Easter

 The bulletin was just stunning this morning and of course the music, the choir was back and it was a wow hour in church.

Dad always loved ham and of course we had one every Easter, so I packed a ham sandwich and other items for a picnic lunch and went and visited him and had myself a picnic by the pond. It was a perfect day to sit outside and reflect on life and enjoy the day with my dad.

RIP April

From Animal Adventure Park

onIt is with the heaviest of hearts that Animal Adventure Park announces the tremendous loss of our beloved April the Giraffe. Euthanasia was carried out at April’s home in Harpursville this morning, due to her worsening arthritis, in accordance with the recommendations of her veterinary team. We grieve with her many fans, near and far, as we say goodbye to the giraffe that can be credited with making a foothold for giraffe and giraffe conservation awareness in the 21st century.

April the Giraffe became a viral sensation and household name in 2017, winning admirers around the globe as the world watched her labor and delivery with bated breath via a YouTube live stream. Since then, April has been one of the world’s most famous animals, and in turn, has made a profound impact on giraffe conservation, education and appreciation. While her hoofprints in her yard will erode in time, the imprint she has made on the hearts of people around the world will never fade.

At the celebrated age of 20 years old, April was in her golden years, with the captive management life expectancy averaging 20-25 years, far greater than the average lifespan of 10-15 years in the wild. We credit and thank the outstanding collective care provided by the park’s veterinarians and animal care team with keeping April happy and healthy during her more than five year stay at Animal Adventure.

Both teams have made every possible effort to keep her comfortable and prolong her life while managing her condition. Over the past year, accommodations were made and treatments performed, including yard substrate changes, installation of a state-of-the-art padded barn flooring system, coupled with farrier work, dietary and medical changes. April’s most recent veterinary exam identified the acceleration of April’s condition, prompting the determination that euthanasia was the humane and appropriate course of action.

Following the euthanasia, her body was escorted to the Cornell University Veterinary School by the Patch family, where a necropsy will be completed. She will then be cremated, and her ashes will be returned to Animal Adventure Park. To gain a deeper understanding of April’s condition and this decision, please review the following details from her veterinary team and caretakers.

Statement from Animal Adventure Park’s veterinary team:

“Beginning in the summer of 2020, the staff at Animal Adventure Park began reporting changes in April's mobility. The park's veterinarians radiographed April's feet in July 2020 and noted the onset of osteoarthritis. The radiographs showed a loss of joint space and subchondral bone collapse in her left hind leg, which can be expected in a giraffe of her age. In addition to the joint supplements, the park began multi-modal management of osteoarthritis including measures such as pain medications, anti-inflammatories, hoof trimming, installation of padded flooring and dietary changes in hopes of slowing down the progression of her condition. During each visit by the park's veterinarians, we assessed and discussed April's quality of life, which has remained top priority while managing her condition. Unfortunately, over time, what we saw was April increasingly shifting her weight from limb-to-limb, a continual decline in mobility and spending a lot more time laying recumbent. The most recent set of radiographs taken in early March to evaluate her condition, showed significant and progressing degeneration of the joints in her lower leg. The severity of her condition has been outpacing our ability to control April's comfort. The March 2021 observation reported advanced osteoarthritis, interphalangeal subluxation in the left rear hoof, and lameness and angular joint abnormalities in all feet.

Relating these arthritic changes to personal pets (dogs, cats, horse) and even humans, can help us better understand and relate to the condition. Lameness and arthritis are amplified in animals as large as giraffe. While a small dog can compensate, large species, like giraffe, can deteriorate quickly. Despite Animal Adventure Park's multi-faceted approach to mitigate April's condition, it is irreversible and advancing at a rapid rate. As hard of a decision as it is, for a veterinary team and facility, it is decided that euthanasia is the most humane decision to make at this time.”

“April the Giraffe brought joy to the millions who have watched her via the park’s Giraffe Cam, and the hundreds of thousands of visitors who have made the trip to her home in Harpursville, New York," said Jordan Patch, owner of Animal Adventure Park. "To her keepers and our team here at the park, she is a precious member of our family, and while we knew this day would eventually come, our hearts are hurting. April’s impact on animal conservation and appreciation is both immeasurable and lasting. The loss of an animal as loved as her will be felt in our community, around the country and across the world. We appreciate respect and empathy from April’s fans and the park’s supporters during this difficult time, as they grieve along with us. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered. April, in her own special way, changed the world.”

We Have Eggs

 I think momma finch is a bit early this year but nature knows best.  I know she has been building up the nest and the nest cup is very deep.  Well the past 2 days she has been on the nest a lot. I purposely went out the front door to make her leave and sure enough we have eggs. In 2 weeks we should have babies.

 

 

Monoply

 My favorite board game has always been Monopoly.  I have several versions and have been known at time to play by myself cos it can take forever to play one round.  I heard this morning they are snowflaking up the board game.  Seriously just stop this crap.  If you don't like it go find a board game that suits your idealogy.  Leave stuff alone.  There are many things I don't like but someone does and they have a right to have it for them and I just walk on by.  The left needs to learn to walk on by and go make their own stuff.  I for one still believe in the First Amendment but apparently they don't so they think I should have to live by their idealogy.  NO!  I will NOT conform.  I have a Monopoly game from the 60's and that is the one I am passing down to my kids and their family.

First Dandelion

 It had to happen, you knew it would.  The kitties are enjoying fresh catnip, it is so strong when it first comes up.

Easter Eggs

 https://redeemyourground.com/easter-egg-birdseed-ornaments

 

Yesterday while at Dollar Tree they had some pretty cool plastic eggs, i thought about buying some but said no what would i do with them.  Well when I go back i am getting plain plastic eggs and making some of these for the birds.

 

 

N3

 Mom Decorah and DM2 built a new nest in the area.  They kind of fooled us the past couple of weeks bringing grass and large nest rails in to the nest and eating there, which is something they don't do when they are ready for eggs.  It has been confirmed Mom has laid an egg in the new nest, so this year will be like when D15-16-and 17 were hatched and we got a daily picture daily of the babies.  This would have been my 10th year watching the nest, so I guess we will have to wait until next year.  Good luck to Mom and DM2 this year, maybe we can get a glimpse of the hatch when they fledge. 

A Yuge Sad

 Rush Limbaugh has passed.  There were many days I listened to him and he let us know what was going on.  Conservatives thank you sir for what you did for us and our country.  RIP, you will not be forgotten.

Smudgey

 It has not been above freezing since Feb 6th and we have been below zero the past 2 nights. Many days we hovered around 3 degrees.  I have a feral that I have fed for 10 years and she is probably a year or two older than that.  I fixed her up a feral bed in the front and under the deck. I know she uses the one out front, she watches the birds.  She comes up on the front porch and eats.  She was missing for 47 hours last week and I feared the worst.  Then there she was up front laying in the sun.  It was 2 out and when I went out to feed her she ate a lot and as I was coming back in the house she followed me in.  Well here was my chance.  I had always planned to see if I could bring her in someday, well my someday came.  It was to be -8 that night and I did not think she would make it, so I did not let her back out.  She is hanging out upstairs and seems to not be as freaked out as I thought she might be.  The other 2 are not so sure even though at times she would come in wander around and rub noses with them, now she is in the house and not leaving.  I need to feed the birds this morning and will put her in the bathroom so I can open the doors without her escaping.  I do not need another cat in the house but sometimes God has a plan for us that we don't know about. So my someday to bring her in has arrived and we will see how it goes.  She is a tuxedo and related to Groucho, they had the same dad.

Welcome to the house Smudgey.

Happy Birthday Dad

 Happy Birthday Dad, the day would be filled with lunch (probably fried chicken), lots of chocolate because yesterday V-Day candy went on sale and then there would be pineapple upside cake.  It has been bitter cold for the past 11 days and I know you have your long johns on and are bundled up.  We are fine here, you know I had to finally get a new heater after 21 years, was I lucky or not?  Anyway I know grandma has something special for you.  I would have brought mom to come visit today but as you would tell me "I don't want you out in the weather, just call me and we can do this another day."  So mom has a couple of appointments next week and we will come see you then.  I love you and I miss you a lot. 

Life is a Journey

 

Another Sad Senseless Eagle Death RIP D35

 

We are sorry to announce that RRP Board member Brett Mandernack found eaglet D35 dead on January 29, 2021, along the banks of the Iowa River just south of Iowa City. All of us find it heartbreaking to lose another eagle. It is one thing to know that first-year bald eagles have high mortality rates and another to see it reflected in the lives of eagles we have come to know and love.

A necropsy by Kay Neumann of SOAR found that D35 was killed by acute lead poisoning. To learn more about her diagnosis and what you can do, please follow this link: https://www.raptorresource.org/.../d35-killed-by-lead.../ #gettheleadout

 

 

I Only Make for Those Who Understand What Goes Into A Handmade Item