Business Sense

Even pets love a security blanket.

Hidden

This frog is quite cute, but I don’t think he should plan on a career as a chameleon!

Mantis

Ever wonder what a mantis is praying for? The female is probably thinking of her next meal, but I bet the male is praying it isn't him!

Death Valley

When I was young, I envisioned Death Valley as a barren landscape dotted with bones.  Later I thought of it as a rugged and treacherous landscape.  While it does contain plenty of that, it also contains an incredible variety of life, including over one thousand plant and four-hundred animal species. 

First Impressions

You can't judge a book by its cover?  Maybe not, but it’s a rare dog (or human), who can disregard that first impression. 

Foggy

In nature, a little mist adds a touch of intrigue.

Friendly Disagreement

Even the best of friends have their disagreements.

Friends

While some people claim that cats and dogs don’t get along, I disagree.  Our pets have always been good friends, who eat, sleep and play together.  We need to give them a little credit.  Many humans fail to live peacefully with their own species!

Safe Storage

All summer, squirrels ventured onto our deck, as if to taunt our cats. We've seen less of them there, since colder weather has arrived, although we see them foraging on the ground and racing up the trees. I suspect they are storing acorns and other food in a safe spot for winter.

The Color Red

Back in the fifties, while the guys were kicking tires and peering under the hood, I dreamed of owning a flashy red car.  I've had a lot of cars through the years, but a dark burgundy is the closest I've come to realizing that dream.  That's not nearly close enough.

A Fine Combination

I’d love to be sailing on that water.  Wouldn’t you?

Farmers Market

Grocery store shopping can’t begin to compete with the fun and fresh air of a farm market.  We’ve learned that there is a thriving farm market in our future hometown and can’t wait to begin buying produce there.

Generating Great Leads

When my best friend studied to become a financial planner, I pictured her sitting with people and explaining the best ways to save for their home, their children's education of their retirement. Eventually, that is just what she did, but before she could do that, she had to find clients. That wasn't easy.

She looked for inexpensive leads and was able to purchase hundreds of "used" leads. These were phone numbers of people who had already been called and had turned down a consultation. Not surprisingly, she made a lot of calls before she got even one appointment. She began to understand that fresh targeted leads might cost more, but they saved hours of time.

EquiLeads is an online service that lets you target the leads that you receive by area and type. You can specify if you are looking for customers in Colorado who are looking for a loan or prospective insurance purchasers in Florida. Since the service is online, you can easily change your requirements or order new leads. That beats spending hours on the phone.