Category Archives: animals

A Gothic Cat Tree That’s Drop-Dead Fabulous

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🖤 “Paws of the Crypt”: A Gothic Cat Tree That’s Drop-Dead Fabulous

This Halloween, give your feline familiars a throne worthy of their mysterious majesty. The Heavy Duty Gothic Cat Tree isn’t just a scratching post—it’s a statement piece for cats who rule the night. With blood-red accents and a coffin-shaped bed, it’s the purrfect blend of spooky and stylish.

Whether your cat is a curious vampire or a lounging ghost, this single-tier tree offers spacious comfort and eerie elegance. Designed for large cats who love to sprawl, scratch, and survey their haunted domain, it’s built to last through nine lives and beyond.

Available at Welcominghaven.com Here

🎃 Why Your Cat Will Love It

  • Spacious Coffin Bed: Measuring 23.8 x 16.1 inches, it’s deep enough for dramatic naps and midnight musings.
  • Stable Square Base: At 13.8 x 13.8 inches, the heavy-duty box keeps things grounded—even when your cat’s zoomies go full poltergeist.
  • Elevated Platform: The 19.7-inch rise from base to bed gives your cat the perfect perch to judge mortals from above.
  • Tree Branch Accent: Standing 23.6 inches tall, it adds a whimsical, witchy vibe that’s more Salem than suburban.

Crafted in bold black and red, these Gothic Themed cat trees turns your living room into a haunted haven. It’s not just décor—it’s a lifestyle upgrade for cats with flair. Order Here

Globlazer Heavy Duty Gothic Cat Tree, 72in Large Cat Tower with Coffin Bed, Sturdy Maine Coon Cat Tree for Large Cats 20 lbs+, Medieval Castle Style with 6 Scratching Posts & Hammock, S72, Black & Red

🕸️ Affiliate Disclosure

Heads up, cat lovers! This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that fit the vibe of Around Dusty Roads and make tails wag (or curl mysteriously around a candle).Thanks for supporting Around Dusty Roads and helping keep the storytelling flowing

Want to add a little haunted luxury to your home? This Gothic Cat Tree is more than a Halloween treat—it’s a year-round throne for your furry familiars. Banner and Balboa would approve.

Banner and Balboa – photo credit Deb Neumann

 

 

The Great Computer Caper

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The Great Computer Caper: A Tale of Cords, Confusion, and Cat Interference

There comes a time in every digital wanderer’s life when their trusty old computer begins to sound less like a machine and more like a wheezing accordion. Mine had started sighing audibly every time I opened a browser tab. It finally laid down its virtual head to enter sleep mode never to awaken again.  It was time.

Chapter One: The Seduction of Specs

I entered the electronics store with the confidence of someone who’d Googled “best computer for bloggers” exactly once. The sales associate greeted me with a smile that said, “I’m about to upsell you into oblivion.” Suddenly, I was knee-deep in acronyms—SSD, RAM, GPU—and nodding like I understood any of it. I picked the one that looked sleek and promised “lightning-fast performance,” which I later learned was code for “you’ll need a dongle for everything.”

Chapter Two: Setup or Summoning Ritual?

2+ Thousand Computer Wires Mess Royalty-Free Images, Stock Photos & Pictures | Shutterstock

Unboxing the new machine felt like opening a treasure chest—until I realized it had no USB ports. My printer, camera, and external hard drive stared at me like abandoned pets. I bought adapters. Then adapters for the adapters. Banner tried to chew one. Balboa sat on the keyboard and activated Siri in Spanish.

Chapter Three: The Migration Mayhem

Transferring files was less “drag and drop” and more “drag and sob.” My old computer refused to cooperate, like a jealous ex. Passwords were forgotten. Cloud backups were mysteriously missing. At one point, I considered hiring a teenage hacker or just starting a new life as a forest-dwelling poet.  Even after desperation forced me to JustAnswer  it took the technician 2 days to help me find my Lightroom app.

Chapter Four: Victory (Sort Of)

Eventually, everything was set up. The screen was crisp, the speed was glorious, and I could open ten tabs without hearing a death rattle. Sure, I still don’t know what half the icons do, and yes, I accidentally sent an email with a cat emoji signature. But I’m back online, baby.

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Have you survived your own tech upgrade saga—or are you still tangled in cords and confusion? Drop your story in the comments and let’s commiserate.
And if you’re looking for cat-proof cables, adapters that actually work, or a chair that won’t judge your posture, check out my favorite finds below. Banner and Balboa approved (mostly).

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Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through this link—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely love and think you’ll enjoy too. Thanks for supporting Around Dusty Roads and helping keep the storytelling flowing

🪑 Chair of Champions

Ergonomic Synthetic Leather Gaming Chair
When your computer setup feels like a medieval quest, this chair is your throne. With diamond-stitched faux leather, a massaging lumbar cushion, and a retractable footrest, it’s built for bloggers, gamers, and anyone who’s ever Googled “how to sit like a human.” Banner may still try to chew the armrest, but at least you’ll be reclining in style.
Check it out

🖥️ The Comeback Computer

Gateway 23.8″ All-in-One Desktop
This sleek machine boots up faster than your cat can knock over a coffee mug. With a vivid Full HD display, AMD Ryzen 5 processor, and enough ports to make a dongle cry with joy, it’s the perfect upgrade for bloggers, creators, and digital wanderers. Comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse—because cords are so last meltdown.
Explore the specs

💼 The No-Frills Workhorse

15″ Windows 11 Laptop with Intel Pentium J3710
If you’re looking for a reliable laptop that won’t break the bank—or your back—this slim, featherweight machine delivers the essentials without the drama. With a crisp 1080p display, 256GB SSD, and 8GB RAM, it’s perfect for blogging, browsing, and battling inbox chaos. No flashy lights, no touch screen tantrums—just solid performance and a battery life that lasts longer than your average Zoom call. Bonus: it’s light enough for Balboa to nap on without triggering a system crash.
See the specs and snag the deal Here

Available at Welcominghaven.com

 

 

 

Orange You Glad It’s a Shark?

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Creamsicle Shark of Costa Rica: Nature’s Sweetest Surprise

Somewhere off the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, nature whipped up a treat that’s part shark, part sherbet, and all spectacle. Meet the Creamsicle Shark—a nurse shark with a rare genetic twist that turned it a glowing shade of orange, like it swam straight out of a popsicle ad.

NATIONAL CREAMSICLE DAY - August 14, 2026 - National Today

Stock photo

Catch & Release- Its still out there

Local fisherman Garvin Watson reeled in the citrus-hued creature near Tortuguero National Park, and the reaction was pure delight. “It looked like an alien,” he said, as the crew snapped photos and squealed like kids spotting a unicorn in the surf. The shark was released unharmed, but its legend is just beginning.

Photo Credit (Garvin Watson/Parismina Domus Dei

Scientists later confirmed this was no ordinary catch. The shark had both xanthism (a condition that boosts yellow pigmentation) and albinism, making it a one-in-a-million marvel. It’s the first documented case of xanthism in a nurse shark—proof that even the deep sea has a flair for drama.

If this creamsicle-colored wonder has you dreaming of underwater worlds, why not bring a splash of the ocean home? A well-designed aquarium can be a tranquil centerpiece, a sensory escape, and a nod to nature’s whimsy. [Affiliate link to aquariums] 🐠

Amazon

Whether you’re a marine biology buff or just love a good sea story, the Creamsicle Shark reminds us that the ocean still holds sweet surprises. And sometimes, they come in orange.

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Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely love and think you’ll enjoy too. Thanks for supporting Around Dusty Roads and helping keep the storytelling flowing

Curse of the Shared Brain Cell

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photo Credit Deb Neumann

Curse of the Shared Brain Cell: Life With an Orange Cat

Orange cats have a reputation. If you’ve ever spent time in the cat-loving corners of the internet, you’ve probably heard the joke: all orange cats share one collective brain cell. No one really knows where this idea started, but after living with one myself, I can confidently say—it feels true.

Orange cats aren’t just regular cats. They’re extra. They’re goofy, unhinged, and somehow both lazy and chaotic at the same time. Just look into their eyes—completely empty. Nothing going on in there.

Banner- photo credit Deb Neumann

 

Take my orange cat, Banner, for example. He has recently developed a vendetta against bulletin boards. He cannot stand to see them on the wall. I live in constant fear that he’ll manage to pull out a push pin and try to eat it.

Playtime

Banner’s approach to playtime is equally on-brand. Most cats love to chase and climb, but not him. He prefers to play from a reclining position, lazily batting at toys that dare to come close enough. On the rare occasion he does chase something, it’s like watching a chonky orange tank rumble across the floor. The cat tree? Fun when it was new. Now? Too much effort. A crinkly paper bag with a hole in the bottom? That’s the real prize.

Cat in the Bag – photo credit Deb Neumann

Then there’s his way of “relaxing.” Banner loves to drape himself across tables and ledges with his head hanging completely upside down, as if letting gravity feed the lone brain cell he’s been allotted. My black cat, Balboa, would never be caught in such a position—he has too much dignity for that nonsense.

Just Resting – photo credit Deb Neumann

And it’s not just Banner. The internet is full of orange cat chaos. My personal favorite? The orange cat who only lets his owner carry him upside down. Classic.

So yes, orange cats may have to share that one collective brain cell. But they also share something else—pure entertainment. Today might officially be Orange Cat Appreciation Day, but in my house, every day is. Banner keeps life interesting, and brain cell or not, I wouldn’t trade him for anything.

Kitty Chaos photo credit Deb Neumann

 

 

Clowns of the Sea

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Puffins, Clowns of the Sea

I love Puffins. Often called Clowns of the Sea, these charming seabirds earn their nickname thanks to their bright, multi-colored beaks, expressive facial markings, and pudgy little bodies. Add in their frantic wing-flapping and you’ve got a heartwarming, almost comical image that’s impossible not to adore. I love them so much that I embarked on a quest to see them live and in person—a surprisingly tricky endeavor on the East Coast of the USA.

Eastern Egg Rock, Maine – 2012

My first attempt was in 2012, when I joined an excursion to Eastern Egg Rock, a 7-acre island in Muscongus Bay, Maine, located about six miles east of New Harbor. It’s home to the world’s first restored seabird colony, including Atlantic Puffins. And it’s where I spotted my very first Puffin. They’re so little! Seeing one in the wild was a thrill, even if fleeting.

Puffin- Egg Island Maine 2012 photo credit Deb Neumann

 

Alaska – 2013

In 2013, I took a cruise to Alaska. I saw whales and sea lions, moose and caribou—even a couple of bears. But when the ship cruised past a raft of Puffins in Prince William Sound, I was curled up in my bunk, battling a bout of seasickness. Strike two on my Puffin quest.

Sea Lions Alaska 2013 Photo credit Deb Neumann

Machias Seal Island, Maine – 2016

Then in 2016, I heard about a National Audubon trip to Machias Seal Island in the Bay of Fundy. Puffins? Yes, please—sign me up! This time, success. The trip was everything I’d hoped for. You can read all about it in my Around Dusty Roads post [linked here].

Machia Seal Island Puffin 2016 photo credit Deb Neumann

 

Puffling Season

So what got me thinking about Puffins today? I stumbled across a story from Iceland, where residents of a seaside town were reportedly throwing baby Puffins into the sea. The headline was alarming, so of course I had to dig deeper. Turns out, the town’s streetlights confuse fledgling Puffins—called Pufflings—making it difficult for them to find the ocean when they leave the nest. Since Puffins spend the next 3–4 years at sea before returning to land to mate, this disorientation could be disastrous. Thankfully, the townspeople created a Puffling Patrol, gently collecting the confused chicks and helping them reach the water safely. A beautiful example of community compassion and wildlife stewardship.

Puffin Photo credit Deb Neumann

Conclusion

From Maine’s rocky islands to Iceland’s glowing coastlines, Puffins have a way of capturing hearts and stirring wonder. My journey to see them has been filled with detours, discoveries, and a deepening appreciation for these quirky little seabirds. Whether flapping frantically through the air or bobbing serenely on the waves, Puffins remind us that joy often comes in small, feathered packages—and that sometimes, the best adventures begin with a little obsession and a lot of heart.

 

Puffin Hide and Seek- photo credit Deb Neumann