Posts Tagged ‘download’

My site now features new large size doggy wallpapers for people interested in downloading the desktop wallpaper photographs on my website. 267 photographs of me, Corky the shelter dog, plus pictures of dogs and puppies and my favorite dog park were enlarged so now all are 1200 x 900 pixels.

Here’s a cropped version of one of the desktop wallpapers showing me looking up at a black and white spotted great dane.

Bigger, better, and higher quality pet photos replaced the old ones yet kept the same file name, so the links are still good in Google Image Search. As you visit the photo gallery pages, click a thumbnail to view the new size. They were 800 x 600 pixels before, so I made the 1200 x 900 my new standard.

To see examples of the new large size doggy wallpapers visit the Corky Friends Photo Gallery or the Fleet Peeples Park Photo Gallery. On average the file size of each is 5 times bigger.

Click any of the thumbnails and the new 1200 x 900 wallpaper will open on the next screen, and then right-click to download and use as desktop wallpaper on your computer. To save time, you can right-click and select “set as desktop background” to have them immediately replace your old wallpaper. Enjoy!

Here I am, Corky the shelter dog, being a lazy boy on my La-Z-Boy recliner and watching television in one of several versions of this photograph. The blue background is a Snuggie™ blankie just in time for cooler Florida weather. That and the chair are MINE but I let Mom think she owns both!

The cropped version of the photo displayed here shows me reading the TV Guide and smoking a pipe while sitting in Mom’s chair! That’s digital trickery because 1) I am too young to smoke and 2) won’t smoke when I get older either! You can see the uncropped version of this trick photo of Corky on Twitpic or look at the original untouched photo on Flickr without the pipe or TV Guide.

Check out enlarged views of the TwitPic and Flickr versions for 1200px wide wallpaper to download, too!

The group of ducklings living around the canal nearby home in Kissimmee, Florida, continue to grow and develop their adolescent colors. One in particular as shown in the photo here has turned out to be the duck leader of the pack. He is male, dominant, and larger than all the others.

Notice the dominant duckling’s inset photo taken 7 days earlier. The dark tail feathers are appearing, and then the current photo shows down feathers replaced with darker wing, face, and chest feathers. Though you cannot tell, the size difference is remarkable in just one week much like human (or puppy) teenagers.

OMD (Oh My Dog) did you notice the teenager spiked “hair” just like humans? View or download the duck photo closeup wallpaper (1200px wide) for details to compare him now to one week ago.

Sadly, only 5 of the 13 original baby ducks has survived. An unrelated duckling was rescued and brought to the Momma duck by strangers 10 days ago. It was found far away from any water by a couple on a walk who knew about this group living at the canal. Its coloration was about a week younger than the Momma duck’s family, so the duckling was shunned at first and just swam around alone and scared.

As a rescue dog dumped on the street I know that feeling of being abandoned. Imagine being a 4 month old puppy let out at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. That’s where I was found when captured and sent to doggy jail. I know that fear the poor duckling was feeling.

Fortunately, the Momma adopted that baby duck within 24 hours, and then the family had 6 ducklings again. It is common to see a line of babies following the Momma duck while waddling around or swimming in the canal. Now that he’s older, at times the duck leader of the pack charges ahead in and out of the water, and the family follows him instead of Momma.

Study the colors in the photo here and compare that look to previous pictures in posts on this blog over the last few weeks to see how the baby ducks have changed. This will be the first group that survived to be young adults in over 2 years, so it’s exciting to see how they’ll do with Momma being helped by that duck leader of the pack.

Footnote: I realize ducks don’t actually run in packs. These don’t bark either. However, the dominant duckling has learned Momma’s peep-peep and quack-quack vocalizations, and I do believe he’s sounded an alarm more than once.

The photo below shows me close to baby ducks (again). I figured I’d let out my secret for getting close to baby ducks. The photo is cropped for this blog illustration, so follow this link to the baby ducks and puppy pal wallpaper (1200 px wide) for a big version of the complete graphic, or click the illustration here:

The illustration shows a Momma duck with 8 baby ducks looking at me, Corky. Notice the leash is loose so I’m free to move about while Dad was taking the photo, and then realize Momma knows I won’t lunge at her or the ducklings.

The secret to this trust is revealed in the photo insert that shows a big knife used to prepare bread cubes. Besides those pieces of bread just cut on the paper towel, some are already in the plastic bag Dad carries to entice the ducks closer (and closer).

Look in the green grass between the ducks and me and see pieces Dad tossed on the ground. He has taught me “leave it” and “stay”, so he trusts me and so does the Momma duck after getting closer and closer over weeks and weeks. That’s my secret for how you become a puppy pal to baby ducks.

This title describes ME, Corky the Shelter Dog. I am one of those dogs who entertain themselves. As one example, I play alone with my ball flipping it in the air, letting it bounce, stalking it, chasing it, and pouncing on it. I play from one end of the house to the other for long periods of time.

Watch my eyes and you’ll discover I’m in another world just pretending while having fun yet oblivious to anything or anyone around. Here’s another of those dogs who entertain themselves.

The photo of this medium sized brown dog stalking a dragonfly was taken 2 weeks ago at Fleet Peeples Dog Park near Orlando. The circle above his head shows the dragonfly in flight while the large insert shows an enlarged view of the bug.

Use the circle above the dog’s head for reference for a better look. How? View the brown dog stalks dragonfly wallpaper (1200 px wide) and study the look in his eyes as he stares at the bug. Remember the circle above his head, and the dragonfly should be easier to spot now.

Unlike this narrow strip illustration cropped from the original photo, the desktop wallpaper version shows a large and beautiful area of Fleet Peeples Dog Park including trees, grassy area, bushes in bloom, the wooden bench, and woods.

That brown dog stayed on the grassy area playing alone for 10-15 minutes as he leaped and chased the dragonfly back and forth in a 30 foot square open area. The fun time continued similar to me “in another world just pretending” while maybe 30-40 dogs frolicked on the beach just 100 feet away.

A dog can be alone at home or out with 40 dogs nearby while playing solo to entertain themselves. Dad’s theory concludes this canine behavior is a sign of superior intelligence. Who could argue with that?!

My newest puppy pawpal is a gentle giant English Mastiff met during a surprise trip to Fleet Peeples Dog Park near Orlando yesterday. Check out the photograph collage of my pal Brutus the Mastiff who weighs a whopping 170 lbs (77 kg), and he’s just a puppy!

His owner said Brutus may gain another 70 lbs before he’s full grown. That will make him bigger than my Dad, or equal to 12 of me at 19 lbs! Click the photo or this link for Brutus in desktop wallpaper size (1200px wide).

One problem being such a big dog as explained by the owner, is most dogs don’t want to play. Brutus the Mastiff tried and tried to make friends and play with EVERY dog there, yet most ran away. How sad. He truly is a gentle giant which you will understand once you look past the size.

Tomorrow marks Memorial Day in the USA as a day to remember those in the military service who gave their lives for our country. The sacrifices of many for the freedoms we enjoy are reason enough for remembering Memorial Day in the USA, and the men and women who were willing to lay down their lives for us, the living.

America was born out of war, survived a civil war, and then came WWI and WWII, plus Korea, Vietnam, and more recently wars in the Middle East. There were many other conflicts that could have been listed though not mentioned. Whether you agree or disagree with the decisions involving war, the intentions of those who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice was loyalty towards protecting our rights to freedom.

Take a moment this Memorial Day to remember the brave citizens who died including those allies who likewise paid the price of losing their lives while standing by us in times of war, as well.

Free Download Note: Corky fans may download the Corky blue sky wallpaper 1200x900px version of this blog illustration, too.

Enjoy this audio recording of Twas the Night Before Christmas narrated by Jim Degerstrom who Corky calls “Dad”. The photo to the left is Jim’s Dad reading this story to him when he was a little boy more than 50 years ago!

Listen to this mp3 version recorded today for his grandchildren Hannah and Sarah (and YOU) to enjoy on Christmas eve, plus read along with the full text version by Clement Clarke Moore inserted below. In addition, you may download the Night Before Christmas mp3 and take it with you.

Press right button below to listen. (play time 03:41 min/sec)

PLAY NOW

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

Poem written by Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863)