Hump Day Thoughts...

The sum of the whole is this: walk and be happy; walk and be healthy. The best way to lengthen out our days is to walk steadily and with a purpose.
Charles Dickens

Don't Fret - Our Animals Stay With Us

Because Love is the greatest power in heaven or on earth.

On Walking

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." ~John Muir

Giraffe Lips are Good

Happy Hump Day!

(it would be sooo much better to say that if this were a camel, right?)

The AZA ROCKS

Baby Elephants in their Pool

These babies have made international news with their antics - they are joy personified. If you haven't already, meet Baylor and half sis Tupelo from the Houston Zoo. It was a joy to see them come into the world and grow.

Seriously, there is no way to not have every trouble on your mind disappear or any mood you're in be lightened by just pressing play. SHARE IT!

One of my subscribers who is also a good friend of mine from our days at the Zoo AND a fellow blogger (please visit her cool blog A Life of Whimsey) wrote this on her Facebook page and I was struck by it... and thought I needed to share it here. I asked her to send a picture of what prompted it and she sent me the below.

 Being human seems to be the most wonderful with a dog sleeping in your lap.

Waaw....

Famous Giant Tortoise Lonesome George Dies

Breaking News: Lonesome George, the famous, last remaining Pinta Island giant tortoise, who long serves as a conservation symbol for  the Galapagos Islands passed away Sunday. He has no known offspring and so this is the end of the line for yet another species of animal on this earth. 

Photo Credit: AFP/File, Rodrigo Buendia

I had the express pleasure of editing and publishing the blog series by Dr. Joe Flanagan, the Houston Zoo's marvelous vet. He kept a diary of his time in the Galapagos on one recent trip to help giant tortoises repopulate Pinta Island. You can read his whole series HERE, you just need to start at the bottom and work your way up.

To quote Dr. Joe: His island was stripped of tortoises by pirates and whalers in the 17th and 18th centuries. This species of Galapagos tortoise was thought to be extinct until George was found in 1971.  He was transferred to the Charles Darwin Station in 1972 and is now housed with 2 female tortoises from another island in hopes that he might reproduce. Despite many attempts, there have been no fertile eggs, and the hope of finding a female tortoise from the island of Pinta anywhere else in the world, including zoos and private collections, is very slim.

Read more about Lonesome George's passing HERE.

The Calico Cat at the Paia Inn

There are two kinds of cats - the talkative, bendable, must-be-with-you-at-all-times lap cat, and the cold, cigarette smoking, trench coat wearing cats - too cool for you.  My childhood cat Puff was the latter. I loved him more than anything or anyone in the world.

I dealt with his testy meows, his rejections, and finnicky eating habits for his short life of 10 years... and I told you how much I loved him anyway right?  But if I could have another cat, I'd hope to get one like this calico who ran up to greet me when I checked into the Paia Inn in Maui.

She chatted with me as she led me to my room, came right in as I unpacked, walked back out the door with me, and bid me a noisy adieu as we parted ways in the parking lot.

The next morning I went to get coffee on the lanai and found her napping on a chair. True to form, though you can tell she is a little groggy, she immediately snapped awake and said not one but four hellos.

A Visit with Elvis

I read somewhere that Muscovy ducks have a life span of about three to maybe five years. This then leads me to be extra delighted when I visit The Park and find Elvis safe and sound, since I've been visiting him at The Park for about 5 years already. I've written much about Elvis on this blog, but if you haven't read it, CLICK HERE to get your introduction.

I've said his world is small, and, I imagine, relatively simple. I find inspiration in that. He is free to go where he wants, and while there is a big lake, an island or two and several forested areas he could visit, he chooses to stay on or at the edge of the reflection pond at the entrance of The Park.

I get warm fuzzies when I see him, alone or with a rotating group of 1-3 feathered mates that roll with him. He's alive and well after all this time and his black pompadour still looks fabulous (hence the name...). 

This day he was on his own, which delighted me. I always could call him over and he'd eat from my hand, but it's much nicer when it's just us two, and he doesn't have to compete with the others in his gang.


I sit, and he rests on the water, occasionally using a back webbed foot to stabilize his position, and we commune. Sometimes he gets out and stands on the side, eyeing me at first for a couple of bites, then fully trusting. There is nothing better than just being quiet with an animal, being respectful that they have allowed you to be close to them, within their territory.

After awhile, he, or I, decide to go on our way. Until the next time.  And so far, there always has been a next time.

Bye-bye Elvis... for now.

What's That You Have Little Squirrel?

Yesterday, while walking through a quaint little village, I saw something fuzzy scampering across the cobblestones quite a ways ahead of me. I always have an instinct for squirrels. Friends tease me that I'm like the dog in whatever kids movie that is, that always says "Squirrel!" In fact, that is exactly what I do. I wish I could be as observant of everything else, or more important things, like my stock portfolio, but alas, that stuff is not cute.

I immediately abandoned where I was headed and followed the little thing until I got close enough to identify that it was indeed a squirrel. He was quite off balance by something he was carrying in his mouth - way too big to be a nut.

I did my best to scamper behind him, moving fast enough to gain ground but not so fast as to make him move even faster, thinking something was pursuing him. He'd stop but by the time I'd get my darn auto-focus camera to stabilize, he'd take off again. Finally I got a shot of what he had snagged for lunch...

Pizza! 

Purple Grey (Parrot, That Is)

Went walking on the beach and had to stop to chat to this woman who took not only her dog out for a walk but her African Grey Parrot, in this super-cool little backpack.

The handsome devil was as enthralled with me as I was with him,

and bent down to get a better look at me and my camera as I snapped away.

I know Greys are a handful, having essentially the mentality of a 4-year-old 

 who will outlive you. That's a big commitment, of both your time and patience. 

But how cool would it be to enrich the little guy by taking it out to feel the wind 

and see and hear the surf?

Why a Squirrel?

I happened to see this picture on Massachusetts Facebook page. 

Does anyone know why they chose a squirrel? 

I heartily approve..

What Spring Will Bring: Ducklings and Baby Geese

What a Bird Will Do for a French Fry

Have you heard the phrase, "happier than a bird with a french fry?" I've seen many a grackle outside of McDonalds and like establishments, willing to get run over to peck at one or three smashed into the street... and once in awhile have witnessed a lucky bill clamping down on a whole fry, flying gleefully from the scene, with several other birds in hot pursuit. 

 This is a great shot that someone must have taken on some little jaunt out to sea. 

I hereby announce that I am going to try this next time I am on the ferry heading to the Vineyard...

No idea who's photo this is to give proper credit.

Foggy Morning Sea Gulls

I never have a clue what they're really thinking.

Farewell to Kiva, the Giraffe I Loved

Very very sad today. Mourning the loss of Kiva the giraffe, who passed away this morning in the safe and excellent care of the Houston Zoo vet and hoofed stock staff. A very special being, the most charming and engaging creature I've ever known. Long-time readers of this blog will recognize him as "my boyfriend". He was the first animal I really bonded with when I began at the Zoo, and our little love affair carried on over the 4 years I was there-- and it will continue. So gentle for his size, and such a flirt... with only me, of course. 


You forever marked my heart, tall guy.


Here was the blog post I'd written about him back in September of 2008. You can read more about Kiva and his family by clicking the Giraffe category from the list to the right of this page.


I'm In LOVE!


Again. Used to be with the zoo's very handsome lion Jonathan, and though I'm still sweet on him, for the last 8 months or so I've been charmed away by the big, tall male giraffe. I've a huge crush on him and it seems like my affections are returned. In fact, I've been positively encouraged by him, I'm convinced of it. He pays me a lot of attention when I'm on the sidewalk, bats his huge brown eyes at me, and follows me until he can't see anymore (and at his height, that's a long way). Though in reality he's probably interested in a lot of folks, I'm in denial and am quite sure WE have a special relationship. Today was further proof of it.

The zoo was in dire need of help after the hurricane, so I went to pitch in for a few hours. There is just so much to do at home and so many others to help, but I'd been especially worried about the giraffes at 3 and 4 am when that storm was RAGING, wondering how they were getting through it. Their only shelter is a tall but narrow wooden house -- all they really need most of the time. But with 100 MPH winds, I could not imagine how they'd fare. I was so glad to see all five of them were there, with no injuries, happily watching their crew of humans tidying up their back yard.

I ended up helping rake and clear their habitat since I couldn't find anyone in carnivores. It did my heart good to be near them. Once I got close enough, my new boyfriend put his big face down to mine and got nose to nose with me. He stayed there breathing through his soft nostrils. His keeper, thinking I might be unnerved, said he might just want to smell me but I knew different.

He licked me and kept his face there for so long I felt forced to tear myself away so I would not look like I was slacking. I moved along, but he kept finding me. He's irresistable; I had to pet his face and coo to him. Around the fifth time I finally risked being totally unprofessional and whipped out my camera, handed it to someone and asked for a quick shot. I knew it would be a once in a lifetime pic. And this is what they got.He's pressing into my cheek and knocking my glasses askew, but clearly he loves me... for who I am, not how I look on clean up day! And I love him!

My niece pointed out that his head is 4 times bigger than my own and they are right. These beings are unspeakably beautiful and awe-inspiring. To have connected this much with one was a miracle, something that was a peak experience in my life, a life that has been chock full of big and amazing things. 


I love you Kiva, and I will never, even forget you.


You can read the details about his passing on the Houston Zoo website. 

ADORABLE BABY SQUIRREL

Need I say more? 

Me feeding a little orphaned Gray, with those little kneading paws.

 Just please sit down before you press play. 

You've been warned!

Great Horned Owl

Every year, the Wildlife Rehab Center, now called The Wildlife Center of Texas, has an Open House so folks who volunteer can enjoy themselves for all they give to the Center. 

It's also for others in the community who make the donations that keep this wonderful rescue center alive. It's the one day they can get a rare tour of the facilities and see just what kind of work is done behind closed doors. No one who drop animals off (over 9,000 animals in 2011) and who is not a volunteer or from the nearby SPCA (of Animal Planets Cops Houston fame), is allowed in where the animals are, because it's a serious "hospital".  

The atmosphere is one of healing and relative calm, so traumatized and orphaned animals can do the important work of recovering so they can hopefully be released back in the wild in ship shape.

A few of these animals would never survive if released, due to broken wings that make them unable to fly, etc... These animals often become ambassadors for their species in the many educational programs the Center does within the community. And they come out for some of the visitors to see from a safe distance on this special Open House night. 

I came into contact with my first Great Horned owl on Open House night about 5 years ago. I was stunned and still am every time I'm privileged enough to be this close to one, and remain fascinated by their giant blinking eyes. See for yourself:

If you're an animal lover, and I know you are if you're reading this, please LIKE the Wildlife Center of Texas' Facebook page HERE. You will see wonderful photos and stories of the tremendous rescue and releases they do there every day, 24/7, 365 days of the year!

Cheetahs and a Baby Impala

Someone sent this to me in an e-mail and I thought you'd like to see it too:

The law of the wild says kill only when you are hungry. Photographer Michel Denis-Huot, who captured these amazing pictures on safari in Kenya's Masai Mara in October last year, said he was astounded by what he saw:  "These three cheetah brothers have been living together since they left their mother at about 18 months old," he said. "On the morning we saw them, they seemed not to be hungry, walking quickly but stopping sometimes to play together. At one point, they met a group of impala who ran away. But one impala youngster was not quick enough and the brothers caught it easily." These extraordinary scenes followed:

I asked a Carnivore Supervisor from my local Zoo what could be going on here. He said the cheetahs are likely just too young to be doing much.... and who knows, it I'm sure is also because they're probably not hungry :-)

Heeeere Elvissss

Yep Elvis.

He's still around.

My Elvis at least. Living in the reflection pond at The Park.

I read somewhere that muscovy ducks live about 3-4 years, but it's been over 4 years since I first admired Elvis' fabulous jet black pompadour and the perfect, red, stitch- like adornment around it... and we became friends.

Over that time I've seen him hang with a changing group of guy ducks, sometimes one, sometimes three others. Once in awhile, he comes over to me and we have some time alone. I like that time.

I'll talk to him as he paddles steadily toward me, and hold out a piece of bread.

It's never anything less than amazing to commune with an animal. I always feel in my element.

Baby Black Squirrel

One special thing about the month February: it's just about time for squirrels to have their babies. They have them twice a year --  starting in February and again in early fall.

A few years ago I got to help two little black squirrel babies at the Wildlife Rehab Center and somehow fed this one with one hand while stealing a few seconds of footage with my other. It's such a rare sight (and of course, such a joy) that I wanted to capture it to have forever.

I came across the little video this morning and since I haven't published it before, I thought it would be fitting to celebrate the baby squirrels being born everywhere.

Boston Squirrel

I met this little guy in the Boston Commons. He ran up to me and climbed into my purse when I set it down to fetch him nuts. I would have taken him home except I don't have any trees in my apartment.

Frog Love

Yep, it's real. A teeny tiny frog to star off your New Year....

Animal Holiday Cheer - Times Ten!

Well, if you want to grin, and have that grow bigger and BIGGER into a huge SMILE, showing ALL your teeth, then turn into a chuckle to boot, press PLAY. This is sure to cheer you up. The fish, parrot, turtles, the ferret, the shark and a few of the dogs and cats -- their voices, the little pranks that creep into this will make anyone who is the least bit stressed or blue cheer up INSTANTLY!!!

PRESS PLAY - AND SHARE THIS LINK ON YOUR WALL to pass all that goodness along.



***There is a second of a squirrel***

The Best Job in The World?

You may have seen this on YouTube but if you haven't...

Hiccups

I have come to be known now as the squirrel lady. Someone got me a lunch bag with a red squirrel and acorns on it... and yes, I am using it today, and packed it with a smile on my face.

I got squirrel calendars for Christamas from my sister.

And people send me squirrel pictures and videos all the time.

Bring it.

I embrace it.

Let's face it: it's true.

Here's a YouTube vid by vivmus96 that I discovered today

after watching a different vid someone sent to me. Had to share.

Squirrels tend to jump and twitch a lot. But this one appears to have actual hiccups, as evidenced by the little squeak that comes out of him with each little convuslion. Enjoy.

Seeing Dalmation Spots

I have no words... Even the SOCKS match!

S-M-I-L-E

Fast Asleep

OK, I am completely slain by baby squirrels.

I know some people think they are tree rats and nuisances, building nests occasionally in someone's attic or eating all the food in the feeders folks put out to attract birds. But how can your heart not just swell to bursting with love when you hold sweet little sleeping babies in your hand like this? And he is sleeping because I just fed him warm milk... don't we adore our human babies in the exact same kind of moment?



I love how they sleep, with their skinny baby tails curled up over their face like we might pull up our quilts on a chilly night. And you can see him contentedly moving his mouth, as if he's savoring little dreams of his recent meal. He's so young his ears are still bent down to his little head. His fuzzy forearms! Those too-big hands and feet! His tiny shoulder blades as he hunts for his sisters to sleep! His wobbly attempts to navigate the blanket .... (I know, somebody stop me!). Even if you're not a squirrel lover, you've gotta admit, these babies are cute.

Here's an even smaller one -- just crossing over from being what we call a pinky (no hair at all, just born). You can see me put the milk nipple into the frame for a second to get an idea of how small, if not by seeing him compared to my thumb. I have a focus problem near the end, but his little black nose and whiskers become clear so hang in there.


A face like that just makes me smile, every time!

Are you with me yet?

Remember Elvis?

The Muscovy duck I named Elvis, I mean.

He says hi.

The Only Big Cat That Likes Water

Thursday we walked through the zoo, which is just past the park we usually walk around. We have a membership and decided it's an easy way to stretch our exercise time to just sail through the gates and circle around whatever interests us. It's a big motivator when the scenery offers elephants, flamingos, bears, seals, raptors and lions.

It had been sprinkling and overcast, so the place was blissfully quiet and cool, unpopulated save for a few families, and thus free of the attendant chaos. The live oak trees --common to this area --with their incredibly long, low reaching limbs with fresh, shiny new leaves of spring fully unfurled on every branch created a protective canopy over our heads. We kept up our pace past twin cheetah kittens and the giraffes. But we were stopped dead in our tracks by the sight of one of the two brother tigers swimming his little lake.


Seems no matter what time of day we visit, usually the big cats are all sleeping. But there was the gorgeous, regal head of this creature, with it's bright orange fur slashed by jet black stripes, gliding smoothly though the darkened water.

His eyes were bright and blue. His thick paws were visible, paddling rhythmically, pushing him along on a diagonal and very deliberate path from one end to the other. He then climbed out, slinked across the grass past rocks and around trees to return to his starting point. Again he'd climb right in, and all but his paws would disappear as his body sank into the depths. His shoulder muscles were further defined with every stroke. Amid all this majesty, something cute: his tongue stuck out as he did it.

(click picture to enlarge)

We positioned ourselves (where I took the pic above) right in his sight lines. Here he swam VERY close to us. On one pass he made direct, proplonged eye contact. It was nothing short of chilling! This ain't no kitty, but a beautiful beast with quite humbling power -- a killing machine -- and there was only a short flimsy fence and an electrical deterrent between us.

Black Cats Advantage.

Eagle Babies Cam

It's Spring again, and that means babies.... certainly baby birds. There's not much as special as being able to watch them in their nests, which is made possible by technology.

I am watching two adorable fuzzy bald eagles and a very good mom who tucks them under her when the wind blows... And the babies make sweet little chirps back to her.

MUST LOOK. So easy to keep open on one corner of your desktop while you TRY to concentrate on other things...

http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

The Cat and the Dolphin

Oh for joy. Joy is what you will feel three seconds into watching this video. I am completely envious of this cat. At first I thought -- oh, look at that. They are communing, because they both know they are animals (and somehow of kinship). I thought the cat was on a boat and here comes this random encounter with a friendly dolphin. Then I saw a human with a training whistle, and thought, oh, these are trained dolphins. None the less, it is still beyond delightful to watch. And then I thought - that cat likes them because they smell like FISH. Enjoy.

And you?

A bird does not sing because it has an answer.

It sings because it has a song

---- Chinese Proverb

Exactly

Some keep the Sabbath going to Church

I keep it, staying at Home

With a Bobolink for a Chorister

And an Orchard, for a Dome

--Emily Dickinson

Wanton Musings

Spring approaches here in Houston, even though it is still deep winter in many other places around the country. Alas, I have no garden to plant, so I am not pouring over seed catalogues or plotting out what will go next to what on graph paper or trying to make things sprout between moist paper towels under grow lights indoors in preparation. Someday though.

I do listen to gardening podcasts, buy way too many books about homesteading and devour magazines like Mother Earth, to make up for what I'd be learning if I were gardening all this time. If how stunningly I've failed in my efforts to keep the most basic container plants on my porch (I've even watched those bamboo shoots that require only a little water, no sun, no soil expire under my care) is any prediction of my abilities as a real gardener, then I would be among the pilgrims to die in the first winter in New England. I figure I will give myself 5 years once I get my hands in some soil to discover if I have what it takes or if I'm doomed to go to my grave a hopeless black thumb. So I need all the pre-study and experience that I can get.

It's not just gardening I'm interested in learning, but canning and preserving, bread baking, and other lost arts. There is a resurgence of interest in these things so I am hardly unique. But I claim to be apart from the hoards of former Yuppie urbanites who have cashed in their stilettos and nightclubs in search of a retro existence. They are mostly motivated by their babies, which certainly rips the needle off the record of the world that had been their formerly delicious, city life.

While my world may have consisted more of sparkly earrings, champagne and tall buildings, I have long been fascinated by people like the late Tasha Tudor, who had enough success to live as she wanted. She created her own world on her sprawling estate living with little or no electricity, cooking over a wood stove, sleeping in a cap, walking barefoot -- self sufficient well into her 90's.

And I am of the generation who read Little House on the Prairie and felt something shift when I read about their preparations for the winter: smoking, drying, cold storage, metering supplies to make it until the Spring came again. Those few long trips to the store in a town far away. Coming back with precious flour, sugar, coffee, a measure of fabric, and a few pieces of peppermint candy, among other treasures. Building fires that would burn all night, saving embers to start the stove in the morning. I still pull it out late in the Fall, between Thanksgiving and Christmas and read those parts and get completely lost in the pages.

Some people stick things in the ground, tend to it and harvest for the table, without much else to tell. I know several of these aliens. Their gardens burst forth with color and abundance. Everything they try - cumquats, persimmons, even cantaloup and corn by the walk - thrives. But I hear far more stories of the difficulties -- chronic destruction of tender shoots or worse -- of prized meager successes that are decimated just before harvest -- by one or another critter, bug or disease. Those with the best of intention to deal with these organically or by companion planting at the start end up in spraying the shit out of the everything with the strongest chemicals sold this side of the war or find themselves sitting in trees with night vision goggles and a rifle to finally kill the damn thing that ate all the corn/tomatoes/beans the night before picking.

Which, I wonder, will I be?

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL

PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"

Making the Rounds Before Ice

We're hunkering down, waiting for our ice storm with 1-3 inches of snow. Sounds too good to be true to me. The Houston Zoo closed at 3 today and I just got the word that I have the day off tomorrow, so I've been posting announcements on FB and Twitter to let the public know we're closed. Not that anyone has been there the last two days because it's been about 32 degrees. Other places around town are shutting down and sending people home as well.

It's kind of funny that everyone's bracing for an inch of snow but if there is black ice, no one can drive in it... Even if you were used to maneuvering in snow, which Houstonians are not, ice sneaks up on any and everyone.

For the present, I have been reveling in the cold. If you dress warmly --a thin long sleeved tee with a cashmere sweater over, a down jacket, one of those hats with ear flaps, good socks and gloves, it's fine. I have been driving right from work to Hermann Park to take walks instead of being on a treadmill at the gym.

I've done this the last four days in a row, multi-tasking exercise with feeding squirrels and ducks while it's light, and at night I've swung by all the places I feed squirrels in the residential areas that have dog parks and wide green esplanades where squirrels live. I drive through those areas regularly and toss small, unshelled nuts, that are bio degradable and that the birds may end up enjoying as much as anyone.

Squirrel baby season has just begun and there are a lot of mothers about to deliver and maybe a few who have delivered early, so I want to be sure they don't have to go far looking for food when it's this cold. This is a picture of a clearly pregnant Fox Squirrel. Houston's squirrels grow a bit of a coat, but it was 70 on Monday and it will be back into the mid 50's by Saturday -- they are not used to 17 and 28 degrees.

As a testament to that, I saw none out at all on Tuesday, fed only one by hand on Wednesday, and there were about 5 across the entire park and golf course last night. Normally there are tons, coming from every direction. I figure they must be curled up in their nests with their tails wrapped around them, trying to keep toasty warm.

Anticipating the big storm, both yesterday and tonight I brought cracked corn and 4 loaves of wheat bread to feed the ducks and geese too, in addition to my bags and bags of nuts for the squirrels , because there is no one in the park when it's this cold (or when it's rainy). They can fend for themselves but have come to rely on people who go and feed them breadcrumbs. When I got there the ducks came swimming at top speed to the shore, hopped out enmass, then ran (waddling) up... all shapes and sizes. Amid them, reassuringly, were lots of regulars: the wood duck couple, many muscovys (Elivs is still there), the lone black duck, a few Indian Runner ducks, lots of mallards and various pairs of white pekin buddies (the Afflack ducks), masses of black bellied whistlers, and the old tan and white crew with the poofs on their heads. There was a huge group of black water fowl of some kind resting on the island in the lake but they were uninterested. Either truly wild or fish eaters.

That one egret I've written about stalked around in the shallows but was just observing the action. He's a fish man all the way. I also saw one or two Blue Herons. Also not interested.

The 4 Chinese geese were trying to get everyone else to back off, which they usually succeed at because they are the biggest, but tonight the crowd wasn't having any. When I'd feed Mr. and Mrs. Goose, the bigger of the other goose pair was pulling on my pant let with his beak. He knows I feed Mr. and Mrs. more because they are more tempermental. Mr. Goose insists his Mrs. gets fed while he shoos others away and he's so sensitive that he often will leave... and she always follows. Too funny. I still toss to the other two geese when Mr. Goose is not looking so they really aren't ignored but it's an awful lot like being a drummer. Each of my limbs seems to be engaged independently to juggle these feeding frenzies.

One bright-eyed little squirrel came down, drawn by the commotion (which usually means someone has food) and tried to take a nut from me when he was the smallest among all those fluffy bird breasts and webbed feet. He darted up and out around those beaks that were trying to take the nut I had in my hand. I finally walked to the nearest tree and got him to climb up it so I could give him the nut while he was hanging onto the trunk, far out of others reach. Success. Seriously, they are that tame!

I left a handful of nuts at the base of his tree while I distracted the birds by throwing bread in the opposite direction. When I left I saw he was sitting on that nut pile, munching comically. There is no sight that does my heart more good than that. I don't know why if I've fed an animal I get the best feeling... like I've done my work, or maybe earned my keep, on earth for another day. I feel that way when I take everything to recycling too. For all the work of pulling off labels, rinsing containers, tripping over sorting bins in the small apartment -- not to mention pulling items out of the waste basket that everyone else still tosses way -- and hauling sticky bags and heavy bundles of magazines and paper, I still feel it's the least I can do to clean up after the enormous amount of trash we generate each week. Anyway....

Can't feed everyone, but I went far further than I usually do, scanning the trees for nests, which are easy to spot now that the branches are bare, and tossing handfuls of nuts at the base of each trunk. I drove to the other side, near the train station and stopped in the Rose Garden's parking lot where I saw a squirrel nosing around the ground. I got out of my car slowly, and approached, and she perked up and ran to me once she saw I was offering a peanut. She ate with such vigor that I felt all warm and wonderful. She was hungry... and I was so glad I could help.

It'd been 90 minutes now. It was getting pretty dark by the time I covered the whole park. My fingers were seriously frozen, even with gloves, and I was clapping and moving my digits rapidly as I walked to finish. I just wanted everyone to have a full belly or something waiting at the bottom of the trees before the storm hits.

As I left, I tossed the last of peanuts in shells at each of the massive Oaks lining the golf course, scraping my tires on the lip of the road as I tried to get as close as possible. I keep the passenger seat open and have become quite good a flinging and driving, but I make sure no one is behind me if I do. I do it with the peanuts in shells, because they are are easier for the squirrels to spot, (even though scent plays a very big role in foraging).

I came home, took a very hot shower. I wondered if tonight the ducks would take more cover rather than just tucking their heads under their wing as they sit on the shore's edge. I made a mental note to research that if I can find anything.

As I pulled my fluffy quilt up around my chin, I thought of each little squirrel curled up in their nests with their tails for cover, riding out the night's storm, and I drifted off peacefully.

Thank you to C.A. Mullhaupt for the use of the pregnant Fox squirrel picture from Flickr!

Wow

This is pretty stunning to actually see -- these massive animals who resemble us so much, but not really, we think... until we see them like this:


http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2011/01/28/exp.am.vo.gorilla.upright.cnn?hpt=C2

I got the chills. How about you?

Love Baby Animals?

Apparently so does this little fella!




Happy New Year everyone!

You'll Love This

Heartwarming video

I wish I could embed this for you but it's from the National Geographic site. It's the story of some folks who are animal keepers of some kind in some far off land, because they have an elephant and an orangutan around... a hungry dog wanders in and becomes best friends with the orang, who shares her food with the dog and hugs him and holds onto him. This is one to share with kids or to watch if you need a heartwarming lift. I'd put this in the category of MUST SEE so please click!

http://5thworld.com/Paradigm/Postings/!Wisdom/OrangutanAndHound.html

PS: I want these people's lives!

Thanksgiving, Like Winter, Awaits

Have to share a beautiful post with you from the blog of a very talented man who lives in a little house on the river somewhere in Ohio. He goes by a grand monkier: the Grizzled-But-Still-Incorrigible-Scribe-Himself!

Every time I go to his blog, I get a sense of tranquility and peace. Somehow I can be restored and become centered in just that few minutes of reading, as if I've taken a walk in the forest or by the water's edge, in the snow or summer sun or brilliant falling leaves. How does he do that?

I highly recommend you scroll through and read his utterly lovely blog, and bookmark it to return all you want. He writes consistently, pieces of quality, thoughtful and thought provoking at times, entertaining and wry at others.

http://riverdaze.blogspot.com

Here is today's post, entitled: A Thankful Heart. I, for one, am printing it out to read over this Thanskgiving's meal. Emerson, Thoreau and Jefferson (Thomas, that is) -- you have company.

On the porch beneath a clabbered sky

I watch the day turn gold and slip away,

while gray squirrels rustle through leaves

browning beneath the big hackberry, and

chilled air carries a hint of woodsmoke.

Somewhere well upstream, geese are

honking on the wing, sharp yelps

marking their homeward passage

through twilight's steady gathering.

Another unveiled autumn plays out

as we rest in mild circadian confusion,

aware—though circumspect

in our affected silence—that November

will run its course and winter waits ahead.

Doesn't winter always wait ahead?

Isn't the still season of ice and cold and

keening wind always where years take us?

Is that why we make the time during

autumn's summation to gather 'round

a familiar table, bow our heads, and

declare our thanks before having our feast?

Do we celebrate in gratitude or prudence,

mindful that our lot is good, yet uneasy

we might have claimed too much credit

for the cornucopia we're about to enjoy?

The river is the color of old pewter in

the waning light, divided into many

small channels—a shredded ribbon,

whispering as it finds it way between stones.

Such beauty. And there, in the quiet eventide,

with a full moon rising to light the night,

I recount my blessings before the holy stars—

and pray I might always keep a thankful heart.

The Big King

As I have mentioned before, Jonathan, the majestic and regal African Lion at the Zoo is my self-proclaimed boyfriend.... that is, when I am not crushing on Kiva, the 18-ft tall Masai giraffe. But this is all about Jonathan.

Jonathan.....

Look at that face.

*sigh*

I wasn't kidding about him.

You can see it can't you?

They All Sleep This Way: Jonathan the Lion

We all know cats sleep a lot, and are nocturnal. Big cats are no different. Some of our lions sleep up to 20 hours a day. So I have seen our magestic, gorgeous male lion Jonathan dozing or outright snoring a LOT. However, he sleeps in a really comedic way.

At least in this picture he had the manners to have his head facing the window!

Are You Nuts?

Saw this and had to post it. Not sure if I like it or not, but let's face it, it's a squirrel thing, and they are rare. Someone out there likes squirrels enough to pay $89 for this lovely mango wood and pewter nut bowl.

But if it's for you, or someone on your list this holiday, you can find it at ORVIS.

Meow!