Getting Closer!

I finally finished my book! The proofreading is done and I'm now talking to publishers! I plan to make my decision by next week. The book won't have all the illustrations I have done, but one will appear on the cover.

Last Sunday (in the cold and snow) My friend Shmoo and me went to the river, at the cove, where much of the action in my story is located, to take pictures. I wanted one of me by the cove. It was a very cold day, and one picture had to be discarded completely because of the 'chilled' look on my face!

Here's the cove, you can see Detroit in the background.

Here's the cove in the summertime. The summer growth gives the cove shelter from the main stream of the river.

My book's final title is "Under the North Star - An Olde Sandwich Towne Story" I'm using my real name as the author - Joanna Bullard.

I'll keep you posted!

Have a great day!

Phoebe Brown

Lap Dogs

I have been told by many people that my dogs are NOT LAP DOGS. Now just what is a lap dog? My thought on the subject is any dog that will sit in your lap, is a lap dog. It also doesn't necessarily have to FIT in your lap. The dog doesn't necessarily have to be under 15 pounds (I am Canadian, but am old enough not to have fully converted to the metric system, so deal with me).

This is how to start to bring up a lap dog.
 

This is Cleo with my sons when she was a puppy. Note how she is invited to the family lap, she eventually grew to be about 60 pounds. I don't have pictures with my sons when she was bigger, but I didn't take as many pictures back then.

Later we had Dina. she was rescued from the local Humane Society at just over a year old and mostly a Rottie, but she found her way onto laps.  I think if you have a dog, they should be part of the family.



Dina was comfortable wherever she went.

Sometimes when you need a friend, and you just have to hug someone who will not judge, or have a pre set opinion on your life or problems of the moment. A dog is the perfect companion. They will love you, and be a loyal friend as long as you feed and brush them!

I'm sure over the years, my dogs have learned more about my sons than I will ever know! I know my dogs have learned more about me, than anyone else in this world, even my most trusted friend, Maggie.

Sometimes, without even previous notice, they will spontaneously jump in your lap to join in the picture! That's okay, it's part of the charm, you see, you have to a special kind of person to fully love a dog! You have to put yourself aside, and learn to let life in! Sometimes life throws you a curve, a job doesn't turn out the way you planned, a person you counted on lets you down. It may be that you or someone you love gets sick. I think God puts dogs in this world to show us, He loves us, and cares about us. Dogs help us cry, and make us laugh, they steal food from the table, and still love us when we yell.

 

Now we have the smallest dog I have ever owned, Tom is not as 'layed back' as the larger ones, and seems to be more mischievous (or maybe it's my age) but we love him, and contrary to some of my friends, opinion, at 40 pounds, he's a lap dog too!

 

  I've posted pictures of Tom and written about him here before, but he's part of the family, just like all the wonderful dogs before him, each dog has his own personality, and we have loved them individually. Tom likes my granddaughters, (a necessity), and he likes to steal things. I have been having some work done on my house, and he thinks since  the tools are right there, he should take them for his own. Well, it's just another 'river to cross'. He will learn!

 

 

Have a Great Day!

 

Phoebe.

About neglecting my blog to work on my book!

My book is an historical novel, which takes place in Olde Sandwich Towne (West Windsor, Ontario), and the whole of Essex County during the time of the Underground Railroad. This is one of the places considered to be "Under the North Star".

I have been finding, since I am an artist, at least in my own mind, I can write more easily when I draw the actions first. This may seem weird to many, but that's the way I think, and work things out in my mind; so be it!

My focus is on the residents of the area where many Refugees from Slavery landed on the Canadian shore of the Detroit River during that time and how they prepared for their arrival. Of course I have had to add some drama in the story, I hope to have it finished by this summer, and then will have to find a publisher!

Here are some of my paintings:



Josh is watching Daniel and his family flee for safety.

Martin leaves his family again.

Ruth and Sarah gather wild flowers for their respective churches.

Anna has some fun with the baskets.

Josh and Daniel fish at the cove.

 

A dangerous Day Landing at the cove.

 

Fleeing the  strangers who are trying to stop the landings.

 

Siwili and Peter have a secret meeting.

 

 

I figure one more chapter and I'll be ready to publish!

 

Have a great Day!

 

Phoebe



Olde Sandwich Towne Festival

Native Canadian Dancers

Last weekend was the annual celebration of the Olde Sandwich Towne Festival, in the West Windsor Ontario area where I live. This year was special because of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 where the British Soldiers stopped the Americans who wanted to increase their territory into Canada.

Local Pioneer Villiage

There was a camp of pioneers and a visit from "Laura Secord" who told of her trek to warn the British soldiers of an impending raid and helped to secure the land for Canada. My son, Paul's favorite was the Native Canadian dancers. The drumming and colourful regalia is always a sight to see! Another storyteller told of the early life of the famed General Issac Brock. One of the public schools in Sandwich is named after General Brock.

We attended the celebrations with our neighbour, Moonchild, who took videos of the stories, and several of the dances.

"Laura Secord"

Paul and I enjoyed the diversion from our regular routine, and especially for me, the routine of my new project of writing.
Since my novel is historical in its setting, the history of this area was good to experience. I am still in mostly a research mode, in preparation for the storytelling, but I have my story mapped out. This is an exciting endeavour on my part. I love to write, but have no experience in writing a novel. Wish me God Speed!

Have a great day,

Phoebe


Moonchild and Paul

Native Canadian Dancers

Haley's Comet

Last night Paul and I shared a "Movie Night" with our neighbour who has just adopted a new kitten from the local Humane Society. She has dubbed the little fire ball as Haley's Comet! She is full of spunk and action, and has left our neighbour in a bit of a whirl. My neighbour, "Moonchild" just lost her previous cat, (in June) a lovely companion of 14 years, named Chrystal and this active kitten is a bit of a shock!

I brought my crocheting over to instigate a few pictures - naughty me! Of course, the crocheting had to be put away to see our movie! (see the first picture, yes -- she did pull the project down while I took time to take the picture!) I hope you enjoy the pictures. That's Paul's legs in the background, he was too busy laughing to be any help!

We watched "Newsies", with Robert Duvall, Ann Margaret, and Christian Bale I think the real star of the show, however is the Choreography of Kenny Ortega. If you ever get a chance to see this film do so! It is one of the best from Walt Disney.

My garden is doing well this year, I was thinking of not doing it but relented when all the stores started selling tomato plants! The drought in July killed my snow peas, but other than that, the veggies came through, and are coming in good now.

I have also started a new project which has been eating into my blogging time. I have started to write a novel based on the rich history of this area where I grew up, in Essex County.The research is fun, and enlightening. I thought I had a good grip on the history of Olde Sandwich Towne, and Essex County, but I am learning more every day. I hope to have the book done within two years.

 Hope you had a wonderful summer, and I pray God will take care of you in your every endeavour.

Have a great day,

Phoebe

Visitor To The Neighbourhood

This is a picture of the Bobwhite Quail I had to get from the internet, since I have not been able to find our illusive mystery visitor!  I know he/she is here because I've been hearing the call, for the last two days, which is very distinctive and sounds like it is saying it's name! When I was looking up the picture I noticed that the bobwhites are not usually found this far north, and not in residential neighbourhoods, so I hope I get to see our visitor before it leaves us! His/her presence here must have something to do with the mild winter weather we experienced this year.

Tom, our dog, is much more curious, maybe it's the beagle (hunter dog) in him, but he is very agitated, and his loud barking, will probably frighten the bird off before too long! Yesterday, I had a long 'talk' with Tom, urging him to stop barking, and look around quietly, but the bobwhite, kept calling, and Tom's barking finally descended into a baleful howl. I guess if your interests include quietly enjoying the surrounding nature, you shouldn't get a dog with hunting genes!

Short blog today, if more happens, I will continue!

Have a great day,

Phoebe

Life Rules

This list arrived in my e-mail a while ago now:

Home Rules:                                                   
1.   If you sleep on it - pick it up
2.   If you wear it - hang it up
3.   If you drop it - pick it up
4.   If you eat out of it - put it in the sink
5.   If you step in it - wipe it off
6.   If you open it - close it
7.   If you empty it - fill it up
8.   If it rings - answer it
9.   If it howls - feed it
10. If it cries - LOVE IT!

These are wonderful rules to live by, there are a couple more that my parents taught me along the way!

1. Don't argue with old people!           


The gift of age, gives them the advantage of experience and wisdom. They naturally look at a situation with reflection into the 'long run'. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, and Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:13, There are no new situations 'under the sun'. There may be a different or new way of expressing things, but the root problems are all the same.  I have always found that when I take my time and think carefully, I can see the wisdom in their advice.  Be especially wary if they stop talking to you, and just say "Have it your way". I've found they really recognize the answer, and  you are in big trouble if you don't pay attention!

2. The most precious legacy is the love and respect of a loved one.

The richest gift you can give or receive is the love and respect of a loved one. Not just in your family, but in extended family, neighbours, church, wherever. To give the free gift of your time, in listening, doing for, and helping someone. I have had the most wonderful times of my life, listening to the 'life stories' of  some of the older people I have met along the way. It is a peek into history, when I hear a personal story of someone who lived in a time I read about in school. So many of our personal stories are being lost as time goes by. I find that it is also wise to incorporate some of the ideas and habits I hear about into my life. I didn't incorporate the idea of one tea bag for several days, or leaving cut tomatoes out till they grow stuff - another story, told in a previous blog! Knowing the stories of a person's life, can help you understand why a person thinks and behaves the way they do. When someone is talking, don't just listen to their words, but hear their heart.

It is my opinion that true education begins at the knees of the special people God has placed in our lives.

Have a wonder-filled day!

Phoebe