Make a Spear of Bamboo and Shell

* Grill a Fish Recipe

* Spiced Fig Recipe

* How to Make Cashew Medicine

* Learn the Time of Day by the Sun

* Learn to Sound a Seashell

* How to Swim Fast

* Ride a Seahorse

* Learn to Lasso a Shaku Fish

* Make a Ladder

* Chop and Carve Bamboo

* How Viking and Hermit Bake Bread

* Fish and Fig Sandwich Recipe

Just to name a few from our Hermipedia!

What is Hermipedia?  It’s your fun and unique guide on our Viking and Hermit Blog to your adventure in reading the Viking & the hermit Book Series!

Check in here at Hermipedia and Viking and Hermit Blog to get the the juicy details and info behind the stories…

What is Hermipedia

 

Courtney & Betina

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Hermit Island – Hermipedia

June 23, 2013 by

hermit island

Welcome to Hermit Island-Hermipedia!

What is Hermipedia?  It’s The Viking & the hermit’s free encyclopedia to discover and describe the world of Hermit Island.

Today’s Feature: Hermit Island

Location:

HermitIsland is thought to be located in the Mediterranean Sea or Ocean, although its exact location is unknown.

Habitat:

Its habitat consists of beach, grassy meadows, mountains and forest.

Flora and Fauna:

It is home to much flora and fauna including the ocean and land.  It has alluvial soil suitable for growing a variety of crops including food and natural fibers, as well as a moderate, warm and wet climate.

Some of the wildlife includes: grabbas, seahorses, shakus, gitchoos, zuchies, zingos and firebirds. Hermit Bay stocks a variety of ocean life with hundreds of species of fish.

Species Traits:

Wild life exhibits both larger and smaller manifestations from typical species, while displaying varied traits.

For example, Hermit Island seahorses are 6 feet tall and range in weight from 200-300 lbs. They reach speeds of 30 mph, are expert swimmers, as well as capable of breathing above and below water. A typical seahorse is 0.6-14 inches tall, and very slow at only a top speed of 5 feet per hour. Typical seahorses are also considered poor swimmers.

Plants and animal species on land also display varied sizes and traits from other known areas. Some plant life includes: cypress trees, fig trees, cashew trees, grasses, bamboo and bougainvillea.

Hermipedia Feature: Hermit Island

Courtney & Betina

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