Flycatcher's World

For those who really feel the need for data and details, OK, here goes:

• I'm female, I'm Canadian, and I'm about half-way through what any of us can reasonably expect for a lifespan.


• I've been self-employed for almost all my life, mostly in three areas and usually all three of these at the same (part-) time:
  
  • beekeeping,
  • dog training - did I happen to mention my greyhounds?
  • publishing (non-fiction trade books, for the most part).
• My greatest joy is to learn new things...

Up until the beginning of January 2012, I also had a very elderly golden retriever. I miss her very much... but that's the way of life, isn't it? We just have to deal with it, as a fair trade for the joy that our animals give us in the short span of time that we have them. And to be fair, I have perhaps more than my fair share of "pets" to love and enjoy.

Besides the ever-changing cast of Smart Cats who patrol my place, putting terror into the heart of unwary rodents, of course, there are the honey bees.

And, before you ask - no, I'm not going to give names to all the bees! :)

Bees and The Urban Beekeeper
Not just for farm folk these days, beekeeping is becoming a popular activity for urban dwellers who are growing more concerned about food safety, their family...How to Learn About Beekeeping
By the time I got my first hive of honey bees, back in 1999, I'd already spent a couple of years learning how to keep bees. I was lucky enough to learn the basics...5 Fun Gift Ideas for Beekeepers
Beekeepers are strange. How on earth can a non-beekeeper know what to get a beekeeper for a gift? After all, beekeepers spend an awful lot of time doing...Bee and Beehive Coin Banks
Piggy banks in the shape of bumble bees, honey bees, or bee hives brighten up your home with their cheery black and yellow stripes, and bee / bee hive coin banks...Bees and Bee Theme Baby Nursery Bedding and Decor
Bumble bees and honey bees can't miss as a theme for a baby nursery. Bees are just plain cute - and the color schemes of nature are soothing and gender-neutral...The Geek's Guide to Beekeeping
What do computers and beekeeping have in common? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Technology and biology, computers and colonies, geeks and beeks... Bee Cufflinks
Bumble bee cufflinks, honey bee cufflinks, or perhaps a pair of elegant cufflinks with a honeycomb motif - you can't find a better gift for the groom...

Although a "dog person" from childhood, I was long ago tamed and trained by a series of Smart Cats. It's hard to claim that cats are "pets" exactly, as clearly it is the cats who own us. We merely exist to serve their Feline Majesties... but there's an odd pleasure in that.

Ridiculously Big HUGE Cat Trees
A big giant cat tree can dominate your living space, but if your bored indoor cats are clawing up your furniture in their games of chase-and-climb, hey...

Top 5 Designs of Cat Litter Box Furniture
Much as we love our cats, no one likes to look at a kitty litter box every day - much less to have it on display when guests come over. Cat litter box furniture...

Cat Door Stops and Wedges
It seems appropriate to have a doorstop that's shaped like a cat. After a few hours of hearing your cat scratch and meow to go Out, In, Out, In, Out again...

Best Automatic Cat Feeders
On vacation or leaving your cat for a few days? Automatic cat feeders can set your mind at ease, without the expense of hiring a pet sitter. Your cat gets...

Kuranda USA Cat Tower Beds
Sleek and clean, just like the cat himself - Kuranda USA's durable, multi-level cat tower beds come in 9 sizes and three colors. This is cat furniture you can...

Cat Stands and Climbing Towers
Is that clever kitty of yours so bo-o-o-o-red that he shreds your couch or sharpens his pointy little claws on your table legs, every time you go out for the...

Jackson Galaxy - TV's Cat Daddy
Big guy, shaved head, goatee, full-sleeve tats... so he doesn't look like a "cat guy"? Jackson Galaxy is okay with that. He's not into labels, just cats...

I'm really chuffed to have received the coveted and extremely purple "Purple Star Award" for a couple of my Squidoo lenses:

Hedy Lamarr, Movie Star Inventor
"Any girl can be glamorous," Hedy Lamarr famously said. "All she has to do is stand still and look stupid." Lamarr was glamorous, but far from stupid. Her 1942 patent for a torpedo guidance system laid the foundation for today's cell phone technology.

Oh, Those Musical Earworms!
One person's earworm is another person's catchy tune - it's all in how our brains are wired. They may drive you crazy, but musical earworms can actually help you to learn another language and improve your memory!

Sweetheart Fortune Cookies - Recipe for Romance
Homemade "just for you" Sweetheart Fortune Cookies speak to the body and the soul(mate) with personalized messages. True Love never had it so good! If you've ever wanted to make your own custom fortune cookies, here's the recipe for you.

Retired Racing Greyhounds
Who would think that greyhounds, a dog breed capable of racing at 45 miles per hour, actually make a calm and loving family companion animal, once they retire from the track? Learn about this beautiful breed and greyhound adoption, right here.

International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
Of all the obscure celebrations and erzatz holidays on the ever-expanding calendar of wacky events, dog lovers around the world (and our dogs) will immediately recognize the validity of International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day...

Quiz: Capital Cities of Canada
Take this quick quiz to test your knowledge of the capital cities of Canada's 10 provinces and 3 territories! Whether you're a student of geography, an armchair traveller, a new immigrant to Canada, or a born-and-bred Canuck...

Ridiculously Big HUGE Cat Trees
A big giant cat tree can dominate your living space, but if your bored indoor cats are clawing up your furniture in their games of chase-and-climb, hey, think of your huge multi-level cat furniture as a live feline floor show - like big screen TV, without the cable bills.

Spring Beekeeping
Beekeepers get eager to get out in the bee yard, with the first signs of spring, eager to find out how our colonies of bees made out over the winter. For new beekeepers, knowing what to do, and when, and what to look for...

I was made a Squid Angel on 10 January 2012 (yay!) and I've been having a lot of fun with this gig, just flitting about Squidoo with an eye open for exceptional Squidoo lenses to bless.

Wondering what on earth that's all about?
You can read up on Squidoo's Squid Angel Program here.

Not a member of Squidoo yet? Jump on in and start building your own "Squidoo lens" pages - it's free, it's fun, and you can even make some money by sharing your interests with others through Squidoo!