Welcome to the wildlife — We have been without a pet for almost three years. Our nerite snail slunk across the rainbow bridge shortly after we moved into our new home. The five gallon aquarium where he lived now sits empty inside the garden shed. Taking care of an animal requires a burden of care…

Bunnies and humans are a greater threat than zombies Here in Texas we are finishing another week of 100 plus degree temperatures. So far the tropical plants — the hibiscus, okra, wax mallow, and the Rose of Sharon — are thriving. But not all plants, nor all humans, are designed to survive in a climate akin to a blast…

Where my jumbled memories are stored — My memories are fragile as porcelain. I long to hold on to every second, recall and relive each happy moment before they slip and shatter, like my coffee mug this morning. Andrew and I were enjoying the view from our back porch, when I went to toss a peanut to…

Searching for that better half — Summer is the season of love — for Texas tarantulas. Despite having eight appendages, they have no opposable thumbs and no way to access a special spider dating site. Like a shy single guy, the males venture out as the sun sets, searching for that one special arachnid lady. He…

An adventure in unintended consequences — We installed the owl house with the goal of attracting a predator to our yard. Months back, we’d been overrun by a mischief of rats. They flooded our backyard every evening — a scurrying gray sea of rodents. Winter arrived and the tide of rats receded. Then, in late spring…

Exploring the Old Zoo Nature Trail in Cisco, Texas — There is something about deserted spaces that draws out the explorer in me. Horror fan that I am, I know these are the spots where the paranormal linger. I would trespass into every vacant house if it weren’t for the threat of arrest. Instead, I feed my curious spirit with…

When Yelp Reviews Lead You Astray The past has flavor. It tastes like cherry popsicles melting red down your arm on a hot summer day. It might taste like Saturday night at home, watching the movie of the week and eating pepperoni pizza. The kind from a box kit, with…

This past weekend Andrew and I drove out to the Ladonia Fossil Park. We’d been there before, during Covid. I remembered the solitude and peacefulness of strolling beside the North Sulphur River.

The world is cruel to gentle boys. I knew from the moment I met Richie Taylor that he didn’t belong in East Texas. He came to us not long after the school year had started, before the first football game and after we’d traded our memories of summer for dreams…