MUSINGS ON LIFE AND WRITING WITH SARAH BUCKLEITNER
Growing up, my parents weren't super concerned with making things from scratch. Most of the food we ate came from mixes or pre-made starters or wrappers, and aside from hobbies like drawing and composing, we were more likely to run out to the store to pick up a needed item than to try to make … Continue reading Some thoughts on doing it by hand
A few weeks ago we took Chara to the Paw Pet Resort for some water therapy. The vet had recommended both the location and the activity to us to help strengthen her muscles and stabilize her joints, and so we wanted to make sure we followed through. (Now, a disclaimer before I get into this … Continue reading On Privilege and Pets
I've never been someone who bought into the idea that you could classify people by their personalities. To me, it seemed like a useless exercise to spend time taking personality and aptitude tests just to have some computer tell you what you already knew. After all, clicking yes/no in response to questions doesn't change who … Continue reading Are you who you think you are?
I recently participated in a contest on Instagram--meant to raise money for the super cool Conservation Canines group, which uses rescue dogs to conduct research (click the link to learn more!). The prompt of the contest was simple, and it's a common theme for contests all throughout the dog-obsessed world of Instagram: Post a picture of … Continue reading The nature of nature
Awhile back, long before we brought Chara into our life, I picked up the book "The Art of Raising a Puppy" by the Monks of New Skete. At the time I was ravenously consuming all literature about dog training and puppy raising--even though I was a year away from adopting my own dog, I wanted … Continue reading The Artlessness of Raising a Puppy
I am not a big makeup wearer. I'm not very good at applying it, and so my attempts often come out looking more clownish than anything. On top of that, I tend to shoot for a more natural looking aesthetic. Even if I'm wearing a little makeup, I'd prefer that it comes off subtly--a style that echoes … Continue reading Should women wear makeup?
Since the time I was a little kid I've had very strong views about what is right and what is wrong. Most of these were instilled by my strong, wonderful, opinionated mother. Some I came to on my own. Others were pushed on me through media and my friends. In the strongest of that bracket … Continue reading On the ethics of hunting
There are many ways to categorize people. Book lovers, exercise lovers, teachers, helpers, mothers, children, females, males, adults. Sometimes these categories are binding. They push a complex individual into a little box, and stop us from getting to all the complexities that make them really them. But categories can also help us to look more … Continue reading On loving animals, and how it can make you a better person
Writing is hard. All forms of it--scientific writing, creative writing, blogging. It requires that we synthesize our often muddied thoughts into clear, concise language. It means stamping our realities into letter shapes so that others can access our experiences. Which, when I think about it that way, is really stinkin' cool. But also not the point … Continue reading 5 tips for getting words on the page
A few days ago I picked up Thoreau's Walden. Mostly because it was on our shelf and I had yet to read it, but partially because he's kinda living my dream (you know, living in a cabin in the woods with lots of beans). Except he doesn't have a dog, or a snuggly man-creature--which are … Continue reading Some very serious thoughts about musty cheese
Feathery Thoughts 