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Dog Chew Treats — Safe or Unsafe

All puppies and most grown dogs have a need to chew. While both Kiera and Graidy were chewers as puppies, Kiera could take or leave a bone or chewie now. Graidy still lives for them; he needs to chew. Perhaps your dog falls somewhere in the middle. Regardless, no doubt, at some point we’ve all bought our dogs a treat or chew toy. Who doesn’t like to treat their dogs occassionally? But did you know that the very treat you’re … Read More

The Normal Thing to Do

Having grown up with animal-filled farms abutting our property, and adding to that our own four-legged menagerie, I learned early to keep a weather eye for all animals. And I learned to step in and do whatever needed doing, because the consequences of not doing could mean death for an animal (and injury or death for the unsuspecting motorist zipping around a corner to find an animal in the middle of the road).

For instance, take the time I saw … Read More

Spring Has Sprung

It’s that time of year. The weather’s warming. The birds are nesting. The garden’s calling.

Cold weather crops are well underway.

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Seedlings are put outside for a few hours a day to start hardening.

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When they all come back inside, there’s hardly a flat surface free. Time to seriously think about the benefits of a small greenhouse.

Also time to double the garden size.

I’m seeing lots of hot showers for sore back muscles in my future.… Read More

Mad Hatter: No wonder you’re late. Why, this watch is exactly two days slow.

That’s me these days. The faster I try to catch up, the hurried-er I fall behind. Too many projects and not enough clocks running two days slow. So, it’s getting to be that time again… Time for another intermission.

In the meantime, what was it that sign said on the doorknob? Ah, yes…

Doorknob: Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction.“

Okay, off I go.

See ya back here when I’m all … Read More

I Knew That

Cait has finally reached the age where she’s been made aware by friends of clothes labels. I always knew that I was on borrowed shopping time, because this kid came out of the womb with her own sharp sense of fashion style. I’m happy to have gotten away with outlets and discount stores with her for as long as I have, you see, because unlike my daughter I could care less about fashion. I lean more toward ‘if you’re covered, … Read More

The Newest Animal Linguist on the Block

Alex, the gray parrot, and Washoe, the chimpanzee, (both recently deceased) are back in the news in this month’s National Geographic Magazine, in an article about understanding the animal’s mind. In it, the newest kid on the “smarts” block is featured. Are you ready? Yep, a Border Collie named Betsy, who knows more than 300 words. Look to being hearing lots more about her.

In the meantime, I thought you might enjoy this New York Times tribute to Alex and … Read More

Why Are There Only Boring Car Colors?

Lying here, coughing my brains out, I have more time than usual to contemplate the deep mysteries of life. Like why have car colors become so boring?

Think about it. What are our options? Take a look at any parking lot and this is what you’ll see. All pulled out of the same sock drawer of mismatched darks and lights. Pretty darn dull if you ask me.

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There was a time when you could pick a car from nearly any … Read More

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