First United Church of Christ - Carlisle

09/10/2026

09/10/2026

I wrote this. Not A.A. Milne...

In 2022, I sat down and wrote this small piece of dialogue between Rabbit and Bear:

"When we die," asked Rabbit, "where do we go?"
"Into the hearts of those who loved us most," said Bear. "That way we're together forever."

I paired it with a simple illustration I'd drawn myself, and shared it, not knowing what it would become.

Since then, that quote has travelled further than I ever imagined. Shared countless times across the internet. I am proud of that.. But more often, I've felt something closer to grief. Because along the way, my words got separated from me.

People took the quote and paired it with someone else's illustration that was *prettier* and/or *softer* than my original... and always, always, it would be uncredited. Other times, I've seen this dialogue shared alongside Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, as though I never existed at all. As though the words simply appeared out of nowhere, free for anyone to claim.

These words didn't appear out of nowhere. I wrote them. I drew them.

I'm Tara Shannon, author and illustrator of Rabbit & Bear... and this story is part of a larger world I've been building since 2019, one I care about deeply.

So, I have attempted to do something about the constant taking of what is mine. I've illustrated this particular quote again... still simple, still true to the original feeling, but hopefully "pretty" enough now that it won't be quite so easy for others to quietly repurpose as their own.

If this quote has ever brought you comfort, if it has helped you through the loss of someone you loved, human or animal, I'm genuinely glad it found you.

Tara Shannon
Author & Illustrator, Rabbit & Bear

09/07/2026

09/07/2026

09/07/2026

Brought to you by the Earth Stewards.

That monarch stopping in your garden this fall may be preparing for a journey it has never made before.

Most summer monarchs live only a few weeks. They reproduce, lay eggs, and give rise to another generation.

But many monarchs emerging in late summer and early fall belong to the migratory “super generation.”

They are different.

Instead of immediately reproducing, they enter reproductive diapause and put their energy into migration and survival. While summer adults often live just 2–6 weeks, these monarchs can live for up to about nine months.

Some will travel thousands of miles.

From southern Canada and the United States, eastern monarchs move south through major migration corridors. Many pass through Texas and continue into Mexico, eventually reaching cool mountain forests of oyamel fir in central Mexico.

And here is the remarkable part:

They have never been there before.

Several generations separate them from the monarchs that left Mexico the previous spring. Yet these first-time travelers can navigate toward the same traditional overwintering region.

They use the sun as a compass, combined with an internal biological clock that helps compensate for the sun’s changing position. Evidence also shows that Earth’s magnetic field can provide another directional cue.

Before making that journey, they need fuel.

**Nectar. Lots of it.**

Late-blooming native asters, goldenrods, Joe-Pye w**d, ironw**d, blazing star, and other fall flowers provide critical energy as monarchs migrate south and build fat reserves for winter.

They won’t necessarily stay long.

A few minutes. A few flowers. One more meal.

Then the journey continues.

09/07/2026

Brought to you by the Earth Stewards.

Bees do more work than most of us realize. They pollinate about a third of the food we eat—fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds. Without them, our food system falls apart pretty quickly. Beyond crops, they're supporting wild plants that feed countless other species. The whole ecosystem depends on their work.

Yet bee populations keep declining. Pesticides, habitat loss, monoculture farming, and climate shifts all take a toll. When you lose bees, you lose pollination. When you lose pollination, you lose plants. When you lose plants, everything else follows.

If you've got space, planting native flowers and herbs helps. Skip the pesticides. Let some areas get a bit wild. Even small actions add up when enough people do them.

09/06/2026

It was an honor to be joined by Cumberland Flutes on this beautiful communion Sunday! Thank You for sharing your musical gifts with all of us at First United Church of Christ - Carlisle