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,
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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 »
Now, don’t get me wrong. I already know he supervises my office, keeps track of my snack schedule, reminds me when it’s time to play, and serves as my full-time emotional support specialist. Those are all very important responsibilities. But recently, he apparently decided to become a television researcher as well. This week, as we
Bear’s Television Research Project Read More »
Every evening, something remarkable happens that most of us never see. The porch lights go dark. The televisions grow quiet. Cars disappear from the streets. We lock our doors, climb into bed, and believe the day has ended. But for another community, the day is just beginning. Over the past year, our wildlife camera has
While We Sleep, the night visitors arrive Read More »
Author’s note: Because none of the existing images of Nelson Mandela on iStock.com, which I subscribe to for their photos, convey the message I wanted, this image was a custom creation for this article using ChatGPT (AI assistance). While looking through my calendar of special days for July 2026, searching for inspiration for my next
Discovering Nelson Mandela International Day Read More »
Every once in a while, a photograph transports us back to a special place. This image takes me back to our home in Arnold, California, where wildlife was part of everyday life. Our house sat between two converging game trails. Before our home was built, bears, deer, foxes, raccoons, and countless other animals traveled these
Bears of Arnold: Sharing the Sierra with Our Wild Neighbors Read More »
