Category Archives: Animals

Cat and Mouse for RDP

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Cat and Mouse

My cat is in his hunter mode, and that is no surprise.
I see it in extended claws. I see it in his eyes.
His back is hunched into an arc. His hair all stands on end.
His lips are stretched back in a hiss, his teeth ready to rend.

When he lets go a loud remark, it sounds more like a chatter.
I look up from my magazine to see what is the matter.
The prism on the windowsill reflects a flashing gleam
and he springs into action to try to catch its beam.

Like an arrow, straight and sure, he shoots across the room,
but when he does, his target’s gone. Vanished in the gloom.
It seems his prey has vanished. It’s nowhere to be found.
He’s wasted all his energy: his speed, his stealth, his bound.

The cat door closes with a swish. He’s off to other pleasures.
Out in the sultry cloud-swathed world, he’ll resort to other measures.
He saunters by the hen house, hungry, but it’s no use
He still bears the scars of the rooster’s last abuse.

While the men are busy milking, he’ll crouch there in the dirt
hoping if he’s lucky to receive a friendly squirt.
He’ll troll the barn for mice and rats, then comb the prairie grass
for game that’s more digestible than prey that’s made of glass.

 

The prompt for RDP is prism.

Stowaway, for RDP, July 7, 2025

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Annie wants to come along

When I came in to finish packing for a trip to the states a few years ago, i found that Annie had decided she’d like to come along so she had packed himself. I wonder if that is her passport or mine showing in the upper lid pouch?

For RDP, the prompt word is “Pack”

Eco-friendly Lawnmowers

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On my way down to the little market just at the bottom of the hill, I couldn’t help backing up to snap this shot!!!

For Cellpic Sunday

Santiago, Yolanda and Friends, For Cellpic Sunday, May 4, 2025

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For CellPic Sunday

Mystery Solved. Thanks, Google

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I figured out what my strange night visitor was.  It was a cacomistle!!! This is exactly what it sounded like and if you hear it, you’ll see why i was so mistified!!!! Go HERE to hear it. Isn’t this the oddest animal sound you’ve ever heard? It is also called a Mexican ring-tailed cat, but it is related to a raccoon, not a cat. I found a web discussion from 2018 where a resident of Chapala had seen and photographed a cacomistle in a tree near their home, so I guess they have been seen here, albeit rarely as they are more common to Central America. Fascinating. I hope the one I heard stays safe and high up in the tree away from the dogs. Perhaps it will move on. I’ll continue to put them in for a few nights until I hear no nore midnight clicks and squeals.

To see my original post leading up to this one, go HERE.

But…now a further solution to the mystery.  It seems coatimundis make similar sounds.  Go HERE to hear them.

Procyonidae – cacomistle, coatis, raccoons, ringtails

White-nosed CoatiThere are 18 species of small to medium-sized species in this family. They are found in North, Central, and South America. They have medium to long tails, brown to gray fur, pointed noses, and rounded or pointed ears. Many species have masked faces and ringed tails. The species in this order are omnivores. They eat a fruit, berries, seeds, small mammals, birds, eggs, fish, insects, reptiles, and amphibians. All of the species in this family can climb trees. Some species are social and live in groups, other species are solitary and live alone.

 

 

 

OMG!

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2:53 am here and just spent an hour dealing with dogs that got sprayed by a skunk! I was not equipped to deal with this…what a mess. Internet says to combine oxygen peroxide, soap and baking powder but I had no big wash tub, it is pitch black and of course dogs were not inclined to let me catch them. Yard and doggie domain smell like skunk, I smell like skunk. Used doggie treats to lure them and at first just got in pool in my nightgown with Zoe and dunked her and tried to scrub her face off.. Of course she ran like greased lightning the minute she got out of pool. Then I went in and mixed the concoction..rubbed it on each of their faces but of course they didn’t cooperate. I couldn’t really rinse it off well…then dried them off sorta with a good towel.  Really only dealt with their faces which seemed the smelliest. I’ve always been afraid of this happening and usually bring them in when I smell skunk but this time I didn’t smell it until they had already engaged.

Always a new thrill. I have students coming in 5 ½ hours for their English lessons. Need I say I’m not in the mood? I have the air purifier on thinking of sleeping in gloves so I can’t smell my hands.

I thought I knew how to say skunk in Spanish, but the internet says “mofeta” which doesn’t sound familiar at all. OK off in search of gloves and perhaps something menthol to put under my nose.

Now, to read the rest of the story, go HERE.

Thanks to Bryan Padron for the image.

“Weekend Dogs” for Cellpic Sunday, Feb 16, 2025

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Dogs went the art fair,
waited in the doctor’s office,
strolled up the cobblestones
and were taken along to restaurants
Cats stayed home.
As did one dog.

Click on photos to enlarge.

For Cellpic Sunday

Resting Places for Cellpic Sunday, Jan 5, 2025

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I saw the first fellow at the Open Mike I read at yesterday. This fellow’s human had taken the cushion off her own chair and given it to him.  The second pair was seen in their cushy bed atop the cabinet in my open-sided garage when I returned home.  All’s right in the animal world.

For Cellpic Sunday

Technique: How Not to Walk a Crocodile for FOWC

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How Not to Walk a Crocodile

I’ll admit, it’s been a while
since I walked a crocodile,
so my technique is rather rusty
and my memory is dusty.
Still, I’ll tell you if you sit awhile
how not to walk a crocodile!

Don’t walk him through the butcher shop.
The butcher will just call a cop.
Don’t visit bakeries at all.
His roar will cause the cakes to fall.
That store where Mother bought her dress?
No place to walk your croc, I’d guess.

And though your pet may need some air,
it’s best that you don’t take him where
small dogs are left out for our viewing
just right for crocodile chewing.
Dog parks do not work for crocs
Find a new place for your walks.

Don’t walk him on your grandma’s floor.
She’ll sweep you both right out the door.
Don’t take him to your Sunday School.
He’s sure to break the Golden Rule.
And if you take him to the deli,
no saying what ends in his belly.

I’ll share a secret with you now.
It is, I really don’t know how
to take a crocodile for a walk.
All of this has just been talk.
And can I guess by your big smile,
you do not have a crocodile?

For FOWC the prompt is technique

For Wordle 639, Jan 28, 2024

12 Replies

Home Invasion

A curious wood mouse prowls the edges
of our garden’s outer hedges,
penetrates our house’s maze,
invades the kitchen and starts to graze.

Though caught within the streetlamp’s glow,
he can’t be seen as he’s below
while we’re above, still sleeping tight,
immersed in dreams that fill the night.

Crude visitor, though frail and small,
nonetheless invades the wall,
climbs up and up from floor to floor,
down the hallway, through my door.

He hears my sighs, observes my snore,
and water dripping just next door
from the faucet of the bathroom sink.
Impetuous, he goes to drink.

Down in his luck, too bad that he
knew not my dad had gone to pee,
saw the mouse and took a swat.
And now, alas, that mouse is not!

The prompt words for The Sunday Whirl today are:maze penetrates edges glow curious crude frail mouse prowl drip sighs impetuous

Yes, I took the photo and yes, I’m holding the mouse. Can’t remember where or when this was taken, but in another photo you can see my rings so I know it is me.