She’s a family member who wears more hats than Lady Gaga. Her roles are varied — but vital — and I think she knows it. She even has this self-important strut as she trots through our house. Yes, Libby knows she’s not only loved, but needed. Here are the six vital roles this Yorkie/Papillion […]
Not since the Mongol Conquest of China in the 13th century, has there been such an invasion. But instead of men on horseback, we have tiny red and black-dotted beetles. There’s one room in our house these ladybugs especially crave, which now belongs to my mom. She’s tried everything to get rid of this […]
I admit it. My terrier Libby needs work. Like the misbehaving child in school, I see where my “slight spoiling” has created a great sense of entitlement in this little Yorkie. I’ve had her over four years and you’d think I would’ve taught this animal better by now. How bad a wild child is […]
It hurts not having a cat. I’ve had felines all my life and love everything (well, almost everything) about them. I love their soft fur. I love the way they undulate while walking on their toes. I love their need for cuddling. My cat Rocky died three months ago and I’m still grieving. So […]
Like many great mysteries, this one started with a question. One day my husband Randy turned to me, “Have you seen any of my socks? A lot seem to be missing.” I had also noticed a number of his black “Fruit of the Loom Crew Lengths” had disappeared. There was one thing to do. […]
The vet turned to me, his eyes compassionate. “Are you ready?” In one hand, he held the shaved paw of my cat Rocky. In the other was a needle. I looked at Rocky, and to my relief, he seemed serene. Maybe he didn’t know what was happening. Maybe he did. I looked at this […]
She’s crazy. She’s ruthless. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks. She lives by her own rules. No, I’m not talking about Madonna, but I am talking about a different kind of girl. Picture a female brought up without any gender conditioning. Picture my Yorkie, Libby. Here are 6 ways I admire her “Women who […]
It’s a neighborhood skirmish unlike any I’ve seen, so steeped in tension and anger, the rest of us are reeling. Randy and I have tried to broker peace several times, only to have it break down. If we don’t intervene soon, I’m scared things could get ugly. Yes, a family of goldfinches has moved […]
Oh my God, I thought, waking an hour later than usual. Where’s Rocky? He always roused me at the crack of dawn with his loud “Meoooowwww!” I recently wrote a post about this 16-year-old deaf, geriatric cat. And the looming, sad morning he might not come into our room and start my day. Was […]
We’ve had our cat Rocky almost 16 years, the longest of any animal in our marriage. Now 81 in human time, he’s stone-deaf and arthritic. His once-supple spine feels ridged. One day Rocky was the new kitty on the block, brash and bold. Now he’s elderly. The other day we discovered something that may […]
