The Yellow Cat Catastrophe

February 27, 2012

“A cat under stress,” the veterinarian solemnly told me, “will find a place to hide. It sometimes refuses to eat and will literally starve itself to death.” Seriously? A stressed out cat? Hey, I am looking at a pretty stressful veterinarian bill, and you don’t find me hiding under the bed refusing a hamburger. Evidently, [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Coming Soon To An Animal Shelter Near You

October 25, 2011

Don’t worry, I’m not going to make you listen to Sarah McLachlan sing “In The Arms of an Angel” while you read (although you can if you feel so moved). I don’t want you to cry … I want you to think about the animals that are abandoned in shelters. Don’t feel guilty and think [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Foxy Lady

October 9, 2011

I quietly observed her as she dined. With each delicate bite she took, she tilted her head back and closed her eyes in ecstasy as she chewed. I was close enough to the gray fox in my back field to see that it was a “lady” fox, but not close enough to see what meal [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Butterflies Aren’t Free, But You Can See Them For $7

September 10, 2011

Have you ever stood in a field of migrating butterflies watching thousands of delicate, colorful creatures flit around you? I haven’t either. It’s on my bucket list, but it isn’t in my budget to travel to an exotic locale. Maybe I can do the next best thing. Residents of the Dallas/Fort Worth area are in [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

“We Thought You Was A Toad!”

August 21, 2011

I cannot look at a toad now without thinking of the movie O, Brother, Where Art Thou? and the line that Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) whispered to Pete (John Turturro): “We thought you was a toad!” If you haven’t seen the movie, I know you think I’m crazy to think that’s a funny line. However, [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Less Like The Hummingbirds

August 13, 2011

He was close enough that I could almost reach out and touch him! That hummingbird hovered near me, his wings a blur, as I sat on my porch pondering the day ahead. He chirped at me! I know that you probably think that hummingbirds hum, but they don’t … they chirp (if you don’t believe [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Another Stinking Problem

August 9, 2011

Somebody save me! Pepé Le Pew has taken up residence under my back porch! He has hunkered down under the deck near my fountain, and he’s lurking there waiting to meet me face-to-face. Although I caught a whiff of his perfume several mornings ago, I thought he was just passing through. I didn’t have a [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Come Out Of Your Shell

July 30, 2011

Nature isn’t always “pretty.” Last night, I noticed a shadow on the patio post and realized it was a cicada emerging from its shell. I ran to get my camera to show it to you. We had just seen the movie new movie called Cowboys and Aliens that afternoon, and this little guy was déjà [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Save Frida!

May 5, 2011

I’m calling the visitor at my house “Frida,” because her eyebrows are prominent — like the artist Frida Kahlo. But, I can’t get too attached. I have to find her a home. If this trend continues, I’m going to have to re-name this blog “Critter City.” All I can talk about lately are the creatures [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Are You Like The Critter In My Attic?

May 3, 2011

There is a critter trapped in our attic! Believe me, I’m as distressed about this as the varmint seems to be. I hear how frantic it is up there and my tender heart feels the panic. More than that, however, I’m distraught about the smell that will invade my house when said critter curls up [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Miss Muffet Would Have Lost Her Mind

October 18, 2010

I’m not “Little Miss Muffet” from the nursery rhyme and it’s a darned good thing! You might recall that Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet eating a disgusting meal, and got frightened away by an arachnid. Miss Muffet was a scaredy-cat. If I were afraid of spiders, I’d never be able to tell stories at [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

We Call Him Fenster

July 11, 2010

Actually, we call all of the geckos at our house “Fenster,” because we can’t tell them apart. My husband tells me that it is the German word for “window,” and he is always right (Sshh! Stop giggling! I’m trying to get him to help me steam vacuum the floors today.). They acquired their nickname because [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Decorating Is For The Birds

December 7, 2009

At least, the decorating I have been doing the past couple of days is for the birds. And it’s for the squirrels, and the possums, and the mice … and probably even for the coyotes who will come to eat the other critters if they aren’t quick. I know, that thought is sad, but coyotes [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Fandango

September 29, 2009

This albino peacock definitely had an attitude! I thought he had every good reason to fan his feathers and dance. I would dance, too, if I were as beautiful and if I could dance. I thought that since he was white, he would be a likely entry in the Monochrome Weekly Theme where bloggers post [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Timing Is Everything

September 25, 2009

I want you to look at this very unremarkable picture and see “Only The Good” in it. Before I began posting Marcia had begun the meme. She posted a picture, and we all tried to see what was good about it … because you have to practice to be able to find good in the [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Ménage à trois no more

September 11, 2009

In July, I told you with delight about a trio of birds who convene on my back porch. A pair of cardinals, and their sparrow friend have been my constant visitors at the bird feeder. The male cardinal seemed so tender and sweet to the females. He actually fed both of them. What a treat [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

A Good Sanctuary For Exotic Animals

August 28, 2009

Perhaps a big cat in a “cage” doesn’t seem at first like a “good” thing … at least not for the cat (although, trust me, you want a barrier). At the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary there are sixty rescued cats enclosed, along with twelve bears. It is a VERY good thing. It’s not a zoo [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Armed-a-dillo

August 19, 2009

Nobody tells this guy to “stuff it.” Although, he does have a thick skin and can probably take the insults. This poor stuffed armadillo presides over the general store at a small town in the Texas Hill Country. It’s an ignominious end for that little old critter, and I confess that I was a little [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

What’s So Good About Having Cats?

June 5, 2009

Research has proven that positive health benefits are derived from having a pet — provided that you like animals, and have the time to take care of one. This morning, I’m trying to drill that into my head as my exercise for Only The Good Friday. Obviously those researchers didn’t come to my house to [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

Leapin’ Lizards

May 20, 2009

He stared at me from the edge of the porch, watching every move I made. Like a miniature pre-historic monster, that lizard seemed as curious about me as I was about him. Perhaps he thought I was “prey.” If I’m to assign human qualities to a reptile, I’m sure he had an enormous ego. From [...]

Did that whet your appetite for more? →

← Previous Entries

The Authenticity Pledge