Incredibly Creative Critters

Yesterday afternoon, after a pretty impressive thunderstorm, we Cozy Critters met once more. These friends never fail to amaze and inspire me.

Carolyn is a a writer and an artist. She shared with us a graduation card she had painted and written for her grandson. This was top-quality stuff! Then, she read her work in progress, Silly Snake, and the illustrations that go with it. This book is delightful, as are all Carolyn’s books.

Nancy, freshly returned from her trip to Chicago to receive the Indie Book of the Year Award , brought the actual medal she had won for her non-fiction Christian book, The Grace Impact. Congratulations, Nancy. Now we can say we are friends of an award-winning author!

Helen, whose articles are always inspirational, read “Shh, It’s a Surprise.” She wrote this for a publication that is looking for stories which are about surprises, whether good or bad. She also brought two other stories for us to critique: “It’s Ugly” and “I’m Not Looking.”

Peg, who represents readers for whom we writers write, shared with us two books she’s reading: Hearse and Gardens, a Hamptons Home and Gardens Mystery by Kathleen Bridge and Needle and Dread by Elizabeth Ann Casey.

Jane gives the kind of gift that money can’t buy; a gift the receiver treasures forever. She read a poem she had written for a ninety-year old friend’s birthday, titled, “You’re Quite a Lady, Grandma George.” A second poem, “A Bird’s Eye View” was a follow up of her Facebook posting about the family of robins who built a cozy home under the eave of her house.

Most writers are not immortalized in verse ’til after they are dead, but Jane wrote a humorous verse about me and I’m still among the living, no thanks to my penchant for running into immovable objects.Wow! I love this poem. Thank you, Jane.

Blanche’s Accident Report

By Jane Ellison Barron

Blanche, I wrote a poem for Carolyn, so I had to write one for you, too!

So sit back, relax, and listen carefully to this accident report on YOU!

Our Blanche, the famous mystery writer, has turned red, black and blue.

If you’re wondering why . . . this little poem might give you a clue.

After watching a few programs on television and eating a bite,

She dozed off on the sofa and didn’t wake up till midnight!

Sleepy and a little groggy, she staggered toward her room,

But she stumbled and hit the wall with a very loud boom!

Hitting the door jam with her hand and big toe,

She bounced off the wall like a ball on the go!

“Ouch!” she said when she felt a sharp pain,

Could it be her dog, Nemo was the one to blame?

Had she accidentally tripped over the poor little guy?

Nope…he was fast asleep . . . she said with a sigh.

Finally when she was safe in bed and off her feet,

She closed her eyes and soon drifted off to sleep.

The next morning she saw her bruises looked very bad,

She was so mad at herself and she felt a little sad.

But things always happen for a reason they say,

We’re thankful she didn’t fall or get hurt another way.

We hate that your accident happened, and get-well wishes we send,

We know you’ll wear your “patriotic bruises” very proudly this weekend!