Showing posts with label Animals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Animals. Show all posts

Thursday, January 4, 2024

To the Dogs

Chris and the Dogs
Odenton, MD
January 3, 2024

 No matter how hard we try to train our family dogs, they remain very interested in meal time. 

Yesterday, Chris was having lunch and she had the company of not only Finnegan, but Nicole's two dogs Lily and Arthur. They were very attentive and watched her every move. 

The presence of dogs within here interpersonal space can be annoying. Despite Chris's best efforts to make us believe that she does not provide the dogs with an occasional morsel, I believe that she must be giving in to their long puppy-like looks. 

She is a softie.

She was able to complete her meal and the dogs were respectful of her space, well mostly.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Friday, December 29, 2023

A Visit with Louis

 

Louis
Laurel, MD
December 28, 2023

There is something almost magical about the week between Christmas and New Years. Many people take vacation to be with family and friends. And that is what we are doing. We are away from home, it is hard to call it a vacation since we both Chris and I are retired, but we are enjoying time with family and friends and, as it turns out, a former member of the family. 

Louis
Laurel, MD
December 28, 2023

Louis is a ragdoll cat that we got when he was a kitten. He spent many years with us and grew into a large cat who was part of the pack with Makayla, Riordin, and Finnegan--who was the late-comer. He is a soft spoken cat, but has one really great trait--he is not bothered by dogs. When family or friends would bring their dogs to visit Riordin would run away and hide, but Louis would just stay his ground and almost invite the dogs to bother him. It was interesting to watch the dogs sniff at Louis and he would stare at them with his blue eyes, taunting them. 

Through a series of events a couple years ago, we adopted out Louis to a friend as a companion. Last evening we visited that friend for dinner and were reunited with Louis, who in his usual cat-like manner totally ignored us even when we picked him up to say hello. We had always believed that Louis wanted to be an "only" cat and since his departure on the few times we have visited him we continue to be convinced that he is happier without another cat or dog to share life with.

Louis continues to enjoy life alone, but as always in the middle of what is happening. And yes, he always seems to have a scowl on his face.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Raw Day for Recovery

Northern Cardinal
Odenton, MD
December 28, 2023

 It rained.

It was cold.

I was not a good day to be outside. 

We have been enjoying a fun bird feeder. It is the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder and comes equipped with a wifi camera and an AI program to identify the birds at the feeder. 

We have been enjoying the feeder and the visits from the birds--even on a rainy and raw day. Sadly, we cannot feed the birds in Florida due to the infestation of Palm Rats which are very destructive.

The Bird Buddy images and video can be shared and Chris and I have been added to this camera so we can enjoy the activity. 

The Bird Buddy provides images and videos of the visitors depending upon the length of their visit. Looking at the images and videos was something to do while also watching a few series on TV.

Today, hopefully, the weather will be better. 

Wait, did I mention that we went to trivia night at the local brewery and our team came in second? If only we had done better on the music round.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Sunday, September 10, 2023

Two Too Many

Me with Kittens and Finn
Tequesta, FL
September 9, 2023

Last evening, Chris brought over the two kittens that we were watching for the weekend. 

Finnegan loves the kittens and they helped ease the depression he seems to be in following Riordin's departure. Yes, he is still looking for Riordin in all of the usual places. 

The kittens are balls of energy and they ran all over the house. It was fun watching Finn try to herd them. It truly was watching someone try to herd cats. 

At one point, both kittens jumped up onto me and so did Finn. It was a strange experience. Chris thought it was cute and took a picture. 

I was not so amused, but enjoyed the experience. 

Do I want a kitten or a puppy? NO! 

Do I like pets, yes. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Riordin Update

 Amazingly, the cat who once came back after being lost for six days, came back once again.

Riordin in the Pelican Room
Tequesta, FL
August 13, 2023
Riordin spent the night at the St Francis Animal Clinic. The vet called yesterday and told us that he had recovered from the massive asthma attack and was eating and drinking and doing the functions that eating and drinking cause. He was perky and ready to come home.

I was in shock. But he was great yesterday after we arrived home with him. He ate like he was starving--which he was and he drank lots of water to rehydrate. He is on a new steroid treatment and we no longer have to give him the albuterol treatments in the torture chamber. I call it a torture chamber but in reality he actually has adopted it as one of his favorite places to hang-out and sleep.

It was nice to have my cat back at a near normal level. I am worried, however, because during the night he began to have some difficulty breathing again, but that has settled and we will see how he does after his morning dose of steroids. 

It is good to have Riordin back home!


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

The River

 


Crab in the River
North Fork, Loxahatchee River
Tequesta, FL
August 8, 2023
I managed a 16.5 mile ride yesterday, before the heat became too oppressive. It was nothing special, except for my stop on the bridge in Tequesta which passes over the North Fork of the Loxahatchee River.
Looking South over
North Fork of Loxahatchee River
Tequesta, FL
August 8, 2023
 


The river was flat and inviting. I looked down into the water and found that despite the heat above, the river was full of life. I normally see needlefish and other small baitfish, but yesterday there was a fairly good-sized crab working the shallows.

There were also some larger fish in the area which I enjoyed watching. 

I make the stop on the bridge a regular water break. I love to watch the different characters that the river shows. And, just a few weeks ago, Chris and I were boating right at the entrance to the North Fork. We would have motored up the river, however, we were concerned about the dark clouds gathering between where we were in the river and our marina about an hour-and-a-half away.  

There is always something to enjoy about the river. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday, August 4, 2023

They Grow Them Big


 

Chris with Sea Bean
Indian River Lagoon, FL
August 2, 2023
Sometimes it is a matter of perspective. How big something is depends upon how close it is to you. I like the cartoon that I have seen in the past where the tyrannosaurus is reflected in the outside mirror on a car and the words at the bottom of the mirror remind us that objects in the mirror are closer than they appear. 
Large Jellyfish with a Crab
 Indian River Lagoon, FL
August 2, 2023

We encountered a strange situation the other day as we were boating and anchored on a sandbar in the Indian River Lagoon which was mostly underwater. There were huge jellyfish. And by huge I mean 12-18 inches across, or more, in the water. I am not used to seeing jellyfish this large. They were also strangely beautiful as they drifted in the current. One jellyfish drifted by with a small crab riding aboard. I could not believe it. I actually got an image of it. The crab is about 3 inches, I would guess. I'm not sure if this was a frog and scorpion thing or not. The jellyfish were easy to see and avoid as we waded in the water, but we needed to remain vigilant as the current was swift with the tide going out and they were moving rather quickly.

It was all part of our fun boating Wednesday. We continue to find more fun and enjoyment at every turn.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Look--in the Surf!

Flat Atlantic
Jupiter Island, FL
August 1, 2023

 Chris and I managed a morning beach walk yesterday. I write managed because we actually got around and gathered Finnegan to hit the beach and enjoy the morning. 

The Atlantic was flat. I was surprised  to see how flat the ocean was, but I enjoyed looking at it and even getting into the water for an enjoyable couple of minutes. I love the ocean when it is flat. 

Nurse Shark Along the Beach
Jupiter Island, FL
August 1, 2023

I walked the beach mostly with my feet well into the water. The occasional wave would hit well above my knees. So I was actually walking in the water.

As I was looking into the surf, I noticed a small shark swimming along with me, just in where the water begins to get deep. The shark was hunting, but also pacing me as I walked along the beach. I called Chris over and she also saw the shark.

I did manage to get an image of it. I had another one, but the light was such that you really cannot see the shark in the water without actually knowing that it is there. 

This is the second time that I have seen a nurse shark right along the beach in the past month. I need to keep a wary eye on the surf. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Saturday, July 8, 2023

Blocking the Way

 

Sand Hill Cranes
Tequesta, FL
July 6, 2023
Photo by Chris

Blockers!

That is what they sometimes become.

Sand Hill Cranes are big birds standing about 3 to 4 feet tall. They make a very disturbing sound, like what I imagine a pterodactyl would make. Fortunately, they are generally sedate birds, except when guarding a golf ball on a course. 

Chris and I came across two of the birds during our bike ride on Thursday. They meandered across the road and were effective blockers. 

I actually enjoy looking at the birds due to their size. I would never eat to disturb them as they seem more than capably of defending themselves and inflicting damage upon anyone who would attack them. 

It was fin to get excited about wildlife other than the tortoises, rabbits, and squirrels that we typically see during our rides. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday, July 7, 2023

Watching the Neighbor's Cat

Tigger and Chris
Tequesta, FL
July 4, 2023

 It is more than fair. 

We need people to watch Riordin when we travel and we can help our neighbors by watching their cat when they travel!

The cat, Tigger! He is a beautiful animal and I enjoy going over to feed and play with him twice per day. I am not as enthused about changing his litter box, but that is a necessity. 

Tigger loves to play. He also has a great purr motor and turns it on when he is held. I know that as the time goes on he is going to become more lonely and we will need to spend additional time with him. Fortunately, he is a short walk away. 

More fun to come, I am sure.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Sunday, June 25, 2023

Manatees in the Water

 

Chris in the Intracoastal
Jupiter Island, FL
June 24, 2023
Chris and I managed to escape the heat yesterday. In fact, the day presented some uniqueness that we will remember for quite a while. 

We began the day with a bike ride. Not just our usual bike route around Tequesta, but Chris decided she was ready to tackle the drawbridge and wanted to ride along Beach Road on Jupiter Island. And so we took an easy 12 mile ride across the drawbridge and onto Beach Road riding partway up the island. As we rode by some of our favorite beach locations on the intracoastal waterway (ICW), Chris decided that she wanted to come to the beach. 

The weather has not been suitable for beach activity, but yesterday, during the morning hours, the beach was calling! So we shortened our ride, went home, changed from biking gear to swim gear, grabbed our chairs and headed back to the ICW. It was a beautiful time and even though the area was crowded with other Floridians trying to escape from the oppressive heat and humidity, we found an excellent place to enjoy the water.

The highlight of the day, however, came shortly after we arrived and were out in the water near the boating channel. Two manatees, presumably a mother and her calf, came along feasting on the sea grass growing on the bottom of the ICW. They were close enough to shore that many people, including ourselves, paddled out to the relatively shallow water where they were feasting to marvel at the gentle giants. We were able to just make out their forms while they were underwater, but they often pushed their heads out to get air and we could see them clearly. It was an event and the manatees were unconcerned by our presence. Amazingly, no one actually did anything stupid, like trying to touch or disturb them. Even a dog riding on a paddle board was mesmerized by the giant creatures lurking beneath the water's surface.

Although we live in South Florida, manatee encounters are very rare. Both Chris and I enjoyed watching them. Sadly, the water was too deep for me to get my iPhone out to get an image of them, but I will remember our manatee encounter for a long time.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

For the Birds

Two Canada Geese Families
Odenton, MD
June 10, 2023
 Watching the geese became a daily pastime while we were in Maryland. There was a small catch pond next-door to Nicole's, where we were staying, and two goose families would walk over the small hill and spend part of the day swimming and eating in the relatively protected, fenced pond. 

What was interesting was that there were two goose families with between them 8 goslings. One family had 5 and the other 3 goslings. The goslings were hatched about a week or two apart, meaning one family was developing ahead of the other. But, they all got along and worked together as a small flock.

During the month we were in Maryland, Chris and I watched the geese and marveled at how the goslings so quickly developed from small, almost helpless creatures into beautiful Canadian Geese. We worried about the transient foxes that we occasionally saw at the pond. One day we saw a bunch of feathers and worried that one of the goslings had met an untimely end, but upon further examination I determined that there were not enough feathers. Later that same day we were happy to see the full compliment of both families. 

Since we departed, a week ago, it has been reported that the maturing goslings and their families no longer come to the pond for daily feedings. They are likely now part of a larger flock that will fly around Maryland, but never leave. Perhaps next year there will be additional families in the grouping. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Geese on the Move

Geese and Dog
Purcellville, VA
May 21, 2023


Goose and Gosling
Odenton, MD
May 23, 2023

Chris and I continue to enjoy the geese in Nicole and Mike's side yard pond. The goslings are growing so quickly. It is instructive to watch the adults protect and herd their brood from place to place. The goslings line up generally between the adults and move together. 


On Sunday, while we were at Maggie Malick Wine Cellars, we observed adult geese protecting their goslings from the occasional dog that wanted to play in their pond. One of the geese, we believed it was the gander, moved between the dog and the goslings to divert the dog. One enterprising dog actually swam around threw pond twice with the gander always just out of reach before the dogs owner finally managed to get the dog under control. 

We never feared for the geese, although we wondered if at some point the dog would come under direct attack from the gander.

And so goes nature. Oh yes, we do have to avoid stepping in goose poop!


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD


Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Geese in the Grass

Goose Family on an Outing
Odenton, MD
May 16, 2023

 One of the advantages of being back in Maryland for the late-Spring, is the ability to enjoy the animals as they tend their youngsters. Near us is a rainwater runoff pond which has a lot of duckweed and is the daily feeding location for two pairs of Canada Geese and their goslings.  There are eight goslings between the two groups. Three older ones and five younger. The geese are not nesting around the pond, they actually nest in another pond and walk through the forest every day. They spend the day feeding at the pond near us. 

I check on the two families throughout the day, counting the goslings. Sometimes they come outside the fence surrounding the pond, as they did yesterday. There are actually four geese in the image. The two parents are close together. 

We are careful not to disturb the families. The pond also hosts other visitors, one of which is a large groundhog. It is humorous to see him running up the hill when people approach. He gets to the top and then looks back to see if he is being chased, which he is not. 

Today, we are planing our first bike ride. We will be joining Patrick and Jen and friends for a ride around the BWI Loop. Surprisingly, I never ride the loop last summer as I was too busy downsizing our house and selling it. 

So we have another busy day planned and are already enjoying our time in Maryland.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

The Drive

Chris and Finnegan Driving
South Carolina
May 15, 2023

 Chris and I completed another successful trip from South Florida to Maryland yesterday. 

I decided not to try and publish Monday Musings because I had a car strapped to my bottom for roughly 16 hours. 

The trip began at 11:58 PM on Mother's Day and ended at about 3:40 PM yesterday when we made our first stop to drop off Riordin, our cat, who is bunking with Jeremy while we are here in Maryland. I will endeavor to visit him almost every day. It took him almost two weeks to get back to normal after he stayed alone with only daily visits from a friend while we were last in Maryland. 

Both Finnegan and Riordin were great travelers on the trip. Riordin only asked to be out of his carrier on one occasion, to relieve himself, and then was happy to curl up inside of his safe place for the remainder of the trip. 

We made only four stops during the trip. Two were for gas (my truck has great range), one was for lunch, and the other was at a rest area for a break. We stocked the car with snacks and beverages to assist in minimizing stops. I figure the four stops totaled about an hour and we lost another hour from Northern Virginia around D.C. and on I-95 to Elkridge. Even in the early afternoon, traffic was snarled.

Well, the trip is done and we can begin the business of being here in Maryland to visit family, friends, wineries, attend graduations, baseball and whatever else comes our way. We are here until mid-June when we will make the trip south. We are considering a two-day return trip and if so, I want to stop near Exit 102 in Georgia for the night to visit the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Friday, May 12, 2023

Vet Fun

 

Riordin in the Cupboard
Elkridge, MD
August 27, 2022
It is, of course, an oxymoron. There is no way that going to a vet can be fun. In fact, it was almost catastrophe. 

Riordin, our cat, has been coughing and Chris and I were concerned that he might have a respiratory infection. He had been to the vet a month ago and had a non-specific infection, for which he was prescribed antibiotics. He had a cough then and it seemed to get better, but now it had become more annoying.

Riordin in Xray
West Palm Beach, FL
May 11, 2023
During the trip to the vet, Riordin became carsick and puked all over his cat carrier. To make it worse, I had to stop quickly and his carrier rolled off the seat onto the floor and of course the poor cat was now covered in regurgitated ick. Upon arriving at the vet, Chris and I were able to clean him and the carrier. He was not a pretty sight, but cleaned up nicely and dried before we were called into the examination room. We left him out of the carrier and I held him so that he could dry out.

The exam went well, Riordin is a pretty chill cat. Blood was drawn, X-ray taken, and a shot given. Riordin handled it all pretty well. The final verdict? He may have allergies or asthma. There is no infection (blood work) and no mass in his lungs indicating either pneumonia or cancer (X-ray). We were relieved, and also relieved of just over $300, to get that information. When we return from Maryland we are considering having him tested for allergies. We are pretty sure he has allergies since he used to sneeze a lot, but is coughing and we are considering testing and immunotherapy treatment. 

Well, at least we know he is fit to travel. We obtained a mild sedative to take the edge off while he is in his carrier in the car during the upcoming trip. AND, I will secure the carrier so it will not roll off the seat again.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Sitting by the River

 

Pelican at The Square Grouper
Jupiter, FL
April 28, 2023
Chris and I met friends at The Square Grouper Friday evening for Happy Hour. We have not been frequenting the Grouper much lately because their prices are too high and they do not have Happy Hour pricing. 

The treat of the evening was the large pelican preening just outside the fence. Once finished with preening, took a nap remaining in the same spot the entire time we were at the Grouper. The pelican did not seem to mind as I walked up to take an image, even though we were only about 8 or so feet apart. It seemed to understand that I could not cross the fence. 

We enjoyed another beautiful South Florida evening even knowing that thunderstorms were coming, but they would arrive later. Sitting by the Loxahatchee River looking at the Jupiter Lighthouse is always enjoyable. We left the Grouper before the evening storms arrived.

We are in the South Florida cycle of beautiful days and stormy evenings. Last evening's storm was a real "gully-washer." It rained so hard that water began collecting on our patio. Chris and I sat outside watching the rain and the lightening while enjoying some adult beverages as I began grilling dinner. The screen we installed to protect the patio area from bugs provides some protection from the rain. We even enjoyed seeing some light hail land in the yard. 

And the weekend is only half over! We still have all day today! I wonder what trouble will come our way?

As an aside, we continue to monitor the recovery of my Dad after surgery to restore blood flow to his right leg. My sister in Houston is on point and doing a great job making decisions and keeping the family informed of his progress and the series of smaller surgeries to complete the process. Chris and I have talked to Dad and he seems in good spirits. We will likely be heading to Houston during late-June as he is completing rehab to provide assistance.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunday, April 23, 2023

Super Saturday

Clouds from the North Fork Loxahatchee River Bridge
Tequesta, FL
April 22, 2023

Saturday arrived and I admit that it felt like a weekday. I have trouble distinguishing weekdays from weekends anymore. I placed a call to an insurance company and was surprised when they advised me to call back during normal weekday business hours. 

I began the day by enjoying a pleasant almost 22 mile bike ride through Tequesta and Jupiter. As I stopped on the Loxahatchee River North Fork Bridge in Tequesta, I took an image of the scene looking North. The reflections of the clouds on the water caught my eye, like an impressionist era painting. 

Perhaps I was more attuned to the view as it was Earth Day. It was also at about the 20 mile mark of my ride and I was a bit tired. April has been a light riding month. The almost two weeks spent in Maryland with no biking has reduced my miles ridden. When Chris and I return to Maryland next month we are taking our bikes with us. I have a number of trails that I want to ride. 

Jupiter Island Beach
Jupiter Island, FL
April 22, 2023
For the evening, Chris and I went to the beach for a walk. We were not sure what we would find with the sargassum, but the beach was not badly covered. We found optimist fishermen and boys enjoying the cool afternoon breeze while wondering why they were not catching any fish. We noticed significant beach erosion and there is an 8 foot wall at the base of the dunes. Fortunately the stairs come down to the current beach level. We both wondered how the sea turtles were going to find a suitable location to lay eggs. 

We enjoyed the walk on the beach, with Finnegan, as a way to close out the day. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday, April 21, 2023

Birds of the Day--Golfing

Blue Heron at Jupiter Dunes
Jupiter, FL
April 20, 2022

Yesterday was a golfing day for Chris and me. We try to play golf on Thursdays and having that plan seems to be working as we are golfing more than not. 

Florida golf courses generally have a lot of water. The water creates hazards from which it is unlikely that the errant golf ball will be recovered. I know this because my golf balls seem to have a built in homing device to find water. 

Blue Heron Takes Off with Turtle Watching
Jupiter Dunes, Jupiter, FL
April 20, 2023

The enjoyable thing about the water, however, is the wildlife. Yesterday, for instance, I saw many turtles both in the water and on the shore, a couple very interesting herons, thousands of tadpoles, and even a fish that jumped completely out of the water. The wildlife mercifully distracted me from one of my most miserable rounds of golf in a long time.

I managed a unique image yesterday on the 6th hole, after my ball had rolled down the side of the raised green and into the water. I was setting up for an image of a blue heron with a turtle just off shore. And then, just as I snapped the image, the heron took flight. The turtle remained visible, near the top of the image on the left.

It was a beautiful morning for golf and I was happy to be on the course playing and able to enjoy the wildlife. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 


Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Birthday Burger for Lily

Lily Waiting for Birthday Hamburger
Odenton, MD
April 8, 2023

 Celebrating dog birthdays is something our family enjoys. We do not celebrate them with the same level of excitement that people receive, but they are special moments for the furry four-footed members of the family.

The other day Lily, Nicole and Mike's dog, celebrated her 5th birthday! The special event was planned for lunch time. We were having burgers and one had Lily's name on it. It was better than a birthday cake and in an effort to keep the event sane, the burger was quartered and given to her in pieces. I have the video below, but it is important that fingers were definitely at risk as the birthday burger was provided to the dog of honor!

Lily is a great dog. She is a rescue and a foster fail. She is devoted to the family and a steady, if not loud and excitable force in the house. No one would ever consider entering this abode uninvited once they hear Lily on the other side of the door--and they would be wise to heed her bark!



Sadly, I forgot to turn my phone to horizontal. Ugh. I hate it when that happens.

Everyone survived without permanent injury.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

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