Welcome to my Sketch Gallery.
Each image here was drawn after I wrote Smile-Mile Inheritance, capturing the spirit of one scene from a chapter at a time.
Cover for
Smile-Mile Inheritance
The scene for my cover was originally going to be for Chapter One. Then, as the publishing editors worked with me, the time came to create a cover sketch and—my oh my—yes. The cover had to be the ranch!
🧵 A Note of Gratitude
I am especially grateful for my friend, Lynn, who teaches an art class. Her thoughtful guidance helped me refine the final details of each sketch in this gallery.
Her encouragement and artistic insight were a true blessing as we brought the scenes of Smile-Mile Inheritance to life.
Sketch for the Prologue
of Smile-Mile Inheritance
This is Uncle Charlie, shown in his 1942 military photo. It was quite an adventure finding a photo to use as a model. I’m grateful for the internet and used the “find an image” option to help.
I first searched for a military pose I liked—not hard to do, since I have military photos of my sons, father, brother, husband and nephew, so I knew what I was looking for. Then I searched for a photo of a 30-year-old Irish man, which matched Charlie’s age in the storyline when he volunteered to join the Army in this fictional ranch story.
I’m mostly a landscape sketcher, so this was actually one of the last sketches I completed. I had to work up my courage to do a portrait. Not amazing—yet it is nice.
Sketch – Chapter One
This is Betsy, one of the milk cows on the fictional ranch in Smile-Mile Inheritance. She became my focus when I needed a different sketch for Chapter One.
Not knowing what to use, I reread the chapter to find something I could truly see—and ah ha! Thomas, looking out the window several times during that intense reading of the Will.
I turned to my site plan: what would Thomas be seeing? Yes—the barn and the arena—yet there had to be something that kept capturing his attention.
Of course—Betsy! She had free run of the grazing rights in this faith-based story.
Sketch – Chapter Two
This is the foyer of the Main House at My Ranch in Smile-Mile Inheritance, it is a key location in this faith-based fictional trilogy. That strikingly stunning staircase has a story. Ella and Thomas share with Bruce how it came to be during their trek in the Rockies.
Then it was my job to find a photo that matched what I had created in story form. Yikes—are there really floating staircases? I didn’t know!
So off to the internet I went, and to my surprise—yes! Oodles of pictures of fancy homes with staircases that didn’t hug the wall.
Of course, I had to add the background scenes too, so I turned to my house layout plans and sketched what else you’d see as you walked in the front door of my fictional ranch house.
Sketch – Chapter Three
🌿 This is a camping scene—one of the many nights they had to camp out—so I thought it would be interesting to show what their campsite looked like in this fictional ranch story. Backpacks, tent, and hmm… only one chair. You’ll find out why as you read this faith-based story.
After I drew this, I had my personal editor and friend, Odilia, check it, as she did with every sketch. After all, she edited each chapter one at a time—and yup, she had me add a little critter.
According to my friend: “You talk about squirrels in every chapter. You’d better be showing a few in your sketches!”
So, I did. . . in fact, there are two, can you find them?
Sketch – Chapter Four
During this chapter found in Smile-Mile Inheritance, Ella has a serious moment of reflection after a talk with Bruce and a comment by Ralph. She began remembering her many times with Uncle Charlie, especially fishing trips to the Ol’ Pond on the fictional ranch. She vividly describes the scene—and since I love being in the mountains, fishing and camping, I conjured up this scene to sketch.
Finding deer images online was easy. The beaver dam, however, was a bit tricky—mine isn’t built across a stream or river.
Well, you can read about that in my faith-based story and it took a lot of faith to build that dam.
PS: can you find the squirrel?
Sketch – Chapter Five
This sketch is ominous Slate Mountain—a major obstacle for Thomas and Ella in my Christian Novel, Smile-Mile Inheritance. You can read about that and what other trail Bruce needed to take with Champ.
It took a bit of online searching to find images that helped me draw this scene, yet nothing else in the chapter would do. This is a journey of grit and determination, as well as forgiveness and the quiet strength it takes to keep going.
You’ll understand this sketch more deeply after reading the chapter in Smile-Mile Inheritance .
Sketch – Chapter Six
This funny-looking scene in Smile-Mile Inheritance is straight from the story. Champ, the pack horse and Ella’s loyal companion, is standing guard over… hmm, you’ll need to read the story to find out what Champ is guarding.
It was easy to find images of Morgan horses online—the trick was finding one in the pose I needed.
Because I have a deep love for horses, especially the Morgan breed, I knew exactly what I was looking for.
He’s a great character in this trilogy—not just in this faith-based volume.
Sketch – Chapter Seven
This fictional ranch scene at High Meadow was before my eyes the whole time I wrote this chapter: Champ grazing, while Jack sits as a sentinel over the blackberry hedge where Thomas and Ella have a heart-rending breakthrough in their relationship with their deceased parents.
It was easy to find Jack’s model—I had a photo of a dog in this pose among my own pictures. Finding a photo of a grazing Morgan was easy too, since it’s such a natural action for horses.
One of my proofreaders, James, even told me he saw this exact scene in his mind while reading the chapter. Nice to have that kind of confirmation for my faith-based novel.
Sketch – Chapter Eight
🌿 This scene shows the view that Thomas, Ella, and the others in the group are seeing as they hike the Rocky Mountains of Montana in this fictional faith-based story.
It took a lot of faith for Bruce to lead this trek—his task from Charlie was to teach those two kids something important. Well, you’ll need to read the story to find out what.
Because I love using historical and actual events and places, I did an online search for Montana landmarks and mountain ranges in the area of Butte, Montana.
When you read this chapter in Smile-Mile Inheritance, you’ll be able to pick out the landmark I’ve sketched.
Sketch – Chapter Nine
This is a very famous spot in my trilogy, and begins in Smile-Mile Inheritance: the Aspen Grove. It's a favorite place for Maria to visit, and she is the one who manages its upkeep.
You’ll get the full story of how it was formed as you journey through this faith-based story with Thomas and Ella.
It was a cinch to find images of aspen trees online, the trick was finding groves that matched my storyline. So I simply combined a few photos to create the grove that belongs at my fictional dude ranch.
Notice the critters? They’re all part of the story too.
Sketch – Chapter Ten
As I neared the end of sketches for Smile-Mile Inheritance, I realized how often I’d mentioned loading up the pack horse—Champ. Yet no one would truly catch the scope of that unless I actually showed the pack-saddle rig.
So I got online and found quite a few different types of pack-saddles. Knowing all the items that needed to be on Champ, I chose this type to match the needs of our fictional ranch journey.
By the way, a Morgan can carry 300 to 500 lbs of gear, depending how it is packed.
And hmm… why is Jack running away?
You’ll need to read that chapter in this faith-based story to find out.
Sketch – Chapter Eleven
🌿 For this last sketch, I decided to show Charlie’s favorite horse, Ruth, and her buddy, Big Haus, out at our fictional dude ranch. Rather than Maria sitting on the veranda patiently and lovingly waiting for the return of Bruce, Thomas, Ella and the photographers. She is a bit anxious to hear about this journey of life they have experienced. Well, those horses have a story too.
The story of these two horses in this chapter play a big part in Ella’s growth, and I’m sure you’ll be just as intrigued as she was to hear about Big Haus.
Big Haus is a Clydesdale—a powerful breed often used for ranch work and farming—so it was natural to include a few in this trilogy, beginning with Smile-Mile Inheritance, of course.
And yes, that water trough is mentioned in the story too. On a real ranch, there are many reasons to use a trough, so I made sure to include it in this faith-based fictional ranch story as I have other factual things about ranching.
🐴 Logo Story – The Heart of the Trilogy
As the marketing trail lengthened, I realized I needed a logo. The options offered on the site just didn’t fit—I wanted something that would represent the whole trilogy, not just Smile-Mile Inheritance.
So I began to ponder what I could draw for a logo, and the thought came: “You have it.”
Hmm… I looked at my sketches, and yes—of course.
The Ranch itself is what the trilogy is all about.
This fictional dude ranch carries a name you may not understand at first. It’s actually the name I hope to use for my real ranch one day. Its meaning is explained in Smile-Mile Inheritance and deepens in the volumes that follow.
It’s more than a place—it’s a symbol of faith, family, and the journey each character takes.
Come join the journey! The QR code is on my home page.
🏡 Behind the Scenes – Ranch Layout Reflections
Just a few explanations about the layout sketches—originally featured in Appendix B & C of Smile-Mile Inheritance—they show the site plan and two phases of the house layout at the fictional dude ranch.
These drawings were part of my early planning process and helped shape the storyline from the ground up.
From the pasture with the water trough, to the Main House, barns, and windmill, each detail was drawn with care to support the faith-based journey of Thomas, Ella, and the others.
By sharing them in the book, I hoped to let you peek behind the scenes and see how the story was stitched together, one mile at a time.
As I wrote about the operation of the ranch, I realized there’s more to ranch life than what my characters were saying and doing.
I wanted your reader experience to include the true feelings of ranch life—even though it’s a fictional dude ranch.
Behind the Scenes – Ranch Electrical Layout 🐴
As a licensed electrician for 10 years, I understood the importance of a large electrical panel to support the voltage demands of a ranch compound this size—especially with buildings spaced up to a mile apart. This detail is thoughtfully woven into Smile-Mile Inheritance, when Ella walks the fictional property with her photographer, Paul.
He asks all the right questions, of course, and Ella—thanks to Uncle Charlie’s foresight—knows exactly what infrastructure is needed to power a working dude ranch - even this fictional one.
It’s a blend of practical planning and legacy, stitched into the story’s faith-based foundation.
🐓 Behind the Scenes –
Chicken Coop & Garden
This sketch shows the chickens in the garden, their coop is located within the garden space—two spaces that play a quiet yet meaningful role in Smile-Mile Inheritance.
They’re mentioned often in the storyline, and I wanted readers to see how they fit into the rhythm of ranch life.
From gathering eggs to tending vegetables, these areas reflect the faith-filled routines and simple joys that shape Ella’s journey.
This sketch is a new addition to the gallery, stitched in to honor the everyday beauty of ranch living.
🌿Behind the Scenes – Garden Site Plan
This sketch maps out the fictional ranch garden, a space that blooms often in Smile-Mile Inheritance and holds a special place in Ella’s heart—and mine.
The legend just below guides you through each lovingly imagined corner: raised beds, strawberry patches, the chicken coop, and more.
Though it lives in fiction for now, this is my dream garden.
Sigh… one day, it will be mine.
🌻 Garden Legend – Welcome to My Dream Plot
My Garden
Sign over the entry gate
This half-acre garden (200 feet long by 100 feet wide) is marked as #20 on the site plan.
It includes a 60' x 40' Greenhouse (#19) and a 35' x 25' Chicken Coop (#18)—each lovingly imagined and often mentioned in Smile-Mile Inheritance.
The numbers listed here match the garden plot sketch, guiding you through each corner of this fictional ranch garden.
🌾 General Notes
All the yards around My Ranch are planted with wild grass seeds—none are mowed.
The animals take care of that: deer, horses, milk cows, goats, and other ranch companions.
Every structure is fitted with gutters and rain barrels, storing water in tanks for practical use and sustainability.
And now lets get on with the description of each item in this fictional ranch garden, beginning with the:
1. Chicken Coop 🐓
Inside this faith-based ranch story, the chicken coop is a place of companionship, care, and daily rhythm. The main door to the coop is on the west side of the coop, facing the main house.
Built with straw bedding, nesting boxes, and a gentle ramp into the garden, it’s designed for both comfort and practicality.
Ella calls the chickens her friends, often spending quiet moments here—gathering eggs, sharing thoughts, and finding joy in their company. Maria and the dude ranch guests also find pleasure in this morning task, joining in the gentle ritual of gathering eggs and greeting the day with gratitude.
This coop reflects the spirit of Smile-Mile Inheritance: humble, heartfelt, and stitched with love. Listed are items within the coop:
a: Steep pitched roof, fully insulated, with solar panels
1: has enclosed vent stacks along top ridge for summer heat venting
b: Powered by solar and wind energy
1: battery storage at east wall
c: Overhead circulating fans
d: Overhead flood lights for winter roosting
e: Chickens free range inside the garden during summer months
1: corn kernels scattered about the garden to encourage them to find bugs too
2: outside water stations for free ranging chickens
f: Chicken nests on south wall, two levels
1: open to outside, each with its own ‘window shutter’ for gathering eggs
2: storage bins under 1st level of nests
g: Slotted flooring for clean up and radiant heating in winter
1: #6 - Under flooring is at an angel toward the trench on the north,
2: with a revolving tarp for cleaning out the ‘poop’ [in 6 ft sections]
3: #7 - dung goes into the recycle bins and/or directly into the garden beds
2. Entry Door inside the garden to 🐓 Chicken Coop and Ramp
4 ft wide at north side
Inside this fictional ranch garden, the chicken coop is more than just a structure—it’s Ella’s favorite place to be. She calls the chickens her friends, often chatting with them as she gathers eggs or watches them scratch in the soil. The entry door and ramp offer easy access for both Ella and her feathered companions, reflecting the gentle rhythm of ranch life and the heart of Smile-Mile Inheritance. Here is a list describing the coop:
1: garden door 4 ft wide at center of west wall that opens to the ranch house
i: North wall has the water and feeding stations
1: chickens are only feed their grain at sundown
2: this brings them into the safety of the coop for the night
j: Natural tree branches for overhead roosting
1: running full length of central area of the coop
2: at varying levels for the ‘hierarchy’ of the flock
k: Triple pained windows on upper area of south and north walls
1: with winter storm shutters
l: Six foot by six foot hatchery at east end of coop
1: with storage cabinets above
3. Entry Gate Garden Area 🌿
This welcoming entry gate marks the beginning of the fictional ranch garden layout featured in Smile-Mile Inheritance. A hand-painted sign reading “My Garden” hangs overhead, inviting visitors into a space of faith, simplicity, and seasonal beauty. The gate opens to wild grasses, raised beds, and the gentle rhythm of ranch life—where Maria often begins her day in quiet reflection. Here is a list with descriptions of the various areas of this fictional ranch garden:
#9 - Perimeter fencing: 8ft tall
1: ‘deer proofed’: military coiled wire tops the whole perimeter, even over the entry gate.
2: ‘Rabbit proofed’: small chicken wire 4 feet down and ‘L’ shaped to the outside
#10 - Openings in lower area of fencing for chickens to forage for bugs
🌿#4 The Garden 🌿
This fictional ranch garden layout is Maria’s place of solace, often featured in Smile-Mile Inheritance.
Spanning a half-acre, it’s where vegetables grow alongside wildflowers, and chickens roam freely among the rows.
Maria finds peace here—tending to the soil, gathering eggs, and reflecting on life’s quiet blessings.
This garden reflects a lifestyle rooted in faith, simplicity, and the beauty of creation. This list describes items found within the garden:
#7 & 8 - Recessed compost bins: two first year more added as needed
#11 - On inside of perimeter fence: vertical gardening walls and containers
1: for lettuce, spinach, cabbage, carrots, etc.
2: some for herbs
#4 - Raised beds: concrete block [provides insulation for soil]
1: companion planting in each bed
2: four beds the first year and more added annually
3: some with overhead grid system for vertically climbing vining plants
4: raised beds use the ‘lasagna’ gardening soil techniques
5: all beds have drip system on timers
#4b - Raised beds with concrete blocks and wooden retractable sides
1: for under ground plants - ie: beets, potatoes - Irish and sweet, etc
2: two the first year and more added later
#12 - 1/3 acre in field crops: corn etc
1: a few rows the first year and more added as needed
2: also oats, until farming area was established
AND: hanging on fence for strawberry plants are Old Levi pants
1: moved to greenhouse for winter
🌻🌼5. Greenhouse🌼🌻
In this faith-based fictional ranch setting, the greenhouse (60' x 40') is a place of growth and quiet reflection. It shelters tender seedlings and hearty vegetables, offering Maria as well as Ella a space to nurture both plants and prayer. Rain barrels collect water from the roof, echoing the ranch’s sustainable rhythm. Once again, I've provided a list of items found within this fictional ranch greenhouse. [yet real to me because it is my dream greenhouse]
a: Rounded steep pitched roof, fully insulated,
1: with enclosed vent stacks along top ridge for summer heat venting
b: Lower pony walls fully insulated with R25
c: Upper walls triple pained windows with shutters for winter storm use
d: Overhead circulating fans
e: Powered by solar and wind energy;
1: battery storage at east wall
f: Entry doors, one to outside the perimeter and two into the garden
1: each door 4 ft wide
g: Storage cabinets on east walls
h: Full plumbing through out
1: each row has faucets
2: all faucets on timers
3: overhead misting system for summer months
i: Small ‘latrine’ at east wall
j: Work benches in various areas through out [6 stations]
k: All raised beds: concrete block with vertical wall for planting
1: four the first year, more as needed
l: Hanging planters fulling insulated
m: Strawberry ‘pants’ brought in for the winter
n: All pathways have radiant floor heating
o: with fake grass covering and are washable
p: drainage system recycles water to holding tank inside building
🌻Thank you for spending time with me—
— reading about my reasons for each sketch and sharing in the behind-the-scenes reflections of things that shaped this fictional ranch in my Trilogy - which begins with Smile-Mile Inheritance.
Every drawing, caption, and detail is stitched with love, legacy, and a touch of ranch wisdom. I hope you leave with a smile, a spark of curiosity, and maybe a bit of sunshine in your pocket. 🌻