I have a penchant for things that incorporate animal imagery:  I have wolf salt and pepper shakers, a coyote cutting board, a fox butter dish, a squirrel nutcracker, a hedgehog toothpick holder, a turtle trivet, and a fish water jug that gurgles just to name a few.  Today I saw this little guy and could not resist.  Heaven knows I have a wine opener; I just loved it and it was inexpensive.  These whimsical little things never fail to brighten my day.  And they’re not cluttering the house; I use these things on a regular basis.  I have a cat shaped clock, a wolf ash tray, a coyote wine stopper, fox mugs, bird shaped scissors, squirrel nut holders, fox serving trays, coyote napkin rings, wolf knife rests, my mother’s cardinal lamp, and more.  In fact the more I think about it, my little one has a cat shaped toothbrush holder where the tail is the toothbrush, a soap dispenser shaped like a dog, a cat mat in her room, and we even have wolf shower curtain hooks in our master bath.  The American essayist and naturalist Diane Ackerman said:

“We’re losing biodiversity globally at an alarming rate, and we need a cornucopia of different plants and animals, for the planet’s health and our own.”

I would definitely say our house contains a cornucopia of different animals, but I really do try to be mindful of all animals.  I slow down for any creature on the road (and often times have moved them to safety,) any wildlife is free to drink from our pond, I am a vegetarian trying to go vegan (I enjoy almond milk now,) I try never to buy leather, I am glad the circus with animals is closing, and I have conflicted feelings about zoos.  *sigh*  My daddy used to say to do the best you can and then go on with it.  Right now I believe “owl” just have some wine.