: About Me

I am the Channel Manager for the Pets and Animals channel here on Helium. I have worked with animals most of my life: veterinary assistant, many kennel cleaning jobs and manager of an SPCA that hosted farm animals in addition to cats and dogs.

The SPCA (animal shelter) is where I fell in love with the hobby farm life. My husband and I have bred sheep for about 20 years now.  I currently have a flock of Corriedales with award-winning fleeces.  We also have chickens, goats, cats, fish and a dog.

My other passion is homeschooling.  I homeschooled my own daughters for 11 years and I have sold homeschool curriculum through my home business since 1998.  I have started four different homeschool curriculum stores through the years.

Here on Helium I have begun to explore writing seriously for the first time in my life. After a 10th grade English teacher wrote on my report card progress report "she can't write and never will be able to" I was very demoralized and insecure about my writing.  Through college I had several professors tell me I was a talented writer and should be following that as a possible career. I refused to acknowledge their comments because of the earlier criticism.  (A good example of how powerful the written word can be-for good or evil!)

I have enjoyed exploring the variety of writing formats on Helium and have used events like contests or Marketplace to try the different types (research, poetry, essay, memoirs, book reviews, and most recently, flash fiction!) that I never had tried before.  It has been a fantastic experience.

I also write for Examiner.com as the Harrisburg Homeschooling Examiner.

Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: A cat's fantasy

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My cat, Saxonly, crouched high up in the Maple tree Surveying his territ'ry Guarding his property Captain of the Backyard, fencepost to fencepost Chief of the Garden Spot, vegetables to compost This cat, Saxonly,  skulks warily amongst the leaves Savoring the sweet thrill Of planning his next kill Victor of the Challenge, mouse, mole, bird and vole Baron of the Mighty Land, valley, stream, hill and knoll I am Saxonly, roaring for the world to see Sharp'ning my fatal claws Flexing my savage jaw King of the Jungle, disdainful, arrogant Prince of the Pride, strengthened, belligerent He i...

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Writing:

Rating:

• Marketplace Premier Writer
• Creative Writing Silver
• 1Writing Contest Winner
• Editorial Advisory Board
• Marketplace Approved Writer
• 6Marketplace Articles Sold
• Helium Charter Member