 If someone asked you to describe yourself in one word, what type of word would you choose? Would it be a word that describes your character, your occupation, what is vital in your life, or maybe something that is essential to your meaning and existence? For me, I feel, that in order to describe myself, I would essentially have to look inward to my true self and identity. WOW! That's not an easy task. Especially when I'm portraying myself in one word. For me, I find that it's extremely difficult to describe myself. However, to describe other people and animals in one word is fairly easy for me to do.. For instance, if I had to describe Barney and Picasso in one word, that word would most definitely be...LOVE. Me? I'm not quite sure what the one word would be. But why?? As I write this blog, I've been researching the "Why's and Why Not's" some of us find it so hard to describe ourselves in any way, let alone, one word! What I've learned from my research is that one of the main reasons people, like me, find it so hard is that we're constantly thinking about what others think of us. We're afraid that if we act real, we can be judged by the people around us. I would venture to say that to have a self-identity based on what other people's perspectives are of us is basically not really looking at oneself, but running away from our true selves. Will people find out that sometimes I get angry and sometimes cry over things that I've created? So what? We're human, after all. I remember an instance many years ago in my life when I always said "Hello" to a co-worker of mine. Everyday, I said "Hello" to her and everyday she ignored me. I was upset about this until one day when I told a very wise man about how upsetting this was to me. He told me that I can only try my best. He said don't stop being who you are...if she doesn't say "Hello" back, that's her problem! I immediately saw things in a different light. I thought I had done something wrong to her... I was blaming myself for a problem that she may have had. Secondly, there's the part of me that feels that if I express my attributes in any way, I'm bragging. From an very early age, I thought that bragging about oneself was wrong. Well, not anymore. When I see my grandchildren and ask them to tell me about what they've done lately... they always tell me about their accomplishments. It's refreshing to hear how confident and secure they are in their skins. I admire that! I've come to realize that other people's perspectives of me are just their perspectives...not mine. So, my advise to you and me too, is...🥰 We should be proud of who we are and ALL of our accomplishments. So, brag! Brag away!! As I struggle with this question, I can't help but reflect on what I've done and who I am as a person.. Sure, I'm a wife, mom, grandma, artist, author, "Howling Talent" Podcast Host, Blogger, Therapy Dog Handler, volunteer, etc. That's what I do. But, who do I say I am in one word?  Childlike I encourage you to do this exercise yourself. Your one word must be positive and optimistic. You'll be surprised to learn how remarkable and PAWsome you are!! As the school year begins for some, be safe and learn well!
Remember to keep creating, keep learning and keep inspiring others to do the same! Happy Fall!! Happy Tales to you, xoxo Yvonne
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HOPE“Hope” is the thing with feathers BY Emily Dickinson  "Birds" Original Oil Painting by Yvonne Dagger “Hope” is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all - And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -and sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm - I’ve heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest Sea - Yet - never - in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of me. I've never placed much hope in the word "Hope." I always felt that whenever I hoped for something, it never ever happened in the way I had hoped it would be. Therefore, when I heard this poem called “Hope” is the thing with feathers" written by Emily Dickinson, I began to see a different side of hope. When I researched the meaning of this beautiful poem, I learned that the hope Emily Dickinson refers to is a "reminder that hope is something that lives inside us all. We're never alone in times of tribulation as hope is there singing the voice of encouragement." "Hope" is metaphorically transformed into a strong-willed bird that lives within the human soul—and sings its song no matter what. Essentially, the poem seeks to remind readers of the power of hope and how little it requires of people." I don't know about you, but I needed to hear the words in Emily Dickinson's poem today! Each of us needs to be reassured of the hope that lives within our souls. Sometimes we don't realize just how strong and brave we really are. Until we are reminded that deep within ourselves is a strength and courage that's uplifting and full of encouragement. It's a peaceful and tranquil little bird with a mighty strength. The bird sings within the soul and is always there. That's where hope is. Hope resides in the heart and is often used for good. "Hope" is the thing with feathers is one of the best-known of Emily Dickinson's poems. As an extended metaphor, it likens the concept of hope to a feathered bird that is permanently perched in the soul of every human. There it sings, never stopping in its quest to inspire." Emily Dickinson's poem has made me rethink the word "Hope." I see it in a completely different way now. Now it's a word that I can "go to" and use all of the time with inspiration and peace. According to Emily Dickinson, Hope lives inside of our hearts like a bird with feathers singing inspiration, encouragement and strength. I learned that Emily used the birds as a symbol of hope because "Birds sing and fly, they perch, nest, and move constantly. By comparing hope to a bird, Dickinson is showing how fleeting hope can be. Sometimes we can hear hope like we hear a bird, but not see it. Sometimes hope, like the bird, is sitting silently in front of us." How comforting those words are to me. I "HOPE" they're as comforting to you too! Have a happy August, everyone!!
Happy tales to you all! xoxo Yvonne What the World Needs now is...Love, Sweet Love! "What the World Needs Now Is Love" is a 1965 popular song recorded by Jackie DeShannon with lyrics by Hal David and music composed by Burt Bacharach.[1]  This song is as much a message today as it was some 59 years ago. The word "love" has been used over the years to mean so many things. Love comes in many shapes and forms. Romantic love is one form of love and is often spoken about more often than any other form of love. Fortunately, for us humans there are many other forms of love. There's parental love, family love , friendship love, pet love, and love of thyself. All of these forms of love are important in their own right. But, there is one form of love that I will be writing about in this Blog... Unconditional Love We've often equated Unconditional Love with the love we receive from our dogs. I know that from my own experience of owning many dogs throughout my life that no matter what happens every dog will show this unconditional love. A love that has no limits. That's the gift our dogs give to us. They welcome us back when we've been away from them for even a minute. I've often heard people say that, "I'll just bring the garbage out and when I walk back into the house I'm welcomed eagerly with open paws of love." Truth be told, this occurrence has happened to me numerous times. Why are these furry creatures so lovable? According to CompanyofAnimals.com, "The primary reason that dogs are able to give so much love is because, they, like humans, have the ability to release oxytocin when they interact with someone or something that they like. Oxytocin, also known as the 'love hormone' is a chemical that releases in response to activation of sensory nerves." "Scientists have found that, just like oxytocin, dogs have higher levels of serotonin compared to wolves. This kind of happiness has to do with their relationship to humans—as dogs were domesticated, the human–dog bond became stronger, bringing both parties more happiness. Dogs give us so much."[2] When I watch Picasso working, I witness how people's faces light up as they see him. It's in their smile that I know his message of love is well received. When we adopted Picasso, I was told that he would make a wonderful therapy dog. However, as his handler, I needed six months to bond with him. After that period of time we would be ready to be tested as a team. After a week of him living with us, I thought, my goodness, I feel bonded with him already! Then as time went on, I understood how important it was to really bond with your therapy dog partner. These things take time and Canine Companions Therapy Dog program managers know that very well. As excited as I was to get going with our work as a team, I also knew that I was responsible for Picasso's success as a Therapy Dog. It's been four months since Picasso and I were certified as a therapy dog team for Canine Companions. I can say with complete confidence that he LOVES his work. As do I. He's a natural at his new career. He has this sixth sense of knowing when someone really needs love, joy and comfort. Many times over the past four months I've witnessed him gravitating over to a person who I had no idea needed comfort. For no reason whatsoever he would walk over to him or her...just because he felt that that individual needed his help at that very moment. When this happened initially, my instinct was to pull him away and give him a correction. After all, I was his handler. Right? Wrong! I learned since that he has a way of sensing people's needs. This has happened so many times. Ultimately, the person will say something to him like, "You really don't realize how I needed your comfort today." or "I just lost my dad and you're helping me deal with my grief." I know then that what we are doing as a team is very important. And that as a team I have to let him discern who we need to bring comfort to. He's such a pro at it! Yes, dogs come into our lives and the love they bring is unconditional. They don't ask questions, they just do what is natural to them. They share a selfless love. They're steadfast loyalty goes above and beyond any human can even imagine. Their unwavering devotion and emotional connections with humans make them inherently close to us. I like that closeness. I like having Picasso as my team mate. Love comes in many forms. Each is important, but one is perfect. Dogs unconditional love for us is as close to perfect as we're ever going to get! It's what the world needs now...Love Sweet Love! Happy Tales to you!
xoxo Yvonne Picasso's Painting Debute EventI was working on a pet portrait commission in our studio while the dogs were hanging out on the floor and couch when suddenly, I noticed Picasso making his way over to his workstation and bumping his snout on the canvas. At first, I didn’t think anything of his meandering over to his easel until he kept bumping his snout on the canvas. He had been working on that painting the day before. Was he telling me he wanted to paint? Or did he just want me to stop painting my commission? After my experience with Dagger DogVinci and his story of how we discovered his talent, I’ve learned that going with the information relayed to me was the best way for him to lead us on the unbelievable eight-year journey of painting, workshops and giving. . So, I placed my brush on my palette and walked over to Picasso asking him if he wanted to paint. His tail wagged like crazy! He was a happy little artist! I’m thrilled to witness him enjoying painting so much. Sometimes I'll even find him sleeping on the mat near his easel (which was Dagger's mat for years). It's interesting to me to see how he's taken to the same space that Dagger painted in for so many years. And he finds it a fun happy place just like Dagger did. If you asked me a year ago if my life would be taking such a serendipitous turn I'd think you were out of your mind or dreaming. But, here we are with two beautiful fur babies to love. One paints and the other is his muse. "Both Alexander Graham Bell and Helen Keller are credited with this statement: “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” It's literally taken me 8 months to see this statement come to fruition and to see the other door open for me. I'm so grateful for the people and animals I've met on our journey over the years from all over the world. Our journey continues with Barney and Picasso. I'm excited to announce that Picasso will be painting at Canine Companions Gala event this coming October... WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2024 | 6:30 P.M. 340 RXR PLAZA UNIONDALE, NY 11553 Please Save the date to join us for Sit Stay Sparkle, an evening to celebrate and support the mission of Canine Companions - to provide expertly trained service dogs to people with disabilities, free of charge. Enjoy Sit Stay Sparkle at the beautiful RXR Plaza in Uniondale, New York. Enjoy local wine, beer and a delicious dinner; get to know our clients and their life-changing service dogs; meet adorable puppies; bid on exciting items in our live and silent auctions; and watch Picasso the painting dog create a masterpiece, then bid on the painting and take it home! Tickets are available at canine.org/sparklenortheast.  I sure hope you can make it!
Picasso and I will be there painting and having a howl of a time!! Happy June everyone!! If you celebrate Father's Day...Enjoy every minute! Happy Tales to You! xoxo Yvonne Spring has Sprung I love all of the tulips bravely reaching up to the sky like proud blooms for all to see. Here in New York, spring has certainly sprung! To me, spring time is always a time that signifies new life. "Why is it called spring? It was not until the 1300s that the term lent was replaced by springing time, since it was the time of year when most plants that had been dormant over the fall and winter finally began to grow again, or spring from the earth." *1 "One of the most common symbols of spring is the promise of renewal. After months of cold weather and barren landscapes, spring brings new growth and life. Trees begin to bud, flowers bloom, and animals awaken from hibernation. This renewal symbolizes hope for a better future and a fresh start." *2 It's quite evident to witness this renewal, rebirth, and regrowth. As an artist, I love the colors that emerge from the soil. Majestically flowers stand confidently in gardens all over the world as they herald in spring. The month of May with its May Crownings and May Poles brings a smile to faces and a promise for a hopeful future. I believe that Spring brings hope to our otherwise fractured world. Being hopeful is a really good thing. We can't solve all of the problems we have. We can try, but we can only do just so much! It's important to know that we're trying our best. Trying is a really good thing, too! Being hopeful makes the future seem bright. Spring is a time to get outside to plant, walk and explore. As the old adage says," Take a little time to smell the flowers!" Go ahead! You'll be renewed and happy you did! If you celebrate Mother's Day, I wish you a beautiful day filled with joyful moments and blessings galore! Enjoy every minute! Happy tales to you, xoxo Yvonne  Serendipity Whenever I think of the word "Serendipity" I always think of a place in New York City we used to take the kids to for ice cream. The name intrigued me whenever we went there. The place was filled from top to bottom with whimsical and unique things. The food was always good. But most times we just went there for the ice cream sundaes and their signature hot chocolate. It was like an old fashioned iconic ice cream parlor. The original Serendipity closed and recently reopened as Serendipity3. We haven't ventured back, but my memories of the place remain very joyful and happy. I often wondered why they chose the name "Serendipity." The term “serendipity” is a circumstance or event characterized by a fortunate or happy accident, or an unexpected and pleasant discovery. What was the serendipitous event that brought the owners to choose that name for their restaurant? That always sparked my curiousty. So, I went on their web site and this is what I found in the "About" section: "The home of amazing food and decadent desserts, such as the world-famous Frozen Hot Chocolate, Serendipity3 restaurant has been captivating millions of patrons since its inception. It’s an enchanting place where artists and actors of both the past and the present come for inspiration.It has been said that our sundaes make you feel like a child again. That’s been our aim since the beginning— and we’ve been transporting our customers back to their happy places ever since." So, now I guess you're wondering why the word serendipity is so fascinating to me at this point in my life. You see, ever since Barney and Picasso entered our lives everything that brought them to us was in a way a serendipitous happening. Barney was found wandering the streets of Georgia almost a year before he arrived to our home. He was fostered in Georgia because he was a great neutral dog for the other rescues coming into the small shelter he was brought to. And the shelter he was coming up to on Long Island, Forgotten Friends of Long Island, was full and didn't have a kennel for him. He ended up waiting and waiting for months in Georgia. Then when we lost Dagger in January, Forgotten Friends of Long Island reached out to us and asked if we would foster this little guy who had been waiting for months for a forever loving home. Beth, the President of FFLI, said she just didn't have the heart to leave him down there any longer...I must confess,I really hesitated to take him. I was still so grief stricken with Dagger's passing that I couldn't see myself opening my heart to another dog. I felt I needed more time. Beth told me that she really needed me to foster him..."just for a little while," she said. I gave in and agreed. His name at the time was "Patriot"...they called him "Pate" for short. When he arrived, after being on a journey in a transporter which took almost 24 hours, he stepped out of the back of Beth's car and placed his head in my lap and cuddled with me. That was it! He was mine! Forever more! He reminded me of Sunrise Senior Living Facility's dog, Barney. That's where Miss YaYa used to do her Therapy Dog work with Princess Penny. Barney loved Miss YaYa. Whenever we arrived for our visit at Sunrise, wherever he was in the place, he would come charging down the stairs and start kissing Miss YaYa all over the place. He was so smitten over her. So, we renamed Pate "Barney."  L to R: Barney, Miss YaYa and Princess Penny Before Barney became our forever dog, I applied to be a Canine Companions Therapy Dog Handler. I was happy that I passed the application process. Now I had to wait for a dog to be released from their Service Dog Program. Which, by the way, doesn't happen too often. So, I waited. In the meantime, our Barney was such a warm, cuddly little guy that my grief began to lessen and he filled the sadness I felt in my heart. Then one day I received an email from Canine Companions. It said "Picasso is being released." I chucked when I read it because I thought it was a joke! I called the center right away and asked about this guy named "Picasso." It turned out that Picasso had been matriculated into the next phase of becoming a Service dog. However, he began to exhibit kennel stress. His Professional Trainer, Alex, told Denis and I that she felt he'd make a great CC Therapy Dog and wanted to know if we wanted to adopt him so that I would bond with him and train him to be a therapy dog for them. I saw pictures of him and immediately thought of Miss YaYa. He looks just like her. We agreed to meet him and fell madly in love with him. We adopted him on the spot!! But...the best part is that Alex told us she was already working with him on his painting skills. "Painting Skills?," I asked. Yup! He was learning how to paint!! Since his adoption, Picasso has perfected his painting skills and has been certified as a Canine Companion Therapy Dog with me as his handler. In addition, he achieved his AKC CGC Certification. We're now ready to do our Therapy work! I now have two dogs that resemble dogs that have graced my life in the past. If you wondered if I thought Dagger, Miss YaYa and Sunrise Barney had something to do with this fortunate, unexpected happening...You are right!!! Now, if that isn't serendipitous...I don't know what is!!  Barney & CC Therapy Dog Picasso If you celebrate Easter... Have a Happy Blessed Easter!
If you don't...Happy blessed Spring! Whatever you do take kindness with you! Happy Tales to you, xoxo Yvonne A Book and movie that captured me..."The Little Prince"  The Little Prince written by Antoine de Saint-Exupery Did you ever read a book or watch a movie that captured you in such a way that you needed to read or watch it over and over again? Recently, I watched something on Netflix while preparing dinner. I often watch something on my iPad while cooking. I scrolled through the movies and came across a 1974 movie called "The Little Prince." Based on a book of the same name, written by pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupery, the book is a fable about "a PILOT who crash-lands in the Sahara Desert in the 1940's and crawls out of the wreckage quite alive. He sets about fixing his engine, when a child, dressed like a prince, suddenly appears. The little prince is from a distant asteroid, no bigger than a house, and has been moved by the beauty of a rose to travel the universe in search of the important things in life. So goes the surreal tale of ''The Little Prince,'' who finally has the secret of life revealed to him by a wise brown fox. The prince shares that secret with the pilot. The other secret that many Long Island residents"... (me included)... "may not know is that Antoine de Saint-Exupery, the French writer, aviator and visionary, wrote ''The Little Prince,'' his most famous book, in the Village of Asharoken in 1943, perhaps looking up now and then to stare out the parlor window of the Bevin House, a local landmark, at a lawn that slopes down to Duck Island Bay"1... right near our home on Long Island. I've since learned that Saint-Exupery wasn't too happy about moving out to Asharoken. Having lived in NYC for a while he and his wife weren't thrilled with the hustle and bustle of Manhattan so friends of his had him travel out to Long Island where he would get some peace and quiet. At first he thought that he was going to live in a small cottage. As it turned out the Bevon House was a mansion! "A big white house, built in the French Second Empire style, which sits nearly hidden behind a cluster of tall trees at the tip of Bevin Road." Over time, he grew to love the place especially the sunsets over Duck Island Bay and the Long Island Sound. He wrote mostly at night and called many of his friends sharing with them what he had written. What delighted me was that he illustrated the book too. Explained in a New York Times article written in 2000: "When the sun came up in the morning, Saint-Exupery kept an easel in the library and would work on sketches and watercolors,'' quoting from an interview with May Cornell Bevin, who owned the house while Saint-Exupery and his wife were guests. ''As the sun moved across the sky, he'd move with the sun toward the parlor, where there was light. Then he'd write in there.''2 In the book''The Little Prince,'' the boy's asteroid home is so small that he can see the sun set 44 times in a single day. ''But on your tiny planet, my little prince, all you need do is move your chair a few steps,'' the pilot says in the book. ''You can see the day end and the twilight falling whenever you like.'' When Saint-Exupery lived in Asharoken, he hired Adele Breaux, who taught French at Northport High School, to tutor him in English. He described the Bevin House to her as ''a haven for writing, the best place I have ever had anywhere in my life,'' Ms. Breaux wrote in her memoir of the experience (the book is available at the Northport Public Library)." But, Saint-Exupery's stay at the Bevon House was kept secret by the War Department. ''He fled France because of the German occupation and came to New York under a veil of secrecy,'' said Ed Carr, the author of ''Faded Laurels,'' a history of Asharoken and Eatons Neck. ''It wasn't known to many people that he was here, and he left the same way.'' The book is written in over 250 languages and only second in sales to the Bible. It's a classic! I purchased the book after I saw the movie. I just had to read his words and see his illustrations. The first time I watched the movie, I thought that it was kind of bazaar. It didn't seem to make much sense to me. I guess I wasn't watching and was spending more time preparing dinner. I wasn't going to watch it again, but I felt that there were some messages that were expressed in the movie. So, I watched it again when I had time to REALLY absorb it. I was hooked on all of the symbolism and lessons that are timeless. The 1974 movie version is a musical with Richard Kiley as the pilot, Steven Warner as the Little Prince, Gene Wilder as the Fox and Bob Fosse as the Snake. The screenplay and lyrics are by Alan Jay Lerner, music by Frederick Loewe, arranged and orchestrated by Angela Morley. The second time I watched the movie I was moved to learn that it was about hope, kindness, friendship, responsibility for those you love, loneliness, loss, caring for the environment, and rebirth. The Fox in the book and movie says after the Little Prince tames him that "It is only with the heart that one can see clearly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." In saying this, he's telling the little prince that our eyes often miss what is important but our hearts can always see the truth." I highly recommend that you watch this classic. If you do, please let me know what you think and what lessons (if any) you take away from it. According to a Wikipedia account Saint-Exupery " disappeared near the end of the Second World War some 15 months after his fable was first published." It is assumed that "he returned to France after finishing ''The Little Prince'' and joined the Allied war effort as a pilot. He was reported missing in action on July 31, 1944. It is believed that he was shot down during a reconnaissance flight over southern France." I only wish I had a moment to talk to him about the lessons, symbols and illustrations he used in his book... A Children's Book that I feel is mainly for grown ups! Be well everyone and take a little time to reach out to someone in need.
xoxo Happy Tales to you, Yvonne Spreading Love... When I teamed up with Anna Roy, the President of the Animal Heroes Hall of Fame, last year, our main focus was to be able to keep Dagger's Legacy alive. At first, I was a little skeptical about teaming up with someone on the other side of the planet even though she was a super kind person to Dagger and me. You see, I live in New York and Anna lives in Cyprus. How was this going to work and also be successful with such a huge distance between us? After talking with Anna and coming up with a reasonable plan, we decided to give it a go. I think that success is defined as having a mission, being determined and putting it all into action. If all of these things are implemented and in place, one can also sprinkle in a lot of gratitude and blessings! All of which, Anna and I have experienced throughout our journey together. Our "Howling Talent" Podcast has been hugely successful. Anna wrote about our Mission so eloquently by saying, "At Howling Talent, we are driven to do our part in making the world a better place by creating activities that empower individuals and communities. We strive to build productive relationships and make a positive impact with all of our pursuits." Thus far, we've interviewed everyone from talented animals' masters to filmmakers and producers. It's been enlightening and so very educational to meet such remarkable people and some pretty talented animals. We are already working on Season 2 ~ Episode 9. How great is that!! Now, that's something to HOWL about! I invite and encourage everyone to listen in. You can listen on www.HowlingTalent.com, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Our podcasts are scheduled bi-monthly, and are generally 30-40 minutes long. In fact, many of our guests feel so comfortable chatting with us that we continue our conversation well after the podcast interview is over. If you happen to know anyone who would love to be a part of our "Howling Talent" Podcast, please email your suggestions to [email protected] In addition to our "Howling Talent" Podcast our vision also includes events throughout the year. Our newest event is called "Kindness of Animals." This event welcomes ALL animals…the talented animal painter, as well as the beginner animal painter. If your animal uses their snout or their paws/hoofs or they hold a brush in their mouths, we encourage you all to use your imagination and creative know-how and engage your beloved animal/pet to create an original Valentine’s Day Card to be given or sent to someone in your local area or overseas to brighten their day and make them feel valued and appreciated. When your card/s are ready take a photograph of it and email it to us for our gallery with the first name only of the recipient and why you chose them. If you deliver the card in person and they agree, why not send us a photograph of them receiving the card. [email protected] Remember to Hashtag us on social media: #kindnessofanimals #ahhof #DaggerDogVinci I do hope that you will all get involved in our Valentine's Day Event. Either personally or by sharing our event with your family and friends. The more cards our animals create the bigger our community of happy Valentine receivers will be. Have a very Happy Valentine's Day! Remember to be the smile someone needs! Happy tales to you, xoxo Yvonne  🎉 Happy New Year! 🎉 As I welcome in a new year, I can't help but reflect on the previous year and how bitter sweet it was for Denis and I. After loosing Dagger in January, I felt my purpose was suddenly taken away from me. In an instant life changed for us. I've often thought about the song "What a difference a day makes...twenty-four little hours..." It's so true. Looking back I guess I took my days with Dagger for granted thinking that Dagger would always be there by my side. WOW! What a shock it was when in a matter of 24 hours he was gone from us!! It's never easy when we loose someone that we love. Whether it happens suddenly or due to an illness over a long period of time. It's still very difficult. I know this past year has been challenging for many people. But, as we ring in a new year, I feel it's important to keep the faith and move forward. I feel Dagger by my side in a different more spiritual way now. I know that he's with me and I also know that when and if I enter the pearly gates of heaven when I leave this earthly life, he's going to tell me that he was instrumental in sending Barney and Picasso to rescue Denis and me. They both entered serendipitously. Barney through many angels that got him to our home and Picasso through many other angels who raised him, trained him and saw he was too sensitive to be a CC Service Dog. Both of whom entered our lives needing a forever loving home. Both came to a home in need of being rescued. So, now we look forward to a new year and a new beginning. Dagger's studio is being used almost everyday now. I'm training Picasso to be a Therapy Dog for CC and to paint with the help of his CC professional trainer, Alex. I'm finding my purpose again. It's a good feeling. Grief never, ever leaves. If we shut down after a loss the only path is sickness and depression. That's not healthy for anyone. There were things that I did throughout the year of 2023 that I felt gave me comfort in the mist if my great loss. I cried whenever I felt like crying...I didn't hold it in. I had a Service of Thanksgiving in Dagger's Memory at St Rose of Lima Church. We were invited to Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury, Vermont to film an up-coming PBS episode of Shelter Me which concentrates on grief and loss. Barney will be featured in it. The release date is scheduled for early 2024. I also collaborated with Anna Roy, The President of The Animal Heroes Hall Of Fame, and created a day on Dagger's birthday, October 6th, to honor him and all of the Talented Animals all over the world. The website has an Art Exhibition and currently has a Podcast called "Howling Talent" which is up to its 7th Podcast now. We are so very proud of it!! Check it out! It's available on Apple, Spotify and www.HowlingTalent.com I'm excited to witness what's serendipitously in store for us as we enter this new year. If you have any suggestions and/or guests for our future Podcasts please let me know by clicking HERE. In the meantime... Have a Happy and Healthy New Year! Happy Tales to you, xoxo Yvonne  "An Artist is born"A Children's Book Written By: Yvonne Dagger  It took four years, but it was well worth the time, effort and tears I put into my first book of a series of books about the adventures of Dagger DogVinci. Encouraged by many people including most of the librarians we met as we held our "DogVinci" Workshops at their libraries, I heard them often say on our travels all over Long Island and New York City, "Why don't you write a book?" Then when we were hit with the pandemic, that caused Dagger and I to go into isolation for close to three years. Our workshops and Dagger's love of community ceased. I'm sure everyone felt the effects of COVID. The scary horrible toll it took on every family all over the world. We all felt the effects of it and still do, I suppose. Of course, we continued to create in Dagger's studio. That was our saving grace. In isolation, I began to think about what was said to me during our workshops about writing a book. But, could I do it? I'd written papers in college, but never a book!! I could give it a try, I thought!! Therefore, taking to my writing tablet, I started writing my first children's book about Dagger's life as a canine artist. It was important for me to include his message of education and community service in the book. The first draft I wrote was about Dagger's life as an artist. It was simplistic and geared more for toddlers. It was about the dog that painted from his heart. After sending my manuscript to experts in the area of writing direction, I was told that they yearned to learn more about Dagger's journey from his birth. They wanted to know his back story. Their points were well received by me. So...back to my writing tablet I went! It was fairly easy to tell Dagger's story from the day I picked him up at Canine Companions' Miller Family Campus at eight weeks old until the time he learned how to paint, sell his works and give all of his money to charity. I knew it by heart since I told our story at all of our over 150 "DogVinci" Workshops in the years we visited libraries, schools, senior living facilities, museums and charity events. It literally took me four years to get my book to publication, though. That part of the process was not an easy task. For sure! I learned that an author needs an agent to get into the big publishing houses. That takes oodles of money and because Dagger gave all of his funds to charity, we didn't have the funds to make this happen. I was also told that sometimes it takes years even with an agent to get the big publishing houses to recognize your accomplishment. I knew that I had already spent four years creating my book, the thought of waiting many more years to get published was not something I wanted to do and pay for. So, I decided after investigating publishers, that my best mode of operation on the publishing scene was to self-publish my book through Amazon and IngramSpark. That alone takes an expert to manage. A friend and author of two books gave me the name of an expert in the field....Jaye Medalia. Jaye was instrumental in helping me with everything from how to create the book for publication to giving me steadily advice all through out the process. As an art director and seasoned expert in book publishing, Jaye knows her business. Her expertise in all areas of publication was beneficial to getting things done. She followed the process to a "T." She was able to secure a wonderful illustrator for me, Penny Weber. Penny is a fabulous illustrator. I love her style. I'm not an illustrator. Penny is. She was so accommodating and patient with the little nuances that Jaye and I felt needed to be added such as the spaghetti and meatballs after Dagger's day at the Broadway Show. Hee! Hee! She did all of it with grace and understanding. I have so many people to thank. First and foremost, my husband, Denis. Denis has been a driving force and wind beneath my wings to get to the finish line of this endeavor. Jaye and Penny were there for me throughout the process even up to the date of release. They're still there whenever I need them. I will be forever grateful to them. And to all of you, without your encouragement and support, I'm afraid that I would've never had stepped outside of my world to challenge myself to live a dream that I've always had. I'm beginning my next great adventure in Dagger DogVinci's life. So, stay tuned to travel with him on another zany journey. In the meantime, I wish you and your families a Happy, Blessed, and Peace-Filled Holiday Season! Happy Tales to you, xoxo Yvonne  P.S. Make sure you tune into our New Podcast "Howling Talent." Anna Roy, the President and Founder of the Animal Heroes Hall Of Fame and I co-host this enlightening and fun podcast as we interview people from all over the world who share their talents by helping animals through their creative process. Tune in today to learn about a wonderful dog name "Buddy Mercury" and his human mom and dad,Laurie and Glen Wolfe. Click HERE to listen to this amazing story. (www.HowlingTalent.com)  |
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