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Quote of the month...

"Standing tall is a very admirable thing. There are very few stories in history of heroes who slouched to the rescue. Likewise, most individuals don't look up to people who are drooped over."
from Leven Thumps and the Wrath of Ezra by Obert Skye

my family

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Foto Story Friday #62 --- Short term pet

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

A while back we went branding.... like June. Scott was given a freshly caught horny toad lizard and well after creating a home/cage for him out of a cut-down water bottle and some grass, he was set on the back of the truck for safe keeping. When he went back to check on him, he's fallen off the truck and gotten free. Scott was SO sad because he was sure the oldest son of the people we were branding with had eaten him. Yeah the teen had been teasing Scott, and poor Scott thought he was serious.! Well, his dad felt bad about the teasing and promised he's catch him..... true to his word, he stopped by with a present for Scotty:
I was ever so thankful to him for keeping his promise..... NOT! This lizard was much larger and Scott wasn't quite as sure about it.
It is very difficult to keep a lizard warm without a heat lamp or heat rodck, so we improvised for the night and put him in the room with the water heater for the house heat system. He must have stayed warm enough, cause he was still kicking in the morning. We could not keep him.... I didn't even know what he should eat! So we wrapped him gently in a towel and set off for Makoshika State Park on a walk.
I kept telling both Scoot and EmmaLece that we couldn't keep him and he would be much happier in the park with the other lizards.
I thought they understood, but they didn't! We set him down and said good-bye and they both CRIED! I was a bit surprised, we'd had him for less than a day! But ya know Scott did name him: Leafy.
We then set him up on the side of the hill said good-bye again and
Walked home to a chorus of sniffles and whimpers! Who could have thoughtthey would become attached in such a short time span?! Just today EmmaLece was telling me how she missed Leafy!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I haven't seen a horny toad in a very long time! I used to love trying to find those things and catch them!

How cute that they fell in love with "Leafy" so quickly!

Keeley said...

Oh, I can just imagine those sweet little tears. Breaks your heart, doesn't it? Poor little sausages.

But really, Leafy is so much happier where he is. Otherwise, he'd die, and then they'd be *really* sad. I know this from experience. =Þ

Cecily R said...

Gracie would mourn and mourn if that little creature came and went in her life. I don't know about other kids, but mine (and obviously yours) get attached fast and furiously!!!

And really, for a lizard, Leafy IS pretty cute. :)

Deedles said...

I love the pictures! You really do a great job! It's so hard for kids to give up a pet. My girls collect rollie pollies and have a hard time setting them free...

Darla said...

Sounds like something my kids would do...they don't even like stepping on and killing bugs..."Does it hurt them when they die, Mom" is one thing they've asked me. On one hand, I get frustrated that they get so attached to everything they catch or own, especially in the insect, amphibian, rodent world. On the other hand, I think it is so sweet and I am so relieved that I have such sensitive, caring kids! :)

latree said...

'good bye' is the saddest words, even for a lizard.

err... but Leavy is too creepy for me anyway :D

Ryanne said...

I really want a horny toad...why did you let it go? Was it not eating all that well?

Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander said...

Aww, He's a beautiful creature. I am proud of them for taking him to such a pretty place but I also feel bad that you couldn't keep him. They are a lot of work though.

Maybe a fish in their future, or a hermit crab? :)

Jaina said...

That thing is huge! Leafy is an appropriate name.

Vanessa said...

What a cute story! I love the little lizard, and I have to say - I'm very impressed that you kept it overnight. I might not have been so brave.

Thanks for visiting my blog as part of Foto Story Friday! Have a great week!

Holly said...

What a cute lizard! I'm sure he is much happier being in the wild. I hope your kids aren't still sad!

Honey Mommy said...

That is so cute! If we catch anything my son wants to keep it for a pet... insects, snails, ANYTHING!