Herbie made a friend this morning while we were out walking. Dobby (of course) wanted nothing to do with the smiling woman a few blocks away who approached us as we passed her house. She introduced herself, offered us a book she had finished reading that was on its way to the donation center, offered us an anecdote or two as we stood shooing bugs away. Offered pats on the head to one dog while trying to offer reassurance to the other. She asked where we lived. Seemed confused by my description. Brightened and said “Oh….you mean the Hick’s house.” … Continue reading Herbie and Friend

She noticed her shadow for the first time tonight. While looking down, she caught it looking up. Flicked ear met with flicked ear, tail matched swish for swish. Neither one willing to look away first. Each holding their ground, determined to walk away victorious, not realizing one could not outlast the other; unaware they had met their match. Continue reading Shadow Queen

The city came for the small branch a few months after we moved in. It had lazed across the sidewalk, seeking out the sun, for decades I am sure. It had trained those who crossed its path to duck; muscle memory causing the motion to become second nature for those who crossed its path regularly. Until one day someone (probably looking at their phone) ran right into the outstretched branch and it put them in their place. The man from the city knocked sheepishly at our door, explained the situation, informed us he would have to cut the branch back, … Continue reading Small Acts of Defiance

And getting caught in the rain…… I pointed out the black clouds this morning as we headed out for our walk. Waved them off, dismissed them, deemed them too far off. Too far to be a concern, a threat, too far to have any impact on us. And so, we set out full of bravado only to be put in our place at the halfway mark. Just as far forward as doubling back, the sky broke open and put us in our place. We stood dumbfounded in the sudden downpour, shocked we had been wrong, embarrassed to be caught, exposed … Continue reading If You Like Pina Coladas…..

I decided to try something new. Before heading out for a walk this evening, I fired up the old “random word generator” and set off to find something that would represent the word it came up with…..exile. It became a game, challenging me to look closer at things I pass by everyday, to notice details my eye typically glosses over. I found exile on a well worn fence. It came in the form of something sent away. Something that once unfamiliarly free, found itself desperately trying to return to the comfort of captivity. Continue reading Word Search

He photographs as a small blob, but this little froggy considers himself a big deal. Eschewing the tall grass, he navigates the sidewalk, pausing to bask in the fluorescent glow of a nearby streetlight before continuing on; mapping his own course, choosing spotlight over shadow. Continue reading Hop Along

I have to admit…..I have been feeling a bit malaisey lately. The world in general feels very heavy and although I am fairly sheltered in my little bubble, I can’t help but feel the weight of it all pressing down. Sitting on the porch tonight, I glanced behind me and spotted this narwhal, still taped to the window where I hung it months ago for the neighborhood kids to find while out on “safari.” I felt the heaviness lift slightly, and although the kids have long ago lost interest in scanning windows for animals peeking out, I pressed the narwhal … Continue reading Keep Swimming

Sometimes Nature sacrifices part of herself in order to meet downcast eyes, encouraging heads and gazes upward. Continue reading Petals on the Sidewalk