Willi's Blog

Report from 5-yr old Maggie

2007-05-12T21:46:00.000-04:00

Hi Dr. Ellen and Dave:

My sister, her daughters, and grandchildren were in Williamsburg this week. I had lunch with Claire, my sister, before she left and she reported that the Willi book is a huge hit with Maggie, her 5 year old granddaughter.

In fact, when they were in the blacksmith shop, Maggie snuggled up to her mom and whispered, "That's the man in the Willi book."

So Paige asked him if he knew Willi and he reported that in fact, he did. He carries dog biscuits in his pocket for when Willi comes to visit him!! And he pulled a biscuit out of his pocket!!!

Maggie was thrilled! And I am thrilled, also! What a famous pup!
Camille

Dr. Ellen & Dave on the Gulf of Mexico

2007-04-08T18:18:00.000-04:00

Do you know where the Gulf of Mexico is? Here is a shot of Dr. Ellen and Dave in a Boston Whaler off the west coast of Florida.

They are taking time off to enjoy the Florida sunshine before Dr. Ellen has to get busy on the new WILLI book about the Kennedy Space Program. Keep watch for updates about that!

2007-04-08T18:14:00.000-04:00

In the meantime, she is content to PLAY BALL at a moment's notice...

Dressing Up?

2007-04-08T18:09:00.000-04:00

Sometimes WIlli has to dress up for her roles. She wants you to know that being so famous has its downsides, and this is one of them.

But– she really is a good sport about it most of the time.

Just wait until you see her in her NASA space suit! Her next book, you see, will be about the Kennedy Space program!

Oh, and don't forget my hat!

2007-02-27T10:16:00.000-05:00

Willi gets hot out there in the sun! So Dave usually brings a hat along for her, although sometimes he just fills it up with water and lets her drink from it! That's pretty cool, too!

Buckle up!

2007-02-26T11:54:00.000-05:00

Willi waits patiently for Dave to escort her to work, after all they have a whole lot of digging to do (Dave being a famous archaeologist and all).

But Dave always makes sure that Willi buckles up first! Only then can they go!

Willi enjoys a musical trist with Dave and Dr. Ellen

2007-02-26T11:48:00.000-05:00

That Willi, she gets into all kinds of fun! And she knows so many musical friends...not to mention Dave and Dr. Ellen. Remember Lance and his Fifes and Drums? And dear Jock at Bruton Parish? Music is truly the language of the heart.

Do you know how to make music, too?

Felicity of Williamsburg loves Willi, too!

2007-02-13T14:27:00.000-05:00

A lovely third grader in Washington, DC is sharing Dr. Ellen's book with Rawls Byrd School Media Specialist, Mrs. Viky Pedigo.

It looks like the American Girl Doll, Felicity of Williamsburg, is enjoying it, too!

Who is Dr. Ellen?

2007-02-09T13:15:00.000-05:00

Dr. Ellen, the author of WILLI GETS A HISTORY LESSON, is well known in Virginia as an experienced family therapist, public speaker, and photojournalist. She was a member of the psychology faculty at Thomas Nelson Community College from 2000-2005, and in prior years served as adjunct faculty at the College of William & Mary, Old Dominion University, and in Eastern State Hospital's psychiatric residency program. In addition, she was a senior staff psychologist with the Colonial Community Mental Health Center in Williamsburg, a post which she held for many years.

She has a doctorate in Education and counseling psychology from the College of William & Mary. Today she is an international photojournalist with major projects in South Africa, Namibia, Singapore, Australia, Suriname, Provence, Costa Rica, and Ecuador over the last decade. She is currently spending time in the United States on projects in Virginia, Florida, and Tennessee.

But Dr. Ellen is perhaps most well known for her 14 years as president of the Williamsburg Area S.P.C.A. (now known as the Heritage Humane Society) where she established a program of orphaned wildlife rescue services, and raised public awareness about the welfare of all animals.

As the head of the S.P.C.A., Dr. Ellen talked to lots of school children about animals; especially about what to do (and what not to do!) when you find an orphaned animal. She would do this often, bringing with her 5 or 6 baby squirrels or even baby birds or raccoons or fawns who were found without their mothers. Boy, was that fun!

Her interest in writing children's book comes from a life-time of environmental advocacy. A strong supporter of 'Wildlife Warrior' Steve Irwin of Australia, Dr. Ellen realizes that education is the key to our Planet's survival. She tries to help spread the word to children who, one day, will be in leadership positions that will affect the very future of our planet.

Besides, she says, kids are just plain fun to be around. (Oh, and animals, too, says Willi!)

Watch for more of Dr. Ellen's childrens book in the future! The next one is going to be about 'Little Edgar, the Squirrel' who lived in Dr. Ellen's household for seven years until his death. He was crippled by a fall from his nest during a hurricane, and needed help with eating since his teeth were severely damaged. You will love him!

A 'WILLI' ALERT - neuter or spay your dog!

2007-02-09T12:36:00.000-05:00

Willi is a 12-year old spayed female dog, so she can't have puppies. She has never had any puppies.

Is your female dog spayed, too? She should be, just like Willi! A healthy female dog can give birth many times during its life, bringing into the world half a dozen puppies each time. The problem is that there just aren't enough good homes for all of the puppies being born to all the dogs out there. Each year, in fact, 10 million dogs and cats are put to death in animal shelters across the United States for exactly this reason.

We 'spay' female dogs and 'neuter' male dogs. These are the terms we use to describe fixing dogs so that they can't produce any more babies.

Remember Doley from the WILLI book? Doley is a neutered male dog. Good, huh?!

Willi and the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums

2007-02-08T18:21:00.000-05:00

Willi and Lance Pedigo are very good friends. Lance is Drum Major for Colonial Williamsburg's famous FIFES & DRUMS and you met him in the WILLI book. Here they are pictured together along side the mighty James River near Jamestown, Virginia, where Willi's story begins. Lance is the handsome fellow in the middle with the drum (of course)!

Have you ever seen the Fifes and Drums perform? What are you WAITING for?

Dr. Ellen talks about the Willi book and how it came about

2007-02-01T20:47:00.000-05:00

Students always ask why Dr. Ellen wrote the Willi book...and why she used a dog to tell the story. Her answer is that dogs are fun and great story-tellers, and everyone loves them. Right? Anyway, who can turn down a starlet like little Willi!

It took Dr. Ellen two years to write the book and to compose all of the photographs that are in it. She wanted to publish it in time for the 400th anniversary of Jamestown. Do you know what that anniversary is all about?

English explorers came to Jamestown Island in 1607 to establish the first permanent English settlement in the New World. They arrived on three ships named the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. The explorers landed their people at Jamestown Island on May 14, 1607, so the 400th anniversary will be celebrated in May of 2007.

2007 minus 1607 = 400 years.

Dr. Ellen also happens to think that history can be pretty boring to many students, so she thought that she would help bring history alive by using her photographs to tell the story of the Historic Triangle and its important role in American history.

Willi visits Yorktown Elementary Magnet School!

2007-02-01T20:39:00.000-05:00

Willi sure enjoyed meeting the students at Yorktown Elementary School in Yorktown! The school is just a stone's throw from the Yorktown Battlefields where she and Mr. V (pictured with Willi) were so happily reunited. Obviously, Willi was a big hit!

Willi and Dave dig it!

2007-01-30T14:16:00.000-05:00

Willi and Dave have been working on some very important digs of late. By 'digs' I mean, they have been busy digging up (escavating) artifacts at archaeological sites all over Virginia. Doesn't that sound like fun!? Of course, they both get VERY, VERY dirty when they are digging in the dirt like that, so Dave always gives Willi a bath when they get home.

Do you give your dog a bath, too? I hope so!

A 'WILLI' ALERT - Bring your dog in out of the cold!

2007-01-30T13:38:00.000-05:00

Dr. Ellen has added a new feature to the Willi BLOG, called 'Willi' Alerts. When you see this shot of Willi with the Tricorn Hat, you will know that Willi is talking to you about something very important.

Today, WIlli wants all dog owners to be sure to take their dogs in at night, and not leave them outside in freezing temperatures. Even FLORIDA is having freezing temperatures today, so you know that much of the United States is also experiencing it.

Dogs need to be brought inside during winter storm conditions. A dog's feet can get cold very quickly, especially on thin-coated dogs, and they can't endure the cold for long. They will get hypothermia (where their body temperature gets very low) and even frostbite. Animals can die of hypothermia!

So don't go to bed without first bringing in your dog so that he, too, can have a good, warm night's sleep!

If you see an animal left out in the cold, ask your parents to speak to its owner about bringing it inside for the duration of the storm. Bark! Bark!

Why is 'Willi' spelled this way?

2007-01-28T18:39:00.000-05:00

Kids often ask me why Willi's name is spelled with an 'i' at the end. The 'i' spelling is the feminine form of the male name of 'Willie.' To the right is a picture of Dr. Ellen with Cat Willie - do you see the 'ie' at the end of the cat's name?

Can you guess if 'Cat Willie' is a male or a female cat?

Willi's story travels to Tampa, Florida!

2007-01-25T16:01:00.000-05:00

WILLI GETS A HISTORY LESSON is getting around! Dr. Ellen recently visited Mitchell Elementary School in Tampa, FL to talk about the WILLI book and to discuss Virginia's Historic Triangle region with students. The kids asked questions and talked with Dr. Ellen about Pocahontas and the Colonial Parkway and the three ships at Jamestown...and more!

"I'll love you forever, Dave!" Willi promises...

2006-12-27T11:35:00.000-05:00

Willi tries to comfort her pal, Dave, who worries that all this fame will somehow go to Willi's head. He does not want that to happen. But Willi [promises] that she will be his best pal forever and ever and that's the truth!

Did you know? Someone left Willi on Dave's doorstep when she was just a little bitty dog and she has been Dave's right-hand dog ever since! She travels everywhere with Dave, even to work where she has a special bed under his big wooden desk. Dave is an archaeologist and is in charge of Virginia's Threatened Sites Program. So don't be surprised if you catch sight of Willi at one of Dave's archaeological digs! She'll be the pretty one...

Everyone loves Willi!

2006-12-27T11:26:00.000-05:00

Yes, Willi can't go very far before people of all ages stop to talk with her, and pet her. She meets people very well and is an e-x-t-r-e-m-e-l-y well mannered little dog who happens to be 12 years old now, herself!

Willi tells Dave all about her friend 'Doley'!

2006-12-27T11:16:00.000-05:00

Dave points to page 31 of WILLI GETS A HISTORY LESSON as Willi tells him all about her adventures with big, lovably Doley. She knows some secrets about Doley, too - like the fact that her dear friend Doley is now almost blind from old age. But he is hanging in there just fine, Willi hastens to tell us!

Willi meets American author and historian, Phyllis Haislip

2006-12-27T10:59:00.000-05:00

American author and historian, Phyllis Haislip (in the red vest), made a very special trip to the Rawls Byrd School to meet Dr. Ellen and Willi. The Rawls Byrd Media Center, in fact, has many of her children's books. You may have read one of Phyllis' best-known works, "Lottie's Courage," the story of a contraband slave growing up during the American Civil War. You can visit her BLOG at http://www.phyllistheauthor.com/

Have you found Willi's paw print yet?

2006-12-27T10:54:00.000-05:00

Yes, Willi got to sign Dr. Ellen's book, too...open WILLI GETS A HISTORY LESSON and look at the bottom right corner of the inside front cover! Cool!

Willi gets a little TLC from Dave and Dr. Ellen

2006-12-27T10:49:00.000-05:00

Rawls Byrd students get to meet Willi in person

2006-12-27T10:40:00.000-05:00

Rawls Byrd students get a preview of the Willi book.

Willi is definitely a Star!

2006-12-27T10:37:00.000-05:00