Still busy with the house hunting, but not too busy to take notice of all the new calves that have magically appeared in our backyard in the past month or so. You see, folks, our current rental home sits on an 80-acre working farm. In fact, one of the many fenced livestock pastures butts up against the fenced-in area of our backyard. The closest pasture is usually where our landlords sequester the newly-birthed calves and their mothers, so we have the bittersweet pleasure of watching the young’uns romp around on shaky legs, test out their brand-new vocal cords with hearty moos!, and suckle on their mommas’ impossibly huge teats. Sweet because it’s like watching the live TV version of Cute Overload; bitter because the buhbies and parents alike all share in the same destiny – namely, the meat hooks. So sad, and so unnecessary.

Carnies, let me introduce you to your meat.

More “farm animal” pics here.

And, of course, them pesky carnivals (pesky because I just can’t seem to keep up, try as I might):

* Carnival of the Green 68

* Carnival of Hurricane Relief 79

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Tagged: friday random cuteness link dump carnivals cow bovine farm animals animal rights animal welfare meat

This week, I bring you double the cuteness to make up for my lack of a carnivals-n-cuteness roundup last Friday. Sorry ’bout that. Posting will be kinda scattered for the time being, since Shane & I decided to make that final step into adulthood and buy a house already. My, how old that makes me feel. Anyway, Friday through Sunday is generally reserved for househunting type tasks, so I may miss a roundup here and there. I’ll try to make ‘em up best I can, promise. Until we settle in to our new digs in, oh, hopefully six months or less, bear with me.

Now, my best attempt at teaching Ralphie the history of contraception (via The Pill: A Biography of the Drug That Changed the World, by Bernard Asbell):

As you can see, the topic bores him to sleep. To be fair, though, everything save for food and fresh dirt lulls the little guy into a trance. He is a dog, after all.

And two weeks of carnivals for your browsing pleasure….

* Carnival of the Green 67

* Carnival of the Green 66

* Carnival of Hurricane Relief 78

* Carnival of Hurricane Relief 77

* The Giving Carnival 4

* Festival of the Trees 9

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Tagged: friday random cuteness link dump carnivals my furbabies dachshund wiener dog dog canine hot dog

“Let’s Use Natural Jewels”, by Hamed Saber

* Carnival of the Green 65

* Carnival of Hurricane Relief 76

* Giving Carnival 3
 
Sorry to cut this so short, but it’s been a long week, and Kelly needs a nap…

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Tagged: friday random cuteness link dump carnivals bug lady bug jewels eyes

Though this week’s cuteness is of the veggie – rather than the animal – variety, I just couldn’t pass it up. How many veggies manage to pull off both creepiness and cuteness at the same time?

“freaky smiling soybean,” by rakka

* Carnival of the Green 64

* Carnival of Hurricane Relief 75

…those eyes just follow ya, don’t they?

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Tagged: friday random cuteness link dump carnivals soybean soy flickr creepy smiley face

A special menage a trois shot for Valentine’s Day:

“The Kiss”, by creativity+

See? Animals got teh kinks, too!

Further proof that good things come in threes – this week’s carnival roundup. Enjoy!

* Carnival of the Green 63

* Carnival of Hurricane Relief 74

* Giving Carnival 2

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Tagged: Friday Random Cuteness carnivals link dump squirrel kissy kissy Flickr Valentine’s Day

A little late in the season for an x-mas pic, but I’ve really been lovin’ on Kaylee lately. We’re finally at that point with the two newest canines where they still feel a little “new” but, at the same time, are starting to fit in with the rest of the family. We’re slowly picking up on their individual quirks and eccentricities: Kaylee, once she’s plopped down on the bed for the night, will not budge an inch until morning; Jayne loves frozen poo and is driven to fits an anxiety by closed doors, which she always seems to find herself on the wrong side of. Such sweet dogs – it’s hard to believe that, during their six-month stay at Friends of the Friendless, no one wanted them. Six friggin’ months.

Just look at how adorable that belly is!

Kaylee says, "I’ll show you my presents if you show me yours!"

* Carnival of Hurricane Relief 73

* Festival of the Trees 8

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Tagged: Friday Random Cuteness carnivals my furbabies rat terrier Jack Russell terrier dog canine

I haven’t had a chance to take any (decent) pics of the furballs lately, so we have a guest dog this week: “Pugsly Napoleon Cutie-Pants Pazu, Ph. D., M.D., D.V.M, J.D., C.P.A., D.D.S., Order of the British Empire, winner of the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes.”

You can see more of Pugsly over at his father Dunechaser’s photostream.

Now on to the carnivals:

* Carnival of the Green 61

* Carnival of Hurricane Relief 72

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Tagged: Friday Random Cuteness carnivals link dump dog canine pug

Seeing as I can’t lay down for more than five minutes without feeling like I’m drowning in my own snot, and slaveboy isn’t here to pamper me*, I’m not really in the mood for cuteness today.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Yeah, that’s about right.

Now for them carnivals:

* Carnival of the Green 60

* Carnival of Hurricane Relief 71

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* Supposedly he’s bringing me back a few dozen Vegan! Donuts!, in which case, all will be right in my world come Sunday.

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Tagged: friday+random+cuteness carnivals link+dump ugliest+dog dog canine

Kermie!

Busted!

For protesting Ford’s anti-enviro policies at the North American Auto Show!

Let’s hope they allow him the courtesy of conjugal visits with Miss Piggy in the slammer…even though I don’t think the two are technically married. I’m pretty sure that Rick Santorum would have objected to hawt frog-on-pig action.

(Photos via RAN.)

Luckily, I have plenty of reading material for our green friend:

* Carnival of the Green 59

* Carnival of Hurricane Relief 70

As a bonus this week, reader Jeff forwarded me a video of the No Kill Advocacy Center’s Nathan Winograd appearance on Rescue Roundtable:

Just click on the video and you’ll be redirected to You Tube.

And vote Nathan Reader’s Digest Hero of the Year!

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Tagged: carnivals link+dump ran rainforest+action+network flickr kermit kermie ford protest friday+random+cuteness you+tube no+kill no-kill+solutions Nathan+Winograd

Well, I hoped to have some x-mas pics for y’all by now, but alas! – the dogs were being naughty-naughty on New Year’s (which is actually when the husband and I celebrated Festivus this year; long story), so they never did open their presents. Maybe this weekend.

‘Till then, Ralphie in a camo hiking hat:

And two (!) weeks of carnivals to catch up on:

* Carnival of Hurricane Relief 69

* Carnival of Hurricane Relief 68

(FYI: The Carnival of the Green was on vaca.)

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Tagged: friday+random+cuteness my+furbabies carnivals