Standing tall by Blue crowned pigeon. By:jujuba
Tag Archives: nature
4.12.12 Sleeping On The Monster
What is it about dogs and vacuums? Sofie attacked the dust buster this morning and almost ate my hand with it. They just hate these noisy things. Does it hurt their ears? Should I try and teach them that it is OK or just give up on that one? Do they think that I am being devoured by a Dragon? Sofie is getting more and more brazen with her vacuum hose attacks. Lulu handles it very differently, she goes to sleep on the monster when it is quiet. I think that is pretty brave of her, don’t you?
Just another DogDaz morning at our house ❤ 
4.10.12 Lessons From Squash
Squash E. Bear (RIP 2011), was the ultimate gentle dog. He very rarely questioned what he was asked to do, always let ladies go first (even when it had to do with food), and protected and blessed this family from the day he wondered into our lives. When you rescue animals you really never know their stories. You can make them up in your head, you can look at their scars and their phobias, but, in the end you just have to accept them as they are, and for who they are. I believe that people and animals come into my life at particular times on my journey for lessons that I need to learn to move forward. If I don’t open myself to those lessons, then I will just keep repeating the behavior that needs to change, until I do. I do not think that I can actually choose the lessons or the teachers, they chose me, at the times that they are needed. Squash chose our family at a moment in time when we needed the gentle and loyal energy of this unconditional loving giant. He taught me to refocus on the importance of a good walk 2 or 3 times a day (no matter what the weather). A good romp in the woods when possible. Eating to stay healthy (his blood sugar had to be constant). Taking one’s medicine even if we don’t want to (he needed 2 shots a day of insulin). Trust (I was his eyes for several years and he trusted me so much that we could walk together in the woods off leash and he never got afraid or hurt). Loving with abandon. Laughing and telling good jokes (he would stand on the other side of the coffee table and let out a big burp when least expected – you just have to laugh). I am grateful for the people and animals that pass my way, some for a moment, some for a life time.
Just another DogDaz morning at my house ❤
Monday’s Hero
Fred, the Labrador retriever, adopts Dennis, the duckling, whose mother was mauled to death by a fox.
more here
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4.8.12 Can you relate?
My daughter has taught Nine, the kitten, how to sit in her arms like on a perch. He likes to be with her and sit there for a long, long time. I think it is funny the relationship that each of the humans in the house have with each of the animals, and how they feel it is special to them. And it is. Everyone creates their own kind of bond – human to human – animal to animal – and animal to human. When you have a multi-species household, you learn that everyone and everything has their order in the pack and a particular relationship. Somehow, I find it interesting how the animals know the younger humans (even if adult size) from the older humans (who sometimes are smaller than the younger humans). Is it based on energy, inflection of tone, personal presence? To the animals around here, I am the food source. If nothing else, they like me because I am the primary opener of cans, boxes, and bags. Hey, we all must have our purpose in life. (Oh yah, I am also the maker of rules, the teacher of lessons, the thrower of toys, the giver of medicine, and the major cuddler and tummy tickler – which also has something to do with the relationships I guess.) Every relationship is special and each of my animals, and humans, mean something different and wonderful. Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo. ❤
The Truth About The Easter Rabbit
5 Facts about Rabbits from Smithsonian: Giant Rabbits
In celebration of the annual spring appearance of the Easter bunny on Sunday, April 8, Smithsonian Science offers these facts from Rabbits: The Animal Answer Guide, a new book by John Seidensticker, conservation scientist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and Susan Lumpkin, freelance writer…
2. Scientists studying the bones of an extinct giant rabbit found on the Mediterranean island of Minorca estimate this prehistoric animal weighed as much as 31 pounds! The largest rabbits alive today– domestic breeds such as the Flemish giant–weigh 22 pounds at most.
– Image: A reconstruction of a giant Minorcan rabbit is shown next to a modern European rabbit. (Image by Meike Köhler)
(via: Smithsonian)
