Last week I heard the story of a woman who loved dogs and had a dog rest stop built in her front yard. It includes a bench where she can sit and engage with neighbors and especially their dogs as they walk by. There’s also a water dish for the dogs as well as treats. She loves sitting and visiting and has become well known by all of her neighbors.

I thought of how many people I have met since I started placing little plastic animals in my own front yard. When I added sidewalk chalk and sometimes signs it also gave me an opportunity to be creative. Mostly though, I appreciated meeting neighbors and seeing how they engaged with the display. In both displays small things are making a big positive difference for many.