Category Archives: Animals

It was forty years ago today…

Posted on December 24, 2019 by

—– Spoiler Alert – If you don’t want to know what happens in the book, Last of the Donkey Pilgrims, stop here. —– No, it wasn’t “…when Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play.” It was, on Christmas Eve in … Continue reading →

Posted in Active transportation, Animals, book reviews, books, Burros/Donkeys, culture, entertainment, fun, geography, hiking, history, humanity, Ireland, politics, Religion, tourism, transportation, Travel, UK, walking | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Horse, Donkey, and Mule-related City/Town Names

Posted on November 1, 2019 by

  Below is a list of cities and towns whose names are based on equine (horse, donkey, mule) related topics. Any additions, corrections, or suggestions are most welcome. Bronco, California – ghost town Bronco, Texas – ghost town Burro John, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, cities, civics, fun, geography, history, Maps, place names | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Burro Buddies – Just looking for love…and maybe a snack

Posted on October 28, 2019 by

There are certain animals that capture our imagination and hearts. For some folks it may be whales or penguins. For others it may be bison or birds. But for me, it is burros (or donkeys in English). I’m not quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Animal rights, Animals, Burros/Donkeys, deserts, Mexico, pictures | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hell’s Worth of Wickedness in One Cowtown

Posted on April 17, 2019 by

Frontier Towns, Chapter 4: Ellsworth, Kansas   “As we go to press, hell is still in session in Ellsworth.”  That’s a famous newspaper headline dating from 1873 about the situation in Ellsworth, Kansas. Ellsworth may have been situated along the … Continue reading →

Posted in adaptive reuse, Animals, architecture, cities, civility, commerce, geography, historic preservation, history, infrastructure, land use, Maps, placemaking, planning, rail, Railroads, shipping, tourism, Trade, transportation, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Groundhog Day Special: You survived a polar vortex, when…

Posted on February 1, 2019 by

With Groundhog Day tomorrow, here are a few light-hearted, post-polar vortex thoughts from Northwest Lower Michigan. Please feel free to pass along your fun quips too and they will be added. …20 degrees fahrenheit feels like a frigging heat wave. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, environment, fun, weather | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Quartet of Former Vintage Barber Shops

Posted on June 21, 2018 by

As a follow-up to my previous post of old barber shops still operating, here are four (4) that no longer are used as barber shops. Two (2) are currently empty though the barber shop in Honor was a sign shop … Continue reading →

Posted in adaptive reuse, Animals, architecture, business, Cities, coffee shops/cafes, culture, downtown, economic development, economic gardening, entrepreneurship, food trucks, geography, historic preservation, history, land use, Pets, pictures, placemaking, planning, product design, Small business, third places, Uncategorized, urban planning, zoning | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Fishy Town Names

Posted on June 3, 2018 by

Here’s my working list of cities, towns, and villages that are named after fish, fish related activities, or include some form of fish terminology in their name. Please note that in some instances the place name may not have originally … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, cities, environment, fun, geography, history, Language, nature, place names, Wildlife | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Let’s stop dissing deserts!

Posted on March 14, 2018 by

In response to a recent post about “transit deserts” on The Market Urbanism Report’s Facebook page, I made the following comment: “I think we need to rethink using the term ‘desert’ to describe an area lacking something. Deserts can be … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Animal rights, Animals, climate change, deserts, diversity, ecosystems, environment, geography, history, land use, nature, planning, Science, sustainability, topography, tourism, Travel, weather, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I scream for Sadie’s Ice Cream Parlor

Posted on July 25, 2015 by

“I scream…you scream…we all scream…for ice cream!” One of the newest and sweetest delights of visiting Mackinac Island is Sadie’s Ice Cream Parlor at the base of The Grand Hotel. True to the island’s quaint Victorian-era heritage, this wonderfully decorated … Continue reading →

Posted in adaptive reuse, Animals, architecture, bicycling, Biking, branding, business, cities, commerce, Cuisine, culture, economic development, entertainment, family, Food, fun, historic preservation, history, land use, Pets, pictures, placemaking, planning, product design, recreation, signs, third places, tourism, Travel, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Bloom County” is back on the map!

Posted on July 16, 2015 by

This week, after a 25 year absence, the world has been treated to the revival of the Bloom County comic strip. What a wonderful surprise.  The zany and irreverent world of Opus (the penguin), Milo, Steve, and Bill the Cat has … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, art, cartoons, civics, Communications, culture, fun, humanity, inclusiveness, Love, pictures, politics, Social media | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment