Once upon a time I was absent on my blog because I spent the month of November participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I wrote more than 50,000 words, most of the first draft of a young adult novel, in 28 days. It was an exercise in time management, determination, shutting up the innerContinue reading “NaNoWriMo Break”

American scarecrows are adorable. These days they seem to be used for decorative purposes in the fall, but I assume they once functioned to scare actual crows (and other critters). Do they still? If so, acting as stand-ins when farmers are absent, scarecrows are literally and metaphorically the middlemen when it comes to human-crow interactions. ThisContinue reading “Thanksgiving Scaremonkeys”

It’s been autumn for weeks now. I’m watching the leaves finally blow from the branches and fall to the ground, and I feel a sense of panic. The reds, yellows, oranges, and golds comfort me. The sudden suggestion of bare winter branches makes me feel cold, uneasy, and exposed. To what? I suppose the changingContinue reading “The Leaves Must Blow”

On this particularly stressful election day, I find myself thinking about small, everyday acts of resistance. Here is a silly, lighthearted example for a dreary day. I have a growing collection of bonsai trees. Mostly tiny ones that I proudly managed to successfully plant myself. I have one ficus that is…maybe almost ten years oldContinue reading “Bonsai Liberation”

I just finished the book Endangered by Eliot Schrefer. I have become recently aware of his work and inspired by the way he challenges young adult readers to think differently about their relationships with nonhuman animals, especially other primates. (The book was promptly added to my list of recommendations for children’s books about human relationships withContinue reading “Mourning on the Metro”

I love West Virginia. It is so near and deer (pun intended) to my heart. To me, West Virginia is family history, natural beauty, and joyful childhood memories. A couple of weeks ago I woke up to the most delightfully sunny, crisp, cool, fall day. And my impulse was to go to West Virginia. IContinue reading “Almost Heaven”

Meet Drip. This is the character I created to teach my preschool class about conserving water. Drip is made from felt and stitched onto an embroidery hoop. She was used to inspire class discussions on topics such as: 1) where water comes from, 2) how water helps us stay hydrated, clean, and safe from harmful germs,Continue reading “How I Taught 3-Year-Olds to Conserve Natural Resources”

This title is inspired by a creepy, groovy pop-up book I had as a kid. I think it was an illustrated version of the poem ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter‘ by Lewis Carroll. I remember only two things about the book- the walrus on the cover who wore weird, John Lennon-y sunglasses and this line:Continue reading ““The time has come” the guilty carnivore said…”

Here are some photos, taken by my talented fiancé, from a recent trip to Ecuador. We visited the cloud forests in and around Mindo, a charming town in a valley west of Quito. I may say more about this trip with words later, but for now…PICTURES! (Oooh, ahhh!)   If you can identify any ofContinue reading “Cloud Forests & Kinkajous”

This blog post was going to be titled ‘The Best Birthday Present Ever’ but I got engaged this morning, (YAY!) so this is now a story of the second best birthday present ever…   A woman walks out of a forest she knows well. An animal she has heard about, but never seen, is lounging inContinue reading “The Second Best Birthday Present Ever”

Here is a list of books, for adults, about human relationships with animals and/or nature that I have read and enjoyed. The books are in no particular order. There is a mix of scholarly stuff and popular stuff. I will add to the list as I continue to read. Feel free to suggest books inContinue reading “Recommended Books about Relationships with Animals/Nature”

I am walking along, listening to a podcast. I look down and encounter a fellow animal. Oh no, look at that worm. It is wriggling…writhing…on the sun-bathed sidewalk. Should I move it? You smug Homo sapiens, thinking you know what’s best for nature. What if a certain number of worms are supposed to fry on the sidewalk? WhatContinue reading “Inner Worm Monologue”