Nature – Page 18 – Jennifer's Journal

Are You an “Animal Racist”?

Published on August 10, 2012January 17, 2016 by J. Kelland Perry11 Comments

Disclaimer: the following rant is in no way intended to minimize or satirize the very serious issue of racism in our world today. It was conceived with tongue firmly in cheek and for entertainment purposes only… sort of.

Are you tired of hearing countless dog lovers dissing cats as a matter of course? Have you grown weary, as I have, of people professing to be proud animal owners, and yet they sh*t on the existence of my beloved pets? I swear, if I hear one more dog owner claiming that dogs are the superior pet, I’m going to start the meanest cat-fight you have ever witnessed.

Don’t get me wrong. I love dogs. I adore dogs. I have owned dogs myself in the past, but right now my life is more suited for the feline variety of pets, due in part to their low maintenance, but also because of the compatibility of our personalities. We are quiet, for the most part, and slightly aloof. We are independent. We keep ourselves clean. And we love each other unconditionally, and pine for each other when we’re apart. ( But I’m getting off track here with my cat love. I am head over heels about horses too, but can in no way accommodate one in my life at this time either.)

Even media personalities are hopping on the “dogs and dog-people are best” bandwagon, spouting their prejudices like it’s something to be proud of. But folks, just because your opinion is popular doesn’t make it right. It makes you sound like you have succumbed to a form of speciesism. Besides, you hardly ever hear cat owners/lovers badmouthing dogs, the way so many dog owners/lovers badmouth cats.

Where is the tolerance? What happened to the idea of Live and Let Live? Can we not embrace all animals for their individuality and wonderfulness? I’ll even go out on a limb here and say it is comparable to the ignorance of a person saying he loves mankind, but in no way can he tolerate foreigners. It just doesn’t make any sense, like so many other kinds of prejudice ( and don’t get me started on that).

Can we not all embrace each other for our differences and uniqueness, and just get along?

Canada Day weekend..

Published on July 4, 2012July 1, 2017 by J. Kelland Perry11 Comments

Okay, this is the first time we ever had friends come to dinner – in a CANOE!

Another wonderful thing about living the coastal life. 🙂

Happy Birthday Canada! (kamafitness.wordpress.com)
Canada Day Cook Out (withoutadornment.wordpress.com)
O Canada (dreambles.com)

Travel Theme: Oceans

Published on June 14, 2012April 23, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry11 Comments

June 8th was World Oceans Day. World Oceans Day has been unofficially celebrated on June 8th since 1992 when Canada proposed the idea at the Earth Summit in Rio, and was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2008. The official website is worldoceansday.org.

Here is my contribution to a weekly travel theme challenge created by wheresmybackpack.wordpress.com. Because I live by the Atlantic Ocean here in Canada, I thought I would share some pics from last year when my daughter and her family visited, and had fun on our sandy seashores.

visit 025 — “I found a starfish, Nanny!”

visit 046 — “Look what I found…a baby crab!”

Scenes From Italy – Part Four: Stresa

Published on June 1, 2012March 26, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry7 Comments

We said goodbye to half of our group whose time had come to fly home, as well as “ciao” to Tuscany, then the four of us rode by train to northern Italy. Nestled by Lake Maggiore in the foothills of the Italian Alps, the pretty little town of Stresa was a welcome sight. We checked into a B & B, our home for the next few days.

stresa069 — Lake Maggiore is the second largest lake in Italy.

stresa027 — We climbed the hill by cable car to see the magnificent view.

stresa099 — Pippa, the resident cat at our B & B

Scenes From Italy – Part Three: Siena and Florence, Tuscany (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)
Scenes from Italy – Part Two: Tuscany (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)
Scenes from Italy – Part One: Rome (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)

Cats on Ice: Exploring Spring Thaw in Iceberg Alley

Published on April 18, 2012August 23, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry20 Comments

Here are some scenes I captured a couple of weeks ago when our backyard bay was full of ice and “bergy bits”. Maisie and Vivian, being the naturally curious creatures they are, simply had to take a closer look. On tentative paws and their noses in the air, smelling the invigorating ocean breeze, they took me along…

cats on ice — Time to Head Home for a Cat Nap!

Bonavista Bay Polar Bear!

Published on April 2, 2012January 27, 2017 by J. Kelland Perry5 Comments

29609_466969100031031_1607858573_n — local Facebook photo

“Be careful what you wish for, Jennifer…”

I have always adored animals, and was enjoying getting closer to nature since my husband and I moved back to rural Newfoundland, but THIS IS A LITTLE TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.

Yes, the big visitor showed up in our little town just yesterday, one of four recent reports of polar bears being on the island of Newfoundland so far this spring (read further and view actual pictures from yesterday from the linked article below). The Ursus Maritimus doesn’t often make its way this far south. It is when it is hungrily hunting seals, which are found on icepans this time of year, that it may end up in some of our backyards. Yikes!!

“Don’t worry,” says my husband. “Nobody has ever been attacked by a polar bear in Newtown before.”

Gee, thanks, Honey. I don’t know why I was worrying. We are, after all, only talking about the LARGEST LIVING LAND PREDATOR IN THE WORLD.

Silly RCMP, too, for warning us to be on the lookout. Oh well, as the old joke goes, I won’t have to outrun the bear, I’ll just have to outrun the husband…

Polar bears threaten Newfoundland communities (cbc.ca)

Cold and Dreary February? Nahh… Part One (Outdoors)

Published on February 25, 2012August 23, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry7 Comments

I have never professed to be a winter-loving person. I don’t ski, skate or snowmobile, and here in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, the winter can drag on longer than many of us like.

But it isn’t all bad. I do like to go outdoors on the sunny days for walks, or just to take some pictures of things that catch my fanciful eye. Last week I snapped a few shots of the glittering aftermath of a sleet storm. It is also satisfying to find signs of wildlife…and finding wildlife itself.

(For better viewing, click on the first photo to start the gallery)