Gayle Irwin's Blog

The Black Hills of South Dakota is one of my favorite places to visit. Photo by G. Irwin

If you’ve ever wanted to visit the American West, one of the amazing places to go is South Dakota. From Laura Ingalls Wilder’s home in DeSmet in the east to the Black Hills of the west, this state takes you back in time.

Deadwood, located in the Black Hills, served as home for gamblers and gunmen, prostitutes and propritors during the late 1800s. One of those gunslingers was Wild Bill Hickok, who had been a marshal in Kansas, was killed while gambling in Deadwood. During mid-June, the community hosts Wild Bill Days. Activities include concerts, history lessons, and dock dog competitions.

Additionally, a large book fair, Wild Deadwood Reads, brings authors and readers together.

Wild Deadwood Reads brings authors and readers together in June in Deadwood, South Dakota.

One of those authors, and an organizer of the book event, Ginger Ring, collaborated with other authors to create Finally Got It Right, an amazing e-book collection of small town and big city romances and romantic comedies. These stories will keep you glued to the page. They include:

* A rockstar who broke his promise to resurrect his fiancée’s languishing ranch but took five years to return. Will she grant him a second chance or has their love played its last tune?

* A young woman who fled the big city to escape her politician father’s cheating scandal…only to fall for a struggling small town bike builder waiting for his big break. Is he a cheat like her father or could the sexy single dad be custom made for her?

* A rundown single mom looking for a break and a kind-hearted entrepreneur in love with the wrong woman. Will their chemistry bring them love…or will the ghosts of her past come back to haunt them?

* A divorced, big time city baker forced to return to her family’s ranch. Falling for the younger and all too charming ranch hand was never part of the plan…

* A scandal that made Mitch and Olivia enemies. Can they now claim their joint inheritance without starting World War III?

* A haunted vet with nowhere else to go and a determined woman with no place to call home. Can they heal the hurricane-ravaged town of Patriot Bay…or with their broken hearts get in the way?

* And many more stories full of surprise, heartache, humor, and ALL the feels!

This collection of romance e-books releases February 8 for ONLY .99 CENTS! Graphic courtesy of Ginger Ring

Fans of friends to lovers, second chances, military veterans, and happily ever afters will devour this boxed set of nearly 20 standalone romances. In addition to Ginger, authors include C.K. O’Connor, Heather Silvio, Cricket Rohman, Alexi Ferreira, Susanne Ash, Jade Royal, Amy Cecil, J.L. Campbell, Carmen Cook, Mel Walker, CA Miconi, Maci Dillon, J.C. Layne, Toni Denise, Lorah Jaiyn, Tiffany Carby, Jewel Walters, and Macie Collins.

Finally Got It Right releases February 8, 2022, and can be purchased FOR JUST .99 CENTS via pre-order on three different platforms:

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1570163177

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finally-got-it-right-susanne-ash/1140905073?ean=2940162370062

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0968W4TSQ

Purchase the collection and get some FREEBIES!! Graphic courtesy of Ginger Ring

Additionally, the authors are providing several giveaways. They created some truly sweet gifts for you, the reader!  The more platforms you purchase on the more freebies you are given! Go to the link below to fill out the form and get your gifts!

https://www.cassidykoconnor.com/fgirfreebies

FREE gifts with purchase on Apple:

 Get all 12 books pictured with proof of purchase plus:

 A special coloring book in an easy to print format

 A custom made printable journal you can use as a readers log

 A printable sudoku puzzle booklet

FREE gifts with purchase on Nook:

 Get all 12 books pictured above with proof of purchase plus:

 An interactive and exclusive calendar with all the book covers

 A handful of exclusive digital jigsaw puzzles

 A character encyclopedia giving you sneak peek into the some of the stories featured in this set

FREE gifts with purchase on Amazon:

 Get all 12 books pictured above with proof of purchase plus:

 A cookbook, featuring yummy recipes by the authors

 A printable and colorable bookmark

 A printable word search booklet geared towards sweet romance

Grab this story collection for yourself and others you know who appreciate romance books and grab your free gifts!

With a purchase of the romance anthology, you can receive several free items, different giveaways for different e-book platforms, as outlined above. Graphic courtesy of Ginger Ring

As you plan a summer vacation, consider a weekend getaway to Deadwood June 16 – 19, 2022 for Wild Bill Days and Wild Deadwood Reads. You’ll have opportunity to meet Ginger and about 60 other authors as well as enjoy the beautiful Black Hills, the wildlife, Mount Rushmore and more in addition to hearing good music and learning the history of this wild west town.

Bison roam Custer State Park, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Photo by G. Irwin

Belief and persistence– major keys needed to succeed. Photo credit: Unsplash

A new year arrives, and many of us are struggling to maintain our goals and resolutions already – and it’s not even mid-January! How do we find the energy and motivation on a daily basis to remain focused upon our endeavors, whether for health, in finances, or amid our work/home balance? In one word: Grit.

Angela Duckworth, author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, says, “Grit, in a word, is stamina. But it’s not just stamina in your effort. It’s also stamina in your direction, stamina in your interests.”

Business leader, author, and former president of Thomas Nelson Publishing, Michael Hyatt, agrees, citing from Duckworth’s book. His term is ‘persistence,’ and in a blog post he delves into what helps us with that characteristic:

Find Your WhyBelieve You CanSet Your TargetsMeasure Your GainsBuild Your TeamCelebrate Your Wins (including the small ones)

Have you considered your ‘why’ for your goals? Mine is two-fold: 1) to work from home; and 2) to further a personal passion.

What are your goals for 2022? Photo credit: UnsplashBHAGs

I have two BHAGS (big, hairy, audacious goals) for this year: to set up a business of helping new authors with their marketing and to complete three books (all are 75 percent written already). I also plan to expand my freelance writing career. All three 2002 goals lead to my ultimate goal for 2023: to establish a writing business, as I plan to retire from my day-job working for a non-profit organization. I turn 62 in 2023, and I am ready to become a small business owner with a ministry of helping animals in need, which I do through donating a percentage of book sales to rescue organizations and volunteering for such groups as a transporter. I want to do more of both during this sixth decade of life.

Grit

Making changes, especially big ones like establishing/expanding a business takes grit, perseverance, and persistence. Changes like this can be scary – but also exciting. When obstacles and hiccups to our plans come, which they will, we need to employ that grit, that persistence and perseverance. In the movie, True Grit, young Mattie Ross tells people she wants to hire former U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn to help her find the man who murdered her father because Rooster has “grit, true grit.” That’s a characteristic I’ve been developing during my 60 + years of life. Perseverance takes time, and with each setback in life, each stumble along the journey, each challenge encountered, that perseverance, that grit, grows.

The original True Grit movie starred John Wayne, Glen Campbell, and Kim Darby. Available on Amazon.com

A famous quote by Winston Churchill in 1941 can encourage us all in our BHAGs … or New Year’s resolutions: “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never–in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.”

Cheers to 2022!

Where do you want to be by the end of 2022? I want to be a fulltime writer, author, and business owner who continues helping animal rescue groups.

So, here’s to a New Year, new goals, passions, and plans … and to the grit to get there!

May we each achieve our goals in 2022! Photo credit: Unsplash

Finding books that appeal to boys, especially at the middle-school and high school levels, can be tricky. Author Jill Chapman gives parents, grandparents, educators, and young male readers a book filled with adventure and friendship. in
The Bomb Squad, released in September 2021.

Finding books that appeal to boys can be difficult for parents, grandparents, educators and others. I have several friends who have grandsons, and though the grandparents are readers, they struggle to find books their ‘boys’ like, especially after elementary school. Jill Chapman, a former teacher, is an author whose new book helps fill in that gap.

I learned about Jill through another author, a Christian children’s writer named Michelle Medlock Adams. I met Michelle many years ago when I attended my first writer’s conference. Her delightful children’s books appealed to me as a new children’s author, and I learned so much in the workshops she taught! I continue to follow her on social media, and I read an interview with her that Jill conducted on the blog The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction.

I’m excited to have Jill as my guest on this last blog post for 2021. Continue reading to learn more about her and her new book, The Bomb Squad, the first in a series for middle-school readers.

Middle-grade author Jill Chapman

GI: Welcome, Jill! Tell us a bit about yourself you know your family life where in the country you live all that kind of stuff a little bit of bio:

JC: I have lived in Indiana my entire life. My husband and I live in southern Indiana. We have two daughters and five grandchildren. I also have a yellow lab, Indy. I named him Indiana after the movie Indiana Jones – definitely one of my favorite movies. I’m a retired schoolteacher, and former homeschooler. I homeschooled both of my daughters for 10 years, and had my own small, private school for six years. I worked with children that struggled in traditional school settings; they had a variety of issues. So that was my heart, and God absolutely closed the door. Then God opened the door for me to write.

GI: Tell us about your new book, The Bomb Squad.

JC:  The Bomb Squad is a middle grade chapter book. It’s a mystery adventure, and the main characters are a boy and his three friends. They are mischievous. They’re not bad boys, they’re just mischievous, and they accidentally set off the community fireworks. That earns them the nickname ‘the bomb squad.’ So that’s how the book begins and then it moves into the mystery of a new neighbor who moves in next door, and they’re very curious about him. In the end, he does have some things he’s hiding, and it’s quite dramatic. They end up saving him with the help of the main character’s dog, Max. So, it’s a fun story with a lot of excitement and adventure for kids.

GI: What age group do you think is best audience for the book?

JC: Middle grade can be so tricky because it can go older or younger, but I would say 10 would be the beginning and then on up to 12 maybe to 14; it depends on their reading level. I don’t talk about the boys’ age in the book at all because when I worked with children that struggled and that I tutored — their reading level sometimes is lower, but they don’t want to read about a second grader or third grader. They might be in 6th grade or 7th grade so they don’t want to read about the younger child. The boys in the story are riding bikes and doing things that a broad range of children would be able to do. The idea was to give kids a fun story with a lot of action.

Book cover for Jill’s book.

GI: You’re a Christian so do you weave that theme in your book?

JC: It is Christian but it’s not preachy at all. There are a couple of places where the main character contemplates what he’s doing. They’re snooping in the neighbor’s house to find out if he’s a bad guy, at one point Brian wonders if he is the bad guy for snooping. That’s about as deep as it gets.

GI: How did the idea for the story come about?

JC: The story started off completely different and morphed into what it is. In the beginning when I was writing it, I had no idea what the neighbor was actually going to be or do; I even was thinking it might be fantasy and the neighbor was a time traveler. As for the idea for calling them ‘the bomb squad,’ I’ll be honest: I don’t even know, that just came to me one day about them setting off the fireworks.

GI: When did the book publish?

JC: September of this year.

GI: You said the book is part of a series – are you working on the second one yet?

JC: Yes. In the next book they will be going camping. They’re off the grid so the next book is titled The Bomb Squad – Off the Grid. Their cell phones will all go dead, and they’ll be stranded for a bit with no contact with adults. So, they take care of each other and things like that.

GI: Why did you pick this particular genre? Why middle grade?

JC: Well, I was a teacher, and it was really a struggle to find books that I felt were displaying what I wanted in a book for my students. There are lots of popular books that kids love to read and there is nothing wrong with those books, it’s just not the kind of reading that I did when I was growing up. I wanted books to be filled with adventure and the characters to not be in a school building, which is hysterical because I’m a teacher and I had my own school. But you know, my life took place outside of the school building and all the characters that I loved growing up, their stories were never about school. Almost every single one of the kids that had been in my school were bullied before they came to me, so school had not been a fun place for them. I want to write stories where children can see themselves having adventures.

GI: What are some of your favorite stories in the middle grade genre?

JC: Mysteries like Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and the Hardy Boys. I had a book called The Flight of the Doves – that was one of my favorite stories when I was in middle school. It’s about a brother and sister that ran away because they’re being abused, and the whole story is children: children help them, they go places, they do things, and they travel to get to their grandma.

GI: Have you written in other genres, and if so, what are they?

JC:  I’ve written one nonfiction, a short book, 10 Common Mistakes Newbie Homeschoolers Make, and how to avoid them. This will be the first in a series of books for homeschool parents. I also have an adult mystery that I have roughed out; I did that during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I want to polish it up to be pitch-worthy. It’s the rough draft, and since I’m a pantser, it’s all over the place in some places so it needs some work!

GI: It sounds like you want to go into other genres…

JC: Yeah, I’m excited to work on it. I also love writing short stories, and I’ve had some really good luck with that. I recently found out I’ve made it to the second round in the NYC Midnight contest. I made it to the second round on the 100-word story I entered. I recently made it to the second round on the 250-word story so I’m excited to see where that goes. I have written short stories for a local news magazine in our county. I really love writing short stories.

GI: What are some of your hobbies when you’re not writing?

JC: I love doing watercolor painting and that has been a hobby for a long time. I don’t always get to do it. I help homeschool one of my grandsons so that takes a couple days a week. I also enjoy going to church and walking my dog.

GI: Who has been the biggest influence on you in your writing?

JC: It’s hard to say but adventure books of all kinds have been a huge influence.  I love reading about people who find themselves in a challenge they must overcome.

GI: Are there any aspects of your personal life that influences your writing and if so, what are they and how do they influence you?

JC: I have two girls so it’s kind of funny that I end up writing a story about four boys. I have a grandson on the spectrum and then I worked with so many boys that were on the spectrum or boys that had other challenges. I have a character that has anxiety in the book; it’s not a huge part of the story at all but the other boys know he gets nervous, and they might get irritated with him, but they don’t throw him out of the group. Most all of them had been bullied and they longed for friendship, so I wanted to exhibit friends that could be different and still stay friends and be true friends and have that unity.

GI: Anything else that you want to say that I didn’t ask or anything else you might want people to know about you?

JC: Well, I am a Christian, and a lot of what I do directed toward a positive attitude. I want people to feel brave in their life and I want them to find strength. I want to be an encourager so just about everything I do I try to lean toward that. I don’t always succeed but I try to show others their strengths and uplift them.

I have a writing group at our local library. It’s called The Mighty Pen, and I’m the host. I have people that attend that I’m there to encourage them on their journey. That’s really a lot of fun!

All of us have a voice and it’s important to listen to other people’s voices as well. In my school, I saw children come that had been so unsuccessful and almost within the first week start doing things that others didn’t think they could do because I would tell them they could do it. They just want to know that someone’s on their side and that’s what I tell them. Maybe we can’t do this today but you’re going be able to do it and I’m here to help you do it.

GI: That’s so great! Encouragement is important to everyone, adult or child, creative person or scientist. Encouraging others to read is also important, and with Jill’s book, The Bomb Squad, more youngsters will. Thanks for joining us, Jill!

Jill and her dog Indy.

Readers, you’ll find The Bomb Squad on Amazon here – click the image link:

Find more about Jill and her writing on her website: https://authorjillchapman.com/

You’ll also find her on these social media channels:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjillchapman/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_jill_chapman/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jill27118981

Pet Principle:

Animals appear in numerous books, both contemporary and classics. Animals appeal to kids as well as adults, and having animals in stories helps an author’s readership. From Because of Winn Dixie and The Life of Pi to The Art of Racing in the Rain and A Dog’s Journey, there are numerous wonderful novels and children’s books featuring animals as characters. As you consider winter reads for yourself or younger readers, check out Jill’s book for tween and teen readers as well as additional recommendations below:

https://bookroo.com/explore/books/topics/animals

Best Middle-Grade Books About Animals

Fantastic Animal Fiction for Grown Ups

As a young woman, I often visited my parents’ cabin at Christmas. I enjoyed the quiet of nature and riding Dad’s horse, Scout. Photo by Earl Mansfield (my dad).

This is my 60th Christmas. I don’t remember much about the first few Christmases of my life, but I do remember several childhood holidays growing up in Iowa as well as winter times spent with my parents at their Montana cabins, first in the Bitterroot area of western Montana, and later at a more remote location northwest of Drummond, Montana. Then, there are the Christmases shared with my husband, Greg, in our Casper, Wyoming homes.

This is the 15th year he and I have shared Christmas in the house in which we now live. Sadly, we still haven’t decorated, either indoors or outdoors. We had new windows installed in my home office just after Thanksgiving, and immediately thereafter, I drove to Montana to be with my parents as a wildfire (yes, in December in Montana!) engulfed their small community of Denton. Thankfully, their home remains standing, but sadly, more than 20 of their neighbors lost their houses and many others lost sheds, barns, pastureland, and other possessions to the blaze.

A wildfire swept through the community of Denton, Montana on December 1, 2021, burning more than 20 homes to the ground plus taking fields, sheds, barns, and grain elevators. Photo by Gayle Irwin

While I was with my parents, my husband Greg painted around the new windows installed and put some new pieces of furniture together for my office. Now, I’m slowly putting the room back together as well as juggling my day job and writing projects. This weekend, I hope to put up Christmas décor.

While lights, decorations, trees, and other aspects of Christmas are delightful, it’s the love I experience at Christmas that makes this the most wonderful time of the year for me. As a Christian, the most amazing love comes from God, sending His Son Jesus to earth to live among people and then later to suffer and die on a cross, bridging the gap between God and humankind. Such love is unfathomable. Such compassion and grace.

Christmas and the cross make the difference in life. Photo from Unsplash.

I fall short on those spectrums. Oh, yes, I love my parents (I have no siblings), my husband, my friends, my colleagues, my extended family, but I’m not always filled with grace and forgiveness. My tongue can be sour; so can my attitude. I’m not a patient person, with others or myself. Yet, God loves me anyway. Even when I try to ‘be good,’ I often fail. I’m imperfect. He blesses me anyway, with family, friends, work, a home, a car, and so much more, including things I often take for granted. When the electricity was out at my parents’ after we returned to their home two days after the wildfire, I was reminded how those simple things, like lights, heat, and running water are major blessings. Yet, how often do I feel thankful for them? When the electricity, heat, and water came back on later that day, believe me, all three of us whispered prayers of gratitude!

The new year brings new hope and new plans for me – more magazines for which to write; new books to write and publish; a new website, and new adventures for travel and work. Blessing upon blessing upon blessing.

Draft book cover for a new release planned for 2022. Created in Canva by Gayle Irwin

As Christmas approaches and I reflect upon the many holidays I’ve experienced, whether rustic or modern, with candles or with lamps, wood heat or natural gas, traveling or staying home, I’m grateful for each one. I look forward to decorating this weekend and to sitting near the tree, music playing, and remembering times with my grandparents, with my parents, with Greg’s family, with him and our pets. Most of all, I look forward to gazing at the Nativity scene bequeathed to me by my mom’s mother, hand-carved from Israel, and remembering the true meaning for season, for without Christ, there is no Christ-mas.

Wishing you and your family a blessed and wonderful Christmas!

Pet Principle

Over the holidays shared with my husband, Greg, we’ve enjoyed spending them with special pets, including our blind springer spaniel, Sage, whom we adopted in early 2001, after our marriage in October 2000. Sage traveled with us to North Carolina in 2007 when we spent Christmas with Greg’s parents and his older brother and family. We drove, and what an adventure we had! That was also the year I published my first book: Sage’s Big Adventure: Living with Blindness. We enjoyed Sage’s companionship for five more years after that trip; she passed in 2012 from cancer.

Since then, other dogs, and our cats Murphy and Bailey, graced our home during the holiday season: Cody, an older, blond cocker spaniel; and Mary, a black and white springer/cocker mix. Now we have Jeremiah, a shih tzu who started life in a puppy mill, and Sadie, a brown and white springer spaniel who experienced abandonment but has found love and acceptance in our home. So many wonderful pets, so many wonderful Christmas memories!

Each animal gets a Christmas stocking filled with treats and toys. Do you give your pets presents? Share what you give that special pet (or person) at Christmas!

Here’s a link to gift ideas to give pets and/or pet lovers on your list:

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/g2993/best-pet-gifts/

Christmas gifts for pets? Yes or No?? Photo from Unsplash

Enjoying a quiet walk in the woods during winter creates intimacy and memories. Photo credit: Pexels

A light snowfall graced the midnight sky. He left work after closing the business for the night, counted the day’s earnings, and placed them in the safe. He called me thirty minutes prior, asking if I wanted to take a walk. He needed to settle his mind, and a midnight stroll through the quiet, small community in which we lived often helped him, and me, do just that.

I agreed, and by the time he arrived at my small rental house, I had bundled into my winter coat, gloves, and scarf. A quick smile and kiss, then, after tucking my hand through his arm, we strolled through the tiny town edged with pine trees. Barely a breath of wind stirred. Silence enveloped us and twinkling lights of blue, white, red, and green spoke of the holiday season drawing near. Streetlamps cast a glow upon the snowy ground while lacey white flakes continued to fall from the sky, capturing tenacles of light as they floated through the air.

The occasional hoot of an owl or howl from a coyote rippled through the night, bringing a smile to each of our faces. No traffic, few people, no worries of crime or drunk drivers, and lack of pollution contributed to the joy of walking neighborhood streets in a tiny village adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. I basked in this seasonal stroll for three winters, and the memory still makes me smile.

Such intimacy with nature and another human being made its way into my most recent book. Paws-ing for Love: A Pet Rescue Romance Christmas Story takes place in southwestern Montana, an area in which I resided for nearly 14 years. Yellowstone is one of my favorite places, and the gateway communities of Gardiner and West Yellowstone offer an abundance of natural beauty, fresh air, and small-town living. No matter the season, the joy of closeness to nature and one’s neighbors abounds. However, there’s just something about winter, whether the weather is mild or harsh, that enfolds such closeness even more.

The stillness of a forest, the gentleness of fresh snow, and the joy of being together to share the experience — a romantic venture. Photo credit: Unsplash

In the book, Rhiann and her love, Levi, relish the outdoors, and during winter, they ski, snowshoe, and walk. They also take sleigh rides. I’ve done that twice in my life: once as a child and another time as an adult. I’ve also skied and snowshoed. I’ve been on a dogsled ride. I’ve snowmobiled into Yellowstone and taken a snow coach trip into the park. Each winter activity brought rosiness to my cheeks and a smile to my face (except the numerous times I fell with those snowshoes! That only brought frustration!). The crisp winter air, the invigorating smell of pine, and the sounds of wildlife, from songbirds and owls to coyotes and elk, stimulate the senses, awakening one’s awareness to the grandeur of nature.

Yet, nothing beats a walk in winter, especially with someone you love. The slower pace, the pleasure of holding hands, laying a head upon a shoulder, observing the lights upon houses and in the sky, the sound of crunching snow beneath boots, the feel of fresh snow upon one’s face – so romantic, so intimate, so pleasurable. So memorable.

May you enjoy sweet memories as winter rolls in this year.

Enjoy the winter with someone you love! Photo credit: PexelsBOOK EXCERPT: Paws-ing for Love: A Pet Rescue Romance Christmas Story

That night, after dinner at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Levi and Rhiann strolled hand-in-hand along the snow-covered, yet plowed sidewalk across from the hotel. Their walk took them near historic buildings, preserved from the early days of Yellowstone’s designation as America’s first national park, when the Army was assigned jurisdiction of protecting the natural resources. Log buildings with educational signposts spread along the roadway of Mammoth, Wyoming. Towering lamps lit the walkway, and though the temperature hovered near ten degrees above zero, Rhiann and Levi stayed warm in their woolen coats and leather gloves. His brown Stetson with ear covers provided protection as well, and the black and white alpaca scarf he’d given Rhiann for Christmas last year added a warm layer to her head and neck.

A full yet pale moon offered light for their walk as well. They wandered farther from the hotel in order to view the star-ridden sky away from artificial light. The stillness only broke when they heard munching of grass from elk lying down in the islands between concrete roads and sidewalks. Levi kept his guard up in case any of the large animals should decide to approach, as he’d seen some do on occasional visits to the park.

“Well, no swans today, but so many other animals,” Rhiann whispered.

“We still may see some tomorrow before we leave the valley,” he responded in a soft tone.

“Just to think – those beautiful birds were on the verge of extinction by 1900, and if it hadn’t been for some people deciding to protect them, we’d never experience their majesty.”

“That’s true of Yellowstone itself, too,” Levi said, still keeping his voice low. “And all the wildlife here.”

“And because of those fore-sighted people, we get to enjoy this,” she said.

“And because of you, I get to enjoy this even more than I would,” he responded.

She stopped walking and turned to face him. He stopped also and looked into her eyes. Rhiann drew her face to his, and he enjoyed the fruits of sweetness as her lips joined his then traveled to his cheek and his ear. Eyes closed, he savored the light tenderness. Afterward, she snuggled against his chest. and he wrapped his arms around her. He felt his heart might explode with joy and love.

A coyote howled, and soon after, a chorus unfolded. Rhiann raised her head and whispered, “Perhaps they’re singing for us.”

Levi smiled and drew her close again.

“Perhaps they are,” he whispered.

Paws-ing for Love is available as an e-book for just .99 cents this week on various platforms. Download your copy, or gift a copy to someone you love this holiday season, here:

https://books2read.com/u/3RJdPj

My newest release in the Pet Rescue Romance series is available in e-book format for JUST .99 this holiday season! You can also order print copies of the book.Pet Principle:

Taking a winter stroll with our pets can also be enjoyable. However, there are a few hazards to keep in mind, including ice crystals between their toes, damage to pads of paws, and ingesting anti-freeze. According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), “Massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into paw pads before going outside can help protect from salt and chemical agents. Booties provide even more coverage and can also prevent sand and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation. Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible.”

Additionally, according to the organization, “antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.”

Click here to read more on how to enjoy a safe snow-day with your beloved pet from the folks at Chewy.com:

https://be.chewy.com/winter-pet-safety-6-tips-enjoy-snow-day-dog/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoZGhjtHB9AIVix-tBh1s2gMKEAAYASAAEgJYvvD_BwE

Being outdoors in winter with your furry friend can be enjoyable … but also hazardous. Keep pets away from anti-freeze, monitor their paws for cuts and injuries, and insure winter’s chill doesn’t harm them. Photo credit: Pexels

Cats are often depicted in mystery books as well as romance. There’s just something ‘cat-vating’ about kitties! Photo credit: Unsplash

She took a small bag of cat treats from a nearby cupboard and then walked down the hall to the large room that served as her office. A soft overhead light guided her way. She opened the last door on the left where another shimmering light greeted her. The Seal Point Siamese/Snowshoe cross looked up from her vantage point: the high bed of a cat tower near the east-facing window. Amber tabby Scarlett peered from a cat bed placed in a chair under the west window.

            “Hi, girls,” Rhiann greeted them, closing the door behind her. “Settling in all right, are you? Much better in a home than even the Kitty Condo, uh? And it’s a lovely Kitty Condo, if I do say so myself!”

            She walked to Scarlett first, who ducked her head.

            “I know, sweetie – too much change in such a short period of time. You’ll be all right. We’re going to take care of you the rest of your life.”

            Rhiann walked closer to Emmy, who stretched out a brown and cream paw. Rhiann shook it gently.

            “You, too, Emmy-girl. You’ve been together all your lives and you’re going to stay that way. We still have bridges to cross, like meeting two spoiled dogs, but I’m sure everything will work out. You just have to stay in here for a few weeks. Slow introductions with new animals is best for everyone. I learned that years ago from Miss Rachel, who brought you here.”

            Rhiann pulled the bag of treats from a side pocket of her jeans and shook it slightly. She smiled and cooed, “Merry Christmas, kitties!”

            The sound made both cats stand up. Rhiann sprinkled a few morsels onto the cat tree near Emmy’s feet and then turned to Scarlett and placed a few in front of the more shy feline. Neither one hesitated about gobbling the tidbits. Rhiann chuckled.

            “That helps us be better friends, doesn’t it? Here’s a few more.”

            She presented each cat with four additional treats and then closed the bag.

            “That’s all for now. More to come before bedtime. Enjoy!”

            After a gentle pat on each cat’s head, Rhiann walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

– Excerpt from Paws-ing for Love: A Pet Rescue Romance Story

The newest book in my Pet Rescue Romance series, a story set during the holiday season, is now available in e-book format as well as print from retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Apple Books.

Cats have graced my life since age 7 when a stray, 6-month-old calico kitten followed me home from school. After no luck finding her family, I christened her ‘Precious,’ and she lived with my parents and me for more than 10 years before passing away. Currently, two 16-year-old felines reside with me and my husband, coming to us from friends who found their pregnant mama on their ranch. Although we don’t know how much longer Bailey and Murphy will be with us due to their elderly status, we treasure each day … and the 16 years of memories we’ve collected.

Cats add joy to our lives. Their purring, warming our laps, greetings when we arrive home, playfulness, and quietness teach us simple life lessons: friendship, trust, gratitude, joy, enjoy, and rest.

I like cats so much that I recently began transporting for a cat rescue, helping once abandoned or neglected felines (and/or their offspring) find new, loving homes. I’ve driven 160 miles north and 180 miles south, taking cats and kittens to different communities outside of my own to meet their new friends. I began transporting dogs for rescue nearly 15 years ago. Now, adding cats to my volunteer transport duties, I not only have the satisfaction of rescue, but the enjoyment of travel during a beautiful season of the year: autumn. I’ve experienced bald eagles, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, hawks, and wild turkeys during these travels, and those natural encounters have added to the joyfulness of transport.

Two kittens I recently transported to rescue. Photo credit: Gayle Irwin

In my new book, Paws-ing for Love: A Pet Rescue Christmas Story, my characters Rhiann and Levi adopt two cats that come into their rescue. Rhiann has previous experience living with cats; Levi not so much. But, his love for his wife, and his desire to provide animals with a loving environment, prompts him to say ‘yes’ to adding cats to their household. Later in the book, his friend Phil comments, “I never thought I’d see the day when you’d be living with felines and not just canines.”

My dad is a good example of this. When he allowed me to keep Precious all those years ago, he was not a fan of felines. After living with two other cats after Precious’ passing, he now adores cats. In fact, nearly ten years ago, I helped him and mom adopt a cat after their previous one unexpectantly passed away at the vet’s office. Her name is Patches, and she, too, is a calico. She and dad have an evening routine: after her night-time snack, she lays on the arm of his chair while he reads. At 11 pm, he feeds her a ‘midnight snack’ and then Patches goes to bed with mom; dad hits the hay 30 to 60 minutes later.

Joy comes our way no matter what type of pet we have, but there’s just something extraordinary about cats – their distinct eyes, erect ears, some independence mixed with socializing, and that purr… nothing quite like a kitty purr! Such beautiful mews-ic!!

If you are a cat person and enjoy romance mixed with some intrigue, you might enjoy the author Kris Bock and her Cat Café Sweet Romance series. She gives away a novella in the series – find out more here: https://www.krisbock.com/

My new Christmas story goes on sale in e-book format for just .99 starting Thanksgiving Day! Available on various platforms, including Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, and Amazon Kindle. Click here for further information and to purchase during Thanksgiving weekend: https://books2read.com/u/3RJdPj

Paws-ing for Love: A Pet Rescue Romance Christmas Story goes on sale in e-book format for JUST .99 cents starting Thanksgiving Day and continuing through Cyber Monday!
Order a copy for yourself, a friend, a family member … or all three! https://books2read.com/u/3RJdPj Pet Principle:

Whether in stories or real life, cats add joy, and sometimes drama, to our lives. In books, they help solve mysteries (or are a part of the mystery); in romance, they bring people together as couples or as friends. In real life, they give us companionship and they teach us responsibility and trust. For those of us who live in the United States, this is the week of Thanksgiving, and we can be thankful for the animals in our lives, whether cats, dogs, horses, hamsters, rabbits, or other creatures. ‘Paws’ for a moment and give thanks for the furry friends in your life … and remember to keep your animals safe this holiday season from rich foods to electrical cords. Find safety tips from the ASPCA here: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/holiday-safety-tips

Caring for our pets brings us great joy. Photo credit: Unsplash

Swans and ducks on a pond in central Wyoming near the Bighorn Mountains. Photo credit: Gayle Irwin

The four swans swam gracefully across the pond, elongated white necks elegantly raised. I’d never seen swans in this area before, and I happily clicked the camera, in awe of these beautiful birds. Hours later, as I drove through central Montana, I observed ring-necked pheasants in fields and hawks hovering above such areas – possibly in pursuit of pheasants.

Mountains dusted with snow from recent storms shimmered in the sunlight, and I couldn’t help but belt out, along with John Denver, “Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy!” (I’m so glad only my traveling companion, my shih tzu Jeremiah, had to put up with my singing!!). There’s just something about traveling through Wyoming and Montana, with nature in splendor, that brings joy to my heart.

Swans taking off from pond near Lewistown, Montana. These birds are known to mate for life and they help their youngsters make their first flight south for the winter. Photo credit: Gayle Irwin

Those swans on the outskirts of Buffalo, Wyoming, near the Bighorn Mountains, were not the last large, white birds I’d see on this trip. Three more, two adults and one cygnet (youngster) swan across a pond near Lewistown, Montana (the area where my parents live). Like three days’ previous, I’d never observed swans in this area, and so again, joy filled my heart as my camera clicked the large birds taking flight off the pond to travel south, likely to their wintering area.

Swans are known to mate for life. Their commitment to their ‘partner’ often outlives commitments humans make to one another. They are inspiring in so many ways: their perseverance in migration; their bond with one another and their family; and the majesty as they fly or swim are just a few ways these magnificent birds inspire me.

New release in my Pet Rescue Romance series, just in time for the holiday season!

They inspire me so much that I’ve woven swans into my new release. Paws-ing for Love: A Pet Rescue Romance Christmas Story released in e-book format last week and will soon be available in print. Here is an excerpt from the book regarding swans:

Rhiann’s eyes fluttered open. She glanced around and saw white walls to the right and to the left. The overhead florescent lights made her wince, and she closed her eyes again. She felt a hand encase her arm.

            “Hey, babe – you awake?” a man’s voice whispered from what seemed a canyon.

She moved her head to left and opened her eyes again. Levi’s face came into focus after a moment.

            “Yeah, kinda,” Rhiann murmured. “What happened? Where am I?”

            “The Livingston Health Clinic. You took a tumble down a mountain.”

            Images flashed through her brain, and she again closed her eyes. “Snowshoes. Elk.”

            “That’s right.”

            Rhiann detected relief in his voice. She looked at Levi again and tried to smile.

            “And swans – trumpeter swans.”

            He grinned. “Yeah. You and those birds. That’s not the only time I had to rescue you when it came to swans.”

            Rhiann’s smile grew. “Hey, you didn’t have to pull out of the Madison River – I didn’t fall in.”

            “You would have if I hadn’t grabbed your arm.”

            Levi grinned.

            “Well, my enjoyment of nature is one of the reasons you love me so much.”

            She watched her husband lean down and felt a feathery kiss upon her cheek.

            “Very true,” he whispered in her ear afterward. “One of many reasons.”

Swans in flight in central Montana. Photo credit: Gayle Irwin

The reference to ‘the Madison River’ in this scene is based on a real experience I had while visiting Yellowstone National Park in the mid-1990s. A friend and I were driving between the west gate of the park and Madison Junction Campground when I noticed a family of swans gliding along the river. I called out for my friend to stop and pull over; before the vehicle came to a complete stop, I jumped out and ran to the river to get a closer look at the majestic birds. My friend scolded me, but I didn’t care – such a delightful, rare moment needs to be absorbed, appreciated, and enjoyed. I’m like Rhiann when it comes to nature’s inspiration and beauty.

Trumpeter swans nearly became extinct by the 1930s – women’s fashion included hats featuring bird feathers, and wetland habitat grew more scarce. Therefore, many types of birds, from swans to egrets, became in danger of extinction until the federal government stepped in to protect them. You and I can experience these marvelous birds today thanks to conservationists and politicians who cared about creatures and their habitat. Rarely do I see swans in Yellowstone these days, but Grand Teton National Park and the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, Wyoming are places I can still visit to observe them.

If you like e-books and romance or mystery stories featuring pets, you’ll enjoy this special book promotion through Book Funnel!

In addition to the release of the new holiday book, I’m participating in a few book promotions this month, including one that includes animals in the story. The promotion features mystery stories, time-travel/fantasy stories, and Christmas stories. I’ve already purchased a couple of the books for my winter reading! Check out the promo here – you just might find your next special read (or two!):

https://books.bookfunnel.com/pet-lovers-with-kindles/1rwcwkbw0x

We may not all be as lucky as swans to find our committed relationship, but inside the pages of romance books we can find characters who experience happily ever after! And, maybe, like me, you’ll find inspiration in nature and in books!

These books are part of the Book Funnel promotion — they like a great reads for me, so I purchased them for my Kindle! Pet Principle:

My dog, Jeremiah, travels with me often, including on this trip where I observed swans. He is the mascot for my book Rescue Road (for a dog named Jax in the story, who is also part of Paws-ing for Love: A Pet Rescue Romance Christmas Story. I enjoy traveling with my dog and featuring animals in my books. The holiday novella features a dog and a cat who help Rhiann and her husband and other residents of fictional Colter, Montana, cope when a friend goes missing. Pets are often a comfort in times of sorrow and uncertainty — as well as during times of travel. Learn more about traveling safely with your pet (especially since the holidays are approaching) here:

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/travel-safely-your-pet-car-airplane-ship-or-train

Turkeys waddle through the Wyoming ranch where I go to rest, relax, and write. Photo credit: G. Irwin

Three wild turkeys scratched and pecked at the ground while a white-tailed deer nibbled grain that slipped from the recently-departed hauling truck. Two older horses grazed in the nearby pasture. I took in the scene as I stood on the front porch of the guest house on a ranch owned by friends. This property has become my sanctuary, a place for me to reflect and write.

It is also the setting for a children’s book I composed: A Town Dog Named Mary Visits a Ranch, and the backdrop for an article I wrote for a magazine several years ago. Each season of the year, I’m blessed to spend time at this place, located 75 miles from my home in Casper, Wyoming. The landscape and its inhabitants inspire me … and help me relax.

Story settings should inspire. Whether a writer creates works based in rural areas, such as Wyoming and Montana, or in urban settings like Chicago, New York or London, story settings became characters in their own right. In a blog post for Writer’s Digest, Sarah Echavarre Smith says, “Setting is an important piece to any story—it can reveal things about your characters, inspire readers to explore, and not to mention, it’s a fun part of the writing process. A killer setting helps establish the mood of a story, which goes a long way in hooking the attention of your reader. A captivating setting helps readers visualize the story as it unfolds and can make readers feel like they are right alongside your characters, embedded in the plot.”

Settings of Kindness and CompassionMy husband with dog at Kindness Ranch. Photo by Gayle Irwin

The hound-like dog leaned its face against my husband’s shoulder. A desire for love and affection after years receiving injections and being rejected for affection reflected in the cast-down brown eyes. I wanted to adopt that dog immediately. Instead, my husband and I spent thirty minutes hugging, petting, and whispering into the long ears. I learned a month later, the hound had a new, loving home, and my heart rejoiced. He was one of several adopted that fall from the Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary.

Kindness Ranch is another location that inspires me. A 1,000-acre former cattle ranch in eastern Wyoming now turned animal sanctuary is the basis for the ranch/sanctuary in my novella, Finding Love at Compassion Ranch. Craggy bluffs set amid rolling hills, timberlands and pastures provide an incredible back-drop to the real location, and adding mountains and placing the fictional ranch/sanctuary in western Wyoming provides readers a taste of a more rugged setting. The mission of and work at Kindness Ranch (and the fictional Compassion Ranch) is also uplifting: providing a second chance at life for former research animals.

Kindness Ranch, near Guernsey, Wyoming. Photo credit: Gayle Irwin

Describing the location and the creatures, as well as the characters, gives readers an insight into the importance of that mission and the beauty of the area. Here is a sample:

Erin sat in an Adirondack chair on the cabin porch that evening. A glass of iced tea in her hand, and she surveyed the pin-laden forest encompassing the wooden structure. Sunset sprinkled apricot, peach, and tangerine across the sky, creating sparkles of varied light upon the needles and leaves of the nearby trees. Shadows danced among the surrounding rocks and low-growing jumpers on the forest floor. A slight breeze ruffled the tree branches, like a hen tousling her feathers. The tranquil evening quieted Erin’s unsettled heart and mind.

I enjoy weaving personal experience into my novels and novellas, and places such as Wyoming and Montana (where many of my other stories are set) offer readers a chance to visit these places whether they can physically go there or not.

Setting takes you on a journey, whether you’re a writer or a reader (or both!), and hopefully, that’s a journey you will enjoy.

My Books Take You There – and Are On Sale!

Finding Love at Compassion Ranch and the novel that published before that book was released, Rescue Road (set in Montana), are on sale this month in celebration of National Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month, which takes place each October. The e-book versions, available on a variety of platforms, including Kindle, are just $1.99. Pick up a copy through your favorite e-platform store and take a trip to the forested regions of the west, right from the comfort of your own home!

Pet Principle:

Do you travel with your pet(s)? My dogs enjoy the opportunity to explore places like Kindness Ranch, Yellowstone National Park, the Bighorn National Forest, and even my friends’ ranch. And, yes, they’ve been to Denver, Colorado a few times, too! When traveling with your pets, be sure to not only take along food and water (and dishes for those items), but also medical records, identification, their favorite beds/blankets, and other items. For a listing of ideas and guidelines for successful and less stressful travel with your pets, visit this website:

https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/how-to-take-your-pets-on-a-cross-country-road-trip/

My dogs, Jeremiah (the shih tzu) and Sadie (springer spaniel) love to take rides in the car, whether short jaunts around town or long road trips on vacation. Leashes and blankets are necessities, among many other things. Photo credit: Gayle Irwin

Craig Johnson reads an excerpt from his new book Daughter of the Morning Star during a program at the Natrona County Library in Casper on Saturday, October 2. Photo credit: Gayle Irwin

I sat in the audience as Wyoming author Craig Johnson read from his new book Daughter of the Morning Star, the latest in his Longmire series of books.

Craig is Wyoming through-and-through, with his cowboy hat and jeans and his working ranch outside of Sheridan. However, he’s also story-teller extraordinaire, captivating audiences with his characters and words. He’s a delight to meet, talk with, and listen to, and his action-packed books about a modern Wyoming sheriff in the fictional town of Durant keep a reader turning the pages.

A Special Book About an Important Cause

Daughter of the Morning Star is a special book, not only because it’s the latest in a long-running series but because the story highlights a real plague that envelopes Native American nations: murdered and missing people (especially women). For the past decade, awareness has grown on this issue, and with his book, Craig brings the blight to light in a fictionalized story that, sadly, could be oh so true.

In Wyoming alone, more than 700 indigenous people were reported missing during a 10-year span. Although many were later found, at the time of the report’s release, 10 remained missing. Wyoming’s governor, following the lead of other western states, created a task force specifically for the issue of missing and murdered native peoples; other governors are considering following in those footsteps. With awareness comes change, with change comes results.

Writers can be the catalysts for change and for deepening awareness on social issues such as this. During his talk, Craig mentioned that he and his publishing company donated money to help native organizations working on this issue. I congratulated him then, and I honor Craig Johnson now, for using his writing talent to bring this important topic to light. You can find his book at your favorite bookstore or online.

My stories about rescue dogs and the people who adopt them help bring awareness to the need for pet rescue organizations and animal adoptions. Graphic credit: All Author/GIrwinMy Cause & My Books

I desire to do something similar with my works. With nearly one million animals still euthanized in America’s animal shelters (including healthy, adoptable ones), my stories, for children and adults, highlight the critical need for pet rescue and adoption. Whether my story is about a blind springer spaniel named Sage, a puppy mill survivor named Jeremiah, or a pet rescuer named Rhiann, I desire to increase awareness of and the need for adoption – and the joy adopted animals bring to our lives.

Rescue Road released two years ago; it is the first in a series I call Pet Rescue Romance. These clean novels and novellas not only entertain, but educate, and with each book sale, I donate a percentage to pet rescue and adoption organizations.

As a writer and a human being, I take joy in lending my voice, and my words, to important causes. Our world is filled with problems, and we need people to help solve them. Writers can be spokespeople, educators, and change-makers as well as entertainers.

Whatever causes are important to you, let your passion shine in whatever capacity is available to you. And when you discover an author who speaks to that issue, buy their book – you are likely not only helping spread the word and educate others, but you may also be helping to contribute to the betterment of life on this earth.

Anniversary Special: $1.99!

In honor of the second anniversary of Rescue Road, I’ve discounted the e-book on all platforms for this month to just $1.99. Find the book on Kindle here: https://amzn.to/2W7fpBe

and on other e-book platforms, such as Barnes & Noble and Kobo, here: https://books2read.com/u/4DE9Oe.

Rescue Road is on tour — virtually! Follow the book tour here:

https://www.silverdaggertours.com/sdsxx-tours/rescue-road-book-tour-and-giveaway

With autumn in full swing, curl up with an enjoyable book, sip some cider, and lose yourself in a special story that benefits a great cause.

Set in southwestern Montana, Rescue Road brings an animal rescuer and EMT together but each desires the land on which she decides to open her sanctuary. Can they mend the fence that separates their hearts?
Just $1.99 as an e-book through October 31st! Graphic courtesy of Silver Dagger Book Tours.Pet Principle

October is Adopt-a-Dog Month; that’s one of the reasons I released Rescue Road in October. This special designation was started by American Humane in 1981 to bring greater awareness to the need to adopt dogs. Even though the number of dogs euthanized in shelters across the United States has dropped drastically since the 1970s and 1980s, too many healthy puppies, adults, and senior dogs still die instead of receiving a chance for a new loving home. Become an advocate for the voiceless – adopt, foster, volunteer, donate, educate. Help create a No-Kill America and spread the word for the need for more adoptions!  #AdoptDontShop!

Graphic Credit: American Humane

Activities with friends and family keep connections strong. Photo credit: Unsplash

On this official first day of autumn in the United States, I reflect upon changes. An early September post highlighted embracing change; this week, I want to focus on relational change.

During the weekend, I spent time with my parents; my mother is 82 and my father is 85.With age comes change. Just as I am now 60 and different from when I was 30 or even 40, so my parents are not the same as when they were 40, 50, even 60 years of age. Memory isn’t as strong, especially for my dad, and anxiety (especially during travel) plagues him (he drove from Montana, where he and mom live, to Wyoming where I live), and that anxiety manifests itself in various ways. This will likely be their last trip to Wyoming; I will be making more trips to Montana, which is not a problem for me as I enjoy traveling to the Big Sky State.

During our visit, we reminisced about the many travels we took as a family; those memories brought laughter and smiles. We talked about the different animals that shared our lives, from turtles when I was five years old to saying goodbye to our first cat when I was 17. We discussed ornery horses and funny pigs, silken-haired rabbits and lake-loving ducks. We reflected upon rock gatherings and fishing expeditions, baseball games and Christmases shared with grandparents, and the many meals shared with friends and other family members.

My father and I on a bus trip through Denali National Park in Alaska. Photo credit: Greg Irwin

Seasons have come and gone; so have friends and family. Relationships change, sometimes for the better, sometimes not. Some people share our lives for a season and then they are gone, whether in death or through simply drifting apart. One of my parents’ sisters-in-law passed away from cancer recently, and that loss hurt all our hearts. We honored her by remembering her with fondness. We’ve also lost friends, including some of my classmates, to cancer, heart attacks, and COVID, and we’ve lost touch with people who once shared meals and time in our family home.

As I grow older, I feel sorrow over lost connections, especially the drifting apart because that’s preventable. Family and friends are vital to our growth as humans, and yet some relationships just don’t seem to be strong enough to survive moves, the addition of children and/or grandchildren, or the turmoil and busyness of life. I find that sad because it’s avoidable.

At times, we discover new connections, whether through work, church, a shared passion, or some other tie. Needless to say, we humans are always changing, whether for the positive or the negative. Hopefully, though, through that change we grow in a good direction.

A group of writer friends and I during a recent booksigning event. Photo credit: Our Brothers Keeper Bookstore

As a writer, I constantly make new connections, whether through a speaking engagement, an online group, my day-job, or fellow writers. I recently learned of a regional magazine with which I was not familiar thanks to another writer; I now have two assignments to complete for that publication before year-end. I look forward to furthering that relationship and developing new ones with other publications to which I plan on reaching out.

Just as the characters in my novels develop relationships in the form of friendships and/or love interests, so do real life humans.

What is the health of our relationships, especially in those that are changing (elderly parents, family health issues, financial change, job situation, empty-nesting)? How are we growing during the changes?

It’s not an easy road to travel. May we each face the changes and the challenges with grace, humbleness, and strength.

Travel, laughter, nature, family, friends — all add to the joys in our lives and help us grow. Photo credit: UnsplashPet Principle

I met two kittens recently – adorable orphans being cared for by friends. These lively bundles of joy brought smiles to my face the many times I interacted with them. I thought of my own 16-year-old “grumpy grannies” at home, who, instead of bounding up and down stairs with frolicking ease, gingerly step on each step as arthritic hips and backs make their climb cumbersome … and likely painful. My two girls were once 12-week-old kittens, running and jumping, pouncing and skidding. We care for our animals through the years, engaging in play when they’re young and sitting quietly with them when they’re older. More pets and cuddles and less tossing toys and chasing balls (or feathers). Hopefully, however, our commitment to our pets no matter what season of life they’re experiencing remains solid. That’s a relationship that should never change.

Maverick and Minnie, abandoned by their mother after being weaned, are being cared for by friends of mine who own a ranch outside of town. Photo credit: Gayle Irwin