Tag: Seasons

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Wonderful in White

ellenparkerwrites

October arrived today. Do you have a nip in the air? Did you reach for a jacket when you went outside?

A change in the weather can be invigorating. Sunshine on autumn leaves is a sight to savor. Perhaps it’s the knowledge that this will not last which prods me to do those final outside chores of the year.

Some creatures find time to play and enjoy the touch of cool air — especially when you wear a fur coat.

He’s ready for his close-up and I, for one, will not pick an argument with this zoo resident. Have you seen his paw? With claws? My skin is too tender to come near. After all, his recent ancestors hunted seal for supper.

This photo was taken near the end of September. Have you ever visited the zoo in autumn? Try it sometime. Animals lethargic in summer heat may surprise you with their antics. After all, most of them are avid people-watchers.

Characters in my St. Louis set books visit local attractions. In Comfort Zone, the visit takes place for an early date — with his father along to make it a non-date. Check out this sweet romance where there is no age limit on love here: https://amzn.to/2ZvL0Av

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Glide into Summer

ellenparkerwrites

Another month is drawing to a close. In the United States, the summer season began a week ago with the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The zoo “pelican parade” bids farewell to May and welcome to June.

What on the horizon for your summer?

Will you enjoy some sunshine and quiet time in your back yard or local park? Take a vacation involving airplanes? Perhaps a road trip of a few days. Or are major home improvements calling your name?

No matter if you do any or all of the above — sneak a few hours to relax and enjoy the longer hours of daylight.

June includes the summer solstice, one of Serena Carter’s favorite days to capture a sunrise photo. Find her adventure in the sweet romance, Morning Tryst. State parks hold surprises of all types. See more when you follow the link. https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Pick any color — except Blue.

ellenparkerwrites

Spring flowers tend to bring smiles. In cooler climates, where winter keeps the ground cool for three or four months, tulips bring cheer.

Easy care? Plant deep after the first frost, enjoy winter activities, and watch for the leaves to poke up in early spring. The bloom stems will follow. If you select your variety with care, they will return for several years — but with smaller blooms.

Not much room to garden? Tulips will fare well in containers. Consult garden experts in your area to learn if containers may remain outside or need to be taken into cool shelter.

Tulips would have been a familiar flower to the Deutsch immigrants in the mid-19th century. I can easily imagine a few clumps of spring color near the front step of either a farmhouse or a residence in town.

Check out New Dreams, a sweet historical romance, to find a story of two 1851 immigrants — a baker and a thief looking to reform. https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Running High & Fast

ellenparkerwrites

Rain, snow, ice — when the spring thaw arrives, water in the liquid state seeks the low places. Perhaps a ditch. Then into a creek. A river holds more and wanders through miles and miles of farmland.

This is the American Midwest, and the water is in a hurry to meet up with the Mississippi River.

This photo, taken in May from the Missouri bank of the Des Moines River, gives a glimpse of high, brown water transporting bits and pieces of Iowa southward (generally). In this exact location, the direction is more eastward. No lazy lake here. You best build high and away from the river to prevent damage from seasonal floods.

Perched on a bluff above the Mississippi River, the fictional town of Elm Ridge, Illinois does not worry about floods. (Aside from the town wharf and the warehouses at the foot of the bluff.) Step back to 1851 and meet the residents — American and immigrant in the sweet historical romance, New Dreams. The link for more information is here: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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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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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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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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Living with a Tree

ellenparkerwrites

In case you wonder, I’m not referring to the smaller, seasonal tree. That one is no problem. I assemble it and park it on an end table for the month. The lights make a welcome change from the usual. The ornaments, many gifts or picked up on travels, remind me of people and places and good times.

No — I’m thinking about this tree.

Once upon a time — perhaps three years ago — this houseplant was a pretty little thing in an easy to manage pot.

Then I put it outside for summer vacation. I guess these thrive in hot, humid St. Louis weather. It demanded, and received a larger pot and lived inside during the winter. With effort, it again went on summer vacation in the front flower bed.

Her children — yes, I did try to raise a couple — refused to grow and one even turned brown. Ooops! The trip inside wasn’t easy. Some people would have sold tickets. After the holidays it will be time for a prune. What do you think? Trim two? Trim four?

Dig around in the box and drape it with Christmas ornaments not used this year?

Janet, the heroine in Comfort Zone, is not the best person with plants in her family. She has other talents — including a smile Rich finds impossible to ignore. Check out their story in the sweet romance here: https://amzn.to/338z1K1