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How to Stop Barking Up the Wrong Tree
We’ve all heard, and maybe spoken, the words “you’re barking up the wrong tree.” This idiom carries the meaning of being misguided, on the wrong track, in error. The phrase originated with the description of hunting dogs. Unfortunately, not all the canines in our neighborhood have read about this. Take Sampson, for instance. A lovable black lab, he usually runs the length of his fenced-in back yard as Gibbs and I walk by. His ferocious bark would be more intimidating if his tail wasn’t wagging 100 miles per hour. But one day, Sampson completely ignored us. With every muscle tensed, he stood at the bottom of a Bradford pear tree,…
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How to Stop Doing Things the Hard Way
Somewhere in my back yard is a tiny bug who needs to know how to stop doing things the hard way. This little green bug caught my attention one rainy day when he found his way inside our house and onto the kitchen faucet. When I moved in for a closer look, I realized he was a shield bug. (I helped both my kids with their elementary school insect projects, so I know things.) Because of his bright green color and tiny size, I classified him as cute and named him Sammy. But, cute or not, I refused to let him live in my kitchen. Not wanting to smush Sammy,…
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Light for My Path
Do you ever stumble around your house in the dark? I do this when my husband is asleep and I need to adjust the thermostat. Not really the greatest idea, because sometimes I press the A/C when I intend to turn on the heat. Makes for a chilly start the next morning. Outside, though, I always have light for my path, especially since I attended a class on wildlife in our community. Deer, snakes, and possums occasionally trek through our yard. Sightings of a bear or fox have also circulated through the neighborhood. But I was surprised to learn bobcats and coyotes live in our area. If I’m late taking…






