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Post by Double Take on Apr 27, 2011 14:00:26 GMT -8
I'm glad to hear Bracha is doing well and eating! I thought getting her to eat would be a little harder especially right after having her teeth pulled. 5! Ouch! I need to get Chance in and have her teeth cleaned. I admit I have been putting it off until she lost some weight.
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Post by California gal on Apr 27, 2011 16:26:24 GMT -8
Good to hear about Bracha. Don't be surprised if he continues to expect special treatment and diet! When I was a kid we had a cat who got in an unfortunate encounter with a large grass mower and had to have a rear leg amputated. He did well for awhile then seemed to be weakening. The vet suggested that because the kitty had been an outdoor cat getting his mice and other meat, he wasn't thriving on the kibble of the day (nothing like what's available today). So my folks started buying him canned food, which he devoured and grew strong again on. But he never ate dry food again--and I'm not sure he ever bothered to catch another mouse either!
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Post by California gal on May 21, 2011 9:20:46 GMT -8
If you are familiar with an iPad, you may know there is an app that is for cats! It shows critters--like a frog, a spider, a mouse--skittering across the screen. The frog croaks, the mouse squeaks, and they skitter even faster if a finger, or a paw, touches them. I've showed it to my two darlings and realize I'm going to have to be careful, because Princess, in particular, wants to take ownership. I have a video that shows her going nuts over the thing, but these pictures give you an idea of its fascination for both of them. They seem to like the frog best, for some reason. And Princess is certain the critters are hiding underneath! |
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Post by Double Take on May 21, 2011 11:14:35 GMT -8
That seems to me to be the BEST excuse ever to buy an ipad!
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Post by California gal on May 21, 2011 12:56:27 GMT -8
Fortunately, I didn't have to buy it. My niece gave me her "old" one when she bought the iPad 2 that came out this spring. I'm having fun with it too. I can play games and stream videos. Can also read books but I haven't done that yet.
I just have to make sure Princess doesn't notice I have it out!
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Post by California gal on Sept 18, 2011 8:15:22 GMT -8
These go under the "critters--otherwise" heading. I suspected that my patio cat food bowl--put out for neighborhood strays or otherwise hungry kitties--was being raided by something other than felines. Earlier this week, on a warm night when I had the patio door open late, I heard strange noises from the patio and saw both my indoor kitties were staring out through the door. I got up and looked and found these little cuties. I clapped my hands and yelled... and they kept eating. i grabbed the camera and opened the screendoor... and they barely glanced at me. They even hung around after the food was gone, obviously hoping I was going to put more out for them. To bad they are varmints! So danged cute. I think these two were juveniles. |
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Dieter
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Post by Dieter on Sept 18, 2011 8:32:52 GMT -8
That is so cool!! I love raccoons!! I see them often around here too. They always loved to hang out in my backyard eating dates out of my palm trees in back. Recently I saw about 4 of them one night peaking their heads out of one of those sewer curb drain things near Target. They were just holed up in there staring at me, occasionally coming out, then going back into their little home down the drain. Ha--it was pretty funny. They were very tame.
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Apple
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"Speaking of love, Apple..."
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Post by Apple on Sept 18, 2011 9:57:30 GMT -8
They are cute, aren't they?
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Post by California gal on Sept 18, 2011 9:58:36 GMT -8
This pair was not frightened of me at all. As I said, they hung around after the bowl was empty and when I came to the door again, they just looked at me. I have a sneaking suspicion that at some of their neighborhood stops, they get fed! Incredible how cute they are.
I used to know a man in PA that raised raccoons (don't know why). He would walk around town with one on his shoulder.
Several neighborhood cats come to my yard and I'm not sure if they have homes. Thus I put the bowl of food out. But it's not really intended for the raccoons!
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Sept 18, 2011 13:13:34 GMT -8
I don't know how to put up pics either.
Our Hobbes looks like the pic of Brandy, but not as long-furred. She too is an unusual female orange tabby. We also have Esther, who is short-furred, a cream-colored tabby. Then there are the kittens, Binky and Inigo. Their mama was a yard cat who disappeared when they were about a month old, so we had to hand-raise them. They are almost 4 months old now, and love to romp all over the place. Binky is calico, and Inigo is an orange tabby boy.
As for other critters, we have a hummingbird feeder in the yard, and sometimes there will be 2 or 3 hummers flitting around it. Just gorgeous! The kids found a hummingbird nest in the yard this year -- in use!
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Post by California gal on Sept 18, 2011 14:18:23 GMT -8
Niecie, how did you do your avatar? Did you use Photobucket or some other hosting site?
I have a hummingbird feeder on the patio and get several a day--but usually one at a time. There's one hummer that if he comes and finds another bird in the vicinity, he'll chase it off!
Also feed finches, sparrows, towhees, doves, turtledoves and sundry other flying friends who happen by--including hawks!
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Sept 18, 2011 14:21:34 GMT -8
I don't remember how I did the avatar -- I know I found the pic here. I don't have Photobucket.
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Sept 18, 2011 14:42:05 GMT -8
I supposedly have an online album over at T-Mobile, but the page won't load. *grrr*
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Sept 18, 2011 15:16:56 GMT -8
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Silver
Book Worm
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Post by Silver on Sept 19, 2011 6:39:47 GMT -8
ONE?!! My mom puts out 4 feeders during the spring and fall hummer migrations. One on each side of the house because if they can see another one they'll try to hog both. If one runs low (or, the gods forbid, empty!) the little guys will buzz my mom! You haven't lived until you've been deliberately buzzed by hummingbirds.
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Sept 19, 2011 7:27:25 GMT -8
Btw, did anyone have trouble with that link? Some other critters we've had in our yard, years ago, were Monarch butterflies. Apparently we're on the migration route, and one evening they decided to spend the night in our trees! It was gorgeous! Unfortunately, my little camera couldn't capture them properly, so I don't have any pics. |
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Post by Artiespet on Sept 19, 2011 7:27:46 GMT -8
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Post by California gal on Sept 19, 2011 9:56:19 GMT -8
The link worked for me, Niecie. Cuties. My two girls don't wrestle like that. They will chase each other around the house--sounding like the charge of the light brigade.
I have the one hummingbird feeder because due to the layout of my yard, I simply cannot figure out a spot to put more. it's right on the edge of my patio, and away from the other feeders for the small birds. Apparently hummers don't like to be in the traffic pattern of other birds. I tried putting a second one up on the other side of the (small) patio but the birds either didn't find it or ignored it. I've thought about getting one of those shepherd's crooks poles, but then the feeder would be in the sun all day and that's not good either. i get a fairly steady run at the one feeder. It's only when the boss bird shows up that there's trouble, and I'm treated to a hummer aerial dogfight. Heck, there may be more than one boss bird. They don't wear nametags!
In the yard, among the apple and peach trees, I have 3 feeders for regular songbird food, 2 nyjer socks, and then I scatter seed on the ground for the ground feeders. I get quite a large population out there at times!
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Sept 19, 2011 10:03:36 GMT -8
I was afraid to hang the feeder from a shepherd's crook, since that would be down in yard cat range.
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Post by California gal on Sept 19, 2011 10:34:22 GMT -8
It's interesting. The cats that eat the food I put on my patio don't pay any attention to the hummers--and the hummers seem unafraid of them. Because of the speed the birds can generate? I don't know.
I have been outside when the birds come in and they often ignore me too!
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Sept 19, 2011 11:49:16 GMT -8
This is a 15 second video clip the kids took of hummers at the feeder. I'm leery of making it clickable. I put the address into a Firefox tab, and it first brought up a box asking what I wanted to do with it; I chose Open with [something or other]. It then brought up Adobe something-or-other and did play the video. I wish I was more savvy to do this easier. www.t-mobilepictures.com/myalbum/photos/photo01/36/c4/890c67b3a9c6__1316460477000.flv |
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Silver
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I love the smell of canon fire in the morning!
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Post by Silver on Sept 19, 2011 12:02:14 GMT -8
My folks have a 20-second video I shot of about 10 hummers around the 4-spout feeder just outside my mom's kitchen window (hanging them from the eaves is a good idea - sheltered and where you can see them from inside) You never saw such squabbling! I especially love the pair that start fencing with their bills until one backs into the feeder and turns on it.
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Post by California gal on Sept 19, 2011 13:41:20 GMT -8
My feeder is a bottle that sets in a flat plastic disk, which allows the hummers to perch and feed. I've tried to get pictures of them but so far no success.
We get just one hummingbird here for the most part, Anna's, which are similar to the red-breasted ones. Another one, Allen's, is not quite as numerous. I think I have seen both here, but they move so fast it's hard to tell for sure.
Some while ago I watched a special on PBS--Nature, probably--about hummingbirds, and learned a lot. They exist only in the western hemisphere and there are hundreds of varieties, some very exotic.
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Silver
Book Worm
I love the smell of canon fire in the morning!
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Post by Silver on Sept 23, 2011 5:00:40 GMT -8
What a handsome face! I find lizards such a delight.
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Sept 23, 2011 5:42:18 GMT -8
Heehee! He's a cutie all right.
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Sept 23, 2011 6:12:55 GMT -8
Oh, Ace! He is soooooo cute!
My kids would love him.
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Sept 23, 2011 6:16:17 GMT -8
Back to the hummers -- they were absolutely swarming our feeder yesterday; I had to run to the store for more of the liquid and hurry refill it. We'll miss them once they head out.
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Post by California gal on Sept 23, 2011 6:51:26 GMT -8
I make my own nectar. I heat about a cup of water (purified through Brita) to boiling in the microwave, then dissolve maybe a cup and a half of sugar in it. Let it cool, pour it into the bottle and add more water. The hummers seem to love it.
I haven't seen as many lately and they aren't emptying the bottle as fast. I know some may migrate away from here, but I have seen them in the winter too.
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Post by Artiespet on Sept 23, 2011 12:33:53 GMT -8
What a handsome face! I find lizards such a delight. Indeed! Very nice  I'll have to see if Kenneth can get me a picture of his. |
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Silver
Book Worm
I love the smell of canon fire in the morning!
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Post by Silver on Sept 23, 2011 12:41:43 GMT -8
I make my own nectar. I heat about a cup of water (purified through Brita) to boiling in the microwave, then dissolve maybe a cup and a half of sugar in it. Let it cool, pour it into the bottle and add more water. The hummers seem to love it. I haven't seen as many lately and they aren't emptying the bottle as fast. I know some may migrate away from here, but I have seen them in the winter too. I've seen my mom shove a jar of freshly-made nectar into the freezer to cool it off after boiling because the hummers were out there demanding a refill NOW!! |
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I'll have to see if Kenneth can get me a picture of his.