recent from Environment The miner bees are back
Every April and May my side yard is invaded by bees. Small bees resembling honey bees circle endlessly, low to the ground, on sunny days. Their range seems to be linked to the range of the spring beauties, although I have rarely observed them actually visiting the flowers. When I first saw them I went online...
recent from Featured Go already!
There’s a For Better or Worse cartoon on my fridge. It’s from the early days of the strip, showing Elly shivering in her bathrobe in the cold as their new puppy wanders around sniffing at leaves, ignoring his mission. Finally she yells at him in frustration: “GO ALREADY!” That scene has been repeated...

Go already!

There’s a For Better or Worse cartoon on my fridge. It’s from the early days of the strip, showing Elly shivering in her bathrobe in the cold as their new puppy wanders around sniffing at leaves, ignoring his mission. Finally she yells at him in frustration: “GO ALREADY!” That scene has been repeated many times in my back yard since my boyfriend decided he couldn’t...

The dog walking myth

There is a myth about dog-walking. Want some exercise? Get a dog! You’ll be walking them every day, year-round. Cardio workout guaranteed! Not! First of all, walking a dog is bit like walking a two-year-old. I like a nice brisk blood-moving, muscle stretching walk. Two-year-olds like to stomp in every puddle and investigate every bug, rock, or gum wrapper. Dogs are not that...

Put the budgie down

I’ve never lived with parakeets before, so fostering two parakeets this summer has a new experience. I’ve found them to be quite low maintenance, and rather soothing – most of the time. One of my favorite Monty Python skits features two “ladies” discussing how best to “put one’s budgie down” when it gets to be annoying. One might choose to hit it with a book,...