Fallen Log Trail Camage

Set up the camera a bit further off trail this time.

Deer fleeing the scene.

Gray squirrel.  (On the left atop the log.)

Red squirrel well camouflaged.  (Look to the left in front of the log.)

Here he is again, this time trying to lift up the log?!  (Near the center, framed by branches.)

Here we have a mysterious critter.  See his tail left of the log.

Here's his head and body. 

And this is freaky.  Is that black plastic partially buried?  Somebody hiding a body? 

In Before the Lock

I gave blood on Monday.  We entered the nondenominational church's gym through a single door met by a woman who squirted hand sanitizer onto our palms and ordered us to rub it in.  Then she took our temperature.  If we were normal we were allowed in.


Checking in was the same as usual.  A volunteer scanned my donor card then told me to sit and wait.



The chairs in the waiting area where positioned approximately five feet from each other.  I've been giving at this location for years because everybody is so nice.  On this day nobody talked to each other.



When it was my turn to be checked out by a nurse things got even less friendly.  She stuck my right middle finger to check my iron level.  I scored an eleven.  She said that was too low.  I remarked that I'd had a physical about three weeks ago.  Surely, they would have noticed if my iron was low.

Nurse Terse said, you must be 12.5 to give blood.  (One time a nurse told me my iron reading was low due to my cold hands!)  Nurse Terse asked if I wanted to try the other hand.  I'd already put 45 minutes into this venture so I said yes.  My left middle finger scored a 14.5.  I asked how can there be such a huge difference between them?  Nurse Terse said, that's just the way it goes.



Now I was back in the waiting area.  My fellow waiters stared into space or into their phones.  Things were slower today though the woman at the door said many blood donors had cancelled.



At the blood drawing station they sanitized the entire cot after each donor then waited till it dried.

The phlebotomist was nice.  She even smiled at me a couple times.



Now it was time to sit for a minimum of ten minutes to "recover" from giving blood.  Though I've never felt the need, I cooperate and spend that time drinking juice and enjoying the hospitality.  At this location they usually have a table set up with sandwiches and crudites and homemade brownies.  You help yourself family style.  This day of course was different.  Individual tables with a single chair were set up about five feet apart.  Someone wearing gloves served your snack.



The lady who usually offers shoulder rubs was there but didn't touch anybody.

It felt like Us vs Them.  But who is who?

Breed Profile: Spinone Italiano

The Spinone Italiano is easy going, affectionate and a versatile hunter.  Spinone Italiano means Italian Griffon.

Photo by  Caroline Granycome

Believed to have originated in the Italy's Piedmonte district where the terrain is rough, the sturdy Spinone was used to point, set and retrieve water fowl, upland fowl and small furry animals.  Fifteenth century Italian artwork features dogs that look very much like Spinoni.

Photo by I, Johami

Spinone Manifesto


-  I am not a hyper pointer, don't hog the couch.

-  my beard disguises loose jowls.  There will be slobber.

-  if you want a watch dog, get an Akita.

Photo by Alephalpha

Some Spinone Italiano Facts

-  weight:  male 75-86 #, female 64-75#

-   height:  male 24-28", female 23-26"

-  lifespan:  12-14 years

-  single wiry coat.  Colors:  white, brown roan, orange and white, orange roan

Photo by Brad Patrick

Some say the Spinone is such a natural hunter that he doesn't need training.  That is probably hyperbole.  Still, he is an able hunter who does not limit himself to just pointing, setting or retrieving.  He does it all.

He is also a family dog and would be unhappy living outside in a kennel.  The Spinone gets along with other dogs and is patient with children.  His webbed feet make him a good swimmer.

Photo by Alephalpha

Spinone are loyal and docile.  However, they are intelligent enough to learn quickly and are therefore not keen on repetition or drilling.

They are friendly and amiable to strangers.  Though Spinone are an active breed, their exercise needs can be met by a daily walk and a romp session.

What is It?

This was caught by the trail cam.

Is this some sort of mutant or what?   Let me know what you think!

PETA disapproves of Pets

PETA is back to help us use proper words when it comes to those animals that share our lives.  You see, the word "pet" is "harmful".   "Companion Animal" is OK.  It's vague enough not to be considered "Speciesist Language" evidently.

According to a February 5th announcement from PETA, addressing animals as "it" is also harmful.  We should use terms such as he, she or "dog guardian".  (One would think the word "dog" is specieist but using logic will get us nowhere here.)  PETA is concerned that we mustn't get the feeling that an animal is a human owned object.  

Wrong PETA.  Call me anything, just call me in time for dinner.

What is this obsession with pronouns?

Here's a brain teaser.  I'm a biological male with no testicles.  What is my pronoun?

I'm a feral cat but I just have to weigh in on this.  Wake up, PETA.  No animal gives a hoot what you call it.

Dear PETA,
You know how sometimes your dog tilts his head when you talk to him?  News flash. He is not trying to ferret out harmful words.

OK PETA, you want to help me out?  The next time you run a chicken truck off the road, deliver the birds to me.

PETA, it is you who are an object.  A tool.  I own you.  Me and my bretheren live in your heads.  Now, serve up some pate'.

I may look mild mannered, but if PETA came to my house and hassled my people about their vocabulary, I would use my teeth on them.  Ya know?

Just tell me, how would my quality of life improve if I became a "dog guardian"?

Read the PETA crap here 

By the way, you bossy boots wack jobs, sometimes Lynn calls me a Pomeranian Freak.  Is that harmful too?  Like xenophobic or something?  Hey, PETA!  Bite me.

Pop Culture Frenzy, Round 83

Welcome once again to Pop Culture Frenzy.  Today's question comes from the Aspen area of Colorado.  According to veterinarian Scott Dolginow  more and more dogs are coming into his clinic with marijuana toxicity.

How are so many dogs getting high?
Fluffy?

Owners are sharing?

Hostmaster:  incorrect.
Cyndi?

Second hand smoke?

Hostmaster:  incorrect.
Bryan?

While home alone, 

dogs are getting into the stash?

Hostmaster:  incorrect.
Molly?

Well.  It's legal now.

Hostmaster:  incorrect.  It seems that dogs are getting high off poop.  According to Dr. Dolginow when it's available, dogs will eat human waste.  Most of the dogs had been camping or hiking before coming into the clinic.  It seems that stoned human beings take dumps along the trail.  The dogs eat it and get baked.

Molly, I thought for sure you'd get this one.

We don't speak of such things.

Hostmaster:  is that true, Bryon?

No comment. 

You can't make this sh*t up.
So ends another round. 

Round 83
Fluffy/Molly      39
Bryan/Cyndi      38

More Trail Camage

It was just a matter of time before we got some pictures of a fox.

It may be two different foxes, one red, one gray.  The first one has black feet, so it's probably a red fox.  The second one doesn't seem to have the dark feet.

Here's Feral Cat skulking by the duck pen.  He is beefier than he was before I started feeding him.

Yes, that's a Texas flag.  The Handsome One is a Texan.

Here we have Fluffy Feral Cat.  A relative of FC, perhaps?

Another possible relative of FC.  I call him Cream Cat.

Trail Camage

As is our custom, The Handsome One and I celebrate our wedding anniversary with a gift to ourselves.  This year it's a trail camera!

  Nice crow in flight.

Deer and more deer.

It's hard to see, but there are at least two raccoons on the trail to the right.

Wait!  Who's this?  Oh.  Just Clover and me.  Never knew we looked so spooky on those early morning strolls.

It's easy to move the camera for a different view.  Just a matter of reaching in there and unstrapping it...

Mrs. Cardinal

Mr. Cardinal  appears to have found a piece of corn.

What have we here?

It might belong to this creature.

Finally a picture of Feral Cat!

Alas, not a very good one.  He just isn't photogenic.

Looks like a pretty big raccoon.   He appeared a few nights in a row.  Time to move the camera again.

There are more critters out here to capture.  Stay tuned.