It is incredible. A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a male tortoise, about a century old, and the tortoise seems to be very happy with being a ‘mother’,” ecologist Paula Kahumbu, who is in charge of Lafarge Park , told AFP.

After it was swept away and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized. It had to look for something to be a surrogate mother. Fortunately , it landed on the tortoise and established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep together,” the ecologist added. “The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it followed its mother. somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes aggressive, as if protecting its biological mother,” Kahumbu added.

The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very tender age and by nature, hippos are social animals that like to stay with their mothers for four years,” he explained.

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This butterfly jewelry box was created using an Emu egg that measures about 5 1/2″ tall and 10 1/2″ around the fattest circumference. The egg has a beautiful horizontal straight cut and opens to reveal a fabric lining and an inside area that can hold quite a bit of jewelry.

Emu eggs are unique in that they are actually three layers of color. The innermost is white, then there is a lovely teal or light green, finally a dark green coat. As the artist carves into the layers, he reveals these colors and utilizes them to give depth to his work.

This carved emu egg is completely lacelike with all holes in the shape of stars. The stars are different sizes and use two layers of color, teal and the dark green outer layer.

This Emu egg was sculpted and engraved using the three layers of the shell.

The artist has utilized all three layers of color in this underwater scene featuring three Walleyes [left]. This undersea view of two dolphins utilizes all three colors of the Emu eggshell [right].

Painted Emu Eggs

Decorated Emu Eggs

Scratch Art on Chicken Eggs

Scrimshaw ostrich egg

An eggshell ship and a decoupage, carved and crystals goose egg

Beaded

Pysansky Designs

Baskets

I also get all my decorations for the table and yard there too. Check out this Deluxe Party Kit. You can also buy decorations and other fun stuff separately.  These party kits are real time savers.  I buy kits for the kids’ birthday parties also.  They’ve got a kit for any occasion you can think of.

To save money, you can sign up for their coupons and special offers that are offered throughout the year. You’ll be notified by email when these are available, so you don’t miss out. This place is truly a one-stop shop for costumes and accessories.

A Whitehall man learned that on Memorial Day, when he was charged with driving while intoxicated after police pulled him over for swerving and driving on the sidewalk on a four-wheeled, motorized cooler known as a “Cruzin Cooler.”

Leslie J. “Bomber” Marr, 57, could face felony DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle charges because of prior arrests and convictions in drinking-and-driving cases, said Whitehall Police Chief Richard LaChapelle.

The electricity-powered Cruzin Cooler that Marr was riding contained 14 beers, the chief said.

LaChapelle said Whitehall Police Patrolman Andrew Mija stopped Marr at about 7:45 p.m. after the officer saw Marr swerving and preparing to cross William Street on the motorized cooler.

The machine has handlebars, and its operator sits on a seat atop the cooler, LaChapelle said.

“We were told it can do up to 12 mph,” the chief said.

Marr had apparently just left the nearby American Legion Post 83, but it was unclear where he was going, LaChapelle said. He was not headed toward his Lafayette Street home, and he refused to take a breath test, the chief said.

Marr had apparently been working at the American Legion post earlier in the day, according to police.

Marr was charged with misdemeanor counts of DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and also was cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

He was released pending prosecution in Whitehall Village Court.

The Cruzin Cooler was seized by police, the chief said.

No listed phone number for Marr could be found Monday.

Washington County District Attorney Kevin Kortright said the scooter is considered a motor vehicle under state law.

“They tell us he’s been riding around town on that cooler for years,” Kortright said. “You can’t cruise around on your cooler if you’re intoxicated.”

Cruzin Coolers generally run on 300-watt to 500-watt motors similar to those used on other motorized scooters, but there are some models that run on gasoline.

The company’s Web site boasts the vehicles can travel up to 13 mph and pull up to 400 pounds. Price-wise, they begin at about $300.

They are legal in New York, according to the company’s Web site.