Spotted Donkey

One of the animals my family was able to see at the Columbus Zoo was the "Spotted Donkeys". They were kept in the petting part of the zoo.

Did you know a male donkey breeding with a female horse produces a "mule"? I did not til I did a little research. A male horse breeding with a female donkey produces a "Hinny". Either a mule or a Hinny is born sterile and unable to reproduce.

The "Spotted Donkeys" are a new arrival at the Columbus Zoo this year.I can see why. They are beautiful, small in size and easily approachable. The Spotted Donkeys had no problems coming up to the fence to be petted. When they were ready for attention from humans.

For a donkey to be considered to be a "Spotted Donkey". It has to have spots located above the knees or hocks and the neck below the throat latch. To produce a "Spotted Donkey", all you need is one parent to be a "Spotted Donkey". As a the gene is partial dominate in "Spotted Donkeys."

Donkeys were first brought to North America by Christopher Columbus back in the 15th century. Managed to arrive in Mexico in the 16th century, where the donkeys spread upwards and north throughout the United States.

It takes a donkey  to 12 - 14 months to carry its babies til they are born. Twins are possibly. Normally a donkey only produces one offspring at a time. A female donkey can breed at the age 3 -4 years old. Where a male can start reproducing at 1 1/2 - 2 years old. Foals are weaned between the months of 4 - 6.

Have you seen or petted a "Spotted Donkey" Before?

Birthday Choice : Columbus Zoo

Friday, my family visited the Columbus Zoo. It was in celebration for my daughter's 15th birthday.
She was allow to invite one friend to go with her. She was allowed to choose the destination with in a couple hours of where we lived. She choose the Columbus Zoo. As she has a love for animals. I think she gets that from me.

Thankfully the girls got along great. They were able to be their selves with no incidents. They had a blast posing on and around different exhibits.

Visiting the farm petting zoo was such a joy to my daughter. She had so much fun petting and being around the animals. It was hard to get her to move on. So, we could see the rest of the zoo. She loves animals.

It was sad to see the polar bear enclosure with no ice or snow. I know it isn't for another few months in Ohio before the snow comes. Those bears must of been really hot.

One of the exhibits in to the bear area, had displays of the height of varies bears. There was a brown bear that was taller than the polar bear. I really can't remember which bear was the tallest of them all. Any clues?

One of the ways the girls cooled off was going under one of the sprinklers around the zoo. I had to take this photo several times. As people would pay no mind to the lady trying to take a photo. As they photobombed the photos.

Many moments were comical. Such as the girls each posed for one of these pictures. I asked my daughter if she would of liked being punished like this, if she lived in those times. Being put on display in the center of town. She said," No, it makes my back hurt standing here and my feet."

Have you been to the Columbus Zoo? If not, you really don't know what a fun experience you are missing.

She Wants A White Delivery Driver - No Blacks.

I think the woman was scared. It doesn't make her racist because she is scared. What people fail to realize is, she is allowed to say who can come in to her home and who can't. No delivery service can force her to allow someone in her home she is scared of. No one should be forced to allow someone in their home they are afraid of if there is other alternatives available. Which there was in this case.

However, I do think that lady should have made that request when she placed and paid for her order. I think it was wrong for her to wait.

I like how a person suggested how it should have been handled. Instead of making a big thing about it hurting peoples feeling or possible offending them. Saying they canceled and sending someone else is what a good manager would have done.

To many people claiming racist without taking everything it to consideration, makes those who claim it look stupid, in my opinion. Everything isn't black and white. As for that lady, you have no clue why she refused a black person in her home. She could have been raped or something bad for her to do that. People need to have more compassion and understanding.

Check out the video / article and decide for yourself : Video

BlogJob

Blogjob is a new website I have recently joined. You receive points for doing varies tasks around the website. You trade your points in for different things. Such as $25 - $100 Paypal payment.



You receive points for :



1. Referring new members

2. Accepting friendships

3. Logging in

4. Writing a blog post

5. Joining and creating groups.

6. Posting and creating new forum topics.



There is alot more. You are more than welcome to click on my profile link below to check out the website to see if you would like to earn for the things you do online.



Sandy | BlogJob

ABC Emotions Challenge W : Wacky, Whimsical, etc.

I am writing the ABC Emotions series a day early. As I will be out of town tomorrow to celebrate my daughter's 15th birthday. I am going to take today to talk about her and words that begin with the letter "W".

My daughter has had many ups and downs throughout life. Being special needs, many people consider her weird, wacky, and worthless.

However, anyone will a special needs child is aware there is so much more to a special needs child. They can be warmhearted, whimsical, and wonderful. My daughter has been hurt and wronged by the words of others who do not understand her.

You see my daughter has a cognitive issue. Where she will hear a word like school, and think you said cool. She has severe ADHD and ODD. Where she must take medication. Otherwise, she can become worked up and warlike. One minute she can be weepy and whiny, to happy and energetic, like she is walking on air.

Her body screams teenager,"Hey, look at me." Where her mind is more of a 9 or 10 year old. That needs reminded to clean her face after she eats. Or change her clothes before going out in public because she got something on it. She must be checked to make sure her clothes fit well together. As she has been made fun of in the past for her wacky way in dressing. Thank goodness wearing two different kinds of socks has finally came into style. As she has done that all her life. Big frumpy hats is another part of her wonderful and wacky style. At her age, she still loves to play dress up. 

If you have followed along the past couple of years with my daughter. You would know, it hasn't been easy since she has become a teenager. It took me two years for her psychiatrist to adjust her meds correctly. Since, he finally has. I have got some relief. So, has the school. As I no longer get daily calls to come get my daughter or hear about another trip she had to the office. This year she starts highschool. I fear for the day the meds start to wear off or she refuses to take them. As it is a daily battle to remind her to take her meds.

No matter what my daughter and I has been through. I love her with all my heart and soul. She dances to a different tune. It doesn't make it a bad thing. Other people need to be more open minded and adjust their thinking that everyone is not created the same. They need to try and come down to her level of thinking. The wonders with make you weak in knees for not understanding someone who desperately wants to be like everyone else. Once it all sinks in. You'll understand how special my daughter really is. She is a gift not only to me, but the world around her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you enjoyed reading this ABC Challenge. You may enjoy the rest of the alphabet. Which can be found from A - W. Click : HERE

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To learn more about the weekly ABC Emotions challenge click the image below. As this blog links up with that blog every week of the ABC Emotions Challenge

Photos courtesy of Pixabay.com a free use photo website.

Did The Snake Stand A Chance?

Toy snake given to my dogs by my mom.

What a snake in the house?

How did the snake get in the yard?

Don't let the snake touch my ball!

I want my ball.

That snake is not touching my ball.

Is it still alive?

Let's show mom!

Ack, it's still alive!

Don't worry little bro. I got this.

I'm telling mom that snake touched my ball. Mom!!

I hope you liked my version of Wordless Wednesday. This blog has linked up with "Little Dog" 

and 

Cinnamon Pecan Or S'mores Pancakes?

 Pancakes are a household staple in my home. Pancakes are eaten more often than any other breakfast item. Excluding cereal. Since, I am a type two diabetic. I will make the pancakes for my family. I will sample them. The enjoyment of eating as many you can is left for my family to enjoy. As I try to control my sugars by watching what I eat. It is better than taking a  daily pill before I eat.

Aldi's supermarket is my favorite place to find small boxes of different flavors or pancakes. each season or holiday will bring a different flavor to the store. These packages can feed up 3-4 people. All you do is add the mix to a bowl, an egg or two per directions and milk. You follow the directions if there is other packages. I did with the cinnamon pecan one. In order to add the swirl to the pancakes. Finishing up by adding glaze after the pancakes were doen cooking.

For the smores all I had to do was mix everything together to make the pancake. I made the glaze separate to add to the pancake after they were cooked.

I love it when my oldest son comes with his family and I make these flavorful pancakes. The whole family enjoys them. They are all ate up. Which is a win for me. No leftovers to tempt me later.

Both of these pancakes mixes are packed with flavor. Both was less than $2.00 a box. I served 6 people. I only sampled. It was a mix between the two on which was the family favorite.

If I had to rate these pancakes with a scale from 1-5. I would choose 5. None of these pancakes disappointment.

If you have to choose between both flavors, which one would you choose : Cinnamon Pecan or S'mores?

Some people enjoy making different shapes or figures when making pancakes.

Click on photo to order through Amazon.com

How do you enjoy your pancakes?

Note : I may or may not earn from purchases made from this blog as an Amazon affiliate. 

Why do people think every Facebook post is about them?

Earlier today on Facebook I shared a photo. I found on my timeline. I found it funny. It made me smile. Having depression, there isn't much that can bring a  smile out in me. The funny thing was a response to my post. The person spelled the word I used wrong. I replied telling her what the word was I used, how I spell it and what it meant.

A little later I noticed a post shared by this same person using the word she misspelled. I don't know if she got inspiration from the photo to write that or she really thought I was talking about her.

At first I thought, does she really think I called her that or think of her that way? I sure hope not. Than I just started laughing. Why? Frankly, I find it weird that a photo I shared in all fun and games turned to a serious discussion by someone else.

I realize if she thinks negative of the photo I shared. There is no way I can change that. Nor will I bother making a comment on her post to further bait me in to an argument.

Once again I will state I share things on my timeline that I find funny or have a strong opinion about. If they are about a certain person, I will call that person out. If you don't like what I share or my opinions, feel free to disconnect any time. I will not harbor any ill feelings.

Why do people think every Facebook post or photo shared is about them? This is something I have seen across social media.

Ice Treat Recipe For Dogs

Awhile back I made a comment on another bloggers post about how I keep my dogs cool. I told how I make ice treats for my dogs. The blogger asked me to share the recipe and explain how to make it. I decided to create a post. As it really is simple to do. As you can tell from the photo <--- my dogs are loving it. They do not fight over a block of ice with treats mixed in.

All you need is :

1. Dog bowl or container (I use a metal bowl, Ice slides right out)
2. Varies dog treats
3. Optional - rubber dog toy
4. Water
5. Freezer

It looks like the picture when ready --->

Instructions :

You line the bottom of your bowl or container with dog treats. I tend to place those dog treat bones around the edge of the bowl. Plus, some on the bottom. Add a little water, enough to cover treats. Freeze. Remove from freezer. Add a second layer of treats or add a rubber dog toy. Add water enough to cover treats. Repeat til the dog bowl or container is full. Remember to leave space at the top of the bowl. As water when frozen will increase in size. If not, it may over flow in your freezer or over flow the dog bowl or container.

Take out of freezer when all is frozen. This can get messy. I suggest taking it outside. Turning the dog bowl or container over. Allow the ice with treats to come out.

This is a cool way to help your dogs beat the heat. The dogs will stay hydrated by licking or eating the ice to get to the treats. Adding a rubber toy can be a way to reward your dog as well. Your dog will thank you for it.

Other cool treat for your dogs can easily be made by taking small amount of treats or meats and adding them to your ice trays. make sure to cover with water. So the treat or meat is encased in ice. Example : Tuna, scrambled egg with shell, turkey, chicken, beef. When done, add them to big plastic bag. 

I do this with left over meat instead of throwing it out. Depending on how much is left over. I can have 1 - 2 trays of ice treats at a time. I add all to one big plastic bag. That way my dogs will have a different selection all summer long.

You can also take ripe bananas, peanutbutter and yogurt. Mix together. Freeze. Now you can treat your dogs to homemade ice cream.

You don't have to break the bank to create mouth watering treats for your dogs to help keep them in cool in the summer.

Have you made homemade treat for your dog?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This blog is linking up with Little Dog Big World and Dog Pawsitive Blogs. For the weekly PAWSit Hop Saturday.

An InLinkz Link-up

Get Your Own Shoes

My teen son informed me recently that his older brother will not give back his slides. (Slides are a type of summer shoe made by name brands.) He said he doesn't want them back now. As his brother has got them all muddy, sweaty and has ruined them.

This bothers me for several reasons :

1. I had bought my oldest son his own pair for his birthday.
2. Not my problem he left them in someone else's vehicle. Being to lazy to retrieve them after being told to come get them.
3. Asking to borrow something from his little brother, than never giving them back and ruining them.

I am having my boyfriend talk to my oldest son about taking his brothers items and not giving them back. I would make him buy him another pair. However, I know that is not going to happen. As he has been laid off from his job. 

I am also going to see if I can find any sales to get my teen son another pair of slides. I don't see the point of spending a high amount when summer is almost over. As my teen son understand we have his sister birthday next week. Where we will be traveling out of town. Plus, still have to get the rest of the stuff for returning to school.

I have also instructed my teen son not to allow his brother to borrow anything he does not want ruin or possible not receive back. I am chalking the slides up as a lesson learned.

How would you handle a situation like this?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you like this post, you may want to check out my other niche blogs.  Such as : Challenge Your Writings, Food, Recipes & More, My Love For Animals and Nature, Rants and Opinions, Celebrate All Year Long, and Apps Games and Websites You Should Know About. I write on each one at least once a week. If you don't want to miss one of my blog post. You are more than welcome to follow by email or one of the social networks links. Provided in the sidebar.