She Never forgot Her roots Born into poverty, her family lived off the land, relying entirely on their deep love and Christian faith.  Her love of music and learning organically from the gifts that the Lord gave her, she persevered with dreams and hopes for a better tomorrow. It is only fitting, then, that this month's blog is dedicated to the beloved Dolly Parton. While widely celebrated as a prolific songwriter, singer, actress, and astute businesswoman, Dolly’s true hallmark was her refusal to forget her roots. She mobilized her global celebrity to foster literacy through her Imagination Library. Transcending socioeconomic barriers, the program ensured that every child—whether born into a modest home or an expansive estate—received a book at birth, followed by monthly books until age five. This deeply altruistic initiative, inspired by her intelligent yet illiterate father, was designed to spark a lifelong love of reading during a child’s most critical formative years. What began as a local grassroots idea has since blossomed into an internationally renowned global phenomenon. But, that wasn't all she did. She tried never to say a bad word about anybody. Everyone was equal in her book! Through her voice she spoke all of the time about staying positive even in difficult times and sharing kindness. It was important to her to spread happiness and joy wherever she went. Below are some of her quotes that I found from Southern Living:
While we often wait until someone passes to uncover the true essence of who they were, Dolly was an exception. We never had to search for her truth; she revealed it daily through her actions, her artistry, and her earthly achievements. She lived with an open heart so vast that she effectively made everyone of us her children. Her unwavering dedication to her roots shaped her identity and fueled her lifelong achievements. Philanthropy was Dolly’s true north. In a brilliant act of love, she transformed a personal heartache into the catalyst for the Imagination Library, turning a private tribute into a global gift for children as she became known as the "Book Lady!" A title she felt was more important than anything she had ever accomplished. Dolly’s extraordinary legacy will live on forever. Some people enter our lives like butterflies, leaving an indelible mark on our hearts. Dolly Parton was our beautiful butterfly, who has now traded her earthly wings for angel wings in Heaven. Happy September everyone
and as Dolly would say, "when someone is without a smile...give 'em yours!" Rest in Peace, Dolly! xoxo Yvonne
2 Comments
Our Family vacation to italy Every year our family goes on a vacation together. We've been to Cape Cod, Woodloch Pines and Mohonk Mountain House just to name a few. This year we wanted to try something different.... So, we decided to travel to Italy. Spending months planning this trip of a lifetime, we decided to hire a travel agent to help us with all of the details. After all, when you're traveling with 9 people it can be a daunting job. Our first meeting was to discuss what area of Italy would be best for us as a group and to put one point person in charge of the particulars. We all thought that Andrea would be the most experienced in this area. And boy, oh boy, did she have quite a job ahead of her. We decided to travel to Tuscany and Rome. From the Villa Viesca Toscana in Reggello where we stayed in Tuscany to the bustling streets of Rome, Andrea planned every step of the way. In just ten days we truffle hunted with dogs, took a cooking class in Tuscany, visited and toured the Duomo and Academia in Florence, shopped in the most luxurious mall in Tuscany, visited the Vatican, the Coliseum and the crypts in Roma. But beyond all of the excursions, the villa was one of the most opulent of our vacation... Our villa had a private infinity pool with 8 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms and had a fully stocked kitchen. We had breakfast served daily with two private chef dinners served to us in the formal dining room.. Our villa is owned by the Ferragamo Family and the one we stayed at was where Ferragamo spent his summer vacations it was magnificent. The pool area was equipped with a staff that made sure the pool was clean and heated with towels and all of the amenities. The villa has its own organic farm and everyday we enjoyed seasonal produce and dairy from their farm. The food in Italy is amazing. One of our favorite places to eat in Florence is Vini E Vecchi Sapori. It's owned by our friend Tomas Mazzanti and his parents. We had two absolutely delicious dinners at Tomas' place with our server Lorenzo. From the capresse salad to the Florentine steak the food was scrumptious. They couldn't do enough for us. In Roma our favorite place was Emma's Pizzeria. The pizza was your typical thin crusted style made with all organic ingredients from nearby farms. The olive oil was drizzled on every pie and the caponata tasted just like my grandmother's. I can honestly say that we ate our way through Italy! We tried to have gelato everyday! I think the Dagger Jr. Family won that challenge. Back to reality! Now that we are home, we keep looking back at our photos in awe. Was that not the most incredible trip of a lifetime? Or what!! Arrivederci Roma!! Happy Tales to you, xoxo Yvonne PS: Many thanks to our drivers, Nicholas (Nico) and Francesco for showing us all of Tuscany and for getting us safetly to our destinations.  Our drivers Nickolas (Nico) & Francesco
  Where were you 50 Years ago?I remember the day like it was yesterday. My sisters, Ronnie, Yolande and I bought the same material and made our young children outfits for our Nation's Bicentennial Celebration.  Many Thanks to my sister Ronnie for these great photos of July 4th 1976. Pictured in the top photo from left to right: Nicole, Denis Jr., Joseph Jr,. Janine Pictured in the next two photos are: Janine & Joseph Jr. As young moms, we shared a simple but sweet mission: to throw an unforgettable family celebration. We poured our hearts into planning a vibrant patriotic bash, decking out the space in brilliant red, white, and blue. The highlight of the party was a beautifully decorated flag cake, perfectly surrounded by matching trimmings.
In just a few days, we will celebrate the United States Semiquincentennial, marking our 250th anniversary as a nation. While decades have passed, the parallels between past and present are striking. Looking back at our Bicentennial in 1976, the era was defined by the dawn of the personal computer, major space breakthroughs, global sporting events, and intense political shifts. Fascinatingly, today's world reflects those very same themes; while we have grown older and perhaps wiser, the core of our national journey remains unchanged Today, social media serves as a primary news source, carrying both positive stories and dangerous risks for all generations. The personal computers born in 1976 have morphed into information-gathering tools that often leave us isolated. This is especially true for young teens, who frequently use these platforms to bully and intimidate classmates. Half a century ago, a child dealing with school drama could retreat to the safety of their bedroom to process things in peace. Today, that same bedroom offers no escape; children log on only to read horrific comments directed at them. The consequences are devastating, as seen at our local high school, which tragically suffered two bullying-related student suicides in just 15 months. I do not mean to cast a somber shadow over our upcoming 250th anniversary. Instead, my goal is to shine a light on a growing epidemic threatening our children and grandchildren. We must investigate why this crisis is happening. Is it due to a lack of coping skills? A failure of institutional safeguard? A deficit in parental support at home? Whatever the root cause, systemic change cannot wait. To help address this, my therapy dog, Picasso, and I frequently visit local schools to provide comfort, affection, and emotional relief to students and faculty. One high school we visit features a dedicated Mindfulness Room staffed by a school social worker and psychologist, offering students a quiet space simply to decompress. This brilliant initiative provides a replicable model for all educational institutions. It represents a manageable institutional step that yields profound behavioral and emotional results. I regularly witness visibly distressed students enter the Mindfulness Room, sit quietly in a corner to regulate their breathing, or find solace by cuddling with Picasso. It functions as a genuine sanctuary entirely free from judgment, criticism, and harassment. Today’s children carry a heavy burden on their shoulders. While social media and modern technology have allowed us to achieve remarkable advancements, these innovations remain a double-edged sword. We may like to think we have come a long way, but we still face massive challenges that we must confront and conquer. No matter how far technology evolves, it cannot replace basic human needs. We fundamentally require a loving, supportive community to sustain us—a community that reduces shame, embraces vulnerability, and validates our worth no matter how broken we may feel. On this Independence Day, let us find the time to be truly grateful to the nation that has fought for our freedoms. I know I'm going to share a simple but sweet mission with family! I may even bake a flag cake! To me, this day celebrates the fundamental ideals of democracy, liberty, and the universal right to the pursuit of happiness. It is a time to honor the profound sacrifices of military service members and everyday citizens who have defended these democratic principles. By commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, may we celebrate the enduring birth of the United States as an independent nation. Let's Celebrate 250 Years of Independence!! Happy Birthday, America!
🇺🇸 Whatever you do to celebrate...Please be safe! Happy Tails to you, xoxo Yvonne "An Artist crosses over" I am thrilled to share the third installment in the Dagger DogVinci & Friends adventure series. I wrote this book’s preface to share the "why" behind this story, and I sincerely hope it provides comfort and helps guide you through the difficult journey of losing a beloved pet. Below is the Preface. The entire book will be available to purchase from Amazon at the end of June. Preface "An Artist Crosses Over" If your family has followed the Adventures of Dagger DogVinci from the moment that Dagger learned how to paint to the bustling streets of Paris, you know that Dagger was more than just a character—he was a real-life inspiration. I am writing this note because this third installment is a very special, very personal chapter in Dagger’s journey, and I wanted to share the “why” behind it with you. When my beloved Dagger passed away unexpectedly on January 17, 2023, the world felt a little less colorful. Together, we had spent years blurring the lines between fine art and four-legged friendship, raising brushes to make the world a better place. But when he left, I didn’t just lose a partner; I lost my North Star. Grief is a confusing tide. It ebbs and flows, and for a long time, I wasn’t sure how to keep his story going without him by my side. I realized, however, that while the ache in our hearts remains, time helps us find new ways to carry that love. This book, An Artist Crosses Over, was born from that quiet space of healing. I chose to use fantasy to talk about loss because sometimes imagination is the best medicine for a heavy heart. This story is meant to be a hand to hold for any child navigating the “messy middle” of goodbye. It’s a reminder that while a space in our hearts will always be reserved for those we’ve lost, there is still room for new joy to grow. Today, my home is filled with the pitter-patter of two new companions, Barney and Picasso. They aren’t replacements; they are a new chapter. By introducing them into this series, I hope to show young readers that love doesn’t end—it just changes shape. Dagger’s adventures aren’t over. They are simply taking on a beautiful new form with more stories to tell and new adventures to share featuring new friends. Thank you for letting Dagger, Barney, and Picasso into your homes. May this story bring your family the same comfort and hope that writing it brought to me. With love and wagging tails, xoxo Yvonne 🌸🌸A Day for all moms🌸🌸 As Mother's Day approaches this month, I couldn't help but notice all the Mother’s Day content pop up on my social media feed. It has really put things into perspective for me about Mother's Day. It’s a wonderful reminder to honor all the incredible moms out there—natural, foster, surrogate, or step. I think of my own mom who gave birth to six children. I only had two children. After giving birth to my kids, I appreciated my mom's bravery and resiliency even more after giving birth to six children! I often I wondered how she did it with all of our different personalities. But, she did it!! She had a deep faith and love of life and serenity. Her favorite prayer, besides the Holy Rosary, was the Serenity Prayer...It was a simple prayer that adorned our kitchen wall throughout my childhood. "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference. This month we celebrate all moms. Mom's come in all shapes and sizes and become our advocates, protectors and teachers. Good, Bad, or indifferent--All mom's play a significant role in the foundation of our lives. Although I miss my mom--she entered Heaven at the age of 92 in 2020-- I think of all of the things she taught me and the way in which she approached the challenges she faced in her life with grace and dignity..I try with all my might to emulate the attributes she possessed. I always felt protected by my mom. God knows I needed her then as I need her Heavenly prayers of protection now! Even in the animal kingdom we see moms giving birth and protecting their newborns. At the Ichikawa Zoo there were two new births last month leaving the little macaque Punch-kun as the older baby now. One of the babies is now attempting to walk and explore her new world. Her new mom is constantly watching and protecting her baby from harm as she gently swoops her up in her motherly arms. The arms that bring comfort and warmth to her newborn. Watching from a distance, Punch-kun was amazed at this new development in his world. How fascinating this must be for him to see this taking place right in front of his tiny eyes. He's such a smart little macaque monkey. The very next day he brought out his own plushy Oranmomma to show that he too has a mom for his security and protection. Okay, all of my readers, this must sound anthropomorphic to some of you, but I truly believe that animals feel things too. In Punch-kun's case, being abandoned by his mom due to her physical inability to nurse him after his birth, he was left to learn another means of motherhood by depending on two very competent Zookeepers who became Punch-kun's "mom's" for the first months of his life caring for him, feeding him, and making sure he had a plushy to hold on to for the strength and comfort he would need when he transitioned into his troop. How many of us need the help in the birthing process whether human or animal to live and survive. It's these advocates and helpers that make these miracles happen. Punch-kun still latches on to his "Mom" Dads for the comfort and protection he needs and deserves. He also knows that when feeding time arrives, he always waits at the door for his "Mom" Dads to take him inside to have his bottle of milk and special food just for him! Those dedicated zookeepers are still caring and watching over their special macaque baby monkey, Punch-kun. Mom's all over the world human or animal never forget the important role they play in a child's life. So, in closing this months blog, 🌸 I would like to honor all the amazing moms—natural, step, surrogate, and foster. They deserve to be celebrated EVERY day, not just one. 💖 🌸🌸Happy Mother's Day to ALL moms (and "Mom" Dads, too!)🌸🌸
Happy Tales to you! xoxo Yvonne Happy Birthday time April is a very special month in our household. We celebrate four "Dagger" Family Birthdays. On April 4th, Picasso turns 4 years old! It's been almost two years since we adopted him to be ours. My granddaughter, Madeline turns 22 this April 8th and on April 15th we celebrate Barney's "Gotcha" Date. Finally, on April 19th, my grandson, William will be turning 12 years old. What a month!! A lot to celebrate; a lot to be grateful for. Since Barney's 'Gotcha' anniversary is April 15th, this makes him a tax-day baby! While I hate the thought of doing taxes, I’m thrilled to spend the day celebrating both Picasso and him. It's a much better way to spend Tax Day 2025 than doing, well... taxes. 🐶🎉 A "Barkday PAWty" isn't complete without party hats, special treats, and a trip to the park! I'm planning to treat them to plenty of steamed broccoli and Brussels sprouts—a nutritious favorite they absolutely love. To make it a perfect celebration, we'll follow that up with running (if I can even run!), playing, and sniffing the trees and fresh spring crocuses at the park. For my grandchildren I’m planning a special treat—their favorite cake followed by an ice cream sundae! They adore ice cream, and I have to admit, I do too! I hope you'll be celebrating some special events this month as well. Whatever you do, please remember to be kind to yourself and others. It's really the only way to be!! Be well and stay safe!
Happy tales to you! xoxo Yvonne Punch the monkey As many of you know by now, Panchi-kun (in English "Punch") the baby Japanese macaque living in the Ichikawa City Zoo has made a big name for himself. Abandoned by his mother shortly after birth on July 26, 2025 and not accepted by his troop, Punch found it hard to socialize with the troop.  Zoo Keepers for Punch Photo Taken from Instagram feed When I found posts of this little primate on Instagram, I found myself captivated by his story and the images/videos the zoo keepers were posting. The stories melted my heart to see the little guy alone and abandoned. From what I've learned, Punch's mother was sick when she gave birth to Punch. She was unable to nurse him. So, a 24 year old zoo keeper named Kosuke Shikano worked alongside him during those crucial first months of his life. A senior zoo keeper, Shumpei Miyakoshi, supported Punch's early development and helped ease his transition into social life at the zoo. They realized that Punch needed something to hold and cuddle with which is a normal nurturing occurrence for baby macaques. Shikano said in an interview that they tried everything from rolled towels for him to grasp and other plushy stuffed toys, but nothing helped. He goes on to explain that this part of the baby monkey's growth of holding on to something is important for them to gain "muscle strength" and "for security." That's when they decided to purchase a plush orangutan from Ikea because the stuffed toy "had many places to hold and had long fur," Shikano said. Plus, he added, it "looks like a monkey." They thought that "if it looked like a monkey, it "might help Punch integrate back into the troop later on. That's why they chose it." Their decision to give him a plush orangutan to take the place of a mother's warm, loving, soft hug was brilliant. Over time, this stuffed toy became Punch's surrogate mother. Carrying and dragging his substitute security momma around as he sleeps on it, kisses it and hides behind it when he is frightened. To see him with his plush toy dragging it and sleeping on it is cuteness overload!! I was so touched by the story that I wanted to rescue and adopt the little macaque. But, I've learned a great deal about these Japanese macaques and Punch by doing some research on my own. First of all, Punch has become so popular that there's even a Wikipedia Page about him! Secondly, I've found out that macaques do not make good pets "because they are wild animals with complex needs that cannot be met in a home, leading to severe welfare issues, potential danger to humans (due to aggression and diseases like B-virus), and legal restrictions, with most experts and organizations advising against keeping primates as pets due to their inability to thrive outside their natural social and environmental settings. Macaques are highly intelligent, social, and need extensive space, specific diets, and constant mental stimulation that a typical home cannot provide." They're very affectionate as I've witnessed by watching the numerous social media posts about him. Therefore, even though I would want to save the little guy by adopting him for my own, I think he's better suited for an environment with other macaques for socialization and growth. "Crested Black Macaque's are the most affectionate monkeys in the world, due to living in a forest full of food where they all want for nothing. They love to hug, blow kisses, share, and make friends." Current posts and reports are now saying that Punch is beginning to assimilate with the troop members at the Ichikawa City Zoo and has an older macaque watching over him, grooming him and hugging him when he needs protection and love. I was so relieved to see this reported because I was worried about his welfare and survival. From one of the videos I watched I saw Punch hugging and kissing another monkey. It was touching and heartwarming to witness this. It has also been reported that Punch's mother is doing well and is among the other macaques at the zoo. Sadly, she has not interacted with Punch. But, not to worry, Punch has gained the love and affection of the other macaques. It's going to take time for Punch to feel fully assimilated with the troop members. When we have memories of being hurt and abandoned, gaining the trust of others takes time. I think the zoo keepers will do everything in their power to make Punch secure and assimilated with the troop. They're the experts and so far they've done a excellent job in caring for and loving Punch.  So... Why has this little baby monkey captivated me and so many people world wide?
Is it because we've all experienced being lonely and perhaps bullied in our lives? Or is it the feeling of empathy that the world needs now so desperately? I think it's both. "Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings, perspectives, and experiences of another person, acting as an "emotional bridge" that enhances relationships, communication, and social connection. Five examples of empathy include actively listening to understand someone's feelings, validating their emotions with phrases like "That sounds incredibly tough," offering support by saying "I'm here for you," taking their perspective ("I can see why you'd feel that way"), and sharing in their joy or sorrow, showing you feel with them, not just for them." Whatever it is, Punch has truly made his mark in the world. Through his birth and life I think the world has become smaller and kinder. More understanding for the need of others. I've learned many lessons personally from Punch.
 Watching Punch's journey with his troop fills me with gratitude and hope. He has shown me that despite the sadness in the world, there is still incredible kindness and loving connections. His story proves that compassion and hope are very much alive. I think that's why his story has captivated me so! I do hope that the Ichikawa City Zoo keeps us informed with Punch's growth and progress. I'll keep looking for the posts everyday about Punch from my little corner of the world.! It's uplifting and inspiring. I trust that the zoo keepers are aware of Punch's needs and I'm hopeful that they'll do what's best for him. Have a great month! Happy Tales to you xoxo Yvonne I painted the work of art below of the Bonobo Great Apes after I wrote a book about them in the early 2000's It was a labor of love! I've always had a love of monkeys. Did you know that the Bonobo Great Ape has 98% of our human DNA? Bonobo's are peaceful matriarchal apes living in the Congo. When they see the people that they know coming down the river, they come down from their tree umbrella homes and greet them with a hug!!  Bonobo Great Apes Original oil Painting by Yvonne Dagger Bibliography:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_(monkey)#:~:text=Punch%2Dkun%20(Japanese%3A%20%E3%83%91%E3%83%B3%E3%83%81%E3%81%8F%E3%82%93%2C%20Hepburn%3A%20Panchi%2Dkun%3B&text=or%20simply%20Punch%2C%20is%20a,a%20large%20orangutan%20stuffed%20toy. 2. empathy 3. Photos from Various Instagram Posts 4. macaques monkey 5. Instagram: travel_with_basil Thank You for your Votes!!Whew! I can't believe it's February already! January flew by! So much has happened since ringing in the New Year. We learned recently that Picasso and Barney won The Best of Long Island Most Talented Pets. We are so grateful to everyone who voted once a day for close to two months for them!! That's wonderful 🥰
 Our "Kindness of Animals" Program is well underway. This program is really neat. It's all about spreading love one card at a time. If you would like to participate simply have your pet create a Valentine's Day card and then give it or send it to someone who is deserving of receiving a little love. Your pet doesn't have to be a talented canine artist to be creative. You can have some fun and use the "Lick Painting" Method. This is such an easy way to get your pet to create a card. Simply apply dollops of paint on a piece of blank card stock or heavy paper and cover the surface of the paper with plastic wrap. Once the surface is covered securely with the plastic wrap, smear the surface of the plastic wrap with peanut butter. Then have your pet lick the peanut butter off the plastic wrap. Amazingly, you will see the paint create an abstract painting. It's really cool! You may have another way to get your pet to create a Valentine's Day Card. Whatever way you choose it's a very good thing to do for your community and pet. Valentine's Day is such a great holiday to bring love to someone who needs a little TLC. For directions click the 'Kindness of Animals" image above. If you participate, make sure you send photos of your pet painting the card as well as the person that receives your pets card. Let's make this Valentine's Day extra special by sending some love from your pet(s)!  As we begin this month of February we are welcomed on February 2nd by Ground Hog Day. I "googled-Up" the meaning of the Ground Hog tradition. I found this explanation: "Groundhog Day, held annually on February 2nd, is a North American tradition where the rodent Punxsutawney Phil emerges from hibernation to "predict" the weather; seeing his shadow means six more weeks of winter, while no shadow predicts an early spring. Rooted in European Candlemas traditions brought by German settlers, the 1887-originated event takes place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania." I'm ALL for Punxsutawney Phil🦫 Every year I wait to see whether Phil sees or doesn't see his shadow. However, in my heart of hearts, I don't want him to see his shadow. With no disrespect to anyone who loves winter, I'm not a fan of the winter months. I love the warm weather. I always look forward to seeing the crocuses peaking their little heads out of the ground when spring arrives. What's your prediction?? More Winter or early Spring?? Let me know!  Thank you again for your votes for Picasso and Barney!
🩷 Wherever you live in this world... whether it's cold or hot... Be Safe and Be Well Happy Valentine's Day 💕💞💕 Happy Tales to you, xoxo Yvonne Happy new year!!written by Yvonne Dagger  Happy New year from Barney & Picasso 2025 As I look back on 2025, I'm both happy and sad. I'm happy and thrilled with many things that have happened in my life in 2025. I'm happy that Picasso was named Dan's Best Artist for 2025. I'm grateful to all who voted for him...your votes certainly counted! He won! Yippee!! Picasso is continuing to keep Dagger DogVinci's Legacy alive as he paints gorgeous works of art. To add to Picasso's success, he painted at Canine Companion's 50th Anniversary Gala event in June with Brittany Bell and Heather O'Rourke from Eyewitness News 7 as Co-Master's of Ceremony's. What a great event that was!! Brittany and Heather were PAWsome!! In addition, Picasso's success carried on in 2025 as he painted at several other wonderful events too numerous to mention here. I'm so proud of this little guy!! Barney continues to be a loving, caring companion. He's been a supportive muse to Picasso as they enjoy working together in our home studio. They're inseparable. Watching them makes me very happy! I'm also happy because I was able to write my third book. It's about welcoming Picasso and Barney into my life while letting Dagger go...to Heaven. It's a book about grief and dealing with the loss of a beloved pet. I think it's my best book yet! It was important for me to continue writing from real life with a little fun fiction added. Dagger will still be a part of the series. However, in a different way now...working from Heaven. My editor, Jaye Medalia and my illustrator, Penny Weber, are diligently working on my manuscript right now. I'm hopeful that by the summer of 2026 it will be released. Happiness continued in November as we were able to listen to Tommy Sullivan sing at Canine Companion's Veterans Day Salute Independence event. What fun that was while honoring Veteran's from WWII to our current heroes! The funds raised are being used to provide Service dogs for wounded veterans. Now, how great is that!! Denis and I bided on a Beach Cruiser bike and won the bid. It's an aqua blue color bike with big wheels and a basket on the front handlebars. It's really cool! There are so many other reasons that I'm happy about this year mostly because everyone in my family are physically well and feeling good. Being healthy and feeling well is paramount to me. It's something money can't buy. Ok, so now why am I sad? You may ask... I'm sad to witness our great nation struggling right now. I'm sad for the legal immigrants scared to go to work for fear of being rounded up, torn from their families and sent to a foreign country or concentration camp. Some of them only know America as their home. I'm also sad for the people who are being forced to close their businesses because of the steep tariffs imposed on their products. Many people are full of stress and anger. This, I believe, comes from the unknown and uncertainty in our lives and nation right now. So, what do I do about this? I pray a lot! Sometimes I have to take a break from tuning into the news and watch a happy movie. I also do "7 Little Words." (https://7littlewords.com/7lw) I love that. It takes my mind off off the things I can't control. As you all know, our motto has always been to create, educate and inspire. Inspiration comes from good people who try to make our world a better place to be. Mother Teresa once said that we can't do it all, but if we all do just one small thing with great kindness and love that will become enormous. "Mother Teresa's sayings emphasize love, service, small acts, and faith, highlighting that "It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving," "We cannot do great things. Only small things with great love," and "Peace begins with a smile".She taught that "Love begins by taking care of the closest ones—the ones at home"and that "The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved," stressing kindness, faithfulness, and seeing (God) Christ in the suffering."(1) I truly believe that Mother Teresa was "right on" with her life's philosophy. Her lessons are still practiced throughout the world. Now, that's a really good thing!! So, where do we go from here...as we start a New Year, Personally, I think that I would benefit from reflecting on the things that I've accomplished in my life. The GREAT things; the WONDERFUL things that have happened that make me who I am. I would then list them on a sheet of paper and reflect on each one. You'd be surprised to see that when we reflect and make a list (by either writing them down on a piece of paper or using your computer) of our accomplishments, how amazed we become at the things we've done over the year. Hey! You can even give yourself a pat on the back for being so PAWsome!! Then, I suppose, after doing this positive and uplifting task, I would think about the things I'd like to change moving forward in 2026. I'm really not one for big New Year's resolutions. Many are lofty things that are basically unattainable. Now, don't get me wrong, setting goals is a really good thing to do. However, when we set our New Year Resolutions too high they often become failures leading us to give up. If we set small reasonable goals we are apt to build on these small things and before we know it we've attained more then what we set out for. However you choose to start the New Year,
do it with a kind and loving heart. Be good and gentle with yourself. Remember to do your best and the best is yet to come!! Happy New Year!! Happy Tales to you, xoxo Yvonne Baking for the Holidays Do you bake cookies for the holidays? I do...well sort of...I'm not the best baker, but I try! 😀 I have my favorite list of cookies that I bake during the holiday season almost every year. Each cookie has a story attached to it. 🍪 They're:
In addition to the cookies above and their history, for the past two years I've had a cookie baking and decorating party with my kids and grandkids. It was so much fun! I actually prepared the cookie dough ahead of time and rolled the dough out between parchment paper. I refrigerated the dough sheets until the kids were ready to use the cookie cutters of their choice for their cookies. Each of my kids and grand kids got a sheet of dough and had fun cutting out their own cookies. I made sure that the decorating icing was ready along with all of the sprinkles and anything edible to decorate I could find at the craft store! Of course, you can find kits with cookies already baked. The kits usually have royal icing bags and sprinkles included. I just like the aroma of freshly baked sugar cookies permeating throughout the house during the holidays. I also like the kids to have fun...there are a lot of laughs and chuckles as they decorate their cookies. I like to begin my baking a few days before I'll be serving my cookies or giving them out as gifts. I know a lot of people that start baking their holiday cookies weeks ahead of time. I like them to be the freshest they can be! It's probably the only thing I wait to do the last minute in my life. Hee! Hee! If you happen to have at favorite tried and true cookie recipe you'd like to share with me please email your recipe to me at: [email protected] or Click the "Contact~ bark Up Our Tree" tab and leave me a message😊 I wish everyone a happy, joy-filled, and peaceful holiday season Happy tales to you, xoxo Yvonne RECIPES BELOW 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪 Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (My modified version of the original) Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 3/4 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar 2 tsp. vanilla extract 2 eggs 2 cups Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 375 degrees (I have a convection oven so I lower the temp to 350degrees) Combine flour,, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl, Set aside. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl nd mix well until creamy. (I mix this by hand) Add eggs one at a time and mix well after each addition. Add the flour mixture and mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls on uncreased cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 8-9 minutes (They sort of look light brown on the edges and light tan on the overall cookie. The look like their undercooked but they not) Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes and then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. 🍪  Spritz Cookies (My Mom's Butter Cookie Recipe) Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup sugar 1 egg 1/2 salt 2 tsp. vanilla 2 1/4 cups all- purpose flour Heat oven to 400 degrees ( I use my convection oven for baking and cooking...if you do use you convection oven decrease the temp to 375 degrees Mix butter, sugar, egg, salt and vanilla thoroughly. Sift flour into the wet ingredients. Using 1/4 dough at a time, force dough through a cooky press on ungreased baking sheets in desired shapes. Bake 6 to 9 minutes, or until set but not brown. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.  Gingerbread Cookies (From Old Bethpage Restoration Village photo: circa 1986) Ingredients: 2 sticks butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1/4 cup molasses 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. ginger In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg and molasses. Set aside. In a smaller bowl, sift dry ingredients together and add to the butter/egg mixture. Mix the whole together. Roll into balls; put them on iron sheets. (I put them on cookie sheets lined with parchment) Bake them in a moderate oven (350 degrees) for 10-12 minutes. Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies (Marie & her mom's Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies) Ingredients: 2 sticks butter, softened 1/2 cup sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour Seedless Raspberry Preserves Preheat oven to 375 degrees (350 degrees for a convection oven) Cream butter with sugar until fluffy. Add flour to butter mixture until thoroughly combined. Shape into jumbo olive size balls, place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Press with thumb in center of the ball to create a "thumbprint" ** (I press my thumb in each ball as I create the balls...or else I've found that the dough will dry and crack if you wait until you've filled the cookie sheet with the balls.) Gently fill the "thumbprint" with the seedless raspberry preserves. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until light brown on edges and set. Remove from cookie sheets to wire rack to cool.  This photo was taken last year during our Christmas Celebration |
A Place where I can Bark, Blog and Woof a Littlewritten by Yvonne Dagger Archives
September 2026
Categories |
RSS Feed