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Posts Tagged ‘Animals’

  1. Summerfield Zoo

    September 14, 2014 by admin

    Do you ever have those trips where on the way home, everyone starts asking: “When can we go back there?”  We love those moments.

    We recently had an experience like this at a zoo not far from Madison- the Summerfield Zoo.IMG_2197

    The Summerfield Zoo is located in the outskirts of Belvidere.  This family-owned zoo offers refuge to rescued exotic animals, along with a collection of wonderful farm animals.

    We were impressed by the large variety of critters- from hyenas to alligators to several types of large cats and more!  Many of the animals are housed in a large barn-type structure, with windows looking in on each animal’s stall.  Some of them, like the fennic fox, were extremely interactive with us.  Others were mostly sleeping (or ignoring) the people coming through.  We loved getting to see so many animals up close, many of which we had never viewed before.

    Outside the barn there are many small enclosures with even more critters, as well as big fields with the herd animals on display.  Meeting reindeer, horses, and donkeys was a lot of fun.  Most of the animals ouside were very friendly and eager for human interaction.IMG_2213

    But the highlight of the day was the Animal Encounter.  At this event, guests gather at a small semi-circle of chairs while the zoo handlers bring out an assortment of smaller animals.  We were even allowed to pet some of these furry friends!  Most of these animals were babies, and watching them play and eat was a real treat.  The animals shown in the encounters change regularly, so you never know what critter you’ll get to see.

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    A porcupine loving his sweet potato.

     

    We had a great time at the Summerfield Zoo and are eager to return.  Knowing that the entry fee is used to support all these rescued animals makes it even easier to plan our next trip.

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  2. Naming The Animals

    June 25, 2014 by admin

    Stumpy

    Stumpy

    “Oh look! There’s Twinkletoes!”

    “Hi there, Dr. Bunnington!”

    “I saw Stumpy today”

    You’ll hear conversations like this on a daily basis at our house. Many of the wild animals that roam our yard and neighborhood have names we’ve given them based on behaviors or physical characteristics.

    This tradition evolved entirely by accident, as we noticed that the same critters were visiting our yard repeatedly. As our kids named the animals, we were all able to more easily create an emotional connection to their well- being.

    We became friends with a red squirrel that we named Jasper- a loud, playful critter who came several times daily to see what treats we might have tossed his way. Shimmer, his larger grey squirrel friend, came as well. Every day.  We now know Stumpy, our neighborhood squirrel friend that has somehow lost his tail.  And we enjoy our visits with a lovely bunny that we’ve named, Dr. Bunnington.

    Jasper

    Jasper

    Our conversations with the kiddoes about ecology and habitat destruction caused by nearby developments aren’t affecting abstract random wildlife. These discussions concern and affect Our Squirrels! Our Bunnies!  Cars speeding down the road aren’t just driving too fast- they might hurt our animal friends.  We have learned that Stumpy, the Tailless Squirrel, has to cross the street to get to our yard as we’ve seen where he nests.  So road safety became a bigger deal to our kids.

    From a very young age, Plum and Bluey have spoken out for the animals.  And we think their passion is due, in part, to the relationships that have developed by giving their backyard animal friends names.  This deeper connection to nature helps Plum and Bluey understand how human actions can change the whole environment.

    And we think that this is a very important lesson.

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  3. Suppertime! Dining with your Dog on the Road

    June 1, 2014 by admin

    Part of Our Continuing Series On Travelling With Pets

    An important part of any vacation plan is the food. You probably think about what restaurants you’d like to try and what car snacks you need to buy before setting out for a road trip.

    If you are like us, you love bringing your pup along on trips whenever possible.  Fido has needs, too. Bringing your pet along for the trip adds an additional dimension to the planning.IMG_0519

    What your dog will eat on the road is actually the easy part: she’ll probably chow down on whatever she normally eats. We pack a plastic container with our pup’s dry food and measuring scoop, and she’s all set. (Our dog has a bowl and treats in the car at all times, so we don’t need to pack those items for a longer trip.)

    The bigger question for a long road trip with your dog, is what she’ll do while YOU are eating? You can’t leave your pup alone in the car while you spend an hour slowly munching on a fancy dinner. You need to plan ahead to make sure that your meal stops will be either quick, or outdoors.

    When we are traveling with our Moo dog, we frequently pack a picnic lunch. This way everyone gets to stay together to eat. We love our picnics, and we can all keep an eye on the pup.  All we have to do is track down a suitable park or scenic spot for a snack.

    Another easy option is to get your food to-go.  This way, you can eat restaurant food when a picnic is not desirable or feasible.  You will only be away from your dog for a few minutes while you place your order.  Then you and your pup van find a shady park, or just roll down the windows and eat in the lot.

    Tip:  If all else fails, leave your car on with the A/C running, and lock your car doors.  It is not at all the best choice, but it’ll keep your pup safe for a short time.

    Drive-thrus are a variation on food to-go.  Many chains offer dog biscuits or other treats to traveling pups.  Our Moo used to love going to Dunkin’ Donuts in New Hampshire because she always got a free munchkin, just for being cute.  The downside?  You usually end up eating while driving.

    The main thing is to keep your pup in mind when on the road.  Fancy dining may be off the menu, but you can still find many options for eating that ensure the safety of your pup, and give you both a chance to relax and stretch before you continue to explore.

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  4. Volunteering: Kitty Transport

    May 18, 2014 by admin

    Part of our continuing series for the ThriftyRambler Kindness Project.

    IMG_5936A great way to cultivate kindness is to volunteer to help others.

    Finding the best opportunity to volunteer can sometimes be a challenge, especially for the very young.  But a young age is the exact time to begin volunteering.  By starting out at as a youngster, kids learn all through their lives that helping others is something you do.  It can become a habit that they won’t want to break.

    So we’ve been looking for a chance for our young Bluey to get involved in something he cares about in his community, and that can make a meaningful difference in the world.

    We found just the thing by transporting kittens for Darling Pet Rescue.IMG_5935

    It’s no secret that Bluey loves animals– especially cats, so helping transport them was a perfect fit.

    Darling Pet Rescue (DPR) is a no-kill animal rescue group that finds homes for animals in need.  DPR offers shelter and foster homes for animals until a permanent home can be found.  But the logistics of taking care of the animals can be quite daunting.   All DPR rescues receive top-quality veterinary care, and frequently need to be moved from the vet clinic to various pet stores that display the animals to expose them to good homes.   If animals at the viewing stores get ill, or need additional care, then they need to go back to the vet clinic.

    Moving critters from place to place is where Bluey comes into the scene.  We (along with several other dedicated volunteers) offer the rides to or from the clinic.  Our Bluey loves going on a kitty mission, and offers his sweet loving words to the cats while they are in car carriers next to him.  He comforts, calms and reassures them during their trip, and helps them settle at their destination.

    Bluey’s volunteer work also ties into his school projects.  He his learning a lot about animal health and care, and this knowledge is reinforced every time Bluey helps out.

    Bluey looks forward to assisting DPR and he knows that with each trip, he is helping an animal find a new family- just like our cats and dog settled down with us!

    Although it took us a while to find the right fit, we are so happy that Bluey gets to help out his friends and neighbors in a way that really matters to him.

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  5. The Boy Birdwatcher Society

    February 26, 2014 by admin

    Our young Bluey has recently taken up birdwatching.  Or bird and squirrel watching, more accurately.  It’s a plan he came up with entirely on his own- just something he wants to do. IMG_1509

    He’ll come home after dropping his sister at school, or spend his lunch, nestled in a chair on the porch watching the bird feeder to see who might arrive.  He’ll even encourage his friends to join him when they visit.

    His connection to the natural world is strong.  It’s very good to witness, but we can’t say we’re surprised.

    After all, from the time he was a few weeks old, he’s had his ‘Bird of the Day,’ where TRDad reads a page from a bird guidebook describing the many species of birds common in North America.  We’ve gone through several different guidebooks by now.

    And he and his sister used to sit and watch the Nature Channel outside the window, as squirrels, birds and other critters came to our porch for a snack.

    And bird-watching is a major element in one of his favorite books, Pogo, which he reads almost everyday.

    IMG_1090So we are happy to help set him up with his binoculars and a cup of cocoa to settle in to watch the birds.  We hope his love of nature stays with him always.

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  6. Woof! Woof! Reading Dog Books

    February 19, 2014 by admin

    IMG_1512Somewhere along the line, we started reading ‘Dog Book’ stories to Bluey.  It might have started with  The Incredible Journey, which we enjoyed after viewing the movies.

    We now have a bonafide tradition of reading dog books over breakfast and lunch-  we read just a few pages (maybe 10) at each meal.  It gives us a chance to mellow out in the middle of the day and prepare for whatever adventures our afternoon may bring.

    We go through quite a few books.  On average, it takes us about 2 weeks to finish one.  So there seems like there is always a new story to begin.

    We enjoy these books because we love animals.  Most of the stories go into some detail about animal care and animal illnesses and that helps spark conversations about the animals in our world.

    Here are a few of our favorites from the past year:

    Clarence the TV Dog:  This funny, upbeat book from Patricia Lauber covers the antics of a TV loving pup growing up in the 50’s.  We love Clarence’s  many adventures, and how he always seems to be a step ahead of the people who try to reign him in.

    Animal Ark:  It is a series set at a veterinary clinic in Wales.  The series revolves around the vets’ daughter Mandy and her friend James, who have a knack for finding lost animals and solving animal related mysteries.  With its vet clinic setting, these books contain tons of real world info about all sorts of animals.  And the recurring cast allows us an easy starting point at the beginning of each book.IMG_1514

    Star-Dog:  Star Dog took us in a different direction: science fiction!  With aliens and government agents afoot, we were able to explore a whole new genre while using our dog book theme.

    We are about halfway through our stack of dog books, gleaned from shops and book sales over the years.  We are having a great time with them.  It is so much fun to explore the many worlds of these stories.

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  7. Gifts that Give Back

    December 25, 2013 by admin

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    Educational gifts can be tremendous fun.

    Bluey and Plum share an intense love of animals.  When doing our holiday shopping, we considered their connection to critters of all kinds.  TR Dad found an owl pellet in a IMG_4458local shop and knew instantly that it was a perfect gift choice.

    An owl pellet is relatively small and rather inexpensive to purchase.  Our Bluey was incredibly excited to learn that he could find animal bones, fur, and who know’s what else as he carefully scrapped into the pellet.  The pellet gave Bluey a chance to learn more about owls eating habits and why it’s important to have predators.

    And it also lets him practice the art of patience.  An owl pellet cannot be ripped apart in two minutes.  It requires a slow and careful hand to uncover the tiny, tiny bones that belong to the owl’s last few meals.

    When it comes to gift giving, we recommend you step away from the “normal” and see what you can discover!

     

     

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  8. Accidental Excursion: Urban Ecology Center

    September 16, 2013 by admin

    IMG_1991We recently headed to Milwaukee to visit one of our favorite places, the Discovery World Museum.  Located right on Lake Michigan, Discovery World seemed like a great choice on a fine, Fall day: walks along the lake, a great view of the ships, and sailboats…

    But it was not to be.  For reasons still unknown to us, that entire section of town was blocked off by police.  Several ramps from the interstate were closed, and when we tried to reroute via side-streets, we met the same fate- blocked streets.  We asked a police officer how to get to the museum, and he just shook his head- “You can’t.”

    Well, all the museums we are familiar with are in this same area, but there was no way to get close to them.  We had to quickly change gears in order to save the day.  Searching our brains, and the internet for new options, we finally remembered reading about the Urban Ecology Center.  It looked to be far enough away from the blocked streets that we would be able to access it, and we’d never been there before- so it would be a new adventure for everyone!

    Boy, were our instincts right!

    The Urban Ecology Center is a beautiful oasis in the middle of urban Milwaukee.  It is close to a main bus route, has access to a river, and a bike path going right through the main property, so it is easy to get to it by a variety of transportation options.  Once you arrive, you’ll find miles of nature paths winding through woods and prairies, up to the river and back.  The Center itself is a beautiful building with several small tanks of live, local animals; musical instruments you can play; arts&crafts tables; A funky slide from outside to inside; and a cozy woodstove.  Outside the building you’ll find more animal habitats, a huge climbing wall, and a tall (but sturdy) observation tower.  All offered with no admission fee.

    Entering the secret slide!

    Entering the secret slide!

    We explored the area for quite a while before heading off for lunch, with vows to return to explore some more.

    Next time your intended destination doesn’t quite work out, don’t throw in the towel!  Check out some of the lesser known places in your area, you never know what you’ll find.

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  9. Portage, Wisconsin

    August 2, 2013 by admin

    IMG_0978We found ourselves headed to Portage, WI for their library’s booksale.  Since we haven’t ever explored this town, we decided to try to round out the trip to the library with some other local experience. 

    After a quick Google search, we discovered that there was a bike trail that seemed to hug the river.  This was just the thing!  A nice bike ride after scoring books for $1 a bag is a perfect day, as far as this TR family is concerned. IMG_0958

    The levee bike trail in Portage was quite the discovery!  You can actually walk down to the sandy river frontage and the surrounding areas.  We saw clams in the river and crane footprints in the sand.  We jumped onto a little island and we skipped stones.  We had this insanely beautiful area completely to ourselves.  It was an excellent morning!

    Open yourself up to exploring your surroundings and you never know what you’ll discover.

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  10. Bring Your Dog Into The Store

    July 29, 2013 by admin

    It’s summertime, so you can’t leave your pup in the car for even a few minutes!  Car interiors heat up very fast in the summer season, regardless of cloud coverage, so never risk leaving your dog in a closed car during the summer months.

    IMG_0335But does that mean you have to leave Fido at home?  Of course not!  Let your pooch come along on adventures to pet-friendly shops during the summer.  Here is a partial list of shops that allow critters (be sure to check with your local chain to ensure that they still allow pups):

    • PetSmart: all stores, nation wide!
    • Barnes & Noble: all stores, nation wide!
    • Mounds: A Wisconsin-based pet store.
    • Bad Dog Frida: Our local pet-boutique.  Check your neighborhood for similar pet shops that might allow your dog to visit.
    • Revolution Cycle:  Yes, our local bike shop is pet-friendly.
    • Star Liquor: In our area, you can even bring your dog on a beer run!

     

    Be on the lookout for small, locally owned shops that might be OK with your dog coming by.  Then you can let your dog accompany you on the next shopping trip!

    Category Rambler Ramblings | Tags: ,, | 2 Comments

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