Tag: animals

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Equine Enjoyment

ellenparkerwrites

After the work day — or when the humans take a day off — the animals get to relax. This pair has long days without pulling farm equipment or wagons for they are lucky and live at a historical site.

Sometimes I wonder what a farm horse’s favorite task was. I doubt it was plowing — pulling a sharp blade through the field is hard work. Pulling a seeder or planter would be better. The implement does not dig deep into the earth. Perhaps pulling a mower or hay rake? All the work is above ground. Best to go steady to keep the gears turning and the work progressing. A wagon? Hmm. I suppose it depends on the load. Hay can be awkward. Rock for construction is heavy. Grain to the mill? Can we nibble on any spillage?

In the sweet romance, New Dreams, Hans Hoffmann finds employment at the livery and freight company. He starts with a lowly task — cleaning stalls and harness. He likes the work — and the horses like him — but the real story is between the people in this 1851 tale. Follow the link for more story details. https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Saddle Up!

ellenparkerwrites

Start your day with exercise. Actually, for pairs — each rider and their horse will get lungs full of fresh air and a morning work-out.

Until about a century ago, a horse and rider would have been a familiar sight in most of the United States. However, in recent decades you no longer find them mixed in with motorized traffic. Instead you will find them on designated trails in parks and on private ranches and estates.

Need a little help with your balance? Take riding lessons. Have fear of large animals? Visit a stable and meet some gentle giants.

This pair of saddles are displayed at property once owned by a horseman of note: U. S. Grant. Can you imagine him riding the perimeter of a camp — wearing a slouch hat and smoking a cigar?

Fictional Elm Ridge, Illinois is located a bit south of actual Galena, Illinois — a town where Grant lived immediately prior to the Civil War.

Open the pages of the clean & wholesome romance, STITCHING A DREAM, and step into 1851. Dirt streets, wooden sidewalks, and tension between native-born and immigrant. When does a person become American? Follow the link for book details. https://amzn.to/3VwoeFh

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Travel on my Mind

ellenparkerwrites

To paraphrase song lyrics…do you know where I’m remembering? I’ve visited this state more than once — twice it was my destination, other times I traveled through.

When I say the state “Georgia”, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?

Peaches? Civil War history? Soft drink? Olympics?

How many thought “fish”?

When you visit Atlanta, be sure to add several hours at the Georgia Aquarium to your agenda.

When you study the map and pick a state to visit — after Georgia, consider Illinois. The sweet historical romances New Dreams and Stitching a Dream are both set in a fictious river town in the 1850’s. The link will give you more information on the journey of immigrants. https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Wearing Fancy Dress

ellenparkerwrites

Functional, yet fancy. When tourists are your business a person decorates everyday things with traditional designs.

The horses in these fancy collars are not impressed with the decoration. They would however, welcome an extra sip of water — offered by the owner at the top of the hill rather than the bottom. After all, taking tourists to and from a palace all day works up a thirst.

Hans Hoffmann, in the sweet historical romance, New Dreams, has a good relationship with horses. He has a better history with the animals than with people. Can he reform and earn a respectable place in human society? Check out the book at the link: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Five out of Six

ellenparkerwrites

Do you know the story of the six blind men who went to see the elephant?

This fine photo of a resident of the St. Louis Zoo will assist you the best she can. No tusk, therefore, only five of the six blind men are represented.

The first of the blind men stumbled into the beast’s side and proclaimed an elephant is like a wall. The second, grasping the tusk of a male, exclaimed the hard, round shape like a spear. The third, approaching from the front, grasped the trunk and decided the elephant was like a snake. Absolutely not, stated the next blind man as he grasped a leg and announced the animal resembled a tree. The fifth man, happened to take hold of the mammal’s ear and blurted the resemblance to a fan. You are all in error proclaimed the proud, sixth blind man as he clenched the tail–an elephant is like a rope!

Who was right? Who was wrong? Should each blind man listen to his companions and do a further exploration?

In the sweet romance, Comfort Zone, Rich and Janet’s first date is a day at the zoo. Accompanied by Rich’s father, they spend extra time at the elephant exhibit and listen to stories from the elderly man’s youth. If you like romance with a Midwestern flavor, check out the book at the link. https://amzn.to/2ZvL0Av

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Mobile Security System

ellenparkerwrites

When I was nearing the end of second grade, our family moved from village to farm. One item which was critical to my mother was security when my father was gone to his regular job and evening events.

I had never lived with a dog in the house — but I soon discovered I liked it. Dog and girl got along well. He knew he belonged to mother — she was his #1 protectee, but I was on the short list.

Decades later, when I started writing books, and a lady was inquiring about a security system for her new business, is was just logical that the answer “kennel south of town raises German shepherds” was the reply.

So when it came time to write about the young woman, and her two female cousins, who owned the farm with the kennel, I had my inspiration. Yes, details changed. After all, I’ve lived with and near dogs of several breeds through the years.

Meet Beth Cosgrove and her dog, Dancer, in the sweet romance Seed of Desire. She keeps her past quiet, will the new lawyer — and his shepherd puppy — change her attitude?

Here’s a link to the book’s Kindle edition: https://amzn.to/2RDFgxH

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Important Space

ellenparkerwrites

In the small towns, and some crossroads, in the American Midwest, a church is an important space. Often a village will have one or more church buildings which hark back to the beginnings of the settlement. Or…a newer building will serve a congregation founded a century or more in the past.

Frame, brick, or stone, these small buildings serve to draw the community together for important occasions.

It is in a space similar to this, in the sweet romance, Seed of Desire, where Beth Cosgrove puts on a brave exterior and sings a solo at a funeral. Follow the link to find out more about this accountant and dog breeder as she confronts both joys and sorrows. Fear not, the dogs are heroes. https://amzn.to/2RDFgxH

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Tell Me Again

ellenparkerwrites

Almost every farm I’ve set foot on has at least one dog. It does not matter if the primary product is milk, beef, pork, chickens, and soybeans. Somehow, dog and farm fit together.

Some of these dogs work. Yes, herding animals is a real thing. Guard duty, assigned to give the alarm when strangers turn in the drive, is also common. Others watch the human children and do their best to keep them from serious trouble and injury.

This individual of a herding breed never tires of hearing exploits of her distant cousins and ancestors.

The sweet romance, Starr Tree Farm, is set on a Christmas tree farm near a small fictional Wisconsin village. In addition to trees and pumpkins, the farm is home to several young beef cattle and two collie mix dogs. Check out the book for a story about the temporary human and her January adventure. It’s simple — click on the link: https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw

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Birds in the Bush

ellenparkerwrites

You’ve probably head the saying: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Does that mean the invisible narrator has three in hand?

I counted seven birds in the bush, but by the time I snapped the photo, I think one flew away. I would venture to say this was a popular plant on a sunny winter afternoon.

I can think of some positives as long as the wind stayed light. Slender, strong branches for perching. No leaves, the better to see enemies (such as photographers) approach. Community – sharing the news with others of the flock.

In the sweet romance, Morning Tryst, the heroine photographer sighted many species of birds in Missouri State Parks. Join her adventure and enjoy comments on eagles, hawks, and other park residents. All you need to do is clink on the link for more information.https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Breakfast is Served

ellenparkerwrites

Many experts consider breakfast the most important meal of the day. This bird feeder, found on my morning walk, should start the day off right to a family.

My neighborhood is home to numerous birds of a variety of likes and dislikes when it comes to meals. But they are well fed. If they don’t find seeds to their liking in this feeder, they can fly a couple dozen yards to another. While not every household maintains a feeder, one out of three or four caters to our feathered friends.

Do you feed the birds? Watch and identify the species? Only in winter? Year-round?

In the 1850’s, in fictional Elm Ridge, Illinois, the residents did not hang out bird feeders. However, with fields and gardens to forage among, the non-migrating avian managed to eat throughout the winter months. A little grain always spilled. A way into the barn could be found.

A sweet romance set in this time and place is Stitching a Dream. Click on the link to learn more about this story of a single mother seamstress and her new neighbor. https://amzn.to/3VwoeFh