My Dearest Puppy People,
I can’t tell you what a joy you have been to me, these years we’ve met together here at Foxglove Farm. Many of you have come and had a seat in my kitchen, met Agatha in person, had a cup of coffee and visited with one or another of the little four-footed creatures that call this place their home. Many more of you I have never met in person but I feel I know you anyway, that we’ve shared a bond of the love of animals and shared stories about them.
What a sweet blessing you have been in my life, your faithful reading of my postings, your loving and generous comments, your precious prayers, I am so thankful for each and every one of you dear readers. I can’t tell you how much of an encouragement you’ve been. In large measure it’s because of you, because of your letters and exhortations to write, children’s stories and books about Agatha, about life at Foxglove Farm. You’ve helped me have the courage to step out take the first steps on this new path.
Soon and very soon, the first 2 titles of a series of 5 (did I just say that out loud?) yes, FIVE children’s books will be beginning a journey of their own into the wide wide world and I hope into the hearts of dog lovers everywhere. “Bonsai Comes Home To Stay” is my special favorite, his true little tale is a poignant one with a very happy ending (we love happy endings Agatha & I).
I’ve shared an excerpt to the Bonsai tale, we even have a real live website here with book previews and even a spot to pre-order! I was so taken with his story when I saw his little woebegone face in a blog post by a dear friend Karrianne Wood that described his arrival at her farm (you can see the real Bonzai here on her wonderful blog www.thistlewoodfarm.com) that I couldn’t stop thinking about him until I gave him his own honest to goodness book! A Yorkie right? I know, but his story captured my heart and I had to tell it for him…
I loved writing the story of this elderly little fellow and I’m especially thrilled to report that upon reading the first proof copy aloud to three 7 & 8-year-old little girls, that the room was so quiet that you could have heard the proverbial pin drop, the only sound the ticking of the old clock on the bookshelf. Little girls who loved their iPads and games on their mama’s phones, sat completely still, softly quiet and captured by this small dog and his tiny struggles, that they had tears in their eyes at the part of the story where Bonsai found himself in the Old Dog’s Home…
I’m so very excited and cannot wait until the first copies of Bonsai arrive, literally hot off the presses and I can share them with you. They are partially yours anyway, I never would have had the courage to step out in faith and share them with the world if it hadn’t been for you. I have treasured your words and believe in my heart that you’ve spoken truth into my life and it’s time to take flight, to take to the wing, to soar and let my stories take on lives of their own. My prayer is that they to make people laugh and yes shed a tear over stories of real dogs and their small journeys. Stories that people will read to their children and grandchildren, turning the pages slowly to have time to enjoy the beautiful watercolor illustrations, each with a heart of its own.
“A Puppy’s Christmas Wish” makes ME cry when I read it! Goodness, I wrote it so you’d think after a few readings I’d be not so teary! The day I took the photos of Tinsel and Buttons, Jingle & sweet funny Sparkle Plenty, I knew there was something special happening, the camera whirring and puppies telling a story right before my eyes.
My desire is that in reading or hearing these stories, children will learn to love dogs, develop a love for reading and most of all, a love and heart for the animals in their lives. That dog lovers of all ages will find entertainment and a bit of rest and refreshment in books with delightful illustrations and photos that make the stories come alive. A word about those beautiful watercolors, lest you think I’ve developed an entire new vocation as artist, alas, they are not my own (though the photos will be!) but are painted by a wonderful artist, Vianne Chang who skillfully brings each of my characters to life.
OH, I WISH I could send them out to you all FREE of charge, you have such a part in their creation… My wiser and better half reminds me that there is the tiniest profit after the investment to publish books on this rather small scale. Our cost is not much under what they are priced at so to keep peace in the family and pay the bills if you decide to purchase a copy, I promise to send it along with a personal note from Agatha & me. I’m trying to decide if she’ll cooperate and put a paw print inside the cover, but ink and dog paws might not be the most brilliant thing I’ve dreamed up yet!
With Most Heartfelt Wags,
terry & agatha
(& bonsai & fluffy blue eyes & barkley & tinsel & sparkle plenty & just a few more…)
P.S. Faithful readers, I humbly ask that you help get the word out? If you like to pin things on Pinterest, if you have a few dozen dog loving Facebook friends, or if the lady where you take your dry cleaning is a dog lover, won’t you help spread the word and the new website: https://tellencross.squarespace.com and Bonsai & the rest of my little books with anyone who might sit still enough to listen?!? I so hope everyone loves and enjoys these stories, in my heart, I know this is something I’m meant to do and I know that along with my dear puppy people, God will help Bonsai & Tinsel and all the rest sit up and bark!
XOXO
t.
GOD BLESS,YOU TERRY!!!!! I have been telling my mom of you and your beautiful gift of writing about dogs and nature and taking beautiful pictures!!!!!! You have a beautiful God given gift of writing and your love of dogs!!!! I still one day pray to have one of your beautiful puppies!!!!! And now books!!!!
Love Cindy
Oh Cindy, Bless your dear heart!!! It’s because of sweet sweet puppy people like you that I have begun to make this dream a reality! You are an angel!!!
Warmest Wags,
terry
Kudos Terry! I will be waiting for the announcement to purchase each book as they arrive “hot off the press!” And will send them off to my grandson who just loves Cavaliers mostly, and all dogs too! Wags and wiggles from my Cavalier fur-kids to yours! So excited!
Oh Juli, I cannot WAIT!!! We nearly stood on our heads trying to have them published in time for Christmas, the eBooks will make it but the publishers are wringing their hands (they know “Puppy’s Christmas Wish” is best BEFORE Christmas, but barring a small miracle out in Oregan, it’ll be a week or two after! Still snowy and wintery here but Santa will be long gone lol!
Agatha says hey & hi to those fellow Cavaliers!
terry
Oh happy day!! I am so proud of you, Terry!! Gonna pre order for sure. Good for you to share your heart and talent with us. Fondly, Connie Stone
A 1000 puppy hugs sweet Connie! You were a BIG part of why these little books came to be!!! Thank you dearheart for encouraging me to put these into books children could enjoy!
Congratulations Terry!! I cannot wait to show and read your beautiful new books to my grandkids. And to tell them that I KNOW the author…’cause I feel like I do! How blessed you are to have such a gift that you unselfishly and so kindly share with everyone. May God continue to bless you and yours this Christmas season, (and don’t give up on that miracle out in Oregon…it just might be coming!!)
Merry Christmas and Love,
Laura and Sweet Ivy Rose🐶
Oh Laura, I hope you are right and that my long awaited little titles make their journey in time to be Christmas Blessings (just like Tinsel!). I feel I know you too and your loving words and encouragements are one of my special treasures!
Christmas Hugs and an extra special treat for that beautiful Ivy Rose!
terry & agatha (agatha say’s what about me mom???)
I was so excited to see you have finally published your books and I purchased both for my soon to be great grandbaby to read to and tell them about the story of one of the nicest friends I have ever met online and how she helped me pick out my little girl cavachon, Molly Lynn aka born “Autumn Leaves” on July 2,2012, after losing my precious Maltese boy, Murphy. I will tell her the story of how I was looking for a sweet king charles cavalier and came upon the mixed breed puppy of cavalier and bichon only to keep goubg back to your site at Foxglove Farms because your babies were the most beautiful and I knew from the pictures and from the phone conversations before picking Molly out that Foxglove is the only place I want my puppy from. I still look at the new babies all the time and possibly in the near future will be able to get Molly a new sibling. At least I am hoping so. Thank you so much for these wonderful books! Your talent has been put to a great cause and look forward to many more children’s books.
Dear Gail, How blessed I am to have been part of bringing so much love and joy to so many lives with these wonderful little dogs! Your Molly has done her job well,,, she has brought JOY in full measure and it’s amazing the friends that I have found through the journeys of each of my four-footed “children”. You have been SUCH an encourager, I never would have had the courage to write a single word if it hadn’t been for my devoted and loyal puppy people of which you are one of the dearest! You’ll have to send pictures of that grandbaby when the arrival comes and I hope that the books are enjoyed by grandmother as well and baby!
Fondest Puppy Hugs and Agatha says to tell Molly WOOF!
terry
Dear Terri,
I am sending a christmas card picture of me and Molly to you at Foxglove Farms…wishing you a wonderful Christmas and New Year of exciting writing children’s books! Looking forward to having them all in my great grandbabies library of books here! I will be sure to send a pucture when the little one is born with Molly.
Give Agetha our love from me and Molly, and may God bless your writings that will thrill every little child!
Gail and Molly
Dear Sweet Terry & Agatha,
We here in the Tonda household (Tony, Dianne and Casey Jones) are so excited and happy for you. I just love to read any and all stories about our sweet, precious, furry, four legged friends. I especially love the stories that you write, plus the great photos. I am looking forward to each and every one of your marvelous creations when they are available. May God Bless You in All that you do.
Keep up the good work!
Dearest Terry. We are so excited about your fabulous news. You are a talented and prolific writer which we all knew from your letters and Foxglove Farm stories which we treasure.
You are giving young children and their families a treasure gift, teaching love, responsibility and the gift of sharing. God knew what he was doing when he chose you to be the messenger between these puppy dogs and small children. I am extremely proud of you stepping out to share these important messages. I can’t wait to read them to SweetPea, (formerly Little Dove) whom we love to pieces.
Hope that you will continue with Foxglove Farm puppy business. When SweetPea is one we probably be ready for another.
Best wishes to you and your husband and all the sweet puppies and staff for a Blessed Christmas.
Much love from me, John and little SweetPea xoxo
Oh bless your heart Pam, and thank you for the kind kind words, those comments have been wind in my sails and have helped bring this little ship out of the harbor and off on a totally new and exciting adventure and I can’t thank you all for your goodness to me…
Hugs to that darling SweetPea, she’s doing the job I raised her to do, bring puppy JOY, I know she is exactly where she was supposed to be : )
Many Christmas Puppy Hugs,
terry & Agatha
Terry,
What an amazing inspiration you are to so many!
Thank you for sharing your heart friend!
Merry Christmas!
karianne
Dear Karianne,
Thank you for sharing your adorable little Bonsai with the WORLD! I just fell in love with his tiny face the first time I saw him on your blog (Puppy People this is “the pretty lady with the red lipstick” who owns sweet little Bonsai, her blog is WONDERFUL by the way! http://www.thistlewoodfarms.com)
Warmest Christmas Wags!
terry (& agatha too : )