A Flyover Blog

A Ray of Sunshine

I've been feeling a little "under siege" the past couple of days and have toyed with the notion of joining the French Foreign Legion or becoming a greeter at WalMart.

Then this morning, I opened my email and found my monthly newsletter from Deborah Vogts. She writes Country At Heart, a wonderful blog about her gorgeous family, her writing, and life on her Kansas farm. I love it. Look forward to it every month. See, when I was a kid we lived in town; my fondest wish was to live on a farm with a garden and horses and, you know, farm stuff. I still don't live on a farm, so I live vicariously through Deb. (Of course, she doesn't know this.)

In her email opening was a line that read, "Our garden is planted and the taxes are done, so life is good." Suddenly, I felt better. Much better. I hopped on over to her blog, read the update, teared up when I saw the tribute to Bonnie, smiled when I saw little Bud the orphaned calf turned 4-H project (you guys aren't gonna eat him, right?) And I even made a grocery list for the Frog-Eye Salad recipe - but we all know about my experience in the kitchen so I quickly nixed that idea.

Deborah shared a pic of her writing space and a link to a website that features the writing spaces of other authors. She has inspired me to take some pics of my own little office... just as soon as I tidy it up a bit.

Thank you, Deborah, for brightening my day!

A Happy Blogger

I found a blog this week that I just love. It's called Hobie's World and it's written by a bright and articulate Australian Shepherd in Southern California. It's true. Hobie was featured blogger a few days ago on Typepad and I can see why. He blogs about his family, his life, his medical issues (yeah, he's got a few aches and pains just like most of us) his doctor, and - I love this - his book picks. I'm a sucker for a dog who reads. My two little guys, Buddy and Sam, love a good book, too!  If you want to smile today, go meet Hobie.

Got A Crush?

A couple of weeks ago I met a young author and journalist named Vicky Zhou, who writes for the website Got A Crush? . Vicky and co-writers, Shannon Clark and Joshua Dotel fill this lively blog with dating advice, fashion tips and health & beauty news for 20-somethings. (Okay, I'm slightly older - thanks for pointing that out.) The writing style is straightforward and upbeat. The topics cover everything - and I do mean everything - a young single wants to know. If you fall into this demographic - or know someone who does - I invite you to check Got A Crush out! Thanks, Vicky, for introducing me to your website.

Penny Postcards

Mitch sent me the coolest site a few days ago. I promptly added it to my sidebar under Blog Candy and decided to feature it this week. It's called Penny Postcards and it features exactly that - actual penny postcards from every state in the union. Mitch and I both found pictures from our hometowns but they weren't in color so they didn't make this post. If you're a history buff or into retro art, or simply like to browse - this site will not disappoint!

Vintage Dogs

I found this site a few days ago while researching vintage pictures for my new novel. It's called VintageDogs and it features 4 pages of old dog photographs - primarily Staffordshire Terriers and Bulldogs. The pics are awesome. I filed this link under Blog Candy.

21 Days from Birth to Flight

My friend, Pat, sent me a link to this wonderful site called Hummer Nest '05. It chronicles a hummingbird nest from birth to first flight. I've included a few pictures for you to see.

Momma Hummingbird sitting on her nest.

Two tiny eggs.

One hungry baby hatched.

Now there are two.

 

Growing big and strong!

One baby leaves the nest. Hours later, this one flew away, too!

"I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine." -Psalm 50:11

All About Olive

A while back I stumbled on a blog I just adored and I thought I'd share it with you today.  I'd like you to meet Olive Riley, pictured at left. She lives in Australia, loves to get comments from other bloggers and - are you ready - she's 107.  You can visit Olive's blog here: The Life of Riley

There's a short clip from Ollie's movie on YouTube.  Yes, someone is making a movie about her life.  I'm posting it below. You're gonna adore this tiny energetic woman. I hope we're all this interesting at 107!

Rolling Dog Ranch

Okay, horse lovers - make that animal lovers of all kinds - you're gonna love this link. I stumbled on this site a while back and promptly added it to my list of favorites. Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary takes in animals - disabled animals. They specialize in providing a safe and happy home for blind horses. Owners Steve Smith and Alayne Marker are pictured here with 2 of their residents, a pair of Belgium Draft horses. You won't believe their story. Click here to visit Rolling Dog Ranch  Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary: A special place for disabled animals.

I gotta warn you - grab a box of hankies before you visit. These happy endings will have you in tears.

The 6' Ferrets

It's been some time since I've written about one of the links I feature in my sidebar.  I thought you might like to read about my favorite writer's group.  No, I do not belong to this group; I just like the way they do things - and I LOVE their mascot.

The 6' Ferrets originated in Connecticut in 1989; they met regularly in person for 16 years.  These days, their members are scattered all over the country, so they meet online.  I'm not going to go into their whole history. You can go to The 6' Ferret Writers' Group and read about them to your heart's content.  Very early on, members of the group engaged in writing exercises, several of which could only be stopped by killing off characters with this infamous line:

"Just then, a giant 6' ferret driving an 18-wheeler came along and ran them all over.  The end."

If you've written for any length of time, you'll appreciate the beauty, simplicity and poetic justice of this solution.  To this day, when I write myself into a corner, I think of this phrase, and the group logo pictured above, and I invariably feel better!

For Christmas this year, Mitch surprised me with my very own 6' Ferret sweatshirt!  Yes, the Ferrets have their own merchandise.  I always get comments when I wear it out and about.  And it reminds me that writing is not brain surgery... it's supposed to be fun.

Baby Builders

This post is about babies.  Yeah, you heard me... babies. 

Okay, let me start by saying that I've never actually written a post about babies. I realize that - in my kid-less state - I am in the minority here in Bloggy Land.  But most of you have kids, and I recently found someone I'd like you to meet. 

Several years ago, my hubby and I knew a young man, Chris Zervas, who worked for a well-known ministry here in Tiny Tourist Town.  Chris is a gem, one of those vibrant people you just want to be around.  Eventually, Chris took another job and moved away.  He recently returned with a family.  Chris' wife, Jenna, is a Pediatric Physical Therapist - what a specialty!  Before returning to Missouri with Chris, Jenna pioneered the Pediatric Therapy Program for St. John's Medical Center in Tulsa, OK.  Her tiny charges were inpatients and outpatients; some were in the Pediatric or Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

Jenna has taken her program and adapted it for all babies - not just those with developmental challenges - so parents can use it at home. The program is called Baby Builders: An Exercise Program for Stronger Healthier Babies.  It is intended for babies from birth to walking.

If you are the parent of an infant, are expecting a baby, or know someone whose child could benefit from Jenna's wonderful program, please visit - http://babybuilders.com/   

There, you can order an instruction book with tons of photos to show you how to use the program, an instructional DVD, or both.  The cost is extremely reasonable!

Jenna Zervas, MSPT, is a warm and brilliant young woman and our tiny community is blessed to get her.  Thanks, Chris, for choosing so wisely! You can contact Jenna through her website to ask questions, or learn more about the program.  Run on over there now - tell her Mitch and I sent you - and spread the word to all your young Mom friends.  Their babies will thank you one day!