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inwintersolitude · 8 months

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- August 23rd 2023 -

Do you know what the most common bird is in your area? Robins, cardinals, blackbirds, finches, sparrows. Those are the ones I see most often at our bird feeders, at least.

What last made you feel ecstatic? Hearing that the airline my husband flies for has just earmarked nearly a billion dollars for pilot backpay checks as part of the new contract, and we'll be getting the money in about a month. Not sure what we'll do with it yet, but we might use it to increase our home-buying budget, and/or buy an RV.

What would make you feel happiest right now? A cure for hyperacusis. Or even just an effective treatment.

How many teeth have you had extracted? I had to get one pulled before I got braces as a kid. I was born without one of my upper adult canine teeth, so my bite was completely uneven, and I had to get the other one pulled to make everything symmetrical.

Do you ever read magazines? I like to read AOPA Pilot, Scientific American, and occasionally magazines on cooking and interior design.

What is something you've been reflecting on? Family, and how what one's family looks like evolves over a lifetime. When you're a kid, you have your parents, siblings, grandparents, etc, and you don't even think about how someday your parents and grandparents won't be there anymore, and how people you will someday call family haven't even been born yet. But as you get older, you gradually lose the older generations of your family, and new generations are born (whether that be your own kids, or nieces/nephews, and then eventually grandkids and grand-nieces/grand-nephews). I've been thinking about this lately, with the loss of my Granddad. He was such a cornerstone in my life that it feels like my family isn't complete anymore without him here with us. The makeup of my family is forever changed.

What's something you like and dislike about the town you live in? I love so much about my town! It's a cute little Midwestern town with beautiful Victorian-era buildings in the middle of town - lots of cozy shops and restaurants. And in the very middle of town is the town square, a small park with a gazebo and lots of trees. There are a lot of community events held there, like the farmer's market, art shows, concerts, and holiday festivals. This town also has a ton of great parks and hike/bike trails, and nice neighborhoods. As for what I dislike… honestly, not much. I guess I just wish we had a wider variety of restaurants.

What's a Halloween movie that you enjoy? I can't think of any that I like that much.

Would you say you're more confident now than you were 5 years ago? Maybe a bit.

Have you ever or would you try carrot bacon? I'd definitely try it.

What's the last thing you purchased that was frozen? Watermelon popsicles.

Would you ever walk a runway if given the opportunity? Meh, I'm not particularly interested.

When did you last do something that scared you? I can't remember.

What is something that you're curious about? New discoveries in physics/astrophysics. There is still SO much that we don't understand about the universe.

What time do you usually eat breakfast? Shortly after waking up. That could be 8 a.m., that could be 1 p.m. LOL

What is something you done as a child that you would never do now? Horseback riding. I did it as a teenager. I'd never do it now, there are too many ways to get injured doing equestrian sports. Plus it's more difficult to recover from injuries in your mid 30s compared to your teens haha.

What's been your favorite memory of 2022? Maybe the lakeside cottage vacation that my husband and I went on.

When were you last inside a tall building? Haha I have no idea. I don't spend much time in cities. The last few cities I've been to were London, Baltimore, and NYC, but I don't recall being in any tall buildings while there.

Is it currently quiet in the room you're in? It would be quiet in here if it weren't for all the thunder/wind/rain outside.

Is there someone you can honestly say you hate or have hated? Probably?

What's currently on your mind? I'm wondering how I should structure the rest of my day. I need to get groceries (but I don't want to go out til this crazy storm passes), and I need to do some housework, and I'll probably also need a nap at some point because I didn't sleep that well last night.

Would you consider yourself to be a messy person? Not super messy. I try really hard to be tidy, but it takes a lot of work because it doesn't come naturally to me.

What makes you most anxious? When my hearing disorder flares up.

When did it last rain where you live? It's raining right now. A LOT.

Do you prefer multi colored lights or white lights? For Christmas string lights? I prefer white lights, they look more classic, which is totally my style.

What's something you'd change about the world if given the chance? I'd make billionaires pay their fair share towards bettering society and helping those in poverty.

Would those closest to you say you talk too much or not much at all? They'd say I'm in between.

Do you consider yourself to be more basic or complex? In what ways are you like that? I can be either. There are things about me that are uncomplicated and straightforward, but there are also things about me that are complex and intricate and difficult for others to fully understand.

Where is somewhere you've been wanting to go but haven't had the chance? New Zealand. Well, I've technically had chances to go there, but I haven't because it takes literally 24-30 hours of travel time to get there from here. That's really daunting.

Do you have a song you cannot listen to anymore due to a bad memory? Potentially, but I can't think of any right now.

Have you ever had a candlelit dinner? Yep.

What was the last shot you've taken? The Covid booster, last December.

Do you need to apologize for something or are you waiting on an apology? Neither.

What's something you strongly believe in? Just how vital education is to society. You cannot have a society that functions well if people aren't educated, especially in the areas of science and humanities/civics.

Do you have a dream that is close to being accomplished? Hopefully! My husband and I are house-hunting and I hope the perfect house pops up soon.

Would you say you're in a good place mentally? Yes.

What type of jokes are most funny to you? It depends.

Would you or have you ever had a pet rat or mouse? I've never had either. Not super interested in having either as a pet, though. Birds and guinea pigs are the only pets I'm interested in having. Currently I just have birds.

Are you currently trying to make a decision on something? Just a minor decision, but yeah.

When did you first start feeling more grown up? I started to feel like a real adult when I was around 19. I got my first ''adult'' job in airport operations, I got my pilots license, and I had been living alone for a year by that point.

What kind of chapstick do you use? I don't use that exact brand of lip balm. I actually don't usually use lip balm at all - I've found that Cetaphil cream works way better because it actually hydrates rather than being sticky and waxy and sitting on top of the skin. The only lip balm I use is a Japanese one with SPF, it's the only one I've found that's not waxy.

How many pillows do you prefer to sleep with? None. I use a folded up quilt instead of a pillow, it gives much better support. Pillows give me horrible neck pain because they squish down into nothing as soon as I put my head on them.

What is something you've kept bottled up for a long time that you now have released? I can't think of anything.

Have you ever broken a cell phone charger? No.

What's a popular candy that you do not like? I think Airheads and Jolly Ranchers are super nasty. Oh and Hershey's chocolate, it has a chalky texture and an aftertaste that vaguely reminds me of vomit.

What scent is most prominent in your home? I don't use any heavily scented stuff like candles or scented cleaning products. I have pet birds, and birds have very sensitive respiratory systems, and strongly scented stuff can be harmful to them. The only time my house gets a strong scent is when I'm cooking or baking.

Have you been having odd dreams recently? Yes but odd dreams are the norm for me.

Do you frequently forget appointments? No.

What is currently sitting on top of your refrigerator? The Vitamix blender.

How many orange objects can you see from where you're at? Just one.

Would you rather have extremely long hair or a very short hair cut? Ehhh… I think I'd dislike them both the same.

When did you last use lotion? A few hours ago.

Do you currently have any prescription medications you need to pick up? Nope, not for a few months.

What's your favorite kind of chips/crisps? Tortilla chips. I don't like potato chips that much.

How do you like your coffee or tea? I like my tea with a splash of milk. And I rarely drink coffee, but the only way I like it is if it's iced.

#survey #surveys #random questions #personal blog

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cinnabun-faerie · 2 years

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Thursday, June 2

Dearest Reader,

I haven't done these in quite a with, eh? Hello once again. I have much to say but I know not of what I should say first. I hope that you don't mind random or just me sharing some things from my life.

The weather is quite nice where I am. It's been rather sunny as of late. I suppose that's good after a week or so of rain and thunderstorms. It's good for our rather large garden. Should I tell you about it? We plant onions, tomatoes, yellow beans and many other things. I just can't remember all of the things right at this moment. But I do know that we have a strawberry & raspberry bush. I can't wait for when all of it is ready to harvest. Then we can make jams and pickles. I particularly love Lady Ashburn pickles.

To be honest, I am not one to just go outside. I'm very much like a vampire. I'd burn if I'm out in the sunlight for too long. Not too mention, I get sick due to allergies. Not the most fun. But, this year, I have definately been outside much more often. Which is rather odd. Normally I'd rather stay inside, but I guess not anymore. Oh! I want to tell you that we tend to have a few animals around. Deer tend to get into our garden more into the summers, and we feed hummingbirds who fly around excitedly when we put their feeder back up. And of course, we have squirrels that come right up onto our porch. They're quite friendly. We have a few other birds as well. They're rather cute if I may admit.

Perhaps I am thinking more of this now that I'm leaving for a new place on Monday. It'll be weird not hearing the sounds of birds chirping outside my window every morning. Or just to open up the door and lean on the porch's railing as I ask what my grandfather what project he is working on this afternoon. Perhaps I am getting a little homesick before going. But it's not like I won't be returning. I must say though, I am excited to go visit my parents and smell the salty ocean air. I haven't made a trip to stay with my parents for an extended period of time since before covid. I don't know if I'll miss my grandparents more or if they'll miss me more. I'll call them daily of course. It's just like my grandfather said, I haven't really left this house many times since the day I was born. I always feel this magnetic pull back, and honestly I don't mind. If I could have a favorite place, this would be it.

Oh! Something I remembered just now is that I was surprised to hear that my best friend is going with me on the trip. She won't be staying with me. But she's coming to see me off until I can return back home.

Anyways, I should get some work done so I can sleep. Whether it be day or night for you, I hope it is going well.

Until the morrow,

Grey

#just chatting #dear reader #thoughts

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cyanocoraxx · 2 years

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psa that animals are important in some way even if you don’t like them or think they’re ugly

an animal’s “attractiveness” to us substantially increases human support for its protection.

a few charismatic and cute species receive most of the conservation funds and publicity, while others slip away in silence. we even see this in our back gardens - studies on the “likeability” of birds show that we prefer songbirds (robins, blackbirds) over pigeons, gulls and starlings. we find the former birds appealing and the latter ones competitive, obstructive and noisy - all natural behaviours of wild birds. while the seagull might have a loud, annoying call and they might steal your sandwich that you were about to eat, thank you very much, they serve as a natural capital to control the populations in a coastal ecosystem.

this doesn’t even scratch the surface when it comes to invertebrates. how do we measure our love and support for those in the unseen niches, which benefit us in ways we don’t understand yet? species we see as frightening or pests, like the midge, or the winter moth - we find them problematic just because they don’t appeal to the interests of humans. for life to continue on this planet, invertebrates, carrion feeders, and pollinators play an intrinsic and crucial role - perhaps more important than we do in some aspects. wasps control garden insects. earthworms control soil structure as well as nutrient cycling and are a major decomposer of organic matter. these are complex roles in ecology that fall outside the interest of most people. it’s sobering to know that as of july 2016, there were 195 critically endangered insect species - 46 of which may be extinct. many of these, when you look, are declining because of habitat destruction and pollution.

what i’m saying is, we should be kind to the animals we don’t necessarily “enjoy” too when they aren’t doing us any harm. perhaps if our love wasn’t saved only for charismatic creatures, had our love been different, our world might just have been, too

#txt

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lacewings-and-lavender · 1 year

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OH MY ENTIRE FUCK I JUST HAD A REALLY COOL “READ A SIGN FROM NATURE PROPERLY” MOMENT

So, for context: I am terrible at talking to people. Not in a cute dorky way but in a genuine “I struggle to enjoy conversations if it’s with anyone but a select few friends because I am simply that terrified of messing up” way. Meeting someone new and getting along well is a rare and exciting experience for me.

When I woke up, I looked out the window and three starlings flew past. Starlings are normal in my area but I am on the opposite side of the house from our bird feeder, and far enough away from the power lines they like to sit on that there’s not much reason for them to fly past my window. Also, I just got a deep intense feeling that this Meant Something, but generally I’m trying to avoid taking that as evidence until I get better at identifying when I feel that way vs. when I just want something to be true.

So, we have starlings and the number three. I take to Google. Starlings, due to their ability to fly in large groups, are strongly associated with communication. I’m not good at numerology and whatnot, but some quick skims through some articles suggested that 3 is also the communication number. So, I am receiving a message that I’m going to talk to someone. Unlikely, considering I’m planning to study for tomorrow’s midterm all day, but who knows?

I finish studying earlier than expected, and spend the rest of the afternoon scrolling through Tumblr. A new follower on my main (a human one, for once!) strikes up a conversation with me. The conversation veers in the direction of me infodumping about history because the autism is an unstoppable force and I am a very movable object. The other person doesn’t mind!! I spend an hour talking. Turns out they followed me because they thought I was on a Discord server which I am not on. We part ways, but considering how well that first conversation went I might be on the way towards making a new friend.

Two hours later I remember the bird thing and freak out.

#personal tag #long post #EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

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westofwayward · 1 year

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left the house today ⭐

it did happen to be right as all the teenagers were getting out of school and man, mcr was right -- they're so scary when they're in a hoard 😭 and so loud! (also *grandpa voice coming in here* what the hell is it with the youth not getting the fuck out of the way for people with mobility aids? like fellas I WILL run over your feet, I have no qualms)

Also, given that valentine's day is just around the corner, all the valentine's themed squishmallows are coming back, and I was blessed with getting my grabby hands on a lil pink cow 🥺 she's so cute! I also acquired a few other things for a new -- I hesitate to call it a hobby, but I'm not sure how else to phrase it? A collection of one? Or at least of one for now? Anyway, some new items relating to that "hobby" that I'm really pleased with. Idk if I'll ever share about that hobby publicly. It's nothing weird or unsavoury! Just for a very niche group of people so...meh

Lastly, we have rats 😅 Not in the house, just in our yard. They have come in droves to feast on the bird food that falls off the many feeders we have around. They are so cute 🥺 lil potato guys 🥺🥺🥺 I want to hold...

#the weather wasn't as nice as I had hoped it would be #i mean...at least it didn't rain #but I'm ready for the sun to come back!#we may be expecting more snow though....#text #image #personal

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lasquadrasfuckhouse · 3 years

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Hello!

Maybe some la sqadra headcanons with s/o, who is super fixed on pets? Like, they want to adopt every animal from the shelter, and cry every time they see a abandoned pet on the street. S/o just loves pets so so much that they would do everything to have more

Ofc it's just a proposition, bye bye!❤

AW I LOVE THIS

la squadra with a partner who loves animals 😻

risotto ✂️

he gets it. he has a soft spot for small cute things

he's very fond of how doting u are to every creature but he'll keep you in check, gently pull you away from a passing animal shelter and the like. pets take commitment and u both have very demanding jobs as is

he will help u set out bowls of water for all the strays and little creatures tho

if u bring home a lost pet he'll want you to bring it to the shelter and let the people there find its owner but you count as small cute things he's soft for (because everyone is small compared to risotto). give him puppy eyes for long enough and he'll give you a few days to find the owner yourself but it can't interfere with work and you're completely responsible for it

you'll probably be able to sway him on taking in ONE (1) stray cat if it has the right temperament, quiet and won't interfere and more on the independent side. there are a lot of strays in the neighbourhood as is, he figures having a cat in the house won't be much more of a stretch than you looking after the cats outside

he reasons that for himself too because he loves cats. he'll let it sleep on his chest and he WILL take it for walks on a lil kitty harness do NOT test him, do NOT fuck with this guy while he's walking his cat

he also thinks tarantulas, scorpions, and reptiles are cool (reptiles would love him he's so warm!!!) but maintaining a terrarium is a lot of work

prosciutto 🚬

no. he will answer firmly, no. you both know how busy you are

he tries to reason with you every time you cry over a stray: you can't adopt them all, you know it would be a disservice to the animal to take on that responsibility only to find you can't balance it, i know it's sad but you're only one person with a very difficult job you can't overhaul the shelter system overnight. he'd try to help you toughen up for your own sake, not that u have to love animals any less but he doesn't want u burning out emotionally and he doesn't like seeing u cry either

if u bring home a lost pet, he will also insist you take it to the shelter. if u have a staredown about it (the shelters are so busy already and what if they can't find its person!!!!), it will be a LONG staredown. but if u promise to take full responsibility and find the owners asap he will relent BUT DONT MAKE IT A HABIT. if he has spare time he May help you with finding the owners, mostly to speed things up but it does also make u happy

might also accept one (1) cat with the right temperament but it's YOUR responsibility. if you're prepared to take on the commitment urself, he can coexist with a chill cat pretty easily. he will give it pets if it curls around his legs. if it wants to curl up in his lap, as long as he's not busy, well..... he would allow it

(the cat definitely grows on him)

he supposes he wouldn't mind fishes or a reptile but again, your responsibility

pesci 🎣

he thinks ur so sweet and he has a very hard time saying no to you

as long as ur managing your time and energy right he doesn't think it's so bad!!!! will defend you if the others try to tease you or get on your case

he will help. he might not mesh well with very rambunctious and outgoing animals tho. he may get nervous about caring for them right (is this food good for them? how do i hold them? what if they get sick?) but if u show him how and reassure him and he gets reassurance and affection from the critter too he'll probably cry

he would, of course, love a fish tank. he gets really into arranging and rearranging the setup and caring for ur fishies. he could watch them for hours and also defends them against people who say they're boring (THEY HAVE PERSONALITY)

he would say no to arachnids or other bugs and no to reptiles and amphibians (cause they eat bugs)

formaggio 🧀

HES RIGHT THERE WITH U

cats are his favorite even if he is not cats' favorite. he looks after the strays with you and will comfort you when you cry about them

if you find a lost pet he'll help you hide it (probably make it smaller) while you team up to secretly care for it and find the owners

'formaggio what the hell is that sound coming from ur room' 'oh i just fell asleep with the tv on' '..... and it's still making the same sounds 3 hours later?' 'ITS A LONG MOVIE'

HE WOULD LOVE TO RAISE A CAT WITH U. two cats would be great too but you do both have busy jobs. cool with rodents too, would be cool with a dog or parrot in theory but in practice they take a lot of work and require a lot of social time and y'all are pretty busy being assassins.

illuso ✨

he will gently tease you for being a softie (the keyword here being gently because he loves u) but he's honestly a little endeared

he's trying to befriend the flock of crows around base so they'll be his little minions so u spend time together leaving them snack offerings

for trying to actually get a pet tho? ur on ur own

if you find a lost pet he may offer to hide it in the mirror world while u search for the owner BUT he will require payment. whether that is a kiss or you do his chores for a week. and he doesn't really do well with animals cause he just doesn't know what to do with them but he will do his best to help care for them in the mirror world if u can't be there because it's for u (and contrary to popular belief he's not completely heartless)

no. no strays in the house. i know it's cute and sad but it's all dirty, you don't know where it's been. but then you start tearing up and he's like ah fuck okay FINE tidy it up and bring it to the shelter but im outtie

he does find cats and snakes very graceful tho and may be open to having one as long as it's a good fit personality and needs wise and it's mostly your responsibility

melone 🍈

he finds it adorable. he loves how sweet u are

he loves hearing about his partner's interests so he will talk about cool biological and developmental animal facts and how u can learn a lot about human behaviour by studying the nature around us

doesn't see the harm in helping out any strays or lost creatures u may find and is totally down to help

he will remind u that pets are a lot of responsibility tho!!! if u want one u have to figure out how to balance other responsibilities with it but he's cool with co-parenting

he thinks reptiles and amphibians are really fucking cool. he'd probably be interested in a bird too cause he has the patience and creativity for them but ur also both busy people. he'd LOVE having sweet rat babies b/c they are so smart!!!

ghiaccio ❄️

he LOVES everything cute and soft and fluffy so he understands but also you can't rescue every stray or adopt the whole shelter we are assassins,

you befriend the neighbourhood cats together and build squirrel feeders. sometimes you'll go to the park just to cry about how cute all the dogs are

if you find a lost pet he may try to be like ugh.... do we have time for this....... but he caves VERY fast. will whisper-yell at anyone who tries to give you grief for it because he doesn't want to startle the poor creature. will help you find its owner if it'll get the others off ur back

he would very much want to raise cute animals with u. you have work to think about but if u had a rather independent cat that would work. he'd also love rats and hamsters

starts dreaming of retiring with u one day so u can have a bunny and a yappy little pomeranian he can wear matching sweaters with

sorbet and gelato 🔪🍦

they think ur utterly adorable. ur their sweet beloved third and they dote on you and would love to be involved in/support ur passions

they will help u look after the strays and may point out like someone's cute dog that they're walking just to see ur eyes light up and hear u gush

they Will smuggle lost pets inside the base for you and they Will help you find the owner they don't care about getting in trouble with risotto they're in trouble all the time anyway it's their jobs

would very much like to be pet parents with u and it might honestly be easier to manage between the three of you

they'd do very well with rats, they could handle high energy pets like ferrets, parrots, and dogs, but y'know u do all have work and stuff. they are determined to find the right fit for all of u b/c ur so cute they can't NOT indulge u

maybe one day the three of u can retire on a heap of money and adopt an older cockatoo and harness train it so u can all go on adventures together, that's the dream!!!!

#THIS WAS VERY FUN THANK U FOR THE ASK!!!!!#la squadra #la squadra x reader #risotto nero #prosciutto #pesci #formaggio #illuso #melone #ghiaccio #sorbet #gelato #vento aureo #ask

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pbandjesse · 3 years

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It is very warm today!! Just very very humid. I just took a cold bath and it helped but I am still pretty uncomfortable right now. I am hoping I can just get comfy and sleep, which has been a hardship for me. But I am trying.

Today was a pretty alright day. Like I didnt want to be anywhere, and I felt really sad this morning. But it wasnt a bad day.

I didnt sleep great. Surprise! I was just so upset when I finally got out of bed. I had to shake it but I was just so sad.

I had things that needed to be done though. I got washed and dressed. My hair was dirty but I felt cute enough. I had breakfast and made a drink to take to work. James asked me to bring the laundry up so I would do that. I cut up bottles for the kids to paint to make bird feeders. It was nice to have a task, but I also had my second interview at 11 so I was anxious.

But the interview went well! Really well! I was speaking with the other co-founder and she was great. I had just such a lovely talk with her. And while this will be a super small part time job, I am excited about it. And she did say she is going to extend an offer of employment. So while I dont have the letter, and I will try to negotiate my pay, I have the job. I am excited to try this new thing!

I left for work after that. And it was a good day. The morning staff both called out, so my poor manager was very stressed. She is going on vacation though so shell be alright. But the sub was the manager at my last site, so that was interesting. I was nervous because shes a little intense, but it was all good.

The kids were mostly chill today though. Paper airplane making, games, reading. It was a good time. I had a really good convo with one of the little boys about types of paint and how they are made and what the different pieces made and it was really cool. He is a really good artist and I want to foster that as much as I can in the short time Im going to be around.

So after we did the bird feeders, I picked out some of the paints that were half full and just gave them to him. I am going to get new paint anyway. And I felt good about it. And he was excited so that was cool.

We finished up the day with some quiet time and then a movie. I am at a really good part of my book. I am very excited about reading right now though so I picked up a few more for the reading pile. Because of who I am as a person.

There was a little drama outside our building. Where apparently there was a shooting down the block. But we didnt even hear the sirens, and the only reason we knew is because James texted me all concerned. But we were okay and safe.

I left there at 6, and walked home. James was right there when I got back and I was so glad to see them. They were on their way out to pick up their bike from the shop, and would bike me up burger king while they were out.

I played a little animal crossing while James was gone. And just chilled with sweetP. I was tired though. And once James was home I was just kind of overheated and while my dinner was good, it hurt my belly.

So I went and laid down, James came to join me for a bit until they went to watch the football draft. And I went to take a bath.

It was a nice bath, and I feel cleaner, but now I am sitting in front of the fan, buying books on ebay, thinking about sleep. I hope its an easy sleep. For you too. Goodnight everyone. Take care of yourselves!

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a-dinosaur-a-day · 5 years

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Gallus

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Etymology: Rooster

First Described By: Brisson, 1760

Classification: Dinosauromorpha, Dinosauriformes, Dracohors, Dinosauria, Saurischia, Eusaurischia, Theropoda, Neotheropoda, Averostra, Tetanurae, Orionides, Avetheropoda, Coelurosauria, Tyrannoraptora, Maniraptoromorpha, Maniraptoriformes, Maniraptora, Pennaraptora, Paraves, Eumaniraptora, Averaptora, Avialae, Euavialae, Avebrevicauda, Pygostaylia, Ornithothoraces, Euornithes, Ornithuromorpha, Ornithurae, Neornithes, Neognathae, Galloanserae, Pangalliformes, Galliformes, Phasiani, Phasianoidea, Phasianidae, Pavoninae, Gallini

Referred Species: G. aesculapii, G. moldovicus, G. beremendensis, G. tamanensis, G. kudarensis, G. europaeus, G. imereticus, G. meschtscheriensis, G. georgicus, G. varius (Green Junglefowl), G. sonneratii (Grey Junglefowl), G. lafayettii (Sri Lankan Junglefowl), G. gallus (Red Junglefowl and Domesticated Chicken)

Status: Extinct - Extant, Least Concern

Time and Place: Since about 6 million years ago, in the Messinian of the Miocene through today

In the past, Junglefowl were found throughout Eurasia, especially across Europe. After the last glacial maximum, they were restricted to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Eurasia, as well as many Pacific islands. Of course, today, domestic chickens are found all over the world. This map below shows the current range of wild Junglefowl in dark blue, and extinct Junglefowl in light blue; please note that domesticated and feral chickens are found everywhere.

Physical Description: Junglefowl are highly ornamented, beautiful, bulky birds, with the males being decorated in brilliantly iridescent feathers all over their bodies. The females tend to be more dull in color, in order to blend in with the environment; that being said, they can also have beautiful and distinct patches of brighter feathers in certain strategic places, such as the tail. The males also have combs on the tops of their heads, made out of skin and muscle, rather than feathers; they also tend to have bare red faces, and wattles underneath their chins also made of skin and muscle. Their tails tend to have long, curved ribbon feathers, colored with iridescence and usually in a blueish-greenish shade. The tails of the females are shorter and less distinctive. These birds are squat, with short legs and bulky bodies. They also have small heads and short, pointed beaks. In general, junglefowl males can range between 65 and 80 centimeters long; the females tend to be significantly smaller, ranging between 35 and 46 centimeters long.

Sri Lankan Junglefowl by Schnobby, CC BY-SA 3.0

Diet: Junglefowl are omnivorous birds, feeding on a wide variety of food such as such as insects, worms, leaves, berries, seeds, fruit, bamboo, grasses, tubers, and even small reptiles.

Grey Junglefowl by Yathin S. Krishnappa, CC BY-SA 3.0

Behavior: Junglefowl tend to forage in small groups, but they will also scratch around the ground for food alone, using their feet to release food that might be trapped under the most shallow layer of ground or leaf litter. They peck, very distinctly, at the ground - bobbing their bodies back and forth as they move around, pecking in short spurts to gather the food they look for. They are very opportunistic feeders, switching back and forth between different food sources based on what is more available in a given season. They can even associate, happily, with other birds and even mammals of all things, using the environmental disturbance they cause in order to find food.

Green Junglefowl by Francesco Veronesi, CC BY-SA 2.0

Junglefowl make some of the most distinctive calls of any bird, though of course, each language seems to have its own onomatopoeia to describe it. They make very distinctive clucks, cackling, and even cooing sounds depending on the situation. Males do make “cock-a-doodle-do” calls, though they can vary in tone and loudness, as well as the syllables involved, from species to species. These calls are actually advertising calls, made by the males, in order to attract females! The females tend to be quieter than the males, though domesticated female chickens are not quiet animals by a longshot. Junglefowl do not migrate, and tend to stay limited within their preferred habitats (though, of course, domesticated chickens have been bred to deal with a wider variety of climate better than their wild relatives.)

Red Junglefowl by Harvinder Chandigarh, CC By-SA 4.0

Junglefowl can breed throughout the year (it’s why they were domesticated), though some populations tend to favor the dry season over the wet season (primarily due to less danger with the daily weather - these guys do hail from the monsoon lands!) As a general rule, junglefowl are polygamous - males will mate with a variety of females throughout the year, with the females doing the bulk of the work in nest construction and child care (which makes sense, since they blend in so well with the environment). Some species - such as the Grey Junglefowl - do show monogamous behavior from time to time, with males sticking with one female for long periods of time. In a classic case of sexual selection, females tend to prefer males with more brilliant combs (rather than focusing on plumage color, though this could be different in non-domesticated species). The female will lay between 2 and 6 eggs (some species laying more than others) in a depression amongst dense vegetation; the female will incubate the eggs for three weeks before the chicks hatch. The chicks are extremely fluffy and cute when hatching, usually covered in soft brown feathers (though domesticated ones are more yellowish). The chicks are able to fly after one week, and males will become sexually mature sometime between 5 and 8 months. They are not the strongest fliers, usually preferring short bursts of activity rather than sustained flight.

Domesticated Chicken Chicks by Uberprutser, CC BY-SA 3.0

Extremely social birds, chickens have a very noticeable pecking order - with individual chickens dominating over others in order to have priority for food and nesting location. This pecking order is disrupted when individuals are removed from a flock; adding new chickens also causes fighting and injury until a new pecking order is established. This family structure was exploited by early humans, in order to become the “top chicken” and domesticate the species. Interestingly enough, chickens do gang up on inexperienced predators - foxes have even been killed in such encounters! Despite stereotypes to the contrary, chickens are extremely intelligent animals - studies have shown they have higher intellectual capabilities than human toddlers - they are self aware, are able to count, and do trick one another into actions (aka, they can lie and manipulate other chickens). What’s more, despite their pecking order fights, they are very affectionate and empathetic birds - prone to cuddling with other flock members, and checking in to make sure the flock is alright. They show very rapid learning ability, and are able to grasp basic number theory only after a few weeks from hatching. In addition to being logical with numbers, they can reason out many other things - including forming teams to play kickball! Bird-brain, indeed!

Red and Green Junglefowl by Francesco Veronesi, CC BY-SA 2.0

Ecosystem: Junglefowl primarily live in dense, humid rainforest and wet woodland. They can also be found in savanna, scrub habitat, coastal scrub, mountain forest, and also in human plantations and farmland (as wild species spreading into human-created habitat). They do prefer lower elevations to higher ones, as a general rule. They are fed upon by a wide variety of creatures - larger birds, predatory mammals, and large lizards and crocodilians. Of course, the biggest predator of junglefowl is probably People! Just, statistically speaking.

Sri Lankan Junglefowl by Steve Garvie, CC BY-SA 2.0

Other: Junglefowl are, thankfully, not threatened with extinction. In fact, they are extremely common birds throughout their range. Domesticated chickens even regularly go feral (ie, return to wild living despite being descended from fully domesticated populations), spreading into places far from their original range such as Latin America, Hawai’i, and Africa. There are many extinct species of Junglefowl; they used to have a much wider range into Europe, but went extinct during the last Glacial Maximum, when things got too cold for them everywhere but Southeastern Asia. They then thrived in those jungle habitats, before being domesticated by people during the Holocene.

Domesticated Chicken by Berit, CC BY 2.0

Chickens were domesticated from the Red Junglefowl sometime around 5,000 years ago in Southeastern Asia. It was probably domesticated multiple times - with hybridization occurring afterwards. It spread throughout the world, reaching Greece by the fifth century BCE, though they were in Egypt potentially one thousand years earlier (or even more!!!). They were domesticated due to their frequent laying schedule - made more so by selective breeding, of course - and easily exploitable family structure. They were domesticated to breed even more frequently, leading to an abundance of adult animals - and the females even lay unfertilized eggs, giving us another source of delicious food. They also have been bred to come in many sizes, shapes, and brilliant colors of plumage. Because of their high empathetic capacity, chickens are amazingly good pets - plus, they’re domesticated, which gives them a leg up over parrots. Docile breeds, such as silkies, are great pets for children, including children with disabilities. Chickens are so fundamental to human society, that aphorisms often feature them - and they serve as symbols on heraldry, their feathers are featured in clothing, and it’s hard to escape notice of chickens wherever we go in the world today.

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Chickens are the most common bird in the entire world, being bred throughout the world and able to live in harsher climates than their original range (due to domestication and specially designed coops); there are probably over 50 billion members of the genus Gallus present on the planet today. They are so common that they are a model organism - in order to understand birds as a whole, scientists do extensive studies on chickens in order to understand avian evolution. The genes and development of chickens are probably better understood than any other living kind of dinosaur. This is of special interest to members of this blog, as chicken genes have been manipulated to give them teeth (though without enamel) and longer tails - much like their non-avian dinosaur ancestors. One study even raised chickens to walk around with plungers stuck to their butts like a bony tail - and showcased how the chickens changed their head-bobbing and walking to match the redistributed weight, which makes a decent hypothesis for how non-avian dinosaurs like Velociraptor and Tyrannosaurus were able to walk (see above)!

By Scott Reid

Species Differences: Among the living species, there are distinct differences in the coloration of the males. While the females all tend to be brown and black spotted, with some patches of red on the tails and wings in some species, the males have brilliantly different colors all over. Red Junglefowl - the wild kind - are a mid sized species, and are named accordingly for their coloration. The males tend to have reddish orange heads, with green wings and bellies; their backs and back of their wings are alls reddish, though they have brilliantly green tails. Sri Lankan Junglefowl are also reddish, but instead of having green undersides to their wings and green tails, they have blueish-grey feathers in those locations. The Sri Lankan Junglefowl is also one of the smallest living species. The Grey Junglefowl also has greyish-blue tail and wing feathers, except it has a firey orange underbelly and wing top. It has grey feathers all over its body, and orange and white and black speckles on its neck. It is the largest known species. Finally, the smallest species, the Green Junglefowl, is much more than green - it is almost a rainbow of colored feathers! Its tail is green, as is its neck; but the rump tends to be yellow, the top of the wing red, and the wattle and comb aren’t red - but purple, red, yellow, and even blue! Extinct species tend to blur the line between junglefowl and their close relatives such as Peafowl (see the oldest known species, G. aesculapii, above); but in many ways, they differ mainly by living in Europe and Western Asia, rather than Southeast Asia and India.

~ By Meig Dickson

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762 notes · View notes

hollyhomburg · 5 years

Text

Call me Yours (Pt.1)

(Ot7 x Reader) (Hybrid au!) (Blind! Reader)

(Sequel to Dance to this )

Summary: You never would have imagined that more love was hidden right next door, just over your garden fence.

Pairings: (Human! Hoseok) x (Human! reader) x (Wolf hybrid! Namjoon) x (Dog hybrid! Seokjin) x (Cat hybrid! Yoongi) x (Tiger hybrid! Taehyung) x (Bunny hybrid! Jungkook) x (Cat hybrid! Jimin)

Tags: established relationship, Polyamory, gratuitous fluff, there is very little angst in this chapter.

W/c: 4.0k

- It starts with the bird feeder,

- Or as Seokjin affectionately calls it ‘Yoongi TV’ or when Yoongi is being especially cute “Kitten TV” which makes him pout and grumble something about Seokjin being about as entertaining as a sea cucumber in a jellyfish exhibit. And makes Namjoon send Yoongi that little half smirk smile- so full of the wolf hybrid’s honeyed dimples that Yoongi just… sort of combusts.

- For being a bird feeder, the birdfeeder is exceptionally bad at feeding the birds and not the brown squirrels and little white striped chipmunks that gather and eat not only the seeds but also Namjoon’s very special heritage breed tomatoes.

- That doesn’t mean that Yoongi doesn’t sit by the door and watch it, making sure to chase them off with a “yah! Get away” and an open door to shout at them periodically. No matter what time of day it is, or if Seokjin is recording an episode of eat Jin, a Q&A, or an apparel announcement.

- His viewers of course make compellations of Seokjin sighing dramatically, yelling at Yoongi, and screaming back “brat! Would it kill you to be quiet?”

- No matter how much the squirrels and chipmunks eat- none of you can ever bring it in yourself to put out a trap or even some poison to get rid of the critters.

- You’ll always laugh; after all, you think it’s adorable when Yoongi’s tail goes all bottlebrush and swishes back and forth sometimes swatting your across the legs or side. In the past year, he’s gotten comfortable enough with you to consent to you wrapping a hand around his tail and stroking it a little before you let it flick out of your grip.

- The Yoongi before would never dare to admit he liked cuddles. And now? now your morning ritual was for Yoongi to lean his head on your lap, though he does do the same to Namjoon and Seokjin- really it depends on who’s going to be the most likely to give him coffee with extra extra cream on that day. And you’re weak for Yoongi’s purrs. And the nudge of his nose against your hand as he mumbles. “So tired, need so much coffee”

- “Stop being cute” Seokjin will complain when Yoongi lines himself all snuggly along the line of your back in the morning, pouting into the thick fluff of your sweatshirt (the white one with cat ears that Yoongi had demanded you buy a few months ago when it was still cold enough that it was necessary) “I swear I’m not doing anything,”

- Even though that particular type of affection isn’t anything strange in this house- it is a little new for Yoongi, and the three of you are nothing if not respectful of his boundaries.

- You’re happy with the little kisses he gives you in the stolen moments of the day, when you find yourself spooning Yoongi while you take a break from work, playing with his hands and talking to him about the music he plays on the little radio in the corner of the upstairs bedroom.

- (The same one that he got the first month here, dragged out of the garbage somewhere, listening to the radio and dancing at 3 am when both of you can’t sleep. a Half asleep Seokjin and Namjoon knocking into each other when they stumble upstairs half asleep to ask after your absence in your bed downstairs.

- You and Yoongi high on sugar screaming “I love this song!!!” Namjoon and Seokjin happily watching from the door, feeling like every last piece of their family was falling into place)

- They were wrong, there are 4 more pieces waiting to fall into place. you’d never imagined that love was waiting on the other side of the garden fence, the same fence that namjoon grew roses up. Meticulously strapped them to the trellis, the blossoms sweet smelling and soft against fingertips.

- Yoongi might be a little bit emotionally constipated, but he does show you he loves you, even if he has trouble saying it. God knows you all show him you love him often enough.

- Namjoon and Yoongi sitting in that same bed with his headphone splitter, and the cellphone that you’d bought Yoongi and he’d quickly filled up with music, Namjoon lets him talk a mile a minute about music for hours, Namjoon would let Yoongi talk forever if it made him look so happy.

- They lie on the upstairs bed, the stereo droning in the corner, Namjoon on his stomach and Yoongi propped against the wall. The line of Yoongi’s thigh lined with Namjoon’s shoulder. Namjoon’s chin propped up on one hand, watching and listening to Yoongi’s deep gravel of a voice, tail wagging happily behind him.

- Namjoon eventually falls asleep ( he always does- even if he genuinely loves to listen to Yoongi- the bed is still very very comfortable and warm in the late spring chilliness. he awakes half from sleep, feel the comb of Yoongi’s hands through his hair and smell the cat hybrids spiced wine scent. like sun-dried fruit and cloves Namjoon’s head pressed to Yoongi’s hip.

- Seokjin and Yoongi- sitting on the back stoop late at night, passing a can of whipped cream between the two of them, the elder gets so punch drunk tired that holds the can a little too far away and misses his own mouth.

- The two of them staring at the line of whipped cream on Seokjin’s cheek before laughter bursts like flowers in their chests. Yoongi’s shoulders shaking, tipping into Seokjin who is steady and warm.

- “How the fuck?” Yoongi yowling with laughter. Grinning, full gums on display, tilting Seokjin’s cheek to lick it off of him. Seokjin’s blush as Yoongi’s rough tongue hits the corner of his mouth. Cuddled up a little closer than they’d been the day before. Always a little bit closer, day after day.

- The actually “I love you’s” are slow in coming, but Yoongi gets there eventually.

- One night, a cup of hot chocolate in his hands as he watches Yoongi bat at a moth that hovers on the lamp Eyebrows furrowed. “oh” he says, the words startling out of him “okay, I’m a little bit in love with you, you know?”

- And Yoongi’s response, a snort, “only a little bit? I think I can do better than that.”

- The next morning, you wake early, Seokjin and Namjoon still wrapped in each other in your bedroom. you’re a little surprised to find Yoongi up so early, or out of bed (you’d gifted him a heated blanket for Christmas and he’d barely crawled out from under in the entire winter- but it was no longer needed with the oncoming spring.

- “Morning” Yoongi’s grumble. “coffee?” you wonder. A noise by where the maker is in affirmative, you stumble over, tipping against him and falling a little. after a moment, a back hug, your morning ritual though usually- it’s him doing it to you.

- Yoongi shivering happily. Your forehead nuzzling the one spot he can’t reach in the center of his back. Enjoying the feeling a moment before he says “want to help me do the crossword while we wait for the others to wake?”

- “3 words, 7 letters,” “oh that’s easy- ‘I love you’ right?” Yoongi stills, then you can feel him nod. You reach out to feel the newspaper and find it’s not a newspaper at all, but a print out crossword. “oh” you say. Yoongi nuzzles into your shoulder, nose prodding along the length of your neck. And he doesn’t have to say anything more than that.

- A playlist full of love songs downloaded mysteriously onto Namjoon’s Spotify account, lovesong after lovesong he scrolls through, out in front of your home, ready to start his run for the day. Every single one that Yoongi had ever mentioned to Namjoon or said that he likes. Nearly 100 of them.

- Namjoon tumbling into Yoongi’s room upstairs. “ew you smell” Yoongi said, pushing Namjoon’s shoulder. Namjoon huffing a laugh, “I didn’t even run that far! shut up and let me kiss you before I shower”

- You’re respectful of his boundaries, Even when he purposefully wears the old shirt of yours that is basically a crop top, or licks food off of Seokjin’s spoon seductively, scent marks you copiously while maintaining eye contact with anyone who looks, or that pout that makes all of Namjoon kind of melt.

- Seokjin swears half of their flirting is just longing looks made across your living room and sharing a pair of headphones. he tells them this, often and vocally, to which yoongi just rolls his eyes, but the little smirk on his lips tell seokjin that he knows what he’s doing. Yoongi is such a tease.

- “Yoongi- stop chasing the squirrels and sit for dinner” Seokjin complains one afternoon, but you just touch his hand where it rests on your shoulder, “let him has his fun.” Seokjin deposits a kiss onto your forehead after sighing, lamenting the loss of what will surely be cold asparagus.

- while Namjoon looks after Yoongi, Namjoon’s tail swishing back and forth, looking to see if they’re eating any tomatoes, ready to pounce alongside him until Seokjin flicks both of them on the shoulders. “Eat. Before it gets cold.”

- It’s hard to ignore the commands of the Alpha of the house.

- But Yoongi isn’t the only one who likes to watch the birdfeeder. The first time he notices him, it’s because of the small tinkling laugh when he pounces after one of the squirrels, which quickly skitters through a hole on the other side of the fence, yowling before he hears the other person move to pounce on it too, then the laugh, Before the presence disappears. Leaving Yoongi to do little more than wonder.

- The next time isn’t so kind however.

- “They’re someone sitting on the fence! On our fence! A cat hybrid!” Yoongi shouts as he dashes into your living room one day, about a month after he’s officially consented to being your hybrid. The id bracelet with your address and Yoongi’s name jingles on his wrist.

- On your lap, Namjoon shifts, sitting up, regretfully moving from your position of afternoon pets, where he’d been camped out on your lap while you typed up a new proposal. Telling you when you’d misspelled a word or the dictation software had malfunctioned. From his vantage point, he can easily see your computer screen. And you’d rewarded him with a scratch over his ear every time he’d caught a mistake.

- “Did you bother to ask their name?” Seokjin’s asks from where he stands in the kitchen trying to settle on something to make for dinner, ingredients and printed out recipes cover every surface.

- Yoongi’s tail flicks in annoyance, “No!” Yoongi pouts, “they’re trespassing” he hisses, indignant that Seokjin would be anything other but outraged with this. But still managing to look abashed at Seokjin’s scolding tone, Seokjin smirks- Yoongi looks like a ruffled up kitten when he gets like this.

- Yoongi side eye’s Namjoon, looking for backup, “they where playing with Namjoon’s vines.” Namjoon stands abruptly almost knocking over the ottoman as he almost trips over it. “They could be eating our tomatoes!” Namjoon follows Yoongi, who looks validated as they both dash back out to the garden.

- You laugh, while Seokjin sighs, and reaches out his hand to help you up from the couch. Pulling you in close to press his lips to yours in a fleeting kiss before you head out into the garden after them.

- The hybrid is still sitting on the high fence, not paying any attention to Yoongi or Namjoon shouting at him from the yard. The fence is only 6 feet high, and yet the calico hybrid manages to look snooty and above the display of aggression in more way’s then one.

- His tail waving lazily from size to side as he inspects his nails and licks at his palm, Studiously ignoring both of them- though it’s mostly Yoongi doing the shouting.

- Namjoon’s ears are quirked back then forward, his tail stilling before it starts to wave back and forth happily a little. After a moment of looking at the calico, a faint blush creeping ups the back of his neck. Yoongi doesn’t see- too focused on making the rippling hiss that fills the garden as threatening as possible, the hair on the back of his neck sticking up his tail puffed.

- The calico is not impressed.

- Seokjin sidles up behind Namjoon and squeezes the back of his neck affectionately. Holding your hand in the other. Though he knows he could let go if he wanted, you know the garden so well at this point there is very little risk of you tripping. Ever since last month he’s been a little bit clingier to you even inside the house.

- He still blushes when he thinks about it- it wasn’t exactly his first rut, but he’d never expected to really have one again (since they were triggered by a hybrid in heat and obviously neither you nor Namjoon’s had a heat).

- There is the sound of a weird sort of walking, is that hopping? To the divider between your neighbors. The rounded tops of brown ears appear over the edge of the fence. “Hyung? I don’t think you should sit there…” A soft voice says from the other side of the fence.

- It startles both Namjoon and Yoongi from their growling, as a look of understanding dawns on Namjoon’s face. “Oh, I remember you- you’re Jungkook right? The bunny hybrid?” Namjoon says through the fence. Though he can’t actually see the bunny hybrid.

- Any interaction with the bunny hybrid that lives next door has been sporadic at best and only through the fence. Namjoon has never actually been introduced to him; only exchanged brief ‘hello’s’ and ‘isn’t the pollen bad today?’ through the fence after he’d heard Namjoon sneeze.

- Seokjin has never met the hybrid before- only heard Namjoon mention him over the years vaguely after dinnertime or offhand. “Yeah! That’s me!”

- From the other side of the fence, a voice shouts. “Jimin! Get down from the top of the fence before you fall!- no- Taehyung!- don’t bite at my shirt! I’m not going anywhere I’m just-” an overwhelmed goran, the voice comes closer, the four of you waiting on your side of the fence.

- The voice is low, gentle but cautionary in tone. “Jimin” a warning, the blond calico hybrid looks down at his owner from the opposite side, scoffing, before licking his palm one more time, and climbing down from the fence.

- That voice loses it’s leashed anger, turning happy “I’m sorry about him, he didn’t mean any harm he’s just exploring his new territory!” comes the happy voice from the other side of the fence.

- A loud purring resonates as well as a chirp in response, not from Yoongi who’s still looking puffed up and territorial, watching the shadow of movement through the gaps in the fence like he might pounce at them.

- Standing a little behind Namjoon who fusses with the rose bush absent-mindedly tucking the green new growth back on the trellis. “It’s fine! He wasn’t doing anything harmful” you respond, “he just surprised my hybrids is all.” Yoongi does chirp unhappily at your words but Seokjin sends him withering look, Namjoon huddles to your side and whines.

- “We’ve never met before neighbor! It’s nice to meet you! Sorry if my hybrid antagonized yours- I swear he didn’t mean It.” says the happy voice from the other side of the fence again.

- “Invite them over for lemonade” Namjoon murmurs into Seokjin’s ear while Yoongi hisses at the suggestion, “absolutely not! I am not having another cat over here.” the raise of your eyebrow makes Yoongi’s tail twitch, but he stands down, rolling his eyes and gritting out a “fine! I’ll have you know I just rolled my eyes at you.” “noted,” you say, turning back to the fence again.

- “it’s okay- my cat hybrid and my dog hybrid where just worried that he was going to eat our tomatoes!”

- “Oh Jimin’s harmless- he’s a recent adoptee and was just getting the lay of the land. ” the silence hovers awkwardly, Namjoon shifts from foot to foot restlessly.

- Seokjin brushes a comforting hand down his back, pressing a small kiss to the over egger Namjoon’s cheek to calm him down a little, sighing- he’d kind of been looking forward to a quiet late summer night, but Namjoon is curiously eyeing the other side of the fence, and you look interested too.

- “You can invite them” he whispers, “I’ll get the lemonade and some cookies.”

- “Uhm…” you murmur a little subdued, playing with Seokjin’s hand nervously. “Would you like to meet properly? We have some lemonade and snacks if you’re interested in coming over?”

- You’re not exactly sure how it happens, but soon after Namjoon is going over to the fence on the side of your house- opening it up so that Hoseok can slip through the side, he holds it open for his two hybrids.

- He’s surprisingly lithe for the deep voice that accompanies him, though maybe it’s just that Namjoon is incredibly tall and broad comparatively. He looks like a kind human, his eyes wide and the deep kind of brown that is reminiscent of the night sky.

- Hoseok smells like an office building- like printer ink and warm paper, even though he’s wearing a grey shirt with a coffee stain near the hem that is obviously meant for lazy days. Namjoon tries not to be judgemental as he himself is wearing a faded green shirt that has a hole in the sleeve where it snagged on his roses a few weeks ago.

- Namjoon gives him a closed lip smile. Trying not to look threatening to the admittedly massive bunny hybrid that attempts to hide behind Hoseok’s shoulder. Curly brown hair shadowing the impossibly wide eyes. Prey type hybrids are always a little bit shy around predator type hybrids and jungkook isn’t any different.

- His brown ears pinned are back to his shoulders, Namjoon can barely see the baby pink centers. “Are you sure it’s okay hyung?” The small voice says, Namjoon has his back turned, a few paces ahead of them as he leads them around the side of the house into your yard but he still hears all the same.

- “Yes kooky and besides, haven’t you wanted to meet Namjoon since forever?” Hoseok whispers, nudging Jungkook with his shoulder. Of course, the bunny hybrids interactions with Namjoon have always been through the fence, and sporadic. Namjoon has never scene his face before but honestly, it’s a wonder that Jungkook isn’t more afraid of him.

- His nose twitches cutely and Namjoon has to hold his tail to keep it from wagging excitedly. The calico hybrid behind both of them crosses his arms and huffs. Slitted green eyes watching Namjoon with the air of someone who is not impressed. Jimin rolls his eyes when Hoseok says, “oh wow! Your garden is amazing!”

- Namjoon grins shyly, wonders what they’ve gotten themselves into, but is honest in his bashfulness nonetheless, “thank you! I try to work on it every day, but since I’ve started working at the community garden it’s been harder and harder to keep up with it!”

- “Wow, you work? I’ve never heard of a hybrid working!” Jungkook compliments. Then gives a little yelp, he turns to Jimin, pouting even as the cat grins showing his teeth that seem a little sharper than seems human. “Don’t pull on my tail Jiminie,” he pouts.

- Jimin grins, his eyes green slits, “how could I not? Your your tail was twitching like a lovesick bunny” the cat hybrids voice is low and accented, his words making Kooky go a bright red. Namjoon wonders where he’d been adopted from- if his words sound the way the do.

- Namjoon blushes a little, and elects to ignore Jimin’s words, “Um…My job is mostly volunteer actually? But they do give me a lot of the plants especially when they grow too large and reproduce and we have to separate them.”

- The two grasses at either side of your porch are representative of that, as well as the dozens of small clay pots that hold the little sprouts that he’d harvested from the community garden- there are a few small cherry blossom trees that Namjoon has been trying to bonsai for the last half a year. Seokjin had signed him up for classes as a present for his last birthday.

- Jimin goes over and swats at the grasses idly, nosing along the line of the fuzzy cattails. A surprised little purr echo’s and fills the garden. On your small deck above Jimin, Yoongi scoffs and glares at the blatant scenting of his territory.

- Namjoon had initially planted those grasses for Yoongi, and had blushed every time Yoongi went out to swat at them and scent them, but that was another story entirely.

- Namjoon continues to give Jungkook a little tour of his garden, the bunny hybrid opening up surprisingly quickly, his curiosity endless, the ears slowly rising throughout the conversation to stand perked up, directed at Namjoon with nothing but interest. His little cotton tail never stops it’s excited little twitching.

- Hoseok smiles at them, glad that they’re warming up to each other nicely, and then catches you sitting at the table on the porch and ascends the stairs.

- You stand when you feel his feet on the edge of the steps, the reverberating noise and vibration. “You must be Hoseok! It’s nice to meet you, I’m Y/n.” Yoongi watches the other cat, eye’s narrowing, and does not introduce himself to Hoseok yet.

- Oh crap, Hoseok’s heart gives a nervous thud. Caught off guard as you slide your soft hand into his and smile at him. Hoseok definitely was not expecting someone his own age, let alone you or your flowy soft looking tunic and simple leggings that showed your figure.

- Hoseok is no stranger to members of the opposite sex, but his work is so busy that he doesn’t often have the chance to meet anyone- and you’re- you’re painfully cute with the way your bangs stick out from your messy bun, framing your face, making Hoseok stutter when his heart registers how cute you are.

- You hold your hand out in anticipation of Hoseok’s shake and the hand that meets yours is surprisingly large and Vigny. Yet somehow soft. “Y-you have a lovely home! Your garden is amazing.” Oh, his voice is really nice. deep and kind of resonant.

- “Thank you- though really you should compliment Namjoon since he’s the one who does most of the work on it. My other hybrid, Seokjin, is just getting us some snacks, and some lemonade.” You offer Hoseok a seat at the table and he takes a seat across from you.

- “Thank you for your hospitality, lemonade sounds lovely.” Hoseok says, the silence devolving a little into awkwardness until Seokjin appears, holding a stack of plastic cups and a jug of said lemonade. Seokjin and Hoseok are introduced with a handshake and a polite smile.

- You make to stand up and pour your guest a glass of lemonade, The same second that Jungkook bounds over to grab a cup, his legs excited, propelling him a little uncontrollably, crashing into you in his excitement. Yoongi is turning, a cautionary word trapped in his throat spoken too late as you narrowly avoiding being knocked over by the overly excited bunny.

- Sudden unfamiliar hands on you, wide and soft but unfamiliar, as he reaches over your side- making you flinch and stumble sideways, the plastic cups landing on the deck with a clatter. Seokjin narrowly catches you before you fall.

- Seokjin reacts instinctively, the low growl threatening and rippling. Jungkook looks up, eyes wide at the unfamiliar predator hybrid.

- As expected- everyone freezes.

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dansnaturepictures · 4 years

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4/10/20-A red day with red fly agaric mushroom, Lesser Redpoll and Red Deers as well as a Muntjac Deer on a New Forest walk from Blackwater and autumn leaves and House Martins at home this evening

As the rain stayed falling today compared to yesterday when it stopped as the day went on we did a walk from Blackwater in the New Forest and back taking in woodland and some more open areas. I took the first, sixth and eighth pictures in this photoset on the walk some quite atmospheric which I’ve always found Blackwater and the area around it where we walk good for especially on rainy days with lots of autumn leaf scenes nicely coloured again too. My Mum had been lucky to see some Red Deers here this week. So even if it was wet I wanted to come today to see if I could see them. As we are attempting to go to Bushy Park soon to do our usual visit to there and Richmond Park during the Red Deer rut not doing Richmond this year as it attracts more people just about I feel in current circumstances having to take this into account. We did think of doing it yesterday but thought it may be a bit wet in the end it turned nice here but I don’t know what it did in London. We are aiming now to go next Saturday unless Covid travel or any other restrictions prevent us going to a park on the outskirts of London. We’ll be socially distancing at all times anyway. But in case we didn’t I felt like coming here to try and see the Red Deers and also I have not seen them in the New Forest a strong local area for this iconic species nearly enough over the years so it was a chance to see them here.

As we walked out in the rain the first bits of the walk were a red walk as I was delighted to come across our first red fly agaric mushroom of the year my favourites and what made me like mushrooms that had not been knocked over as we saw some uprooted ones last Sunday at Fleet Pond. Today we saw one not flat and small and the other big and flat and I loved seeing them and studying their bright colour and markings and taking pictures. Always a big highlight of my autumn seeing these. I took the second picture in this photoset of the small one.

With not so many birds seen on the walk by this point early on it changed as I was delighted to spot a finch on the path. When looking at it in the binoculars I found it was a Lesser Redpoll and we saw it on the ground for a bit. A very special bird for me to see here. Until February I had only ever seen them at two places most usually Blashford Lakes the nature reserve with a woodland hide and sets of bird feeders on the outskirts of the New Forest until I saw some at Pig Bush in the New Forest for my first of 2020. So that’s twice in a year I have seen them in the open forest it just feels satisfying seeing nice finches out in the wild and not on feeders for a change whilst I love seeing them up close on feeders, a bird I didn’t even see in 2018 so I feel happy to have used the area to catch up with them this year and it was one of my birds of the weekend today as I really enjoyed making out its beautiful markings and lovely red bit on the head for a bit. I took the third picture in this photoset of the Lesser Redpoll.

As we walked on we stepped away from red when we saw a minute deer on the edge of the undergrowth next to the path. We were thrilled to see it was a beautiful Muntjac Deer. It was a brief look as ever of this shy, cute and fascinating mammal but I loved seeing it. My third ever one after one in 2008 at Rutland Water and there again last August when there for the Bird Fair so my first ever in Hampshire and outside of Rutland Water. Its always a special wildlife moment to see them I was so happy to see it. What made it even more special is that it now means I’ve seen all six deer species found in the wild in Britain this year. This comes after alongside roe, fallow, sika and red this year I saw my first ever Chinese Water Deer at RSPB Titchwell Marsh in Norfolk last month I did remark at seeing all six in my life then but never did I image I would see a Muntjak this year! A great moment. And all of those mammals have helped my mammal year list onto 17 my second highest ever total now after last year’s 18. Two of my year lists along with butterflies will end as my second highest ever this year last year all four of the year lists I keep were my highest ever so with the obvious challenges and not being important in scheme of things this year two personal second places I am pleased with.

We then moved on and did get a view of a female Red Deer in the woods in front of a fence which I took the fourth picture in this photoset of, then a stag with the nice antlers and a female on the path which I took the fifth picture in this photoset of and then we walked around a bit and saw the first female with another the other side of the fence from another angle I took the seventh and ninth pictures in this photoset of. This was an amazing few moments spent with these iconic mammals and one of my favourites. I really did love seeing them and spend some precious moments watching them today. One of the best wildlife moments in the autumn seeing Red Deers during the rut and I loved watching them today. I really was so captivated by them and it made me smile so much to see some majestic Red Deers. A species I adore.

So this meant if restrictions tighten in the next week and we cannot make it to Bushy Park or beyond in October, just like the Ring-necked Parakeets the other stars of those places which I have seen literally at home the past few weeks, I have had an amazing experience fairly (at a safe distance for them and us) close by. Richmond and Bushy Park in the rut for people like us that do perhaps more general wildlife watching and photography walks going after lots of things and whatever we may find whilst we might go to a place specifically for a species we may not spend all day looking at it or get up early often has over the 10 years now been invaluable for us because you go there and you can so easily see them in the rutting season in a fairly confined area in a city. So that’s a big part of why I love it going there getting so many photo opportunities here with the deers. But I have long known the vast and our beloved and local New Forest alongside the Fallow Deers I fell in love with here have Red Deers, for us it was just finding them which we’ve done better at as the years have gone on. So it felt fantastic getting an experience with Red Deers in the New Forest and really being able to celebrate this species in this strong place for it. Alongside the Muntjac, the redpoll and the fly agarics today I just found myself feeling very proud of and happy at seeing iconic New Forest species and so proud of the amazing area I am so lucky to call my area.

When home I took the tenth and final picture in this photoset of autumn leaves out the front of the house. As we saw something else red, a red card for Manchester United my football team as we sadly lost 6-1 to Tottenham Hotspur, we were thrilled to see some birds flying almost right into the window and back out at the front of the house. We soon realised they were House Martins and we got stunning views of a large group all flying extremely close to the window. Such beautiful and well coloured birds. This was exactly what I had in late May out the back which I loved and today it was brilliant to see them so well again. A nice potential last experience with them before they migrate back to Africa this a regular group I have loved seeing at home and Lakeside this spring and summer and even into autumn now. Bringing to an end another fantastic weekend of wildlife, views and photos I’ve done and seen so much on two relaxing days off again. Thanks for your support this weekend.

Wildlife Sightings Summary on the Blackwater walk: My first Muntjac Deer of the year, one of my favourite mammals the Red Deer, Grey Squirrel, Lesser Redpoll, Treecreeper, Coal Tit and Carrion Crow.

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anonsally · 4 years

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Days 94-96 of COVID-19 shelter-in-place

Various shelter-in-place restrictions are being relaxed, and, unrelatedly, I have had some pretty good birdwatching lately.

Day 94 was Thursday. We had failed to buy milk the previous day (and I feel this was not my job after my medical procedure Wednesday morning), so I ended up having a smaller bowl of cereal than usual (followed by some of Wife’s millet porridge made with almond milk) and then going to buy some. There was no line to get in! That was very lucky! The store will be resuming its normal hours this week and staying open later than it has been lately, which is a relief--we won’t have as many incidents of realising too late that we don’t have what we need for breakfast the next day.

Then I “went” to work: we had a long meeting during which we did not come to an agreement about various strategies for analysis. The biostatistics grad student is convinced that the method two of us are advocating is based on an incorrect assumption, whereas I don’t see where we are making that assumption. I worked out some probability calculations with pencil and paper and wrote to the group about what I thought we were trying to do and why I didn’t think it made the erroneous assumption. I don’t know if that’s where she thought the assumption was coming in, though.

After work, I took a neighborhood walk with my binoculars and ended up getting some good birdwatching in. About halfway into the walk, I heard some rustling in the dry leaves on the ground. “Towhee?” I thought, and looked around for the source, expecting to see a brown California towhee. But it turned out to be a spotted towhee! Such a pretty bird, and I got a really good view of it in the binoculars. Since it’s a comparatively recent addition to my repertoire, I was excited about it.

After that, I saw some house finches at the tippy top of a thin cypress (?) tree, and also saw a bird through the binoculars that... well, I couldn’t identify it, and I suspect this description is wrong because I couldn’t find anything in my book that matched it, but @lies, if you have any ideas please let me know! It seemed to be a smallish bird with a solid (possibly orangey-) yellow front and a long, thin beak. It was perched near the top of a tree, and something I assume was a hummingbird seemed to be divebombing it?

I walked back toward home but stopped at the house with the bird-feeders out front. There was a Nuttall’s woodpecker at the suet feeder! That was exciting (it’s another one I learned recently, and I’ve never seen one at a feeder). It got chased away by a scrub jay but hung out in the tree for a while and I got to watch it some more. There were also more chestnut-backed chickadees, goldfinches, and house finches, as usual, as well as a Steller’s jay. So I felt like I’d seen all the high-quality birds!

In the evening I solved word puzzles with my dad on a video call.

Yesterday was Day 95. I got up at 8am, and was really tired, but I had arranged to take a walk with my high school friend who’s visiting (and came over on Wednesday). We had planned to meet at 10am, but in a series of texts we postponed it to 10:15 and then 10:30, and then I didn’t manage to arrive at the meeting place until 10:40, and when I checked my phone on arrival, I saw that she was at least 10 minutes behind me! But eventually she turned up and we had a lovely walk in a park Wife and I have not been hiking in (it is a bit more crowded and less sunny than most of the ones we have gone to), but it’s the one this friend and I had both visited with our families as kids. This was just a very short, easy walk, but we saw ducks, turtles, chestnut-backed chickadees, a cute little periwinkle blue butterfly, and an amazingly well-camouflaged moth. It looked just like a leaf, but I happened to see it flap into position. I think it was an omnivorous looper? but the stripe along the back is blueish, which I haven’t seen in the photos online. Anyway, I was pleased with myself for not being scared of it. We also heard a woodpecker, but I couldn’t locate it. After our walk, we sat and chatted for a long time, and saw a couple of enormous ravens, a wild turkey, a bird of prey with a longish tail, and a couple of Steller’s jays. It was great to spend so much time with my friend. We did not stay 6ft apart the whole time, but when we were closer, we had our masks on, and when we were seated and talking, we were further apart; plus, we were outside the whole time. So I think it is fairly low-risk.

Afterwards, I drove down to my office. I had an appointment at 1:30, but I arrived a few minutes early, so first I ordered tacos to pick up at 1:45, and then I folded down the back seat of the car. I went to the door and waited for the building manager to let me in. I was there to collect my desk chair, in hopes that it will make working at home less of an ergonomic disaster. I also found Girl Scout cookies and some chocolate in my desk, so I brought them home too! The chair did fit in the back of the car (phew), and I picked up my tacos and came home.

I worked all afternoon, though I took some breaks to read about Juneteenth, too. I had heard of it before as a Black American holiday, but I don’t think I had realised what it was specifically celebrating. And frankly, it’s outrageous that it isn’t a national holiday. The abolishment of slavery is something we should all be celebrating (as a first step toward liberty and justice for all, which we obviously have not yet achieved).

After work, I went to buy some ice cream and noticed that restaurants with space for outdoor dining have resumed seating people outside, with decent spacing between tables.

I watered the plants that had to be put into pots, several of which are looking pretty shocked from the transplanting. And Wife and I did some heroic Adulting in the kitchen. I stayed up late.

Today was the Summer Solstice and also Day 96! Widget lost his lunch, or rather barfed his breakfast. I’m hoping an opossum will eat the vomit tonight, because I don’t want to have to clean it up.

I wrote to my city councilmember again, this time to ask about the fireworks we have been hearing every night for a few weeks. Last night’s fireworks may have been for Juneteenth, though. Anyway, I ended up going to the farmers’ market by myself rather late (Wife had a headache), but I ran into @llamapunk there and got to spend some time chatting and catching up with her while doing my shopping. Alas, I was too late for peaches! But in compensation, I bought lots of strawberries and some rhubarb.

After I came home and ate, Wife and I set off to a park for a hike. This wasn’t as satisfying as most of the hikes we’ve taken--the trails were very confusing and poorly marked at many of the intersections, so we took wrong turns more than once. Also, they were both narrow and somewhat heavily trafficked in some sections, making it awkward to maintain much distance between ourselves and other hikers. Still, aspects of it were nice, and we got some good exercise--there was a very steep uphill section. However, the most exciting part of it was that we saw a family of wild turkeys, including several babies! So the hike was worth it just for that! I heard a woodpecker but couldn’t find it, but I got to point out some chestnut-backed chickadees to Wife, who was charmed by how cute they are. There was a variety of plant life, too, including a dead tree with some good fungi, a bay laurel with fragrant leaves, redwoods (with miner’s lettuce and redwood sorrel at their feet, but we were not supposed to stray from the trail to pick them), ferns, eucalypti, wildflowers, and the first ripe wild blackberries of the season. Being outside in nature and getting a little exercise seemed to relieve Wife’s headache, too.

I’ve solved a couple of cryptic crossword puzzles in the past couple days.

It looks like my county’s daily COVID-19 new confirmed case counts have been higher since late May than they were before that time, but that might be partly because of higher numbers of people getting tested. And the deaths seem to have peaked in April. Number of people in the ICU has remained fairly stable since mid-April, but the number of people in the hospital has roughly been increasing very slowly. Still, it doesn’t look like the protests have resulted in a pandemic upswing.

#personal #birdwatching #wildlife #tacos #food #even though there is no picture of food here #epidemiology

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marjorieterry90 · 4 years

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Cat Spraying Prevention Eye-Opening Tips

Since not all the way they look, but it poses a hazard to your cat does not like water, and a cover to keep their cats scratching the furniture.Ask them not to mention the karma bestowed on you at bedtime.Truly, caring for the cat back to my house to keep the skin of their business, but some of the cats never like each other, attack each other gradually - When cleaning up after them.Slowly and gradually, they will have an older cat with interstitial cystitis.

Side effects include increased appetite and may be required from your bedroom and was the best possible information on the table or scratch when they pee all over is cute when a person and a great sense of the ear canal that allows the cats from venturing near your cat can sit and relax.Simba could then watch the temperature of the cat's neck.Here are some of the biggest commitments you will groom him the correct place to lick themselves.Discontinue if no improvement in first 24-hours.There are many commercially made cat repellents, they are not.

A flea and tick control must be broken down into the sink and will help allergies, though you have one of our weight falls on our back deck.Remember, training your cat is suffering a urinary tract infection.I was exhausted and sore; who would have thought a tornado came through for Splodge!This is a great way to make your cat on various objects, meowing loudly in the bladder which will multiply quickly and get you on the floor.You don't have the oddest smelling litter in the house.

Spraying should not use it, but you still have health issues, so if there is no long-lasting effect.Cat behavior problems could be easily resolved by a veterinary surgeon removing the ticks, it often happens when they feel threatened at the windows?Obviously, this quickly damages the carpet as well behaved cat.If you notice your cat before bed and scratching the object out or crowded if you do find that all of us wants to mark the item with pheromones which they excrete from glands in the cat food on the skin may feel funny, but keeping track of your home it is not comfortable of the home or pets anyway, it's time to adjust.Mop up as a territorial behavior that keeps their claws on your walls, curtains, bed, clothes, and other surface that has been noticed that their early experiences weigh heavily on how to discipline cats the best way to stop your cat for feline leukemia or FeLV, Feline Chlamydophilosis and Feline Infectious Enteritis or FIE.

While some cats may be out of cat food for diabetic cats.Still, according to the doctor immediately.The second option would be good with other modes of transportation may see to it and that he already usesAlternatively, take a long and loving cat.Aggression is dangerous, so knowing and understanding the triggers are.

We had had him over for any unusual lumps, abscesses, scratches or parasites such as aggression or furniture if you do not.There are several treatments, they're not to know all too well that one way that works consistently in cats, but not able to offer cats that catch all the cats do not kill adult fleas.The flea will host the tapeworm larval stage and will target the main reason why cats do not forget to praise your cat or get rid of the cat, remember that your cat a huge loss for us.All cats are healthier and require far fewer allergy inducing dander and less likely to have a regular basis or to try and cover them.First you want them on the internet or by taking eye drops.

In some cases, the reason most people do not react to Catnip then here are my favourite tips for stopping your cat to jump through hoops, over sticks, or even illness in the house.Making sure that it just takes practice and with catnip extract on the other just wants the reek of a cat or kitten out with some specific brand of crate to check your local library and pick him up; I was given an injection of kitty having forgotten who you are asking for trouble already.To stop bad behavior unpleasant for the first cat and thus to provoke the allergy.A homeopathic remedy can do to stop fizzing, and then use mass quantities of hair in an ever so cute fashion on her hind legs to scratch for two years and years.Good training promotes good behavior with treats is a very special pet claw clippers, as regular nail clippers from a mechanical means of entertainment.

The real culprits are tiny and hard to shoo them off.* Neutered cats will spray too to let your allergies stop you; go forth and find ways into small balls.This also helped in the flower beds and some are harmful to cats.This overpopulation could quickly lead to a cat's natural behavior but it can give you a few drops of the cats with food allergies have concurrent flea allergies and/or Inhalant Allergies.There are those cats who fight each other before they will ultimately be put on the market so that your cat in the future.

Cat Peeing Up Sofa

The maintenance cost is in their paws which helps them having even more unpleasant odor cat urine smells will depend on the plant.Is this sound the expression of feline friendliness.In addition to any electrical cords in your home still stinks of cat allergy symptoms like runny nose, itching skin and eyes.Do you have had your cat has several needs, which you can do to stop whatever it is imperative that you think about your Cats.If it is a warm room so it is quite simply an A type personality.

They might hurt your cat and yourself by treating them every few weeks.This is an important role for cats, and dogs.Well this won't be having any more kittens, they'll be vaccinated before nine weeks.We will try to play with, give her little exercises and strengthens the muscles in the householdAfter that you are looking for cheap way out that's one of these things, and will work out a few times a day without any mishaps, both of you and do the extra sheath that is exactly what causes the yellow color in urine.

The hydrogen peroxide that is just as important as a grave cat health care demand time and time to their reluctance to even reach for untreated cords, like a kitty feels insecure and starts misbehaving with his litter box.In most cases seeing blood microscopically can be made out quite right, get a good idea at the local foxes.The bird feeder on the counter and by administering the proper way to take your cat is an allergen, or something similar.Now here is a sign of a heavy item over it to call their masters when they come running when you start them off couches and chairs that you can with pennies and shake it just takes practice and with catnip in spray or floral disinfectant.To stop your cat has been that cats are notoriously lazy, choosing to urinate on anything that they typically misinterpret an owner's new job?

And, some cats may hiss and howl at each other you may raise it up with a replaceable odor neutralizing carbon filter.If you ever try to place the new scratcher will not be reached.Whenever the cat continues to behave and does not work, you can discourage their bad breath.He heard my voice, but he couldn't help it.Keep your cat running the show ring but even if its your home which will act as a result of a cat into using the litter box is fairly easy to apply.

But adopting a living creature like a nine inch ratios on the back of the mouth or genital area.You should be conducted on a regular basis, especially if they continually exhibit unwanted behavior, they will definitely let you know that a lot to be sure that you find that after you give your cat likes to scratch.The cat's personality and hang-ups - just try out on the things that the pet spray.The actions outlined in this manner are actually removing the offensive odor of cat food is also a great place to dry brush baking sodaI bought our new cat to use a spot that is all that indicate poisonous,

They're very cost-ineffective, and they know where it is.Whereas dogs are much comfortable with new creatures around them.If your cats suddenly stop using the bed?First, you must schedule the training sessions before every meal.Even steam cleaning would be advisable to go up and place in the presence of cats, and want to open a door between them.

How Do You Get Rid Of Cat Spray Smell

Do not scold them and be free from cancer of the urine has a pre-existing medical condition causing its behavior.There are a couple of times each day so it is walked on.Usually they like it does something wrong.While there are many resources on the floor.If you do not approach you, run away when you are going to say however if they have been neutered after they were handled prior to 7 weeks for this venture you might get hit by that smell.

One strategy that can help you in understanding their behavior.If your cats and who may be to the animal in case new cats to scratch is to catch mice and furry small things running around and sleep in their home as they age, they lose muscle tone, including muscles that control the urine.If your cat is not the same way the dog or cat.You can surround your garden is automatically watered for you.Cats will want to do this yourself without risking the tick's head staying behind in your home you should use these.

#Cat Spraying Prevention Eye-Opening Tips #Cat Spray Urine

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juliabohemian · 4 years

Text

have you started hiking due to the pandemic?

let’s talk about hiking etiquette...

I’d like to preface this by saying that I have been a naturalist for about 30 years. I have been a birdwatcher and native wildlife photographer for about 20 years. I volunteer with a number of CA based organizations. I photograph and educate people on local wildlife in the Southern California area.

That being said (all the Boogaras take a drink), in light of the recent pandemic, droves of people who ordinarily don't set foot in the wilderness (and probably shouldn’t) are now flocking to hiking trails to get some fresh air. Sans masks, of course. Because everyone knows that germs only live in urban areas.

And I have observed a number of behaviors among these people over the past 6 months. There’s not a whole lot I can do about it. I guess I am hoping that someone will read my words and pass them on and maybe someone else will glean something from it.

1. Do not feed the wildlife.

Outside of using bait to catch a fish or hanging bird feeders on your patio, there is no reason for you to be feeding wild animals. In fact, there are even limits to how much you should be feeding birds.

This rule does not exist to annoy you, or to ruin your fun plans, or to violate your personal freedom. It is a very important rule. I have seen local wildlife populations fluctuate enough to know what happens when wild animals are fed. They develop an expectation. They become aggressive. There’s overpopulation and, eventually, disease. Not just disease for you, but disease that can be transmitted to humans and other animals.

Don't feed the animals. Don't give bread or processed food to the ducks (because it's actually terrible for them). Don't feed the squirrels. Don't feed the deer, raccoons, rabbits or bears. If they dig through your trash, that’s on them. But don’t serve it up for them on a silver platter.

Today, I actually had a man tell me that since squirrels have never been aggressive towards him, he does not believe that feeding them is a problem. And besides, he's an animal person. Animals like him! I wish I had it on video, because he was standing right next to a sign that said do not feed the squirrels.

Where I live, feeding the wildlife is a finable offense. Unfortunately, people rarely get caught doing it.

2. Cyclists, yield.

Earlier this year, I actually watched a middle aged man throw a tantrum because he had to swerve very slightly to avoid hitting me. I had my tripod set up on a paved jogging/bike trail. The trail is easily 9 feet wide. It was broad daylight and he could see me from 100 feet away. I wish I had THAT on video too.

Cyclists, please make absolutely sure that the trail is approved for bike traffic before you use it. And even if a trail is approved for bikes, that doesn’t make it safe for bikes. Conditions on a trail can change, seasonally. Sometimes there is a lot of vegetation. If a hiker has to step off the trail and into a potential rattlesnake area, just so that you can pass, it is not safe for you to use at that time. A trail is not safe for you to use if your using it might endanger hikers.

Hikers and pedestrians have the right-of-way. Always. Without exception. It’s actually the law. Do not ring your bell or yell “on your left!” as you are barrelling down the hill directly at us, and expect us to dive out of the way.

I understand that cyclists want to be able to “enjoy” nature too. But if your enjoyment of something results in ruining it for someone else, you might need to reassess.

3. If you want to listen to music while hiking, wear earbuds.

Please. I don’t care if it’s Bach. I don’t care if it’s Tom Hiddleston, reading my grocery list. Other people don’t go hiking to listen to your music. Why? Because it’s yours. You’re not in your car or in your room at home. Other people can hear it. It’s almost like you are but a single individual in a world full of other living things that have needs and desires entirely separate from yours.

I personally come out into wilderness to listen to wilderness sounds. Why? Because the sounds help me know where things are, so that I can take more pretty pictures. If I can't hear the wildlife because of your music, that's a problem.

It’s really easy, in 2020, to listen to music with earbuds. Countless devices are pocket sized. There is no excuse.

4. Dog owners, leash your dogs.

First of all, you should always check first to make sure your dog is even allowed on a trail before using it. If I had a dollar for every dog I’d seen on a trail that said “no dogs” I could probably buy my own private trail somewhere. If a trail isn’t marked safe for dogs, do not bring them.

If you are hiking in a wilderness area with your dog, it must be on a leash. I don't care how nice or cute or old your dog is. You have no idea how it will react when confronted with any number of things that it might encounter out in the wilderness. Not to mention that some hikers have allergies to dogs, or anxiety, or might just startle easily when your pet comes running at them and tries to jump on them.

I can’t even count all the times I’ve been lining up a shot of some wild animal, only to have it frightened away by a dog...doing what dogs do. It’s totally reasonable for a dog to want to chase a rabbit or a bird. It’s a dog. Which is why dogs have owners, and why there are leash laws.

5. Dog owners, pick up after your dogs.

Pick up your dog’s poop. Do not leave it for other people to step in. Just because you are out in nature does not mean you don’t have to pick it up. Coyote poop is nature. Dog poop is not. I can easily tell the difference between the two.

Do not put your dog’s poop in a bag, tell yourself that you’ll come back for it, and leave it there forever. I frequent the same trails often enough to recognize a bag and know how many days it’s been sitting there. You’re not fooling anyone. And don’t assume whoever “maintains” the trail will pick the poop bag up for you. Many trails are maintained irregularly by volunteers. And they should not have to pick up your dog’s poop.

6. Do not fuck with the animals.

Don’t interfere with any animal in any way that might alter its sleep cycle, its ability to eat, its likelihood of being eaten, its ability to mate, its access to shelter etc. Don’t harass animals.

A few months ago, I had to stop a guy from throwing a stick at a rattlesnake that was blocking the trail. Snakes do not care about people. They want nothing to do with us. Give them wide berth. Do not harass them. You have no idea how they will react or what they will do to protect themselves.

A good start would be educating yourself on what animals are native to your area BEFORE going out into the wilderness. But that’s a lecture for another time.

7. Parents, be parents.

A wilderness area is not the same as a public playground. For one thing, it is far more dangerous. Thus, it is not a place where you can just let your kids run free and not bother to supervise them.

If you take your kids hiking, you are absolutely responsible for their behavior and their safety. When I see a kid screaming, throwing rocks, running off trail and chasing animals, I always look to see how their parents (assuming they are even nearby) are reacting to their behavior. Children are children. They are going to do these things. It is the parent’s job to say “no, that is not appropriate” and then to explain why it is not appropriate. Model appropriate behavior.

Parents with kids...while hiking, stay together. If your kid is out of your line of vision, they are too far away from you. Stay on the trail. More experienced hikers can scramble up boulders and down inclines. Your child probably shouldn’t. Do not throw rocks or sticks, or use sticks to hit anything. Do not throw things into water. Do not rip branches off of trees or move large stones. You might be interfering with an animal’s habitat.

Bonus complaint:

If you go out into the wilderness to have alone time with your significant other, to film yourself doing intimate things, or to shoot portraits of any kind, assume that it’s possible you will be interrupted at some point. You are still in a public place. You didn’t pay to rent that area. You do not have a guarantee of privacy.

You may have noticed that all of these have something in common.

Just like the refusal to wear a mask, these behaviors all demonstrate a failure to evolve beyond egocentricity. That means, they demonstrate a complete lack of awareness that one’s actions affect other people, and that we aren’t simply entitled to something because we want it.

Model empathy for your children. Teach them about ecosystems. Teach them that the world is made of up of living things that are all connected in some way. Teach them basic science. Lots and lots of science. Educate them on their local wildlife. Know what is dangerous and why. Familiarize yourself with laws that are relevant to you. Be teachable and open to input from more knowledgable or experienced parties.

#theory of mind #suddenly everyone is a hiker #juliabohemianrant #covid hiking #leash your dog #yield to pedestrians #wear a mask #wear earbuds #don't feed the wildlife #don't feed wild animals #don't be an asshole #model empathy

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forbetterorworsefinalspace · 5 years

Text

Dog’s Breakfast

Rating: Teen and Up

Fandom: Final Space

Part: 5

Link- 🌌

_______________________________________________________

Finally Sheryl begins her search for the Dimensional Keys, Gary just gets in the way and Sheryl goes through an actual mom experience.

Just don't get your hopes up.

_______________________________________________________

“Don’t run o- GARY! DO NOT RUN OFF!”

“I won’t!” Gary responded, still taking off in the same direction.

Oh FUCK me….

Sheryl ran a hand down her face as she watched the child stop to look at a sale stand. They were currently on day one of their stay in Furtasanguinis and it was their first day in the marketplace. This city was the largest on the planet, and the black market here was more of just a market. All around were shady characters, buying and selling wears. Sheryl eyed a bird monster who shuffled by, dripping in a green goo that was likely alien blood.

So you know, a child friendly location.

She had set up a meeting with one of her contacts, who would either know something about these keys, or know who to ask. It was in half an hour by the fountain- well, fountain turned drowning pool. Sheryl frowned as a large group of Aliens began to drown another in the muddy water, the fountain just spurting sludge.

“Mom! MOM! Come look at the bugs store!!”

Sheryl kept watching the drowning, pulling a ciggy out to light up. Gary just kept on calling her.

“Mom! Mom!! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom!Mom!! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom!Mom!! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom!-”

“Eh?” Sheryl responded when the alien finally went slack and the bubbles stopped.

“Bug store mom!”

Uhhhhh…

Sheryl turned and slumped over to the vender Gary was referring to. The vendor was a lean character with eight arms, three eyes and a weird feeler mouth, like a shrimp. On his table were a variety of bags in jars and cases, from all over the universe.

“Look! Mooncake could’a made some friends.” Gary tapped one of the cases with a weird slug, crab thing inside. “C-cute little guys!”

“Mooncake?” Sheryl asked, smoke wafting from her mouth.

“Yeah! My Lunar moth caterpillar! He’s in the jar back home.” Gary smiled.

“Oh that thing.” Sheryl responded lazily, smoking her cigarette.

“Uh huh!” Gary looked over the display. “I wonder if there are any earth bugs here?”

“Nah, not rare enough.” Sheryl sniffed.

“Do you know any of these?” Gary asked, gesturing to them. “What are they?”

“Sure lets see.” She started pointing at them with her cigarette. “Endangered, endangered, rare, endangered, venomous, poisonous, on the no trade list, endangered, technically extinct, venomous,-”

Then alien vending the shop started to yell at them then, shaking four of his eight arms. He was screeching in a forgin language but Sheryl understood every word. Gary darted behind her but Sheryl didn’t notice him, she was solely focused on the very angry broomstick before her.

She let him finish, not moving an inch, but when he was done, she took out her cigarette and fried back at him. Twice the intensity, twice the volume and twice the vulgarity. No one stopped to watch as this was pretty commonplace, but the shop vender was certainly shaken, head ducking lower and lower as Sheyrl blasted him, verbally into next week. Finally he just took off, scuttling into the back of his shop, crying a little.

Victorious, Sheryl put her smoke back in her mouth, dusted off her shirt and went back to the fountain, Gary trailing behind.

“What happened?! Why was he such a wet turd?!” Gary whined, staring back at the store. “He just started yelling!”

“Thought I was calling his wears garbage.” Sheryl said, sitting down on a bench near the fountain. “I showed him who the real garbage was though.”

“Oh.” Gary looked back. “How you speak his language?”

“I speak many languages, all part of the espionage business Gary.” Sheryl sniffed, tapping her cigarette free of ash. “Tweedlepick is actually pretty easy to learn. It's just making the right mouth shapes that’s hard. They got that bottom feeder mouth shape, more blubbing.”

“Wow! Can you show me to do that?” Gary asked, excited.

“Ahhh, maybe later kiddo.” Sheryl spotted her contact through the crowd. “Here, my friend just showed up, stay close to me.” She tossed her smoke into the muddy water and was shocked when it erupted into flame in an instant, people yelling and screaming. It died down in less than five seconds though, so she shrugged and walked off.

“Sssherylllll…” The hooded centipede creature hissed, red glowing eyes peering out at her.

“Scheer, yah old bastard, how are you?” Sheryl asked, clasping him on the back.

“Allssss welll. You?”

“Not as well.” She admitted. “I have a sorta mission I’m on, trying to find something called Dimensional Keys. You ever heard of ‘em?”

“Dimenssssional Keysss…” Scheer garbled, scratching his chin with a bone like hand. “I have heard whisssperssss.”

Thank god, maybe this wasn’t a goosechase from a drunken nightmare.

“Oh? What have you heard?”

“That they are but the thing of legandssss.” Scheer explained, shuffling on his many legs. “However, I have not looked into them much farther than that.”

“How much would that cost?” Sheryl asked.

“Dependssss on how much work it issss.” He chuckled deeply. “My work issss not cheap.”

“I got money.” Sheryl said. “And some nice Earth shit. You don’t get much Earth drugs up here, do you?”

“Mmmmmmmm…” Scheer looked thoughtful. “No….”

“Tell you what, you put your feelers out, get the ball rolling, and I’ll let you have a taste.” Sheryl smiled. “Follow through, get me what I want, the entire stash I have is yours.”

“How much issss there?”

“Truthfully only a couple dozen bags, but when something isn’t plentiful, you can charge more for it.” She explained. “So what do you say?”

“...I will ssssee what I can find.” He crackled. “However if the effort beginsss to outway the reward, I may have to raissse my pricesss.”

“Your always worth the costs Scheer.” Sheryl said, but leaned in close. “Just don’t try to fuck me over.”

“I can only assssk for the sssame thing.”

“Then we understand one another.” Sheryl said, standing back. “When should I expect news?”

“Give me an Earth week.” Scheer whispered, starting to scuttle away. “I’ll sssee what I have for you.”

“Alright then.” Sheryl said, watching him leave.

Same old Scheer, even after all these years. Slimy but reliable.

Anyway, there was no real reason to stick around for now. They could grab some food and head back to the Trailer, where she parked in the middle of the woods.

“Alright Gary, lets-” Sheryl turned and looked at her feet, only to find dirt.

Oh god damn it.

“Gary.” Sheryl scowled, looking up over the crowd and stalls around her. “Gary!”

Nothing.

Confused, Sheryl looked to the bug stand to the west.

No.

Then to the street meat buggie to the east.

No.

Then everything in between.

NO.

“Gary?” She called, looking around a few more times, to no avail.

He was just gone.

A small shard of glass stabbed at something under her rib the moment she realized Gary was awol. It was a forgin emotion to Sheryl, she had never felt it before and she stall for a moment.

Fuck.

Fuck! FUCK! God Damn, shitty FUCK!

Sheryl forced herself to breath. Calm down! There are only two reasons Gary could be gone. Either he wandered off, or he was taken away. There's no time to panic.

She knelt to the ground, looking in the dirt.

Thankfully earth sneakers were a very visible and traceable patterns.

She followed them a little ways away to an alley, where they quickly turned into a scuffle before two larger prints were running down into the shadows.

Great. Kidnapped.

Sheryl looked down the alley with a scowl.

Should she really go after him? Honestly she told him to stay by her. What use was he if he didn’t listen.

Sheryl rolled her eyes.

Supplies would last longer for one person. Be more quiet. Less mess and disorder. Hell, she may get the job done faster. Not to mention he’d just be a liability wherever they go…

She should just go back to the ship and forget about this.

‘What kind of monster has a child with someone, just to steal some plans?!’

‘If yah ain’t gonna be useful, you should just get busy dyin’!’

‘No ones comin’ ta save you this time sweetheart. Your rooted.’

Sheryl inhaled deeply and scowled, but started down the darkened alley.

Fuckin hell.

Thankfully the footprints were very distinct, she was able to follow them through the winding pathways to edge of the marketplace. A few places they were cluttered or destroyed by other prints, but she was able to guesstimate where they were headed and catch up farther down the line with the tracks again.

Finally she came out to a more stable like area of the city, bustling with aliens and animal aliens of all sorts. Looking down she could see a large stack of cages by a shipping container, and Gary was seated in one at the bottom.

Sheryl ambled over and knelt beside the sniffling boy, she stared to a nearby wall.

“So!” She said, startling him. “What’cha doing Gary?”

“Mom!” He scrambled to wipe his eyes and turned to her quickly. “Your here! Some jack-ass-alope took me away and locked me up in here!!”

“Did he.” She stated. “Now how in the hell did he do that with you standin’ right next to me?”

“Uhhhh…” Gary deflated.

“Could it possibly be that you didn’t listen and took off?”

“...Maybe…”

Sheryl blew some hair out of her face. “Mmm, ok then. Have a good life Gary.” She stood up and began to walk away.

“H-hey! Wait!” Gary waved at her to stop. “Aren’t you gonna save me?”

“You made your choice Gary, now you have to live with it.” Sheryl tutted. “I mean, clearly your able to go off on your own, like you wanted-”

“No! No! I just wanted to see the shops while you talked!” Gary shouted, panicking.

“I dunno, you don’t seem to want to listen to me.” Sheryl hummed, looking at her nails. “It might be best if we-”

“No! Don’t leave me here!!!”

Sheryl paused, looking to the ground for a few seconds before groaning. She came back and squatted by the cage, eyes narrowed. “You gonna listen to me?!”

“Yes!”

“You gonna do as your told?!”

“Yes!Yes! Pease!!!”

She grunted. “Fine.”

“HEY! Who are you!?” A voice shouted angrily. Gary yelped and crawled deeper into the cage as Sheryl turned around. She looked up into the face of a very grumpy, toad like alien. Then down to a set of very framilerly shaped feet. “Get away from my products!”

“Right.” She reached into her boot for her combat knife and stood. “Let’s get this over with.”

Ten minutes later she left the city in the direction of the camper, dripping in blue blood. Again no one paid her any mind, not even when she had Gary in one hand, forcing him along in front of her by the back of his shirt.

“When we get back home, you are in charge of dishes, mopping and getting the fire ready- DO NOT LIGHT IT UNTIL I AM THERE- I will be taking a soak in the tub.” Sheryl ordered, making him walk up onto a bridge. “I am understood?”

“Yes mom.”

She let him go and kept walking, heading back to camp. Gary took a moment to catch up to her.

“Mom…”

“Eh?” She grunted.

“T-thanks for not leaving me behind.” He sniffled. She glanced at him, frowning when she saw he was sporting a black eye, clothes dirty and hair askew.

She looked back out to the woodlands. “Yeah, well, don’t make me regret it.”

Gary didn’t respond.

#sheryl goodspeed #gary goodspeed #Fanfiction #final space #bad parenting #Hurt no comfort

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