PositivePrayers.com
I just finished cleaning out the aquarium, and all is squeaky clean again. The fish are busily checking out the ‘new’ decorations.
Category Archives: Amazing Animals
Raccoon # 13 !
The City
We just got back from relocating raccoon # 13 of the spring/summer season this year. This one was so large, he almost completely filled the humane cage! We are getting tired of having to deal with this. I think our highest count in all the years we have lived here (over 30) is about 4. We are ready to be finished with this for the year.
We will leave for Lunch Bunch soon. We lucked out so far on Tropical Storm Laura. It went to the east of us. We got some rain, but nothing severe. We are still due for more rain, but we feel very, very lucky. The sun is shining and we will turn on the a/c when we return.
We are narrowing down our trouble with low water pressure – which then causes trouble with our hot-water-on-demand system – which means not enough water pressure or hot water for our shower. We now have a new water pressure tank in the well house. We now have a new shower head. My husband thinks the problem is the valve in the shower. Our plumber, Travis Hawkins, will be here later today to see if he can fix things for us. HOORAY!
I’m not sure what my project for the day will be yet.
My heart goes out to the people still in jeopardy from the wildfires in California and the people who sustained damage, or will sustain damage, from Laura.
Try to be strong and stay safe.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Friendship, Housekeeping - Maintenance
Great Animal Pictures
Inga Korolkovaite and Rokas Laurinavicius – Bored Panda
Inga Korolkovaite and Rokas Laurinavicius – Bored Panda
Inga Korolkovaite and Rokas Laurinavicius – Bored Panda
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography
Wonderful Animal Photos
Inga Korokovaite and Rokas Launnavicius, Bored Panda
Inga Korokovaite and Rokas Launnavicius, Bored Panda
Inga Korokovaite and Rokas Launnavicius, Bored Panda
Quokkas – Inga Korolkovaite and Rokas Launnavicius, Bored Panda
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography
Cheaper by the Dozen?
Wired
We just got back from relocating Raccoon # 12 for the season.
As I said the last time, we are HOPING that this is the last one. We are lucky that our feeders remain intact. One year we had to repair, and then replace them all after they were damaged beyond repair.
Raccoons are really cute, but greedy and destructive. They have not learned to share, and so eat EVERY seed from EVERY feeder, and too many times trash the feeders. We have several squirrels who share quite nicely with the birds. We would welcome the raccoons, too, if they could learn to share…
Filed under Amazing Animals
Yes!
Honest to Paws
I spent two hours in the yard, cleaning up today. I used the leaf blower to clear the concrete areas first, and then tackled the front yard. It took me quite a while, but I finished it. I did short sessions, resting and drinking a ton of water in-between. I will do more tomorrow, but that’s it for today.
I also cleaned out the aquarium. This is an experiment, really, because the filter system says to only change the charcoal filter part this time. I did this, but the water still turned cloudy. I’m hoping that with the fresh water and decorations today, we can go another month before having to clean out again. Next month the schedule says to change the charcoal part again, plus the foam part. We’ll see.
Meanwhile, the fish have sparkling clean water to swim around in. They didn’t say anything about the changes. They are just interested in feeding times, but “I” am happy that we seem to be making good progress on coming up with a better system to keep my fish healthy.
I have now taken a shower and feel MUCH better. I’m planning to veg out the rest of the afternoon, enjoying the air conditioning, my recliner, my book, and maybe a nap.
Hope you’re having a fine day.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family, Housekeeping - Maintenance
The Goodbye
via Jennifer Ann Mitchell Carroll
Thank you, Molly, for sharing your life with me.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
Raccoon # 11
Wired
I find this hard to believe, but we just returned from relocating raccoon # 11.
I think the previous record for a season was 5, so this is really incredible.
I hope we never meet the people who live close to the little creek off the side of the road where we ‘rehome’ the raccoons. It’s about 5 miles out farther into the country. We can’t SEE any houses around there, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any.
I concentrate on thinking happy thoughts of all of the raccoons high-fiving each other when they meet along the creek, re-establishing their relationships and having a happy raccoon life…
Meanwhile, we continue to hope that this is the last one for the season. We’ve just filled up the bird feeder again. We’ll check it before bed. If it’s empty in the morning, the humane trap will again be set.
Filed under Amazing Animals
Dog Heaven
from my sister-in-law
Molly
Molly will be right with the pack, chasing the truck, licking her lips in anticipation.
We got Molly over 15 years ago. I wanted a ‘lap dog,’ – a sweet, dainty loving dog.
I got the sweet and loving, as well as fun-loving, but NOT the dainty. She LOVED to stick her whole snout into the most awful stuff, coming home really disgusting.
There was nothing to do but pick her up, put her in the kitchen sink, and scrub her down.
She was a companion dog for our other dogs over the years. Two pit bulls and then Amber, our current yellow lab.
She got along with our cats, too.
She was fierce (for her size – or THOUGHT she was), happy, and curious.
Here she is trying to see the squirrel in the feeder at the window.
Sometimes she was sleek (spring, summer, and part of the fall) and then we let her go natural for the winter. (Fuzzy Molly)
She was such a HAPPY soul. She loved her people and her fellow animals.
She loved to sit on the stairs and look down at everyone.
She was adventurous.
She could be stylish.
But this was Molly at her happiest, looking like a very small sheep dog.
We were lucky to share her life for over 15 years. She will always be remembered with joy.
Catch that ham truck, Molly!
Filed under aging, Amazing Animals, Family
Raccoon # 10
Nat’l Wildlife Federation
We returned awhile ago after relocating Raccoon # 10. Saying this is a record-breaking year for raccoons is a vast understatement. We are hoping they meet up at the creek and continue to live happy lives elsewhere. We also sincerely hope this is the last of the bunch.
Our tomatoes have slowed way down. I only got cherry sized tomatoes yesterday when I harvested. We can’t be greedy, though. We have been enjoying wonderful ripe tomatoes with lunches and dinners for weeks now.
We are at the time of year here where, no matter how much you water, the sun is so strong it just boils the plants. I checked on my garden yesterday. There are still a lot of plants, and my onions are continuing to grow, but there was just ONE, lone ROUND zucchini. I’m not even sure this will be edible. I’m about to give up and pull the plants for the season. I’ve had a fun year in the garden, growing lettuce and spinach, tomatoes, and some celery (though I’m not sure if we’ll get actual stalks or not – or just leafy plants.
While I was out, though, I gathered some Rio Samba Roses to enjoy in the house.
Today is a sad day for us. We are having to say goodbye to Molly, a canine member of our family for over 15 years.
She was diagnosed with malignant cancer of the jaw several weeks ago. We have had her on antibiotics and pain/inflammation meds since then to try to give her as many happy dog days as we could. She has milked all the extra attention for everything she’s worth – demanding to go outside, then demanding to come in again – with a treat, of course. I have made sure we had enough treats that she could have all she demanded, and even a few more. Up until a few days ago, she was still having fun, even trying to play with us in the yard. She has given us over 15 wonderful years of her happy personality, cheering up her people and fellow dogs and cats alike. For that, we will be eternally grateful.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Challenges, Changes, Family
Happier Fish?
The cleaning out of the aquarium today resulted in its designation as ‘project of the day.’ We changed from a more regular filter system, like you can buy at Walmart, to a more expensive, fancier type filtration system. It came in a lot of parts with three different things acting together as the filter. I got a bit intimidated while reading the directions, so I asked for my husband’s help.
At least half an hour later, we finally had the filter ready to go into the tank. We put it aside while we did the regular clean out. I like the fact that the majority of this filter system is on the outside of the tank, giving the sweet fish more room to swim around. If you look carefully at the top of the picture above, you can see (above the blue) the outside of the filter.
This picture gives another view from the other end of the tank. You can also see the filtered water going back into the tank. When we got it back together, the top didn’t fit anymore, so my husband took it out to the shop and cut off part of it to make it fit. There are three filters in this one: a foam piece on the bottom, then activated charcoal, and then a bio filter of a bunch of pellet like things you put into the provided mesh bag. You have to work to get these rinsed and into the filter. This filter is made to handle tanks from 5 to 20 gallons. Since ours is a 5, this should be MORE than adequate to do the task.
You change out each part of the filter at a different time. We’re supposed to replace the foam filter every two months, the charcoal every month, and the bio filter every three months. (I have the directions on the table beside me so that I can mark my calendar with when each thing is supposed to be changed.)
So far, I haven’t seen any reaction from the fish – yea or nay. I really hope that this new style of filter keeps the water cleaner for longer.
So the aquarium clean out and filter installation turned out to be the project of the day today.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family, Housekeeping - Maintenance, I'm a slob
Raccoon # 8
Live Science
We caught raccoon #8 of the season last night. We have just come back from relocating him where he will hopefully find the rest of the “gaze” of raccoons we have driven to their new home out farther in the country. Even though Amber barked at him obnoxiously, he didn’t lose his cool. It looked like rain was coming soon, so we relocated the raccoon before having breakfast or doing anything other than feed animals.
Now we’ve had breakfast and I’m enjoying a cup of coffee as I type this.
We have doors open so far this morning, enjoying a nice breeze through the house. We are due for storms today, with a bigger chance this evening. I will get out, check the garden, and see if we have more ripe tomatoes to bring in soon. Of course, now that we are home for the rest of the day, the sun has come out. :0)
I am doing well on my efforts to exercise this week so far. I have done my elliptical trainer in the garage, plus my half hour or so of yoga stretches and abdominal exercises every day. This is a 6-gold-star week so far! I will try to earn 2 more today.
The wonderful person from Tri-Hill Pest Control in Fort Smith is due here at 12:30 today. 1308 Zero St, Fort Smith, AR 72901. (479) 782-2847. He is a super nice man – PLUS since he has come and treated the house quarterly, we haven’t had a bug or pest problem. (Other than my husband.) This is a wonderful company.
Today’s project will be my kitchen desk. We use this, and the shelves above it, to have medicines and first aid stuff on hand, too, so it’s a busy area. I will try to get this area cleaned out and reorganized today.
Have a wonderful Thursday!
Muggy Monday
Attack of the Cute
My husband and I did a few errands this morning and then I got on my elliptical trainer for the first time in umpteen months. My trainer lives in the garage and it’s really hot out there. I managed 15 minutes this morning – better than nothing. I’ll try it again on Wednesday and see if I can do 20. I will, of course, do my 35+ minutes of yoga stretching and abdominal exercises this afternoon. (I gave myself a star for the elliptical and will earn another with the yoga this afternoon.) :0)
One of our errands this morning was refilling our sweet Molly’s prescriptions for antibiotics and pain/inflammation relief medicines. I’ve told you she has malignant cancer. It’s in one side of her jaw. She has quite a sizable, firm lump there that is growing. The vet and I talked frankly. Molly was 15 in February. We decided to try to keep her as comfortable as possible, giving her as many happy dog days as we can in the time she has left. She is still able to eat and drink, and enjoys demanding to go out, and then come in again – for a treat. I’m making sure we have PLENTY of the two treats she loves, and am VERY freely dispensing them. She has been with us since she was a small puppy. We are cherishing each day.
My husband is grinning because our grass is at the PERFECT stage, according to him – brown and crunchy! He wishes it would stay that way the rest of the summer. We are due for some rain this week, though, so he’ll have to enjoy it while he can. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday forecasts show a good chance of rain, plus a little bit of relief from the humidity.
I made Suzanne Ryan’s (Simply Keto) recipe for keto chili yesterday, and we ate a bowl last night. My husband sighed with pleasure. We will enjoy a bowl for the second DIY dinner, plus one of the DIY lunches this week.
I haven’t decided what my next clean up project will be. I’ll look around and decide priorities, planning on taking a donation to the Disabled Vets in Fort Smith by the end of NEXT week.
I hope that YOU are having a good day today.
Wonderful Seals
Good Morning America
My husband and I used to go to the zoo in Tulsa in our dating days. I loved it. We would buy treats to feed the animals, and my husband always snuck in some ‘extras’ that weren’t technically approved. We walked casually around, loving to see the animals. By the time we saw two or three animals, it would look like we were at the head of a parade. People would see the animals responding to my husband’s efforts to make them do tricks and follow us in order to see more.
Seal-Bearded – Flickr_Foilist Peter-Center for Biological Diversity
I don’t know how he did it, but the bears would sit up and wave at us. The monkeys would make rude gestures, making my husband double over, laughing.
Longman Dictionary
The seals were about halfway around the circle we would make. Seals are one of my favorite animals. I love their grace, agility, and speed, and their faces make my heart melt. Usually, there were several in their ‘pond.’ They would end up following my husband as he walked the perimeter of their area, feeding them and talking to them. It was like fish schooling. Then, he would make them nuts by hurrying from one side to the other, or one end to the other. He would finally stop and they would gather, noses all pointing to him.
Seal Pup, Norfolk, England, Newsweek
I have wonderful memories of trips to the zoo with him. We haven’t been to the Tulsa Zoo in many, many years now, but in my head, it was like yesterday. Our pets follow him around the house, too. They know he is the source of all good things.
Norfolk Beach – Bored Panda
Filed under Amazing Animals, memories
“I Love You Like No Otter”
Wikipedia
Getty Images – Smithsonian Magazine
SayingImages.com
Pomegranate Communications
SayingImages.com
YouTube
Filed under Amazing Animals, Funny Signs - Humor, punny
A Clean Fish is a Happy Fish
My husband helps me clean out the aquarium once in about 10 times. This time he decided that we needed a better filter. I told him that I had researched the subject before and that we had the best reasonably priced filter system and filters for a 5-gallon tank. He asked me to research again and get something else, so I did.
I read and read, compared, then finally found a source that listed the ‘best’ filter systems for 5-gallon tanks. I have ordered an Aqua-Clear Filter System, plus additional inserts. They are supposed to be delivered tomorrow. I’ll try it and let you know.
Meanwhile, the fish have a clean tank, clean glass beads, clean decorations, lots of bubbles putting oxygen into the water, and a clean filter and system that is ‘supposed’ to handle a 10-gallon tank, but doesn’t do a stellar job on this one.
I LOVE passing the bright, clean tank with happy fish swimming around, blowing bubbles at me!
(I’m starting to get used to the ‘click-click-click’ sound the goldfish causes as he sucks a glass bead up off the bottom of the tank and lets it go again. :0))
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family, Housekeeping - Maintenance
The Amazing Work of Niki Firmin – Pet Portrait Artist
Niki Firmin – Ralph
Niki Firmin
Niki Firmin – Binx
Niki Firmin
Niki Firmin
If you would like to see more or contact Niki, go to NikiFirmin.com
Filed under Amazing Animals, drawings, Niki Firmin - Pet Portraits
Raccoon # 7
National Geographic
We caught Raccoon # 7 last night in our humane trap and just got home from driving him out farther into the land behind us and relocating him at the same creek at which we have relocated his other family/pack/”gaze”/”nursery” members. He was the largest one we have ever trapped and relocated. My husband estimated he weighed 20 pounds! He thinks there are MORE, so he’ll bait and put out the trap again tonight…
Filed under Amazing Animals
I Love Cats
Wim Beunderman-LinkedIn
“Some people say that cats are sneaky, evil, and cruel. True, and they have many other fine qualities as well.” ~ Missy Dizick
“My husband said it was him or the cat… I miss him sometimes.” ~ Anonymous
“You cannot look at a sleeping cat and feel tense.” – Jane Pauley
“‘All right’, said the Cat, and this time it vanished quite slowly, beginning with the end of the tail, and ending with the grin, which remained some time after the rest of it had gone.” – Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
New Trick!
PictureQuotes.com
I’ve told you before that my two goldfish only do one trick-type thing – both getting in the corner of the aquarium and wriggling their bodies and blowing bubbles at me until I feed them. That’s cute and all, and – to my way of thinking – quite enough to keep them, but I have to admit I would enjoy a bit more.
Recently I did some research on goldfish, learning that they are CHAMPION poopers – the reason I have to completely empty the aquarium really often in order to keep their water sparkling. There were several suggestions on how to cut down on the problem, and I have done them all.
One was exchanging the gravel in the tank for glass beads. They stay much cleaner and don’t allow ‘stuff’ to pack into the bottom of the tank.
This – along with the other suggestions has made it so I can go almost two weeks between tank clean-outs, a very welcome thing.
I heard a ticking sound this morning as we were eating breakfast. I finally saw where the noise was coming from. The larger fish is now sucking glass beads up off the floor one at a time briefly while she checks to see if there is any food around! Each one makes a ‘tick’ sound as she drops it! Kind of bizarre, I guess, as fish tricks go, but I’ll take it! :0)
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
Photo of the Year
Photo of the Year
“Photo of the year
It was considered the best photo of this century. A lioness and her cub were crossing the Savannah but the heat was excessive and the cub was in great difficulty walking.An elephant realized that the cub would die and carried him in his trunk to a pool of water walking beside his mother.
And we call them wild animals.It’s a great lesson for mankind who are fighting and dying for no reason.”
*This was sent to me by my good friend, Marsha Koenig, and I wanted to share it with you.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography
Clean for the Holiday
My fish aren’t particularly patriotic, but I thought they would appreciate having a clean tank for the Independence Day celebrations today.
JD Houston via YouTube
We have had a quiet day, other than someone in the valley below us practicing with his gun this afternoon. I was settling down for a cat nap, but decided it wasn’t in the cards when the shooting started. I may get another chance before the evening begins.
The rain has stopped for now, and I’m hopeful we can have our cookout on the deck tonight and enjoy the neighbor’s fireworks.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family, Housekeeping - Maintenance
I Love Giraffes
Animal Fact Guide
“Well as giraffes say, you don’t get no leaves unless you stick your neck out.” – Sid Waddell
Animals | HowStuffWorks
“I’d hate to be a giraffe with a sore throat.” – Mitch Hedberg
CNN.com
“A giraffe has a black tongue 27 inches long and no vocal chords. A giraffe has nothing to say. He just goes on giraffing.” – Robert Fulghum
“A bit of advice: never read a pop-up book about giraffes.” – Sean Lock
Filed under Amazing Animals, Favorite Quotes
Ownership
Good Housekeeping
We have two cats who own us.
Yesterday Abby –
Abby
sat in the exact middle of our dog Amber’s –
Amber
bed. Not only would she NOT allow Amber to share the bed, she rubbed it in, stretching and flaunting her position while Amber looked unhappily on.
Another example of our cats owning us –
I sit at my computer answering email, researching things, writing blog posts, etc. Smoke –
Plops herself down in the middle of my area, keyboard, or work, the fact that she is interrupting meaning nothing to her.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
I Love Owls
The Express
“A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren’t we like that wise old bird?” ~ Unknown
Alan Walker – Getty Images – Discover Wildlife
Owl
Wiser than can be
Seeing great at night
Flying quieter over the sea
Making hope shine bright ~ Unknown
BrightSide
“He respects Owl, because you can’t help respecting anybody who can spell TUESDAY, even if he doesn’t spell it right.” A.A. Milne
Discovery Place Nature
“Alone and warming his five wits, the white owl in the belfry sits.” Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Eagle Mountain Utah News
“I rejoice that there are owls…. They represent the stark twilight and unsatisfied thoughts which all have.” – Henry David Thoreau
Earth.com
“I think I’m a tiny bit like Harry ‘cos I’d like to have an owl. Yeah, that’s the tiny bit, actually.” ~ Daniel Radcliffe
The Spruce Pets
“The owl,” he was saying, “is one of the most curious creatures. A bird that stays awake when the rest of the world sleeps. They can see in the dark. I find that so interesting, to be mired in reality when the rest of the world is dreaming. What does he see and what does he know that the rest of the world is missing?” ~ M.J. Rose
Source Unknown
“Owls seem to have always been a bird that sparks the creative imagination. They have been seen as symbols of victory, wisdom, or solitude. In more recent decades, owls have also been associated with Halloween.” – Rebecca Ludens
Source Unknown
“Old being, old thing,
so stout and wise.
You look down from the tree,
Knowing that I am here.
You stare long
You stare hard
And never look away.
You remember don’t you.
Peer at something else and
This spirit you see standing,
May well disappear.”
________________________________________
Two feathery tufts rise off a building
Next to an open park.
Powerful large eyes sight-fully gliding
Over the grass and dark.
These striking yellows gaze,
This view they take.
Dusk has left its haze.
It is good to be awake.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Favorite Things
Molly’s Food
Molly
I have told you that the vet told us that our sweet Molly has cancer. He helped us clear up the immediate problem she was having with her jaw, got her through a bad period with pain and inflammation pills and antibiotics. This has given her some really happy dog days and we are treasuring each one. Right now she is sleeping, but many times during the day she is barking to go outside, prancing around the yard, barking to come in again, and demanding a treat for doing that. (She’s getting one, too. :0) )
We have always fed her twice a day. She is not hungry first thing in the morning now, ignoring her dish. She eventually eats what is in the dish, plus is hungry for dinner in the evenings.
We keep her in the office behind a gate to protect her from Amber, our 3-year-old, 95-pound yellow lab, who is jealous of her. We are very careful to make sure that we know where both dogs are before we let anyone outside, or let them in again. Molly’s food and water dishes are in the office, safe from others, until she wants them. At least, that is the PLAN.
Lately our animals are getting sneakier.
My husband got distracted yesterday morning and left the gate to the office open after letting Molly outside. By the time he came in with his cup of coffee, Amber
Amber
had come in and cleaned the dish. I insisted that my husband make her another bowl.
Another time I found one of our cats, Abby, polishing off the food in Molly’s bowl.
Abby
The only one who HASN’T tried to eat Molly’s food (at least that we have SEEN) is Smoke
Smoke
We are redoubling our efforts to protect Molly’s food so that when SHE is ready to eat, it’s there. Constant vigilance is required….
Filed under Amazing Animals, Challenges, Family
creativeartworksblog 