"but I have moved on to drawing and painting, which now dominate my artistic life."
"This book is a celebration of my cake and fondant art phase of life"
And what a fantastic phase it was! Just check out her “Jack Frost” cake above! I was so inspired, I drew the “Jacquie Frost” Art Gown below.
I’m just learning how to do white, so did a rendition of icy-blue white with window frost effect.
Of course there’s more to the book than cakes! There’s recipes and background history of both how fancy desserts and their recipes came to be, with a focus on:
Christmas Cakes
Okay, so that’s another kind of cake, but it is Christmas soon, and I just had to show off Robbie’s Tiered Rainbow Fairies Christmas Cake!
Which leads me to another Art Gown drawing inspired by the above cake; The Rainbow Fairies’ Art Gown.
Robbie says – “The ice cream fairies cake is a very happy one for me.”
If there is anything that could be constructed out of gingerbread, Robbie has engineered it.
To the left is her gingerbread Chapel.
To our right, is her gingerbread Windmill.
There are a lot of gingerbread creations in the book, but these two are the inspiration for my Gingerbread Art Gown, below.
Ginger models the Gingerbread Art Gown.
This lovely 100+ page book can set you up nicely for the oncoming holiday season, or any celebration that comes your way.
About Robbie Cheadle
South African author, photographer, and artist, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated four poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies. .
Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
OR – Just click on Something Fancy above, and go directly to its Amazon page!
Something Fancy is available in book or ebook formats!
You can find her books on Amazon sites around the globe. Just search “Robbie Cheadle” for children and youth books – “Roberta Eaton Cheadle” for adult books.
I fell in dog love with Copper when I read, Copper Boy (Ever So Gently, also in King Copper)
"His white choppers shine as if they've never caused any commotion.. never mind when he attempted to eat the barbecue!"
Somehow, to me, animal love is proven with those words. I was always asking about him, and one day drew him. It is my first and only animal portrait.
When Copper crossed the “rainbow bridge”, Lauren was heart broken. Concerned with how the healing was going, I asked a few questions.
Resa – In the book you say it was 4 months after Lucky Girl was gone, when you adopted Copper into your family. It’s been a bit longer than that since Copper passed. Are you thinking of adopting another puppy/dog?
Lauren – We will most likely adopt another dog in the future, probably an older dog that needs a loving home. But we’re not ready yet. As I mentioned in my book, every one of our family dogs has been special. Yet, it was in Copper’s amber, soulful eyes where I felt a deep connection. I’m doing better with occasional teary moments, but still grieving his passing. I wish I could hug him again, you know…
Resa – Yes, I know. I feel the same about my cats who are gone, especially my baby Jeep. (& Johnny & Pupkin & Cabbage & Mom & Potato)
Lauren – My mom passed shortly after Lucky Girl, and my kids were home and then leaving for college. Life was busy; dynamics were different, so after a few months, I was ready for another furry family member. And we’re so glad Copper trotted into our lives. Copper was also the first dog where we had to make that heart wrenching decision, and even though it was the right thing to do, it was the hardest decision I’ve had to make.
Lauren – I wanted my son and daughter’s support from out of state via phone, and of course, my husband, Matt, was with me, but ultimately, it was up to me. The emergency vet was very compassionate. She told us that she would support any decision we made, and she had told many pet owners “no” before. But she knew Copper would suffer tremendously if we prolonged his life, and the thought of him suffering shattered my heart as well.
Lauren – Though it still wasn’t easy, so before I decided, I looked at her, crying my heart out, saying, “I don’t want to be an adult right now. I want you to tell me what to do.” I knew it wasn’t her decision to make, so I nodded my head. Matt was silently emotional sitting in a chair, and I sat on the floor with Copper’s head on my leg while he peacefully left our world. I buried my face in his fur and sobbed like I’ve never sobbed before. After that fateful day, my husband and I needed some time to let our emotions settle. As our daughter says, “We need to give ourselves grace.” Recently, I heard in a movie, “Love is worth the grief.” It truly is… So, I don’t know the timeline, but we’ll know when the right time comes. ♥️
Resa – When Copper passed, you fell on your pen, and wrote King Copper. Can you put into words how writing was a catharsis? Did you go through stages, a journey, as you wrote?
Lauren – I had written several fun poems when Copper was with us, so when he passed, it felt natural to write through the grief. Instead of moping around the house and crying all the time, my grief found a destination in poetry form. Writing kept me busy, kept me focused to the end of a poem, and then another was inspired. Sure, I had down time to fall in a chair and simply cry for a few minutes before I ‘got up again.’ But those times didn’t consume me because of the writing.
One More Moment
A dog barks in the distance causing me to pause, it sounds like Copper’s a wild imagination longing for one more moment
Lauren – I can’t say if there were stages, but it was an emotional journey that felt like I had been sucker punched. I’m grateful to be a writer so that my grief had a place to go. I can’t imagine what those days, weeks, and months would have looked like without being able to put my emotions down on paper. Before I knew it, a poetry collection had evolved, and that’s when I decided to pay tribute to Copper in book form. I’m so glad I did, not only for me, but for my family too.
Resa – Where do you find yourself today, your missing of Copper, now that the book is out there and people have been reacting?
Lauren – My book has received beautiful and touching reviews, so it’s heartwarming to know how Copper has touched the hearts of those who have loved and lost a pet. Many friends have fallen in love with Copper, and that warms my heart. He didn’t know how lovable he was. He didn’t know how handsome or regal he was, but all 80 lbs. of him was pure unconditional love.
In some poems, Copper writes to Lauren
ALWAYS BY YOUR SIDE
I see you dry your tears; how sad you seem to be. Please know that I am here, but I'm also feeling free.
- Copper Boy
Lauren – I’m emotional as I type. Sigh…I’m just grateful for the reception my collection has received. And I hope my poems provide comfort for those who are also grieving the loss of their dog or cat. Life is part joy and part loss then comes acceptance. This is what King Copper is all about. We know he’s frolicking in lush, green meadows with our dogs who had previously passed and he’s not in pain anymore. Knowing this allows acceptance in our minds because he lives in our hearts forever. 🤎🧡🤎
I only have1 drawing of Copper, so I did my best with it for this post
I thought I knew everything about sexual harassment.
Seems a lot of life is learning what I already know, then learning it better.
What I Already Knew
That the majority of sexual harassments are committed by men on women. However, it also includes women harassing men, men harassing men, and women harassing women.
Many victims don’t report due to: retaliation, fear of job loss, no promotions, shame, humiliation, self blame and helplessness.
That it happens in the corporate world, in the military, in the streets, in prisons, in religions and online.
The Book’s Introduction: Anita Hill
Photo R. Michael Jenkins – Wikimedia Commons
The book says –“In 1991, Anita Hill testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about her experiences with Clarence Thomas” Then continues “Though she did not coin the term “sexual harassment”, Hill’s testimony introducedboth the phrase and the concept to many Americans,”
I was honoured to be the costume designer on Strange Justice, a Showtime movie about the Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas hearings.
Based on the book by Jane Meyer and Jill Abramson, the details on all that is public record are beyond litigation. I even copied everyone’s clothes as closely as possible.
Although I had followed the event in the news, I had no idea how horribly and sneakily Anita Hill was treated, in preference and deference to Clarence Thomas.
None of the men on the Senate hearing panel believed or wanted to believe Hill. Angela Wright, who had also been harassed by Thomas, waited 3 days to testify, but was never called. When production wrapped, I was –
Cheesed Off!
In my way of thinking, I believe Hill was sexually harassed (victimized) twice, once by Thomas in the course of their working relationship, and a second time by the Senate Committee because they sidelined her, threw her under the bus, in favour of Thomas.
Resa – So, Merril, what do you say to what I just said?
Merril – Anita Hill was one public face. What happened to her has happened to thousands of women in some way–the harassment at work and the denial by men that it happened. I believe her accounts of what happened and that Clarence Thomas, now a Supreme Court Justice, sexually harassed her. What possible reason would she have to make it up?
Was she treated as she was by the Senate committee because she is a woman? Yes, I think she was. Similarly, the allegations against Brett Kavanaugh by Christine Blasey Ford were not taken seriously–the FBI did not investigate– and she received death threats. She and her family had to live in hotels.
Sexual assault is a crime. Sexual harassment is a civil rights issue.
Defining what sexual harassment is has proven to be tricky.
Gunning- “the notorious practice of prisoners openly masturbating in front of female staff.”
Phyllis Schlafly
“lawyer, conservative leader, antifeminist,”
“1970’s helped to assure the defeat of The Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.”
One of her thoughts on workplace sexual harassment was:
If Congress could stop”government induced inflation” women would not be forced to work outside the home and Congress could “keep women out of places where they don’t belong”.
There’s lots more, but talking about her makes me gassy.
“women who complain about sexual harassment often cause more problems than they solve” –Washington Post on trump supporters’ thoughts – 2016 election
There are rules for reporting and handling cases of Sexual Harassment
“backlash stress” Fear of being accused of sexual harassment causing missed work and limited interactions with co-workers
I was shocked to find out just how much sexual harassment is an issue in schools, and that it’s still prevalent despite laws.
Title IX (1972) –“prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex for any school or educational activity that receives or benefits from federal financial assistance.”
Me Too – Created by Tarana Burke as Just Be Inc. in 2003, then renamed Me Too in 2007,
Alyssa Milano, unaware of Burke’s movement, popularized #MeToo online. When made aware of Burke, Milano reached out.
Besides “Sexual Harassment” Merril has written an article: “Unworthy of Humane Treatment: The Old Story of Prison Rape in the United States and Consequences for Survivors”(2018)
AND – “Encyclopedia of Rape and Sexual Violence” (2018) 2 volumes
Resa – Whew! I’m impressed. Is there more?
Merril – The article on prison rape was written for a book I co-edited with scholar Tuba Inal, Rape Cultures and Survivors: An International Perspective.
It is in Vol. 2, Rape Cultures and Their Consequence for the Survivors. We each wrote a chapter for the book. Yes, it came out the same year as the Encyclopedia of Rape and Sexual Violence, for which I also wrote some articles.
I have also written or edited other works that touched on violence against women, including:
Encyclopedia of Rape (2004) Sex Without Consent: Rape and Sexual Coercion in America (ed) 2001
Sex and Sexuality in Early America (1998)
Breaking the Bonds: Marital Discord in Pennsylvania, 1730-1830 (1991)
And a recent chapter onSex in Eighteenth-Century Philadelphia
Resa – What was it like while writing the books and the article? Were you angry, sad? Did it upset you emotionally? Was it hard to focus? Did you feel like running away?
Merril – I was–I am–indignant that women have been and still are often treated as second-class citizens. Reading accounts of rape is upsetting. Of course, it is! When I was reading about rape and war crimes it was particularly difficult, and I had to take breaks to go outside. But I think it’s important that people know about such things. I had contracts to complete these books.
Resa – Since the publication of “Sexual Harassment” (2020) has there been anything you would update or add in the book now?
Merill – Well, laws have changed. Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction was overturned for procedural reasons. I’ve no doubt he’s guilty.
I discussed the current president in his first administration, and now here we are with him again, and things are worse. Government agencies are being dismantled. So how and where do people report workplace sexual harassment? And I can’t imagine such reports being investigated in the military either. Trans people are more at risk than they were before.
Resa -Does the overturning of Roe V. Wade figure into this, at all?
Merril – Well, it figures into the treatment of women as second-class citizens. The Dobbs decision allowed states to criminalize abortion. We’ve seen this has applied to women with life-threatening pregnancies, and the arrest of women who have had miscarriages. This is all part of the dismantling of our democracy, and it all is part of Project 2025’s plan to set up a theocracy. This goes along with old ideas of a strong man at the top of government, and each household with its own male ruler.
I should point out something that people may not know, but abortion was not a criminal act in early America.
Resa– Now that is most interesting!
Not just still cheesed … more cheesed!
This 360 page reference book has 7 sections: Background and History, Problems, Controversies and Solutions, Perspectives, Profiles, Data and Documents, Resources, Chronology.
I borrowed “Sexual Harassment” from the Toronto Public Library System, renewed it the 3 allowed times, then had to keep it overdue. It is a well researched reference book based on: laws, court cases, studies, publicly documented hearings and various other factual data.
This is not a page turning novel, yet it is gripping in a different and real way.
These books are available on Amazon, as well as in libraries.
NOTE: “Sexual Harassment”, the book, focuses on the US and its definitions. Obviously, it exists everywhere, but it’s not against the law everywhere
Years ago I wrote a book. That was fun. Promoting and selling it; a big scary, hairy monster with horns. Eventually, it wound up in the menu on my blog, for free download. Robbie found it, read it and has now reviewed it!
Robbie also found it on amazon. I did tweak the ending after that, which is in the download. Is one version better? I don’t know. Anyway, if you click on the book cover, it will take you to the free download page.
She also said lovely things about my other creative endeavours – Art Gowns drawing & collecting Street Art.
Robbie, this is a wonderful happening for me. Thank you! 🌹
fading light, moonrise day and night come together our past, our future
Welcome to the final stop of the Simple Pleasures blog tour!
Liz –Thank you, Resa, for hosting me for the final day of my blog tour for Simple Pleasures: Haiku from the Place Just Right!
Resa – My pleasure, Liz!
Florida Vacation
Liz -Today, I’m taking your readers to Cold Hollow Sculpture Park in Enosburg, Vermont. The park features dozens of sculptor David Stromeyer’s large-scale abstract metal sculptures spread over 45 acres of hay field.
Resa – I am thrilled about getting to feature David Stromeyer’s art, with your book of images with Haiku. I’ve chosen to use all of the options you sent. FYI readers – the names of the sculpture is below its photo.
Ngozi
Cold Hollow Sculpture Park
Liz – I first visited the park site with my dad in the early 1970s, when he was counseling someone who lived in the area. I remember that the sculptor lived on the property in a barn that had seen better days, which I found the epitome of counterculture cool.
Lost in the Roundabout
At that time, Stromeyer had two, maybe three, sculptures completed and displayed. I vividly remember the one he’d created out of the tank of a smashed milk truck. The sculpture made such an impression on me that twenty years later, I included it in a short story.
Rock-in Sphere
Slice Rock
Banded Rock
Jumoke
Primavera
Da-jo-jo
Ensemble-4+2
Resa – Liz, I thoroughly enjoyed your book, and have selected my 2 fave Haiku for this post.
Elizabeth Gauffreau writes fiction and poetry with a strong connection to family and place. Her work has been widely published in literary magazines, as well as several themed anthologies. Her short story “Henrietta’s Saving Grace” was awarded the 2022 Ben Nyberg prize for fiction by Choeofpleirn Press.
She has published a novel, Telling Sonny, and a collection of photopoetry, Grief Songs: Poems of Love & Remembrance. She is currently working on a novel, The Weight of Snow and Regret, based on the closing of the last poor farm in Vermont in 1968.
Liz’s professional background is in nontraditional higher education, including academic advising, classroom and online teaching, curriculum development, and program administration. She received the Granite State College Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2018. Liz lives in Nottingham, New Hampshire with her husband. Visit Liz on her blog!
This honest exposé of Africa’s nature highlights Robbie’s love for all flora and fauna.
Writing a review for this book of poetry, photography and art is truly like sticking a square peg in a round hole. It defies categorization. Yes, it is well crafted, entertaining and informative. However, it strikes out beyond those adjectives. It teaches, with heart.
Resa – Near the beginning of the book is a heart touching & humorous free form poem – The Visitor. What bird is depicted, and did you really have this visitor?
Robbie – The visitor is our semi-tame hadeda, Eleanor. She lives on our property with a male bird, although he disappears sometimes and she is always around. I feed her occasionally but not often enough for her to lose her independence as a wild bird. She will wander into my house if she gets the opportunity. I don’t mind her visiting but she can get a little upset if she can’t find her way out again. Then I have to help her. The information in that poem about the loerie birds is also true. We don’t net our fruit trees anymore.
Robbie – There is another poem in the book about our loeries being the fattest birds in the city.
Resa – I was going to ask about that poem.It makes me feel happy. I love it!
Fat Birds (shadorma)
Mangled fruit Product of guzzling Plump loeries Eat and eat I'll have to build a runway Fattest birds in town
Resa – Growing up in Canada we had an American TV show called “Wild Kingdom”. Often it depicted the animals of Africa. They were wild, free, mysterious and dangerous. Did you have a nature show like that? Or, how did you learn about African animals?
Robbie –I have never really watched TV. It was late coming to South Africa and I never developed the habit. I always read a lot though, and one of my favourite series was Willard Price’s animal adventure books. I became very interested in the plight of wild animals as a result of these books, although at that time they mainly focused on poaching and the illegal animal trade. Interestingly, Willard Price was a Canadian.
Robbie – Later in my life, National Geographic magazines came to South Africa and I bought them every month. I had piles and piles of them and ended up giving them away each time my family moved house (21 times during my pre-marital years). After I met my husband, we started going to game farms whenever we could afford it. I’ve learned a huge amount from the various guides and game rangers.
Resa – Then, there’s climate change.
Robbie – Climate change started coming to my attention in the ’90s, but I never really thought about it in connection with our wild animals until the early 2000s. Over my adult life to date, more and more animals have become endangered to a point where the list of ‘least concern’ animals is much shorter than the endangered list. Many ‘least concern’ animals are actually in danger of disappearing due to habitat loss. Over the past 15 years, I’ve become a lot more involved in promoting the plight of our animals and doing what I can to help support them.
King of the Beasts
“To a Lion” is a contemporary poem, that travels, with images, over 6 pages. The reality of the plight of this majestic animal is beyond what people want to comfortably know. I say the truth hurts, especially when one confronts “Canned Hunting”
Resa – When did you learn about “Canned Hunting”?
Robbie – I despise hunting. I don’t understand it and I don’t support it. Canned hunting came to my attention about 15 years ago when I overheard a few of the guides at a game farm talking about it. I didn’t know the term prior to that. According to World Atlas, there are approximately 7,000 lions held in captivity in between 160 and 200 canned hunting breeding farms in South Africa.
Excerpt from To A Lion
You've seen your peers shot - their heads stuffed and mounted Victims of canned hunting Perpetrated by fools who do not appreciate your beauty Or the vital role you play In the maintenance of the African ecosystems And all its amazing creatures
“The Story of the Desperate Salesman”(99 syllable double ennead) and “Nest Selection” (freestyle) are of intrigue to me. The male Weaver bird builds a nest to attract a female. If a female doesn’t accept his nest, he dismantles it. Then he builds another more elaborate than the preceding nest.
Excerpt fromThe Story of the Desperate Salesman
He's been building for days King of construction Improving his intricate weaving techniques Working from dawn to dust Then comes marketing
This building and dismantling is repeated until a female moves in. Somehow this parallels certain thoughts I have about societies, ergo nations. Lots to say about what this “little bird told me”, but then I’d need to write an essay.
Robbie’s poems & photos took me on a journey that was visual, emotional and introspective. A bonus to the entire experience is I learned a lot about poetic form through example. In brackets beside her poems are the types of poetic structures they are written in.
Ekphrastic Poetry with photograph contributions by Wayne Barnes, photographer
Robbie winds up her poetic offerings inspired by the wildlife photos of Wayne Barnes.
Resa – The tone of the poetry is similar to the first part of your book, but takes on an “I want to be free” vibe, with positive suggestion and encouragement. Am I right to think and feel that?
Robbie– Wayne’s photographs are wonderful. You are exactly right in your summary of the poems written in combination with Wayne’s pictures: they are “I want to be free” expressions and do include positive suggestion and encouragement.
Resa – You’ve used mostly Wayne’s bird shots. Is there a reason for that?
Robbie – I believe that is why I chose so many birds for these combos. I see birds as being free creatures that move about and have the compete freedom of the skies. I’ve always though being a bird would be delightful.
One of Wayne’s stunning bird beauties is at 10 seconds in the video below.
The opening words on the promo video above are from one of Michael Cheadle’s nine poems at the end of the book. His work stands on its own. He is a terrific writer, and I felt his pain. He sent this quote, when I asked about it.
Michael – “Writing poems about my anxieties helps clear them out of my mind.”
In the photo below, Robbie holds one of her novels, “A Ghost And His Gold”. This book is a superlative read. Read my review! There is so very much to say about Robbie, that you should just go to her about page!
Robbie is a prolific writer. You can find her books on Amazon sites around the globe. Just search “Robbie Cheadle” for children and youth books – “Roberta Eaton Cheadle” for adult books.
Written in memoir style, the author instills through her mostly hilarious adventures, how to adhere to travel restrictions.
As a pre 9/11 traveller, D.G. notes that one used to enjoy (“the thrill of the journey as much as the destination itself.”) Those golden days are long gone.
Times changed again, post Covid. We all know what inconveniences, feasibly horrors, can arise during travelling. Whether journeying by plane, boat or rail, one of the obvious issues is luggage.
From Toronto to Chicago to London to Las Vegas to Paris to Greece to the Caribbean to Venezuela and home again, D.G. has run the baggage gauntlet. (“Who opens a suitcase before it gets on the luggage belts and runs over it with some unknown vehicle?”)
Seems the only place D.G. hasn’t travelled, with suitcases and carry on, is back in time.
From the 2 books I’ve read by D.G. I know she is shopaholic, with a severe penchant for shoes. (“I carefully plot out which shoes and purses will match which clothes.” & “So what if I thought I might need to change my outfit 3 times a day?”)
I get it! I’m not wearing the same shoes I wore on the beach to the club at night.
There’s even a chapter in the book: Me, My Shoes, and Iwhere the author wins a $500.00 slots prize in Vegas, and immediately heads off to buy a purse, (“along with four pairs of shoes I’d also been sad to leave behind after already purchasing four pairs”)
One of her strongest suggestions is to buy a luggage scale. There was an airport incident when heading out to a Caribbean cruise.
“It was only after that incident that I ……. invested in a portable luggage scale.” The incident? Well, you’ll just have to read the book to find that out.
This short book is a delightful read, where much travel advice exposes itself through the author’s memories. At the end, D.G. neatly sums up her essential tips. The final tip – “Have Fun!“
ABOUT D.G KAYE
About the Author
D.G. Kaye is a Canadian author living in Toronto. She is a nonfiction writer of memoirs about her life experiences, matters of the heart, and women’s issues. Her positive outlook keeps her on track, allowing her to take on life’s challenges with a dose of humor and a mission to overcome adversity.
D.G. began writing when pen and paper became the tools to express her pent-up emotions during her turbulent childhood. She began journaling about her life at a young age and continued writing about the people and events that left imprints and lessons. She writes books to share her stories and inspiration.
D.G. is a big advocate for kindness and for empowering women. Her favorite saying is “For every kindness, there should be kindness in return. Wouldn’t that just make the world right?”
When she’s not writing, D.G. loves to read (self-help books and stories of triumph), cook (concocting new recipes, never to come out the same way twice), shop (only if it’s a great sale), play poker (when she gets the chance), and, most of all, travel.
**Shoe photos taken by Resa from Cinderella’s Revenge (Chronicle Books) & “Shoes” (Workman Publishing). These photos may not be used for any purpose other than this blog post.**
Graffiti Lux Art & More 
You must be logged in to post a comment.