Animals can be just as expressive as humans. Part of the joy of getting to know our animal companions is learning their unique ways of expression. I think a lot of people can tell when their dog is smiling. We look at their eyes and see if they are content, or if they don't feel well. Sometimes our cats may roll their eyes a bit or raise an eyebrow when we ask them for something silly (but fun) like wearing a costume for 2 minutes so we can make cute Halloween cards.

It's all connected to sharing time together and paying attention to the subtle mood changes we all experience, human & animal. As we share our lives the bond continues to strengthen and it becomes easier to read and identify their expressions. This is a photo I took in 2007 of Jarvis smiling :)

I photographed this lovely hummingbird at our feeder today. They have always appeared magical to me, like they somehow crossed over from the faerie realms. After our son Juneau passed into the light in August of 2013, seeing these birds took on extra special meaning for me. Juneau used to love drinking water, and he always drank deeply for long periods of time. As I was missing him, I saw a hummingbird drinking deeply from the feeder and knew it was a sign from Juneau and Jarvis. It brings lightness to my heart and I smile every time I see one.

If you also enjoy seeing hummingbirds, it is easy to make homemade nectar for them. Simply bring 1 part sugar & 4 parts water to a boil, stir for 1 minute, then allow to cool completely before putting it in the feeder. It needs to be replaced every 3-4 days, sometimes even more frequently if it is very hot out. They can become very ill and even die from spoiled nectar, so if you decide to provide it, please make sure it is always fresh. You can make a double portion & store the rest in the fridge, just allow it to reach room temperature before putting it outside for them. They also love native flowers and planting those (and refraining from spraying them with pesticides) is a great addition or low maintenance alternative to sugar water.

Below is a photo of Juneau from December 2012.

Something that has been on my mind lately is the idea that when we make the decision to share our home with animals, it is important to fully consider it as their home also. This means thinking about their needs and comfort, even when it may be a bit inconvenient.

For example if your dog is laying on your "spot" on the couch perhaps sit next to him instead of expecting him to move so you can sit there. It is unlikely we would ask a person to vacate a chair in our home so that we could have it when there are other seating options.

If you know the blender scares your cat, maybe refrain from turning it on until you've moved kitty to a different room. If they feel safe, eventually normal household noises will blend into the background and not be so scary. No one likes to be startled by an unexpected loud sound.

If my cat daughter is lounging on a pillow watching the birds through the screen door, I may go outside via a different door rather than expecting her to move because I am "coming through." It is about considering them as "full" family members in every way. Of course there are places that are not safe in the home for animals, such as near/on stove tops, and it is reasonable to ask your fur kids to avoid those. I'm simply thinking about small gestures that let your animal companions know their needs & comfort matter too.