my story

Random happenings July 8th

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

It has been quite the day.

I remembered (for a change) to go out and move the watering hoses so the lawn could be mowed. It was a good thing I didn’t wait any longer, the mowing crew showed up earlier than expected. I was hoping they would be later than usual. The weed killer man came to spray the lawn yesterday around lunch time. The lawn crew was here by 9:30 am. It’s a good thing it rained hard in the night (whew), the weed killer was watered in and earlier worked.  The instructions were to wait 24 hours to mow. It’s pretty cool the way things fit together sometimes.

It wasn’t too long after my breakfast was finished that heavy equipment could be heard moving up and down our street. They are replacing the blacktop pavement and they have a big machine to tear up the old.  Of course it takes big long trucks to carry the debris away. When they get to my house I have to drop everything and watch because they move by fairly quickly and I can’t see much past my yard. Too many trees blocking the view.

I wanted to take pictures for my youngest grandson but couldn’t because my phone decided the memory was full and locked me out of picture mode. I couldn’t even delete anything to make room like I normally would. If I stopped to fix it I’d miss the fun.

Naturally, I missed most of it anyway. They took too long getting set up and my inbox was blowing up with emails needing attention. It’s funny how that goes. Everything happens on the same day. Feast or famine.

After lunch it seemed like a good idea to pull some weeds in hopes of waking up with a little exercise. It was a great idea, there was a nice cool breeze on a hot day and it was a comfortable productive time.

The great conditions didn’t last till after supper when I went back out. It was much warmer and the mosquitoes were loving it, and me. I was desperate to get more new shrubs planted so I hurried.

And here we are.

I did spend a little fruitless time today looking for books we might want. I did get some reading time in too. Meal breaks and cool down times. Any little chance works for me.

I wanted to write something earlier but didn’t have a single alternate blog idea. It worked out not too badly after all.

I’ll see if I can rescue a paving picture for you.

How was your day?

20200707_131745

CAT is sitting there thinking about it. Too bad I can’t hold still long enough to take a clear picture!

Story prompt – Occupation

/ For the Love of Books / 2 Comments

This is week eight in the Sunday Scribblings  prompt hosted by Peckapalooza: The Confusing Middle.

I’ve decided to hook these challenges together to make a chapter story. Might as well make something out of it if I can. Besides it helps with inspiration, having a starting place.

The earlier chapters can be found here to bring you up to speed on the whole story.

Carly is in witness protection but her cover has been blown and her life is threatened.

They have been on the run for weeks unsure of the seriousness of the threat, not wanting to take a chance with her life. Things were about to change.

Now, Bella is about to settle into a new life. That’s right. She’s left Carly far behind.

Here is this week’s installment and challenge. I missed a week so it’s only chapter seven.

************

Chapter Seven

Occupation

Bella couldn’t help the pleased smile as she let her gaze roam around the new house. John and his team of US Marshalls had done an excellent job orchestrating a smooth transition for her relocation.

They didn’t waste any time, that was for sure. In fact, her head was still spinning at how quickly it had all come together. And who knew they could come up with such a perfect plan. Her new life couldn’t possibly look any better than this.

The house was situated in a nice but ordinary part of town. It wouldn’t have won a Best-In-Town award yet to her it was beautiful and above average. The previous owners had obviously loved the house they built and the choices they made at every turn were what made it special. Their upkeep was also exceptional. Normally new buyers were planning changes the minute they moved in. Bella couldn’t see anything she wanted or needed to change which was a blessing. Upkeep on a house was not a skill placing high on her list of talents.

Another blessing was the lay-out. Clients needing to visit her house was not an ideal situation but it could work out alright as a last resort. There was a comfortable seating area near the front door. It could be used for a meeting and still protect her privacy if she managed it well.

Her meeting with the Chamber of Commerce was beneficial. They offered a wealth of information that would go a long way toward helping her get her new endeavor off the ground. The monthly luncheon for Chamber members would be a good networking opportunity. Hopefully she would find clients in need of her services among the attendees. If not, they had knowledge of the business community and could provide valuable leads on where to look.

Taking another sip of coffee, she realized her cup was empty. She wasn’t exactly sure how that had happened but it meant it was time to get moving. There was still a lot to do if she wanted to get a good start on Monday morning. Her cupboards were bare and her office computer still needed set up.

Saturday mornings on Main Street looked like fun. All of the shops were open and bustling with people determined to get things done. It was really good to see actually. It’s not ideal shopping at the most popular time of day but seeing the healthy indicator about the business community gave her hope for her future.

It looked like the population has doubled in size compared to the rest of the week. Bella wondered what was going on to bring out this many people.

It didn’t take long to figure out. As she continued down the street looking for a parking space, she spied an open-air Farmer’s Market. Wow, it was huge. Bigger than any she had ever seen before. And crowded. If she thought the shops were busy, they had nothing compared to this.

It was three blocks before she could find a parking spot and hurry back. The market looked even better close up. There was everything one could imagine. The usual – garden produce and fresh meat – but it was all the extra things that caught her eye. Homemade everything. The entrepreneurial spirit was alive and well in this town.

Her job security was looking better all the time. Maybe her favored choice of occupation was going to pay off well, above any of her initial expectations.

Now if her personal life could only do as well. All alone in a new town knowing no one was daunting. On the bright side, working with small business would be more personal that corporate business. She may be able to make friends among her clients.

And then there was shopping. Maybe this Farmer’s Market would be the perfect place to meet new people. She might meet a new client and make a new friend.

The hardest part was going to be remembering to introduce herself as Bella rather than Carly, not to mention remembering her new occupation.

She couldn’t keep herself from smiling as she approached the first booth.

Random happenings June 27, 2020

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

Today is another off-day for book suggestions but it has been a good day for reading. Well, in between bouts of gardening.

I’m currently reading book 5 in the series I’ve been working on all week. I think in the end my favorites have been books 2, 3, and 4. I’ve been skimming book 5 just like I did with book 1. The middle books were similar and they seemed to work well to hold my interest. 1 and 5 are quite different and somehow they just didn’t catch my attention the same. I’m not finished 5 yet and I do want to see who-dunit.  They are all still offered at bargain prices.

Loving the Mysterious Texan: A Texas Lawman Romantic Suspense: Garrison’s Law Book 5 

It’s probably a good thing I’m not enjoying Loving the Mysterious Texan all that much. Some deadlines are looming in my garden and I need to put the book down and get to work.

This is the year for a garden makeover. In the eight years I’ve been in this house I’ve not changed anything really, just tried my best to maintain the beautiful landscaping the previous owners loved so much. Things change. Grow too big, don’t grow well, need to be replaced for one reason or another.

Hydro took out a couple of beautiful big Spruce trees in the back a year or two ago as they were getting too big. That’s left a big hole in the landscaping. Then last fall’s big storm blew down the pretty flowering tree in my front yard, now it needs to be replaced.

Today I ordered new shrubs and trees and they will arrive here early next week. In the meantime the beds need to be cleaned up and ready to receive them. I’m very excited to see how much better everything will look with these changes.

This whole thing has been a learning curve for me. I wasn’t the gardener in the family when it came to landscaping. Vegetable gardens were my thing, back in the day when canning and freezing was a worthwhile activity for our family. Now I’m having to be brave and try my hand at pruning and other things I’ve never done before. It’s working out not too badly if I do say so myself.

20200626_134658

Three leggy Lilac bushes in the foreground have been cut down and will be replaced with Hydrangeas. They should grow better in the spot, hopefully. The neighbors tree has gotten so tall the bed no longer gets enough afternoon sun to suit the lilacs.

There are a lot of flower beds in this yard but the one in the back right is my favorite.

I can’t decide which I love more. My pretty yard or books. I think it’s a tie.

Happy Reading y’all

 

 

Slow but good day.

/ For the Love of Books / 2 Comments

It’s been a slow day for book suggestions but it was a good day for blogging suggestions. A fellow blogger always has funny, entertaining, and sometimes, even wise things to say. (I’m kidding, he often has wise things to say.) Today was no exception. It’s his seventh blog anniversary. If you aren’t following him you should be. Check out his birthday blog post, you will be glad you did. Paul, The Captain’s Speech

I took to heart one piece of advice he had in regard to blogging. Say something even when you have nothing. Even if it’s only one line. So that’s what I’m doing.

The usual sources of book suggestions were bare today. On top of that I was busier than usual with my day job. (A pleasant state of affairs.)

I normally spend time browsing Amazon but warm weather was calling me. I had a deadline to clean some flower beds before the tree man comes to remove old stumps. I need them gone so I can replace the less than healthy bushes I cut down last fall.

It was a pleasure working warm but not too hot and 3 1/2 – 4 hours was good for progress.

I’m stiff after all the bending and squatting but I’m happy. Clean looks good and I’ll sleep well tonight, guaranteed.

Well, there you have it. One line turned into more somehow.

Story prompt Skin

/ For the Love of Books / 4 Comments

Disclaimer: Please do not read this post if difficult personal story is not your cup of tea, or if it could trigger or offend you.

This is week six in the Sunday Scribblings  prompt hosted by Peckapalooza: The Confusing Middle.

Normally I hook these challenges together to create an ongoing chapter story. It pleases me to get as much mileage as possible out of my writing attempts. I did have a plan in mind to work this week’s prompt into today’s chapter (6) while advancing my story. At least I did until yesterday’s post with reference to Father’s Day. Plans have changed.

I consider myself thick skinned when it comes to my personal history. Much of the time I can talk about most of it matter-of-factly while minimizing the truth of our abusive family life. No big deal.

Yesterday I made reference to abusive relationships because, just like there are many who find Mother’s Day traumatic, there are many who find Father’s Day a traumatic experience. The reasons are different but still painful.

Now, working my way emotionally through the aftermath of yesterday, I realize trauma related to Father’s day goes deeper than first thought. Generally, the deeper the trauma the less likely we are to speak about it. Many are vocal every year about their negative experiences surrounding Mother’s Day. Today for the first time, I realize we are hearing a complete lack of corresponding comments surrounding Father’s Day. The silence speaks loudly, if we happen to be listening.

Yesterday I wanted to acknowledge mostly-forgotten hurting hearts. To be seen and understood means a lot to those living with unimaginable pain. It felt like the right thing to do, to offer support and encouragement.

It’s no surprise to find, once again, my conscious mind can’t handle the truth of my own life. It has deeply buried the negative and bought into the never-happened, no-big-deal lies. My brothers insist I need to face the uncomfortable truth. I find I don’t want to/can’t remember. Inappropriate (not fitting the situation) triggered responses are the only evidence of truth.

The triggered reaction arising out of yesterday’s sharing was a shock to my system. The emotional upheaval I woke up to this morning was a shock too. As a result this has been a recovery day. As the day wears on I’m starting to feel better.

My skin appears to be thinner than I believe it is.

I’m sharing all this now because I feel compelled. Partly because I know the power of story to comfort and help others. Partly because I know the value of expression to release pent up emotions. I’m trusting that life will be incrementally better after acknowledging another sliver of truth. So far it always has been and I have great expectations for now too.

May life be better for you too, as you acknowledge the truth (as you are able) of your situation.

Next week will be soon enough for anther installment in my continued story about Carly, an exposed woman in Witness Protection.

Hoping this all made sense…

Janette

 

Free books June 20, 2020, and Dads

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

FREE suggestions for us today.

Princess Paisley (Not-So-Fairy Tales Book 1) 

Princess Paisley

Amazon quote:

Fairy tales aren’t just for children anymore! Welcome to Jackalopany! Meet King Jack and Queen Felicia and their estimable children, Paisley and Jackson. Paisley has reached the year of her majority and is about to endure her “Majority Ball.” She’s unique, prank-loving, and not ready to change her life. She’d rather continue her days herding sheep, playing her harp, and avoiding the responsibilities associated with the Jackalopian throne. The shepherd Henry, Prince Rupert of Froggilandria, Kyle of Kaiandra, Marcus of Wellsbiundia, and the amusing Cletus of Rednecky all battle for the hand (and possibly the rest of) Princess Paisley. Will Darius of Griffinland foil the plans of so many? Will tragedy leave the Jackalopian throne bereft of an heir? And last but not least, will the narrator ever stop yammering about the rigors and rules of the fairytale genre?

****************

The Mail-Order Bride Carries a Gun (Brides of Sweet Creek Ranch Book 1)

The Mail-order Bride carries a gun

Amazon quote:

The mail-order bride seeks justice. Not a husband…

ELLA HUNTER never thought she’d be a mail-order bride. But when she sees a photo in the Marriage Gazette of the man she believes killed her brother, Ella agrees to marry the Civil War soldier turned cowboy. Prepared to confront a cold-hearted killer then return home, she finds all her expectations dashed when her intended husband appears to be a good man. Ella’s loyalties are torn between honoring the memories of her family and her undeniable attraction to Ty Haven.

TY HAVEN needs a wife. The ranch he runs in the wilds of Wyoming Territory could use a woman’s influence. Frankly, so could he. So when Ella arrives like a gift tied up in a cornflower-blue hair ribbon, more intelligent, practical, and, yes, beautiful, than he could have imagined, he hopes she will give him and the West a chance. Turns out, he doesn’t just need a wife. He needs Ella. But she has a secret, and it might destroy their marriage almost before it’s begun.

***************

As I write this, it’s Father’s Day tomorrow. Actually, I guess it’s today in many parts of the world. A day to honor our fathers.

My father has been gone for many years. Maybe if he was still alive he would have had time to change his ways and become a good father. We will never know. One thing I am grateful for today; his abusive behavior has not carried on through the generations even though it could have. My grandchildren enjoy loving fathers and I feel blessed.

*****************

Life is not perfect. It never has been and never will be. Life can, and does, go on in spite of it all. If we let it.

I chose, and continue to choose, to forgive and move on. Not an easy thing to do. As I look on my family and the legacy of love, I’m grateful for making this choice, over and over again.

****************

I can’t help but think about people like me with a past our conscious minds cannot bear to acknowledge. I hear pain, I see pain. All this talk about fathers is dredging it up. I cannot actually see or hear you but I can acknowledge you.  You are not alone. Look around carefully. There are others like you close by. Support one another.

*************

Some of you will think I am crazy for saying all of this.

Statistics show that one in four women/girls have been abused or will be abused at some point in their life. As I share my story (sparingly) I’m finding this number believable. Feeling alone is a result of conditioning by our abusers. No one will believe you. It’s all your fault. It was an important day in my life when I admitted I was not alone. there were fellow sufferers who knew exactly what I was talking about. I still experience days like that from time to time, it’s always a surprise.

**************

Father’s day is still a day to celebrate. The good do not need to be brought down because of the bad. I will be the first to stand and give honor to the good dads of the world. We love and appreciate you.

I’m having a good time … an open letter to a friend.

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

Hi Marion,

I did receive the first email and intended to write you back much sooner than this. Life has been crazy and I have buried my face in a book for distraction and forgotten to come out.

I’ve been healthy through this current challenge and aside from one trip to the grocery store several weeks ago have not been out of the house since. One of my neighbors has been so kind and offered to pick up groceries for me whenever they do their shopping. I am well taken care of. I think I will need to go myself one day though. I need a few things that could be challenging and frustrating for a man not used to grocery shopping. That would just be too mean.

Some of us have been checking in on each other most days and that helps with isolation blues. The contact gives us assurance of help too, in case ill health ever does happen.

Some of my life’s craziness is also from dealing with a large work project that defies organization. It makes life both frustrating and interesting at the same time.

Another one of life’s challenges has come through our writing group, mostly because this whole virus situation has thrown a monkey wrench into some of the projects we had in the works. We’ve had to cancel most everything. We had an annual springtime workshop planned and had to let that go. The lengthy project we had underway was an anthology of short stories contributed by members of our group. We’ve spent months working on edits and finally had it ready for the book printer when isolation hit. I think we slipped in just under the wire and were their last project before closing up shop. Everyone in the group was primed to start marketing the minute the books were ready and that’s all fizzled.  Our executive is trying to keep some online activity going so the group doesn’t lose too much momentum. We will probably have to abandon monthly meetings until we start again in September after summer break.

It’s funny how perspective changes when things like this pandemic happen. I lead a very solitary life year round and yet it feels different when it’s not by choice. I have more desire to go out now when told I can’t. Crazy hey! On the other hand I’m happy to isolate and not take a chance on getting the virus.

I’ve been reading lots – it’s a good stress reliever – and trying to be consistent with producing the daily blog. I haven’t been doing as well with that as hoped. Partly because work has been busier for me this year. It seems to go that way. Busy one year but not so much the next. I’m happy to have work when it comes though and tend to just go with the flow.

Another thing consuming a lot of my time is livestreaming on Facebook and YouTube by a bunch of the groups I follow. Singers and bloggers mostly. It seems like everyone has taken to the internet while isolating and there is way more activity than usual. It’s great to keep up with these people but there’s just so much of it! I need to be choosy I think. I do like some better than others so that should make it easier.

One good thing about all the watching/listening of livestreams and podcasts is the amount of work I get done on my crafts. Multi-tasking.

My daughter gave me a diamond painting kit for Christmas. This medium is all the rage right now (I had no idea) and I had never done one.  It’s like a blending of cross stitch and paint by number. It has little colored discs that go on preprinted graph-like sticky canvas. The discs are shaped so they reflect light and sparkle like a diamond. Very pretty when it’s finished.

I’ve finished my gift kit and ordered three more kits from Amazon. I’m hooked, I love doing them. I’ve almost finished the second one, it will be for my daughter. I let the girls (daughter and daughter-in-law) pick out what they liked as I wanted to have a final home in mind for them all. 😊

I can’t say that life is very productive at my house but I’m having a good time.

Pretty much all of our snow melted and we had grass again but with the winter storm that hit in the last few days we are back to a yard covered in snow. At least we know it won’t stick around long. Warmer days are coming soon and spring will be earlier this year, hopefully.

I’m glad to hear you are both feeling healthy now and keeping busy. I got a good chuckle out of your cartoon and love the picture of your little horse. Would you mind if I used it on a blog post sometime? It might help brighten someone else’s day too.

Stay safe and take care of yourselves.

What are you sewing? The project you mentioned.

*********

Done and ready for framing.

20200404_234441

Almost done, just another inch or so all along the left side. The little white dots all over are sparkles. The pictures are much prettier in person.

20200404_235027

This next one is for my daughter-in-law. She’s a bird lover.

20200405_134105

*********

I’m currently reading and loving…

Take a Chance on Me (Misty River Romance)  and it is still free

Take a Chance on Me

He’s her brother’s best friend and a career fighter pilot. She’s lived next to the airbase, watched her friends disastrous love lives. and vowed never to date an airman. Six months ago he messed up his one chance with her. Now he’s back from deployment determined to gain a second chance and she’s not having it.

You should read it if you enjoy Romance, it might brighten your day, too.

Happy Reading!

Dreams of learning to play piano?

/ For the Love of Books / 2 Comments

Another post, unintentionally inspired by the morning post of a follow blogger, I meant to leave a simple comment on his site, not start a whole big production.

I had some thoughts on the subject and was responding to his question. As the comment grew longer, I decided it would make a good beginning to a needed piece for critique at writer’s group next month. It seemed like a good idea, at the time, to copy and paste my long winded reply in a new window on my page. It would be much easier than trying to rewrite the whole piece from memory.

My bright ideas aren’t so bright sometimes. It copied and pasted to my site fine, no problem. The trouble occurred back on his site when I finally hit send on the comment. WordPress was not impressed with my ingenuity and refused to send it. (There must have been some law violated with my actions.) I figured the whole effort would be wasted unless there was another way out of the dilemma. So… this works.

To get the full story, go to his site and read the post I was replying to. In the meantime; here’s the thumbnail sketch. He tells us he was musing on Facebook about regrets over wasted childhood opportunities to learn piano. He is turning forty in a few weeks and wondered if it’s too late to learn piano now, at this age. Many replied that’s it’s never to late. This morning he’s asking his blog readers the same question.

So here’s my long winded response, which normally I would never dream of posting on my own site.  Life is crazy sometimes – the surprise curves coming out of nowhere.

The comment needs to be expanded to a make-sense version:

“It’s never too late” is true. I had a landlord, many years ago, who decided to learn piano after he retired. Living in their basement suite, I can tell you he did. He didn’t have the talent to be awesome but he did learn. He also joined a local choir to sing in cantatas. He was loving his life.
As for the question of purchasing a piano or signing up for lessons – there are other options to consider in this age of technology. The other day I was listening to a tech show on the radio and they were talking about a new app out this year. It is like a game. As you play it, the game will teach you to play piano. It sounds like fun and would eliminate the need for a teacher or a piano. It’s worth checking out, anyway. I’ve heard there are even apps for playing on your smart phone or tablet. Musicians often use these apps to practice, in free moments when instruments are unavailable.
At the same time, though, I can also tell you the “want to” has to be there for it to work. I have had easy access to instruments most of my life. When I was young we had an out of tune piano with some dead keys. My grandmother offered to teach me but I couldn’t handle the discordant sounds. A missed opportunity for sure. Then several decades later we inherited an antique pump organ. It intrigued me and I put effort into learning, but not enough. We moved a lot and eventually, for practical reasons, traded it in for a electronic keyboard. My daughter was the only one to take lessons and in time, it went to live at her house.  Currently there is an out of tune piano in my basement (it came with the house) and two inherited accordions (my mother’s and grandmother’s.) I still haven’t learned to play. The want-to is there but apparently not enough of it to do the hard work. My mother, on the other hand, did the hard work. She practiced relentlessly as a kid (her life was full of loss and she needed a distraction) and played all of her life, both at home and publicly in groups.
Sometimes, I still think about my lost chances. Lately I’ve come to realize, while I haven’t learned to play, I’ve scratched the itch in another way. I have a large Gaither Vocal Band and Homecoming, video collection, I play them often and love to sing along. I’ve learned to sing harmony (privately only, of course) and it turns out, tenor (from listening to male quartets) is my favorite part. I’ve been willing to put the effort into noticing and learning and found recently that it is getting easier to hear my part with other groups too.
So, back to your question. It is possible – never too late – check out the app. Maybe it will be what you need if you can dig down deep and put in the hard work. Give it a shot, what can it hurt? It would be fun.

 

Happy New Year, and a Bargain book for December 31, 2019

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

Happy New Year! … on this last day of yet another decade. I’m looking forward to more good things in the decade to come.

It’s amazing, when I can look back over the last ten years and feel nothing but gratitude. Especially while remembering the angst we all experienced entering a new millennium two decades ago. Y2K. Seriously, many of us were gearing up for the apocalypse. I think the last two decades seem sweeter because of angst that didn’t materialize.

The largest unsettling issue was related to computer systems. If operating systems failed, unable to roll with the new multi-digit date of 2000, the world would come to a stand still. Planes would fall out of the sky, vehicle engines would turn off mid journey, electrical grids would shut down, and commerce would come to a halt.  People were preparing for the worst, stock piling food, water, and probably, currency.

Time magazine y2k

Credit: A Time magazine cover found on a Google search of Y2K

1999 was a tough year, living with uncertainty. You can imagine the immense relief we felt when the clock quietly rolled around to 12.01am January 01, 2000 and nothing drastic happened.

The only problem left was to figure out what to do with a three year supply of canned food and water.

I think for many of us New Years Eve 2000 was the best one ever. My mother (if she were still alive today) would probably disagree. She would be thinking January 01, 1946 (with the end of World War Two) was the best New Years Eve ever. She would probably be right, when I stop to think about it.

Remembering those special times gives me hope. As humans, we tend to face up to tough situations when they happen, looking for a way to escape, survive, live through it. Thinking back over my lifetime and the amazing advances we’ve seen in technology; it’s clear that the capability of the human brain is mind blowing. Whatever problem we ever face, there is always someone who will have a solution. Brilliant minds are unable to resist the challenge in the words, It’s impossible, it can’t be done.  They jump into the task quietly shouting, Oh Yeah? just watch me!

Thinking back on rough times reminds me of the angst the world was feeling in my mid-teen years. Bullies were the threat in those days. The cold war was happening between Russia and the rest of the world. The adults in my life were convinced the Russians were plotting to invade us, World War Three was going to happen, and the earth would be destroyed. Soon. Be ready! Those were the days of well stocked and outfitted bomb shelters. If we look hard enough, there may even be a few of them still in existence.

I can remember lying in bed listening to a jet fly overhead, (we were in the flight path for Vancouver International Airport, but I didn’t remember that detail) terrified it was the Russians coming to bomb us. Once the jet passed out of hearing range I could relax and go to sleep.

There was no sudden end to this angst, not like the closure we had with Y2K. Instead, the whole idea of war just seemed to fade away. Lack of interest? Predicted dates that didn’t materialize? All I know is life moved on, the cold war ended. The idea of Russia holding power over us didn’t seem as believable as we once thought.

Worries come and go but life goes on.

I find comfort in the high probability history shows of us being wrong about things that worry us.

I’m looking forward to a productive new decade. I hope you are too.

*******

So, back to books…

A bargain book today from BookBub. A Lancaster County Christmas $0.99, it is an Amish story. Over the years, there have been four books in my downloads from this author. This new book starts out well and I’m planning to read it next.

A Lancaster County Christmas

Amazon quote:

Jaime and C. J. Fitzpatrick began their married life as most couples do–in love and looking forward to a bright future together. But four years later they’ve drifted apart and are almost ready to call it quits.

Mattie Riehl was hoping to give her husband Sol the Christmas gift they have both longed for–news that a baby was on the way. But as usual, she is disappointed. The holidays bring an acute awareness to Mattie that her dream of a big family isn’t likely to become a reality.

Then a winter storm raging outside blows the Fitzpatricks into the Riehl home–and into a much slower pace of life. Can these two couples from different worlds help each other understand the true meaning of love this Christmas?

That’s all I have for books today.

Happy New Year!

It will be a quiet one at my house. I was hoping to talk a friend into a games night but she is suffering with a bad cold so we will have to take a rain check on that idea. Between a new jigsaw puzzle, new book downloads, and the new 5D Fashion Diamond painting picture of a humming bird, I have lots to help me party tonight.

Diamond painting is a new craft my daughter found for me on Amazon this Christmas. It’s a cross between paint-by-number and cross stitch with embroidery floss. It has little round discs of color that you apply to a sticky surface with a little tool. The discs sparkle with refracted light. Very pretty, and it goes much faster than cross stitch with floss. If you like crafts, check it out. It’s sold in kits and doesn’t seem to be an expensive hobby.

This is the one I’m doing. It will lose the flat look with the diamonds sparkling but it will be pretty.

Diamond Humming Bird

Happy New Year, Happy Reading!

 

Bargain books November 26, 2019

/ For the Love of Books / Leave a comment

BookBub started it all this morning with several bargain books.

The first bargain ($0.99) is from a new favorite author Alana Terry. Forget Me Now is the gripping suspense story of a young woman who’s lost a portion her memory through brain injury trauma. She’s has no idea what’s happened to her and no ability to retain new memories when she does figure things out. Everyone close to her is dead and it’s clear she’s next.  There are some tense moments in store for her and for us.

Forget me now

The second bargain book ($1.99)  is a change of pace. In The Field of Grace is a retelling of the story of Ruth and Boaz. This tale is popular with authors and there have been many versions written through the years. This one seems to be from a different point of view, which is new. It’s usually told from Ruth’s perspective with Boaz taking a minor role. This time, the story starts out from his point of view, immediately catching my interest.

I don’t know this author but I’m looking forward to the experience.

In the Field of Grace

And finally, an Amazon suggested bargain book ($1.99) is a beloved collection from iconic Canadian author Janette Oke. We’ve been reading and watching movies of her pioneer stories for decades. This Canadian West Collection contains six of her most popular books.

Canadian West Collection

1 When Calls the Heart
2 When Comes the Spring
3 When Breaks the Dawn
4 When Hope Springs New
5 Beyond the Gathering Storm
6 When Tomorrow Comes

My video stash still has the movie box collection for three of these popular books. It’s nice to bring them out again every now and then.

Happy Reading.

Today is Grey Cup parade through the city of Winnipeg.  People are out in droves to honour the win of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers football team and the energy level is high. I’m loving the internet live stream for those of us not able to be there in person. I think I will wait awhile to read. It’s been twenty nine years since their last championship win so this could be the parade of a lifetime, definitely not is to be missed.

CJOB live is the place to find it if you follow Canadian football.