She's back.....

After an extremely long absence and a lot of life's changes, I'm blogging again.  And I'm happy to say that I have a new fur baby keeping me company!   

Granted, there was no replacing my PJ.  But, after two years without her, I still felt lost. When sharing the my desire for a new kitty with my husband, he quickly nixed the idea, saying it would tie us down.  Secretly, I knew he was still missing PJ, too.  

So, I did what I needed to do--started searching for a new fur baby, knowing that he would eventually consent.  It didn't take long for the wall around his heart to crumble.  That's when we found a beautiful, silver Persian kitten in October 2019.  She was 11 weeks old, 2 pounds and 4 ounces, and we named her Sophie. She was definitely worth waiting for! 💗 

I assumed (one should never do that) that Miss Sophie would behave wonderfully, just like my first kitty did . . . sweet, mannerly, having retracted claws so as not to snag the furniture, and I expected her to sleep or at least be quiet while we slept at night.  Nope.  She is the kitten who didn't sleep and meowed loud and long at 3:45 a.m. every morning for months, giving me permanent dark circles under my eyes. 

This little Persian girl is wild and free.  She runs like the wind, terrorizes me by sticking her claws in my furniture, and refuses to sit on my lap.  Not exactly the personality traits for a Persian, right? Grrrrr!  I was really hoping for a lap cat.  What did we do wrong??  She plays ball, is very vocal at all hours of the day and night, sits at the kitchen cupboard and cries for wet food on demand, and acts more like a puppy than a kitty.  (In fact, my husband calls her "The Puppy-Cat.")    She's smart, spoiled--oh, so spoiled--and we LOVE her!

Her grooming sessions are a hoot.  She lays on her back and raises her front legs waaaaay over her head to have her belly and armpits combed and brushed.  Her long fur always has a few knots, even with daily brushing, so I've invested in all the tools of the trade to work on those.  

I hope you're all doing well during this crazy time!!  Stay warm and well!!

  

New Season, New "Firsts"

With Memorial Day in the rear-view mirror, it's officially summer!

Much time has passed since my last post. I wish I could say that my newest manuscript was polished up and ready to go, but it's not. With PJ's health declining, it was impossible for me to get my head and heart wrapped around a new story. My focus was on caring for PJ, not writing.

Sadly, we gave our beautiful PJ her fuzzy, heavenly wings on May 5. Many of you have experienced losing a pet and understand the heartache it brings. This was my first time. It was and still is excruciatingly painful. I didn't know it was possible to cry for five hours straight without my head and sinuses exploding. Thank goodness for the husband who stood quietly by with a box of Kleenex.

Getting out of bed the next morning meant facing something I didn't know how to deal with: PJ's fuzzy face would not be there to greet me. I cried some more. From that point on, everything was a "first:" The first time there were no food or water bowls to wash and/or fill. The first time there was no litter box to clean. The first time PJ wasn't there to help me change the sheets, watch over me when I was sick or recuperating from surgery, etc.

Yes, she really did help change the sheets from the time she was a baby. Hearing the rustle of clean sheets, she'd run into the bedroom. For the last several years, arthritis prevented her from jumping up onto the bed, but that didn't stop her. She had a job to do! Patiently, she would wait for me to lift her up onto the bed. She'd spot a wrinkle and flatten it with her paw. Satisfied, her tail would swing slowly back and forth. Her head would cock in my direction, anticipating the praise of an enthusiastic "Good Girl!"

Then, it was time for me to be patient. Before moving on to the pillow cases, I had to lay down and pet her. She'd purr loud and long, while savoring the satisfaction of having accomplished yet another Mom-pleasing task. She loved to please and thrived on receiving attention. The girl was a performer and loved to entertain. And, oh, what a sense of humor! I still feel her presence, her soul. And I'm finding little "gifts" from her and things that say "Here I am!," which I'll share in another post.

"To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. . . A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance."  PJ made 17 years of seasons an absolute delight. I just never wanted them to end.

Will I get another kitty? Maybe. Will I proceed with the next story? Possibly. All I really know is that there was only one PJ. Her personality is irreplaceable. I understand that the season to dance will return, even if I'm not feeling it today. God trusted me to love and care for the very best pet in the world. For that I am forever grateful!

Jump into summer and love your pets with everything you've got!

Welcome Fall!

Hola!

Welcome to Fall!  While I love the smell of the cool, crisp air, pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting, and the explosion of leaf color, the kicker is that winter is waiting in the wings.

The new PJ book is coming along and still in manuscript form, but I'm so excited about it.

The setting is Tucson, Arizona.  PJ and Spidey travel by train from the midwest to their cousin's ranch to meet their desert family.  Initially, the duo finds the harsh desert heat and cultural diversity a challenge.  But they learn and grow on this vacation and, as they do, it's a fun trip for us, too!

Writing consumed me from sunrise to sunset last week. I even made dinner with the manuscript in my hand and carried the story and a red pen to the treadmill with me.

I struggled with whether to write the book with sparse narrative, which is popular right now, or in rhyme.  So, I did both.  First, in narrative form; then, in poems.  But, rhyme won out, because you tell me that's what you like.  And, I love rhyme, too.  It's soothing.  And this one is funny!

Much thought went into age-appropriate words for this book before I realized that age-appropriate words don't matter so much.  Children may not fully understand what a word means, but their little minds grasp context.  Sometimes, they just like the sound of a new word that's funny or unusual.

Once re-writing, re-thinking, and word-smithing is complete, I'll turn the manuscript over to my incredible illustrator, Ivy Hinrichs, to do her Disney-like magic.  Then, we'll roll out the best of our work for you to enjoy.

As always, thank you for your support!

Adios!

July Update

PJ turned "Sweet 16" years old in June!  Seems like she was just an adorable, eight-week-old ball of fur.  Fortunately, for us, she's been a very healthy feline.  But, like most older cats, she was diagnosed with kidney disease last November.

This is all new territory for me.  Believe it or not, her treatment includes subcutaneous infusions of fluid.  No one could have convinced me that she, or any cat, would sit still and tolerate a needle with fluids, but she does.  Well, yes, we did have a few challenging visits at first when she tried to get up and move around during the infusion.  But lately, she has been almost perfect.  She knows the drill, and the technician says she understands that she feels better after receiving fluids.  I believe it.

Lately, people have been asking when the next PJ book will be available, so here's the scoop: The story line, which I'm very excited about, is sketched out.  Now, the fine tuning begins, with much work to do before engaging my awesome illustrator, Ivy.

Hope you're all having a wonderful summer!  Stay cool!

The Calico House in Ankeny -- You Will LOVE it!!

If you're like me and love the HGTV show "Fixer Upper," then I have a great tip for you!!

Located in Uptown Ankeny is a fabulous new store called, "The Calico House." You'll swear that Chip and Joanna Gaines own it. There's even shiplap on the walls!  

Beautifully painted pieces of furniture, art, kitchen decor, and more welcome you at the door. (And you'll even see copies of "PJ, the Blue-eyed Kitty" in the mix.) 

Here's a link to The Calico House Facebook page:
THE CALICO HOUSE in Ankeny

Instead of waiting for more episodes of Fixer Upper, head to The Calico House.  Go.  Now.  You'll love it.  And while you're there, check out the other fun, new stores in Uptown Ankeny, along with Firetrucker Brewery, restaurants, etc.  

See you there!

Happy Summer Reading!

Warm Greetings, Everyone!

It's been a very busy winter, and I apologize for the long gap since my last post.  

As we ease into summer, I think we're all looking forward to sunshine, flip flops, and outdoor time.  

Whether traveling or spending time at the lake, pool, or in the backyard hammock, one of the best ways to relax is by getting lost in a good book.  Romance novels by Susan Wiggs are always high on my list, but I also like to change it up and learn new things from a variety of nonfiction books, too.  

Right now, I'm reading "The Forgotten 500" by Gregory A. Freeman.  It's a "never before told story of the greatest rescue mission of World War II," and an exciting read that I can't put down.  This book would entice anyone to learn more about WWII.  In fact, these are the stories that would entice children to learn more about the history of our nation and the brave men and women who sacrificed for our freedom.  The book's exceptionally well-written accounts of soldiers' harrowing experiences pull me right into the scenes and keep me on the edge of my seat.  I highly recommend it. 

Of course, a summer afternoon nap always rates right up there with reading.  Even PJ agrees.  In fact, she excels at napping, normally within her favorite cardboard box.  But lately, she's given new meaning to the phrase "hit the sack," as you can see in the photo below.  She buries her face into the bottom of a paper sack to shield her eyes from the light.  Hmmm.....do you think maybe it's her feline version of a "beauty mask?"   

Good to catch up with you!  I'll share more news with you in the next post . . .

Machine Shed Book Signing

This little cutie-patootie captured my attention at the Machine Shed on Dec. 17.  She was decked out from head to toe.  Her little boots sparkled from the ankles up.  Wouldn't you like a pair just like them?

Spying my book, she grabbed a copy and said, "Kitty, kitty, kitty!"  There's nothing quite as sweet as an enthusiastic endorsement from a tiny customer.

Chatting with people was so much fun, especially when they shared their special reason for being there.  Many were meeting friends and family for holiday celebrations.  It's a wonderful family restaurant and gathering spot for holiday gift exchanges, college graduations, and cozy gab sessions.

A special thank you to Ashlee and everyone at the Machine Shed in Urbandale for hosting my book signing event.  I look forward to many more with you.