Spring has sprung by Barbara Edwards

I had the first sign of Spring this week, despite the remaining snow and cold temperatures. The flower catalogue arrived. Ah, how I love to browse through the pictures of blooming flowers. I want them all.

Last fall I planted several perennials in my garden: Holly Hocks for the back border, columbine in a clump near my red rose, a pink Peony near the step onto the porch. I’m so excited waiting for the new growth.

T

his has been a mild winter and not the best for protecting the plants. I was happy the snow fell before that wicked freeze and covered over the tiny shoots draw out by the sun.

Last year I had th most productive garden since we moved into out house seven years ago. I added marigolds and sinus to fill in the blanks, but the lilies, foxgloves, phlox and a few lily -of-the-valley made me smile for the blooming season.

this year I plan to add bee balm. I love the hummingbirds and butterflies they attract.

I can hardly wait to get my hands dirty digging in my garden.

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I'm in Spain with Saints who demand flowers - by Rolynn Anderson

I enjoy being the first-of-the-month blogger for Roses of Prose…like an MC opening the curtain on each new month.  November 1 is extra special because it’s All Saints Day and I happen to be in Seville, Spain, where this day has special meaning.  Here I am at the nexus of the clash of religions, Christian vs Jews vs Muslim.  Add the Celtics to the mix with their Samhain celebrations.  I won’t go into these bloody thousand year old battles (which sound anti-religious to me!), but my husband touches on the history of this region in our blog: https://stevena48.wordpress.com  Do take a look if you need to remind yourself of the background.

Anyway, it’s because of this mash-up of religions both conventional and pagan, which led to eclectic dance (Flamenco), art, and architecture here in Seville.  All Saints Day is an eclectic holiday, as well.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints%27_Day   Spirits of the dead are the focus on this special day.  Honor them or appease them?  Depends on your religion.  Some celebrate the dead who went to heaven purified; others commemorate those who haven’t quite reach a purified stage, urging them to new heights.  Still others use the occasion to remember the deceased, especially infants and innocents (the focus in Mexico). In Spain, the occasion is celebrated this way: http://www.donquijote.org/culture/spain/society/holidays/dia-de-todos-los-santos    Besides attending church services, Spaniards decorate their cemeteries with flowers.  Flowers are gifted to the living, as well.

Three of us will be buzzing through the ‘white’ hill towns around Seville on October 31^st and November 1.  I’ll let you know if the spirits are aroused on these special sainted days.  I may carry flowers in case they need appeasing

I’m pleased to announce FEAR LAND is now everywhere.  I’ve taken the book off KDP Select; Smashwords has spirited the story far and wide.  You don’t need to send flowers; a Yippee will do.

This is FEAR LAND:

Tally hates to hear rants from people’s brains.  What does she do when those mind-screams threaten

the man she loves?

****

Tally Rosella, an acclaimed psychiatrist who helps children fraught with anxiety, avoids adults because their brains rant at her.  But the chance to start a second child study and connect her findings to PTSD, sets her squarely among devious colleagues at a big California university.

Army Major Cole Messer, Tally’s new neighbor, won’t admit that trauma from combat tours in Afghanistan, destroyed his marriage and hampered his ability to lead.  As a teacher of college ROTC and single parent, he’s focused on enrolling his highly anxious son in Tally’s study and getting back to active duty.

Someone is dead set against Tally’s presence at the university, and blowback from her battles with co-workers put Cole and his son in jeopardy.  Watch what happens when people struggling with shades of anxiety collide with corrupt, revengeful foes.

FEAR LAND on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012JE75ES

Home and Family by Diane Burton

It’s still spring here near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, although the heat is rising each day along with the humidity. Flowers are blooming—irises, rhododendrons, and a couple of blooms on the daylilies. 

daylily just starting to bloom

my favorite iris

new last summer

I love  perennials, even though they only bloom for a short time (except for the daylilies which keep going most of the summer). They spread and return stronger and fuller each year. I'm sure I've mentioned before how many of my flowers (like irises and Shasta daisies) came from my mother's garden by way of several of my other houses. Lilies of the valley came from my grandmother's farm via my mom, etc. When I see those flowers, I feel a connection with Mom and Grandma. 

outside my office window

I also brought tiger lilies from my mom's. Some people call them "ditch" lilies because they often grow wild in ditches along country roads. Do they ever spread! So I only brought a small clump from my old house. This is our second summer here in West Michigan, and already the perennials have shown how resilient they are.

Bloom where you are planted.

I can’t remember where I first read (or heard) that expression. It takes resiliency and flexibility to set down roots only to have them yanked out and transplanted again. Those of you who have moved with your (or your spouse’s) job know what I mean. Too often it’s the wife who doesn’t have a choice. She sets down roots, makes a nest, settles in, then—whammo—uprooted again. Flowers have been my way of bringing something of myself along, something that reminds me of “home”—wherever that is.

Home is a nebulous concept. It isn’t a house, although many refer to a building as their home. The slogan “it’s what’s inside that counts” refers to more than a product. What’s inside a house, or rather who’s inside makes a building a home. For our last three houses, it’s only been Hubs and me. We’re a family just as we were when we first married. But when our children and grandchildren are in the house, it’s feels so much better, like home. I understand the appeal of multi-generational homesteads. 

In the television series Blue Bloods, an episode doesn’t go by without the entire Reagan clan (four generations) sitting around the dining room table for Sunday dinner. What a tradition. It helps that they all live close by. In today’s society, families are spread out across a state or even across the country. Too often extended families only get together for weddings and funerals. Maybe even a reunion.

How do we preserve the sense of family?

Diane Burton writes romantic adventure . . . stories that take place on Earth and beyond. She blogs here on the 8th and 30th of each month and on Mondays on her own site: http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/

Celebrate! by Alison Henderson

Today is not a day to talk about writing. Today is a day to celebrate. No matter where you are or what your beliefs may be, I invite you to find something to celebrate today. Celebrate rebirth. Celebrate tradition. Celebrate the joys of spring after a long, hard winter. Rain is in the forecast tonight for my little corner of California, and that alone is cause for celebration.

To help put you in the right mood, I went outside yesterday to take some pictures in my garden.


















We all have worries and fears. Today, try to set yours aside and celebrate. Tomorrow will be here soon enough. If you have concerns about your family, celebrate your love for them. If work or economic pressures sap your happiness, celebrate what you have. Health issues? Celebrate life. Causes for celebration abound, if we just look hard enough. Here's to hoping you find yours.

Alison
www.alisonhenderson.com
http://alisonhenderson.blogspot.com 

A Frightening Glimpse of Weird Weather to Come…

By Glenys O'Connell @GlenysOConnell

A report just out says that global warming is going to cost 60 trillion dollars over ten years - an amount equal to the (annual)global economy.

So often, we think these issues don't really affect us. Here in Ontario, we don’t usually get massive tornadoes or hurricanes like they do in some parts of the world, but it seems the weather is definitely changing. This summer came late and hot,  following on the heels of heavy rains that delayed some garden activities and farm crops.

We’ve had huge rain storms with record breaking rainfall; 98 degree humidity, and breathtaking wind storms and thunderous light shows. We have spent days under tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings, and humidex warnings. Humidex scores boosted 34 degree weather into the stratosphere.

Power usage skyrocketed as we tried to keep cool. We were lucky - the infrastructure is sound and we experienced only brief power outages. But we see reflected in television news the affects on other places. Systems failed. Floods. Drought. Crop damage.

In the last storm, strong winds brought down two trees on our small property and seriously damaged several others. But the storm damage was amazingly random. My favourite birch tree was split in two, while the delicate grape arbour next to it was unscathed, leaving the tenderly cared for two year old grapevine to nurture its precious cargo of fruit. Century old cedar trees stood firm by the house, yet a strong young cedar in their shelter on the boundary line was uprooted and crashed onto the lawn.

Tall spears of Yucca were battered, their blossoms mutilated, while fragile calliopsis, though beaten down, rose up to again greet the warming sun with little damage. The seven feet tall Golden Glow,

just coming into flower, were smashed to the ground while the exotic clematis next to them managed to cling to the upright trellis and come through without a scratch.

Many flowering plants have put out mostly foliage – the heavy rains mashed my beautiful peonies into mush and other plants like lilacs and hydrangeas have had spectacular but short lived blooms.

It seems that even in this remote and pristine spot, surrounded by forests, rocks and freshwater lakes, we’re not immune to climate change. Anyone who grows their own vegetables can see firsthand the impact the weather can have on our food supplies.

Climate change is a creeping – and sometimes galloping – reality. For a writer, the dramatic effects can offer some great plot ideas and exciting visions.

But for the earth, well, not so much.

We waste too much. Use too much. Destroy too much. We take too much from the earth and give too little back. Animals and plants, a vital but often unrecognised part of out interdependency on this planet, are going extinct at alarming rates.

It's time, way past time, for all of us to think what we can do, and to press our governments to change direction before - well, before we go the way of the dinosaurs.

Meanwhile, back in the veggie garden the broccoli, lettuce and Chinese cabbage (bok choi) all bolted with the heat. In the sudden cool spell, the peas and beans are flourishing, but the zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers all look like they can’t make their minds up whether to produce or not. The cherry trees blossomed in heavy rain and pollination was, to use a cliché, a washout. The apple trees are bravely hanging onto their fruit but too many sharp temperature changes – it went from 29C yesterday to  5C here last night – could cause them to drop.

Still, we’re out there planting and replanting, cleaning up the damage, chopping wood and staking the plants that need it, deadheading and pruning. I’m expecting a sudden growth and high speed production towards the end of August and early September among the surviving veggies, although that means we’ll probably have a lot of green tomato chutney this winter!

 

 

Glenys O'Connell has retreated to the Middle of Nowhere, where she tries to keep her From her footprint on the earth small. On her back patio, where she does much of her writing in the summer, she can watch deer, raccoons, chipmunks, squirrels and the occasional bear passing by. She loves to hear from readers and can be contacted through her web site at www.glenysoconnell.com or by email at RomanceCanBeMurder@hotmail.ca

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A Yard Facelift

Some of you may know I have a ginormous German Shepherd named Anubis.

I generally refer to him as The Werewolf. My backyard is a small, fenced-in space that is barely large enough for The Werewolf to terrorize tiny beasties that also live there. He's not destructive in the least (Mama raised him right), however, just the simple act of playing fetch causes him to tear up precious lawn and trample plants. Plus, during these hot July days, my all-black monster gets overheated pretty easily. Due to these issues, we had to do some renovating to the yard.

We dug out a stream and a pond so Anubis could cool off at his leisure. I tried the blue, plastic kiddie pool route last summer, and while The Werewolf loved it, the pool just didn't stand up to his constant in and out and thrashing about. Now, he can slosh around in the pond without fear of needing duct tape to keep all the water in.

 

 

We planted things behind the stream and pond so he is less likely to roam back there. He still explores that area, but the way the plants are placed makes him unable to whip through at the speed of light. It's sort of like an obstacle course now where he needs to tread carefully to navigate around.

Around our fire pit, the grass would always burn due to sun exposure, and more recently due to dog piss, so we built a patio around it instead with crushed stone and large flagstones. The area is way more conducive to sitting around now, and I'm sure we'll use it a lot more. As a bonus, Anubis doesn't like to walk on the crushed stone. Ah-HA!

 

 

So while the grass is still torn up in spots and new spots get sacrificed every time we play, the rest of the yard looks amazing. It's about dragging the eyes off the patches of dead grass and to the colors of the flowering plants and the gentle ripple of the pond and stream.

Yeah, it's about tricking you. I had to do something. It's my Outdoor Writing Office out there in the summer. I couldn't be distracted by the non-lushness of my grass. I needed areas to focus on that were beautiful and inspiring.

Hey, we do what we gotta do. Someday I'll move to Vermont where The Werewolf can run free and there is no manicured lawn to worry about.

What would your dream yard look like?

Happy Fourth of July!

Toodles,
Chris
www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com Adult Romance
www.christymajor.weebly.com YA Romance
www.christineteaches.weebly.com The Writing Teacher

First Love by Jena Galifany

 February is the month of Love. Every one knows it and everyone embraces it (with the exception of many grade school aged boys). While researching the holiday of Valentine's day, I've seen in one place that men spend the most money and another that says women hold that distinction. But does money need to play an important role in showing someone your affection for them?

It can sometimes be a difficult thing to show your love for another. There are many levels of love. My first love was at the age of four. I fell in love with an actor named Guy Williams. I saw him in a movie titled "Captain Sindbad". He was the most wonder man I'd ever seen and growing up at the movie theater, I'd seen many in the first four years of my life. Five years later, I found him again in the Walt Disney version of "Zorro". Again I was thunderstruck.

Commemorative Lapel Pin Aug. 2, 2001

My love of Guy lasted many years. I've written fan-fiction for his version of Zorro. In 2001, I had the privilege of working with a group, along with Guy Jr., in getting Guy his posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

I was further working on getting Guy "Legend" status at Disney via letting the powers that be know that Guy was as huge part of the building of Disney Land in California in the 50's by proceeds raised from Zorro merchandise. We wanted them to know that after all of these years, Guy as Zorro was still encouraging writers, artists and young people. We compiled and submitted two books of fan-fiction, artwork and letters confirming his continued inspiration.

I had to leave the group due to work restrictions. This second honor was bestowed on Guy in 2011. I have no regrets at being a part of these projects to honor my first love, Armando Catalano, better known as Guy Williams.(Zorro, Prof. John Robinson of Lost in Space).

I can't spend so much time talking about love and not mention my husband of twenty-two years, Steve. When we met, he told me that he was not a romantic person. Over the years, he's shown me that the statement was not altogether true. He's made a few fabulous shows of romance. One spectacular example is the piece he wrote for ShadowsForge, Retaking America, book three in the series. Lead singer Geoff Richards is trying to decide how to propose to Valerie Leonard. I hope you enjoy it:
_________________

Geoff dropped the ring into his pocket, squared his shoulders, stepped up to the door and knocked. An eternity passed before Valerie answered with a smile.

“I’ll be right with you.” Valerie went to the table, shutting down her laptop as Geoff waited in the doorway. She was wearing the same outfit she had worn at the interview, navy blue slacks that fit every curve, blue blouse and black heels. We’ve come full circle.

“I thought we’d eat in my room, if that’s all right with you.”

Valerie nodded. “Sounds good to me. I’m ready.” She stepped past Geoff, allowing him to pull her door closed.

Geoff put his arm around her as they walked in silence down the hall to his room. Valerie smiled when he opened the door for her. The lights were dim. The drapes were open, providing the backdrop of a starry night sky. A table had been set up, dinner for two. Candles, white tablecloth, champagne, and a single white rose.

“This is beautiful. Not exactly your style but I love it.”

She moved to the window. While she enjoyed the view, Geoff took the ring from his pocket, hoping the perfect opportunity would present itself. He stepped up behind her, trying to think of the right words as he palmed the ring.

She glanced up at him. “I wish I could hold the stars in my hand.”

He couldn’t have asked for a better opening. “Would you like me to get them for you?”

Valerie looked over her shoulder at him. “You’d do that for me?”

He smiled his media smile. “Watch this.” He wrapped one arm around her, pulling her back against his chest. He swept the star field back and forth as he gathered every twinkling light. Holding them tight, he showed her his closed fist. Reaching around her with both arms, he worked to compact the stars, tucking in any escaping starlight between his fingers. He wrapped his arm around her again, opening his hand. The ring sparkled in his palm, reflecting the candlelight. “The stars—for you.”

  ________________________

Being an ex-roadie, Steve gives me the technical guidance for back stage with ShadowsForge but I believe he gave me the most romantic moment in Retaking America.

 Expressions of love don't have to cost money. In my opinion, I'd rather have kind words softly spoken than pink verse mass produced with a single name signed at the bottom. I'd rather have a circle of warm arms embracing me than a cold piece of metal to adorn my skin. Give me the scent of a real man, not the fragrance of dying blossoms. Time with the one that I love is what I want most on St. Valentine's Day or any day of the week, month or year, for that matter.

 Zorro fan-fiction can be read HERE.
More on the history of St. Valentine's Day can be read HERE.
More ShadowsForge can be found on my WEBSITE.

Cheers,
Jena' Galifany