About Us
Life at Swainsona
Swainsona is my grounding place where I feel at peace. When my children were younger, I often asked myself what I could provide for them that would be appreciated and needed when they entered into their adult life. The answer I discovered was to give them an opportunity to breathe! I envisioned a place where they could come unannounced, grab a drink, get lost in their thoughts, off the grid with zero judgment. Swainsona is that place! It is exactly what I hoped it would be. Many times I see my family and even friends find their way down to the lake where they can quietly stare across the water and recharge.
For me, the lake and surrounding areas are the inspiration for my stories. Every day I see wildlife interacting with each other, as well as my own animals. From the hawks to our resident fox family, I embrace their not so little worlds.
My Team
My team is comprised of the animals that surround me! They give me inspiration and entertainment on a daily basis. Jilly is the spokes animal for Jillie Bean Tales. You will find Jillie either on my lap or laying across my computer. She reminds me when it is time to take a break!
Archer and Remi are my informers. They tell me when there are intruders, for example, wandering deer, rogue bunnies, or even worse the UPS and Fed-Ex delivery people. Their role is critical to keeping my sense of humor throughout the day.
Marcus, Happy and Tic are the wise men. They seem to be the protectors and confidents of the other animal.
Lucy and Desi are the mom and dad of our resident fox family. There will definitely be a story in the future about this adorable family!
I will add photos as I collect them. There are so many geese, osprey, eagles, elk, deer and a ridiculous amount of mice and bunnies at Swainsona. They all have a story to tell and I am going to help them!
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Boedecker Lake
This beautiful lake reminds of me why I live here...
