Carolyn Holm

Dear Mom,
The calico cat has been coming into our yard.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I suspect she is interested in the Meadow Mice.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
We’re ALL interested in the Meadow Mice!!!!!!!!!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I wish you’d dial that back a bit. I don’t want you to kill any more of them. I like the mice. I like how one of them sits in the entrance to their hole and watches me in the garden. I always say hi. She is cute like a Beatrix Potter illustration.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Killing mice is the most exciting thing I’ve ever done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I don’t want to think about that. It was a terrible bloody massacre. Let’s talk about something nicer, like the lady deer.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
She came right to the fence and looked at me while I barked! She wouldn’t go away!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
She has two fawns nearby. The neighbors have seen them by the creek.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
She wouldn’t go away! It was a standoff! I barked and barked until you brought me into the house.  
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
We have to work on this barking, honey. It doesn’t make anyone go away. It’s just annoying.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
It DOES make them go away! When I bark at people walking their dogs past our house, they all go away.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
That is such a doggish thing to believe. They were going away anyway. At least you know what I mean now when I tell you to be quiet. We’re making headway. Next maybe we can get you to stop barking when I yell QUIET.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I can’t stop. The sound rises up inside me and comes bursting out. 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
We’ll work on that. More treats might help.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
We should definitely try that.
XOXO Poppy

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