Christmas Book I Wrote: A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday

"A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday" is the first book I wrote. It is available on Amazon here 
A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts


This book was a joy to write and it shines through in the words. I met my co-authors online, three of them live in Ohio and two in Texas, and me here in California. It contains snippets of cheer and time savers, recipes, Scripture about the birth of Jesus, family fun ideas, and faith-filled hints. We include outdoor activities, how to create a quiet place in a busy home by having a Santa chair, green thumb tips for Christmas and true stories of our Christmas firsts. One of us shares about the siblings she adopted and their first Christmas in their new home. I share about camping in the Everglades at Christmas.

Here is a review I read posted on Amazon; I don't know the reviewer but love what she wrote about my book:
"When I first saw this book I thought it would be something I would read in a few minutes. Instead I found myself lingering over the stories, enjoying the little known Christmas facts, and promising myself that I would try all the recipes. And yes, there are recipes. Truly a bonus. The pages are filled with personal stories that will touch your heart, and there are interesting facts that will have you thinking, "I never knew that." I've always loved the song about chestnuts roasting on an open fire, but I didn't know until I read this book that Mel Torme, who originally sang it, also wrote the song in forty minutes during a 1945 summer heat wave. I'll remember that every time I hear the song from now on.
This is a great book for any time of the year, and a perfect addition to any bookshelf."

This is a hardcover book with pretty illustrations on each page. If you buy a copy or already have a copy please review it on Amazon. Your reviews help.

Books that I have recently captured

These book were recently free range books but I captured them with my net and brought them home.
I am looking forward to reading them. I think they also captured me.

This novel "The Travelling Cat Chronicles" sounds charming and I hope it is and that no cat has been harmed and no old man harmed either. Arikawa wrote this novel about an old man in Japan traveling around the country with his cat. That is all I know about the plot thus far, no spoilers please. It is translated from the Japanese and the dust jacket promises Nana the cat and his owner Satoru "will learn the true meaning of courage and gratitude, of loyalty and love." Doesn't this sound good?

This one I captured today at the local Goodwill store: dogs, memoir, disastrous second marriage, and written by the author of one of the best books I've ever read "Enchanted April." Actually I started reading this one, and it seems to be just about her dogs, which makes sense, according to its title "All the Dogs of My Life."
I am glad I found a dog book and a cat book, a balance that will please my dog and cat. By the way, my cat discovered the heated cat house I bought her beginning on Thanksgiving and she finds it very cozy.

I read Anne Perry's first two novels about the Pitts who investigate murders and I like the books a lot. Someone mentioned Perry writes a Christmas novel each year and I bought this one as a Christmas treat for myself. "That clever young aristocrat and budding sleuth Vespasia Cumming-Gould, ... investigates the tragedy that is to darken this lighthearted holiday house party",

For another treat I have no. 21 in the brilliant Rebus series by Ian Rankin. I am reading these in order, as per usual for me with series. Rebus is settling in to an uneasy retirement and is drawn into a long ago unsolved murder case. I  finished reading "Rather Be the Devil" yesterday and give it the five stars I usually give to the Rebus books. I am concerned about Rebus' health problem and will want to read the next book when it comes out. Also Rebus has a lady love, good for him.
Do you want to share any books you are looking forward to reading? Any Christmas treat books?

Hope In Shadows and Wavy Mirrors

You might have noticed that I like to take photos of appealing shadows. Here are some from shadows on my patio, from a hanging flower pot and a wind chime.

The word "hope" is what caught my attention and my heart. This wind chime was given to me several years ago by a friend.

Can you see me in my butterfly hat in the mirror reflection? These are two bouquets in my kitchen, one from one of my sons who brought them to my house and one from me, to lift my spirits on the second anniversary of my hubby's death, on November 12. Flowers always get a smile from me. Do they have that effect on you?
I treated myself to the orange roses, an upbeat and unusual choice for me, and my older son surprised me with the gorgeous mixed flower bouquet. There are lavender roses in it, so pretty, and a favorite flower for me, oriental lilies.

The above shows my kitchen table last week with a different bouquet, as I wanted you to see my wavy mirrors. I saw these mirrors in my friend, Barbro's, home and wanted some for my house.
For my friends in the USA can Thanksgiving be here soon? I ordered a smoked turkey to be picked up on Thanksgiving day from the local BBQ restaurant. We had that last year and it was delicious.

Fun book, unlikely friends and Heated Cat House

This is the story of Arthur, Mandy and Lucille, as they form a friendship which is surprising to all of them. Mandy is a hurting teen, Arthur is widowed from Nola, the love of his life, and Lucille is his lonely next door neighbor. Arthur, age 85, encounters Mandy in the cemetery where he visits his wife every day and where Mandy goes when she skips school. Arthur looks at cemetery grave stones and thinks he hears clearly glimpses of the buried people’s lives. Mandy playfully changes Arthur’s last name to Truluv, isn’t that charming? Together the three of them find their way forward in life. I am avoiding giving away plot details, but let me tell you, now I know why Berg is read by so many people. There is another book by her, "Night of Miracles" that has some of the same characters in it, and is a sequel, which I want to read.

You won't believe what I just did. I ordered a cat house with a heated floor for my cat who sleeps on my patio. The photo above is what the house looks like. I live in California so it is not all that cold but she is aging, like me, and the heated pad will be comfy for her, I hope. My sons and I think that my dog will take naps in it during the day. The pad only heats when a cat or dog sits on it, a clever feature. An important feature that I learned about when researching before buying is that a cat house needs front and back doors so your cat can not be trapped in it. Both doors are clear plastic and the back door only opens outwards.
I will post photos of my kitty in her new house in future, when she gets in. So far she is not interested or definitely cautious.
What's new at your house, in your life?
P.S. Added Nove. 24. My cat Fluffy discovered her heated cat house on Thanksgiving and slept in it that night and she finds it warm and cozy.

My lion fountain and some eerie lights

My son Lane came over and picked up the four heavy cement pieces for my lion fountain, set up the pump I bought, and voila, there is water coming out of the mouths of four lions.
We bought this fountain 15 or 20 years ago and had it running for years.
We stopped using it about five years ago and our handsome lion fountain has been resting scattered about the garden in the component pieces, and I am happy to have it running again. I love the gentle splashing sound of the water which is very relaxing.
Lane went to the pet store to buy a clear plastic hose for the pump and also surprised me and brought over 6 tiny goldfish who are living in the fountain now. As protection for the wee fishies I set up a dinner plate leaning on the central post, so they can shelter under it. He set up a timer so it goes on and off automatically at the times I chose, so it runs from noon until four. Since we are having a sunny October thus far, I keep my kitchen door open and can hear the water while I am in there, besides when I am on the patio.
For something that can be seen as pretty or as spooky take a look at these lights and shadows in my living room. The light source is the clear stained glass window at the top of my front door.

Pieces of Happiness, a novel

I haven't posted about books in a while, and I am a dedicated book reader, nay, book fanatic. Ha ha.

A book I think many of you would like is Pieces of Happiness: A Novel of Friendship, Hope and Chocolate, written by Anne Ostby and translated to English by one of her daughters. Five 66 year old school friends from Norway move to Fiji to the cocoa farm where one of them lives. They reinvent their lives and face hard times and fun times together. Will one of the ladies find romance with a local man? Some of the chapters are written with the point of view of Ateca, their all important Fijian house keeper who shows them the ropes of Fiji's customs and each of those chapters closes with a prayer from Ateca for "her ladies" and her teenage son. The author lived in Fiji and it seems very authentic; she lives in East Timor now.

The photo above is of a nearby Little Free Library, I visit these on my dog walks.
I quickly gave "Pieces of Happiness" to a neighborhood Little Free Library, gave 5 other books to the public library and then bought 3 books at the library used book store. All 3 are in series I am reading:
"Enter Sir Robert" by Angela Thirkell,  "Glass Houses" by Louise Penny, and "Dreaming Spies" by Laurie R. King. I can definitely buy books faster than I can read them. I won't even mention my Kindle books waiting to be read! I haven't looked to see how many of them I have.

 

Nice surprises in September

I had some nice surprises and also joined a new group in September. One nice surprise occurred as I was standing in line to buy two tickets to a local Follies show when a lady walked up and handed me two free tickets. How cool is that! I have attended the yearly Follies song and dance show for five years or so and it was founded 50 years ago.
Two of my friends sing and dance in it so that makes it extra fun. The auditions and rehearsals are very thorough. The song and dance numbers included "Pretty Woman", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "Don't Be Cruel", "What Now My Love", "Love Me Tender", "Inka Dinka", "I Gotta Be Me" and many more for a total of forty songs.
All that and we had free seats.
I went to a fund raiser tea on Saturday, Sept. 22 and it was very lively. Some of us, including me, wore hats and one lady looked like a regal Victorian lady in her hat and clothes. Here are some photos of the food tables. There were about 8 tables of food including the traditional cucumber sandwiches and scones and in the first table you can see the delicious home made lemon curd.

The above two photos show friendship and companionship. The fundraiser is for a group that takes home bound seniors out for afternoons of fun and lunch. It allows care givers to have 5 or 6 hours off from their work of caring.
The new group I joined is one for widows that just formed at our church and was created by two widows. We had our first meeting on Sunday which featured a delicious free lunch in the church coffee house and eleven ladies got to know each other a bit. The theme for the group will be that we need not do this life alone. Amen to that. The ages ranged from 60 to 85. I didn't know any of the gals beforehand so I pushed myself to go and am glad I did.
We are looking for a name for the group, do you have any ideas? I suggested "Wild wacky widows" and another gal suggested "Wild wonderful widows." We want to convey widows and upbeat fun times. Ideas for a name welcome.