The natural world, life, and dogs.
Not long after I moved back to Idaho in December 2024, a new neighbor briefly introduced herself from her truck when she saw me walking Conall on our road. The next time that neighbor saw me, she stopped to explain that an older couple living nearby had a 27-year-old Arabian stallion in a small barn… Continue reading The Horse: A Lesson on Letting Go
I saw the coolest thing when I stepped outside one recent morning: ten V formations of Canada geese flying north over the valley, each V drafting closely off the one in front of it. All of them honking. I'm guessing there were several hundred of them in the full compliment. Sadly, I didn't have my… Continue reading The Amazing and Relatable Strategy of Canada Geese V Formations
One of the hardest parts of leaving Idaho for Vermont in 2021 was believing I would never again visit any of the cairns I built in the Payette National Forest to memorialize the lives of Maia and Meadow, my two Alaskan Malamutes who helped me explore wild forest places after we moved to Idaho in… Continue reading The Magic Remains
The only constant in life is change. ~Heraclitus I was away from Idaho’s Salmon River Mountains for 3.5 years. I’m so lucky to be back in the place that, as no other, feels like home. Yet as much as I feel I’ve returned to familiar ground, I’m continually surprised by how much has changed in… Continue reading Changes
I got a decent night’s sleep last night (rare lately because of nerve pain in my left leg), Conall ate his breakfast (also rare lately due to his aging), and the morning was cool and gorgeous, so off he, Chann, and I went for a walk on a nearby country road in the valley. As… Continue reading My Rookie Mistake
My last post mentioned feeling lost for blogging words of late. Soon after, wanting to post something but not sure what I write, I came to understand part of my writing block was that so much had happened over the past year. Too much, it sometimes seemed. I needed to relay the bigger events and… Continue reading Life’s Wild Ride
Through the month of September, I'm running a "giveaway" on Goodreads, offering a free copy of the ebook version to one hundred readers, chosen by lottery at the end of the sign-up period (Sept 30). Sorry, but per Goodreads, the offer is valid for US customers only. (Not my choice!) I hope you'll take advantage… Continue reading Read Wild Running for Free!
Twice this month, while walking with my dogs through the woods on the neighbors' acreage, we heard wildlife warning calls: Stay away! In both instances, the calls came from a few yards off the path, well into the trees. I couldn't see the animal issuing the call, but the first one I recognized, a call… Continue reading Wildlife Warning Calls
Finn barks when asking to come inside. Conall carefully clicks a toenail on the glass. That fundamental characteristic of Alaskan Malamutes – their quietness – is why I love them. They are sensitive to noise. They're keen listeners, hearing and interpreting the most subtle sounds. I’ve learned to listen through them, paying attention when they… Continue reading Do Nothing but Listen
Conall and I recently explored a bit of nearby Groton State Forest. At more than 26,000 acres, this forest is the second largest contiguous land holding of the State of Vermont. Conall strikes a pose as we head up the trail. The terrain is rolling, forested, and contains several bodies of water: Lake Groton (422… Continue reading Peacham Bog
Wild Sensibility 