Rambling Friday: Snow, Snow and More Snow!

 

A Walk Down a Snowy Lane

It's an Indoor Type of Day

Mush! We're on an Adventure!

One Night at the Lodge

Do you have better titles for these pictures? 

Enjoy! 

Sunday Morning Peace: Wordless Picture Day

 

Sunday Morning Sunshine: A Happy Picture...

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!

This picture makes you smile! 

Rambling Friday: Vacations Pictures

Two of my Favorite Things to Do 

are Traveling and Vacations

Here are a few that make us smile:

Reflections in the Water

He Thinks He's The Best!

Pink Beauty

He insisted on Another Shot!

Your Guess!

A Threatening Sky that Turned Sunny!

Miniature Baby Starfish

Early Sunrise

THIS is One of my HAPPY WEEKS!

Sunday Morning Sunshine: Looking Forward to Spring!

Cherry Blossom

Thank God for flowers.

The pre-enjoyment to the fruit.

Looking forward to Spring! 

Sunday Morning Peace: New Beginnings!

Remember not the former things,

neither consider things of the old.

Behold, I will do a new thing;

now it shall spring forth;

shall you not know it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43: 18 & 19

Shall not God lead us in the way we should go?

Don't look back.

Always forward, with eyes fixed on the goal God has given us.

It may be a surprise: a new thing,

but surely God will give it.

a way through the doubts and fears,

and blessings (not a RIVER but RIVERS)!

Looking ahead...

Sunday Morning Sunshine: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Where are they going?

Who are they?

How would you start this story?

God's World and Our Imagination

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. --the Bible

As an author, I marvel at the sights of this beautiful planet. 

My imagination soars with the heights and floats with the breeze and waves. 

I imagine my established characters, and sometimes new ones, in these scenes.

Pictures and scenes are one of the greatest ways to foster ideas. 

I take LOTS of pictures in our travels. 

Some of them have made it into videos of my books. 

Others serve to keep my mind agile and brisk with ideas. 

Tell me, what kind of story ideas do these pictures give you?

Do you see a young couple hiking in the northwest? 

What troubles do they stumble into? 

A dead body? A raging fire? Kidnapping? Finding themselves with new purpose? 

Do you imagine a family camping here and encountering wild creatures? 

Fishing? Hunting? 

Or can you see something entirely different?

For me, this one says: 

Set in Mexico, in a missionary setting, a young girl meets two very different impressive men, 

but which one is the right one--for her? 

Then, she must also figure out which one is the drug lord... 

Can she do both--and survive?

What do you imagine here happening?

An Amish story? An 1800s novel? A wagon train passing through? 

Or perhaps a country farm setting with a wife who dabbles in mystery problems in the nearby town?

To me, I can see another story I've begun and hope to finish soon, set during the late 1800s, Destiny and Michael riding their horses through one of the fields he owns, arguing, both strong people who must decipher whose father was the gold thief and find love in the midst of their suspicions.

In this one, what does this scene depict in your mind?

A scary situation? Mystery? A lost child? Can you feel the terror? 

Do crazy thoughts of someone jumping out at you lurk in your imagination? 

Can you see children in an adventure book strolling this path?

To me, I can see in my Alex and Denton Davies series, the two of them walking this semi-dark woodland pathway, searching for clues or chasing after a suspect.

And one last one to stir your creative juices...

Does this bring to mind a warm, cozy feeling? 

Can you see an abominable snowmen lurking close by? 

Or can you see a couple meeting on the ski slopes? 

A family adventure? A lonely older person meeting his soul mate? 

I see a mountain lodge where a female detective looks for a psycho suspect and runs smack dab into a love she hadn't planned on. But can she find the bad person...and keep the love?

Can you see how we can use pictures and images to further our writing, 

to increase our creative juices, to spur us to keep writing, 

and to give us the encouragement we need when we're stumped?

Take advantage of everything and all things that keep you writing.

Tell me, what do YOU see in these pictures? 

What do you use to sit down at your writing desk and 

add a few more pages to your document?

Use that imagination!

Happy writing blessings!

Sunday Sunshine: The Beauty of Winter

Beauty can be found in the worse, coldest, 

and oddest places...

Awesome Pine Branches Covered with Ice

A man and his dog

Striking aurora borealis

A warm light in the midst of the cold...

Sunshine on a distant hill after the storm

An historical, and simple wintry moment in time.

May you stay warm and at peace

even when it's cold outside!

Rambling Fridays: Old Fashion Christmas!

Give Me An Old Fashion Christmas!

Remember the old song that’s sung at Christmas time (one rendering by Andy Williams is lovely)? “My Favorite Things.” Always loved that crazy song. I have a feeling it has a deeper meaning than just the favorite things list.

Whiskers on kittens and warm woolen mittens. Coziness.

Copper kettles and raindrops on roses? How much nicer can you get?

Brown paper packages tied with string? That sends my curiosity sky high.

And who can resist the sound of bells whether from doors or sleighs? Can you taste the schnitzel and apple strudels?

Just the thought of wild geese flying with the moon on their wings: love it!

Snowflakes landing on your face, white dresses with blue satin sashes, and silver white winters all provoke pleasant thoughts.

But wait! What about the dog bites, the bee stings and sadness?

It’s then you can remember all those favorite things of the season that send the bad things skidding away.

Besides the above fun items, here’s a few more that I’ve found lightens my sadness and stirs me into a nostalgic mood when the busyness gets too much, the getting-ready-for-whatever-pressure is too tight, and the wondering if I’ll ever get done reaches a limit. When I remember the good, the load lightens.

Baby kisses–is there anything sweeter than an innocent child?

Grandson’s excitement opening packages. Grandson Jonathan thought opening the packages (at two years) was so much fun, he got into the act with Grandpa’s packages too! And as he grows older, he still enjoys helping Grandpa open his packages.

Christmas ornaments that have memories attached to them. I have some from when my sons were in grade school with their pictures on them. Still treasure these.

Mantels filled with caroler figurines, Santas, nativities, and garlands strung with lights, cones, bulbs and berries. Good stuff!

Colored lights and white shimmering lights on Christmas trees. One of my favorite things is to look at the decorated houses and trees during this season. It speaks of light and happiness, joy and peace! And, really, is there an ugly tree anywhere? Even the one we had to cut down on our farm that was a true eyesore. Our grandsons looked with big eyes at that one!

My hubby singing “O Holy Night” No, he’s not a professional singer, but he loves to sing. Unlike some that have to be pressured into it, he pours his heart into the effort, and I’m blest listening to him.

Reading Doctor Seuss to children. What fun to read of Cindy Lou and no matter how the Grinch tried, he couldn’t stop Christmas. No one can. If laws were passed that we couldn’t celebrate it, Christmas can live–in our hearts! The magic and hope can continue.

The biblical account of Jesus’ birth read right before we open packages. We started this practice when our sons were little, and I’ve loved listening to my husband’s rendering of the verses. How important it is to share God’s truth with our family!

The Christmas table laden with too much food, beautiful settings, laughter and prayer. What a real blessing that we have so much. And one special privilege is inviting someone who might not have a family to share in our happiness.

Holding hands while grace is said. Another great tradition that I hope our grandchildren will pass down to their children. The togetherness in the act, and the faith being spoken–what a treasure!

Gifts that have meaning. Gifts don’t have to be expensive in my eyes. Something from the heart is the best gift of all. I’ve been gifting my daughter-in-law a photo album of our grand boys. Pictures I’ve taken through the year and making copies for that album. I get a delight in watching her turn the pages, a smile on her face.

An old-fashion Christmas with beauty and love, joy and happiness, peace and good will. Give me that anytime over a sterilized, commercial Christmas. It’s the kind that lasts!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sunday Sundshine: A Picture of Havest

Remember that old, old song "Harvest Time"

What's your caption for this picture?

Sunday Morning Peace: Winter Blues or Snuggie-ness?

Yes, it's winter.

It's cold, snowy, wintry weather.

BUT...

Introducing the first contest of the Year!
January, 2018

CONTEST QUESTION TIME

Name one thing that is good about 
this winter in January, 2018

Oh, yeah, you want to know what you get?

This:

or this:

Already read these?
Then you can pick one of my other books
or wait till my next book is out (Toby's Troubles, an Appleton, WV Romantic Mystery)

How's that for a Beautiful, wintry contest?

(I will choose a winner by January 31st!)

Blessings!

Sunday Morning Peace: November--the Quiet Month

Let Us Come Before His Presence

with Thanksgiving...

--Psalm 95:2a

I call November the "Quiet Month"

Time to reflect

Remember

Share our memories

Be grateful

Enjoy our families and friends

Thank God.

Be Blest!

Tidbits of my Life from this Summer

This has been another eventful month? 

Where has time gone?

Here's a few things that made this month special for me:

Anniversary roses from my sweet, sweet hubby

Fishing and pontooning at the lake!

Ye ole swimming hole :)

Riding on the Polarus

This is my world!

Finally here.

Living dangerously! 

Mr. Reese

Seeing Jonah

Fantastic!

Recommended!

Eating healthy!

Blessings!

Tidbits of My Life . . .

Recent stunning sky!

Homemade french toast with fresh fruit: strawberries and blue berries! Yum.

The House that Jonathan and Grandmas Built! :)

No Fear! 

A gift from a dear friend! 

Blessings!