About

Who Am I?

Writer's Bio. = Traci Musick-Shaffer is a published author, ACEs Advocate, UC warrior, guest speaker, and high school English teacher. More recently, she has become a contributing writer and moderator for InflammatoryBowelDisease.net. She lives in the foothills of Appalachia and loves to write essays on topics she contemplates from her front porch or hiking around her farm. In addition to writing, she has dipped her toes into the waters of being a Harley chick, a martial artist, a cowgirl, and wannabe jogger; all to no avail. Each venture left her sore and walking funny. So, she sticks to writing, which is a little less painful. She received a BA from Marshall University in Huntington, WV, and a MA in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Currently, she teaches in southern Ohio where she prefers her log cabin country living with her husband, David, and new border collie, Molly.

David: "So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you."

--Paulo Coelho

Meet My Son

"Bub" is my 23-year-old "Gift from God." As a Wright State University Alumni, he has graduated from the Liberal Arts program with a degree in history and a minor in religion. I'm a PROUD Momma--not only because of his academic accomplishments but also because he's the sweetest, kindest, most giving person I've ever known. Many days I wonder, "Did this kiddo really come from me??" Seriously...he's that thoughtful and kindhearted. I couldn't ask for a more lovely and loving son.

Bub: "I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart) I am never without it."

--e.e. cummings

Meet My Fur Baby

*UPDATE: Our beloved Holly, crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on the Spring Equinox (March 20,2022). It was her 17th birthday. I believe this was her way of leaping into an eternal spring. It's interesting...I never knew I had a "therapy dog" until she was gone.

* * *

Holly--a.k.a. Holly-Girl and Holly-Doodle--is a Scottish Border Collie who is fetch-oriented but struggles to surrender what she fetches. She also loves to herd. The deer around the farm don't much appreciate it. In this picture dated March 2020, she had recently recovered from an illness that found her not eating for five days. We thought she was a goner for sure! But...and we don't question why, she started eating and has been a Wonder Dog ever since. At age 16, she doesn't do much other than lick her human parents' faces, roll around in deer droppings, and splash in any available mud puddle. She lives in "be here now" mode, and serves as my reminder to get in the present moment when I stray. See, she's great at herding me, too!

Holly: "What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?"

--Mary Oliver

Wedding Day

I'm EXCITED to say that my son married his best friend, Alaina, on October 30, 2021. They are now expecting a baby GIRL in October 2022. That means I'll get to meet my first grandchild at that time! The older I get, the faster life moves. But I've read that “Grandchildren are God’s way of compensating us for growing old.” -Mary H. Waldrip

Newest Addition

Meet our new fur child, Molly O'Shaffer. She was born in Cecilia, KY, on March 24, 2022. That's four days after we lost our Holly-girl. Here she is planting her paw on my foot after arriving at Shaffer Farms, May 21, 2022. It's as if she's declaring, "you're mine." And she's right.

Red Merle Border Collie

Molly is another border collie possessing a red merle pattern. I wasn't sure I was ready for another dog, but Holly's spirit literally guided me to this pup. (Believe it or not!) She knew I would need the service of another "therapy" dog. And she's right.

"My little dog--a heartbeat at my feet." --Edith Wharton