The Lesson of Autumn Autumn has a way of reminding us that even the most beautiful seasons carry a little sadness. 🍂 The light softens, diminishing a few moments every day, and we feel that small ache of change in the air. Mornings turn crisp, evenings stretch earlier into shadow, and nature quietly begins its long exhale. Yet, despite the melancholy, autumn remains a favorite season for so many of us. There’s something about its tender honesty—the way it admits that beauty can exist right alongside impermanence—that feels both grounding and true. In Merivelle, the leaves gather in gentle piles along the sidewalks, and the scent of wood smoke drifts through town. Dogs like Bear

Life lessons from when Betty bounced into our lives. Last summer, our neighbor mentioned a little pup in need of a home. We weren’t looking for another dog. In fact, we already had three, and life felt full enough as it was. But somehow—despite all logic—the mini Australian Shepherd found her way to our house. And from that first day, Betty felt like she belonged. Betty is smart, sweet, and surprisingly snuggly for a herding dog who believes she’s always on duty. She can curl herself into a little ball beside you, soft as velvet, but in the next moment, she’s watching the door with laser focus, making sure everything is in order. Here’s the

Before there was a book series, there was our Great Pyrenees, Bear. He came into my life at a time when I was very sick, and I wasn’t sure how things would turn out. Bear was just there, in the quiet hours, lying beside me while I tried to get better. I didn’t have to say anything. He didn’t either. He just was. And sometimes that’s the most powerful thing in the world—to know you’re not alone. The phrase I often use in the It’s a Wonderful Dog series, “Lean In and Listen,” came straight from those moments. Because with Bear, you didn’t need words. You only needed to listen with your heart. We’d never had a Great Pyrenees before.