Fraser Fans!

I just love summer! I just did another Farmer's Market yesterday and thought you'd all enjoy this great photo of twins reading two of the Fraser books.

It's too hot to bring Maggie this summer, so I'm relying on my Fraser fill-in stuffed/almost real dog for kids to pet. I'm thinking I'll have to video the antics next market as dogs of diverse breeds love this "animal." He draws quite a crowd and dog owners are totally surprised to realize their "smart" canine cannot tell the difference between a real and "fake" dog. They can't believe it when their dogs are actually afraid of "Fraser." Too funny for words. I promise to get it on video.

U Tube here we come.

For now, please admire these adorable redheads!!

Farmer's Market summer 2011

The Farmer's Market started up last weekend in Aspen. A market filled with colors, music, fruits and veggies, flowers and crafts. Most of all, our market is filled with people and dogs!! It's a wonderful social event to start the weekend.

I'm happy to be sharing a booth this summer every other week with Georganne Waggerman and Lee Shapiro, both wonderful local artists.

Here at my first market of the summer, is a photo of three darling children from our neighboring town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. They had a few of my books but purchased ones they didn't have. It is so much fun for me to meet the children and parents who read my books. What a treat for me! Maggie stayed home as it was too hot that day for her, but we had her fill-in.

Shining Stars

Every year in March, the wonderful Shining Stars organization comes to Aspen. So many children who have been dealing with cancer never get an opportunity to come and ski. Kathy Gingery is an angel I have known for many years and I so believe in her dreams that have become a reality year after year.

I'm always so impressed by the volunteers and the outpouring of love from our little mountain town. A few years ago, I decided besides giving $ I wanted to give my books away as a small token.

This photo was taken of a young man who will take a little bit of Aspen home with him. I gave away over 90 books with great joy!!

Maggie

I thought you all might like to see a photo of the real Maggie. It's June in Aspen and the weather has been fabulous. Maggie has been thoroughly enjoying herself sunning, swimming in our pond and relaxing in her older years. We're taking a long walk today so she can see all her doggie friends.

We're excited to be a part of the children's events this summer in the Mall. We'll be reading to kids. I will have a booth this summer at the Farmer's Market.

Hope you're all enjoying summer as well!

Room to Read

Room to Read is an amazing global organization dedicated to to bringing books to children in 9 countries across Asia and Africa. They help millions of children in the developing world gain access to quality educational opportunities.

I'm happy to be a part of the Aspen chapter of Room to Read.

Recently, we held our yearly fundraiser at the Viceroy Hotel in Snowmass. We had representatives from the national office in San Francisco!

High school students were on hand to read to our local children. Zak the yak made an apprearance and was loved by all he met!! The Fraser books were part of all the books read to the children!!

Author's Tea Aspen Elementary School

AUTHOR'S TEA 2011

I always feel so honored to be invited to this 4th grade girls' "rite of passage."

Dee Searing puts together an amazing "tea" with the help of many mom volunteers. Every year the decorations are different and the small gym is transformed into a special space.

You walk in and can't believe the work that has gone into this day. The tables are set beautifully with flowers and the first course: caesar salad and fruit kabobs. We look at our seats and there are colorful "garden/tea" hats for all of us to wear. I sat at a table of 7 beautiful and very well behaved young ladies. We discussed books and I told them the story from Fraser's Memoir about the four bears in our house. We laughed and felt so very special when the moms served us our tea, tea sandwiches and a variety of desserts.

I love living in Aspen and I especially love the yearly Author's Tea. Thanks to everyone for making me feel as if I'm at the Academy Awards!!

Maggie the Yellow Dog Visits the Hospital

Since Fraser has passed on to doggie heaven, Maggie has taken over his job as one of the pet therapy dogs at Aspen Valley Hospital. We certainly enjoy our job bringing smiles to the patients in the hospital. The children visiting parents love a visit as well. What a wonderful program Rita Cohen started years ago. We are so happy to be a part of it. People love the doggie photos on the wall just before entering the Patient Care Unit.

Besides the patients, the staff are always thrilled to pet our dogs. Maggie knows that at some point someone will give her a few treats so she is always very well behaved and patient. She loves it when a patient drops food onto the floor during their meal. She gladly cleans up so no sweeping is necessary!

After we make the rounds, we're off to the assisted living center to see the seniors. The seniors also love visits from the doggies. It sometimes really makes their day. Sometimes we are their only visitors and boy, they love having contact from others.

Really, we get as much out of our visits as the patients/staff/seniors do. Thanks, Rita, for establishing this wonderful program.

More later about my mentoring at the high school.....