Milliron Monday: Jody's Journals April 1977

 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: 1977

Notables: 

Trefa's birthday April 1 - 16 years old

Cricket's birthday April 25

April

• ran errands > worked Puff 
• worked Puff > J to Pony Club, Pennsylvania; Pat to Amesville Carnival 
• to church > dewormed horses, floated; sheep, docked lambs tails, castrated lambs > tracked Bess, let Bess, Kanga run in hay meadow, checked snares, dog trap > watched Jesus of Nazareth on TV
• worked at desk > biked Puff 6 rounds, Jessica's bike > fed at barn > ATC Puff
• biked Puff 6 rounds > went after tractor parts for Pete, took Puff > fed at barn > Kay picked up 3 doz goose eggs
• biked Puff 5 rounds, work on stand > 4H, helped Judy with Spice
• went to Wool Growers after shears > let dogs run in paddock
• docked, castrated lambs > Pete, Jessica, Herbie, Kay, Pat began trimming sheep feet, used Kanga, Jim, Ruff > to church
• put my ewe's lambs down in clinic barn (with Jim), finished trimming ewes, rams feet, Pete, Herbie, Kay, Pat, Allen; ran sheep thru formaldehyde; Howard Strode sheared my sheet; put sheep out on sign bottom; called Cindy about her dog > picked up Bill Wright, Herbie, Kay here > Pete - colt broke leg, Sherry Indestadt's > ate at Hop Sings, to movie The Return of the Pink Panther
• to church > put my sheep down in sign bottom with Jim > took hay, grain to my barn, fed at barn > biked Puff 8 rounds, picked up branches
• biked Puff 1 round; laid 4 tracks for Chauncey, open run for Chandelle > took Bill, Pat to Amesville, Sugar Creek for paint brushes > Lisa, Tonya Toth here, make-up 4H work > ATC Bill, Pat 
• walked sheep pasture with Jim, Kanga; helped load yearling lambs, ran all sheep thru formaldehyde > ran errands
• tracked Bess 4 tracks, 5 turns, 8 articles in hay meadow, did well; checked snares, let Bess run, biked Puff 8 full rounds, let him play in creek, run thru clinic > went to Lancaster after sheep check, took Puff, let him out at roadside park  > took fireplace fan in to Artifacts Gallery > 4H, worked Puff, sit/stay for exam
• tracked Bess > gathered ewes from pasture with Jim, Kanga; helped Pete with ewes thru formaldehyde > J Jones tracked
• biked Puff 10 rounds > gathered ewes from pasture Jim; helped Pete put ewes thru (Pete put rams thru) > took Jessica to riding lessons, let Pat off in town > copied article at library > fed at barn > drive-in with Pat, Kanga, Puff Midnight Cowboy, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
• Bess 2 tracks hay meadow, saw turtle > to church > to Little Professor's, saw Elise Sanford > rode Junie around thru woods, let Puff, Kanga run in stream bottom > worked at desk
• Pete to Charleston overnight > biked Puff, laid 5 tracks for Chauncey, ATC
• Bess 5 tracks in bottom > painted broad jumps, practice jumps 
• took Tracy to ACKC match, showed Puff in Lady's Handling > Pete to Charleston
• picked up Kay 7 am in Glouster, showed Puff, fairgrounds
• horses in log pasture > fed at barn, checked snares visually, patched up fence > male black/white hound in snare > Pat, me, hot dogs at mall, AKC
• dog warden picked up hound > fed at barn, checked snares, let Puff run in meadow, beautiful trillium in cliff pasture > made popcorn, played cards
• cold rain, tracking at Jackie's, I laid track for Bess, Jackie tracked her dog in bottom > got groceries, items for Jessica's junior prom
• biked Puff, Jan/Brittany lesson > Jessica to horse show with Julie > picked up Pat Rollerbowl
• Pete up at 5 am, began cement at clinic parking lot > Puff retrieve/track

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. 

 

An Interview with Author Mark Neyer

 

An Interview with Author Mark Neyer

In a cultural moment where certainty is scarce, Mark Neyer steps directly into the conversation with Rebooting Belief — a thoughtful, provocative exploration of how we rebuild meaning in a world that keeps shifting beneath our feet. Neyer writes with the precision of a researcher and the empathy of a storyteller, inviting readers to examine not just what they believe, but why those beliefs matter.

His work doesn’t preach. It probes. It opens doors. It challenges the quiet assumptions we carry and offers a framework for rediscovering conviction without sacrificing curiosity. In this interview, Neyer reflects on the origins of the book, the personal experiences that shaped its questions, and the evolving landscape of belief in the modern age. It’s a conversation for anyone who has ever felt their worldview wobble and wondered what might emerge if they rebuilt it with intention.

 
Welcome, Mark!
 
GM: What first inspired you to begin writing, and how has that spark evolved as your career has grown?
MN: I think I first found that I enjoyed writing after taking a poetry class in high school.  By the end of high school, I found myself writing essays about things I cared about, to nobody in particular. I started blogging when I was in college. I never had much of an audience, but I enjoyed having a place to 'think out loud'.  Over time, I found writing to be a way of understanding and working through what I felt, so I wrote more free form things online. I never really cared who was reading, or if anyone was reading at all.  At one point, when I was really struggling - around 2012 - I told myself that eventually computers would read everything on the internet, and help me make sense of what I was feeling, even if I couldn't do it myself at that time. Now I write on Substack,  exploring ideas that combine wisdom traditions and modern rationality. 
 
GM: Are there recurring ideas or emotional threads you find yourself returning to across your work?
MN: Yes, absolutely. I wrote my memoir in part to try and help people avoid falling into the holes I fell into, by thinking that life had no real meaning, or that only things we could measure or prove could be true.   I find there are a few people who are both religious and technically literate, but nobody else seems to be exploring whether or not these different domains reinforce each other.  My goal is to show that not only are these domains not in conflict, but that mathematics and science don't have to make life sterile or meaningless, they can also point you to a perspective of wonder and awe, so long as you are open to it.
 
When people tell me that my writing has helped them—say, by relating the mathematical concept of 'gradient descent and utility maximization' to the old phrase "count your blessings"—that's a reminder I'm not just doing this for myself.  

GM: What part of the writing process pushes you the most, and how do you work through it?
MN: There are times when I know I want to say something, but I'm not quite sure precisely what it is.  I feel various pieces in my mind, but I'm not sure how to put them together. What I usually do is take a first pass, and then stop writing and go for a walk. I first try to let go of thinking, and appreciate the environment around me. Then I spend time mentally working through what exactly I think. Why these threads?  What am I getting at here? Sometimes I have to do this two or three times. 
 
GM: When developing characters, do they arrive fully formed or reveal themselves slowly as you write?
MN: It's about half and half. I haven't written fiction in a while, but when I have, I usually started with the seed of an idea. As I'm writing, it feels more like my job is to make space for the story, including the characters, to reveal itself over time.
 
GM: What books or writers have shaped your voice in ways you didn’t expect?
MN: John Hodgman wrote a book called 'The Areas of My Expertise'. It's a fake almanac filled with all manner of clever nonsense.  It still makes me laugh whenever I think of it. Dave Barry is another author whose style I really internalized. I find that I trust authors more when there's a bit of a 'wink and nod' game going on.
 
GM: How do you approach revision—are you a meticulous polisher or a bold re‑imaginer?
MN: My memoir went through about five or six iterations, depending on how you count it. I felt torn between two three different approaches:
- what happened, in the order it happened
- a narrative that's compelling with a tension that builds, climaxes, resolves
- a narrative that conveys what I’ve learned about life without preachy
 
With each iteration, I tried moving more in the direction of what I felt was missing. I don't feel that I'm 'throwing away old writing' so much as 'getting closer to the piece I wanted to write the whole time.    
 
GM: What’s something a reader has said about your work that stayed with you?
MN: "Thank you." When I get feedback like that, it's a reminder that writing isn't just something I'm doing for myself. 
 
GM: Did any scene, character, or idea surprise you while writing your latest project?
MN: I spent a year going through some of the most emotionally painful moments of my life, trying to understand why I was acting and thinking what I was. I hadn't given much thought to how draining that kind of project would be.  
 
It was also surprising how some story arcs ended up working out as narrative devices. Two characters in particular acted as excellent foils. These is real people, good friends from college, but it just so happened that their life trajectories, although very different, both worked to contrast my own.
 
GM: What does a typical writing day look like for you—rituals, quirks, or must‑have tools?
MN: I do my best work in the morning. Afternoons are better spend doing chores or work that doesn't require so much thinking. I wake up with a certain amount of energy -- which coffee can amplify, if I drink it -- and then find that it's more or less all burned off by around lunch time. After lunch I might go for a walk and think a bit about what to write next.
 
Connect with Mark…
Website: markneyer.com
Substack: apxhard.substack.com

Editorial Review
Mark Neyer’s Rebooting Belief is a clear, compelling invitation to rethink how we form and reform our deepest convictions. Instead of prescribing answers, Neyer guides readers through the messy, honest process of questioning, rebuilding, and choosing belief with intention. His blend of personal reflection and cultural insight makes the book both accessible and quietly profound. It’s a thoughtful read for anyone navigating doubt, transition, or the desire to understand their worldview more deeply. ~ Gina McKnight
 

 

Milliron Monday: Jody's Journal March 1977

 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: 1977

March

• Pete to Charleston, John Hopkins overnight > checked, watered ewes, took Kanga > fed at barn, took Puff, checked snares, let Puff run in hay meadow
• stray, orange/white hound, bitch, took out drake by metal gate above barn, checked my sheep 
• took Kanga, fed at barn, checked snares, brought salt/minerals down to barn from trough in hay meadow > wood stove arrive > helped Pete put ewes, lambs in barns > Pat game, B Wright overnight
• went with Pete to check ewes, lambs > Howard Strode, 3 others begin shearing ewes, put hay in both shed for my ewes  > let Puff run in paddock > read
• took Jim, helped put sheep in for shearers, put sheered sheep back to hay bales, sorted sheep again > took Kanga checked SE fence line to put up snares, too many holes > dance concert, sold out, to movies 
• to church > rode Junco thru woods, Jess rode Apple, tracked Bess, Puff on bottom > unpacked wood stove
• up at 5 am, sorted sheep all day, horrible
• Sassy, cancer, pneumonia > fed at barn > ran errands for Pete > ACKC at J Croxford's > walked Puff around block at Rodgers
• went to Marietta after bulldozer parts, firing iron, took Puff 
• ate at Perkin's with Pete > fed at barn, checked snares, let Puff and Kanga run in hay meadow > tracked Bess, Puff at Jones'
• worked on road, raked gravel, reddog from fence boards into ditch, blistered left thumb > worked at desk > Pete, Jessica, I unloaded hay (1/2) truck into clinic barn, put rest in hill barn
• to church > Pat motorcycle club > watched Doug in marathon, watched Dough finish (11th) > got nanny goat (kid, 6 weeks) at Paul C.'s, stopped at Kinzelman's, put sheep in Phillip's place with Jim, fed at barn > Pete got wood stove hooked up
• fed lamb, goat > Jerry, Jolene here with Maine Coon kittens > picked up tools for stove > fed at barn, lamb dead > let dogs run in paddock > Pat, I took cans, glass to recycling center > Pete took car on calls > read
• Pete calls til 3 am > Pete lit stove > put collar, bell on Faline, took her for a walk (ran over chairs in the house) > played ball on hill with Kanga, Puff > worked at desk
• ran errands, Trisolini Gallery, picked up Pat
• fed at barn > glove finds, Puff, tracked Bess
• left for Ann Arbor Katherine Foster drove > visited Danielle Daughtery's kennels, visited Katherine's "puppy" Emma
• Olive Point, Joachim Volhard, Obedience Instructor's Clinic, arrived home 10:30
• fed at barn, took Faline for a run, took Kanga > evening potluck, took deviled goose eggs
• went after plywood for saw bench, practice jumps > took Pat to school > napped > fed at barn, took Kanga, Tobi, Topper up to check snares > worked at desk
• to Pam Collier's, took Faline > Pete plowed garden > fed at barn > ATC meeting at Judy's
• tacking at Jackie's, Puff found article, Bess 2 short tracks
• worked Puff > Jerry, Jolene, Carla here 
• worked Puff > rode Junco, checked snares, took Jim > laid track for Bess, called commands for Chandelle > Judy Glasgow here > worked at desk > Pete, Jerry to Charleston
• to church > watched Parkersburg Obedience Trial
• ran errands, car to Russell's, Doug brought me home > fed at barn, let Puff, Kanga run in hay meadow, swim in pond, Puff chased duck around pond > checked snares 
• picked up coveralls for Pete > tracked Bess (poorly), to Jones' tracked Puff (well)

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. 

 

Book Launch! Gennadiy Gurariy "Live, Laugh, Limerick: A Humorous Collection of Over 300 Original Limericks"

 

In Live, Laugh, Limerick: A Whimsical Collection of Over 300 Original Limericks, Gennadiy Gurariy revives the timeless charm of the limerick. Playful, exuberant, and occasionally improper, these witty five-liners celebrate the humor, humanity, and absurdity of life. Whether shared among friends or enjoyed in solitude, this collection will delight all who revel in the music of language and the joy of laughter.

About Gennadiy: 

Born in Kharkiv Ukraine, Gennadiy Gurariy immigrated to the United States at the age of six. Growing up, he was exposed to traditional, structured poetry, the kind that rhymed and told stories in perfect meter. Those early encounters with verse would later develop into a lifelong passion for poetic forms, humor, and the music of language. Gennadiy earned his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno and has conducted research on the neuroscience of attention and perception. He currently teaches psychology at Ohio University but has not let his scientific career get in the way his poetic explorations. A longtime writer, Gennadiy’s work has appeared in The Lyric and The Saturday Evening Post, where he is a two-time winner of the magazine’s Limerick Contest. In Live, Laugh, Limerick: A Whimsical Collection of Over 300 Original Limericks, Gennadiy celebrates the raucous spirit of the limerick, where wit fuses with rhyme and ribald humor. This collection reflects his belief that laughter is a vital part of understanding what it means to be human and a key dimension of human psychology. Gennadiy currently lives in Ohio with Hambone, his loyal (and somewhat judgmental) canine companion.

Cover Art & Design by Logan Rogers

Follow Hambone Unleashed on Facebook

Inquiries: mondaycreekpublishing@gmail.com

www.mondaycreekpublishing.com

This week @ Monday Creek: Under Water

This meadow was under water two days ago; bales were covered. Mushrooms thrive.
@ Monday Creek Publishing | Ohio USA

August has soaked Hocking County straight through, and Monday Creek is carrying most of the story. Days of heavy rain have pushed it past its banks, sending water across meadows and hayfields that usually sit calm this time of year. The big round hay bales look like stranded islands now — half‑submerged, darkened, and ringed with muddy overflow. The smell of loam and creek water hangs in the valley, thick and familiar. With the bales saturated, mushrooms are popping up almost overnight, pushing through softened straw in clusters: tiny pale caps, broad fleshy fans, all feeding on the sudden abundance of moisture. Even with the flooding, washed‑out roads, and long cleanup ahead, the land keeps doing what it does — reshaping itself, sprouting surprises, and reminding us that Monday Creek has a rhythm all its own.

Shopping in Logan Ohio

            One of my favorite shops to frequent in Logan is Flowers by Darlene. The flower selection is super. Finding a unique gift is easy. I love wandering into this enchanted shop. Go when you have plenty of time to browse - so much to look at; potted plants, seasonal flowers, antique knick-knacks, exclusive gifts, homemade crafts. Darlene’s has that rare magic: you walk in for flowers, and you leave with a bit of charm.

Darlene's Flowers, Logan Ohio USA

Follow the Dogs—They’re Running the Internet Anyway

Here’s more of my favorite facebook dog accounts to follow (I love watching the dogs ride the canine bus. Can people ride, to0?)…

Tailbit Pets

KW Pawtrips

We Rate Dogs

IdaDog Adventures

The Storybook Bus

K9 Konvoy

Golden Buggy

K9 Cool Bus

Viola Snow

Support Your Local Authors

            As the proprietor of the Hocking Hills Book Fair(s), I would like to invite you to our upcoming events! Over 60 authors will be signing books Saturday, November 21. Save the dates... 

 

Milliron Monday: Jody's Journals February 1977

 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: 1977

February

• took Pat to Amesville for ride to bb practice, took Puff, worked Puff at clinic barn > mended 2 pair Pete's longjohns > soaped harness > picked up Pete at Jan's, took Kanga > finished cleaning harness
• worked Bess at Pam Collier's > CC class
• shoveled out gate, worked Puff > rode Junie, Jessica rode Blaze over to Windy Hills, Elizabeth Sweeny rode around thru woods with us, saw 3 then 2 deer between 1st and 2nd meadows
• Ilene Toth lesson, paid $6 > worked Puff, swept garage floor, Pete straightened cart
• Mr. Bailey here to took at Suffolk ewes > worked Puff > read
• to church, Sunday School meeting > went after bulldozer part near Coolville > sanded sleigh runners > worked Puff > rode Junie in bottom, took Puff, took Jim, Bess, lower pasture > played Hearts
• gas off, 30's in house, -10 outside, bathroom faucet frozen, thawed with space heater > got key unstruck from car > fed at barn, carried up 2 buckets water, blanketed, fed Junie, let dogs run in paddock > worked Puff at clinic barn
•  took J, P to high school at Stewart, took Puff, heeled briefly > worked Puff at clinic > Pat, I hung up old rugs on back wall of sheep shed > ACKC at Judy's, took Puff in car
• swept out part of barn > worked Puff > fed at barn, worked on alleyway > CC class at Sanfords, took Puff in car
• went after bulldozer parts in Marietta, took Puff
• sold Suffolk ewes to Milford Baily, took 2 Suffolk ewes down to clinic barn with Junie, loaded 6 others out of Phillips place $90 each $720
• used Jim to herd sheep across ice/stream out of feed lot; feed sheep; checked hay bales, put logs, etc. under fence

• put harness on Junco, girth "saddle" wouldn't take up enough, pushed bales over at red barn > Katherine Foster worked Shandell, broad jump in barn, I worked Puff briefly
• took check back to M. Bailey to sign, put in household account, ran errands > left filmstrips at J Croxfords > left harness "saddle" at H's for adjustment > went to see "Silver Streak" late
• to church, Pete, me, Jessica (Mrs. Larson fainted), picked up harness "saddle" > Pete/Pat worked in timber > Judy Glasgow rode Blaze, Janet rode Cricket, Jessica rode new Quarter horse over to Windy Hills around thru woods > harnessed Junco, ground drove; Jessica lead, pulled sleigh beside him, ground very mushy
• helped Pete look for prolapsed Hamp ewe, checked bales, took Jim > gave Pete card > set up snares, dog trap, let Bess, Kanga run in hay meadow, laid track for Puff > fed at barn, dewormed Junie, tracked Puff > napped > made heart cookies >worked at desk/wrote letters
• Pete met logger for breakfast at Perkins > got drawer unstuck, worked at desk > practiced with sheep whistle > checked snares, let Puff run in hay meadow > bedded down sheep shed, 4 bales 
• new twin lambs, 1 m 1 f > ran errands, took Puff downtown > "oven" lamb ewe, dead lamb > Tom Wagner hitched drove Junie to cart, I drove him a couple of rounds
• Lady Mondale's daughter, speckled ewe, 3rd set of twins/ewes > ran errands for Pete, took Puff, to Albany, manure spreader chain; Jackson truck parts; heeled Puff downtown > ate at DQ with Pete (left truck at Russell's) > fed at barn, rode Junie up to Alice Brown's gate to show girl the trail to Lewis Hixon's farm, horses broke thru crust of drift on hill; checked box trap, snares > Abbott called again
• Suffolk ewe, mail lamb > fed, watered at barn, took Puff > made tapioca custard > read, wrote letters
• 2 more sets of twins > sheep out, took Jim down, chopped hole in creek for sheep > Marge rode Blaze > fed at barn, took Bess > tracked Bess, let her run, checked snares, let dogs run in paddock > oiled rest of harness > Larry Butcher here after game
• checked lambs > to church > 2 veterinarians here > fed at barn, tracked Bess, Puff > very icy road, passed 7 wrecks > ate at Root's, Lancaster, Kingston Trio, Glen Yarborough Columbus > Larry Butcher overnight
• checked lambs, took Puff > fed at barn > picked up Pat, activities bus > Pete, Jessica went after Apple > read, finished "Sherlock Holmes"
• Pete to Charleston > fed at barn, set up lambing pen > rode Junie, took Bess, both terrible > OU Symphony concert
• checked sheep > fed at barn > worked Puff on campus 
• checked sheep, put up lambing pen back of Hamp shed > fed at barn, took Jim, checked snares > Bill Wright here overnight, electricity off
• helped Pete get prolapsed ewe, took Jim, checked my sheep, saw 2 deer crossing hay meadow, took Kanga > sorted thru some attic things 
• checked sheep, took Kanga, saw 6 deer feeding in hay meadow > fed at barn, took Jim, checked snares > arranged books
• took 4 lambs for Sunday School lesson (David) > Rich Feldman called > fed at barn, took Jim > took Pat down to feedlot to help Pete
• road snow covered right before Lancaster, got log splitter part, tools, stopped at LS for wastebasket, etc., > ran errands, copied article for Rich Feldman > to Toliver's > worked at desk

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 January 1977

 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.

In March of 2025, I wrote that there was a three‑year gap in Jody’s Journals. I searched everywhere, convinced the journals had been misplaced. Then earlier this week, while reorganizing my office, they surfaced at last, tucked beneath a stack of Milliron anecdotes and an old client list. Whew! One of my skills is organization. Finding the journals is a relief. They weren't misplaced, just hidden under (more) Milliron papers.

Last week, I shared Jody’s Journals from June–July 1987, the final entries of that year. This week, we return to 1977—one of the foundational years of Jody’s story, newly restored to us.

Jody's Journals: 1977

January

• fed Junie some grain > Jerry's Joleen's party > checked snares, trap > worked Puff in paddock off lead control, rabbit tussled with him in snow > Pete and I snuggled in front of fire
• to church > Pete, Jessica ate at Frisch's (blue truck), I drove SW home > fed at barn > let dogs run in paddock, Puff, Kanga fought over dead rabbit
• went in town with Pete, errands > fed at barn, let Puff run in hay meadow, ran after geese, 2nd dead rabbit in shed > turned horses lose, took Kanga, Jim, Kanga found 2nd dead rabbit > read by fire
• fed at barn > laid track, let Bess run thru hay meadow, did whistle commands beautifully, let dogs run in paddock, Puff tracked beautifully
• snow, no school > to Animal Control Legislative Workshop, J Jones drove
• Animal Control Workshop > snow 
• no school, snow > took grain up to barn, Sailor, packsaddle > checked snares, took Jim, let dogs run in paddock > worked at desk
• Gary, Aggie got snowmobile, visited friend at OU > let Puff run in hay meadow, fed at barn, let dogs run in paddock
• to church > fed at barn > checked snares, let dogs run in hay meadow > Pete, I took Bess, Jim, Kanga, Ruff for walk in snow beautiful, checked on open water for horses
• no school, blowing, drifting snow > Pete went to Marietta after chains for tractor > fed at barn, let Puff run in meadow, deactivated snares, shut dog trap > worked at desk
• no school > kitchen cold water froze > Pat, Randy basketball at Grover Center > let Bess, Kanga, Puff run in bottom, checked water, turned barn animals loose, watered geese > worked at desk
• no school > parent study group at Elizabeth Sweeney's "Children: The Challenge"
• no school > gave Trefa RV, FD > rode Blaze, Jessica rode Cricket, Pete rode Sailor over to Phillip's place, fed sheep
• no school > took Puff to barn, let dogs run in paddock 
• fed at barn, took Puff, let dogs run in paddock, on bottom, checked water, ice in stream > Pete to Charleston on calls, scraped truck > worked Puff, clinic barn, put Sam's sheep and Puff together > read "The Triumph of the Seeing Eye"
• -8, gas off, 38 in house > walked after newspaper, not there > worked Puff briefly in barn > kitchen water frozen > sorted mail > wrote letters > fed at barn, took Puff, let dogs run in paddock > put light on gas regulator > Pete got home around midnight
• no school all week > fed, watered at barn, checked snare, let dogs run in paddock, on down to creek
• took Pat to Stewart, basketball practice, ran errands
• Pam Collier, took Bess, stick jump > shopped at Buckeye Mart 
• put 6+ rolls insulation in attic > crawled under house, tacked insulation > let dogs run in paddock, lost watch > to Charleston > R. Joyce, Pete me, looked at stoves
• worked on sorting clothes from attic > let dogs run > Ralph Guthrie swapped well > Tom Wagner here to look at wagon >Ted, Katherine Foster here > P overnight at B > J overnight at N Rogers
• cut Pete's hair, shaved dog's tattoos, clipped nails > Pete caulked storm windows > pulled horse's shoes, trimmed Cricket's feet > dewormed Junie, got burros out of Junie's stall > read
• led Junie down to water, turned him loose > rode Junie in pasture, gorgeous snow storm, gave me vertigo > finished reading "The Dogs"
• turned Junie out, put Cricket, Sailor in > rode Junie, Jessica rode Blaze around thru woods, beautiful snow > picked up Pat, Leroy Butcher at OU game
• Pete bulldozed path down to streams > drove sheep, ducks, geese down to stream with Jim > led Junie down to water, drove geese back > Jerry, Joleen here
• Ilene Toth, lesson, Doberman puppy bitch > blizzard
• chill factor -40 below > put Junie in barn, blanketed him
• to church > let Junie down to water, turned him loose > Pete moved 6 large bales into barn > fed at barn > watched TV "Roots"
• sorted things from attic > Betty/Abbott alled > worked at desk

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.