Living Simply Brings New Blessings Everyday.....

It took me retiring a few times and moving into a much smaller home (log cabin from the 1800's) to realize the joy of living each day as simply as possible.  Retiring and downsizing was probably the only way that I would have gotten off of the treadmill of my busy life.  I talked the talk of slowing down, but truth be known, I did not want to and did not know how to even begin to start this next phase in life. 

 

I really want to write more about where I am now, but feel that I need to talk a bit about the busy life I am coming off of to put this transition into some perspective for those that don't know me.    

  

Up until now, I prided myself on my major mega multitasking skills.  Like so many, I've always worked more than full time, raised two children, married two great guys (still married to the best one), kept a nice home and volunteered at church and at my kids school.  Add to that, owning/operating several businesses, apartments, several bed and breakfasts, a restaurant/bakery, storage units, antique shop  and taking college classes on line and in person and making handmade crafts to sell online and at a local store. Oh, and, living on a really beautiful hobby farm with lots of animals (horses, sheep, llamas, goats, peacocks, chickens and anything that needed a home) and also had many gardens to keep (cut flower, perennial and big vegetable gardens/fruit trees).  We routinely bought, turned and sold homes many times, but we ended up renovating and then living in and loving the hobby farm home/barn, etc. for several years.    

 My husband has a very similar personality to mine, but on the exterior he appears to be very laid back...compared to my plugged in at all times look.  He has always owned/operated a construction company and was always on the hunt for a new business venture or a house to turn. And, he always willingly worked right along next to me with all of our endeavors.   I never doubted that I couldn't keep all of it rolling along, I could and I (we) did.  I loved all of the adventures and have 100's of fun great memories...I am grateful for all of the successes of these endeavors, but I am So so ready to not be fully embedded in that pace anymore.    

  

FAST FORWARD...we sold a lot of our stuff from a very large home (the hobby farm in WI) and moved to an old log cabin in the UP of Michigan that is in the middle of 100's of acres.  We are slowly  renovating/remodeling the log cabin.   If we do one of the 'to do' things on the list each day...that's great...or none, and/or go for a long walk, that's okay too.  

I have filled a whole two bedroom mobile home (that is also on our property) with my craft collection...my husband has asked me on a number of occasions if my hobby is collecting craft parts and pieces or actually making it into something.  Well, my love, (he's actually very supportive of all I do) I am now retired and now have and will make the time to really get into my crafts.  I have been selling crafts for a few years....but now, kicking it into full speed ahead (yeah...still a Type A).  But, I now really do it at my own rate and make whatever I want....sell to a store and also on line.

  

I've learned how to create little special, dual purpose spots....because we are now in a much smaller home. I spend a lot of time working on every detail...color, design, use and just generally making it a warm, welcome, fun spot to relax and read, crochet or just sit a spell.  

I love collecting eggs from our sweet girls (chickens.. we have peacocks also) each day....I place them carefully in a basket and thank them for their generosity and wonderful addition to our breakfast meals and sweet baked treats.  I, in return give them table scraps and hold and talk to them each day.  When they are let out of their coop each morning, they follow us back to the house and sit in the sun on the porch...and watch for the chance to slip into the house when the door opens  Chickens really are entertaining...I love to sit on the porch and watch their days activities and listen to their conversations.   

I now really also enjoy putting the chickens and peacocks to bed, saying goodnight and listening to their goodnight interactions and sounds...I used to run out to the coop when I would think of it and sometimes either lock out or push the dawdlers by the door into the coop (with a broom) 'cause....I've got stuff to do ladies....let's go let's go...I don't have all night.   I really don't do that anymore, I just patiently watch the process happen...also I go out later at night when most of them are already in the coop and I bring treats....whatever works.  

  

  I do find myself thinking more deeply about everything that I do and doing it with intent...not just go through the motion to get it done, and then move onto the next, like an assembly line.   I do miss the high of doing twenty things at once...but I do not miss tensely holding my shoulders up to my ears most of the time (and needing to remind myself to drop them)...holding a phone while doing something else, a lot of computer use, tension, etc.  I enjoy deeper more in-depth conversations with my sweet husband (hopefully he does too) instead of us going over the 'to do' list every time we were together.  I love taking long baths (not quick showers) and listening to music all day long....not just in the vehicle when I was driving from A to B to C, etc.  I love planning special meals and baking wonderful new recipes and pulling chairs over in front of our fireplace on a cold night or by the pond on a warm day, or going out onto one of the decks with our many bird friends stopping by for a seed from our many feeders.   We don't just talk about beautiful days and nights...we go out into them and really enjoy the sites and sounds (owls and the birds all having their end of day conversations).  

There definitely are times in your life when you just can't really slow down because life just keeps moving and you have to keep up....but now I don't have to...at first I missed my busy life.  I honestly loved being so busy that I never ever had to think up something to do.  My husband and I both thrived and thoroughly enjoyed our busy life.  This transition definitely takes some time and adjustment...and, it is becoming more of my everyday.....everyday.   I've learned to fill and replace with something new and fulfilling.  Still busy, just different busy.  Shoulders are now in the normal relaxed position (most of the time).

I've taken the jump into the lovely warm pool of retirement and I've willingly surrendered....and it feels like a really good thing for me....

WE RESCUE AND RENOVATE OLDER HOMES...OUR EXPERIENCES WITH RESIDUAL ACTIVITY/HAUNTINGS....

  

The before and after of one of the homes that we have renovated...this is the home that I describe in this blog as 'smiling and taking a deep breath' after we finished the exterior painting.  This picture was the inside of the Open House Invitation that we had sent out to many friends and family.   

I was born in the city of Chicago.  Every move that I have made, has taken me further away from the city.... first to the suburbs as a child and then once married, further out into newer developments.  And, for the last 25 years into the country...farming/rural areas.

My husband is a builder, and I am a generator of ideas and lover of older architecture.  We buy older homes, renovate, love and save them from demolition.    Sometimes we would sleep in a trailer on the grounds until we could get the home to at least a livable stage.  Many times, we would live in the house, in a plastic enclosed room for sleeping, a hot plate for cooking and a bucket or two for a bathroom.

We view ALL things as living and able to retain memories.  So, we are always respectful of each home and its original components. We repair, reinforce and restore as much as possible unless something structurally is found to be unsafe.   Bathrooms and kitchens are almost always upgraded.  Not many prospective buyers want to go out to the spring and retrieve water or use an outhouse.  Many homes that we have purchased never have had indoor plumbing.  When looking for an older home to purchase, we generally looked for a house with many rooms, so that we could create a first and second floor bathroom and a kitchen.    We purchased a Sears farmhouse some years ago and there was a pump/tank room on the second floor where one would pump water up to the second floor.  It was large enough to make into a big, beautiful bathroom with laundry (2nd floor).

We always do a lot of research into the history of the home and many times; the history would just come to us in the form of visiting neighbors.  After the purchase of this Four-Square Farmhouse which was built in the early 1900's, we received a phone call from the original owners' great grandchildren (they had researched deeds at the courthouse). We frequently visit local libraries, courthouses and historic societies or organizations to gather as many pictures as possible and/or information about each new project.  When we would run into neighbors at the local hardware store, or when they would stop by to see what was going on, they were usually anxious to tell us about who died there and how they died and/or any other sorted details that they either had direct knowledge of or 'had heard'.  Also in our research, obituaries were always a great source of gathering information.  I have always loved reading obituaries...some are so plain...lived and died...others are so colorful and full of interesting information about the person, their families and the times.

We always assume that at least one person had passed/died in each of these older homes.  Families lived in the same home, generation after generation.  They lived in the same home as their parents and grandparents and farmed the very same soil.

 Many wakes and viewings were held in these homes, usually in the parlor.  After family and friends met and discussed the good and bad times, crops and the weather, shared a meal, they carried the dearly departed to the family cemetery.  Many times, physically carrying them (a child) and other times in a wagon.  After lowering the loved one into the ground and saying their goodbyes, they would mark the spot in several different ways.... a small fence around the site, a cross, a pile of rocks, something that they had made or a special possession of their loved one.  We have purchased homes with grave sites on them...children and adults alike.

 We take our time to get the feel of the home before we begin and come up with as many ideas as possible to restore.... not destroy.   Developing a relationship with the home and all of the memories that are held within the structure becomes our priority.  While coming up with a plan (that changes very often) we have many daily discussions, sometimes we have to go for walks to rest and refresh our busy heads.  Intertwined in our construction/renovation discussion, are thoughts about the families that lived, love and called this their home.  Where love was shown, arguments were had, and families felt grateful and safe.  Babies were born, people died either suddenly (fires/farm accidents) or slowly from illnesses.

One evening upon turning on the tv, there was a show about paranormal activity.  At first, I thought it was like the other ones that I had spent a few minutes watching when there was nothing else on tv.  You know the ones, creepy noises, orbs, etc. but nothing that you would really think was actually there haunting the building or its residents.    But this show in particular was about a home where several paranormal experts performed all of the tests that they generally conduct and decided that there really weren't any dangerous hauntings but, that there was what was called residual activity/hauntings.  Meaning that the memories of the activities of the home had been and always would still be present.... kind of like a movie that plays over and over through the years.   And, that you might just be lucky enough (depending upon how you feel about this type of thing) to be in attendance when a memory presents itself.  Stairs that had been walked up and down for years, doors that have been opened and closed hundreds of times, floors that have been walked upon by so many people.... have memories.  Old floors and stairs have structural reasons why they creak and move, but not always.  Doors open and close due to air flow and house settling, but not always.  There are hot and cold areas in houses due to old ventilation systems and drafts, but again, not always. There are many different sensations that one might feel...for no real apparent reason.  Maybe they are just the thoughts that you yourself have created or, maybe they have been created for you...through events that have happened in that place and are still present in some form.

I guess I would like to say that I have seen shadows, items flying across the room, etc., but neither my husband nor I have experienced any of that in the many homes and buildings we have renovated.  But we have always felt an awakening and a feeling of comfort and care.  We have also felt redirected occasionally in our renovation choices.  We have never felt afraid only that we were just the next people to care for this home and bring it back, for which we felt grateful.

One home that we renovated had a history of two suicides (in the spring house...arsenic) with a lot of alcoholism and depression. My husband (before we knew this information) stood back and was admiring the new paint job we had given the exterior and said, "I just saw the house smile and take a deep breath".  The children that had lived in this home somehow had heard of our Open House and decided to come.  One of the wives indicated to us that her husband had been suffering from nightmares and night sweats for years after his life in this home.  We walked him through the house, and he said that it felt much different, he felt peaceful and would be creating better memories.

   Maybe the house had survived all of the sadness and hard times that people and families brought into it.  The house had been unoccupied for years and was in great disrepair, but still "had really good bones" as my hubby would say.  Possibly this home was at first disturbed when we first arrived, but learned from our daily presence and hard work that there would be many more pleasant times and happiness going forward...... and that was good.

We lived in this home for a few years and sold it to a family that described it as their 'dream home'...they still live there and still love it....so, all is well...and good.

Possibly my husband really did see the house smile and take a deep breath...

COUNTRY HEART

County Heart

I didn't start out in the country, not born on a farm...I was born in Chicago.  But, my mom was from a farm and my dad's parents were farmers in Italy.

I guess it all started with my love of animals.  We rescued everything that was injured in the neighborhood.  My favorite outings were to Brookfield and Lincoln Park Zoo and to a huge pet store called  Animal Kingdom on Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.  In those days,  pet stores had fewer (if any) regulations.  They had a baby elephant there and a tiger and all kinds of amazing snakes, birds, fish, dogs, cats and anything you can imagine.  They rented out the bigger animals, some were regulars on tv shows.  My parents surprised my brother and I with a pet monkey that they had purchased from Animal Kingdom.  We named her GiGi and she was a Capuchin monkey.  My favorite books were always about animals.  I think my first words were animals sounds...my mom would always read a Golden Book to me about farm animals and what sounds they make.  She was really good at making their quacks, moos and cock a doodle dos.  I would always jump up and down with my hands under my arm pits making monkey sounds.

I wore red cowboy boots with everything much to the dismay of my grandmother...we lived in a two flat, grandma, grandpa and aunt upstairs.  Mom, dad and me downstairs.   My mom was a professional dancer and wore what would be considered 'kind of out there' for the time.  So, it was fine with her that I wore whatever clothing combinations my little heart desired.  Most pictures of me until I was five were underwear, undershirt, cowboy hat and boots and my Roy Rogers/Dale Evans watch.

My parents, like many, eventually moved to the suburbs.  As I married and had kids, we moved further and further out into the suburbs because a growing family was able to buy more house for less, the further out you were from the city.   After a few moves we were in the country with a bit of a longer commute to our jobs in the suburbs.

First it was buying dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish, chameleons and other smaller animals 'for the kids'.  But as we acquired more animals and became more interested in growing our own food and sitting out at night and gazing at the stars, we made the decision to become  'as self supporting of our life in the country as possible'.

We found that we needed less with the busy life that we were leading in the country, so we were spending less.  Cleaning barns, mowing much larger land, gardens and animals that needed daily care.  We were always reading books and later, on line looking for information and ideas from experienced individuals about raising chickens and other animals for fun and profit.

 I am a lifelong crafter (sewing, quilting and anything else I decide to learn and create) and soap maker. I was on Pinterest constantly gathering ideas that I could add my own spin. So, I started to make things to sell at various stores and online.

My husband is a full-time contractor, and he still needed to work larger jobs, to support us, but was finding time to make furniture and smaller items that he could sell.  

It took a lot of years and a lot of hard work to really become as self sufficient as possible, earn money doing what we loved and live on a farm.....but, we did it.  And, it took a lot of heart to do it.  Hearts that were large enough to take in (rescues), care for and love all of our animals, indoor and out.  Hearts that felt like they were going to break when any animals would die or decisions had to be made to do what was best for them.  A heart that looked for ways to improve our land, water and air quality in whatever small ways we could.  Always thinking with our heart about how to leave less of a footprint on this wonderful earth for generations to come.

I think that is what a country heart really is....

A PREVIEW OF....WE ARE DEFINITELY OUTDOOR CATS

This is the first story I ever thought about writing.   Although unfinished as of this date, I really do plan on finishing it because I really love this story.  These two felines (Sadie & Al) were actually our pets, they are sadly deceased, but lived long and loved lives.  Al is a long haired, slow moving,  black cat and Sadie is a stealth, stub tailed calico.  They were the funniest cats we've ever had the pleasure of having in our care.  I would often look at them and think about what I thought they were thinking about.  SO....this story....a story about the daily adventures of Sadie and her pal Al through their kitty cat eyes.  Sadie is the leader and storyteller, Al is the follower and is mainly the subject of Sadie's stories.

We are Definitely Outdoor Cats......

  Hope you enjoy the Preview and someday the book (man, I've got to live to be 150 years old to get all 7 of these books done)....

Sadie Lynn and Albert J. have lived and played together since they were young.  Their preference is to live in the great outdoors - and have enjoyed that lifestyle for the last 10 years.  When coming home at night fits into their schedule - they do let their people know (by clinging to and thus banging the screen door repeatedly) that they would prefer indoor sleeping accommodations that evening.  The next 8 hrs - while Mort and Laura were trying to sleep - would become a marathon attempt at setting a new world record for experiencing as many indoor delights that any cat could ever possibly pack into that time frame - with a few naps in between.  

After being in the house all night, an impatient swirling duet would take their place in front of the door to the outdoors.  Accompanying this dance would also be a duet of meowing in octaves of eardrum piercing levels that would continue until either Mort or Laura would open the door to the as yet unknown adventures of the day.

CHAPTER ONE:  Let Meeeeout!

Once outside, it's very hard to focus on just one thing at a time.  Al and I have different things that we would like to do first.  Al usually just wanders around aimlessly and then eventually checks out whatever I am doing and wanders over by me.  My mama was from the Midwest, but my memaw, papaw and my daddy were from the south and so I do just naturally have some southern expressions that pop out once in awhile.  The one that comes to mind each morning when Al is just wandering around is that "the engine is running but no one is driving".  He purrs all of the time.  I purr when my head or my tummy is being rubbed, but Al's purr is stuck on...on.  

Our first stop...the Koi pond.  Climbing up onto the rocks, we slowly crouch down and peer into the water.  The surface comes alive with fish lips opening and closing everywhere.  Those stupid fish, you would think that they would eventually catch on...we're not going to feed you, we never feed you  We just swiftly and skillfully tap our paws on the surface of the water and then take care of our daily morning grooming.  Tap, Tap. Tap. fish lips everywhere - so funny!  Always cracks us up!  The little watery kissing sounds are interrupted by Al's growling stomach.  A reminder that he is always hungry....so off we go in search of breakfast.  

Lots of Sadie and Al Adventures follow in the beautiful City of Mineral Point, Wisconsin.  Stay tuned............

WHOSE HOUSE IS THIS ANYWAY?

I awakened this morning to a beautiful pink sky and a soft tapping sound on the window behind my head.  I like to have a window near my head as I sleep, to open and close as I choose.  Also, to look outside as soon as I open my eyes just to have a few moments to be grateful before the busy day begins.  This soft tapping I soon realize is a little bird pecking either at its reflection or possibly bugs.  But it is winter and there really are not a lot of bugs out there.  Anyway, my usual quiet moment became a tapping contest back and forth.  I'd tap, it would tap and so forth...until I gave up and got up.  

I always shower first thing in the morning, and I also take a bath at night.  I enjoy a morning shower just to extend a bit of alone time to think about my day.  And, I like to end my day in a nice warm bath, usually reading or writing.  As I was enjoying my morning hot shower, I could hear tapping and little knocking sounds.  We have a sky light in the bathroom.  And the little noises sounded like they were coming from up there.  So, I look up and there are seven (7) doves (14 little feet that looked like spiders, pecking at something and then sliding down the sky light.  As I said,  it is winter and so there is some snow/ice on the sky light.  The doves would climb up to the highest point, peck at something and eventually slide on the slippery surface, down to the lowest part.  When my husband enters the bathroom, I point up and he says that possibly they are getting the grit from the shingles.  Or adds, maybe they are just having fun :).  

At least once a day there will be a woodpecker knocking on some side of our log cabin.  Now, I think that they really are doing that just for fun.  There are many trees right around the cabin (there are several thousand acres of state land around our 40 acres) that he or she could choose from...but, they choose our home to do what they do.....

A little history of this (new to us) log cabin.  It has been a 'camp' for many years.  Families would just come up here occasionally to hunt or whatever.  We are renovating (slowly because it's winter) into a year around home. 

We've noticed that the wildlife on this forty acres really does not pay much attention to us.   The birds that come to the seed basket don't even move when we add more seed or walk past them as they are helping themselves to a sunflower seed.  The deer just walk around and drink out of the pond and eat the corn that we put out for our sheep like they are part of the herd.   The squirrels do not even run when we walk out onto our deck and they are in the seed basket.  

It is as if, this place is their's and we are just a mild inconvenience. 

This log cabin has an attic and we have closed it off for the winter.  It is full of stuff (junk) (not ours) and we don't really want to address it at this time.   We filled an industrial dumpster with the junk that was here from the first floor and plan on attacking the attic in the spring.  That is unless it attacks us first.  We hear running around up there every day.  Sometime with boots on, sometimes rolling bowling balls, sometimes yelling at one another.  My husband thinks it's kind of funny....I guess I do too, but occasionally it sounds like they are going to drop right down on our dinner table as we eat.  We're thinking squirrels.  There are definitely openings in the ends of the roof and it's an easy entry for anyone that can climb up there.  Perfect sleeping quarters during this cold season.  

We've been here about two months now and we are so used to all of the noises that if we don't hear any running or tapping, we wonder if everyone is okay.  Our dogs don't even look up anymore.  Once everyone quiets down at night, we wish them a good nights sleep, assuming that they are tucked in, curled up and enjoying all the heat that escapes from the 1st floor.  

We are not hunters, I am a vegetarian and so, harming any animals just isn't our thing.  This was their home and place to be, way before we bought this place.   So, we have learned to cohabitant.  As long as I don't have to sleep or bathe with a squirrel, I'm fine with that.  There are apparently bears and other large wildlife around here also....(our land butts up against thousands of acres of wet land/state land) and so, our current group of little creatures that live with us, are really our more desirable neighbors and housemates.  

PREVIEW OF...... I BELIEVE....

I've been working on this book for the last few months.  Rather than a short description of what the book entails, I compiled a few excerpts from the book for this blog...hope you enjoy.

An Enlightening Possibility of the Hereafter… that Might just Help a Grieving Heart feel a bit Lighter….

So….

I BELIEVE…

Well, long story short, I died.  After a rather lengthy, painful and totally unfair illness, I quietly slipped away at my family home.  I felt blessed to have my husband, children and a good friend with me as my journey on this earth ended.   My sweet husband of 20 years held my hand and gently touched my forehead and told me that everything was okay, that they would be alright. He kept telling me that he loved me, and, would always love me.  Our three daughters held on to each other, crying.  Our youngest daughter had our dog, Scruffy in her arms and was squeezing him, just trying to hold onto something.  They were all so frantic.  I actually wanted to leave quickly to put an end to this last painful stage and allow the healing to begin for my family as soon as possible.  

The day of the graveside service was not exactly as I would have liked, it was overcast and spitting a steady, cold drizzle, so miserable for everyone.  From my position, I could see quite a few black umbrellas, and a spot of color right in the middle, which was my umbrella.  I pictured one of my daughter’s bringing it and holding the handle very tightly just like we would do when we’d run in the rain from the car to the store or school.    I could see that it was my oldest daughter holding onto the handle.  I really did not want to die during the darker, depressing winter season.  I knew it would make it harder and more depressing for everyone.  But as I have learned during the last year of my life, there are so many things that are not within your control.  So, here I am, watching my own funeral.  When our minister stopped talking and gave the final blessing, everyone moved rather quickly to their cars to escape the cold drizzle and also the dark, depressing cemetery.  My wishes were for all to go to a restaurant that I picked out for a luncheon.  I wanted everyone I loved to be surrounded by others to talk about all of the good times that we shared and hopefully smile and maybe even laugh. 

As the cars rolled into the restaurant parking lot for the luncheon, I felt myself being gently pulled back.  The view was dimming, it was as if my eyes were closing, the dark day was getting darker. 

Suddenly, my eyes were wide open, I could see everything clearly and I could also hear voices and sounds. I was standing in a long line holding a clipboard.  I noticed that above a doorway at the front of this long line, there was a sign that read “The Waiting Room.”    The line moved rather slowly and I understood why when I finally reached a chair in The Waiting Room.  I was handed a 10 page packet which I clipped onto the board.  There was a pencil attached for our use.  On the top of the packet it said, “To be completed in it’s entirety”.  As I slide into a chair, a few of the seated individuals looked up and appeared to be about my age.  They would smile and then go back to filling out the papers on their clipboards.  I wonder if one of the initial steps is to be divided into age groups.   There are signs everywhere….Be Patient, We will be with You as soon as Possible,  You are Very Important to Us.  Shaking my head, I’m thinking, this is not at all how I pictured my “Transition.”  Standing in a long line for quite awhile and then being directed to a chair, given a clipboard with a pencil attached and a long form "To be filled out in it’s entirety.”  I always thought that I’d magically earn beautiful fluffy angel wings and just float around in a beautiful white, ‘heavenly’ place somewhere up in the endless cloud world.  Apparently not, well not at this stage anyway. 

A PREVIEW OF.....HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW - I've been working on this book for several years now.  Sometimes I wonder if I ever want to type 'The End' and for it to be finished, I kind of love it just being mine.   

This book is in essence. about two women, whose lives were intimately intertwined on so many different levels.  And, as life would have it, they do not actually meet until the final chapter of the book.  My vision for this book was to  involve the reader completely in each one of their lives individually.  And, at the close of the book, leave the reader with all of the emotion of being in a relationship that most only dream about experiencing in their lives.  That the reader would take that emotion and make it a 'real' part of how they live their daily lives.  Always drawing from the friendship and love that bound together these two ladies.  

My first main character, Ann, had just moved into her new home in California.  Her children were older and had recently moved into their own homes.  Ann's husband is a soon to be retired military man, currently serving his last tour in Iraq. As a military wife, Ann was very accustomed to moving frequently.  At first, this move felt harder than any of the others, because her children were no longer there on a daily basis.  She was living alone for the first time.   But through a series of events, this home became one of comfort and joy.  She began to plan on making this their forever home.  

 As with most of their moves, Ann never really became too close to their neighbors.  Usually just a wave and an occasional 'hello'. They were usually renting because they never knew when the next move would happen.  

 One sunny California morning, Ann was carrying some moving boxes out to the curb and she noticed an older lady next door tending to her lovely garden.   The older lady happened to look over at her just as she was noticing her and so they exchanged a wave and a smile. 

  Then, on one particular night, an ambulance arrives at the older ladies house, and unbeknownst to both of the ladies, their lives would thereafter be changed forever. 

 Stay tuned...this is a good one...I'm pretty far along on this story because it  feels so warm and happy just to sit down with a hot cup of tea and write. I literally disappear into this book when I am working on it.   I love it so much...the characters are my best friends (yes, that happens to writers and to readers also).   My  desire is to share this story and to add some hope and happiness into everyone's lives.......


These are the other stories in the works that will be featured in my next few blogs
....thanks for viewing....

BELIEVE
HAPPY TRAILS HOTDOGS
WE ARE DEFINITELY OUTDOOR CATS
EARL'S YACHT CLUB