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!