Taxonomy

Hello folks, I've been having lots of fun times these days! Many close encounters with the animal kingdom, both domesticated and feral. I finally got a hold of Clyde the cat! His fur was just as soft as I'd always imagined.



Another time, while out walking with my Manny, we were scolded at
some length by a red-winged blackbird. It fluttered just above our
heads and made quite a racket as we passed a stand of conifers where
it must have had a nest. All told it harangued us for about a hundred
feet as we walked along, and when we'd stop it would rest on a low
branch and watch us. It was amazing to see one so close. Unlike Clyde,
who has fur, the bird had feathers, velvety black and bright orangey-red.
We didn't have a camera with us that day, but we've found a
photograph online to use for illustration purposes:


I've been spending plenty of time in parks lately, lazing about
in the green grass with the Mamas, and once we rode down to the
Long Island Sound and spent the day near the water. I don't have
to worry about the bright sunshine as much because my pediatrician
says it's OK for me to use sunscreen now.


Also, I'm sitting up on my own, without any help! I might
tip over once in a while, but I always get right back up. I'm
practicing finding my balance up on my hands and knees, and
I'm sure I'll be crawling any day now. And everyone better
get ready, because once I start I don't plan on stopping.


I think the best thing I've been able to do lately was to ride the merry-go-round with Mama Sandy, round and round, on our own little brown
horse. I think Mama Sandy enjoyed it, too. Look how happy she is:



Manny's note: It looks like we got off easy with the blackbird shadowing us on our walk. The good people of Chicago haven't been as fortunate lately.