Devotion: I See Trees of Color...

There is a time for every season under the sun!

Autumn is my favorite season, hands down! 

It makes me think of a favorite song of mine:

"What a Wonderful World"

sung by Louie Armstrong.

He sings about:

trees of green

red roses 

Skies of blue

clouds of white

Bright days

dark nights

The colors of the rainbow

the faces of people

friends shaking hands

All leading to a wonderful world!

This autumn,

in spite of the troubles and worries in this world,

I want to see:

God's wonderful world.

* The amazing spider web caught in a ray of sunlight on a misty morning

* the colored leaves that keep on giving

with crunches and piles for children to play in

* the blue skies that give us hope,

the dark, cloudy skies that help our imagination

 with shapes of creatures only we can see.

* the decorative porches and yards that warm my heart.

* the pumpkin feasts and fests, the flavors and scents

* the smells of autumn, musty leaves, 

roasting wieners and globs of melted marshmallow,

the scents of apple and spice and pumpkin delights

And so much more! 

For me, Autumn is a wonderful season

that helps me to remember:

What a Wonderful World!

***

Sabotaged Christmas

Book One

Appleton, WV Romantic Mysteries

Award-winning book

Toni DeLuca, the Italian owner of DeLuca Construction, finds herself confronted with doubts about her father and his possible deceptions—all because of the mysterious pink notes she's been receiving.

Relations with Perrin Douglas who has a troubling history—but the first man in years who's interested her—is building to a peak. Yet Perrin's own personal problems and his doubts about women and God, keep getting in the way.

Gossip, a Spanish proposal, an inheritance, and a sabotaged construction business may ruin Christmas for Toni's employees as well as her own happiness.

Will a mysterious person succeed in pulling off the biggest scam Appleton, West Virginia has ever seen? And will this culprit destroy Toni's last chance at happiness with the man of her dreams?

https://amzn.to/2p4tFOP

***

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
BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carole-brown

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

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

Fall Fun & Festivities

Ah, Autumn. It's one of those seasons that people either absolutely LOVE or HATE.

 For me, I love this time of year. The crisp weather, the sweaters and scarves, hot drinks, permission to start thinking and talking about Christmas...Sigh.

Autumn colors I captured while in New Brunswick this year.

Now my brother on the other hand? He could almost go into depression this time of year. The days get shorter, more clouds, rain/sleet/snow and storms, the COLD...where did all the sunshine go?

Maine autumn colors for you.

But whether you love fall or hate it, you have to admit that there is a lot of fun and festivities that go on. Hay rides, all the fresh veggies sold at stands, people tend to have fall parties, craft fairs...it seems everyone is trying to get their socialization in before Winter sets in and no one wants to go out.

Perfect place to curl up with coffee or hot cider.

One of my favorite activities during the fall season is just taking a trip to the mountains, or a walk around the neighborhood, just to admire the changing of the leaves. It's such a beautiful reminder of the cycle of life and God's promise of resurrection in the Spring. I stand in awe when I think of how deeply that type goes. The leaves are dying, and yet in their death they are beautiful. They fall to the ground and become compost for the trees around them. In the same way, our lives are most beautiful when we fully die out to ourselves and allow ourselves to be in service to God and others.

Home, sweet home.
Fall in Colorado with Pike's Peak in the background.

So what about you? Do you love fall, or don't? 

What are your favorite festivities for this time of year?

Leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for an ebook copy of my holiday book, Solve by Christmas!

8 Reasons to Fall for Fall

8 Reasons to love Fall, even if you are mourning the loss of Summer.

I don't know about you, but Autumn is my jam. Plus, it's literally a great time to make jam. Eat jam. To jam in your jams. Jenn here, and I have to tell you that this season is what we (I) wait for all year long. If you just aren't feeling it yet, here are some reasons to get excited. (it is, after all now officially fall)

1.        Break in the weather. As a northern girl living in the South, I long for the cool mornings I can sip my coffee on the back porch without breaking a sweat. We need this break, no matter where we live, but especially if we live in the South.

2.         Color. Leaves changing colors is one of the most spectacular feats of nature. God puts on a show every fall and I spend hours staring at the trees in wonder.

3.         Schedule. The lazy days of summer cannot last forever, and fall brings with it new programs, school beginnings, and a generally much fuller calendar. But it’s great to get “back on track” isn’t it?

4.         Hot drinks. Coffee. Hot Cider. Hot chocolate. Wassail. You know that sensation of cupping a steaming mug in your hands, and inhaling the contents? Oh, there’s nothing better early in the morning, or late at night, right?

5.         Crock pot. Not that I never use it in the summer, but there’s something awesome about a pot of chili in the fall. Or simply soup in general. Soup on a cool day is healing, comforting, and just plain good.

6.         Leaves on the ground. More specifically, the crunch of leaves on the sidewalk when you walk through them. It’s a singular sound, and it always means fall. Plus, jumping in leaf piles is a major childhood memory, so, leaves on the ground are my favorite.

7.         Pumpkin bread. Pumpkin cake. Pumpkin spice lattes. Pumpkin soup. Pumpkin everything. First let me say that this is WAY overdone. But if you just pick one and indulge yourself a couple times throughout the season, you won’t be sick of it and your fondness will come back. (But don’t do the pumpkin spice Oreo’s – That’s just wrong).

8.         Scents of the season. I am a sucker for the scents of fall. My favorite being, the scent of burning leaves. This takes me straight back to my childhood, and if I catch a whiff, or see a burning pile of leaves as I’m driving by, I slow the car and roll down the windows, inhaling like a crazy person. Also, hot cider on the stovetop, apple pie, camp fires, and hay rides (you can smell that, can’t you?)

What’s your favorite fall scent?

Everything But the Sink Stew

Fall is in the air and nothing sounds better than a hot bowl of stew on a chilly evening. I hope you enjoy one of my family's favorites!

1/2 Onion, chopped
1 can of Rotel tomatoes or tomatoes with jalapenos
1/2 medium can of V-8 juice
2 - 15 oz. can of pinto beans with jalapenos
1 - 15 oz. can of whole kernel corn
1 package Lipton beefy onion soup mix
1 cup of chopped celery
1 large zucchini squash, chopped
1 package small smokey link sausages
1 - 15 oz. can lima beans
1 - 15 oz. can black olives, sliced
Monterey Jack cheese, cubed

Do not drain the vegetables. Combine all ingredients with liquids in a large pot and simmer for an hour or so, until all the flavors blend. Correct seasonings (salt and pepper) if needed. (I find it tends to be a little on the salty side.) If too thick, add more water. Place cubed cheese in bottom of bowls and add hot soup over it.

Meet Norma Gail:

Norma Gail’s contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, released in 2014 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She is a Bible study leader, and writes devotionals for ChristianDevotions.us and “The Secret Place.” Norma is a regular contributor to the Stitches thru Time blog. She belongs to American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. She is married and has two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http://store.lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/

Autumn Camping

Are you enjoying this Autumn weather? 

Have you tried camping during cooler weather?

On the road . . .

Over the weekend we headed down to the Stone Mountain Park. This weekend was peak weekend for much of the eastern area. Gorgeous reds, yellows, oranges and browns highlighted the rugged mountains of West Vriginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. It was like basking in a vivid rainbow forest of color.

Tent set up

Gramps and grandson checking out their "necessary equipment"

Once we arrived at our destination, we began setting up camp. There were around nine different families from the elderly in their eighties to our grandson who is two. Grandson Jonathan and Gramps pulled out our tent and soon had it erected.

Once the sun set, a fire was built in the pit and we took turns roasting hotdogs. Lots of chatter, and speculations ran high whether the bear spotted earlier would reappear. (They're a roving animal.)

Gramps, grandson, and I "hit the hay" early. We'd made provisions for the cool weather with warm sleeping bags, a proper heater, and bathroom facilities close at hand. Grandson Jonathan was excited and woke up twice during the night to zip down a tent window to stare at the fire and stars. He was hoping (not knowing what he hoped for!) to spot a bear! The only one we saw was in the park office, and it was plenty impressive. :)

After a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, hash browns, and crispy pancakes--all cooked over an open flame, most of us headed to the mountains, some to the water fall and others on a longer hike up the mountain. Because of our two-year-old, we elected for the shorter route.

Headed to the falls, walking over some beautiful stone slabs!

The top of the falls

A nice couple took this picture for us. 

What a stone chimney is doing out in the woods near the top of a mountain, is beyond me.

Didn't have time to run down the answer, but enjoyed it just the same. 

Did we have fun? You bet.

Just prepare ahead of time: food, water, warm clothes. 

Take along the proper equipment and know how to use it.

Use your head and don't take chances.

If you do all that, and more, you'll be like us:

wanting to go back again. And again. 

About the author:

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?