Its A Blizzard Out There

Posted on January 24, 2016January 24, 2016 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

Yesterday an unprecedented storm struck much of the east coast reaching blizzard conditions in many areas. Washington DC, Pennsylvania and NYC reported record snow fall. As the storm progressed northward it wound it’s way through Connecticut into Southeastern Massachusetts. Falmouth, Cape Cod, Plymouth were some of the communities most hard hit but I’m happy to report that in my little corner of the world the storm was just a snow storm.

And I’m also happy to say that my condo folks were right on top of the clean up.

Not everyone was upset about the snow.

Enjoy your day everyone!

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Got Kids?

Posted on June 20, 2014June 20, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Got Kids? I don’t but I “borrow” a couple every now and then when the urge to be maternal overtakes me. Well behaved kids are cute, even fun to be around. Sadly I see fewer and fewer well behaved kids when I’m out and about. Must be a sign of old age. I’m sure the same was said of my generations and we’re no worse than any other.

But I digress, I wanted to share a really cute idea. In fact I watched this amuse and entertain a bunch of kids for a whole afternoon.

Next time your kids complain about not having anything to do don’t plunk them in front of the TV or the computer with a video game. No! Give them a potato.

Give them some paint, pipe cleaners, paper and plastic wheels.

When I was a kid we cut a raw potato in half, then carved a design in the bottom. Once the carving was done we dipped the end in paint and stamped the paper. We made stars and lines and circles and all sorts of things. Tater Art!

Or maybe carving them like a pumpkin? But maybe you don’t want your kids to play with sharp objects. Ok then how about sticking some plastic wheels in your tater car?

Paint it, decorate it and race it. Oh that kept the kiddie’s occupied for the whole afternoon.

But you have to watch out for Tater thieves. Yup! They will sneak up and make off with your precious raw material.

Look out he’s got one! (Who said don’t play with your food?)

Thumbelina’s Story

Posted on June 16, 2014June 16, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Tiny Thumbelina is a fairy tale; a tiny girl whose adventures include toads , moles and naughty boys. Eventually like all good fairy tales, she finds her true love, a flower-fairy prince just her size.

When Mama goat had a pair of twins this spring there was a tiny surprise, a 3rd sibling but so tiny. Only about 1/3 the size of her brother and sister. She was very weak. The farmer watched closely but long after her siblings were on their feet and nursing the tiny goat-ling just lay in the hay.

It did not look good for the tiny baby. But the farmer was not going to give up so easily. He scooped up the tiny creature who was so small she fit in the palm of his large hands. He gently took her into the house where he cleaned her up and began the long process of hand feeding her.

She needed her mother’s milk with it’s special immunity giving properties so the farmer milked mama so that the littlest goat could have the same nutrition as her bigger brother and sister. It was nip and tuck at first but once the farmer knew his little charge would make it he named her Thumbelina.

By the time Thumbelina was 3 weeks old she was hopping and careening around the yard and head butting the pet dog Bandit. Bandit doesn’t seem to mind and follows the little terror everywhere.

She follows farmer as he goes about his chores. She has clearly bonded with the gentle man who saved her. She is too small for the barnyard so she lives in a child’s playpen in the house as a family pet.

Yes Thumbelina has become a healthy, if tiny, 3 week old kid. She is 6 inches tall and weighs about 4 lbs. It looks like Thumbelina, the pygmy goat, has found her happy ending just like the fairy tale.

Thumbelina is a pygmy goat but tiny even for that breed.

News of the Week

Posted on December 21, 2013December 21, 2013 by Dusty Roads

While I was out Partying in the best Holiday Tradition, ugly sweater and all, the world kept turning and strange news kept happening. Here’s a few of this week’s headlines. 🙂

Peabody ducks retire to Jack Daniel’s distillery

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. (AP) — A group of ducks retiring from service at Memphis’ Peabody Hotel has moved to Lynchburg.

According to a news release from Jack Daniel’s, Peabody ducks generally retire to the farm where they were raised. But in a Wednesday ceremony, one group walked down red and black carpets following Peabody Duckmaster Anthony Petrina and Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Jeff Arnett to a new home in a pond just below the distillery’s cave spring. There, the ducks will eat the same grain and drink the same iron-free water used to make Jack Daniel’s whiskey.

Legend has it that the 80-year-old tradition of letting ducks swim in the Peabody fountain is linked to Jack Daniel’s, in a roundabout way. Supposedly, the Peabody general manager left his live duck decoys in the hotel fountain after enjoying a little of the whiskey on a hunting trip.

Jack Daniel’s is owned by Louisville, Ky.-based Brown-Forman Corp.

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Dog that survived gassing headed to Rose Parade

Samantha Henry, AP

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Things are coming up roses for a scrappy New Jersey beagle who survived a dog pound gas chamber.

Daniel will be among eight shelter dogs riding on a float in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, Calif.

The 2-year-old beagle mix was 6 months old on Oct. 3, 2011, when he was scheduled to be put down at the animal control facility in Florence, Ala. He was placed with 17 other dogs in a stainless-steel box roughly the size of a pickup truck bed that was filled with carbon monoxide.

Workers at the facility were surprised when he emerged, scared but unscathed, from the chamber. They named him Daniel after the biblical figure who survived the lion’s den.

He was adopted by Joe Dwyer of Nutley, N.J., and has been living happily with Dwyer’s family and other rescue dogs at their home about 10 miles west of New York City.

Dwyer, a motivational speaker, said Daniel’s story of surviving and thriving has prompted laws in 31 states that protect shelter animals against inhumane forms of euthanasia.

Daniel will perform his “high five to keep pets alive” trick and perform with other animal shelter survivors on a parade float sponsored by the Lucy Pet Foundation, which runs mobile spay, neuter and adoption clinics across the country. Daniel has been chosen as the “spokesdog” for the California-based organization, Dwyer added.

“He’s definitely one of the most joyous, happy dogs I’ve ever met in my life,” Dwyer said. “I think his positive attitude is why he’s survived.”

The Rose Parade takes place on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, Calif.

And Last but not least, this Florida man must have had a real bad thirst!

“Florida man cited for trying to trade four-foot alligator for 12-pack of beer”

I don’t think that needs any explanation. 🙂

Have an outstanding day everyone!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Posted on September 19, 2012September 19, 2012 by Dusty Roads

A starfish dances by the sea.

I shouldn’t share this one (The rule is: Never share anything less than the best) but even if it’s out of focus because I was busy laughing when I took it, I still think it’s cute. That was one very curious dog!