This blog feature amusing and heartwarming stories about our late Leonberger dog Bronco, as well as other Leonbergers. It also has a lot of information about the Leonberger breed, the history, care, training, Leonberger organizations, etc. I also wrote a Leonberger book, which I am featuring in the sidebar.
Today, Tuesday, February 20, 2024, is National Love Your Pet Day. So, I thought I would show some photos of our current dogs and dogs from the past, naturally including our late Leonberger Bronco. I think the photos I am displaying show some of our love for them.
My blog is primarily about Leonbergers, an unusual and fascinating dog breed that is known for its size, affectionate nature, and intelligence. I know a lot about Leonbergers because we were lucky enough to live with one for thirteen years. His name was Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle—but we called him “Bronco” for short. I also wrote a book about Leonbergers and about Bronco’s many adventures : The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle. If you are on a desktop computer you’ll see the book on the right, and if you are on a phone you have to scroll to the bottom of the page. You can also click here.
This post features 25 photos and illustrations. Most of the photos are of our Leonberger Bronco, a few are photos by friends and the illustrations were created by Naomi Rosenblatt. If you want to see another set of 25 Leonberger photos click here. If you want to see Leonberger puppy photos, then click here.
With today’s post I just wanted to show a photo of a beautiful Leonberger called Mak with my book. Debbie Ireland allowed me to use the photo, which I took from her post on Facebook. Another post showing another Canadian Leonberger (Hachi) with my book can be seen here.
So today (or rather yesterday) Saturday February 3rd, 2024, 1:00PM – 3:00PM I was participating in a book signing in Southlake Texas. It was an independent author’s book sale at “Your CBD Store, Sunmed” in South Lake. It was a friend of mine from another independent author’s book sale event at a library who invited. It was well done but a little slow. However, I still sold a few books, and I donated one to the very nice store manager Julia. Above all it was fun. I also bought a book from the woman sitting across from me (Tanya Taylor Morris) and it turned out to be a very poignant and eye-opening book that I am really glad that I came across. More on that later.
To check out and maybe buy my book visit the Amazon or Barnes and Noble location for the book. You can do that by clicking on the book cover images to the right if you are on a computer or at the bottom of the page if you are on a mobile. As you know if you’ve followed my blog the proceeds from my book sales are donated to the Leonberger Health Foundation International.
First, check out my Leonberger book and consider purchasing it. It features amusing and amazing stories about our truly remarkable Leonberger Bronco, as well as information about Leonbergers. It is a great book for all dog lovers. All royalties/proceeds from sales are donated to the Leonberger Health Foundation International. To check out my book click on the book cover images on the right.
This post has 25 photos and illustrations. Most of the photos are of our late Leonberger Bronco (Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle) but there are also Leonberger photos by friends as well as a few Shutterstock photos. The illustrations are from my book. The illustrations for my book were made by Naomi Rosenblatt (I don’t know how to draw).
Here is an interesting video about a Leonberger called Scout by CBC news in Canada. This Leonberger is helping residents at Hamilton mental health hospital. He was bred by Concorde Ridge Leonbergers. They have a website and a blog which I follow. The 8-minute video is shown on the website below.
This post features ten Leonberger photos. First there are two photos of our Leonberger Bronco from when he was three months old. Then there are three shutter stock photos of Leonberger puppies, who are probably about two months old. We did not take many photos of Bronco when he was a little puppy so that’s why I am including three puppy photos from shutter stock. Then there are five photos of our Leonberger Bronco between the ages 4-5 months to around one year old. He is bigger in those photos but still not an adult.
It was a rainy day today, but we didn’t just sit here all day. In the morning my wife Claudia and I had a French lesson. It was over zoom. We discussed tourism including tourism to cities. I spoke about my visits to Paris and Aix-En-Provence. Daisy, our Pug sat and slept under the computer desk during the class. Her snoring was audible to the rest of the class. Rollo, our mini-Australian Shepherd is very afraid of the sound that rain makes on the roof and on our skylights, so he was very nervous.
Falling in mud
After the class it was no longer pouring, but it was still raining. However, Rollo still wanted to go for a walk so I took them for a walk. Daisy is old, 15+ years old, and she has a problem walking. Therefore, I put her in our pet stroller and raised the hood of the stroller over her. It was wet and muddy and after walking a quarter mile I slipped badly, feet straight up, and landed on my behind and back in a muddy puddle. Daisy’s stroller fell over but luckily, she did not fall out. I was not so lucky though. I was soaking wet; it was cold and my back and behind was covered in mud. I tried to nudge Rollo to go home, but he insisted on continuing. I was worried about what people who saw me would think but we took a long walk.
Behold, the vaccine is killing us all
When I came home, I had a text from one of my Swedish aunts. She thanked me for a Holiday Card I had sent, and that she had just gotten. What’s wrong with the post office? She also warned me about the covid-19 vaccine (Pfizer)s, which she claimed have killed 17 million people and given 567 million people injuries for life. In other words, one in ten people who received the vaccine worldwide was injured for life. I know about people in my circle who died from Covid-19, but I don’t know of anyone who died from the covid-19 vaccine. I don’t even know anyone who was injured by it. How is that statistically possible? In addition, my family doctor, who is an extremely good and caring doctor, recommends it, and thinking about it, so does every doctor I know. Most importantly, there are no reliable sources backing up her claim. Her claim was bunk of course.
So, I told her that her information was false and not to worry. When I was young, I did not want to contradict people, but I’ve come to realize that we are drowning in misinformation, and it is very common that people blindly believe whatever seems to support their preexisting beliefs. Therefore, it is important to contradict misinformation when we know that it is false. It is a public service.
We don’t pick up dead animals
After doing the laundry I noticed that the city had picked up our recycling, finally. They are supposed to pick it up once a week, but it took them three weeks. Last week I tried to file a report about the missed pick up. I was not able to do that using the city’s cryptic website, and search yielded nothing useful. I know you can file a report because I’ve done it before. Therefore, I started the chat, and I got a chatbot.
The bot: How can I help you?
Me: The recycling has not been picked up and I would like to make a report.
The bot: We don’t pick up dead animals.
End of chat……
So, the chatbot was useless. It seems like they are always useless. I’ve gotten restricted on Facebook several times, for selling beer outside the marketplace and without stating the price, when all I did was write a beer review in a beer review Facebook group. When Facebook still employed people for those tasks I could complain, get the restriction revoked and an apology. Once all that remained were bots that ended.
After I gave the dogs dinner Rollo came to sit next to me on the sofa. He loves sitting next to me and pushing his back towards my side. It seems very cozy, but there’s a problem. Rollo is very possessive and jealous, and he gets aggressive towards others he thinks may threaten his position. Yesterday, he started showing his teeth and growling at Daisy as he was snuggling with me, and I immediately put him down on the floor. He screamed like a choleric two-year-old as I did that. This is one major reason we are hesitating to get another Leonberger. We don’t know how that would play out with Rollo. We have a behavior problem with Rollo that we need to solve. We also set up another baby jail for Rollo.
Towards the end of the day Rollo and I played with his duck, and then he asked for a belly rub. When Rollo wants a belly rub, he lays down on the floor on his side , a couple of legs up, and then he barks one time and then he waits. If no one comes he loudly barks one time and then he waits. Eventually he gets his belly-rub.
Now Daisy is asleep, and Rollo is almost asleep
The books I review in this blog are normally Leonberger books but sometimes I review other kinds of books that I love and that I want to promote. In this post I will review the fifth and sixth book of an incredible series of books called the Harbor Point series. To see my reviews for books one and two click here and for books three and four click here. Below are the books I am reviewing in this post.
The Edge of Too Late
The Edge of Too Late by Jan Sikes comes in a paperback edition, and a Kindle edition and I read the paperback edition.
This is Amazon’s description of the book.
The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.
What’s the point of having it all when you have no one to share it with?
Brandon Miller has his dream job, financial security, and he’s madly in love. Only one thing is missing—a commitment.
Angela Cooper’s ex-husband left her with deep scars, souring her on the concept of marriage. She’s not interested in a do-over. Not with Brandon or anyone. Her heart is locked securely away behind a thick wall.
With a ring in his pocket and hope in his heart, Brandon arranges a romantic getaway to the historic Harbor Pointe Inn, where he plans to pop the question.
Before they reach the inn, Angela’s got her camera in hand and ghosts on her mind. But they arrive to find a much more tangible horror.
Accident or foul play?
Someone is up to no good, and Angela is the next target. When suspects can be worldly or otherworldly, danger and secrets lurk everywhere.
Poised at the perilous edge of too late, Angela and Brandon face the fight of their lives.
This is my five-star Amazon Review of The Edge of Too Late
A Most Eventful Weekend
Brandon Miller is a successful video game creator who wants to propose to his girlfriend Angela Cooper. His plan is to do so during a weekend getaway at the Harbor Pointe Inn, which is located next to a lighthouse. Angela loves Brandon but is reluctant to get married again because of her bad experiences in her first marriage. What they didn’t expect is that Harbor Pointe Inn and the lighthouse is haunted, by ghosts as well as dark souls of the human sort. There are mysterious and paranormal events, and danger is awaiting them.
This story is both romantic and a bit scary but above all else suspenseful and full of intriguing plot twists, both dark and happy ones. The character development is excellent, and you care for the characters. The relationship between Brandon and Angela is described beautifully and the dialogues are believable and interesting. The descriptions of nature, the oceanside, apparitions, the inn and the lighthouse are vivid and atmospheric. I can add that even though this book is part of a series, it can be read standalone. It was a pleasure to read, and it is certainly a page turner. I highly recommend it.
About the Author
I’ve been an avid reader all my life. I can still remember the excitement that surged through me the first time I realized I could decipher words. There’s nothing I love more than losing myself in a story.
Oddly enough, I never had any ambition to be a writer. But I wound up in mid-life with a story that begged to be told. Not just any story, but a true story that rivaled any fiction creation. Through fictitious characters, the tale came to life in an intricately woven tale that encompasses four books. Not satisfied to stop with the books, I released music CDs of original music to match the time period of each story segment. In conclusion, to bring the story full circle, I published a book of poetry and art. I was done.
Wrong!
The story ideas keep coming, and I don’t intend to turn off the creative fountain.
I love all things metaphysical and often include those aspects in my stories.
I am a member of the Author’s Marketing Guild, The Writer’s League of Texas, Story Empire, and the Paranormal Writer’s Guild. I am an avid fan of Texas music and grandmother of five beautiful souls. I reside in North Texas.
Connect through Jan’s website
A Fathomless Affair
The sixth book A Fathomless Affair by Staci Troilo also comes in a paperback edition, and a Kindle edition and in this case, I read the kindle version.
This is Amazon’s description of the book.
The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.
A narcissistic patriarch. A mystical legend. A fathomless affair.
Most people wouldn’t dread a weekend at the historic Harbor Pointe Inn. Lorelei Audley isn’t most people. The fresh sea air, breathtaking vistas, and gourmet meals can’t buoy her spirits. She’s there to coordinate her father’s latest wedding. The bride is a nightmare, yet somehow, the groom is worse. Lorelei steels herself to suffer through a few days of psychological abuse and abject misery.
She’s unprepared for a paranormal encounter, missing persons case, and police investigation.
Not to mention a budding romance.
A lot can happen in a short time, far more if the supernatural is involved. Lorelei has a small window in which to solve some very big problems—problems as numerous as the sands at the foot of the scenic Harbor Pointe cliffs.
This is my five-star Amazon Review of A Fathomless Affaire
Surreal Days at Harbor Pointe Inn
Lorelei Audley is organizing her father’s third wedding, which will take place at the Harbor Pointe Inn, a hotel located next to a lighthouse in northern California. Unfortunately, her father is selfish, ungrateful and rude and appears to be a narcissist and his new bride is equally obnoxious. He is also hiding some things, which leads to unpleasant surprises. Lorelei falls and hurts herself, she does not get enough sleep, and there’s a curse and a ghost ship. All this creates a surreal and stressful situation for Lorelei. Is she going crazy? Will she be able to handle the abuse and the family drama? Luckily, she befriends a clearheaded astronomer who is at the Inn to observe a newly discovered comet that is having a close encounter with earth.
A lot of things happen in this action packed and gripping adventure, but the author takes the time to describe and develop the characters well and you will empathize with and understand the characters, especially Lorelei. The family drama is outrageous and yet it seems familiar and comprehensible. As you read about Lorelei’s troubles and the strange events taking place you feel that you need to find out how things will turn out and you want explanations. In other words, it is a real page turner. If you love mysteries and drama this is the book for you. I highly recommend it.
About the Author
Staci Troilo grew up in Western Pennsylvania writing stories and poetry in her free time, so it was no surprise that she studied writing in college. After receiving creative and professional writing degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, she went on to get her Master’s Degree in Professional Writing, and she worked in corporate communications until she had her children.
When they had grown, she went on to become a writing professor, and now she is a freelance writer and editor.
Staci is a multi-genre author. Her fiction is character-driven, and despite their protests, she loves to put them in all kinds of compromising or dangerous situations.
You can find out more about her on her website (stacitroilo.com).
With this post I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and remind everyone that Fireworks is not appreciated by many dogs. Our Leonberger Bronco did not mind fireworks. Our Labrador Baylor did not mind fireworks and our Pug Daisy does not seem to mind either. However, our Japanese Shin Ryu was terrified of fireworks and so was our German Shepherd Baby. Our mini–Australian Shepherd Rollo is more than terrified of fireworks, and he was traumatized by a rouge bottle rocket that was launched in the middle of the neighborhood against the rules. Kids having fun can do a lot of damage to a puppy.
Here are some photos of our dogs.
Happy New Year Everyone
Leonberger Life 