One of my fondest memories is visiting the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco with my parents and brother. First stop inside the neoclassic Victorian building was at the open-air alligator pit where people tossed pennies on the sleeping giants for good luck. Surrounding the alligator swamp were glass-covered cabinets and drawers filled with …
On a long ride around Happy Valley Road, my friend and I decided to pause from peddling in the hot summer sun and explore a creek a few miles from home. I’ve always loved creeks, the sound of water pouring over shiny rocks which always look jeweled when wet. I love the branches of trees …
When I was a child spending part of the summer with my Grandma Wulff in Livingstone, my brother and cousins organized a “snipe” hunt. I didn’t know what a snipe was and they made it sound like some mythical beast that roamed the almond orchard at night. Only at night, mind you, only leaving some …
They say that people often pick a dog breed that looks like them. Scientific research claims so, though I have a hard time believing it. I’ve seen people with French bulldogs, and they don’t look anything like them. Thankfully. Rick had a much-loved dachshund named Bonzo Von Silverquel, (yes, I’m serious!) nicknamed “Beau”. Beau was …
I just finished reading a wonderful manuscript about whether animals are in heaven, which reminded me of pets I have loved over the years. The first dog of my memory was Dusty, a German Shepherd. She lived heart-leashed to my brother (and sometimes to me). My brother loved to explore the neighborhood. One day he …
Christmas has been different for the last two years. We spent the first alone and the second with one of our adult children and his family, two others having moved across the country. Where once people crossed a continent to get to the “Eureka!” state, many now are leaving for better opportunities and lower cost …
Each year, over the last ten, I’ve prayed for words on which to meditate. This year Psalm 77:11 stood out. “I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; surely I will remember Thy wonders of old. I will meditate on all Thy work, and muse on Thy deeds.” The word “remember” and its variations is …
Do you ever feel that you have nothing to offer God, that He can’t use you? If so, take a look at this list written by “anonymous” that I tucked in my quote collection. These are all people God used in mighty ways: Noah planted a vineyard and got drunk from the wine Abraham lied …
Bald eagles have been on my mind lately. They are magnificent creatures with many admirable traits. Eagles wait until they are between four and five years old before seeking a mate. In areas where there are more eagles, they wait up to seven years of age to seek a mate. When they find one, they …
What’s Mine is Yours and Yours is Mine I’ve heard and read about the “new” trend of couples who keep their individual earnings separate. In my opinion, money can be all about control, and when you start off a marriage keeping things separate (“What’s mine is mine!”), the “togetherness” of a relationship is already in …