Thursday, 17 July 2014

Water and Jellyfish

I took these photos when we had the thunderstorms and heavy rain a few days ago.



Dusty’s turned into a real water baby. He can’t pass a puddle without lying down in it. But it helps keep him cool in the current heat. You can see from the ripples in the water that he's wagging his tail, but what you can't see is that he's chewing the fuzz off his tennis ball!



He had his six month check-up last Friday which our vet practice does free for all puppies and kittens registered with them. A young lad doing work experience was in with the vet which I thought was lovely.



I mentioned to Jo that a couple of people had remarked that Dusty is very skinny. She laughed and said he is perfect in weight and size and to take no notice! And he’s going through a “leggy” stage. 



Saw this chap stranded on the beach today.



He’s a Compass Jellyfish (Chrysaora hysoscella) – have to admit I looked it up! It was low tide and he must have been on the beach for 4 or 5 hours, but my husband picked him up carefully and placed him in the water. NOT advisable – didn’t know they were stingers till I looked them up when we got home.

We’re more likely to see the Common Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita).


When I was a child, I was never allowed to swim in the sea until we saw jellyfish in the water. My mum would say it was a sign that the Gulf Stream had given up its filth and the water would be warm enough. We kids used to patrol the beach, desperate to find a jellyfish so we could go swimming.




24 comments:

  1. What a lovely post and fabulous photos, Teresa. So good that Dusty has had his check-up and all well. Gosh bet that gave you a bit of a fright when you realised the jellyfish was a stinger. Wouldn't it be nice to think it knew it was being helped hence no sting. That's so interesting about the jellyfish and the Gulf Stream. I can just imagine you longing to see one so you could get into the sea. :o) xx

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    2. Thank you, Sue - I used to go to any lengths to get in the water. Once my poor grandad was looking after me and I told him I was allowed to go swimming in my knickers as we couldn't find my costume. When my mum found out we both got into trouble :-) x

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  2. My puppy is at a skinny/leggy stage, too!

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    1. Lovely isn't it, Hayley - they're all coltish :-) x

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  3. Hi Teresa,

    Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar and I, her pawtend human, are delighted to know Dusty had a good check-up. The price was right :)

    You do realise that American call "jelly", "Jello". So that means it would be jellofish! :)

    Enjoy the sunny weather, Teresa.

    Gary :) x

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    1. The price was indeed right! Oh jellofish - I think I like that better :-) x

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  4. Dusty looks so happy in the water. What a lucky dog he is to be so near the sea. Much better for him to be on the slim side.

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    1. I'm just imagining what he'll be like when I get the paddling pool out, Maggie! Yes, I agree, much healthier to be slim x

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  5. I think it's the warm weather that brings jellyfish to our shores in the current large numbers, Teresa. They might look beautiful when they are pulsating in the sea...but lying stranded on the beach - UGG!! x

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    1. My mum said we WEREN'T allowed in the sea if there were jellyfish!

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    2. Same here Wendy, but we didn't have to be told. Anything that stings is a no!

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    3. I didn't see any jellyfish this morning, Rena, but I did see a shrimp x

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    4. We only ever saw the moon jellyfish which are harmless. But we knew if we saw jellyfish with any colour on them to keep away :-) x

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  6. Wow - so much water! Great photos - I hadn't heard that about jellyfish and time for swimming.

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    1. The year I refused to wait for the jellyfish, I ended up with bronchitis that lasted for several weeks, so I ended up missing out on loads of swimming - probably just coincidence, but it made me wonder x

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  7. I there's any risk of jellyfish, I always use a snorkel and goggles. Jellyfish have an uncanny way of following me. Most unnerving. Maybe I'm a closet jellyfish whisperer...

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    1. Good idea, Frances! Have you tried whispering to them?
      Last year when my grandchildren were swimming, I thought I saw a colourful jellyfish in the water and it was like a scene from Jaws with me ushering them back to the beach - speedily. The jellyfish turned out to be a plastic bag - oops! x

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  8. I didn't realise that about jellyfish Teresa but then I didn't live by the sea as a child. My father was born and bred at Dovercourt however and loved the sea. Sometimes I do feel I was there too, I must admit - his stories and his insistence on us eating fresh shrimps in Clacton on our visits to relatives, are responsible. As for Dusty being too skinny, I worried about Flossie last year because she was so thin after we put her on a strict diet. The Vet said she was fine but this summer she seems to have um become quite plump again - oh dear, I blame the grandchildren! :-)

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    1. It's so interesting that your father came from Dovercourt and funny you should say about the shrimps. I saw my first wild shrimp on the shore the other day! I can't believe I've lived here all my life and never seen one before.
      Ha ha, grandchildren and dogs - I said to one this morning, "Good boy, you ate all your crusts," and he said, "No, I didn't. I gave them to Poppy and Dusty!" :-) x

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  9. Your hubby was lucky not to get stung then Teresa, and Dusty is just great. People are quick to say dogs are too fat, enjoy him how he is. He's lovely. xx

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    1. One thing I've always found, Susan, there are a small minority of dog people who have an opinion about everything and they aren't afraid to tell you what you should/should not be doing.! It usually comes back and bites them on the bum though - the opinion thing, not the dogs :-) x

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  10. I love that Compass Jellyfish, Teresa - fascinating to look at. (And the moon one has such a lovely name - Aurelia aurita - so gorgeous). How lovely your husband is to replace the stranded jellyfish so carefully in the sea. And I love the idea of waiting for the jellyfish to arrive before swimming.

    I'm so glad Dusty is doing so well. He is absolutely lovely and looks the picture of health. xxx

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    1. It was very pretty, Joanna - much prettier than it looks in the photo!
      Dusty does seem to be having a growth spurt at the moment and isn't looking quite so small and skinny now :-) x

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