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Animal of the Day Twitteresque

Grivet

They are located in Ethiopia and the Sudan

They make faces when they are angry or excited

Groups consist of multiple males

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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I recently had installed a wonderful dog fence in the back yard for Emmie and Teddy. I can now turn them out from the deck or the studio and not worry that Emmie will run through the neighbors’ yard chasing the-ever-ubiquitous-squirrels, with Trusty Teddy as close to her heels as his short legs will allow.

However, Teddy decided he needed to check out the front yard the other day, and scooted out when the door opened. I can only assume that he decided since he hadn’t been in the front yard for awhile, it was time to scope it out.

Teddy made his usual rounds, and then darted into the bushes. I called him, but he seriously ignored me. He had discovered a treasure.

I went over to see what it was, and Teddy was happily chewing a carcass of some sort, covered with maggots. I’m getting the heebie-jeebies even as I’m writing this.

I lost it - began screaming at him to ‘drop it’. He knew I meant business, because he immediately dropped it and came to me - licking his lips and smiling.

I was repulsed, so grossed out I couldn’t even dispose of the carcass. I hightailed it to the safety of my house.

I’ve written before that I find it difficult to be in the presence of worms. Same with maggots. Actually, it’s the same with most creepy-crawlies for me. (Snakes excepted.) So why am I creeped out by these creepy-crawlies?

Maggot Background

Maggot is the ordinary name of fly larval. Eggs are laid in decaying, moist material and the larval appear within 8 to 20 hours, and they use the material where the eggs were laid to feed upon and grow.

Many people have a prejudice to how maggots look and act: they have no legs and eat decaying matter. We often refer to them as ‘disgusting sights’. As I’ve been writing this, I’ve had to adjust the pictures on my computer screen so I don’t see the pictures of maggots.

Should you be interested, there is a site of maggot art.

Everyday Help from Maggots

In her book ‘The Voice of the Infinite in the Small’, Joanne Elizabeth Lauck writes about maggots:

• In some cultures, maggots are used as food
• Maggots break down and recycle carrion
• If not for maggots, our world would reek of the decaying, and we would not be able to enjoy such fragrant smells as flowers
• Forensic science uses maggots to pinpoint the time of death
• Historically, maggots have been used as healing tools, feeding on the dead and decaying tissues of people, including soldiers
• The substances they excrete has been found to accelerate healing, and even prevent the need for amputation
• They enrich the soil of a compost pile

Maggots are helpful creatures, doing their part to make our world cleaner and a better place for all. Why am I so repulsed by them? It’s time for me to see what repelling things these creatures are reflecting back to me that I am afraid to consider.

One of the messages maggots (insects) send is that of metamorphosis. Since I’m currently experiencing an abundance of changes, that is the place where I am going to start my self exploration.

• What in my life do I find repellent?
• Am I afraid of any of the occurring changes?
• Is it beneficial to clean up anything that is left of the ‘old’ me?
• Is there anything in my life that needs enriching?
• Am I eating correctly?
• What prejudices to I need to confront?

With these questions I will begin my self exploration journey. Maggot, I thank you for starting me on this journey, I ask for your patience while I learn to lessen the revulsion I feel for you, and I am grateful for any guidance you have for me.

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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My cat Mitzie wants to share some trivia facts about cats. She knows cats are exceptional creatures and thinks it can only help humans to know more about the cats in their world.

Did you know:

• The reason a cat can’t always find tidbits on the floor, is because she can’t see directly beneath her nose
• Cats have 230 bones in their bodies
• A cat’s vision is approximately six times superior to a human’s vision at night
• A cat’s whiskers help him decide if he can make it through a small space by helping him deduce the size of the space
• Cats meow to humans, not to other cats
• Cats don’t have sweat glands
• A cat can’t move her jaws sideways
• A cat’s taste sensation is better than a dog’s taste sensation. Mitzie calls this one a no-brainer……..
• A clowder is a group of adult cats
• A kindle is a group of kittens

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Today’s post proves that point, and is short, sweet and funny. Check it out!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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We had a terrific Talk2theAnimals Meetup group last night. Five members attended, three of whom are new. Yeah!

I am always amazed at how each meeting takes a life of its own - no matter what I have in mind! I had planned to continue our discussion on ethics in animal communication, but as we had so many new members, I ended up talking about how to communicate and how to use our psychic gifts.

It was also a time of synchronicity as everyone had cats with whom they wanted to communicate. No folks, this was not planned. This was the Universe assisting and bringing up what needed to be brought up!

At the Talk2theAnimals Meetup group, the group as a whole communicates with each animal. We have pictures of the animal we’ll be communicating with, and sometimes we also have a favored toy or collar. The only information the person gives about their animal is biographical: name, age, breed, sex and a physical description if a picture is not available. Then the person gives us one or two questions or concerns they want to ask their pet partner.

It’s amazing to see how similar the information is that the cat gave to each student communicator. The human partner to one of the cats was concerned about his physical health: each person received either that the cat’s neck was sore, or that he was having digestive issues. The cat’s human is going to check out the quality of his food, and explore giving him a diet that is more in line with his nutritional needs.

Another person had two questions to ask her cat: one on his physical health, and the other question was why did he come to live with her and her husband. Each person got an answer to either one or the other question. Interestingly enough, all answers to each question were similar.

We also linked in with a deceased cat. The message he had for his human was beautiful and reassuring to his human.

Our next Talk2theAnimals Meetup is scheduled for Wednesday, August 20, 5:30 PM at Dunn Brothers in Excelsior, MN. Come join us, have a conscious conversation with our pet partner, get answers from your animal and renew your relationship!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Exciting news! I have been invited to give a presentation at the First Women Foundation Retreat in Callaway, MN, October 24-26, 2008. Of course I accepted.

One of my dear friends, Becky, has attended this retreat in previous years and did a presentation on journaling last year. She loves taking part in this retreat, and says it’s a very special time for women to gather and bond.

The retreat will be held at the Maplelag in Callaway, MN. It looks like a beautiful place to retreat, having anything and everything one could ever ask for!

The First Women Foundation was started in 1996 by Margie Stillwell, and has been growing steadily ever since.

Here’s some photos, check it out, and sign up. We’ll have a rockin’ & rollin’ good time!

Lappland Cabin

The Lodge

Fun time in the pool!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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It’s that time again - time for the monthly Talk2theAnimals Meetup. We’re at Dunn Brothers in Excelsior, MN, and the meeting begins at 5:30 PM in their conference room.

We’ll continue our discussion on ethics in animal communication and then go right into our practice session. If you like, bring photos of your pet partner(s) as well as a favored toy or collar. These aren’t necessary, but can assist you in the communication process. Leave your pets in the comfort of their homes.

Stop on by, prepare to have a good time, meet neat people and delve into the wonderful world of animal communication!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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Animal of the Day

Silvery Marmoset

Is located in the Amazon basin

They may never leave trees their entire life

Is not classified as endangered, yet it is losing it’s habitat

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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My first teaching job out of college was in Cut Off, Louisiana: an hour and a half south of New Orleans (pronounced NewAwlins), a tad north of the Gulf of Mexico, thirteen hours south of my hometown Springfield, Illinois, and, culturally speaking, a million and seven miles away from anything I had ever encountered in my life.

While there, I experienced ‘lagniappe’, a Louisiana custom meaning ‘a little extra’, for instance, ordering twelve beignets from Cafe du Monde and receiving thirteen.

This post is a lagniappe, a little extra added to the posts I did earlier this week. Or, to be more pragmatic, you can think of this post as an extended PS.

July 3rd’s post, ‘What You Don’t Know About Plastic Bags‘, talked about the effects of plastic bags on animals and the environment. Synchronicity has sent some more information I’d like to share with you.

From an office window, The Junk Drawer has been monitoring a plastic bag stuck in a tree for 111 days.

I received this YouTube clip from a friend, and was very moved by it. This was filmed in 1992, and shows then thirteen year old Severn Suzuki making an environmental speech at the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development. I am encouraged and heartened by her strength, courage, integrity, honesty and willingness to speak out. When I grow up, I want to be like her.

On July 11, I wrote about Pet Safety in the Home. We had a little after dinner excitement here last night. While cleaning up, I realized the saran wrap I had microwaved the corn on the cob in had disappeared. With a sinking feeling I realized a little earlier I had heard Emmie nosing around in the kitchen. Ugh. Quick call to the vet’s office, and was told she would probably pass it, as she’s such a big girl. However, should she start throwing up, she would need to go to the emergency vet immediately.

Luckily, she is fine today, and I’m recovering.

Now you’ve experienced true-Louisiana-a-la-Minnesota-lagniappe. I hope you enjoyed it!

Harmony,

Janet Roper

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