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Ready to Load

ellenparkerwrites

The list is almost complete. Aside from a few items which must wait until loading time — extra water & lunch — all is ready for the craft show.

Books — always a guess as to how many of each title to pack. Tablecloth, sunbonnet, and price list — a time saver to remember where the tablecloth is packed since it will be the foundation for the display. Swag — business cards, sticky notepads, and bookmarks. Book stands — help the display look professional. Collapsible wagon — a real step saver.

Is that all? Is it enough? Will it be pleasant weather for loading & unloading? Or will it rain? Will volunteers be available to assist?

Duffels and bags with zippers assist in keeping raindrops (or snowflakes) away from books and supplies. I’ll add lunch bag and purse at the last minute. The stash by the front door usually (no plan is 100%) enables me to pack ALL the necessities for the day.

New book for craft shows going forward — Fine Lines. This contemporary romance features later-in-life characters. Set in St. Louis, you’ll be introduced to a few events and locations of interest. (Locals will find them under new names.)

Follow the link to read the entire blurb and/or order the Kindle edition. https://bit.ly/49FtvjF

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Lady Justice’s Workplace

ellenparkerwrites

Welcome to the courtroom. Observers need to take a seat in the rear portion of the room. Silence or hushed tones to not distract from the business of the court.

The space below is restored to represent an active 1860 court. A current court maintains many of the same features.

The judge will sit at the high desk/bench. The court clerk will have a prominent place. Tables and chairs — usually a matching pair — serve prosecution and defense. A witness chair is often on one side of the judge. A dozen chairs for the jury (plus one or two for alternates) are close.

Have you ever served on a jury? Been a witness at a trial?

Courtrooms are familiar to the main characters in Fine Lines, a later-in-life romance. One is called as a witness on a semi-regular basis and the other defends her clients. Will they pursue a relationship without crossing the conflict-of-interest line? Check out the book at the link: https://bit.ly/49FtvjF

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Contemporary Style

ellenparkerwrites

Let’s talk hairstyles, especially for the ladies.

Dozens of lengths and arrangements have been considered stylish at one time or another over the past century.

Do you like a “bob”? Short and sleek? Step into a loose-fitting dress and dance to jazz in the 1920’s.

Let your locks grow a little longer, add waves, curls, and perhaps a “victory roll” to survive the 1930’s & 40’s.

1950’s? Tired of your pixie? Let it grow and style into a ponytail. Keep going into the 60’s and let it hang free. Unless you decide to put it in a beehive for a formal occasion.

Keep showing your own style into the 70’s and 80’s. All that hair you’re backcombing – tame into layers in the 90’s.

New century = new look. Highlights, bright color accents, and sparkly accessories take the spotlight.

And today?

Easy care natural look. Bangs are in — but don’t stress about straight lines. After all, a girl has enough complications in her life without adding time-consuming or difficult hairstyles to her morning routine.

Easy care hair is a matter of choice for the characters in the later-in-life romance, Fine Lines. She wears it short. He shaves his head. Will professional disagreement or personal meshing win the day?

Here’s a link where you can read the entire blurb. https://bit.ly/49FtvjF

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Thinking…Do Not Disturb

ellenparkerwrites

Are you surprised? You shouldn’t be. After all, my type of farm animal is rather intelligent.

You may call me swine, hog, or domestic pig. Be sure to include domestic when using the final. I don’t want to be confused with the wild branch of the family.

Humans and my kind have been interacting practically since the beginning of time. I used to forage in the forest, stir up the soil with my snout for some easy planting. I’m not a fussy eater — leftover produce and crops are welcome in my diet. In case you wonder — I’m not being lazy. With my rather small lungs — stamina is not my strong suit. Heat also bothers me and I’ll seek out puddles or other shallow water to find relief. (Not unlike humans with their beach and swimming habits.)

What am I thinking about today? I’m puzzling why I didn’t get mentioned in Fine Lines. Here I was, reading along and enjoying the story. I actually got a little excited when they started talking about the park where I live. But did they mention me? No — hay storage. Poultry. Longhorn. They get a line or more. And me? Nothing. It’s enough to make me go find some mud and sulk.

Aside from my absence, Fine Lines is a great read. It’s an excellent choice for any weekend or even a mid-week escape from the chores and cares of the day. Here’s a link: https://bit.ly/49FtvjF

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Walking Add-On

ellenparkerwrites

Many parks include walking/hiking/biking trails. Visitors can enjoy interesting scenery while getting exercise — a win-win. Degree of difficulty may vary. An asphalt, fairly level is great for grandma to push the stroller. Others, with a mulch surface and sharper inclines, are designed with the serious hiker in mind.

Occasionally, you encounter a park trail with optional activities. Do you want to increase balance? Arm strength?

Grab and pole and step up! Again! According to the directions posted at a corner of the space, this exercise will air balance and give leg muscles and extra work-out. (As if they need more. Have you seen the hill?) A person will be exhausted if they attempt even half of the stations on this “fitness trail”.

In the later-in-life romance, Fine Lines, fitness is required for Cal’s position as a police detective. Mandy, a defense attorney understands the importance and attempts to keep her body in good shape — after all, she does complete a 5K. Check out the book at the link to discover what other interests these two professional share. https://bit.ly/49FtvjF

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Scheduled Meeting

ellenparkerwrites

Many workplaces have scheduled meetings for employee groups. Often they are used to keep employees informed of changes and timelines. Perhaps once a week for mid-managers. Or once a month for line workers.

Does the business work around-the-clock? Do they schedule these meetings easy for non-day-shift to attend? Mandatory? Strongly encouraged? What happens if a person doesn’t appear for two or three in a row?

Do your multiple shifts have an end-of-shift report? Written? Oral?

Ms. Speckles, standing at upper left, calls the daily meeting of county park hens to order. First agenda item is egg production. Second is to devise a schedule for sitting on the eggs secreted from the humans last week — it’s past time this flock raised children.

A flock similar to above needs calming after the fire department and other emergency personnel is called to a nearby structure. Cal Collins, lead detective on the arson case, has his own micro-adventure that same morning. Check out Fine Lines, a later-in-life romance for the complete story. Here’s a link: https://bit.ly/49FtvjF

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Details Matter

ellenparkerwrites

At times, little things, details, exert a great deal on the outcome of events.

When selecting fabric for a piece of clothing it matters a great deal if you choose denim or percale. Are you sewing trousers? Or a summer blouse? A vest? Or swimsuit cover-up?

Details often matter when constructing — furniture or buildings. Is this a private residence? Small business? Public building? Warehouse? Materials selected and details — type of doors and windows, roof style, flooring, and a hundred other things will depend on the end use. Choose with care.

The architect choose a decorative capital for this series of supporting columns in a public building. A detail with visitors can pause and admire more than 160 years later.

Details matter in occupations also. Both police detectives and defense attorneys best pay attention to little items, as well as the over-all picture, to make a strong case.

Check out the later-in-life romance, Fine Lines, for a story with these two occupations featured. The link will take you to the Nook edition. Also available at other on-line retailers.

https://bit.ly/4rVvd7M

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Participation before Success

ellenparkerwrites

Even in the dictionary, you’ll find participation pages prior to success.

Will your participation in a task or even guarantee success? No, as most adults have learned, guarantees in life are rare. The adage which limits them to death and taxes contains much truth.

However, participation is required. Perhaps you need to attempt, or participate, in an activity several times before you can count it a success.

Twice, when I was a little younger and more physically capable, I participated in charity 5K run/walks. Others in my group continued to use the word “run”. I quickly corrected it to “walk”. While others in the few thousand aimed for the best time — I considered finishing a success.

In the later-in-life romance, Fine Lines, the main characters separately participate in the same charity 5K. Join them for this and other St. Louis events between paper covers or on your favorite electronic device. The Kindle link is listed here: https://bit.ly/49FtvjF

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Oh Dear…pardon me — Deer

ellenparkerwrites

Have you ever imagined a quiet animal in giant size?

Rendered in fiberglass instead of flesh and blood, this deer is unique to Laumeier Sculupture Park in St. Louis County. Considerably larger than life — standing twelve feet tall — this doe observes the grounds both day and night.

Real live deer also frequent the acres of the park. Study the photo and imagine a deer emerging from the woods at dusk, approaching the statue, and giving the legs a good sniff.

Wildlife art, much smaller in scale than the above, makes several appearances in the later-in-life romance, Fine Lines. Already matted and framed, defense attorney Mandy Price uses a butterfly and thistle blossom piece for office decor. Find the book blurb and pre-order information at the link: https://bit.ly/49FtvjF

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Picnic in the Park

ellenparkerwrites

Let’s go on a picnic after church.

That’s the sort of invitation our family accepted once or twice per summer. (My father was not fond of eating outside. Army influence?)

The menu varied a little by how far ahead the plans were made. Fried chicken? Thick sandwiches? Baked beans? Potato salad? Chips? (They were a real treat.) Cake or pie? Lemonade?

Our picnics often took place at a wayside rest in view of Lake Pepin — part of the Mississippi River between MN and WI. Visiting between families. Perhaps a footrace or two. A walk down to the water — watch for rattlesnakes.

This picnic shelter, located in a county park, may be reserved for families and groups. Shade. A little rain protection. A grill. A trash can. Tables and seating. Let the children run — a playground is not far out of the photo. Older folks may prefer to toss a ball or take a stroll.

Detective Cal Collins is called to respond to a situation in a county park more than once in the later-in-life romance, Fine Lines. Who would want to harm a picnic shelter? Good thing a jogger found the fire before it got to the roof. Check out the book at the pre-order link: https://bit.ly/49FtvjF