Greetings!

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I hope you have had a wonderful week, or if that is too much pressure, a decent week. The above picture is of me and my niece during a wine tour this summer. The lessons learned will be shared in a story being published next week.

It's been another hectic week but was highlighted with excellent news. Our cat Jasper has had a heart murmur for the past few years. About two years ago we took him to a cardiac specialist where they did an ultrasound and found no sign of heart problems. In July of this year, a blood test showed an increase in some number that could indicate heart disease. We immediately put him on a nutritional supplement (VetriScience Cardio Pro) in hopes of helping his body heal itself. We noticed a definite difference in his energy level, so feel like it was doing something for him. Whether it helped his heart we can't say, but this Wednesday the specialist found absolutely no heart problems and explained both the murmur and the heightened blood marker. What a HUGE relief!

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This Week

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​Is Finding the Right RV Like Finding a Leprechaun?​

It's a Tough Market, but There's Hope

In this piece, I take you through our often frustrating but ultimately successful journey to buying an RV. If you are thinking of getting an RV, as so many are since Covid began, you might find this piece funny and useful.

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​How to Select the Perfect Dog for You​

Considerations Prior to Picking Your Perfect Pet

Whether you already have a dog, or are considering getting your very first one, these tips will help you select the right companion for you and your family. Feel free to share this with any friends that you think will find the information useful.

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​Listening to a Cat's Stare​

Do You Know What Your Cat is Saying?

There's nothing quite like being stared at by a cat, but are you receiving the correct message? How do you know?

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Behind the Scenes

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As a writer, my main creative outlet is through words. Sometimes, though, I need to do something more tactile. If you are familiar with my book Endangered Species Superheroes, you already know I do some digital illustrations. Even that isn't always what I need since it is still dealing with electronic media. This past weekend I broke out the 3Doodler that my wife got me as a gift several years ago and finally figured out how to make something that looked halfway decent. It was pretty fun once I got the hang of it. (The white parts glow in the dark!) The link above will take you to the tool. There are lots of videos on YouTube, if you want to see how it works.

As to how my desk refinishing project is coming along, I am happy with my progress. I haven't had much time to devote to it this week, but what I have done is looking good. The middle section on the top has been completely sanded, as have the drawer and the sides. Doesn't that clean wood look nice? Once the sanding is done, I will be doing a combination of staining and painting to match the other furniture I have redone.

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Favorite Fun Stuff

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This week I only have one thing to share, but it's a good one! Because I am a donor, every week I receive an update from The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center in Boyce, Virginia. This is an amazing wildlife rehab center (and more - see below) that takes in every imaginable animal that has been injured and whenever possible, rehabilitates them for release back into the wild. The work they do is nothing short of miraculous.

This week's pet of the week was a Red-Shouldered Hawk whose feathers had been burned. They performed a procedure called imping where burned feathers are replaced with donor feathers. I found a video from The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey where they actually show the process. (No worries - it's not gross - no blood - almost looks like a craft project.)

Here's more about the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center from their website:

"Blue Ridge Wildlife Center is a unique and special place. The only wildlife teaching hospital in northern Virginia, the staff and volunteers of BRWC work to care for native wildlife by integrating veterinary medicine, rehabilitation, education, and research….The Center’s mission includes educating children and adults about the importance of protecting wildlife and their habitat and other related environmental topics. In addition, the Center collects and shares scientific data about local wildlife diseases, environmental toxins, and other threats to native wildlife and the environment."

There need to be a lot more of these places! If you want to learn more about them and see their patients, you can follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueridgewildlifectr/.

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Confession Time

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The dust bunnies under our living room couch have begun to have babies. You know how fast rabbits multiply. Does them mean I need another couch to provide an adequate environment for them?

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Be well and take a moment to breathe.

Peace and love,

Dakota Duncan

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You can support me by sharing this update. If you received this from a friend, go ahead and sign up for a free subscription of your very own here:

I Want in on the Fun!

If you want to find about about my graphic novel or children's chapter books, visit my website: dakotaduncan.com​

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