A Golden White-Eye
I took several photos of the Golden White-eye at the Denver Zoo. This bird is critically endangered and only found on the islands of Saipan and Aguijan. The bird hid well in this habitat but I loved this angle. I added text and background layers to give the piece more texture and depth.
Cousins Camp: Frog Farms, Frozen Forks, and 10 Kids
Approving the frog farm should have been enough, but finding metal salad forks in my freezer clinched it for this year. Once again, cousins camp would be a learning opportunity. For me. Ten grandkids, ages sixteen to three, gathered for a few days of fun while I…
The Day of the Cat — Bracing for the Worst
I enjoyed the dream of living on a hobby farm. Until the Day of the Cat. On the Day of the Cat, a glorious spring morning, I was milking a goat in a sealed room (meaning we kept our barn cats out). Our four-year-old daughter climbed onto the big feed box at the wall…
Facebook Privacy Update: What Changed in June 2026
In my May newsletter, I shared information about Meta (Facebook/Instagram) hauling in your partner-shared information. Starting June 9, 2026 and rolling out to users through much of July, Meta pulled the rug out from under our feet. Here’s what is still accurate from…
Estate Sale Detour: Hunting an Anvil, Finding Free Books
We’d traveled an hour and a half for a tasty lunch with our cousin. Going straight home was not an option. My sister and I had made this trip, and you’re probably thinking we folded in some shopping afterward. Not exactly. “Could we go to this estate sale?” she asked,…
That 4 GB File You Never Downloaded
In the last newsletter, I told you about Facebook’s incursion into our privacy. Well, Google has just launched a new incursion into your hard drive. Many use Chrome as their primary internet browser. Now Chrome (Google’s browser) is installing a 4 GB file onto hard…
How to Clear and Disconnect Facebook Off-Meta Activity
Facebook pulls information like a black hole pulls in light. Last month, I was considering trading vehicles and got a quote on my car from Carvana. When I lifted the lid on the settings I’m going to give you, Carvana was already reaping my Facebook information. I…
My Sister and I… (Buckle Up)
If I ever start a story with the line “My sister and I…”, buckle up. We have some strange adventures. For example, last weekend my sister and I went shopping for an anvil and came home with two armloads of old books. That story is coming in a future newsletter. But…
Project Hail Mary Review: Home, Humor, and an Unlikely Friend
What if the sun were dying, and you were sent to stop it? And what if your only ally was someone you couldn’t shake hands with? The movie Project Hail Mary deals with those questions, dishing out drama and hope while tackling unexpected friendships along the way. Ryan…
Ack! It’s Money!
As you get to know me better, you’ll know things that my kids may someday pay you to keep to yourself. This is a great reason to keep track of me. Think of it as retirement planning. Just fill out that email signup over there and the money may well come flowing one…