Gathering Together by Jo Ann Brown

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Not only is it the official kick-off to the holiday season (and has football on throughout the day!), but it focuses on two things I really love—family and feasting. Oh, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, whose ending has always been the signal to put the turkey in the oven. I can’t forget that!

Our family has a long tradition of getting together for Thanksgiving. When I was younger, my mother’s parents and her older brother always joined us to share the meal. Or almost always. One year when I was in high school and we lived about ten miles from my grandparents, we got more than 30" of snow overnight on Thanksgiving Eve. At our house, we had the turkey and all the fixings. At my grandmother’s house were the desserts. My dad tried a couple of times to get out to pick them up, but the roads hadn’t been plowed yet, so he had to turn around. We got together for leftovers and lots of laughs the next day.
Another year, after I was married and had children of my own, we’d planned to get together with one of my sisters, her family and her in-laws. All went according to plan until my mom ended up in the ICU and my dad (who by then worked for the town) was called out to plow another three feet of snow. Mom got better, and Dad was able to stop in the house for a quick meal with us—including some pie, of course. We had extra reasons to be grateful that year.
The years have passed, and my family has scattered to live over almost 1500 miles apart from the farthest north to the farthest south. We all get together on occasion, but that doesn’t happen too often. That’s why last year, my son and some of his cousins decided to take matters into their own hands. They put out the word that they wanted to have a family reunion this year in the town where my dad lives (and where I grew up).

They put a lot of time into the plans, coordinating who would stay where and who would do what. Early on, we decided to have the meal catered and hold it at the membership hall of the church my dad attends (which is just around the corner from his house). That would give us access to two kitchens. The invitations went out through word of mouth and social media, and everyone got really excited. We may be missing two members of the family because of work obligations, but the rest plan to be there. The gathering of the food (of course, we need extra pies and other goodies) and the division of who will be bringing what has gone smoothly.
And this is what I love most about Thanksgiving. Being with family and catching up on new and old news. Gasping about how big the kids have grown since the last time we saw them. Discussing and debating sports teams and their chances next year. Starting so many sentences with, “Oh you remember [Fill in the name]. She (or he) was in school two years before you and...”
Oh, did I mention that we’ll be five generations strong? We’re looking forward to being together and each of us is thankful to have the chance to share hugs and a meal...and of course, pie!

Ask Elnora--About RT in Kansas City-Lenora Worth

Hello my lovely ladies and Vince! What a week we have had. I got home from my girls' beach trip and turned around to pack for Kansas City. I am attending the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention. We drove across the country to get here and the weather was so nice, we put the top down on my little Mini Cooper. As I write this, however, it is snowing! I can see it out the window of our hotel room. I'll show a picture of that later. The scoop here, of course, is all about e-books and self-publishing. Mark Coker (of Smashwords fame) showed some compelling statics regarding the rise of e-publishing since this time last year and how authors who really promote their e-books can sell an impressive number of books. Covers count, he believes. Staying on top of promoting your books adds up to more books sold. And pricing your book around $2.99 to $3.99 seems to be important. Of course, good old traditional books were plentiful and in demand around here, too.

I was on a panel with Colleen Coble, Thomas-Nelson Senior Acquisitions Editor Ami McConnell and Deeanne Gist and we had a good time talking books with both aspiring writers and avid readers. I was touched when two of the audience members told me mine was the first inspirational they ever read and that they loved my books. They bragged on all of us, actually. One sweet lady said her daughter brings her to RT to meet her favorite writers. We had a great time. I also had lunch with writers Sherri Shackelford and Winnie Griggs along with Diane Moggy and Glenda Howard (both from Harlequin) We talked about a lot of things, especially the new HAN (Harlequin Authors Network) and how much we like it.

In the meantime, I've enjoyed walking around Union Station with Big Daddy. Below are some pictures of this beautiful train station that now holds shops and restaurants. Lucky for us, there is an enclosed catwalk around the hotels that lead to the station and a mall. Here are some pictures of our adventures:

 

 

 

So snow in May, e-books the topic of the day, all sorts of costumes and writers, 30 years of romance and lots of laughter and fun. RT has only just begun. And we, the writers, thank RT for a great convention and we hope for many more years of reading, writing and good intention!!!

 

 

Ask Elnora--About A Dark and Snowy Night--Lenora Worth

Hello, my lovely dashing, flashing fiction readers. Elnora loves a good Christmas story. Something short and sweet and with a happy ending. So when I asked the Craftie Ladies if they'd like to do a little Flash Fiction for the holidays, several hands raised. So from now until the new year, we have a little extra treat for you. We're going to write little stories right here on the blog. I know, exciting, right?

But there's more. We are going to be take names and pick winners.

Every time you post and comment on a story, we will record your name and come January 1st, we will take all the names of the bloggers who've posted on all of our stories and draw a winner to receive books, lots of books.

Yes, it's our December Book Blast Flash Fiction Merry Christmas fun time! And I get to kick things off--So here we go.

It was a dark and snowy night. Along the street, white lights sparkled on the trees and the wind howled and huffed against the buildings and caused the lights to twinkle like stars.

Noel Tinsel tugged her red coat close, hoping to block the icy bite of the frosty air. She was late for Christmas Eve dinner at her grandfather's house. As if to remind her that she hadn't eaten since that morning, her tummy growled along with the hissing wind. Yes, she was hungry but she prayed Grandfather hadn't invited another "suitor" to surprise her.

She held a hand over her eyes to keep the drifting snow away from her frozen face, her thoughts on the judge's misguided attempts to find her a "decent fellow." Just as she rounded the last corner and hurried toward the huge white Victorian house that sat all decked out in red and green like a fancy lady, she heard what sounded like horses trotting behind her.

Noel glanced back and blinked. A sleigh, here in downtown Flurryville?

When the beautiful red sleigh pulled by two white horses slid up beside her, Noel had to stop and blink again.

The man driving the shiny sleigh smiled down at her. "I'm lost and I was wondering if you could help me. I'm looking for the Tinsel home. Judge Tinsel?"

Noel smiled up at the dashing stranger. He looked too modern to be driving a sleigh. Had grandfather invited him? "Who are you, anyway? Santa Claus?"

The man smiled and Noel felt a little flutter like a dancing snowflake inside her heart.

"No, just a friend of the judge. He invited me to meet his granddaughter." He shrugged. "I don't usually go on blind dates, but ... my uncle offered me this old sleigh and well, I thought wouldn't it be nice to go on a sleigh ride tonight?"

Noel giggled. "Are you for real? I mean, you sound like a Christmas song." And he looked straight out of a Christmas ad.

The man hopped down from the sleigh and shook her hand. "I'm Jackson Frost."

"Right," Noel replied. "And I'm the Easter Bunny."

Jackson looked amused. "Do you know where the judge lives?"

Noel nodded and accepted her fate. This one might just be a keeper. "Right there." She pointed to the big, welcoming house at the end of the street. "I'm his granddaughter, Noel."

Jackson's laughter startled the horses. "Noel. I've heard a lot about you."

"I'm sure you have," Noel replied. "Hey, if we feed you, do I get to ride in that sleigh?"

Jackson lifted a gloved hand. "In this winter wonderland? I think tonight is a perfect night. Hop in and I'll take you home, Noel."

It wasn't all that far to Grandfather's house, Noel thought. But ... she'd always loved the sound of sleigh bells. And the name Noel Tinsel Frost had such a nice ring to it. "Thank you, Grandfather," she whispered into the whistling wind. Then she snuggled under the furry white blanket Jackson tucked around her and glided into the future.

Oregon covered SNOW

Hi, Terri Reed here. We have a rare occurrence today in my part of the world. SNOW. And its sticking. At least it was. We haven't had snow stick to the ground where we live in two years.

What about where you live? Do you have snow?

A Shocking Revelation

Finding out she is heir to a fortune shocks Caroline Tully to her core. And to “qualify” for the inheritance, she just has to visit her newfound grandfather’s Mississippi home from Christmas to New Year’s. Adopted as a baby, Caroline knows nothing about her mother’s family...and doesn’t realize they can’t be trusted. When attempts are made on her life, there’s only one man who can protect her. Donovan Cavanaugh—a man who made her lonely heart want to love again. Posing as her fiancé, Don promises to find the would-be killer. But will his protection-and his love-be enough to keep her safe?

Protection Specialists: Guarding the innocent.

Cold Weather Fun

This is Merrillee, and I'm wondering what you like to do for fun when the weather is cold. I live in Florida, so cold to me is anything below fifty-five degrees. Here is what my winter looks like. We have sand dunes instead of snowdrifts.



But I wasn't always a weather wimp. I lived in Montana and South Dakota when I was younger, so I know what cold is. I spent a few hours in Fargo, ND, one winter when it was fifty below zero without any wind chill. Now that is cold. I don't think there is anything fun about that kind of cold.

The setting for my latest book is Montana because I intend to write at least one book set in every state where I have lived. I remember Montana winters with lots and lots of snow. I walked to school dressed in so many clothes that I probably looked like the Michelin Man.

I made angels in the snow.




I built snowmen and ice skated until my feet felt like bricks.



I used these and other memories to depict winter fun for my hero's twin daughters.

My hero and heroine go snow skiing--something I never did until I was much older and not living in Montana.







Of course, Montana has some beautiful scenery, which is depicted well on the cover of my book, Montana Match, which is out this month.



So what do you like to do when the weather is cold, or do you prefer your weather warm?

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Debra Clopton here in Texas wishing you all a wonderful, blessed Christmas season! I wanted to put a picture of my Christmas tree here for you to see but LOL I'm on deadline and haven't had a chance to think about getting my tree up yet. So I looked through my photos and came across this shot. It's was taken December of last year on my birthday when Chuck and I were crossing Pennsylvania during a blizzard! It was a very white Christmas season for me and looking at the picture reminded me of how fun it was. It reminds me of my favorite Christmas movie, White Christmas with Bing Crosby. I love that old movie. I can remember watching it as a young girl and just loving the scenes with the snow and wondering what that would be like to see snow like that. As a kid living in Texas where I'd never really seen snow that really stuck to the ground I truly had to dream of a white Christmas because where I lived and still do, you certainly never got one.

As you can tell, I've grown up since then and have seen snow as thick and white as that from my favorite movie. Though I've experienced the wonder of what I dreamed of back them I still love the movie and I the snow scenes. The movie still connects me to the dreams I had watching it as a little girl.

What is your favorite Christmas movie or book as a child and what did it make you dream of?

I pray you'll all have a joyous and blessed Christmas!

Debra Clopton

The Weather

This is Merrillee, who is trying to stay warm. Why is the weather a favorite topic of conversation? Maybe it is because the weather affects our lives in so many ways. If it is raining, a trip to the beach, the planned picnic or the scheduled tennis match will probably be called off. So we are always checking the weather to see how it will affect our plans.

Recently, the weather has been in the news a lot. In Australia they are having horrendous floods that have taken many lives. Here in the United States the reports of unseasonable tornadoes and big snowstorms, which have canceled many airline flights, have dominated the weather news. Right now there is snow in forty-nine of the fifty states. I happen to live in the only state with no snow, Florida, but that doesn't mean we've been spared some weather woes. The temperatures here in the past few days have been twenty degrees below normal.

The photo below shows the fountain in my yard filled with ice.



The following photos show a number of the plants in my yard that have died above the ground. Hopefully, they will come back from the roots.


Above, you see my poor hydrangea.


This photo shows what is left of my hibiscus.


This is the typical state of the oleanders in my yard.


And finally, these are a few of the potted plants I have dragged inside. These will go back outside at my front door as soon as the night time temperatures are above thirty-five. I have found a place for a few of my tropical plants inside the house until spring comes. However, many of my tropical plants have found a winter time home in my garage this year. I'm ready for hot and humid.

What about you? How has the weather affected you lately?

Cabin Fever

I am one of those people who like winter. Which is good since I live in the northwoods of Wisconsin, just an hour or so from the southern shore of Lake Superior.

But this year, I'm dealing with an unusual situation. I had surgery three days before Christmas. Everything is going well. But I am going out less. And doing less around the home.

Today the dust has gotten to me so I'm going to enlist my husband to vacuum. I will try to do a little dusting and putting away. I think that alone will make me feel better.

One of the main things I like about winter is watching snow fall. And it is snowing today. But it is a very fine snow against a "snow" sky that flat kind of white sky that often foretells snow.

So it's not good "snow" viewing. Bummer.

And yesterday I sent my husband to pick up some prescriptions and asked him to pick me up some ice cream.

I love ice cream. I usually don't keep it around the house for obvious reasons. GRIN

I asked him to get me something with fruit in it like strawberry or cherry or whatever they had that looked interesting.

So! What did he bring me?? Butter Pecan.

Now I looked at him and was speechless for a few minutes. If I thought he'd done this on purpose, I would have been mad. But we've been married over 30 years. I know that he just forgot what I said.

He's going out to work at the local food pantry now and I said that he could stop at the local Culver's on the way home and see if they had a good flavor of the day. (Culver's is a Wisconsin based fast-food franchise which has food that tastes almost home-cooked and it also has custard, not soft serve. It's delicious!)

So we'll see if he remembers my custard or not. GRIN

I think you can tell from the aimlessness of this post that I INDEED have cabin fever. I would enjoy going out to lunch with a friend. Do some after Christmas bargain shopping. But keeping inside to recover prohibits that kind of thing for a while.

Therefore, you get the fruit of my rambling. Do you know a good joke? A surprising little known fact? A good compliment would help me. Read any of my books and enjoyed them? Please help cheer up Lyn. Please.

Now, I'm going to go over to my blog http://www.strongwomenbravestories.blogspot.com
I'm going to ramble there about Christmases that my late mother made special.

But please give me something to smile about. And banish my cabin fever!