Pet People Talk

Pet Lovers News and Animal Views

2021…So Many Changes

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It’s been years since I’ve lived full time with children. In fact, my life’s been kind of sedate for the past 20 or so years. Ed and I were basically a quiet couple, going out rarely and then mostly for hikes in our beloved and recently adopted New Mexico wilderness or for church activities with friends and family in Albuquerque. Of course the occasional, delicious New Mexico style restaurant meal belongs on this list as well.

Our weekly schedule was answering customer questions, filling orders, improving our website and for me, designing new jewelry. Then of course there was Friday movie night at our son’s cabin, (although this was rarely a quiet event.)

Of course we had our share of festive family gatherings. More often than many people, as a matter of fact since my son, his wife and the 3 grand kids have shared our 20 acres as very close neighbors for 4 years.

But still Ed and I were mostly homebodies. And days sometimes passed before we saw anyone, even our family next door!

But that is changing as I write.

David and his wife Diana are in full remodel mode. With my enthusiastic agreement, my large adobe and wooden house is being made into a family dwelling for the 6 of us. I wasn’t keen on living by myself, and David (my sweet and very caring son) couldn’t bear to think of me banging around in this giant house like a lost ping pong ball.

So life is changing. For me, it doesn’t work well to hold onto a past that is, well, past.

My son has completely stepped into Ed’s “The Magic Zoo boots,”and I keep myself as busy as I possibly can. Yes, it’s hard. I know every one of you who has lost someone they adore can identify with this.

But filling my home with the sounds of children playing, the smells of a baking blueberry pie (Diana is a marvelous cook) and the hammering of new walls going up to create additional bedrooms fills me with hope.

The year is new and I plan to experience as much fun and give myself as many treats as I can. This of course includes not just delicious blueberry pies but new jewelry creations, new blog articles, precious moments shared with my grandchildren and hopefully emails and phone calls with you!

We’ve all experienced a tough 2020. I know I’m not the only one. So…tell me about your New Year’s plans, and how you will treat yourself in 2021! (I know you deserve it)

Your Animal Loving Artist,

Merry

New Year, New Magic Zoo

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The Magic Zoo is reinventing itself. My son, David Rosenfield is joining our business. So I thought I’d introduce you early this year. He will be handling the “business end” of things and help maintain the website, track your orders when needed, and so on.

Of course I am still here, and you can always email me personally or even call me on the phone. I’ll be designing some exciting new jewelry in 2021 as well. Be sure and let me know if there is a particular design you are interested in seeing from me!

Last year was a tough one for so many of us. And my heart goes out to each and every one of you who has been ill or lost a loved one.

Sadly, my beloved husband of 44 years passed away from a heart attack in December. Some of you know about this already, but since I consider all of you part of The Magic Zoo family, I’ve decided to make his passing known. If you’ve ever spoken to him personally, you know what a delightful, soft spoken and caring man he was.

The Magic Zoo is continuing. More than ever your emails, comments and orders are appreciated. I am learning how to create email offers all by myself now, so be patient with me while I learn the ropes. I will continue to have offers and updates throughout the year.

And expect a personal call from me from time to time. I really love talking to you on the phone, and actually connecting with you “in person.”

My best wishes for you as the New Year proceeds.

With love from your animal loving artist,

Merry

Our Pecos Wilderness Hike

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Last weekend Ed and I decided it was time to shower ourselves with nature. After 5 plus months of sheltering at home with the occasional grocery shopping trip (with masks, of course) the idea of strolling through nature other than our own 20 acres was exhilarating.

“The Pecos Wilderness is where we’ll hike,” Ed announced earlier in the week. I had never been there, but anything dubbed “wilderness” sounded mighty fine to me.

We left a little after sunrise on Saturday morning with homemade breakfast burritos and a thermos of hot coffee. It was a 90 minute drive through dry country hills, foothills and ever increasing mountainous vistas. New Mexico is like that. You can start out in dry juniper country and end up in aspen and pine within a couple hours or less. Maybe not from everywhere, but luckily from where we live.

As we approached The Sangre De Cristo mountain range, the space around us grew. I watched a raven riding the winds, patrolling his territory and dreamed of flying above this part of the country, taking in the grass, flowers, mountains and deer from from several thousand feet.

But getting up to 10,000 feet by shank’s mare (walking) was as close as I got, and that was plenty amazing for me.

Here are some of the critters we saw on our hike:

  • A hummingbird that came to greet us when we parked, most likely mistaking our 1990s van for a gigantic red flower.
  • After an hour of hiking, a couple of grouse muttering sweetly to keep in touch with each other as they grazed
  • At 8,000 feet, A hummingbird moth I encouraged out of hiding for a photo op
  • At just under 10,000 feet, a family of humans hiking back from a mountaintop lake

Plus vistas of aspen, increasing in girth the higher we climbed. Three different varieties of rose hips, wild raspberry and blackberry plants, fern, maple trees, various wildflowers in hues of purple, yellow and red, thigh high emerald grass and monstrous pine trees that smelled of butterscotch.

Our journey up was accompanied by the musical splash of the creek, mini whitewater sounds that followed us most of the way.

We were heading for the closest of the 3 mountaintop lakes, but a thunderstorm and rain at about 10,000 feet turned us back. I was kind of proud of myself, negotiating fallen logs, boulders and slippery edges without mishap. Luckily, as an afterthought before we left home I’d found my sturdy walking stick to bring along.

I loved every minute of that hike. We’re planning to go back in October, once the maples have turned red, and hike all the way to the lakes. The 5 mile hike we just completed will become a 10 mile hike. I can’t wait!

Have you had a recent trip to commune with nature? Tell me about it!

Your animal loving artist,

Merry

Have I Called you Lately?

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If anything good can be said for the covid-19 epidemic, it is that opportunities for connecting with family and friends have been increasing in all sorts of interesting ways.

This past weekend I spoke with my sister. She told me that in her experience with kids and grand kids, family members are enjoying each other more than ever. Whether it’s working on puzzles or baking cookies, doing old fashioned things as a family will (I’m pretty sure) reap great rewards in the future.

And you know what I’ve been doing? Well, some of you reading this may already know! I’m calling you up on the phone. Every day I call from 25-40 customers just to chat for a few minutes.. MOST of you I have never spoken with before.

Sometimes I leave a phone or text message (or both), but I even enjoy that!

Here is what we mostly talk about: Cartoon Merry on phone

  1. Who I am (When I say I’m Merry, The Magic Zoo artist, 99.9 remember me! Pretty cool, eh?)
  2. What they ordered from me (even 10 or 15 years ago!) and how they mostly still wear it!
  3. How covid-19 is impacting them in their community (Amazingly, from Alaska to Florida, the experience of most people is pretty similar)
  4. If I can do anything for them now. And yes, I’m sure to tell them I’m offering Free Shipping on my site the entire month of July.

Sometimes we discuss politics, the weather, their pets, how they still wear my designs, etc. I make calls all morning long. The rest of the day I feel so connected with my Magic Zoo friends. And you know what?

You are SO NICE!!!

Here I am, a “sort of” stranger, calling out of the blue.

Maybe you purchased a charm or a pair of earrings as a gift over 15 years ago. Sometimes I have to tell you exactly what it was just to jog a memory.

But the reaction then is always friendly. Sometimes I get a little chuckle out of someone when I tell them that I realize how random my call is. I mean, who does this sort of thing?

But for me, The Magic Zoo has always been about YOU. I love people and I love animals. That makes my life both interesting and really fun.

And besides, I want you all to survive this crisis, and to survive well.

And I’m here if you need something special created for you or for a gift.

If you haven’t heard from me yet, you can always call or email me!

Your Animal Loving Artist, Merry

The Magic Zoo’s Temporary Tough Times Sale

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Merry with Mask

These covid19 times prove that we “Planet Earthers” are a tough bunch. And that we care enough about each other to endure discomfort and denial for weeks at a time. Just to help keep each other safe!

I think that’s pretty darned amazing.

What is most important these days?

The first priority here is… Keep yourselves and your family safe, healthy and well-fed.

Food, shelter and clothing are at the top of the list. Followed by some daily outdoors exercise

Spending money on gifts might fall to the bottom of the list. Or even fall off the list entirely!

What about family-owned businesses like The Magic Zoo?

First off, I want to assure you that The Magic Zoo is not planning to go anywhere! (Except maybe to the grocery store)

Our company made it through the 1980s Recession, the 2008 Banking Crisis and most difficult of all, we will make it through this current Covid 19 Pandemic.

As The Magic Zoo artist, I have a daily plan, which really helps! Here’s what I’m doing:

  • Calling and texting many of my customers daily to find out what they need
  • Designing new jewelry
  • Supporting those who work for us (my engraver, my caster, my printers)
  • Working on a beautiful new website design
  • Taking lots of walks and listening to our local birds sing!

Introducing…The Magic Zoo “Smile Anyway” Pewter and Enamel Jewelry Sale!

I decided to make it easier than ever for you to get some gifts for yourself and the animal lovers you care about, especially now!

So for one week, starting tomorrow,  June 1st and running through June 7th at midnight, my pewter and enamel jewelry will be ½ price.

I care about you and your family. I want all of us to come out of this crisis strong and healthy.

Please join me during this sale and create some smiles for you or your friends. Stop by and make your list for Monday!

Your Animal Loving Artist,

Merry

Covid 19, The Magic Zoo and Veterinary Heroes

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Covid19 Pin by The Magic ZooThe coronavirus hit the planet like a ton of bricks. From normal life punctuated by faraway news stories of the Chinese being devastated by a new virus, to an America we barely recognize in almost no time at all.

Social distancing, facemasks while in public (do we wear them or not? Seems like now the answer is “yes”) and empty aisles in the paper products section of the grocery store. Changing directions by our governors, daily presidential briefings. And of course, a whole lot of hand washing.

Our family may be luckier than most, living 8 miles from a tiny town, in “the middle of nowhere” as my daughter-in-law’s father put it. Instead of missing our grandkids, we can take hikes with them, celebrate birthdays together (our family has an entire springtime birthday cluster) and still grab the occasional hugs. We live out here together, as one big family, in 2 separate homes on our 20 acres. Of course face masks and hand washing are still a big part of our lives when we go to town for groceries, but mostly we don’t see many other people, even close friends who live in Albuquerque.

But we’ve gotten pretty good at communicating through Zoom. I still think talking to those little live images of my friends is kind of awkward. However, it’s a small price to pay for seeing the faces we love, and being able to communicate in real time.

How do we keep occupied? For The Magic Zoo, there is no question of busyness. I have taken this time to get more organized, to call my wonderful veterinary customers and see if there is anything they need and to text lots of my other customers besides. (I love it when you text or call me back!)

Life has slowed down just enough to grant me the time to pay more attention in general.  I’ve had some long conversations with some of my veterinary friends on how covid19 has affected  their lives and their clinics.

Yet you keep on going, servicing your clients and all their beloved pets. You are total super heroes!

And…I designed this new 2020 covid19 lapel pin to honor all those in the veterinary profession working hard right through this epidemic. I must confess, one of my customers suggested this idea to me. I loved it, and not surprisingly it has taken off.

This is a fine pewter lapel pin, plated and shiny with the numbers “2020” in the middle of the pawprint design, blackened meticulously by hand. A subtle and beautiful way to acknowledge all our wonderful veterinarians and their staff.

I know a lot of vets, but you know a lot more. The next time you have to take your pup, cat, dog, rabbit or guinea pig to the doctor, take along one or more of these little acknowlegement pins. They are my least expensive design… I don’t make a lot of money on them, but that is not why I created them. They are my “thank you” gift to some of the finest people I know.

How is your veterinarian doing during this crisis? I would love to hear from you!

Do you have a Pet you Adore?

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Most of us have had a dog, cat, bird or other animal that will go down in our personal history as precious beyond compare. Our memories of this adored pet are beautiful and clear. We can still feel the softness of a particular dog’s warm coat, hear the quiet purr of a very unique cat, or feel the leathery nose of our favorite non-human poking us for a treat.

If you’re lucky, this beloved animal shares your life now.

Or maybe he or she has gone over the rainbow bridge, and only tender memories remain.

I still think about our family pet when I was a child, a beautiful Dalmatian with a heart of gold and a grin to match. Cid actually learned how to smile. Or maybe it came naturally to him!

For instance, one morning we opened the baby gate that kept him in the kitchen at night and discovered a mouse that apparently had died of fright.

Since we all knew Cid wouldn’t harm a fly, his embarrassed grin and low wagging tail told the whole story. The mouse had been scared to death of this gentle polka dotted dog. The poor little thing did not have a single mark on it’s body. And poor Cid felt terrible about it!

Yes, Cid was definitely one of a kind.

Unfortunately, this sweet pet left us too soon, after only a few years of companionship. Cid had physical problem that at that time (early 1960s) had no cure. Our entire family, even our dad, wept at his loss.

We have just a few photos of Cid, like this one of me at age 12 holding my favorite tabby cat and cuddling with Cid on the lawn

Merry, Cid and Tabby Cat

Merry, age 12 with Cid and Kitty

But what if there were a way to keep those memories alive, and capture the essence and spirit of a much adored pet forever?

I am working on something very, very special. It may not be for everyone, but could it be for you?

Watch your email in the next couple of weeks. You will know it when you see it.

Your Animal Loving Artist,

Merry

 

 

 

 

The New Year Doth Approach!

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I hope and trust your holidays thus far have been warm, cozy, full of delicious homemade eats and wonderful times with friends and family.

Christmas Rosenfields 2019

The best days for me are the ones leading up to Christmas morning and New Year’s Eve. We have our own traditions, which I mostly celebrate with the gang in this photo. That’s me in the funny blue hat, my husband in the other funny (straw) hat. And our son, his wife and the 3 grand kids (including the two youngest who refused to wear a coat for this photograph, insisting they are “freeze proof.”)

Here’s what I do in the days leading up to Christmas:

1. Choose our own Christmas tree on our 20 acres (Always, we pick one that is crowded and never going to grow into a tall and glorious pinon pine.) Rather, this flat sided misfit is endowed with a burst of glory, its final days spent decorated with 40 years worth of collected ornaments and sparkling lights.

2. Bake Christmas cookies with the grand kids, almond flour delights decorated with “semi” healthy goodies like Trader Joe’s “M and Ms” and fair trade chocolate drops

3. Wrap all presents in beautifully colored cloth with reusable ribbon (Living in the country, disposing of rolls of wrapping paper every year can be problematic)

4. Bake pumpkin pies on Christmas eve, with approximately 3X the amount of spice called for and adding molasses for extra flavor depth

And now? I’m excited that the roaring 2020s are just around the corner.

In fact, our little town of Mountainair is holding its first ever New Year’s eve party. The Roaring 20s is the theme, of course. And Ed and I will for sure be there, dressed up in our vintage 1920s outfits.

You know, I think we should all ROAR this next decade. Do what we’ve always wanted to do. Take up a new hobby or craft. Or get better at what we already do. Maybe make a bunch of new friends.

I’m planning to do all that.

We’re going to attend more shows this next year. That means meeting more people and making lots more friends. And I’ll hone my craft, creating new designs and even recreating some past favorites. So watch for some Magic Zoo announcements of new designs coming up soon! I’ll be wanting to know what you think of them.

Now I have 2 questions for you…

  1. What is one of your holiday traditions?
  2. What do you plan to do in the roaring 2020s?

I always answer every comment made here. And I adore hearing from you!

Love and Peace to you, your family and all your non-human best buddies,

Merry

Dozens of New Magic Zoo Designs

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I’ve been busy this year. PLENTY busy.

In fact…

I’ve created over 50 new designs. Yes, you could say that I’ve been in the midst of a creative explosion.

These new designs are all over the map: domestic animals, farm animals, exotic pets and more.

Not only will I reveal them to you this Thursday, (right after you’ve had your Thanksgiving dinner in the USA, that is), but they will be 20% off for Black Friday weekend!

Elsewhere in the world, just humor me. I realize that Thursday November 28 may be just another day of the week for you out-of-the-USA folks. But I’ll try and spice that day up with my new Magic Zoo collection.

As of right now all the brand new earrings, pendants, charms and brooches are all inside these cute little boxes. But there will be no peeking ahead of time. Nope. Not even one little lid lift.

…Well, maybe just one little peek. BUT if you wait till Black Friday weekend, you can actually shop and get that extra 20% off. That’s what I’d do!

And don’t even try to get me to tell you about a brand new category I’ve just created. This new category does not involve earrings, pendants, brooches or anything else you might be expecting.

As a matter of fact, it is truly new and super special and to me, really exciting. And beautiful.

So, be sure to check your inbox on November 28th.

I’ll give you that 20% off discount code on that day.

And for you fellow Americans, Have a fabulous Thanksgiving!

For the rest of you, have the best Thursday ever.

Your Animal Loving Artist,

Merry

Crazy Artist Reunion and the Zodiacal Light

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My siblings visited us last weekend. I got to show off not only my New Mexico home, but a whole lot of cool stuff from our adopted (and very) enchanted state.

GegenscheinMy brother Jeff, a talented wood artist and amateur astronomer took this gorgeous photograph of a rarely seen phenomena known as the “Zodiacal light” right outside my house at about 4 AM last Saturday. According to Jeff, it is a spot of light in space, opposite the earth from the sun. He said the only person he knew who’d ever seen it was a friend of his who saw it in New Zealand!

I’m so proud of New Mexico for delivering this astronomical “gift” to my little brother! Oh yes, he also heard a bugling elk during those wee hours…A true New Mexico mountain experience.

My other brother Alex, a fine artist from New York shared photos of his most recent work with his awed siblings. He is a retired painter of sets for Broadway and off Broadway shows. Now he devotes much of this time to painting  and developing his own unique style. And traveling the world. What a lucky guy!

Holly and I got to spend some well-earned time together. Discussing family, her newly discovered talent as a water colorist, and of course teasing our “little brothers” mercilessly.

Ever hear of the amazing landscape painter Georgia O’Keefe? She lived in New Mexico for many years. Our mom loved O’Keefe’s work. So of course we “kids” made a pilgrimage to see her home. And took a bus tour that shared many of her most iconic spots, along with the paintings O’Keefe had done there. It was an incredible journey for us all.

No, it wasn’t a perfect weekend. I burned the sweet potato fries for Friday’s chile-cheeseburger dinner. The petroglyph walk near my home that I’d scheduled half a year earlier was canceled by rain. The trees in Taos had not yet turned their brilliant fall colors after traveling many miles there for Saturday evening.

But there were many un-looked for gifts. We had a lot of laughs, honing the quirky humor that saw us through our mutual and sometimes difficult childhood.

We met some genuine New Mexico characters. We ate at some authentic southwestern breakfast joints. Jeff got to tour the Taos Pueblo with Ed and me on Sunday, visiting and shopping with native craftspeople (including meeting their sweet dogs and cats.)

The weekend ended for me with a satisfying fullness. Like eating just enough of an incredible meal, knowing there will be even more later on. I don’t know about Holly, Alex and Jeff but I’m already half-planning our next get together!

How often do you see your family? And what kinds of things do you do together?

Your animal loving artist, Merry

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