A Tribute to St. Francis of Assisi - lover of all creation, champion of justice, patron saint of animals and the environment, who founded the Franciscan Orders and his feast day is October 4TH.

People from all walks of life gather together TO HONOR AND RESPECT THE WAY of St. Francis of Assisi. I don't know of any other saint who has such an appeal even to non-Christians. His charisma and praise is timeless.

At Shepherd Too we try to live and promote the ecumenical spirit of St. Francis and our work at Shepherd Too promotes the goodness of God through respecting all God's bountiful gifts to us.

Shepherd Too is also a National Wildlife Backyard Habitat 21526 and the story about Eastern Blue birds and St. Francis of Assisi at an Amish land/Lancaster County location in Churchtown was featured in 2 Lancaster County, PA. news papers and was also featured in a regionally televised program on noted TV personality, Jill Brown's, "Women Speak" program which aired over the Blue Ridge Cable Network in the regional PA areas. The story about the blue bird habitat and National Wildlife Backyard Habitat and how Ray and Megan Smecker joined approximately 150000 property owners in the United States and Canada was given a lot of attention and you can read all their "Tales" on these web sites.

Shepherd Too was featured in Lancaster County Magazine April 2008 and you can see a slide show representation of how the habitat looks now by visiting the link here. Shepherd Too was recently featured December 2009 by Colonial Williamsburg FACE BOOK Fan Club.

Ray and Megan Smecker planned and planted and built Shepherd Too in an old Amish cornfield and Ray created "The Animal Kingdom of God" e book series posted herein on the links and a current story, "The Legend of Nutimus" was FEATURED in - "THE WAY of ST. FRANCIS" magazine of California in Jan-Feb 2010 . The story is highlighted at the "The Legend of Nutimus".

On July 8th, 2010 Shepherd Too was consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Church of St. Benedict Parish program of Father Phil and Hands of Truth.

Shepherd Too Inspired Writings

Ray is a fiction/nonfiction writer and photographer while Megan loves to water color. Both were early on inspired by BUCKS COUNTY and Ray by Bucks County writers Pearl S. Buck, James A. Michener, Zane Grey and Eric Knight who significantly influenced him and all were role models for his writing style. Eric Knight and his "Lassie Stories" are beloved and Ray writes his own heart warming stories spun with a Franciscan Lore style and he has joined his websites here on the "WWW" to share his love of God's Creatures and relationship stories with the world. Ray and a group of Horse Tale authors appeared at a book signing charity event on a Tales for the Soul book signing tour in support of NARHA the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, Inc that has more than 650 NARHA program centers serving some 30,000 individuals with disabilities. NARHA is an organization that utilizes the Horse to perform physical and psychological therapy on handicapped children. The combination leads to magical results! (His stories are in 3 of noted writer/author/publisher Probert's Tales for the Soul books that include writers from around the world.

Lord Oliver and Sir Charles are Megan and Ray's Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and are pictured on the site along with a host of their "rescued" animals all setting in the midst of countess Amish farm acreage in the rolling hills of NE Lancaster County embodying the Franciscan Way and spirit of St. Francis and the work at Shepherd Too promotes the goodness of God through respecting all of God's bountiful gifts.

Enjoy your stay

and the stories/e books and pictures and come back often to visit as many of the links are updated with pictures and stories daily.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOTE: MANY CHARITIES ARE HIGHLIGHTED THROUGHOUT THE WEB PAGES. PLEASE HELP TO SUPPORT THEM & SHARE OUR SITE WITH MANY WHO ARE ARE HOME/NURSING HOME BOUND.