WRITE TO HEAL. PUBLISH TO INSPIRE.

It's time again for Linda to teach "Inspirational Writing & Publishing Today" for the Loft Literary Center from March 14-April 18. This time, the class, which Linda has taught since 1998, is at the Hopkins Center for the Arts in Hopkins, a suburb just west of Minneapolis. Details are in the announcement section below.

Many of Linda's previous students have used information and encouragement from the inspirational writing class to go on and get books, articles, and stories published. At a recent Loft event, Linda met a woman who just had her book published. She said, "I wrote my book and found a publisher because of taking your class. Thank you."

The class always fills up fast, so be sure to register right away. Register online at www.loft.org or by phone at 612-379-8999. Specific information about the class is at www.loft.org/adult-classes (just fill in the form with name of instructor, Linda Anderson).

Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network – Where Pets Are Family
www.angelanimals.net

To subscribe to the Angel Animals Story of the Week, send a blank message to AngelAnimals-on@mail-list.com

Writing about Leaf

We are compiling letters, emails, and comments about Leaf for a special writing project. Since we adopted Leaf from the animal shelter on October 7, 2006, we have consistently written about him in the Angel Animals Story of the Week, on Facebook, and in our blogs.

Many of you have been part of his journey from the beginning. He entered as an abandoned, frightened dog, attempting to live in a home with two cats, a bird, and two humans who grieved over the death of their beloved yellow Lab, Taylor, only months earlier.

We'd love to hear from all of you who have followed Leaf through such things as dog park, doggie daycare, panic attacks, fear of strangers, animal communicators, learning to live with cats, being the first cocker spaniel to run for President, and growing into trust and love.

We'd also appreciate hearing from those of you who are just now tuning in. If you want to catch up, you can go to www.angelanimals.net and click on archived newsletters or go to Leaf's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/leafdogbookauthor and post your thoughts there. The name of the page is "Leaf, Spiritual Hero Dog."

What are your impressions of Leaf? What are your thoughts about him and his journey? Please send letters to angelanimals@aol.com or even better, post your comments on Leaf's Facebook page for everyone to read.

We would greatly appreciate hearing from you in regard to Leaf and how he might have helped you remember your own journeys with animals.

Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network – Where Pets Are Family
www.angelanimals.net

To subscribe to the Angel Animals Story of the Week, send a blank message to AngelAnimals-on@mail-list.com

Photographing Animals and People

We have been working to get a good photograph of Allen and our dog Leaf. With Linda as the photographer, it seems to be an interesting journey.

We have great admiration for good animal photographers. How do they ever get the animal and the person to look into the camera with pleasant expressions on their faces at the same time? It's a mystery to us.

When Leaf looks directly into the camera, the glint of light turns red in his eyes. If he looks at Allen, his cute profile is fun to see. His eyes with their unique expressions, though, aren't clear in a side view.

After putting up with us for about fifteen minutes of hassle, Leaf found a solution. He licked Allen's nose, then turned, and stuck out his big, pink tongue at the camera. So there!

On the other hand, our cat Cuddles poses like a runway model. She's the ultimate beauty, posturing for the camera, arching her back, and gazing contentedly toward the lens.

Visit www.angelanimals.net/nlimage91.html to see Linda's photography talents and choose the one you like best.

We'd all love to hear from you. You can share your techniques to get a great photo at our Angel Animals Facebook page: www.facebook.com/angelanimalsnetwork and "Like" Angel Animals while you're there.

Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network – Where Pets Are Family
www.angelanimals.net

To subscribe to the Angel Animals Story of the Week, send a blank message to AngelAnimals-on@mail-list.com

Division of Labor - The Way of the Pet

One of the issues that often irk today's ultra-busy woman is the need for an equitable division of labor. She longs for her husband and children to do their fair share in keeping the household operating efficiently. She wants coworkers to pitch in at the workplace. Complaints abound when the major part of the responsibility falls on female shoulders.

Our animal family members have wrapped their paws around this prickly issue and come up with their own creative solutions.

We have no idea how the animals, who share our home, have decided what chores they should do or how they've figured out which of them should have certain responsibilities. We just know that they do.

The division of labor goes something like this.

Leaf sleeps near the bedroom hallway door if Linda or Allen are out of town, as if he is waiting for them to return. This isn't where he sleeps at night when his two humans are both home. He is normally on his doggy bed. He also has ultimate responsibility for keeping watch if Allen is out of town because he becomes the man of the house.

Cuddles, our black kitten with white-mitten paws, is Linda's guardian angel. Cuddles follows her charge everywhere and won't even take a nap until she knows exactly where her female human is. Whenever Cuddles sleeps on the bed with Linda, she takes on the task of waking her a minute before the alarm rings. She licks her human's fingers or bites them, if Linda won't get up right away.

Food preparation comes under the watchful eye of our eager dog, Leaf. What meal would be complete without Leaf being alert for any escaping pieces of food that might hit the floor?

Sunshine is the household's watch-bird. If anyone approaches our home, he screeches at the top of his lungs. No one could ever sneak past his watchful vigilance.

There is some silent communication about who is supposed to handle each task, although no visible signs of a household manager. Just a smooth animal operation at the Andersons' home.

Visit www.angelanimals.net/nlimage90.html to see images of Cuddles, Leaf, and Sunshine.

Are pets demonstrating in your home divisions of labor for vital chores, jobs, and power positions?

You can post your answers to these questions and comments at our Angel Animals Facebook page: www.facebook.com/angelanimalsnetwork and "Like" Angel Animals while you're there.

Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network – Where Pets Are Family
www.angelanimals.net

To subscribe to the Angel Animals Story of the Week, send a blank message to AngelAnimals-on@mail-list.com

ANIMALS SHOWING GRATITUDE

A woman from Switzerland wrote to us about how an animal showed her that expressing gratitude could teach her the true meaning of love. We could relate.

Our cat Cuddles licks our fingers in the morning, as soon as the alarm clock wakes us up. We always think she's paying it forward and showing gratitude that we're about to feed her breakfast. But maybe she's already grateful for a new day.

Our dog Leaf shows enthusiasm for the little things. He appreciates mealtime, taking a walk, and going to the doggie day care to play with the other dogs. His whole body shakes with anticipation before each visit, and he repeatedly kisses us, as we begin our journey to his favorite place.

He squeals with excitement when he sees the building and then races into the door. Everybody enjoys seeing his love of being there to play.

In fact, Leaf's immense gratitude encourages us to bring him to daycare as often as possible, even when it's a tight pinch financially. This experience got us to thinking about how having gratitude opens a person or animal to receive even more gifts and blessings from life.

How does your pet show gratitude? What does an animal teach you about the power of a grateful heart?

You can post your answers to these questions and comments at our Angel Animals Facebook page: www.facebook.com/angelanimalsnetwork and "Like" Angel Animals while you're there.

Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network – Where Pets Are Family
www.angelanimals.net

To subscribe to the Angel Animals Story of the Week, send a blank message to AngelAnimals-on@mail-list.com

HUMANS JUST DON'T GET IT

We had a visitor stay with us over the holidays. It was funny how our cocker spaniel Leaf, our cockatiel Sunshine, and our cat Cuddles reacted to everything being different in the house.

Our visitor was amiable, relaxed, and friendly toward our pets. It was a nice visit and we did everything we could to give him privacy and quiet, even as he slept late. Because, after all, he was on vacation.

Leaf barked at regular intervals and when he heard the slightest sound of movement from our guest. Not because he forgot we had a visitor, but mostly to tell us there was someone he didn't know in the house.

This was an unusual type of bark that was not threatening or being upset, It was more about conveying important information. Sometimes our dog would look at us as if to say, "Don't you see there is someone other than us here? I tell you over and over again, but he is still here, and you're not doing anything about it!"

For eight days Leaf barked with the shock of seeing our visitor in bed, at the dining room table, watching television in the living room, and moving about the house. Leaf would quiet down some after the initial strange feet passed by him or upon hearing an unfamiliar sound.

But if a few minutes passed and there was another movement from our guest, Leaf would remember he needed to remind us – SOMEONE I DON'T KNOW IS STILL HERE! He must have thought we were the most unobservant people in the world.

How do your pets react to houseguests and visitors?

Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network – Where Pets Are Family
www.angelanimals.net

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION TIME

All right, you resolved that in 2012 you would write that book, article, or story about the most important animal in your life. Or you have figured out some terrific methods or products for training and getting along better with pets. Or you are a nature enthusiast who wants to write about the fascinating wildlife you have met. Or you have a point of view about animals that you feel compelled to write about and share with the world.

Now is the time, gentle readers, to get serious. Take a look at our comprehensive new course for writing about pets and animals. We've poured over twenty years of professional experience into designing it.

We want to see as many people as possible writing about pets, because this is how consciousness gets changed. The more everyone gets the message that animals are sentient beings and important (essential) parts of home and family life, the more animals get adopted, and the fewer are sent away to shelters.

WOOF, MEOW, WRITE, PUBLISH will help you to start 2012 by writing whatever you always wanted to write about your beloved pet.

Wouldn't you like for someone, who has a lot of experience in fulfilling a dream of yours, to sit down and tell you what you need to do and know to duplicate that success? That's exactly what we're offering those of you who want to write about some of the most satisfying relationships in your life -- the ones you have with animals.

WOOF, MEOW, WRITE, PUBLISH: Writing about Pets and Animals for Love and Money is a new, downloadable, three-part, comprehensive course to guide you in writing books, articles, stories, blogs, and essays about animals for pleasure or extra income. We designed and wrote this one-of-a-kind course based on our experience as best-selling, award-winning authors of 14 pet books published in the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Italy, and Japan so far.

Start keeping your New Year's resolution today by going to www.allenandlindaanderson.com

Allen and Linda Anderson
Woof, Meow, Write, Publish
www.allenandlindaanderson.com

We have our spot.

Each night she waits for my

“Say-up,” flying weightless

Into a clump of soft hair

Warming my feet up on the couch.

Slipping into the comfort of

Old marrieds, content with

Nearness and routine.

I reach down and squeeze her foot

In our secret shake. She eyes me,

flops over, sighs.

God is nigh.

—JANICE A. FARRINGER, “Comfort Zone”

We have our spot.
Each night she waits for my
"Say-up," flying weightless
Into a clump of soft hair
Warming my feet up on the couch.
Slipping into the comfort of
Old marrieds, content with
Nearness and routine.
I reach down and squeeze her foot
In our secret shake. She eyes me,
flops over, sighs.
God is nigh.
-JANICE A. FARRINGER, "Comfort Zone"

Time Well Spent

In this world with so much hustle and bustle, we sometimes get lost in the rapid pace. Caught in the whirlwind called -- getting things done, we forget to stop, breathe, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. That's where our Angel Animals come in.

This morning, although we had a long to-do list, we stopped the madness and went to the big dog park by the Mississippi River with our cocker spaniel Leaf. Watching his enjoyment at chasing balls we threw for him, rolling in the mud and dirt, and playing with other dogs lifted us out of our daily routines.

We sipped on our coffee as we walked the trails behind Leaf and marveled at the newly budded trees that promised spring might actually be here. Because it was raining when we left, we almost didn't go, but Leaf would have been so disappointed. After we arrived at the dog park, although it was still drizzling a bit, we were glad we went. A few raindrops were worth the laughs we got whenever Leaf ran with abandon with his long, floppy ears sailing in the wind.

He always stopped and turned around to make sure we were within sight. Assured that we were right behind him, he would run again for the next stretch.

After we returned home, we sat on the living room couches with cats on our laps and the day's chores still unfinished. Yet somehow, it just didn't seem to matter as much as it had when we woke up, feeling stressed about accomplishing everything. As the rain continued to gently fall, we thanked our Angel Animals for reminding us to relax, move our bodies, appreciate nature, and spend quality time with them.

What are Angel Animals doing to help you enjoy life more?

Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network - Where Pets Are Family
www.angelanimals.net

To subscribe to Angel Animals Story of the Week, send a blank message to AngelAnimals-on@mail-list.com