Month: January 2024

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Powerful Number

ellenparkerwrites

One…two…three…Go!

You have until the count of three to _______ (fill in the blank).

Small, medium, large.

Good, better, best.

Trios and triangles pop up in everyday life.

The puzzle, not the horses, show up often in my household. Look at the balance in the picture. The shapes and colors in the positions of the horses direct the viewer’s eye toward the center.

This classic arrangement is a good place to end this blog’s month of puzzles. Soon the photos will be of other things — TBA.

Horses played a vital role in daily life in fictional Elm Ridge, Illinois. Strength, size, and intelligence make them excellent minor characters in New Dreams, a sweet romance set in 1851. More book information here: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Moon Watchers?

ellenparkerwrites

How long is January? Thirty-one days? Or thirty-one weeks? Are you tired of the dark?

Good news — the moon was full last night! Let’s celebrate with a meal at the Beaver Hat Tavern.

Our ancestors paid close attention to the moon’s cycles. After all — horses don’t have headlights. And few sleighs, wagons, and carriages had lanterns. So when they socialized, especially in winter, they checked the sky to ensure they could find their way home.

In the sweet historical romance, New Dreams, the prime social time was Sunday afternoon. The immigrants relaxed after six days of work with music, dancing, and visiting. Check out this 1851 set story here: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Snack Time

ellenparkerwrites

Ooo…that looks good. Time to nibble and check out the taste.

Are your eating habits like a bird? Peck, peck, peck to anything that looks or smells appealing? You know who you are — the cookie dough eaters — the taste testers — the burned fingertip people.

In this puzzle, the artist gives us a variety of birds and multiple types of food. One question — where are the squirrels? In my limited experience, squirrels would run off with the cobs of corn in less than a minute and make quick work of much of the seed.

The feeder in this picture is interesting as a stand alone project. I can see these plans in a school shop class. Measure, cut, notch, nail, and drill — lots of techniques.

Laura Tanner, the heroine in Starr Tree Farm, observes but does not feed the winter birds. Join her and the farm security team as she learns to maneuver on snowshoes. More information on this sweet romance with a touch of suspense here: https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw

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Four Weeks and One Day

ellenparkerwrites

Yes, we’ve managed to survive four weeks and one day past the winter solstice. Lucky us.

Do you live in a region where snow visits during winter? How much have you had? Inches? Feet? One brief flurry?

In this puzzle artist’s creation, the town has received (or hauled in) enough snow for an annual Snowman Contest.

How are your snowman building skills? Mine are rusty. My most recent attempt was a good quarter century ago. Maybe I should cure that and go build one the next time my lawn turns white.

Snowmen have been built for centuries. The children of fictional Elm Ridge, Illinois may have constructed them during the winter of 1851-52, the months after the main story in New Dreams, a sweet romance, takes place. Check out book information here: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Variations on a Theme

ellenparkerwrites

Meet me at the bridge — the covered bridge. In the dim light and current lack of traffic, perhaps lovers can steal a kiss? Or make a promise to each other.

This puzzle artist is a master at working in different styles and lengths of covered bridges during their peak of popularity. Not many of the structures remain. Have you visited one? Or several?

When travelling, I keep my eyes open for signs to covered bridges preserved in parks. I find a bit of wonder in the engineering of more than a century ago. Built for horse-drawn farm and freight wagons, they could not support the heavier loads carried by modern trucks. But they served the residents well by connecting two sides of a creek or river.

Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites has preserved four covered bridges throughout the state. In Morning Tryst, a sweet romance, photographer Serena Carter would have visited each bridge in each season. The one below is Sandy Creek, an easy drive from St. Louis. Check out the book for some of her adventures. https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Real Fresh Air

ellenparkerwrites

Get outside into the fresh air. A little outdoor exercise does a body good. Go outside — you’re a person — not a houseplant.

The above, and more, have been used to encourage people to go outside, no matter the time of the year.

Do you live in an area with winter snow? Are ski areas within a short drive? Or a park with rolling hills?

The winter sports of downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and sledding are represented in this puzzle. Active winter spots I’d add to the list are tubing, skating, and hockey. Oh, almost forgot snowshoeing.

Of course, clearing the driveway may need to come first.

When you return inside, I suggest you prepare a warm winter drink, find a comfy seat, and read. A sweet romance with a touch of suspense would be a great finish to the day. Starr Tree Farm, currently on sale for half price, fits all the criteria. Here’s the Kindle link: https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw

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Leaving Tracks

ellenparkerwrites

Swoosh. Jingle. Clip-clop.

Gentle sounds and distinctive tracks lead you to the horse-drawn sleigh. Down the road from farmhouse to town they go. Then full of the days’ purchases, supplies to last past the next storm, they return to tend the animals left behind and gather for a warm evening by the fire.

Wrap yourself up warm if you set out to re-create this puzzle in real life. If the horse breaks into a trot on level ground you’ll want your ears covered!

A winter setting with modern trucks and cars is presented in the sweet romance, Starr Tree Farm. Join Laura as she seeks information about a murder and finds much more. Find the Kindle edition here: https://amzn.to/2QVhe11

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The Eleventh Day

ellenparkerwrites

Today is the eleventh day of Christmas. Join this group and add your voice for a final round of carols.

Tomorrow, the twelfth day of Christmas, marks the official end of the season. A good day to pack away the decorations, discard any “real” tree (if any needles remain), and enjoy one final cookie and cup of cheer.

Congratulate yourself. You have survived the hustle and stress of a modern (much elongated) holiday season.

Now you can turn your thoughts and energy toward the “to do” list for 2024. Develop a new, better habit? Plan travel? Shop for a major purchase? Whatever your plans and goals are — I wish you well. Be sure to include some reading.

Fans of small town and sweet romance should enjoy the Crystal Springs Romance trio. All set in a tiny Wisconsin village, Starr Tree Farm takes place in January, Hiding Places in June, and Seed of Desire begins in August.

Since this is January — here’s the Kindle link to Starr Tree Farm: https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw

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Whoooo’s set a S.M.A.R.T. Goal?

ellenparkerwrites

Happy New Year! Did you state a resolution for 2024? Have you broken it yet?

Here’s some advice from a friend: Make your goals S.M.A.R.T. — like me.

Let’s use a common resolution/goal for an example.

I’m going to lose weight.

Make it: Specific — I’m going to lose 10 pounds.

    Measurable — I’m going to lose 10 pounds according to my home scale.

    Achievable — Ten pounds is still more than my ultimate target weight.

    Relevant — My clothes (or one particular item) will fit better.

    Time bound — Deadline is March 31, 2024.

So to re-phrase: I’m going to lose 10 pounds according to my home scale by March 31, 2024.

This is an example — this author should, but did not, set this goal.

Starr Tree Farm, a sweet romance, is set in small town Wisconsin. Join Laura, and her goals, with a low calorie drink and a warm winter wrap.

Here’s the link to the Kindle edition: https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw