Tag: Seasons

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A Bit ‘O Fun

ellenparkerwrites

Smile! The tavern owner has a sense of humor.

All of you have heard the story/song of Rudolph. Have you met is Irish cousin?

Standing proud, Paddy O’Deer welcomes the patrons during December. Come inside. Eat lunch. Enjoy a beverage. No venison on the menu.

During the same years the Irish were fleeing famine by immigrating to America, other nationalities were also arriving. Check out the sweet historical romance, New Dreams, to discover how a few Deutsch fared in Illinois. The link will take you to the book blurb & Kindle edition: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Let there be…Music

ellenparkerwrites

Do you hear it? The end-of-year holidays are parading this way. Drums keep the beat. Stringed instruments play the soaring notes. Woodwinds and brass toss the melody back-and-forth. And then…

The tinkle of bells fill in the gaps.

Do you have church bells in your neighborhood? Or have you gotten a sense of wonder during a carillon concert? Perhaps you’re fond of smaller bells, such as the handbells pictured above. Or we could go smaller — jingle bells (miniature sleigh bells) on Santa’s boot tops.

Enjoy a little music this Holiday Season. Immigrants from all places brought their music and holiday traditions when they moved to the United States.

Louisa Mueller, a fictional Deutsch immigrant, brought her love of music and dancing along with her baking skills in the sweet historical romance, New Dreams. Follow the link below for more information on a sweet romance escape from reality. https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Candle Countdown

ellenparkerwrites

Christmas is coming. Oh, no secret or surprise.

What was your clue?

Music? Decorations? Advertisements? Tree lots? Santa on everything?

One of my favorite lead-up-to-the-holiday items is the Advent wreath. Yes, I like candles all year long. But their is a little something special about lighting an additional candle each Sunday before Christmas.

Watch the flame. Read a devotion. Say a prayer.

No matter your religion — I believe everyone welcomes a little more Peace, Love, Joy, and Hope into the world.

A little worn with all your holiday preparations? Take a book break. Sweet romance — with a happy ending — works well. In Comfort Zone, set in St. Louis, the story beginning includes plans for a wedding the day after Christmas. Click on the link for details: https://amzn.to/2ZvL0Av

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You want me to What???

ellenparkerwrites

The United States holiday of Thanksgiving is less that a week away. A major holiday, even a few popular songs have found their way into the culture.

But we may have a problem. Are you feasting and celebrating at a relative’s home? Do you have to cross a river? Drive through a wooded area?

Pull a sleigh? To your grandmother’s house? Are you out of your mind? Have you paid any attention to the weather?

Let’s get a few things settled. First: No sleighs–wheels work well on bare roads. Second: I’m not trained to harness for any vehicle–and time is too short for this year. Third: The hay in your grandmother’s barn is not fit for my fine palate. Therefore: Please use the automobile. I’ll be happy to spend the day alone in my familiar barn.

In the sweet romance, MORNING TRYST, photographer Serena Carter is away from family for an entire year of holidays. While a friend joins her for Christmas, as they attend another friend’s wedding, most of her special days are spent in Missouri State Parks — photographing the sights. Well, unless a certain male friend drops in to make a different sort of holiday. Follow the link for more book details. https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Fall Foolishness

ellenparkerwrites

Can you have an October without a few jokes?

I suppose it’s possible. But would you want to?

During these final days of the month, I think we should go for a wagon ride. Jack will drive.

Wait! Something’s missing. Jack can’t drive — he’s all turned around and looking out the back. Silly kid, like riding in a 1950’s station wagon.

Change of plans. No ride until we find a horse and a proper driver — one who hasn’t overdone the pumpkin spice to the point of turning orange.

Looking for a light read? Fans of sweet romance should check out the historical novel, Stitching a Dream. Portions of this 1851 story occur in the autumn with preparations for winter. A young boy and a calico cat will add to the smiles.

Here’s the link to the Kindle edition: https://amzn.to/3VwoeFh

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High and Hushed

ellenparkerwrites

The swish of branches releasing autumn leaves in the breeze. A bee busy at a late blossom. A vehicle passing on the park road at slow speed.

From the heights in this Missouri State Park, the view across the river to Illinois can pull an exclamation from the often silent. This October view was captured while the hickory, oak, and maple displayed more green than yellow, orange, or brown.

Have you gone for a hike, or drive to admire the autumn trees? Do you have the event on your schedule? You have a little time left in the month — but you better plan now.

Unable to visit a park or woodland in person? Open a book and visit anywhere in the world at the time of your choosing. In this season, I recommend the sweet romance, Morning Tryst. In addition to a romance (happy ending) you will get an introduction to some of the many Missouri State Parks. Link to the book is here: https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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October Stroll

ellenparkerwrites

The sun is shining. The temperature is mild. Let’s go for a walk outside of the neighborhood.

Where should we go? One nearby park features sculptures. Another is bordered by the Mississippi River. The zoo is always interesting. Oh — I know…

We’re in luck! The fountains are still running at the public garden. I love this combination of graceful, colorful glass, bright white fencing, and a water feature in the traditional rose garden. Wander. Sniff. Photograph. Breath deep and count this as one of your blessings.

The American Midwest holds many treasures within the multiple cities and towns within the half dozen or more states. (Definitions of Midwest vary.)

Explore a few in the sweet romance, Morning Tryst. Photographer Serena Carter is spending a year working in Missouri State Parks. Open the pages and discover little gems — and second chances.

Book link: https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Autumn Appetite Appeaser

ellenparkerwrites

When the morning chill is in the air, supper plans often turn to the hearty, comfort foods of the season. Soups, chili, and stews suddenly appear on the menu. Apples and pumpkin are featured in desserts and snacks.

Today I want to share with you a recipe for the most important portion of a warm, satisfying supper — spaghetti sauce.

Forget hours of simmering and stirring with a silent prayer for no scorching in the bottom of the pan. This is made in the slow cooker. Put it together and go off to work or errands or tasks around the house.

Note on the spices — I’ve never measured these. So I used the amount of ‘sprinkle over entire’ and ‘sprinkle over half’ to give a sense of proportion.

Here we go:

1–15 oz can diced tomatoes  garlic powder (sprinkle half)

3 – 8  oz can tomato sauce   onion powder (sprinkle entire)

2 –  6  oz can tomato paste    oregano (sprinkle entire)

1 lb bulk Italian sausage        basil (sprinkle half)

2 ½ cups water (may include 1/2 cup light wine)

parsley (sprinkle half)  fennel seed (sprinkle)

red pepper flakes (2 shakes)                                      

Put all tomato products and water and wine into slow cooker. Add sausage while crumbling into bite-sized pieces. Add spices – may adjust to your taste. Stir once. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Makes 10-12 generous portions. Freezes well.

Serve warm over fresh cooked pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

This is the sort of meal Janet, in the sweet romance, Comfort Zone, would fix during the week. Her hours working as HVAC tech can become unpredictable during cold snaps. And this is a delightful smell to welcome you home. Learn about the book by clicking the link.https://amzn.to/2ZvL0Av

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Sipping Station

ellenparkerwrites

Oh, come all ye who enjoy aster, butterfly bush, and salvia. Our blooms are available for daylight dining.

Come and sip at the late summer/early fall blossoms. Stock up now for your hive. Or collect extra energy for your migration.

Most years our St. Louis weather allows a variety of flowers to continue to spread joy and color well into October. While this raised bed tends to bloom in shades of purple, many yellow and orange flowers are bravely opening petals until a hard frost.

The residents of fictional Crystal Springs, WI play close attention to the weather. The economy of this tiny town depends on the surrounding farms — whether they grow Christmas trees, apple trees, or organic vegetables. Or German shepherds. Check out this trio for a sweet romance treat.

Here’s the link to Starr Tree Farm, the first of the triplets. https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw

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Pick a Peck

ellenparkerwrites

Go and get a bushel basket. We had several on the farm and used them for all sorts of things. Many items carried in the bushel basket came from the garden –sweet corn or winter squash. But sometimes, a person doesn’t want an entire bushel.

So get a peck. Four to a bushel. A common measure at the apple orchard when we did our annual visit during my childhood.

This urban apple tree looks like you could pick a peck easy. I call it urban because of where it is growing. I don’t know the variety of apple.

In the sweet romance, Hiding Places, the hero, Linc Dray is working hard to inherit his grandfather’s farm and start an apple orchard. But life throws more than the usual number of obstacles in his path. Click on the link to find more book information: https://amzn.to/2Jm26GQ