During a winter like the one we’ve had, it’s easy for people to put nature on hold. In fact I’ve heard, “It’s too ______ (cold, cloudy, snowy, windy, downright nasty) to go outside,” more times over the last several weeks than I care to count. But you know what? Despite the cold, clouds, snow and
Walk, Weather, Winter
Maintaining a birdfeeder is a little bit like having your own restaurant. You choose the menu, you choose the hours. And, if all goes well, it can be the sort of place where—to paraphrase the theme song from the old sitcom Cheers—you know everybody’s name. Northern cardinals, black-capped chickadees and dark-eyed juncos typically top local
Bird, Fly, Siskin
This latest weather blast has me thinking of winters gone by, particularly those of my childhood. Back then, girls weren’t allowed to wear pants to school unless it was winter and you lived a mile or more away from the school. Since we lived just across the street, I spent many a day envying my
Birds, Feathers, Fly, WinterSome of you might remember how, three months ago, my husband and I adopted a dog while on vacation in Montana. If you’re really sharp, you might also remember that we named her Gracie, and that she actually turned out to be six dogs in one. Her five puppies were born on October 1, thus
Dog, Gracie, Pet, Puppies
Crapulence. It’s a word you don’t hear very often but one that, especially at this festive time of year, is particularly appropriate. Crapulence means to become sick from overindulgence in food and drink. I can picture more than a few people who display crapulent tendencies, and I’ll bet you can too. But humans aren’t the
Bird, Cedar Waxwings, Waxwing
What comes to mind when you think of a good neighbor? The folks next door? State Farm? Bald-faced hornets? Okay, that last one may sound like a stretch. After all, aren’t hornets the critters people get “mad as?” And isn’t “stirring up a hornet’s nest” the last thing you want to do? Really, though, bald-faced
Bug, Hornet, InsectWahoo! Fall color is at its peak here in the TriCities! Vibrant hues of crimson, gold and luscious brown greet us each day as local trees surrender their last green bits of chlorophyll and begin their preparations for winter. A light wind brings these colors fluttering downward, a flurry of autumnal tones that disappear far
Plant, Shrub, WahooSometimes when you go on vacation, you come home with warm memories and a camera full of pictures. Other times you might bring back a memento or souvenir. And then there are those times you come home with puppies. I suppose I should back up a month or so, to Labor Day weekend, when my
Dog, Gracie, Pet
The entertainment world is full of former child stars—in fact, where would the “E!” channel be without them and their True Hollywood Stories? But the insect world has its share of child stars, too—little larvae that are instantly recognizable as youngsters, only to turn ordinary when adulthood hits. The antlion comes to mind; as juveniles
Caterpillar, Insect, Wooly Bear