Maggie Pill Mysteries

If you know the Sleuth Sisters, you've met Buddy, Faye's mongrel, and Styx, Retta's Newfoundland. You know Barb has formed a tenuous relationship with a stray cat. Book #2 had some horses join the family, and Book #3 took us to the family farm, where there are reindeer and peafowl. In the 4th Sleuth Sisters book, chickens are an inciting factor--Bet you never heard that in a mystery before! All this brought to mind a question for today's post: If money, space, and other possible drawbacks were somehow taken care of, what animal would you choose to get for a Christmas gift? (to add to the ones you already share space with, of course)

You know the rest of it: All I get is bony fingers! I've spent the morning setting up this blog, and I'm pretty happy with it so far. I'll add things as I think of them or as visitors make suggestions. (Hint, hint!) I'd like to tell you about the inspiration for Styx, the dog in the second Sleuth Sisters book. I've known 2 Newfs well, since my son had one for a while and my brother still does. They're beautiful dogs, and if you read up on them you'll find that they're intelligent, loving, and loyal. So when Styx acts a little goofy in Book #2, it's just his personality, not the breed. Both the Newfs I know became extended family members young, and it was a little difficult for a while, having a puppy as big as a house. Bubba, the first Newf I "met" was a hole-digger, a drooler, and as sweet as a dog can be. Terra (short for Holy Terror) used to drag my sister-in-law around where SHE wanted to go and paid no attention to commands...