Friday, August 29, 2014

America the Beautiful...Route 66- The Lyrics in Pictures



I know I have written about Route 66 before. However, anyone who has traveled this iconic road understands when I say, 'Get the keys & let's just go!'  Enjoy the video. I hope it makes you smile.

God Bless America

Noble Island Mysteries by Raquel Byrnes




A captivating trailer by Raquel Byrnes, represented by Hartline Agency. Her latest release, 'Noble Island Mysteries' will not disappoint you!

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

When It's Family... You Hear Voices In Your Head





As an adult, I like to think I make my own decisions and create my own destiny. However, the voices in my head tell me I am wrong.

No, I am not crazy and I am not a science-fiction writer. I hear voices in my head. I'm sure other sane people do, too.  In fact, I know they do, and can prove it. The other day, I was in the grocery store and a lady was ready to order a pound of a particular lunch meat. Then, she changed her mind and said, 'I can hear my mother screaming from Heaven- TOO MUCH SALT!'  Another time, a plumber was fixing my kitchen sink and he grabbed a tool. Then, he exchanged the tool for another in his box and said, 'Yes Dad, I know, this one will make a better grip.' He noticed me looking at him from my kitchen table. I just smiled and said, 'Relax, I hear voices, too.'

Have you ever been in a stressful situation and your grandfather's words of wisdom just 'pop' into your head?   While driving up hill on a snowy road, you hear your father's voice, 'Keep the pace, don't break.'  Your late grandmother constantly sending messages to remind you- 'kids don't need things, they need structure.' 

Our loved ones never stop reminding us how much we are loved, even after their death. The commitment to share their kindness & grace, and live a good life, is our thank you to them. Although some loved one's leave us sooner than expected; their thoughts to you will always be just a whisper away.


A Passion For Pages: “The Hesitant Heiress” by Dawn Crandall

Check out Dawn Crandall's latest release, 'The Hesitant Heiress'. She is a fellow author at Hartline Agency and new mom!

“The Hesitant Heiress” by Dawn Crandall


    With the rare ability to play the piano by ear, Amaryllis Brigham wants nothing more than to someday found a music school. However, someone keeps undermining her hopes and dreams at every turn. 
    Despite her own misgivings, she soon finds herself quickly falling in love with the most unlikely of men—the son of the very man she suspects has been bent on ruining her life. However, Nathan Everstone turns out to be much more than he seems… and everything she never knew she wanted. But can she trust an Everstone man?

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Dawn Crandall writes long inspirational historical romantic suspense. She has a BA in Christian Education from Taylor University and lives in northeast Indiana with her ever-supportive husband and their newest addition, a little baby boy. Learn more about Dawn and The Hesitant Heiress from the August 2014 blog tour: http://www.dawncrandall.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-hesitant-heiress-blog-tour.html

Monday, August 25, 2014

Maggie's Thought for the Week: Let Compassion Override Greed


The greatest gift a dog can teach their master is the true meaning of compassion. An animal that lives every day to be with you, finds joy in the simplest things you provide, and trusts your every intention is filled with nothing but love for them.

Occasionally, I hear on the media people performing 'random acts of kindness'. Although I welcome any type of good news in our world, I wish people would give a higher priority to showing compassion. A behavior that eliminates a greed to expect anything in return; no thank you, public recognition, or request to pay it forward.

Compassion to others is displayed when one goes beyond the feeling of empathy. Not only do we feel the pain someone is experiencing, but we have a desire to alleviate their suffering. Pets appear to have an instinct of when someone is hurting; the paw that gently pushes on your cheek, the lick on your leg, or the squeaky toy in their mouth that makes you smile- all makes their master ask, 'How did you know I needed that?' 

When do we discover the lesson has been learned? When we would rather feel sorrow & heartache, than watch someone suffer a moment longer. When we put aside our own greed for happiness & comfort, and do what is best for someone else. People often ask, how do you know when to say good-bye to your pet? When your compassion for their joy overrides the greed of your own emotions wanting them to stay.

Live... Laugh... Love...Everything Great and Small. To show compassion for one, you must show compassion for all.




Friday, August 22, 2014

America the Beautiful...San Francisco, Postcard Row


Just mention the city of San Francisco, and people visualize the Golden Gate Bridge, Crooked Street and Victorian homes. The homes earned their nickname, 'Painted Ladies', when owners collaborated to paint their row of Victorians with rainbow colors. The Victorian homes along Steiner Street on Alamo Square are probably the most photographed, hence the phrase 'Postcard Row'. However, there are many others beautifying the trolley-ridden hills of San Francisco.


The Sherman House in Pacific Heights is a great example of the Italian Victorian Style. The homes were predominately built in the 1840's-1850's. Their unique style includes a flat roof, overhanging eves and a square cupola.


Gothic Revival Victorian homes were built between 1840-1880. Inspired by the cathedrals of medieval Europe, the American tourist can appreciate European architecture without ever flying 'across the pond'.  The Westerfeld House embraces the characteristics of the Gothic revival. It is located at the highest point of Alamo Square Park.


Queen Anne Victorian homes are the most regal and fancy. Built between the 1880's-1890's, the attention to detail is exquisite. These homes most often include stained glass windows, which makes it my favorite among Victorian style homes. The Haas-Lilienthal House in Pacific Heights is a prime example of Queen Anne Victorian style homes.

Maybe these homes attract so many visitors every year, because they were built with attention to detail, fine craftsmanship and reflect on a time when people took pride in their work. The Victorian Homes serve as a reminder that early American settlers were proud of their heritage, but also believed in the greatness their new homeland offered to them, and their children.

God Bless America.





Wednesday, August 20, 2014

When It's Family...I Remember Katydids, Shade Pulls & Nancy Drew


Summer time to most people means a slower pace, more time with family and enjoying the outdoors. The summer months provide an 'acceptable escape' from our fast pace lives. It allows us to create precious memories and reflect on our own childhood summers of not so long ago.When I think of my childhood summers, I remember katydids, shade pulls and Nancy Drew.


Katydids. I have heard many stories of how these insects got their name, but never investigated to find the correct answer. I don't want to know. I prefer to fondly recall the story my mother told me when I was eight or nine years old. Two insects were calling each other because they were in love. One would say 'katydid' and one would say 'katydidn't'. The katydids would keep talking until they found each other in the night.



Shade pulls. One may ask how this simple item could remind someone of summer. I recall watching the lace ringlets sway in the evening breeze at my grandparent's house. Since there was no air-conditioning, maybe its movement provided a needed, misconception of coolness. Its swaying  lulled me to sleep. Such a small, 'unnecessary' item that makes a house a home. Isn't it those little things from our childhood that provide us comfort as adults? All my shades have shade pulls.



Nancy Drew. My mother introduced me to Nancy Drew when I was nine or ten years old. I think she was worried I didn't like to read, or do anything that felt like school work. I'm sure she finds those thoughts amusing now, since I am a reading teacher. Or, maybe I should thank Nancy Drew. Summers spent with Nancy- on my hammock, took me to places I never heard, and adventures I didn't think girls could have experienced. I spent many summer days helping her solve crimes; she never swore, used drugs, became violent, or waited for a man to save her- she should be every young girls hero.

I love my summertime childhood memories. I enjoy creating new one's, too. However, there is something that just makes me breathe a little slower, and smile a little longer, when I think of katydids, shade pulls and Nancy Drew.



Monday, August 18, 2014

Maggie's Thought for the Week: Eat Without Interruptions


Have you ever watched a dog eat? The focus on their bowl or bone equals the concentration of a rock climber on El Capitan in Yosemite.

Maggie loved me very much, but I know she loved her food more. Once, while enjoying a rib bone in the backyard, the smoke alarm started to beep. She looked up at me and then continued to tackle her bone. Neighbors or loved ones learned quickly, if you came during dinner time- you would not be greeted by Maggie; that is until after she finished eating.

Maybe we should heed the lesson. Why do we feel the need to always be doing something while we eat? Isn't 'just eating' good enough? At home, I find myself either reading the paper, watching television or reviewing tomorrow's assignments. And yes, if the phone rings, I will answer it. Restaurants have televisions, and most recently, video games for children to purchase- while parents check emails on their I-Phones.

Eating without interruptions...is it possible? Should we make it possible?

Saturday, August 16, 2014

America the Beautiful...St. Louis Arch


Just the words, 'Gateway to the West', brings a visual to any present day 'American Pioneer' of the Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. The Arch was built as a monument to Thomas Jefferson and all the pioneers who were seeking something better out west.

From a distance, the Arch provides a halo over the Old Courthouse; part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. In the 1940's, it was decided to memorialize the importance of the Louisiana Purchase by Thomas Jefferson, which made westward expansion possible. In 1947, the design by architect Eero Saarinen was chosen. The structure was built by the MacDonald Construction Company of St. Louis, with steel from the Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company. The Arch begin construction in Febuary 1963 and the last piece of steel was put in place on October 28, 1965.

The Arch stands 630 feet tall; 63 stories. There are 142 stainless steel sections and the foundation is 60 feet deep. At the base, the legs are 54 feet wide; the top width is 17 feet. The arch weighs 17,246 tons. A tram capsule can take visitors to the top of the Arch at a speed of 3.86 miles per hour. At the top, each side of the arch has 16 small windows (7x27") which, on a clear day, provide a 30 mile view in either direction.

The Arch is located on America's river that helped Lewis & Clark discover the majestic lands out west. It is found on land that served as unmarked boundaries of the west, east, north and south; an unspoken division between slave states and free states. For some travelers, the Arch has been a destination; others, a gateway.

God Bless America.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

When It's Family... I Think of Letters in the Mailbox



As a child, I remember Mailman Ed. He always had a smile and a cheerful hello to all the kids in the neighborhood. He knew everyone on his route and often stopped to chat with the adults who greeted him during his deliveries. Mailman Ed seemed to really enjoy his job. Why not? He brought letters to people every day, except Sunday of course.

Letters. It may seem hard to believe by some, but there was a time when people almost always received at least one letter in their mailbox every day. I miss those times. The excitement of opening the mailbox and looking for that decorated envelope with blue birds- you knew that was Grandma's stationary. An envelope with calligraphy writing meant a note from your favorite aunt who loved to tape a quarter to the letter that read, 'buy yourself a candy bar and think of me'. Postcards from cousins and classmates on vacation.






I never remember reading a letter just once, either. The first reading was a quick read filled with excitement to discover what the sender wanted to say. Then, you would notice the little things that made the letter special. The time written at the top right hand corner gave a feeling of warmth. Knowing the person was thinking of you at that time; and you wondered- 'what was I doing at that time and day?'  Their handwriting in print or cursive, the special PS 'squeezed in' at the bottom of the letter, or X's and O's written in such a way to create a frame around the paper.

There is a generation that will not have a memory box filled with special, hand-written letters. They will never experience the emotions of re-reading a letter sent from their first love, a parent expressing their words of wisdom to their child far from home, or rubbing their fingers over a dear-departed loved one's handwriting & noticing the similarities in their penmanship. The smell of the paper, the knowing  someone's hands touched where their hands now touch, and just feeling a little closer to someone who is now so far away.

I miss letters in the mailbox. 




Monday, August 11, 2014

Maggie's Thought for the Week: No Place Like Home



The summer finds many packing for vacations and traveling to far away places. The days before departure are filled with anticipation and great expectations for discovering the unknown. For many, returning home can have a myriad of emotions. For me, going home always makes me smile.

I have seen almost every state in America. I agree with Mark Twain- traveling is the best cure for prejudice. Maggie joined me on most of my travels; all except two, to be exact. Once, I left her in the care of a professional. Another time, she stayed home and was spoiled by her 'grandparents'. Maggie preferred to stay home. She liked the knowing of her surroundings and the familiarity of her schedule.

I believe, to an extent, we all crave a measure of familiarity. The mug one always chooses for coffee before working on the great American novel, or the favorite hiking path to enjoy a sunset in the fall. If traveling brings a sense of euphoria, is it possible for 'going home' to arouse the same sensation?

'The more one does and sees and feels, the more one is able to do, and the more genuine may be one's appreciation of fundamental things like home, love and understanding companionship.' Amelia Earhart

Friday, August 8, 2014

America the Beautiful...Redwood Forest


Along the coast of Northern California, travelers will see signs for Crescent City. The journey will take them to 133,000 acres of indescribable paradise. The National Park Headquarters for the majestic Redwood Forest.

In 1850, the redwoods covered more than 2,000,000 acres of land. Unfortunately, after many lost their dreams of striking gold in the area, lumbering the redwoods became the white man fortune. In 1918, many saw the destruction of nature occurring, and established the Save the Redwood League. In the 1920's, parks were established, including Prairie Creek, Del Norte Coast and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. In 1968, after ninety percent of the original redwoods had been logged, the Redwood National Park was established. In 1994, to help stabilize & preserve the trees, three abutting Redwood State Parks joined the RNP.


I have visited the Redwood Forest a few times. I have yet to take a photograph that captures the wonder & strength of the trees, the peacefulness the trails bring to the soul, nor the awareness of one's infinitesimal contribution to a world which beholds these living reminders of our short life-span. Perhaps John Steinbeck described it best... 'The trees rise straight up to zenith; there is no horizon. The dawn comes early and remains dawn until the sun is high... Birds move in the dim light or flash like sparks through stripes of the sun, but they make little sound. Underfoot is a mattress of needles deposited for over two thousand years...the last remaining members of a race that flourished over four continents as far back in geologic time as the upper Jurassic period...a stunning memory of what the world was like once long ago.' (Travels with Charley, 1962)

God Bless America 


Monday, August 4, 2014

Maggie's Thought for the Week: Shake It Off


Have you ever met someone filled with hatred or jealousy? Have you ever been deceived by someone you thought was trustworthy? Was your day constantly interrupted with thoughts about this person's actions? Did you surrender your own precious life moments to contemplate why evil people exist?

SHAKE IT OFF!  That's right, just shake it off. I have watched Maggie battle with some big dogs as they walked by our yard. She would bark back, but then once she made her presence known, she would shake her body and walk away. Other times, I would take her for a walk and she would nudge me to take a different trail. I would say no and command her to come with me. She would shake her body, and walk the trail I selected.

After every 'shake off', Maggie would move on to the next adventure of her day; sometimes a rabbit, sometimes a nap. Her actions taught me not to worry about past events that didn't go my way, or people who need to create chaos to avoid the appearance of their own insecurities. There is always something better waiting for you, so don't waste time on wasteful people. Shake it off and move on.

 “When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”  – Helen Keller

Friday, August 1, 2014

America the Beautiful... St.Johnsbury, Vermont: Dog Mountain


Stephen Huneck was a writer, artist and self-taught sculpture. He and his wife, Gwendolyn, purchased 150 acres in St. Johnsbury, Vermont in 1995. Five years later, after surviving a near-death experience, Stephen had a vision to build a dog chapel. 'A place where people can go and celebrate the spiritual bond they have with their dogs.' Dog Mountain- which included a chapel, hiking trails, ponds for swimming, and the Stephen Huneck Gallery, officially opened on Memorial Day weekend in 2000.




Stephen Huneck believed in the healing powers of dogs, nature, art and love. He wrote ten books inspired by his black lab, Sally. Upon opening the dog chapel, he asked people to write special notes and share photos of their beloved dogs. The walls are covered with these notes and photos; and new ones are added daily. Unfortunately, Stephen's battle with depression took his life on January 7, 2010. His wife, Gwendolyn, passed away in June 2013. The dedication of volunteers and donations helps  continue Stephen's vision of a place where dogs roam free and people share the special bond between humans and their forever loyal companions.


This July, after my Maggie passed, I visited Dog Mountain. I placed her photo on the wall in the chapel. The thousands of cards and photos expressing the grief and unconditional love people have for their pets was overwhelming. Watching unleashed dogs roam the trails and jump in the ponds filled my heart with joy. Dog Mountain is a glimpse of what all our pets must see as they cross the Rainbow Bridge. How fortunate we are to Stephen Huneck for given us the opportunity to experience it on earth.

God Bless America.

for more information visit www.dogmt.com