God's Plans by Carole Brown

For I know the plans I have for you, 

declares the Lord, 

plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

When I doubt, 

God assures me through his Word

He loves me.

When I'm in trouble

God says he has this.

He stills the storms

and soothes my heart.

When I feel alone,

God says, "I'm all you need."

Or he sends someone with

a smile,

A word of encouragement,

a hug.

He's showing his love through others.

When I feel discouraged

He sends small, tiny and insignificant blessings to cheer me:

hardy Spring flowers that shed a bit of sunshine:

a towel elephant that made me smile:

Memories with Grandson:

I'm so happy that I can rest in peace,

knowing he has PLANS for me.

plans to PROSPER me:

in his time and in his will,

Plans for a future and hope!

Wonderful words of love. 

Rest assured, he loves us!

***

Starli Cameron gave up her career plans to be a concert pianist to marry the man of her dreams. He turned out to be a nightmare. When he dies in a car accident, Starli takes the insurance money and builds a successful and upscale restaurant: Apple Blossoms in rural West Virginia. Threats from someone determined to ruin her life and the suspicious romantic advances from her new chef force Starli to search her heart and finally turn to God for real healing.

Sir Joel Peterman-Blair, top notch chef from England, is roped by his uncle, into filling in as head Chef at Apple Blossoms. Joel, with his sanguine-personality, has always laughed and flirted his way through life. But now, confronted with and attracted to the most beautiful woman he’s ever met, Joel has to prove his sincerity and depth of character to his icy-cold employer. Can his love for God and for this woman reach out far enough to rescue her from her own mistrust and bitterness? Will he learn that life is not all play?

And can they both work together to find the source of threats that seem to be coming from Starli’s past?

Buy the book:

https://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1492661357&sr=1-1

***

About Carole:

Besides being an active participant in many writing groups, Carole is an award-winning author and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance, and whimsy into her books and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Word Sharpeners: https://wordsharpeners.wordpress.com/

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

Perennials

Perennials 
by Julie Cantrell

This is the story of a girl who lost herself. It's a story about sisters. It's a story about parents. And it's a story about flowers that always come back. I love how Cantrell uses the metaphor of flowers throughout this novel. There is so much to learn from the flowers and there is so much about God's creation that is not only beautiful, but mind-blowing when you realize the object lessons He included in almost everything He made.

The father in this story is full of wisdom, and he likes to share that wisdom with his adult daughters, whether they like it or not. There is love lost, hope lost, and time lost, yet there is an wonderful undercurrent of hope.

For the experienced gardener, there is much detail to love in this novel. For those without a green thumb? You'll still love it. One detail in particular that I must share - the daughter who gets sort of lost runs from the lush land of Mississippi, to the Arizona desert, where almost nothing grows. When she returns to her childhood home, her senses are overwhelmed by everything that is growing everywhere. The scents, the sights, the blooms. I love this dichotomy, and you will love how the author uses the setting as a character.

Do you like to garden? Do you prefer to observe nature from a distance? Leave us a comment to get your name in the drawing for The Healer's Touch by Amber Schamel! Giveaway ends 2/11/18. Winner will be announced in the February 12th edition of the weekly windup.

Jennifer Fromke writes from North Carolina and can be found at jenniferfromke.com or shetalksbook.com

English Country Gardens.

                                                                                                                          “How many kinds of sweet flowers grow in an English Country Garden? We’ll tell you now of some that we know. Those we miss, you’ll surely pardon. Daffodils, heart’s ease and phlox, gentian, lupine and tall hollyhocks, meadowsweet and lady smocks, roses, foxgloves, snowdrops, blue forget-me-nots. In an English Country Garden.” – Lyrics by Jimmie Rodgers.

This was one of my favorite children’s songs.

The opening scene in my next release, a Regency, takes place in the heroine’s enclosed garden, so naturally I want to have one on the cover.

As you can tell from my research pictures, there are many flowers growing in an English garden. Too many for a book cover. As beautiful as those flowers are, they can’t compete with the subjects.

You’ll notice that the gardens of great estates were quite formal, laid out with precision and detail. The country garden, however, were less formal. The flowers seem artlessly placed, as if they’d just sprung up where nature put them. Nothing could be further from the truth, though.

I know. My mother had such a garden with meandering paths. Pansies, phlox and lilies competed with each other in front of azalea, bride’s wreath, and roses. Some places were sparse, others crowded. Flowering shrubs and small trees were allowed to spread out. They provided wonderful hiding places for a little girl to play house.

Of all these English garden pictures, which would you say I should choose for my book cover?

Comment on any post through Apr 16 to win a copy of Bonnie Leon’s Return to the Misty Shore.

What's the Newest Surprise in YOUR Garden?

What makes a garden? 

• Just about anything if you love it, tend it and care for it. 
• If it makes you happy (or frustrated and angry, but you can't give it up), then it's a garden. 
• Whether you have a green thumb or black, if you love puttering in the dirt and plant seeds and plants time after time, it's a garden--to you.

1.  We have several flower gardens. Here's just a sampling of some of the flowers.

Here's a picture of a tough and beautiful flower that persists in blooming in my garden 

even when it's cold and showering snow during spring days. 

What a surprise every spring to see this hardy plant shedding it's 

understated beauty for us!

Beautiful Hydrangeas

Sweet Star of Bethlehems--some of my favorites!

We're planning on doing some major overhauls to our flower gardens this year. We want to create/finish one at the end of our driveway. With our major flower garden, I want to weed out some plants that have "taken over" (overgrown) their space. We also want to do another cleanup this year of our garden pond, do some repairs to the deck and add some different interest with new decorative figurines and stones. 

2.  We also harvest as much wild produce as is available on our mini farm. Some examples:

Our "garden" of mushrooms

Of course, they grow wild, but they're a source of food

and we jealously guard them.

Some of our raspberries grown wild on our farm:

3.  Last year we had a small vegetable garden and decided to "build" block raised garden spots.    I loved it, and we plan on using them again. Some of our vegetables included lettuce, tomatoes, carrots and herbs. We'll be expanding this year and see how that goes. 

How To?

If you love experimenting and getting the jump, start your own seedlings!

Here's an easy and simple way to begin. 

Wal-Mart carries similar (or make your own containers) 

Directions included. :)

Depending on where you live, you can begin these as early as February or wait till April.

Seeds can sprout within days to a month or more, depending on the plants.

In the meantime, when the weather warms up, 

begin your spring garden cleanup.

* Clean out flower beds from winter debris, twigs, left over leaves, 

and weeds that were ignored or abandoned at Autumn time

* Flower gardens: repair any damages, such as edging, decorative figurines, stepping stones, etc.

Decide if you'll keep present flower scheme or make changes.

BE CREATIVE!

* Try your hand at water gardens, containers or ground, they're lots of fun!

* Check out the abundance of figurines that add whimsy to a garden

* Do a color-themed garden. I've always wanted an all-blue one or an all-white one,

but haven't gotten to it yet.

* Use borders. I have friends who "collect" rocks for me.

They go in my flower beds!

* Stepping stones are such a fun way create interest

*And don't forget seating arrangements, even in veggie gardens.

You'll want to get plenty of resting time in your newly created garden.

Simple stuff, but perhaps it will get your interest in gardening moving. Even potted plants or very small patio gardens can be fun and interesting. Be brave! Start today. Blessings!

About Carole

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown
Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Check out her books here

http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

THIS WEEK'S GIVEAWAY IS:

• PRUDENCE PURSUED    An EBOOK BY SHIRLEY RAYE REDMOND. 
• It RUNS THROUGH APRIL 10TH. 
• COMMENT ON ANY POST BETWEEN NOW AND THEN TO ENTER, AND REMEMBER, 
• THE MORE COMMENTS YOU MAKE, THE MORE ENTRIES YOU EARN!

    Winners will be announced in the Weekly Wind-up on April 11th.

 

CHECK OUT OUR PRIZES GALORE PAGE TO SEE ALL OUR GIVEAWAYS.

Spring: A Time of Renewal

Sick of the cold, the snow, winter? Are you discouraged? Disheartened? Frustrated? Ah, winter is over and Spring is here!

Isaiah chapter forty and verse 30 says, “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”  It may have been a long winter, but it’s over. We’ve waited and longed for Spring. God gives us gifts, and flowers are one of them. Springtime flowers are especially beautiful for they signal a time of birth. It’s a time of renewal for the land. Take heart and make it a time of renewal for yourself too!

Check out these thoughts and apply them to your life and see if you don’t begin to feel the stir of renewal in your heart. Smile.

• Apple blossoms: promise.  Who knows what will happen throughout the rest of Spring and summer? Exciting adventures? Interesting events? New friends? Reuniting with old friends? God’s promises are abundant in the scriptures. Cling to them and believe.

• Crocus: foresight. Have the foresight to look for greater things. Spiritually. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. Plan ahead. Prepare. Organize. Whatever it takes to keep yourself on track. 

• Hyacinth: sincerity. Be sincere with God and others and most of all with yourself. Why deceive? It’s a useless effort and so much more rewarding to sincerely seek God’s will for your life. Dive into your work or your life with a sincere desire to make it the best you can. 

• Pansy: loving thoughts. Think Good thoughts. Loving thoughts. Don’t let bitterness or angry hold you chained one day or one minute longer. Give yourself permission to forgive the person who hurt you. Move away from the cause of contention and have peace. Pray. Trust. 

• Poppy: consolation. Give yourself permission to weep or mourn the loss of something dear. It’s healing. Then move on. God knows all about the hurts; he understands, and he is the one who gives us the strength.

• Iris: inspiration. It comes from everywhere. The scriptures. People and their actions and words. Books. Pictures. Nature. Life. Our own thoughts. Be inspired and let it’s energy renew your spirit.

• Hydrangea: perseverance. Hold the course. Don’t give up but fight on. Whether it’s volunteering in church or ministry, your career, or problems in life, watch for that light at the end of the tunnel. It’s there. Keep moving forward and you will soon see it.

• Violet: faithfulness. In whatever you do, be faithful. Be the person who is responsible and reliable. Dull? Boring? Not at all. You can have fun, be adventurous and the life of the party. But the faithful person knows when and where to call the shots. They know when it’s time for rest, relaxation, work, talk or quiet. Be your own person by having the confidence to be faithful. 

• Star of Bethlehem: hope.  Never give up hope. These beautiful tiny white flowers speak of hope and it’s an emotion that everyone needs. Hope for that contract. Hope for the return of the prodigal. Hope for a healing. Work toward and encourage, build and feed that hope. God will do the rest.

Let your spirit be renewed this Spring. When you plant a bulb or buy a plant, when you bend to smell the scent or gaze on the glorious beauty of a flower, remember some of these meanings. Take them to heart.


About Carole:

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Connect with her here:

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Check out her books here:

Amazon

Backyard Blooms Photo Essay

I thought you might enjoy a photo tour through some of my backyard blooms over the past couple summers.

 

 

 

 

Take a stroll through your backyard in early morning or late evening for a fun adventure with your camera. Don't forget to take the kiddos or grandchildren too. Why not give them a point and shoot camera and see what they can do? Afterwards make an enlargement for their room. You may spark the beginnings of a future hobby or vocation for years to come.

 

For more fun photos, quotes, and posts about simple living, please visit my website at www. cindyelliottfiction.com. Don't forget to sign up for my blog updates and newsletter.