Awarded and passing it on to others!

How cool is this? My own lemonade stand. Delightful Dwelling nominated me for it. So now it’s time to pass on the blog award to 10 other talented bloggers who display great “attitude and gratitude.” It’s hard to pick just 10 but here they are:

Slice of Book Pie keeps me entertained with her clever wit and photos.

Shabby Chic Cottage has a terrific L that she made. I want to try this project too!

Writer Unboxed never know who will turn up on this blog but it's always interesting to read.

A Spacious Place great book reviews here!

Gluten-Free Girl without her I would be lost, not knowing
there are wonderful foods out there that I can eat.

Sew Forth Now offers me an excellent monthly podcast on sewing.

Michael Hyatt so much to learn from him if you're a writer!

Routines for Writers just looking at that blog makes me feel productive!

Inspiration for Decoration great ideas for my home and for the places my characters call home!

Camy's Loft always fun to read and she gives away books!

Creative Space Thursday

I've had this fabric sitting in my stash since May. I love the weight and bold print but wasn't sure if I wanted a dress or a skirt.


I decided on the skirt. I followed the directions and messed it up! The pleats are wrong but I like the way the turned out. I love those flat flower pins. I discovered those at a quilting workshop last fall. They are longer than normal pins and they lay flat which is great when you're trying to mark the fabric.

I watched a youtube video on invisible zipper installation and managed to put it in backwards. So there was ripping involved.

Eventually I got it all together. I love how it fits and how it feels. I wish I had made it earlier this year!

The pillows I made my daughter-in-law are now on her couch. You can see them here
As always please check out Kootoyoo for more fun creative spaces this week.

Summer arrived

In a blast! I think this is our 7th day of a major heatwave. We don't usually get these until August so everyone is complaining about how hot it is. Upper 90's if you're wondering with a nice dose of 90% humidity!

So what is the perfect summer temperature for you?

I like it just warm enough to hang out by the pool, if we still had one. Around 80 is good, and zero humidity would be nice. So this week is a good week to stay inside and read.

So what are you reading now?

I'm reading another Charles Martin book. I like his work. As a writer I like to read books that teach me how to write better fiction. His work is filled with excellent examples.




This week Margaret Daley has an interview with me on her blog and there is a chance to win a book if you leave a comment oh her blog so check it out!

Creative Space Thursday

I'm thrilled! I actually completed a sewing project. These are the pillows--now covered that Sara requested. Last week I had a photo of the fabric up for Creative Space, not sure if I would find the time to make them.

I forget that there are projects that can be made quickly this is one of them. Now I'm thinking about recovering a few of my own pillows...thinking because I have so much stuff in my sewing room that needs to be done. Anyone else like that? If I don't get the t-shirts and skirts made I won't get to wear them this year.

As always please check out Kootoyoo for more fun creative spaces this week.

Front Porch Living

I'm joining the garden party, except it's a party for one! Me. All it took was some scooting of furniture to a better arrangement, some soap and water a few things found inside and a vase of flowers from target. Now I can say--
Summer is here!
A friend of mine mentioned she saw a firefly making it officially summer for her.

For me it's getting the porch clean and ready to relax with a glass of tea that's so cold it drips with sweat. A good book to read and I'm ready to enjoy my summer.

Last night was my official start of summer. We went to the Cardinals baseball game. If we are lucky we get to go in June. The day had been rain-filled and I thought for sure we wouldn't get to go. By game time it cleared and the game was on. It was a little humid and hot, still the cotton candy tasted amazing. Is there anything that says summer like cotton candy and the crack of a bat against a ball?

A little boy of about 3 sat behind us. He asked his mom if they could go home. He said, "I don't get this."

Someday he will.

Want to see other garden party places?

Review: Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach by Trish Perry
Harvest House Publishers
ISBN:978-0-7369-2675-1

Sunset Beach has a cabin that Sonny Miller can’t wait to rent. Her mom has promised her a week anywhere she chooses for her graduation gift. Sonny has plans for more than relaxing though. What Sonny’s mother doesn’t know is Sonny is determined to use her new psychology degree to get answers she’s wanted for years, like who is Sonny’s father?

Sonny has few plans to throw her mom off balance. She’s invited her mom’s sister, Melanie to spend the week too. A sister Sonny didn’t know her mom had until she hired a private investigator. Melanie has a few secrets of her own about Sonny’s mom and the identity of her father.

Sonny’s mom is on to her though, she knows Sonny is going to want something from her this week and she’s not going to give her the chance to uncover secrets. She’s brought along a surprised guest of her own, the charming Irina, her protégé. She’ll have to spend most of her time working with Irina which should protect her from Sonny’s prying into her past.

And if that’s not enough there is a hunk of gorgeous, that shows up from Sonny’s past.

Perry brings this delightfully light yet, serious book full circle by the end. I’d recommend it for a beach read or airplane ride. It has enough of a relaxing setting that you can feel the sand in your toes and yet has plenty of intrigue to make you turn the page.

Book Signing Day

Saturday was my first ever bookstore book signing. You can tell by my necklace I was a bit freaked out. I was moving a lot!

The day started off great with my family taking me for lunch and getting me set up at Words of Wisdom.






There were a lot of people coming through the doors and I signed a lot of books.










What made the day so much fun was having friends stop by to get a copy of Hearts on the Road. This is Les, my husband's childhood friend. He wanted to stand and have a photo shoot with a someday famous author. He's so funny!








Ed, my husband and Les wanted to look scholarly so thought the foreground should have the books in the photo.

There were many people that day to make it special. I can't name them all, I wish I could but I'd leave someone out I'm sure.

I have to say thanks to Rhonda Langefeld for suggesting me to the store for the signing. Someday I'll be waiting in line to get her book. I can't wait!

And a thank you hug goes out to Sara, my daughter-in-law for helping me with all the sales!