#BehindTheStory - Crow Magic

Crow Magic, is about a Native American shape shifter. I was asked how I attained my interest and knowledge of Native American legend and lore. My response became a story.

After the Civil War, my great-great grandfather, Gardner Avery, left his New York regiment to settle with his wife, Helen Greenleaf Kern, in a rural area near Grand Rapids, Michigan, named Jamestown. He kept a diary, which remains in the family, of his daily activities and expenses. On the land he purchased to farm, a tribe of Native Americans resided. The couple let the Potawatomi continue to live and hunt on the land.

Potawatomi Warrior

Over time they developed close friendships with many of the tribal folk. My great-great-grandmother became very close to the medicine woman of the tribe who taught her the use of herbs in food and healing. The Avery’s interest in the art of the tribe eventually led to them learning how to make the Native American pottery. Through stories shared around meals, they learned the spirituality of the Native Americans.

At the time, Grand Rapids was one of the first large scale trading posts used by the Ottawa, Potawatomi and the Chippewa. My ancestors learned valuable information from their relationships with these tribes, which lead them to have a successful farm and healthy family. Despite the Avery’s wishes, the government forced the tribe off the land and into a reservation. According to family legend, Helen and her dearest friend spent the last days together. After hugs and many tears, she stood in a field and watched the tribe travel until they were out of sight.

The information, stories, and traditions my ancestors learned have been passed down through the

generations. I grew up listening to the stories my grandmother told of visiting the farm and her grandparents. She also shared aspects of the Native American spirituality and showed us how similar it is to Christianity.

 In the 1950s, my grandparents purchased property and build a cottage on Coldwater Lake, not far from Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. We spent many summers at the cottage, where we collected arrowheads we found in the local sand pits. A Chippewa family owned a cottage near ours and “Indian Dave” would share their stories, dances, and traditions with us while we sat around a bonfire.

I could say the knowledge of herbals and spirituality lives in me because of the ties of my family with the tribes of Michigan and beginning embraced by each generation of my family.


To add to my family history, my cousin’s father was from a Seminole tribe and my brother-in-law is a descendant of a French Trader and Blackfoot Indian woman. Funny, how a person with the Welch/Swedish/German heritage I have, can be neatly blended with Native American legend and lore. Grandmother used to tell us that our legacy isn’t only family blood but also the land we live in.



Indian Dave

Eagle Dance is Book 2 in the Legend of the Spirit series and features another Native American shifter from the Chippewa tribe who is looking for a special woman who will love him for who and what he is. Indian Dave's spirit makes an appearance.

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#CoupleFun – Make a Wish Jar

 Couples often look for ways to entice a partner to expand his or her perspectives on the possibilities in or even out of the bedroom. Often planning a special romantic evening as a surprise for your honey often doesn’t go as arranged. Kids, pets, families, work… so many things may interrupt. It would be much easier to plan something with your partner rather than planning a surprise.

I found a unique and fun idea.

Pick out a couple of cute jars from a craft shop or dollar store, decorate yourself.

Keep two “wish” jars in the kitchen, one for each or you. 

Take some index cards and cut in half. Stack the cards next to the jars. Whenever something comes to mind that would be fun to do together, it gets written down on a card and dropped into the appropriate bowl.

Create a ritual for the “big drawing”. At the beginning of each month, sit down at the end of the day with a glass of wine and some cheese. Pick five cards at random from each other’s jar. Read them over, talk about them and maybe even negotiate a bit.  The only rule is you have to agree on two activities to be done during the next month.

Rescue Dog Poem

My dog Maggie is a rescue. A lab/pointer hybrid, she was expected to be the ultimate hunting dog. During her training, her owner wasn't happy to learn she was gun shy. Despite beatings, she never overcame her fear so he dumped her and five pups in a field somewhere in northern Michigan on a cold December day. A farmer found her and her babies and took her to a local shelter. She was nursed back to health, her pups weaned. After being spayed, she went up for adoption. I saw her photo and fell in love. When I first saw her, she sat on my feet and gave me kisses. She jumped into our truck, sat next to our toddler and waited to go home. She knew we were her family. 

Maggie, after being with us for a couple years.

Once I was a lonely dog, just looking for a home.
 I had no place to go, no one to call my own.
 I wandered up and down the streets, in rain in heat and snow.
 I ate whatever I could find, I was always on the go.
 
 My skin would itch, my feet were sore, my body ached with pain.
 And no one stopped to give a pat or a gently say my name.
 I never saw a loving glance, I was always on the run.
 For people thought that hurting me was really lots of fun.
 
 And then one day I heard a voice so gentle, kind and sweet,
 and arms so soft reached down to me and took me off my feet.“
 No one again will hurt you,” was whispered in my ear.
 “You’ll have a home to call your own where you will know no fear.“
 
 You will be dry, you will be warm, you’ll have enough to eat.
 And rest assured that when you sleep, your dreams will all be sweet.”
 I was afraid I must admit, I’ve lived so long in fear.
 I can’t remember when I let a human come so near.
 
 And as she tended to my wounds and bathed and brushed my fur,
 she told me about the rescue group and what it meant to her.
 She said, “We are a circle, a line that never ends.
 And in the center there is you, protected by new friends.“
 
 And all around you are the ones that check the pounds,
 and those that share their home after you’ve been found.“
 And all the other folk are searching near and far
 to find the perfect home for you, where you can be a star.”
 
 She said, “There is a family, that’s waiting patiently,
 and pretty soon we’ll find them, just you wait and see.“
 And then they’ll join our circle they’ll help to make it grow,
 so there’ll be room for more like you, who have no place to go.”
 
 I waited very patiently, the days they came and went.
 Today’s the day I thought, my family will be sent.
 Then just when I began to think it wasn’t meant to be,
 there were people standing there just gazing down at me.
 
 I knew them in a heart beat, I could tell they felt it too.
 They said, “We have been waiting for a special dog like you.”
 Now every night I say a prayer to all the gods that be.
 “Thank you for the life I live and all you’ve given me.“
 
 But most of all protect the dogs in the pound and on the street.
 And send a Rescue Person to lift them off their feet.”
 
  by Arlene Pace September 18, 1998

Maggie has been a part of our lives for 12 years. She is retired from visiting nursing homes and senior centers where she spent time giving joy. Maggie was blessed with fur sisters who were also rescued: Molly a chocolate lab joined us a year after Maggie but passed away this year; Mona a tabby cat joined us 6 years ago and still greets Mags with a head bop daily.

#RescuePets

#AdoptDon'tShop

Sexy Games Lovers Play - Guess What This Is

Sexy games can bring the spice back to any relationship. You may have had a terrific sex life before, but the hassles of day-to-day existence have made sex less of a priority. Maybe you and your honey are looking for a little something different, something to add some zing to your love life. Perhaps, you simply need an exercise to encourage intimacy.

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Sexy games don't have to be confusing or complex. Find a game that both of you would enjoy to have fun and created intimacy.

Discuss the need to set some ground rules before playing sexy games. Be sure to respect each other's vulnerability, especially when trying something new in the bedroom. Both partners must be able to end the game at any time, for any reason. 

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A fun game is GUESS WHAT THIS IS

 This game requires some thinking and planning. Have two baskets, one for you and one for your honey. Start by thinking tactile and have your honey fill his basket with items and you do the same. Do not tell each other what your baskets hold! 

Item suggestions: What could be used on your lover’s skin to create goose bumps? Gather things such as feathers, ice, a piece of fur, light string or rope, a length of silk, wool, and a knobby fabric. Other items to use might include a soft ball, a back scratcher, or a damp sponge. Let your mind go wickedly wild. Assemble all the textures and place in a basket. 

Take turns blindfolding each other and lay in a comfortable position. Begin by massaging your partner with an item from the basket. Massage or tickle his body and let him guess what is touching his skin. Ask your lover to describe how it feels.

Enjoy your time together and enjoy each other!

Minute of Morning Romance

Take a moment in the morning to appreciate what you have.  Give your honey a hug that lasts a little longer.

Enjoy morning coffee together. Take in the peace of the day and simply BE with each other.