People, let me tell you 'bout my best friend

 This is Sadie. Sadie is 14, and, as you can see, an elderly lady now. Sadie has lived with us since she was about six weeks old - we got her from the local animal shelter after regularly visiting for several months in search of a dog that would match our family.

We knew she was part lab, part shepherd based on the animal control officer's testimony. We didn't know what that would mean as far as size went. I wanted to call her Peanut - based on coloring and adorable factor, which she had in spades. Because labs and shepherds can both grow large, though, I was out-voted. I brought her with me everywhere for the first couple of weeks, carrying her in a cat carrier until we got a crate to keep her in at home. We bonded, and despite other family members' trying to coax her love and favor away, she has been my shadow for 14 years.

 Sadie has led a comfortable life. She's chased squirrels, bunnies, and woodchucks to her heart's content. She's had the run of the farm and slept in luxury.

Today, my heart is aching. Sadie doesn't feel well. She hasn't felt well for a while - I've taken her to the vet a couple times, and the consensus is that she is failing, but she is old. I believe in fighting for quality of life, but not quantity without quality. Sadie isn't eating any more, not even the treats we try to give her. She tries - she takes them from me, but after a couple of nibbles, she drops them on the floor and looks at me in despair.

I know that I am not the only one to feel such anguish with the impending loss of a loved one. I know, people usually use that term to refer to other people, but there is no getting around the fact that to people who share their homes with animals, those animals are loved ones. Sadie is not the only pet that I will grieve (have grieved,) but she is the one my heart is breaking over now.

What about you - have you had a special animal take up residence in your heart/home? I'd love to hear about it!

Grab a free book, or two...

How do you find new authors or series to read?

If you're like me, you find books, drool over the pretty covers, gather a bunch you'd love to read based on the backs and maybe a peek inside the covers, then convince yourself (or the person you went to the bookstore with convinces you, because, let's face it, nobody trusts you unsupervised in a bookstore anymore) that you should restrict yourself. You agonize over which ones you need to put back, which ones to snap a pic of with your cell so you remember that you wanted to read them. Sometimes you pick up a book you've heard people raving about, only to find a short way into the story that it's not your kind of escape.

If any of this rings true for you, then prepare to be thrilled! If you read young adult novels, here is a chance to try out 28 authors this month, all for free. These books cover a myriad of action-adventure genres - there's sci/fi, fantasy, zombies, dystopian, military sci/fi, and paranormal. There are short stories, prequels and book ones in series so that if you enjoy a particular story, you can keep reading in that same "world." If you find one that isn't your thing, well, there are still plenty more to choose from!

 Check out these books! 

See if you can find a new favorite tale among these free offerings. If you know anyone who enjoys reading Y/A action-adventure stories, feel free to give them the link so that they can take advantage of the opportunity, too, before it ends at the end of the month.