Some of you may know this about me, but I love fall and I hate ticks. Unfortunately, fall brings a whole new vigor to ticks. I can balance these two things out because I love being in nature without sweating and bugs that much. However, I am very vigilant about preventing ticks on my dogs an…
One of the pleasures of working in a library is digging out older titles … and you don’t have to be in line for them as you often do for the latest bestsellers. Plus, in the case of series, you’re not on the hook while waiting for the author to get the next book out. Not everything holds up …
I have to admit that I don’t enjoy overly spicy food. I think there’s an expectation when you grow a vegetable garden and like to cook that you need to get into hot pepper culture. But generally, jalapenos or chipotles are as hot as I go these days. When I want some spice, jalapenos are my g…
I think the most common question I’m getting lately is about itching dogs, which typically takes the form of licking. I understand because I am starting to get sneezy in the morning. Of course in the time of COVID that induces a little bit of panic. However, the same thing is happening to me…
It may be fleeting, but we have had a few mornings where I threw on my sweatshirt and pulled out my fleece slippers. Wood is getting stacked, my horses are getting fuzzy and I joyfully do.
Cats in general come into the vet less than dogs. I think there are several factors behind this. First, very few cats respond well to “do you want to go for a ride?” They do not want to go for a ride, they don’t want to get in the carrier, they don’t want to leave that delicious sunspot that…
I often forget that peaches grow as far north as they do. I think of them as a fruit belonging more to Georgia than Vermont. But the majority of the country’s peaches come from California, not Georgia and definitely not Vermont. Nevertheless, they can grow well here and we picked a satisfyin…
Work from home and partial schooling from home is here semi-permanently for many people, which gives families extra time at home together. While spending so much time together, you may be realizing how much a pet is missing, or how much a fun break would help everyone. We are seeing lots of …
When I recommend acupuncture to people, they often look at me, a little funny. We love to buy organic foods, we aim for all-natural pet products. In fact, clients often put off starting medications for non-life-threatening issues. Holistic medicine is the perfect way to bridge this gap. Whil…
Some authors are so well-known for a given character, series, or individual book that it’s easy to miss their other works. Here are four books worth looking up by writers much better known for other titles.
One of the least used herbs residing in my garden is oregano. For years it has thrived behind the shed, returning each summer more vigorous than ever. On one hand, I don’t feel that bad about neglecting it, seeing as we started the plant from seed years ago and it doesn’t require much in ter…
Today I am going to start with a story. One of my dogs had been acting a little off lately, so I brought him to work to look at. (I will come back to this story in an article soon for different reasons.) This dog can’t stay at home alone, so he often comes to work with me. He hung out happil…
Weston Playhouse will begin the public part of its Reimagined Season 2020 next week, after canceling its summer season in April because of COVID-19.
Many people have had more time out with their dogs this Spring. This is great because quality time counts no matter why. However, it brings two things up. First, we notice a little bad manners more. Second, now that we are returning to work/school/play our dogs have gone from lots of attenti…
If there is one thing I hate its change. As you can imagine, I’ve been having to adjust on the fly a lot lately. As you can also imagine, I’m not loving it. However, I have the benefit of being able to conceptualize change. Our pets don’t have this luxury. This makes some things easier and s…
Sicily was one of the stops on the Mediterranean cruise planned for our upcoming honeymoon. At this point, there is no chance we’re going to make it there this fall, and honestly, who knows when we will. Yet Sicily was one of the destinations I was most excited to visit.
Welcome back!
Well, I feel like I have been gone from writing forever. I’m sure that everyone missed me talking about weight for the summer and ticks, but the good news is that I have been storing up a lot of thoughts and tips to share with everyone.
Let’s face it, most of our travel plans for the near future are not happening. Instead, we are spending more time closer to home than usual. At least we should be. Sadly, we are missing out on all kinds of experiences in the process. Take my honeymoon plans to the Mediterranean, for instance…
Social Distance Opera is bringing together singers and pianists from throughout the world to perform full operas with piano accompaniment – from home.
At the end of 2020-21 season, Jaime Laredo will step down as music director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra after 20 years at the helm. And in January, when the search for his replacement was just under way, Ben Cadwallader, the VSO’s executive director, resigned to take the same job with …
Dorset Theatre Festival may well be the state’s most innovative professional theater company and — the COVID-19 crisis willing — it will only enlarge upon its reputation this coming summer.
I know that COVID-19 is everywhere you turn, and everything you read. If we address pet care seriously on the front end we might reduce the time and impact in the long run. We are currently doing curbside service so that people aren’t coming into our building. However, depending on how thing…
I often wait on this article, but have had many muddy, sunny dog walks by now. The days are longer, the sun is brighter and the rain is happening. Sure, we might get more snow, but I think it’s time to talk spring!
The purpose of reading is to receive some type of emotional response or gratification. Whether it be joy, pain, amusement, or even anger, the idea of the writer is to convey emotion on paper for the experience and enjoyment of the reader. Some of the most powerful ways to reach a reader and …
With all that’s going on right now, it can seem difficult to spend much time thinking about cooking. I know I’ve kept busy by checking the news and social media, wondering if I need to clean more and canceling every social interaction for the foreseeable future.
I have been lucky enough to be seeing a lot of little adorable smoosh-faced puppies lately, which led me to think about some cosmetic surgery. Not for me, I’m a lost cause! For the dogs. Did you know that vets do “cosmetic” surgery on pets? These don’t involve tummy tucks or enhancing any bo…
Stouts are my favorite kind of beer. They range from dark brown to black in color and typically taste of roasted grains, coffee and chocolate. They have a complex and intriguing flavor that is perfect for winter and pairing with warm, deep-flavored dishes.
Your dog vomits all night, your cat is hobbling on three legs — we know your call will be to the vet. But what about when that pesky annual exam is due and they are healthy? Clients bring their pets in when they are sick, hurt or need vaccines. While almost all veterinarians send out reminde…
Novels in series are here to stay; it is after all much easier for a publisher to sell one novelist three (or more) times to a growing audience than to sell three complete unknowns. This is particularly true in genre fiction (detective, fantasy, sci-fi, romance). And in a lot of cases, an au…
So, we can’t escape the month of hearts without talking about heart disease. We all want and hope for healthy hearts in our pets. They give their hearts to us fully and quickly, and it is our job to take care of them. The problem with heart disease in our animals is that it often goes undete…
Somehow I let Valentine’s Day pass without talking about heartworms! This was a big lapse on my part that I will try to make up for now. Those of you who are less veterinary-inclined probably don’t automatically associate the two as I do, but you still have to come on this journey with me! H…
We all have that one thing we collect. Maybe it’s coffee mugs with witty quotes on them, ticket stubs from shows we’ve been to, or houseplants that do nothing but wither and die. Sometimes we’re not even sure how we ended up with a collection, as these things have a way of just appearing. Yo…
I walk my dog outside most days, but when it is very cold she cannot tolerate it well. What other types of things can I do for exercise?
In honor of St. Valentine, I wanted to do a column on romances. Which would be easier if I read more of them, honestly. And I did a study of them for my library science degree but didn’t find a bunch I could recommend. Fortunately, there’s often a great romance hiding inside the covers of an…
Although the weather doesn’t agree, spring is in the air. I heard bird calls again when I was out last week! As days get (slightly) longer and (slightly) warmer, we start to think of spring. While we often spread vaccines out over the year, spring means pet vaccines to most people. It also m…
It’s not easy to get excited about parsnips. They look like a neglected sibling of the carrot. I like most vegetables, but I’ve been a bit indifferent to parsnips. I’ve never had luck growing them in the garden and they just haven’t popped up on my radar often. They’re just not as common.
Anyone who has owned pets knows that they can convey a lot with their eyes. I can tell if my dog is worried, excited or happy by looking at her eyes. More often we can tell if they are just so, so hungry for our steak or other things. Eyes are very important to our pets, but often unless the…
Some nights it feels like such a hassle to get dinner made at a reasonable time. The only way I seem able to make it happen is by sticking with a meal plan and a schedule. But even that’s not foolproof, as it’s so easy to get delayed with something at work, finding myself having to make an u…
Although he was a disciple of the guru of the atonal, Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg’s 1935 Violin Concerto is full of deeply beautiful and haunting Romanticism.
We are right on the brink of kitten season! I love kittens for about a thousand reasons. They’re adorable, feisty, zoom around the house, climb things and make me laugh. Do you know who doesn’t laugh at these shenanigans? Existing older cats. They often view these kittens as troublesome room…
This column tends toward older titles for a variety of reasons — primarily, I like digging through the stacks at the library for hidden gems instead of competing with regular borrowers for hot new books.
Jukebox isn’t quite the Vermont Symphony Orchestra in miniature. Now in its fourth season, this unique program brings audiences into intimate contact with music and musicians, inviting new listeners and veterans to share the joy of concert music.
While the holidays may have come and gone, there’s a long, cold winter ahead, and no reason why we shouldn’t still enjoy ourselves. Yeah, we should definitely cut back on some of the overindulgences. But there are plenty of reasons to celebrate — birthdays, snow days, Fridays. Whatever the r…
My vet hasn’t mentioned that my dog needs to lose weight, but I think she does. How do I know?
No surprise, we’re going to deep dive into resolutions this week. Truth be told, I loved 2019. I’m not trying to jet off and leave it in the past as with some other years here and there. Second truth? I don’t love resolutions. I feel like it puts a lot of pressure on us for a while, then the…
I broke a record with the amount of canning I accomplished this past year. I tackled everything from plum caramel sauce and zesty zucchini relish to sour cherry preserves and roasted lime salsa. Any day now, the shelves of my cabinet that holds both my canning jars and cookbook collection, w…
I am throwing out articles about euthanasia, and now pain in December? What kind of holiday spirit is this? The truth is that talking about pain warms my heart for one reason — I can do a lot to help it. Pain is sorely (see what I did there?) underdiagnosed in our pets because they aren’t wh…
Writing humor is a tricky skill to master. Stand-up comedians get to take the tone of the room. If sophisticated wordplay doesn’t work, they can always try some bathroom humor. With a print title, the author can only put out what they think will make readers laugh. So you might love some tit…
Vermont Actors' Repertory Theatre (ART), the Rutland community theater, is presenting Zoom Play Fests — readings of five to nine short plays in three festivals, in September, November and February.
