Newbury, Mass #2: Visited the Historic Spencer-Peirce-Little House/ Owners, Rooms

In a previous blog we visited the Historic Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury, Massachusetts. Today's blog is about the historic house that was built on the property 65 years after the farm was created. The farm started in 1625 and it wasn't until 1690 that a residential house for the Spencer family was constructed, by the next owner. 

SPENCER FAMILY HISTORY - John Spencer, a wealthy man from England was granted 400 acres of cleared grazing land in 1625. It was previously cleared because it was farmed by indigenous people. After 10 years he returned to England. Sadly, he died there and the Pierce family bought property. The only houses that were on the property until 1690 were for farmlands. That's when Daniel Pierce Jr. a stone house to resemble a country squire house in England. TODAY, The nearby Newbury Airport is part of the property.

WHAT IS A SLEDGE? The house's stone walls are 3-4 feet thick and the stone was quarried in nearby Plum Island, now part of the property. Stone was transported by "sledges" over marshland (A heavy, low-profile wooden drag designed without raised runners to "float" massive stones over soil & mud without sinking).

THE HOUSE - Had diamond shaped windows until the 1800s. There's no wooden framing in exterior walls. It's all stone! There's a small brick niche over the front door which likely held a lantern for people to see the front door, since in the 1690s it was dark! 

ROOMS DECORATED IN DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS TODAY 

THE TRACY FAMILY (Not part of the house name)- Nathaniel Tracy was the founder and financier of Revolutionary activities. He was wealthy but lost his fortune during the revoltionary war and left destitute except the house, because he had put it in his son's name. Once broke, he moved with his wife and his 11 children into his son's house. Later he traveled to England where he died at 44 years old. Interestingly enough, he financed ship builders who built ships for the NEXT House's owner, Captain Boardman.

THE BOARDMAN FAMILY -   Captain Boardman profited from slave labor. Became a privateer, a legal pirate - That is, he took over British ships and stole them for the revolution then hid them in Newburyport harbor. He was captured, jailed in England, freed and returned then bought the farm from widow Tracy & kids who moved to Newburyport. Boardman built the wooden addition died in 1811. His wife hired lawyer who created a property map, used today by the Historical Society.

FINAL OWNER- LITTLE FAMILY- In 1860, Henry Little was a tenant farmer. By 1870 he bought the manor house. He had children who died of tuberculosis and another in an awful farming accident. By the 1970s, there were 3 unmarried adults living there:  2 sisters and a cousin. They had long term tenant farmers work the land. The Little family lived here 125 years until 1985. Decendants in the 1970s signed the deed to the historical society.

(Photo right: Dining room in 1940s style. Credit: R.G.)

Dining room from 1940s, as Little family enjoyed. Set up like pics in a 40s magazine. Ceiling in dining room is sinking, so the family trimmed the tops of the furniture instead of fixing the ceiling because the beams were sagging. Historic society installed steel vertical beams to support structure.

Kitchen is decorated in the 1900 to 1920 style. All surfaces were painted. The fireplace was originally a walk in but reduced over time to suit an oven. Cast iron tub is inset in wall, and had fire lit underneath for generating hot water until 1910 when electricity arrived but was unreliable. WHY? They had 1 service wire from Main street down long driveway that would fail during storms.

Living room. Renovated in 1870. Decorated in that age. Henry little was a realtor and banker. Met clients in this room. 

 (Photo right: Living room in the 1870s style, as built by the Little family)

(The open fireplace on the second floor in a room over the downstairs kitchen)

EARTHQUAKE FACT - On the night of October 29, 1727, the most damaging historic earthquake in New England centered off of Cape Ann, MA. It is estimated to have been between 6.0 and 6.3 magnitude. It took down chimneys all throughout New England. The quake struck off the NH/MA coast near present-day Seabrook and Salisbury, with shocks felt from Connecticut to Canada. The worst damage was between Cape Cod and Portsmouth, NH.

(Photo: A bedroom on the second floor)

THE UPSTAIRS  - There was a room on the second floor in the original stone house section. The room was located over the kitchen and has fireplace 1690 of stone and plaster. Was either used as secondary kitchen or bedroom. See photo below for the exposed fireplace!      

Idiot of the Week: Woman Drives Car into Roadrunner Highway Mural in Mexico

This week's idiot is an unnamed woman who was driving in Monterrey, Mexico and crashed her car into a wall after mistaking a hyper-realistic Looney Tunes/Road Runner mural of a tunnel entrance for a real roadway. It was created by an anonymous artist.

Road Runner mural surprises drivers in a Monterrey, Mexico tunnel 

Monterrey, Nuevo León | July 16, 2026

A distinctive painting in a Monterrey tunnel caught the attention of social media users by creating a visual illusion inspired by the famous *Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote* cartoon. The artwork, which recreated the classic Looney Tunes gag of a painted tunnel featuring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, created a convincing optical illusion from a distance.

The image, which plays with perspective, required some drivers to pay closer attention while passing through the area, as the design creates an impression of continuity and depth.

The artistic detail quickly became a topic of conversation among internet users, who recalled classic scenes from the animated series where Wile E. Coyote would find himself surprised by his own schemes.

ABOUT THE REALISTIC HIGHWAY ART- (Noalzine) 

The mural’s realistic design has also sparked conversations about the power of street art and optical illusions. While many viewers found the situation humorous, it also served as a reminder for drivers to stay alert and not rely solely on what they see from a distance.

The artwork, originally created as a playful tribute to one of animation’s most recognizable characters, gained even more attention after the crash. What was meant to be a fictional joke became a real-world moment that perfectly matched the cartoon inspiration behind it. In the end, Wile E. Coyote’s fake tunnel may have accomplished something the character never did — successfully fooling someone.

Hero of the Week: U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani

This week's hero is U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani, a federal judge who prevented the current administration's request to limit voting by mail. So many people in rural America, who can't get to polling places, or people who work long hours and care for their families rely on mail in ballots. Even the virus himself used a mail in ballot, yet he wants to remove that right from others. Fortunately, this week's hero blocked that ridiculous request to limit voting.

  

Judge again bars Trump administration from implementing order that sought to limit mail voting

AP News, August 11, 2026

BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday ruled against President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to create a federal voter list and directly involve the U.S. Postal Service in election operations in a way that would limit mail voting.

U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani had already halted the order Trump signed in March, his second one attempting to set national election rules. On June 25, she sided with Democratic state attorneys general in granting summary judgment, preventing the core parts of Trump’s order from taking effect.

Tuesday’s ruling creates another legal hurdle for the Trump administration to overcome should it get the initial injunction lifted by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“That it is now less than 90 days before the November 3, 2026 midterm elections underscores the critical need for an injunction to prevent Defendants from changing election rules on the eve of the election,” she wrote.

The Trump administration in late July requested that the Supreme Court halt lower court decisions that have blocked the sweeping changes in nearly half the country.

In the latest lawsuit, Talwani, who was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama, sided with the League of Women Voters and other voting rights groups.

Her ruling granting a preliminary injunction barred the Postal Service from taking any steps to implement the order for this year’s midterm elections. She said the administration has so far declined to defend the constitutionality of the executive order.

Book of the Week: DC Through the 80s: The End of Eras (Hardcover)

This week's book of the week is about DC Comics in the 1980s, and chronicles many of the comic books published before the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" storyline changed everything. 

This is a good overview of DC Comics of the
early to mid-80s. The book includes comics from all genres in the early to mid 80s: Western, Superheroes, Aviation, Fantasy, War, Mystery, Humor/Satire, Horror & Sci-Fi or Suspense, Adventure and Military. There's also writer and artist commentary throughout the book. It's a great look at DC Comics of the 1980s and was enjoyable to read. I used to have many of those comics, before I moved out of my parents' house... and unfortunately had to give them away because I couldn't move them. Now, I'm trying to buy many of them back!

Collects: Action Comics 583, Flash 296-298, Super Friends 36, Superman 423, Wonder Woman 311-312, DC Comics Presents Ann. 1, Detective 500, House of Mystery 286, 290, 294-295, Jonah Hex 54-55, Brave and Bold 200, Weird War Tales 93, G.I. Combat 298, Sgt Rock 345, 347, 368, & 387 and others.

MISSED Last Night's 1 hour Interview? Watch it here!

 MISSED Last Night's 1 hour Interview? Watch it here!

July 19, 2026- Hosts Mike Ricksecker and Victoria Mundae welcome Medium Rob Gutro once again to discuss ghosts and hauntings from his "Haunting Of" Series at some of the world's most haunted locations. What makes a haunting and what sort of spirits has Rob encountered on his adventures and paranormal investigations.
VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKQx2j-5kp0

Personal Observation: How Climate Change Has Affected Maryland - More Tornadoes

I've seen what climate change does in realtime,especially over the last 35 years in the state of Maryland. As a meteorologist, I remember when I first moved to Maryland in 1989 one of my meteorology books listed the "average number of tornadoes per state" and for Maryland it was one tornado annually. That's certainly not the case anymore. According to the National Weather Service, Baltimore, in 2026 there have been at least 8 tornadoes!  So what's happening? As the world continues to warm, and there's more water vapor in the atmosphere causing more violent, tornado-generating storms.  That's today's blog.

WHY DOES A WARMER CLIMATE FUEL MORE SEVERE STORMS? Warmer air holds more water: Basic science shows that rising global temperatures let the air "drink in" and transport vastly more moisture from oceans and land. Water vapor acts as the fuel for weather systems. When the air gets warmer, it holds more moisture—about 7% more for every 1°C (1.8°F) of warming. When this extra vapor condenses into clouds and rain, it releases hidden heat energy that powers faster winds, taller storm clouds, and heavier downpours Also, a warmer atmosphere creates stronger updrafts: This released heat makes the air lighter and causes it to rise faster, creating violent vertical updrafts that build towering storm systems.

MY EXPERIENCE: When I first moved to Maryland in 1989, the entire state averaged one tornado annually, and usually they were recorded near western Maryland like Frederick County, because the Blue Ridge mountains would put a spin in the atmosphere when thunderstorms rolled through. As of August 16, 2026, the National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington has confirmed at least 12 tornadoes in Maryland so far this year, following a cluster of active severe weather events through late July and early August. Now, tornadoes are not limited to western Maryland. As storms have become more intense, severe thunderstorms that spawn tornadoes have been recorded all over the state.

Video of the Baltimore City Tornado from August 10, 2026: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19Y4q6W6WZ/

2026 TORNADOES IN MARYLAND 

* August 10, 2026: An EF-0 tornado (65 mph winds) tracked 2 miles from the Port of Baltimore (Seagirt Marine Terminal) into Dundalk in Baltimore County.

* July 28, 2026: A severe storm outbreak spawned 5 tornadoes that struck across opposite sides of the Chesapeake Bay within just a six-minute span, including three confirmed in Anne Arundel County (Riviera Beach, Lake Shore, and between Arnold/Cape Saint Claire) and two in Talbot County near Trappe (between 6:12 PM – 6:18 PM) 

* 6:12 PM (Trappe, Talbot County): EF-1 tornado with 90–100 mph winds.

* 6:15 PM (Lakeshore / Pasadena, Anne Arundel County): EF-1 tornado with 100 mph winds. 

* 6:17 PM (Cape St. Claire, Anne Arundel County): Tornado with final rating finalized/assessed by the National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington. 

* 6:18 PM (Trappe, Talbot County): A second, weaker EF-0 tornado (70–80 mph) hit the same general area.

* March 16, 2026 (New Windsor / Carroll County): An EF-0 tornado touched down in New Windsor, accompanied by an EF-1 later in the day

* March 11, 2026 (Howard County): An EF-1 tornado (winds up to 90 mph) touched down near Gaither in northwestern Howard County.

* March 11, 2026: A secondary brief EF-0 tornado was confirmed during the same mid-March severe weather setup.

Research: 5 Cups of Coffee Is Often Okay (Black coffee)

 I love my Dunkin' hot black coffee and I'm always looking for studies about consuming it, and its effects. From my own experience I know that drinking black coffee after a meal helps my digestion, as the acids in the coffee seem to help break down the food. That's my experience. Today's blog is about research that says 5 cups of coffee daily is okay (for people who don't have health issues). 

(Tyler used to say "Where's my coffee?" - Photo from 2019)) 

The Heart Association Says You Can Drink Up to 5 Cups of Coffee to Reduce Your Risk Of Heart Disease And Stroke

Jillian Wilson, Jul 20, 2026, Huff Post

Go ahead and pour yourself that extra cup of coffee, but hold the cream and sugar.

According to a new statement published in Circulation, the American Heart Association’s medical journal, your coffee habit may actually be good for your cardiovascular health.

Volunteers for the American Heart Association looked at research from recent decades and found that having up to 400 milligrams of caffeine each day, or up to roughly five 8-ounce cups of coffee, is safe for most adults and may offer heart health benefits.

Consuming up to 400 milligrams of black coffee each day is considered safe, according to researchers, and is tied to lower rates of heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and irregular heartbeat, and a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes.

While this research shows that drinking black coffee may offer cardiovascular benefits for many adults, more research is needed to see how different forms of caffeine (such as tea) impact heart health, according to study authors.

One caveat? This is true for black coffee only — not for sugar-sweetened lattes and coffee mixed with half-and-half.

As a rule, the American Heart Association recommends that adults limit their whole milk consumption, which is high in saturated fat.

DOESN'T APPLY TO FRENCH PRESS, ESPRESSO, TURKISH COFFEE, OR ENERGY DRINKS

Cafestol, which is found in French press coffee, Turkish coffee, espresso and boiled coffee, is linked to higher levels of LDL cholesterol, or the “bad type” of cholesterol, which is known to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

This is not a concern with instant coffee and coffee brewed with paper filters, as they do not contain cafestol.

Caffeine intake in energy drinks does not have health benefits and may instead be harmful. Energy drinks (and energy shots) generally contain higher amounts of caffeine than a cup of coffee or a shot of espresso. This “may increase the risk of high blood pressure and/or irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia,” the American Heart Association said in its press release.

Saw the Partial Solar Eclipse!

The week of August 9th gave northern New Englanders a special astronomical treat - a Partial Solar Eclipse! On August 12, 2026, Maine was treated to see this event during the middle of the day. Back on April 8th, 2024, we experienced 95% totality of the Total Solar Eclipse. Fortunately, Tom kept a pair of the Eclipse viewing glasses so we were able to step outside and see the image of almost 20% of the Moon obscuring the Sun. (Although I had the stomach flu for 5 days at that point, I needed to see it!)

IF MAINE SAW ONLY 20% WHERE WAS THE PATH OF TOTALITY (100%)? The solar eclipse begins in extreme northern Russia, crosses the Arctic Ocean, tracks along eastern and western Greenland, sweeps across western Iceland, and ends across northern and central Spain with a small sliver touching northeastern Portugal.

PARTIAL ECLIPSE REGIONS:  Europe: Most major European cities (like London, Paris, and Madrid) experience a massive partial eclipse ranging from 90% to near-total coverage.North America: Parts of northeastern North America and eastern Canada see a minor partial eclipse.  

(Image of what we saw from Maine around 1:30 p.m. ET) 

Partial solar eclipse visible across Maine

The partial eclipse was visible In Portland, the eclipse will begin at 12:57 p.m. and end at 2:27 p.m.

Associated Press, August 12, 2026

PORTLAND, Maine — A rare partial solar eclipse will be visible across Maine on Wednesday afternoon.

(Photo: Fortunately, there were few clouds to block our view for the couple of minutes!) 

The eclipse's path of totality will pass through parts of Europe, including Spain, on Aug. 12. Parts of Greenland, western Iceland and a corner of Portugal will also experience totality.

In the United States, a partial eclipse will be visible in parts of Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania, as well as Washington, D.C.

Some of the best viewing in the U.S. will be in Maine, where only a small “bite” will be taken out of the solar disk (20% to 40%) as the moon appears to just clip the sun.

(Our friends Angie and Les sent this photo from Europe where her sister captured this view from England)

In Bangor, the partial eclipse will begin at 12:54 p.m. and end at 2:49 p.m. In Portland, it will begin at 12:57 p.m. and end at 2:27 p.m.

The eclipse will begin around midday in the northern United States and continue into the afternoon in areas farther east.

Newbury, Mass #1: Visited the Historic Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm

We recently visited the historic Spence-Pierce-Little Farm in Newbury, Massachusetts. It is located next to Newburyport that we talked about in last week's blog. You'll learn about the history of the farm from the Native Americans to the English settlers, and meet some animals!

(Tom was hanging around the asses on the farm. Credit: R.G.) 

OUR VISIT - We visited on July 24, 2026, and it was a perfect weather day with temperatures in the 70s with sunshine and blue sky. We enjoyed walking around the farm, which is an active, working farm today. A couple of people were tending to the sheep, donkeys and goats and there were young kids visiting from a summer camp. 

(One donkey said to the other, "Don't be such an ass.": Credit: R.G.)

TOM FEEDS A DONKEY! - Tom enjoyed hanging around the asses, uh, donkeys, because he got to feed them hay and carrots.  He has a soft spot for donkeys, because he donates to a donkey rescue. I guess they could sense that! 

ABOUT THE SPENCER-PEIRCE LITTLE FARM - Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm is located at 5 Little’s Lane,Newbury, MA. It's a family-friendly National Historic Landmark with activities for all ages. The 230-acre site includes a 1690 manor house (That's another blog) that served as the country seat of wealthy Newburyport merchants and an attached farmhouse that was home to a Lithuanian family for most of the twentieth century. 

COOL FACT - Today, the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm fosters animals in partnership
with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Visit friendly sheep, goats, chickens, and a horse throughout the year.

(Photo: Rob decided to hang out with the old (and young) goats.)

EVENTS THERE-  Take a farm tour or attend one of the outdoor events, including Vintage Base Ball from May to October. The site is available for weddings and private events. 

WHO IS THE FARM NAMED AFTER? The Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm is named after three prominent families who owned the land over the centuries: John Spencer, who received the original land grant in 1635 and was granted 400 acres of cleared grazing land; Daniel Peirce Sr., who bought the property in 1651; and Edward Little, who purchased the farm in 1861.

 

(There were a lot of sheep on the farm!)

LAND THROUGH HISTORY - The land was called Quascacunquen, meaning waterfall, with the English renaming it Newbury in 1635. Similarly, the Quascacunquen River was renamed the Parker River. Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm sits on the homeland of the Pawtucket and Penacook Native Americans, dating back thousands of years. 

     An archeological dig identified an indigenous site at the farm, which is evidence to the presence of these groups, centuries prior to the arrival of the English. The Pawtucket and Penacook were both semi-autonomous groups who moved with the seasons. They used the land, that now makes up the North Shore, for fishing, hunting, foraging,

Idiot of the Week: J6er Denied Medical License

This week's idiot stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021 as part of the insurrection to overthrow the election. She assaulted an officer, was arrested, tried, convicted, and then pardoned by a virus. But Karma would still catch up. What's astounding is that she was a doctor.  Now, the Massachusetts Medical board will not allow her renew her license to practice medicine. 

(This image from U.S. Capitol Police body-worn video that was in the government sentencing memorandum in the case, shows Jacquelyn Starer, a physician from Massachusetts, striking a police officer in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Credit: U.S. Department of Justice)

Medical board revokes right to renew license for Mass. doctor who hit officer on Jan. 6

By Ross Cristantiello, Boston.com, July 21, 2026

The state’s Board of Registration in Medicine revoked a Massachusetts doctor’s right to renew her medical license last week, citing the fact that she struck a police officer while breaching the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Jacquelyn Starer, of Ashland, pleaded guilty to eight charges, including a felony assault charge, in 2024. She was sentenced to 9 months in prison for her actions, but was pardoned by President Donald Trump shortly after he began his second term last year.

Starer is a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist who has a subspeciality in addiction medicine. She was primarily a practitioner of addiction medicine before her arrest in 2022.

After traveling to Washington, D.C. to attend Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally, Starer walked with other protesters to the Capitol and entered the building through its East Door. She initially found the atmosphere inside “fairly calm,” but was drawn to an argument between police and rioters in the rotunda, Starer’s attorneys wrote in court documents.

Starer engaged in a “heated discussion” with another member of the crowd, and pushed his arm away from her because she felt like he was “invading her space.” During this interaction, she turned away from the line of police. One officer pushed Starer in the back. She responded by turning and striking the officer with a closed fist, her attorneys wrote.

She said that she was upset with the other rioter who had apparently tried to hold her back, and instinctively punched the officer’s arm after being pushed, her attorneys said.

Prosecutors said in court documents that Starer’s assault of the officer “riled up the hostile crowd and contributed to the dangerousness of the situation.” They emphasized that Starer yelled expletives at officers and pushed her way through the mob in order to confront police.

Starer was affected by pepper spray and exited the Capitol about 15 minutes after she entered it.

The interaction occurred as police attempted to keep rioters away from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. It was captured on video, including on footage from body-worn cameras.

Starer pivoted to addiction medicine after dealing with addiction herself and attempting suicide in 1996, according to court documents. She went on to serve as president of the Massachusetts Society of Addiction Medicine and as a consultant to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

In a 2024 letter to the judge who oversaw Starer’s case, her husband said that Starer hoped to continue practicing medicine.

“She would very much like to regain her privileges to practice medicine and continue to care for those struggling with addiction, but this is unlikely if the outcome of these proceedings is not in her favor,” he wrote. “At the very least, she would like to restore her reputation in the medical profession and in the community.”

Heroes of the Week: NH State Troopers Stop Car Exceeding 100 mph

This week's heroes are the New Hampshire State Police who were able to stop 2 teens who were speeding at dangerously excessive speed on an Interstate in southeastern New Hampshire.The driver was accused of driving 100+ mph and failing to stop for troopers Friday; and a passenger faces a possession charge.

 

Teens From Belmont, Mass., Charged After Chase With New Hampshire State Police On Interstate 95

Tony Schinella, Patch Staf, Sun, Aug 9, 2026

GREENLAND, NH — Two Bay State teens face charges after a chase with New Hampshire State Police on Interstate 95 on Friday night.

Just before 9:45 p.m., a trooper on the northbound side of the highway attempted to stop the driver of a 2021 Hyundai Elantra, “which was observed traveling more than 100 mph” in Greenland, according to a state police report. When the driver, later identified as Justin Jedry, 18, of Belmont, MA, was accused of refusing to stop, a chase ensued.

“(Jedry) exited the highway into Portsmouth, at which time the pursuit was discontinued in the interest of public safety,” the report stated. “Shortly after, troopers located the vehicle and again attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop, and the pursuit was reinitiated.”

Troopers tried to stop the chase by blocking the vehicle, which resulted in minor damage to their cruisers.

“Ultimately, assisting Troopers deployed tire deflation devices, successfully concluding the pursuit,” the report stated.

Book of the Week: Hounded - Lowdown on Life

Being a Dachshund dad, when I saw this week's book come up in my feed, I thought I would give it a try. After all, it had three beautiful Dachshunds on the cover and it had a  4.5 star rating. But by Page 30, I gave up.  BTW, I don't say books are good or bad, just whether they appealed to me. Obviously many readers enjoyed this book more than I did, although I did like the Dachshund highlights on every chapter.  

MY TAKE - I enjoyed the first story where the author's dad brought home a stray dog they named King, which fostered his love for dogs. After that story, and a few mentions about breeders and one of their dachshunds, it focused much more on the author and his family and their travels. It didn't seem Dachshund focused, it seemed author focused.

The summary said it was about observations any dog lover would appreciate. I did find numbered "rules" at ends of  chapters with a picture of one of his adorable dachshunds, and a sentence with "Dachshund Life Lessons." Those I could relate to, and enjoyed reading. Perhaps I didn't give it enough time, but I wanted more of the dogs and less of family dynamics. - So, if you're looking for more dog-oriented stuff, I would pass - but the Dachshunds are adorable.

Hounded: The Lowdown on Life from Three Dachshunds by Matt Ziselman   

ABOUT THE BOOK: Living with three strong-willed, highly individual Dachshunds can be equal parts entertaining, frustrating and rewarding. Just ask Matt Ziselman.

Armed with a fresh, creative voice that is unabashedly cranky one moment and profoundly poignant the next, Ziselman mixes hilarious canine stories, with heartfelt reminiscences from his own life, the results of which is a memoir of illuminating life lessons, courtesy of the three thoroughly Teutonic Dachshunds that he shares his life (and couch) with: Baxter, Maya and Molly. Seemingly mundane moments, like Baxter's incessant, neuroses inducing staring, Maya's inexplicable refusal to walk through the front door and Molly's obsessive compulsive love for a torn and tattered blanket become, through Ziselman's insightful eyes, a treasure trove of observations that any dog-lover will appreciate. 

In a market where Americans spend more than $40 billion a year on their pets, this work of razor-sharp wit and quiet tenderness will reach out and grab readers everywhere by the heartstrings and-quite possibly-their leashes.

HOUNDED wraps universal insights in hot-dog-shaped packages, providing true dog lovers with many knowing nods, honest belly laughs and an accurate, warts-and-all reflection of the fascination, wonder and love that they have for their dogs. And that Matt Ziselman obviously has for his.