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Look what was spotted as a featured book at the Chapel Hill Library!A writer loves to see her books on the shelf in a library.Better yet checked out and in the hands of kids.And then this note from a teacher.  A writeralso likes to know her worksare bing used creativelyand meaningfully!AmazonKaren,You might recall that I wrote to you last March to let you know I was using your book Circles of Hope in a UU regional workshop on storytelling and social justice.  By the way, the story worked great!This summer I have started a new projectcalled Storyinworship.org that reviewsstories that are [...]

 Casa do Burro, named after this guy,  another organic farm get- away is just one kilometer up the mountain from Aqua Ventura(see previous post).  This welcoming farm owned by a German couple with two small children is just as magical as Aqua Ventura.Also close to the sea and villages with cafes, Sagres and Lagos, hiking and adventure nearby this unusual get away has it's own kind of whimsy.The mainstay of the organic farm and guest home is goat cheese made on the property and sold at local markets. Besides the goats there are rabbits, [...]

Any time the directions to a place reads something like, "as  you enter the village of Pedralva turn left at the house with red shutters, then cross a small bridge, go about a kilometer and you will see a house on the hill on the right.  After that there is nothing,  you have gone too far."…I know I want to go there.Johnny and Vio of Aqua-Ventura have realized their dream; an organic adventure tourist farm now located in the forest area of the Algarve region of Portugal. Still a work in progress it [...]

Ever since I moved to the Navajo reservation I have been interested in all things sheep.I have herded sheep, sheared sheep, carded, spun and woven wool.  So the Sheep is Life celebration is a high point every year.  It is a fiber arts workshop organized by The Navajo Lifeway organization.  (navajolifeway.org )This year Rebbecca Shepard taught us how to felt a sheep herders hat.As with all things sheep it is not as easy as it looks.Who knew we would have to start with uncarded raw wool?I have carded before.  Believe me it is [...]

It is gratifying to know that one of my books might change the life direction of even one reader. And too a good reminder of the difference an author visit can make. The power of words, of books and sharing and reading can be awesome!Dear Ms. Williams,My name is Laura Scherb, and I am a rising junior at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Growing up, I attended Heritage Elementary in the Franklin Regional School District, where one year, you were a visiting author. I very distinctly remember reading your book Tap-Tap and becoming enamored [...]

Can you find the snake?Here's the story: The parents and older folks(Steve and I) are in the backyard doing what adults do at a cook-out(drinking beer and wine).The kids(not Steve's or mine) are playing in the street.  To be fair it is a cul- de- sac.One child comes running around the house to announce.  "There is a rattlesnake in the street"(where some very young children are playing).   This brings back memories of when our kids were playing outback(presumably with matches although not in the street)  at a similar gathering when one child runs [...]