No doubt there are lots of dogs out there who love the holidays. New chew toys! Pieces of ham or turkey dropped onto the floor!But I guarantee you that many dogs are not a fan of holidays, especially Christmas. Here are five reasons why:I. The Dreaded Christmas Photograph. Posing for family photographs is about as fun for some dogs as it is for three-year old children. Don't believe me? Check out the photos scattered throughout this post from the commercial photography site, Big Stock.Between the closed mouths, turned heads and whale eyes, it's like a seminar on stress signals in dogs. (For an actual seminar on reading signs of stress in dogs, see my Facebook Live Seminar or the For the Love DVD.)Solution? Lots of treats while taking pictures. Very short photo sessions. Read More

I love the Christmas holidays. However, like many others, I sometimes struggle to avoid them feeling like one long TO DO list from hell, instead of the celebration of love and light that they can be.The trick for me is to intentional every day. What makes me happy? What makes the people and other animals that I love happy? One of the things that makes me happy is giving gifts. I'm sure it's less altruistic than selfish--an excuse to buy cool things without feeling guilty--but it makes me happy.At the same time, I have no interest in spreading around stuff for the sake of stuff, and filling up the earth and water with yet more pollution. It makes me happy to find ways to give gifts in a thoughtful way, and it makes me happy to have a conversation with you all about how to do that Read More

Well Merry Christmas to Jim and me! I just bought a new lens for my SLR camera body (Canon Rebel T4i). It is a Tamron 18-400 mm, and replaces my very average Promaster lenses that came with the  Canon package when I bought it years ago. The Tamron was on sale at the Camera Company in Madison, WI, and we got a good deal ($90 for my Promasters, free $150 polarizing filter, sale price on lens itself). I've taken some nice photos with the Promaster lenses, but wanted better resolution and faster focus. Of course, what I'd really like is a lens that costs thousands of dollars, but that's just not going to happen. The one we bought is a good value for the money, and until I win the lottery, I'm happy with it. Got great service and advice at the store too--I love buying local and being rewarded Read More

I write almost daily in my journal about what I am grateful for, but I also like to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday by sending my gratitude out into the universe. I've listed just a few of the things that I am grateful for below. Please add your own list to mine; I will read them from top to bottom every single day this week. (So if yours is the first comment, I'll read it 7 times.)The big things that I am grateful for:I am alive. I have a home. I am safe. I have food. I have a loving husband and partner. I have a wonderful network of friends and family. I live in a beautiful part of the world. I have three dogs, two cats and a flock of sheep who bring me joy and happiness every day. I am relatively healthy for just turning 70, in spite of the fact that my face is drooping off Read More

Jim and I were born on the same day of the same year. (Honest. Our marriage license application caused all kinds of trouble because they were sure we had made a mistake.)We celebrated our 70th birthday last week--feels like a big one. We are so lucky to be still here, and still relatively healthy. Lucky, lucky us. And lucky, lucky me to have found Jim.Love you, babe. Best thing that ever happened to me. Sorry for the fuzzy photo, was very dark in the restaurant. (But fuzzy might be a good thing really. . . Sort of like vaseline on the lens?) Read More