Long ago, I discovered that writing was a way for me to harness, focus, and direct my active imagination. It started out as a way for me to keep myself from worrying about things I couldn’t change. It’s progressed into a form of meditation; a daily practice of contemplation, which is nothing more than the effort to bring the mind to observe the outer physical world and the inner reality of thoughts and emotions.
Another way of expressing this idea … Read More
After a day of play with Graidy, and her evening run, Kiera’s contentedly conked out for the night.… Read More
Cait says from the backseat of the car, “Mom, there’s a tick on your shirt.”
Just having gotten into the car after a family hike through the woods, I get back out, find the tick (it’s a deer tick of course), and pick it off. Climbing back into the car, I say to Andrew, “Can’t blame that tick on the dogs.”
Andrew, who’s just contracted Lyme disease again from a tick he believes he picked up from one of the … Read More
With the holidays coming up, I thought you might enjoy discovering Penzeys. It’s an online herb and spice store that has the best herbs and spices I’ve ever come across. The flavor is superb. If I don’t grow it in my garden, I get it from Penzeys.… Read More
Cait dreamt about my father last night, which she does on occasion. My father and Cait had a thing for each other while he was alive. She often expresses how much she misses him, and how she really wishes that she had a grandfather. (Andrew’s dad died several years ago as well.)
Though my daughter has the most wonderful grandmother, my mother, in her life (and that counts for a lot), I feel badly for her that she doesn’t have … Read More
I came downstairs this morning to find Finnegan having great fun tossing around one of his toys in play. Upon closer inspection, I saw that it was a dead mouse — the forth in as many months. I felt a mixture of sadness and relief. Sadness at the loss of a life. Relief that Finn is cleaning up the place; something we haven’t been able to do with all our have-a-heart traps.
We live in an old farm house. It’s … Read More
The wild turkeys are back — for the first time in several years!
When we first moved here fifteen years ago, they beat a regular path through our property. Then the coyotes moved in. I thought that was the end of them. I’m so happy that they’ve made a comeback! And that they’re once again part of our little wild kingdom.… Read More
Seems Cesar has a way of stirring things up wherever he goes. He’s attracted a fair amount of attention here in Shanleyville. Irma, a thoughtful reader, left a comment on why she found Cesar’s approach useful for certain situations. She brings up some valid points.
Different trainers become popular with different people for different reasons. Obviously, the Dog Whisperer show has struck a nerve. I don’t find that surprising; there are a lot of dogs who need more training. And … Read More
