Karen Shanley - My Life as a Writer, Mom, Dog LoveKaren Shanley - My Life as a Writer, Mom, Dog LoveAuthor, Karen Shanley, shares her quirky and insightful views on life as a writer, mom, and owner of three dogs - one Australian Shepherd, one Border Collie Mix, and one dog in a Maine Coon cat's body. Articles
If I were King, Cops Would Not Be Allowed?
2007-07-24 06:52:00 … to sit in the exact spot where the speed limit drops from 55 mph to 25 mph. This is just a license to pick people off. And an excuse to generate revenue. So let’s just call a spade a spade and institute a “Contribute to the Town, County, State Over and Above Your Taxes” lottery. ... More About: Cops , King , Would , Lowe , Were
Bloggers Acknowledging Other Bloggers
2007-07-23 06:28:00 Nowhere else have I encountered people who take the time to pat each other on the back and say “Good Job!” like bloggers do. That’s because we all realize how much effort it takes to create a blog worth visiting and we understand the value of encouragement. It makes me realize how much nicer a world ... More About: Bloggers , On Writing , Logger , Blogg
Wanderings ? Women in Art
2007-07-21 06:10:00 500 Years of Female Portraits in Western Art morphed into one video. Truly incredible. Women in Art More About: Erin
So True?
2007-07-19 06:06:00 Funny how you hit those patches in life where souls seem to leave the planet in clusters. I’m in the thick of one of those patches with friends and clients. Having lost important loved ones, I know there are no words that bring comfort. So rather than try to speak, I just listen. Listen to the ... More About: True
Five Ways to Set Up Your Blog To Chase Readers Away
2007-07-16 21:15:00 If you’d just spent a good bit of time getting your place spiffed up for company, and you were really looking forward to having them come and visit for awhile, would you then welcome them by piling some of your furniture in front of the door for them to climb over? Surely not. Yet, metaphorically ... More About: Readers , Blog , On Writing , Chase , Away
Dog Lovers and Others
2007-07-16 06:04:00 From the mail bag: Justin writes, I love dogs and live with a partner who doesn’t. She merely tolerates them because she loves me. I’m wondering how you and Andrew work out ways to keep everybody happy. Dear Justin.: I was born with an affinity for dogs, and was permitted to have dogs from an ... More About: Lovers
Wanderings ? Levenger
2007-07-14 06:59:00 Since I was old enough to write, I’ve always had a thing for paper and pens. My favorite catalog for reading and writing supplies is Leven ger. More About: Erin
The Fruits of My Labor
2007-07-12 06:10:00 In varying stages of ripeness… More About: Fruits , Labor
Leaves of Three - Let Them Be
2007-07-10 06:10:00 I thought I was immune, but I guess I’m not… For the first time in decades, I’ve got Poison Ivy. I got it pulling some vines off my trees. My hands are a blistered mess, which makes typing interesting. In others words, this’ll be a short post. Just a quick refresher for those who might ... More About: Nature , Three , Leaves , Aves
There?s a Whole Big World Out There, Kid
2007-07-09 06:00:00 Back when Finn was just a little thing (now he’s almost as big as Graidy), he followed Kiera everywhere and wanted to do everything she did. Including using the dog door. He never quite figured it out and got stuck a couple of times half way in and half way out. Kiera would push him back ... More About: World , There , Whole
Wanderings ? Protect Your Privacy
2007-07-07 06:17:00 Did you know that someone can type your name into an online directory and get your phone number (even if it’s unlisted) and a map that gives exact directions to your house? Privacy is dying a rapid death. But there are a few steps you can take to slow down its demise. Getting educated, while depressing, ... More About: Prot , Riva , Erin
A Garden Journal
2007-07-05 06:09:00 I’ve been keeping a journal of my garden almost since I began. It’s a habit I picked up from the old woman who taught me. She drummed into my head, “Karen, if you want to see if what you’re doing works, you’ve got to keep a record! Without the ability to compare year to year, seed ... More About: Garden , Journal , Arden , Garde
Like Mom, Almost Like Daughter
2007-07-03 06:10:00 Don’t all parents try to pass on their passions to their children? I know I try to at least share with Cait all the activities I love. Of course, the ulterior motive is to see if she’ll pick any of them up as interests, so that we can have things we enjoy doing together. Naturally, some ... More About: Daughter , Like
What I Don?t Subscribe To
2007-07-02 12:10:00 Heather from TopBlog Magazine gave a few of us writers this assignment: …This is your invite to write something for the next issue. The theme is “I don’t subscribe to…” but don’t use that as your title… I scribbled down a few ideas that popped into my head. For my own use, I left the “don’t subscribe ... More About: Subscribe , On Writing , What I Do , Subs , Scribe
Wanderings ? Free Books Online
2007-06-30 06:36:00 Most of these sites require signing up. All are free. Some sites carry eBooks for download. Others, like swap sites, carry hardcover and paperback, and have shipping charges. General sites Floodle Great titles on all kinds of subjects. Fun for browsing. Classic Book Shelf ManyBooks eBooks Bibliomania Fiction and non-fiction books. Word Public ... More About: Free , Online , Line , Wand
Boarding Your Dog: Tips and Warnings
2007-06-28 06:33:00 With summer vacations fast approaching, and having to make a decision on where to kennel my own crew for an upcoming annual family vacation, I’d like to share some tips and warnings on where and how to leave your pets behind. Years back, I started with a highly recommended dog boarding kennel that I will never, ... More About: Tips , Warnings
How to Go On A Walkabout
2007-06-26 06:47:00 Most people know that the expression Go On Walk about comes from the aborigines. But most people don’t know much about the underlying reasons for the practice. When aborigines set off on a Walkabout, they’re taking a spiritual journey to a “Belonging Place” in order to renew their relationship with their Dreaming and the Landscape. I ... More About: Nature
A Piece of My Heart
2007-06-25 06:37:00 Magic has been on my mind a lot recently, as I help a friend who is trying to help her dog with some aggression issues. Fortunately for her and her dog, it’s not a neurological problem, as Magic’s was. With some consistency and strong, clear boundaries, I think they’ll both be fine. Even while I can ... More About: Heart , Piece
Wanderings ? How to Reach a Human
2007-06-23 06:11:00 This Eclectic Life had a very funny post on trying to get past an automated system to reach a human. We’ve all been there. Shelly found this site, Get Human 500 Database, which gives ways to get around these automated systems and move straight to a human voice. More About: Reach , Wand , Erin
What?s to Like and Not Like About Blogging
2007-06-21 07:20:00 My friend, Rory, over at Hamelife tagged me for this meme — 5 things I like about blogging and 3 things I don’t. And how fortunate, because several readers have asked me about the pros and cons of starting their own blog. So I can skip two stones across the pond with one throw. :) 5 ... More About: Blogging , Like , Blogg
Automatic Lixit Dog Waterer
2007-06-20 18:01:00 Having just talked about dogs overheating yesterday, it was serendipitous to find this post over at Dog Gone Blog today. Jenn had asked about solutions to keep her dog from tipping over his water dish outside. Well here it is! Lixit Dog Waterer. I love brilliant, simple solutions. And this is a great one for ... More About: Automatic
How to Tell if Your Dog is Overheating
2007-06-19 07:40:00 I have two hot dogs panting around my desk. They’ve both been outside with me for the last hour trotting beside me while I mulched the lawn. Well, that’s what Kiera was doing. Graidy was mostly chasing birds. I took a look at their tongues, decided it was time to quit, and had them jump ... More About: Eating , Tell , Heating
A Memoir
2007-06-18 06:35:00 Cait’s assignment at school was to “write a memoir;” an essay on something that happened to her that fit the structure of memoir writing. At this stage, her teacher is not as concerned about punctuation as she is with getting the kids excited about writing. This is what Cait wrote: A Memo ir by Caitlin Shanley It was a warm ... More About: Memoir
Wanderings ? Make Your Own Kaleidoscope
2007-06-16 07:29:00 This website lets you draw your own kaleidoscope. It’s easy to use and great for kids on a rainy day. More About: Make , Wand , Kaleidoscope , Kale , Erin
All God?s Creatures
2007-06-14 06:08:00 Ring ring ring. Disembodied voice from Caller ID, “Call from wireless caller.” Wondering what Andrew has forgotten, as he’s just left the house for work, I answer, “Hey, what’s up?” “I need you to do me a favor. Can you walk down the road to the bridge by George’s house?” Thinking that’s a very interesting request and assuming more ... More About: Nature , Creatures , Creature
Wanderings ? What the World Eats
2007-06-09 06:04:00 A Time Magazine Photo Essay depicts what’s on family dinner tables in fifteen different homes around the globe. Photographs by Peter Menzel from the book Hungry Planet: What the World Eats“ More About: The World , Wand , Erin
Remedies for Dogs with Thunderstorm Anxiety
2007-06-07 06:12:00 I have a fool-proof thunderstorm detector — more accurate than the local weather Doppler system. And she’s sitting right here on my lap (which makes typing a bit of a challenge). So I know a thunderstorm will be hitting here within an hour or two. Kiera never used to be bothered by thunderstorms, but ... More About: Dogs , Anxiety , Remedies , Under , Dies
Has It Always Been So Peachy
2007-06-05 07:47:00 From the mailbag: Samantha writes: You and Caitlin seem to have quite an amazing relationship. Has it always been so peachy? Don’t you ever lose your cool? Dear Samantha: Like Kiera, my daughter came into my life to slap me upside the head and wake me up out of any sleep-walking through life I might have ... More About: Peach , Been , Always
A Race to the Finish
More articles from this author:2007-06-04 07:02:00 I’m true to my mostly Italian Heritage; I can find a way to add garlic to nearly any meal. I’ve long gone through all my garlic bulbs, and am down to the dregs of my minced garlic (above left). I’ve got another month and a half before my garlic plants (above right) are ready to ... More About: Race , Finish , Nish 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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