Happy Valentine’s Day!

Photo by Laura Ockel on Unsplash

I hope you have someone to share this day with–someone who will show you how much he/she loves you.

If you don’t have a partner, then I hope you celebrated Galentine’s Day with your gal pal, or something similar with your male friend(s).

For some, Valentine’s Day is a difficult day that causes them to feel lonely. I hope you don’t experience this. If you do, then find something to distract yourself. Go for a hike, read a book, go shopping (not retail therapy!), or something else that brings you joy.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Sonja

It’s Galentine’s Day!!!

Photo by freestocks.org on Unsplash

Just what is Galentine’s Day?

It’s a day started by comedian Amy Poehler to celebrate female friendships.

It always falls on February 13, the day before Valentine’s Day.

In the UK, it was noted that it’s “an increasingly popular holiday” even though it is only a few years old.

Therefore, in celebration of Galentine’s Day, I celebrate my friendship with my best friend (who lives too far away). Karyn has been my friend for 27 years.

We met when her husband asked for my help carrying a very heavy sofa into their new apartment.

It was a fun way to meet some very good people.

I hope you have the equivalent!

Don’t forget to buy a card or small gift for your valentine–this is your one-day warning! Valentine’s Day is tomorrow!!! Sonja

Answering a Popular Question

(c) 2019

The most frequent question about the Guinness the Therapy Dog book series that I get is actually a two-parter.

  1. Is Guinness your real dog?
  2. Can I buy Guinness?

To answer the first question: Yes! Guinness lives with me and my family. He spends most days laying in front of the door so no one can come or go without his knowledge. He’s a big, fluffy heart on four paws who thinks it is his duty to protect me. While he doesn’t act the same with my husband or sons, Guinness places himself between me and anyone who stops to talk to me during our walks.

And onto the second question: No! We would be lost without Guinness in our house and protecting our door. We were lucky enough to have him rehomed with us and we’re not giving him up!

If you come across us on a walk, please stop and say hello. Sonja

Becoming–

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

I am asked frequently how I became a writer. I’m asked also how I come up with my story ideas.

My response is: how do you not have stories constantly running through your head?

I’ve been making up stories for as long as I can remember. A wonderful lady used to tell how I would be going to sleep when we were all camping and they would hear my voice acting out some scene or other. That’s when I was maybe three or four years old.

Everything I see is filed away and it’s fun to take things out and examine them to see if they will fit into my current WIP (work in progress). Sometimes I’ll write a scene and a memory will pop up that I can integrate into the description.

The fun of writing the Guinness the Therapy Dog series is that I have the famous dog right here at my feet. If I want to see how he plays with a ball, I can throw it for him. It’s fun to have my subject ready to watch!

I hope you are living your own story! Sonja

He’s Pooped!

(c) 2020

This is Guinness the Therapy Dog after a walk.

He’s pooped!

Since we went to dog school, he’s a pleasure to walk through the neighborhood. I love how interested he is in everything around him. And I love that he doesn’t lunge and pull any longer!

When we first brought Guinness into our home, as a 95-pound almost-two-year-old, he would practically dislocate my shoulder when we walked together.

During dog school, he learned to walk nicely and not to pull toward other dogs and people. We walked through the boarding area and the instructor even brought other dogs into the training area.

He is so eager to please, that he learned very quickly. It used to be that I didn’t look forward to our daily walks because it was such a struggle. Now, I take him on at least one walk a day. We have a ball!

Go outside! Sonja

Holding Hands

(2020)

Guinness the Therapy Dog is a great dog–almost said he was a great person!!! He’s giant-sized, has a heart filled with love that he wants to give away, and has all the patience in the world. He’s a wonderful example of everything I strive for.

Take a look at the size of his paw! He’s 95 pounds of dog.

He can cruise the kitchen counters to see what’s up there without doing more than tilting his chin up. (But he wouldn’t because it would make me sad and that’s the worst thing to him: making someone sad.)

When he lays down he blocks the entire doorway.

He’s a gentle giant.

I hope you have someone/something in your life that is as loving as Guinness. Sonja