My Greatly-damaged Rescue Dog

(re-run) It’s been eighteen months since I adopted Daisy. The day after Christmas, 2017, I went out and got my dog Pepper a dog. Pepper has looked at me sideways many times since that fateful decision. Why did you get a Jack Russell? Why did you get this Jack Russell? Why does she growl at… Continue reading My Greatly-damaged Rescue Dog

Hot, Hot, Hot

(re=run from 2019) 102 degrees outside.  Fires are burning in both Northern and Southern California. The once late-summer fire season is now happening in June. California heat is dry heat, low humidity, good for your hair, bad for fire. Four weeks ago we had rain.  Then an explosion of pollen. Then a slow start to… Continue reading Hot, Hot, Hot

Animals in my Life, Domestic and Wild

(re-run) It’s 8:30 p.m. The dogs are in their usual spot, glued to the twilight through the sliding glass door.  They are lying in wait for a rat.  The Jack Russell started this. The lab was happy to snooze in the chair before Daisy came along. Now they stand guard for their yard. When they… Continue reading Animals in my Life, Domestic and Wild

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

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

The Squirrels’ Rude Awakening

The pair of squirrels that used to live in the Valley Oak tree in the yard below mine have gone  AWOL. I can’t blame them. Their habitat was destroyed one rainy day when my neighbors had their trees trimmed.  I was at a memorial service, and when I returned, surprise!  Their Valley Oak (the reason… Continue reading The Squirrels’ Rude Awakening

Surprise in the Porch Stove

I just got home from the beach with temps up to 70 degrees. “Why am I coming back?” I asked myself as the car’s outside temp rose to 82, then 88 then 92 as I pulled off the freeway in San Ramon. When I got home, the dogs went ballistic as they always do. We’re… Continue reading Surprise in the Porch Stove

Surprise in the Porch Stove

(re-run) I got home from the beach, with temps up to 70 degrees. “Why am I coming back?” I asked myself as the car’s outside temp rose to 82, then 88 then 92 as I pulled off the freeway in San Ramon. When I got home, the dogs went ballistic as they always do. We’re… Continue reading Surprise in the Porch Stove

Spring Cleaning in February

(re-run) It started with a koala bear.  A bunch of them.  Some musicians were having a fundraiser for Australia, the fires, and the koalas.  It was donation at the door.  Two and a half hours of music, and I knew three of the performers. We got there early and sat in the third row.  Two… Continue reading Spring Cleaning in February