Animal Wednesday - Holidays are over!!!!

Scruffy was so happy to see us when we got to Florida - as soon as he sees me he grabs his toy dead squirrel and runs around on his stubby legs wanting to play. Mom doesn't play with him much, but don't feel sorry for him....he lives a good life!! But he does love it when his siblings show up and throw his toys around.

Here he is before his holiday haircut.....

and here he is after a much needed grooming - look at that little bandana - isn't it cute? Bad pics I know but he's hard to photograph - he moves around so quickly. He really is a cute little dog and mom and the whole neighborhood are so fond of him. All the neighbors have dogs and they all meet in the evening trying to get their dogs to poop before dark (it's pretty hysterical!). Otherwise they have to carry flashlights so that they can pick up after the pooch and to see all these old ladies carrying little bags of poop is really funny. Mom still walks him 3 times a day, with one walk at about 2 miles. Amazing!


We had such gorgeous weather while we were there that we got a ton of bike riding in. This gopher turtle scurried (as much as turtles can scurry) across the bike path and a few people stopped to watch. Every time someone stopped they'd ask "why did the turtle cross the road" and some other smart mouth would answer something equally silly. Happened about 5 times, finally I rode away.


This turtle was near a beautiful pond and was happily laying eggs while I watched.



I'm trying to upload a video of this turtle....but blogger is being rather slow this morning. Oh...maybe it worked! This turtle knew I was watching and gave me many baleful turtle glares - but all I did was watch, no egg stealing for this primate.

Have a Very Happy Animal Wednesday!!!

Animal Wednesday - a new tenant

In the Yew Tree by our side door - a cardinal couple has taken up residence. They both go hysterical when we open the door, so I had to sneak around to be able to take pictures. Even with a stealthy approach, whoever was on the nest - and I think it was the male - flew away with a huge flutter.

Here is a picture of a parent on the nest - look at that red.


I got a picture of the nest when he/she had flown away. Pulled back a branch and there it was, cleverly disguised from my eyes. Then I held the camera up and tried to get a picture inside of what I assumed would be eggs. Look at what I found - amazing!!



The male and female were flying around squawking like crazy by this point. I got a picture of the female, but couldn't get the male - he was flying around like a bombadier.



That's it for today. I am having computer problems right now, I don't have a cursor when trying to post....haven't been able to leave comments sometimes....and now the computer has lost the slideshow that I have as a screen saver. Oh well.....have a Happy Animal Wednesday!

Animal Wednesday?

This is one of those weeks where I got nothin'. Well maybe this video which I find lovely, but nothin' else.

Last week I got a cold and lost my voice. Then I drove to NYC and went to a family reunion and worked thru 2 eye infections, and sneezing and now a cough that just won't stop. I had a great time at the party and danced all night long but maybe that didn't help this darn cold, and my energy level is about zero. Cozy bed calls me at 8:00 pm and I surrender. My plan this weekend is to lay low and try to recover.

Hence, no energy for animals, or people, or blogging, or commenting, or talking, or artwork....on and on it goes.

But have a Happy Animal Wednesday if you've got the energy.

It's 6:00 am and I'm going back to bed!

Animal Wednesday - hanging fish and other stories

More paperclay fun - a flat fish hanging from fishing line. I like him although he does look a bit startled.

This fish is literally my only artwork for the past few weeks - I've been so busy. NYC a few weekends ago, then traveling for work. I also apologize for not visiting or commenting - no time to do anything in depth. And now, I have a cold and it has (as my mom says) "settled" in my throat and I literally can't talk above a whisper. no joke - I whisper and even that is hoarse. I went to work yesterday because I feel fine, and everyone made jokes about it being their lucky day (ha ha) and then they'd come into my office to talk and THEY'D start talking in whispers like we were sharing secrets. It's all pretty funny, but I suppose I'd better take it a bit more seriously and ask the doc if I should do anything about this. And I can't call the office! I'll have to stop by the office and ask - in a whisper - if they can see me today!

Plus, I am supposed to drive to NYC tomorrow to meet family, so....we'll see if that all works out. I am looking forward to going, I have a few pretty dresses to wear, and my whole family will be there. Don't want to miss an occasion to dress up!

Have a Happy Animal Wednesday!

Animal Wednesday - the Bronx Zoo

We went to the Bronx Zoo on Sunday - a cold crisp day - almost perfect for the zoo. This was directly after a lovely trip down to Brooklyn to show the kids where I grew up, my grade school, my high school and to be honest...I just wanted the chance to drive around Brooklyn again. Loved it - it was a beautiful Brooklyn Day - quiet, sunday go-to-church dressed people, no traffic.

Anyway - onto the zoo. The only problem with the cold weather was that alot of the animals were not out and about - particularly the gorillas, but there were many other interesting animals to see and their environments were pretty good for a zoo.

Grapes could tell you all the animal zoo-logical names. I'll tell you what I remember.

A monkey. He is a particular kind but I don't remember what. Cute tho' and very photogenic.

This is a frog. Maybe called a "very green frog" - but I don't remember. But a classic face eh?

There were some gorillas showing themselves - gorgeous animals - and I took the best pictures I could thru the glass. Most of them didn't come out very well, glare off the glass and hazy, but these two were the best.
I literally could watch these guys all day. I'm going to try to go back in a few weeks to see if it's warm enough so that they are outside. Since their enclosure is called "Congo" and it was only 40 degrees out - they stayed inside where they are (one would think) warm and cozy.
Yup - Sea Lions and I love this first Mother and Child photo. Isn't her head at a rather Madonna like angle?
Probably the Pops - yelling his head off. Whew - his breath was wow-strong.

A tortoise and I'm proud of this photo cause you can't really see the chain link fence. I mean, yeah - you can SEE it but I managed to get my little point and shoot to focus on the turtle instead of the chain link.
Madagascar - and a NILE Crocodile. Again, stating the obvious, photo taken thru the glass. White teeth - the better to bite you with.

Mean little eyes. Poor croc - maybe he's really a sweetheart but I wasn't going to ask.

Mr. Elegant Lizard - smirky.
Some red/orange birds - maybe ibis? No matter - they were gorgeous - especially against the green leaves.

Another special bird I call curly cheeks.
Penguins lying down being lazy in the cool sun.


Now this guy I remember - a Kookaburra - I remember cause of Helen and I thought of her when I saw this bird. Not that it resembles her or anything like that - just cause of Australia.

It was really a wonderful day. Nothing like being with those you love right?
Happy Animal Wednesday!!
( I just noted the date in my Mr. Linky. March is supposed to go out like a lamb and it isn't)

Animal Wednesday - resorting to vids again

funny and cute and fishie

Instructional

There are no live animals here in the northeast that aren't hibernating. I swear. Occasionally I think I see a squirrel but it is usually a leaf. I'm resorting to animal videos and papermache animals....

But then again...Miss Em paperclay (soon to be unveiled) does need her doggie sidekick doesn't she???

Happy Animal Wednesday

Animal Wednesday - Mom's new dog

This is Scruffy - a three year old Shiz-poo from Small Dog Rescue. My cousin went to get a dog for herself - and saw Scruffy - fell in love and brought it home to my mom. Mom was uncertain for a day or so, but has gradually been falling in love. She adores being greeted at the door when she comes home, and feels that the pooch is "very smart".

I think it's just what she needs right now. I'm a bit worried about an 87 year old with a 3 year old dog but we'll cross that bridge if and when we need to. She's happy with the pup, it "loves" her and it's a distraction. Wonderful!

Happy - late in the day - Animal Wednesday

Animal Wednesday - and more snow pictures...what else is there to do???

I know that all of us in the Northeast have been whining about the snow. It's not that this is the snowiest winter that we've had - others have given us more snow - but it's that it just keeps coming with a storm every week! We usually go weeks between storms, but this winter it's days.

So....we do what we can to make silk purses out of sow's ears.

DH and I thought that this icicle looked like a snake with it's mouth open hanging from the roof. I kinda think it's a stretch, but like to encourage his enthusiasm for Animal Wednesday. So here is a cold, icy, snake of an icicle.



Penguins....that's what we should have around here!



And today is Groundhog day! Normally I detest groundhogs. At our old house, we had one who lived up in the orchard that we called Rizzio. He really didn't bother us - there was enough to eat in the orchard. But in this house, we are surrounded (somewhat) by other houses so the GH here eats my flowers and vegetables. So, we don't like him or his brethren.
But I just saw Puxataney Phil on the TV, they woke him up to see if he saw his shadow...and he really looked so cute. Sorta sleepy and "why did you wake me up, but it's OK" wriggley nose look. According to the yahoos who were all dressed up holding the sleepy animal, Phil didn't see his shadow - which means an early spring. BRING IT ON!!!


My back porch disappearance progression continued.

A few weeks ago.

Last weekThis morning

Icicles over my back stairs - watch out!

The back door tunnel - cool eh?

Happy Animal Wednesday to those of you who can actually SEE animals - around here they are under the snow somewhere.

Snow/Sea Bear

As the snow hills are over my head...and more expected tonight - I expect to see this guy walking down the street.

I know it's January...but I want Daffodils!!!!

Happy Animal Wednesday - what animals do YOU expect to see today?

It's still Wednesday night and here they are....

DON'T go in the water around here!!!!


From far away they look like logs....deadly logs!!

Look at that grin...





Getting ready to slither into the water - looking for some delicious dinner


The others getting ready to follow.

And a Turkey Buzzard doing the smart thing and flying away.

Oh, these alligators give me delicious shivers of prehistoric fear. I love to watch them - am terrified of them - there's no reasoning with these animals. No taming them. ooooohhhh.....

Animal Wednesday - singing pups

Go HERE for an antidote to Dogs singing Christmas Carols (which I actually love by the way).

HAW to all. Just back in town....catching up...gotta start that Christmas shopping!!!

Animal Wednesday - Elephant again

I have my little bronze elephant on my desk, and decided to draw her for Animal Wednesday; somehow she looks baby-like in this drawing but that's OK.

Happy Animal Wednesday

Animal Wednesday - looking for Wildlife

We went kayaking on Sunday and I took along my new camera with it's 10x zoom. My goal - looking for wildlife to post for Animal Wednesday.

We floated along

past the last blooming Water Lily

thru millions of tiny beads of pollen on the water - a beautiful green cover on the lake....

...which wrinkles when you move against it - isn't that cool?

And finally we found our wildlife.....

MOO!!