Country Kalib and the fish; Juniper stops by for a visit
Monday, August 24, 2009 at 3:18PM ;)
Kalib loves my tropical fish. He loves to feed them and his dad usually helps him. Yesterday, he came running in with me, grabbed a can of fish food before I could supervise, ripped off the lid and then the fish food was all over my floor.
Jimmy, my good black cat, jumped off his chair and chowed down. Jimmy loves fish food. He craves it above the finest cat food ever created.
It was very tough to clean up.
This particular fish is called a parrot fish. It is not a natural fish, but is bred across species. Some aquarium purists tend to get very angry about parrot fishes and to scold people who breed, buy and sell them.
I did not know any of this when I walked into a fish store about eight years ago and saw this guy swimming around in a tank.
All I knew is that he looked very cute, and pretty, too, so I bought him, brought him home and put him in a tank.
I don't care what those purists say. I love him. He is a bright and intelligent fish. He studies the world and he figures things out.
;)
I remember when he was just a pup. I only had two tanks then - a 29 gallon and a 55 gallon. I put him in the 55 gallon and he very quickly figured out my habits and knew just when I would feed him.
One day, I sat down right in front of the tank and put my face almost to the glass. This frightened him and he scooted off to hide inside a pipe ornament.
"You silly parrot fish," I chided, "it's just me. You know me. I'm your friend. Come back out now."
When he heard that, he swam right back out and came right to me, so that we were nose to snout. He tilted his body and head ever so slightly and got a sheepish look on his face.
"Oh, yeah," he said. "It's just you. I should have known. I don't know what got into me. I thought you were an alligator. I feel so silly."
That was when I knew just how smart he really was.
Oh, good grief! I had planned to clean the tanks the very day that Margie fell. I have been sidetracked and negligent. I had better clean them and fill the water back to the top.
;)
So I looked out into the front yard and saw a tiny cow grazing in the grass. It was the tiniest cow that I had ever seen. I was pretty certain that it was the tiniest cow that anybody had ever seen, but there it was, grazing in the grass in my front yard.
;)
I went out to investigate. Holy cow! It was not a cow at all! It was Juniper! Lisa had come out and had brought her along.
It is about time. Juniper has not paid us a visit in far too long.
;)
Soon, Kalib was looking for Juniper. He did not know that she was climbing a brush pile.
;)
Then he spotted her. She spotted him.
;)
;)
Kalib's dad lifted him up so that he could look straight into her eyes, but that was when Juniper decided to go back down.
;)
Soon, though, Juniper went right back up. She was happy up there, because from this perch, she could see the entire world.
Even you, because you are in the world. Whatever you were doing at this time, Juniper witnessed it.
Don't worry. She won't tell. She never tattles.
She is not a tattle cat.
You can find a more complete account of Juniper's visit on the blog of my alter-ego, Grahamn Kracker, should you be interested.
Reader Comments (7)
Your pictures of Juniper make me happy. I'm glad she could see me.
You have a talent for telling a simple story and making it interesting and entertaining. I enjoy reading about your family and grandchild. Have you ever thought of compiling some of your pictures, along with a story, into a children's book? I think, if you did, it would be popular with both the children and the adults who read the book to them. For example, things like you're comment about the small cow grazing in your grass would make both the child and adult smile---I know it made me smile.
Boy do I feel silly! I just discovered that you are already are a published author/photographer---thus the talent I've observed in your postings.
Wonderful photos and wonderful idea -- a children's book that we would so enjoy reading to our little ones, sharing your little Kalib and his adventures. But then you ALWAYS make me smile, or sometimes cry, but that's what life is all about.....
Thanks for the lovely post. I saw the wonderful photos of Kalib and Juniper at your cats' blog. Big smiles! I also can so relate to your relationship with the parrot fish. I had a beta splendens that had a wonderful personality. He was the only one in the tank and got on well enough with the other fish, which were pretty mellow. He would come to the glass when he knew I was bringing him tubifex worms and would even wrap himself around my finger if I put it in the water.
Thanks everybody - and anonymous: nothing to feel sorry about. I appreciate the encouragement. I have never published the kind of book that you speak of, so you give me courage and motivation.
I have a mini cow and a tiny cow that both graze in my yard, but I think your tiny cow is smaller than my tiny cow. Thanks for a morning smile, I needed it!