Canning marinara sauce with tomatoes from my Uncle Angelo’s fields was a major event for my family; my mother and aunts joined my grandmother Ida in her basement to produce the best sauce in the world. The aroma wafting around the house and yard for an entire long weekend made me …
Continue reading "Tomatoes, Calves, and How I Found the Vegan Diet"
What is the most annoying excuse you’ve been handed from somebody who refuses to spay or neuter their cat? Is it “Oh, I know I can find homes for all the kittens” or perhaps “My kids need to see the miracle of birth”? Is it “I can’t afford it” (from a person who buys …
Continue reading "Excuses, Laws, and Homeless Cats"
Whether you are new to birdwatching or a veteran field observer, let’s focus (pun intended) on some simple tips that will help people identify the birds they see. I hope those who have struggled to identify that “brown bird on the feeder” will share any insight that …
Continue reading "Who Is That Bird in the Bush? Top Tips for Birding"
We’ve all seen the media reports that driving while speaking on a cell phone is as bad as, or worse than, driving while intoxicated. Evidently, texting is even more dangerous to society. But what about driving without empathy?
I’m not talking about the rude (or harried) person who fails to use the turn signal before suddenly …
Continue reading "Who Doesn’t Brake for Animals?"
I have yet to meet anyone who wants to be kept alive by whatever medical treatment is possible if the end result is months, years, or the remainder of one’s life in a nursing home or institution dependent on assistance with even basic bodily functions. Have you? After my late …
Continue reading "Living Wills: The Same Standard for Shelter Dogs and Cats?"