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Tropical Walk

ellenparkerwrites

February is a good time to take a tropical walk. It does not need to be long — often less than an hour.

No need to bother with planes or reservations. Block out a little time and be sure you have fuel in the car is all you need to do in the St. Louis metro area.

Yes, I said tropical. This is orchid show time at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Lean close. Breath deep. Enjoy.

My “thumb” is very pale green. I admire. I do not attempt to grow at home. (Many others are successful at this.) Instead I enjoy an annual visit to savor the hard work of others.

Can’t get to the garden? Cold winter weather being a bother? Settle into your favorite chair, have a warm drink within reach, and open a book. I favor romance. Comfort Zone, a later-in-life novel set in St. Louis should warm you with an opening in an August heat wave. Check out details at this link: https://amzn.to/2ZvL0Av

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Catch!!!

ellenparkerwrites

Here! Over here! My arms reach high. I sway right, then left.

Plunk. Snatch. The beads have landed at my feet and I made a grab for them.

Quick! Add them to the multiple strings around my neck and bounce on my toes in anticipation of a new float approaching. Will I capture another? Which color? Which size?

I was not especially good at “catch” during the Mardi Gras parade I attended several years ago. But the collection has an honored place among my jewelry.

Today’s your last chance in 2026! The celebration ends at midnight — sharp.

The characters in the sweet romance, Comfort Zone, press against a different sort of timeline. Will parents demand more time now that the children are out of the nest? Will Janet leave her “comfort zone” and live with “gusto”?

Check the blurb at this link: https://amzn.to/2ZvL0Av

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High Spirits

ellenparkerwrites

Did you know we’re in a holiday season?

Mardi Gras is more than a few parades in New Orleans. In fact, it’s an entire season of frolic and fun in cities all along the Gulf Coast and — St. Louis. (Hey, when a city has a rich French heritage, you may as well brag about it.)

While the popular pet parade has come and gone for 2026 — last Sunday — congrats to the winners — much fun remains.

Have you gotten your ticket for tonight’s ball?

Have you planned your transportation and wardrobe for tomorrow’s grand parade?

What’s this? Could it be a preliminary model for a float? Lots of places for people to stand and toss beads to the crowd. Green would be a good color for the tractor (or truck) pulling it. Replace pink with purple, add a dash of gold, and you’re all set.

No parades in the clean & wholesome romance, Comfort Zone. This story of second chances and empty-nester decisions features other events in St. Louis. Check out complete blurb at the link: https://amzn.to/2ZvL0Av

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Light is Returning

ellenparkerwrites

Daylight is lasting longer in the Northern Hemisphere. Have you noticed? According to the Almanac, daylight in the Boston, MA area has increased by one hour and nineteen minutes since the winter solstice.

For those of us living south of that point, the difference is different, but proportional.

Are you a sunrise person? Or do you prefer a lingering sunset?

This winter sunrise, captured a few years ago, did not require much change in my alarm clock to go and view.

Sunrise is the favorite sight for photographer Serena Carter in the sweet romance, Morning Tryst. She witnessed some beautiful ones during her year in Missouri State Parks. On at least one occasion, she had company – human, not wildlife. Click on the link for the complete blurb and opportunity to purchase. https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Being Prepared

ellenparkerwrites

Were you prepared for the recent winter storm across the United States? Did you have food and water available? A plan if you lost heat or electricity?

Some plans are a little more obvious than others.

This supply of firewood at a Missouri State Park is intended for use at the campsites. However, if you have a wood-burning stove, you should have your own supply. A cheerful fire (in stoves with glass doors) and a kettle to keep some water warm on the top. Then you can gather together and tell stories or read books. Perhaps do a craft such as knitting or whittling.

In the clean & wholesome romance, Morning Tryst, Serena Carter spends a year photographing Missouri State Parks. She would have sighted many supplies of wood and burned a little in the firepit alongside the parking area for her motor home. A few times she had a visitor – a man with an unlikely history. Check out the blurb at the link for more information. https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Bright Flashes

ellenparkerwrites

‘Tis the season — for bright flashes of color from feathered friends.

Did the birds in your neighborhood ignore the memo to migrate a couple of months ago?

Do you have a wide variety of year-round residents?

Several, but not all, of the wildlife in this puzzle appear near my home. Sheltering in a row of bushes during wind, they pop out during sunny breaks to stretch their wings (not the chipmunk) and seek food. Humans are generous with the feeders and birds, chipmunks, and squirrels stay plump and healthy.

During her year photographing in Missouri State Parks, Serena Carter would have encountered these and more. Check the link at the end of this post to find the blurb for the sweet romance, Morning Tryst, to get acquainted. She has a memorable year in the Show-Me state. https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Farewell, Good Friend

ellenparkerwrites

The first month of the year is drawing to a close. Did you make resolutions? Are they still in place?

I think some youngsters in the neighborhood took advantage of winter weather. But that was on a cold, sunny day following snowfall. Since then…

It’s not pretty when Mother Nature puts a snowman on a diet. Arms droop and fall. Weight loss is uneven. Sunny days are difficult. Cold nights are better. Do you suppose the figure wishes for more snow and cold?

Plenty of cold days and snow cover in the small-town romance, Starr Tree Farm. A Wisconsin Christmas tree farm in January should be white, peaceful, and quiet. However, when Laura prods her uncle into action on the cold case murder of her husband, not all the locals are pleased. Follow the link for the complete blurb and purchase information. https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw

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Cold will not Defeat Us

ellenparkerwrites

Plant us in a new home during the autumn and we may surprise you. Yes, we do appreciate a little extra mulch to cover our roots as winter arrives.

However, when St. Louis has a mild winter, we add spots of color to otherwise resting flower beds.

Do you have a protected spot in your garden? Give us a home there. Our bright yellow faces with accents in shades of purple should bring a smile to your face. All is not lost — brighter days are on the way.

Pansies were a favorite gift from child to mother on Mother’s Day when I was young. Plant them in a paper cup at school and present them on Friday. (You didn’t expect a six, seven, or eight-year-old to keep it secret.)

Fictional Crystal Springs, WI is in the planting zone for spring pansies. During January, when Starr Tree Farm takes place, you won’t find them in flower beds or pots (unless you have a greenhouse). While waiting for spring, read. Romance with a touch of suspense goes well with warm beverages, cozy blankets, and long winter evenings. Here’s a link to more book details. https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw

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The Whole Picture

ellenparkerwrites

Do you remember the previous photo I posted?

It’s full of hints, but lacks a clear view of the subject.

Today I’m removing the excess paper and showing the entire cover of my new, clean & wholesome, later in life romance, Fine Lines.

In criminal defense attorney Mandy Price’s experience, men are untrustworthy. Life is better when she concentrates on career. Rumors of an impending retirement at the law firm spur her to pursue becoming the firm’s first female partner.

Police detective to the public and fine artist off duty, Cal Collins follows established rules to keep his two occupations separate. Until now, not dating local women has preserved his dual vocations and kept his past private. However, this is St. Louis, a city where degrees of separation in the professional world decreases toward the vanishing point.

Interested? I hope so. Release date for this new novel is April 8, 2026. Click on the link for Kindle pre-order. https://bit.ly/49FtvjF Pre-order at other retailers soon.

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Partial View

ellenparkerwrites

How’s your eyesight into the future?

Mine’s poor. I need hints, clues, and reminders to figure out an entire day.

How much can you fill out from this book cover partial view?

Enough of the author’s name is visible in this photo that you are correct to say the writer of this blog and a soon-to-be-released book are the same. The book title is more difficult — two words, both relatively short. The colors are dark — a bit of a mystery in the story?

The title of this book — available April 8, 2026 — is Fine Lines. The story is a later-in-life romance with elements of suspense. The tale is set in St. Louis and can be read as a standalone or after Comfort Zone. Setting and a few characters overlap in the books.

Want to get a head start on these go-together romances? Here’s the link to Comfort Zone. https://amzn.to/2ZvL0Av