Pawsitive Highlights: April 2025 Edition
"There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in." — Leonard Cohen
Dear Friends,
This week’s post is filled with a fun and inspiring collection of highlights, including:
Animal Fun Facts
The Plant-Based Pantry
Carlyn About Town
On the Tube
The Spotlight
Question of the Month
The Gratitude Corner
Link to Last Week’s Post
Enjoy this month’s highlights!
Stay healthy and stay pawsitive,
Carlyn MDO 💜
Animal Fun Facts
Scientists crocheted tiny hats for cats—and no, it wasn’t just for cuteness. 🧶
These cozy caps held electrodes that let researchers record feline brainwaves to study how cats process pain. Surprisingly, scents and colored lights lit up kitty brains in fascinating ways. A quirky breakthrough with serious potential for treating chronic pain in pets. Science can be wild—and wonderfully pawsitive sometimes.
The Plant-Based Pantry
One question almost every vegan hears: “But where do you get your protein?”
Lately, I’ve been focused on getting enough plant-based protein to support my healthy, active lifestyle—especially as I age. And here’s the truth: it’s not hard to do.
Even better? Choosing plant proteins over animal products can lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and more. It’s good for your body, great for the animals, and amazing for the planet.
👉 Check out these 15 high-protein plant-based foods right here.
Carlyn About Town
How lucky am I to be interviewed by the amazing Karen Foss? Karen is a six-time Emmy-winning anchor who hosted her own show in St. Louis for 30 years. When we get together, the conversation flows—from life to the world and everything in between.We recently had a packed house at the Eldorado Public Library in Santa Fe for one of our "In Conversation" events.If you're in the Santa Fe or Albuquerque area and your group would enjoy hearing us talk about my memoir Junkyard Girl: A Memoir of Ancestry, Family Secrets, and Second Chances—and how I discovered I was adopted at 57—let me know! 🎉💜🎉
On the Tube
This series, about a Russian aristocrat living under house arrest in a luxury hotel for over thirty years after the revolution, is both bittersweet and deeply moving. A Gentleman in Moscow is based on the novel by Amor Towles—which I’ve heard is even better than the show. That said, as a longtime Ewan McGregor fan, I loved his performance. Available now on multiple streaming platforms.
The Spotlight
Vaquita the Wonder Pup: Ready for Her Forever Home
Vaquita—Spanish for “little cow” (pronounced vah-kee-tah)—is a sweet, social pup who gets along wonderfully with people, kids and dogs. She’s about 6 months old and weighs around 20 pounds. While it’s hard to know how much bigger she’ll get, she has doubled in size since being rescued from the streets in poor health just three months ago.
Now fully recovered and vaccinated, Vaquita will be ready for spaying at the end of April—and her spay surgery will be fully covered by us. (Spaying is a condition of adoption.)
She’s completely housebroken, playful with dogs of all sizes, and would thrive in a home with an active human or a pup pal. Whether it’s playtime or chill time, Vaquita matches the vibe.Ready to give this little love-bug a forever home?
Please contact Rae Sikora: rae@plantpeacedaily.org
Question of the Month
What’s one lesson your pet has taught you that you’ll never forget? 🐾💜
The Gratitude Corner
I lived in California most of my life—and I truly loved it. It will always be home and I never imagined I’d love anywhere more. But I do believe in second chances at love, and Santa Fe has certainly been that for me. It’s a wonderful place to live, filled with fascinating people, rich community, and magical landscapes. No wonder Georgia O’Keeffe was so drawn to it. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend it. Long story short: I’m deeply grateful for second chances. 💜
Did You Miss Last Week’s Post?
Whatever the Question, Love is the Answer?
In March, Ken and I celebrated our twenty-three year wedding anniversary. Prior to meeting Ken, I had a less than stellar track record at love. After every break-up, I came away feeling that true love was a myth and that it could never last.
Time and a wonderful man have taught me otherwise.
The morning after our wedding, my mother passed away. The night before, as she drifted in and out of consciousness, Mom whispered the same four words over and over again,
“Are they married yet?”
When my sister finally told her that we were, my mom took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and never opened them again.
I grew up with an overprotective mother. Even until her last breath she wanted to know I would be taken care of. I was capable, independent, and had a wonderful career so I could never understand why mom thought I needed looking after.
Five years ago, I discovered why…
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