You may never learn the names of any of the people you talk to in a dog park, even after many, many hours spent there with them, and many hours of conversation. But if - knock on wood - anything should ever happen to your dog, these nameless non-strangers will rally, sympathize, offer to help, and hold your hand. I know this from experience.

I was never any good at remembering dates, but now I hardly have to. When the first bulb catalogs get delivered and the hens start laying again, that's all the notice I'll need to know that winter has passed.

Among all life forms, there are creatures with charisma and creatures without. It's one of those ineffable qualities we can't quite define, but we all seem to respond similarly to.

When you're researching you're learning. When you're writing, you're teaching.

The fact that dogs are not people means you don't have as much response to the particulars.

Knowledge is a beautiful thing, but there are a few things I wish I didn't know.

I think the responsibility of running a huge business, which happens if you become a successful designer, probably makes you more careful.