[/caption]The children strolled out into the citrus field to collect a basket full of oranges to prepare a refreshing juice. Sania came running back in a hurry with this beautiful looking toad that had the biggest tick sucking from it's leg.
[caption id="attachment_2186" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Sasha pulling the tick off"]
[/caption]I had no idea that toads would be a good host for ticks. The tick was spotted and very fat!
[caption id="attachment_2187" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Sania happy the frog is free of ticks"]
[/caption]Sania was so happy that his toad friend was eventually free of that gigantic tick. Even the toad looked as though he was smiling. We have hundreds of toads on our farm due to the tropical rain. There are always puddles for them to wade in. They usually make a cosy home inside rotten palm trunks. It stays moist and provides enough grubs and insects to feast upon.
[caption id="attachment_2188" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="The children took the frog to the duck pond"]
[/caption]The children walked down to the duck pond in front of our home where many fish, frogs, turtles and toads live.
[caption id="attachment_2190" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="The release"]
[/caption]Sania released him into the water
[caption id="attachment_2191" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="in the water"]
[/caption]He turned around and swam back to shore
[caption id="attachment_2189" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="hid amongst some leaves and branches"]
[/caption]found himself a safe place amongst the leaves and branches.
[caption id="attachment_2192" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="climbed upon the palm frond"]
[/caption]a floating palm frond to rest upon.
[caption id="attachment_2193" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="then swam across to the other side of the duck pond"]
[/caption]then he made the journey right across to the other side of the duck pond.
[caption id="attachment_2134" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Little frog emerges"]
[/caption]This is one of the many little tadpoles (also known as polliwogs) the boys saved from our swimming pool. The children made them a cosy pool of their own which rested on my kitchen countertop for a couple of weeks. The children enjoyed feeding them and watching their little legs appear, the time when the lungs have formed and they begin breathing air.
[caption id="attachment_2197" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Princess and the Frog"]
[/caption]I was motivated to needle felt some little puppets for the famous Grimm's story of the Princess and the frog which the children loved.
Wow, what an enormous tick!
ReplyDeleteSuch, beautiful photos, we have a thriving pond close to where we live and the children are fascinated by the toads and frogs who live there. They spend hours lying flat on their stomachs, peering into the pond watching the amazing little watery world!
I love the frog and princess too, wonderful :)
Blessings
Gina xxx
Yikes! That tick was huge! I'm glad you were able to remove it from the poor toad. I never would have thought of a toad getting a tick. What a fascinating little farm you have!
ReplyDeleteYikes! Cannot believe a tick would be on a toad - bet he was glad to have that pulled off. Love your princess/frog set.
ReplyDeleteOohhh, big tick, I can't really look!
ReplyDeleteSweetness from the boys though, and lovely lovely needlefelting!!
And love to you all!!!
There is so much abundance on your property, it sounds like a children's paradise (and for grown ups too!).
ReplyDeleteAnd your needle felted puppets are beautiful, I especially like the frog :)
What a great adventure! And what al lovely work of art you made! ♥ Barbara
ReplyDeleteLoving your blog! Great photos and interesting stuff.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nicole
Loved the toad story! And you are one talented woman with wool!
ReplyDeleteOh what a grand adventure! Yuck! The tick!!
ReplyDeleteAnd then the felted version- bless!
So wonderful to have found your lovely blog (via Anna Branford).
I look forward to more adventures.
ah this is great! how sweet and proud sania is of himself (and should be) his heart must have been brimming with love. i do see the toad smiling! your children are learning so much - it's so beautiful. i can't wait to show this post to ezra so he can learn vicariously through your kids.
ReplyDeletehugs, anushka
Happy toad! Great post. I enjoyed it very much. I'm so grateful for all your beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful story - and good for Sania, brave defender of small creatures! I also love your pollywogs and needle felting magic. Just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDear friend,
ReplyDeleteThis warms my heart so! That is a fine looking toad. How good it was that Sania noticed the tick and how interesting that ticks enjoy toads! You know that my boys will just love this and would be right beside your boys. One day! Sania looks so very happy and so does his friend. Sania will always remember that toad! Your princess and the frog are beautiful.
Love
Kelly
I'm sure the frog was happy to get rid off the tick! :-)
ReplyDeletePetra Christensen
Parelli 2Star Junior Instructor
Parelli Central
I hope that tick is not looking for a new host - and that it doesn't turn out to be Sania himself! I'd never have considered that situation. Our daughter's deeply beautiful long haired German Shepherd came to stay with us from the muggy mid west of this country. As we patted him, we realized that he was covered with ticks, all hidden in that wonderful coat. We spent a week un-ticking him. Well done, boys!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely story- I am so glad the toad was saved!
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a toad with a tick!!!! We have cane toads that are poisonous so that is probably why??? What sort of toads are yours? The tick looks like a cattle tick and we get lots of them, I have to pick them off Douglas our bull's face sometimes....he likes me to do that :-) We also get paralysis ticks which are really nasty! The dogs and cats wear collars to protect them, the older cows and horses don't seem to be affected by them unless they are sick but the calf had one at 3 weeks before I got a collar onto him and we nearly lost him. Love the princess and the frog :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a huge tick! The toad seemed rather relaxed there getting de-ticked.
ReplyDeleteIs that a cane toad (bufo marinus)? They were introduced to Australia to try to control snakes in the sugar cane, but it didn't work and they are now a national pest of disastrous proportions. They really look like your toads and I wondered if they were the same?
ReplyDeleteThat tick is frightening; what a brave boy to handle that so gallantly! How lucky for that toad that theirs paths crossed! Many blessings to you all!
ReplyDeleteWow, such incredible photos! I think I need to needle-felt a frog and princess, yours are so inspiring. It is one of our favorite stories, funny enough, it never was one of my favs, but my little ones love it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog, I am honored. Yes, the giveaway is still going on, it will end Feb.2 at midnight, feel free to let anyone know who could use a fresh cover. I am sponsoring the shipping for anywhere the winner happens to live.
How wonderful to be in the Dominican Republic, it sounds like paradise from our snow-covered Midwest. I have been dreaming of Africa lately too...I'll have to read your whole blog to see if you go home sometimes, I'd love to see pictures.
Peace,
Angela
Oh that is just so fascinating! How is it that little children find the most curious things!!! I love that. I also love visiting here and seeing such a different part of the world.
ReplyDeletexo Jules
Hi. Thanks for the comment on my healing posts. I was wondering if you could email me the elderbrry syrup and herbal ball directions and the various times you use them with your boys.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine living in a place as beautiful as your home. It makes me yearn for country living once more.
Really interesting! I love the cute toad photos... we don't have many toad friends where we are. Wonderful needle felting work, too!
ReplyDelete