“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
A.A. Milne

Many of you have asked how Julie and her family are doing following the passing of her beloved 3-pound therapy dog, Norbert. My daughter Julie, and I have been deeply moved by the outpouring of love and expressions of care we have received from The Norberthood. We are beyond grateful to know he was so loved. I will share some of my thoughts here, and Julie will write at a later date.

I wish I could find adequate words that could describe the deep loss we feel. His sweet, beautiful life of pure unconditional love was gratefully entwined with our own for nearly 16 precious years. My heart melts when I recall his exuberant hello with his fluffy tail wagging while jumping up and down; his turning in excited little circles at mealtime; his endless calm when resting on a lap; his tender, knowing way when cuddling up to someone who was not well; his smile for all with that trademark pink tongue; his enthusiastic high-fives. Perhaps you have loved and lost an animal companion and can understand. Grief comes in waves with both tears and treasured memories. We cherish the thousands of photos and videos we have of Norbert that we continue to share online. Sometimes, I feel his presence. We miss him more than we can say.

What I’ve Learned
Love lives on, and that love can be expressed in beautiful ways. Immersing myself in creative work, particularly around that which Norbert inspired, has provided quiet time for reflection and remembrance. I had not previously done an oil painting of Norbert, so the process of honoring him in oil was therapeutic. Each stroke of the brush was filled with happy memories, as well as tears, while portraying his adorable individuality on the panel. That is the image you are seeing with this post. Journaling has been another way to sort out the range of my emotions. Capturing memories allows me to relive happy times we shared.

We’ve been touched by the goodness of people who have shared their own stories concerning Norbert or their own animal companions; we know we are not alone concerning loss. I learned a lot from this tiny creature, and perhaps that would be a good topic to explore further. Our creative journey continues, and Ways to Your Art is an extension of the good work Norbert inspired. It feels good to meet up online with caring people here. It is the light he left behind.

Invitation to Create
What could you create to honor a pet you now have or have lost, or to honor your own array of emotions and recollections? Perhaps write some stories, gather photos, do some sketches, make a collage? Perhaps sew a quilt or a pillow? Take some time to reflect on the ways your beloved companion remains in your heart and how you might express and pay tribute to that special bond. We send our hugs to everyone in the Norberthood.

Welcome to the Heart of Our Work

Welcome! Thank you for being here as we share our first Substack post!

As a mother/daughter team dedicated to work that is inspiring, uplifting, and beautiful, this Substack space is an extension of something deeply meaningful to us. For years, we’ve built a community around care and creativity through social media inspired by our beloved 3-pound therapy dog, Norbert, and through our art, writing, and educational efforts. This Substack is the natural next step: a place for deeper connection, gentle inspiration, and creativity that nourishes the soul. Our company, Polly Parker Press, may be small, but we believe you don’t have to be big to make a big difference in the world. We can each make a difference in our own way.

Why This Space, Why Now?

Here, among a like-minded community, you’ll find creative inspiration that arises from a mix of personal reflections, Nature-based experiences, art and writing ideas, behind-the-scenes glimpses into our creative process, and the unfolding journey of our work to spread smiles. We’ll explore what it means to live a creative life—one rooted in wonder, attentiveness, and care.

Some posts will come from me (artist and holistic art educator) with an eye for nurturing mind, body, spirit. Others may come from my daughter, Julie Steines, a warm-hearted writer and advocate for pets and people. We each bring our voices, our vision, and our stories—with a shared mission of making the world a little more caring and beautiful. We believe in giving back, so you will also hear about our philanthropic efforts.

What’s In It For You?

Ways to Your Art intends to help you find ways to follow your heart in positive and creative ways. If you’re an artist, a nature lover, an animal-lover, a creative, a tender-hearted soul, or someone who simply wants to live a little more intentionally, this space is for you. We hope our words and images feel like a breath of fresh air—something you look forward to, and something that gently nudges you toward your own creative path.

Each post will offer a simple takeaway: a prompt, an image, or a small idea to carry with you. Think of it as an encouraging companion, inviting you to explore ways to uncover what’s unique and brilliant about you.

We’re so grateful to walk this path with you. If you feel moved, you can subscribe for free, comment, or share with a friend who might welcome this kind of quiet encouragement in their life. (Be sure to add the subscription email address to your contact list). Feel free to visit our websites (in the About section) to learn more about us.

With warmth and wonder,
Virginia

The Animals Who Inspire Us

The Heart of the Story

I’ve been thinking a lot about Julie’s beloved 3-pound therapy dog, Norbert. He is now 5 months an angel. Although tiny, his heart was huge, making over 2 million people around the world smile. If you have never visited his sites, feel free to visit @NorbertThe Dog on Instagram or NorbertDog on Facebook to get a sense of the beautiful community that grew around him, a community we call The Norberthood.

Life Woven Into Art

For so many of us, our pets are companions, confidantes, and muses. Norbert was most definitely all of these to me. He inspired the idea for our first picture book, Norbert: What Can Little Me Do? I painted the illustrations (seen above and below). When Norbert was adopted by my daughter, Julie, he was a one-of-a-kind mixed breed, the only pup in his litter. He moved from a farm to a big city. We wondered what it must be like for him to feel so small in the middle of a huge, bustling place. Perhaps it’s a question we may have all asked at one time—what can little me do?

Reflections Along the Way

The process of writing that book about self-reflection in Norbert’s voice introduced the universal idea of finding one’s unique place in the world. Ultimately, Norbert realized his special gift was making others smile just by being himself, and that was true. He lived his real life doing the seemingly simple thing of bringing comfort and joy to others. It didn’t matter who he met; people would leave feeling a little more special, a little more loved. Perhaps you, like me, believes that each person has unique and special gifts. If little Norbert could make so many people smile, each of us can surely do the same in our own special way.

Norbert’s loving spirit lives on, and the impact he had on others continues, including myself. The warmth of unconditional love a pet provides is not forgotten. Here I am posting a few illustrations from his book series so that you can see how the animals in our lives can inspire us.

An Invitation to Create

• Is there a story about your animal companion waiting to be told?
If you have a pet who has shaped your life, consider starting your own record of their stories. It might be a small sketch each day, a quick note on how they made you smile, or a longer reflection on how they changed your way of seeing the world. These reflections, gathered together, can become treasures. I am grateful for the creativity our little dog inspired in us.