Petaling as best it can in attempt to make a snowy showing.©
A cold-hearted dream of a better snowflake.
Something in the stars’ sporting
Or is the Love-me-Love-me-not petal prediction more fine?
To chill one up mimicking the wiles of the wilds without artistry guiding, substituting instead human meddling…
A bit of tweaking might create a wonder:
Snow crystals that don’t absorb or wear any dirt. Always mountain portrait perfect and sugar pretty covering the ground.
Flurries only on schedule. White Christmas guaranteed. Predictable ski conditions.
Drifts dissolving with consideration in measured time. No icy drip turning two massive floods.
Like manipulating DNA and GMOs
Like in vitro and early genetic redo for broken DNA.
Like producing better animals and crops
Whether the weather?
Tweaking nature acceptable for humans and plants, so surely sculpturing snowflakes not too chilling.
Could be cool.
Exquisite designs
Except, one clumsy chiseling, welcome ice age.
Wrapping up
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
- Of crystal constructions:
““[A snowflake’s] final shape is a history lesson of how the thing grew,” Hallett said. “The outside edge of the crystal is where it grew last, and as you go inward you can tell [the conditions of] where it was before.” Read more here: PBS Newshour. “The science of snowflakes”
Smithsonian Magazine: “Snowflakes all fall in one of 35 different shapes”
- Environmentalists reveal Pope’s plan to save the environment
As well as an end the overload of delicate snowflakes?
(Ashley can’t help it. She’s fragile, as many know. Her mom had troubles, too.)
Molly is thrilled. Winning Iditarod dog team. Molly now wants shoes, snow, and a sled.(ADSN News)
Molly Malamute is warning her cousins and clan to stay out of Colorado.
The city of Aurora profiles unfairly
Wed. afternoon the family was in court: “10-year-old Capone can’t return home for at least a week.” (Denver news) Still waiting DNA tests. Animal Control “classified him as part wolf based on his behavior and appearance.”).Odd, aren’t most dogs? Interesting enough, in most places in Colorado, as long as a dog is at least 1% domesticated, it’s legal.
Huffington Post. VIDEO. “City seizes family dog (Black German Shepherd) alleging he may be part wolf” (He jumped the fence. They will not give him back and plan on either taking him to a wolf sanctuary or euthanizing him. What? For ten years he’s been cuddling with the family and sleeping with the kids….)
Tracy Abbato, Capone’s owner has opened a “Get Capone Home” GoFundMe Page for attorney fees, fines for having an exotic animal, and to build a taller fence.
And just for fun, here’s the Aurora Colorado City Hall’s Facebook Page. Please be nice but firm. Great PR, Aurora.
Until this is settled, Molly Malamute, whose ancestors were the now extinct Eastern European wolves that wandered across the ice bridge into Alaska (not the North American wolf species), is barking up a storm to prevent others from being snagged. Marking the state off vacation plans.
“What me woof?” Capone with one of his BFFs.(Tracy Abbato)
Capone dares to hope.
Please forward/post his plea anyplace you can.
Molly and The German worry if Capone isn’t safe, who is?©
Paws for peace.©
Breaking up is not hard to do.
“Mom. Mom! Go stand by the window. You’re breaking up.” I don’t know. She said something about feeling faint.
It may be snowing on the East Coast, but a little chill never stops determined Spring Breakers(Idaho girls in snow,1936.Idaho/ NARA image/USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Forget the grubby road trips crammed in a car counting pennies at the drive thru on the way to a cold day at the local beach.
What are student loans for if not Spring Break Trips to sunny luxurious resorts? Cancun? Cabo? How about Punta Cana?
It’s a Rite of Passage, right?
Not to go when EVERYONE ELSE IS would cause a break down. (And we ain’t talking one of communication. Never hear the end of it.)
- Select your trip now! Here’s where many buy their party packages: StudentCity offers “the ultimate in the Spring Break experience” “Live it up for Spring Break 2017”
- And the cringe worthy reality: “Spring Break Student Loan Study” (survey via Pollfish and Whatsgoodly). “….51.20% of parents that cosigned on their child’s student loan said their retirement has been put in jeopardy due to late payments made by their child. Many students are hamstringing their parent’s ability to retire because they are using their student loan money to pay for an island adventure.”
And of course the concept has trickled down to high schools years ago
Cruises have been promoted for them…without parents along to spoil the fun.
She, like many fourth grade girls, think she’s this.(USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Is is any wonder the wanna-be-cool elementary crowd whines, too?
Friends confided in us last weekend their apple-of-their-eye granddaughter is outraged because her Spring Break trip to DC was called off due to travel issues. Blizzard? What’s a little blizzard? She’s already bragged to all her friends about going!
So they bought her a puppy instead.
To appease her.
Maybe if there’s break in the weather, they can haul the disgruntled child down to local beach.
Park the car and arrange the Yeti to block the chilling wind. You’ll get a tan even with shivering with goosebumps (Speaking from experience here.)
The tan is all that counts. Spring Break isn’t about swimming in the water.
Might as well learn now.
Oh, give me a break. (Wait. Let me clarify. Put down that baseball bat.)
Don’t go breaking’ my heart
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
1965 Burt Bacharach/Hal David song recorded by Dionne Warwick
“One drop of rain doesn’t make the sun run away
Don’t go breakin’ my heart
One falling leaf doesn’t make September in May
Don’t go breakin’ my heart…
…..Teach my heart how to smile, oh…”
Time to snap: An old turtle joke…(Image Goodreads.com)
We now know why the turtle winks and looks smug as it inches by.
Finally got the scoop on that slow and steady turtle vs party bunny race.
Not simply an annoying lesson to lecture kids, but based on a real natural phenomenon like many other myths and legends
This one may make your skin crawl.
Titanoboa was a resident of South America during the early Paleocene which was after the T Rex period.
Since 2004, fossils of 28 Titanoboa snakes have been discovered in Cerrejon, Columbia. (one of the largest open pit mines in the world).
Thoughts not hopping to the connection to the Turtle Tale?
During that time period and in that location, giant one-ton snapping turtles, Carbonemys, thrived. (You can see the fossilized shell of one in the short video below).
Both predator species splashed around the water, so they probably encountered each other on occasion.
But the turtle probably was the champion.
Why? Because the turtle shell was too darn difficult to digest….even during slow and steady snake constrictions.
Serious indigestion, and everyone learns to avoid foods that cause that.
So it may sound hair brained, but knowing family history may be why today’s turtles seem so smug and unconcerned about just about everything.
Especially with the climate heating up once again.
Is our only hope some creatures are too arrogant to look both ways crossing the road?
Thinking quick like a bunny,
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
Video: 18 facts about this giant snake and images of ancient turtle combatant
“Pythons discovered in abandoned Florida missile base.”
(Do they know something we don’t? Are they evaluating a staging area in preparation?)
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water / warm Florida sun
Have a great Spring Break.
Your distress has been heard. We have arrived to offer assistance.(USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Why the rush to become basket cases?
Blame pollen. When fresh air is contaminated, brains struggle.
Sleep, the only remedy so, of course, powers-that-bee decided to add another stinger with Daylight Savings Time. With that manipulation, ALL certainly require saving: both day and night.
Although Night Saving Time seems to be less popular.
Possibly due to fear of after hours at the ATMs in large cities.
And add to that all the talk of springs. Another example of seasonal addled thinking. Who uses springs anymore?
Everyone has fallen into memory foam.
Which, if memory serves well, is quite the snooze zone.
And snoozing is what We, in Our catnip mousie haze infinite wisdom, feel all should be practicing in preparation for the annual marching madness to try and dictate to internal clocks when breakfast should occur.
It is not hard. Sun up. Time to eat.
Some cannot leave well enough alone. It is still a mystery why such a species was given the thumbs.
Dunderheads. Time: a fool’s tool. Sunny spots need no instruction as to when it is appropriate to appear..©
As a kindness, there to your left, are piles of fleece. One per individual. (We said ONE! Thank you. Yes, of course you were getting it for another…)
Settle into a comfortable position and We shall wander among you – offering a neck massage here and a shoulder kneading there to help with relaxation and release of stress.
WHAT? How dare you mumble about not wanting to be itchy from fleece.
Our fleece are high quality blankies washed with great care so the wrappee may Dreft off to Lullasigh Land.
“He who lies down with fleece get up rested as a dog.” A famous line. Someone said that.
Now Yoda-like breathing: small and wise. Shhhh.
Do not worry. The Realm is equipped with HEPA air filters.
Pay no mind to the dog hair tumbleweeds attached to the machine. Simply adds an extra filtration layer.
Upon waking, the fleece is not a souvenir for Savings Times meditations. Staff stands by door with two hands waiting: one for fleece and one for your Tribute of Thanks.
Do not risk it. (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Do not neglect to leave the open can of cat food in the doorway as tribute .
Especially after Our kindness in your Time of Needless Saving.
Be mindful.
Mindful we know where you blog and where your shoes are…
We took notes as you napped. And a couple of shoes we found cozy.
Barefooting it is back to nature. You’ll thank Us.
I am RC Cat and I approve this message.
A day of “old fashion rain” which leads to wondering exactly what is “new fashioned rain”? One that now “ponds” rather than “puddles”? A new reign of experts telling which way the weather blows.©
Spreading dirt has been popular for so long. While it causes scorn to those gracelessly mired in it, seems everyone digs it at some point. Must be a human need to grind stuff underfoot.
Surprising who gets gritty.
(Ever wonder if Hamilton era men suffered health issues from their fancy powdered wigs like the aristocratic women did from their makeup? Dirty Little secrets…)
Thomas Jefferson:
- “Botany is the school for patience, and it’s amateurs learn resignation from daily disappointments.” (Letter to Madame de Tessé (25 Apr 1788
(So, the plot revealed.)
- “No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden…But though an old man, I am but a young gardener.” (Letter to Charles W. Peale, 20 August 1811.)
(The Fountain of Youth or that dust to dust thing? You know, Remind the little kid who was told to clean his room and spotted several large dust bunnies under the bed. “Mom, there’s someone either coming or going under the bed.”)
- “The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its culture; especially, a bread grain” (In Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies from the Papers of T. Jefferson. 1829).
(Food. Finally practical. Still the GMO people may have misunderstood.)
John Adams
- “I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain.” (Letter to Abigail Adams. 12 May 1780)
(Now this is a bit worrisome. Hope the cycle doesn’t mean the great great children have to start the sequence all over with the first one.)
- “I had heard my father say that he never knew a piece of land run away or break.” (John Adams, Autobiography)
(So, dirt is more dependable.)
Ben Franklin (attributed)
- “A man of words and not of deeds, is like a garden full of weeds.”
(Perhaps more so if farming that new money crop in Colorado? At least many of those don’t get behind the wheel.)
Ralph Waldo Emerson. “Hamatreya“
- “Earth laughs in flowers, to see her boastful boys
Earth-proud, proud of the earth which is not theirs;
Who steer the plough, but cannot steer their feet…”
And others (from authors unknown or too smart to claim it to avoid the annoyed.)
- As the gardener, such is the garden. (Old Jewish proverb)
- “Deeds are fruits, words are but leaves.” (English proverb.)
Mud pies. Mud wrestling. Mud baths. Mud flaps. Humans seem to have an obsession with dirt.
Might be the result of moving from an agricultural society to living in crowded little city boxes.
But that doesn’t explain the dirt fascination and joy of dirt by other such as elephants and pigs. Who are pretty intelligent.
Maybe smart enough to stay close to the land and draw from it.
Or they just recognize good clean fun when they see it.
Slinging in the rain. (Mud in your eye)
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
Proprietor of local water garden sees mud of no importance. ©
“Look, parrot. I don’t care if your name is Dee…(Southerland/flickr/snowmanradio/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Bored with constantly correcting people, is Spell Check auditioning for a comedy show?
With the “Close enough” and the”Well, they sound exactly the same and you know what I mean, so what’s the big deal?”, there’s enough hilarious lions to roar about.
Spotted, like a slow leopard, in a recent discussion jungle concerning the China Sea islands controversy: an observation concerning China’s missile capacity compared to other countries:
- “They haven’t reached parody”.
- Of course China might be building wit and satire which currently isn’t allowed on their internet, or it could be building military parity which is more easily recognized, even if less funny.
- Or they could all be encouraging trade growth with the pairing of teas.
No one likes a snarky Smarty Pants. Or a misplaced thought.
Might be afternoon, but high aspirations brewed. A Kennedy Tea Party during 1952 Senate campaign.(USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Another comment adamantly insists that Ash Wednesday and the observation of Lent is not Christian at all. It’s Catholic.
- Please don’t tell the Catholic congregation members….
- Or the local Methodist and even Lutheran ones that also follow those traditions.
- Some things not worth splitting hares over (unless it’s Easter and they are chocolate).
Talking about splitting, Spring is Gotta Get Away Time.
Would you buy a motor cycle from this sales force? Not your basic Brando. (Cleveland Motorcycle Mfg. Co.1917/USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Why walk when you can fly – and get all heads to turn as you go by?
“Why the 190 mph BMW S1000RR Would Make a Terrific First Motorcycle.”
Wait. Wait.
This writer is as logical and as convincing as Ralphie was in his persuasive essay about why he need a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200 Shot Range Model Air Rifle in “The Christmas Story”
And it’s funny:
“If ever a motorcycle was idiot proof, it’s this one. ….Our advice: keep it pointed away from trees. If you can manage that, you should be ok.”
See. Solid. Sensible. Feel free to try it.
Ralphie got his…
Yes, I’m grumpy. Dad was going to take me fishing.(Wildlife Center of Texas)
Flying along, you’ll love the sound of this: the little eaglet whose dutiful eagle dad was shot last weekend inside the Houston city limits by a 17-year-old (and his 2 friends) is safe at Last Chance Forever, the Birds of Prey Conservancy near San Antonio.
Hopefully a resident foster mom eagle (one injured so badly she cannot be returned to the wild) will adopt this little one along with her own. With her help, the eaglet will learn everything he needs to know to live in the wild.
Fall back plan is to raise the little chick with little human contact using an eagle puppet to feed and encourage him.(Read more expert’s interview in the link below.)
- Video and story – with the man who saw and called 911. This eagle, well-known and loved by the neighborhood, is one of a pair who have nested and raised families there for at least 5 years. It takes both parents to hunt and feed a young eagle until it can live on its’ own which is why the decision was made to collect the young bird. His mom was grieving her mate and exhausted.
- Listen to the expert talk about how the orphaned will be cared for at the sanctuary. You’ll learn why the eaglet was taken from the nest and a lot about American bald eagles. (Facebook page here.)
Do I have to spell it out for you?
Hope that eagle feather pluckin’ joker shows up for his court date in March and gets his.
There’s bad boys and then there’s bad, boys. Ask any of the wild ones.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Vegetable plants cringe when I turn down their aisle.
Out of the corner of my eye, I’ve seen trembling leaves shrink back trying to appear unhealthy.
Their roots desperately stuffing themselves through those drain hole in the bottom of plastic containers – urgently grabbing onto the store’s plant tray or shelf.
“Take that one over there! We’re root bound and sure to die. But not quickly enough if we go with you…”
Maybe it was the outfits. Enough to scare crows and plants. (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Plants talk. They know.
Limited in space and realistic about the gumbo soil, I tried container vegetable gardening.
We had over 22 days of above 100°F temps that summer.
The cost per tomato would have paid for a semester of college textbooks.
So in recent years I just did my part to support the local small farms. Win-win!
But.
Seeing this, I’m thinking I should have added something to my list for Santa.
Open source. Improves efficiency and productivity. Can be operated by solar. Can work with a rain barrel. Direct it from computer or smart phone. They say if you can put Ikea furniture together, you can do this (I may need a bit of help, then.)
And it kills weeds!
Sigh.
When will Santa be accepting requests again?
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
- Modern Farmer. “The Farmbot Genesis Brings Precision Agriculture to Your Own Backyard”
- Digital Trends. (Longer video with developer) “Farmbot DIY Agricultural Robot Promises to Usher in the Future of Farming.”
No problem growing these.©
Is it really fair?
Simply because they are annoyingly rowdy and, well, more than a little pudgy (Unfortunately, their nature is to nibble.), is it right to tell them, “Enough is enough. No more trying to be gentle about it”? (Even if they promise to jog more?)
They’ve faced scorn and hatred before, but to offer them the Final Answer Pill?
(And you thought those rumors of Death Squads were completely unfounded.)
“No, I am not a hog. But I do consume this space, no?” (HitchhikersHandbook/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Warning: Don’t be a hog!
Kaput Feral Hog Lure has been approved in Texas in an attempt to control the population of destructive feral hogs.
The deadly feed contains warfarin, a blood thinner, which basically causes the animal to bleed to death internally.
Commissioner Miller’s announcement allowing feral hog toxicant use is here.
Even if you don’t care if wild hogs die an ugly death, you might be concerned about other problems:
- Hunters who enjoy hunting and eating wild hogs, worry they might consume a poisoned animal without knowing.
- Other animals in the food chain can feast on a poisoned carcasses and also get poisoned.
- If a feeder of poisoned lure tips over, other animals could grab a bite and die.
- Some even worry water sources may be contaminated by pellets in rain runoff or flooding.
Feral hogs are unwelcome party crashers invading and trampling even heavily populated areas.
They cause thousands of dollars in damage to agriculture each year.
Hog Apocalypse is predicted if their numbers are not controlled. It’s a huge, difficult battle.
Still, spreading warfarin in the environment could have far-reaching impact.
Concerned enough to want to sign an online petition?
Some of you may remember when Molly Malamute chomped a couple of cubes of rat poison put out by a neighbor last spring. (“I didn’t think the critters would carry it off and maybe drop it in your yard…”) That was warfarin, too. We learned quite a bit about it then. Nasty stuff. And obviously it doesn’t always stay where it’s placed.
Hogs and dogs. Even a casual observer can see similarities. Dogs will eat anything. Leaving them mystery presents to prove that is an inside cat joke.(Sanin/Commons.wikimedia.org)
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department feels this is an acceptable solution.
- Hogs are sensitive to this substance, so the level of toxin should be too low to be a problem with secondary exposure by other animals.
- Also the fatty tissue of a poisoned animal will turn blue so hunters will be warned if they take a poisoned animal.
- Besides some humans take warfarin blood thinners every day. (You have read all that fine print?)
- More of their reasons why it is safe here.
Dallas isn’t ready to serve up the poison yet.
The video below was taken inside Dallas city limits where the wilds hogs are flourishing, but the city wants to try a different approach. (Read more here.)
Houston/Harris county are also battling the hogs, but are wary of using the poisonous bait.
Videos of feral hogs in local yards here and here
Environmental damage is extremely hard to repair.
Animals aren’t very good at reading those books explaining “Eat this, not that”.
This idea is sort of like recommending using a hammer to kill a mosquito.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
Bob tabling comments.©
Better than one. Lonely.
Pause. Reminiscing.
Through causes, just becauses, and bewildering pawses.
Nod.
Considering.
From sightings, to bitings to far-flung flightings
Slow blink. Pondering.
Six year blogging run. Fun.
Grateful thanks from this humble blogging establishment.
Pause.
Happy. You think.
Conspiratory wink.
Bye,
Bob.
Who is Bob? Simply Bob. (List of his musings here)
.
New or need a play list? And they are always ready to play:
- Who is RC
- Who is The German?
- Who is the Molly?
- Who is Ella Enchanted?
- To avoid overwhelming we’ll hold off with Cat Meat Baby, that Grumpy Granny (Not the ankles! Not the ankles!), Olde Tiger, the speedsters, big piggies, Orange Invaders, and, of course, the really really ancient relatives…
Who can keep up with the mania? (Hands down)
Thanks again for all the friendships, comments, chortlings, and grins.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Dinosaur discovery? Left by one-ish, sort of. A local gator’s reminder of what life is about.©
“Forgiveness means giving up all hope for a better past.” (Lily Tomlin)
Makes real sense if you think about it.
Hollywood might be the first to admit that while lingering on past views can cause some here and now stumbles, there’s benefits, too.
Movie studio’s preference for recycling old superheroes like Power Rangers and Batman is easy to understand.
- A built-in fan base of adults who remember the original and who want to share it with their kids. (T-shirts. Toy tie-ins. Ka-ching!)
- Why bother thinking up new unproven characters or plots that may not pay off? Besides organized protests can easily be avoided by blaming any character’s flaws or not politically correct backstories on previous writers.
- Nostalgia sells in difficult times. Comfortable. Safe.
But resurrection of things long-buried can have dangers.
If anyone ever considers a revival of Barney (not the bumbling Mayberry deputy, but that annoying purple dinosaur with his mind worm theme song), get out the pitch forks! Petitions! Social media rants! There is no forgiveness.
“Scientists retrieve 80-million-year-old dinosaur protein” (It better not be a lumpy singing one.)
Please not another purple reign. Once smitten sufficient.
May be tarred and gone, but his song lingers on.(Ballista/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Swat alert as the weather warms:
Don’t forget the mosquito repellant. Zero Zika would be so welcomed.
UTMB researchers are making progress in understanding how the Zika virus damages infants’ brain development.
- There are two main types of the Zika virus: African and Asian. It appears only the Asian one has been linked with microcephaly.
- “We discovered that the Asian lineage Zika virus halted the proliferation of brain stem cells and hindered their ability to develop into brain nerve cells,’ said Ping Wu, senior author on the study and UTMB professor in the Department of Neuroscience & Cell Biology.”
Read more: “Scientists uncover how Zika causes microcephaly: The findings are key to unraveling the mysteries of why Zika virus causes birth defects” (ScienceDaily)
- “Yale study identifies how Zika infects the placenta.” (MedicalXpress)
First steps towards figuring out how to stop the virus. Itching to find more as summer approaches.
Purple brain and biting buzz: with luck, forgive and forget.
Watching the rear view mirror,
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Pine Gully Trail, waterway and wetlands. Home to an assortment of biters.©
Tall, dark and handsome. Fit his name: Slim. Your mother would have approved.
A swagger worthy of John Wayne’s Hollywood. Him saying’ stuff like “Shucks, Ma’am” only sounded normal.
One so with such unquestionable trustworthiness, Mom would say,” Honey, rope that one!”
Never a problem when we asked the grownups on the porch if it was OK to go find him.
“If you can catch him, you can ride him. Sure, go ahead”
And they would laugh to themselves knowing we’d be busy for quite a while.
“It ain’t right, I tell you. You out there and us tied up with chores.Lassie would know what to do.”(USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Slim was the boss cattle horse at the farm. He knew what he was about.
He always pretended not to see the pack of kids headed his way with the halter.
We always had a plan of attack cornering him – stealthy like Indians circling the wagon train.
We knew he’d never run us down, but he knew just when to gather himself up and slide between waving arms.
Then you’ve never has been seen a more beautiful high-stepping trot: flowing tail held high with head proudly up topped by alert sculptured ears. Few fine gaited show horses could match his elegance. All natural without gait training boots or lines. Unusual for a horse greatly skilled in cattle work.
With a twinkle in his eye he gave us the horse laugh. Dodging this way and that.
Eventually Dad or an uncle would appear with a bucket of feed and a wordless call at which point Slim would give in, walk calmly to the barn to be saddled up…with only a little puffing up so you had to tighten up the girth a second time. Like he was smirking at us, “You don’t expect me to give up my leisure time too easily do you?”
“No we are not going across the way to pick dew berries. That bucket of feed only buys you so much riding time.” (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Everyone around knew how intelligent Slim was. Smarter than kids and plenty of men.
He knew what he was about – easily measuring who was in the saddle.
There are pictures of me as a toddler in front of my dad in the saddle with hands gleefully woven into Slim’s mane. Another photo has four grubby barefooted kids of assorted heights draped over him as he stately stood.
Put a cowboy on him and he’d shift into cutting horse gear. Cows just gave up when Slim showed up.
Apparently he and the men had discussed the perimeter the kids were permitted to ride.
Inside the fences pastures he was pretty amenable to wandering anywhere, but outside the property’s fence, he was always calculating distances.
It was like there was an invisible line in the sand: just this far and no more. Slim would just halt a certain point, look around for some tasty greens to eat while totally ignoring the mad windmilling on his back until he was bored at which point he’d turn around going back the way he came. No matter the protests.
Once Older Brother and I were trotting down the sandy road – approaching the shut down zone at the edge of the property – when Older Brother whispered, “Hang on. I’m gonna make him go on to the store so we can get a coke.”
We gathered speed – past a trot. Actually past a trot! It was happening. We’d break the jinx. Older Brother seeing the corner fence post, gave Slim a mighty kick and a whoop.
At which point we would have flown over the horse’s head if he had lowered it. Slim didn’t even bother to pause, but simply spun around and speedily, cheerfully delivered us back at the front porch.
As I was shoved off, I was given that 5 fingered warning that the incident was never to be mentioned.
I swear the horse was chuckling to himself.
“Yes just down there. Not far. The little stores and ice-cold cokes!” But we weren’t flyin’.(USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
When Slim was over 30 yrs, he was retired from the heavy cattle work.
He didn’t mind retirement. Slim knew what he was about.
Enjoyed leisure time unlike that gorgeous paint horse which had to be sold because he was such a workaholic that he was cutting calves from the herd during off hours in the pasture. Skinny cattle don’t bring much at auction which is a problem if cattle paid the bills.
Slim settled in with a few grey hairs on his muzzle and a delighted spring in his step.
It was odd late one dreary, miserable winter afternoon when all the other animals showed up to the barn for dinner, but Slim wasn’t there.
Watching the fading light, uncle pulled on all the warm clothes available and started walking the pasture.
Startled a few deer in the brush before he spotted Slim: standing perfectly still in the grey drizzle.
Slim saw him and did that flip the head up “Hey, over here” thing, but didn’t move a muscle.
Fearing the horse had injured an ankle or leg, uncle hurried over as Slim nodded a couple of times, “I knew if I waited, you’d come.”
Once beside Slim, it was obvious who the problem was: the horse had stumbled into a tangle of barbed wire thoughtlessly left behind by someone.
Now most horses would have torn themselves up fighting to get free, but Slim was not most horses. He just stood perfectly still and waited. Hardly a scratch on him once released. Even Trigger or Fury couldn’t have been smarter.
That old horse lived a long time even after that – seems like another 10 + years or so.
He picked a nice grassy spot on a slope to finally lay down. And he was left right there.
Uncles said “It’s where he wanted to be. Wouldn’t have felt right dumping dirt on him. Slim always liked to be out in the open where he could see the stars.”
Slim was a horse who knew what he was about.
A difficult cow pony to follow.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Ever notice that no matter how animated the Hollywood star is, the horse looks totally bored. It’s like “Ok, job done. Check, please.” (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Can we chat? Dogs are smart enough to know best not stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong. People seem to enjoy taking the risk.©
A bit in your face, that phrase “Nosy Parker”.
We used to scorn them in grade school: tattletale, rat fink, snitch.
Those bossy britches sneaking up to listen in, and then running off blurt it all out.
Later wailing in fear of our tightly clinched fists – without even being hurt. Yet.
Protective cover provided as they ran to their car after school. Hope springs eternal to live and tattle another day.
No one liked them. Did it to themselves all the while.
Sad thing is that they grew up and are still playing the “Gotcha Game”
Tattling has been fine tuned and trendy.
Even to organizing on social media to the point of threatening “Don’t challenge us or we’ll bully you to your knees.”
Why are you all still acting like you are 3?
It’s gotten very tiresome.
What’s left to say except the time-honored retorts:
- “Takes one to know one.”
- “Who made you the boss of the world?”
- “You keep poking that nose in where it doesn’t belong and you’re gonna be sorry”
- “Mind your own beeswax. Nobody likes a bossy britches tattletale.”
Big difference between childlike and childish, Mr Nosy Parker.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
SNL’s Lily Tomlin: “Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain.”
People dread it: The Day of Immeasurable Guilt.
Especially working parents even though there are those who are happy to step up in your place or theirs. (And never let you forget it.)
All the treats. All the decorations. All the games. Does it really say you care? You’re not there.
Of course, seeing opportunities, if you’ve got enough guilt or money consideration, Valentines Day can still be a joy for your little one.
But RC Cat thinks this is a bit much:
You have to work, but your dog won’t have to suffer being alone on Valentines Day! ©
Teenage Molly Malamute is pouting, “All my friends are going. And you are the meanest parents in the world.”
And worse. She’s now grinning about the massive storm with lightning and tornado-like winds moving into the area.
All the party dogs will be huddling inside the secure boarding area wishing they were home.
“If I can’t party, nobody can party.”
We’ve told here that’s a most unattractive attitude.
They are so human like…except for the part of about biting guilt.
Hope you can curl up with the ones who make you smile this Valentines.
Hearts and treats for all!
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
Why worry with canes or wheelchairs when you can get a lift like this?(Discoskater/commons.wikimedia.org)
Dressed to impress, she lurched across the room dragging that fancy cane behind her as if it were a fat, disobedient dog on a leash.
Who knows if it was result of attractiveness driven selected hearing or declining grey matter.
This was the one who for years smiled and lived in a total visual blur because “Men don’t make passes, you know. Glasses.”
No matter. In her own mind, glamorous still.
Quite so when younger: Perfect make-up. Strawberry blond hair cut and curled like a starlet’s. Wrapped in mink. Slouching with a debutante’s walk.
Won’t see herself as a Leaning Tower of Pisa buttressed to a gentleman ‘s elbow now.
A rollie walker was out of the question.
Instructions about anything was like trying to hand her fleeing dandelion puffs.
Besides there was a real chance she might get a Rollie walker going, not be able to stop, and keep yelling “Where are the brakes on this darn thing?”
Think an unskilled but happy 14-year-old behind the wheel of a corvette convertible on a curved road during Spring Break.
“If Cesar can do it, so can I.” (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
In her late 90’s, we managed to get her into a wheel chair.
Once seated she quickly transformed into Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile.
Escorted in a golden chariot: chin up, smiling to subjects along the way while urging great speed. Bingo was starting.
Getting from place to place with dignity is important.
Something you don’t think about until stroke, damage to the spinal cord or brain takes that skill away.
Sometimes an “unfortunate event”, leaves a person with an asymmetric walking pattern where one leg does not fully swing backward resulting in an uneven awkward gait.
It’s tiring, annoying, and darn embarrassing.
She’d sniff, “You can call it a fancy name, but can’t fool me. Looks like a child’s toy.” The GEMS shoe is put on the “good” foot/side to force the weak side to work and reestablish ability. The spirals rotate to normalize walking gait as shown in the videos.(Image Moterum website)
To help people make great strides instead of walking like a cartoon, researchers have gotten very creative with GEMS.
Step into this Rehabilitation Engineering and Electromechanical Design Lab to try on GEMS: the Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe (VIDEO)
- SciTech Now. Full Video episode 313 with the focus on GEMS starting at 13:00 – 19:00 (There’s other cool stuff here, too. Snow bikes and a wood collection with scientific importance, for example)
- PBS Video here.
- National Institute of Health: “Motion Controlled Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe for Rehabilitation”
- Clinicaltrials.gov (US National Institute of Health/University of South Florida. ) Study currently recruiting participants. Criteria here from the University. Or here (from company working with the University).
No help for dreamy aunt, but maybe others with young enough brain cells to absorb the concept and instructions. The woman in the video offers real hope.
My Aunt would never consider wearing one of those – in public or any place with a mirror. Vanity has its’ price
Besides there’s not doubt she’d get rolling and start yelling “Where’s the brakes for this darn thing?
A step beyond.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
“Do these come in red? Red goes with anything.” (SciTech Now/YouTube/WPSU)
Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 