First Dog, Lost Dog

After moving to farm country to teach high school Spanish, I watched my roommate Kristy come home one day with a German Shephard puppy. “Meet Shane!” she said. She hadn’t asked me. She hadn’t asked the landlord. When she did ask him, his response was, “Not in the house.” Kristy made Shane a bed of… Continue reading First Dog, Lost Dog

Daisy in the Spotlight

(re-run) Daisy’s favorite spot at the beach house is on the back of the couch. From there she can see the squirrels taunting her from the trees outside the window. She can see part of the street where dog walkers go by every five minutes or so. Pepper has taken over the antique silk wing… Continue reading Daisy in the Spotlight

A Tale of Two Trees

(re-run) Thirteen years ago, I moved into my cozy house next to a park. When I hear the squeaky swings I know that someone is in the greenbelt. My dogs run to the park to play ball or go for a walk. They always head right once out the front door, never left. They know… Continue reading A Tale of Two Trees

A Good Dog Neighbor

(re-run) Yesterday my son and I had lunch at the local sandwich shop. He brought his little dog, half Chihuahua, half terrier. I fed Violet scraps of lettuce under the table while we ate. She thinks she’s a vegetarian. Afterward, we followed the usual routine and came back to my house, where Violet could run… Continue reading A Good Dog Neighbor

A Great Dane Story

(re-run) When I was thirteen, I hung out at my neighbor Bonnie’s house, just one block away from mine, but it was different world.  Both her parents worked full time, so we teens could be there with no parental supervision. We were supervised, though, by the family’s Great Danes. I remember three dogs, but there… Continue reading A Great Dane Story

When CPR Class Pays Off

(re-run) In my previous married life long ago, I was a Girl Scout leader for my youngest child and the girls her age at her elementary school.  I was supposed to get CPR training, so I went to the classes and got certified.  Maybe someday I’ll need it while doing a scout activity. As it… Continue reading When CPR Class Pays Off

The Story of Scout, the Rescue Pup

Yesterday my two dogs alerted me to a rat under the pad for the air conditioner on the side of the house.  Pepper had already dug a huge hole in the wet clay.  Any more digging and the air conditioner was going to tip over. So my adult offspring and I put a wire fence… Continue reading The Story of Scout, the Rescue Pup

Be Careful Who You Hike With

(re-run) First of all, the title should be Be Careful with Whom You Hike, but I figured only English teachers would read the post if I did it that way. An old bf asked me to go on a hike with him. I said yes a little too quickly. Looking back, Bob (not his real… Continue reading Be Careful Who You Hike With