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Song of Sweetbrook

by Patricia A. Voelz

238 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-0384; ISBN 1-4120-0021-1; US$21.50, C$26.00, EUR18.00, £12.50

Stories with a heart that you won't forget. Fresh nature stories that you will read and reread and still want more. Stories that make nature's creatures come alive.

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About the Book      About the Author      Sample Excerpts      Catalogue Info

About the Book Song of Sweetbrook is an inspirational, humorous, narrative of short stories about the animals and other happenings that are centered around Sweetbrook Lake and the author's garden. It is fun, amusing reading. This is a "feel good" book.

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About the Author Patricia A. Voelz was born and raised in Texas. She has written other articles and children's stories. Song of Sweetbrook is her first full length novel. She is a retired Financial Planner and plans to publish another book about her growing up in Texas. She currently lives on a lake in Indiana with her two cats, Sasha and Punkin.

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Sample Excerpts

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements
About the Artist
Introduction
Spring
Jean Claude & Cheri
The Lake
The Pond
The Fisherman
Home Tweet Home
Snow Geese
Penny Possum and Friends
Just Ducky
Crystal's Baby
Mickey & Minnie
Peep
Pat's Garden Party
Swan Lake
Summer
The Garden
The Wedding of the Flowers
Somewhere in Time
Millie and the Hoods
Beetle Mania
Butterflies
Mr. & Mrs. Hum
Sylvia's Web
The Neighborhood
Firecracker Day
Political Rally
Block Party
American Coots
Fall
Fall Garden
The Good, The Bad and the Odious
The Flight
Thanksgiving Reunion
Christmas
Winter
Daphne Duck
My Cats
Punkin's Rules for a Long Life
Epilogue

INTRODUCTION

Song of Sweetbrook is an inspirational, humorous, narrative of short stories about the animals and other happenings that are centered around Sweetbrook Lake and my garden. It encompasses about a year in my life. The collection has appeal to the general Christian audience. The human interest stories will be read and reread leaving the reader to want more. The reader will find themselves immersed in the stories and will be able to relate to the inner feelings that are expressed.

Most of the stories are true events that have been embellished by my imagination and what the animals might be thinking. Names have been given to the characters to add personality. There was Crystal (the snow goose), baby Puff that stole our hearts, the new baby Snow geese Mickey and Minnie born the next spring. There are stories about Robert and Rhonda Robin, Penny Possum, Jean Claude and Cheri, the Canada Geese, Mr. and Mrs. Hum, Daphne Duck, Peep, my flower garden with butterflies that are garden jewels and Punkin and Sasha the world's smartest cats. All of these stories combine with the stories about the beetle invasion, Sylvia who spun her unusual web, my garden party, July 4th, the neighborhood block party, the politcal rally, fall garden, family, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The book begins in the spring when everything on Sweetbrook Lake comes alive with the evidence that nature rules and the ducks and geese are doing their best to make sure their species survives, then moves on through the summer, fall and into winter with its beauty and brutality. The sun makes pink, orange and lavender reflections on the water that gives the lake an expensive cut crystal glass glow. As I stroll through my garden there are gently wisps of sweet fragrances that seem to transport me to a relaxing and tranquil state. I am caught up in the pleasure of the rare moment and I allow my senses to drink in the ambiance and commit it to my memory to be recalled as needed to soothe my soul and draw me close to the presence of God.

Each story has a moral message and is accompanied by a corresponding Bible verse. It is fun, amusing reading and will make a good addition to the reading station wherever one wants to curl up and bring some spirituality and tranquility to life. The thoughts and attitudes in the book are inspired by my Christian upbringing. In this book I used some of my favorite Bible verses that are harmonious with each story. My hope is that by reading this book, you will be inspired to make the study of Bible scripture part of your everyday life. This is a feel good book.

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PENNY POSSUM AND FRIENDS

I was up early that morning. The sun was already up in the heaven and shining in its brilliant full colored, early morning glory. The dew was glistening on all of the plants in the garden like a thousand diamonds.

I had taken my camera outside with me hoping to find that unusual picture. Every day I found something new to photograph.

I saw something run across my sidewalk. It was gray with an off-white underbelly. It had little beady, black eyes and a snout nose. It couldn't run very fast and seemed to waddle as it carried its heavy load. It ran behind my flowers and I couldn't find it. I crept into the flower bed, found it and shooed it out. It ran around the house then seemed to disappear. I looked for a while and didn't find it so I went on about my business.

I retrieved my small ladder from the garage to take a look at the top of my clematis where I suspected Rhonda Robin had made her nest. It's by the kitchen window and for several mornings I had been awakened by a thumping noise that was loud enough to keep me awake. I investigated and it was Robert Robin beating out his brains, diving and fighting his reflection in the window to protect his territory. I wondered if he would live long enough to become a father because he just wouldn't quit banging his head.

Anyway, back to my story. As I began to put up the ladder, I looked up at the top of another trellis and there was Penny Possum, hanging by her front and back paws, eyes big and her breath coming very fast. I could see her heart beating in her chest and she was very scared of me, this giant.

Her stomach was facing me so I took some very clear pictures of her underside with the little babies all snuggled down in the soft, warm fur lined pouch. The babies, I'm sure, were nursing while attached to the mother. They were totally unaware of the impending danger as they were safely tucked away dreaming dreams of their future, while Penny was facing this giant enemy. The babies didn't move. Penny didn't move.

I had my camera so I removed the cover from the lens and started taking pictures. I tried to get pictures from different angles. All of the time she was watching me by moving her eyes but not her body. I guess that's where the expression comes from when you are completely still...You are playing possum.

She was not pretty. She had coarse fur which was a little mottled and scraggly. Her underside was almost hairless except for the inside of the pouch which was lined with downy soft fur and the babies were completely comfortable.

I had reluctantly left after I had observed as much as I could. I didn't want to scare her but I wanted to soak up this Kodak moment since I had never seen anything like that before. I really thought it was a rare opportunity that very few people get to see. It was so early in the morning and no one was awake so I couldn't share it with anyone.

I wondered where her home was. Where was her husband, Peter Possum? Were they making their home right in my flower beds? If so, should I be careful not to get bitten by this new creature that was now living in my area? Would I have a whole family of these not so attractive creatures? After a time Penny was gone. I didn't see her go but was happy that she wasn't hanging on my trellis anymore.

I continued to explore the clematis for the robin nest and sure enough, there it was. It had three of the typical robin's egg blue eggs in it and I could hear Robert Robin screeching and acting like he was crippled to attract me away from the nest. I didn't touch the nest and took away the ladder so I would not disturb the eggs. I left and soon after, Rhonda returned to the nest to sit on the eggs. The next morning, early, I heard Robert beating his head against the window again because that other robin predator had returned in his reflection.

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Proverbs 15:3 NIV

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

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Catalogue Information

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