New Year’s Eve 2020
Generally New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to review the year…
A good book for dog lovers of all ages! This book has been in the working stage for years and was finally published August 2020.
Author: Julie Stephens
December
Nature is art
“Art should be like a holiday: something to give man the opportunity to see things differently and to change his point of view.” – Paul Klee
The outside pictures are a few steps from our garden gate
My Christmas Cactus
a gift years ago from our creative friend Amy
A wonderful thrift store find years ago
Hope our Border Collie in our living area – I like our little cozy cabin – I’m not a fan of big houses –
Joy our Sheltie comfy in her doggie bed
Living in the mountains is so peaceful – our needs are simple – breathing clean air – walking in & photographing & writing about nature makes me feel so alive!
Mountain Mutts on the SCBWI Bookstore
Hello everyone. The Society of Children’s Books, Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) has a bookstore that features Mountain Mutts. This is the link visit their site: https://www.scbwi.org/scbwibookstop-display/?id=699388
The seasons pass…how do you spend your time?
What’s been going on with me in our little mountain village this September:
Mountain Mutts – Joy’s Tale
(published in the Lake City Silver World, September 4, 2020)
When a new puppy named Joy joins the family she struggles to be accepted by the older dog, Spring.
celebrating in 2020
How have you celebrated milestones and special events during COVID-19. Do you feel safe going out? Do you wear a mask? Do you know a healthcare provider or someone who has gotten the virus? Are you doing ok?
We are ever so grateful for our blessings.
nature
In this time of the worldwide pandemic do you especially find nature soothing – how so?
I feel so energetic living in nature!! My senses are alive as fresh air fills my lungs, the running river and birds sing, that earthy smell makes me smile.
travels
Niagara Falls Canada June 2018 – celebrating the 1st birthday of our granddaughter with our son and his family
The 7 year old’s perspective – would be so interesting to know what he is thinking…
Wherever I am nature… colors…flowers…call out to me
Our son with his sons 
Me with my 1 year-old granddaughter
A little water park we happened upon
The New York Power Authority plant diverts water from the Niagara River above Niagara Falls and returns the water into the lower portion of the river near Lake Ontario.
Your Mountain Friend
My husband and I returned home from a memorable trip to Italy at the end of October 2019. We were shocked a few weeks later about the flooding where we had recently been in Vince and then again a few months later about the Coronavirus in Italy.
Soothing Nature
Often in these days of the pandemic thoughts can weigh heavily
While being ‘one with nature’ I don’t think about anything else
These nesting osprey were a gift of being in the right
place at the right time…
Watching both parents feed the screaming chick was
an incredible experience
I am both writer and photographer – sometimes in nature
there’s just not the words…
Steep hike up to this ‘hidden’ waterfall
It feels so good being able to climb like this – so alive, being
connected to nature…living in the mountains, writing,
photographing and walking…in nature…
Little flying jewels
Since I’m still very much getting use to our new very heavy camera I’m particularly proud of this ‘in flight’ photograph
It’s been scientifically proved that being close to nature reduces stress and tension
What is your connection to nature?
Nature
Another beyond beautiful, blue sky day in the mountains!!! With our new camera, I was on my way to the lake this morning by 6:30, without the dogs who wondered why they weren’t going – it was so cold – my fingers didn’t want to cooperate with the camera – the sun never came over the mountain while I was there this morning – still – what a J-O-Y~!!