Ah! The Mehoopany Library Book Club visit was wonderful. Many thanks to Jane, Kathy, and to librarian Judy for hosting such a lovely event, and for asking such thoughtful questions, and to everyone who came and talked and listened. And for baking such fabulous desserts! It was truly my pleasure.

I've been doing some of the prep work for ORDINARY BEAUTY and can't wait to see the cover. When I have it, I'll certainly post it here (and everywhere, lol).

It's been brutally cold and windy here, with constant snow squalls and all, and the other night around ten, I went out into the sunroom to check on something and what do I see? Two dogs walking slowly and exhaustedly up onto my patio! A big, beautiful golden retriever and a sleek, gorgeous chocolate lab.

I got all excited because I NEVER see loose, unidentified dogs here, and so I called my boyfriend in and we watched as they came slowly to the door, looked in at us and wagged their tails. That did it.

"Let's invite them in!" I say, and so we move the cats out, open the door and in they come, as sweet and polite as the finest visitor, wagging tails, licking hands, resting against us, sighing and flopping down. They were like magic, and I ran for towels and blankets and food and water, and couldn't help hugging and kissing them because they were so cold and exhausted. The lab was a female and obviously had been nursing puppies, and the skin down there was brilliant red from cold. Terrible.

We found a rabies tag on one from a vet's office, so I called but the tags aren't filed numercially but by name, which didn't do me any good at all. We figured we'd bed them down for the night because we didn't know what else to do, and there was no way we were sending them back out in that bitter cold, so I was loosening the golden's collar and saw another phone number written on it in black magic marker.

Eureka! It was their frantic owner, who had been out looking for them since 10 that morning, and yes, the lab did have puppies at home who needed her badly, so the owner and her daughter came out to the house, and they were happy and the dogs were happy and we were sad because they were REALLY nice dogs, but also glad they were going back to their family.

And it was funny because the sweetness of them is lingering, that great feeling that comes from getting down on your knees and really hugging a big, gentle, sturdy dog, the happiness when they heave a giant sigh and rest their heads on your leg... I love my cats but I miss having a dog, too, a shepherd preferably, but just someone smart and gentle and happy to be warm and fed and loved.

I love animals, and can't imagine ever having a home without some. (Notice I didn't say one? I mean that.)

So, in this season of love, empathy and giving, here is my wish: I wish those good feelings extend further than just to humans, that we look at the lives around us, all of them, and do something to make them a little easier, a little warmer, food so there is no hunger, shelter so they can rest easy, kindness because it is wearying to live in constant hostility and fear. From the tiniest mouse who, like us, is just trying and struggling to live, on up to every being, all of us who could use a gentle hand and a temporary reprieve...

What do you say, friends? Open hearts, and goodwill to all?

We can do that. I'm sure of it.