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.

Recycling 101

Remember last February when we had the ice storm, and 2 trees landed on our roof.

Well, 

this guitar body is made from the Hackberry tree.

Jerry was going to make a piece of  lumber, 2x8 or something, to use in building.

When he sawed it, the grain just popped out.

So instead he glued up and cut out this blank

The center piece is Walnut. 

The Neck doesn't have

a finish on it yet.

but here it is.

Note the pencils and pens,

those are my spacers so I can move the body around

as I put the finish on the parts.

2014 Christmas Play

Our new minister and his wife, Brother and Sister Ellis,  have jumped in with both feet, and got together a Christmas Program with all the  children participating.  

They have only been with us about 6 weeks, but they convinced all the kids to do their part, and everyone showed up.

Top Left: Joseph aka JD.  One of the lambs,   Joseph, Mary, the Angels angel on left is known as Skylar, (standing) more lambs, a donkey, and some of the shepards.

Mary playing bashful.
Later in the kitchen, as we were getting things together, and that is one of the shepards, aka known as Stephen.
Then all the participants as they gathered, waiting for the call to start the play.

DIANNA'S WINGS by Cindy Loven

This isn't my regular review.  I was asked by a friend of mine, Cindy Loven, if I would review her first book, Dianna's Wings, The parables of Trevor Turtle.  It is a wonderful story of how Dianna, a Dragonfly, wants wings like a butterfly, not thinking hers are pretty at all.  Trevor Turtle tries to show her that she is beautiful just the way she is.

If you have children or grandchildren of preschool age, up to about 6, I'm sure you will find yourself reading this book many times.

I was given a digital copy of this book by the author, no other compensation was given.  All opinion expressed here are my own, and I highly recommend this book to anyone with young children.

Whooo Hoooo Cindy, Love you, and I love Trevor and Dianna.

Aucton Finds and other stuff

The drive we took on Saturday, aren't the colors bright.

I love these old rock houses, 

this one is still being lived in, and has a new roof. 

Nothing like snapping photos 

going down the road at 55 miles an hour. This is pretty shot but the day was cloudy so the colors don't show as well as I would have liked.

Tile tile and more tile, I got a full box of this white tile, a full box of the black to match it, 

5 boxes of this tile, all sealed, it is a 1"x1" tile put together into a 1 ft x 2 ft sheet.off white and I suspect it is all the same.

Then there is at least 2 boxes of this 2"x2" tile, which is gray speckled polished tile.

I'm thinking cabinet top, in my bathroom, it is in 1 ft x 2 ft sheets.

My $10 sewing machine and cabinet.. and I think the thing setting on top of it, is a bed tray or lap desk, top is missing but that is ok.
I love the pattern of the grain on the sewing machine cabinet.

And then there is Booger, looking out between the blinds.  He had his paw on them, holding them open, until I got the camera ready to snap the picture...

and then there is the bucket I just had to have, at the auction.  It is cute, I think.

THE RIVER by Beverly Lewis

Bethany House
Publishing
314 pages

The River is a gripping novel of an Amish family, reeling from the loss of their 3 daughters, one drowning the River, and the other two to the world.  Tilly is married and has twin daughters that have never met her parents, and Ruth is still unmarried after having a bad experience with her Amish beau before she left home.

When the father becomes ill, Tilly and Ruth agree to come home to help celebrate their parents' anniversary, and hope to help convince their father to have the pacemaker put in, that the doctor says he needs to survive.  They also feel the need to deal with the death of their young sister, Anna, who both feel guilty because they felt they hadn't done enough.

I've never read a Beverly Lewis story that I didn't like, and her books get better every time she writes a new one.   I give this book 5 stars for the twists and turns that she has managed to work into the story, without making it seem contrived.

I was given a copy of this book to read and review by Bethany House.  I was given no other compensation, and am not required to give a favorable review.
All opinions expressed here are my own.

Special Prayer Request for a dear friend

Last night, I received an email from a dear friend in California.  I won't give her name, because her family hasn't all been notified of her condition just yet.  Any way, she's been in the hospital for about 3 weeks, got the results as small cell cancer, and she has trouble swallowing, so they descovered that she has a tumor that has encircled her escophagus  (hope you can figure it out, I'm still asleep) and she also has COPD.
This lady is one of the sweetest people I know, she'd help you any way she could.    I'm asking for lots of healing prayers for her, and I hope God hears every one and touches her with his healing touch.
Thanks for reading, I appreciate all my friends in Blogland.

Danny Wooten

Here is the drawing that daughter in law did of Joel Weeks

Joseph Brown

She left the chair off, to keep it from distracting from the picture

Another Mountain Trip

My favorite sister in law, Betty,

(she is my only sis in law) 

and her son's mother in law, Sue, came down from Missouri for a school reunion.

None of the rest of the family was available to visit,

 so we made the trip to Petit Jean Mountain to show off our local beauty. 

Here is the Legend of Petit Jean, and the name of the mountain's origin. Hopefully, you can enlarge the photo enough to read the Legend.

Standing on the bluffs and looking north, this is the
Arkansas River and farmland along it's banks.

We got buzzed by a small plane.

Just a small rock, near bluff's edge.

Looking down from Stouts Point, to the road curving through the valley, heading to the mountain.

It was a bit hazy so the forest isn't really good and clear.

Another lookout point, as you get ready to go down the other side of the mountain.  This is one of my favorite spots, 

the Bald Eagles use this area during February to catch the winds off the bluffs and soar across the treetops, it is amazing to see them.

We are standing on one side of the cliffs, and this is looking across to another point, about 1/3 mile away.

Fountains at the resting point where we got out and walked around, 

Sister in law in red, and her friend... and yes, I intentionally got them

with water spouting out of their heads.

I live in the valley to the east of the mountain, it has been our home for about 36 years.  In fact, I was born about 2 miles from where we are now living.

So you could say I know the area pretty well.

I got a chance yesterday, to give several people 

some of the history, and actually met some almost former neighbors, who now reside in KC Missouri.

There was a group at the Museum, where the water fountains are,

that was in for a huge family reunion.  2 of the men were standing in the shade while the rest were inside looking at the old cars.

They spoke when we walked by, so we stopped and spoke, and went on our way up to the building. It was pretty crowded with the reunion crowd, so sil decided to skip that for this trip.

On our way back, we spoke to the men, again.  As I started walking back to the car, a lightbulb went off in my head, the name on the shirts was one that I recognised.  So I turned around and walked back, and asked them if the family they were part of, had lived in the northern part of the county. Yes, I said then we probably grew up neighbors, as I was from about 3 miles north of that community.  Their eyes lit up, that I remembered their surname, from 55 years ago,  and we had a nice chat about that area.  One of them asked me to tell his son how to get there, it had been many years since they'd been to this area.  We all left smiling, and I hope they enjoyed the trip down memory lane.

Settle down with a drink and some dramomine

 Monday night, he was scared to death of the cats.

Petey is our granddog, and daughter and grandson drove to Mobile Alabama for vacation, so Petey stayed here.

 Monday night, he was scared to death of the cats, who have no clue what a dog is, think they are just strange cats.

Bubba kept trying to play, and Petey would have no part in that.  I finally put the cats in their bedroom, so he could calm down

Tuesday by noon, he'd decided that if they kept a bit of distance, he could sit in the floor. 

By Tuesday night, he decided that Bubba  was tolerable, and they

could get a bit closer.

Soon we were playing chase in and around the old chair.

Now we can actually touch, without being scared to death,

where did he go, he was right there.

Oh, there he is, I'll hide.

off we go again.

Meanwhile

 back at

 the 

ranch.

Booger wants to know what the heck is so interesting about playing with

that long haired cat.

He only wanted to comb his tail with his

front paws, and give him

a bath.