Celtic Festival

Here is your soundtrack for this post. Picture sitting on the bank of a river, the weather is perfect, temperature 77°F/25°C, sunny, dry, and light breezes. We were sitting on a blanket behind the stage where a band was playing, so the music is live.



A guy paddled by in a coracle, which I am only familiar with by name because a friend of mine in the UK has one. Considering the recent floods (and the banning of river recreation) he was probably committing a misdemeanor, so I hope his adventure ended well.

I didn't take loads of pictures of the bands and costumes this year, as I have done before. Just a few snapshots. Enjoyed petting the mini-horses, and really... what is cuter than a mini-horse? It would be a tough competition. Princess Neko would be in there (and all cats, really), puppies, baby hedgehogs, mini-horses, etc.

Water and Life

This story makes me so sad. It's an NPR piece [audio and article] on the drought here in Texas and how it's affecting... well... all living things. Water sources are drying up, killing food sources for wildlife - plants, bugs, fish. Young animals are malnourished and just waste away in misery. It's a vicious cycle, and heartbreaking.

Our suburban yard is a wildlife habitat, and we provide birdseed, fresh water, and enough uncut brush for a certain amount of shelter - but I don't know what else to do. Animals like rats, opossums and raccoons are welcome to visit us anytime, but there are hazards to putting out dog food or other tasty feed. The danger is to THEM, not us. Other people on the block are not so wildlife friendly as we are, and I am very certain that an increase in the number of these animals would definitely result in an increase in calls to Animal Control Services - or even worse, a DIY version that would be anything but humane.

MSNBC drought photoblog

This will be the hottest summer on record here, and the worst one-year drought. It's expected to continue through the winter so there's no end in sight. I remember reading one of the climate scientist's prediction that this area of Central Texas would become more like a desert over time. That's looking plausible.

Nice beavers!

Caturday events

Old Henry likes to howl a bit during the nights and early mornings - then he's all worn out. Sometimes he's switch from one comfy spot to another one. Good way to face the day.

Water is Falling on My Head Head Head

This made me laugh. It's a bit of silliness from "Song a Day" Jonathan Mann.

A possible lead

I think we may have discovered one of the things causing the outbreak of toe consumption by pet doggies. Check out this product that is for sale right there in the pet aisle of the HEB grocery. Stop the insanity. See [A Disturbing Trend].

It's Saturday, have a popsicle.

It's just lots of different animals eating popsicles. That's it.

A disturbing trend

2008
Pet dog gnaws off disabled woman's toe
Dog was a miniature dachshund, and the woman was sleeping.

"It's hard to take in when you walk in a room and there's a dog eating your mom," Elizabeth said, sobbing. "She told me to come in, and I dropped my phone and took off running. I didn't think when I went in there I was going to see that."

2008
Man's Puppy Chews Off Four Of His Toes
This is a paralyzed sleeping man.

It appears the five-month-old pit bull mix named China, was playing with her owner's feet and ended up taking off all the toes, except the big toe on his left foot.

Cantrell says the dog is harmless and has never been violent in the past.

2009
Authorities: Pit bull chewed off baby's toes
You should have to pass a mother test before breeding.

Deputies say the child's mother, Robie Lynn Jenkins, and her boyfriend, Tremayne Spillman, were dog-sitting for a man arrested Saturday night for illegal possession of a gun.

Jenkins told police she was on medication and didn't hear the child crying during the night while she slept in the same room. She said she didn't discover the injury until she changed the child's diaper Monday morning.

2010
Dog chews off Michigan man's toe, saves his life
And the latest story in the series, this was a Jack Russell terrier, and the man was drunk and otherwise unaware of certain circumstances. He was a musician, and I have to think that maybe this will, at the very least, inspire a song.

"The dog always lays with me on the bed," said Douthett. "That night, I woke up and looked down at my foot, and it was wet. When I looked it was blood, and there was the dog looking at me with a blood mustache."

Camel-cam

Arabia Day at the Texas History Museum (where we'd gone to see Iron Man 2 at the IMAX)

I was taking the photo above, turned around, and saw that camel #2 was very very close to my head.

Their eyes are beautiful. Their teeth are less so. I love camels and cameloids.

We have been cruelly misidentified!

Taken at Austin Zoo (which is a rescue organization), and I'm sure they know what these critters are. ;-)

Chicken Law

Maximum Capybara

CAPYBARA sings to a capybara. from mark harrison on Vimeo.

We seem to be obsessed with capybaras lately. This video is not helping. This band (Capybara) is in town now for SXSW, and Caplin Rous, local resident, is the other star of the video. Caplin is mainly interested in nom noms, although he adds a few eeps to the musical mix. I don't how the band kept their composure during the song. I would have been cuted-out and giggling, but then I am not a professional musician (or any other kind).

Finally, a dog that helps keep the floor clean!

There is a dog under that mop somewhere.

OK, all these fancy dog and cat breeds are super special and cute, but really - I wish everyone would concentrate on taking care of the too many animals already here in shelters or in the streets.

Armadillo Day at the West Pole

First Annual Armadillo Day

The Benevolent Knights of the Raccoon have selected an armadillo (named "Bee Cave Bob") to predict the beginning of Spring. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday at 11:30 at the West Pole, which is just down the road in Bee Cave. Someone figured if there's a North Pole and a South Pole, then there oughta be a West Pole and an East Pole. It was kind of a joke, but was certified by the Texas Legislature in 2007.

I am not making any of this up. The event has an info phone number: (512) 263-5286.

Groundhog substitution is not unheard-of. Due to lack of groundhogs, Alaska is having Marmot Day. (Here's a brilliant prediction: Alaska will have 6 more weeks of winter no matter what the marmot sees.) In Galveston they are having their 2nd Annual Penguin Day.

All I really want for Armadillo Day is for them to stay off the road.

Giant hamster, last seen at Petco

You don't see this every day. It's a pet capybara! And yes, it's at Petco and caused quite a stir with everybody wanting to pet it and take pics. It was adorable and very docile. It makes really cute little squeaky whistles and whinnies. I love those feet! This one is named Caplin Rous, and he is reasonably famous, as capybaras go. His website is GiantHamster.com, and he also has a book written about him, a YouTube channel, and Twitter.


{Now my cats are getting upset because not only have they not been featured here at the Oasis in awhile, they have to wait their turn behind a giant rodent.}

Hitchcockian sounds of Autumn and Winter

This is the corner of 6th and Lamar (Whole Foods, Waterloo Records), one of the places where birds congregate in great numbers in the Fall/Winter. Every tree or wire that you can see, as well as a lot of ledges and roof tops, are chock full of birds. The sound is incredible. I know of another area like this right next to Threadgill's on Riverside, and one at the intersection of MOPAC and Wm. Cannon. This area of Central Texas hits maximum bird population in November (by my perception).

{sorry for the shaky-cam}

Furbaby Friday - Prince Henry

Laundry folding will be ignored until back is scratched and belly rubbed.

Lap pettins will be permitted even though this lap has a big gap in the middle.

Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Artsy Catsy on Sunday - Cats - Catblogging

Endangered species in a can

Saw this story about an animal wrangler who was gored to death by a rare deer that was being loaded into one of those exotic game hunting ranches - a place where animals are gathered from all over the world, and confined on the premises to be killed for "sport." It's a canned trophy hunt of the most barbaric kind.

This particular ranch is a favorite of some celebrities, including Ted Nugent, who will be attending a Huntbash there this winter that will cost the participants $3,500 per person (can Sarah Palin be far behind? Or Dick Cheney?). I am really turned off by people who enjoy killing, but this is not even hunting... they bring the animals into an area and the customer kills them, cuts off the head (and/or skin) to mount on the wall, proving to all that humans are superior to lower beasts. Cowardly and sickening. It's not about food.

What I am really shocked about is the the deer, called a barasingha, is on the list of endangered species! How is it that people are allowed to hunt an endangered species?

The animal itself also died from the exertion of the attack - but it already had a death sentence on it anyway.

Catblogging - Weekend Porch Warrior

Fresh air, sunshine, comfy lounge, and unlimited gecko-hunting. Dirty looks for any outdoor yard-invading cats.

Tags and links: Friday Ark - Cats - Catblogging

Furbaby Friday - The belly itcher

Jax has some issues. He has some very itchy skin, it seems to be the most itchy on the right nipple, and he mercilessly licks that area and the rest of the belly until it's bloody (not to mention hairless... I know now that he will never have hair on his belly). Then we take him to the vet and get him a shot of DepoMedrol (a steroid), and if needed, something for the infection he usually has by then. Here he is in his own personal hell involving the wearing of a hated piece of clothing - an e-collar. Below, he's either making the most of having to wear it, or trying to shmooze me until I take it off of him out of sympathy. Sometimes that works. Look at his poor naked belly.

He's been through the mill, as they say, when it comes to trying to find out the cause. We've had him skin-prick allergy tested at the animal dermatologist, and he has loads of allergies which require shots. So far the shots have not affected the belly itches. He's been on Prozac and Prednisone (both as ear gel, because it's almost impossible to pill him), neither of those had any effect, but then ear gels are less effective than pills. He's tried low-allergen food, and various topical sprays, both prescription and OTC. Antihistamines might help if I could get pills in him. GAAAAH!

After his Depo shot, he's nice and non-itchy for about 3 weeks. Life is good. Trouble is, steroids can bring on problems such as diabetes, so we stretch him out as long as possible (this time it was less than 6 weeks, with the last 3 weeks being spent in the collar a lot, and belly-licking the rest of the time.

I will spare you all a closeup of the violated belly, but you can see a bit of the damage here as he enjoys a little break. You gotta love this guy, belly issues and all.

Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Three Tabby Cats in Vienna - Cats - Catblogging