We were all packed. A large bag of travel snacks was by my purse. Our Yeti containers were filled with water for the journey. The only thing missing was our travel companions, but it was not quite 6:30 a.m., the pickup time. Then the phone rang. Our daughter, Lu, and her husband, Doug, might not […]
Read MoreI have never thought of myself as a drama queen, but I have lived with some. The current one is black and tan and has four legs. If you have heard that dachshunds are stubborn, I can tell you that is absolutely correct. I would even say relentless. They wear you down until you give them […]
Read MoreI don’t know about other states, but dealing with the California DMV is about as much fun as having a root canal. That said, when your driver’s license needs to be renewed, you have to take a deep breath, say a prayer, eat a chocolate bar, and go forth. This September 25, my driver’s license […]
Read MoreIt has been twenty-six days since John and I, as vaccinated Californians, shed our masks for the most part, began socializing in larger groups, started shopped without distancing, and rejoiced at seeing smiles that included lips. We even gathered up our courage and flew to Spokane to visit friends for a short visit. We also […]
Read MoreThis week we met with Genie Tuttle, Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). Yes, we had reached a tipping point, and it was time to bring in outside help. Teddy had started nipping at human visitors’ clothing and shoes, and from there it is just a hop, skip, and a jump to chomping down on someone’s hand […]
Read MoreLast night I went to my first in-person, without-masks meeting. It was lovely gathering together, enjoying our combined energy and face-to-face camaraderie. Then one person asked me how our dogs were. Rather than reel off a list of some of our current challenges, I said, “They have been very naughty,” and laughed. A lot of […]
Read MoreI have found that unexpected encounters with wild creatures can sharpen the senses, are often exhilarating, and are always educational. One thing is certain: these meetings with the natural world capture all of your attention and are seared into your memory. But the encounters that involve reciprocity between wild creatures and humans touch our souls […]
Read MoreMay gray and June gloom defines our weather this time of year. Coastal fog wreaths our mountains, drops our temperatures, and makes us long for sunshine. Some days the marine layer hangs on all day long, and sometimes it retreats only to return at the end of the day. I have mixed emotions about fog. […]
Read MoreWell, it seems I just cannot stay away from you people. Last week, we went to the central coast for a few days, and I kept saying to myself, I have to share this on my blog. So this will be a short one with mostly photos and some thoughts about vacationing post-vaccination. The biggest surprise was […]
Read MoreAs more of our world is opening up, my calendar is filling up. And I am so enjoying being with family and friends, and also enjoying community venues. We are also busy relandscaping part of our yard, a fun project that includes a new fence that is taking longer to build than the Great Wall […]
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Kathleen Chamberlin 