Category: nature

The Red-tailed Hawk and the Toddler Fence

Posted in birds, California, children, humor, hunting, Lindsay Wildlife Museum, memoir, Mount Diablo State Park, nature, outdoors, relationships, toddler, worstLeave a comment

(re-run) I’m a bird lover. I feed the song birds and the finches. I have an ongoing water supply in the form of a fountain in my back yard. I’ve planted native plants for the hummingbirds. When I hike, I am thrilled to find a hawk feather to add to my hat. Twenty-odd years ago,… Continue reading The Red-tailed Hawk and the Toddler Fence

Skipping Work for Woodstock, 1969

Posted in bands, best, helpful strangers, historic, humor, live music, Long Island, nature, outdoors, pig, postal service, rain, relationships, small town, vacation, vintageLeave a comment

(re-run) In 1969 Max Yasgur’s pig farm in upstate New York sounded like the place to be for three days and three nights. Frank had been delivering the Woodstock tickets for weeks on Long Island at his job as a summer letter carrier for the U.S. Post Office. He and the other summer carriers knew… Continue reading Skipping Work for Woodstock, 1969

Do You Want a Cookie, Little Girl?

Posted in beach, best, boyfriend, California, dating, firsts, Hawaii, hiking, humor, March, music, nature, park, relationships, romance, skiingLeave a comment

(re-run) She ran a personal ad in the Contra Costa Times: Single white female looking for single Asian man. Her two previous boyfriends had been Asian. James called and left a message with his phone number on a Friday night. The next morning Pam checked her phone messages. She liked his voice as she listened… Continue reading Do You Want a Cookie, Little Girl?

Best Summer Day Camp Ever

Posted in California, humor, insects, memoir, nature, parenting, parents, parking lot, rattlesnake, relationships, rescue, snakes, summer, summer camp, t shirtLeave a comment

(re-run) My two daughters were Girl Scouts and went to summer day camp at Twin Canyons in Lafayette, two towns over. In order to get them a slot, I volunteered to work the entire week. I did it for eleven years and enjoyed getting to meet every camper there (about 200 each year). I chose… Continue reading Best Summer Day Camp Ever

Feeling Better

Posted in animals, birdfeeder, birds, Depression, dogs, exercise, food, Iowa, medications, melanoma, memoir, mood, nature, sunshine, ZumbaLeave a comment

(re-run) I have some down days once in a while, but mostly I don’t. I know I’m lucky. I have aligned my life to feel better. Coincidentally, a relative’s therapist told her the five things she needs every day to get out of her funk. Then, if you still feel like crap, go see a… Continue reading Feeling Better

Weed, Water, Thrift

Posted in 4th of July, flood, Guadalupe River, July, memoir, nature, senior citizen, senior discount, summer, summer camp, tea cups, Texas, thrift stores, thrifting, tragedy, weedLeave a comment

I just got home from an intense 48 hours of going to the beach, watering all my potted plants (gophers), and collecting more teacups for my dining-room side hustle selling dishes. It looked like sunshine, but only the first half day. After that, clouds and more clouds, but good for working in the yard weather.… Continue reading Weed, Water, Thrift

Father’s Day Hike

Posted in boyfriend, California, Father's Day, hiking, humor, memoir, nature, outdoors, relationships, trees, turkey vultures, worstLeave a comment

(re-run) Several years ago on Father’s Day, my three kids went to their dad’s for a barbeque, and I went on a late-day hike with my (now ex) boyfriend. He’s one of those guys who doesn’t believe in rules and always thinks his way is the best way. We took a hike on the west… Continue reading Father’s Day Hike

The Spiritual Post

Posted in death, dog walks, horse, Machu Picchu, memoir, memory, nature, philosophy, sibling death, siblings, spiritual energy, travel, universeLeave a comment

(re-run) A friend lost his younger sister to cancer last week. I lost my older sister in December to a myriad of health issues.  Grieving is a process. It doesn’t end all at once. It comes and goes. At least I’m not crying anymore. When a hummingbird gets in my face or flies close to… Continue reading The Spiritual Post

Be Careful Who You Hike With

Posted in attitude, bobcat, boyfriend, bull, California, coyote, dogs, hiking, humor, Iowa, Mount Diablo State Park, mountain lion, nature, outdoors, Pebble Beach, relationships2 Comments

(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

Sorry About That

Posted in Black Diamond Mines, California, firsts, hiking, humor, menopause, menstruation, mines, nature, relationships, surprise, worstLeave a comment

(re-run) Aileen, in her early 50s, had a date that neither she, nor the guy, will ever forget. They met online. He suggested a hike out to the Black Diamond Mines in Antioch. She agreed, although she wasn’t much of a hiker. During the hike and while climbing in and out of the mine tunnels,… Continue reading Sorry About That