“Honour & Gratitude” by Gail McNaughton

In this season of our lives,
You will always be my friend.
Dear “Poppy Pin”, everyone knows you,
As you sit patiently on the lapels,
Of people who honour you.
I bow to you in acknowledgement,
Of what you stand for,
In a changing world,
Where change is at every corner.
We must all think about your sacrifice,
To bring freedom and peace,
And honour you in the world,
As a good will ambassador,
As the reminder of what could be
And what has gone on before.
You can slip off our lapels so easily,
And this is to remind us how loosely,
We are tied to freedom,
And how we must,
Continually keep being vigilant.
I’ll cry for you just for today,
For so many people have been lost to war,
And I’ll stand up tall to protect and save,
Your everlasting memory,
In the pages of our lives,
Not only today but every day.

Horton Farmer's Market Newsletter, October 8th, 2011

You'll find one of my doodle art and a poem I wrote in the Horton Farmer's Market Newsletter, October 8th, 2011.

Events for Horton Farmers’ Market June 18th, 2011 DOG AND PONY PRODUCTIONS Healing comes to the world in many ways. Gail feels that her new book, Angel Witness is one of those vehicles. It is a book of encouragement, a book of hope and a book of beautiful angel photos, prose and poetry. You will find Gail's Mom's inspiration in this book. Through her travels back and forth to Toronto to visit her Mom who was in a longterm care facility (now deceased), her Mom would come out with key words or phrases in periods of dementia. Real gems are hard to forget and they get the juices flowing to write. The pages of this book are an accumulation over a number of years of spiritual writing. You will find a tribute to the late Paul Schleusner in this book as well as a special poem written about Alma College. This soft or hard cover book is a coffee table book and priced at either $135.00 (soft cover) or $145.00 (hard cover). I will offer a price of $125.00 (soft cover) and $135.00 (hard cover) this week at the market. This is a fantastic gift and one that I'd be proud to sign for you. As well, I'll have an assortment of photo art greeting cards for sale of St. Thomas attractions and Flowercat & Family doodle art.
Gail & “Her Family” Doodle Art Painting
Gail at The Appreciation Of The Arts, 25th Anniversary, May 15, 2011-05-17 Gail visits The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints in St. Thomas where her paintings were on display as part of the 25th anniversary of this event hosted for the community by the Church.  This is Gail’s second time displaying her doodle art.	Gail McNaughton’s Art From The Heart was on display at the Appreciation Of The Arts 25th Anniversary at The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints in St. Thomas on May 15th.  Susan Fortin-Smith came along to support Gail as a friend and a colleague in the Elgin Business Women’s Network.
	Gail & Her Family Doodle Art Painting This is Gail’s latest acrylic painting of “Her Family”.  In this painting her Mother is represented by Mommy Millie Bear and her Father is represented by Calvin The Fox.  Gail has her hands placed on the Heavenly Fence which is the bridge between Heaven & Earth and has allowed her Parents to come to her as doodle art characters.  Gail has a sense of peace with this opportunity to spend time with her Parents while painting them.
Elgin Business Women’s Network Meeting April 20th, 2011 "Celebrate Success" facilitated by Gail
Gail McNaughton	The Lime Green Beans Doodle Art
Susan Fortin-Smith Holding Lime Green Beans Doodle Art	A good time was had by all and Susan Fortin-Smith holds up The Lime Green Beans doodle art that was given to each EBWN Admin. Committee member at the May Success Meeting.
Sue Smith, Gail McNaughton and Anne Kenny holding the EBWN Celebrate Success cake	The Lime Green Beans photos by April Laroche Jersey Photography
Public turns out - St. Thomas Times Journal - February 22, 2011	Budget a surprise hit - St. Thomas Times Journal - February 22, 2011
	“Assisting women locally and internationally” St Thomas Elgin/Weekly News – March 2, 2011 – Gail has been volunteering on the Elgin Business Women’s Network Admin committee for a number of years.

We had our Valentine’s Day celebration with Evelyn, Bob’s Mom on February 10th, 2011.  We took our puppy Fleecy with us.  We are delighted to share these wonderful photos with you.

Evelyn & Bob Valentine's Day	Evelyn, Gail holding Fleecy, Valentine's Day
Evelyn, Bob & Fleecy Valentine's Day	The Heart Tree Fairy

“Every Doodle Artist needs a Doodle Dog”, Says Gail

Gail has an upcoming new book “Welcome Wag-On” about her real-life experience raising a Golden Doodle Dog to be published in late 2011! Now you know why Welcome Wagon came into her life – not only to welcome and greet new business owners, professionals and managers as well as sponsors, but to welcome in our new dog with some down home “Welcoming” experience!  Gail is the Welcome Wagon Business Professional in St. Thomas & surrounding area.   The name “Fleecy” came from watching sheep being sheered at the International Plowing Match recently held in St. Thomas, Ontario, September 21-25, 2010.  Bob and Gail’s company, Dog & Pony Productions Inc. was a Bronze Sponsor and are producing a commemorative DVD of the Plowing Match as well as providing each volunteer with a souvenir postcard (The Fantasy Series” # 3 Jumbo Souvenir Postcard).  They also animated Elly, the IPM’s mascot, giving the website some animation (www.ipm2010.com).  It was her husband’s suggestion for the dog’s name as they were both watching a black sheep being sheered and the commentator was talking about the sheep’s “fleece”.  This book will be based on raising Fleecy and she will talk about her experience as a new Mother.  Here are some preliminary photos of Paisley, the Mother dog who is a black Poodle and her litter of 3 females and 5 males born on October 1, 2010.  If you would like more information on Golden Doodles talk to Wendy at Highview Poodles and Doodles, 226-808-4763 or contact her at goldendoodle@rogers.com.  The website is www.poodlesandoodles.com.  Check back from time to time to see photos of Fleecy.

Read more about "Fleecy The Doodle Dog"

Gail At Jumbo Statue At Night 09-15-2010
125th Anniversary of Jumbo
The Elephant's Death

Gail read her “Thomas The Cat & Jumbo The Elephant” story from her book, “To Have A Cup Of Tea With A Cat & Other Cat Tails” at the Jumbo statue in St. Thomas on September 15th, 2010.  Gail is hoping that her story will be part of a documentary on the life of P.T. Barnum.  Corey Boutilier, from Independent Film.Com was in town for the Jumbo Anniversary talk given by Steve Peters, local Historian and Speaker of the House, at the Military Museum in St. Thomas.

September 15, 2010, was a momentous occasion. It marked the 125th anniversary of JUMBO’s death. Steve Peters made a wonderful presentation on Jumbo, our famous icon in St. Thomas, to the Historical Society at the Military Museum. Steve is Speaker of The House, M.P.P. for Elgin-Middlesex, former Mayor of St. Thomas, historian and long-time resident of St. Thomas. He showed us some of his rare collection of Jumbo memorabilia and has a special display at the Military Museum until Christmas. 

Attending the event was Corey Boutilier, Executive Director of IndependentFilm.com.  He spent the day with Al Goulding, President of Railway City Brewing Company and was shown the sites of St. Thomas.  He is making a documentary on P.T. Barnum and had come to St. Thomas to film Steve’s presentation and witness our Jumbo statue first-hand. My husband, Bob, also filmed the event as a keepsake for the Historical Society.

I introduced the third in a series of “Fantasy Postcards” whereby JUMBO visits the IPM 2010.  When Jumbo was painted pink in 2002 he became magical and could travel around Elgin County.  To this day he is magical as the pink paint is still the primer under his new coat of fresh paint with restoration recently completed by Peter Robson.  I gave this souvenir postcard to each attendee at the event. They are the true historians in St. Thomas who keep our heritage alive. 

Following the presentation, the attendees went to the site where Jumbo died for a memorial and a toast with Dead Elephant Ale. We were an awesome group with flashlights in hand crawling step by step along the railway tracks. 

After this I had a special treat! Corey did a video of me reading the story I wrote about "Jumbo The Elephant & Thomas The Cat", from my book, To Have A Cup Of Tea With A Cat & Other Cat Tails.  I read it in the mystical lighting beside the Jumbo statue late into the evening and it was truly a moving occasion for me.  Every author wants to bring their stories to life for the enjoyment of others and this will become part of the video footage for the documentary.  Corey will let us know when the documentary is completed and will return to St. Thomas to introduce it.

Gail McNaughton