Transitioning to new blog.

Hi all! I faithfully tried to keep this blog updated through the summer, but once my dear dog Iris died, I had to take a new route for inspiration and for writing picture books. Hence, my new blog on blogger is Book Tales. Here I review books that inform my writing journey and chronicle my process and journey as a children's writer. there's good stuff for readers & writers as well as parents/caregivers/educators to keep picture books front & center. If you land on this blog due to my older business card, just click over to Book Tales. Cheers to Writing and the journey & the great people I'm meeting on the road to publication!

New Dog in Town?

Iris is looking down from the Rainbow Bridge and knows we need a Corgi to love. She left a huge hole in our heart but that hole can be filled with the love of a rescue who never had the chances our Iris did. This is Wiley Coy-orgi, a sweet, shy 5 year old tri Pembroke we met in Flagstaff. He's had a hard life, but it will be "all biscuits" once he comes to the Halsey Hacienda later this week. Wiley, you had us @ "Baroo!"

Iris Shows Off Her Ruff

"RRRRuff!" My ruff is defined as "fringe or frill of long hairs or feathers growing around or on the neck of an animal."Actually, I look like I'm all ruff or all fluff! Happy Monday and hope your day is smooth not "ruff."

For All Who Have Lost a Dear One

It may be your fur friend, it may be your best friend, it may be your mother, your brother or even your pet fish. Mourning takes time and we need to give ourselves permission to go through it. So this is dedicated to all who mourn, whatever, whoever the loss, it is always great because we loved! But we will love and find joy again!

In Memoriam 

Beloved ones

Moonlit skies

Coyotes call

Whippoorwills sing

We mourn out our loss

Beautiful heartbreaking night

Magical breeze

Our voices carry

Each named

Each remembered

Healing

Sacred

Ritual

Silence

Pain, deep and raw

Comforted by the list of love

Close your eyes and listen

You’ve been given a gift

Corgi Mind Meld Look

This is called the "Corgi Mind Meld" look by Corgi aficionados. You lock your eyes on your human and deliberately will them to do your bidding! And, guess what? It works every time for Iris. She has perfected the look and I am helpless. I do her bidding, whatever it is! In this pic, she wants me to reassemble her decimated toy "Rocky Raccoon." Barro, no can do, I guess I will buy her a new toy! Again!

We Live On

No, no Iris in this picture! It has been less than a month that our girl has passed. Iris is at the Rainbow Bridge, but her spirit lives on! I always associated the color purple with my Corgi girl. Growing up in SW Ohio, the first irises I saw heralding spring were the bearded purple ones. Therefore my fluffy Iris girl had a purple leash and harness. One of our daughters bought this purple calla lily in her memory and our wonderful vet family @ Faust Animal Hospital made this paw print impression for us. The vets not only cared for & loved Iris, the whole staff adored her. Corgis are a bit unusual in Phoenix, AZ, so everyone knew her. They educated us, too, about Addison's Disease in dogs and renal failure. Everyone in that office signed and sent cards of condolences. Before this month is over, I will present them with some sunflowers and a poem and some pictures of our strong-willed, brave girl! Baroo!

Super Moon Llyr's Fire Poem

'Tis the weekend of a super moon and the summer solstice. These type of events never phased (get the pun) me before, but now with Iris only in my memoirs and not just a head scratch away on those fluffy wing-spanned ears, it matters. Llyr's Fire was last night and over 1,400+ Corgis, other dogs & some people were named, remembered, and loved. This is the 2nd year of the event started by Caryl Bahner-Guhin to commemorate a courageous Corgi boy, Llyr, who had DM and passed on to the Rainbow Bridge June 21. People all over the US and beyond lit candles, burnt sage leaves, and mourned and took strength together.  God created us all, all creature, "great & small," and they are all important. Here is my poem
Llyr's Fire 

The good folk have joined

Forces with bright beings ^^

Some still smile and run

Others wait for their families

But their cares are gone 

Their pureness perfected by love^^

The candles are lit;the fires burn

Blanking out darkness

Manifesting memories of always being in the NOW ^^

This moment,this night

The veil is thin

Half-way between heaven and earth

The bridge is populating^^

They see the love burning in our hearts

They smell the sage^^ 

We are with them

They are with us^^ 

We remember!

The Veil Is Thin- Llyr's Fire

Today is the Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year. Lore has it that the "veil" between us & those who have passed is very thin, so it is a good time to meditate on those you have lost, including our fur children! It is also the night of Llyr's Fire, a world-wide event where all Corgis who have gone on to the Rainbow Bridge are remembered. Llyr, a beautiful fluffy boy, passed a year ago today of DM. This is how the tradition started. Their name is said & the Corgis and people around the fire say. "We remember." Please light a candle tonight and remember your fur kids and all those who are now frapping on the Bridge It begins @ 9 PM, EST. Llyr's Fire

Iris at the Bridge

This has been a very sad week. Iris passed onto the Rainbow Bridge June 4 @ 11:20 with her head on my lap & her feet on her dad's. She was surrounded by all the lovely people @ Faust Animal Hospital. Dog bless them! Four months of stage 4 renal failure & Addison's disease had taken their toll. She was our fur-ever girl and will live on in this blog & in the Iris Tales, which, when published will keep her sweet spirit alive! She was brave and as Bob, her daddy said, "She was a magical creature."  Frap on in heaven, Iris, with Mary Hackman, your grandma, my mother. Iris reached the bridge on Mom's 85 birthday. "Sad" is not even the word to say how I feel.  Sighs too deep for words! You have our hearts forever!

Sound the Drum for Drummies!

Ta-dum! Beat the drum for short little Corgi legs, affectionately called by the Corgi-crazed as "drummies!"  Yes, they look like drumsticks, but don't you dare try to munch on one, or you will meet Corgi teeth!  Iris likes to tease us by sticking out one drummie at a time.  Her back legs spread out for all to see, drum roll please! Baroo! 

Will Dance for Food

If you have something yummy, I will get it one way or another.  I can stand on my hind legs and dance and prance 'til you give me the nom-nom! Notice the beautiful white patch high up on my back?  It is  believed that fairies used us as their magical steeds cuz' we're magical like that! Have a magical Tuesday all you out there in Corgi land! Baroo!   

Miles of Smiles and a button nose!

Baroo, today I am smiling on you! Continuing our Corgi review of beautiful body parts, we have a dazzling display of one tooth, a lovely pink tongue & my button nose, all distinctly "Corgi."  And perfect, too, if I do say so myself, which I do.

Fluff is Enuff!

Baroo, fluff is enuff!  To continue the tour of Iris and all her Corgiliciousness, we must again remark about her fluff.  Not all Corgis are lucky enuff to have fluff.  We have an extra gene that adds to our fluffiness.  As you can see in the this Easter pose w/Mommy, we are quite furry. Fluffy Corgis are so special, that Mom & Dad had to sign paper work saying we would not breed cuz we're special like dat!  The world can not have too much fluffiness, although I think to borrow from Dionne Warwick, "What the world needs now is fluff, sweet fluff!  Happy Fluff Friday all, Love Iris.

My Fur Mitts

We shall embark on a tour of Corgi appendages. You have already met my ears & my pants. Now take a look at my mitts, er, ah, "paws" in non-Corgese.  Be amazed at the large, powerful yet adorable feet we Corgis have.  Some folks think they look like hobbit toes. Actually, we came first & hobbits copied us, cuz we're cool like that! The lovely two-tone red & white fur furrrr-ther accentuates these mitts, don't ya think?  Why wear shoes if you have Corgi thunder hammers?  Baroo!   

DO THE IRIS DANCE!

And today for your dancing pleasure, we introduce the "Iris Dance!"  Iris likes to jump on her hind legs & dance for food and it is quite entertaining. She knows it will at least get her a yummy non-nom!  Or 2 or 3, well...you get the idea.  So here are the words to 
"The Iris Dance" 
Ears up,(put your ears up on top of your head like Corgi ears)
Shake your pants ("Pants are a Cogi's feathers/fluff on the back side- they are white.  So turn your backside front and shake your bum!)
Now you're doing the Iris Dance! (Just wiggle w/joy!)
Paws to the left, Paws to the right (make a fist w/both hands to show your paws)
 Say "Baroo" with all your might! (Cup your hands around your mouth & yell "Baroo" which is the signature Corgi bark!)
Here are Iris's pants

Pet Me Now

Iris loves to meet people and soon they are fast friends.  Here are 2 of Mommy's friends from Ohio. Iris says. "Baroo, the best way to be my friend is to pet me!  I am sure you will enjoy it almost as much as I do!" 

Are They Party Hats or Ears???

Yes, they are ears, one of the most useful and  fun Corgi body parts! We can use them as radar or show emotion with them.  Or if a party is headed our way, we can put a party hat on each ear.  Pretty versatile, don't you think??  Corgi on!

The Nose Knows

Hey, you!  See my nose.  I knows what you are up to. I'm a Corgi- I know these things See my eyes - I see you are after my treats, right? Remember, I am a food-oriented dog! Be afraid, be very afraid!!!

I Loves to Dominate Dad!!!

Baroo, woof, woof!  I loves to dominate my dad by sitting all around and on him.  Daddy is very cozy, especially in the winter!  I like this picture of us 'cuz you can see my beautiful Corgi ears that never quite stood up.  I look more like Yoda this way, don't ya think???  May the Corgi force be with you all today.  Happy Friday & Corgi on!!! Peace out, from Iris.

Ms Fluffo-fluffa-butts

Yes, that's Ms. Fluffo-fluffa-butts, AKA Iris Halsey, our red Corgi girl.You see her backside is the best side.  The white sections on her legs are called her "pants."  Iris wears the pants in this family!  Woof, woof, Baroo, we love you!!!

I Love Lambchop!

Lambchop is one of my favorite toys as you can see. I am loving on Lambchop and he is lovin on me.  Mom buys me new toys once I have sucked all the "guts" out of them.  They have fluffy innards, just like I have fluffy "outards!"  BOL!!! (Barking out Loud!)  My other favorite toy that I've sucked the stuffing out is one I call "Ducky the Quail." I pulled his fluff through his nose, kinda like the Egyptian embalmers did with their dead. Kinda gruesome, I guess, but a Corgi's gotta flatten those toys anyway she can.  We're smart like dat.

Red Dog in Red Dog Saloon Hat

Hey peeps, I'm "dawging' it up in my Red Dog hat.  Red like me, I look even cooler with this lid.  Mom & Dad journeyed all the way to Alaska for this!  Just to get me a hat!!! They love me like dat!  This is Dad's lucky hat and I am lucky to sport it.  Dad has lost it several times, but it keeps coming back, just like me!  Woof, BAROO & have a great Friday.  HATS OFF TO YOU, FRIENDS!

Corgi Belly UP

OK this is a typical Corgi yoga pose called sleeping belly up Corgi.  Who doesn't love this. Rub the belly, now!!!

How Iris Got Her Name

Iris (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Corgis are known for being stubborn, but I'll be nice and let Mom bark, or talk, for now. OK, Baroo, woof, grrr, Mom. Say what you will say!!

Thanks, Iris. How generous of you to let me post on MY OWN BLOG!!! You should get your own blog. Oh, wait, this is your blog & you just let me use it, right? BOL! Barking out loud!  OK, I will just talk MORE about you! Satisfied? How Iris got he name is a good tale to tell. Eight years ago, Bob & I received money back from the IRS, unheard of for us. We had been looking for a Corgi since our last shelter dog had died. We visited a breeder in Powell, Ohio and found Iris, or Iris found us. She was not part of the new litter to be sold, but she crawled into my lap, turned on her belly, begged for a pettin' and the rest is history. She was called "Peanut" at the time , but named her Iris! No, she is not named for the flower, but for the IRS money that paid for her. She's the best thing we ever received from the goverment!

Introducing Iris

Welsh Corgi Pembroke (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Baroo, woof, grrr! Hi this is really my blog because I’m the star of the show, the house and the books, The Iris Tales. So how does it feel to have all this attention? It’s fun to be me! I can’t wait for you to read all about my adventures: getting lost, trying to behave, chasing the hummingbirds, and dreaming about playing basketball!

First you need to know that I am a SPECIAL dog.  I am a Corgi, or a “wee” dog, as they say in Welsh.  My breed hales from Wales where legend says that Corgis were the steeds of fairies, hence the beautiful white patch on all our backs! (Told ya I was special!)

AND, I am a “fluffy!”  Most Corgis have less fur, so there is even more of me to love and to pet.  Fluff, that’s the stuff that makes me adoooorable!