Fur, Feathers & Scales : Bearded Dragon

Hi there!  It's time to meet another critter!  This time, you'll be meeting a reptile.  This is Yoshi, the bearded dragon!

Bearded dragons are lizards that come from Australia.  They are also very popular pets and can live about 15 years or so with proper care.  They get their name from a very interesting defense mechanism.  If they feel threatened, they puff up their chin and their spikey scales stick out and turn black, making them look like they have a black, spiky beard! (I sort of think they look like Abe Lincoln...)

All reptiles have scales, and the bearded dragon's scales are very rough.  They even have super spiky scales along their sides to prevent animals from grabbing them. Their long toes and toenails help them climb--they spend a lot of time on low branches.

Bearded dragons are omnivores and eat insects, worms,  and maybe a small rodent and vegetation.  Yoshi loves to eat mealworms...



Isn't he such a great model!  Are you a fan of reptiles?

52 Weeks of Felting - Week 12

Happy weekend and happy Spring! It doesn't feel like Spring around here, though, with snow on the ground and more on the way.  I've got things to do, Mother Nature.  Get your act together. 

Anyway, sorry I've been a little MIA lately.  I've been (and will be) incredibly busy at my zoo job, staying late training new volunteers.  I've also been working out and still training for that 5K nearly everyday.  In fact, there have been only three days this month that I haven't exercised. *Pats self on back.*

A quick update about the shop:  Good Natured will be closed for the entire month of April, so I can enjoy my vacation. :) So, if you need anything before then, now's the time to order.

About this week's project: I've been wanting to try some flat felt pieces. I love the idea of "painting" with fiber.  Since I'm longing for Spring weather, I decided to felt some tulips--which are my favorite flowers. I wanted this one to have sort of an illustrated effect--it actually reminds me of stained glass.

I really want to do more of these.  I think they would frame wonderfully. My husband had a great
idea for my next piece: a hot air balloon!

Once I finish a few more, they will eventually be available in my shop, but not today.  They will not be made-to-order, so once they're gone, they're gone.  In fact, I plan on doing more one-of-a-kind pieces.  Hopefully that will be an interesting shop venture. 

52 Weeks of Felting - Week 11

I'm honestly surprised that I have been able to keep up with this series.  It's been a lot of fun creating something new every week.  For Week 11, I wanted to create something with a bit of whimsy...

I love this little toadstool house. Although, it's not really "little" compared to most of my other work. I have noticed that my new creations seem to be growing in size. You can find this toadstool house here in my shop.

Did you see my first Fur, Feathers & Scales post? So excited to share more animals with you!

Fur, Feathers & Scales : Quaker Parrot

I'm so excited to share some of my zoo animal friends with you in this new series.  I hope you'll enjoy it as much I do!

So, let me introduce you to Elvis the Quaker Parrot!!

 

Parrots are such cool animals!  Most are very long-lived.  A quaker parrot like this can live up to around 30 years, and Elvis is approximately 15 years old.  (Larger parrots, like macaws, can have a lifespan of 80 years!)  They have crazy strong beaks and eat fruits, seeds and nuts.  Elvis will do pretty much anything for his favorite foods, which are sunflower seeds, peanuts and bananas.  Sometimes when he eats bananas, he says "yum yum yum" in his cute little parrot voice.  He can also say "Good Morning, Elvis!" "bye bye," "how are you," "watchya doin," "wanna take a bath," and a few more. 

 

These birds live in the rainforest of South America, and build giant, communal nests.  They're like apartment buildings for birds.  And parrots will typically only have one mate their entire life. In captivity, parrots will bond with only a few people.  I happen to be one of those lucky few for Elvis.  He lets me preen his feathers, and he preens me by cleaning under my fingernails (they're not actually dirty--don't worry!), and he preens my hair.

 

 Parrots in general can be very loud, and some calls can be heard miles away.  They are also very smart. Parrots have an intelligence equivalent to a toddler, which is something to think about if you ever consider getting a parrot for a pet. Imagine having a super loud toddler that can fly and likes to shred wood for 80 years...it's not for everyone. :)

 

I love that I can bring my zoo job into the blog world. What kind of animal do you want to see next?