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Archive for the ‘Animals’ Category

I was woken this morning at 7.30 to Asha climbing in our bed.. some time later, Steve got up and made Asha and I breakfast in bed…

I then had to get ready to go to Bangor to meet Debbie, and we had planned on the rather expensive play area, or Greenwood forest. HOWEVER we decided weather wasn’t reliable enough for greenwood, and the play area was quite expensive for a day, which it would be heaving on. Also it was quite expensive for the little ones, plus food!

I had on my list of places to visit this year Pillas Palace, so we trotted over the Anglsey again.. and went to see the tarantula, centipedes, butterflys, red eared terrapin and other wonderful animals… We didnt look as much as I would have liked because of “all the legs”

We did have a great time on the bouncy castle, and indoor play area though.. and the food was very reasonable price wise.. I feel this is an area which lets foal farm down. The cafe is tooo expensive there.

Anyway.. after that we all headed back to Bangor, and did the charity shops and other such shops… I bought Asha a new pair of trainers, which actually fit her.. Yes Clarks trainers, she is size 9.5 e/f on one foot and 9 d/e on the other!! No wonder I have struggled to get her shoes to fit!

Right… going to go downstairs now, as asha should be asleep, and isnt and i have packed lunch to discuss with steve for tomorrow….

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Asha has been feeding the birds with fat balls for a few months now, and we asked a few people for bird stuff for her for her birthday,  And this is the resulting pictures today from them!

And we must not forget the one on the fatballs in the tree now.

It was fantastic to watch.

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On Monday we went to chester zoo with some friends. We often go to our local zoo, and over the years we have taken 100′s of photographs of the animals in chester zoo, so we didnt take many this time, instead wanting to spend time with the company we had, and to spend time enjoying the new surroundings.

Asha had a fantastic time, but we did get a few good snaps of her being Asha.

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One of the swans Asha was feeding at lake Padarn

One of the swans.

Asha playing near the stream where we ate a rather late lunch.

Playing on her birthday.

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A NOCTURNAL moth has become the first animal known to see colours in the dead of night. They use this visual talent to find yellow, nectar-packed flowers in the dark, but the finding reported in New Scientist suggests that other species also use colour vision at night.

Nocturnal moths were thought to find flowers by looking for bright petals against a darker, leafy background. Read the rest of this entry »

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Asha had a great nights sleep last night, and as a result has been a really bright girl today.

This morning she was keen to go swimming and seems to have really enjoyed herself.

One thing she did which made me laugh was, the teacher was trying to get all the swimmers to swim under a hoop. It was very close to the water.. Asha – typically- lifted the hoop up so she didnt get her face wet. Why not.. she aint daft!

Tonight she insisted on having a bath “to practice putting my head under” so no soap in it :d

After a go at lying on her back with no help (it was very shallow at this point) I then added to the water and asked her what toy she would love to have in the bath if she got her face all wet.. her reply a bouncy ball… Deal done.. her face went under.

Then daddy joined in and put his head under to encourage her to continue the good work. (yay for daddies)

Anyway.. away from swimming.. We had a lovely afternoon playing with toy cars on the lounge floor and practicising the “dig it” song from her “boogie babies” dvd i got her for her birthday. We also did some art “work” o.k. at dinner Asha wanted to blow bubbles in her water, so once she had consumed enough to help her body, I added some food dies to it. We then got the white coffee filter papers out and Asha dripped the colours onto the papers.

We also noticed you could use a straw like a pipet dropper by holding your thumb on the end.. Science in the making I guess!

Todays bargain? A trip to the charity shop in Portmadog, supplied us with one copy of HIAWATHA DVD, (£2) which I have wanted for ages for Asha, and a small night light for her to paint with her glass paints (50p)

This morning before swimming she also wrote some lovely number 1′s out for me and did a lovely copy of the word “one” I just have to keep her interested in it all. We also did some Welsh on the way around, and some reading and poetry.

We have also been talking about baby animal names.. Anyway I found this link to help me out!

http://www.treasureranch.com/treasure/rzuinfofiles/terms.html

Vicki xx

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Weather – damp.

Tiredness – very

Car? Grannys and Grandad.

Yep Asha went off with Granny and Grandad to knowsley and Steve and I went Birkenhead, for exciting things like Axe’s and such items. We also tried to sort out our phones to no effect.

Asha had a lovely time, though got home far too late!

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And today its rocket making..

Plastic bottle, cork, one bycle inner tube, and a small valve. Wow the effects were fantastic.

the kids loved them, the older kids. thought they were brilliant, and all the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

At night, we had a communal food, which we got to late, as we had to nip home to feed the cat. We did however stay up far too late, and have a great evening.

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Along with all the unstructured and just home play things which were going on, one of the mums had made a play up with the costumes which were there.

They included things like space suits, princess costumes, and animal costumes.

Most of the children got involved, but Asha didnt want to. She tends to shy away from doing things in large groups, and I am reluctant to force her.

Anyway, when I asked her if she wanted to do the play, she replied. “no, because if i am in it, I cant watch it”

The play was wonderfull. Asha got to play with many of the great toys outside for much of today on her own, and she also locked mummy in the toilet.

It was a pit, and it needed a catch on the outside, so that the wind dosnt blow it open, however Asha thought it would be great fun to show mummy she could lock it.. Mummy wasnt impressed, and daddy had an Asha delivered to him, to deal with!

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Asha has been catching frogs and generally pond dipping today.

She was mesmerised by the tiny frogs and really did want to catch one, but wasnt too keen on falling in the pond.

We also looked at trains, dolls and gardens. A quick sneak around a victorian kitchen… Can you guess where we met Granny?

We also got a copy of astrid Lindgren – Pippi Longstocking… now illustrated by Laruen childs.. Asha has loved it soo far,

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Cheshire Show.

I went to my first cheshire show today. I missed it the year I was born, and mummy and daddy were busy the following two years.
It was in tabley which is near knutsford, so we had to leave the house at 8am. So rarely these days, daddy had to wake me up!

After what seemed like minutes in the car, I fell asleep. We arrived there. Mummy then got me dressed, and we had a sandwich.
Mummy had parked in the disabled area, and we slowly trundled over the the kiosk. Where we bought our tickets. We then met granny
by the cheshire hounds. The dogs were noisy. Granny then paid for me to have a go on the bouncy slide, but a boy tripped me up and I fell
down the steps. Shaken we went for a walk around. After some time, we found some fun things to look at, sheep, goats and apache. They were cute
I also saw big horses, cows and baby calfs. Mummy took me into the poultry tent, and we looked at the flat bills of the ducks, the small hooks
of the pigeons, and there wonderfull chests which puffed out. Mummy also told me when she was little she held a baby chick at the cheshire show.
I was watching them with my mummy. We looked at an array of egg yolks, the range in colour yellow was fascinating.

I spent some time playing on the fair ground, I went on the carosel, and train. I also climed into an Airport fire engine, it was a lot bigger than
the one which toppled over in portmadog recently. After making mummy a bouquet with granny, we had pork butties whilst listening to the school band.

I am sure i have missed a lot out of this.

Asha

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Asha spent today playing with her toys at Grannys, and we had a barbecue at night, just the five of us. It was so easy, pleasant and simple. I really enjoyed it.

Grandad has re-instated the rope swing, and we all took it in turns to play with Asha on it.. Well push her anyway. She has made us all cups of tea, and enjoyed playing with her toys. I forgot to pack Steves jumper for him, so he has spent a fair bit of time hibernating in the bedroom, in bed. But I am sure having an excuse to read a book in bed, isnt really a bad thing for him at the moment. He looks really tired!

Asha kind of had a realisation today that Hata is no longer with us. She hasnt been to “the wirral” since he died, and I think it has upset her a bit. If you remeber we have had problems explaining it to her. I think she now understands, as much as a 4 year old can. I missed Hata this weekend, if only wondering why it was quieter!

Anyway, we have sorted through some more of our rubbish, and we have some rubbish to take to J for the C.L.A.S car boot in June. I think we may have some for our friends in Aber, as well.. Must check that!

Easy dinner, easy evening, easy evening. Lets just hope it remains this way for the rest of the week!… Oh the weather, beautiful!

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Yep, Granny and Grandad came up for the day. Well they arrived around 10.40 and left around 4.

Asha went belistic when the car drove up.. It was great to see her going hysterical with laughter again, she has been through a lot, but seems back to herself now.

They took her to the gypsy Wood, near Caernarfon, after having a coffee/tea break. but sadly it was a bit too wet, and Asha was cold. They cut the visit short, and came and got some dry clothes and went to that old favourite of Asha’s Glasfryn Soft Play area. she loves it.  One happy tired Asha, one exhausted grandad.. and Granny – smiling.

After Granny and Grandad left, Asha joined next doors children for a play on the trampoline, and had a sweet mountain for a while. Happy kids all around.

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Mummy has been suffering this week. Last weekend she was shivering in a room which was recording a temperature of over 25degrees C and under a duvet.

Glad to say Mummy is now a lot better, and only complaining that the kitchen floor still needs mopping;)

So what have we done then?

Last Saturday, was the normal rush to ballet, and then home to collapse on the sofa..
Sunday, I didnt do anything, I can remember and I am sure Steve played with Asha loads, and played football outside with her.
Monday. I went to the drs and got yet another course of antibiotics. I think we also went somewhere else but I cant remeber where/ what?
Tuesday, We went to Aberdesach Beach, and had a lovely day – mummy sleeping on the beach wrapped in blankets, Steve and Asha playing in the stream and just enjoying the sun, and sea air.
Wednesday- Oh the joys of wednesdays;) Shopping, followed by a short visit to C.L.A.S followed by a trip to the Spinneys – Nature / Bird reserve thing, at Bangor.

We also fitted in a trip to Penrhyn Castle, ……and Asha and I did a detour to the cafe for some Asha friendly cake… to meet a friend, for a lift as the Van wont get into the car park at the spinneys!

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Two ospreys who recently returned to their nest in Gwynedd have produced their first egg.

It is the fifth year running that the ospreys have flown in from Africa to raise chicks in the Glaslyn Valley near Porthmadog.

BBC LINK

So what is an Osprey?

Ospreys or in Latin – Pandion haliaetus

Female 60-66 cm

Male 50-55 cm 183 cm

(58-72 in) wingspan.

Colour: Body, dark brown above and white below.

Head, white except for a brown stripe from the eye to the back of the head.

The tail has medium-sized, alternating, dark brown and white bands.

The female Osprey had a larger band of mottling across chest. Other things to look for: Barring on underwings and tail, voice plaintive whistles. Eyes are Yellow in colour, feet appear oversized.

Unlike other raptors, the Osprey has four equal toes. The outer one is reversible, enabling the bird to seize its prey with two toes pointing forwards and two pointing backwards.

So where do they live, and why??

The Osprey are truly a global bird inhabiting all continents except Antarctica. Their diet consists solely of fish,

Osprey’s have a wide distribution because they are able to live anywhere where there are safe nest sites and shallow water with abundant fish.

Nests are generally found within 3 to 5 km of a water body.

The frequency with which each of these habitat types is used varies by geographic region.

Because the osprey’s habitat is always closely associated with bodies of water; nests are most commonly in dead or open-topped trees,

When an Osprey sees a fish from the air, it can hover at a height of between 10 to 30m When the fish is in a suitable positionin a dramatic performance, the bird, dives with its wings half closed and claws stretched forward, and disappears under the surface in a great spray of water, usually reappearing a few seconds later with a fish firmly clutched in its claws.

Because the Osprey’s plumage is fine and dense, especially on its feet, it bird does not get very wet.

The Osprey carries its catch headfirst in flight, using both feet to hold all but the smallest fishes. Ospreys can’t swim and have been known to drown, especially if they get their talons stuck in too large a fish and can’t take off.

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Its odd isnt it, how kids never cease to surprise me!We sat and talked for a while about Hatter having died, and about things dieing, and about newborn lambs – luckily there are a lot of these around here right now !

This morning, Asha said to me. I wont ask granny how Hatter is today, because Granny will be sad mummy wont she! – I replied yes, because Hatter has died hasnt he, and she misses him a lot.

Asha gave me a hug, and asked if I miss Hatter, and I replied, that yes I miss knowing I wont see Him again. Asha’s reply… I wont miss him barking and him jumping at me mummy, but I will miss Grandad shouting at him!

Well what can you say :d – I think she understands now

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He was a really cool dog. One of his favourite tricks was I’d throw a ball or something for him and he would run after it, catch it then run away with it. Very often the challenge was to catch him before he run away. All he really wanted was to be loved, fed and walked and spoiled once in a while by Reg.

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Last Monday, Grandad had to have grannys dog put down.

Granny was still in oxford. Hatter had come to my parents via a friend of my brother. He was a beautifully natured – though some what doppy and deaf (only when it suited him best) We will never know how old he was, we were his third family.

He was a large soft thing, with one of those faces, which just showed love, compassion and everything a true doggy shows. I dont really like dogs, but once you got past hatter’s bark and jumpy ness he was always a soft dog.

He will be missed, I will try and get Steve to upload some pics later of him.

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So I look at familytreehouse, and realise we havent written down half of what we have been doing for the last two weeks. Why? because we have been so busy, doing nothing

Granny was 65.
Daddy was 6 – well that’s what he says :d
We did painting and made cardboard animals at C.L.A.S
We made food, and cooked.
We made goats milk cheese – yummy.
We went shopping.
We sat and watched Mary Poppins.. (what a great film!)
We discussed chimney sweeps, musicals, dancing… and asha wants to return to ballet – so we shall
We have played ball, made bags out of felt, managed to jump down firemans poles unaided!!!
We have started to recognise D,B,S,M,A in capital letters and small letters. Expertly!
We have drawn pictures of flaminogoes, daffodils, puffins, grandads, and made dens and nests.
We have talked about the moon and the sun. How to make electricity, Why people need glasses, Why people live and die, what the difference is between a leaf eater bee and a bumble bee. The difference between wild and domestic animals….

We have practiced ballet, and drawing. We have made mud pies, eaten in restaurants. Tried oysters, and scallops.

Seen Oxford, Stratford, and slept at uncle andrews house. In fact all things considered, its no wonder i cant remeber what we have done this last few weeks, as all I have wanted to do is sleep, sleep sleep!

We have read books, and discussed the moon, time, our bodies, and why we have skin. We have talked about why some animals have fur (like cats) and some have a hide (like rino’s)

And to add to this medley of life, Steve has read her Jonathan Livingstone Seagull !

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Monday – zoo
monday night i fell over off my chair, whilst trying to take off my slip on boots! and hurt my ankle. Its still sore, but at least I can weight bear. I am just glad, I wasnt alone, as Asha was in bed, and Steve was still downstairs as well.

Result was all plans for tuesday (including shopping and me going to the drs, got put on hold.)

So what to do with an Asha then? Well we spent some time doing a project on the animals in the zoo, we also spent time reading, and cuddling on the sofa. She helped me get dressed, which she always finds funny. And we did make and do, sewing and we talked about different animal shapes, sounds and colours.

We also talked a little bit about emtions, and fealings such as fear, anger, sad, tired (her contribution)

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