And then, Woolly Mammoth became even more philosophical.

In February Stegosaurus decided to stomp forthrightly to the town of Maidstone in England to visit Iguanodon and his family. He had received a letter informing him that Iguanodon and his wife had reconciled their differences, and Iguanodon had left the Old North Woods in the Borough of Bromley. He was no longer living in or near The Crystal Palace, which delighted Stegosaurus; as much as he enjoyed the monuments there, he was so happy for his friends.

"I am so delighted to see you !!" exclaimed Iguanodon. "Thank you so much for coming! I have so much to tell you since last year!"

"Your letter made me so happy !!" said Stegosaurus.

"Yes, my wife and I have patched up our differences and I am now back in my native town of Maidstone. It was a rough patch, but the wisdom and council of Woolly Mammoth helped us see the light for the sake of our children. They need and deserve stability."

"I am glad you have worked out your differences with your wife," said Stegosaurus.

"I am thankful for Woolly Mammoth's council," said Iguanodon. "Come to the cave. My wife and family await."

Thus, Stegosaurus and Iguanodon stomped to a cave just beyond the City Limits.

Two young Iguanodon were eating Populus tremula leaves from a tree just outside the cave. When they saw their father they ran up to him with joy.

"Papa, papa, have you brought a guest?" they asked.

"Yes, my young. You remember Stegosaurus, don't you?"

"Oh yes, yes!" They said. "Nice to see you again, Stegosaurus. Would you like to share the Populus tremula leaves with us ?"

"If you don't mind, that would be delightful. If you see any you would like that you cannot reach, just let me know and I will stand on my hind legs for brief periods of time, just as brother horse does, to reach them for you. Just let me know."

"How kind of you, friend Stegosaurus," said Iguanodon.

"Thank you so much, Stegosaurus !!" exclaimed the Iguanodon youth.

"I will go into the cave and ask my wife to come out. She'll be glad to know you are here," said Iguanodon to Stegosaurus.

Shortly Iguanodon returned with his wife, who greeted Stegosaurus warmly.

"Greetings, Stegosaurus! Nice to see you, glad you could visit England!"

"Thank you, I rejoiced to hear the news of your reconciliation; come eat trees with us."

"Thank you, Stegosaurus, rejoined Iguanodon's wife. "When we have consumed the available Populus tremula I will bring us some Earl Grey tea, for tea time approaches!"

When Stegosaurus and the Iguanodons' had had their fill of Populus tremula the Earl Grey did appear, and as the Iguanodon young were outside continuing to graze on that most wonderful of new inventions, grass, Iguanodon and his wife gladly told Stegosaurus the story of how their troubles came about and were repaired.

"We have Woolly Mammoth to thank for our reconciliation for his wisdom and council, you see, he helped us realize that maintaining a happy marriage is a lot of work, but its worth the effort to maintain. For the children, for making manifest the love of the Lord in our midst. The Lord, the Creator, The Giver, The Healer. Jesus. Especially when all that my love Iguanodon did was absentmindedly eat my favorite Fagus sylvatica tree. They're so common here that we can replant it after all."

"While I learned not to eat my wife's favorite tree, she also agreed that if she ever had a problem with something I am doing, she would tell me about it forthwith; No more trying to guess," said Iguanodon. "Communication is a major key to happiness; Oh the children are so much happier too, as they do not have to be brought up without a stable father figure; they won't have to live in a broken cave."

"What else we learned from Woolly Mammoth is to rededicate ourselves to our faith. The shared principles inculcated by The Word of God helped to bring us together, and will help us maintain the love we have for each other," said Iguanodon's wife. "We even bring our young to Church. We want them to know that they can have a firm foundation in The Lord."

"I am so delighted for you both," said Stegosaurus. " .... and your young. Relationships are hard, and I commend anyone who puts genuine effort into maintaining them."

"Thank you, Stegosaurus," rejoined Iguanodon's wife. "Now I have brought for us, dessert ! A nice meal of aloe plants !"

"Ah, my favorite relaxing meal!" said Stegosaurus.

"Only the best for our guests," said Iguanodon. "Turns out aloe plants go well with Earl Grey."

Stegosaurus remained a guest of the Iguanodons' in England through March, and returned to Colorado in early April.

He was sincere in his compliments to the Iguanodons, and left them with such a light heart; in this hard world happy endings can be few and far between. The news of such reconciliation was very welcome.

In January, Stegosaurus paid a visit to his loyal accountant, Corythosaurus, just to find out how his various businesses had done in the previous year. Stegosaurus found Corythosaurus predictably down by the river.

"Hello, Corythosaurus," said Stegosaurus as he approached.

"Hello, Stegosaurus, what brings you to visit today?" rejoined the busy hadrosaur, who seemed distracted as he looked up at the trees.

"I was wondering if you could tell me if any of my businesses had turned a profit in the last year," said Stegosaurus.

"Sure let me finish what I am doing here and we can talk all about it," replied Corythosaurus.

"Why are you looking at the trees, are you going to eat them?"

"This stand of Betula nigra will someday be a work of art, at which I will make a profit. I am deciding which ones to take down that they might make good stock for my woodworking projects."

"They look quite delicious," observed Stegosaurus.

"Maybe so, but we don't eat these trees, they will be used to create art in my new woodworking projects."

"Are you still baking bread?"

"No, no more bread. Not as a business. I'm all about woodworking now."

"I will help you," said Stegosaurus. "Just let me know what tree you want down and I will emulate brother horse by standing on my hind legs for a brief period of time in order to knock it down."

"That would be fine, Stegosaurus, just remember: don't eat the trees; I need something to create with so we cannot dine on these trees. If you'd like for your help I'll take you to visit a few Asimina triloba that I found last week just down this very same river. The fruit of the Asimina triloba is probably my favorite new invention, at least right after Diet Coca Cola."

"That would be delightful, Corythosaurus. Thank you."

So the two dinosaurs worked together most of the afternoon knocking down Betula nigra and breaking their branches. It was hungry work, but again Corythosaurus reminded Stegosaurus not to eat the Betula nigra and be patient for the Asimina triloba which they'd go to very shortly.

When Corythosaurus and Stegosaurus arrived at the Asimina triloba just down the river, Corythosaurus asked Stegosaurus, "How are your studies going, friend Stegosaurus?"

"Oh very well. I have a mere 4 classes to go before I finish for my doctorate with a specialty in tree disease."

"Delightful. Delightful," rejoined Corythosaurus. "Let me tell you regarding your businesses, other than playing extinct in museums, your best and most lucrative endeavor remains as always your School of Dance. You should definitely keep doing this. It is what most mammals above Elementary School level remember you for, especially in Cuba."

"I'm glad to hear it. I love my School of Dance," said Stegosaurus, who then paused to swallow a bite of fruit from the Asimina triloba.

Stegosaurus then continued, "Well I remember that my attempt at apartment manager for mammals failed because mammals don't eat trees, and dinosaurs don't use money."

"The lessons of the Market can be harsh, but it was a worthy effort," observed Corythosaurus.

"I guess it would help if I'd eat more of the Pinus nigra, but there are none about just now."

"Don't feel bad, yours is not the first business to fail," said Corythosaurus.

"Well this Asimina triloba sure is delicious. I should eat more of them !!" Stegosaurus declared.

"As long as we practice conservation, what I planted will last some time yet," said Corythosaurus.

"I hope your woodworking business does well," said Stegosaurus.

"Me too," said Corythosaurus. "Speaking of the Pinus nigra, I've been trying to add more of them to my own diet in hopes that that will help my success."

"Let us eat to your success," said Stegosaurus, as he began to chew on a branch of Betula nigra.

"Wait, Stegosaurus ! STOP!! Remember, please don't eat the stock !!" exclaimed Corythosaurus.

"Oh, I'm sorry, forgive me," said Stegosaurus.

"You are forgiven," said Corythosaurus. "Just remember that eating your stock is really bad for business."

Stegosaurus and Corythosaurus continued to eat trees through the afternoon, except of course, the Betula nigra.

Later they went to the Royal Alberta Museum and played extinct for awhile, which was novel to the mammals, since the museum does not have Stegosaurus or Corythosaurus on permanent display.

Salut, je m’appelle Lexovisaurus !!

Alors que j’étais en Chine avec ma femme à notre réunion de famille, le cousin Stégosaurus a suggéré que ma femme Loricatosaurus et moi lui rendions visite pour les vacances de Noël. Nous avions, bien sûr, voyagé très loin et étions en Chine depuis un certain temps. Mais il était également vrai que nous n’étions pas venus pour Noël depuis la semaine dernière, ou peut-être que c’était en 2007. Comme cela faisait un certain temps, ma femme et moi étions volontiers d’accord, d’autant plus qu’elle n’était pas allée en Amérique pour célébrer Noël auparavant.

Nous sommes tous partis de Chine sur deux radeaux séparés, faisant nos adieux à Wuerhosaurus, à nos autres cousins et au célèbre mammifère Dong Zhiming. Nous avons promis de revenir, après nous être énormément amusés. Heureusement, le voyage de retour en Amérique s’est déroulé sans incident. Nous avons, rencontré une tempête en mer, ce qui nous a rappelé que les stégosaures ne sont en aucun cas des animaux marins, même de loin, mais nous y sommes. Nous n’en avons eu aucun effet et nous avons été très heureux quand une fois de plus nos griffes ont pu toucher la Terre, qui était le 18 décembre, après avoir atterri à New York.

Stégosaurus a eu un certain nombre de ses propres surprises pour nous, dont la première était des billets pour sa représentation annuelle du comte Drosselmeyer dans le ballet Casse-Noisette de Tschiakovski. Notre cousin américain sait à quel point nous aimons assister à des programmes artistiques et à des événements culturels. Bien sûr, nous avions longtemps entendu parler de l’implication du stégosaure dans le ballet, mais nous n’avions jamais vu de représentation auparavant. C’est un comte Drosselmeyer si gracieux ; on ne s’y attendrait pas, de la part d’un stégosaure, étant donné que notre poids moyen est de 6 tonnes. Tout le monde était tellement habitué à voir un stégosaure dans la performance que personne ne remettait en question la présence de moi ou de ma femme. En fait, beaucoup ont été impressionnés par les différences dans nos pointes. Ils nous ont également souhaité un Joyeux Noël. En effet, ils étaient si gentils et pleins de joie de Noël que les acteurs de mammifères nous ont demandé si nous voulions nous joindre à eux pour chanter dans Central Park avant de nous rendre directement au Colorado. Stégosaurus a eu une autre surprise pour nous quand nous sommes arrivés dans son état natal et sa grotte natale.

Nos compagnons, ainsi que ceux de Central Park qui nous ont vus et entendus ont été très impressionnés par nos voix, qui, comme vous le savez, rappellent Mario Lanza et Louis Armstrong, quel que soit notre sexe. D’une manière ou d’une autre, cela rencontre l’approbation de nombreux mammifères. Ma femme pense que c’est peut-être juste la nouveauté puisque la plupart des dinosaures ne chantent pas. Elle a insisté pour chanter une interprétation de « Bring A Torch, Jeannette Isabella », étant l’individu audacieux qu’elle est, ce qui était un délice pour tout le monde.

Ce sont toutes les chansons que nous avons chantées ce soir-là. Nous étions tellement pleins de joie.

Apportez une torche, Jeannette Isabella

Le chant Huron

Le chant de Sussex

Le chant de Wexford

Le cerisier Carol

Je vous salue Marie, pleine de grâce

Le premier Noël

Le chant du Bellman

En bas dans la forêt

Ô Sainte Nuit

Que Dieu vous accorde la clé, Messieurs

L’ancienne année maintenant loin

Nuit silencieuse

Après une délicieuse soirée de piétinement à New York et de chants, lorsque le soleil s’est de nouveau levé, nous avons tous piétiné franchement la grotte du stégosaure à Boulder, au Colorado. Nous sommes arrivés la veille de Noël, assez commodément.

Nous avons constaté qu’il ne faisait pas plus chaud au Colorado qu’à New York quand nous sommes arrivés, mais vous savez que nous, les stégosaures, pouvons encore nous souvenir d’un monde subtropical plus chaud sans calottes glaciaires polaires, et vous savez comment la saison de Noël rend nostalgique les jours quelque part entre la semaine dernière et il y a 140 millions d’années, lorsque nous étions tout juste sortis de nos coquilles et que le froid n’était pas une chose inventée jusqu’au Crétacé supérieur. Ma femme et moi avons d’abord été choqués par la deuxième surprise de Noël de Stégosaurus, qu’il nous a révélée dès notre arrivée dans sa grotte.

« Regarde, cousin !! Voici une surprise de Noël pour vous et Loricatosaurus !! C’est mon frère Allosaurus qui vient profiter du dîner de Noël avec nous !! » dit Stégosaurus.

« Vous devez plaisanter !! » s’est exclamé ma femme alarmée. Je savais qu’elle avait une queue fraîche et hérissée tout à fait efficace, mais mon amour et mon affection pour elle m’ont dicté de marcher devant elle afin de la protéger d’un mangeur de viande affamé.

« Ne t’inquiète pas, » dit Allosaurus avec un sourire aux dents. « Je suis sur les manières de Noël et je ne vous mangerai pas, vous ou votre charmante femme. Je le promets.

« Je ne sais pas si je le crois », m’a dit ma femme. Prenant un moment pour regarder Stégosaurus, encore choqué. C’était une très mauvaise blague.

« Je suis désolé que ma surprise vous ait alarmé », a déclaré Stégosaurus. « Je ne voulais pas vous alarmer, mais croyez-moi, je sais par expérience avec Allosaurus dans les Noëls passés qu’il tiendra parole. Je voulais juste que la famille soit ensemble pour les vacances. »

Ma femme, étant éduquée, savait que Stégosaurus n’était pas réellement lié à un Allosaurus, mais elle n’a pas insisté sur la question, elle voulait juste passer à autre chose et profiter des vacances, tout comme moi.

« Regardez, je vais vous prouver que j’aime Noël », a déclaré Allosaurus. « C’est pourquoi j’ai apporté avec moi un arbre de la famille des Cycadales et je vais vous prouver à tous les deux que j’essaie seulement de m’intégrer en le mangeant. »

« Oh, ce sera nouveau », ai-je dit. Il l’a fait, à la surprise de tout le monde, même de Stégosaurus. C’était un miracle de Noël. Certes, il n’a pas mangé tout l’arbre, mais il a mangé toutes les feuilles de Cycadales.

« Tu vois, je te l’ai dit. Maintenant, je ne peux rien garantir le 26 décembre, mais pour Noël, je promets de ne pas ruiner le vôtre en mangeant l’un d’entre vous », a déclaré Allosaurus.

« S’il vous plaît, donnez-moi une chance. »

« S’il vous plaît, soyez gentil », demanda Stégosaurus. « Frère Allosaurus a piétiné depuis l’Utah pour être ici avec nous aujourd’hui. »

Et c’est ainsi que nous avons donné l’exemple à Noël du Lion couché avec l’Agneau, ou plus précisément du Stégosaure avec l’Allosaurus.

C’était vraiment remarquable qu’aucun d’entre nous ne se soit éteints, mais c’est la saison des miracles après tout.

“Joyeux Noël à tous !! “

Gemologist Finds Insect Entombed in Opal ( Not Amber )

This Dinosaur Had A Mohawk Of Horns

Fossil Spiders Found With Glowing Eyes In South Korea

'Beautiful' Dinosaur Tail Found Preserved In Amber

Biggest Known Bee Discovered .... Again!

Would Dinosaurs Have Died Out Without An Asteroid Strike?

Japanese Researchers Are One Step Closer To Mammoth Resurrection

University Of Alberta Report The World's Biggest Tyrannosaurus Rex

Stegosaurus School of Dance Coupon: The Quickstep

In the same time period that Lexovissaurus and Loricatosaurus were on vacation in Marseille, and while Stegosaurus and Kentrosaurus were in China visiting Wuerhosaurus and a number of other cousins native to that country, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Junior Ground Sloth and his mother were in their beloved avocado grove eating their lunch.

"Do you know what I read in the science papers today, mama ? I discovered something very interesting," said Junior.

"What did you discover, son? The matter of mammal science fascinates me." rejoined his mother, Widow Ground Sloth.

"Well, wait til you hear this. I mean, I do like avocados and all, I appreciate our avocado grove, I think I always will."

"Where is this conversation headed?" asked Widow Ground Sloth. "Are you, like Brontosaurus, having a midlife crisis and considering changing your name?"

"Actually mama, I am proud of my name; I'm not changing it. What has me intrigued is the science papers now speculate that we Giant Ground Sloths, ( someday I will BE Giant ), were not just avocado eaters, but that we also eat meat from time to time."

"Very interesting," said Widow Ground Sloth.

"My question is, the next time that the mammal who helped us to replant our Avocado Grove .... Steve Beaver visits, can we eat him ? I want to know what meat tastes like!"

"You must be kidding, Junior ! No, you may not eat Mr. Beaver. Giant Ground Sloths are civilized and do not eat our friends !! Where would we be if we didn't have this Avocado Grove? If we didn't have this nice grove, we'd have to stomp forthrightly all the way into Egypt to get decent avocados !! Oh dear, oh dear !! I have always been worried ever since your father became extinct in the tar pit that you would become a juvenile delinquent !! Oh dear !! oh dear !! Whatever shall I do with you ?!? Is this the way you treat your long suffering mother in her old age ? I'm a little over 11 thousand years old, and I never imagined in all my 11 thousand years that I would live to see the day that any son of mine would be so dreadfully uncivilized as to consider becoming a meat eater !! Why, its so low that it is just like what a meat eater would do !! Let me make this clear, so very clear that even our friend Stegosaurus with his walnut brain could understand it ! YOU, YOUNG SLOTH, ARE GROUNDED!!"

"But, but, mama, " Protested Junior Ground Sloth, "It's science !! Don't you believe in science? I read it in the science papers, I'm not making it up!"

"Go eat Avocados and tree leaves until you get this idea of meat eating out of your mind ! Furthermore, the next time Steve Beaver visits you must mind your manners and apologize !"

"Oh but mama, he doesn't know !! That's not fair!"

"If I ever catch you eating Steve Beaver or anything else other than our usual diet, there's going to be trouble!"

"Didn't you just say that the article was very interesting?!"

"Do as you are told, Junior Ground Sloth !" commanded Widow Ground Sloth to her son.

Thus, Junior Ground Sloth, dejected, went into the Avocado grove and began to eat leaves as he was told.

After a good couple of days in the corner of the Avocado Grove, Widow Ground Sloth spoke to her son.

"Junior, I'm sorry for what I did; I know I told you eating meat was interesting. I just want to be sure you know that if you start eating meat, that we really should not eat our friends. I want you to be a good Sloth; it would honor the memory of your dearly departed father."

"I know, mama, I know.I promise to be a good Sloth from now on. I will be a plant eater."

So it was that Junior Ground Sloth left the Avocado grove in search of some animal that would allow itself to be eaten in order to satiate his curiosity.

First he arrives at the African plains and finds Sister Quagga in her usual spot trimming the plains.

"Hello, Sister Quagga," said Junior Ground Sloth.

"Hello, Junior Ground Sloth," said Sister Quagga. "What brings you away from your Avocado Grove to the African Plains?"

"Sister Quagga, I know you are wise, and maybe you can help me. I read in the science papers recently that Ground Sloths are omnivores; and I am now obsessed with the idea of being a meat eater. The problem is that I have disturbed my poor mother who grounded me for a few days, and I can't think of anyone I could ask about how to hunt for meat because any meat eaters I could think of would also eat me. I only know plant eaters because I've only ever eaten plants."

"I understand," said Sister Quagga. "Even I, myself, tend to know mostly plant eaters. But I do have one suggestion. I would still advise caution, but consider speaking to Spinosaurus. Spinosaurus has a reputation of restraint due to his work with Stegosaurus Claus at Christmastide. Maybe he will help you."

"What a great idea !!" exclaimed Junior Ground Sloth. "Thank you Sister Quagga. "Let me ask you, do you, yourself ever have any curiosity about eating meat?"

"I cannot say that I have," said Sister Quagga honestly, "Though I do try to help my friends in whatever way I can so I directed you to Spinosaurus. Again, I caution you to be careful. Forgive your mother, and proceed with caution; you don't want to give her the experience of losing her son so soon after losing her husband."

"Don't worry, Sister Quagga," said Junior Ground Sloth. "My mama and I are on good terms. I understand her concerns. Thank you for your help."

Thus, Junior Ground Sloth departed the African Plains for the Niger river. He saw Nigersaurus there, but did not speak to him, as he saw the sauropod was napping in the river with the shade of a nearby tree covering his head. When he had crossed the section of the river in which Nigersaurus lived, he quickened his pace, knowing that anon he would see the pool where Spinosaurus lived ever since science told him he could swim.

He waited patiently for Spinosaurus to emerge, which he did after about a half an hour to 45 minutes.

"Oh, look !" Spinosaurus said. Here's my morning snack, right on schedule!"

"Wait, please, Spinosaurus," pleaded Junior Ground Sloth. "I need your advice, and was directed to you by Sister Quagga."

"Make it good, little Ground Sloth; I'm hungry !" replied Spinosaurus.

"Spinosaurus, I have a favor to ask of you. I've read in the science papers recently that we Ground Sloths are omnivores. After a lifetime of eating plants, and avocados, I'm really curious to know what meat tastes like. Can you catch something for me to try? I don't know how. If i really like meat, I'll learn how to catch it on my own."

"Very well, I will catch a fish for you from pool I live in. When you come recommended by Sister Quagga, I must use my manners and not eat you. But I must also be honest in that for the future you should be careful around my pool since I do consider Ground Sloth one of the great delicacies."

"Wonderful, thank you, Spinosaurus," said Junior Ground Sloth. "Your warning is well noted."

Shortly, Spinosaurus returned with a mouthful of Tilapia for Junior Ground Sloth to try, which he did, quickly. In part, because of his zeal over eating meat, but also a sudden fear for his life.

"Thank you once again, Spinosaurus. May I take a few fishes home to our avocado grove for my mama ??"

"Yes," said Spinosaurus, licking his lips.

Junior Ground Sloth, realizing that it was still quite some time before Spinosaurus would be bound by his Christmastime promises of good behavior decided not to test the patient generosity of the hungry dinosaur before him. He took the remaining Tilapia and returned to his mother and their grove of avocados as quickly as he could.