StrangeRanger

Primate, please....

Daisy is an indulgent cat.  She forgive me my many trespasses, such as clumsy feet, unwanted pettums or lack of true-to-life fluttering of the feather toy.  She indulges me with purrs and leg-bumps and tail-hugs.  She almost always naps on my outstretched legs as we watch tv.  And occasionally, very occasionally, she'll come into the bedroom in the early morning hours an dlie down on my chest.  She doesn't stay long, mostly, but I love it.

But there are times I transgress.  Whether it's a loud noise, an accidental bump or step, or even a really bad joke.  Then I get what I call the "primate, please..." look.  Here it is:

Puh-leeze!

But, Daisy is usually a benevolent little gray tyrant.  I'm going to go earn another look now.

Have a great week ahead, all!

A True Vintage Cat Pic.

It's been a busy, stressful month here at Chez-Ranger, so I have not found the time to turn my camera lens towards Daisy. This is usually the moment when I slap up an old pic of Maddie or Ivy and make my exit.  Today, though, you get a real vintage pic.

My two brothers and I got together last week and spent an afternoon going through the last of my parent's belongings and assorted family artefacts.  Mostly, this was the old photo albums and boxes of ancient pictures of people we didn't know and now have no real way to identify.  I saw this one and had to put it in my pile.

Let me introduce you to  Dot and Spot.

The handwritten text on the back reads:

"Full names being Dot & Spot Twinklepaw.  Dot had only a few dark hairs beside the right ear, barely visible in this picture.  I swear this report to be accurate.  Historiographer of 1961 A.M.B.K.  Picture taken in Oneida, Wisconsin,  Summer of 1893.  Dot & Spot were children of Tibbi, a real friend of the Burleson Family." and a note on the bottom of the photo reads "mission house kittens"

The historiographer was my great grandmother.  The handwriting belongs to my grandmother.  I'd be  happy to have this photo, even if it wasn't a pic of the two cutest mission house kittens of the 19th century.

I will do my best to get new pics of the current house kitten this week.  I assure you that Daisy is well, happy and full of beans.

Have a great week ahead, all!

FOUND!

A month ago I posted about our recent trip to the Zoo.  I had been smitten by a particular bird in the aviary.  This guy:

We had been unable to find him on any of the ID cards and were rather frustrated.  He and his compatriots were delightful.  They have a lovely song and weren't shy singing it.

I came home and did some on-line research and came up with....nothing.  The only results I could get from my image searches were birds that looked nothing like our little dude. Google, my faith in you has been shaken!

I started typing in descriptions, hoping to luck into a good result and.... it worked!

May I present  Garrulax Leucolophus, the White-crested Laughingthrush!

how are ya how are ya how are ya?

These birds are native to Southeast Asia, from the Himalayan foothills of India to Vietnam and Singapore.  They are a very gregarious and vocal species and have even been know to hit up random passers-by for a snack.

And now we all know.  What a relief!

You should go to the wiki page linked above.  It has an audio file of the Laughingthrush's song.  I think you'll be as charmed as we.