Ed and I live in southern California with our son , Jeremy, and our houseful of furry children which is comprised of seven dogs and four cats.  As a native Californian, I can't imagine living any where else.   I grew up with animals of all kinds: horses, ducks, goats, sheep, and of course, cats and dogs.   I guess I must have inherited my passion for animals, because they've become part of my identity.  "A house is simply not a home without a little hair!"

In order to expand our menagerie, we purchased five acres where we've moved into our custom home.  The "boys" and girls Jenni and Coral all enjoy their Golden Acres.  Soon they'll even have chickens, ducks and maybe even a goat to amuse them.  First, however, is the "five star facility" for goldens rescued from the shelters, with a pond for the foster dogs as well as our own menagerie to enjoy.  We also have plans to expand the porch and include a screened-in area for the kitties to bird watch and enjoy the warm California sun.

As you can imagine, most of our time is spent caring for our own pets and foster dogs. We enjoy spending time outdoors, and when we have free time we enjoy visiting dog-friendly beaches and parks, finding new places where the dogs can run and play.   When we're not busy with the animals (or working on the property or the computer!), we also enjoy playing board & card games (especially Monopoly and Cribbage!), researching our family history, or just relaxing in front of the TV (big screen...yay!). You'll also find that I'm a big reader - check out my list of favorite books for some excellent reading ideas!