Author: authorpolk

I live in the suburbs of Washington, DC with my dog, husband, and two sons. I teach environmental education and am a librarian. I also write children's books and hope to be published one day. In the meantime, I blog about the crazy things my dog Pettigrew does.

Marking the One-Year Anniversary of Pettigrew’s Death

It’s been a year since our beloved Pettigrew died. He was a mutt by parentage, but a prince in bearing and personality. After an unfortunate encounter with a mail truck, he survived for a week, even rallied, before succumbing to his injuries. At the time of his death, I had been blogging regularly for years, … Continue reading Marking the One-Year Anniversary of Pettigrew’s Death →

The Perils of a Bucket List

Spoiler alert: this is not a typical post. It deals with some challenging and sad or disturbing topics. I don’t blame you if you don’t want to read on. Writing blogs is a way for me to process challenging experiences and emotions. And so, I wrote this one. I never thought about Pettigrew’s bucket list, … Continue reading The Perils of a Bucket List →

In My Own Voice #42: Tips from an Elder Statesman

This is a dog-to-dog blog. It’s not something I’d like the Humans to read. So please, don’t share it. Just a few life lessons from yours truly, who’s been around the block and then some. As a “rescue” who did the free-range thing in West Virginia before settling down with my forever family, I’ve picked … Continue reading In My Own Voice #42: Tips from an Elder Statesman →

Pettigrew’s Reducing Regime

For those of you who have been following this blog, you know that our elderly dog has lately been off his food. This is complicated by the fact that he has an Incredibly delicate constitution so tempting him with substitutions from his typical diet is fraught. We’ve been warming his food to heighten its aromas. … Continue reading Pettigrew’s Reducing Regime →

In My Own Voice #41: I Am Not a Tool For Your Procrastination

The Woman sometimes has trouble settling down at her desk. I sense her agitation. Up and down the steps she pounds carrying baskets full of clothes. Down she stomps with the clothes smelling of my family. A short time later she repeats her march carrying back up the stairs clothes wiped of all good scents. … Continue reading In My Own Voice #41: I Am Not a Tool For Your Procrastination →

Tumbling Down the COVID Hole

Like Alice in Wonderland who found herself in a topsy-turvy world when she followed the rabbit down a hole, my family was turned upside down a few weeks ago when first one, and then another came down with COVID. In educational circles there’s a concept called windows and mirrors. Loosely defined it refers to how … Continue reading Tumbling Down the COVID Hole →

In My Own Voice # 40: Holiday Love

This time of year, the house fills with delicious smells and I wait, expectantly, patiently, hopefully on the couch until the scrape of the knife against the sharpener. Then and only then is it time to move to the kitchen. Pettigrew gets a tidbit. Sometimes, it's clearly not accidental at all! My position? Seated. Front … Continue reading In My Own Voice # 40: Holiday Love →

Preconceived Ideas

For reasons I don’t fully understand, earlier this fall I became obsessed with The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, by Stephen Covey. I read it numerous times, taking different lessons from it. What do you see? An old woman? A young woman? Both? In one segment, Covey writes about how sharing a simplified drawing … Continue reading Preconceived Ideas →

Taking a Tumble Off My Pedestal

A few weeks ago I left work early, sick and exhausted. At home, I crawled straight into bed.  At some point in the afternoon, Pettigrew came up to join me, perhaps after I didn’t show up to take him for his afternoon walk and he had to accept my son as a substitute walker. His … Continue reading Taking a Tumble Off My Pedestal →

Left Out in the Cold

Pettigrew and my husband have their own love language.  Peanut butter is their conversational lubricant of choice. The other day while I was enjoying a mug of green tea for my afternoon pick-me-up, my husband wandered into the kitchen for a snack. On his heels came Pettigrew. I invited Pettigrew over for some rubs, but his … Continue reading Left Out in the Cold →