We have a Ghost

Yes indeed we have another ghost, and this time I got 3 pictures.

This isn't the same ghost we've had before, the other one didn't wear a sheet, and I only got one pic of him, kinda a shapeless aparition that time.   We didn't know he was there until I uploaded the pictures to the computer.

This one appeared right in front of me, and hung around awhile.  I know it is a male ghost, here is the first picture.

 As you can see it is moving,  it went across the floor about 5 ft, then stopped walking and started wiggling.  Can you tell what it is?

If not, maybe you can get a better idea from this shot.  

Or maybe this one...

In case you can't tell, this is a cat, a 16 pound male cat who isn't sure what he is, other than a momma's boy.  He is always right where I am, that is, unless he is getting into something he's not supposed to be into.

  He found the dog's bed while they were outside, and stole their sheet, completely covered himself from head to tail tip and took off across the floor.   When he got tired of 'ghosting' he managed to extract himself and now he's worn out from the experience.

Signs in Life: Finding Direction in Our Travels With God by Deanna Nowadnick

Once again Deanna Nowadnick has made me stop and think.  So many of her experiences that she shared in this book, I can identify with and wonder how many other signs I've overlooked by following my own path, instead of one that God wanted me to follow.  It is a book that makes you think, which is something that draws me into the story.  

I was given this book to read and review, no other compensation was given.  All opinions expressed here are my own, I'm not required to give a positive review.  

Tillie & Clementine: Noises in the Night, by Dan Killeen

When  Mommy has to leave the house, Tillie and Clementine are left with daddy.

He tells them a story, feeds them dinner, then puts them to bed.  Then he manages to lock himself out of the house, and Tillie and Clementine are alone, with scary noises.

The story is very cute, and the illustrations are very good.  If you have a young child, this story will be well worth the time and cost as you will read it to them several times.

I was given a copy of this book for review purposes only.

No other compensation was given, and all reviews are my own opinion, I'm not required to give positive reviews.

Wonderview pictures.

Hummingbird Moths

I stepped outside to let my dog, Flash, out into the yard.

I saw 2 or 3 of these, and ran back inside to get a camera.

they are called Hummingbird moths, and  this is the first time

I've ever managed to get photos of them.

They seem to love my Marvel of Peru aka

4 O'Clocks.

As of Today

I am announcing my retirement from reviewing books.  

Yes, I still love to read, and I will continue reading, and I may mention books and tell you my opinion.

BUT, 

I won't accept books from publishers

who expect a review to be published in several places.  

I love to read.

That said, I really enjoyed reviewing for the first 5 years,but I got burned out.

At a time sometime in the future, I may reconsider, but for the moment I will be reading for pleasure only.

And then I'll be wearing this

and riding around in this.

with that handsome bearded guy behind the wheel.

She's Back...............

I know that I have neglected my blog for the past several months.  

But I have an excuse, I don't know how good of an excuse you will consider it. 

That is for you to decide.

I posted that I'd published my 2nd book.  So I was writing for a lot of the time I was missing. 

Now, I'm working on #3,

We will see how it goes.

This is the one I just published.  You can find it on Amazon, if you are interested.

I  got out and went to a yard sale on Saturday, I think I finally woke to the fact that spring was finally here.

Here are just a few of the things I bought.

What am I going to do with it?? I don't know!!

Ribbon for floral arrangements that I make, and lots of other do-dads to put on them.

Here is the last one I made, for some reason the little orange flowers don't show up well in the photo, 

but they sure do pop in real life.

It is only about 4 ft long, took me about 2 hrs to put it together.

Then last night we went to the local school's Spring Band Concert.

This beauty won the award for Outstanding French Horn.  

She has only been playing French Horn since December, and we got no squeaky notes.

The 6th grade band actually sounded better than some of the more advanced grades.

And the stage was full, as they advance, so many drop out to do other things, but I'm sure this one will continue in band until she graduates.

She found her mother's award plaque that is hanging in the band room and mentioned to her that 

she had seen her award.  Nothing escapes this one, so watch out if you see her snooping around, she doesn't forget either.  A bit of Elephant in her genes.

OH

I have some news, but I can't share it just yet.

I was threatened with duct tape if I opened my mouth, 

so you'll have to keep watch on my blog until I'm given permission to

mention it.   

TO THE SEA by Callie Grant, Illustrations by Jeremy Tugeau

A trip to the sea for a young child, and what all is there.
I think this is wonderfully written and is just right for a very young child.  The pages are cardboard, making for longer lasting and easier turning.
This book is going into a baby shower gift for a special young woman who is expecting her first child.  I'm sure it will be read over and over.

You can find the book here

http://www.grahamblanchard.com/product/to-the-sea/

THE PIRATE AND THE FIREFLY by

Tara McClary Reeves  & Amanda Jenkins

with illustrations by Daniel Fernandez

This is the story about a little boy who becomes a 'pirate' with some of his friends,   He then has questions about if what they are doing, is really right.  His friend, the Firefly talks to him, and gives him some scriptures to help him decide.

It has enough 'story' to it to keep children 

listening, and asking questions.  It is short enough that parents will not mind reading it many times.  Both girls and boys should really enjoy the story.

As you can see by the picture above, the illustrations are 

beautiful and will draw the attention of most 

children, who will then ask to have it read to them.

This would make a wonderful Birthday or other occasion gift for your child or a friend's child.  And it would make a lovely addition to a church library.

Mercys Rain by Cindy K Sproles

I totally loved this book, Cindy K Sproles did a wonderful job of making this a very believable story, and one that you want to keep reading, even after you finish the last page. 
Mercy feels her name is more a curse than a call for Mercy, she's raised by an abusive father, The Pastor, and a mother who is abused, and really does nothing to help her. While reading this, you feel her pain, fear, and her anger, it is real to you, as it is to Mercy. 

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, Kregel Publications, to read and review. No other compensation was given. All opinions given here are my own, and I am not required to give a positive review. 

I'm going to be looking for more books by Cindy Sproles, as I really enjoyed this book. It is different in many ways than most books I've read.

I was given a free Kindle book from the publisher to read and review, no other compensation was given.  My reviews are my opinion, and only my opinion.

LINK TO BOOK GIVEAWAY

https://www.facebook.com/JettieParrishFear?ref=eyJzaWQiOiIwLjk2NTAwMTQwMzM1NDEwODMiLCJxcyI6IkpUVkNKVEl5Um1WaGNpVXlNaVUxUkEiLCJndiI6Ijk0YWQwYTU1MTZkN2E4ZDdhOGFlZmIyZjgzYWFmMmU4ZTQyNGIyNTYifQ


I'm giving away a free copy of my Novella FEAR, on Facebook.  Go there and like my page, and then share it on your page, for a chance to win.

Update on FEAR Novella

Well it may not be selling like hotcakes, but it is selling.

Here is a link to it on Amazon, either in Kindle or Paperback form

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=fear+jettie+parrish


I'm planning a give away soon, when I get the plan figured out how I want to do it.

Now another story is forming in my head.

New Novella Published,

A few years ago, a distant relative and I published a book A MAN CALLED BROWN, about my great great grandfather, Joseph Brown, which wasn't his real name, his real name was Joel Weeks, and he changed it when he was being hunted for killing a man and stabbing another, when they were doing their best to kill him.

Well, I've always loved to write, and have witten several short stories since this book was published.   About 3 months ago, a story got into my head, and wouldn't leave me alone.  Sometimes they do this, but the ending never appears.  
This one, the ending appeared at about the same time that the idea did, I just had to fill in the middle.

I started out with the working title, FEAR, figuring that would change when the story got farther along.  It didn't.    As I wrote the basics of the story, I kept toying with the ending, how to make it work out the way I had in mind without seeming contrived.  

Last week, I uploaded the Novella to Amazon.com as a Kindle Ebook.  Several of my friends don't have  kindles, and didn't want to download it, so I started searching for a way to publish it in paperback without  it  costing a fortune.
I discovered Createspace.com  and checked out their way of doing things.  Yesterday I signed on with them to print and distribute the book.  They have it now, and within a few days, it will be available on Amazon.com too.

Here is the cover, if I had it to do over, I would have created a different one
more like this but they tell me that hindsight is 20-20 and I may decide to change this in the future.

If you wish to read a few pages to decide if you would like it, go to 
www.amazon.com and type in Fear  Jettie Parrish in the search, and it should take you to the page it is listed on.  There is a feature there that gives you the option to preview a few pages of the story.  Paper copies will be available soon on Amazon.


Also, you can go to  www.createspace.com  and order a paper copy I'm sure their search would be under author's name.
Even if you aren't looking to purchase, please go check these out.

I'm working on another story, that I started several years ago, it is one that didn't tell me where it wanted to go, so I guess I'll have to figure that out for myself.

A drive and some photos

We had an errand to run this morning, and decide to take the old highway west, and enjoy the sunshine.
We made a little side trip off the main highway, and found these enjoying the sunshine, and not minding the cool water.

We were the only ones within a mile, so they didn't pay a lot

of attention to us, except when we were right beside them.

 Then we drove on west, and crossed the bridges, and I got this shot you can see the road, the water, and houses on other side of the lake.

 

 These are beautiful homes, click on the photos to enlarge them to see better.

And here is the big power plant, in my album, I can enlarge this

to see the lines on the stack.

We drove a bit farther west, ate lunch, then headed back east to visit with Jerry's brother for awhile, he is in rehab at one of the nursing homes for at least another week.  Got to visit with his youngest daughter, Liz, it is hard to believe that I was the first one that held her after she was born, I got to carry her down to the nursery. She now has 6 children of her own, and the youngest has the brightest red hair I have seen in a long time.  It just glows.