We had a full “wolf moon” the other night. I was heading out, and though I was slightly late, I had to stop to snap a few photos before I got into my car. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, Native Americans named the January moon, the “wolf moon,” because the wolves howled so loudly on the nights when it was full.
Here in Connecticut, the coyotes enjoy a night of song and merrymaking whenever there’s a full moon. I think it’s because the night’s brightness makes the hunting easier and when they mate, it’s as if the lights are on, which makes it sexier. There was some very loud hunting and carrying on the other night. It gave me goosebumps. It made my dogs bark until they were hoarse, and I made the mistake of letting them out too close to my bedtime, and had to wait up for them to come in. I stood in the freezing doorway yodeling out into the night for them to come. Calling and cursing like a witch. The moon was so bright that the trees cast shadows across our white fields.
Yesterday I came into the city and stayed over night, for the first time in months. We went to a party and then out with some friends. It was exciting to be in the city. I always feel a little dazzled by all the beautiful people when I come to the city after having been in the country so long. All the beautiful, stylish people, all the delicious smells coming from restaurants. The cool hair. The fashionable babies and dogs. Today, having breakfast with a friend, and then back to coyote country.
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Linda S. I live in Alaska….
April 9-16th I will be in Hawaii….
Also, I had been putting in my birthdate for the number portion of my facebook page link and it was wrong, I have the right birthdate on it now so when one clicks on my name it should work….
Gorgeous pictures and some pretty scary stories about coyotes! I must admit, I love the way a full moon looks on a field covered with snow. It lights up the ground in such an eerie way.
“A Wolf Moon”, interesting. I am in the last book of the Twilight LIght Series..have you read it? I never thought I would be so engrossed in a story about vampires and wolves!!!
lol@snoopy
I picture me hiking puffing panting and a pack of Snoopies running towards me.
Aww how cute,squats down,arms out ready for some puppy loving
I become dinner.
eeek
Why would anyone abandon an adorable beagle
Linda S, I’m hoping my bling from KC will make me look like her, so I rushed the order – ha. You know how black is slimming? I’m hoping my bling makes my hair look a foot longer and blonder.
Vennie! Welcome! And we’ll be right over!
For the other West Coasters, I’m in Half Moon Bay and (not to rub it in or anything), I have my office window open right now and I can hear the ocean today.
Beagle attacks? It’s scary out there when Snoopy and his posse turn on you. This is why I’m a cat person – ha.
Annie, I e-mailed you some pictures of the quilt this morning.
THis is pretty wacky about the beagles. Video on Huff Post said that this happens every year after rabbit hunting season. Beagles that don’t perform well get the boot. One shelter had taken in 40 beagles over the year I think it was. Poor puppies.
Kim, yes, the old salami trick.
I wonder if the beagle pack came from a puppy mill.
Welcome Vennie!
Tammy – they found the beagle pack about 20 minutes away from me on L.I. – they were starving and really quite friendly. They have been given shelter and are going to be up for adoption. People who cannot keep their homes are dumping their pets in parks and wide open grass areas. Of course they cannot fend for themselves. A husky white german shepherd was just rescued yesterday from a park. They actually couldn’t get him because he would just run. Finally with a piece of salami…..
Oh Ann, great pics and info about Our Lady Luna. And I bet you so did not sound witchey at all with your yodeling. Did I read that tweet (over there in the side bar) correctly, and was it from you? Food with Julie Klam and a new book on the horizon?!
Tracy, I was thinking about you as I finished my most recent blog-inspired library book. Someone (forgive me for not remembering who) recommended the history of graveyards in America. It was really well done. The woman who wrote it has several other books that I have requested. She tells about some amazing old cemeteries in the City. You should look for those next time you need a theme for one of your NYC adventures.
Kristin, I didn’t know you were both Virgos! How are we doing on our West Coasters count?
Welcome Vennie. I love the idea of visiting your house boat. We don’t know where (or when, don’t worry Linda S we will exclude your no-good dates) this gathering will take place yet, but I have in-laws in the East Bay, so Marin County should be considered (at least for me).
Kathie, where on the West Coast are you?
I’ve heard a donkey, or burro is your best defense against coyotes. They are great watch dogs for goats, sheep and smaller livestock, and in their natural habitats are used to dealing with Mr. Wiley, and will show considerable courage dominating and driving off canines.
There are plenty of wild burros out here in Nevada, and plenty of coyotes . . . here in the domesticated desert, the golf courses attract rabbits, and other tasty morsels and the coyotes naturally follow. So, those folks who pride themselves on their home on the links, also have to contend with the food chain the well irrigated greens support.
For anyone traveling North from San Francisco through Marin County to Sonoma County, take note of the well posted leash laws signs at the County line between Novato and Petaluma.
Domesticated dogs (not coyotes) that trespass and attack livestock are a REAL problem. Dogs who are out at night will form packs and run down prey — yes, these are laps dogs, and otherwise seemingly gentle pets that become real killers — my French Alpine dairy goat was nearly torn apart one night (I’ll never forget the sound of her screams) and when my Dad went out to save her, the dogs turned on him. Luckily they backed off, my father was okay, and my dear sweet Jelly Bean was stitched up and survived.
You see, we didn’t have a gun in the house . . . but it was common knowledge that if a dog was where it shouldn’t be, most people would shoot first and ask questions later.
The leash law means just that. A dog can run free on its own property, but every where else it must be on a leash. Period. No exceptions.
I think people tend to forget that dogs are predators and they can revert to a pack mentality very, very quickly.
Did you read on The Huffington Post today
That somewhere NY or somewhere, packs of wild BEAGLES are becoming a problem.
I know it is serious and the poor things are abandoned and hungry and its sad, but come on, BEAGLES?
I can just imagine the one time I dare venture out on a hike being all nature is fine as long as it’s my screensaver type woman, getting attacked by a wild pack of beagles.
Welcome Vennie! Do you really live on a boat? Wow. Except for that, it does sound like we lead rather parallel lives.
KC, I think sometimes coyotes are blamed for the attacks of dog packs. I have seen a pair of coyotes trot through our horse field while the horses are out grazing and our horses’ lack of fear made me think they seem them quite a bit at night. We turn out all night in summer and have never had a problem. I have heard of packs of dogs attacking horses, though. I have a funny horse story to tell but must wait until tomorrow as I’m falling asleep.
Vennie, welcome! Always really nice to have a new poster! I hope you’ll frequent the blog now, I want to hear more about this houseboat! What an interesting way to live…floating real estate!
Coyote fans (or experts): I must admit I’m anxious about the coyote population in our area. I haven’t heard them close by, only in the far distance, but in summer I like to keep my horses out overnight. I heard last year that a horse in the next town was attacked and killed by a pack. Does anyone know any preventative methods/ remedies to keep coyotes at bay, or at least, away from our horses? Most here won’t go after a horse, but if they’re hungry enough…I worry.
Linda S, will get a catalog out to you pronto! Catherine just asked the week before last, and wasted no time placing an order. Not to worry, plenty of bling to go around!
Night all!
I’m in Los Angeles, but have an uncle who lives in Marin County and would LOVE an excuse to go up North! So beautiful.
First time posting, but not first time reading.
Ann, I love your blog — and your photos and your poetry, and most especially your dogs. We have some things in common — both married to people who participate in “the industry” both having girls getting ready for college — my girl is slated for Columbia in the fall. I am boldfacedly looking at the possibilities of next — as opposed to dreading empty nest syndrome — she said through gritted teeth.
But I have to wonder (to my delight), why do you have so many Northern Californian followers?! I too live in Sausalito and work in San Francisco!! I am all about getting together with the gals out here — might you join us? So I am coming out of the closet and officially joining the community. We live on a boat — if the gathering is not too large (say, under 40) we could do it here.
Anyway, thanks for giving us a slice of your life everyday.
Best to all.
Vennie
Ann – beautiful photos of the wolf moon overlooking your property, especially the first one. That moon really was quite something the other night.
I’m so relieved to hear that Holly and the Elf are protected when they go out. I don’t understand why the coyotes leave the big dogs alone. Couldn’t a pack of coyotes overtake one of the dogs? Sorry to be so concerned, but I’m terrified of coyotes after hearing all the stories of the attacks on animals, people, etc. We have a number of them coming very close to homes and apartments in Sausalito.
Kristin, Courtney, Kathie and other West Coasters – I’m all for a get together. I live in San Francisco (actually, Sausalito). If possible, PLEASE don’t schedule anything from July 27-Aug. 12 because I will be in Europe. I would hate to miss meeting you all.
Kim – thanks for your e-mail. I will be in touch. But, how did Catherine get the jump on your jewelry so she’s already looking uber-fabulous in Half Moon Bay? Hmmm….
Linda S.
Colleen, thanks ever so much for the info, glad you shared.
Thanks Arliss : )
Ann: Yes – we are quite fascinated with watching and listening to him howl. Its chilling and intense.
I am beginning to wonder now….my husband thought he saw a fox but I thought foxes were quite small. He said it was as large as a bulldog. Perhaps what he saw was a coyote?
Now where is that quiet Tracy Ann was talking about..?LOL at least I know you got it.and or read it.who loves ya baby.
Lynne yes they are getting worse where I am which is pretty much right across our beautiful country.I am in Ontario.Southern.And I also heard about all the attacks out there, like I said they are coming in closer every night I work straight midnights in a machine shop in a small town and you can hear them all night dogs, horses, donkeys, cows everything is getting attacked.
Aislinn, Your right, birthdate. Oh thank goodness. I thought maybe there was some sort of weird numerology that I wasn’t aware of.
That’s interesting Ann about dogs and coyotes. I also love their vocalizing although when they are running down something and catching it, that can be disconcerting. About five years ago my son and I were riding our bikes through the woods on the Olympic Peninsula. We stopped at an abandoned building and viewpoint. I saw a ‘dog’ by the building, started over and my son told me to freeze. (I wasn’t wearing my glasses) He said to get on our bikes and slowly ride away. As we went by I saw it wanted nothing to do with us, was much wilder than a dog and bigger than a coyote, we think wolf or hybrid. Since then we have heard about wolves moving or being reintroduced into parts of Washington and I know people on the Peninsula get wolves and breed them with big dogs like malamutes(sp?), its a problem. Sure was a gorgeous animal we saw.
Candy, I’m sure Uncle Sull or other Joyce fans can explain it more and better. But if I understand the passage (forgive the pun) you’re talking about, Joyce is actually making fun of himself. The character in the book is sitting on cuckstool, a kind of chair that was used to punish and shame people. Officials would tie the offender to it while passersby would ridicule the person sitting on it. The character is sitting on such a contraption reading the magazine Tidbits, a magazine Joyce published in as a young man. This whole scene, I think, is meant to suggest he thinks his work as a young man stinks, or at least, can be ridiculed/criticized as such.
By the way, there’s nothing wrong with disliking this book. It’s difficult, intentionally so. There was a lot about it that I didn’t like, but I saw reading it and understanding 1/25 of it like running a marathon. I’m glad I did it. But I would think twice about running again. Keep finding the passages you do like, like “I am swelled after that cabbage” and keep going!
Candy, re James Joyce: “he read on calm above his own rising smell.” Oh dear Lord, I haven’t read Ulysses since college. Now I must reread.
Kim, don’t you love it when your dog howls? We had a wolfhound who never howled until his brother died, when he was just two years old. Then he howled at some point every day. He’d sit down and point his nose to the heavens and let out these long, plaintive, mournful howls. A schoolmate of Devin’s told her on the bus one day that her father was always complaining about the howling – and they lived a good mile down the road!
Barbara, the puppy and chihuahua are kept in a small confined area next to the porch when we take them out at night, and we shine the outside lights and let the big dogs out at the same time. We have friends who were out walking their Maltese, in Massachusetts, in a housing subdivision, and a coyote came and snatched the dog and ran off with it! So be careful with your little one. We have found that the coyotes clam up and disperse when we let the bigger dogs out. But Lynne in Calgary, I read about that tragic, fatal coyote attack on the young woman in Nova Scotia not long ago, so I’m not surprised that Canadians are being warned to be careful. I’ve been researching canines, as some of you know, and it is estimated that 75% or more coyotes in populated area have some domestic dog blood in them. The coyote traits are dominant so they still look like coyotes, but tend to be larger. Unfortunately, the dog adds an aggressive/hunting drive to the coyote, which is traditionally more of a scavenger. Also, the coyote really is a wily creature, much smarter than a dog, so when you mix the two, you can have a pretty dangerous animal. Having said that, I love the variety of yips, screams and howls they emit at night and am always thrilled to catch a glimpse of them. Ours are still afraid of us, and the dogs, Thank God.
Hi Kristen, I was referring to this part of your post: “My soon to be 18 yr old. (the 6th)” Does that mean you have 6 children, or will he be 18 on the 6th? I think it’s the latter.
Catherine, a belated “LOL” re “uber-stylish in HMB”!
Okay Aislinn, ‘Number 6, oh my’. Oh dear what does this mean? My son is an Aquarius with Virgo Parents.
Ann, here’s a line for you: “the sweet oaten smell of horse piss”. Got a chuckle off of ” I am swelled after that cabbage”. Maybe I am getting into this book.
Guys
I loved the video of Ann’s reading, but I have not listened to it as of yet. Thank you Tracy for doing your YouTube on her. Now we have the start of a collection.. right?.
You sound like you had fun.
Lovely photographs too. And thanks to Allan for his end, looks like lots of you did a lot of things, to include the effort and things. I wonder where the photos of each person are at. Facebook?.
Class now..
Sheesh, I didn’t mean to sound so negative in the last post — WKC is great fun!
OK, Uncle Sul and Colleen C. I am into Ulysses: what is with all this detail given to the cooking of the kidneys and the bowel movement. “He allowed his bowels to ease themselves quietly as he read” and “he read on calm above his own rising smell” is where I am right now. Just not sure how much I am likeing this book. Am I suppose to appreicate the vivid picture James Joyce is giving the reader?
KC, how cool that you will be at the Garden! More in my e-mail, but I am usually there though haven’t showed there recently. I find being there with dogs a huge undertaking, esp. if the weather’s an issue. Spectating is always fun, though it is SO ridiculously hectic down on floor level during the day. Honestly, the event should be in a bigger venue; it’s literally hard to even walk two feet, there’s such a crowd in the grooming area. And in the evening, the group competition is probably better viewed at home … but there’s not quite the excitement!
Aislinn-Just like Ann’s mythical “haggery’, I seriously doubt any “Doggery” regarding your appearance. Thanks for the laughs, though!
I love the photos, Ann…Beautiful pics!!!!!
Courtney, a west coast gathering would be great especially since we are on the west coast,
Arliss, you’re going to Westminster? So are we! We have a dog showing (Shelties). I’m going to email you. How exciting! And yes, I want to know why the conductors all yell “Purdys!” when they announce it over the intercom. I’m napping, dammit!
Happy Groundhog Day, all!
Aislinn, love the hair comment! Very funny. (And I’ll absolutely have to echo the others — you’re beautiful — I swear, I see *no* resemblance to Dog the Bounty Hunter. Really!)
What a nice post today, Ann. Beautiful photos. I feel the same way when I venture down to NYC after being gone for a while–the vibe, the style, the busy whirl of it all rush in with a pleasant buzz. (And the food, don’t get me started!) But even better is coming back home to the quiet hills and our hillbilly ways.
KC, every day for several years I took the same Metro North train into the city that you do! Such a familiar ride, familiar litany of town names (”Golden’s Bridge .. Purdy’s … Croton Falls …”). I usually napped on the way in or the way home — sometimes both!
(My next trip down is for the Westminster dog show and some related events. Always a busy but fun time!)
A whole pack of coyotes regularly hung out in the woods near our place when I lived in Wilton (CT) for a few years. Sometimes at night it seemed they were right under the kitchen window, carrying on noisily. Their vocalizations gave me the creeps — sometimes they sounded like children crying or yelping. I was completely paranoid about letting our dogs out at night (at the time we had two small Shelties and an English Cocker) and would stand by the door, freezing my butt off and hurrying them back in. While we lived there a columnist for the local paper had his son’s Beagle killed by the coyotes one night and wrote about it. Quite heartbreaking. So yes, tell that little Holly to be careful!
Gorgeous pictures. Love the pink hue that snow brings out.
Yes – Wolf moon indeed. One of my shepherd’s howls – the black and tan one “Jack”. He doesn’t do it too often but he did choose last night to perform. Big talker.
We miss the city also. We are scheduled next month to go on a bike benefit run (Joe has a Harley). The run will take us from Long Island to the Central Park area and we wind up at Hogs and Heffers in the meat packing district of Manhattan. Hogs and Heffers is a trip. The movie Coyote Ugly was based on it and its boo coos of fun.
The wolf moon pictures are so pretty. I love the colors/shading. The moon was so beautiful that night. On my way home from dinner, I drove past a rather large pond and the moonlight reflecting on it was amazing. I would have taken pics to share, but I’m a complete techno-phobe who doesn’t own a digital camera. (Which is why I was unable to post a pic of my cat when you all posted your pet pics. Oh, I also don’t subscribe to Facebook so sadly I couldn’t check out all the wonderful pet pics you all posted there. I was definitely born in the wrong era…)
Tracy, LOL!
Linda Hatch, good for you – feeding the poor cats;
Kristen – Number 6? Oh my.
KC, You’re on the payroll too.
Lynne – Dog
So that explains it. We haven’t been able to see the sky out in Seattle. Raining. Of course. A fancy full moon. My soon to be 18 yr old. (the 6th) has been an unusual pain in the neck the last four days.
Our city coyotes only howl in the parks. They have learned stealth in the neighborhoods. A bit disconcerting to have them appear. Poof. Day or night. Sadly, most of the cats have been taken and now they are working at small dogs. Ann-beware. They smell young or small dogs and wait. They will scoop Holly up in a nanosecond.
Love the pictures. Oh I love the sound of crunchy snow.
Shut up Cheryl!
And the ground hog is always full of crap.
I love the vertical picture of the Wolf Moon. I can’t believe at age 70 I have never heard of a Wolf Moon. Is there any way to have a larger print of that picture?
Speaking of coyotes, I live in the high desert area of So. Cal. We have coyotes in our paved, curbed neighborhood frequently. I feed the wild cats so they hopefully will have the strength and good health to dodge the coyotes.
Love the photos! I bet it was the same moon I was yammering on about the other night. So beautiful, even Matt commented on it and he’s Captain Oblivious. Well, when there’s something I’m dying for him to see. However he has an eagle eye when I’m wearing a new pair of shoes/ piece of clothing. “Where did you get THAT!?” “Ohhh I’ve had this forever!”
I’ll be in Vegas in August, at the Mirage I think…big jewelry Fashion Week thingy out there. First week in August.
Aislinn, you’re gorgeous! Your eyes are incredible and your hair is faboo, no Dog the Bounty Hunter for you. I’m rhyming I’m so adamant about it!
I’m in the city today – nothing fun, just work. Booo.
Linda S and anyone else interested in the jewelry I sell, please send me a separate email (kimberlycompton@gmail.com) and we’ll chat and I can get a catalog out to you. Catherine’s ahead of the curve – she’s going to be uber stylish out in Half Moon Bay!
Bev – Mark is awesome. Thank him for that lovely comment on the blog! And yet, so true. Such a fun night, I can’t wait for a repeat!
I’ll check in with y’all later – I’m fixin’ to go to work. Amanda, that is for you. Yep, love Nashville — lived there 12 years! I miss Whitt’s Wednesdays — yummy pulled pork sandwiches — fast and cheap.
It was a great moon the other night. Our little dog (chihuahua) is afraid to go out at night in the dark. We carry her, stand right next her while she goes….you get the idea; what we do for these animals!! Anyway, it was so bright the other night, she went out alone, like it was daylight. Gotta love that moon !! Those are great pictures, too.
And, I’m getting my city fix tomorrow. Doctor’s appt in the late afternoon, so hubby and I will cruise around (on foot) for much of the day. I do love the city ! Hate the idea of dr appt, but love the city….the price of the fun I guess.
Yes, that wolf moon was something else! My daughter in L.A. texted me to ask why everyone there was acting goofy. Blamed it on the wolf moon. My daughter here in Boston asked me why she felt so weird? wolf moon. I could not get to sleep, up all night reading..wolf moon. And since this blog is the creation of a wonderful lady writer and regularly incorporates poetry, let me say I was reading “Savage Beauty”, the bio of poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, a seriously naughty lady writer. Perfect for a wintery night with a full moon.
Hi Cheryl! It’s too early here in Calgary for me to get my head around your groundhog question, but we live inner-city (but with a river and parks nearby) and the past few years we’ve (seemingly) had many more coyotes venturing in closer to well-populated areas. My friend hears them howling pretty frequently at night and kids are sometimes sent letters from school about walking home with the coyotes around. What about where you live?
Jules-Calgary is a scenic (but longish) drive away from Vancouver, but a mere one-hour flight away. We Calgarians are always looking for an excuse to get away to its green spaces and moist air (especially THIS time of year!)
Aislinn-You crack me up! One question: Dog or Beth? (Only kidding, of course!). Have a great day everyone!
Great pictures again that is true, wolf moon wild night also true,Tracy you get iritable….speechless.lol
Now question is it just me or is there 6 more weeks no matter what the ground hog sees?Question # 2 are there more coyotes this yr,and are they coming closer to home.(ok question # 3 in there as well)
Gorgeous photos Ann. Did you use the ‘C’ word when you were cursing like a witch? lolol
Colleen, you may be on to something about the Wolf Moon and the Wild Night. Or it could be that we’re all just a bunch of hellions let loose on an unsuspecting restaurant.
Aislinn, lolololol Give me a break, you’re gorgeous.
Loved hearing about your trip into the city Ann. With my hand surgery and then my broken leg, it’s now been almost 3 months since I’ve been there, and I’m missing it so badly. I literally get very antsy and irritable when I go too long between visits. I’m at the point where be damned how much it hurts, I’ll hobble around all day, I don’t care. If I have to suffer for days after, so be it. So if the weather warms up, I’m going, walking cast and all!
Really pretty pictures. I just now saw Tracy’s video of Ann’s reading. Thank you so much for posting that Tracy. It was nice to virtually be there. : )
West Coast get together would be so fun, especially in Vegas. Green Valley Ranch?? My fave place out there!
Kim, I am putting you on the payroll!
Aislinn – I’m surprised you can’t hear me laughing. So not true – Aislinn is absolutely gorgeous. Blonde hair, blue eyes – so pretty.
Ann, I’d be worried about letting my dogs out with all that howling going on!
Yes, the city is a wonderful place to be – and it definitely helps us to get caught up in the latest styles.
My latest hairstyle was inspired by Dog the Bounty Hunter. It’s time I took a quick trip into the city…
I wonder if the “Wolf Moon” was cause for the “Wild Night.” Hmmm.
Oh, I almost forgot, “Happy Ground Hog Day” everyone! Hey Ann, snap us a pic of a groundhog while you are out rootin’ around in the barnyard. ha, got to chuckle.
Great pics, and I do get that big city feeling when I go downtown, but I do not ever want to live down there. No room to garden.
Pretty Pictures!! I am glad you had fun in the city, and all the lovely hair? bet you fit right in