A Thanksgiving Cautionary Tale The NYTimes captured it best when Food Writer Andy Baraghani wrote of the “hopeful, organized, slightly naïve” feeling when you are planning for Thanksgiving, but it’s so far away that anything, and, unfortunately, everything seems possible. In my family, I host Thanksgiving and everyone brings food. In fact, so much of … Continue reading Number 9: Pinecone Tablescape
Category: life
Buddy by Default
Can you be someone’s buddy if you haven’t agreed, don’t know, and aren’t changing your behavior from what you’d normally do? These are the kinds of questions I ponder while Zadie, my friend’s dog, makes her home-away-from-home with us while her family’s away for several weeks and one of my kids is pet sitting. There … Continue reading Buddy by Default
Dogbnb
My husband used to periodically float the idea that we would manage some rental properties. It was something his parents do with great success. My answer was always an empathic No. I can barely, just barely, tolerate keeping our home in working order. The idea of increasing the amount of time I would have to … Continue reading Dogbnb
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
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
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
It’s Too Quiet to Sleep
Contrary to popular belief, quiet is not always conducive to sleep. When my parents were first married, my mother got in the habit of falling asleep to the sound of the tv turned low whenever my dad was working late. It kept her company in the empty apartment. Pettigrew curled up on his bed that … Continue reading It’s Too Quiet to Sleep
In My Own Voice #39: I’ve Got My Eyes on You
I’m not one those dogs that feels a compulsion to herd people, constantly circling and nudging legs to keep my group together. But I do like to have a big-picture sense of where everyone is. My family is challenging me right now and I don’t appreciate it. For example, the youngest one disappeared. Poof. One … Continue reading In My Own Voice #39: I’ve Got My Eyes on You
Forbidden Fruit Tempts Every Time
Why is it that when something is off limits it is so alluring? My younger son has left to start his freshman year at college. He is the only one in the family for whom Pettigrew reliably sits when asked. Their relationship is clear and Pettigrew acknowledges that he is not the alpha. But now, … Continue reading Forbidden Fruit Tempts Every Time
Ruth Polk 