The first time I took a direct hit from a skunk was the day of my mom’s memorial. We had taken in orphaned kits after they lost their mother. Some young boys found the babies after they left their den and, thankfully, brought them to their mom so they could get help. My sister was in town for the memorial, and we stopped by the rehab house where the skunks were staying. I was moving them when I missed a very important signal. One of the babies got scared and “U’d up.” That little stomp, twist, and tail raise into position is the skunk’s final warning. Ignore it and move forward and… well… consequences. Skunks aren’t fully loaded until around three months old, but as babies they still have a defense system. It’s just a tiny drop, but don’t be fooled. It is accurate and very potent. Anyway, I took the hit. I wasn’t worried about it at all. It’s part of the job, and I was confident I could handle it once I got home. On the drive back, my sister got hungry and I suggested stopping for breakfast tacos from this amazing little place just off the beaten path. She agreed, then said, “Cool, we’ll eat in the car.” I said, “You are not eating in my car. We will eat there.” She looked at me and said, “But you stink.” In which I responded with conviction, “I don’t care. No eating in my car.” So, we enjoyed delicious tacos inside the restaurant and reminisced about Mom. No one said a word around us, and honestly, I didn’t even pay attention. I was just doing me. When we got back home, I went upstairs, took my clothes off, threw them straight in the washer, took a shower, and presto… skunk smell gone. We were ready to celebrate Mom in a way that honored the beauty and fun she was. I know she would have gotten a kick out of the baby skunk incident too. Skunks are amazing. Even when they spray you on the worst day of your life. 🦨💚

This cat-astrophe started years ago when my sister bought the fur-purrs a set of gnome catnip toys for Christmas. It was a very loved gift, and they still play with them to this day, but what purr-sued in the coming years could not have been foreseen. I decorate with Christmas gnomes, and the toys resemble my holiday décor a little too well. Now, every day I come home to gnome bodies scattered across my living room. This has become JZ’s favorite holiday pastime next to the typical tree ornament swatting. I’ve tried to explain that my gnomes are not toys, but all I get is a blank stare while he defiantly brushes the gnome guts off his face using the little Christmas tree another gnome is holding. I know it’s his very clear way of telling me my feelings don’t meowter. I’ve considered therapy, but I don’t think it will help me. I think I just have to accept the devastation, day in and day out until I can safely pack away the survivors for next year. Pray for me, LM

If you love learning about the amazing creatures, we share this world with, you’re going to enjoy today’s quick dive. This one comes straight from my aquarist friend who has taught me so many incredible things about these intelligent and fascinating creatures, the octopuses! Let’s dive in: • The plural of octopus is octopuses. Octopi isn’t actually correct because it mixes Greek and Latin. Octopod works too, especially if you don’t know the gender, it's kind of like using they/them. • Speaking of gender, you can tell an octopus' gender around 6 months old by looking at their third arm from the right. Females have sucker cups all the way to the tip, and males have a smooth, spoon-shaped end called the hectocotylus. • The male's arm has a very special purpose. He uses it to reach inside his mantle, grab a spermatophore (a sperm packet), and then gently place it inside the female’s mantle during reproduction. Sadly, this marks the beginning of the end of their already-short lives (usually 2–3 years). The female passes shortly after her eggs hatch, and the male passes a few months later. • The siphon, that little tube near their head, is their jet propulsion. The octopus inhales and expels water through their siphon helping them zoom around with speed and grace. • Octopuses are incredibly intelligent. They’re known as the most intelligent invertebrate, with both short- and long-term memory. They can problem-solve, open jars, and even use tools. Honestly, they’d probably be very handy in the kitchen. And if you haven’t already seen My Octopus Teacher, it is a must-see. It will make you fall in love with this beautiful, three-hearted animal. Yes they have three hearts, which makes me love them even more! What about you? What is your favorite animal? Let’s keep learning about this wonderful animal world together. 💗

What kinds of posts would feel most meaningful to you here? Examples: - rescue stories - quick facts - ways to help - gentle inspiration - educational learning - something else Please let me know in the comments. This will help me, help you, and together, we will help the animals.