There is something strange that comes over you when you become a mother. I don't limit myself to the idea of giving birth as the only way to inherit the title- as we all know, being a parent comes in many forms. The act of accepting responsibility for another living being sets upon your shoulders a weight that, despite its heaviness, you could no more bear to shrug off than your own skin. We've all heard and seen remarkable stories of mothers in nature doing tremendous things in defense of ... Read more »
birds
Wordless Wednesday: Housemates
Well, I think I've established that I am incapable of doing a Wordless Wednesday without words. Can I just call it Wordy Wednesday and be done with it? Our home is at an age where everything is falling apart at regular intervals. Some pipe or another bursts in a 12 month cycle. Last year's was one in the slab. This year, the burst pipe was in a less critical area but the paint is looking tatty aand in need of some touchups. While we're at it, we decided to replace the nasty 80's teal trim ... Read more »
Fun With Google: Doing the Pigeon!
Today, a client called in a panic because her dog ate a bluebird and she was concerned that the dog would get rabies. "Birds don't get rabies," we told her. "Oh," she said. Then, hopefully, "Distemper?" Dogs are, at the end of the day, dogs, and one of the imperatives of dog-dom is eating stuff they're not supposed to, including dead things, things with eyeballs, and entrails. While there are specific instances that cause concern- a dog playing with a dead bat, say, or eating a rat that ... Read more »
Creatures in the Blue Lagoon
In a small lake somewhere close to the Canadian border in the Pacific Northwest, the mallards slumber. Until the loud hairy Goldenbeast arrives, that is. ... Read more »
I want a chicken
You heard me. I totally want a chicken. I blame Dr. Crosby over at AboutVetMed for putting the idea in my head in the first place- I had said something to the effect of, "I don't do birds," and she said, "But what about chickens?" and I had to admit I had never really given the idea much thought because as she correctly surmised, by "birds" I meant "parrots and cockatiels." ... Read more »