Happy Thanksgiving! A Day of Gratitude & Reflection, Family & Friends, Fun & Food!

Thanksgiving Day with the FiveSibes...

 

 Watching the parade...

"Woo! Will we see Santa Paws?!"

Helping Mom in the kitchen...

"Well someone has to lick up the crumbs!"

 

Dessert Tasting... 

Woo, is that turkey cookie for US???!!!

(Thanks, Sassy's Goodies!)

 Still waiting on baby hu-brother...

A little Nanny-to-be retail therapy while waiting led to these adorable Husky baby outfits!

Six days past due date! What will come first, the baby or the turkey?!

Guess Mr. Turkey won!

(for today)

Of Thanksgiving past: Harley, Chloe & Gibson eyeing the stuffing!

 

Badge by Ann of Zoolatry

Today I am remembering my dear Mom and my sweet furangel Gibson, who I am so thankful I had in my life. Gibson will always hold a very special place in my heart. I sorely miss his presence every single day with his larger-than-life personality, his deep soulfulness, his loving connection to me, and his flare for the comedic. Above is one of my favorite photos from a Thanksgiving several years back when I placed the platter of stuffing on the window sill to cool off. This is the first Thanksgiving he is at the Rainbow Bridge, and may he and my Mom be together and know how much they are forever loved and missed.

I'm so very thankful for so many things. For my family, whom I love dearly. My husband, whose love I can count on and he is always there for me and our family. For my daughter, my very best friend and constant support and confidante. For my first grandson she is carrying, who is due any time now. For my son-in-law for his caring and humor. For my now angel mother, my biggest cheerleader who was so supportive and loving throughout my entire life. My wonderful FiveSibes: Harley, furangel Gibson, Wolf, Chloe, and Bandit, who fill our lives with joy and companionship. For our sweet adopted feral kitty Binx. For good health. For the gift of writing. For a creative eye in which to view the beauty of the world in which we live. For having wonderful friends. As many of you know last year was an especially tough year for me, devastating really. I lost my beloved mother on November 15th, then my wooly boy, Gibson, a month later on December 16th. When Gibson suddenly fell ill, Ann of Zoolatry created a special badge as a pawcircle of prayer for him, and when he passed, yet another badge (above) to honor my sweet boy. I still do not even know how she knew, but she's an angel. How do I say "thank  you" to each and every one of you amazing friends in this wonderful placed called Blogville for all the caring thoughts, prayers, comments, and notes you sent to me during and after Gibson earned his wings? I'm still reading them...and they have touched my heart forever so. Thank you, thank you, dear Blogville friends! Wishing you all many blessings and much happiness in the year ahead.

We hope you all had a very wonderful Thanksgiving!

“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” 

~ Harold Kushner

I'm taking Friday off to be with family, so please enjoy our Thanksgiving Day wrap-up post here featuring my Flashback Friday Thanksgiving photo of Harley, Chloe, and Gibson above! And if you are doing some Black Friday holiday shopping, be sure to read my #ShopSmall Saturday post HERE to support small businesses, and see the specials on my books for the readers on your holiday gift list!

  

The Flashback Friday Blog Hop is brought to you by us - the FiveSibes!  We welcome our co-host Love is being Owned by a Husky! We hope you'll find a photo or video from Memory Lane, post it, and link up to our Blog Hop each Friday! If you don't catch it on Friday, you can link up any time during the week! To catch our past Flashbacks, just enter "Flashback Friday" in the search box.  Come join us! We'd love to see your pets' Flashback pics! Just grab our badge below:
 

 

We are also joining in Dory's Backyard "Thanks Blogville" Blog Hop!

 

Newsy Tuesday: #ShopSmall This Saturday for #FiveSibes Books & Support Small Businesses!

This holiday season, think #ShopSmall, and support small businesses and companies! We all know Black Friday and Cyber Monday are fast approaching to kick off the seasonal shopping, but did you know this Saturday, November 26, is "Small Business Saturday" and another great time to do some shopping and support small businesses and hometown companies?! 

I'm very proud of ArcticHouse Publishing, my small home-based-in-the-USA publishing company with a focus on canines and canine healthcare. Here at ArcticHouse, the goal is to help the author who wants to self-publish have a one-stop-shop to create a professional, high-quality book from the cover to the paper stock, editing and proofing, obtaining ISBN and copyright registrations, use of fonts, layout and design, proofing, and printing. Each book is designed with love and attention to detail. All books I work on are carefully edited, designed, and created with the utmost care and printed through my chosen local community printer. Only one book at a time receives my full, undivided attention! With 35+ years in the writing, editing, and publishing field, 19 of those years in the educational sector, I proudly work with a select handful of very talented freelance graphic artists, editors, and designers, who all work and reside in the United States - some even right here in my own beautiful hometown region in the Hudson Valley, New York! And, each one of my own personal books that have been published helps educate others about canines and Canine Epilepsy, as well as having a small donation from each book sale go toward helping dogs in need.

Woo! We love books!

Books are wonderful presents! So this holiday season, when you are going over your gift-giving list, think about one of my books published through my ArcticHouse Publishing, and know you are helping to support a (very) small independently owned and operated business, with donations from my own books, post-production costs, going to help dogs in need. Each of my books has already seen donations go to the designated rescue, fund, or organization! Even though small in size, that is such a thrill! And it could not have been done without, you, my wonderful FiveSibes readers and listeners who purchase the books! And...when you order one of my books, you can be confident that each one is personally hand-packed and shipped by me with care!

What Books to Buy?

EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy

Donation made via #FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong Campaign to: Canine Epilepsy Resources/Epil-K9 Foundation's "Emma's Seizure Fund" Through the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine

 

Named "Best in Print" 2015, 2016 by   

American Pet Magazine

Named to "Top Dog Books 2015" list 

by Talent Hounds

Order HERE

Getting Healthy With Harley: Learning About Health & Fitness (A FiveSibes™ Tale) 

A portion of sales is donated to the Save Our Siberians Siberspace Rescue Fund (SOS-srf.org). 

Named "Best in Print" 2015, 2016 by 

American Pet Magazine

Named to "Top Kids Dog Books 2015" list 

by Talent Hounds

 

 

Order HERE

What's Wrong With Gibson? Learning About K-9 Epilepsy (A FiveSibes™ Tale)

Donation made via #FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong Campaign to: Canine Epilepsy Resources/Epil-K9 Foundation's "Emma's Seizure Fund" Through the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Named "Best in Print" 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 by American Pet Magazine

Named to "Top Dog Books 2015" list 

by Talent Hounds

Order HERE

Buddy, the Christmas Husky

A True Holiday Miracle

A portion of sales is donated to Mama Shay's "Buddy's Buddies" Fund to help with Buddy's ongoing healthcare and other foster dogs in need through the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Named "Best in Print" 2014, 2015, 2016 by  

American Pet Magazine

Named to "Top Dog Books 2015" list 

by Talent Hounds

 

Order HERE

To order any of my books, visit ArcticHouse Publishing online store HERE.

*Holiday Sale Price* Save $4.95 off of retail price on autographed editions of EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy starting on Shop Small Saturday, November 26, 2016 until December 15, 2016!

~Plus~

*FREE* #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Awareness Bracelet

with each order placed for EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy starting on Shop Small Saturday, November 26, 2016 until 11:59 PM EST on December 15, 2016!

*FREE* red "I Love My Siberian Husky" Drink Koozie with each order of Buddy, the Christmas Husky~A True Holiday Miracle book by 11:59 PM EST December 15, 2016.

Every purchase helps a dog in need at our

ArcticHouse Publishing Oneline Store!

Happy Shopping!!!

Would you like more info about Small Business Saturday? Check out their video below: 

Flashback Friday: A Summer Book Signing With Buddy, the (Rescued) Christmas Husky

Meeting Buddy, the Christmas Husky!

This Flashback Friday is an exciting one! As many of you know, one of the books I've written is based on the true story of a sick, abused and abandoned Siberian Husky who was rescued on Christmas morning back in 2011 as he wandered out onto a road and right into the path of oncoming traffic. He was dubbed "The Christmas Husky" because it was on Christmas Day and through the help of a Good Samaritan named Geneva, this boy (who was named Buddy), was quite literally saved and, with the help of online "Team Buddy," embarked upon a new journey that brought him to his foster mom states away and filled his life with much hope, love, and happiness from across the world, that still continues to this very day! 

His is a tale for all time, not just Christmas time! You can catch up with Buddy over on his Buddy, the Christmas Husky Facebook page! Be sure to tell him the FiveSibes sent you! And, of course, you can read my book all about his life from abuse and abandonment to rescue and love, Buddy, the Christmas Husky~A True Holiday Miracle, illustrated by my dear friend and very talented artist, Barbara K. Slocum.

My ArcticHouse Publishing Book Team: Editor Judy, Illustrator/Designer Barbara & Author/Editor Me!

Today, I'm flashing back to this past August, when I met handsome Buddy and his Mama Shay, when they drove up from Georgia and we did a fun Meet & Greet Book Signing event in New Paltz, NY! Buddy was every bit the star! For a once abused and abandoned dog who was shunned and frightened of people, Buddy is now every bit the social butterfly, and he thoroughly loved meeting people, receiving lots of hugs, posing for photos, and getting treats! 
 

Our dog-friendly venue - The Parish

Me and my little pal, Carter, Buddy's #1 NY fan!

 

Had a great time making friends and signing books!

Buddy and his foster Mama Shay embarked upon their road trip a few days earlier with car mate, "Nala," another Siberian Husky Mama Shay was fostering who met her new forever mom, Susan, along the way and together the foursome traveled to New York. (Afterward, Nala and Susan would continue on home to Massachusetts). Since they were on their way up the East Coast, Mama Shay and I thought it would be wonderful to get together and meet some Buddy fans from New York! Matthew Sweeney, owner of the awesome dog-friendly restaurant called The Parish located in the Water Street Market area of New Paltz, NY, hosted the event. While it was a very hot day, one of the hottest here in the Valley this summer - 101°F! - Matthew Sweeney, owner of The Parish treated the dogs to plenty of cool, fresh water and air condition! Folks came from many miles and states away to join us, and it was truly a fun day! 

The Grand Husky Entrance! 

Roo! The Christmas Husky Star has arrived!

 

Buddy with Matt, owner of The Parish, and friends!

With an outdoor deck that overlooked the beautiful Shawangunk mountain ridge, it was a beautiful spot to get together, eat lunch, meet terrific people and some even brought their own dogs, too! Holly, from Holly and the Huskies blog, traveled well over five hours with her dad and two of her Huskies, Bree and Chip, just to come join us for a few hours! 

And the folks from Husky House Siberian Husky & Fellow K-9 Rescue from New Jersey came, too! It was great to meet them! (They were guests on my October episode of "The Sibe Vibe" Dog Works Radio show! Tune in any time on iTunes or HERE).


The Meet & Greet Book Signing also had delicious home-baked canine treats catered by Paws of Distinction Pet Boutique, a cool shop that carries a whole assortment of fresh-baked treats and cakes, as well as foods, clothes, art, and much more! The shop welcomes furry visitors, and is also located in the Water Street Market, downstairs from The Parish.

Buddy and Nala Funny Strip!

 

Buddy liked the smells in the pet boutique!

Buddy & FiveSibes Moms!

This day was most definitely a highlight of the summer for me! Now, secret be told...if I could have managed to sneak both Buddy and Nala into my Jeep without their Moms noticing, I'd have two more Huskies in my pack! (wink-wink!)

 A great ending to a great day ~ tired, but happy Huskies!

Here's a video slideshow story about Buddy, his road trip, and  featuring more photos from the Siberific day:

I'd like to thank everyone who braved the hot weather to  come out and hang out with us! It was so much fun. Also many thanks to our fantastic host, Matthew, and his wonderful staff for their hospitality and giving the Huskies a cool place to chill (literally); to the ladies from Paws of Distinction for the canine catering; and to my two dearest friends for all their support and photographing the day, Linda and Judy! Also big hugs to Buddy and his Mama Shay and Susan and Nala for taking this trip, to my very talented illustrator, Barbara, and to everyone who fosters and rescues dogs, like Buddy and Nala!

As a special holiday gift, Mama Shay is giving out a FREE red drink koozie, like the Wolf has above, with every Buddy, the Christmas Husky~A True Holiday Miracle book purchased between now and December 15th! Visit HERE to order your book and get your free gift! Or you can order through my Amazon affiliate link:

 A portion of proceeds will be donated to Mama Shay's "Buddy's Buddies" fund to assist with Buddy's continued healthcare at University of Georgia (UGA) College of Veterinary Medicine, and when Buddy's bill is up-to-date, she donates to help other pets at UGA who need assistance.

  

The Flashback Friday Blog Hop is brought to you by us - the FiveSibes!  We welcome our co-host Love is being Owned by a Husky! We hope you'll find a photo or video from Memory Lane, post it, and link up to our Blog Hop each Friday! If you don't catch it on Friday, you can link up any time during the week! To catch our past Flashbacks, just enter "Flashback Friday" in the search box.  Come join us! We'd love to see your pets' Flashback pics! Just grab our badge below:
 

We are also joining in the Pet Parade, hosted by Rascal & Rocco, Bionic Basil, our co-host, Owned by a Husky, and Barking from the Bayou! Be sure to visit them and their hoppers!