Danielle and Devin

My husband's cousin, Karen, has two granddaughters

who are readers, writers and illustrators.  Danielle at 

age 10 has written and illustrated more stories than 

anyone I know!  She is destined for publishing.  Her

work is personal, humorous and complex for a girl 

her age.  Although she loves to illustrate with colored 

pencil, her computer art designs are dynamic.  Devin,

Danielle's first cousin loves to read and do art work too.

On my blog, I love to promote children's art and

writing.

Visit to English Village 

Elementary School

This Elementary school is amazing!  It is a signature 

school that implements a dual language program. 

Children are immersed in both English and Spanish 

throughout the day.  Students K-2 learn to read, write, 

listen and speak in both languages (50% of the daily 

instruction is in English; 50% in Spanish).

I did a presentation of Marco Flamingo/Marco Flamenco 

on  April  27 and discussed my amigo flamingo. I showed

the process of creating the book.  One of the two teachers, 

Erica Wesley, was my student at Gananda Elementary.

I linked her website and if you can read Spanish you're

prepared to understand!

I seriously have to wear something new to these visits. 

You'd think this was the only blouse I have....well, almost! 

Here I am (wearing famous blue blouse) with Erica.

Grandkids Artwork 

with a Little Twirling Thrown In

Taylor Twirling

                                                                 Anna's Drawing of Mom (Emily)

Taylor's Drawing of Sister (Anna)

Anna's Composition

Cat Story

One day I started feeding and sheltering, 

(on my porch, in home made igloos) three 

starving feral cats (it was winter). 

One I named Smokey (he was a solid smokey grey), 

the other Grizzly (thick, matted grey cat with no ears

---well stubs--his ears had been frostbitten, and the 

last cat (who showed up months later) I named 

Hunter.  

Smokey, disappeared after the summer

of last year, Grizzly ( in the care of a baby sitter)

disappeared three weeks after my husband

and I left for Charleston for the winter.  We don't 

know Smokey or Grizzly's fate, but Hunter has 

become an adorable pet.  He doesn't scratch or bite

(he has FANGS), and is very affectionate.  He has 

his own spot in the house, complete with bed, 

scratching mat and toys.

We try to keep him in the house as much as possible 

because he is a KILLER, more so, I believe, than 

most cats because he had to survive without humans.

I had contacted the Feral Cat Society in our town and

had each trapped.  FYI it costs $30.00 to have feral

cats neutered, administered shots and wormed.

The downside is that the vet cuts the tip (quite a bit)

of the cat's left ear so it is recognized quickly as being 

neutered and free of rabies.  Feral cats are not adopted, 

but returned to the person who brought the cat(s) in

or returned to their original location or colony. 

So now we have a pet with a clipped ear as you can 

see in the photos below.

I am teaching Hunter how to "catch and release"

because if anyone knows me well, I am a bleeding heart 

when it comes to animals.  I can't blame Hunter for his 

instinct to hunt, but I see a trend of him now bringing 

the prey into the house and releasing for me to take care of!

Hunter has inspired a children's book!

Gardening Tip

I've lost many bird feeder saucers.  They've shattered from the

weight of squirrels knocking them over or high winds blowing 

them over. I even tried ceramic glue to attach the saucer back 

on the pedestal without success.  So, finally I thought of a great

use for the base.  Invert it and plant it about 9 in. into the soil,

fill with dirt and use as a planter.  It worked beautifully in my 

herb garden.  I like the tapered shape and the ample root space

for the plants.  I think I'm more creative in the Spring than any 

other season.  How about you?  I do more writing and painting

then too.

Meet Kara

My neighbors, Sue and Pete, have a granddaughter, Kara, who is in 

Kindergarten.  Her teacher read MarcoFlamingo to the class and Kara 

was so excited to learn that I lived close to her grandparents that Sue 

arranged a time for Kara to meet me.  What a delightful child!  She had 

prepared questions to ask me.  And when I said I'd include one of her 

art works to post, she ran home to her grandparents and whipped off 

this expressive lion.  Oh, to illustrate so quickly---my, oh, my, if I could 

only do that!  I love the full circle of creating children's books---

children inspire writers....writers inspire children...children inspire 

writers...to eternity.

I'M BACK !

I'm back from Charleston, SC and back to blogging.  My husband and I escaped the frigid North for a few months in Atlantic (visited my son and family-check out our adventures there-Feb post) and Charleston.  We explored every area of downtown Charleston---especially loved the ironwork and gardens---visited many art galleries---and got info on the writing community.

The food was incredible, loved the hominy grill  (great low country cooking) --- we had the best breakfast ever at The Lost Dog Cafe in Folly Beach.   Poe's Tavern was a quaint place filled with Poe posters

(Edgar Allen Poe served in the army at Ft. Moultrie). and across the street was Dunleavy's Pub---the best mussels --steeped in broth and chunks of garlic!  Can you tell I love food!!  Actually I have a PB manuscript that is very food inspired that I have yet to finish.  

Some other highlights of our trip were:

Visits to the Edgar Allen Poe Library--unique place-

 housed in the Battery Gadsden

 (nat'l register of historic places) >>>>

Meeting Wendy Pollitzer, an interpretive Ranger

at the Hunting Island State Park.  She wrote 

Isle of Palms, a history of the Island.  My husband 

and I stayed in a villa by the ocean on the 

Isle of palms, so I bought her book.  She bought

Marco Flamingo for her daughter.  It's spooky that she

looks like me---a blonde version! >>>>

Of course we walked the beach almost every day---

even on cooler days there was sun!  It only rained a few days.

The expanse of salt marshes revived the soul, birds singing

in January--uplifting.  Harbors of shrimp boats--scenic.

A highlight for my husband was touring Naval and Maritime Museum at Patriot's Point (Charleston Harbor).  The USS Yorkstown is one of several ships moored there.  I enjoyed it too, but Gary is a WWII  

buff on propeller driver fighters.  There were plenty of those and jets too--like the Panther F9 below.

Hi, Gary!!

Once back home in March, I had to scramble to get the illustrations done for the second book in the Marco series the adventures of Marco Flamingo under the sea.  The book will be released in Fall '09---a year earlier than previously scheduled!  I agreed to meet the new deadline.  I actually loved working, sometimes till 2AM, on the paintings.  It went easier than the first book...what a little experience does for one's confidence and creativity!  There WERE flamingos in South Carolina--the plastic kind.