Milliron Monday: Jody's Journals May 1986

 

Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.:  

June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010

Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: 

April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021

Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate 

the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, 

Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.

Jody's Journals: 1986

May

• Pete to Charleston, met Jessica, to film festival/Amish movie > found puppy, left note on possible owners door, took puppy to dog pound > stopped to visit with Ken Light > to clinic/barn, wagged Colonel, Puff > wrote letters
• John Branner here for breakfast > ran errands for Pete, green dye > to barn > read > Pete swam, checked on timbers - Daily's? 
• Pete gave lamb selenium > wagged, chores > to clinic > watched Kentucky Derby at Windy Hills > to clinic, got two items for clients > Pete back from calls, tired
• Pete, early Church > I paid bills at clinic, regular Church > mailed bills, read, walked up where Pete was logging, walked hay meadow, checked water, took salt up > read
• up at 5 am, fed foal at barn > to clinic/barn
• Pete put lamb to sleep > to clinic > ate in Amesville/voted > Joy MillerUpton videotaping, calls to Nancy Bonnett's, Maranatha, Doris quit, tow truck, battery jumped, drove home slowly, little power, lights dim, etc., home 4:30 am
• Joy up for breakfast (stayed in apartment) > Marshall here > wagged > to clinic > met Jessica at O'Hooley's > ran errands > fed at barn > let horses in yard, dead lamb in horse barn
• put horses back in hay meadow; Ann Howland > to barn > ate at Lam's Garden, fell asleep, Dixieland music, ice cream
• to clinic, fed at barn (Colonel had chased sheep), took Bullet, Sissy, Streak, Puff, Colonel for walk
• to Church, ate at CJs > to clinic > rode Speed, Pete rode Apple, beautiful ride up McDougal Creek
• to clinic, met Jessica at O'Hooley's for lunch, took Pat back to his house to put cattle in, ran errands > to barn
• AVMA meeting > to Mansfield, Gary/dentist, lunch at Aggies > picked up Pete LA Vet Clinic, saw Teresa Klinko, stopped at Pet Store, ate at Apple Barrell > to clinic, gar dead [clinic reception area fish tank] (chlorine) > took Pat's BD present from Gary/Aggie to Pat > to barn, Pete on calls, had to get car jumped
• Ann Howland at clinic; dewormed sheep; docked, castrated lambs, 1 got away, finally got it back to mother > fed at barn, very tired, Pete surgery, Linscott horse
• to clinic, paid more bills, Christy back, walked Percherons with Ann, worked at clinic again > to barn > Pete back from calls 11 pm
• walked dogs after paper > Church, late > to clinic > nap, storm > rode Speed, Pete rode Apple around back thru stream > went to see "Sweet Liberty"
• O'Bleness, outpatient, Pete took me, Pat picked me up > Pete on calls, got milk, missed meeting > dogs barked, checked sheep
• got breakfast, napped, Jessica brought me flowers > fed at barn, put sheep in garden paddock, 4th try
• fed at barn > SEOVMA Zanesville, took Olds 
• picked up Pete, got Olds >to clinic/barn > truck stuck on stump in woods > took Persimmon, Lolly, down to clinic for blood transfusions > watched "Blazing Saddles" at Pat's
• to barn > took dogs down after paper; Church, OU Inn, Pat fixed flat on Subaru (at rear tire) > to clinic, groomed dogs > Pete rode Apple, watched vultures > watched "The Horseman" video, ch. 20 Pet Grieving
• Memorial Day > Pat, Pete here for lunch, loaded log truck > to clinic > napped, read, rain finally
• ram in yard > got ladder out of garage, cleaned out eaves, washed windows, tied up fence, put ram back in garden paddock, picked some mint, closed white gate, Pete/Pat brought bench > picked strawberries, went out to watch fireflies, listened to frogs
• to clinic/barn, Pete on calls > OU choral performance

For Exclusive Photos Follow on Facebook @ Milliron Clinic

Connect with Gina:

Amazon Author Page

Milliron: The Biography

www.gmcknight.com

www.mondaycreekpublishing.com 

Hocking Hills Book Fair   

Hocking Hills Book Fair Author Podcast

Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian. 

 

Call for Submissions: The Shape of Flight - Essays, Poems, and Tales of Birds

 

 

We're seeking writing inspired by birds - 

literal, symbolic, or wildly imaginative. 

Submissions Open: February 1 to May 1, 2026

If your work soars, sings, or stirs the spirit, we want to read it!

We welcome all forms of prose and poetry—short stories, essays, 

and other imaginative work. 500 Words Max.

Writers will be notified via email of acceptance/rejection.

All submissions will be considered for publication.

Monday Creek Publishing LLC reserves the right to 

reject submissions that do not meet their guidelines.

"The Shape of Flight" is scheduled for 2026 release.

EMAIL: mondaycreekpublishing@gmail.com

An Interview With Author J.E. Irvin

 

An Interview With Author J.E. Irvin

 

J.E. Irvin has long been a storyteller who understands the quiet power of human connection. Through her novels, short fiction, and essays, she invites readers into worlds shaped by empathy, tension, and the complicated beauty of everyday lives. Her work—thoughtful, layered, and deeply attuned to character—has earned her a loyal readership and a respected place in today’s literary landscape.

 

In this conversation, we explore the inspirations behind her authorship, the craft choices that guide her writing, and the experiences that continue to shape her voice. Whether you’re discovering her work for the first time or have followed her journey through the years, J.E. Irvin offers insights that linger long after the final page.

 

Welcome, J.E.!

 

GM: Every writer has that one scene or character that surprises them. Did anything in your new book, BURIED, take on a life of its own while you were drafting?

JEI: Fabulous question! Since I’m a pantser [a writer who creates stories with little to no prior planning or outlining, preferring to "fly by the seat of their pants" and discover the plot as they write], I start with a rough idea of who, what, where, when, but I usually haven’t mapped out the HOW. When surprises pop up, I enjoy them as much as the reader does! Having said that, the opening of BURIED surprised even me by what it reveals as the main character’s medical hurdle (Carl, who changed her name from Carole – reason explained in the novel). I hadn’t planned precisely for that revelation, nor the other twists that occur later: ID of bones, phone call, new characters.

 

GM: You've written across several genres and themes over the years. How has your approach to authorship evolved as you’ve grown your body of work?

JEI: At first, I just wanted to tell the story, to get everything down in order, to actually complete an entire manuscript and then write another one. Now, my honest goal is to improve my art and craft with each successive book -in plot, character development, the prose itself. I’m also a poet. I strive to bring the imagery and sound quality of poems into the narrative and descriptive parts of my novels. When I teach, I tell students that “we all know instinctively what good writing is.” Then I strive to achieve that in my own work.

 

GM: Your website, janetirvin.com, gives readers a glimpse into your creative world. What part of your writing life do you wish more readers could see behind the scenes?

JEI: The long hours, the interior rumination, the multiple rejections of submitted work, and the sheer joy of the writing itself – all impossible to truly convey. I suppose I also wish they knew how important this was to me, that it’s not a hobby but the true and honest calling of a born storyteller.

 

GM: When you’re not actively writing, what keeps your imagination humming — books you’re reading, places you wander, conversations that linger?

JEI: What doesn’t end up as inspiration! I tend to set stories in places I have visited – Wanakena, NY in the Adirondacks; Saugatuck, Michigan along the lake; or in fictional towns that closely resemble my own. When I hike, I listen to the natural world, which always has something to tell me. I watch the news, read as widely as I can (although I’m partial to romantasy, science fiction, romance, and any fiction that is well-written and recommended by friends). News stories frequently jumpstart a ‘what if’ question. That is what led to my first novel – The Dark End of the Rainbow. Lines of conversation, phrases in an article, a seemingly weird event or action will send me spiraling into an idea. Once in Chicago, I overheard one side of a cell phone conversation when the speaker said, “I told him not to take my pants!” I’m still trying to figure out how that story unfolds! I have a huge list of titles, plot lines, and story ideas which I will never have time to explore fully.

 

GM: What are you currently reading?

JEI: Just finished a Martha Wells robot tale, a Lucy Score ARC, and several YA novels set in Revolutionary War times: Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, My Brother Sam IS Dead by Collier and Collier, The Fighting Ground by Avi. I’m halfway through Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson and just picked up two books from the library: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing and The Binding. I’m hoping to develop a course around the YA books to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of our republic.

 

GM: Who's your favorite author?

JEI: This is always a very difficult question to answer because it depends on the genre. My favorite poet is W.B. Yeats. My favorite s-f author is Frank Herbert. In romantasy it’s a tight race between Sarah J Maas and Jennifer Armentrout. When it comes to mysteries, Arthur Conan Doyle, Russell Silvis, and Robert Galbraith’s Strike series. In literary fiction, I’m afraid the list is really too long, but I might mention Anthony Doerr and Elizabeth Strout as favorites. The one thing all the authors have in common is an ability to use language in the most startling and compelling way and to craft worlds I want to linger in.

 

GM: What's your best advice for novice writers, looking to embrace authorship?

JEI: Perseverance, a strong critique group, and desire. So, put your butt in the chair and write. Be open to honest, constructive criticism, and don’t give up.

 

GM: What's for lunch?

JEI: Right now, I have given up lunch in favor of writing (and studying Italian on Babbel!), but when I do have time, I love a turkey sandwich with Swiss cheese, tomato, lettuce, and mayo, chips, and a Coke. And always a piece of chocolate to sweeten the day.

 

Connect with J. E. Irvin Books:

www.janetirvin.com

https://www.facebook.com/janeteirvin

 

 

COVER REVEAL: Coming February 2026 N.R.Hart's "Twin Flame Souls: Soulmate Poetry"

 

www.nrhart.com

N.R.Hart Amazon Author Page

N.R.Hart  Twitter + Facebook + Tumblr + Instagram + Pinterest

N.R.Hart Pearls Slipping Off A String Facebook  

N.R. Hart Etsy

Riding & Writing Interview

Your Tango Interview

10 Poems By Insta Poet N.R. Hart That Remind Us To Never Take Love For Granted

 

Student Stories Interview

“My Mind Had Nothing To Do With It, My Soul Chose You ”  

Meet The Romantic Poet And Author of Poetry And Pearls, N.R.Hart

About the Author

N.R. Hart started writing poetry at a young age and used her poetry as a way to express her innermost thoughts and emotions. A true romantic at heart, she expresses feelings of love, hope, passion, despair, vulnerability and romance in her poetry. Trapping time forever and a keeper of memories is what she loves most about the enduring power of poetry. Her poetry has been so eloquently described as “words delicately placed inside a storm.”

Poetry is here to make us feel instead of think; as thinking is for the mind and poetry is for the heart and soul. N.R. Hart hopes to open up your heart and touch your soul with her poetry. “Poetry is not dead, it is alive in the minds of those who feel...instead of think.” n.r. hart

This Week @ Monday Creek: Winter, writing, and snow in southeastern Ohio

Winter @ Monday Creek (c) Ohio USA

Winter, writing, and snow in southeastern Ohio

Winter arrived in southeastern Ohio this week with all the subtlety of a marching band in a library. One minute I was sipping coffee, admiring the last stubborn oak leaves clinging to the trees, and the next I was staring out the window at a snowstorm that looked like it had been choreographed by a weather intern with something to prove.

Zubie, my ever‑dramatic mare, waits every day for me at the barn. She greeted me today with that look horses have perfected—the one that says, “Finally. I was beginning to think you’d abandoned me to the elements like some Dickensian orphan.” Meanwhile, the barn cats, Whitey and Jesse, emerged from their hay‑fort like two furry landlords checking to see if I’d brought their favorite cat food.

Once everyone was fed, fluffed, and reassured that yes, they were still the center of the universe, I stood there for a moment, letting the quiet settle in. Snowstorms have a way of muting the world, turning even the most familiar spaces into something soft and magical. It’s the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to write… or at least pretend you’re going to write before getting distracted by hot chocolate.

Winter is, in many ways, the author’s season. The world slows down, the to‑do list shrinks under a blanket of snow, and suddenly the idea of curling up with a laptop and a story feels less like a luxury and more like a survival strategy. There’s something about southeastern Ohio winters—moody, unpredictable, occasionally rude—that nudges creativity awake. Maybe it’s the hush of the woods, or the way the sky turns that particular shade of pewter that makes you think deep thoughts. Or maybe it’s just that you physically can’t go anywhere without risking a dramatic wipeout.

Living here means embracing all four seasons in their full, theatrical glory. Spring arrives muddy and hopeful. Summer is lush and loud. Fall is a show‑off in the best way. And winter? Winter is the quiet friend who shows up with blankets, forces you to slow down, and reminds you that rest is part of the rhythm.

As Albert Camus once said, “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” And honestly, southeastern Ohio makes that feel true—especially when you’re standing in a warm barn, listening to a horse munch hay while ice taps gently on the roof.

Here’s to winter storms, cozy barns, bossy mares, pushy barn cats, and the kind of cold that makes creativity spark. And here’s to southeastern Ohio, where the seasons keep us on our toes and the stories never stop coming.

Milliron Monday: Jody's Journal's April 1986

 

Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.:  

June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010

Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: 

April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021

Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate 

the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, 

Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.

Jody's Journals: 1986

April

• wagged, led Standardbred, took Puff, Colonel; to clinic, ran errands, saw Jessica > paid for Standardbred [Speed], got papers > Pete didn't finish calls, towed in, Doris quit again, 2nd fuel pump > Pete chest worse, vaporizer
• up early, to Columbus, Pete Surgery Course, I went to Sun TV, got color TV for clinic, tape recorder for Pat; went to Zoo, saw wolves, otters; went to Lane Shopping Center, Picked up Pete, ate at Root's, stopped at Pat's, saw "grandpuppy", watched Placido Domingo on color TV
• put Western saddle on Speed, led him up to top of ridge and back, took Puff, Colonel - killed groundhog; got on/off Speed > baked lemon meringue pie > Gordon, Pete put up fence for rabbit yard, loaded logs on truck > fed at barn, walked down after paper, took Colonel, napped
• called Wildlife for info on Lucas case > to clinic/barn > put ewes in garden paddock > read > worked at desk briefly > to clinic/barn 
• to clinic, Pete on calls/Andy (intern) went along > to barn > wrapped Lisa's present > Pete back too late to go, lump worse > rain, turned ewes out to barn
• went down after paper, let Red out > to Church, OU Inn > visited cat shelter > to clinic, curried, saddled Junie, Speed; Pete rode Junie, I rode Speed, did quite well, saw several deer, 2 black snakes, Pete fished a bit with Andy > went to town, took Puff, Colonel, saw Pam at Kroger's, brought some ice cream back to Pete
• to clinic > Pete, O'Bleness > to barn > very tired
• wagged, took Red, Colonel, Puff > Gordon cleared logs off trail > ran errands, stopped at Jessica's office, not there > to barn > cattle out, went thru board fence, brought back thru water gap
• called for Workman's Comp, Mayle case, Hunter's case; clinic, barn, took clock to Pat, picture of Kanga, Pat's birthday > read, fell asleep > went down to clinic, paid bills
• to clinic > wagged, took Red, Colonel, Puff > fed at barn, went over horses, burros with shedding blade > took 5 Amish from bus station to homes > Pete back from calls (Andy drove)
• made yogurt > to auction, dog pictures, didn't stay, got milk > to clinic > filled water tank in garden/ram pasture; doe rabbit (Smudge) large hole behind nest box > Pete to woods, chainsaw > napped
• took dogs, went after newspaper, to Church (arrived early); CJs, Katherine, Shirley, clinic, drove Junie; Julie, Nicky ride in cart; Andy rode Alrod, Pete rode Apple, saw doe, fawns, cart flat tire; I rode Speed, took Colonel, saw Tim in woods, talked to him for awhile, Speed bolted from 4 wheeler but reined in well in snaffle > read, fell asleep at table
• to clinic/barn, took 3 Amish home, gave me liniments/salve, etc.
• lunch O'Hooley's, saw Tim Wagner, K Foster, took her copy of "God Calling", ran errands, shopped > Pete fed at barn > napped
• wagged, took Puff, Colonel > to clinic, ran errands, dog pound, barn, napped
• John Branner here for breakfast, surveyed on barn > to clinic/barn > Pete, Andy on calls > to clinic, Karen called, fire under dryer
• checked sheep, several ewes/lambs in horse shed (2 crippled ewes, hind qtrs) put Speed, Apple, Junie in hay meadow, took mineral/salt mix up tot hay meadow shed > to clinic/barn, checked garden area fence
• to Church, CJ's w Pat, Karen, Andy, Julie, Nick (vet Interns) > to clinic, fed at barn, checked sheep, walked Bullet, Streak, Sissy > Pete rode Apple; rain, I braided lead rope
• cold rain > wagged Colonel, Puff > to clinic/barn, 7 dead lambs
• ran errands, lunch at Casa Nueva > to Columbus, took Olds, Doris overhearing; James Galway, flute concert, saw Lackey's there (Theresa Fieler); met James Galway, delightful, stopped at donut shop/Lancaster
• flea bombs/groomed > to clinic/barn > read > put wether lamb in garden again
• took Red, Puff, Colonel wagging, had dogs walk on logs > took hay out of dog run, swept it out > to clinic, paid bills > to barn > hen (black white speckled) 7 little biddies, put them in hen house, another dead black lamb > Richard Syracuse, Greek violinist; Edie Reed, Joe Limoli saved seat for Pete, took Puff
• to barn, sheep > Bobby S., lamb/clinic, tube-fed lamb, temper fit; Joy MillerUpton, horses, dinner > chimney sweep, wife 
• to barn, went after paper, took dogs > to adult education/Bible study, K Foster, church, ate at CJs, Jessica, Bob, Bill, Cynthia > to clinic/barn, Russ, Heidi LaJohn baby here > rode Speed, balked at brambles/logs above Wagner's
• Pete up early, drove around, turkey season > to clinic/barn > cake/Andy(intern) > took Red, Colonel Puff wagging > met Jessica at O'Hooley's, ran errands > to clinic > CJs office dinner

For Exclusive Photos Follow on Facebook @ Milliron Clinic

Connect with Gina:

Amazon Author Page

Milliron: The Biography

www.gmcknight.com

www.mondaycreekpublishing.com 

Hocking Hills Book Fair   

Hocking Hills Book Fair Author Podcast

Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian. 

 

Milliron Monday: Jody's Journals March 1986

 

Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.:  

June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010

Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: 

April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021

Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate 

the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, 

Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.

Jody's Journals: 1986

March

• Ohio Center, OVMA meetings > ate at Ohio Center/One Nation > went to see Jerry Clower, Serendipity Singers
• Ohio Center, OVMA meetings > Dr. Phillips > astronaut meeting > vet care video > stopped at Pat's on way home, watch movies on TV
• to clinic, children's tour/Puff at clinic > to barn
• to clinic, ran errands, hunter meeting
• to clinic/barn > Church > K Foster preached
• Worked in house, fixed dictionary stand > to clinic, children's tour/Puff > worked on Mayle's case
• 11 am D. Wortshafter > case > ran errands > took 'Harper's Weekly' bound and other books to OU Library/donation > to barn, dead roster, stepped on by horse under hay?
• to clinic, paid bills > Pete fed at barn > dance concert > ate at CJs > hot fudge Sundaes (love)
• to Church > to clinic, cleaned up, saddled Apple, Pete rode down to Wagner's; I took Sissy, Bullet, Streak for walk around pond, walked up to top of ridge and back, took Colonel, Puff > 2 dead baby rabbits
• to clinic/barn > wrote letters to Mom, Betty/Abbott
• to clinic/barn > Church of Good Shepherd Evensong
• to clinic > Pete, Carl Sweeney, oxen, potluck, Larry, Betty Larson, wedding reception > watched Dr. Who
• took Puff/Colonel after paper, let Alrod out > to Church, took copy of Urantia info to Stan C. > rode Junie, came back to look for Colonel (gunshy) > fed at barn > Pete rode Apple > worked in study
• worked at desk briefly/wrote mom letter, sent pictures > sheared sheep, Howard Strode, 27 head, 22 ewes, 4 ewe lambs, ram > to clinic/barn
• checked snares > to clinic/barn > Lent Service
• to clinic > SEOVMA meeting, Marietta
• to clinic/barn > Junie down for AI attempt > wagged Colonel/Puff
• Lucille Jennings "Hunter" walked up to locust grove, back > to clinic > napped > to barn > boiled goose eggs
• made deviled eggs > to clinic > Church 'God at Eventide' book to Shirley S. > draft horse meeting > to clinic > rode Junie around ridge above Negro Den, back down thru blackberry meadow, took Colonel > Pete sawm Apple in McDougal Creek by Marquis', rode by snares 
• washed Pete's good sweater > to clinic/barn > Pete vaccinated our cats > sorted papers/read
• to clinic > lunch O'Hooley's > Pete and I ran errands > to barn > Pete emergency surgery
• Pete/me, apple cider vinegar > wagged Puff, Colonel > saw first coltsfoot, wild mums > to clinic > put headlight in Olds, checked Subaru > to barn 
• to Charleston with Pete on calls, Nancy Bonnett's, Maranatha Farm, home 2 am
• wagged Colonel, Puff > to clinic, Steve Shingler brought Standardbred gelding to barn
• took change down to clinic > Standardbred tried to bite and cow-kick several times, walked him out across bridge, by stream, Pete dewormed/floated/vaccinated him, took him up to barn, shut gate on horse shed > worked at clinic > Pete on calls > fed at barn > put Standardbred in yard overnight > picked up Marshall, took his car to Lam's Garden > Mike, Karen, Sam, Ellen Jones by to see Pete
• took Standardbred up to barn, horse shed > to Church (early!) trumpet music, etc. > rode Junie, led Standardbred down to white gate, back, around pasture, etc., shut Standardbred in horse part of barn, left gate unlatched
• to clinic > Pete, Dr. Ragg, mycoplasma/lump, throat, etc. > to barn

For Exclusive Photos Follow on Facebook @ Milliron Clinic

Connect with Gina:

Amazon Author Page

Milliron: The Biography

www.gmcknight.com

www.mondaycreekpublishing.com 

Hocking Hills Book Fair   

Hocking Hills Book Fair Author Podcast

Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.