Random act of self promotion

If you  are  looking  for just the  right  unique  gift  for someone, I thought now would be a  good time  to remind  you that  The  Fern Valley  Calendar for 2014 is available , also of  course both of my books  Telling  Tails , and Tails Trails and  Campfire  stories . Each  are $25.00 but if  you  buy  any  combo  of 2 of them I will offer a  10% discount!

Tails, Trails and Campfire Stories:
Photographs, Poetry and Musings of an Alberta Farm Girl
by Sherry Sikstrom
Trafford Publishing

reviewed by Carissa Harwood

"Roses fade and chocolates spoil, nothing lasts forever/but raising horses and raising cows is what we do together."

What Sherry Sikstrom does well in her volume of poetry is capture succinctly the life a woman growing up in rural Canadian farm country. This is a collection of poetry and photographs that capture the affections of family, animals, and the land that Sikstrom so dearly adores. It is inspirational and personal, with an emphasis on the simplicity of rustic living, the determination of both people and animals to thrive and survive, and the observations of the cycles of the seasons as well as an homage to heritage and tradition. Her poems are lessons that are close to the heart of the author, and she shares with the reader in the spirit of sitting around a campfire and trading stories—a kind of intimacy you'll find throughout.

The author reflects on the dual aspects of nature: the wonderful and the frightening. Many of the poems are filled with sentiment for lost loved ones, while others explore the "good old times," sharing the world with other people and creatures, fading cowboys, personal dedications to family, and how animals can teach you as you are teaching them. Sikstrom is one of the very few "cowgirl poets," as there are a number of poems written about the cowboy, farm, and rural way of life that reflect the male perspective—but not as many for or by women. the author adds in her own photographs, which makes this collection very distinctly and uniquely hers.

RECOMMENDED by the USR

Anyhow those  are some  choices that I have to offer, but keep some of my other  blogging  buddies in  mind if you are looking for something else.There  are some  very  talented  folks out there. 

Hoping all of my blog  friends who  are  artists or have product to sell  will add their  links in the comments.

Meanwhile , stay  safe and  warm  friends