Show & Tell
I think I promised some photographs, mainly critters, mostly from holiday but not all. Of course every picture tells a story, or to be more accurate, every picture has rather silly story attached to it.
Urghhhh, he makes my skin crawl this little chap does. I tell you, when he flew about it was like a helicopter taking off. He decided to spend some quality time with us on our balcony, however, his being there caused us not to be there… Its a lonely life being a big ugly critter!
Would you believe that this fellow came to visit the night after the helicopter bug visited us. We are not too sure if there was any confrontation at all but if there was, it would seem scorpy-dude won. So, yet another night that daffy spent anywhere but on the balcony.
My husband spent the next day obsessing about what he would find on the balcony that next evening. Bengal Tiger? A bear? Sadly (for him) and thankfully (for me) we had no other strange visitors…
Ahh! I see you have met Leonard the lizard. We saw him loads of times whilst we were travelling around the place. Funny isn’t it? Wherever we went, Lenny seemed to turn up too. What? You mean that there could have been more than one? Wow!
Scared you!
It’s always good when you make friends on holiday. This was my daughters friend, he sat by her side through an entire meal and was rewarded quite well for his patience. He followed every scrap of food from my daughters plate, to the fork, to her mouth….or his. I encouraged my daughter to take plenty of photographs whilst we were away, I told her how important it was she kept memories of the good times. It would seem that this chap made a lasting impression because out of 327 photographs taken, 28 were of him. I’ve chosen this one because I think the light enhances his bright beak. ;o)
I had never seen a black squirrel before this… now though, I believe I have seen every black squirrel that there is. They were everywhere. Not timid at all, they would scurry from tree to tree and had no fear of anything. I’m not sure I like them though… The red ones are the best but I do know a pretty cute grey one too.
Do ducks eat fish? I really have no idea, I know that they eat bread, but how do you not know that they aren’t keeping the bread to make a nice tuna sandwich later? It made me giggle this, as I couldn’t help thinking that it was like when you went into a nice restaurant and see all the fish/lobsters etc right in front of you and saying…”I’ll have that one please!”
Back in the UK now and I had to show you the cutest picture of Bruce. Which one of these is not a cuddly toy?
Bruce having a crazy night with his pals!
Can you remember I mentioned that I had read an entire book on holiday Monday? Well I sat, for most of the day in the conservatory… deeply engrossed in a terrific read. I noticed something in the corner of my eye. Sometimes when I read for too long my eye starts twitching and I see ‘patterns’ flickering. I stopped reading for a moment and focused my eyes and look who was there!
Sid the Grey Squirrel! I couldn’t believe it, he was so close. Munching on the peanuts that I had sprinkled around for the wood pigeons, (they are too big and clumsy to get on my little trees) without a care in the world! I know it’s a bit blurry, I have another though…(I have about 20!)
This is a little better.
I mentioned that I had a couple of surviving blooms in my garden… three to be precise. Sadly, one never made it and was eaten some time today. I’m just hoping the rabbits don’t get access to any ladders or I’ll even lose these leggy beauties!
Such a shame that the lily never ‘made it’.
Tags: bugs, critters, Croatia, Ducks, Garden, scorpian, seagull, show & tell, squirrel
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September 1, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I so agree with you about memories. I love re-living my past holidays through photos. That bird has evil eyes, it’s a good photo
September 1, 2008 at 8:00 pm
What a wonderful wildlife selection! I didn’t know that there were black squirrels!
That’s a lovely looking gladioli. xx
September 1, 2008 at 8:01 pm
*laughs* Hi Chris. I agree… there is something menacing about him!
Oh Chris… I have discovered another gold nugget in the book world. If you don’t mind, I’ll send this one on too… if you haven’t read it already. Fannie Flagg, Can’t Wait to get to Heaven…. so far, so very, very good!
September 1, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Flighty, why thank you! I know, the black ones seem to everywhere in Croatia! I’ve a few more gladioli to come out and looking at the buds, the colours are going to be lovely! xx
September 1, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Wow! What a neat collection of crawlers, critters, creatures, and flora!
September 1, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Great photos!
I love the bird and his story.
September 1, 2008 at 10:16 pm
We have black squirrels in the United States too. They used to be native to states north and east of here but have migrated over time. They are smaller than the others.
September 2, 2008 at 12:07 am
I just love that water! I know I said that last time but I just can’t help myself.
September 2, 2008 at 12:54 am
Daffy, nice photos, made some changes in you blog I see.
September 2, 2008 at 5:05 am
When visiting a foreign port,
a grand hotel, or beach resort,
inhabitants will often choose
to call, unasked, in ones or twos.
They seem to much prefer a deck
or in the shower… what the heck,
as long as they’re not in your bed!
That whirly thing around your head…
Was it a cricket? They bring luck,
unless of course they run amuck,
like helicopter bugs with wings!
That Scorpy Dude ~ I think he stings!
Do seagulls eat them? Just a thought…
but who would win if those two fought?
Now Leonard Lizard is quite cute.
He looks a lot like Frog’s friend, Newt!
You mention Squirrels ~ see the link!
I wonder what your Sid will think!
Do ducks eat fish? Some will, some won’t.
Mergansers do, but Mallards don’t.
And look at Bruce tucked in with friends!
Although not stuffed, he’s soft and bends!
As for your blooms that did survive,
how ‘glad’ to see those still alive!
Although the bunnies had their fill,
I think that you’ll see more of Lil!
Her bulbs will send her up once more
for they have many blooms in store…
So thanks for sharing pics, my friend.
I think this rhyme is done. The End.
Squirrel link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-561946/The-pack-mutant-black-squirrels-giving-Britains-grey-population-taste-medicine.html
September 2, 2008 at 6:17 am
Glo that is wonderful! Reading that over breakfast is a great way to start to another wet morning. xx
Daffy my gladioli suffered with the wet and wind so perhaps next year…! xx
September 2, 2008 at 10:00 am
Smiling here – first at the photos and the associated stories; then at Glo’s rhyme – full of it’s facts and fun; although I think Meerkats are known to eat scorpions (I think they go for the stinger first, biting it off before taking care of the rest)
Your poor garden – you suffer with rabbits – at least they’re cute; the bane of my blooms (and victimizer of my veg) is the slugs and snails that seem to see my yard as one big salad bar. I don’t really want to kill them – just persuade them that it would make me a lot happier if they chomped on all the weeds that poke up between the slabs; but no – radishes, peas, lettuce and a couple of flowers are too much of a draw for them; they can’t resist! Even with the copper tape down (which seems to keep the big ones off, but not the small ones); maybe I should stop putting off using the Vaseline… I just feel a bit… um… odd buying a giant jar of the stuff…. (I’m sure people will look at me in _that_ way… you know… like I’m some sort of pervert or something; at least if you’re buying condoms they’re only thinking “well he’s having sex with other people, the promiscuous little begger! “… yes, I _know_ I’m being neurotic
)
The ducks and fish; that reminds me of a story from earlier in the year – there is a place my girls go to feed the ducks and geese, and they were dutifully throwing their bits of bread to them when out of no-where, pushing birds out of the way, came this big fish (was it a carp? a pike? no idea!) and gobbled up a couple of pieces of bread that had been thrown; now the ducks were pretty nonchalant about the whole thing; like it happens all the time (I’m sure I was told that they gave the fish a look not too dissimilar to the one we give to people who push in front of us at the post office!
I didn’t know there were black squiggles (Like Mr Flighty) before; maybe they’re just gray and red ones that have been in the sun a little too long and gotten a little burnt ?
Sid reminds me of some of the squiggles we have around here – there’s a fair few – but they’re pretty friendly and do come close; I think they’ve been spoilt by all the tourists offering them nuts and things and kind of expect it – but they’re lovely to watch 
(I _do_ like how you name all the animals that cross your path; well, all the cute ones 
– I just call them all “my friend” – which works for me 
Love the photo of Bruce – he kinda blends in there doesn’t he ? And your daughter’s friend
I’m sure she’ll have many, many happy memories
Have a grand day
thanks for sharing
September 2, 2008 at 10:34 am
Wus – Please excuse me for amoment, whilst I ingnore your wonderfully lonnnnggggg comment.
It’s just I’ve been very busy this morning as you will see in a moment and I didn’t count on another comment. I’ll be back in a mo!
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Nick, I love the word ‘flora’, it brings nothing but pretty images into my head!
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Thanks Carol, so glad you enjoyed!
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Ruth – Yes, I noticed they were a little smaller. As you can see from the pictures, the grey one seems a lot chunkier! (That might be to do with all the good feeding he gets at my place!
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Hayden I’m going to choose one of my nicest pictures and send it to you. I’m sure you might be able to use it as a background perhaps… then you will have beautiful water on tap! (hehe did you see what I did there!)
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Hi Mike, I think I changed the header a wekk or so ago. This fish makes a few returns though, he’s an old boggled eyed friend of mine and I ‘m rather fond of him.
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Well Glo my dear, this is a treat!
Your supper ditty is hard to beat,
I think you may have me out-done,
But I will try as its so much fun.
And I know it gives Flighty such delight,
So I’ll give it a go and see what I write.
I hope my muse will help me with words
It’s a pity I’m not one of those nerds!
There was once something in my bed,
I clocked it one, right on its head.
The next day I saw a great big lump
No wonder my husband was in a grump!
The helicopter bug did not seem lucky
His dual with Scorpy-dude was very plucky.
Sadly though, I think it was in vein
I fear Scorpy-dude had him slain!
Squirrels, Lizards, bugs and Seagulls,
Frogs and ducks, but no big bulls
We had our share of nature’s wonders
And even saw one or two blunders!
As for the flowers, or the bunnies lunch!
I fear that the bunnies are a greedy bunch.
No sooner has a pretty bloom flowered
The rabbits have them quickly devoured
So no matter how many lilies may follow,
)
)
I fear the bunnies will bite, chew and swallow.
I need to think of a plan to hatch…
I could give them their own special patch!
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Thankfully Flighty, my gladioli are out the front… rabbits don’t go around the front…
I think as they are against the garden wall they are a little protected from the weather too.
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Wus – I’m back! Thanks for the comment. There isn’t much I can add to it, except to say that out of all of them, Bruce is my favourite! Did someone say he was bendy? He is bendy and there is something else about him but I’ll not mention it….
ooooh Meerkats! Now that would have been a treat on the balcony!
September 2, 2008 at 11:15 am
I hope you remembered to check under your bed covers before turning in, not good to have a scorpion for company, I would have felt quite preturbed by that. I’ve forgotten what Bruce is? I had to enlarge the photo to check he wasn’t stuffed! Black squirrels, they’re unusual, I’ve looked them up and apparently there are small numbers in Great Britain, would love to see one for real. I can imagine the gull hanging around, they do along our seafront, they go absolutely mad for the fishermen’s scraps, heads etc, they do have quite a character. I have a selection of gladioli in my garden this year, a pressie from John’s mum, and I have one flowering just this minute, very similar to your lovely pink one, some haven’t flowered? x
September 2, 2008 at 11:38 am
that pinchery thing looks a fright! i could never live in a place where the bugs (or weather) could kill me.
i’ll just take my chances with pollution and crazy drivers here in new jersey.
September 2, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Very nice photo’d Daffs, thanks for sharing them with us, and the poem from Glo had me grinning, such talent in one so young…LOL
September 2, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Hiya Louise, I did have a spider in the bed once… I checked everynight after that!
Bruce is a very cute little hamster, belonging to my daughter. We have had some hamsters Louise, but I must say, Bruce is incredibly lovely.
Oooh I’ve not seen a black one in this country but I will keep my eyes open for one… I’m just getting used to my my new grey garden friend. (He is cute!)
The gull is so cute, we laughed at him so much. The restaurant we were at was on the very top of a tower, open air and he was quite at home… he must have thought we were on his turf!
I’ll share the other gladioli Louise, when they arrive, I think they are going to be nice.. My hubby has put a wire stabiliser in to stop them drooping and snapping.
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Curly he scared the life out of me! I couldn’t believe it… having said that it was the first one I had ever seen so I suppose that is something!
We have a few crazy drivers here too!
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Chippy you are welcome and yes Glo is a very good poet!
September 2, 2008 at 5:35 pm
We have, in the southern part of Ontario, large black, grey and brown squirrels muck like your grey one. What are rare are white ones. http://www.town.southhuron.on.ca/White_Squirrels/whitesquirrelphotos.htm
Around where I live their are smaller red squirrels and flying squirries.
September 2, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Philip, they are amazing, and straight away, I said that they would be albino squrrels but it’s not. I had a quick google into the cause that your site mentions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutation
It’s really interesting. I thought I was clever as I was able to say that I had seen Red, Grey and now black but it seems I’d have to visit Canada to add the white ones to my list. Thanks for that Philip.
September 2, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Here is a better squirrel site http://www.journeysontario.ca/Adventure/White_Squirrels.html
September 2, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Philip, that is brilliant… that poor little squirrel at the bottom of the page with only a ratty little tale made me say ‘awww’.
)
The pics here are really good too.. I must admit I had never heard of them before. It also seems that the black ones are more common than I first thought too. Thanks again Philip, I’m pretty sure that there will be more than myself interested in your white squrrels!
How’s my big dog doing? Give her a big old English hug from me. (It’s like a tight bear hug!)
September 2, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I love your poem, and not just because I get a mention in it! I’m sure that Glo will be laughing with delight when she reads it. xx
September 2, 2008 at 7:24 pm
You and Glo seem to do this effortlessly – making people smile with your poetry! Surely that’s not Leonard, I don’t recognize him …. or maybe that’s because I’ve named all my garden lizards Leonard. What a collection of wild life you’ve experienced, though you could probably do with a few fewer flower-eating rabbits.
September 2, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Nikki it could be _your_ Leonard… did he not send you a postcard? (My boy has just recieved ours today! Talk about snail mail!)
)
) Hope you have had a good day and not worked too hard!
I’m glad the poems have made you smile. Glo is a pro when it comes to the rhyming.
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Yup Flighty, I even managed to rhyme you a name check almost!
September 2, 2008 at 10:13 pm
I can’t believe you got so many good critter photos! I want Bruce for my very own…he’s adorable!
September 2, 2008 at 11:30 pm
That scorpion photo is really cool! The scorpion would have scared me to death tho. Love the pic of your little ferret too. Are they as much fun as everyone says? (P.S. My sons admitted a penchant for Friday Night Smackdown. I thought of your daughter loving wrestling! I guess they have something in common.)
September 2, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Just read the other comments. I loved the poems! Like story time. Sorry, hamster, I thought you were a ferret. My sis and I used to have hamsters. My son had a rat named Ranger that was adorable, and I was quite enamored of him, which I certainly never expected. We used to get teeny weeny scorpions in our bathtub – but never one any where near that big.
September 3, 2008 at 4:44 am
A few characters there I would rather not come in contact with. That is one handsome bird, no wonder she took so many photos of him. I haven’t seen a black squirrel either. We have brown ones here all the time. That grey one is cute too. Lovely flowers. We are coming to the end of the season and frost threatens to take out the last of our blooms.
September 3, 2008 at 7:33 am
Oh, Daffy this is such a hoot!
Your poem and you, I do salute…
White squirrels, meerkats, much to learn,
but now it is your hamster’s turn…
Now Bruce might look just like a toy,
but don’t believe it! It’s a ploy ~
He’s Hamster Wrestling Champ, that’s who!
He’ll fix his beady eyes ~ on you!
He knows the moves. His Suplex flip
can fling you backwards…Lose your grip,
he’s got you covered; pinned you down!
Don’t mess with Brucie. He’s no clown!
So now we know the truth behind
this little rodent…He’ll unwind
and send those rabbits packing, fast!
So let him loose…They’ll be aghast ~
They’ll squeal, “We haven’t got a chance…”
He’ll start off with the Hamster Dance,
then swing upon your new trapeze
to show off all his expertise.
Although this may sound very silly…
It may just help the plight of Lily.
PS Thanks to Louise’s commets, I’ve been reading about Meerkats and Scorpions…Geesh!
“Observation of meerkats has shown that adults teach pups how to properly eat a scorpion. This lesson is taught in stages. At first, pups are simply given dead scorpions; later on, they get ones with stingers broken off. Eventually, the pups will be handed a disabled scorpion, stinger and all. Finally, as they approach the age at which they’re able to go out on their own, an adult may toss a young meerkat a live scorpion . It’s kind of sink or swim by this time.”
Source: http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/meerkats-poison.htm
September 3, 2008 at 8:34 am
Laura… I can’t part with him. I’m so sorry. I’d give you anything, but not Bruce. How about my husband? He cooks. (and moans and snoars!) Just let me know…
)
)
oh and many congrats on your super grandson!
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Tracie, it’s funny you said that but when I was little I spent far too much time at the local allotments and many of the gardeners kept ferrets. Very cute but boy! do they stink. Of course Bruce does occasionally smell unholy but he seems to go through, dirty boy stages. More than once I have had to stick his mucky bum under the tap!
The poeming dual is still running… I’m runnning out of rhyming words!
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Dawn, have you seen the links from Philip about the white squirrels, not sure where you are but I’m sure they are in Canada. There are some funny coloured squirrels about nowadays!
The bird was very cute… I can understand my daughter warming to him too! His does have a mean glint in his eye though! Hope you and yours are all ok.
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Ah Glo I fear the lily’s plight is lost
We tried to save them at all cost!
But with Bruce, the wrestling champ
On the bunnies heads he will stamp!
The trapeze will build big hamster muscles
That and the help of eating Brussels!
I don’t think the bunnies stand a chance!
Especially after seeing that hamster dance!
I think that we can now see a ray of hope
That mad, wrestling hamster is no dope.
Soon we’ll have a garden full of bright blooms
And a hamster wearing wrestling costumes!
Glo, I saw a programme called Meerkat Manor and I learned so much about them!
they are very unusual.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meerkat_Manor
I found you this clip… I hope it works for you.
September 3, 2008 at 10:25 am
HI Daffy, Nice shots, not sure about the Scorpion thingy mind you and have never seen a black Squirrel either . As for the Seagull here on the Devon Coast we post messages every where asking people not to feed them, as now they have started attacking people (Especially children) for any food being carried.
September 3, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Hi Bob, (Hi Sue ;o) It certainly scared the wotsies out of me! It’s amazing what pics you can get and it’s always better on holiday because you usually have a camera. I can certainly understand the worries of seagulls hurting people, they are some size aren’t they!
September 4, 2008 at 3:01 am
Hey Daff!! I second Curly, the scorpion is too scary. This post reminded me so much of our trip to NYC this weekend. In Central Park this crazy squirrel was chasing Georgia — he literally ran after her up onto the park bench. She was terrified! Thankfully some other kids thought he was brilliant and lured him away w/ food. Hopefully they didn’t wind up at the ER needing rabies shots. I do NOT TRUST SQUIRRELS. Cute as the dickens, but they can get way too greedy for their own good. Love ya babe!
September 4, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Aw, Bruce the Ferret I presume! We’ve had various pairs of ferrets for years and are currently ferret-less! My husband adores them…me…I like my cat better but they are darn cute by golly!
September 4, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Thankfully, squirrels don’t carry rabies. We found out when one bit my brother. I was really glad to know when my son finally owned up several days after the fact to having been bitten by a squirrel, breaking the skin! (Raccoons do, though, which is one of the reasons I was so careful with the one visiting us!)
September 4, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Hiya Tracie! Well the bird feeding station I postd about finally got it’s first visitor today and you’ll never guess what it was. It certainly didn’t have feathers! Yes, you have guessed….the squirrel! We don’t get raccoons here…. (I don’t think…I’ve never ever seen one)
) Bruce is actually a hamster but I must admit looking at the pic he looks like a ferret. We used to have a rabbit, and a fish and some gerbils and a long while ago, we had Timmy the dog for 11 years but we’ve never been cat lovers… I don’t sidlike them, I just never found them to very loving. I’ll post a better pic of Bruce and then you’ll see him better.
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Hiya Connie, welcome to my little home.
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So glad you are back my dear and it seems like you had a great time! The scorpion was certainly a bit of scare… hehe Understatement!!! Miss you honey! Hope everyone is ok. xxxx
September 5, 2008 at 1:57 pm
im itching from the bug pictures. I dont think that ducks eat fish. I think they find them a bit fishy. lol
September 5, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Fab, you have me itching now.
) Hope you have a nice weekend and if it’s as wet and windy as it here I hope you all get cuddled up together and giggle lots! (That is the answer to crappy weather! Cuddle and giggle)
February 26, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Enjoyed the post and the photos. You can see a few I took on our last vacation.
http://worldphotos2.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/lizards-in-aruba%e2%80%a6/