Monday, January 28, 2013

The Cat that won't die

This is going to sound mean. Nigel is 20 years old. He is a sweet cat and I love him, but like any elderly creature, he is getting a little forgetful and difficult to have around. He doesn't always remember to go outside to go to the bathroom. He throws up a lot. He walks on my head when I'm trying to sleep. He spends a lot of time like this, sleeping on my bed. He doesn't seem to be in any pain or distress. He purrs happily most of the time and asks for attention. I keep thinking one day, he will go to kitty heaven. I don't have the heart to have him put down when he seems perfectly fine. But it is getting to be a bit of a trial. 
Sometimes I want to say, it's okay, go to the light, Nigel.

Dogs

I love dogs and like a most animals. However my niece, is way more crazy about dogs. Since she moved in with me a year ago, we have acquired two more dogs. Not that anymore dogs were needed in my little condo.
This is Cisco, our latest acquisition. He was a stray, semi feral chihuahua that she had been seeing running around for over a month. He was very skinny and terrified of people. I didn't want to keep him, but when we found out the Humane Society won't take an uninjured stray, we were a little stymied. He was so scared of people, I was afraid he would get put down if we took him to the pound. Then it was heartwarming to see him making strides, wagging his tail. Coming willingly to my niece. I am still a little scary to him. He has jumped on my lap a couple of times. I didn't have the heart to make him try and start all over again somewhere else. The above photo is his first bath.

This picture is today. Contentedly curled up on my bed. He has learned about getting UP on things now. We just caught him climbing the pet stairs the cats use to get to the cat food. He was on top of my dresser! Something to work on. He is only 7 lbs and cute as a bug.


This is Winston. My sweet boy. He will be 11 in September.

Keegan's other dog, Tanner, using Winston for a pillow.

Dobbie, my crazy rescue min pin. We have succeeded in trimming him down a bit, but he still has a ways to go.

Winston is my sweetie.

Tanner is Keegan's sweetie.

Dobbie has the sweetest personality for all of his quirks.


The doggie part of the family.

Tucson Weekend- Finally!

I have been having problems loading photos. My friend Lezlee told me some things to try, but before I took the time to do them, blog spot finally got it fixed. Yeah!
So here are some of the photos from our two day trip to Tucson. I wanted to show her San Xavier Del Bac. It's always an interesting place.

I had never wanted to go to the International Wildlife Museum. I thought it was just game hunters trophies. They actually made a pretty nice natural history museum of the place. I enjoyed it. There was a room full of interesting bug specimans, lots of pretty butterflies.


But the game trophies were still there.

A lion in San Xavier del bac still dressed for the holidays.

These parrots used to be native to Southern Arizona. They are still found in Northern Mexico. This is at Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, where we spent all of one day.

 Lounging mountain lion.
The river otter is always one of my favorites. The otter was lolling around not doing much. Then her keeper came by to check on her. She was instantly, playing and running all over. It was pretty fun to see how excited she was to see her keeper. These critters were also native to Arizona. A handful have been reintroduced in an isolated area of the Verde River. Wouldn't it be neat if we got them back?

A coatamundi. My friend Cindy told me once that she thought I had made the name up when I told her about them. She had never heard of them before. Arizona also has a ring tailed cat that has a similiar look, but smaller.

Desert Bighorn Sheep.

Mallard

I thought the sun looked cool shining through these cacti.

They have an awesome hummingbird avairy.

 These garden eels look like they plant themselves and then stick their heads out waiting for something to come by for them to eat. They are from the gulf of California.
Arizona does have coral snakes.

 Keegan won't let me post any photos of her. So this looks like I was there by myself.
Basking frogs.

Ths groud squirrel was working hard trying to get into this gourd. He rolled it all around, chewed on it, etc.

 A few shots from the amazing raptor free flight. This is the prairie falcon and below ithe the great horned owl.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Great Horned Owl


For some reason, I am having trouble loading photos into blogger. According to a post I read, it's a known problem with lots of users and I guess they are working on it. Meanwhile, it's pretty much keeping me from staying updated.
I was able to get this one photo loaded. Isn't it cool? Keegan and I went to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum last week. Right after we arrived they had the Raptor Free Flight show. Keegan rushed us down there. They had the birds fly from tree to tree, right over our heads. It was cool. Keegan even got hit in the face by the wing of a ferruginous hawk. So hopefully, I will be able to load more soon. Meanwhile, enjoy this guy.
By the way, the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is celebrating it's 60th anniversary this year. It's an amazing place. Part zoo, part natural history museum, part garden, aquarium. They have a really cool hummingbird avairy, full of just hummingbirds. We spent the entire day there and had a great time.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Big Jobs are better with a little help

My friend Cecelia, is moving to California. Lots to do to pack up a whole house by yourself. Penny, Keegan and I went to help.