Earlier from the second-story deck I caught a glimpse of the gate slamming shut as Ella chased someone out of the yard. Her wild barking was what had summoned me. The thunk of something landing solidly on the wooden deck...  read

This morning in the back window of the car I found a ladybug bleached bone-white and fragile under the glass, like a tiny skull. With eyespots faded almost to nothing, blinded by the sun, it was as if the creature...  read