Sandhill Cranes Are Back

 

The sandhill cranes have returned for their winter migration. We have heard them overhead on their flight path from their feeding areas in the wetlands along the Cross Florida Barge Canal and their nighttime roosting spots inland.  Last week on a really overcast day with dropping temperatures and a light drizzle, I heard them honking overhead on their way home for the night and stepped out the back door to look up and see them.   Nothing overhead.  Once outside, I realized the noise was way too loud to be overhead.  I raced back through the house and out the front door to see a pair landing in the ditch.  With a lot of flapping and boisterous trumpeting, they hopped out of the ditch and proceeded to march right towards me and down the side of our house, made a left turn into the neighbor’s yard and circled her house. 

As soon as I could safely move without alarming them, I headed back inside to grab the camera and stalked them around the neighbor’s trying to remain unseen.  Took some photos and given the bad weather headed back to the house.  Hearing an even more raucous outburst from the pair, I turned in time to see three more cranes land.  There was much flapping and preening and trumpeting among the group.  Perhaps they were waiting for the dawdlers to catch up.  They poked the ground for insect snacks for some time and eventually before total darkness, flew on to their “beds” for the night.  It was like having National Geographic in our own yard.

More “People Foods” That are Safe for Dogs

Sprocket

© 2012 Claudia Ballard

8 x 10 acrylic on canvas

Green Beans

You already know that green beans are nutritious because they’re full of vitamins, minerals and fiber, and since they’re so low in calories too, they make a great weight-management snack for dogs that have put on a few extra pounds.

Watermelon

Summer is almost upon us and our dogs are just as excited as we are for warm weather, fun in the sun, playing at the beach and stuffing our faces with juicy, delicious watermelon. Yes, dogs can eat watermelon. Other melons are good for dogs to eat too, but stick to the familiar fruit-salad basics like watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe instead of anything exotic that you might find

Blueberries

Fresh or frozen, berries are good for dogs for the same reasons they’re good for us: they’re packed with vitamins, fiber, antioxidants and phytochemicals. But don’t share too much, because dogs are just as prone as we are to the digestive discomfort that can come from berry overindulgence

Carrots

…they’re healthy because of all the vitamins, fiber and potassium they carry. As a bonus, carrots are great for canine dental health too…[some veterinarians suggest] baby carrots to help remove plaque from your dog’s teeth and keep its breath fresh and pleasant.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin… is bursting with vitamins, beta carotene and fiber. It’s also low in calories, and you can feed it to a tummy-aching dog to settle its stomach or help relieve diarrhea. As always, fresh is best. If you really must buy the canned stuff, make sure you select a brand of pumpkin that’s not full of sugar and preservatives.

 

 http://www.pawnation.com/2012/06/03/10-people-foods-dogs-can-eat-too/

“People Foods” That are Safe for Dogs



Dreamy Kitty
© 2012 Claudia Ballard
11 x 14 acrylic on masonite

 

There are all kinds of opinions on what to feed the canine members of the family.  My vet insists dogs should never eat “people food”.  Try telling that to my brother’s German shepherd as he snatches cherry tomatoes out of my sister-in-law’s garden or begs and whines for raw carrots while she cooks.  :->

Most of us know there are foods that are harmful to our pooches, even toxic, and we hear a lot about the evils of grapes and chocolate.  However, I found something interesting on Pawnation.com and thought I would share some excerpts here:

 

 

Peanut Butter

… peanut butter is safe (and delicious) for dogs to eat. And because dogs are generally quite fond of peanut butter, it can be used to conceal yucky medicine. It almost goes without saying that your dog is best off eating natural, unprocessed peanut butter without added salt, sugar and preservatives…

Cheese

They’re usually eager to gobble up some cheese, and generally it’s perfectly safe. But like us, dogs can be prone to lactose intolerance, so tread lightly. Cottage cheese is a good choice because it’s gentle on sensitive tummies

Yogurt

Yogurt is one of the best treats you can give dogs for the same reasons it’s so often recommended to humans: it’s packed to the rafters with probiotics, vitamins, protein, calcium, riboflavin, zinc and potassium. …. Avoid yogurts that are chock-full of sugar, preservatives and other additives. By the same token, fat-free yogurt is an acceptable option for dieting dogs, but be careful not to choose a brand that replaces the fat with an artificial fat substitute. All-natural is the name of the game here.

Salmon

The fish is a great source of protein, and it boasts a ton of omega-3 fatty acids which promote a strong immune system, healthy skin and a shiny coat. And if your family has both dogs and cats in the home, that’s all the more reason to stay stocked up on this nutritional powerhouse.

Sweet Potatoes

These sweet spuds have got fiber, vitamins and carotenoids up the wazoo. What’s the best way to prepare them for canine consumption? You wouldn’t want to eat sweet potatoes raw, and neither would your pooch. Serve them up in a dog bowl cooked, mashed or even dehydrated. Just don’t add salt or butter.

Bonnie and Big Bird

Evening Deer

©2012 Claudia Ballard

Matted to 8x10 acrylic on Arches WC paper

Dark wood frame under glass

One day last week I heard my husband calling me softly to come to the back door.   He had heard a ruckus in the backyard from our usually quiet cocker.  A small flock of wild turkeys had wandered through the yard and Bonnie did not know quite what to make of such big birds.  Apparently she charged the fence and the gobbler turned on her, ruffling his feathers, and charged back.  Totally taken aback for a bird to behave that way towards her, the bird dog, she retreated. 

The gobbler was shielding his flock by staying between us and the hens while they made their way into the woods on the edge of our property.  Bonnie studied this some more and rushed the fence and gave one small bark, just to let him know this was her yard after all.  Once the hens had slipped into the cover of the undergrowth, the gobbler too disappeared into the woods and they vanished.

When we first lived here, before development around us, we would see huge flocks of turkeys on a regular basis, pecking their way through the tall Bahia grass and snacking on the acorns under the large oaks.  It was a grand sight!

Squirrels Are For Chasing

Out On A Limb
c. 2012 Claudia Ballard
5 x 7 acrylic on canvas panel

Apologies for having been missing in action so long.  I had a serious skin infection that landed me in the hospital for a bit.  But I am on the mend and loaded up with antibiotics for quite some time to come. Hurray!  It is good to be back home and back in my studio.

Of all the dogs I have known, only a couple of small poodles were not inclined to chase squirrels.  Sam, our “granddog” golden retriever, spent hours slowly stalking them...like they could not see his 96-pound frame approaching.  They would taunt him by waiting until the last second to scamper up a tree.  Sam would try to follow them up the tree, jumping wildly in a futile effort to get them to come back down.  He gave a few of the squirrels a near heart attack as his tactics improved.  ;-) 

On the farm we had a beagle named Barney…scrappy and fearless.  His hunting partner, Shelly, was a shaggy, white female, a wild dog who was adopted as a puppy and tamed (sort of).  She had good instincts for hunting.  They would each chase the same squirrel, working together, one straight on and one sneaking around the house to come up behind it.  The squirrels still usually won.    I think the real fun for them was in the chase.  Goodness knows it provided lots of entertainment for us watching them.

 

 

 

Playtime For Bored Cats

Bright Eyes
c. Claudia Ballard 2012
5 x 7 acrylic on canvas

Like people, cats get bored with their old toys.  But they don't have to lose interest.  Cat behaviorist Marva Marrow has suggestions on how to make every play day fresh and fun for you and your feline companion:

1. Limit the Options

Have just a few toys around.   Cats aren't great decision makers. When they have too many options, they become unable to focus and can’t choose.

2. Rotate the Toys

If you own more than a few cat toys, you don't need to get rid of them all.  Then next week hide those away and pull out three more. The three you choose should be dissimilar.

3. Know Your Cat's Turn-Ons (and Turn-Offs)

Most prefer texture to sound, making a furry stuffed mouse more enticing than a rubber one that squeaks. Cats are also smart, and not easily fooled by mechanical prey.  What will remain appealing to most cats is any toy they can bat around.

4. Know Your Cat's Nature

Cat play is practice for hunting prey.  They don’t make a quick kill. They toss it up in the air, force it to move.   That is why they can spend hours batting a ball of tinfoil.

5. Keep It Real

Most cats are unable to follow quick movement. Drag a pole toy or string toy along the ground slowly, just out of your cat's reach.  You can also attempt to mimic the movement of their natural prey by holding it still so your cat can focus, and then wiggle it a little, stop, and then wiggle again.

6. Use What You Have

A cat’s favorite plaything may turn out to be the plastic ring from a carton of milk, or a ball of cellophane.  Socks filled with catnip, small balls of yarn, or ping-pong balls let loose in a dry bathtub may also bring your cat more hours of pleasure than the most expensive store-bought toy.

What does YOUR cat love to play with the most? 

Excerpted from petpeoplesplace.com (here)

Sam's Story...The Beginning



Golden Smile
c. 2012 Claudia Ballard
12 x 16 acrylic on masonite panel

Well, this is not really him, but sure does resemble him.  I will do another painting one day of the real thing.  He was an awkward and lanky golden retriever pup that arrived at our neighbors´ home and quickly tried to climb their picnic table, but his wobbly legs would not cooperate with the rest of his fast-growing body.  He discovered we were home a lot more than his owners and spent the day camped out on our porch or following us around the yard.  Sam was quickly adopted as our “granddog”.  He grew up to be a strapping 96-pound lapdog!   He was exceptionally smart and talented (as any grandmother would tell you) and was always into something that made us laugh. 

Watch for more stories about Sam and the other dogs we have known coming soon.

 

As you will see, I am retooling my blog to reflect my new focus on animal art…specifically pet portraits.  Please see my pet portrait page here, if you would like more information on a custom portrait as a gift for a loved one or yourself.