Hope that all of you have been having a good weekend and that these sweet animals will bring you some smiles. Feel free to add a caption to the pictures if you want! I just couldn’t resist posting them when I saw them on Pinterest. You really can lose yourself on that site. 🙂
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Smiles for You!
Animals have a way of making us smile and these animals are doing a great job of it!
My husband sent me some pictures of some of the cheeriest animals. He is good at keeping me smiling in many ways!
I thought I would pass on the smiles and share the link with you, along with some of my favorite pictures from the article. ENJOY and Keep Smiling, A new decade has just begun! A brand new slate! What will be on it?
Power of Words
Words can mean so much and I am not talking about the big, elaborate ones. I am referring to simple words .. words from the heart. They really are powerful and we all walk around with that power in our grasp every second of the day. Who will be touched by your words today?
Writing words for a story is fun, to see the story come more and more alive right in front of you. Working on “The Odessa Chronicles” was quite the adventure, as Colin and I saw the personalities of the characters emerge. We didn’t expect them to grab hold of our hearts the way they did, stirring our hearts with emotion. The power of words is strong.
My Mom shared words with me this past weekend that stirred my heart and I wanted to pass it on. A friend of hers that she hadn’t seen in a while stopped her in the grocery store. Her face was shining and she was all excited. She proceeded to tell my Mom about how much she loved “The Odessa Chronicles” , how fun the characters are and how she so wants Colin and I to write a sequel. That she has enjoyed the book so much that she read it the whole way through twice now!
Those words didn’t take long for her to say, but oh the the power that was in them. They made my heart soar! We have said that “The Odessa Chronicles” is for children of all ages, and she has proved the truth behind that.
When I shared about the “little giant” in my blog post yesterday, I was talking about one of our youngest fans of “The Odessa Chronicles.” He may be little, but his words have touched the hearts of Colin and I over and over again! Jaxon is his favorite character and he has excitedly told us about his love for our book many times. His sincerity comes through and he is just so sweet as he has thanked us for writing. Words have power.
Now we have heard from one of our oldest fans. She may be 80 years old, but my Mom said how her eyes just danced when sharing about her love for the book.
“For children of all ages”, it definitely is! You are never too old to let your imagination go and to take a visit to Moonbeam Farm!
Don’t take my word for it, take it from the the lady with the dancing eyes!
Sunday Smiles at the Lake
We took a hike around the lake today. The lake brought to mind a story from “The Odessa Chronicles.” A story that brought a smile. Dewey, the cat, gives in to his curiosity and falls for a trick, when he is with his friends at the lake.
When have you fallen for something? What’s a big joke that was pulled over on you or that you pulled on someone else? What would it take to lure you into a trap? With Dewey, its just about anything, for his curiosity gets the best of him! Jaxon, the jackalope. is a little more smart about being cautious, though he may follow a trail of crispy vegetables to a trap. Odessa is a wise barn owl, as she will let you know repeatedly, but even the wisest ones can still be tricked. The man-servant may be sly, but if you are clever enough, you just may be able to pull one over on him.
You never can be too sure about what may happen with our Moonbeam gang! If you would like to know more about Dewey’s adventure at the lake, just click on the book cover in the right hand margin. The perfect book to enjoy while sitting by the lake on a beautiful Fall day!
Warning: You will need a healthy dose of craziness in you before reading, and you need to love to laugh! A desire to become childlike again, as you take a visit to Moonbeam Farm. If you are not sure how crazy you are, just find your birthday month on the “scientific” chart below. Can’t say I totally agree with this chart, but … I am sure there are some people that may. If you don’t rate too high on the craziness scale, don’t worry, you obviously need this book then. It will help raise your score, which will help you relax, taking a break from the stresses of life!
What do you think of the chart? Did it get you right? 🙂
Friday’s Super Short Stories!
Remember the joy at finding a surprise in a box of Crackerjacks? We need to keep that childlike joy as we embrace each new day, you never know what it may hold!
Dandelions are weeds that hold wishes! Don’t be fooled, what may look like a “weed” in your life could have some hidden beauty!
If you could be any type of animal for one day, which animal would you choose?
For the Love of Animals
I have been around dogs since I been little. A love of animals was instilled in my heart, especially for dogs.
Having a soft heart for dogs is the reason behind this post today. Today my heart is with a dog named Ray. He is the star of Colin’s blog. Over the years through Colin’s tales of him and his pictures, many have fallen in love with Ray. Those big brown eyes of his just melt your heart and you are under his spell!
Sadly Ray is having some health issues right now and will be undergoing surgery tomorrow to remove a malignant tumor.
A poem that Colin had written came to my mind today as I was thinking about Ray. The poem is from his “Just Thinking” book. A collection of heart felt poetry about different situations in life, that you can easily find yourself identifying with. Being that Ray takes up such a large part of Colin’s heart, its no wonder that Colin included in his book some poetry dedicated to him.
Enjoy the following poem where you can get to know Ray a little, and his history if you aren’t already acquainted with the “Handsome star!”
Go on a walk with your pet, or give them a hug, or belly rub, or whatever they prefer. Cats may not want to go on a walk with you. Pets play a very special role in our lives, and I am so grateful that God made animals of all kinds!
As you are enjoying your pet or just feeling thankful for animals in general, send your thoughts and prayers Ray’s way for his surgery tomorrow please. There are are lot more trails for him to walk, scents to sniff, water to splash in and TimBit treats for him to eat!
“A Stray Named Ray”
They were found on a farm
Not too far away,
But… where was their home?
Two dogs, frightened, hungry,
So very tired and,
Surviving somehow on their own.
***
The rescue van arrived,
And the crew discussed
How best to capture this pair.
Traps were determined
To be the most humane,
But… so many questions were there.
***
Why were these two dogs
Having to scavenge for food?
Why were they out on their own?
The treats in the traps,
Put an end to all that,
And they were captured, scared… and alone.
***
They had no collars; no tags;
No microchips were found.
They were just two dogs without names.
Their faces were expressionless,
And their fur in poor condition.
Were they siblings? Perhaps their mother was the same?
***
Once back at the shelter
They were caged together,
But then a fight ensued.
Trainers intervened,
And gave them separate cages,
But then had to decide what to do.
***
One (they later named Ray) was not unfriendly,
Although cautious and rather aloof.
He seemed to know he was no longer alone.
He was given a bath and a bowl of food
And, with some loving care (they thought),
He could possibly adapt to a home.
***
He was a sorry sight,
And no doubt a once proud dog.
Clearly a German Shepherd cross,
Just managing to survive,
By eating scraps to stay alive.
To explain him, they were quite at a loss.
***
They tried to find his owners.
They checked the Missing Pets files,
But there only seemed one option.
He now belonged to the shelter
And… as he was neither reported lost, nor stolen,
He would be trained for adoption.
***
Four months later he was ready.
His adoption photo was published,
And all were looking for a sign.
He needed a family,
To love… and be loved by.
This will, hopefully, be his time.
***
Eventually a couple arrived
Who clearly were drawn to him,
And regular walks were arranged.
It was soon to be seen
That his life, as it had been,
Was quickly going to change.
***
His day of adoption came.
The staff all said their farewells.
Smiles, and tears, were all around,
For the life of a stray;
Of a dog they named Ray;
A life almost lost… had been found.
*
I couldn’t resist also sharing the first stanza from another poem about Ray.
“A Man, a Dog, and the Sky”
Laying on the grass
On a summer afternoon,
And watching clouds caress the blue sky.
Listening to the birds, as they sing their songs,
But I’m thinking of …. just you and I.
***
,
Cooling off with Pictures
It’s HOT! 100 degrees! I think my brain is succumbing to the heat, its not wanting to think. Can anyone relate?
So give your mind a rest and enjoy some pictures of animals having fun in the water! Looks cool and refreshing doesn’t it. If a caption comes to your mind, and your brain cells haven’t melted from the heat, then feel free to share! 🙂
All these pictures are from Pinterest.
Smiling Fun
Happy Sunday! Hope you have enjoyed some smiles today and here are some pictures from Pinterest to bring some more your way! There may be a certain theme to the following pics, see if you can figure it out. What do you think the animals are thinking?
The Fishy Negotiation (Part 2)
If you didn’t get a chance to read part 1 yesterday, here is a link to it. The Fishy Negotiation
Hope you enjoy the rest of the story and if you do, you would probably love the book! Feel free to click on “The Odessa Chronicles” cover in the right hand margin, for more information. There is definitely a lot more crazy moments that this gang have together and heartwarming ones as well.
Do you think Odessa was successful in teaching Dewey how to be polite and use his manners? Can a Barn Owl actually teach a cat manners? Well, when it comes to Odessa, just about anything can happen!
Enjoy!
The Fishy Negotiation (Part 2)
Much later that day, the man-servant was relaxing in his chair in the living room when Odessa, Jaxon, and Dewey walked in. All three of them stood in front of the man-servant, and then Odessa hit Dewey with a wing, and Jaxon gave him a gentle kick with one of his back legs. “Go for it.” he whispered to Dewey.
“Please, Mr. Man-Servant,” said Dewey, “would you be so kind as to share your fish with me the next time you decide to have it for breakfast?”
The man-servant looked at him in disbelief. “Well yes, of course I will, Dewey,” he replied.
Dewey was smiling now. “When you have a free moment, would you please put some more food in my bowl?”
The man-servant did not know quite what to say except, “Of course, Dewey. It will be my pleasure to do so.”
Odessa and Jaxon were smiling at each other. They were both amazed at the transformation. “I am really good.” said Odessa to Jaxon. “Who would have thought that Dewey could be trained to be polite? He is a cat after all.”
Jaxon looked up at Odessa. “You’re a genius.” he said.
That was the tone for the rest of the evening. Odessa was feeling very proud of herself. Jaxon was in total admiration for what she had achieved, and the man-servant was still in shock at Dewey’s transformation. Dewey, however, had a sly grin on his face.
The next morning, the man-servant was in the kitchen with the intent of getting his breakfast, but he could not find anything. The cupboard where he kept his cereals was empty. His tins of salmon were gone, and even his bread had disappeared. He decided to make himself a cup of tea and relax while he sorted out what was happening. However, not only had his box of tea disappeared, but his kettle had also gone missing.
“Good morning, Man-Servant,” said Dewey with a big smile on his face. “Did you have a pleasant sleep?”
The man-servant looked at him. “You’re being very nice this morning. Do you know anything about all the stuff that is missing here?”
“I may well know a lot about the missing stuff,” said Dewey.
The man-servant was not very amused. “Dewey … I want my breakfast, so tell me what you have done with everything.”
“Tell you?” said Dewey. “Tell you? What kind of request is that?”
The man-servant stared at him. “Dewey, you had better tell me or you will regret it!”
At that moment, Odessa and Jaxon wandered in. Odessa soon picked up on their conversation. “Man-Servant,” she said, “you and I should have a talk.”
“Not now.” said the man-servant.
“Oh, I think that now is a perfect time.” said Odessa. “Let me ask you a question. How did you feel yesterday when Dewey very politely asked that you share your fish with him? How did you feel when he politely requested that his bowl be filled with food?”
The man-servant looked at Odessa. “What?” he asked. “What has that got to do with anything?”
“It has everything to do with anything, because you were so happy when Dewey was being polite, and yet you feel that you can be rude to him. You’re just as bad as he was.”
The man-servant thought for a moment. “I am sorry, Dewey,” he said. “Now would you please show me where my breakfast things are?”
“Nah!” said Dewey. “Sweat it out, Man-Servant. You’re not dealing with your average cat, you know?”
Odessa was shaking her head. “You can dress him up, but you can’t take him anywhere.”
Jaxon looked puzzled. “When did you hear that saying, Odessa?”
“A long time ago. It’s an old human expression,” she said.
Meanwhile, the man-servant was trying to resolve the problem of his breakfast. “I’ll tell you what, Dewey … you show me where you hid my breakfast stuff, and I’ll share my fish with you at dinner this evening.”
“Okay,” said Dewey, “but I also want my cushions fluffed up and fresh water in my bowl.”
“Okay,” said the man-servant, “but then I expect you to tidy up your play things before going to bed.”
Dewey looked at him. “Deal!”
Jaxon moved up closer to Odessa and whispered, “What just happened?”
Odessa rolled her eyes. “Two of nature’s strangest creatures negotiated what could well be a working relationship, and in a language of which neither has a very strong grasp. Our lives here could well be much easier from now on … but I doubt it.
** *** ***** *** **
When the Stress Ball Pops!
It is funny how some memories can just pop into your mind out of the blue. The other day the memory came back to me of when I popped my stress ball. Yes, those little round spongy balls, that I used to think could never break.
I shared on this blog a couple years ago about when our family was going through a very emotional court case. You, my dear readers, were so supportive and I deeply appreciated it. I will say something that I repeated back then, if I never walk through court room doors again, it will be too soon!
When I was sitting on the stand and testifying my stress ball popped! Sand poured out all over my lap, as my ball looked like a little popped balloon. My attorney and my sisters who were the first to see me after I got off the stand, started laughing when I held up what was left of my ball. I told the attorney that they should think about investing in stronger ones.
While court was very emotional this memory always makes me laugh, for I remember sitting on the stand thinking, “Seriously! Did I really just pop my ball!” It really did lighten the moment for me!
I wonder if the following animals had their “stress balls” pop as well, or what do you think has caused the expression on their faces? Enjoy, and remember even if your stress ball pops, you can give your family and friends a really tight hug. I promise, they won’t pop! 🙂
