We are wishing all of our human and furry friends a SAFE and Happy 4th of July!! While we celebrate America’s Birthday, please keep in mind that this holiday can be very stressful and traumatic for our pets. Keep them indoors and try to provide them with a comfortable and secure haven if they are easily spooked by loud noises. If you are leaving the house for any reason, keep a radio or TV on to help subdue the sounds and remove any items that might break off a shelf or bookcase if kitty suddenly jumps to a high place to hide. Animals have a much more heightened sense of sounds and smells and we must respect that and prepare accordingly…

Even if no one else is listening, my voice is important to me. But, chances are, someone is listening. Now that BlogPaws has officially come and gone, whether through comments on my blog, posts other bloggers have done, personal emails to me, comments I have made on other blogs, photos, facebook chat, and so much more, I noticed a subliminal undercurrent of conversation this past week and decided I wanted my own keynote speech to all of you. Read more

Being the quintessential cat lady, I have kept this information well-guarded, but the cat is out of the bag now and I must admit I like dogs. Not only do I like dogs, I LOVE THEM. Up until a few years ago when my dear Bandit passed away, the last remaining survivor of my dog legacy, I have had a revolving door of dogs that would make your head spin.  With the exception of my Golden Retriever, Bailey, all were rescues and my home was an open door to any canine that cared to wander in.    Read more

Not an easy feat at my age, but do you remember those frentic moments in high school where there would be that incredible hustle and bustle of quick chatting in the hallway and lockers as you went from one classroom to the next before the bell rang to start class? Or the high energy of the lunchroom as you found a table and bonded with your best friends? Or the nervousness of being a new student and not being sure if you would be liked or fit in? Or those special days when you had a pep rally or a prom where a King and Queen were elected by their peers? That is what BlogPaws is like. The only difference, we are adults, we are allowed to bring our pets, and we are allowed to legally drink….

The best part of BlogPaws is catching up with friends – some I was meeting for the first time like Bz Tat on the left, and others like Teri Thorsteinson and her cat Coco, and Robin Olson on the right, I had already met a few times.

From the moment you get up to head for breakfast to the moment you crash in exhaustion for the night, BlogPaws is a virtual whirlwind of non-stop activity, learning, bonding, and socializing. Breakfast, keynote speakers, the inevitable hallway conversations and photo ops, meeting old friends, meeting new friends, seminars, visiting vendor and sponsor tables, dinner receptions, awards and more! Whew… Read more

While I did not have to contend with Hurricane Irene like last year, getting to Salt Lake City from Fort Lauderdale this year to attend BlogPaws was no easy picnic either. Armed with a thick pair of fuzzy socks, a neck pillow, and a mini plush blanket (all in leopard print) to make sure my endless flight was as comfortable as possible, I awoke sometime over Utah to see the spectacular view of a patchwork of gorgeous mountains. Naturally, my camera was packed in overhead, but it is highly unlikely I would have been able to take a photo of  quality anyhow. Dan is clearly the photographer in our family and he was home with the cats…

I was unable to take a good photo of the mountains, but did manage this stunning night shot of Temple Square that consists of three city blocks in downtown Salt Lake City. It is home to nearly 20 attractions related to Mormon history and genealogy, including the Salt Lake Temple, the Tabernacle, and the Family History Library.

Read more