Lately, the news and the world around us have left me feeling uneasy. Sometimes, I have to make a conscious effort to focus on things that lift my spirits instead of bringing me down. So I decided to turn back to one of my favorite topics: dogs. Whenever I write, talk, or even think about dogs, […]
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? Ask the Dog. Read More »
Lately, I’ve heard a lot about a possible “Super El Niño” forming this year. Curious about what that really means, I decided to look into it. The first thing I learned is that El Niño isn’t a storm. It’s a climate pattern that happens when the tropical Pacific Ocean warms above average. This warming can change
What Is a Super El Niño and Should We Be Worried? Read More »
Something happened this week that showed me how clever online scams have gotten, and how easily any of us could fall for one. My husband, Jim, sent me things he found online and thought were important. Later, I tried to look at one of the messages. Right away, my Norton security software blocked what I
Before You Click: The Scams Are Hiding In Familiar Places Read More »
I’ve often wondered how a dog picks its favorite person. With Teddy, I didn’t have to wonder. He chose me. There was something between us right from the start, a bond I couldn’t quite explain but definitely felt. I was his person, and he was my soul dog. Bear is different. I feed
Why Does a Dog Choose a Favorite Person? Read More »
The Perseids occur each year as the Earth passes through the debris left by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. When these small particles enter our atmosphere at high speeds, they heat up and produce flashes of light we call meteors, or “shooting stars.” A good aspect of the Perseids is that special equipment is not necessary if you
Perseids Meteor Shower Read More »
I’m late recognizing International Friendship Day this year, since I’ve been preoccupied with wildfires, earthquakes, and several other things that have required my attention. Yet friendship is one of those topics which ought not to be regarded as something too late to discuss; on the contrary, given all that is going on in the world,
International Friendship Day Read More »
I’ve been watching the news from Spokane, Washington, and it’s hard to describe how it makes me feel. Homes are surrounded by flames. Whole neighborhoods are at risk. Families have to leave quickly, often with barely any time to choose what to bring. Firefighters are putting themselves between communities and something powerful and unpredictable. These scenes
I Feel Pain Watching The News On The Destruction From The Fires Read More »
My name is Ralph, and I am a curious raccoon. Ralph sounds like the name of someone brave and adventurous, even though I did not feel especially brave when I approached the front door in the middle of the night. It was 3:04 in the morning. The neighborhood was quiet, and the darkness made every
Ralph, the curious raccoon, Comes Calling Read More »
Every morning begins with my inspection. While Mom, Dad, and I are sleeping, our backyard becomes a nighttime neighborhood. Raccoons come through. Gray foxes quietly wander past. Possums shuffle along looking for insects. Sometimes deer stop by, and every once in a while, a skunk decides our yard is worth investigating. That means I have an
The Night Visitor with the Beautiful Tail Read More »
One of the things I enjoy most about my morning walks isn’t just the exercise. It’s the opportunity to notice the little things that I might have hurried past previously. I’ve begun paying closer attention to something I had often overlooked before: animal tracks. At first, I saw a few paw prints on the sidewalk.
Whose Tracks Are These? A Little Mystery on My Morning Walk Read More »
