If you’d told me years ago that I’d be building a life centered around dog training, wildlife encounters, compost piles, dreaming about goats and chickens, and figuring out natural cleaning products that don’t choke us out, I probably would’ve laughed, sipped my coffee (or maybe cracked a nice cold beer), and politely changed the subject.
And yet… here we are. Firmly in Stage 1—the gloriously messy, slightly overwhelming beginning where I have more ideas than I know what to do with, no clear plan, and am still figuring out where to even start.
That’s what this blog is all about: documenting this process from the very start. The trial and error trying to craft a life that’s a bit offbeat, a bit imperfect, but deeply intentional. And one day? We’ll be living peacefully on a little homestead in Maine—far from large populations and traffic—surrounded by a happy chaos of gardens and animals.
My Journey Into Dog Training & Pet Care
(AKA: How I Transitioned from Zookeeper to Human Kong Toy)
Before dogs became my daily world, I was working with far more exotic creatures—as a zookeeper at the Houston Zoo and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. From there, I made the leap from zookeeping to dog training. Since then, I’ve poured my love for animals into helping countless dogs and their people build better relationships.
Now, while we don’t currently have dogs of our own—because our 16-year-old cat would wage full-on guerrilla warfare if we did—I’ve shared life with three incredible pups: Marmite, Alvin, and Koda. Losing them left a space in my heart that never fully closes. I miss them every day. Their pawprints still shape everything I do, and I know they’d fully support my future plan to rescue a whole pack once we’re settled in Maine.
And let’s not forget my very first pet: Buster the guinea pig, who taught me the pure delight of tiny squeaks for treats. Guinea pigs are criminally underrated, and I’ll die on this hill.
Living in Colorado: The Good, the Bad, and the Muppets in Nature
Colorado is stunning—towering mountains, fresh air (mostly), and enough wildlife to make it feel like we’re the ones trespassing (which we are). But before you pack your bags and head to the Rockies, let me give you a taste of reality:
✔ Bears absolutely treat your trash bins like an all-you-can-eat buffet.
✔ Deer will stand in the middle of the road, stare you down like you owe them rent money, and refuse to budge.
✔ The traffic is absurd—thanks largely to the Colorado Springs metro population exploding and, of course, the endless construction.
✔ Snow is inevitable. Every year. And yet people still act surprised when winter happens.
But the hardest part? Seeing people forget how to respect it. I’ve watched hikers litter trails, fly drones near nesting sites, and even try to feed wild animals. That’s why this blog will include plenty of wildlife education (and mild rants) on how not to be a total muppet in nature.
Some topics I have swirling in my brain:
✔ How to hike safely with your dog (without disturbing wildlife)
✔ Why feeding wildlife is a terrible idea (unless you’re hoping to host a bear party)
✔ The roles of owls, bats, and snakes in keeping your home pest-free
Sustainable & Simple Living (Even If Our Garden Is Still Just a Few Raised Beds)
You don’t need 10 acres or goats in flower crowns to live more sustainably. (Though let’s be honest—I would love goats in flower crowns.)
At Stage 1, it’s all about small steps:
✔ Mixing up DIY cleaning products that don’t poison us.
✔ Cultivating an outdoor garden (our tomato plant is thriving, thank you very much) and plotting more beds for veggies, herbs, and flowers.
✔ Finding ways to live on less, waste less, and save money—because sustainability isn’t just good for the earth, it’s great for our bank account too.
Future posts I’m cooking up include:
🌱 How to build a backyard garden from scratch
🍅 What we’re actually growing (and how not to kill it, hopefully…)
🧼 DIY cleaners that smell good, work, and won’t send you running for fresh air
💸 Budget-friendly swaps for a simpler life
🐾 Enrichment ideas to keep your pets from redecorating your house with teeth marks
🚜 Why goats and chickens will absolutely be part of our Maine dream
Right now it’s all still the messy beginning—lists on lists, Pinterest boards full of ideas, and trying to figure out the next tiny step to get there.
A Safe Space for the Childfree (Because Some of Us Just Want to Sleep In)
Josh and I absolutely love being an Auntie and Uncle to our niece and two nephews. Spoiling them? Buying absurd toys? The best. But kids of our own? That’s a hard pass.
And yet people still seem to treat it like a phase we’ll grow out of. So let me be clear:
This is a safe space for childfree adults!!!
Whether it’s by choice, by life’s twists and turns, or you’re still figuring it out—if your dream includes quiet mornings, animals instead of children, gardens, coffee on the porch, and ending your day with a cold beer, you’re welcome here.
Meet the Real Rulers of the House: The Cats
🐱 Sluttykins – Yes, that is her real name. Blame 18-year-old Josh and his friend Vince. Zero regrets.
🐱 Lieutenant Meow – Hisses at me after eight years. If she were human, she’d be the focus of a chilling Netflix docuseries.
🐱 Freya – Showed up a few weeks after our beloved Steve passed. I like to think Steve sent her our way, knowing she’d find the love and safety here she deserved.
They run this house. I just pay the bills, water the tomatoes, and hope that Lieutenant lets me live another day.
A Dedication to Amy
None of this would exist without Amy.
She took a chance on me when I didn’t even see it in myself—handing me two leashes in the middle of a chaotic world and setting me on this wild, purpose-filled path.
Amy, you are selfless, encouraging, beautiful, and the very definition of compassion. Rocky and Lucy, you two have more stories to tell on this blog than you could possibly imagine—and you’ll always get extra treats for it.
Welcome to Daffodil Cottage
So here we are: at the very messy start. Full of ideas, bursting with plans, and taking it all one small (sometimes clumsy) step at a time.
If you love dogs (or at least hearing about my many furclients), cats plotting your downfall, sustainable living that’s actually doable, gardens that start small but grow big, and the dream of goats and chickens in the not-so-distant future—grab a coffee (or a beer), settle in, and follow along.
Let’s build something beautiful—fur, dirt, and all.
