Nature & Wildlife Photography by Janet L. McDonald will be on display and for sale at Booklovers’ Gourmet, 72 East Main Street, Webster, through December 30 in the cafe gallery during regular business hours. Free and open to the public. For more information call 508-949-6232 or email [email protected]. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Special holiday hours: Sundays, December 10 and 17, 12-4 p.m.;  Mondays, December 4, 11, and 18 ,10 a.m.- 5 p.m.  and December 24 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Closed December 25.

Janet McDonald is an artist, a creator, and nature lover. She received a BFA from UMass Dartmouth and later earned a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Eastern Connecticut State University. Janet worked for over a decade as a textile graphic designer before pursuing a completely different creative outlet as a Pre-K teacher. Now in retirement, Janet walks dogs, pet sits and enjoys taking pictures while canoeing or hiking with her partner Tom.

Janet’s photography has been exhibited at the Sprinkler Factory Gallery, The Vanilla Bean Café, The Rose Room, Booklovers’ Gourmet, Attleboro Art Museum, the Sherill Library in Cambridge as well as many other libraries in the Northeast.  The Brookside Chalet holds a permanent display of Janet’s photographs, inspiring visitors to explore the beauty, history and serenity of the Quiet Corner of Connecticut whether it be a whimsical look into the Thompson Dam or a striking view of Cargill Falls.

Janet says:”I often find wonder and beauty in the world around me. Whether I’m walking through the woods or even spending time in my own neighborhood, I always see magic in the ordinary. I am compelled to capture those scenes through my eyes so I can not only relive the joy I felt in that moment but share these portraits into my perspective and experience with others.” 

For more information on Janet and her work, visit her Instagram accounts

@janetmcdonaldphotography or @frenchcatdrawings.

On Saturday, December 16, visit Booklovers’ Gourmet as Sue Sheperd discusses and signs copies of her latest book “Balancing My Seesaw :Through Life’s Ups and Downs.” Free and open to the public. (Rescheduled from an earlier date). Signed copies will be available for purchase. 

Diagnosed with a chronic condition, over 29 years ago, Sue has learned how to live with life’s ups and downs. Even so, she has navigated her way through divorce from an abusive marriage, homelessness, loss, and times of loneliness. And now she would like to share some of the secrets she has learned on her “SeeSaw”, and how to hold on when the ride gets too rough.

Through short stories and poems, Sue has found her voice and wants to share the hope and inspiration she has discovered so that others can also find ways to balance their own “SeeSaw” of Life. She wants everyone to know the excitement of following Jesus and wants to show how involved He is in our lives. With God in the middle of it all, He helps to keep us balanced when life’s circumstances are trying to bring us down or throw us off.

Sue is a life-long New Englander, and has been blessed with three adult children, two daughters-in-law and two grandchildren (and we can’t forget the five granddogs). You are welcome to contact her via email at: [email protected].