Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbits

The last sentence I wrote in All or Nothing, Holiday, USA series:

She felt more at home than ever before in her life.

Sharing an old photo until I figure out how to download my pictures to my new computer.

Monday Quote

"What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us."

~ Henry David Thoreau

Yes, it's the moon rising in the east.

Sunday Scripture

Psalms 3:19

The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

Saturday Links

Having messed up in my choices of who to give my heart, more than once, I wish I'd had someone like candidkay to set me straight:
https://candidkay.com/2016/08/16/are-we-so-very-fragile/

Meg Dowell blogged on A Writer's Path about writer burn out. I needed it:
https://ryanlanz.com/2016/08/16/why-do-creative-people-burn-out/

Donna Hatch writes lovely Regency romances and answers the question "Do you ever write real stuff into your books?"
http://donnahatch.com/writing-with-my-heart/

Are you writing nonfiction? Jean Fischer shares some ideas:
https://jeanfischer.wordpress.com/2016/08/20/5-things-to-remember-when-writing-a-nonfiction-book/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Least Expected is a contemporary Christian romance novella by Autumn Macarthur. This story features an older couple. What I enjoy most about her stories is that I feel like I'm back in London listening to my Auntie Vicky tell me about someone she knows. The woman didn't have a mean bone in her body. She loved seeing people happy and was strong in her faith. She's been gone many years, now, but I'm able to recapture what I enjoyed for a few months in Autumn Macarthur's stories.

Music Thursday

One of the social media pages I follow shared Tim McGraw's Live Like You Were Dying. It's one of those songs that always make me stop, think, and evaluate. Am I living life to the fullest?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9TShlMkQnc

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbit

Thank you Donna Keevers Driver for another gorgeous pairing.

Monday Quote

The subconscious mind is gullible; it believes whatever you tell it. If you're going to lie to your mind, at least lie in your favor.

Sunday Scripture

Speaking of wisdom and understanding:

Proverbs 3:18

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Links Saturday

A Writer's Path shared a post by Millie Ho offering encouraging advice on writing. I wish I'd read it sooner. Better late than never:
https://ryanlanz.com/2016/08/06/the-more-you-write-the-more-ideas-youll-have/
Ryan also occasionally shares a book quote:
https://ryanlanz.com/2016/08/08/book-quote-corner-29/

Donna Keevers Driver shares a bit of inspiration in her post Crying on the inside...:
https://donnakeeversdriversite.wordpress.com/2016/08/11/crying-on-the-inside/

On History Imagined, Caroline Warfield shared a blog on Sails to Steam:
https://historyimagined.wordpress.com/2016/08/12/sails-to-steam/

God Bless.

My Christmas cacti from earlier this year.

Favorite Book Friday

If you like my Regency books, I think you'll like Song of the Highlands by Sharon Gillenwater. I finished reading it, last week.

Music Thursday

I grew up listening to a wide variety of music, from classical to heavy metal, Beethoven to Iron Butterfly. Well worth the sixteen-minute listen, this is Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue:

https://youtu.be/ynEOo28lsbc

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbit

This is from All or Nothing, Holiday USA, the last thing I wrote before posting this:

The man could be prickly and thoughtful at the same time.

 

Monday Quote

"Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength." ~ St. Francis de Sales

Sunday Scripture

Speaking of wisdom and understanding:

Proverbs 3:17

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

Links Saturday

Ryan Lanz's A Writer's Path featured a post by Vincent Mars on "The Writer's Workout":
https://ryanlanz.com/2016/08/03/the-writers-workout/

Becky Lower, over at History Imagined, posted "Paul Revere-Silversmith, Soldier, Spy. In elementary school, I re-wrote Paul Revere's Ride, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, from the horse's point of view.
https://historyimagined.wordpress.com/2016/08/05/paul-revere-silversmith-soldier-spy/

Donna Keevers Driver is going to share pictures of her journey following her story's characters. I'm looking forward to following along:
https://donnakeeversdriversite.wordpress.com/2016/08/06/the-path-draws-nearer/

Need a little inspiration every day? Maybe you'd like Motivating Daily:
https://motivatingdaily.com/2016/08/07/irreplaceable/
Be extraordinary.

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

I took a children's literature class in college, not the first time but when I went back years later. I read all kinds of books I missed growing up, The Secret Garden, The Wind in the Willows, and others. I loved the class. I also discovered my favorite picture book: Tuesday by David Weisner
I'm noticing a theme: Frogs :-)

The Tales of Jeremy Fisher, Tuesday, and Leap of Faith Day.

Clouds

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbit

This is the most recent bit written for All or Nothing, from the Holiday, USA series, novella 10 (unedited):

Angela took the Holiday Sweets bag and retrieved a German chocolate cupcake. She claimed one of the hot chocolate cups and handed both to the teenager. "Extra." She sipped from the other cup and handed it to Caleb. 

"I couldn't." The kid glanced between them, unable to hide the stark hunger in his eyes. "You're sure?"

"Absolutely." Angela smiled. "I'm not a breakfast fan."

"Thanks." The guy gobbled the cupcake in two bites and sipped the hot chocolate. His eyes lit as he licked his lips. "Whipped cream."

"There's another way?" Angela arched an eyebrow and grinned.

Caleb wanted her approval for himself.

Monday Quote

A study showed that people are more motivated by avoiding loss than they are by gain.

We hate loss more than we love gain.

~ Mike Slater

Sunday Scripture

Speaking of wisdom and understanding:

Proverbs 3:16

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour

Links Saturday

Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud's guest blogger, Mary Hamilton, shared some good advice on "Making Marriage Work":
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/2016/07/28/making-marriage-work/

Katie's Cottage Books reminds us that August 7, tomorrow, is National Sister's Day.
https://katiescottagebooks.wordpress.com/2016/08/02/national-sisters-day/

Simmer and Boil shared a recipe for 2-Ingredient Sweet Potato Pancakes. I want to try it.
http://simmerandboil.cookinglight.com/2015/07/29/2-ingredient-sweet-potato-pancake-recipe/

Jean Fischer's shared interesting tidbits about three children's books authors:
https://jeanfischer.wordpress.com/2016/07/30/buzz-off-roald-dahl-what-you-dont-know-about-three-famous-childrens-book-authors/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Back on July 28th, Beatrix Potters' birthday was celebrated. One of the blogs I follow, Cafe Book Bean, asked about everyone's favorite BP book.

https://cafebookbean.com/2016/07/28/the-enchanting-beatrix-potter/

I didn't need to think about it. My favorite has always been The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher. The reason is probably quite silly. To this day, I can't forget how everything was all "slippy-sloppy in the larder." It still makes me smile.

Music Thursday

I was raised with everything from the classics to heavy metal. Music soothes, inspires, annoys, and everything in between. I'm endeavoring to break the habit of watching so much television. I developed the habit of having the television on for company. Last week, I went to work breaking some habits.

For a number of years, I used a website that played random music. I liked it okay. I remember my frustration over some of the site's choices. I'm embarrassed I was so slow on the uptake. When I go to YouTube I'm able to choose whatever I want, if it's available. It's astounding how much is.

In my new experiment, I started with Holst's The Planets. I'll share it another time. One of the suggestions was Maurice Ravel's Boléro.

https://youtu.be/r30D3SW4OVw

The piece is almost fifteen minutes long. I'll only post links that will open in a separate window. You may choose to follow them or not.

In the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympics, Torvill and Dean earned the only perfect 6.0s from every judge for their ice dancing interpretation. I remember watching, mesmerized. I knew I was privileged to be a part of history and to enjoy something awesome. No matter how many times I see it, I cry. Simply wow.

The first clip isn't high quality but includes the scoring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcCj0xfO3H8

The second clip is higher quality but doesn't include the scoring.

https://youtu.be/rc-0BCSyWtc

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbit

The last five lines I added to my current WIP (unedited):
 

He wiped his damp palms on his black jeans, shrugged his shoulders in the hopes of loosening up a bit, and tapped on the doorjamb.

"Come in."

A shiver raced up and down his spine, and his muscles tightened. He wouldn't mind hearing that soft-spoken alto for the rest of his life. 

 

Yellow Rose

God bless.