Another busy year at Hazel Ridge. First and most exciting is my birthday sauna is finally built! Nick spent many sweaty, summer hours extending the deck and constructing the sauna. It stands 10-feet off the ground and with heavy gusts of wind it sways ever so slightly. Just enough to rock me to sleep…at 150 Fahrenheit. It feels like a hot house in a tree and is the absolute best present I have ever gotten. The spring and summer has been a good balance of heat and rain and the garden has flourished for it. Being “children-free” for the most part, I planted more flowers than veggies, but despite that, canning freezing and drying season kept me pretty busy. This spring, I watched a snapping turtle lay her eggs and Nick marked the spot so we could keep track of her “brood”.  Unfortunately this fall, a predator feasted on the eggs. Next year if we are so lucky to witness egg laying again we will “predator proof” it. We did have a bumper crop of Green Heron nestings. Four successful families. They feasted on an abundant supply of tadpoles, fish and frogs. Gratifying proof of our healthy wetlands. Along with our usual school eco-tours hiking the property, we hosted two teacher’s appreciation days and several library and Audubon groups. In the laudatory words of Larry Hert, English Division of Delta College, “The trip to the van Frankenhuyzen farm was one of the most interesting and rewarding professional experiences I have ever experienced.” We thought that was pretty cool. The coyote population is still healthy (and noisy), foxes seem to be able to co-exist with them but the deer population has been much reduced. Last years bumper crop has dwindled to a few measly sightings this year. Good for us, bad for cousin Dick and Diane. Last year they harvested several good sized buck and does. Zippo this year. Our Tennessee Walker, Black, died this summer of pancreatic cancer. We buried her in the same pasture she grazed for 25 years. We had an average lambing year but from now on I am doing some serious culling. It is hard to keep up with lambing as our school programs/visits become more popular. We will always keep a few sheep around so Nick can still do paintings of them. Kelly is in her sophomore year at Grand Valley and still loves it. She is going through the usual sophomore angst about a major. She enjoys writing but is not sure if it will be a career. We assure her that there is no rush. She is, however, getting home sick and is very much looking forward to coming home for the holidays. Heather was married in July, graduated form the Seattle Institute of Art in September in and is moving to Bangor, Maine in mid December. Ah, the energy of youth. Her husband, Ahmed, was offered an exceptional position at the Bangor hospital. They are both excited to leave the Seattle rat race and move into the “small town” ambiance of Bangor. The only problem is “you can’t get there from here.” Her exceptional skills in fashion design, art and graphics will open many doors. On one health note, I have been seizure free for over a year. That’s a good thing.

Commissions

One of the Michigan State University Veterinary Clinic murals is done. During the first weekend of November we hung the first of the two 35-foot murals. I was pretty useless with a pinched nerve but friend, Stuart Niles, helped with the hanging. We couldn’t have done it without his help. And we have to agree with the general consensus..it looks awesome! If you get the chance, it hangs in the G Building of the Veterinary Medical Clinic..just above the Dean’s office. Also, Nick will be donating a special painting to the WKAR-TV 23 spring auction. You can check their web site closer to their spring date for more information at http://wkar.org/auction . We have gifted a large collection of materials from Nick’s children’s books to the Special Collections Library at the University of Michigan. The library will preserve and make available his sketches, artwork, manuscripts and other related book “stuff” as research materials for students. These are items Nick would have eventually just thrown away. The folks there are thrilled with these and future donations and we’re just glad they will be put to good use.

Books

Our publisher, Sleeping Bear press, is very excited about our new Hazel Ridge series. They are true farm and animal tales based on our 20 years of wildlife rehabilitation. Saving Samantha was released last year and Spring 2006 the third in the series, Kelly at Hazel Ridge will be out. We are very pleased to be able to share our “Shangri-La” with you. Our 25 years at Hazel Ridge has been filled with love, blood, sweat and tears... and we wouldn’t have it any other way. I think our girls would agree. A visitor once said of the farm, “Hazel Ridge is a great place for kids and dogs to grow up.” We totally agree. There are two new books since the last open house. Friend on Freedom River by Gloria Whelan and Challenger: America’s Favorite Eagle by Margot Theis Raven. They will both be available at this years open house.

Events

Besides the usual school visits (we love 'em) and our annual summer book sighing tour, we kept pretty busy doing other things. In February, Nick traveled to Dollywood in Tennessee to research the Challenger book. Nope, he didn’t meet Dolly. He visited the Eagle Foundation within Dollywood. The raptor recovery program they have created to care for eagles and hawks is amazing. A visit there is well worth your time. We were presenters at the Michigan Reading Association in Grand Rapids in March, the Upper Peninsula Reading Association in Marquette in October, eh and many Young Authors Day throughout the year. In May, Nick traveled to San Antonio, Texas to participate in the International Reading Conference and promote Saving Samantha, which was selected as 2005 International Children’s Book Award Notable. It is a big thing and we are very proud. The city is beautiful. We spent a day at Michigan State University via the Audubon Society, doing art programs with home schoolers. We are trying something new this year. Nick is invited to be the guest speaker for the Kirtland Warbler Festival the weekend of May 19^th in Mio. He will hold classes at the Kirtland Community College on Friday and Saturday and will also be selling his books, prints and originals. For updated information on the specifics of his classes, check their website closer the festival date at http://warbler.kirtland.edu/ . Right around the corner will be our two annual holiday events. Nick will be presenting a painting demonstration at O'Leary Paints in Lansing on Saturday, December 3^rd, at 11 a.m. There will many other artists presenting throughout the day and is a great educational opportunity for old and new artists. Plus, Dennis always sets out a great hors d'oeuvres table. We will be selling and autographing books after the presentation. For more information call 517-487-2006.              Now for our Holiday Open House.

We will be trying something new this year to try to help with crowd control. For anyone who has been a part of our festivities, you know how hectic it is. Nick barely has time to go to the bathroom.. poor guy. So we have added “after work” hours to try and spread our guests out. Thursday and Friday, December 8 & 9, we will be open from 4 – 7 p.m. with limited refreshments. It is our hope to accommodate those after-work folks who want to get in and out, no muss, no fuss and no big hoopla. Hours on Saturday and Sunday, the 10^th and 11^th will be 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.. Hopefully it will relieve the congestion, the long lines and allow Nick a bathroom break. If you are adventurous, wear your hiking boots and enjoy a walk in the back 40. Maybe the weather will be more accommodating this year.

So, long story short:

Holiday Open House Hours are:
                December 8 & 9, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
                December 10 & 11, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Etc.

This is my personal space to add book and music recommendations, share cute, quip quotes and generally add whatever doesn’t fit in the above categories. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon is fiction but gives you an insight of what it is like to be in the mind of an autistic young person. In Search of Islamic Feminism by Elizabeth Warnock Fernea is an intriguing look at what feminism means to Middle Eastern women. And finally, for me, the much anticipated 6^th Outlander series, A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diane Gabaldon. But you really shouldn’t start it before you read the first five... sorry. Below are a couple of quotes that really hit a note with me so I’ll pass them along.

“It should not be considered unpatriotic to question authority” unknown

and “The goal of life is living in agreement with nature.” by Zeno

Hope to see you at our open house.

Robbyn, Gijsbert, Heather and Kelly

Newsletter Issue 14, Fall/Winter 2004

This was the year of the rains! The ponds were overflowing, my garden was un-tillable until mid-June and many of the hiking trails were flooded. Throughout much of this spring we pumped flooding water from one pond to another..keeping them all full. Plus, I didn’t have to water the garden once! Because this summer was quite busy, the weeds got an upper hand in the garden. Somehow that reduced the bug invasion. I called it my "o de’naturale" garden. This was (is) also the year of the deer, as well. No matter how many clinking, clanging noisemakers I invented, to repel deer from my garden, they were oblivious. My scarecrows might just as well have said, "Welcome. Come and enjoy Robbyn’s All You Can Eat Buffet." for all the good they did. But, all in all, it was a good harvest. Especially since Nick and I are "empty nesters" now. Kelly graduated this June and loves Grand Valley State University. It is a perfect fit for her. She has no major as of yet, but what ever she does, we have all the confidence in the world she will succeed. We moved Heather to Seattle via Amtrak this summer. We multi-tasked during our 2-week west coast vacation. We registered her in the Seattle Institute of Art, found her a perfect apartment located within walking distance to her school, the Pikes Market and Bed, Bath and Beyond and finally we shopped for necessities at Ikea. After settling her in, our family enjoyed the remaining time sightseeing and eating. The diverse cuisine was great and with all the walking/exercising we did, it made eating that much more enjoyable. Two months later, Nick filled his van with the rest of Heather’s "stuff" and drove a solo trip back to Seattle. Cross country in 3 1/2 days. He loves driving long distances but he was glad to be back home...10 days later. We had another family of Green Herons hatch and thrive throughout the summer months. They feasted on the abundant minnows and frogs this wet year provided. Nick built a 10-foot high turkey vulture "feeding board" We toss roadkills and "what-have-you" up on the board so the big birds can feast while we watch from a distance. Needless to say, things can get pretty ripe up there, so we often sit upwind from the feeding site. Six years after, Jackson, our Great Horned Owl, died we finally buried him. (Cryogenics..in the barn freezer) With chainsaw in hand, Nick sculpted a Great Horned Owl from an old dead pine tree..becoming the final resting place of our family owl. The carving was so life-like that when it was completed, the crows gathered in hoards to harass it. Several schools participated in our eco-tours and "Painting with Nick" days on the farm. As much as we love Hazel Ridge, seeing our farm through fresh eyes is always an added treat. This August, I had two seizures and after 3 days in the hospital and a battery of scans and tests I have been diagnosed with epilepsy. My EEG showed abnormal activity in my left temporal lobe. My family knew all along I was a tad abnormal. Now they have proof. Long story short, getting the right diagnoses, finding the right doctor and finding the right medication that suits me, makes all the difference in the world. My friends and family have been a great support and I look at this as a new challenge. Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Blakeney and Clara Carroll, the wise medicine women in my life. The mysteries of epilepsy brings out the detective in me. I find it all very intriguing and am open to any stories any of you want to share.

Commissions

The ink is still wet on the contract for Nick to create two 35-foot murals for the Veterinary Medical Center at Michigan State University. A fall 2005 opening reception is planned. MRA, Michigan Reading Association, has commissioned Nick to paint their theme poster for the Spring 2005 MRA teachers conference. The theme is Reading and Writing for Peace with guest speaker, Arun Ghandi, grandson of Mahatma Ghandi. Nick feels honored to be able to contribute for such an important message. The artwork can be viewed at www.michiganreading.org. He will also be painting another piece for our local PBS station. The WKAR-TV Auction takes place April 8-16, 2005. Check out wkar.org for more information.

Publications

2004 has definitely been Nick’s most prolific book year, thus far. Four new books, beginning with our joint project, Saving Samantha, a true story about a rescued red fox. The Legend of the Petoskey Stone continues the Legend series. Both books were released spring 2004. Early fall, came the release of H is for Horse: an Equestrian Alphabet, and is filled with beautiful illustrations and is chocked-full of horse trivia and tidbits. Finally due out before Christmas, is Friend on Freedom River, written by Gloria Whelan (Jam and Jelly’s author). A tale of one family’s journey to freedom by way of the underground railroad. Freedom River will be book number eighteen. Nick is very proud of his book accomplishments. He is particularly pleased that the books not only allow him to share his art work with the mass, but they often carry valuable lessons, as well. We are excited about Sleeping Bear Press’ proposed "Hazel Ridge" series; continuing the tales of farm and animal stories. The next story, a sort of pre-quel to the previous books, is in the works now. It introduces our family and farm to old and new readers, through the eyes of our youngest daughter. Several of our books have done well in the "awards" category. Adopted by an Owl: 2004 KIND Children's Honor Book (National Assoc. for Humane and Environmental Education) Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot 2004 "Living the Dream" Book Award - Manhattan Country School, New York, NY, Edmund Fitzgerald: 2004 Michigan Notable Books List and Saving Samantha 2004 Great Lakes Book Award Finalist. And the biggest perk of all, is sharing these books through school programs throughout the Great Lake states. Teachers and kids are our biggest fans. Thank you all.

Shows and Events

We have clocked a lot of miles on the van this year. This summer we traveled up north to do our annual week-long book signing gig. That is always lots of fun. We attended several Young Authors Conferences, sharing our stories with young readers and writers. Throughout the year we have both visited schools, drawing, story telling and nature journaling with kids We participated in Family Nature Day at Sprinkler Lake Educational Center in the Huron National Forest. In June, we spent a day at the Saginaw Zoo, sharing and drawing with kids and adults. We presented at several teachers conferences including the Celebrate Literacy conference at Grand Valley State University...Kelly’s new digs. It was a special opportunity for her to show us around. The Boniface Art Gallery in Escanaba hosted an exhibit of how a book is created. Using rough drafts, sketches and originals from Saving Samantha and Adopted by an Owl, the museum created a learning center for kids. Along with the general public, over 750 students toured the gallery. Several teachers have, since their tours, extended what they have experienced into their classroom activities. It is such a joy to know that our books have opened up so many doors for kids. Our usual art shows, the Charlevoix Waterfront Art Show and the Crane Festival, were very busy and successful. Many people attend just to see what new books are out. It is great fun (and a challenge for the old memory) to see familiar faces. We tried something new this year because of the Horse book. A 3-day stint at the Novi Expo Center, for the 2004 North American Horse Spectacular. Several planned holiday book signings include *Central Park Place Cappuccino Cafe - Okemos, November 21, noon - 2 p.m. * Eastwood Mall Schuler Books and Music - Lansing , November 27, 11 a.m. - noon, *Meridian Mall Schuler Books and Music- Okemos, December 2, 7 p.m.- 9 p.m. * O’Leary Paint - Lansing, December 4, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and last but not least Hazel Ridge’s Annual Holiday Open House Saturday and Sunday - December 11 & 12 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Please join our family in celebrating the holidays. There will be plenty of food, libations, books and art. It is always fun. If the weather is nice, wear your hiking boots and experience a peaceful walk on Hazel Ridge. If you’re quiet, you may happen upon owls, foxes, coyotes, deer and a myriad of song birds.

Etc.

This section is my own personal finds. My book recommendations are The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy... a WW11 holocaust story. It was so intense, I couldn’t put it down. For you fantasy folks like me, I have been enjoying The Rhapsody Trilogy by Elizabeth Haydon. Plots within plots within plots. It is a series I hate to see end. In the music section, I have discovered Jessica Riddle (Jacobs).The title is key of a minor. She has a great voice! And the entire family loves Norah Jones!

Quote to ponder:

"Know yourself. Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful."

Ann Landers
Newsletter Issue 13, Fall/Winter 2003

Farm, Family and Friends
Another year has passed and life on the farm is still good. There have been several new additions since I last wrote. Two kittens, now over a year old, were ceremoniously presented to Nick for his birthday. Bob, a 10 pound domestic short hair tiger with a bobbed tail and his brother, Bob’s Brother, (Bob-b, for short) a domestic grey longhair, have settled purringly into our lives. They have grudgingly tolerated Buddy, our new German Shepherd pup. He was born this spring, and at 5 months is already 55 pounds. We’ll get pictures on the web site before too long. More animals but less kids. Kelly is a senior and has been busy with college applications. Grand Valley University is her first choice, but we’re still waiting to hear. Heather has proclaimed a major and is very excited about her new direction. She will finish up her junior year at Western then head out to the Seattle Institute of Art, fall 2004, to enter in the Fashion Design program. For a gal who loves clothes, this is a perfect fit. (pun intended) The continuing drought-like conditions have had both positive and negative consequences on the farm. For the good, this is our second year in a row with relatively no mosquitoes. To be able to sit on the back deck after dark is pure luxury. On the other hand, all 5 ponds on the property are at their all time low. This March all the bass from our two stocked ponds were floating belly up at spring’s thaw. A deadly combination of shallow water levels and a very cold winter were lethal to much of the pond life. Insects, amphibians and reptiles have found their way back to the water. Nature always finds a way. That includes the many nestings of bluebirds we had this year. Seems the new land with its open prairie is to their liking. There was at least one wood duck nest on each pond. All the families hatched and moved on except for one lonely and forgotten chick. We watched her grow throughout the summer... by herself and with a survivors tenacity. When fall arrived she hooked up with several other Woodies and left us. Maybe she’ll return next spring. What we didn’t get to see this year, were the elusive little Green Herons. Each time we thought we found their nesting site, they moved. The babes hatched and matured without human spies this year. Numerous coyote sightings for me, but not for the rest of the family. I really did see them! Several school groups visited the farm for our eco-tours and painting sessions. I never know who has more fun, the kids, the parents or us. A tour bus full of 45 picture-snapping, fun-loving MAZZA folks dropped in on the farm to see the behind the scenes of the Hazel Ridge Workshop and Gallery. They left with an awareness of what inspires Nick’s paintings... and a bit of manure on their shoes. Nick’s sister and brother-in-law, Ella and Piet, visited from the Netherlands. During their three week stay they traveled through much of Michigan, saw Niagara Falls and explored the wilds of Canada. They boarded their plane with many pictures and wonderful memories. Nick traveled to the Netherlands for a family reunion and while he was in the area he and his childhood friend, David, did a 3-day trip to Berlin to meet the real Mercedes from Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot. She lives in the same house as she did when she was a child during the war. She and husband Peter are warm and generous people and as a favor to Nick, she signed several copies of Mercedes. One copy went up for auction at WKAR, our local public television station. With the signatures of Mercedes, Col. Halvorsen, the author, the illustrator and another pilot... plus several original drawings in the book... the book climbed to over $560.00! Someone acquired a rare collectors item. Thank you.