Copyright (c) 2009  |  All Rights Reserved
Please take a moment to read or leave a comment in my Guestbook, or read more about daily life at Willow Oak in my journal,
or
email me one of your own stories.
I live to see the smiles on those faces.
How can you say "No" to a
face like this?
Taz and Scamp enjoy a romp
in the snow at Willow Oak.
July 28 (Wednesday) 9:15 pm

A little past my usual bedtime, but I can stand it.  No TVA work today, but I am scheduled to work near Tupelo on Friday,
and hopefully a few days the week after that.  In the meantime the chipper requires some maintenance, which I shall
perform tomorrow.

Patrice is in heat.  I have not had her spayed yet, but at least all the other dogs have been fixed.  It is cute to watch her play
with Fred, who finds her to be very interesting.  Horace and a couple of the others show her some attention, but Fred
shows the most interest.  Alas, there is nothing that Fred can do about it.

I have recently allowed Buddy, Sasha, and Ethyl to begin mingling with the other cats and so far they are all getting along
fine.  Even Boots and Buddy get along, and Boots and Smoky -- two former mortal enemies -- are getting along a lot better.  
What a relief that is.

I have some very sad news, and although I must mention this I cannot dwell upon it.  I have not seen Thumper for about two
weeks.  That is all that I can say about that.

July 25 (Sunday) 5:30 am

5:30 am and sweltering.  Surely I experience the summer climate in the southern United States every year, and have
done so for years,  but this summer does seem to be a little hotter.  I do not recall saying that about past summers.  
Maybe it
is hotter.

I have had a few requests recently for my book, of which I still have around a dozen copies.  When those are gone I
shall either have to order some more, or if someone wants one he will have to
order a copy from Amazon.com.

I have been contemplating my position: I do enjoy doing the TVA work.  It is totally different from what I have done for
several years, and the pay more than compensates for the miserable conditions, as does the scenery; but I am
beginning to have a hankering to return to the classroom and teach.  I have put out a few "feelers," dropped a line or
two into the water, and should I receive a bite -- who knows?  Perhaps I may return to teaching.  My teaching
experience is not long -- only 10 years: 8 years of public school and two years on the junior college level; but teaching
is a very entertaining way to make a living.  Could I go back to computer programming?  I don't know.  For now that
does not appeal to me.

The Willow Oak crew surrounds me this morning demanding my attention.  I must answer their call.

Read more from my journal ...
Pete ...

... What can I say?
Fred:  Top Dog.
He's a Scamp
Pinky
Lu Lu
Thumper
Grainger
Cleopatra
"Cleo"
Grace
Fred
Clyde
Grainger
Horace Lucky
Taz
Thumper
Oscar
Smoky
Darkly
Buddy
Lightly
Bonnie Smile
Willie
BKI
BKII
Boots
Tiger
Willow Oak, my 16-acre "animal farm"  is located in rural Alcorn County, Mississippi,
USA.  Situated just outside the city limits of Corinth, Mississippi, Willow Oak is home
to a ragged bunch of homeless, abandoned, unwanted, and otherwise unloved and
abused vagabonds.  Willow Oak is open to whoever might be in need of a place to
stay, be it of the animal or the plant kingdom, and those who are in need are
welcome.  And so far, as of this writing, 12 dogs and 13 cats have availed
themselves of the opportunity to call Willow Oak home.

They need me as much as I need them.

I wouldn't have it any other way.
"Daniel Taylor is greeted by
some of his rescued dogs at
his home in Corinth on
Wednesday
," is the caption
of the picture that appeared
on the front page of the
Daily Journal, Northeast
Mississippi's newspaper,
announcing the publication
of my book.
Daniel Taylor
Welcomes You to
Willow Oak
"And God said, you are responsible for the fish of the sea, and the fowl of the air,
and for everything that moveth upon the earth
."