Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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The list of critters out there enjoying the juicy crunch is a long one – birds, reptiles, fish and a number of mammals – and if it weren’t for the creepy crawly inhabitants of our world, a lot of stomachs would go empty. Robins pull squirming worms from the moist earth after it rains, frogs snatch flies from mid-air, crickets make for good fish bait, monkeys have turned fishing termites out of trees into an art form and spiders weave webs to make a meal out of whatever flies...
The list of critters out there enjoying the juicy crunch is a long one – birds, reptiles, fish and a number of mammals – and if it weren’t for the creepy crawly inhabitants of our world, a lot of stomachs would go empty. Robins pull squirming worms from the moist earth after it rains, frogs snatch flies from mid-air, crickets make for good fish bait, monkeys have turned fishing termites out of trees into an art form and spiders weave webs to make a meal out of whatever flies...
If you think your dog is smarter than all others, you might just get a chance to prove it one day — scientifically even. Not only are sterile, cold environments, stark white coats and artificial lighting foreign and uninviting to most, in some cases they might just be unnecessary, and — though you’ve probably always had a hunch the contents of your fridge were worthy of science — it turns out your cozy abode might just be fit for research, too. It’s called citizen science a...
If you think your dog is smarter than all others, you might just get a chance to prove it one day — scientifically even. Not only are sterile, cold environments, stark white coats and artificial lighting foreign and uninviting to most, in some cases they might just be unnecessary, and — though you’ve probably always had a hunch the contents of your fridge were worthy of science — it turns out your cozy abode might just be fit for research, too. It’s called citizen science a...
It won’t be official for a little while yet, and when it’s still hot enough for summer clothes most days, it is easy to live in denial but the cooler morning and evening temperatures in the region are one of those tell-tale signs — fall is upon us. Of course fall means different things to different species. For humans — in addition to packing the kiddos off to school -— it is time to do those final warm weather chores, dig out the sweaters, seal the drafts around the house and...
It won’t be official for a little while yet, and when it’s still hot enough for summer clothes most days, it is easy to live in denial but the cooler morning and evening temperatures in the region are one of those tell-tale signs — fall is upon us. Of course fall means different things to different species. For humans — in addition to packing the kiddos off to school -— it is time to do those final warm weather chores, dig out the sweaters, seal the drafts around the house and...
Don’t freak out just yet because they’re not exactly taking over — it’s just a really good year to be a spider. link Sharna Johnson It might be disconcerting to some, especially those suffering from arachnophobia, but with the optimal conditions on the High Plains in recent weeks, spiders are loving life, and the region is being decorated with webs to prove it. The spiders most commonly making an appearance in the area these days are known as orb-weavers, a classif...
Don’t freak out just yet because they’re not exactly taking over — it’s just a really good year to be a spider. link Sharna Johnson It might be disconcerting to some, especially those suffering from arachnophobia, but with the optimal conditions on the High Plains in recent weeks, spiders are loving life, and the region is being decorated with webs to prove it. The spiders most commonly making an appearance in the area these days are known as orb-weavers, a classif...
You know you love them, as if there could be any doubt. After all, you welcome them into your life and devote copious amounts of time to them. link Sharna Johnson For many people, the list of folks they would stand outside waiting on during a snowstorm in the middle of the night is pretty short. Yet when the pooch whines at 3 a.m., out you go, even if you do a little whining of your own. As unpleasant as it is, the litter box is painstakingly scooped, and the fact that it...
You know you love them, as if there could be any doubt. After all, you welcome them into your life and devote copious amounts of time to them. link Sharna Johnson For many people, the list of folks they would stand outside waiting on during a snowstorm in the middle of the night is pretty short. Yet when the pooch whines at 3 a.m., out you go, even if you do a little whining of your own. As unpleasant as it is, the litter box is painstakingly scooped, and the fact that it...
They sit with adoring eyes trained on your every move, nearly bursting out of their skin in anticipation and excitement as they wait for a sign from you that it is their opportunity to show how good they are — a chance to make you happy. link Sharna Johnson They are the dogs whose sun rises and sets on the idea of pleasing their people and they live for that moment of confirmation when they get an “atta boy,” a quick pat or an all-out rub down and lots of praises. Every dog i...
They sit with adoring eyes trained on your every move, nearly bursting out of their skin in anticipation and excitement as they wait for a sign from you that it is their opportunity to show how good they are — a chance to make you happy. link Sharna Johnson They are the dogs whose sun rises and sets on the idea of pleasing their people and they live for that moment of confirmation when they get an “atta boy,” a quick pat or an all-out rub down and lots of praises. Every dog i...
They run into walls, do back flips, play pranks on each other and their humans, or just simply look up with lazy, irritated eyes and stare into the camera. link Sharna Johnson They are the cats of the Internet, and it’s hard to click a mouse without running into one, or a dozen. Ever-present in memes, cats have also taken center stage when it comes to online video watching, raking in more views — a reported 26 billion views in 2014 — than any other video categories on YouTu...
They run into walls, do back flips, play pranks on each other and their humans, or just simply look up with lazy, irritated eyes and stare into the camera. link Sharna Johnson They are the cats of the Internet, and it’s hard to click a mouse without running into one, or a dozen. Ever-present in memes, cats have also taken center stage when it comes to online video watching, raking in more views — a reported 26 billion views in 2014 — than any other video categories on YouTu...
There can be something magical that takes place between animals and children and, as a general rule, they are fascinated with one another. link Sharna Johnson Perhaps it is because they share the same playful, loving spirits, or it might be their mutual disregard for boundaries and rules that make them so compatible. In fact, in no other vein of life are animals so present than in the childhood years, with children surrounded from birth by animal toys, stuffed animals, books,...
There can be something magical that takes place between animals and children and, as a general rule, they are fascinated with one another. link Sharna Johnson Perhaps it is because they share the same playful, loving spirits, or it might be their mutual disregard for boundaries and rules that make them so compatible. In fact, in no other vein of life are animals so present than in the childhood years, with children surrounded from birth by animal toys, stuffed animals, books,...
Pets do a lot for us humans — they enrich our lives, provide companionship and are scientifically proven to improve health. More than that, however, for many pet owners, the critters become close friends in a sense. link Sharna Johnson They are happy to see their people, love to be around for whatever their humans are doing, make great couch buddies, bring on the laughs, love to goof around and are great listeners when a sympathetic ear is needed — all trademarks of a great fr...
Pets do a lot for us humans — they enrich our lives, provide companionship and are scientifically proven to improve health. More than that, however, for many pet owners, the critters become close friends in a sense. They are happy to see their people, love to be around for whatever their humans are doing, make great couch buddies, bring on the laughs, love to goof around and are great listeners when a sympathetic ear is needed — all trademarks of a great friend. link Sharna Jo...
They’re back. link Sharna Johnson Yep, toad days are here again. Just because you don’t have significant or numerous bodies of water doesn’t mean you don’t have toads, and a lot of them — in fact they're pretty much an annual occurrence on the High Plains. During the day you won’t see much of them because they’re smart enough to hide from the hot New Mexico sun. But have no doubt; they are there, waiting in holes and underneath anything that will keep them cool until the sun...
They’re back. link Sharna Johnson Yep, toad days are here again. Just because you don’t have significant or numerous bodies of water doesn’t mean you don’t have toads, and a lot of them — in fact they're pretty much an annual occurrence on the High Plains. During the day you won’t see much of them because they’re smart enough to hide from the hot New Mexico sun. But have no doubt; they are there, waiting in holes and underneath anything that will keep them cool until the sun...
For us humans, especially after a few years of drought, dreary, drizzly, misty days and, yes, even the sounds of thunder, are much welcome relief. link Sharna Johnson The critters also enjoy the benefits of rain, including a lot more shade plants, cooler temperatures and an abundance of foodstuffs. In general, it’s a good thing to have more moisture — after all, who doesn’t want to see green break up the many shades of brown every now and then — but it doesn’t come without a...
Perhaps you’ve seen them, perhaps not. After all, at this point they are still relatively tiny and unnoticeable until one walks through tall grass and they rise up and jump away in clouds of popping sounds. link Sharna Johnson But that will change. It’s already begun with some older hatchlings, and in a couple more weeks the bulk of them will reach adulthood, at which point they will be difficult to ignore. Grasshoppers are no strangers to the area and any given summer they fe...
Getting up early has long been considered a sign of productivity — a symbol of drive, and success. link Sharna Johnson Rooted in the days when labor was the basis for life, waking with the sun made sense, especially on the farm where hard work is best knocked out first thing — when cooler temperatures, peak energy levels and a fresh start make for ideal working conditions. Farm or no farm, getting an early start first thing in the morning is a value that’s been handed down to...
Getting up early has long been considered a sign of productivity — a symbol of drive, and success. link Sharna Johnson Rooted in the days when labor was the basis for life, waking with the sun made sense, especially on the farm where hard work is best knocked out first thing — when cooler temperatures, peak energy levels and a fresh start make for ideal working conditions. Farm or no farm, getting an early start first thing in the morning is a value that’s been handed down to...
In search of ponies link Sharna Johnson When it comes to the natural world, fathers don’t tend to get cast in the greatest light and often fatherhood is seen as more of a single act than ongoing job. In critter circles, most dads are known for putting a lot of effort into the wooing part — impressing, courting, fighting for and working hard to win the ladies. After that, the general perception is they merely do the deed and go on to other gratifying pursuits, namely, more of t...
