In the words of my FiveSibes, "Wooooo!"  I have been a long-time member of the Dog Writers of America Association (DWAA), and was thrilled to have some of my work recognized! Last year's nominations included my FiveSibes "The Sibe Vibe" Dog Works Radio show on Canine Epilepsy, featuring Dr. Karen Munana and Julie Nettifee of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine; for a photograph of Gibson, and for my humorous  "Vote Gibson!" blog post.  This year, I was once again so proud to have my work receive nominations for a  photo of Wolf  and for my blog article on my two shelter dogs I adopted from our local SPCA. But, to have received the news that I won the prestigious Maxwell Medallion medal for my blog article, out of 8 other finalists who are all talented writers, I am honored! As a career photojournalist, at the end of the day, it has always been my sincere hope that my stories touch people in a special and unique way....

Today's Flashback Friday memory dates 12 years to 2005 when our alpha queen Harley joined our family at seven weeks old! She was a gorgeous blue-eyed beauty with a fierce mask that just stole our hearts! Harley was my daughter's dream dog - a Siberian Husky. Little did we know when we drove home from the city with our new family member, who slept the whole way home in a torrential rain storm, that she would grow up to rule the future family of FiveSibes! Harley would become the instant love of our second Husky, my beautiful fluffy wooly boy, Gibson; and the amazing surrogate momma to our Pupsters Wolf, Chloe, and Bandit. Today, at 12.5 years young - she still is the boss and every bit active as she can be. While she has a slight stiffness in her hind leg from arthritis that occassionaly betrays her youth, plus she is now deaf, she is as bright, and smart, and playful as ever! She is our amazing alpha queen, our Sibe family's first Husky, and the one responsible for my...

This week I've been busy getting ready for family from Long Island who are coming up to visit for the Fourth of July holiday for the week. I'm so excited about having them here and having a house full of laughter, food, and kids playing and splashing in the pool! The FiveSibes love to hang out with with my nephews and the cousins, so it will be a whirlwind holiday here! Looking back over the pics and videos of my FiveSibes, I just had to share this favorite of mine. Our alpha girl, Harley, really got into the spirit a few years back and, to my surprise, let me put these flashing patriotic glasses on her, and she left them on! I think she actually enjoyed wearing them! I hope you enjoyed this visit down our Memory Lane, and that you all have a very safe and Happy Fourth of July! Do you have any plans for America's Birthday with your furkids? We'd love to hear about them! Join Us!!! Do you have a photo from  your pet's past that you'd like ...

Since this is graduation weekend for many school districts, I thought it fitting to pay homage by flashing back 11 years to a celebratory Friday in June of 2006 when my daughter graduated and my six-month-old puppy Gibson (pre-wooly coat) was enjoying all the pomp and partying! What a wonderful day! I would like to take a moment to congratulate all the graduates who are getting ready for the next exciting leg of their lives and send along best wishes for much success!  "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."   ~Eleanor Roosevelt Join Us!!! Do you have a photo from  your pet's past that you'd like to share? Come stroll down Memory Lane with us here at FiveSibes and join in our Flashback Friday blog hop (we are open all week)! Just post your pic on your blog, grab our badge (yes, that's Gibson & little bro, pupster Wolfie!) & link to our blog, then join the blog hop below so others can come visit an...

Woo! Happy 1st Day of Summer! So fill up those pools, get out the sprinklers, and turn on those air conditioners, because it's...        

I remember this sweet day so clearly, it was June 2015...unbeknownst to me at the time, it was my Gibson's last summer with us. My husband had just opened our pool for the season and Gibbie and I just "chilled out" on the deck together. My big fluffy buddy boy. My spirit guide. My furry best friend. My Epi warrior. My heart dog. Gibson was the lover of the pack of FiveSibes. He was such a gentle soul. We had that magical human-canine connection; we could communicate without saying a word. He was such an amazing dog. I'm so glad for all the memories, and so happy for each and every moment spent with him and all of my FiveSibes! After we go through the pain of losing our furry best friend, and learning to live without them, what we have left are all those amazing moments spent together. While bittersweet, they fill my heart with love all over again each time I revisit one of those special moments with him caught on film. "Today's special moments are tomor...

Updated June 14, 2026       I t is Flag Day here in the United States. Our American flag represents freedom and is a symbol of our nation's pride, and as such, it greatly revered. I remember stories told by my father, a proud WWII veteran, of what it meant to the troops when they saw our flag. Throughout history, our American flag has brought pride and tears (of respect, sorrow for loss, and joy) whenever this beautiful red, white, and blue banner waves.  There are specific ways in which to display our American flag. In 1995, I was the publicity and media liaison for our city's WWII 50th Anniversary Commemorative Committee, working closely with veterans and our Kingston City School District to bring a living history about World War II and the role our veterans and homefront heroes played during that time to the district's students. I volunteered in my daughter's elementary school, and worked closely with the administration, teachers, veterans, and the media....