Category Archives: Animal Stories

Early May on The Urban Porch ™

Posted on May 11, 2023 by daeja's view

It’s kind of nice to roll out of bed and sit out on the porch in the early morning, cup of coffee in hand, watching the neighborhood come awake. You would think with all the rain, sun and early blooming … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Daeja's Garden, Gardening, nature, Perspective, Spring, The Urban Porch ™, Uncategorized, Views From he Urban Porch ™, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

On a Stretch of Rainy Days

Posted on May 3, 2023 by daeja's view

Shortly before a recent stretch of rain drove the focus on projects and diversions inside the house, I managed to get out with a friend for a bit of meandering through the woods and fields. There was a portion of … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, baking, Birds, Cooking, Food, nature, Spring, The Urban Porch ™, treasures, treasures, Uncategorized, Weather, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What Tears Are These?

Posted on February 19, 2023 by daeja's view

Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,Tears from the depth of some divine despairRise in the heart, and gather to the eyes – Alfred Lord Tennyson When is the last time you cried? And why? Recently – with … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Animal Stories, Dogs, grief, Perspective | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Random Goings-on While the Leaves Were Turning

Posted on October 31, 2022 by daeja's view

I vacillate between the excitement of the seasonal splendor and the worries or annoyances regarding larger and smaller events surrounding life these days. The blog postings here tend to go in erratic cycles. I might not post for months and … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Autumn, Dogs, Perspective, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Transitions

Posted on October 16, 2022 by daeja's view

The coloring of Autumn is building to all its glory, and I walk around sighing with mouth agape. But I will share all of that at a later time. Right now the large and small creatures are in motion. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Autumn, Perspective, treasures, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ursa

Posted on September 22, 2022 by daeja's view

With such a cool, breezy morning ahead, it seemed the perfect day to take a walk in the woods. I decided to hop in the car and drive to the mountain trail behind a friend’s house to herald in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Autumn, nature, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Readying

Posted on September 15, 2022 by daeja's view

Life cycles into the next phase, as we push into early Autumn. The heat has broken and gifted us with cooler nights. Afternoon light is becoming more honeyed and the billowing cumulus of August have given way to the shifting … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Autumn, nature, Perspective, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Things That Land In Your Hair

Posted on July 30, 2022 by daeja's view

For most of my life my very curly, somewhat long hair has been a catch-all for things that land, fly or fall into it. Mosquitos. Dragonflies. A wasp. A cicada. Moths and butterflies. Pieces of leaves, seeds, wisps of dandelion. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, summer, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Wildlife On and About the Urban Porch

Posted on June 2, 2022 by daeja's view

This is a small, urban neighborhood of old houses. We get some significant vehicle and pedestrian traffic during the day. The city is bordered by areas of woods, streams and trails. Because of this, we occasionally will find a deer … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Spring, summer, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mantis

Posted on April 22, 2022 by daeja's view

Last fall my three-year-old granddaughter became fascinated with a dead praying mantis she found in my driveway. That was the second one I had seen around the yard that week, after not seeing any. A few days later I discovered … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Gardening, Spring, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wow! | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Crow Tree

Posted on April 9, 2022 by daeja's view

There are a couple of very old, unhealthy, towering maples and oaks on the corner that probably aren’t going to last much longer. While walking beneath them with the dog, I noticed some rotten limbs had recently fallen and crashed … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Autumn, Birds, summer, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Passing of the Buck

Posted on October 5, 2020 by daeja's view

I went out to investigate why a police car was parked in front of my driveway on this sunny Saturday afternoon, officers standing there pointing towards the backyard. Years ago there had been a foot chase culminating in a suspect … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, Coping, grief, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Little Bird

Posted on July 18, 2019 by daeja's view

Following a quick but torrential downpour and some gusty winds, the S.O. discovered a fledgling robin scooting around between the dying iris foliage in our front yard. The linden tree immediately nearby is the most likely place it came from, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Birds, Coping, Daeja's Garden, grief, Regrets, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Crayfish/Karma

Posted on November 13, 2018 by daeja's view

When my grandson’s elementary school class sent home a notice saying they have eleven crayfish that are coming up for adoption at the completion of their science unit, my daughter immediately said “NO WAY” and expressed how she is still … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, kids, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pushing the Feline Envelope

Posted on May 8, 2017 by daeja's view

There will be some people who have serious disagreements with this post.  But I’ve kind of reached a bit of saturation on the subject and feel the need say something. If you can come up with a better solution, I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, Birds, Rant, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Power of Skunk

Posted on March 5, 2015 by daeja's view

Skunk wafting on the wind is a scent I actually enjoy.  There has been an especially strong aroma lingering around the back of the house for the last couple of weeks.  Honestly, at first I thought either someone spilled a … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Coping, Uncategorized, Weather, Wildlife, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Stuff of Nightmares

Posted on February 13, 2015 by daeja's view

Being sort of a nerd when it comes to science, botany, animals and insects, it has been a regular practice to study, scrutinize and read up on many of the critters, diseases, and earthly creations that I stumble upon.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, Coping, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Rescue

Posted on August 13, 2014 by daeja's view

Some people have issues with The Empty Nest after their children grow up and move away from home.  For me this has not been much of a problem.  The teenage years of my youngest were so dramatic disruptive emotional  intense … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Animal Stories, Dogs, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Other Car

Posted on July 24, 2013 by daeja's view

Once we had children, I became the driver of the newer and larger car, the “safer” car, as I was the one shuttling the precious cargo around. So by default, my Then Husband, who I will call “Howie” for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, Humor, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Flamingos Spotted in the Northeast!

Posted on June 22, 2013 by daeja's view
Posted in Animal Stories, Birds, Humor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Heads Up

Posted on May 28, 2013 by daeja's view

The light fixture that hangs in the front porch over the door is old and has one of the glass panels missing.  There are three sockets, one of which is empty and the other two which hold energy-saving bulbs.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Birds, Spring, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Stealth

Posted on May 2, 2013 by daeja's view

When it came to a choice of animal companions, my family always fell into the “dog people” category. But there hasn’t been a dog in my life for a very long time.  There are a number of reasons for that, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Dogs, Friends, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Saluki in the Floor

Posted on January 30, 2012 by daeja's view

The phone call from the Middle East at six in the morning came as sort of a surprise. “Your puppy was just born, come and get her” prefaced the details of an invitation to leave the United States and reunite … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Friends, Regrets, Uncategorized, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Attraction

Posted on January 28, 2012 by daeja's view

Not quite past January and it has been so weirdly warm, an encouragement to lean so far towards the specter of Spring that I am ready to fall over.  While going through my files to locate a photo that might … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Photography, Spring, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Best Snake Story

Posted on January 15, 2012 by daeja's view

It appears I am building an unintended repertoire of Close Encounters With Wildlife stories.  I have been asked by someone to share “the one about the snake”, and so I give it to you here.  This particular vignette occurred in … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, Humor, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Suicide Squirrel

Posted on May 26, 2011 by daeja's view

Driving down the shade-dappled road with the sun sparkling through the leaves on a brilliant morning, singing with the radio, and out of the corner of my eye I saw it coming.  It ran in front of the car and suddenly froze in … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Little Brown Bat

Posted on January 20, 2011 by daeja's view

A friend just emailed me about finding a bat in her house, which set me off on a discourse about my bat-in-the-house experiences, so I figured I would write it out here. I have lived in about two dozen places … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Humor, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 3 Comments