Tag: books

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Dressed for the Season

ellenparkerwrites

It’s smart to consider the season before you dress for the day. Perhaps you listen to a favorite radio or television report. Or take a glance out a window.

Raining? Better locate the umbrella or rain coat.

Snowing? Where did I last see my boots?

Winter? That’s the current season in the Northern Hemisphere. Consider an extra layer, thickness dependent on your exact location.

Our animal friends — they grow their own. Dogs, cattle, horses — all grow a thicker coat in the fall and hang on to it until well into spring. Even this camel at the zoo grew a fine winter coat and continued to wear it into April.

Yes, tomorrow’s camel day, Wednesday, hump day. Do you suppose this fellow celebrates twice?

No camels specifically mentioned in Comfort Zone, a sweet contemporary romance. However, the characters live in St. Louis and have been known to visit the exact zoo where this one lives. Do you suppose they took a similar photo? Check out the book here: https://amzn.to/2ZvL0Av

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Caution: Ice Ahead

ellenparkerwrites

Winter weather, especially in the American Midwest, is unpredictable. One day the sidewalks are clear and brown grass is peaking through thin spots in the snow. The next day you and your shovel struggle to arrive at the mailbox. And don’t forget the ice!

Whether it arrives in a storm of its own — or results from a daytime thaw and freezing night — a person needs to be cautious.

Ice? Yes, we can walk on ice. Just let us finish this grooming session before we demonstrate.

Snow and ice arrive annually in fictional Crystal Springs, WI. Check out Starr Tree Farm, (currently on sale for 99 pennies) for a sweet, winter romance full of second chances. https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw

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Let me think on it

ellenparkerwrites

A reasonable response when faced with a question.

Of course, the type of question will influence the amount of “thinking” time required.

Which flavor ice cream? Take the umbrella? Most days, these questions require only a moment or two to decide.

Should I resign my job? Marry the woman/man beside me? These are the sort of decisions which require careful thought. Often you find yourself following the options — will I be able to find another job? Can I actually afford to retire? Do I want to live with that other person the rest of my life?

What do you imagine this Longhorn is thinking?

Silly humans: holding up little rectangles at everything? Or: almost time for a drink of water?

Laura Starr Tanner is faced with several decisions in the sweet romance novel, Starr Tree Farm. Where in Crystal Springs should she open her books and office supply store? Is Brad, the grown-up “boy down the road” trustworthy?

Currently on sale — I urge readers of sweet romance to check out this small town story. https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw

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Welcome to February

ellenparkerwrites

Hi! Just me popping up to wish you a pleasant Ground Hog Day!

Did you know today is the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox?

So…hang in there. Winter will yield to spring before I get another decent nap. Oh — be sure to include pork sausage in today’s menu.

This black-tailed prairie dog digs at the St. Louis Zoo. Scared of his shadow? I don’t think so. He and his friends are experts at tag and hiding.

Illinois hosted miles and miles of prairie in 1851. However, I’d expect to find a woodchuck rather than the ancestor of this fine fellow above.

For a sweet romance featuring humans — plus a nod to horses — check out New Dreams. The German immigrants find much new and strange in America.

Find the book here: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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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