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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

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Experienced with Birthdays

ellenparkerwrites

Later in 2026, the United States will celebrate 250 years since the Declaration of Independence. Parades, speeches, firework displays, and other festivities are planned across the nation.

Several cities now within the United States were already founded and sinking roots deep into North America. One of these was St. Louis. Twelve years before the colonial congress passed their resolution making the Revolutionary War official, this city was founded as a modest trading post.

Therefore, the area is experienced in celebration a 250th birthday. Wisely, not all the celebrations were centered on the actual February anniversary. (Weather varies more than usual in that month.) Yes, some took place that day. But others were spread out in both time and geography.

Scattered throughout the area were 250 sturdy and uniquely decorated birthday “cakes”. This one had pride of place in one of the city parks. Others were placed in front of historic sites and businesses. Some ambitious people made a challenge of it and hunted down all 250.

Fifty states and 250 years. Simple math tells us we only need to find five sites per state to replicate this event nationwide. (I wonder if anyone even suggested an idea from “fly over” country.)

Never discount the importance of a birthday. The sweet, later-in-life romance, Fine Lines, opens a day after a minor character celebrates a milestone. Defense attorney Mandy Price finds the police detective Cal Collins memorable — but off-limits for her profession. Is he? And how many secrets is he allowed to keep? Check out the blurb and pre-order information at the link: https://bit.ly/49FtvjF

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Special Assistant…

ellenparkerwrites

…to the frustrated bicyclist.

Parks encourage exercise. The type of activity varies by terrain, location, and purpose. The park featured today is a mixture of prairie, woodland, and a great view of the Mississippi River.

Trail traffic is a combination of hikers and bikers. Mountain bikes for the most part. The loop trail is just over three miles long. Count often and don’t misplace anyone from your group.

Mechanical problem? Stop. Look around and figure out where on the trail you are located. Minor? Continue with a mental note for later repairs. Critical? Walk your bike to the trailhead by the shortest, safest route.

Cliff is waiting for you between the public restrooms and the parking lot. He’s equipped with air plus a variety of wrenches to tighten and adjust anything that may have been jarred loose on the trail. Have you spotted a similar repair station in a park near you?

Parks supply interesting locations and a source of mystery in the sweet, later-in-life romance Fine Lines. Meet Mandy Price, criminal defense attorney and Cal Collins, police detective and they discover both hazards and joys of a relationship. Here’s a link to the blurb and pre-order information. https://bit.ly/49FtvjF

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The King on the Hill

ellenparkerwrites

Louis IX of France lived in the wrong century to travel to America. He was admired for many fine qualities and accomplishments during his lifetime. And approximately twenty-seven years after his death he was canonized — hence the name, Saint Louis.

Fast forward to the year 1764. French traders establish a trading post on the Mississippi River, just south of the confluence with the Missouri River, and name it Saint Louis in his honor.

The city grew, became a center of manufacturing and trade until the mid-20th century. Today the city has a lower population than the surrounding St. Louis County but remains an anchor in the region. And the king on the hill?

You can find this representation of Saint Louis (aka. Louis IX) in front of the St. Louis Art Museum. He has a great view of a large portion of Forest Park.

Art is an important, yet unspoken, portion of life to Cal Collins. With a satisfying primary job of police detective, he keeps his fine artist activities quiet. However, nothing lasts forever. Seek out the later-in-life romance, Fine Lines, to learn more about Cal — and the defense attorney who puts his life into turmoil.

The book is available for pre-order with shipment on April 8. Follow the link to the Barnes & Noble site: https://bit.ly/4rVvd7M