Zoe Steals the Show at Fox Tucson Theatre’s Monsoon Literacy Celebration
I was honored to have a book selected for this event and to be present to interact with the participants. I submitted my Sonoran Desert-themed books for consideration. I was thrilled by their choice: the bilingual version, La Tortuga…Vampiro, of my book Vampire…Tortoise?!. Once this book was selected, they created a PowerPoint slide presentation of […]
Dissecting the Ancient Reptiles of Jurassic World Rebirth
It’s a good thing I go to the Jurassic Park and World movies for entertainment and not scientific accuracy! I do enjoy seeing reptiles portrayed eating well and how iguana eyes and head movements are used for the dinosaurs. I don’t let my iguanas watch the movies for that reason – I don’t want them […]
A Royal Hue: Exploring the Enigmatic World of Purple Animals
I have a friend, let’s call her Gee, who really, really likes the color purple. I mean, she wears purple, her horse tack is purple, and she even named her puppy “Purple.” I’m surprised her truck isn’t purple, but maybe that color wasn’t available! Gee actively seeks out purple in the world. She was recently […]
Reflecting on an Award-Winning First Half of 2025!
As we reach the end of the first half of 2025, I must say it has been an eventful and mostly positive year! I’m writing this blog post from a cabin in Overgaard, Arizona, nestled in the mountains near the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. It’s a welcome cooler escape from Tucson, which my horse, Poncho, is […]
Håfa Adai! A Heartfelt Welcome on My Guam School Tour
In April, I had the distinct honor of being invited by the Guam International Literacy Association to share my book, Guam: Return of the Songs, with twenty schools across the island. While I was excited to present my book, I was truly unprepared for the incredibly warm and artistic welcome that awaited me. It was […]
Marching into Market Month: Celebrations, Books, and Fun!
After a couple of months of recovering from the holidays, completing the end-of-year chores, and working on some new books, March is festival month. I am delighted to have booths at four events. The PACC Pet Parade Market month starts off on March 2 with the 2025 Friends of PACC Pet Parade. I’m hoping to […]
Frog vs. Toad: Nature’s Unlikely Villain
One of my most unique characters, Curtis Curlytail, is set to star in his own movie, a production by the Tucson-based animation movie company, Luck Dragon. Curtis, with his distinctive features, was an obvious choice for the protagonist. But who could match his uniqueness as the antagonist? It had to be someone truly evil yet […]
Electric Connections: Tingly Moments with My Horses
Is there someone in your life that makes you feel all tingly when you’re with them? Not necessarily giddy emotionally, but someone who sends shivers down your spine or lightning bolts through your body? When Does the Tingle Strike? I admit my horses make me feel all tingly. My two boys are Poncho, a Missouri […]
The Science of Sizzling: Experimenting with the Perfect Bacon Cook Method
When I moved into my house in Tucson, a good friend gave me this statue as a housewarming gift. He is St. Anthony, a 4th-century hermit. Unfortunately, he was tormented by the devil, who took the form of a pig. Consequently, the persevering saint was named the patron saint of bacon and butchers. As a […]
A Rare Find! All About the Rustic Sphinx Moth
A friend shared a captivating photo of a uniquely patterned and stunning moth on social media. The sheer beauty of this moth piqued my curiosity. Unlike the dedicated scientist that I am, Allison hadn’t identified her moth. I was so intrigued that I would have postponed my grocery shopping until I knew more about this […]
Monitors: From Lizards to Screens and Beyond
My writing workplace is in need of a new mouse pad, as the one with iguanas of the world has faded. At the Tucson Reptile Show, I stumbled upon a unique find: a mouse pad that humorously showcases the word ‘monitor’ in various contexts. This pad, in a way, reflects the complexity and versatility of […]
An Enchanting Tale of Birdwatching and Mockingbirds
As I navigate the captivating landscape of the Sonoran Desert, always on the lookout for intriguing subjects for my Fun Fact videos, I am constantly amazed by the unique beauty of this environment. The other day, while enjoying a leisurely ride with my horse Poncho around the stables area (his preferred spot over the arena), […]
My Desert Oasis
Living in the Sonoran Desert, I realize the importance of water. Many animals have adapted to getting the water they need from their food. However, an article suggested setting up a bird bath for the local avians. It suggested a shallow dish with a few rocks to show the birds how deep the water is. […]
The New Color of Spring!
Last year, I wrote about the color of the Sonoran Desert Spring being yellow. Spring had been yellow for many years. However, this year, the color of spring was pink! The Palette of Spring 2024 This year, the desert landscape was festooned with the yellow flowers of the palo verde trees as usual, but the […]
The Hedgehogs of the Sonoran Desert
Before the dog days of 2023, the only mammal I wanted as a pet was a hedgehog. However, every time I got the urge to purchase a captive-bred hedgie, I’d remember that they were nocturnal. Sellers say you can interact with your hedgehog as they awake at dinnertime for some fun before bed. I prefer […]
Observations at a Street Fair
From March 22-24, 2024, I had a booth at the 55th annual 4th Avenue Street Fair. This exciting event brings over 300,000 people to shop for an incredible variety of arts and goods and enjoy diverse and delicious food. I have several art pieces from my visits to previous fairs in my home. Joining in […]
The Science of… Oatmeal?
Do you ever think about the physics in action within your breakfast? Sometimes, I do, especially after a spectacular failure, like when I attempted to microwave oatmeal. The day before, I boiled some oatmeal for my dog. He was taking antibiotics, and I could tell they were bothering his stomach. I thought maybe oatmeal might […]
A Pennaraptorans for Your Thoughts
I recently learned about Penneropterans. They are not people who like to eat penne pasta! Maybe ‘opt’ refers to optics? Nope, they are not people who want to look at penne pasta, either! No, Penneropterans is a misspelling of Pennaraptora. What’s a Pennaraptora? The Pennaraptora clade refers to the group of dinosaurs who developed feathers. […]
That’s a Pile of Horse Poo!
A friend and I rode in the Sitgreaves National Forest near Overgaard, AZ. Located in the southern parts of Navajo, Coconino, and Apache counties, it has an area of 818,749 acres. The trails we were riding were known for their abundance of wildlife, including mustangs or wild horses that lived there. It is also a […]
Vampire…Tortoise?!
What do you think of when you hear or read the word ‘vampire’? Does your mind go to the human Count Dracula, or perhaps it’s to bats? Members of the Desmodontinae bat subfamily feed on the blood of other animals. Consuming blood is called hematophagy. But not just bats are vampires. There are the candiru […]
Adventures of a Bully
Recently, I boarded my horse at an interesting barn in Overgaard. My horse enjoyed his stay, I’m happy to say. But what made it particularly interesting was the presence of a full-grown bull across the aisle. Unfortunately, the bull had damaged his usual stall and now resides in a horse stall. Fortunately, my horse didn’t […]
How to Make a Monsoon
Here in the Sonoran Desert, changes in the weather occur before the monsoons arrive. Humidity and dew points increase. Replacing our comfortable dry heat – when sweat evaporates immediately. After all, in 100+ degree weather, the body needs to sweat. But sweat remained on my skin when I lived in the South, beading up and […]
Tortoise Emergency? Max to the Rescue!
When a friend needed help with her dog, I offered to foster him as long as he got along with my reptiles. I was very pleased when Max and my free-roaming tortoises easily accepted each other. Good thing since it’s looking like Max, a Chihuahua mix, is going to be a permanent member of my […]
Love is in the… Cactus?
Ah, the heart! ❤️ The symbol of romantic love. An appropriate topic for February 14th is Valentine’s Day. It was in the fifteenth century that today’s typical heart symbol was developed. With the establishment of Valentine’s Day, the use of the symbol exploded. Its popularity reached the ultimate pinnacle when the ❤️ became a verb! […]
Hare, There, Everywhere!
Hares! Here, there and everywhere. I seem to be finding hares everywhere. I live in the Sonoran Desert with the very large rabbits known as desert hares. The actual common name is Antelope Jackrabbit with the scientific name of Lepus alleni. I’ve tried many times to get a photo of a jackrabbit with its long, […]
What Strange Food is This?
I recently wrote a blog about popcorn for National Popcorn Day. Microwave popcorn is very popular these days. Microwave ovens often have a designated popcorn button built into them. In addition, various foods have been produced specifically for cooking in microwave ovens. I understand the need for speed when preparing meals. Most people need to […]
The Tale of an Old Time Term
One of my favorite pastimes is listening to Old Time Radio (OTR) shows as I drive around. The other day while captivated by a comedy show, I heard an unusual word. I thought it was perhaps a slip of the tongue or a word created for comic effect. But then I heard it a few […]
This Blog is Popping!
What food do you put down when a survey asks for your favorite food? I always put down popcorn! I love popcorn. I love the flavor, the crunchiness, and the childhood memories it brings. My father’s favorite snack was popcorn cooked with bacon grease. Many years later, I read a survey of popcorn produced in […]
No Ordinary Button
November 16th is National Button Day. What do you think of when you hear the word “button?” Do images of the many colors, diversely shaped garment fasteners come to mind? I remember selecting colors and shapes to add interest to my clothes. Then there’s the time spent searching through the massive collection that my mother […]
Mornings Are Never Long Enough
Are you a night person, like the yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea)? Or are you a morning person, like the green heron (Butorides virescens)? Personally, I like getting up in the pre-dawn darkness and looking out at the dark world. Although sometimes with a full moon, it isn’t very dark. So what does this green […]