Random facts: Sloths only poop once a week and have very bad eyesight. Their very soft hair grows in all directions because they are upwards as much as downwards.
by asirap
Tag Archives: DogDaz
Monday’s Random Facts
8.13.12 Hornero Nest Building
People are capturing the most incredible things on camera these days and are able to turn them into just such wonderful pieces of consumable art and information that travel thousands of miles around the globe in seconds thanks to the speed and technology of the internet.
For example this amazing series of photos of a Hornero bird building it’s nest from the LOL DAMN site. I could not find out who the original photographer was, but I thought that it was just something that must be shared. A private moment caught forever in pictures.
From Wikipedia I learned that “Horneros are brown birds with rather short tails and fairly long bills. They are known for building mud nests that resemble old wood-fired ovens (the Spanish word “hornero” comes from horno, meaning “oven”). They are from the family of birds called Furnariids, and while many of these types of birds have different nests, the hornero nest is the reason for the common name applied to the entire family; Ovenbirds (though unrelated to the Ovenbird, which is a parulid warbler). The size and exact shape of the hornero nest varies depending on the species. They generally lay 2–4 eggs, although the breeding behavior of the Bay Hornero is virtually unknown.
Adult horneros can frequently be seen sitting on top of their nest. They are generally noisy and all horneros are partially terrestrial, and commonly seen walking on the ground with a relatively up-right posture.
The Rufous Hornero is a national emblem of Argentina, one of the several countries it inhabits.”
I stay humbled to the fact that I can see a bird that lives (8394 km) 5216 miles away building it’s nest. How cool is that? I hope you enjoy the show as much as I did.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
8.12.12 Mojo, All Better
The dogs have been really missing their best friend, Mojo, because he had bone surgery on his leg and was not able to walk with us or play for what seemed like forever in dog days. But Mo healed quickly and he is now back to himself. So the girls and I went over for a little romp around the yard; but, no jumping and catching frisbees until we are sure that Mojo is all healed up. I think I have mentioned this before, but Louise does not smile for many other dogs (or people for that matter), but she always has a big smile for Mojo. I just love it when the dogs are content. It is so hard when an animal is hurt or sick for many reasons, but it is also frustrating because there is no way to explain to them what is going on. But I never really thought about the fact that there is no way to explain to my dogs, Lulu and Sofie, why they could not go over to play with their friend who they have walked and played with constantly their whole lives, until this event. They knew he was still there because they heard him bark from across the street and they saw him a few times when he came out his front door for a moment or two. It was kind of a funny waiting time until he was better. They missed him. We are all happy that Mojo is all better now.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
8.11.12 Good Work, Girls; You Make Mommy Proud
I am so proud of the dogs. This week I have left them alone twice for increasing longer periods of time in the house, out of their kennels. First it was for about 2 hours. But today I had to go visiting and to dinner, and I knew that I would be gone a long time because I had to drive over an hour away. I locked the kittens and crazy Miss Kitty away so that they could not get into trouble; I gave everyone a really good snack (because I knew that I would be late for dinner); and I left (I don’t believe in making a fuss or they will fuss). I was gone 5 1/2 hours. This is a first for me 
and for the dogs. I have never left them unsupervised, out of their kennels for that long. On my way home I was envisioning shredded couch pillows, ala Wonderbutt, or chewed up pens with ink everywhere, or a dead cat (though Noel would more likely kill them before they would get her or Muffin). But, other than mauling me at the front door, they were great. This is so exciting. I hate to go out for more than maybe 3 hours when I have to leave them in the kennels, though I have left them as many as 6 hours. They probably just sleep, but I worry about stiffness and such, even though they can stand and turn around. I really want them to be able to be out, except at night, and that really is because they like to wake me up to play at weird times (which I attribute partially to the fact that they are not usually out at night when I am sleeping, but also because they are not allowed on the bed, so they need to get close to me somehow). This is a new phase at the zoo. Free roaming canines. I like it and I hope they keep up the good work.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
8.10.11 Get Off The Treadmill: Lessons From The Dogs
I don’t know about you, but some weeks it feels like no matter how far you think you are getting, you end up in the same place, This was suppose to be a quiet week at the zoo and I thought I could plow through work tasks, clean the house, take care of all the outside work, see some friends, but it has turned out to be anything but that. I know that I have been really busy, but I don’t think I am making any progress.
Everytime I finally get started with anything this week the dogs or cats are pestering me. I feel really bad because I wish the dogs would just settle down and not want to play and play and play. “Louise, Mommy has work to do, can’t you go play with Sofie in the back yard!” You know how well that works. I would think the dogs are over the we missed you so much thing already, but they are sooo needy. So it is up and down the stairs, inside and outside, snacks and treats. They are just wearing me out. And the cats, oh my goodness, I almost can not type this because Noel is in front of the screen chasing the cursor.
Maybe it is this head cold that I have and the animals want me to rest instead of work, I am not sure. But I really need to get something done. The truth is however that I should listen to the animals because they are wiser than me because they would never get stuck on life’s treadmill. They don’t worry about what they accomplished in the week, or the day, they just plain enjoy the moment. “OK, who has the TV remote? Enough with trying to get all this stuff done today. I am getting off the hamster wheel!”
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
8.9.12 Nine’s Adventure
Let me start by saying, he is fine. But I am very upset by the whole thing. OK, I will start from the beginning. Today was just one of those days that went from bad to worse. I am not going to get into all the human stuff that created a really bad day, but there is one piece that I will tell you. Friday, the Pest Control guy was suppose to come to do his yearly termite inspection but he never showed up. Today he was suppose to come at 3 pm and he showed up at 9 am. I hate when people do that, and if I did not have to have this inspection as part of my contract, I would have told him to go away until another day. Anyway, the same guy has been coming for years. He is a strange older dude and rambles on and on, and does not watch what he is doing (or where he tries to put his hands – but that is for a different blog). To do this inspection he mainly checks the garage and the outside of the house. When we went from the house to the garage, I told him to shut the door behind him, but I saw that he did not, so I came back and closed it. Around 9:30 am he finished his inspection after much to much chatter, yada yada yada, and then he went. I went back to work and at 11:00 am I got the dogs ready for their walk with Mojo. When I opened the front door, who is on the front steps but Nine! I never knew he was out and I never saw him exit. It was really hot out and he was panting terribly. On top of that, Mojo hates cats, so I was really worried that they were going to be rounding the corner any minute and all 90 lbs of Lab would see 9 lb Nine and go after him. I approached Nine cautiously but he ran (which I did not expect). Nine jumped the fence (it was a really nice jump actually) and scrambled into my back yard. I called Peanut and together we were finally able to wrangle him and get him in the house (before Mojo arrived or any other disasters befell him (like meeting a fox)). All the other animals in the zoo were very concerned about him and gathered around; they even let him eat a snack without trying to steal it from him (which is unheard of with this group). Panting cats are a very bad sign and he had me very scared for a few minutes. Ice cubes and paw washing cooled him down pretty quick and then he slept for the afternoon. You would think that taught him a lesson but noooooooo!!!! Not Nine the Adventurer. Whenever I am at the door now, guess who is trying to have another adventure.
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
