Animals, Beauty, Farming, Pets and Livestock, Rural Living

And Now For Something Completely Different: Chicken Clucker Edition

So. I’ve about wrapped up, absent a bit of trim and the installation of an outdoor-accessible nest box–not an immediate priority because the elderly ladies involved rarely lay eggs anymore–the construction of my assisted-living chicken coop for the geezers.  It’s going to have to stay in the driveway for the winter, but it is on… Continue reading And Now For Something Completely Different: Chicken Clucker Edition

Animals, Ave Atque Vale, Beauty, Friendship, Literature, Plain Speaking, Poetry

“Seeing God in a Cat”

One of the most delightful parts of my weekend is opening my email (yes, really, I know how sad that sounds) on Sunday sometime and discovering Douglas Murray’s latest “Things Worth Remembering” installment for The Free Press.  I’m a basic (paid) subscriber to the site, so I get all the links and can read the… Continue reading “Seeing God in a Cat”

Animals, Farming, Healthcare, Rural Living

Changing My Life, One Book at a Time–Happy Birthday, James Herriot!

October 3, 2023 is the 107th anniversary of the birth of James Alfred Wight, better known to the world as James Herriot, the author of upwards of a dozen beloved books about his Yorkshire veterinary practice from the 1930s onwards, and one of the three most influential authors of my book-filled youth.  (The others were… Continue reading Changing My Life, One Book at a Time–Happy Birthday, James Herriot!

Animals, Love, Pets and Livestock

Happy National Holistic Pet Day!

I have no bloody idea what "National Holistic Pet Day" is.  Wait one, while I investigate. Oh, here: [National] Holistic Pet Day was set up to try and bring more publicity to the idea that holistic treatments, where a pet’s lifestyle, diet and environment are fully considered, are more beneficial for their temporary health and… Continue reading Happy National Holistic Pet Day!

Animals, Beauty, Farming, Pets and Livestock

Adventures in Birding

Cross-posted from Ricochet.com, yesterday, August 19, 2023: Lo, these many years ago, those of us in the early days of the personal computer industry, we who depended on the success of the technology-in-its-infancy for our livelihoods, lusted after something we dubbed “the killer app.”  It had nothing to do with actual violence; we longed only for… Continue reading Adventures in Birding

Animals, Britishness, Culture, History, Military, Pets and Livestock, War

The Lady With the–Cats?

If Florence Nightingale were still alive, she’d have been 203 years old in 2023. She was born on May 12th, 1820, just a few short months after Mad King George (of American Revolution fame) breathed his last. By the time she died, 113 years ago this week, on August 13, 1910, George V (the current… Continue reading The Lady With the–Cats?

Animals, Farming, Healthcare, Pets and Livestock, Rural Living

Ruminations on the High Cost of Healthcare, and How to Bring it Down–2023

It's been almost exactly eight years since I published a version of the post below on Ricochet.  (Time really does fly when you're having fun.) I was reminded of it this week, when I had a rare encounter with health care of the human sort myself. On Monday night (it's now Saturday), I did my… Continue reading Ruminations on the High Cost of Healthcare, and How to Bring it Down–2023

Animals, Farming, Pets and Livestock, Rural Living

Moving On. You May Kiss the Bride!

I've known for many years now that there may come a time in my life when it's time to let go. And at this point--when it comes to the edge of my 79th year on this planet--I might be ready: Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower;… Continue reading Moving On. You May Kiss the Bride!