A decade apart, a different house, and a different canine companion to help celebrate. Twenty five seconds of awkward eye contact while I sniveled and warbled my way through the Happy Birthday song to Joel and Peanut (in spirit because it was her birthday, too) for the fifth year in a row. He was paying…
What appears here to be a dirty window is in fact a dirty window. And it’s going to stay dirty. Because it’s covered in pug spittle. Peanut’s pug spittle. For years and years, when Joel was close to being back at the house, we’d coordinate the timing of when I’d hold Peanut up to look…
December 24th: I accidentally bought a cake mix that required 4 eggs because someone wanted funfetti for his birthday cake. Was Just Egg up for the job?!? YES!!! Because six tablespoons worked so well as a substitute for three eggs, I sprang for eight tablespoons to replace four eggs. It’s every bit as moist…
There wasn’t one day in the six months after Peanut had passed that I was not consumed by grief. I didn’t care about anything and had little motivation to do much at all. When I wasn’t working, I’d grab Peanut’s blanket that still held her scent, lie down with it somewhere, and cry myself to…
Saturday, October 21st was a sunny, temperate day. This meant if the resident disabled woodpecker Wooka was not ‘working’ at an educational program, we’d be heading outside for some sunshine and pecking in the dirt like we’ve done for years. Not long after I arrived, I was told that he had not been doing well…
Unlike with people, there is no emergency system in place for injured wild animals; no expectation that help will be on the way as soon as someone notices your accident and dire need for medical care. Unfortunately, unavoidable collisions with animals happen all the time and many animals don’t die upon impact even when the…
Joel started a bedtime routine with Peanut many years ago. He’d place her on her bed, pat her lovingly, tell her she was a good girl (whether or not she had been that day), reminded her of how much we love her, and to have sweet dreams. It made her perky little ears and forehead…
Common Grackles aren’t a common bird at our feeders, so when at least one started making regular appearances around our deck, it caught my attention. Since I already make a habit of watching birds out the kitchen window, I couldn’t help but lock on the unique behavior of suet-dunking from one of the Grackles. When…
Joel and I were seconds away from meeting the dog that was advertised for sale in the local paper. As soon as Joel opened the door to the apartment complex, a then two-and-a-half-year-old Peanut* came trotting from around the corner of an open door and down the hall. “CLOSETHEDOORSHE’SESCAPING!” I yelled. Joel replied, “She’s fine, she’s not…
A slightly edited version of this post was originally published on 10,000 Birds. Congratulating myself for leaving the house on time, I got into my car and drove off to meet up with a friend for lunch. Not one minute later, I noticed a small feathery mass sitting in the middle of my lane. Giving…
A growing desire to get some food I can’t get at the local grocery store trumped my antipathy of getting into traffic and shopping with the masses on the afternoon of Sunday, June 7th. Reluctantly, I set out for my 16-mile journey. About twenty minutes into my half hour trip, I noticed a soggy little…
Winter 2023: Seven years later I’d discover Hurtta brand dog coats. This is quite a coat – photos at the bottom. Original post: A pug mom takes matters into her own hands when she discovers that it was impossible to buy off-the-rack for her barrel-chested baby. My experience with dog apparel started years ago…
How do you pass the miles when you have lots of time to occupy your mind? Do you listen to the radio? Ipod? Audio books? Contemplate life? Enjoy the silence (if you can)? When Joel and I go on little road trips we are apt to challenge each other on our music trivia. General topics…
Spring 2022: Discovered Pine Bark Nuggets to use in the tent, it’s the nugget size that makes it just right! November 2021: We have a new fun-sized shed! AND Penelope can take a ramp right into the shed to go potty so she doesn’t have to take stairs or be carried. New photos at the bottom.December…
It’s been a year and a half since I wrote a post about Peanut’s physical rehab. Since that is one of my more popular posts, I thought it would be worthwhile to share an update. Our little gal turned 13 on December 24th. A few weeks prior to that, I met a woman who just…
My very productive afternoon of house cleaning came to a screeching halt when I happened upon this: We get Eastern Bluebirds from time to time zipping across the yard but it’s not common at all to witness them just hanging out on the deck. Clean or watch pretty birds? Clean or watch pretty birds? Let…
September 1st marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Martha, the last Passenger Pigeon. The Passenger Pigeon was one of the most abundant birds in the world during the 19th century until they went extinct in 1914. Billions to none… the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon “The extinction of the Passenger Pigeon had two major…
Peanut joined our family 10 years ago today.
Love; Exciting and New I was typing away at my computer when some unusually boisterous tweeting outside the office window grabbed my attention. There on the deck was a male house finch energetically bowing, curtsying, flashing some tail, and singing up a storm while a lady perched opposite him looked on. Because I had a mouthful of…
Feeling energized to get a jump on yard work, I set out before lunch to do some raking around our plantings under the deck. Seconds out the door, I heard a flurry of fluttering. My eyes immediately followed the fluttery mass towards the top of the closest tree. While the birds silently looked on, I…
It finally dawned on me why the birds dart away more often than not when I start to wash dishes at the sink. No dishpan talons for me! I am so sorry little friends! It never occurred to me that it must be confusing that the same nice lady who provides you with a bounty…
What makes a bird lover’s holiday merry and bright? Why, feathered friends conveniently cloaked in colors befitting of the season of course! Surely these winged lovelies could coax even the most obstinate scrooge into chirping out a holiday tune or two: Australian King Parrot Santa honey, there’s one more thing I really do need…the seed.…
Earlier this month, the wildlife rehabilitation center held its 2nd annual Wild about Wildlife fundraiser. As a not-for-profit organization, the center requires support and donations from the public in order to “keep the lights on.” More than just keeping the lights on, it costs money to have extra staff on hand through the busy season,…
Once I start my regular volunteer shifts at the wildlife rehabilitation center, my Saturdays get rather birdy which is exactly how I like it. While I’ve had a lot of fun this year caring for many feathered friends, I have to say that my crush for the season must go to the American Goldfinch. The…
As many times as I stared into those cool blue peepers on paper, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think they would stare back at me. It was the end of my birthday weekend extravaganza, and Joel and I were finishing up dinner at a restaurant. I spent the past few days doing…
Our sassy little senior has swagger! Unfortunately a bit too much swagger… We noticed that Peanut had a slightly awkward gait shortly after she joined our family when she was just two years old. As a pup, it made her more impossibly precious. Now? Not so much. The misalignment has progressed over time and has…
Joel called me some time after lunch to ask what he should do about a little robin that was hopping around a parking lot where he was working. I asked him why he was asking. He explained that he was in a large parking lot hosting an outdoor event and had been watching a little…
My article as published in “Snitch’s Scoops” distributed by the Fox Valley Wildlife Center. Perhaps because it was the first bird to fascinate me as a child, I was instantly enchanted with a sparsely-feathered cardinal nestling that checked in to the center during my shift. Not only was it late in the season to receive…
I have been preparing to post a story about my recent visit to The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago and put my personal spin on the ancient Egyptian artifact exhibit that showcased the omnipresence of birds in their culture. I wanted to share in picture and story what I found to be intriguing,…
Observing the sweetness of a papa house finch tenderly feeding his little princess got me thinking about bird dads. What a convenient time for a special Father’s Day post! Even before their little ones hatch, bird dads are almost always on the job tending to mom and the nest. For altricial species, dad’s job can…
I had caught about a minute’s worth of little dark masses rapidly swarming about the sky in my peripheral before finally looking out the window to see what was going on. There was a substantial number of barn swallows on parade. Hark! Dost this swarming of aerial emissaries warn us of a menace that lurks…
The title of the recent article “The More Feathers a Male Sparrow Carries to the Nest, the More Eggs the Female Will Lay” from Science Daily, sums up the very point of the news piece. While not too surprised that a good provider would generally encourage more offspring from a mate, it was still interesting…
It was late last summer that I remember discussing Baltimore Orioles with Andrea, Board President of the wildlife center. At that time, I had recently spotted my first one while on a nature walk at one of our favorite local haunts. Andrea told me that she had luck attracting orioles to her yard when she…
This morning my friend Robyn forwarded a tweet that read, “Did you know today is National Draw A Bird Day?” I did not know this. Drawing a bird was not on my to-do list but I quickly found myself making an opening. I went to the DABD website and learned about the day’s history. In…
Dear Popular Women’s Lifestyle Magazine, I regret to inform you that I am officially breaking up with you. After almost two decades together, I’ve come to realize that it is me, not you, who has changed. You are who you’ve always been, but I am no longer in your target demographic. I need to move…
An acquaintance recently told me that her special-needs dog was having a hard time getting on and off the couch because jumping was difficult. She wasn’t familiar with dog ramps, so I told her about the low-cost DIY dog ramp we created to help ease Peanut’s travel up and down from “her spot” on the couch. The…
I was nodding along in agreement and chuckling here and there to the DIY channel’s “That’s So 80s” comedic quips about old decorating trends until we got to the swans. Ouch! They hit a nerve. What’s wrong with swans? I think swan bathtub fixtures say, “I’m fiery and fierce yet graceful and elegant!” I honestly…
Have you ever seen a bald eagle up close and personal? Watched it raise its enormous wings or throw its head back and cry out a chatter call so intense that you can physically feel it? I recently got the chance to do just that. This one is definitely going on my short list of…
I was supposed to be enjoying a TV show with the mister but my mind was elsewhere. I was thinking about Peanut, our 11-year-old pug, and our ongoing dilemma of how to make going potty outside in the wintertime easier on all of us. Because our little gal insists on finding the perfect spot on…
Unlike some species of mammals that have season-specific courtship cycles, this particular mammal exhibits courtship behaviors all year long. It is just past the first day of winter in the Midwest where creatures dare to brave the cold and biting winds, yet here we’ve captured the male enticing the female out of their warm nest.…
The Fickle Feather 