J. Kelland Perry

Vivian with a Cause

Published on October 6, 2015August 25, 2018 by J. Kelland Perry27 Comments

Good day and welcome, Friends and Felines!

Vivian here, sitting in as guest host to share a worthy little list with you.
I pounced on it during a recent nighttime prowl on the web.
My sister Maisie and I were animal shelter adoptees,
so this is a cause that is naturally near and dear to our kittycat hearts.

Have a “purr”-usal and see why I think these are all terrific reasons to bring a lovely little cat like me or a friendly doggie into your heart and home this winter.

10 Reasons to Adopt a Pet from a Shelter

1. Every pet adopted from a shelter instead of purchased from a pet store or breeder improves the pet overpopulation problem.

2. Adopting a dog or cat from a no-kill shelter can free up space for older or special needs pets that may not find new homes before the end of their natural lives.

3. There are plenty of animals to choose from at most shelters. They come in every age, shape, size, coat color and breed mix, and you can find purebreds at shelters as well.

4. Compared to the cost of purchasing a pet, adopting one from an animal shelter is relatively inexpensive. And if you get a slightly older dog or cat, there’s a good chance he is already fully vaccinated and neutered.

5. Adopting an older pet allows you to skip over the time-consuming, often frustrating puppy or kitten stage of development and takes the guesswork out of what your pet will look like as an adult – size, the thickness and color of her coat, and her basic temperament, for example.

6. Most shelters and rescues do assessments on every pet taken in, to determine things like temperament, whether the pet has any aversion to other pets or people, whether he is housebroken, has had obedience training, etc.

7. Many shelters and rescues also offer lots of new owner support and materials about training, behavior problems, nutrition, grooming and general care.

8. If you have kids, adopting a shelter animal can open their eyes to the plight of homeless pets, teach compassion and responsibility, and show them how wonderful it feels to give a home to a pet that might otherwise live in a cage or be euthanized.

9. An older adoptive pet can be the perfect companion for an older person. Many middle-aged and senior dogs and cats require less physical exertion and attention than younger animals.

10. An adopted pet can enrich your life. The unconditional love and loyalty of a dog or cat can lift depression, ease loneliness, lower blood pressure, and give you a reason to get up in the morning. A kitty asleep in your lap feels warm and comforting. A dog that loves to walk or run outdoors can be just the incentive you need to start exercising regularly.

*list adapted from source: healthypets.mercola.com

So if this sharing prompts just one of you to adopt a pet,
we have helped one animal in need.
And if you share the list, you could too.

Think about it.

Love,
Vivian & Maisie

♥

048-1024x653 — **happy and grateful for being adopted**

Times Change: My Boy & Me

Published on October 1, 2015 by J. Kelland Perry29 Comments

As promised, here is Part Two of yesterday’s post, where I continue down memory lane, this time with my son Brian. Unfortunately, most of the photos from his childhood do not include me (I was holding the camera), so I filled in with other loved ones.

My Mom & Dad with Brian — *Brian with his Nanny & Poppy Kelland*

Isn't he cute? <3 — *In the bathtub. Isn’t he cute?* ❤

First Birthday - with Corina & Denise — *First Birthday – with Corina & Denise*

Brian1 — *There you are, Mommy, to clean up my mess – or to feed me cake crumbs* 🙂

An oldie but goodie - making bread — *An oldie but goodie – making bread*

How big you've grown, my boy! — *How big you’ve grown, my boy*

~ So ends this two-part series of my Blast From the Past. ~

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

What does change mean to you?

Times Change: My Girl & Me

Published on September 30, 2015September 30, 2015 by J. Kelland Perry20 Comments

I’m changing things up a bit today with a Blast from the Past:

momsday5 (2) — *Lots of mileage on the girl on the right 😉*

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

~ Stay tuned tomorrow for: My Boy & Me ~

What does change mean to you?

So Long, Summer

Published on September 23, 2015March 13, 2018 by J. Kelland Perry29 Comments

Although the calendar tells me it is now officially fall, I am enchanted by these last few days of beautiful temperate weather we are enjoying in Newfoundland. Paul and I even had a chance to lie in the sun and read yesterday evening. It was so gorgeous on our deck that we didn’t want to go inside for supper until the sun sank low on the horizon.

As much as I love the summer temperatures, it’s nearly time to say good-bye.
Happily, I have a nostalgic affection for fall and everything it brings.

Here are a couple of pics I snapped of ripening apples
on our recent trip to Springdale in Green Bay:

The view beyond the apple trees:

We stayed overnight in nearby King’s Point.
Here is the view from our room the next morning:

Before leaving, I made sure to visit the pottery and craft store to browse and to buy a few things:
If you ever get the opportunity to visit the area, do stop in here. You won’t be sorry.

One of the perks of my husband’s job is joining him on these road trips.
We love any opportunity to visit the many corners of our island.

***
Two evenings ago, I had to run for my camera again.
The sunset on Perry’s Point was so stunning,
I think Maisie and Vivian were even spellbound:

After the sun disappeared, the sky took on a strikingly different quality:

Another good-bye…
That same evening, I received a call from my sister.
My beloved aunt in the U.S. had passed away suddenly.

I am inclined to let imagination take hold,
to fancy that as she went to join my dad (her brother),
she painted that sky as a farewell to her loved ones here at home.

Rest easy, Aunt Irene. All is well.
❤

Friday Bouquet #29

Published on September 18, 2015February 12, 2020 by J. Kelland Perry

Because I have roots in Grates Cove, a little beluga whale has been all over my Facebook feed lately. That is where I recently discovered Jared through his Beluga At My Doorstep post.

His blog, Bird⋅the⋅Rock, specializes in bird & nature tours in Newfoundland.

From the blog’s About page:

Jared Clarke is a native Newfoundlander who grew up on the northeast coast of the island and was introduced to the outdoors at a very young age – mostly by his grandfathers…Despite his “official” training as a health researcher (PhD Medicine), his love of nature and sharing it with others has consistently led him astray. Jared has led tours big and small across Newfoundland; from historic St. John’s to the ancient Viking settlement of L’Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of the island and many points in between.

Check out the beautiful photos Jared captured in the link below. There’s even a short video of the whale:

A Beluga At My Doorstep

I’ve disabled comments here in the hope you will comment on Jared’s blog.
If you do, please tell him Jennifer sent you.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

❤

A Title For My Sequel

Published on September 15, 2015March 6, 2016 by J. Kelland Perry18 Comments

book-title

My Young Adult novel is working through the various steps to reach the Release Date finish line.

The main edits are completed. The cover art is done and approved. My manuscript is now in the hands of Managing Editorial for copy-editing, layout, and proofing. After that it will head to typesetting. So much goes into the creation of a book!

In between the days I watch and wait for these steps and the days I work on edits to my second book of the series, I’ve been racking my brain, trying to come up with a title for the second book.

No, Calmer Girls Two does not appeal. Either does Calmer Girls – the Sequel. I like a book title that has a double meaning – like Calmer Girls – or a title that borrows a phrase or a line from another work. That could even include inspiration from a line in a song, a poem, or a nursery rhyme. Think: Along Came a Spider, or Norwegian Wood. I also like titles that are taken from a line or quote inside the book, as many authors have done. Think: To Kill A Mockingbird, or The Silence of the Lambs.

There is advice out there now that suggests you should name your book while keeping in mind keywords, SEO, categories and literary genres, all a part of improving its visibility in the digital marketplace.

As much as I still prefer reading Print books as opposed to eBooks, I know I am writing for a largely younger group of readers who love their eReaders and almost exclusively read all their books that way. Keeping that in mind will be beneficial for the upcoming marketing stage as well.
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In my research surfing, I happened upon a wonderful post by author Anne R. Allen that may help me find a title. If you’re a writer, you may find it helpful as well. Check it out below:

10 Tips for Choosing the Right Book Title in the E-Age
by Anne R. Allen

For Writers: How do you title your books? Any tricks of the trade to share?

For Readers: What are some of your favourite book titles?
Have you ever bought a book because you loved its title?

Please share in the comments section below!

Connected

Published on September 10, 2015January 17, 2016 by J. Kelland Perry18 Comments

What comes to your mind when you hear the word connected? For some, the word may conjure a mental image of all the gadgets we have, like our smart phones, computers, etc. that allow us to stay accessible and up-to-date in the digital world. Or it may make you think of being well-connected, in that you have successfully networked with the right people who can further your career or your mission in life.

The most meaningful connections for me, as they are for most, are the ones I make with people in person, especially one-on-one. These attachments are unique and irreplaceable. You know who you are<3. But as much as I treasure the relationships in my personal life, there is a lot to be said for the virtual connections I have made with other bloggers over the past three to four years.

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Living in a remote or rural area can make it difficult to find like-minded souls, especially in the writing arena. The blogosphere has been instrumental in solving that dilemma for me. The advice and the inspiration I have received from other bloggers has been nothing short of extraordinary since I started Jennifer’s Journal. A huge thanks to every one of you that I follow. Whether your blog shares writing, art, or photography, I am grateful to have met you through the internet.

Kath Unsworth of Minuscule Moments of Inspiration is one such blogger. Not only does Kath pursue the craft of writing, she is also a gifted artist. Her creativity and dedication to her artistic endeavors have influenced my own aspirations much more than she probably realizes. And because of the internet, it is no matter that she lives on a farm in Australia. Well, actually it does matter; her location adds even more intrigue for me. 🙂

I was lucky enough to win a contest Kath held last year, where my name was drawn to receive a free pet portrait. Here is the result:

This summer, I was moved to acquire one of Kath’s original, highly affordable works of art from her newly opened Etsy shop, ScratchyBirdDesigns. Her love of birds speaks to me, so much so I had to have one of them adorning my wall. (Vivian is in my living-room, Willy Wagtail is in my kitchen-dining room.) Isn’t he beautiful?

I also purchased her delightful fridge magnet (its slogan fits me to a tee):

Like me, Kath understands the value of virtual connection. You can read about it in her blog post here:

The Magic of Virtual Friendships

You can visit her Etsy shop here:

ScratchyBirdDesigns

What does the word “connection” mean to you?

Are you as grateful as I am,
for the connections you’ve made in the blogosphere?

*special thanks to Orange is the New Black for those gifs 😀

Friday Bouquet #28

Published on September 4, 2015February 12, 2020 by J. Kelland Perry

In the middle of the afternoon yesterday, I received a welcome and gratifying email. My editor sent me – minus a few finishing touches – the cover art for my upcoming YA novel, Calmer Girls.

I. LOVE. IT. Since then, to say I am getting more excited about my book’s upcoming release is an understatement. As one of the teenagers in my book might say: “this sh*t just got real!”

In keeping with what is now on my mind 24/7, I’m sharing one of the writer blogs I follow. Jane Friedman is a writing coach with a wealth of useful tips and advice on building an author platform and getting published. In the post below, she interviews Hannah Goodman, a proud advocate and author of the Young Adult genre.

5 On: Hannah R. Goodman

I’ve disabled comments here in the hope you will comment on Jane’s blog.
If you do, please tell her Jennifer sent you.

Have a safe and happy Labour Day weekend, everyone.

❤

Search Party

Published on September 1, 2015January 17, 2016 by J. Kelland Perry24 Comments

As anyone with a blog or a website knows, people online can find or happen upon our blogs using a variety of search terms. Some of those terms that have popped up on my blog admin section are logical and understandable, some are pretty strange, and still some others are downright funny.

I’ll start with a few of the logical search terms. My followers – at least the minuscule few who’ve visited since the beginning – will understand how these terms led searchers to Jennifer’s Journal:

Jennifer Kelland Perry, Jennifer Kelland – moi, the most logical
cats at the ocean
cat ice
tentative cat
cats exploring – yes indeedy, you will find cats, ocean and ice here
Newtown, Newfoundland – where?
Maisie and Vivian – and what are the cats’ names?

Cats on Ice – Spring Thaw in Iceberg Alley

Then the cat theme begins to get humorous:

behold my French feline eyes - oo-la-la — behold my French feline eyes – oo-la-la

cat on an iceberg
fancy words for purr
jennifer with cat eyes
jennifer feline eyes
french jennifer cat eyes

Some other topics are right on the money:

polar bears in Newfoundland – a popular topic, only once for this blog
speciesism rant – one of my very few rants
pictures of patch quilt on clothesline – beautiful Greenspond
little boy working on car – our grandson
you are my one and only blog – ❤
first date journal – ❤
Jennifer in varadero – Cuba!
heart turned cold quotes – I did pen a dark poem once…
journaling about bitterness – okay, twice!
reasons of dreams and meaning of dreams, see sleeping mouse in dream – because I put the word dream in a couple of my titles, I’m guessing
menopause feel like a furnace, perry menopause symptoms, hot flash journaling, internal combustion menopause – a topic of great concern out there, apparently, though I only blogged about it once
very cute images of love peace and understanding – but all they found were Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello!
Jennifer’s progress – my novel, the sequel? inquiring minds want to know
famous Jennifers in fiction – not me, but…maybe…someday?

Still giggling at the rest below. You will not find anything about the following topics in my blog:

having guy visitors in winter – shhh, don’t tell Paul!
cat foot ptarmigan – a new cross-breed?
scarlet woman – just call me the whore of Babylon
iceberg smelling – hold on: is that a thing??
Jennifer is a racist blog – yikes! I swear you’ve got the wrong blog!

And my personal favourite:

Jennifer Kelland Perry the platypus

Turns out there is an explanation for this one.
I just learned about this fellow when I did a search.

And there you have it. Someone looking for a platypus found me.

Have any funny or odd search terms from your blog to share?
Fess up in the comments below. 🙂

A Poem by Vivian

Published on August 29, 2015 by J. Kelland Perry33 Comments

“Man’s Best Friend”

007

by Vivian K. Perry

My master and I are best buddiestime together we do love to shareI have proven my “dogged” affectionFor a cat, I am told, that is rareSo it gives me great pleasure to flaunt it,how I’ll follow behind my fine friend, stay with him as long as I’m needed, then… 012 …make a bed of his shorts at day’s end.