First the good news: Henry and I are excited to share that my publisher has put two cover designs on their website for people to vote on. We would be ever so grateful for your opinion. If you have a moment, please visit: http://www.koehlerbooks.com/cover-polls/giving-paws/ Click on the one you like. Many thanks! And the not-so-good news: For those of you who know…Read more Updates on Henry…
anxiety
Flight of Fancy
In my twenties and thirties, I loved flying. Going to the airport meant I was going on an adventure. It didn’t matter if I was headed to Appleton, Wisconsin or Konya, Turkey, I got the same rush of excitement. I loved the hubbub of the airports and was sure everyone else was feeling the same…Read more Flight of Fancy
Farewell to an Erratic Rodent
Every morning for the past three weeks I've woken up to find Steve's handiwork. Steve is a Norway rat(Rattus norvegicus), who got our attention a few weeks ago when he chewed through the rubber weather strip that lined the bottom of our front door. My husband and I thought he’d gotten in my accident and had chewed his way back out. We…Read more Farewell to an Erratic Rodent
Cheese Please
We've named our little house guest Steve. Being a Norwegian Tree rat, we should have named him Sven or Lars, but Steve just seemed right. He's not made anymore live appearances, but he visits after dark. There must be a sign posted on the mantle in a language only rats can read, that says: "Restroom," because he does…Read more Cheese Please
An Unwelcome Visitor
My eyes are always scanning the floors of our little home, mostly because we have three dogs who make all kinds of messes. A couple of days ago, in the early morning light, I noticed a spot near the front door that looked like a puddle of something. When I looked closer, I found it was…Read more An Unwelcome Visitor
Somebody Up There is Looking Out for Me
Early Thursday morning I drove to Pasadena to get a bone scan. No big deal. I like early morning appointments because there are fewer cars on the road. After the scan, I headed for my favorite coffee shop on Colorado Blvd in Eagle Rock. Two blocks from the shop I saw a gray Mini Cooper…Read more Somebody Up There is Looking Out for Me
Hope is the thing with feathers…
In my healthier days, when I was happily working at the zoo, I wrote a weekly newsletter for the docents and volunteers. My service dog Henry was always eager to contribute bits of wisdom to my weekly tome, so when he heard I was writing a blog, he asked if he could add a few words. Of course, I said yes. So today…Read more Hope is the thing with feathers…
Cockeyed Optimist?
I'm considering hatching some Mexican Speckled Quail eggs in July, if they're available. There's a place in Wisconsin, (my home state!), that sells them. Maybe I'll have better luck with a different species. Maybe I'm just a cockeyed optimist! Aren't they beautiful?
Hope floats
I was really hoping my eggs would hatch because I need a good dose of joy. I know from previous incubations that hatchlings come into the world determined to survive. They never question their reasons for being here, they just want to live. I know people like that too, and I envy them. Nearly every day…Read more Hope floats
Take your positions!
This is day 13(hopefully lucky 13) of 16, in the incubation of my Button Quail eggs, which means it's time to remove the automatic rotator and carefully lay them on their side on the bottom of the incubator. For the final 3 days they need to stay perfectly still so the growing chicks will move themselves into hatching position. The images below show the…Read more Take your positions!
Dogged Hope 