I‘ll admit it. The only reason I started this blog was that I’d written a book and a trusted advisor told me I had to do it. I never expected to like it, and I certainly never expected to meet so many amazing, interesting, accomplished people from all over the world. (Including YOU, you wonderful reader!)
One of these is the incredibly generous writer and blogger Sally Cronin. She’s been everywhere, knows lots of people, and has only beautiful things to say about them. That generosity of spirit overflows in her writing and blogging as well. So one of the very best gifts I can offer this holiday season is coffee with Sally this morning. Please have a seat here by the firepit because even in Sally’s beautiful garden in Spain, winter has hit. But we have very hot coffee and some lovely Christmas treats—polvorones (small almond shortbreads) and mantecados (crumbly little cakes wrapped in bright paper).
This year, I’m grateful that blogging has led me to Sally and to all of you wonderful readers and friends. Feliz Navidad!
![[Image Credit: Jamon Lovers] http://www.jamonlovers.es/blog/gastronomia/polvorones-y-mantecados/](https://barbtaub.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/polvorones-mantecados.jpg?w=300&h=225)
Polvorones and Mantecados from Spain [Image Credit: Jamon Lovers]
Tales From The Garden – Behind the scenes –
by Sally Cronin
It is wonderful to be invited to coffee with Barb Taub this morning to talk about my latest book; following in the footsteps of some exceptional writers.
It was only as I was putting together my ‘behind the scenes’ posts for the launch of Tales from the Garden, that I realised how much I am going to miss my statues. Despite the fact I did not buy them but inherited them from the previous owners sixteen years ago.
One of them is attached to a particularly poignant story. We have been friends with a delightful couple here in this community for the last ten years. Like us they love dogs and we first met them when we were walking Sam and they were out with their boxer Barrie. After Barrie passed away they adopted an albino boxer called Harley who was the sweetest boy you could ever meet. In later years we would sometimes look after him when our friends were away and it felt wonderful to have a dog back in the house again.
He was an excellent age for a boxer but unfortunately this last summer he became ill and died. Obviously our friends were devastated; as we were. In the garden was a statue of a boxer dog and since we will be leaving the country once the house is sold; we wanted to give our friends something to remember us by. We gave them the dog for their garden where he now lives as a permanent reminder of Harley. He stars in the story The Boy, his Dog and a Fairy Princess. Every time I read through the story and see the photograph it brings to mind a great big white dog with a huge heart.
Thank you so much Barb for having me to coffee today and for supporting the launch of Tales From the Garden.
Note from Barb: I can’t tell you how much I love the thought of immortalizing a beloved pet companion through his own fairy tale! What a lovely, happy memorial.
Tales from the Garden
Tales from the Garden is a collection of fairy stories and 80 illustrations, for children of all ages, from five to ninety-five that will change the way you look at your garden forever.
The tales reveal the secrets that are hidden beneath hedges and trees and you will discover what really happens at night as you sleep unaware in your bed. Stone statues and those hidden worlds within the earth are about to share their stories.
The guardians who have kept this sanctuary safe for over fifty years will allow you to peek behind the scenes of this magical place. They will take you on a journey through time and expand your horizons as they transport you to the land of fairies, butterflies and lost souls who have found a home here.
Contact & Buy Links
Note: The book is available in print and Ebook at a substantial discount via Sally’s own website and also from Amazon US | Amazon UK
Sally Cronin spent a number of years in each of the following industries – Retail, Advertising and Telecommunications, Radio & Television; and has taken a great deal of inspiration from each. She has written short stories and poetry since a very young age and contributed to media in the UK and Spain. In 1996 Sally began studying nutrition to inspire her to lose 150 lbs and her first book, Size Matters published in 2001, told the story of that journey back to health. This was followed by another seven books across a number of genres including health, humour and romance. These include Just Food For Health, Size Matters, Just an Odd Job Girl, Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story, Flights of Fancy anthology, Turning Back the Clock and Media Training. All these can be found on Amazon or Smashwords.
For the last two years Sally has written a daily blog covering the subjects close to her heart including writing, health and music: Smorgasbord Invitation – Variety is the Spice of Life. You can link to it from here: smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com.
Connect to Sally on social media.
http://uk.linkedin.com/in/sallycronin1
https://twitter.com/sgc58
https://www.facebook.com/sally.cronin
https://www.facebook.com/sallygeorginacronin
https://plus.google.com/+SallyCronin/about
Pingback: Coffee with Barb & Sally Cronin ~ Oh, the places you’ll go, the people you’ll meet | musnadjia423wordpress
Sally is a special lady and much loved around here. Feliz Navidad! Happy Chanukah!
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Thank you Sue and for being so supportive during the launch and the lovely words.
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My pleasure, Sally… and you’re welcome to stop over at mine whenever you like 😉
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Delighted to have been invited over for coffee this morning to Barb Taub.. Again overwhelmed by the support shown by this amazing blogging community and look forward to much more of it in 2106. thanks Barb very much
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Believe me, the pleasure was all mine! Thank you so much for the guest post today, and for all you’ve done to help others. You’re amazing.
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Thanks for having Sally over and sharing this Barb. That was a lovely story of the boxer dog statue and how he ended up staying with Sally’s friends, to help remind them of their own sadly departed boxer. 🙂
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Thank you Judy.. we visit often and he has pride of place in their garden so we know that even if we can not take with us he is well loved. hugs
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It is comforting to know that he will be well loved and looked after, and of course he is already immortalised in your book 🙂
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Oh, what a lovely story.
Sally is a lovely person incredibly generous in all sorts of ways.
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Thank you very much Mary.. glad you enjoyed.. hugs
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I started blogging for more or less the same reason. Addictive, isn’t it? Having cut back from posting twice a week to once, I miss the level of interaction.
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Not only have I met wonderful people (like you!) but I’ve seen many virtual friendships turn into real-world relationships as well. It’s strange but in a good way to meet people I’ve “talked” to so often and see how they differ from my mental picture.
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i’m surprised by how much I feel I know some of the people I only know virtually. Including you.
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Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs: .
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Thank you for sharing Judith.. XXS
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Thank you for sharing this lovely story about your statues, Sally. That was a sweet gesture on your part. Much love! Xo
Thank you, Barb, for this post. Sally is a special lady with a kind and generous heart. She is one of the nicest people I have been honored to meet and call a dear friend. Sally is also a talented and creative author.
Blessings & hugs!
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Thank you Janice and the feeling is mutual.. This year has brought some amazingly talented and generous people into my life and it has been the icing on the cake.. love and hugs XX
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What a lovely story! Thanks, ladies! 🙂
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Thank you Linda very much.
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Hi,
I found you on Sally’s site. I love Dr. Seuss, and I recognize the quote.
Janice
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You just can’t go wrong with the Doctor! (Seuss or Who)
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😄
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LOL
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Thanks for this post, Barb. It’s so much fun to meet such interesting people at your coffee parties and know that the world is a better place because of the goodness they bring to it.
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What a wonderful thing to say! Thanks so much.
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Great guest. Touching story. Good to know the statue has gone to a good home…
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I’ve walked away several times from homes that are “done”, and it’s always fun to think of some of my friends having special reminders of our friendships. But I’ve never written them their own story. What a lovely idea!
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I’d like to say thank you to Sally here because she has been a great support to me personally, as I know she has to many writers and bloggers. Thank you Sally, and I hope you sell your house soon and come join me in Ireland… but please bring some sunshine with you!
Happy Christmas Sally and Barb!
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Sally does seem to bring sunshine…but I have to admit it would be fun to visit her in Spain!
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Yes… I think I could manage a trip to Spain. .. you know, if I really forced myself away from the grey drizzle and cold winds… 😂😄😅
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It’s the drizzle you’ll miss the most. Oh, and I should warn you so you’re not too startled—Spain keeps a big round orange hot thing up in the sky there. VERY exciting for those of us coming from these drizzly isles…
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What?? I’ve heard of that, but I can’t recall ever seeing it. Weird…
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They finally got rain in California, and my sister just sent picture of all the little nieces and nephews holding umbrellas and looking very confused.
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How adorable! I used to live in Cyprus as a kid. I can remember when the rain came the whole village would turn out into the street to celebrate, and the street would turn into a river. Nobody minded getting soaking wet. Mind you, it was warm rain. And the sun came out again an hour later. Happy days!
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